[Info-vax] Dave Cutler, Prism, DEC, Microsoft, etc.

[Richard B. Gilbert]

glen herrmannsfeldt wrote:
> Rich Alderson <news at alderson.users.panix.com> wrote:
>  
> (snip)
>  
>> 18 bit: PDP-1, and PDP-4/-7/-9/-15.  The latter were upwards code compatible,
>>        but not the PDP-1.  That's 1.5 in my count. 
>  
>> 12 bit: PDP-5, PDP-8, -8s, -8i/l, -8e/f/m, -8A.  That's another 1, for a total
>>        of 2.5.
>  
>> 36 bit: PDP-6, PDP-10 = KA10, KI10, KL10, KS10.  That's another 1, for a total
>>        of 3.5.
>  
>> 16 bit: PDP-11 in all its forms and variations.  That's another 1, for a total
>>        4.5.
> 
> So you don't count VAX as a separate architecture, or not a PDP?
> 
> -- glen 

I think VAX was definitely a separate architecture.  It was built on a 
foundation of what had gone before and it was a howling success.  By the 
time it was over and done with there were VAXen that you could tuck 
underneath your arm and walk off with and and VAXen that needed a fair 
size truck.

Then the RISC architectures arrived and blew the doors off the VAXen.
You can't stand still in this business. . . .