[net.general] DEC against the world

kavanagh@sask.UUCP (11/11/83)

This line is for the evil daemon which destroys the first parts of articles.

		DEC vs the world
		----------------

	At the present time many people are worried about DEC.
This brief article is the opinion of a university academic
computing services director who has been familiar with DEC for
about 20 years. The purpose of the article is to suggest that
we have every reason to be concerned about them, but we must
avoid being hysterical. If we aren't objective about our current
problems then the anxiety about Digital will become a self-fulfilling
prophecy. If that happens, I suggest we will ALL suffer as a result.

	First the current facts for concern. The list of reasons
for worry about DEC is substantial. The areas of most concern to me
are:

	THE DEMISE OF THE JUPITER - Although I can objectively accept
	the rationale for cancelling the 36-bit top-end, it is 
	nevertheless disappointing. Technically it was a very exciting
	machine, and in a planning sense its disappearance has left
	a very GIANT hole in our planning for systems. We are fortunate
	that most of our applications CAN easily move to a VAX, or
	to another vendor's hardware. Many other -10 or -20 sites
	do not have that flexibility.

	DIGITAL'S POOR ENTRY INTO DESK-TOP COMPUTING - DEC could 
	well become known as the Gerry Ford of microcomputer
	makers, based on the fumbling of the first year of the 
	Rainbow and Professional. Enough said.

	LATENESS OF BIG VAXen - Digital is not showing much sign
	of responding to the 68000's etc, which are more than
	nipping at the heels of 780's. Enough said.

	THE LATEST RE-ORGANIZATION - We have all been aware for 
	some time that DEC is once again re-organizing. The company
	at present is still (to an outsider) without thrust,
	personality, direction and decision making apparatus.
	The re-organization can only be used as an excuse for so long,
	and that time is just about up.

	Having said all of the above, one might easily say that DEC
is washed up. Why then waste my time writing this article? The answer
is that I believe they have a chance, maybe even a good one. Further,
I believe the computing world will be a better place if they do hang in.
Contemplate if you will a world with only IBM and AT&T (no criticism
intended, substitute any TWO large companies as the sole suppliers).
The point is that in no small way has DEC hardware contributed to
the development of computing, and we have no real reason to doubt
it will continue. Also, in no small way has DEC kept other companies
honest, perhaps especially IBM. The VAX has been an enormous force
for other companies to contend with. Many of the most copied 
architectural features of the the last decade have come from PDP-11s
and VAXen. And who is the biggest beneficiary of this competition?
You and me! For the same reason we need the current lot of micro-
processor chips to keep VAX designers on their toes, we need VAXen 
to keep IBM and AT&T honest.

	Their ARE some good ideas still coming from DEC. From
a site planning and system flexibility point of view, the VAXcluster
is way ahead of other approaches. Where can you find a cpu performance
range as broad as the VAX is or soon will be? Finally, I still want
my desk-top to be a real 32-bit machine ... like a VAX.

	In conclusion, does the foregoing mean we all lay off DEC
and treat them like a charity case? NO DAMN WAY! BUT, let's beat
the crap out of them without running in the streets foaming at the
mouth. If we tell "the world" that DEC is all washed up ... we're half
way there already. Rather, recent reports from US DECUS meetings
indicate that our shouts of anguish need to be directed straight
to DEC ... they seem to think we're happy!!!! So let's get those
pots of constructive vitriol out and get the mail into Ken Olson,
DEC district managers etc., with the hard news about our current
concerns. I sincerely hope that the current "shakeout" creates
a healthier DEC, along with many other strong survivors. I don't
want to have a potential vendor list without DEC and similar
companies.

	To DEC, I suggest the following:

	1) The company must very soon re-create an image
	of knowing where it is going, how it is going to
	get there and can make decisions and products to
	accomplish its goals. Such is NOT the case now.

	2) Get the desk-top computer act together before
	it becomes a fatal disease.

	3) Don't be so pious about 36 bit to 32 bit
	"migration". For many BIG customers, it just
	plain HURTS, and some will leave DEC because
	of it.

	4) Get the lead out on big VAXen.

	To DEC customers, I suggest we all continue to plan
objectively and recognize that there still are many reasons
to do business with Digital. Then, if DEC doesn't get it all
together in the next 6 to 12 months, we'll vote with our 
feet ... and dollars.


			Bob Kavanagh, Director,
			Academic Computing Services
			U. of Saskatchewan