DEC’s late-life love affair with Unix is expected soon to lead to a low-end version of the MIPS Computer Systems Inc R2000-based DECstation 3100 to bring its base price down to $7,000 for an 8 MIPS workstation – versus 14 MIPS and $11,900 for the 3100. DEC has not decided whether to offer it as a cheapo workstation or a Unix personal computer. The company is also reportedly working on three further generations of CMOS chip sets beyond the 3.8 MIPS set used in the VAX 6300 and MicroVAX 3800 and 3900. The target for the next generation is 7 MIPS, says Electronic News, and machines using it could be out by late summer. The second, for 1990, is to deliver 10 MIPS, with a 20 MIPS one in 1991.
