doc@ecsvax.UUCP (05/28/84)
Refers to:
(houxk.270) net.micro.pc : PC versus DisplayWriter
what is the difference between an IBMPC and and IBMDisplay writer?
in particular:
1. cost
The PC is less expensive. Typically $5K vs
$7-12K.
2. execution rate
Similar. Displaywriter is faster with it's
Textpack 4 than the PC is with the equivalent
DisplayWrite 2 program. XT would probably
reverse that.
3. native cpu
PC - 8088, Displaywriter - 8086
4. amount main memory
Both vary with $ paid. Displaywriter with
Textpack 4 needs 256K.
5. amount disk (floppy or hard)
Displaywriter functional min is 2 single sided
8" floppies. It also supports double sided-
double density floppies, but no hard disk.
6. operating system
Displaywriter - proprietary. UCSD P-System is
available, but I don't like it. PC - PC-DOS,
usually.
7. inter-PC or inter-DisplayWriter communications
(is there rs232, proprietary LAN)
Displaywriter - RS232 async and bisync both
available. Async software is glass tty (e.g.
no screen control) and is minimally adequate.
It strips off the formatting control codes and
does funny things with backspaces. Bisync allows
the Displaywriter to talk to the IBM 5520, the
System 370 mainframes, etc.
IBM-PC - RS232, bisync, SNA, LAN all available
with a variety of software.
8. are they object code compatible?
Maybe. The Displaywriter's wordprocessing
system doesn't work too well with anything else
-- due to the operating system and no real
documentation of the "hooks" (unless you want
to read the microcode, which is published).
9. can they talk to each other?
Yes. By RS232, Async and bisync. IBM has
announced programs for document exchange between
the PC and the Displaywriter with bisync comm.
Come August, you can also attach a PC directly
to a Displaywriter for printer sharing.
their application is primarily inter-city database and mail for
the appeals level of the state court system. the database is
LEXUS.
is one a clear winner over the other??
To access LEXUS, the PC is the machine of choice. For straight
word processing, the Displaywriter is the winner. For combined
use, the PC with a good communications program (I think LEXUS
even sells one that is custom fitted to their database) and IBM's
DisplayWrite 2 software is a good choice. DisplayWrite 2 has a
legal dictionary available as an option.
IBM has announced the features for up to 4 IBM-PC's to share a
Displaywriter's printer. This is important, as the Displaywriter
has one of the strongest and best featured letter quality
printers on the market. Lawyers, like doctors, generally feel
that fully formed characters for letter quality print is the
**only** acceptable form of printed output and the printer is
generally the weakest link in the PC system for the office.
Doc Muhlbaier
Duke University Medical Center
Biometry
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