[Info-vax] Same DEC different day :-(

[JF Mezei]

Richard B. Gilbert wrote:

> Are you sure that VMS isn't beyond help?  It was pronounced dead in the 
> Spring of 1995!

Every couple of years, there was an influx of hope for VMS. When Alpha
was introduced, it was hoped it would bring VMS back to a leadership
position.

When Compaq anounced it was buying what was left of Digital, there were
high hopes that Pfeiffer woudl do something with Alpha and VMS. He was
ousted and the Curly accountant continued Palmer's job until Carly took
over. When HP took over, there was not a word about VMS until the deal
was signed, at which point, we have the STallard memo telling VMS
customers that HP was expecting them to migrate to HP-UX at their own
leasurely pace.

Since then, there really hasn't been any ray of hope for VMS. IA64 isn't
a resounding success in the industry. The VMS engineering team was
decimated.

HP supporters will argue that HP is quite happy with the remaining
customer base for VMS and that it is very loyal to VMS.

And it has to be said that while HP hasn't helped VMS back to health, it
also has not outright killed it like Capellas almost did in 2000.

So yes, HP has come through with its promises to keep supporting the
installed base. But that isn't "helping" VMS, that is keeping it on life
support.