[Info-vax] Message from HP.

[Bill Gunshannon]

In article <l8a41b$mmc$1 at dont-email.me>,
	Stephen Hoffman <seaohveh at hoffmanlabs.invalid> writes:
> On 2013-12-11 15:54:57 +0000, Bill Gunshannon said:
> 
>> I said computer.  Do you equate the Apple][ with a VAX or an Alpha?  Do 
>> you equate AppleDOS with VMS?...
> 
> Yes, I do.  They were all some of the best available computers for 
> their respective eras and respective markets, too.
 
I'll grant you that.  Heck, I use an OS on an 8bit machine now that
fully supports multi-tasking and even multi-user.  But considering
that a disk driver from a VAX wouldn't even fit in the memory available
on the machines of that era, how can you equate them?

We are talking about the release of VMS source code.  I am trying to
point out that there is no precedence to even expect that.  It is not
something is done no matter how bad the user community wants it or is
willing to lobby for it.  Even when it is not completely lost (IAS)
and is transfered to another party (Primos) there are usually strings
attached keeping it from being released.  Even when binaries are relased
with a permission to use them as you see fit (IBM) there are no cases
I have ever been aware of  (and I follow OSes as that and compilers are
my primary personal interests in computing) where a vendor released the
source even when they have gone completely out of the business (Prime).

bill

-- 
Bill Gunshannon          |  de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n.  Three wolves
billg999 at cs.scranton.edu |  and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.
University of Scranton   |
Scranton, Pennsylvania   |         #include <std.disclaimer.h>