VAX 11/785 as a workstation :-)

From: Gunther Schadow <gunther_at_aurora.regenstrief.org>
Date: Thu Aug 2 17:44:57 2001

Sridhar wrote:

> What I would like to see would be an XMI video card, so someone (ahem)
> could use DECsystem 5800-series, VAX 6000-series, and VAX/DEC 7000-series
> as workstations. That would be truly a sight to behold. Plus XMI is
> fast.

well, it may be fast, but I consider a workstation that
measures less than 5x7x2.5 feet, weighs less than 3/4 ton,
and consumes less than 7 kW, and whose original list
price is less than 500 k$ an impractical thing. After all,
microprocessors have no place on the market and who would
ever want a computer in their home? :-)

cheers,
-Gunther

PS: has anyone ever manufactured an XMI video interface?


> > Last night I was browsing the UNIBUS/PDP-11 field guide on the
> > Web before I went to sleep. Then I dreamed of a VAX 11/785 with
> > an UNIBUS extension cabinet full of cards. Included was a 3, 4,
> > 5, or so card-set that together comprises a video interface. Hook
> > up a composite monitor or RGB monitor and there you have it:
> >
> > A VAX 11/785 as a workstation!
> >
> > Write a driver for X11R6 for it and off we go. Has anybody ever
> > seen those UNIBUS video monitor adapter sets? I suppose they
> > were meant for PDP-11s, but I think running them with a VAX
> > would be way cooler. Might not be possible, and certainly would
> > involve some serious fiddling. But in a machine that has 10 or
> > more cards for just the CPU, a 4 board video adapter would be
> > the appropriate thing, wouldn't it? :-)
> >
> > cheers,
> > -Gunther
> >
>
Received on Thu Aug 02 2001 - 17:44:57 BST