🚀 go-pugleaf

My company is currently in the process of pricing computer
systems to be purchased over the next month or two.  I have been
making many calls to Digital's Technical Assistance line, as well
as the Desktop Direct number.  I was on the tech. assistance line,
asking about the availability of upgrade options for the DECpc 
450st, when I was suprised to learn that *there would be no further
upgrade options beyond the 50mhz 486*!!!  I said, huh? I thought the
450st had daughter card blah blah blah... and he said, "Oh no, the
only systems that have ?P5 (586) upgradability are the significantly
more expensive *and* unannounced xp and mp [or model suffixes to
that effect, I had never heard of them]."  The person said they
would send me info on these models, which have a base price over 
$3000 more than the 450st.  

I could tell you more about the conversation, which had further 
inanities and mis-information in it, but the punch line is the
following quote from the Desktop Direct catalog I have in my hand
(dated Summer 1992):

"DECpc 400ST FAMILY... scalable design that allows the system 
architecture to accomodate faster processors... our DECpc 400STs
will will let you upgrade from 486 to ?P5!"  

Wish I had the catalog in my hands when I was on the phone...
I like Digital, and I hope they try not to embark on any further
unintentional dis-information campaigns; some customers (unlike
myself) may not forgive them.

    Joshua Lateiner
Lateiner Dataspace Group
Jlateine@pearl.tufts.edu