C70:info-cpm (05/12/82)
>From Gumby@Mit-Ai Wed May 12 16:29:13 1982
I called the DEC number and asked for info on their new small machines,
and they promised to send me some info. I asked some questions which the
girl on the other end seemed unable to answer (she didn't have any
technical training, and claimed much of the info I wanted wasn't given
to her. Knowing DEC,. that was probably true). Here is what I was able
to get:
The low-end machine is called the Rainbow 100. It is an 8/16-bit dual
processor for small-business applications; comes with a spreadsheet
package and word-processor. Typical price was given as "around $3500" (because
options vary the price. She couldn't or wouldn't say what the 8-bit
processor was.
Next is the DECmate II for office mgmt (dibol,etc). Has a "muti-tasking
12-bit processor" (which she admitted was just a pdp8). Also comes with
two floppies "improved to give double the storage." Optional winchester
and bitmap video.
The high-end is the 325 and the 350: "P/OS" is a muti-tasking OS with
window interface. Toolkit for using with VAX software . Winchester
standard. CPU is an 11/23.
The difference between the 325 and the 350 are "accessories"-- the only
one she told me about is a telephone management system, which seems to
be a computerised answering machine (she claimed it would play back
digitised voice).
No prices were given for the last two systems because "the various
options make it hard for them to set prices."
What do I think? If the "Rainbow" is a z80/68000 or somesuch
(z80/LSI-II?) then it could really win. She claimed it would "figure out
which processor to run" whatever that means. But if it's performance is
better or even comperable to that of S100 dual-processor cards, then it
could be a formidable entry.
I'll forward more when I get the brochures.
Cheers!
--davidC70:info-cpm (05/13/82)
>From JJD.MIT-EECS@BRL Wed May 12 23:12:10 1982
I believe the high end ones (325, 350) run RSX-11M with
a special window command processor.
--Jim--
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