DEC field service (was Re: HP's not cool? (was Re: pdp-11/60 Semi-Rescue))

Eric Smith wrote: Back in the mid '70s DEC got around this (in Los Angeles) by donating some PDP11/40's and PDP/8's to a local J.C. where I was taking classes part-time. DEC had an agreement with the school that they would get first shot at interviewing graduates. I soon started seeing some of my former "classmates" showing up as DEC FSR's at the flight sim shop where I worked. Results were dismal. If the sight of a flight simulator hung off of a bank of PDP-11/45s wasn't intimidating enough, and the rack full of Euro-made VT30 controllers didn't scare them off, the 2 11/45's with their Fastbusses joined together usually left them scratching their heads. I remember one young FSR immediately leaving after seeing this configuration, only to return several hours later with his supervisor in tow. While this was a supported feature of the /45's I would guess it was seldom implemented. We soon gave up on Field Circus and went to self-maintenance. Oh, BTW, were still using this DC-10 simulator (now located in Houston) and still running RT11 V02b thanks to an app so tied into the OS that upgrades are virtually impossible. Nick - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Nick Oliviero : nolivi(a)coair.com Simulator Project Engineer : (281) 553-6507 - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -