INFO-PC@USC-ISIB (03/19/83)
From: Dick Gillmann <INFO-PC@USC-ISIB>
Info-PC Digest Friday, 18 March 1983 Volume 2 : Issue 16
Today's Topics:
Memory, Sound Generator, Mice Query
Lower Prices for PC-I
New Winchester vs. TECMAR
Overlays
Peanut Query
Availability of XT
DOS 2.0 and Davong Disks
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Date: 15 March 1983 02:15 EST
From: Dan Blumenfeld <DAN@MIT-ML>
Subject: Memory, Sound Generator, Mice Query
To: info-pc@USC-ISIB
I'd like some suggestions on an IBM PC expansion board with the
following features:
1. 256K Memory
2. Clock/Calendar with battery backup
3. Serial and Parallel I/O Ports NOT required
4. Board available with 0K or 64K so that it may
be populated later.
5. Either assembled or kit form
The reason that I don't need serial or parallel I/O ports is that the
board is to be used with an MPX-16, not a PC.
I'd also like to know if anyone manufactures a "sound generator" board
for the PC, preferably with General Instrument AY-3-8910 sound chips.
Such a board would be useful for game sound effects and the like, and
I'd rather buy one than take the time to design and build one.
Lastly, I'd like to get in touch with people using Mice on the IBM-PC,
as I'm very interested in adding one to my MPX-16. What's available?
What's reliable? What's cost-effective?
Dan
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Date: 12 Mar 83 13:22:07-PST (Sat)
To: info-pc@isib
From: decvax!utzoo!utcsrgv!peterr@Berkeley.arpa
Subject: Lower Prices for PC-I
In a previous msg about the new IBM PC/XT, I mentioned price
reductions on old PC products. Without getting too commercial, I'll
try to convey the gist of those reductions.
PC w. 64K and 1 320K drive w. disk adapter (no display): down 12%
Diskette drives, 160K and 320K: down 34%, 16%
Colour adapter: down 16%
64K - 256K memory board, w. 64K installed: down 24%
64K chip set: down 16%
Async. adapter: down 18%
These figures reflect the differences in the Jan 17 and Mar 9 IBM
Toronto Product Centre prices lists. Given this, however, it may
still be cost-effective to buy a std PC and populate it with non-IBM
products, instead of buying an XT (if you're willing to forgo the 192K
on-board memory space and 3 extra 1/2 length slots). I couldn't tell
whether the XT had a std 8087 or not... that would certainly make a
difference too. Conceivably, the processor may also run faster.
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Date: 13 Mar 83 22:36:56-PST (Sun)
To: info-pc@isib
From: pur-ee!uiucdcs!donchin (donchin )@Berkeley.arpa
Subject: New Winchester vs. TECMAR
Does anybody know if the XT Winchester driver is the same
as/compatible with the DOS improvements that are provided with TECMAR
hard drives?
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Date: Tue 15 Mar 83 10:20:52-PST
From: SMITH@SRI-AI.ARPA
Subject: Overlays
To: info-pc@USC-ISIB.ARPA
I would like to be able to write and use overlay code in a system
written in IBM PASCAL.
Can anyone tell me if LINK in DOS 1.1 has overlay capabilities? The
manual does not mention any, but there are obscure hints to be found;
e.g., one field in the .EXE file is called "overlay number", and a
couple of LINK error messages complain about "too many overlays".
Does DOS 2.0 support overlays?
---Randy
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Date: Tue 15 Mar 83 18:08:54-PST
From: Chuck Restivo <CSD.Restivo@SU-SCORE.ARPA>
Subject: IBM Peanut Query
To: info-pc@USC-ISIB.ARPA
Anybody know anything about the specification for this machine?
-c
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Date: 18 March 1983 0858-est
From: Bruce J Nemnich <Nemnich@MIT-MULTICS>
Subject: Availability of XT
To: info-pc@USC-ISIB
I ordered an XT yesterday from the IBM Product Center here in Boston.
The salesman told me he was promised 10 units two weeks ago, but the
latest word was that he would have them today, and I would get
shipment Monday or Tuesday.
At the same time, I cancelled an order from Computerland of Boston (on
Congress Street downtown) for a PC. I was ordering a rather large
system (256k on Quadram, monochrome & color, Davong 15M), and I just
kept getting put off. At first, the salesman told me he had
everything in stock except the monochrome monitor (there seems to be a
big shortage of them; the Product Center store didn't have any
either). Then he told me that not only didn't he have the Davong, but
he wouldn't until May at the earliest. Then he didn't have the system
unit, but he was getting more in a few days. *Then*, after waiting a
week for them to assemble the systems they got in, I learned they
didn't have enough to give me one after all, and I would have to wait
for another shipment. I don't know why they didn't just count them.
I know they probably can't help it if they can't get things, but I do
mind being told they have things they don't really have, and that they
will get it to me tomorrow.
Computerland said they expected XTs in two to three weeks. The IBM
salesman told me not to hold my breath on the expansion module; maybe
two months or so, but he really had no idea (they had not been
promised anything).
--bjn
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Date: 18 Mar 83 20:57:33-EST (Fri)
From: Farber@UDel-Relay
Subject: DOS 2.0 and Davong Disks
To: info-pc@isib
Anyone out there have any idea of how to interface the Davong to
DOS 2.0 or intend to do it?
By the way, I have 2.0 and have been using it for about a week. It's
a decided improvement over 1.1. I wonder if the average user is going
to not find it rather complicated?
Also several times it has "vanished" leaving nothing active and for no
reason I can tell.
Dave
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End of Info-PC Digest
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