[Info-vax] Life after Digital

[JF Mezei]

Neil Rieck wrote:

> You are correct about Windows but Linux runs on IA64
> 
> http://www.ia64-linux.org/machines/


Linux will run on just about anything. But will binaries be available
for your platform, or will you end up having to spend much time building
binaries for everything you need on the machine ?

In the end, the goal is to get work done. And while the 8086 started off
as a glorified game controller, it is de-facto standard now and has
evolved to 8086 with performance that is nothing to sneeze at. 8086 also
has development momentum which IA64 lacks. Alpha and VAX are dead, there
is no point to continue to avoid the 8086 just because you want to help
promote Alpha.

If you can't beat them, join them. You other option is to go to IBM with
Power (or whatever is the descendant of the 360/370/390) or Sun with Sparc.