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