Mentec

[Johnny Billquist]

Hi, Rod.

Jerome makes some interesting, if strange and faulty assumptions.
Such as assuming that since Mentec hasn't complained although people 
"appear" to have been using and posting about RT-11 on classiccmp list 
for a long time.

First of all, we don't even know if Mentec knows about the classiccmp 
list, neither if they scan it (which perhaps some people should be happy 
about).

Second, I can't remember that many people actually coming out saying 
that they are using RT-11 without a license.

So I would somewhat ignore Jeromes view on the legality of things.

That said, I'll answer some of your questions.

"Rod Smallwood" <RodSmallwood at mail.ediconsulting.co.uk> skrev:
 >
 > Hi Jerome
 >
 > 	We seem to be converging on our views. The simulator is a simple
 > issue. I want to see the old systems run and live again. If I had spent
 > years restoring an old aircraft to flying condition I would not park it
 > and use MS flight simulator instead!

I agree with you. It's fun to actually run the real hardware, and not 
just play with a simulator. Not the same feel of satisfaction. I still 
play with an 11/70 here, even though we also have E11.

 > RT-11, RSX-11M & RSX11-D, and RSTS were all current when I joined DEC in
 > 1975. The hardware to support them (Mentec excepted) has not been made
 > for at least ten years. The answer may lie a little deeper. I think what
 > may lie at the back of it is if they provide it they may be liable for
 > any damage it does. Licenses do not change laws and the law of the land
 > will always take precedence. It might be a risk based decision.

That is probably one part of it.
Another part is that they have paying customers (still) and probably 
don't think it's a good idea to start giving it all away for free, which 
means they need to draw up some sort of license that will limit things 
in a useful way. Doing that costs money, and they probably can't see any 
profit from it. So why spend that money?

 > However I'd still like to know what are the answers to the fundimental
questions:
 >
 > 	1.  Are Mentec still selling PDP-11 operating system licenses?

Yes. As someone who have customers who still buy from Mentec I can 
definitely confirm that they were still selling ten months ago. Can't 
see a reason why they should have stopped since then. This is RSX and 
layered products, by the way.

 > 	2.  Are they still making PDP-11 hardware?

No. I think they stopped manufacturing "real" PDP-11 hardware, and are 
now pushing for emulators. However, that is a grey zone. We haven't had 
a real "true" PDP-11 CPU since the 11/20. All the rest are microcoded. 
Microcode is also software. :-)

 > 	3.  Why have Mentec removed all mention of PDP-11 products from
 > their web sites.

That is a really good question, and one which I don't have an answer to. 
But I'd like to know if someone else have.

	Johnny

-- 
Johnny Billquist                  || "I'm on a bus
                                   ||  on a psychedelic trip
email: bqt at softjar.se             ||  Reading murder books
pdp is alive!                     ||  tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol