Message-ID: <212CC57E84B8D111AD780000F84AA04905CC32C4@mroexc2.mro.dec.com> From: "Waite, Michael" <Michael.Waite@compaq.com> Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 19:46:22 -0400 Subject: RE: [suse-axp] Compaq & Alpha (was: SLE suse on alpha)
Dietmar,
You don't have to tell me about frustration.
My group (formerly DEC) spent 9 years porting and optimizing applications to
run on 64 bit Alpha. UNIX, NT, and OpenVMS.
You should here the conversations at the water fountain!
-----Mike
Michael Waite
Global Partnering Solutions, Marlboro Center
Compaq Computer Corporation
TEL: (508)467-2289
EMAIL: michael.waite@compaq.com
> ----------
> From: Dietmar Brinkmann[SMTP:db@snafu.de]
> Sent: Friday, September 03, 1999 6:47 PM
> To: suse-alpha
> Subject: [suse-axp] Compaq & Alpha (was: SLE suse on alpha)
>
> Hi Michael,
>
> > That system will run any video card. The issue is Linux. You can use the
> tga
> > card but you will not get X windows.
> > I would suggest going to the local discount store and getting a $60
> matrox
> > millenium.
>
> I am joining the list just since two days. Had to add this list, was
> joining
> Alphant-list before. Itīs just very funny to meet somebody from Compaq in
> this
> list too. Almost unavoidable these days regarding Alpha-technology.
>
> Your tip reminds me of these f......common problems on AlphaNT. NT4 for
> IT-evolution is a rotten old thing. And the only supported hardware is
> simply
> not available anymore. I canīt get hold of a matrox millenium in any shop
> in
> Germany. Itīs very nice to know this and that component is/was supported,
> but
> itīs just a pain in the a... having to look for USED OLD COMPONENTS to get
> your
> high-end-system to run.
>
> I noticed this was a question regarding quite an old alpha-system too. I
> am
> writing this mail because of the end of AlphaNT, where we had a very
> difficult
> situation for hardware-support because of our special position. Sitting on
> NT4
> and the only drivers available for NT Alpha were the ones shipped with the
> first
> release of NT4. Because of this during 1999 the AlphaNT-users were
> desperately
> waiting for Win2k for Alpha. With a few thousand uptodate peripheral
> components
> supported.
>
> And Compaq just figured there is less and less sales in NT Alpha, so letīs
> drop
> it.
>
> Please donīt take this as a personal attack, I donīt know you, I donīt
> want to
> critisize you for anything you do or did. Still having to digest the news
> regarding alpha since 23.August. And as all the alpha-nt-users am very
> disappointed about Compaqīs marketing strategy for Alpha and this very
> sudden
> important change that Compaq did, communicating exactly the opposit for
> more
> than six month before. Until today I had some hope that thereīs a chance
> for
> API/Samsung to fully takeover and care for Alpha including NT-development
> FOR
> Alpha. Instead Compaq ensures itīs further support for 64bit NT, and itīs
> successful satisfying partnership with M$, offering the only available
> 64bit
> hardware for development, to somewhen release and offer Intel 64bit
> systems and
> NT. But only for Intel 64bit, NOT for Alpha. Itīs the WINTEL-gang making
> the
> race, even though Compaq did have the best challenger for Intel in their
> hands.
> As somebody in the alphant-list stated, this is like somebody unable to
> sell
> ice-cream at the beach, even though heīs at the beach with a big box of
> ice-cream, and the only one offering ice-cream.
>
> Ok, Iīll stop now. I am working as a sales-engineer for alpha-technology
> in
> Hamburg, germany. And unfortunetely my company concentrates on
> high-end-graphics. This market-segment is dominated by NT-applications
> like
> Lightwave, SoftImage 3D, Digital Fusion etc.
>
> But for any further use of my private Alpha164-633, Iīll join the
> suse-linux-camp now.
>
> And I am very optimistic knowing Linux is not depending on any missing
> competent
> CEO.
>
> Dietmar, frustrated on a friday-evening, when API after seven days of
> desperate
> waiting finally just announced: yes, NT is not available for Alpha
> anymore.
> Windows is Intel only, and weīll head for Linux. Again, I am happy
> switching to
> Linux, I know almost every platform is supported, and this project is not
> in the
> hands of stupid managers, marketeers and beancounters. Itīs the project of
> enthusiastic IT-professionals, willing to share their knowledge.
>
> I am willing to contribute my little share. Wrote an installation-howto
> for
> SuSE-AXP, specially for people switching from Wintel-systems. Knowing SuSE
> for
> Intel since 5.0, noticed that this special install-howto in the huge
> manual
> still lacks.
>
> Could post it as an html-file. Or whatīs this lists policy ? SuSE Team ?
> please
> help
>
> Again, Michael, this is not a personal attack. Yours was just the first
> mailing
> coming from Compaq.com I saw.
>
>
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