HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: franl@centerline.com (Fran Litterio)
Subject: Re: PRIME
Organization: CenterLine Software, Inc.
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 22:10:51 GMT

MSO@eeyore.usc.edu writes:

> Word has reached me from a *very* well placed and reliable mole inside
> of COPM (PRIME-AS-WE-KNEW-IT) that COPM will close its doors as of
> Aug. 31, 1992.  Toons is cancelled.  O/S work moves to service.
> Status of PI seems to be in limbo -- They are reported to be looking
> for a buyer for PI/Open.   More updates as confirmation continues to come
> in.   Call your sources and verify.  Please co-ordinate info thru this
> medium.
> Mike O'Rear, USC, Los Angeles.

A Prime employee has told me that there was a 1:30 PM meeting today
(Wednesday, July 22, 1992) at which this was indeed announced.  This
employee said "All CSBU employees are on their notification period as
of Monday."  I assume that CSBU and COPM are nearly synonymous.
--
franl@centerline.com   || Fran Litterio                               
uunet!centerline!franl || CenterLine Software R&D                     
617-498-3255           || 10 Fawcett St, Cambridge, MA, USA 02138-1110
Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
From: trumbull@allegro.unx.sas.com (Ed Trumbull)
Subject: Re: PRIME
Originator: trumbull@allegro.unx.sas.com
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 15:21:14 GMT
Organization: SAS Institute Inc.


In article <FRANL.92Jul26012423@draco.centerline.com>, franl@centerline.com (Fran Litterio) writes:
|> From my experience with C on PRIME machines, it was PRIMOS and not the
|> 50 Series architecture that was the source of the most headaches for C
|> programmers.  The PRIMOS file system did not fit well with the C I/O
|> paradigm.  Space compression and text-line padding were big problems
|> for the C library's ftell() and fseek() routines.  
   Agreed.  We didn't use C IO, partly to avoid these problems. 

|> PRIMOS logical I/O
|> would have helped, but it was not finished when I worked on the PRIMOS
|> C compiler/library.  On the other hand, the 50 Series CPU had
|> instructions like ICP (increment C pointer) and ACP (add C pointer) to
|> make segmentation almost a non-issue for the C compiler.  
    Well, sorta.  We had *lots* of problems with segmentation,
especially with structures and/or numbers (generally float doubles,
but some longs as well) which spanned segments.  The 50 series does
UGLY things when it tries to load a float double which spans a
segment; it grabs however much of the float was at the "top" (address
0177777) of the segment, then wraps to the "bottom" (address 0) of the
segment for the rest.  Stores are worse, since segment wrapping
destroys the data at the beginning of the segment.  (Granted that we
had more problems with uninitialized data causing access violations or
pointer faults, both features of the 50 series architecture...)

 
   
-- 
Ed Trumbull <trumbull@unx.sas.com>      
SAS Institute, Inc.      SAS Campus Drive   Cary, NC    27513   USA    
Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
From: YODERS@PRIME.WITTENBERG.EDU (Kevin Yoders)
Subject: Re: PRIME
Reply-To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 20:15:56 GMT

> Word has reached me from a *very* well placed and reliable mole inside
> of COPM (PRIME-AS-WE-KNEW-IT) that COPM will close its doors as of
> Aug. 31, 1992.  Toons is cancelled.  O/S work moves to service.
> Status of PI seems to be in limbo -- They are reported to be looking
> for a buyer for PI/Open.   More updates as confirmation continues to come
> in.   Call your sources and verify.  Please co-ordinate info thru this
> medium.
> Mike O'Rear, USC, Los Angeles.
>

We just received a call from our VAR's liason (glorified salesman).
He told us that this news is indeed true and that they had been
officially notified by Prime (COPM).  He further said that
production of 50-series will be stopped, but parts will continue to
be produced for at least a year (controller boards, memory, etc.).

I have no idea how accurate the information on parts is.  He told us
that we should be hearing directly from Prime (COPM) within a week.
Apparently they are still working out the details.

Kevin Yoders
Wittenberg University
Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
From: gml4410@ggr.co.uk (Lack Mr G M)
Subject: Re: clever kids
Reply-To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 16:08:34 GMT

>  While I was entertaining the kids, his precocious
> 4 year old managed to pull down XRN; hit followup;
> type a response in the new window and; do the send
> (among other things). (Actually I think that she
> did pretty good.)

     Perhaps  this  should  be sent to RISKS as a danger associated with
software that is too easy to use?  Just think what the kid *could*  have
said.... 

-------------------------- Gordon Lack-----------------------------------
The contents of this message *may* reflect my personal opinion.  They are
*not* intended to reflect those of my employer, or anyone else."
From: drand@spinner.osf.org (Douglas Rand)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
Subject: Re: PRIME
Date: 23 Jul 92 20:12:36 GMT
Organization: Open Software Foundation

In article <FRANL.92Jul22171051@draco.centerline.com> franl@centerline.com (Fran Litterio) writes:

   MSO@eeyore.usc.edu writes:

   > Word has reached me from a *very* well placed and reliable mole inside
   > of COPM (PRIME-AS-WE-KNEW-IT) that COPM will close its doors as of
   > Aug. 31, 1992.  Toons is cancelled.  O/S work moves to service.
   > Status of PI seems to be in limbo -- They are reported to be looking
   > for a buyer for PI/Open.   More updates as confirmation continues to come
   > in.   Call your sources and verify.  Please co-ordinate info thru this
   > medium.
   > Mike O'Rear, USC, Los Angeles.

   A Prime employee has told me that there was a 1:30 PM meeting today
   (Wednesday, July 22, 1992) at which this was indeed announced.  This
   employee said "All CSBU employees are on their notification period as
   of Monday."  I assume that CSBU and COPM are nearly synonymous.

All you people who still own 50 series machines should be checking 
your bank accounts and figuring out whether to buy boxes running UNIX 
or NT.  Perhaps we should get together for a PRIMOS wake.

I had a very good time working at PRIME back when.  It does sadden me
to see the company flow down the commode and into oblivion.  But,  
surely it isn't a suprise that a company with virtually no assets
couldn't find a venture capitalist crazy enough to fund a management
buyout.

Truthfully I thought PRIME would linger for four or five years.  Good
luck to you all.


--
Douglas S. Rand <drand@osf.org>		OSF/Motif Dev.
Snail:         11 Cambridge Center,  Cambridge,  MA  02142
Disclaimer:    I don't know if OSF agrees with me... let's vote on it.
Amateur Radio: KC1KJ
From: J.BUSH@MD-B.Prime.COM (John Bush, PrimeService +1 508-620-2800 Voice x7068 Fax x5744)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
Subject: Re: Just a little humor
Date: 30 Jul 92 17:23:32 GMT
Article-I.D.: usenet.9207301726.AA15774
Reply-To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM

To:  Info-Prime recipients
CC:  Worldwide Prime Analysts
From:  John Bush

June 30, 1992

Re:  The following message posted to Info-Prime --

> Subject: Just a little humor
> To:   Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM
> From: Johnson Bushwax  <SA@MD-B.Prime.COM>
> Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 11:59:04 EDT
> Sender: ListServer@Blx-A.Prime.COM (Prime Netherlands ListServer v1.12)
> Reply-To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM
>
>                   In the beginning was the plan
>                   And then came the assumptions
>               And the assumptions were without form...  etc

I did not write this!

Someone logged into our system today as "SA" (presumably to remain
anonymous), and posted the message, which appears to have come from me.

I'll post the name of the person as soon as I find out who it was.

- John Bush
Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
From: WCO@eeyore.usc.edu
Subject: re: Re- New variations on the l
Reply-To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 00:26:56 GMT

Leitner,

We're starting to get veeeeerrrry worried about you....

Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
From: MSO@eeyore.usc.edu
Subject: Source
Reply-To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 14:16:50 GMT

Barry Gorman brought up a good point in asking for Prime to release the
source code to the 'C' Libraries.
I think we need to start a major stink to get Prime to release all source code
for Primos, libraries, utilities, compilers, etc.  If they aren't planning
on selling any more machines, why not?  I may need to update primos - I have
a source license - but I may need to update products that rely on Primos for
which source hasn't been being released (DRM for one).    I need that source
code, and it may make a difference for all of us that will be running some
part of our business on a Prime for several years yet.
I also want the source code for PI, or at the very least have source code
to PI put into a trust account that if it is sold, axed, or not supported
by ComputerVision that it would be available from that trust to licensees.
Mike O'Rear, working at but not speaking for, USC.

Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
From: TDB@CBRPN1.Prime.COM (Tony de Bont, Support Analyst - Australia)
Subject: CSBU Decision
Reply-To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 21:52:04 GMT

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To: !AUSTRALIA.ML: ;
From: M.KOHL@PBN42.Prime.COM
Subject: CSBU Decision
Date: 24 Jul 92 17:07:11 EDT



July 24, 1992



Dear Fellow Employee:

As you know, in early June we initiated plans to take
the Company public.  As one element of this process,
we announced our plan to discontinue the Computer
Systems Business Unit (CSBU) operations and our
intent to sell the unit to its current management team.

Subsequently, we conducted a formal, detailed
review of the development program for planned new
high-end systems (the Prime 5520 and 5540 systems)
and determined that it was doubtful that these
products would be available in a time frame
acceptable to our customers.  As a result, we have
decided not to proceed with development of these
systems.

This decision changed the economic feasibility of the
proposed management buy out for the Company as
well as for the CSBU management team.  Therefore,
the Company will proceed with its plan to
discontinue operations of CSBU and has transferred
all remaining CSBU operations, including Prime
INFORMATION and PI/open products, to
PrimeService.

We are in the process now of communicating with
our customers about these decisions, and in
developing more detailed information to help people
who may have to respond to customer questions.

The CSBU decision has no implications on the
process of recapitalizing the Company and taking it
public.

Sincerely,



John J. Shields
President and Chief Executive Officer
Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
From: 0004439868@mcimail.com (Infocus Inc.)
Subject: Primos on the pc
Reply-To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 13:16:00 GMT

Attn: Info Prime
From: Lee Leitner
  Subject:
                                             Time:     Date:
  Primos on the pc                                      9:01 AM   7/31/92
In a brief moment of rational thought, I pen(!?) these words:

You can get something of the Primos command environment on the pc. A product
which was on the market back in the 80's called cmdnco/pc provides a set of
Primos commands. Not sure if anyone still sells it (OTW maybe?) but many users
(including me) still ld, avail and ed away in dos. It's a bit buggy (has
unrealized potential as they say), like ed locks up on a file > 100k. But it's
handy.

Unfortunately, the developer is a bit difficult to reach...

(back to off-line ramblings and mutterings.,...#&E&$<D>>..))))
From: R.KITTREDGE@MD-B.Prime.COM (Roland Kittredge - Marketing 620-2800 x4666, 508)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
Subject: Prime and NPUG
Date: 28 Jul 92 13:49:32 GMT
Reply-To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM

Future of NPUG and Prime
To the rest of the members -
  I am no longer a member of the NPUG Board of Directors, but I am keeping in
close touch with them.  Right now, they are trying to obtain some factual
information about the massive changes taking place at Prime/PrimeService/
Computervision.  Unfortunately, we only have about as much as you do.  The
Board is deeply concerned as to what these changes mean to their members and is
working on a plan to provide the most support it can for the membership now that Prime is unable to continue to do business.  The board
you as soon as it can give you some useful and reliable information about the
changes at Prime.
   - Dan Olsen, Past-President
From: akc@pilot.njin.net (Albert K. Costanzo)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
Subject: Re: SOURCE
Date: 28 Jul 92 14:38:12 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

Pacer (Garth Conboy wrote the C compiler) ...

I have noted from actual experience that when the user has a direct
contract with Pacer as we did for pcLink, they fixed bugs more rapidly
than if we opened a ticket against PrimeLink (pcLink repackaged) with
Prime and Prime asked for the bug fix.

I'm sure if Prime's demise invalidates contracts Pacer will gladly
sell bug fixes and service contracts....

COrporation do want to earn a profit :-)

-al
Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
From: STEEN@DDS.dent.ohio-state.edu (Steen Hansen)
Subject: rev 23.3 spooler on rev 23.2
Reply-To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 19:43:36 GMT

I have just gotten a fix to Information rev 8.2, which had a printer
problem. The fix requires the rev 23.3 spooler to work.  I am currently at
Primos 23.2 and want to stay there for awhile for internal reasons. Is
there any problem running the rev 23.3 spooler under Primos rev 23.2?

Steen
Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
From: PHIL.K@PBN45.Prime.COM (Phil Kumbatovic, Product Manager, PRIMOS x7696)
Subject: Re: ICON '92
Reply-To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 14:23:40 GMT

Please excuse that last message, it was supposed to go to Mike O'rear
at USC for the ICON/92 Conference. I must have thumped the wrong key.
Silly rabbit!

                                         Phil,,,,

                                                 (Boom goes here)
From: ebe@edfd.edag.de (Eberhard Doering)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
Subject: (none)
Date: 28 Jul 92 13:54:25 GMT
Reply-To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM

To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM
Subject: Re: Wishful Thinking?
Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
Organization: EDAG, ENGINEERING + DESGIN AG, Fulda, FRG

Hello,

sorry for my bad english.

I heard (from diffrent sources) that Prime wants to stop building
50 Series Computers.
They want to offer service for the next 5 years; and want to change
the company to a purely (exept SUN ...) software company.


Best regards




                  EBERHARD DOERING  //  ebe@edfd.uucp
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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                     *       *   *   *   *   *
                     *****   *    *  *****   *  **
                     *       *   *   *   *   *   *
                     *****   ****    *   *   *****
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    EDAG ->  Engineering & Design AG  Reesbergstrasse 1  D(W) 6400 FULDA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neulich im Laden nebenan :   (Verkaeufer)  Kann ich Ihnen helfen  ?
                             (Kunde)       Ja, ein Pfund Mehl bitte ....
                             (Verkaeufer)  an welche Adresse ..???
                                      ,,,
                                     (o o)
---------------------------------oOO--(_)--OOo--------------------------------
Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
From: drand@spinner.osf.org (Douglas Rand)
Subject: Re: 50series
Organization: Open Software Foundation
Date: 27 Jul 92 12:09:01

In article <9207241650.AA17763@usenet.rpi.edu> MSO@eeyore.usc.edu writes:

   What Douglas seems to miss is the fact that however deplorable the 50 series
   architecture may or may not be, it runs and runs *very* well.  It does it's
   job.  We average 99.8% uptime across 15 of machines -- year after year.
   I want our business to run and could care less about byte languages.
   As far as a market, I have a $20 million investment in software which will take
   a long time and a LOT of money to convert to anything else.  I will need
   to provide more horsepower for an ever increasing demand for cycles for
   several years even if the monies could be found for hardware purchases and
   software conversions.  I'm sure that if the game is still distributed
   processing by the time funding can be found and plans laid, then
   distributed processing will be our target.  Games and Names change much
   more quickly then in-place paid for systems that work.
   Mike O'Rear.  Usual & standard disclaimers. I am me, USC is USC.
   i

I really didn't miss this at all.  I worked at PRIME for 9 years 
as both a CPU engineer and a software person.  I do not miss the 
point that the 50 series has a customer base and that those people
don't want to move their software.  Not at all.

In fact PRIME did quite well for many years picking up people who
were lost in the Multics decommision.  We'd supply help to allow
them to port and,  of course,  we were a PL/1 architecture.

The question is not the existing market,  which could support a small
company doing software maintenance -- but who's to say PrimeService won't
continue this?  But what could drive a computer manufacturer?  Nothing.
The costs of development and the available market just don't match.
That is why CSBU is no more.

I appreciate that we made good machines.  I'd like to think I made my
contributions over the years,  and I'm hardly eager to see CSBU sink
away into the swamp.  I trust I've dispelled that notion.



--
Douglas S. Rand <drand@osf.org>		OSF/Motif Dev.
Snail:         11 Cambridge Center,  Cambridge,  MA  02142
Disclaimer:    I don't know if OSF agrees with me... let's vote on it.
Amateur Radio: KC1KJ
Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
From: PHIL.K@PBN45.Prime.COM (Phil Kumbatovic, Product Manager, PRIMOS x7696)
Subject: Re: ICON '92
Reply-To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 14:19:40 GMT

PRIMOS at Revision 23.3

Come hear the somewhat shy and quiet Product Manager for PRIMOS,
Phil Kumbatovic, a.k.a. 'The PRIMOS Energizer Bunny', go on and on
and on about PRIMOS rev 23.3.

PRIMOS after Revision 23.3

Phil's still going on and on and on about PRIMOS rev 23.4 and beyond.
He takes a thumpin' but keeps on boomin'.

--- Your original message :

Subject: ICON '92
To:   Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM
From: MSO@eeyore.usc.edu
Date: 21 Jul 92 06:53:34 PDT
Reply-To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM

*********************************************************************
*    ICON '92    Call For Speakers & Announcement of Conference     *
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
* Please post and/or pass this notice around!                       *
*********************************************************************

The 1992 Information Conference (ICON '92) will be held November 10th,
11th, and 12th at the Hyatt by Disneyland in Anaheim California.
This will be the 10th annual conference for Prime Information users
held in the southern California area.
The theme for this year's conference is ICON '92 --Breaking Out
We chose "Breaking Out" for several reasons -- PI going off-platform,
the need to extend our conference to all 'Pick-Style' data bases, and
breaking out of our previous plans for this year's meeting.
We are currently planning on having PI & PI/Open talks, VMark's Universe,
Unidata, Sequoia Info, and any other players in this marketplace who wish
to participate.  We will also feature some Primos talks, Unix talks, and
other O/S sessions.

We are looking for speakers who wish to present a 30 to 45 minute presentation.
We need speakers from PRIME (CV & COPM), VMARK, & UNIDATA!
We need speakers who actually USE the products!
We need speakers who know two or more products to do some comparisons!
We need speakers!
All we need is an abstract of your topic -- a short paragraph of what your
talk would cover.  We must have your abstract by August 21st.  You will be
notified by Sept. 5th of acceptance.  In return you will receive a 50% discount
on the cost of the 3 day conference, or the day of your talk for free.

Without you, we have no conference.

You can e-mail, mail, or fax us for further information, to get on our
mailing list, or to get your abstract to us.

FAX.............(213) 740-6096
E-MAIL..........mso@eeyore.usc.edu
Mail............ICON '92
                6435 Densmore Ave.,
                Van Nuys CA  91406
or call.........(213) 740-5335

Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
From: craig@aix3090b.uky.edu (J. Craig Brunson)
Subject: Neato Nifty Prime Letter
Reply-To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 20:31:07 GMT



>Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime
>Path: ukma!wupost!usc!rpi!rpigate!x
>From: R.KITTREDGE@MD-B.Prime.COM (Roland Kittredge - Marketing 620-2800 x4666, 508)
>Subject: Customer Letter
>Message-ID: <9207291926.AA28276@usenet.rpi.edu>
>Sender: ListServer@Blx-A.Prime.COM (Prime Netherlands ListServer v1.12)
>Reply-To: Info-Prime@Blx-A.Prime.COM
>Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 19:22:12 GMT
>Lines: 52

July 29, 1992

Dear Customer:

As you may be aware, Prime Computer previously disclosed that, as one
element in a comprehensive recapitalization program, it was discontinuing
the operations of the Computer Systems Business Unit and conducting
discussions for the sale of that unit to its current managers.

Subsequently, the Company conducted a formal, detailed review of the
development program for planned new high-end systems (the Prime 5520 and
5540) and determined that it was doubtful these products would be
available in a timeframe acceptable to our customers.  Accordingly, Prime
will not proceed with the development of these systems.

This decision changed the economic feasibility of the proposed management
buyout for both the Company and the unit's management team.  Accordingly,
there will be no sale to the management team and the Company will proceed
with its plan to discontinue operations of the Computer Systems Business
Unit.  PrimeService, the Company's service business unit, has assumed
responsibility for the remaining CSBU operations, including Prime
INFORMATION and PI/open products.

PrimeService has established itself as one of the premier service
organizations in the industry and remains committed to helping you
optimize your technology investment, whether this means assisting you in
the ongoing use of your 50 Series systems, or helping you to orchestrate a
transition to alternative platforms with its conversion/migration
services, open systems networking, and multivendor support programs.

We have established a telephone hotline for CSBU customers in the United
States,
                     1 (800) 800-PRIME

When calling, request the CSBU customer hotline.  It is in operation
Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
to specifically address your questions relative to this recent decision
such as product availability, ordering procedures, etc.

For CSBU customers outside the United States, telephone hotlines are being
established this week, and you will be notified as soon as they are
activated.

In closing, I want to thank you for your loyalty and support over the
years.  We look forward to continuing our working relationship with you.

Sincerely,



John J. Shields,
President and Chief Executive Officer
-- 
J. Craig Brunson   | University of Kentucky    |
CRAIG@ukpr.uky.edu | CRAIG@graphsun.cc.uky.edu | CRAIG@f1.facts.uky.edu
CRAIG@mik.uky.edu  | CRAIG@graphlab.cc.uky.edu | UK01238@ukcc.uky.edu
CRAIG@ukcc.uky.edu | CRAIG@aix3090b.uky.edu    |
Newsgroups: comp.sys.prime