[Info-vax] x86-64 VMS executable image sizes and memory requirements ?

[Kerry Main]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Info-vax <info-vax-bounces at rbnsn.com> On Behalf Of Jim Causey via
> Info-vax
> Sent: December 26, 2019 11:32 PM
> To: info-vax at rbnsn.com
> Cc: Jim Causey <jimcausey at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Info-vax] x86-64 VMS executable image sizes and memory
> requirements ?
> 
> Microsoft shipped NT 3.5 and 4 on Alpha, and drove Windows 2000 to a public
> Release Candidate 1 on Alpha even though Microsoft  already discontinued
> developing NT on PowerPC and MIPS.
> 
> In 99, Compaq had a terrible financial year and started cutting to please Wall
> Street.  They announced they would no longer sell Alphas with NT
> preinstalled or co-engineer NT with Microsoft, and they laid off nearly
> everyone at DECWest.
> 
> In turn, Microsoft discontinued support for Alpha and Windows 2000 didn’t
> ship on that platform.


Bottom line- MS was forced (kicking and screaming) into supporting Alpha by lawyers. 

Hence, MS did their bare minimum to support that Alpha effort, which in the end, was no longer sustainable by Compaq who was actually funding the majority of the annual porting efforts.


Regards,

Kerry Main
Kerry dot main at starkgaming dot com