Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!aplcen!haven!mimsy!chris
From: chris@mimsy.umd.edu (Chris Torek)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: Is MIPS in Trouble?
Keywords: MIPS, Trouble, DEC
Message-ID: <27350@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 1 Nov 90 16:45:25 GMT
References: <1098@dg.dg.com>
Organization: U of Maryland, Dept. of Computer Science, Coll. Pk., MD 20742
Lines: 26

In article <1098@dg.dg.com> annon@null.dev.com writes:
>[DEC RISC chip] ... William Demmer, vice president of VAX/VMS systems
>and servers left open the possibility that DEC might end the relationship
>with MIPS, saying "MIPS is not a big company and may not be able to move
>as fast as we can."

This is just about backwards: big companies move more slowly than small
ones; the inertia analogy holds.  (Personally, I happen to believe that
DEC have had several chances and blew them, hamstrung by middle management.
Never you mind my sources! :-)  Seriously, DEC do have a history of failed
attempts to overcome here.)

>... an article saying that Stardent is dropping MIPS in favor of the [i860]
>So we find that MIPS has lost one design-in and may not be able to
>keep DEC.  Will 1990 be remembered as MIPS's golden moment?  Was this
>year be the brief instant when everything looked good for MIPS? 

I tend to doubt this as well.

MIPS have been quietly garnering support in Europe, and who knows what
the recent changes over there will do to the international market?
They are in an interesting position, though (in the meaning of the old
Chinese curse).
-- 
In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci Dept (+1 301 405 2750)
Domain:	chris@cs.umd.edu	Path:	uunet!mimsy!chris