[Info-vax] VMS port to x86

[David Froble]

Bob Koehler wrote:
> In article <jq86ts$4vs$1 at usenet01.boi.hp.com>, Keith Parris <keithparris_deletethis at yahoo.com> writes:
>> Still, can the 
>> OpenVMS organization realistically afford to spend some number that's 
>> probably on the order of at least one year's total revenues to do an x86 
>> port?
> 
> 
>    Invest 1 years' revenue and continue to get profits, or don't invest
>    and get 0.
> 
>  There's also fear that in another architecture migration, even 
>> more ISVs (and thus customers) would be lost. If an x86 port did happen, 
>> I'm guessing it would have to be based on HP's goodwill and commitment 
>> to its OpenVMS customers, not because of its financial attractiveness.
>>
>>>       Thus, conclusion is very simple, we have to start to write a VMS clone
>> VMS is viewed by the marketplace in general as legacy, out of date, 
>> old-fashioned, or at least irrelevant. Even if the existing code is 
>> open-sourced, or HP ports OpenVMS to x86, it will still have the same 
>> perception in the marketplace. (We here know that OpenVMS has valuable 
>> attributes such as 4-ring security and high availability with shadowing 
>> and clustering and scalability with clustering that are ideal for 
>> current marketplace needs, but most everyone else can't see past the 
>> "Out-Of-Fashion" label that's been stamped on it. So it's been harder 
>> lately to pick up new customers and new ISVs.)
> 
>    The label is at least in part to DEC's Stealth Marketing campaign. 
>    The future of VMS depends very much on how (if) it is marketed.
> 
>    If it was a startup product, it would be marketed, despite the
>    existing lack of sales.
> 
> 

Sort of like "this isn't your Father's Oldsmobile" ??

Oh, wait ....

:-)