PDP-11 Still Going Strong

This document is a letter to the editor written by Frank R. Borger, which asserts that the PDP-11 family remains highly relevant and competitive compared to VAX systems. The author supports this argument by highlighting:

• Software Cost Disparities: The author compares the significantly higher pricing of VAX software (such as BASIC, FORTRAN-77, and PASCAL) against equivalent PDP-11 software on both UNIBUS and Q-bus machines.
• System Performance and Overhead: The author provides anecdotal evidence regarding CPU overhead, noting that VMS on VAX systems can degrade response times compared to the more efficient performance of the PDP-11 under similar interactive loads.
• Overall Value: Based on these factors, the author concludes that a PDP-11 system can often be configured for half the total cost of an equivalent VAX, ensuring its continued use for specific applications.