dfh@ecs.UUCP (07/06/83)
Can somebody explain the strategy behind DEC's marketing of its 300 series microcomputers? I understand that now they are actually shipping machines - over a year after the machine was announced, and we *still* have not received ours! I saw a demonstration machine (for evaluation for N.C. state contract) that had this terrible totally menu-driven operating system (P/OS) that made using the 325 a chore instead of a joy. As recently as 2 weeks ago, a demonstration machine was still running this stuff. The DEC folks we dealt with said that the new P/OS would be ready by (last) April. The pricing structure for what little Professional software is available is a disgrace. Why would anyone pay $975.00 for the UCSD p-System and Pascal when they can run it for half the price anywhere else? I still find it hard to believe that they only have a BASIC interpreter and UCSD Pascal (from Softech) for a PDP-11/23. What about all the other software already written? It can't be *that* hard to convert software from one OS to another for the same chip! I see in a new 'DEC Direct' catalog today that they have Visicalc for the Professionals for $400.00. Some bargin. In short, let me pose the question that many people are probably asking themselves: Why should I buy a DEC Professional (if I can get one!), when I can buy an IBM-PC for half the price, and have access to twice as much software? Sure, there are second sources for software (e.g. Whitesmiths), but DEC seems to have *chosen* to leave the market to second sources. And judging by the lack of existing second source products, DEC must not have encouraged their development. Sure, there is the "Professional Developer's Tool Kit" for a mere $4000.00 (+ compiler cost) that will allow you to compile programs on your VAX and download the objects to Pro for execution, but how many people really want to do this? I am afraid that if DEC doesn't change its marketing, the Professionals (and other DEC micros) may fall by the wayside. A question for people who actually *have* a Professional: Do you like it? Do you think there is adequate software from DEC? Are you using the so-called Tool-Kit? Is there a free-standing C compiler yet? Should this article go in net.flame? As always, I'll summarize any responses I get via mail and post. David Hinnant N.C. Educational Computing Service (919) 549-0671 ucbvax!decvax!duke!tucc!ecs!dfh
eric@unm-ivax.UUCP (08/02/83)
I agree. The Dec PC has been handled really poorly. The hardware is old and obsolete. They should use an 11/70 chip (DJ11) at a minimum, and should have 32 bit processors offered as well. The 5 MB (now 10MB) is way too small; they should use some new higher density winnies. A twenty to thirty MB winnie is a necessary minimum. As for the 325, corner someone from DEC about how "expandable", useless and "Not recommended" this PC is. Last I heard DEC is telling its sales force not to sell this product. As for the operating system. P/OS is OK for someone who doesn't want to do computing, but racecar drivers would rather see UN*X, or any "real" operating sytem. Give me anything but P/OS. I have still been waiting to see anything but the CAI software. Our local DEC office can't even get a Pro with compilers, communications, or graphics for us to see. So I guess they don't have anything working. As for other software that the 11's run (OEM) last I heard 3 party contributions number less than a dozen. I guess DEC doesn't take the PC's seriously, and desire IB* and App*e to corner this market. Anyone can re-package old products and sell them with no software, but from DEC I expected more as this was "their market". In summary the Professional series is anything but. Eric Engquist