rwest@ihuxx.UUCP (Ricky W. West) (06/28/84)
July's issue of 'Personal Computing' contains three articles of the new AT&T Personal Computer. The three articles are the following: 'AT&T Enters The Market,' Charles L. Martin, page 62 'AT&T Personal Computer,' Paul Bonner, page 72 'Jack Scanlon on AT&T's UNIX Strategy,' page 78 The first article briefly discusses the reasons behind the marketing strategy behind the release of the AT&T Personal Computer. Three AT&T executives, John Boyd, Stuart Mencher, and James Olsen, were interviewed on the subject. According to the article, the AT&T PC is the next entry by AT&T into the office information processing environment. The intent for this release and the earlier release of the 3B minicomputer series is to provide an integrated information processing system from the micro- computer to the mainframes. Furthermore, UNIX will be used on all the machines so that a uniform environment is present throughout the chain. Some individuals, however, question the sanity in releasing a product that is certified 100 percent compatible with the IBM PC and runs MS-DOS, PC-DOS, and Concurrent CP/M-86. The reasons for this release are to provide AT&T with a well-designed entry into the personal computer market when market volume predictions are high and to provide a springboard for further personal computing products. The future intent is to provide the AT&T Personal Computer with the UNIX operating system and the necessary hardware and software in order to provide a complete solution for the office information processing environment, from micro to mainframe. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The second article dealt only with the specific features of the AT&T Personal Computer. The following is a brief description of the AT&T Personal Computer. Processor: The processor is an Intel 8086-2 which runs at 8 MHz. The 8086 is completely instruction compatible with the 8088 (which drives the IBM PC), but unlike the 8088, the 8086 is a true 16-bit machine with its 16-bit data bus. Available as options are a Z8001 co-processor and an 8 MHz Intel 8087 math co-processor. On-board memory: The basic configuration is 128K of RAM that is expandable to 640K on the motherboard. Disk Memory: The basic configuration contains one 5 1/4 inch slimline floppy disk with a 360K storage capacity. This can be upgraded to two floppy disks for 720K. Also, a 10M byte hard disk can be added to the system which fits inside the the main box. In addition, a 50 M byte expansion box with a streaming tape backup as a option are available. The configurations possible with the two floppies and the 10M hard disk are one floppy and the 10M internal or two floppies with the 10M external. Expansion slots: Seven expansion slot are available that are completely compatible with the IBM PC. Furthermore, three of these cards have a special connector that will allow the use of 16-bit expansion cards in lieu of the 8-bit IBM expansion cards. Furthermore, if the computer is expanded to 640K Ram, two floppies, and a color monitor, seven slots will still be available whereas only two slots would be left on the IBM. Monitor: The monitor is packaged in a case that can be rotated and tilted to suit the user's environment. The basic configuration comes with a white phosphor monochrome tube, but an option exists to upgrade to a full color monitor. Both monitors are completely compatible with color software since the monochrome translates colors into a gray scale. The display resolution is said to be twice as good as that on the IBM. The monochrome monitor receives power from the system unit via the connector, but the color monitor receives power from an additional wall plug-in. Keyboard: The keyboard is virtually identical to the IBM, but the connector is not compatible with an IBM. Furthermore, a mouse can be connected to the rear of the keyboard. The keyboard can be connected to either the rear of the system unit which houses the computer or to the monitor. This feature can be used to keep the clutter off one's desk since only the monitor and keyboard need to be placed on the desk (the monitor cable is quite lengthy). Operating system: The AT&T personal computer will support MS-DOS, PC-DOS, and Concurrent CP/M-86. In the future, UNIX may be supported on the PC. Communications: One serial port and one parallel printer port are available in the basic configuration. Plans are in the works to provide expansion cards for Ethernet, Omninet, and 3Bnet. Furthermore, a software package known as Context Switch that runs under MS-DOS will allow the PC to behave as a 3B terminal which can change operating environment (MS-DOS to 3B terminal) quickly and efficiently. Also, a hardware and software package is being developed that will network the AT&T PC to other IBM compatibles through a 3B5 processor in a star configuration. Comparative performance: Comparing the processing speed of the AT&T PC with the IBM PC, the AT&T PC came out ahead by 30 to 82 percent. In applications where the operations are computation intensive, the AT&T PC will provide between 50 to 80 percent improvement in speed. In I/O intensive operations, the advantage is only between 30 to 50 percent. Cost: Exact numbers were not included in the article, but I have heard rumors that the basic configuration will be priced between $2300 and $3000, depending upon the source. The professed market for the PC is not the home computer market but business only. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The third article is basically a question and answer session with Jack Scanlon, a vice-president in the computer systems division of AT&T Technology Systems Group. He is the man responsible for the new line of AT&T computers. The discussion centers around the strategies behind the thrust to make UNIX the operating system standard for the computer world. Also, questions are asked concerning the future products that AT&T will produce for the personal and mainframe computer markets. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I hope that this article has been informative concerning the AT&T PC. If I have made any gross errors, please let me know through the electronic mail. -- ================================================================= Ricky W. West AT&T Bell Laboratories ihnp4!ihuxx!rwest 1200 E. Warrenville Road Phone (312) 979-0352 Naperville, IL 60566