[Info-vax] Anyone interested in another public access system

[JF Mezei]

Arne Vajhøj wrote:

> But my guess is that they will continue to sell Itanium systems
> to at least 2017.

When I first saw that number, I disagreed. But come to think of it, it
does make sense. Say they announce the end of IA64 in late 2009. They
would still deliver the last iteration of IA64 probably in 2011/2012,
with sales going for another couple of years, and a couple more years of
limited sales to those really stuck on IA64.

How long IA64 remains on sale depends on what happens to HP-UX and NSK.
If they are ported to 8086 (or whatever), then customers will not be
stuck on IA64 and can migrate quicker (especially active customers who
will need more performance).

Customers on PaRisc, Mips and Alpha/VAX will skip IA64 or stay on their
platform. And remember that the minute HP/Intel announce the end of the
line for IA64, customers will ensure they stop taking roots on IA64 and
plan their IT to make transition to 8086 easier.

My feeling that that the transition from IA64 to 8086 will be quicker
than from the older platforms to IA64.