CompuServe Messages

Bill; The software is a proprietary data acquisition system with some site specific design features. The problem with upgrades is that the system is tested extensively prior to installation (at great costs) and generally no one is willing to pay the expense of retesting just to install a new O.S. on a system that works (not to mention the possibility of an undetected problem creeping in). The first system ran on an 11/34, the next on an 11/44 and the latest on an 11/73. Unfortunately, the company has now released a version running on an IBM Gearbox. Of course my opinion does not count for much but the gearbox is pitiful. The single 11/73 version will support 93 of our monitors. The gearbox should support 12 as it stands now and the programmers think that they will be able to get that up to 24! On of the things that we are facing is that DEC does not act like it will continue to support the PDP11. Of course those of us that remember the PDP8 also remember that for about 15 years DEC looked as though it would not support the machine. All that aside however, DEC really does push pretty hard to get 11 users to go to the VAX. Unfortunately, this seems to be one of those applications where the VAX is just not suited. I have little doubt that the PC will win, it is just that I contemplate that occurance with a great deal of sadness. => 73 <=, bill => KB7LX@K4IWW <=