[Info-vax] BASIC compiler in the hobbyist distribution

[lists at openmailbox.org]

On Sun, 31 May 2015 08:02:42 -0700 (PDT)
seasoned_geek via Info-vax <info-vax at rbnsn.com> wrote:

> On Sunday, May 31, 2015 at 5:45:05 AM UTC-5, li... at openmailbox.org wrote:
> > There is a difference but it's not big enough to:
> > 
> > 1) Make Intel a premium platform. Intel remains a crapware platform with
> > high and low-ends.
> 
> Yugo came to America with a fully vaccumm controlled base model AND a
> turbo. BOTH were banned from the Tollway system because they could not
> maintain the posted speed limit.
> 
> > 
> > 2) Stop the inevitable comparison between VMS on Intel and other
> > commodity crapware OS and software running on Intel. And this is as a
> > practical matter even worse than 1) above.
> 
> It does not matter how sweet the rose, once dipped in the septic tank, it
> will never be sweet again.
> 
> Once ported to x86 VMS will have a market lifespan of 15 minutes.

I see this strictly as a way to let Itanium die without taking VMS with it.
An Intel port will stop the bleeding but prolong the agony. I doubt they
will get significant new business for the many reasons we have already
discussed. It will probably allow VMS shops to keep limping along with
existing apps when Itanic goes away. Depending how much it costs to do the
port and how the money is getting funneled around it may make sense for
certain groups.

I don't think it will last either. I think it will keep VMS on life-support
but unless they go to another platform I think this is going to be it.

I have no stake in VMS but don't get me wrong I want to see it succeed. I
like anything that gives us a choice over WinTel. I just don't believe this
is the way to do that.

> High end ARM isn't going to pan out. Too difficult to target designs for
> the near zero power consumption embedded market and the
> suck-all-power-from-the-planet server market.

A lot depends on environmental laws around the world. As long as g00gle and
other companies can basically run on the public dole and not pay taxes
anywhere and can thereby afford to pay for unlimited data center cooling and
power then Intel is going to remain strong in the server market.

If the day comes they actually have to pay their own way and state or local
governments crack down on the 1.21 gigawatts needed to run one rack in one
of their little server rooms then 64 bit ARM or maybe even MIPS is going to
start looking very attractive. What they will have to run on that remains
to be seen though. I don't like ARM much better than Intel but I would like
to see Intel file for Chapter 11 someday soon.

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