Re: Itanium lap tops are needed now!

In article <11srmc15e5mu34b@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Dave Froble <davef@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
> Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply wrote:
>> In article <43CD5C45.4A22065E@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, JF Mezei
>> <jfmezei.spamnot@xxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
>>
>>
>>>Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply wrote:
>>>
>>>>However, considering that one can get VAX and ALPHA hardware FOR FREE,
>>>>why hasn't VMS taken off?
>>>
>>>one word:
>>>
>>><font size=500 attribute="BOLD,BLINK,UNDERLINE,REVERSE_VIDEO,
>>>DOUBLE_WIDTH, DOUBLE_HEIGHT", COLOUR="RED">
>>>
>>>
>>> M A R K E T I N G
>>
>>
>> While marketing might have helped, and Palmer certainly did hurt, I
>> don't think the only reason is lack of marketing. Linux didn't succeed
>> because of marketing, it succeeded because it was cheap.
>
> If that's the major reason, then why didn't the other, prior, free
> Operating Systems succeed? FreeBSD for example?

A point I have been trying to make for some time (unsuccessfully!).
The only thing Linux does better than any of the BSD's is shovel
hype. And that is what marketing is all about.

>
> Linux is where it is today mainly because of something similar to
> marketing. It was perceived to be 'cute' and 'whatever' and it was
> pushed at people.

Not similar to, it really is marketing. They have their own press.
and it's supporters actively push to get the word "linux" in all the
real trade journals.

>
> IBM jumped on Linux, most likely to counter Microsoft, and that meant a lot.

IBM jumped on Linux to ride the marketing wave. FreeBSD is a much
better candidate for the kind of things that IBM does, in particular
because it is not saddled with the GNU Public Virus which is very anti-
business. IBM did not choose this greatr dis-advantage because Linux
was "cute".

>
>> I still think
>> that, though VMS can't really compete with linux there and shouldn't,
>> one should think about some sort of entry-level commercial license,
>> perhaps without support. As long as it wouldn't take away revenue from
>> existing customers, I don't see why HP shouldn't do it.
>
> Ah, reasonably priced VMS for the smaller customers. It's headed that
> way, but still is not low enough for the desktop. Actually, I
> personally think that the current offerings are reasonable. Too bad
> that the potential repeat customers are long gone.

VMS on the desktop is neither practical nor needed. What is needed are
desktop application that can run on the VMS servers and be used from the
existing desktop. Xwindows for the PC is free.

>
>>>This is why the announcement that VMS is to be ported to the 8086 will
>>>invigotrate VMS because that will make teh news and be a very clear
>>>message that HP intends VMS to be maintream and not relegated to some
>>>obscrure platform and niche market. Going onto the 8086 would instantly
>>>make VMS available on the full range of industry standard computers at
>>>very litle cost compared to developping low volume specialised IA64
>>>thing laptops, desktops etc.
>>
>>
>> Yes, but if the license costs 10 times what the hardware does, I don't
>> see it being a winner in the marketplace.
>>
>
> Check on the current licenses before you make such claims.

The cost of the license is irrelevant once you come to the
understanding that there is really no advantage to VMS on
the desktop. It is the functionality that is needed, not
iron.

bill


--
Bill Gunshannon | de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n. Three wolves
bill@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.
University of Scranton |
Scranton, Pennsylvania | #include <std.disclaimer.h>
.

Relevant Pages

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