Linux: concerns over systemd [OT]

Thu Oct 23 17:27:02 UTC 2014

On October 23, 2014 at 04:42 randy at psg.com (Randy Bush) wrote:
 > Barry Schein:

Interesting you went to the trouble to add a 'c' to my name! You need
better quoting tools.

 > > I'm reminded of the remark often attributed to DEC CEO Ken Olson,
 > > roughly:
 > > 
 > >   With VMS (their big complex OS) it might take hours searching
 > >   through manuals to find a feature you need while with Unix you can
 > >   determine in seconds that it is not available.
 > 
 > and how did that work out for vms?  and digital?

A few people made billions, a few more made many millions, hundreds of
thousands (or thereabouts) had pretty good jobs for upwards of 20
years, and then the second largest computer company in the world
vaporized almost mysteriously.

The VAX hardware was important. It was for the time relatively
inexpensive and very capable, the 32-bit address space (ok,
technically four 30 bit addr spaces) and VM hardware at those prices
were revolutionary. You had many of the capabilities of a
multi-million dollar mainframe for about 1/10th the cost. Ran Unix
great!

VMS not so much. Mostly re-warmed over RSX (an earlier DEC OS) with a
few new ideas to take advantage of the platform, and some cobbling
from their TOPS-10 and TOPS-20 OS's (e.g. galaxy.) IMHO DEC
desparately wanted to go head on with IBM's 370 line but just didn't
seem to "get" why companies bought IBM mainframes, or found those
parts too expensive to compete on. But they did ok financially anyhow
so who's to criticize?

VMS even had PIP! And sometimes you needed it.

-- 
        -Barry Shein

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