Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!gatech!hao!ames!amdahl!nsc!grenley
From: grenley@nsc.nsc.com (George Grenley)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.nsc.32k
Subject: Re: NS32000 computer kit wishlist
Message-ID: <4953@nsc.nsc.com>
Date: 1 Feb 88 21:19:45 GMT
References: <3703@bcsaic.UUCP>
Reply-To: grenley@nsc.UUCP (George Grenley)
Organization: National Semiconductor, Sunnyvale
Lines: 77

It's nice to see some fans out there for our chips.  Maybe
I can help Ray out a little...

In article <3703@bcsaic.UUCP> ray@bcsaic.UUCP (Ray Allis) writes:

>I am a NS32000 microprocessor enthusiast and a computer hobbyist.

Great!

>I am also frustrated by the lack of inexpensive computers based on this
>family of cpu's.

We're not exactly thrilled, either.  NSC would like to see a low cost
machine based on 32xxx, but we can't do it ourselves.  Note that neither
Mot nor Intel are in the low bucks computer biz...

>The architecture is a dream to use and would make a 
>fantastic computer to teach and learn about modern computing techniques.

Your best bet would probably be the Opus add in board for IBM PC.  There
are both 32032 and 32332 versions.  The run Unix V.  Price is in the 
several K$ range, though.  Still, it is the cheapest Unix platform you
can get.  (PC Xenix doesn't count, it isn't unix)

>Unfortunately NATIONAL seems to be doing all it can to commit suicide in
>the marketplace.  Their marketing department is constantly being reorganized.

No comment.  (tee hee hee :-)  )  But seriously, folks, I have some reasons
to believe that the situation is improving over there in bldg 16.
Watch this space for developemnts.

>All the regional offices are only interested in committing you to LARGE
>quantity orders.

Please understand the nature of our business and how the field is run.
The field people get paid commission.  They're in this for the money,
not out of a sense of Christian Missionary Zeal.  It is unreal and unfair
to expect them to expend a lot of their time on customers with small
potential sales.  

Distributors do that, and we also have the designer kits.

I worked in the field for many years, so I know whereof I speak.  One guy
got real nasty when his Radio Shack TRS-80 wouldn't work and called Mostek
where I worked and actually expected us to fix it.  (Mostek made the
Z80 for Radio Shack)

Getting rid of that clown without hurting his feelings wasn't easy,
so I hurt his feelings...

Anyway, don't be too hard on the field people.  Their lives are busy
enough as it is.

>If this cpu family is ever to get the popularity it deserves National is 
>going to have to make friends with the little guys and hobbyists like INTEL 
>and MOTOROLA.

Intel and Mot are Hobbyists??? 8-)  But seriously,  Intel and Mot are
rich because IBM and Apple (and Sun, ad nauseum) like them, not because
of hobbyists.  Hobbyists have always like Z-80s but Zilog ain't rich...

>There must be some small electronics companies that would like to design a 
>computer kit with the following specs:

	[Description of system deleted]

It sounds like a nice box.  A lot of that is already available on VME
cards.  Owl Computers, in San Diego, makes one.  There will also be a
bunch of announcements at Buscon at the end of Feb, so stay tuned...


Thank you for Your Support,

George Grenley - person in charge of stuff
NSC, home of the world's fastest CPU, the32532

If you think I speak for NSC you are nuts - I get chewed out everytime I post.