dave@utcsrgv.UUCP (Dave Sherman) (12/29/83)
The Bar Admission Course (an educational institution) of the
Law Society of Upper Canada is currently in the market for a system
to run computer-assisted instruction (CAI) which has already been
developed and runs under UNIX v7 on a PDP-11/23. The CAI is basically
disk-oriented, so disk speed rather than CPU power is most important.
We need a system which can run up to 32 ports. (We might be able to get
by with 25, but 16 is definitely too few.) Since all students can basically
run the same CAI interpreter shared-text, memory shouldn't be too much
of a concern - 1M will probably do. Students will be on at 1200 baud
and will spend much of their session time reading and thinking.
Cost is a major concern. Our budget will allow approximately $50,000
Canadian for the system (educational price). Also, having a distributor
in Ontario will be a big plus.
I have looked into the following systems and have these brief comments:
1. VAX-11/750 - ok, but too expensive (~$100K)
2. Plexus P/40 - also too expensive (~$100K)
3. Wicat 200 - a likely candidate
4. Convergent Technologies Megaframe - interesting but I don't know
enough about it - would like to know more
5. Spectrix - possible, but limited to 24 ports so unlikely
6. IBS Ensign - interesting but unknown
7. Two 16-port machines (e.g., Pixel 80's) - probably too expensive,
and would require extra work for networking.
8. Paradyne System 8400 - unknown )
9. Universe 68/05 - unknown ) mentioned in UNIX Review "buyer's guide"
10.Perkin-Elmer 3205 - unknown )
If anyone out there knows of other possibilities which I should be
looking at, please let me know. I'd also be interested in any information
on any of the above systems which may be relevant.
I will let the net know what decision is eventually made. Thank you.
Dave Sherman
Consultant
The Law Society of Upper Canada (utcsrgv!lsuc!dave)
Osgoode Hall
Toronto, Canada M5H 2N6
(416) 947-3466
ARPA: allegra!utcsrgv!dave@BERKELEY
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{allegra,cornell,decvax,ihnp4,linus,utzoo}!utcsrgv!dave