18 Dec
2011
18 Dec
'11
10:36 p.m.
On 18/12/2011, at 3:47 AM, Eric Smith wrote:
DEC marketing was usurping the word "Open" because they noticed that customers
were starting to want open things. They apparently thought (probably correctly) that
putting "Open" in the name would trick potential customers and bring in more
sales. Other companies did the same thing, but I can't think of any others where the
oxymoronic name has lasted as long.
Someone suggested that in this usage, "Open" isn't an adjective, but rather
a verb, and the direct object isn't "VMS" but rather your wallet.
DEC changed the name of VMS to OpenVMS to reflect its X/Open branding, compliance with
Posix and X/Open Portability Guide 3.
Huw Davies | e-mail: Huw.Davies at kerberos.davies.net.au
Melbourne | "If soccer was meant to be played in the
Australia | air, the sky would be painted green"