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From: terry@spcvxb.spc.edu (Terry Kennedy, Operations Mgr.)
Newsgroups: comp.os.rsts
Subject: Re: RSTS Discontinued?
Message-ID: <1991Jun25.154350.1523@spcvxb.spc.edu>
Date: 25 Jun 91 15:43:50 GMT
References: <1991Jun25.145657.1522@spcvxb.spc.edu>
Organization: St. Peter's College, US
Lines: 28

In article <1991Jun25.145657.1522@spcvxb.spc.edu>, havemann_l@spcvxb.spc.edu writes:
> What's all this I hear about RSTS/E being discontinued in '92??

  Where'd you hear that? Digital <misquote>Review?

> I heard from a couple of sources that DEC has decided (in their infinite
> wisdom) to no longer support this venerable, outstanding example of Digital's
> finest achievement since the PDP.

  DEC has a number of customers who each have hundreds of RSTS systems, and
who expect (and pay for) support on every one of them. I can't see DEC simply
saying "sorry, we don't want your money" to those folks. I think it may final-
ly be sinking in that when DEC tries to force a customer to a newer solution,
the customer often moves to a non-DEC platform.

  RSTS is relatively bug-free (outstandingly so when compared to VMS), and
wouldn't need a big product group to support it for the forseeable future.
Most of that support would seem to be adding support for new devices, any
bug fixes that are needed, and a few enhancements. I don't think it's reas-
onable to expect another change the magnitude of the V8 to V9 upgrade, or
even the V9 to V10, but I'd expect to see continuing releases as needed.

  Look at it this way - I'm not cancelling my support agreement because I
still expect to get support for the forseeable future.

	Terry Kennedy		Operations Manager, Academic Computing
	terry@spcvxa.bitnet	St. Peter's College, US
	terry@spcvxa.spc.edu	(201) 915-9381