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From: dfh@ecs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: DEC micro marketing strategy
Message-ID: <366@ecs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 6-Jul-83 10:52:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: ecs.366
Posted: Wed Jul  6 10:52:25 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 8-Jul-83 17:17:03 EDT
Lines: 53



  Can somebody explain the strategy behind DEC's marketing of its 300
series microcomputers?  I understand that now they are actually shipping
machines - over a year after the machine was announced, and we *still*
have not received ours!  I saw a demonstration machine (for evaluation
for N.C. state contract) that had this terrible totally menu-driven
operating system (P/OS) that made using the 325 a chore instead of a
joy. As recently as 2 weeks ago, a demonstration machine was still
running this stuff.  The DEC folks we dealt with said that the new P/OS
would be ready by (last) April.

  The pricing structure for what little Professional software is
available is a disgrace.  Why would anyone pay $975.00 for the UCSD
p-System and Pascal when they can run it for half the price anywhere
else?  I still find it hard to believe that they only have a BASIC
interpreter and UCSD Pascal (from Softech) for a PDP-11/23.  What about
all the other software already written? It can't be *that* hard to
convert software from one OS to another for the same chip!  I see in a
new 'DEC Direct' catalog today that they have Visicalc for the
Professionals for $400.00.  Some bargin.

  In short, let me pose the question that many people are probably
asking themselves:  Why should I buy a DEC Professional (if I can get
one!), when I can buy an IBM-PC for half the price, and have access to
twice as much software?

  Sure, there are second sources for software (e.g. Whitesmiths), but
DEC seems to have *chosen* to leave the market to second sources.  And
judging by the lack of existing second source products, DEC must not
have encouraged their development.

  Sure, there is the "Professional Developer's Tool Kit" for a mere
$4000.00 (+ compiler cost) that will allow you to compile programs on
your VAX and download the objects to Pro for execution, but how many
people really want to do this?

  I am afraid that if DEC doesn't change its marketing, the Professionals
(and other DEC micros) may fall by the wayside.

  A question for people who actually *have* a Professional:  Do you like
it?  Do you think there is adequate software from DEC?  Are you using
the so-called Tool-Kit?  Is there a free-standing C compiler yet?  Should
this article go in net.flame?

As always, I'll summarize any responses I get via mail and post.



					David Hinnant
 					N.C. Educational Computing Service
 					(919) 549-0671
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