[Info-vax] DEC Large Systems

[clair.grant@vmssoftware.com]

On Thursday, June 27, 2019 at 7:50:51 AM UTC-4, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
> Another question born out of curiosity.
> 
> I was looking at a catalog called Large Systems Software
> Referral Catalog (Fourth Edition) from 1984.
> 
> It lists DECsystem-10, DECSYSTEM-20 and VAX. (notice the
> curious spellings used by DEC themselves  :-)
> 
> What exactly did the VAX offer or what shortcomings were
> seen in the 10 and 20 that caused VAX to become the hero
> and the other large systems to go away?
> 
> bill

As we sat in a conference room in Marlboro, MA (home of the Large Computer Group) many years ago, Gordon Bell told us, "it is a 32bit world and we need to stop pursuing 36bit systems." That is as close as I can come to a direct quote today but I know it is darn close.

Many of us left the room and started looking for another job.