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From: ABN.ISCAMS@usc-isid@sri-unix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro.cpm
Subject: Re: AF micro contract..
Message-ID: <12304@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 3-Oct-83 20:04:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.12304
Posted: Mon Oct  3 20:04:00 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Oct-83 06:13:32 EDT
Lines: 21

The Z100 isn't the only machine the services are buying.  Donno how big
the mentioned contract is, but quite a few Morrow MicroDecisions were being
sold to the Navy down Alabama or Louisiana way (procured through some vendor
up near DC).  Also a bunch of Cromemco Z80's (donno how long ago, exactly
how many, or what model) for the Air Force out of Langley AFB.  The Navy
(specifically one small office vic Norfolk) tried very hard to think
through microcomputer "standardization" and did a pretty good job of
"generically" describing a small micro.  However, in my experience, no one
in the procurement area is going to be "sole sourcing" ANYTHING -- NO
BRAND NAMES without a REAL good reason!  (GSA and the Army Audit Agency
in particular are watch-dogging that!)  So don't anybody bet their
paycheck that the services will all be thronging to the Z100 OR any
other particular micro, microprocessor, etc.  Don't forget ADA (you
remember ADA) is supposed to be THE DoD language (and is actually running
on something now -- a 32-bit ECCLIPSE or something) -- and that's going to
drive a lot of specifications.

Should be interesting -- so stay flexible.

David Kirschbaum
SGM, USA (speaking in a very unofficial role and NOT as a DoD spokesman)