[Info-vax] AltaVista background information

[JF Mezei]

Michael Kraemer wrote:

> A chip like Alpha, which causes annual costs of several hundred millions
> for development and production, but only sells 100000 units per year
> (HP website says/said 1M Alphas sold in 14 years) necessarily
> has to be priced at several thousand dollars a piece.

If the competition sells chips for $500 and you sell for 3 times as
much, you will never have much success.

>> Note that by 1994, the price of Alpha chips had dropped to about $500.
> For full blown Alphas or crippled ones like 21068?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_21064

The 21064 was unveiled at the 39th International Solid-State Circuits
Conference (ISSCC) in mid-February 1992. It was announced on 25 February
1992, with a 150 MHz sample introduced on the same day. It was priced at
$3,375 in quantities of 100, $1,650 in quantities between 100 and 1,000,
and $1,560 for quantities over 1,000. Volume shipments begun in
September 1992.

In early February 1993, the price of the 150 MHz version was reduced to
$1,096 from $1,559 in quantities greater than 1,000.

On 25 February 1993, a 200 MHz was introduced, with sample kits
available, priced at $3,495. In volume, it was priced at $1,231 per unit
in quantities greater than 10,000. Volume orders were accepted in June
1993, with shipments in August 1993. The price of the 150 MHz version
was reduced in response. The sample kit was reduced to $1,690 from
$3,375, effective in April 1993; and in volume, it was reduced to $853
from $1,355 per unit in quantities greater than 10,000, effective in
July 1993.

With the introduction of the Alpha 21066 and the Alpha 21068 on 10
September 1993, Digital adjusted the positioning of the existing 21064s
and introduced a 166 MHz version priced at $499 per unit in quantities
of 5,000. The price of the 150 MHz version was reduced to $455 per unit
in quantities of 5,000.

On 6 June 1994, the price of the 200 MHz version was reduced by 31% to
$544 to position it against the 60 MHz Pentium; and the 166 MHz version
by 19% to $404 per unit in quantities of 5,000, effective on 3 July 1994.