I asked for advice on academic friendly alpha vendors and received
many responses. Skip to the end to see the list if you don't feel
like reading my further venting on Compaq.
I also asked about updates to the CSLG license and was pointed to the
appropriate web page at
http://www.compaq.com/education/higher-ed/alphaprograms/cslg.html
Compaq's current CSLG does continue the DEC tradition of banning clone
machines.
<soapbox>
I was very pleased with the response I received from users and vendors
on the Tru64 managers list, and now I have a good set of places to
pursue for quotes and information about alphas, but why doesn't Compaq
have a list like this on their webpage? Why did Compaq only give me
one name when I asked about resellers? Why can't I even get ballpark
prices off the Compaq website? I am not in sales, so maybe I am
missing something obvious, but I do not understand companies that put
obstacles between customers and products and treat price lists like
state secrets.
The restrictive licensing of Tru64 under the CSLG is also very
aggravating. At this time, Tru64 and Linux are almost equivalent for
scientific computing, but for my dual use number-cruncher/server
environment Tru64 still has an edge on Linux. However, a logical
volume manager (in kernel 2.4) and a journaled file system (several,
with reiserfs probably the most stable) are imminent (for 6-12 month
definitions of imminent), and as soon as those are available I will be
able to completely move away from the licensing games that Compaq
plays.
I don't mind paying for software of the quality of Tru64, but once I
have the appropriate license Compaq shouldn't care if I run it on an
electric cheese grater. I know, they are using their software to
leverage hardware sales, but if the alpha didn't completely stomp
everyone else on FP I would long ago have been driven to Linux or *BSD
on Intel or Solaris on Sun.
Several people responded that they too have had difficulty in buying
alphas and have dealt with unenthusiastic (to be polite) sales reps at
Compaq and their resellers. Hopefully when the bidding process works
itself out I will be dealing with one of the vendors which came with
high praise.
</soapbox>
In no particular order, here are the vendors that were recommended:
CPU Options, Inc.
http://www.cpuoptions.com
Frontier Computer Corporation
http://www.frontiercomputercorp.com
231-929-1386
Dexon Computer
http://www.dexon.com
Pioneer Standard Electronics
http://www.pios.com/
1-800-773-8099
Total Tec
http://www.totaltec.com
410-381-0606
Wyle
1-800-645-9102
Midwest Systems
Great Lakes Computers
http://www.GLComp.com
(616) 698 1234
Crescent Computer Systems Inc.
http://www.crescentcomputer.com
888-413-4112
Compaq
1-800-277-8988
Nth Generation Computing
http://www.nthgencomp.com/
Thanks to:
Stan Horwitz <stan_at_astro.ocis.temple.edu>
Charles Hooks <cdhooks_at_astro.psu.edu>
Benjamin <bingwersen_at_traverse.com>
"Williford, Blake" <BlakeWilliford_at_NMCC.SprintSpectrum.com>
Richard Jackson <rjackson_at_portal.gmu.edu>
dpeaco - Dennis Peacock <dpeaco_at_acxiom.com>
John P Speno <speno_at_isc.upenn.edu>
Daniel Monjar <dmonjar_at_orgtek.com>
Stephen L LaBelle <labelles_at_mscd.edu>
Chan Cao <ccao_at_brooks.com>
"Donald P. Theune" <TheuneD_at_crlcorp.com>
Jim Kurtenbach <KurtenbachJ_at_crlcorp.com>
Scott Taylor <smt_at_gamma.physics.uiowa.edu>
Stephen Dowdy <dowdy_at_cs.colorado.edu>
David Warren <warren_at_atmos.washington.edu>
"Ed Murphy" <Ed.Murphy_at_ussurg.com>
"Davis, Alan" <Davis_at_tessco.com>
Received on Mon Aug 14 2000 - 23:27:51 NZST