Date   : Sat, 19 Feb 1983 04:54:00 EST
From   : Jerry E. Pournelle <POURNE@mit-mc.arpa>
Subject: The Next Five years in Micros

I am supposed to give a speec at NCC on "The Next Five Years in
Micro Development."  I haven't really the foggiest notion
of what to say, although doubtless somethng will suggest itself
and no doubt become an article as well.

Still, help will be appreciated: any wild ideas greatefully
accepted.  All entries become property of the sponsors and none
will be returned...

I see a few trends.  I expect 8" and 5 1/4" floppies will both
die away, in not very long.  Non-volatile memory will get cheap
and plentiful.  Shirt pocket disks will be used to transfer
stuff fro  publisher to user.  Interesting trends in visuals and
displays.  T he "battle" between 68000 and 8086 family will be
interesting, although the 16032 may decide t hat before the
battle is really joined...

Communications and information utilities will move ahead..

anyway, ideas and wild thoughts will be appreciated.

JEP

PS: does anyone know where the profits from NCC go?  (I know it
is a non-profit outfit that puts it on, but since it must make a
LOT LOT LOT of money, where does the money go?)

PPS:   They say they cannot allow anyone to sell anything in the
exhibits because of their non-profit status because the IRS will
stop them; but in fact that's owl puckey.  Science fiction
conventions have for decades been  non-profit (some incorporated
some not)  and they have always had a huckster room in which
exhibitors sell stuff, and indeed also art auctions and what
not.  Query: why does NCC maintain this fiction of being unable
to sell anything or allow anythin g to be sold?  Qui bono?