Use of ``vi'' for business office word-processing

[Larry Campbell]

In article <575 at ih1ap.UUCP> sja at ih1ap.UUCP (Steve Alesch) writes:
>In article <344 at fai.UUCP>, stevem at fai.UUCP (Steve Minneman) writes:
>> -- there are some excellent "word-processing" packages such as LEX-11
>> available under both UNIX and VMS for machines such as VAXEN.  If you put your
>> word-processing software on the VAX (or similiar machine) you can teach casua
>> users of this software how to access it with mimimal interaction with other
>> commands and the operating system and yet allow them access to the additional
>> power of the larger machine when and if they so desire to learn and use it.-- 
>
>Come on, get serious!!!  Your [sic] suggesting a 3 secretary law office needs
>a $300,000 system!!!

Where have you been hiding?  The first VAX introduced, the 11/780, may
have sold for $300,000, but the present model range starts at under
$25,000 and extends up to mainframe-class machines selling for nearly
a million dollars.

A decently configured MicroVAX-II, able to support 8 to 12
simultaneous users, can be had for between $25K and $30K, before
discounting.  Maybe a tiny bit of overkill for 3 users ($10K per
user), but definitely cost effective for 6 or more.  At 10 users, the
per-user cost is about $2500.  And let's not have any flames about PC
clones for $900; the VAX and PC architectures are in entirely
different leagues.

The nicest part about the VAX is you can upgrade in many small steps
all the way to a cluster of 8800s capable of supporting thousands of
online users, without changing one bit of the applications software.

Oops, sorry to have strayed off the original "vi vs. WordStar etc."
discussion.  Just wanted to set the record straight about VAX prices.
-- 
Larry Campbell                             The Boston Software Works, Inc.
ARPA: campbell%maynard.uucp at harvard.ARPA   120 Fulton Street, Boston MA 02109
UUCP: {alliant,wjh12}!maynard!campbell     (617) 367-6846