What ever happened to Tandem and NonStop OS 2099

If it were part of a larger system, then its physical size is not relevant. There are SOCs that would have taken untold floor space 30 years ago. If an OEM hid a J-11 board in his typesetter, then is the typesetting system a computer with a halfway decent printer, or is it just a printer. The J-11 stood in the same relation to the system as a Power PC chip stands to a mid-market laser printer today.

That kind of thing was a very imortant part of DEC's business.

OK, we agree about something.

I'm not sure I agree with you on that. I have a few rather capable workstations that happen to run VMS on Alpha. Both unix and VMS supported workstation hardware rather well. Both OS's straddled mini and workstation products excellently. DEC of course sold both unix and VMS workstations. The Alphas were competetive on price and performance.

I don't have enough inside info to know why DEC shot itself in the foot. It certainly wasn't lack of ability to make cost-effective workstations.

Markets don't kill other markets. You grasp of English matches your understanding of technology. Products beat products. The market is the umpire.

Not that I heard, but you are slithering off onto another topic. One where you and I would agree I fear.

Today we live in a computing era that should not have happened. The toy computers won. Totally brain-damaged virus loaders masquerading as operating systems. The market decided.

Speaking of toys making toys, it may still be true that Intel's fabs are controlled by Vaxes running VMS. Ken would appreciate that. In a wry sort of way.

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