Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!sri-unix!tyson@AI.SRI.COM From: tyson@AI.SRI.COM (Mabry Tyson) Newsgroups: comp.lang.lisp Subject: Faster Symbolics available now Message-ID: <30569@sri-unix.SRI.COM> Date: 12 May 89 20:46:00 GMT Sender: news@unix.SRI.COM Followup-To: <30490@sri-unix.SRI.COM> Distribution: usa Organization: SRI Lines: 19 In article <30490@sri-unix.SRI.COM>, I wrote: >My opinion is that Symbolics is hurting themselves by effectively >blocking the second-hand market for their equipment. When potential >purchasers are faced with their only option being to purchase expensive >new equipment, then they are further encouraged to turn to other >vendors. Sometimes we purchasers can afford the latest, best equipment >and sometimes we have to settle for second best (whether it be a used >Symbolics or another vendor's). Finally, Symbolics is coming out with a faster machine. As announced today, they've improved their Ivory chip (1.2microns vs 1.6microns, 135ns vs 240ns clock, 45ns vs 70ns SRam) so that they report the MacIvory model II runs 75% faster on the Gabriel benchmarks compared to the MacIvory model I. Presumably the XL400 will also be sped up with this new version of the chip. The upgrade price (discounted thru 6/30) seems reasonable to me. Now the used Symbolics machines are less powerful than the newest ones.