🚀 go-pugleaf

Quadibloc <jsa...@ecn.ab.ca> writes:

> On Sunday, March 18, 2018 at 12:48:05 PM UTC-6, Lynn Wheeler wrote:
>
>> In June 1991, Wang started reselling IBM computers, in exchange for IBM
>> investing in Wang stock. Wang hardware strategy to re-sell IBM RS/6000s
>> also included further pursuit of UNIX software.
>
> Recently, I learned about the Wang VS systems, which resembled the IBM 360 
> mainframe, although they were not identical. I wonder if this had something to 
> do with Wang being accepted as an IBM reseller - or, in fact, with them becoming 
> interested in becoming a reseller, since in this way they could make money from 
> their existing customer base without designing new computers.

Wang VS was a great system.
The OS was nothing like anything from IBM.
I was working on it for a while before I stumbled onto one of the
Wang's IBM-isms.  Even then, a little of IBM, a lot of great Wang stuff.

So, I'm editing a COBOL program and the editor allows me to run
a test.  I think I've submitted a job and that's it, but a message
comes back to my screen telling me I have a S0C7 (IBM speak for invalid
data).  Unlike anything from IBM,
it shows me the send and receive fields and their contents.
Also, it lets me type new data into either or both fields.  Or it offers
to take me to the offending line in the COBOL program.

Of course all you get from IBM, is watch the job until it ends, then
read a huge dump.

Using Wang VS made it so clear how bad IBM software was.

The Wang hardware was a bit different too.
Their systems spanned a huge range of power.
The VS 5 was a $12,000 system.  Way lower priced
than anything in the IBM mainframe lineup.

When I connected from home using a Wang terminal the OS
loaded a micro-program into my terminal.  I think it did that
with all it's peripherals.  Seemed like a good idea to me.
The host really did control it's devices.

-- 
Dan Espen