In recent years the upstart personal computer known as a work station has spoiled the minicomputer business by attaining comparable speed at far lower prices.

The minicomputer business accounted for about a third of the revenues.

"If they sold the minicomputer business, they would have to go back and add some of that overhead," he said.

It's interesting to find the same imperious attitude that we found in the minicomputer business.

"And these moves in the client-server field are evidence that it is going in the right direction to sustain its minicomputer business."

Earlier this month MAI offered $600 million in cash and securities for Prime's minicomputer business alone.

Prime acquired Computervision in 1988, just as its own minicomputer business turned sour.

"The work-station business is all about supplanting the old minicomputer business, and there are still a lot of minicomputers being sold," he said.

Its latest offer was to pay $450 million in cash and $150 million in debentures for the company's minicomputer business.

The minicomputer business, which Digital pioneered, partly displaced large mainframe computers in the late 60's and 70's.