First Internet message and ...

[Jon Elson]

On 11/26/2019 08:59 PM, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote:
>
>
> It wasn't just having the technology, it was having it and 
> knowing how to market it. You need both to make a good 
> product and DEC really was all about protecting their 
> current market share (which is insane as they came to be 
> by exploiting a niche in the computer industry).
>
Yup.  We were a big VAX user, and were accustomed to our 
salesman and a technical guy coming out for a sales call to 
iron out exactly what features and options we wanted on a 
machine.  When the MicroVAX came out, for a purchase price 
less than EITHER the software or hardware maintenance 
contract on a VAX 11/780, I know this couldn't go on.  When 
they went to the 3100/3500 Pizza box machines, I know it 
REALLY was unsustainable.

Jon