bskendig@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Brian Kendig) (09/01/89)
All right, I just heard an interesting tidbit of news through the grapevine,
so let me have my moment in the limelight as the person who started the
Rampant Rumors about a Terrific New Computer That Doesn't Even Exist Yet.
My boss told me (so it's gotta be true!) that the Macintosh IIci is due to
be unveiled this Fall. It is cosmetically identical to a IIcx, but chugs
along at 25 megaHertz. It was unveiled at a computer exposition (what better
place to expose a computer?) recently.
Let me attach this with another rumor and suggest that this might be Apple's
first machine with multiprocessing capability. Not multi*tasking*, mind you:
multiprocessing means really physically running two programs at once, like the
Commodore Amiga has been doing for years.
The Macintosh IIci supposedly doesn't need a video card, as the screen memory
will exist entirely in the machine's RAM.
Comments, criticisms, or other assorted rumors, people? Anyone? Anyone?
<< Brian >>
--
| Brian S. Kendig | I feel more like I | bskendig |
| Computer Engineering | did when I got here | @phoenix.Princeton.EDU |
| Princeton University | than I do now. | @PUCC.BITNET |
| Systems Engineering, NASA Space Station Freedom / General Electric WP3 |kempf@tci.UUCP (Cory Kempf) (09/02/89)
bskendig@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Brian Kendig) writes: >My boss told me (so it's gotta be true!) that the Macintosh IIci is due to >be unveiled this Fall. It is cosmetically identical to a IIcx, but chugs >along at 25 megaHertz. It was unveiled at a computer exposition (what better >place to expose a computer?) recently. I have heard a substantually similar rumour... I hadn't heard that apple had officially announced the product, let alone was willing to show it off though. In brief: 25Mhz version of IIcx, 1 bit video card on motherboard (using the main CPU). If you don't want to waste your CPU on video, you could always buy a video card. Roumer had it that it would be announced at Macworld Boston, but *I* didn't see one there. >The Macintosh IIci supposedly doesn't need a video card, as the screen memory >will exist entirely in the machine's RAM. see above. -- Cory Kempf Technology Concepts phone: (508) 443-7311 x341 uucp: {anywhere}!uunet!tci!kempf, kempf@tci.bell-atl.com DISCLAIMER: TCI is not responsible for my opinions, nor I for theirs
folta@tove.umd.edu (Wayne Folta) (09/02/89)
I was just reading Info World and it claims that the IIci will be announced Sept. 20, when the laptop is. The Info World rumor column claims that it will be priced 15% over the IIcx. My question would be: if it is announced Sept. 20, when might I expect to be able to buy it at my school's computer store? Wayne Folta (folta@tove.umd.edu 128.8.128.42)
roy@phri.UUCP (Roy Smith) (09/03/89)
In <10213@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> bskendig@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Brian Kendig): > Let me attach this with another rumor and suggest that this might be > Apple's first machine with multiprocessing capability. Not multi*tasking*, > mind you: multiprocessing means really physically running two programs at > once, like the Commodore Amiga has been doing for years. I'm not sure I understand what you mean. If I am to take what you said literally, i.e. "physically running two programs at once", then you are talking about a MIMD multiprocessor, like a Sequent or Alliant. Is that what you meant, or (more likely, I think) that it will be a uniprocessor capable of timesharing by having task switches controlled by an internal clock (as in your typical Unix or VMS system) rather than by mouse clicks (as in multifinder)? -- Roy Smith, Public Health Research Institute 455 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016 {att,philabs,cmcl2,rutgers,hombre}!phri!roy -or- roy@alanine.phri.nyu.edu "The connector is the network"
mr2t+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael Tod Rose) (09/03/89)
gentlepeople; MacWeek previewed the IIci; the box supposedly will have *8-bit*, not 1-bit, video built in. Also faster memory and SCSI. The built-in video slows it down a bit, but it still clips along at 50-60% faster than a vanilla Mac II. -mike
holland@m2.csc.ti.com (Fred Hollander) (09/06/89)
In article <10213@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> bskendig@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Brian Kendig) writes: My boss told me (so it's gotta be true!) that the Macintosh IIci is due to be unveiled this Fall. It is cosmetically identical to a IIcx, but chugs along at 25 megaHertz. It was unveiled at a computer exposition (what better place to expose a computer?) recently. I don't think it's a rumor. I thought Apple officially announced that it would present this along with the laptop on September 20 (21?) at Universal Studios. Sounds wild, maybe I did make it up :) Let me attach this with another rumor and suggest that this might be Apple's first machine with multiprocessing capability. Not multi*tasking*, mind you: multiprocessing means really physically running two programs at once, like the Commodore Amiga has been doing for years. I think there are rumors that it will have a graphics co-processor to free the cpu. Is this what you mean by multi-processing? -Fred ______________________________________________________________________________ | Fred Hollander | | | Computer Science Center | "Ha ha ha ha ha ha, Ah what a day!" | | Texas Instruments, Inc. | -- Joker | | Internet: hollander@ti.com | | | Telnet: 214/995-0696 | The above statements are my own and not | | AppleLink: D1392 | representative of Texas Instruments. | ______________________________________________________________________________
markham@tsc.cs.unc.edu (Andrew Markham) (09/07/89)
In article <HOLLAND.89Sep5134111@m2.csc.ti.com>, holland@m2.csc.ti.com (Fred Hollander) writes: > In article <10213@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> bskendig@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Brian Kendig) writes: >>My boss told me (so it's gotta be true!) that the Macintosh IIci is due to >>be unveiled this Fall. It is cosmetically identical to a IIcx, but chugs >>along at 25 megaHertz. > > I don't think it's a rumor. I thought Apple officially announced that > it would present this along with the laptop on September 20 (21?) at > Universal Studios. Sounds wild, maybe I did make it up :) According to the local Apple Rep (Raleigh, NC) the IIci and laptop will be introduced on September 20. The laptop will be a 68000 machine, but he said that they are planning a whole family of laptops (i.e. 68020, 68030, 680?0). The IIci will be running at 25 MHz and he said that it really screams. He had a lot to say about the laptop! >>Let me attach this with another rumor and suggest that this might be Apple's >>first machine with multiprocessing capability. Not multi*tasking*, mind you: >>multiprocessing means really physically running two programs at once, like >>the Commodore Amiga has been doing for years. > > I think there are rumors that it will have a graphics co-processor to > free the cpu. Is this what you mean by multi-processing? > > -Fred As far as I got from him, there will be no difference between the multi-tasking abilities of this machine with regards to the IIcx. I don't even think that there is a graphics co-processor. He said that there will be 8-bit video built in, but recommends a video card for anyone doing anything with intense graphics (that is, anything besides spreadsheets, word processors and the like). He said that the main advantage of the built in video is so that secretaries won't need a video card to do their normal chores. Save a couple of bucks. Any high-intensity graphics and he says that it slows down the 68030 too much. At only ~$1000 more than the IIcx, the IIci should become the main machine for Apple. (shoot, a 25MHz accel. costs about $1000). I gotta get some cash soon!!!! Andrew W. Markham <markham@sunmail.cs.unc.edu> Computer Science Department UNC-CH "Nobody in the world can cover my main man Michael Jordan. No, No, Nooobody." -Mars Blackmon
truesdel@ics.uci.edu (Scott Truesdell) (09/07/89)
Most probably, it will be announced on September 20th, along with the laptop. One of my yacht-mates saw one in an Apple suite at MacWorld. He was impressed in that the machine felt substantially faster then standard Mac II(whatevers) accellerated to 33MHz. Presumably this is due to the entire machine's archtecture being optimized for this speed. I'll post here the evening of the unveiling, after I get back down from Universal Studios, stuft with sushi, fajittas tacos, and wine. I know several folks here at U.C.I. who have their P.O.s poised and ready to order. --scott -- Scott Truesdell
apippin@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU (Pinhead@Spikes.slo.ca.EDU) (09/07/89)
truesdel@ics.uci.edu (Scott Truesdell) writes:
~He was impressed in that the machine felt substantially faster then
~standard Mac II(whatevers) accellerated to 33MHz. Presumably this is
~due to the entire machine's archtecture being optimized for this speed.
Isn't it just (?!) 25 MHz? At least that's what I heard...
Daystar has the 033 accel board...
abp.
--
Andy Pippin (apippin@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU) The gas war is over... gas won.paisley@cme.nist.gov (Scott Paisley) (09/07/89)
Does anyone know if the NuBus slot are still at 10Mhz? It would seem to me that faster slots would be a great selling point. Especially if apple is planning on make the IIci there mainstream machine. -- "If a tree falls in the forest, will another one grow in its place?" Scott Paisley paisley@cme.nbs.gov ..!uunet!cme-durer!paisley