anon (an@on.com) on 11/19/10 wrote:
---------------------------
>someone (someone@somewhere.com) on 11/19/10 wrote:
>---------------------------
>
>>Change "success" to "ubiquity" and I'll agree with
>>you. Given the average IPF system is a ~$90K Unix
>>server in a secure computer room in a corporate tower
>>or government bunker the overwhelming majority of
>>people in enthusiast forums will never have direct and
>>conscious interaction with IA64 hardware let alone be
>>in the same room. OTOH, the vast majority will see
>>and use x86 systems every day. Maybe PowerPC too
>>(Xbox, PS3, or WII).
>
>
>Why didn't IPF workstations took off?

It came to market too late. The x86 PC had overtaken
and substantially annihilated the non-x86 workstation
market on the basis of good enough performance and
far better economy of scale market before IPF could
gain a foothold and establish a software base.

BTW, if you really want a Tukwila workstation you can
order an HP rx2800i in the "office friendly" (reduced
acoustic) pedestal configuration instead of the usual
rack mount and attach a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
You have the choice of HP-UX, OpenVMS, or Windows.