[Info-vax] RealWorldTech on Poulson

[Paul Sture]

In article 
<5a049aeb-2a41-4273-9525-a10aa9bd7670 at gv8g2000vbb.googlegroups.com>,
 John Wallace <johnwallace4 at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

> Back in those days, there were frequent shortages of RAM and of hard
> disks. DEC bought their parts in advance on long term contracts at
> fixed prices, in order to increase the chance that parts were actually
> available when customers wanted them. If there wasn't a shortage, Joe
> Public might be able to get parts on the "spot market" at a
> substantial discount re DEC prices. If there was a shortage there
> wasn't anything for Joe Public to have on the "spot market" at any
> price, and those with the parts made sure that their faithful
> customers were first in the queue for the limited supplies that were
> available.
> 
> Back in those days, only the little people paid list price.
> 
> It'd be stupid to say DEC wasn't expensive far too often. But
> sometimes there were reasons for at least part of it, reasons which
> Richard perhaps isn't aware of or has forgotten.

Also on a course way back when, I was told that Digital (and Compaq 
after them) ensured that at least two suppliers were capable of 
producing critical parts.  This in itself must have cost something.

I remember a colleague ordering several dozen allegedly identical PCs in 
the early 90s and each delivery came with different video cards and 
associated software.  You really don't want this when you have already 
quoted a fixed priced maintenance contract.

-- 
Paul Sture