Digital Debuts 2 VAX Computer Models

Digital Equipment Corp. Tuesday unveiled two new models of its popular VAX line of computers, one of which will sell for half the cost of the previous low-end model.

The new models are targeted for engineering, educational, scientific, government and commercial markets, and will compete with similar systems offered by Apollo Computers Inc. of Chelmsford, Mass., and Sun Microsystems Inc. of Mountain View, Calif.

“These systems extend the VAX family and bring the full resources and power of VAX computing to each user’s desk top,” said Jeffery Kalb, a Digital vice president.

The VAXstation 2000 work station is a free-standing, desk-top computer that has high-performance graphics capabilities, the company said. The cheapest version of the VAXstation 2000 will be priced at $10,500.

The other new model, the MicroVAX 2000, consists of a central processing unit that can be connected with up to four terminals. At under $10,000, it costs less than half that of the previous lowest-cost MicroVAX II model.

Both new models are compatible with other models of the VAX line, Digital said.

Digital also announced Tuesday a new service that will help users integrate Digital hardware and software with the products of cooperating computer companies.