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From: lucas@A.PSY.CMU.EDU (pete lucas)
Newsgroups: mod.computers.vax
Subject: re: uVAX-II vs. 8200
Message-ID: <8603090347.AA28268@ucbvax.berkeley.edu>
Date: Sat, 8-Mar-86 22:08:48 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8603090347.AA28268
Posted: Sat Mar  8 22:08:48 1986
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Well, here's one thing to consider when choosing between a uVAX and an 8200:
The third-party Q-bus market is large, mature, and wonderfully competitive.
Building a board for an 8200 requires the complex, DEC-proprietary BI
interface chip.  DEC has made no bones about their plans to license this
technology only to manufacturers of "complimentary products".  Don't expect
it to be reverse-engineered quickly.

When the uVAX II was announced, DEC's price for a 4mb memory array was
$12K.  Within 6 months, the going price for 3rd party equivalents was not
much more than one-tenth that.  Don't hold your breath waiting for the same
to happen with BI memory.
				-pete lucas (lucas@a.psy.cmu.edu)