[net.micro.pc] PC 6300+ and Symphony

wmh@mtuxo.UUCP (w.hyland) (09/24/86)

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DThe PC 6300+ problem with Symphony is easily explained. Symphony Version 1.1
offers support for the 80287 numeric coprocessor. In order to take advantage
of 80287 coprocessing, the software must detect whether the user has an 80287
coprocessor installed on his or her system. The detection method which Symphony
utilized was designed for use in the IBM product family; it did not work with  d the some compatibles such as the PC 6300+ and resulted in the end-user not being 
a REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***

wmh@mtuxo.UUCP (w.hyland) (09/24/86)

Please excuse the earlier aborted attempt.

Symphony 1.1 offers support for the 80287 coprocessor, however, the method
with which the software attempted to detect its presence was designed for
the IBM product family and, as such, did not work with some compatibles
such as the PC 6300+ when this 80287 chip was not present. Upon learning of
the problem, AT&T designed a special plug that fits into the 80287 socket
which corrects the problem. This plug was factory installed in a large number
of systems and is also available at no cost from the AT&T PC Hotline for those
who received the system prior to installation of the plug.

Lotus has since changed its method of 80287 coprocessor detection to support
the widely used Intel suggested approach. This change was incorporated into
1-2-3 last fall and will be utilized in future versions os Symphony. Users
of these new versions of Lotus products will not require the plug.