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From: Terry Lambert <terry@lambert.org>
Message-Id: <199612012347.QAA09401@phaeton.artisoft.com>
Subject: Re: FreeBSD/Alpha (was Re: COMDEX trip report)
To: jkh@time.cdrom.com (Jordan K. Hubbard)
Date: Sun, 1 Dec 1996 16:47:52 -0700 (MST)
Cc: jehamby@lightside.com, hackers@freebsd.org
In-Reply-To: <897.849411388@time.cdrom.com> from "Jordan K. Hubbard" at Nov 30, 96 07:36:28 pm
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> > Alpha pros:
> 
> I think you've missed one or two, or at least gotten the emphasis in
> slightly the wrong places:
> 
> 2) Already supported by Linux and, to a lesser extent, NetBSD (when
>    discussing the newer ALPHA/PCI systems) thus making it *easier to
>    bootstrap from an existing port*.
> 
> 3) Represents the next logical step upwards when you've hit the wall
>    with your PP/266 system and you're looking for a beefier server
>    that can be built out of widely available parts and accomodate
>    more of that most precious of network server resources: Memory.
> 
> 4) Their price/performance ratio will be improving significantly within
>    the next 30 days. :)
> 
> > PowerPC cons:
> >
> 1) Dead architecture.  :-)


For PPC, you forgot:

2) Already supported by Linux and, to a lesser extent, NetBSD (when
   discussing the newer ALPHA/PCI systems) thus making it *easier to
   bootstrap from an existing port*.

3) Supported by a large group of vendors, second only to Intel
  processors.  Alpha is supported by... well... DEC.


					Terry Lambert
					terry@lambert.org
---
Any opinions in this posting are my own and not those of my present
or previous employers.