byard@dca-ems (04/20/83)
From: Larry Byard (WSE-EUR) <byard at dca-ems>
Display:
o 12 inch screen (measures diagonally).
o Full-screen bit-mapped display
-364 lines by 720 dots.
-up to 40 lines of 132 characters.
o 60 Hz refresh rate.
o Contrast level under software control.
o Contrast-enhancing screen.
Keyboard:
o Detached, standard typewriter-style.
o N-key rollover.
o Sculptured keytops
-textured, nonslip, nonglare.
o Numeric keypad with raised dot on 5 key.
o Full ASCII character set, up to 77 keys.
o All keys programmable.
o Smart interface with control-oriented processor.
Mouse:
o Extremely fast, intuitive cursor positioning.
o Works well on any surface.
o Simple one-button design eliminates confusion and the need to learn
commands.
Disk storage:
o 869K bytes (per drive) formatted storage.
o 1.4M bytes (per drive) unformatted capacity.
o 62.5 tracks/inch.
o 10,000 bits/inch.
o Automatic disk eject.
o Smart interface with 6504 processor.
Main processor:
o MC68000 32/16-bit CPU
-32-bit internal architecture.
-16-bit external data path.
-Seven levels of interrupts.
Real-time clock:
o Software system on-off control.
o Interval and event timing.
o COPS processor, battery back-up.
Main memory:
o 16K bytes of boot ROM.
o Up to 1M bytes RAM.
o Parity error correction.
Memory management:
o Permits operating system to relocate segments in memory.
o Provides access controls for block memory.
o Segmentation into 128 variable-length blocks.
Communications interface:
o Two serial ports
-SCC controller.
-programmable.
-full-function
o RS-232 with full-duplex channels.
o Full modem control and ring indicator on one channel.
o Baud rates software-programmable.
o One parallel port
-8-bit bedirectional.
-handshake control.
Audio output:
o Built-in speaker with software-controlled tone generator.
Expansion board slots:
o Three slots [I don't think you need more with what is already in the machine]
o Zero insertion-force connectors.
o Direct connection to system bus.
o DMA capability.
o Memory-mapped I/O.
o Vector interrupt capability.
o Direct connection of power supply:
-digital ground.
-+5V, -5V, +12V, -12V.
-allows up to 10W total (maximum rating) for all three cards [hardware spec
states that it's 15W, which is still somewhat low (for NMOS, bypolar)].
-+5V standby (at 50 mA) per board.
Weight and dimensions:
o Computer console:
-Weight: 48 lb. (22kg).
-Height: 13.8 in. (350 mm).
-Width: 18.7 in. (475 mm).
-Depth: 15.2 in. (388 mm) [16 in. (403mm) with keyboard under front].
[AMH ROC max. footprint = 600 mm H x 500 mm W x 600 mm D]
o Keyboard
-Weight: 4 lb. (1.8kg).
-Height: 2.7 in. (68 mm).
-Width: 18.7 in. (475 mm).
-Depth: 6.5 in. (165 mm).
Power Requirements:
o 115 or 230 V.AC.
o 48 to 68 Hz.
o 270 W (maximum).
Environmental requirements:
o Ambient temparature: 40-108 deg. F (5-42 deg. C).
o Relative hunidity: 15-80%, noncondensing.
Applications:
o LisaCalc (spreadsheet modeling), LisaList (list management), LisaProject
(project scheduling), LisaWrite (word processor), LisaGraph (business
graphics, LisaDraw (graphics editor), LisaTerminal (terminal emulation).
Languages and development environment:
o BASIC, Pascal, COBOL, Lisa Editor, Assembler, Linker, Debugger, and a
wide range of utilities.
Communications:
o 3270 BSC.
System expansion:
o Apple Dot Matrix Printer, Apple Daisy Wheel Printer, Apple ProFile (5MB
hard disk storage device) [Can be placed on top of console.
Also, I was told that they are planning to replace one of the floppy
drives with a hard disc, probably 20MB], Modem, 2-port parallel card,
and AppleNet Local Area Network (Ethernet connections available for Apple
products).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reference: Lisa brochure, 300M-1/83, Apple Computer, Inc. (quoted
except info in square brackets. The square brackets following
console depth spec. are quoted.)
===============================================================================
Subjective, general (unofficial, surely) opinion (at this
early point)...
Apple has done an excellent job of costs verse benefits
trade-off analysis in creating and marketing this product. The
benefits are greatly enhanced by using recent, more powerful and
less costly technology, and by emphasizing software, which
inherently has a very big payoff for both the user and the deve-
loper. In short, the user (buyer) gets a hell'va lot for the
buck and Apple will make a very good profit.
In my opinion, as far as the business sector is concerned,
Apple is going to "blow IBM, Tandy, and others out of the water"
in "small" computers for at least the next two or three years.
The hardware is top quality and, with exception of TEMPEST
requirements, meets or exceeds most of the work station require-
ments in the AMH ROC.
I would say, other than low cost, the integrated software is
this machine's strongest point. However, compared to just the
hardware costs of other products, which aren't that significant
in the overall scheme of things, the generous (an understatement)
amount of Lisa software is almost "free"!
I wonder, hypothetically, of course, how many lines of "old,
tired" WWMCCS software could be replaced with Lisa plus Diamond??
>From my perspective, for the tools needed for average A/O func-
tions, less global data base management functions), my guess is:
most of it! The work station hardware, desired man/machine
interface, and basic-generic user tools are certainly, for the
most part, present.
Larry
P.S. Sorry Cromemco, but things change quickly in the micro
world... We'll probably still buy a System 2, but the executive
work stations hanging off from it/the LAN will more than likely
be Lisa's.lepreau (04/22/83)
I went to a Lisa sales demo the other day and my overriding impression was that Lisa is a DOG! Slow slow slow. For example, took over 35 seconds to switch to a memo editor/icon and read in its file. Unless the rep didn't know what he was doing, the software seems to have some equally gaping holes. You can't have two (or more) windows up and "open" simultaneously! Their visicalc clone can, but that's built into it and not in the general display manager/editor/whatever. Apparently moving a chunk of text from one file to another is a major project, as you first have to move it to an intermediate "clipboard," close the first window, and get the other. Each step taking interminably long, of course. They can't even handle rectangular regions, i.e., couldn't move a column of numbers around. The graphics editor seems pretty nice, tho. I'm sure they can fix up the software with time, but they've got to do some really major speedup too, presumably hardware. I can't see the oft-mentioned busy "executive" spending $10,000 just to WAIT for this expensive toy. -Jay Lepreau, lepreau@utah-cs, harpo!utah-cs!lepreau
bernie (04/28/83)
I agree with Jay Lepreau's comments (re: the Lisa being slow). It's also the first microcomputer that you can't program; this to me is a serious flaw. Third-party software will be *very* slow in coming, so people will be stuck entirely with the Lisa-* stuff. It's not bad, but not as good as other, existing software packages. Also, it's just a matter of time before people start feeling the 1M "pinch"... maybe a future version will fix that. Lack of color on the display may be a factor too, oddly enough. --Bernie Roehl ...decvax!watmath!watarts!bernie