Is the 3b2 dead?, I think so:-(

[Kevin Darcy]

In article <1990Jun7.163046.6487 at cbnewsc.att.com> pgn at cbnewsc.att.com (Novorolsky) writes:
>
>The 3B2 is NOT dead!
>The 3B2 is NOT dead!
>The 3B2 is NOT dead!
>The 3B2 is NOT dead!
>
>Okay??
>
>Maybe this statement should be posted monthly (Sheesh!)
>
>The 3B2 computer model 300 is no longer being manufactured.
>All other models are still in production.

The hardware is in production, certainly. But how long will that last as its
software support and installed base withers away?

>Just this last monday, Release 3.2.3 of the UNIX\(rg Operating system
>for the 3B2 models 500, 600, 700, and 1000 was announced.
>It provides up to 25% improved performance over the previous
>release (SVR3.2.2) for the 3B2. 

Who would buy 3.2.3 (yes, *buy* - I understand that 3.2.x is not considered a
"maintenance upgrade" for anyone who is already running 3.1.x or greater, so
it is not free under a normal contract) when 4.x is around the corner? AT&T's 
"parallel development" strategy doesn't make much sense to me.

>Other evidence of the health of the 3B2 line:
>
>    Continued sales of 3B2 computers to the USAF
>
>    Some additional SCSI peripherals:
>     Optical Disk Changer (A "juke-box" type arrangement)
>     320/525 MB cartridge tape unit which is compatible with
>       the 60MB and 120MB units in current 3B2 models.

Wow! You mean one will actually be able to back up a 3B2/600 onto 1 tape?
It's about time. But 525 Mb is still not enough to safely back up a whole
3B2/700 or /1000. And magneto-optical is so slow...

Speaking for myself, as usual.
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