chrism@iddic.UUCP (Christian M. Ebaugh Jr.) (03/01/85)
Don't cut SPERRY too short too fast! They make a good computer. I have put in four years on a couple different UNIVAC computers and enjoyed the experience very much. Unless the school you are planning on going to is a real dog, than you won't ever see a card. After working on UNIVAC, IBM, HONEYWELL, VAX, and my Macintosh, I think I would rate the UNIVAC about third, right after VAX and right before IBM for ease of use, although DEC never did figure out what a tape was! SPERRY is selling very well, and many large corporations are now using UNIVAC computers. (NIKE, LEVIES STROUSE,THE OREGONION (Portland morning newspaper), etc) Of, cource the main buyer is still the government , which just last year signed the largest contract for computer hardware and software ever ordered by the government, The Air Force is going to put a UNIVAC at every Air Force base in the world. Your main consideration should be the quality of the University, and Instruction that you will recieve, but, no matter how many computers SPERRY sells IBM still owns the market and, at least in our life- times, always will. If you want to work for a large company as a Programmer/Analyst, any IBM experience will help tremendously. On the other hand, if your interested in becoming a Software Engineer,(a much more interesting occupation as you can only write a couple of financial reports before you go bonkers!!) you need to find some place that has a VAX with UNIX and access to ARPA-net. Hope this helps instead of confuses. GOOD LUCK! Chris Ebaugh Tektronix, Wilsonville, OR tektronix!iddic!chrism P.S. COBOL SUCKS!