ggm@brolga.cc.uq.oz (George Michaelson) (02/22/90)
Abstracted without permission from
the Feb 16 Australian Edition of "Computerworld"
"Unisys wins big at TAB with Algol"
Brisbane - Queensland's TAB [state betting organization] has returned full
circle to Unisys with a multi-million dollar decision to redevelop its Algol
software.
The TAB last year was forced to buy a Unisys A-17 mainframe when an overly
ambitious attempt to switch its systems to a DEC VAX platform running Ada
went badly astray.
To modernise its 10-year-old software, the TAB has again selected Unisys,
this time in preference to a package put forward by the DEC-oriented Hong
Kong Jockey club. ...The main production system will be streamlined
and revamped but will stay in Algol because of its speed advantages in
transaction processing, according to Barbara Sheffield, the TAB's executive
manager for technology.
...The Algol system "suffers from what usually happens to systems with age:
they become inflexible and convoluted" Sheffield said.
"What is driving us is ease of maintainability."
The TAB spent about $AU 9 million in 1986 to buy several DEC VAXes as an
upgrade on its Burroughs B7800.
-george
Internet: G.Michaelson@cc.uq.oz.au Phone: +61 7 377 4079
Postal: George Michaelson, Prentice Computer Centre
Queensland University, St Lucia, QLD Australia 4067.