peterr@utcsrgv.UUCP (Peter Rowley) (11/06/83)
I have several sheets of PCjr "Family Computer" product data from the local
Product Centre. As there seems to be interest, here's a summary. I'll
try to skip over material that's appeared in this group already.
Target market: "homes, educational environments, and personal productivity
applications"
The enhanced model is the entry model + 64K memory ($213Cdn add-on) +
Diskette drive ($725Cdn add-on). The 64K memory expansion option is
actually called the "Memory and Display Expansion" option; it allows
display of 80 col. text (basic model restricted to 40 col. text).
Displays: TV (via $45Cdn RF mod'r), IBM Colour Display ($1055Cdn incl cable),
or "a compatible composite monitor" (there is composite output avail.).
ROM: 64K bytes in both units, containing self-test, cassette BASIC, cassette
OS, drivers, dot patterns for 256 chars (only 128 in PC's ROM), a bootstrap,
and (new to PCjr) user-selectable diagnostics.
Connectors: 2 for cartridges ("up to 64KB each"), 13 (!) for I/O: Cassette,
Joystick x 2, Kybd, Modem, Drive, Direct Video, Composite Video, TV Video,
Light Pen, "I/O Expansion Bus", std serial port, don't know what the 13th
is for.
Sound: 3 channel, plus noise channel (sounds a lot like the Comm. 64).
Keyboard: "Its 62 keys utilize the full travel, carbon contact/rubber dome
technology for long wear and reliability"... "It provides all the functions
of the 83 key keyboard in a way unique to the PCjr" (hmmm.)
Options: $150Cdn for parallel printer adapter. $60Cdn for Joystick (!!).
$45Cdn for cassette cable (!!). $93Cdn for carrying case (!). $38Cdn
for serial cable.
Software: a variety of educational and home-oriented sw (on cart's I assume)
for $39Cdn to $129Cdn. Many at $45Cdn. A BASIC cart at $97Cdn (enhancements?)
and DOS 2.1 for $84.50Cdn (runs on all PC's-- with luck, fixes some of 2.0's
bugs). Personal Communications Manager, at $129Cdn, runs on all PCs.
Updated versions of 7 old PC programs (all now ver 1.05 or 1.15) were
announced. Interesting "family" sw: HomeWord "that uses pictures and enables
the user to see at a glance the format for an entire page" and Animation
Creation "that lets [PC users] create pictures and watch them come to life
with computerized animation." The sales rep. I spoke to was most enthusiastic
about the last.
Books: BASIC for PCjr ($17), DOS 2.1 Tech. Ref. Manual ($39; I guess the
appendices were getting too big-- this means $123.50Cdn for a fully documented
DOS 2.1-- about $100US), PCjr Tech. Ref. Man. ($45).
The biggest question I still have about it: what sort of graphics performance
does it have? I can't find anything on it. Certainly, NO NEW GRAPHICS CARDS
HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED BY IBM FOR THE PC, though the sales rep. said to wait a
bit (I don't put any creedence in this at all). On the subject of graphics
cards, has anyone used a Quadcolor I or II for the PC? They seem to be out
now and look pretty good. A review would be most welcome.
peter rowley, University of Toronto Department of C.S., Ontario Canada M5S 1A4
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