bzs@BU-CS.BU.EDU.UUCP (04/06/87)
I received a mailing today from DEC about a VAX upgrade program (you probably did also, the one that ends 6/27.) On the envelope it clearly says: VAX-11/750, VAX11/780 and VAX-11/785 Users: Here's your ticket to higher system performance. So, being the proud owner of a 750BA (Boat Anchor) I open it up. Inside there's one sentence mentioning the 750: VAX-11/750 users, you can still upgrade within the traditional VAX family. That's it, no products, no nothing (four pages of various upgrades for 780s, and 785s.) What this means, as far as I can tell, is that even though I bought a VAX750, Digital is still willing to allow me to throw it away and buy a different VAX. There will be no new penalty for having owned a 750. I honestly don't understand, was this just sent out to annoy 750 owners? Why mention it at all? Why not suggest a uVax-II or 8200 as an "upgrade". Perhaps a configuration that preserves the RA81s you probably own (eg. diskless, but with a KDA50), includes MUXes and makes an argument about reduced maintenance for about the same processing power or something like that? Maybe even (heavens forbid) some credit on giving in your 750 with it's memory and certain other boards... I dunno, seemed like salt on a wound. -Barry Shein, Boston University