VAX (Virtual Address Extension)
type of computer from the Digital Equipment Corporation | ||||
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VAX Definition from Computer & Internet Dictionaries & Glossaries
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VAX
<computer> /vaks/ (Virtual Address eXtension) The most successful minicomputer design in industry history, possibly excepting its immediate ancestor, the PDP-11. Between its release in 1978 and its eclipse by killer micros after about 1986, the VAX was probably the hacker's favourite machine, especially after the 1982 release of 4.2BSD Unix. Especially noted for its large, assembly code-programmer-friendly instruction set - an asset that became a liability after the RISC revolution.
VAX is also a British brand of carpet cleaner whose advertising slogan, "Nothing sucks like a VAX!" became a battle-cry of RISC partisans. It is even sometimes claimed that DEC actually entered a licencing deal that allowed them to market VAX computers in the UK in return for not challenging the carpet cleaner trademark in the US.
The slogan originated in the late 1960s as "Nothing sucks like Electrolux", Electrolux AB being a rival Swedish company. It became a classic textbook example of the perils of not knowing the local idiom, which is ironic because, according to the Electrolux press manager in 1996, the double entendre was intentional. VAX copied the slogan in their promotions in 1986-1987, and it surfaced in New Zealand TV ads as recently as 1992!
[Jargon File]
(2000-09-28)
<computer> /vaks/ (Virtual Address eXtension) The most successful minicomputer design in industry history, possibly excepting its immediate ancestor, the PDP-11. Between its release in 1978 and its eclipse by killer micros after about 1986, the VAX was probably the hacker's favourite machine, especially after the 1982 release of 4.2BSD Unix. Especially noted for its large, assembly code-programmer-friendly instruction set - an asset that became a liability after the RISC revolution.
VAX is also a British brand of carpet cleaner whose advertising slogan, "Nothing sucks like a VAX!" became a battle-cry of RISC partisans. It is even sometimes claimed that DEC actually entered a licencing deal that allowed them to market VAX computers in the UK in return for not challenging the carpet cleaner trademark in the US.
The slogan originated in the late 1960s as "Nothing sucks like Electrolux", Electrolux AB being a rival Swedish company. It became a classic textbook example of the perils of not knowing the local idiom, which is ironic because, according to the Electrolux press manager in 1996, the double entendre was intentional. VAX copied the slogan in their promotions in 1986-1987, and it surfaced in New Zealand TV ads as recently as 1992!
[Jargon File]
(2000-09-28)
| Jargon File |
VAX
/vaks/ n. 1. [from Virtual Address eXtension] The most successful minicomputer design in industry history, possibly excepting its immediate ancestor, the PDP-11. Between its release in 1978 and its eclipse by killer micros after about 1986, the VAX was probably the hacker's favorite machine of them all, esp. after the 1982 release of 4.2 BSD Unix (see BSD). Esp. noted for its large, assembler-programmer-friendly instruction set -- an asset that became a liability after the RISC revolution. 2. A major brand of vacuum cleaner in Britain. Cited here because its sales pitch, "Nothing sucks like a VAX!" became a sort of battle-cry of RISC partisans. It is even sometimes claimed that DEC actually entered a cross-licensing deal with the vacuum-Vax people that allowed them to market VAX computers in the U.K. in return for not challenging the vacuum cleaner trademark in the U.S.
/vaks/ n. 1. [from Virtual Address eXtension] The most successful minicomputer design in industry history, possibly excepting its immediate ancestor, the PDP-11. Between its release in 1978 and its eclipse by killer micros after about 1986, the VAX was probably the hacker's favorite machine of them all, esp. after the 1982 release of 4.2 BSD Unix (see BSD). Esp. noted for its large, assembler-programmer-friendly instruction set -- an asset that became a liability after the RISC revolution. 2. A major brand of vacuum cleaner in Britain. Cited here because its sales pitch, "Nothing sucks like a VAX!" became a sort of battle-cry of RISC partisans. It is even sometimes claimed that DEC actually entered a cross-licensing deal with the vacuum-Vax people that allowed them to market VAX computers in the U.K. in return for not challenging the vacuum cleaner trademark in the U.S.
A rival brand actually pioneered the slogan: its original form was "Nothing sucks like Electrolux". It has apparently become a classic example (used in advertising textbooks) of the perils of not knowing the local idiom. But in 1996, the press manager of Electrolux AB, while confirming that the company used this slogan in the late 1960s, also tells us that their marketing people were fully aware of the possible double entendre and intended it to gain attention.
And gain attention it did - the VAX-vacuum-cleaner people thought the slogan a sufficiently good idea to copy it. Several British hackers report that VAX's promotions used it in 1986-1987, and we have one report from a New Zealander that the infamous slogan surfaced there in TV ads for the product in 1992.
| 9300+ Computer Acronyms |
VAX
Virtual Address eXtension
Virtual Address eXtension
| Internet Glossary |
VAX
Short for Virtual Address eXtension, Digital Equipment Corporation's successor to its PDP-11 line of minicomputers. As its name implies, VAX systems feature an operating system, VMS, that supports virtual memory.
The VAX was introduced in 1977 and reached its pinnacle of success in the mid-1980s. In the past decade, it has been eclipsed by RISC-based workstations, including DEC's own line of Alpha stations. However, DEC still sells VAXes, though it now calls them servers rather than minicomputers.
Short for Virtual Address eXtension, Digital Equipment Corporation's successor to its PDP-11 line of minicomputers. As its name implies, VAX systems feature an operating system, VMS, that supports virtual memory.
The VAX was introduced in 1977 and reached its pinnacle of success in the mid-1980s. In the past decade, it has been eclipsed by RISC-based workstations, including DEC's own line of Alpha stations. However, DEC still sells VAXes, though it now calls them servers rather than minicomputers.
VAX Definition from Science & Technology Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Hill Associates Acronym List |
VAX
Virtual Address Extension (DEC)
Virtual Address Extension (DEC)
| ETSI and 3GPP |
VAX
Virtual Address eXtension (Digital Equipment Corp. Computer Family)
Virtual Address eXtension (Digital Equipment Corp. Computer Family)
| U.F.O. Related Terminology and Acronyms |
VAX
Virtual Address eXtension
Virtual Address eXtension
VAX Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries
| hEnglish - advanced version |
vax
vax
/vaks/ (virtual address extensio) the most successful minicomputer design in industry history, possibly excepting its immediate ancestor, the pdp-11. between its release in 1978 and its eclipse by killer micros after about 1986, the vax was probably the hacker's favourite machine, especially after the 1982 release of 4.2bsd unix. especially noted for its large, assembly code -programmer-friendly instruction set - an asset that became a liability after the risc revolution.
vax
is also a british brand of carpet cleaner (http://www.vax.co.uk/) whose advertising slogan, "nothing sucks like a vax!" became a battle-cry of risc partisans. it is even sometimes claimed that dec actually entered a licencing deal that allowed them to market vax computers in the uk in return for not challenging the carpet cleaner trademark in the us.
similar words(3)
vax document
vax mips
extensible vax editor
vax
/vaks/ (virtual address extensio) the most successful minicomputer design in industry history, possibly excepting its immediate ancestor, the pdp-11. between its release in 1978 and its eclipse by killer micros after about 1986, the vax was probably the hacker's favourite machine, especially after the 1982 release of 4.2bsd unix. especially noted for its large, assembly code -programmer-friendly instruction set - an asset that became a liability after the risc revolution.
vax
is also a british brand of carpet cleaner (http://www.vax.co.uk/) whose advertising slogan, "nothing sucks like a vax!" became a battle-cry of risc partisans. it is even sometimes claimed that dec actually entered a licencing deal that allowed them to market vax computers in the uk in return for not challenging the carpet cleaner trademark in the us.
similar words(3)
vax document
vax mips
extensible vax editor
VAX Definition from Encyclopedia Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Wikipedia English - The Free Encyclopedia |
VAX
This article is about the computing term VAX, not to be confused with the vacuum cleaner/floorcare manufacturer Vax (vacuum).
VAX is a 32-bit computing architecture that supports an orthogonal instruction set (machine language) and virtual addressing (i.e. demand paged virtual memory). It was developed in the mid-1970s by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). DEC was later purchased by Compaq, which in turn was purchased by Hewlett-Packard.
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