dent@unocss.UUCP (Dave Caplinger) (11/08/88)
Does anyone have any information they might be willing to provide regarding the Xebra Model 100 by Acer Counterpoint, Inc. ? According to the 2-page add in UNIX Review (Nov 88), it: "...integrates the X Server, TCP/IP, Telnet and FTP into local ROM, together with a built-in Ethernet controller." They make no mention of versions, etc. Currently, they are selling a B&W version, with "Color version available first quarter, 1989." Boy, the picture of the thing makes it look /very/ ugly. It looks like a WYSE WY-85 (or that entire line of terminals) except in black, with very bright white keys on the detached keyboard. The mouse looks like a black Microsoft (new-style) Mouse with a (two? three?) white button(s). Of course, the picture is very small, and no mention of screen-size (in pixels) is in the ad... I don't want to make it sound like I hate this thing on sight; I'm pretty excited about it really, but also disappointed that for all I know, it's got X v10r1 in ROM. They do mention a ROM cartrige, but not what it's for other than "flexibility and configurability to accomodate OEM customized features such as additional fonts and enhanced software options". -/ Dave Caplinger /--------------+--------------------------------------- Microcomputer Specialist | Internet: UNOCC07%ZEUS@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU Campus Computing | UUCP: uunet!btni!unocss!dent University of Nebraska at Omaha | Bitnet: UNOCC07@UNOMA1 Omaha, NE 68182 | or dc3a+@andrew.cmu.edu
bin@rhesus.primate.wisc.edu (Brain in Neutral) (11/09/88)
From article <479@unocss.UUCP>, by dent@unocss.UUCP (Dave Caplinger): > Does anyone have any information they might be willing to provide > regarding the Xebra Model 100 by Acer Counterpoint, Inc. ? Digital Review 7 Nov 88 p.4 says: 640x480 pixel monochrome (screen size? don't know) Intel 8086 10Mhz CPU 640KB RAM 512KB ROM built-in ethernet controller supports thickwire, thinwire The server as well as TCP/IP are in ROM. Article doesn't say what version of X Windows is used. It supposed to ship at the end of the year and price is $995 in quantities of 2-50. More info, contact 'em at: Acer Counterpoint Inc. (can you imagine, it's not CounterPoint!) 2127 Ringwood Ave. San Jose, CA 95131 408/434-0190 (or circle a number on your reader service card :-)
gmd@sirius.UUCP (George MacDonald) (11/09/88)
First some Info =============== The October 31st issue of UNIX Today had a full 2 page add for the Acer Xebra it claims, The Acer model 100 is the first of a family of X networking terminals with X server, TCP/IP, Telnet and FTP software stored in ROM. The terminal comes with a built in ethernet controller and uses an Intel processor. Amazingly enough an article describing the Xebra is on the following page, it adds the following information - The Xebra is priced at less than $1000 uses a 10Mhz 8086 with 640KB of RAM, 512Kb of ROM, and supports both thick and thin wire ethernet. It comes with a 110 key detached keyboard, a mouse, serial & parallel ports and a monochrome bit-mapped display with 640X480 resolution. An optional 512KB ROM module allows OEM's to provide custom software for the terminal(perhaps a window manager). As you've probably already guessed the terminal is based on PC technology, although DOS is hidden out of sight and is not available to the normal user. At LAST a PC I like!!! A picture of the Xebra showed a colour screen but nothing was mentioned of it in the article. It had a 24X80 window open which took up about 3/4 of the screen, so it looks like it's medium res as well. It looked better than CGA but not as good as some of the VGA disply's Ive seen so I'd guess it's a EGA display. Supposedly some units have been shipped to OEM's, any of you out there? A Question ========== I count 2 different low end X display stations, Visual 640 Xebra 1000 Does anyone know of any other low cost dedicated X display stations? How about other low cost X display solutions, perhaps based on PC's or other micros (Amiga, ST, Mac, MacII(Low cost - gag)). Given that an application does not do a lot of heavy bit manipulations, maybe some simple line drawings and fills, and a developer was interested in taking advantage of the portability of X, would these low cost display stations be appropriate for development and/or low cost work seats? Thanks for any future/past responses, -- George MacDonald @ Northern Telecom ..!dartvax!sirius!gmd
nasa@killer.DALLAS.TX.US (Daniel Poirot) (11/09/88)
In article <479@unocss.UUCP> dent@unocss.UUCP (Dave Caplinger) writes: >Does anyone have any information they might be willing to provide >regarding the Xebra Model 100 by Acer Counterpoint, Inc. ? > >According to the 2-page add in UNIX Review (Nov 88), it: > > "...integrates the X Server, TCP/IP, Telnet and FTP > into local ROM, together with a built-in Ethernet > controller." How about Oct 24 INFOWORLD: 10 MHz 8086, 640K ram, 512K rom, thick and thin Ethernet, 640 x 480 mono 14" screen... I called and got a thin product description from Acer. They show an internal view of the board that looks suspiciously like a PS/2 model 30 clone with a weastern digital network board plugged in sideways. >Boy, the picture of the thing makes it look /very/ ugly. Man have you got that right! I think that they should go with the zebra theme right down to the tapering black and white stripes. >The mouse looks like >a black Microsoft (new-style) Mouse with a (two? three?) white button(s). Three standard, two optional (does X work with only two buttons?) PS/2 style connector. >got X v10r1 in ROM. They do mention a ROM cartrige, but not what it's for >other than "flexibility and configurability to accomodate OEM customized >features such as additional fonts and enhanced software options". When I called Acer, they said X 11r3. The ROM cartridge is how they plan to upload X fonts to the host using FTP. It looks like a great way to get the boss an X terminal without having to teach him how to administer a U*IX system. Or, a single purpose graphics workstation scattered around the building. >-/ Dave Caplinger /--------------+--------------------------------------- > Microcomputer Specialist | Internet: UNOCC07%ZEUS@CRCVMS.UNL.EDU > Campus Computing | UUCP: uunet!btni!unocss!dent > University of Nebraska at Omaha | Bitnet: UNOCC07@UNOMA1 > Omaha, NE 68182 | or dc3a+@andrew.cmu.edu Daniel Poirot {ihnp4,codas}!killer!nasa Lockheed B16 2400 Nasa Rd. 1 Houston, TX 77536 "A mind is a terrible thing." <-------------------====================================-------------------->