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Re: responses to wkstation query

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On Saturday, February 3, 1990 at 2:16:18 AM UTC+1, Mary Ellen Foley wrote:
> Twelve people responded to my request for information about Xerox
> workstations.  Most people didn't indicate which workstation hardware
> they are using, so I can't give the rundown somebody asked for, about
> how many Altos and Stars are out there.  Several people mentioned that
> they used the 1186/6085, and/or the 1108.
> 
> *  In general, people who use them for desktop publishing said they were 
>    the greatest thing on the market, and people who use(d) them for AI 
>    applications think they stink.   There were 2 Lisp developers who said
>    they "loved" the Xerox workstations, but the opposition was quite vocal.
> 
> *  People who did like the workstations generally liked the development
>    environment and complained about lack of speed.
> 
> *  One person (who has my sympathy!) had a long list of horror stories 
>    about upgrades that never worked, paid-for SW that never arrived, etc.
> 
> *  Several people expressed concern that the management doesn't know what 
>    it's doing, at least as far as selling and supporting computers
> 
> *  Several people mentioned that Xerox is starting to put its software
>    on the SPARC, and they thought that was a good idea (sigh...why doesn't
>    anybody but ME really like *APOLLOS*!!?!?!)
> 
> *  A few Xerox employees wrote to say that Xerox is a good place to work.
> 
> *  A couple of people cited "The Xerox Star: A Retrospective", Jeff Johnson et al,
>    IEEE Computer, Sept 1989.  That turned out to be a VERY useful article.
> 
> Some sample quotes (names withheld, most people didn't want their names
> mentioned)
> 
> >> Xerox workstations are, as far as I can tell, just about dead.  At least
> >> for AI applications; I suppose they still do okay in the word processing
> >> market, though I expect Macs are giving them a hard row to hoe there, too.
> 
> >>  The system is effortless to
> >> use and to learn to use: we have trained ... people to use our Xerox
> >> network as their primary office tool in an average of four hours of
> >> classroom time each. 
> 
> >> In summary, unless you are doing research at PARC or selling copiers, I would
> >> suggest a really close look at Xerox, unless you thrive on frustration.  I don't
> >> think Xerox wants to sell computers.  All the AI stuff from Envos is going over
> >> to Sun platforms now, anyway.  I don't bet on the demand staying around for
> >> dedicated word processors either.           
> 
> >> A number cruncher she ain't. As a publishing platform it lacks only speed.
> >> The software however, is virtually idiot proof.
> 
> >> In terms of hardware reliability, they're not so great.
> >> But the Xerox Interlisp environment is the best environment in the
> >> world, bar none, when it comes to software development.
> 
> >>  When putting your AI-glasses the 1186 is
> >> called A Lisp-machine, otherwise it is a plain workstation. It has come to
> >> age over the years and is no longer performance competitive, though.   
> 
> 
> SUMMARY -->  I took the job, and so I soon have a first-hand perspective.
> 
> Thanks to all who responded, and especially to those who pointed me toward
> the IEEE Computer article, that was really great.
> 
> mef
> --
> WARNING:  Opinions in posting are farther away than they appear.

Hi,

Do you still have any 1186 available for me ???  Or know where one might still be ??

--Ralph

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Re: responses to wkstation query RP Sobek <rsobek@gmail.com> - 2018-04-11 06:07 -0700
  Re: responses to wkstation query Al Kossow <aek@bitsavers.org> - 2018-04-11 07:55 -0700
    Re: responses to wkstation query RP Sobek <rsobek@gmail.com> - 2018-05-12 10:55 -0700
      Re: responses to wkstation query Huge <Huge@nowhere.much.invalid> - 2018-05-12 19:13 +0000
        Re: responses to wkstation query Al Kossow <aek@bitsavers.org> - 2018-05-13 10:58 -0700
          Re: responses to wkstation query RP Sobek <rsobek@gmail.com> - 2018-05-14 12:02 -0700

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