Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!vaxine!wjh12!genrad!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!akgua!mcnc!ecsvax!emigh
From: emigh@ecsvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro,net.arch,net.followup
Subject: Re: What's in a 3b2?
Message-ID: <2682@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 7-Jun-84 07:25:53 EDT
Article-I.D.: ecsvax.2682
Posted: Thu Jun  7 07:25:53 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 13-Jun-84 04:55:46 EDT
References: ecsvax.2680
Lines: 30

<>

  I also attend the mentioned demonstration of the 3B2-300 computer.  In
addition to Kelley's comments, I have the following impressions:

1)	AT&T has a long way to go in learning how to market computers.  In a
	presentation to ~30 technical people, there were NO technical people
	on AT&T's team.  They apparently came to the meeting expecting to talk
	to vice-president types.

2)	Even with a full complement of utilities software, many utilities that
	we come to expect were missing.  For example, as far as we could tell,
	there was no pagination utility (e.g., more, page).  Of course, none
	of the AT&T staff really knew what utilities were included, and manuals
	were not available (man and the man pages also are not there).

3)	To an audience that was largely academic, they showed a lack of
	understanding of how universities operate.  They have not decided on
	an academic discount, so the told us that if we bought one at full
	price they would rewrite the contract after the decision was made and
	give us a rebate!!!  Try getting that past your Vice President for
	Business.

I was not as disappointed with the 3B2 as Kelley--after all it was announced
only 6 weeks ago.  I expect many of the deficiencies to disappear in the near
future.
--
Ted H. Emigh     Genetics and Statistics, North Carolina State U, Raleigh  NC
USENET:	{akgua decvax duke ihnp4 unc}!mcnc!ecsvax!emigh
ARPA:	decvax!mcnc!ecsvax!emigh@BERKELEY