annon@null.dev.com (11/01/90)
The October 29th issue of Electronic News had some interesting
articles:
o On page 1 there is a story about DEC backing a new RISC
processor for VAX/VMS. DEC plans to move its VAX/VMS
base to a new DEC designed RISC chip sometime in 1992.
This brought up the question, "What happens to MIPS?".
Dominic LaCava, vice President of Unix-based software and
Systems said, "DEC has plans for marketing additional
MIPS-based machines for the next two to three years,
which is the most any vendor can expect to see out into
the future." William Demmer, vice president of VAX/VMS
systems and servers left open the possibility that DEC
might end the relationship with MIPS, saying "MIPS is
not a big company and may not be able to move as fast
as we can."
o On page 13 there is an article saying that Stardent is
dropping MIPS in favor of the Intel i860 RISC.
So we find that MIPS has lost one design-in and may not be able to
keep DEC. Will 1990 be remembered as MIPS's golden moment? Was this
year be the brief instant when everything looked good for MIPS? preston@titan.rice.edu (Preston Briggs) (11/01/90)
In article <1098@dg.dg.com> uunet!root writes: >The October 29th issue of Electronic News had some interesting articles: > o On page 13 there is an article saying that Stardent is > dropping MIPS in favor of the Intel i860 RISC. My rumour source says the new Stardent boxes have the same MIPS parts as before and have simply replaced the old custom vector hardware with an i860. Makes a lot of sense to me... -- Preston Briggs looking for the great leap forward preston@titan.rice.edu
peter@ficc.ferranti.com (Peter da Silva) (11/01/90)
> Dominic LaCava, [DEC] vice President: "MIPS is > not a big company and may not be able to move as fast > as we can." Very weird statement from a company that wouldn't exist if a bigger company (IBM) was able to move as fast as them. And given DEC's track record in recent years, I'd bet the other way. -- Peter da Silva. `-_-' +1 713 274 5180. 'U` peter@ferranti.com
chris@mimsy.umd.edu (Chris Torek) (11/02/90)
In article <1098@dg.dg.com> annon@null.dev.com writes: >[DEC RISC chip] ... William Demmer, vice president of VAX/VMS systems >and servers left open the possibility that DEC might end the relationship >with MIPS, saying "MIPS is not a big company and may not be able to move >as fast as we can." This is just about backwards: big companies move more slowly than small ones; the inertia analogy holds. (Personally, I happen to believe that DEC have had several chances and blew them, hamstrung by middle management. Never you mind my sources! :-) Seriously, DEC do have a history of failed attempts to overcome here.) >... an article saying that Stardent is dropping MIPS in favor of the [i860] >So we find that MIPS has lost one design-in and may not be able to >keep DEC. Will 1990 be remembered as MIPS's golden moment? Was this >year be the brief instant when everything looked good for MIPS? I tend to doubt this as well. MIPS have been quietly garnering support in Europe, and who knows what the recent changes over there will do to the international market? They are in an interesting position, though (in the meaning of the old Chinese curse). -- In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci Dept (+1 301 405 2750) Domain: chris@cs.umd.edu Path: uunet!mimsy!chris
jayl@bit.UUCP (Jay Lessert) (11/02/90)
In article <1098@dg.dg.com> uunet!root AKA annon@null.dev.com AKA root@dg.dg.com AKA dg-rtp.dg.com!smith (his real name?) writes: >The October 29th issue of Electronic News had some interesting >articles: > the future." William Demmer, vice president of VAX/VMS > systems and servers left open the possibility that DEC > might end the relationship with MIPS, saying "MIPS IS > NOT A BIG COMPANY AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE AS FAST > AS WE CAN." [emphasis mine... JDL] Aside from this person's inability to successfully hide his identity and origin, did all you other ex-VAX users find the Demmer quote as hilarious as I did? :-) Sorry for the irrelevent-to-comp.arch post, I was weak and couldn't resist. I promise not to sin again. Let's move these silly discussions over to talk.rumors where they belong... -- Jay Lessert {ogicse,sun,decwrl}!bit!jayl Bipolar Integrated Technology, Inc. 503-629-5490 (fax)503-690-1498
davidsen@crdos1.crd.ge.COM (Wm E Davidsen Jr) (11/02/90)
In article <BOT6FB6@xds13.ferranti.com> peter@ficc.ferranti.com (Peter da Silva) writes: | Very weird statement from a company that wouldn't exist if a bigger | company (IBM) was able to move as fast as them. And given DEC's track | record in recent years, I'd bet the other way. DEC has "outsourced" to improve their ability to respond. That means they are selling MIPS CPUs, Tandy PC, etc. Of course the ability to cut off the supplier by not continuing to OEM the systems is balanced by the supplier being able to change the conditions of delivery. It's not clear if DEC dropped the new MIPS machine because there was a problem with the CPU, or because they couldn't make their stuff keep up with it. I've heard both stories from reliable sources. -- bill davidsen (davidsen@crdos1.crd.GE.COM -or- uunet!crdgw1!crdos1!davidsen) The Twin Peaks Halloween costume: stark naked in a body bag
mohta@necom830.cc.titech.ac.jp (Masataka Ohta) (11/02/90)
In article <1990Nov1.150742.7002@rice.edu> preston@titan.rice.edu (Preston Briggs) writes: >In article <1098@dg.dg.com> uunet!root writes: >> o On page 13 there is an article saying that Stardent is >> dropping MIPS in favor of the Intel i860 RISC. >My rumour source says the new Stardent boxes have the same >MIPS parts as before and have simply replaced the old custom vector >hardware with an i860. Makes a lot of sense to me... Let me join the irresponsible rumor club. I like chaos, though whole this statement is a lie. I have just heard that Startdent dropping both the custom vector hardware and i860 in favor of MIPS. Masataka Ohta
brooks@maddog.llnl.gov (Eugene Brooks) (11/02/90)
In article <1098@dg.dg.com> uunet!root writes: >keep DEC. Will 1990 be remembered as MIPS's golden moment? Was this >year be the brief instant when everything looked good for MIPS? It is clear that 1989-1990 will be remembered as MIPS's golden moment, regardless of what happens to MIPS as large companies move into RISC territory. MIPS clearly forged the path... brooks@maddog.llnl.gov, brooks@maddog.uucp
rminnich@super.org (Ronald G Minnich) (11/03/90)
In article <BOT6FB6@xds13.ferranti.com>, peter@ficc.ferranti.com (Peter da Silva) writes: |> > Dominic LaCava, [DEC] vice President: "MIPS is |> > not a big company and may not be able to move as fast |> > as we can." |> |> Very weird statement from a company that wouldn't exist if a bigger |> company (IBM) was able to move as fast as them. And given DEC's track |> record in recent years, I'd bet the other way. Yeah, but this obviously has nothing to do with MIPS being a little company or anything else. The only reasonable workstations dec has been able to build are based on the MIPS chips. So, what happens? MIPS arch. is eating VAX's lunch. What do you do, if you are the guy responsible for VAX/VMS? You kill the competition. Even if they work for your own company. This is an old story. ron -- "Socialism is the road from capitalism to communism, but we never promised to feed you on the way!"-- old Russian saying "Socialism is the torturous road from capitalism to capitalism" -- new Russian saying (Wash. Post 9/16)
mpogue@dg.dg.com (Mike Pogue) (11/03/90)
|> Aside from this person's inability to successfully hide his identity |> and origin, did all you other ex-VAX users find the Demmer quote as |> hilarious as I did? :-) |> As system manager of the originating system, I apologize for the actions of the anonymous poster. This was certainly a silly and unprofessional posting, from somebody without the guts to sign his/her name. 1) I don't know who did it (yet). 2) I don't agree with anonymous postings, in general. 3) I believe that it is unprofessional, and am trying to educate our users to that effect. There is no "smith" at DG at that address. Please ignore any anonymous postings from this site (as most of you already did!). Thanks.... -- Mike Pogue Data General Corp. Westboro, MA. Speaking for myself, not my company....