Conference turris::fortran

1217.0. "Announcing DIGITAL Visual Fortran for Windows 95/Windows NT Intel Systems!!!" by QUARK::LIONEL (Free advice is worth every cent) Tue Mar 11 1997 14:50

DIGITAL and Microsoft Announce Developer Studio Licensing Agreement 

Combination of DIGITAL's Fortran 90 Compiler Technology, Microsoft Development
Environment Provides Powerful Scientific and Engineering Solutions for Windows
NT And Windows 95 Operating Systems

MAYNARD, Mass., and REDMOND, Wash. - March 11, 1997 - DIGITAL Equipment Corp.
and Microsoft Corp. today announced an agreement under which DIGITAL will
license the Microsoft(r) Developer Studio(tm) visual development system. 
DIGITAL's first product under the arrangement, DIGITAL(tm) Visual Fortran 5.0
for the Microsoft Windows(r) 95 and Windows NT(r) operating systems, can be
ordered beginning March 19 for shipments starting next month.  It features the
combined strengths of DIGITAL's Fortran 90 compiler technology and Microsoft
Developer Studio.  Microsoft is discontinuing sales of its own Fortran
PowerStation 4.0 to the channel effective April 1, 1997, and is recommending
DIGITAL's Visual Fortran 5.0 as the approved upgrade for current scientific and
engineering customers.  

Microsoft and DIGITAL will ensure a smooth migration path and support for
existing Microsoft Fortran PowerStation customers.  Microsoft will continue to
provide current levels of support until Oct. 1, 1997, and subsequent paid
support until April 1, 1998.  DIGITAL will provide 90-day warranty support and
post-warranty service options for DIGITAL Visual Fortran 5.0 customers.  

The move enables DIGITAL to extend its line of development tools for
high-performance scientific and engineering computing and enables Microsoft to
continue to focus on corporate- and ISV-oriented development tools, including
the Visual Studio(tm) 97 suite of development tools. 

"DIGITAL's reputation as a leader in quality Fortran compilers, along with its
global distribution capabilities, commitment to high-quality support and strong
technology alliance with Microsoft, was key to our decision," said Paul Gross,
vice president, developer tools at Microsoft.  "We are confident that DIGITAL's
proven expertise in the high-performance computing, scientific and engineering
market will benefit the large installed base of Microsoft Fortran PowerStation
customers."

"Today's announcement is further evidence of the strong alliance between DIGITAL
and Microsoft," said Jesse Lipcon, DIGITAL vice president of systems product
management and development.  "DIGITAL Visual Fortran combines leadership
technologies from DIGITAL and Microsoft in an integrated desktop product that is
unrivaled in the technical marketplace.  With the introduction of DIGITAL Visual
Fortran, we now offer the most scalable set of solutions for the technical
marketplace of any vendor in the industry."  

DIGITAL's Proven Excellence in Fortran Technology 

DIGITAL is a leader in Fortran technology, establishing its VAX Fortran product
as the de facto standard during the 1980s.  Today, the company provides
high-quality Fortran compilers for its 64-bit DIGITAL UNIX and OpenVMS(tm)
operating systems.  In 1995, DIGITAL extended its compiler technology to the
Windows NT-based desktop with the release of DIGITAL Fortran for Windows NT on
Alpha systems.  The explosive growth in use of the Windows NT and  Windows 95
operating systems has resulted in increasing demand from the high-performance,
scientific and engineering market for the same technology to be available for
Intel-based systems.   

Smooth Migration for Microsoft Fortran

PowerStation Users Microsoft and DIGITAL have been working closely to ensure
that users of Microsoft Fortran PowerStation can easily upgrade to DIGITAL
Visual Fortran 5.0.  The DIGITAL compiler has been enhanced to provide
compatibility with Microsoft Fortran PowerStation 4.0 and to include
enhancements proposed in the ISO/ANSI Fortran 95 language standard.  Because it
shares the same integrated development environment, DIGITAL Visual Fortran 5.0
can be used with other Microsoft development tools that are integrated in
Developer Studio, an integrated development environment. 

DIGITAL will offer current customers of Microsoft Fortran PowerStation a
low-cost upgrade option to the standard edition kit of DIGITAL Visual Fortran
5.0.  The upgrade price of $360 (U.S.) will be available to users of Microsoft
PowerStation as well as current users of any PC-based Fortran product from any
vendor until Aug. 31, 1997.  DIGITAL will provide continued support and future
product enhancements to DIGITAL Visual Fortran. 

DIGITAL also announced today that DIGITAL Visual Fortran, Professional Edition,
will be available later this year.  This product will include the popular
Fortran 77 and Fortran 90 IMSL mathematics libraries from Visual Numerics Inc. 

DIGITAL Visual Fortran, Standard Edition, for Windows NT for Intel systems and
Windows 95 is list priced at $599 (U.S.).  Special pricing is available for
academic versions, in addition to the upgrade price for customers of Microsoft
and other PC-based Fortran products.  For additional information on DIGITAL
Fortran, please visit the company's Web site at
http://www.digital.com/fortran/. 

The DIGITAL Microsoft Alliance for Enterprise Computing, formed in August 1995,
combines Microsoft client/server products with DIGITAL's leadership in
enterprise systems,  service, support and systems integration.  Customers can
deploy business solutions on the Microsoft Windows and Windows NT operating
systems with assurance of integration into the most complex business
environments (for more information, refer to http://www.alliance.digital.com/). 

DIGITAL Equipment Corp. is a world leader in open client/server solutions from
personal computing to integrated worldwide information systems.  DIGITAL's
scalable Intel and Alpha platforms, storage, networking, software and services,
together with industry-focused solutions from business partners, help
organizations compete and win in today's global marketplace. Founded in 1975, 

Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software for personal
computers.  The company offers a wide range of products and services for
business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier
and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal
computing every day. 

######### 

DIGITAL, the DIGITAL logo and Open VMS are trademarks of Digital Equipment 
Corp.   

Microsoft, Developer Studio, Windows, Windows NT and Visual Studio are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States
and/or other countries.

Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective
owners.

  Steve,

    Congratulations on your "win" against Microsoft, I wouldn't have thought
  it possible. Can we get copies internally? I haven't been able to find a
  part number to order.
						John Gillings, Sydney CSC

   Yes, this is an excellent web site. Kudos to all.

   -- John Faricelli

    I'm checking into how internal (and employee) orders are to be handled.
    We're not selling this direct but through distributors.
    
    The part number for the kit at the "migration" price is QB-5LCAA-SC,
    but darned if I know from whom you order it for internal use.  I'll
    find out.
    
    Glad you like the web site.  I'm looking for more pieces of example
    code that show interesting uses (calling OS services, mixed-language
    examples) for all operating systems, but I really need them for UNIX
    and NT.  Contributions are welcome.
    
    					Steve

Kathy Appellof says that DVF should be orderable internally just like any other
product - ditto for employee purchases. I suggest waiting at least until after
the 19th to try this out, though.

				Steve

    http://www.digital.com/fortran/dvf-order.html contains a list of
    resellers known to carry DVF.  This list will be updated as new
    resellers are confirmed.
    
    				Steve