[2078] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
NREN and the Economics of Mainframes Versus Workstations
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Barry Shein)
Fri Jan 24 00:05:06 1992
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 92 18:45:49 -0500
From: bzs@world.std.com (Barry Shein)
To: drw@BOURBAKI.MIT.EDU
Cc: com-priv@psi.com
In-Reply-To: drw@BOURBAKI.MIT.EDU's message of Thu, 23 Jan 92 17:45:36 EST <9201232245.AA10809@lagrange>
>From: drw@BOURBAKI.MIT.EDU
>My suspicion is that deparmental workstations are cheaper than central
>mainframes because mainframes are typically run as labor-intensive,
>high-value-added operations -- professional staff to feed the
>printers, user consultants, etc. As people come to not need such
>services, computer centers will either have to cut staff, become
>obsolete, or retreat to only servicing users who need and can afford
>such services.
I agree with your antecedent, but your conclusion assumes a much more
rational world than I ever worked in at universities. The mainframers
were more like Norman Bates keeping mama up in the attic...and I'm not
exagerrating a whole lot.
-Barry Shein
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