[Info-vax] Whither VMS?

[JF Mezei]

Michael S wrote:

> 80% of HP computer business today consists of Compaq (not DEC) legacy.
> Proliant line in particular is a crown jewel.

The only unique non-DEC technology HP got was the iPaq, which, at that
time still had an "exclusive" arrangement (Microsoft had given Compaq a
few years of exclusivity on that type of PDA/phone).

Excuse my ignorance, but what is so special about "Proliant" ? Aren't
they just commodity machines that HP could have built all by itself
without needing to buy Compaq ?



> Without the acquisition HP today wouldn't be IBM's equal but rather
> Sun-with-the-Ink.

That is debatable. Without acquisition, Carly would have been booted out
much earlier and Hurd would have come in earlier to fix the PC business
and would have acquired a large proportion of Compaq customers fleeing
the impending sinking of the Compaq ship. Remember that Compaq had been
without a captain since Pfeiffer was ousted.