Conference 7.286::digital

Sure - Bob Palmer has sold Digital to Wal-Mart and has gone back to making
music videos.

				Steve

    Great! That means we get to see more of the ladies in the slinky black
    dresses! I hope he stands behind them this time.

    Steve -
    
    	Thanks for relieving the Monday morning blahs. I'm still laughing.
    
    		the Greyhawk

    
    	Steve,
    
    	A DVN to musak.....must be worth going to see. 
    
    	Can't imagine BP in a long black slinky dress though.
    
    	alex.

    OK, how about this futuristic one; 
                    
    Digital merges with Microsoft.  
    In a merger announced this week the Maynard, MA. and Redmond CA., 
    companies informed a hopeful audience that the merger will "create a 
    21st century company" whose presence in the technology marketplace is 
    unrivaled..... 
    
    
    ""CHUCKLES""
    
    On a more serious note;
    
    Digital announces first profitable year in 5 years. Divisionalization
    proves successful - Digital once again back on the road to
    profitability.   
    
       

    
    Re .5,
    
    	Can't think which one is more fantasy....but a merger is a good
    	rumour.
    
    	By the way, is "...very significant...blah,blah" intended as another 
    	attempt to raise employees expectations or is this just another 
    	reorganisational announcement with the usual VP supporting cast.
    
    	Maybe I'm just feeling cynical again and need another slap.
    
    	Alex.

>    Digital merges with Microsoft.  
>   In a merger announced this week the Maynard, MA. and Redmond CA., 
                                                         ^^^^^^^^^^^

You neglect to mention that this merger is happening in parallel with
another mega-merger.  The State of California is merging with the
State of Washington.  The new combined state will be called
Cashington, and will have the postal abbreviation CA (California's
previous abbreviation).  The state capital will be in Redmond, CA,
with a prominent wealthy businessman from Redmond being the likely
Governor.  Cashington will be unique in that it will be a
discontiguous state (with several hundred miles or Oregon in between).
Early merger talks included Oregon, however, large numbers of demonstrators
appearing in Salem, OR with bumper-stickers "Don't Californ_____ Orygun"
swayed the Oregon legislator from participation in the mega-merger.

       

    I believe that we will see that Pesatori is announced as President or
    COO of Digital with Palmer being CEO and/or Chairman.
    
    Along with this will be talk about our profitable year, lifting of
    salary freeze, enhanced Save plan etc etc.
    
    There may also be some other stuff aimed at slowing the alarming
    attrition now underway.
    
    Only 1.5 days till we find out for sure....
    
    cs

  What time on Wed. will the DVN take place? Due to a system manfunction, I
can't access Livewire Worldwide News.

    
    Ditto on the "alarming rate of attrition", even in our darkest days
    I've never seen it this bad in the field. Unbelieveable...
    
    Of course we still have no budget numbers or compensation plan, so...
    
    On the lighter side, I love a Digital/Microsoft combination. Make all
    our Alpha fantasies come true. And Bill Gates gets immediate entre into
    every ABU account tomorrow. Would make all their Back Office and
    Enterprise dreams come true. Now what could be better (especially if
    its an all-stock transaction)?
    
    	
    		the Greyhawk
    
    
    		

    12:30 eastern time.

    re: .8
    
    Actually, Bob's new title of Chairman of the Board was quietly posted 
    in the Corporate Management Committee page of VTX LIVEWIRE on July
    24th:
    
     About Digital                                               LIVE WIRE
     
     Corporate Management Committee                              Date:
    24-Jul-1995
     
                                                                  Page   1
    of 1
                             Corporate Management Committee
    
           Bob Palmer                Chairman of the Board, President and
                                     Chief Executive Officer
    

Re: .12

It may have been quiet since it was two months after the fact.  See note
3895.

				Steve

    Sorry to lower the tone....but seriously who would want to buy Digital?
    
    Microsoft already has access to all the ABU accounts and do they really
    need all the overhead and such a large injection of cynicism and low
    morale?
    
    Who needs Alpha, perhaps even more than us?
    
    Andrew.

>         <<< Note 4012.14 by UIST::GRACIE "Mafuta!" >>>
>                      -< who wants us? >-
>
>    Sorry to lower the tone....but seriously who would want to buy Digital?

    Well, not disney.  They just blew their cash on Cap.
    Cities/ABC, and why would they need another mickey-mouse
    company?

    The dvn can't be anything important, like a merger, as that
    simply wouldn't be announced to employees first.   You'd hear
    about that in the media before it was announced internally.

    I like the Pesatori rumor, or I've heard that their might be
    some variable compensation company wide in '96, like the
    bonuses tied to group performance in the PCBU.

    Place your bets:-
    
    sell off the PCBU
    sell off MCS
    merge with ATT
    profitable
    salary increases for all
    stock options for all!
    sell/merge alpha technology to/with Intel/HP?
    
    One more day to add to the fantasy list

    Does .16 mean that Wal-Mart and/or slinky black dresses are out of the
    running?
    

Speculation doesn't achieve anything constructive for us as individuals or the 
company. So why not just wait and see?

Phil.

    
    
    Well we know it isn't the results.  I think it's something positive by
    the tone of the announcement.
    
    
    Mike

    Heard on WBZ on the way in:

    Microsoft plans to make a major business announcement tomorrow.
    It is expected to be a widening of the partnership with Digital.    
    

    Now, if I were wanting to "wind up" as many DECcies as possible, .20 is
    _exactly_ the note I would write   :-)
    
    regards,
    //Alan

    I Confirm .20 I heard it last night and this morning......

> Speculation doesn't achieve anything constructive for us as individuals or the 
> company. So why not just wait and see?
> 
> Phil.

Nonsense. In uncertain times, where individuals feel they have no
say over their own future, speculation is a way of asserting 
a (non-existent) control over what-might-be.  Although ultimately
an empty act, it can act in a stablizing way on the psyche.

 

(Snigger)

How much broader a relationship with MSFT could there be???

We currently have joint engineering and marketing, support, training, etc, 
etc, etc.

Press reports indicate Bob P will be joining Bill G in SF tomorrow, 
immediately before the DVN broadcast. There was no mention in the Livewire 
announcement where the DVN was going to broadcast from. 

FWIW, I think there's at least SOME possibility of more than just a 
"broadening" of our relationship.

SteveS

    
    How's THIS for speculation...Windows 95 on ALPHA!!
    
    Steve B. 

        <<< NYOSS1::DISK$LIB:[NOTES$LIBRARY]DIGITAL_INVESTING.NOTE;1 >>>
                             -< Digital Investing >-
================================================================================
Note 10.1359               The Price of Digital stock               1359 of 1359
24486::WINKLEMAN "Winkleaustinman"                   10 lines   1-AUG-1995 09:03
                                 -< Microsoft >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
from today's WSJ, "Microsoft, Digital Expected to Broaden Partnership"

	"Redmond WA -- Microsoft Corp and Digital Equipment
are expected to announce a broadened partnership to
sell computer systems and software to corporations."

and it goes on to talk about how Windows NT will run on the
Alpha.

page C21, midwest edition

>How much broader a relationship with MSFT could there be???

Bob Palmer and Bill Gates will announce their engagement.

    
    how about a joint bid for HP ?
    
    intrigued of Warrington 

    Folks,
    
     The Computerworld I received yesterday mentioned an announcement this
    week on licensing cluster technology to other platforms ( rumors
    section I think ) under NT.
    
     Chuck

  The return of "management by punching walls"?

                                   Atlant
                  (No relation to Chuck of the previous note)

    
.28> Bob Palmer and Bill Gates will announce their engagement.
    
    Who will wear the slinky black dress?
    

>    Who will wear the slinky black dress?
    
Kermit the Frog, er I mean Mr Gates, will no doubt wear that bloody pullover
again!

Chris.

A bloody pullover?  Do OJ Simpson's lawyers know about this?

    You're close with the pullover reference. In fact, Microsoft and
    Digital will be entering into a new venture in clothing design and
    sales, combining Palmer's expertise in marketing with Gate's sense
    of clothing style ...

    ...and to reflect the joint nature of this clothing line, it'll be
    called  BillyBob -- or was that the name of Microsoft's Bob ported to
    Digital's operating systems?
    
    --just couldn't resist...
    
    -randy

    ... with an AlphaGeneration logo!
    

	Can you get them from Lands End?

							mike

    
    	And other fine discounters everywhere...
    
    
    	Windows 95 on Alpha, eh????  Watch this space, BillG wants a
    hardware company.
    
    
    		the Greyhawk

    NT Clusters has got to be it....
    
    Nothing else makes sense.  Although I do like the Bob and Bill
    engagement......
    
    cs

    
    According to this week's Computerworld, it IS the announcement
    on clusters; i.e., Digital clustering technology will be the
    standard for all Intel and RISC NT implementations.
    
    RV

    
    	That is about as significant as announcing that Muffy's poodle just
    had puppies. Big deal, you can do that with press releases and other
    marketing hype. If BillG and RP are getting together to just announce
    Clusters for WNT, then this would clearly state to me we are still one
    confused company.
    
    	major announcements for the world, all employees, and DVN time
    should not be wasted on logical progressions of an existing
    relationship. I sure hope the boys got something bigger than that...
    
    		the Greyhawk

    My gut feel is that it is a small thing blown out of proportions.
    Gates was in town and BP happened to need a pitstop to refuel his
    jet and the DVN guys were bugging him for some ra-ra. I'll be
    pleasantly surprised if it is more exciting than the Oracle show.
	
    Perhaps we'll all get 10% additional mail-in-rebate on MS-Office :-)

    >Per

    Greybeard, er Greyhawk, I agree completely (probably a first :-)
    
    SteveS

    You said it right Greyhawk! I agree wholeheartedly!
    
    

  Why do you think Gates named the new Microsoft office assistant
  technology "Bob"?
                                   Atlant

Perhaps it's to announce that Microsoft has licensed Bob's name back to him.

    
    Now we'll be named Digisquish. We'll also be marketing a subsystem for
    "Bob" called "Herb" (ask your teenager what "Herb" means).

    
    
    	We were told today by a Digital VP that both Bob Palmer and Bill	
    	Gates will be part of this "important business announcement",
    	though she did not know, or did not divulge, the subject.

	From an Associated Press news report tonight:

Chief Executive Robert Palmer of Digital and Bill Gates of Microsoft will
announce an alliance at a news conference in San Francisco on Wednesday.

Microsoft will commit to developing programs that can be run by computers 
powered by Digital's Alpha microprocessor. Digital engineers will be assigned
to work at Microsoft in Redmond.

Microsoft will loan Digital $65 million  to help train 1,500 employees in
Windows NT.

Re: .-1

>Microsoft will loan Digital $65 million  to help train 1,500 employees in
>Windows NT.

    ?!?!

    $65M / 1500 = $43.3K/employee trained

    Yow!  I'm in the wrong business!

	Mike

    re -.1
    
    >>> $65M / 1500 = $43.3K/employee trained
    
    I already known NT. Can I opt for the cash instead. Or perhaps an
    equipment option. Since I run NT on Intel. Perhaps a cash in on
    vacation time? Or a deal to shut me up?
    
    -Mike Z.

$43.3K doesn't go very far when you spend it dialling
into Microsoft's 1-900-SUPPORT phone line...

    I don't have any teenagers. Whats a "Herb"?

    Back a few notes...
    
    Bob is the MS product to make using a PC easier for the home user.  If
    MS did buy/merge with us, does that mean Palmer will be put on the
    'home' program?

I find it strange that it seems to be a big deal that Microsoft is going
to continue to support NT on Alpha.  Makes me (and maybe others) wonder if
they had had serious thoughts of doing otherwise.  It could leave an opening
for MIPS and PowerPC vendors to instill doubts in our customers.

				Steve

    
Extracted from Livewire 8/2


                         Microsoft, Digital form alliance
                          making Windows-based solutions
                         next wave of enterprise computing

         Digital and Microsoft Corp. today announced a strategic alliance
   to meet customer demand for Microsoft-based solutions and support in
   enterprisewide computing.  The alliance combines Microsoft
   client/server products with Digital's leadership in enterprise systems,
   service, support and systems integration, enabling customers to deploy
   business solutions on the Microsoft Windows and Windows NT operating
   systems with assurance of integration into the most complex business
   environments.
 
        Highlights of the alliance include substantial funding by
   Microsoft in Digital's support and systems integration business focused
   on Microsoft-based solutions; Digital's commitment to train at least
   1,500 new certified professionals for that business; commitment by
   Microsoft for products on Alpha AXP-based systems; engineering
   cooperation; cross-licensing of patent portfolios; Microsoft's
   licensing of Digital clustering technology for inclusion in future
   Microsoft clustering solutions for Windows NT; and joint marketing and
   field engagement.

         "Customers want the volume applications, cost model, and
   flexibility of PC-style client/server solutions, as well as the
   service, support, systems integration and extremely high availability
   and scalability of enterprise solutions," said Bill Gates, chairman and
   CEO of Microsoft.  "This alliance gives customers the best of both
   worlds.  The complementary corporate technologies, services and
   business strengths of Microsoft and Digital will provide a safe,
   practical way to make Windows-based solutions the next wave of
   enterprise computing."

         "Digital's goal is to provide customers unsurpassed expertise in
   open computing solutions," said Robert B. Palmer, Digital president,
   chairman and chief executive officer.  "Our strengths in systems,
   service, networking connectivity and systems integration will extend
   the reach of Microsoft's client/server software throughout the world's
   enterprises and deliver a competitive advantage for customers."
   Joint funding to expand support capabilities

         The alliance includes substantial funding by Microsoft in
   Digital's worldwide Multivendor Customer Services and Systems
   Integration businesses focused on Microsoft-based solutions.  Digital
   is committed to develop a global service and systems integration focus
   on incorporating Microsoft technology in enterprise solutions.  The
   services will include new mission-critical capabilities.
         In addition to more than 800 Digital staff already certified on
   Microsoft products, Digital is committed to at least 1,500 new
   certifications in 24 months, by far the largest number of Microsoft
   Certified Systems Engineers known to Microsoft.
  
         Microsoft also has selected Digital for the Launch Support Team
   of Windows 95 in the United States, and for the Enterprise Migration
   Program, which assists resellers in successfully migrating corporate
   customers to Windows 95 and Microsoft Office for Windows 95.
         Digital and Microsoft reconfirmed their commitment to Windows NT
   on Alpha-based systems.  Digital soon will introduce a family of Intel-
   and Alpha-based systems optimized for Windows NT.  Microsoft will
   release the Microsoft BackOffice family and other server software
   simultaneously on Alpha- and Intel-based platforms.  Microsoft also
   will release Microsoft Office and other client software simultaneously
   on Alpha-based and other RISC-based systems.  This is in addition to a
   recent agreement that allows Digital to offer Microsoft BackOffice
   products on Digital AlphaServer systems and Intel-based Digital Prioris
   PC servers.

   Engineering cooperation, technology licenses part of pact

          As part of the agreement, a Digital engineering group will be on
   site at Microsoft for Alpha-related development and product
   integration.  Microsoft will provide technical cooperation for product
   support and engineering and will provide Digital with access to
   Microsoft source code and engineering consulting resources.
          The companies have executed a cross-licensing agreement on
   patent portfolios to facilitate cooperation.  In addition, Microsoft
   has licensed Digital clustering technology for inclusion in future
   Microsoft clustering solutions to help accelerate deployment of common
   clustering technology on Windows NT Server.  Digital is the inventor
   of and market leader in clustering, which allows a set of servers to
   act as one.
          Integration of mail products is another part of the alliance.
   Microsoft will support Digital developing interoperability between
   Digital's ALL-IN-1 and MAILWorks products with Microsoft Exchange
   Server.  Digital's more than 5 million mail customers will be able to
   use Microsoft Exchange Server and benefit from Digital's enterprise
   extensions for that product.  Digital will also use Microsoft Exchange
   Server internally: Digital's enterprise mail backbones will embrace
   Microsoft Exchange Server as Digital groups begin to use Microsoft
   Exchange-based applications.
 
         Digital is accelerating programs to integrate its OpenVMS
   systems with Windows NT, including client/server applications support,
   data and system management, additional enterprise features, clustering,
   and network integration with Windows NT and Microsoft BackOffice.
   Microsoft will support Digital with its commitment to make OpenVMS the
   most integrated system with the Windows environment by providing
   Digital with access to source code and consulting engineers.  Digital
   is also committed to providing the best interoperability between the
   Windows family and UNIX systems, including out-of-box integration
   between Windows and Windows NT with UNIX servers, integrated security,
   object interoperability via COM/ObjectBroker, and support for the Win32
   APIs on Digital UNIX.

   ISV recruitment

          Digital and Microsoft will work together to evangelize the
   alliance to independent software vendors (ISVs).  The companies will
   jointly target ports to Windows NT on Alpha systems.  They will
   encourage OpenVMS ISVs to write to Win32, OLE object technology and
   other Windows Open Services Architecture (WOSA) APIs, which are
   available on Windows NT Server today from Microsoft and which Digital
   will provide for OpenVMS.  For certain high-end applications, the
   companies will encourage ISVs to write to Win32, OLE and other WOSA
   APIs on OpenVMS to obtain 24x365 support, disaster tolerance and the
   greatest cluster scalability.  Digital plans to provide developer kits
   for three-tier client/server applications.
   Joint marketing and field engagement

          Digital and Microsoft will put in place a marketing plan with a
   joint management committee to oversee marketing programs to customers.
   This effort will greatly expand existing programs such as hands-on
   technical labs at Networld + Interop in spring 1995, a corporate
   seminar series recently concluded in Japan, a fall 1995 advertising
   campaign, Digital integration and services for Windows 95 and Windows
   NT, and cross-training of sales forces.  Both companies will commit
   local field personnel and worldwide regional management to work
   together and jointly engage major customers.
          Digital also plans to establish Microsoft Enterprise Competency
   Centers worldwide to help customers, developers and others integrate
   Microsoft solutions with other solutions.  The first center is slated
   for the Seattle area.
         
   
   
       
       

    So briefly what does it all mean to us as employees and us as a
    company?

    
    	It means we are slowly becoming Digisquish; that salespeople can
    sell Alphas to their immediate families; and, most importantly,
    existing customers can buy Alphas without having to say they're sorry.
    
    	Otherwise, life as normal....
    
    
    		the Greyhawk

I guess I can't see why this is considered a "very significant business
announcement".  It's basically the same thing we said when we first announced
Windows NT for Alpha machines.  We seem to be getting a little more 
cooperation from Microsoft now, but I still don't see how this is going
to get ISVs flocking to Alpha.

Clearly it's in Microsoft's best interest to get people to revisit their
code and produce 32-bit code to move toward Windows 9n and Cairo.  But are
they planning to add anything to Windows NT which would facilitate the
ports?  It doesn't sound it.

Sounds to me like some handwaving and mumbling, but I'm still going to wait
for the execution.  Our ISVs only care about volume sales of Alpha NT boxes
before committing to the port, and this chicken and egg problem still 
persists.

j.

    To me the gem in all of this is the training bit. This and a number of
    other things the company is starting to do suggests that as a company
    we've started to realize again that a key competative differentiator for
    Digital is the technical skill of our people in the field.
    
     

    
     Well bottom line is Wall Street is saying this is a great move.
    Stock is up. Digital is in the news, again. Naysayers beware.
    This is a happening place.
    
    -Mike Z.

    The Hull facility in Canada has been gearing up for Win 95 telephone
    support. So far all this has ment is a bunch of university level
    new hires and coop students. No significant migration/traning 
    for existing MCS staff
    
    
    Brian V
     

    
    	Interesting DVN.  Guess noone told Bill Gates that we weren't DEC
    any longer.  
    
    	We are DEC, let's grab onto it and run with it.  After hearing
    Gates use it about 100 times in the DVN, it is obvious that this is how
    we are known so we should take advantage of it.
    
    Mike

re Note 4012.66 by GRANPA::MWANNEMACHER:

>     	We are DEC, let's grab onto it and run with it.  After hearing
>     Gates use it about 100 times in the DVN, it is obvious that this is how
>     we are known so we should take advantage of it.
  
        Well, it's been obvious for a lot longer than that.

        Bob

(Perhaps the title of this topic should be changed from "No Patience"!)

Done

    When's the 64bit version of Windows NT due out ?
    Would the team consider THAT as "close co-operation" ?

    
    	Ahhhh, Mr. Wallace has hit the nail on the head. 64BIT WNT means
    more money for you and me. I'm ready...
    
    		the Greyhawk

	Is there a business need for a 64-bit Windows NT yet?

							mike

    
    For some reason the DVN sites at HLO were without sound. Did anyone
    else experience this?
    
    Steve B.

No, but here in MRO the sound was so bad that it was barely intelligible.
Then again, there wasn't much of content.

I'm curious about one thing that was mentioned in passing about patent
portfolios.  Did I hear that we're licensing each others' patent portfolios?
If so, this is fairly major since Microsoft has around 70 patents and we have
almost 1500.  Maybe we finally went after Microsoft for Windows NT patent
infringements and this is their compromise...

j.

>	Is there a business need for a 64-bit Windows NT yet?

who cares about `yet'?  I reckon that it would be a great idea to exploit
the full power of the CPU asap.  People who asked `do we need it yet' caused
the infamous 640K limit on PCs!

Chris.

    .. ahem...
    
    OK, Strategic this, strategic that.....
    
    
    why do Office apps run like junk on alpha just now.. (ps I know the
    answer. Just need it fixed).
    
    Visual Basic. Please. Dumb customers say they they want it. Good on
    Intel (only) right now.
    
    Oh, and in the Field (The UK, particularly, where my muddy field is),
    can Gatesy please tell *his* people about this. We sometimes get lousy
    support from MicroTypes here.
    
    
    Now, about my Turbolaser NT machine.
    
    
    

>    why do Office apps run like junk on alpha just now.. (ps I know the
>    answer. Just need it fixed).

Did you get the native version?  It's been available for quite a while
now (6mo+).  (It used to be that my home system [dx2/66] ran circles
around the Jensen.  Native Office+Avanti now runs circles around my home
system - of course more memory does help...)

Look what I just received, at Wed Aug 2 16:04 Eastern Time.

I'm sure glad the Employee Communications are keeping me informed!


---

Received: from MAILMN by MU (Nnmail X0.38) with mail-11; Wed, 02 Aug 95 16:04:37 -0400
From: MAILMN::MAILMN::MRGATE::"NEMTS::SALES::A1::EMPLOYEE"
To: @Distribution_List
Subject: Major Business Announcement Wednesday on DVN                           1

From:	NAME: Employee Communications       
	FUNC:                                 
	TEL:                                  <EMPLOYEE AT A1 AT SALES>
To:	See Below


   From:  Kate Nelson @AKO, DTN 244-6525
   
        A very significant business announcement for Digital will be
   broadcast over the Digital Video Network (DVN) on Wednesday, Aug. 2 at
   12:30 p.m. Eastern Time (9:30 a.m. Pacific Time) in the U.S.  Employees 
   are encouraged to watch this broadcast if possible.
        The program will be carried live on Aug. 2 at 5:30 p.m. in the
   United Kingdom, and at 6:30 p.m. on the Continent.  A special rebroadcast 
   for employees will be at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 3 in the U.K., and 11:30 a.m. 
   in Continental Europe. 
        For a list of DVN sites, consult item #7, "Digital Video Network
   Information," on LIVE WIRE's main menu page.

 Distribution:
 This message was delivered to you utilizing the Readers Choice delivery 
 services.  You received this message because you are a U.S. employee.
 If you have questions regarding this message, please contact Kate Nelson.

	Visual Basic 4.0 will be able to generate 32-bit apps. It
	will be interesting to see if they make an Alpha version.
	(They will have needed to re-write VB 4.0 in C, rather than
	ASM)

						mike

    two cents from behind the keyboard...what it all means:
    
    Microsoft is reminding Intel and Wall St that Windows NT is on other
    architectures, and that he (Gates) isn't tied to any particular
    platform strategy in the long run.  He knows he needs a worldwide
    service capability and doesn't want to build his own- so why not
    rebuild Digital's?  DEC takes the risk, Microsoft gets a support org. 
    He doesn't want that revenue stream anyway, too much work.  Clusters on
    NT?  DEC does still have some marketable buzzwords in the corporate
    legacy, and NT has to be seen as enterprise credible somehow- get it
    associated with DEC's "Clusters" and a little shine may rub off.
    
    DougO

It'd be nice if Alpha is to the 90's (and beyond) what the '86 series
was to the '80s...

Chris.

    
    	And that little shine goes both ways.
    
    	It sure as hell *didn't* hurt us one bit.
    
    		the Greyhawk

    RE Palmer giving Gates a T-shirt ...
    
    I was right! The whole thing *is* just a front for a new venture in
    haberdashery.

    
    
    I agree with Greyhawk, this type of exposure can't hurt us one bit and
    I think will do wonders for us in becoming more than a watch company.
    
    
    Mike

    
    Digital stock has traded over 4.25M shares today.  Over twice the
    normal volume. Up 2 3/8.
    
    fred();

    NAILED IT ! check out .5 in - Proud to be "almost" right on both
    occasions !
    
    Now for the next "Future" view - Windows 95 in the next 2-4 years will be
    successful when accompanied by new consumer (and some low-end
    application) Intel platform users.  W/95 will suffer some early hits, and
    Microsoft will take some consumer bullets in the early adopter attempts
    to migrate to the new platform.  This will provide major winfalls for 
    services (Digital)oriented functions.  As the early to late majority 
    adopters begin to make the migration move, the kinks will be worked out, 
    the satisfaction levels will increase, and the general populace will begin
    to understand the true potential for DDE, OLE and WOPA to name but a
    few. 
    Coupled with the decreasing cost of memory, the market will begin to
    move toward Win NT workstation/server without the impediments of 3.1
    to 95.  I say this because the human interface will be similar (95 to
    NT) and the USER will be more comfortable and Knowledgeable.  Close
    adherence to standards will actually increase the platform
    functionality and therefore increase the human ability to do and demand
    more. 
    Today we witnessed the move from horseback to automobile. On a platform 
    basis the "user interface" is going from Model "A" to Model "T" and as 
    the USER gains more knowledge of how the durn thing works, the user
    will demand more and more creature comforts. In short, WAY TO GO
    DIGITAL !  
          
    
    Dave
    

    
    Migital!
    

    DigiSoft?  MicroDigit?  Soft-it-all?
    
    The visuals just aren't working with these somehow....

    RE: the "user interface" is going from Model "A" to Model "T" 
    
    FWIW, The model "A" was the successor to the Model "T" and was
    the vehicle with more creature comforts ("Henry's made a lady
    out of Lizzie...")
    
    Jim

      Hi,
      
      Did you notice Bob's missed change to promote our name change.
      
      Bill used "DEC" about 20 times. I counted "digital" ones.
      
      Regards,
      
      Jan

    RE: .76 or somesuch (no support from MS in the UK).
    
    This is not true. Microsoft have funded deskspace, accounts,
    telephones, office facilities etc for a group of 8 technical
    consultants from Digital in the UK. I am a member of that group - the
    Microsoft BackOffice Capability Centre, managed by Julian Kempster @
    UCG.
    
    Since "arriving" in MS in April, we have done lots of training and
    evaluations... but more importantly we have also done 1 million pounds
    worth of business.
    
    (whether "done" = booked, agreed, closed, hardware, software or
    consultancy alone seems debateable!).
    
    Cheers, Chris

      >Today AXP, tomorrow... ??  Can we acknowledge the truth?  But I digress
      >from the point of this particular note.
      
      Me too. I was so busy counting the number of DEC's that I missed
      the point. I told my wife that I would come home with
      wonderful news that will shake the (computer) world. 
      
      But It looks like I am investing in the wrong product.
      
      Regards,
      Jan
      CSC Holland .......................... LinkWorks support
      
      

    re: 88
    > DigiSoft?  MicroDigit?  Soft-it-all?
    
    How about Palmergate?
    
    	Jon.

    I think this is also about mindshare. Microsoft has it and AXP needs
    it.

Re: .96

AXP?  What's that?  We don't have a product called AXP (anymore).


Now that I've seen the fuller explanation of what was announced, I realize that
the "continued support of Alpha" meant that MS would continue to release
NT layered products for Alpha - this is good news.

				Steve

    
    Nightly Business Report did about a 5 minute interview with Bob Palmer
    and Bill Gates last evening.  Probably worth several $M in advertising.
    I didn't take notes, but some things I remember: Bill Gates very
    enthusiastic about Alpha, and Alpha servers, there will be no
    "equity swap" between Digital and Microsoft, Bill Gates said (rather
    nervously with a glance towards Palmer) that Microsoft had no interest
    in getting into hardware business,  AXP repeatedly referred to as
    "Alpha", Digital referred to as "digital".

    fred();

Fred, AXP was canned several months ago.

    re .99
    
    That's why they call me "mushroom".
    :^)
    fred();

    Even made it to the world-wide BBC World Service Business roundup with
    a very positive up-beat interpretation.  We were consistently referred
    to as "Digital".  I have never before heard our company mentioned on
    World Service - it was a nice surprise.
    
    /Chris.

    
    Saw the DVN tape late yesterday - almost didn't go since I've the 
    print material already. It was worth it!
    
    From a mindshare perspective, it was a #1! AT least for the short term
    it's a win-win, pending successful execeution of course.
    
    I was concern that there is NO exclusivity in any way from this
    agreement. When asked about it, Gates implied since that there are enough
    differentiating factors an actual "exclusivity" is unnecessary. MS is
    free to cut a deal with HP, SUN whatever just like Digital is free to
    pursue multiple operating systems. I am not entirely happy with his
    answers. Whomever came up with the agreement, IMHO, ought to put in
    a minimum, call it, a marketing window, to ensure that MS-Digital has
    the ramp-up time to REALLY make this happen.
    
    On another note, Digital taking more risks than MS - our reputation
    especially since we're the ones responsible to making MS installations
    successful. MS' obvious risk is losing $65M which is pocket change
    anyway for Gates.
    
    Another concern is "cross-licensing" of patented products across the
    2 companies. A noter in here mentioned actual numbers, but if I
    recalled the ratio is probably at least 3:1 ours to MS. When I heard
    the last "cooperative bullet", the IBM-MS divorce immediately came to
    mind. Should there be a divorce, won't Digital be another MS victim??
    I hope there's a tighter, VERY well thought-out prenuptials in place!!
    
    

    re -.all *patents*
    
    I would respectfully sumbit that most of our patents would be on the
    hardware side of the house, not software. And even if they were software
    perhaps the kind Microsoft has no interest in.
    
    -Mike Z.

    
    I think that if exclusivity was what we wanted, the alliance wouldn't
    have happened.  MS isn't going to tie their hands like that.
    
    With regards to the 3:1 or whatever ration as far as the licensing
    goes, I think that the differential will be made up and then some by
    the amount of users which use MS software as opposed to the amount
    which uses our software.
    
    Mike

    
    Exchange was mentioned several times, and All-in-1 was also there.
    
    Does this imply the upcoming funeral of Linkworks ?    

    ... that DOESN't include some Dignitary characterizing it as 
    
                           The Best Of Both Worlds
    
    ??  We said the same thing when the Digital/Apple Strategic Alliance
    was announced in 1990ish (Jack Smith and John Sculley presiding), and I
    even WROTE the same phrase into the script-that-was-never-read-because-
    of-one-recalcitrant-PR1ME-VP that CEO Joe Henson almost gave with the
    same John Sculley in 1987ish!  So I was gobsmacked to hear one or
    t'other of our CoCEOs use the same phrase.
    
    Ah well, I guess that "The Best of Both Worlds" epitomizes the forces
    that drive the ever-accelerating convergences in our industry.  If it
    ain't characterizable as the rapprochement of "two different worlds,"
    then it ain't interesting.  So the differences may be slightly hyped to
    maintain the hope that the media might find it interesting.  Such is
    the nature of puffery.  
    
    I hasten to add that the Digital/Microsoft alliance requires imho only
    a minimum of puffery to gain media marketshare, and I am really REALLY
    pleased, as are many of us, that it's getting such wide and deep
    coverage.  Right ON!!  Who was it said, earlier, that "Digital is a
    'Happenin' place?"  :-)
    
                           

    .55 "Herb" - A totally clueless dweeb or nerd.

    Speaking of clueless ...
    
    Anybody remember what kind of fanfares were made for the Advanced
    Computing Environment announcements ? Comparable with this, or not ?
    
    Anybody know what happened to those involved ?
    
    Or is it all best left forgotten...

    John, I think I still have the videos, if you want to check them out...
    
    Andrew

re Note 4012.106 by LJSRV2::KALIKOW:

>                            The Best Of Both Worlds

        Certain things come to mind for me when I see the phrase
        "Best Of Both Worlds" -- since I'm a Star Trek fan.

        Bob

    it certainly is a mere coincidence that on the front page of the German
    weekly "Die ZEIT" (issue 11-AUG-1995) appeared an article confirming
    that Windows 95 is the 'Bluff of the Century'.
    
    Now with this 'alliance' the intended output will be to make the world
    believe that Microsoft knows networking, messaging, clustering...
    
    And believe me - the world will believe it !  
    What a bluff !
    
     

    Followup question, Artur --
    
    I'm not quite sure I follow what about Windows95 is purported to be a
    bluff.  Who are Microsoft bluffing?  I gather that the article takes
    the position that Windows95 is somehow less than Microsoft's hype would
    lead us to believe.  But who are they supposed to be bluffing?  I, for
    one, don't see any competition for Microsoft operating systems...  
    
    I might be convinced that they are using Windows95, and all the co-
    products that they are bundling with it, to bluff their competition in
    office applications, or in online information services...?  Could you
    share a bit more of why Die Zeit contends they're bluffing?  Tnx.
    
    Dan
    

      Microsoft will be paying $12 million to The Rolling Stones to use
    their song "Start Me Up" in a Windows95 advertising campaign.This is
    the first time the Stones have let one of their songs be used in a
    commercial.Mick Jagger set the price at $12 million figuring Microsoft
    would not pay it.He was wrong,but is also $12 million richer!
    
                                      Rich

    
    	Trade press says the actual number was $4MM for the Stones record
    rights.
    
    	The best quote was an agent who said, "You don't always get what
    you want, but Microsoft can always get what you need."
    
    		the Greyhawk

    
    Is "Start Me Up" the song that contains the line, "You make a grown man
    cry"?
    

    Re: -1 Ahhh, yeah, there's also the dead man line as well. ;-)
    
    Jim C.
    
    

    I just loaded Win95, Windows 95 office (the 32bit version) and tested
    my other softwares at home on a no-brand clone... It works fine.. Just
    fine....
    
    The week After Aug 24th Microsoft is expected to ship 8-11million 
    copies of Win95....
    
    To a few of their intimate friends...
    
    When the WNT Win95 shell ships it'll look like one interface with 
    one company behind it... 
    
    Win 95 isn't a bluff... it's a company playing the market.. Well.
    Bet on these guys to win...
    
    JMHO
    
    John Wisniewski

    
    How others are seeing the merger (from PCWeek):
    
    
> August 21, 1995
> 
> PowerPC/NT combination targets the enterprise
> 
> By Stephanie LaPolla
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> In the wake of Digital Equipment Corp. and Microsoft Corp.'s
> alliance to push the Windows NT/Alpha platform into the enterprise,
> RISC server vendors are planning a PowerPC/NT blitz of their own in
> the fall.
> 
> Following the lead of Motorola Inc. and Bull HN Information Systems
> Inc., which have already announced Windows NT support for their
> PowerPC servers, four manufacturers will ship close to Comdex in
> November new PowerPC servers running NT.
> 
> Zenith Data Systems Inc. will ship a 604-based uniprocessor ZPower
> Series server, priced at $12,000. FirePower Systems Inc., a PowerPC
> OEM, will show two- and four-processor 604-based servers bundled
> with NT. FirePower customers, including Canon Computer Systems Inc.
> and IPC Technologies Inc., will unveil servers based on these models
> this year.
> 
> IBM, which rolled out PowerPC desktops in June, is preparing its
> PowerSeries NT servers for a first-quarter 1996 release.
> 
> However, some analysts believe the PowerPC/NT crusade is futile,
> mostly because of a continuing lack of application software.
> 
> "The combination of PowerPC and NT is unlikely to succeed," said
> Scott Winkler, vice president of operating system research at
> Gartner Group Inc., in Stamford, Conn. "But if there is to be a RISC
> success, it will be on Alpha. There will be a lack of NT/Alpha
> software for a long time. Users who want a broad base of software
> will go with the Intel platform."
> 
> "It is true that the lack of native applications is an issue, but
> that is changing," countered Phil Schiller, director of product
> marketing at FirePower, in Menlo Park, Calif. "The first PowerPC/NT
> systems were introduced at PC Expo [in June], and anyone who thought
> there would be hundreds of applications two months later just isn't
> being realistic."
> 
> With DEC working closely with Microsoft, the number of RISC-based
> Windows NT applications is likely to rise.
> 
> Next month, DEC will announce it is working with ISVs to tune
> software to work seamlessly across its Intel- and Alpha-based
> platforms running NT, said Harry Copperman, general manager of DEC's
> Systems Business Unit.
> 
> DEC will leverage and build upon Microsoft's Win32 API, enabling
> ISVs to write software once across the platforms, said Mike Nash,
> Microsoft's product manager for NT Advanced Servers, in Redmond,
> Wash. "It means the customer is not locked into one platform or the
> other. NT is giving them the opportunity to do more."
> 
> NT still has work to do to supplant Unix in enterprise computing,
> according to analysts.
> 
> "NT doesn't have the 7-by-24 type of environment quite yet that some
> legacy platforms have in terms of robustness and continuous OLTP
> [on-line transaction processing] applications," said Jay Bretzman,
> director of worldwide systems at International Data Corp., in
> Framingham, Mass. "Unix is definitely further along than NT in that
> respect."
> 
> However, interest is rising among users in search of departmental
> solutions. "If there is a way to consolidate everything on a single
> platform, that would be desirable for cost reasons," said Brian
> Hyland, director of application development at SkyWay Freight
> Systems Inc., in Watsonville, Calif.
> 
> For that reason, the new servers from Zenith, Canon, Motorola, and
> IPC will be capable of running more than one operating system. IBM's
> PowerSeries server will run OS/2, NT, AIX, and Solaris.
> 
> "We don't want to penalize the customer for making a non-IBM
> decision anywhere in the food chain," said Jeff Mason, IBM's vice
> president of worldwide marketing, in Armonk, N.Y.
> 
> In addition to Zenith's offering, the forthcoming PowerPC/NT servers
> from Canon and IPC will be competitively priced with Intel servers
> such as Compaq Computer Corp.'s ProLiant 4500, which starts around
> $10,000.
> 
> Clocking Speed: The PowerPC 604 processor runs up to 133MHz, and
> 150MHz versions will be available in the fourth quarter.
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> [Image]
> 
> Copyright (c) 1995 Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. All rights
> reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium
> without express written permission of Ziff-Davis Publishing Company
> is prohibited. PC Week and the PC Week logo are trademarks of
> Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. PC Week Online and the PC Week Online
> logo are trademarks of Ziff-Davis Publishing Company.
> 
> JF

    
    How others are seeing the merger (from PCWeek):
    
    
> August 21, 1995
> 
> PowerPC/NT combination targets the enterprise
> 
> By Stephanie LaPolla
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> In the wake of Digital Equipment Corp. and Microsoft Corp.'s
> alliance to push the Windows NT/Alpha platform into the enterprise,
> RISC server vendors are planning a PowerPC/NT blitz of their own in
> the fall.
> 
> Following the lead of Motorola Inc. and Bull HN Information Systems
> Inc., which have already announced Windows NT support for their
> PowerPC servers, four manufacturers will ship close to Comdex in
> November new PowerPC servers running NT.
> 
> Zenith Data Systems Inc. will ship a 604-based uniprocessor ZPower
> Series server, priced at $12,000. FirePower Systems Inc., a PowerPC
> OEM, will show two- and four-processor 604-based servers bundled
> with NT. FirePower customers, including Canon Computer Systems Inc.
> and IPC Technologies Inc., will unveil servers based on these models
> this year.
> 
> IBM, which rolled out PowerPC desktops in June, is preparing its
> PowerSeries NT servers for a first-quarter 1996 release.
> 
> However, some analysts believe the PowerPC/NT crusade is futile,
> mostly because of a continuing lack of application software.
> 
> "The combination of PowerPC and NT is unlikely to succeed," said
> Scott Winkler, vice president of operating system research at
> Gartner Group Inc., in Stamford, Conn. "But if there is to be a RISC
> success, it will be on Alpha. There will be a lack of NT/Alpha
> software for a long time. Users who want a broad base of software
> will go with the Intel platform."
> 
> "It is true that the lack of native applications is an issue, but
> that is changing," countered Phil Schiller, director of product
> marketing at FirePower, in Menlo Park, Calif. "The first PowerPC/NT
> systems were introduced at PC Expo [in June], and anyone who thought
> there would be hundreds of applications two months later just isn't
> being realistic."
> 
> With DIGITAL working closely with Microsoft, the number of RISC-based
> Windows NT applications is likely to rise.
> 
> Next month, DIGITAL will announce it is working with ISVs to tune
> software to work seamlessly across its Intel- and Alpha-based
> platforms running NT, said Harry Copperman, general manager of DIGITAL's
> Systems Business Unit.
> 
> DIGITAL will leverage and build upon Microsoft's Win32 API, enabling
> ISVs to write software once across the platforms, said Mike Nash,
> Microsoft's product manager for NT Advanced Servers, in Redmond,
> Wash. "It means the customer is not locked into one platform or the
> other. NT is giving them the opportunity to do more."
> 
> NT still has work to do to supplant Unix in enterprise computing,
> according to analysts.
> 
> "NT doesn't have the 7-by-24 type of environment quite yet that some
> legacy platforms have in terms of robustness and continuous OLTP
> [on-line transaction processing] applications," said Jay Bretzman,
> director of worldwide systems at International Data Corp., in
> Framingham, Mass. "Unix is definitely further along than NT in that
> respect."
> 
> However, interest is rising among users in search of departmental
> solutions. "If there is a way to consolidate everything on a single
> platform, that would be desirable for cost reasons," said Brian
> Hyland, director of application development at SkyWay Freight
> Systems Inc., in Watsonville, Calif.
> 
> For that reason, the new servers from Zenith, Canon, Motorola, and
> IPC will be capable of running more than one operating system. IBM's
> PowerSeries server will run OS/2, NT, AIX, and Solaris.
> 
> "We don't want to penalize the customer for making a non-IBM
> DIGITALision anywhere in the food chain," said Jeff Mason, IBM's vice
> president of worldwide marketing, in Armonk, N.Y.
> 
> In addition to Zenith's offering, the forthcoming PowerPC/NT servers
> from Canon and IPC will be competitively priced with Intel servers
> such as Compaq Computer Corp.'s ProLiant 4500, which starts around
> $10,000.
> 
> Clocking Speed: The PowerPC 604 processor runs up to 133MHz, and
> 150MHz versions will be available in the fourth quarter.
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> [Image]
> 
> Copyright (c) 1995 Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. All rights
> reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium
> without express written permission of Ziff-Davis Publishing Company
> is prohibited. PC Week and the PC Week logo are trademarks of
> Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. PC Week Online and the PC Week Online
> logo are trademarks of Ziff-Davis Publishing Company.
> 
> JF

(5 replacements made)
    

.120 deleted as it was labelled "DIGITAL CONFIDENTIAL".

				Steve