shull@scrolls.wharton.upenn.edu (Christopher E. Shull) (04/30/89)
Not too long ago, someone posted an request for information on a 80386
board for use in Apollos. I can't find the posting, but many people may
find this useful anyway. What I found was the letter and spec sheet I
received in March. Even the facts are pretty hyped, and the quoted blurps
from reviews are so out of context and meaningless they make me nausous,
although that may be the result of staying up all night. #-) I did see
one running at the ADUS Conference last Fall though, and it did look fast
(especially the display rate as compared to DPCC). As I wearily recall,
you were supposed to be able to use one of them to serve multiple DOS users
on any networked Apollo, like DPCC-Remote does for one user at a time.
Before passing on the full scoop, let me just say that I have no interest
in Applied Reasoning Corporation, except as a potential purchaser of the
PC-ELEVATOR 386.
Now, Heeeerrrrrrrrrre's the scoop:
Applied Reasoning Corporation
86 Sherman Street
Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 492-0700
March, 1989
Greetings:
Thank your for your nterest in Applied Reasonings's PC-ELEVATOR 386
for Apollo DOMAIN. The PC-ELEVATOR is an 80386 DOS coprocessor that
provides full PC compatibility for APollo workstations. It delivers 3.5
MIPS and a Norton Index of 18.7. That's more power than the IBM PS/2 Model
80, and over twice the power of Apollo's DPCC coprocessor.
In addition to top computing performance, the PC-ELEVATOR 386
offers video compatibility and performance previously unavailable on the
Apollo. It includes:
- A 16 MHz 80386 processor. (80387 math coprocessor is optional.)
- 1 MB of zero wait-state 32-bit DRAM.
- Full support of CGA and monochrome graphics, plus EGA/VGA
support. (Optional EGA/VGA acceleration hardware will be
available mid-1989.)
- Full support of LIM/EMS expanded memory specification.
- Fexible Memory Management, which provides access to the Apollo's
system memory for extended memory, RAM disk, or disk caching.
RAM disk and disk cache utilities are included free.
- Full support of Apollo's PC Interconnect software for network
file system access and sharing of remote peripherals, such as
printers.
- A one-year warranty with technical support by Applied Reasoning.
The PC-ELEVATOR 386 for Apollo workstations is now available
directly from Applied Reasoning at a list price of $1990. For popular PC
applications, driver software is available that provides access to the full
resolution and flexibility of the Apollo screen.
[ hype omitted ... ]
Paul M. Blumenfeld
[Interesting blurbs from enclosed spec sheet (redundancies from above and
general inannities omitted...]
Here's what the critics say about the original PC-ELEVATOR 386:
"Besides easy installation, a big benefit of Applied Reasoning's
coprocessor is compatibility, [uh, duh...] ... The PC-ELEVATOR 386 does,
in fact, deliver the best performance among the accelerator boards tested."
-PC Magazine, April 12, 1988
"The combination of easy installation, super computation power, and
widespread compatibility can easily justify the price of the PC-ELEVATOR
386".
-InfoWorld, January 11, 1988
The PC-ELEVATOR 386 was developed and marketed as an accelerator
board for personal computers. Applied Reasoning has been manufacturing
accelerator boards and PC compatibility products since 1984.
fax: (617) 492-7908
telex: (6714194 elevator