RE:
>
>The InterexPress article concerns the arrival of a 64-bit version of MPE/iX
>on the PA-8000 chip. HP said they plan to update us on that topic in
>January. Here's what we reported in our September NewsWire about 64-bit
>MPE/iX:
>
>Sterling announced that now that the PA-8000 work is complete, extending
>MPE/iX to a 64-bit version will be "under investigation for fiscal 1997
>activity." The primary challenge HP is facing is how to make sure all
>customers could use such a new MPE/iX, regardless of which HP 3000
>RISC-based system they own.
>"My biggest concern is not wanting MPE users to be locked out of future
>operating system enhancements," Sterling said. "As soon as we roll the OS
>to take advantage of 64 bits, it would require you to either stay on the
>last 32-bit release forever, or purchase a new hardware upgrade."
>
 
Another interesting article in InterexPress (Sept. 1996, page 10) entitled
"Full 64-Bit HP-UX Version Planned for mid-1997" offers another perspective
on the 64-Bit issue. A few choice quotes by Carol Mills (GSD GM) are:
 
 "Providing customers with investment protection is practically a religion
 at HP" ...........
 
 "We believe our plan for delivering a 64-bit operating environment will
 give our customers the smoothest transition in the industry" ........
 
The article then goes on to state that "The 32-bit applications are expected
to be able to execute in a 64-bit environment without any recompilation" ...
and later "A mixed 32-bit/64-bit application environment allows for
maximum flexibility for customer systems since, for example a 32-bit
application can leverage the powere of a 64-bit database" ........
 
I believe it would be a big lift for the MPE/iX community to read some
similar news about '3000 plans before the window has closed.  If the
POSIX subsystem and byte-stream files could be enhanced to be compatible
with "the 64-bit standard that has been endorsed by multiple companies
in the UNIX system industry", then the applications and DBMSs being
designed TODAY for delivery in the 1998 timeframe would port to the '3000
with minimal problems.  Otherwise, these new applications will not be
available for 3K systems and the game's over.  If a 64-bit POSIX subsys is
achieved, then the underlying pieces could be used to adapt the "legacy"
file types, intrinsics, Image, etc. to the 64-bit world on a need/want
basis as prioritized by the usual mechanisms.
 
Winston Kriger