works@ucbvax.UUCP (01/02/86)
The Dec. 85 issue of Byte has an article on a Mac-like
personal computer that runs UNIX. It is called "The Triple X"
and is made by Torch Computers in England.
It is supposed to be "launched" this month and its rumored
price is "nearer to the IBM PC than to typical UNIX prices".
This is a real product -- the author of the Byte article actually
used it and a picture of it is included in the article.
Sounds like a great alternative to the Mac.
Does anybody have more info on the XXX than is in the Byte article ?
Is there any new info regarding price and availability in the US ?
Yuval Tamir
Internet: tamir@locus.ucla.edu
UUCP: ucla-cs!tamirworks@ucbvax.UUCP (01/06/86)
The Torch Triple X is a very nice machine. We have had a
demonstration of it, so it is real. The version we saw was the final
release machine with the complete window manager. The response time
is very good, to my mind faster than the Sun2, and the whole machine
seemed quite solid. The user-interface is very simple, powerful, and
is very intuitive. The display is rock steady and very sharp. It uses
a long persistence phospher Sony monitor. There is a VME-bus
connector for expansion.
The prices in the UK are (in sterling);
Torch (1Mbyte RAM, 20Mbyte winchester) 3995.00
10" Colour monitor 699.00
13" Colour monitor 799.00
Ethernet software and interface 500.00
X25 software and interface 500.00
The Torch has a 68010, but there is a 68020 plug-in upgrade due next
year for about 1000.00 pounds. There will also be a diskless
workstation for 2000.00 - 2500.00 pounds.
The ethernet interface is tcp-ip with, as far as we could see, the
Berkeley plugs and sockets interface. We didn't get to try this out
though.
I have no connection with the company, but like what I have seen, and
think it is a very good produce.
sean
sjl@ukcworks@ucbvax.UUCP (01/08/86)
> The Torch Triple X is a very nice machine. We have had a > demonstration of it, so it is real. The version we saw was the > final release machine with the complete window manager. The > response time is very good, to my mind faster than the Sun2, and > the whole machine seemed quite solid. The user-interface is very > simple, powerful, and is very intuitive. The display is rock steady > and very sharp. It uses a long persistence phospher Sony monitor. > There is a VME-bus connector for expansion. > > The prices in the UK are (in sterling); > > Torch (1Mbyte RAM, 20Mbyte winchester) 3995.00 > 10" Colour monitor 699.00 > 13" Colour monitor 799.00 > > Ethernet software and interface 500.00 > X25 software and interface 500.00 > > The Torch has a 68010, but there is a 68020 plug-in upgrade due > next year for about 1000.00 pounds. There will also be a diskless > workstation for 2000.00 - 2500.00 pounds. Multiply the above by 1.44 to get the american dollar equivalent -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Erik James Freed Aurora Systems San Francisco, CA {dual,ptsfa}!aum!freed