Gunther Schadow wrote:
>
> Jim Strickland wrote:
> > 2. 11/780s aren't
> > especially uncommon. It WOULD be a tragedy if one of the wierd vaxen got made
> > into a bar - a 9000, for example. But the 11/780 sold zillions - it launched
> > the 32 bit minicomputer universe.
>
> Yes, but nevertheless they're hard to find these days. I bet there's about
> no IT department that still runs one. Most of them are probably already
> scrapped and some of them may reside in warehouses with those trade-used-
> parts-for-twice-the-price dealerships. Since there's no demand of the kind
> who would pay those high prices anymore, the last guard will probably see
> the scrapyard in masses (with far less oportunity for someone to rescue
> them.)
The 11/780's that once sat in our computer center are long gone.
However, we still have an 8650 (11/795). It's twin went to the scrap
yard last year. There was no attempt to resell it, or the myriad of
other DEC items that were removed from service at that time. They were
all left standing in the rain before the local scrap dealer hauled them
away. I was able to salvage some parts from the 8650 before we got rid
of it, but it would have been impossible to have ever run the system
outside a data center environment. The size, weight, massive cooling
requirements and the 3 phase, 60 amp power circuit would prevent such a
system from being a practical hobbyist computer. It's a shame to see
them go, but there is not much else that can be done with them (except
for making more VAX bars).
--
Doug Carman
pdp11_at_bellsouth.net
Received on Thu May 24 2001 - 06:59:44 BST