[Info-vax] VMS and the Internet of Things (IoT)

[Stephen Hoffman]

On 2016-09-11 18:35:20 +0000, Kerry Main said:

> No, it's called reading latest whitepapers from many sources and 
> looking at what Customers are doing in major DC consolidation projects 
> (which I have done plenty of).

Yet I wonder at your dismissal of DVCS, and around whether you realize 
the risk of changes to the arbitrage calculations involving the future 
of app stacking.   DYODD, etc.

> It's called looking at what Google is doing with big core PowerX systems.

You've dismissed what Google uses and does in other (software) cases, 
but somehow Power is interesting?

IMO, Power is a very bad porting target.

Greatly slowing OpenVMS development for another half-decade past the 
x86-64 port and further fragmenting the installed base for what is an 
expensive and boutique microprocessor is not a good strategy.

Sure, it's fast.  But how many folks running OpenVMS now really need 
the performance delta between a top-end Xeon and what Power provides, 
at the cost of a whole 'nother round of software portage?

That an advertising company experiments with other hardware given they 
already develop their own custom server platforms — that Power deal 
might well get the Google folks a better deal for Intel parts, too — is 
not a surprise.  They're off looking at self-driving cars and at more 
than a few other advertising-related projects, too.

> Just look at Apple's history (which includes a complete OS platform 
> change) .. small company to top of the market  to almost broke to top 
> of the market ..

Unicorns do occasionally arise.

But like the BUNCH and any number of other OS vendors over the years, 
more than a few OS vendors have failed.

As for emulating Apple, VSI hasn't channeled enough amperage into their 
RDF generator.

The VSI folks have some work ahead to identify and to reach one or more 
target markets beyond the installed base.

Tossing out what's not going to help them reach their target market(s), too.

Apple got big on iOS and mobile devices and design acumen and their 
resulting hardware sales — for purchasing parts, they approach a 
monopsony  — none of which is currently an option for VSI.

If that VSI target market even involves Power over the next decade, I'd 
be surprised.

> now fighting with Samsung.

The chaebols are an interesting construct.    As for the competition, 
follow the cash around.   That's what VSI needs to accrue.  Apple is 
good at that, too.

> If one keeps saying "we are doomed", then they surely will be.
> 
> If Microsoft had that attitude, WordPerfect would still be the standard 
> word processing product in the industry. Those that have some grey hair 
> will remember that back in the day , there was no more entrenched 
> product than WordPerfect.
> 
> Nothing stays on top forever.

And you'd be nuts to try to compete head-on with Microsoft Office now, too.

But yes, markets can and do change, and new markets — mobile clients, 
for instance — can appear.   Whether VSI can expand the installed base? 
   Power isn't all that and a bag of chips, though.




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Pure Personal Opinion | HoffmanLabs LLC