[Info-vax] BASIC compiler in the hobbyist distribution

[David Froble]

Bob Koehler wrote:
> In article <mk4um4$214$1 at dont-email.me>, David Froble <davef at tsoft-inc.com> writes:
>> When DEC listened to it's customers, it did well.  When DEC started 
>> telling it's customers what to do, they didn't do so well.
> 
>    DEC was listening to a customer when they built the VAX 9000.
> 

If I remember correctly, the 9000 was not DEC's first experience with 
ECL.  ECL had been around for a while, and for that while was considered 
rather fast.

Again, from memory, it's been a while, DEC began the 9000 just before 
the microprocessors were taking over.  Really bad timing.  It happens. 
We really don't know the when and what of new things until they happen.

At the time DEC was #2, and they desired to take shots at #1, IBM.  In 
hindsight, that was also poor judgment.  Better if they would have stuck 
to what got them to that point.

Even when the N-VAX and it's predecessors were doing well, DEC stuck 
with charging big bucks, still looking at IBM.  They should have been 
watching behind themselves.  That's where the real competition was.