notes@isucs1.UUCP (02/06/86)
Those following the trail of the fabled <$1000 UNIX workstation should check up on the Torch from England. There is a quick blurb in the Jan '86 (maybe it is Feb..) Byte. The article mentioned that the company was looking for a US manufacturer to make and sell the system. Described was a 1meg memory, 32 bit processor UNIX machine with graphics sounding a lot like the rumored Atari system.... hmmmm.....(didn't keep me from getting an Amiga...) Quent Johnson CSNET: quent@iowa-state UUCP: ...umn-cs!isucs1!quent
nigel@minster.UUCP (nigel) (02/11/86)
In article <508@isucs1.UUCP> notes@isucs1.UUCP writes: >Those following the trail of the fabled <$1000 UNIX workstation should check up >on the Torch from England. There is a quick blurb in the Jan '86 (maybe it >is Feb..) Byte. The article mentioned that the company was looking for a US >manufacturer to make and sell the system. Described was a 1meg memory, 32 >bit processor UNIX machine with graphics sounding a lot like the rumored >Atari system.... hmmmm.....(didn't keep me from getting an Amiga...) > > Quent Johnson > CSNET: quent@iowa-state > UUCP: ...umn-cs!isucs1!quent The machine is the Torch Triple X. The processor is the 68010. It is not a lot like an Atari, as it has been designed to run UNIX, that is it has the MMU, which saves a lot of mucking about with the code of UNIX The screen is, however, like an Atari - small. In fact the demo model we were shown had a 10 inch colour monitor which was awful. It has an icon interface, and is generally quite nice. Of course, its nowhere near the <$1000 mark. More like $4000.
peter@baylor.UUCP (Peter da Silva) (02/22/86)
> Those following the trail of the fabled <$1000 UNIX workstation should check up > on the Torch from England. There is a quick blurb in the Jan '86 (maybe it > is Feb..) Byte. The article mentioned that the company was looking for a US Yeh. ANYONE know ANYTHING else about this? Like whether you can order one from England, and how much it is... -- -- Peter da Silva -- UUCP: ...!shell!{baylor,graffiti}!peter; MCI: PDASILVA; CIS: 70216,1076
graham@brueer.UUCP (Graham Carpenter) (02/28/86)
> > Those following the trail of the fabled <$1000 UNIX workstation should check up > > on the Torch from England. There is a quick blurb in the Jan '86 (maybe it > > is Feb..) Byte. The article mentioned that the company was looking for a US > > Yeh. ANYONE know ANYTHING else about this? Like whether you can order one from > England, and how much it is... > -- > -- Peter da Silva > -- UUCP: ...!shell!{baylor,graffiti}!peter; MCI: PDASILVA; CIS: 70216,1076 It's not quite < $1000. At the moment it is available in the UK for 3995 pounds. I've seen one briefly - too briefly to comment, but Torch can be reached at: Torch Computers Ltd Abberly House Great Shelford CAMBRIDGE CB2 5LQ Tel: +44 223 841000 Tlx: 818841 TORCH G Fax: +44 223 840223 No e-mail address I'm afraid (I phoned to check.) Graham -- *==============================================================================* * Graham J Carpenter. | * * Dept of Electrical Engineering | Tel: +44 895 74000 Ext 2849 * * and Electronics | * * Brunel | ARPA: graham@ee.brunel.ac.uk * * The University of West London | * * Uxbridge | UUCP: ...!ukc!ee.brunel.ac.uk!graham * * UB8 3PH | * * UNITED KINGDOM | JANET: graham@uk.ac.brunel.ee * *==============================================================================*
root@ucsfcca.UUCP (Computer Center) (03/06/86)
> > > Those following the trail of the fabled <$1000 UNIX workstation should check up
PC Week for 25 Feb 86 reports an under $1000 IBM PC/XT compatible
machine* (including hard disk, one floppy, monitor, etc.).
Unfortunately, they only supply 128K at the $999 price; so one would
also need some memory chips which would take it over $1000.
If it is really compatible with the XT then it can run PC/IX, and may
be the cheapest machine running a genuine Unix system around.
Thos Sumner ( ...ucbvax!ucsfcgl!ucsfcca!thos)
*Kamerman Labs.davidsen@steinmetz.UUCP (Davidsen) (03/14/86)
In article <445@ucsfcca.UUCP> root@ucsfcca.UUCP (Computer Center) writes: >> > > Those following the trail of the fabled <$1000 UNIX workstation should check up > > >PC Week for 25 Feb 86 reports an under $1000 IBM PC/XT compatible >machine* (including hard disk, one floppy, monitor, etc.). > >Unfortunately, they only supply 128K at the $999 price; so one would >also need some memory chips which would take it over $1000. I believe that lacks a hard disk, too. AMT (same magazine) offers a $@k AT clone which includes a 20MB hard disk. Still no <$1k machine, tho. -- -bill davidsen seismo!rochester!steinmetz!--\ / \ ihnp4! unirot ------------->---> crdos1!davidsen \ / chinet! ---------------------/ (davidsen@ge-crd.ARPA) "Stupidity, like virtue, is its own reward"
quent@isucs1.UUCP (03/17/86)
I still claim that Atari is up to something related to this Torch. The market is ripe for a cheap imitation Unix workstation and Tramiel is just the one to do it :)
root@ucsfcca.UUCP (Computer Center) (03/18/86)
> In article <445@ucsfcca.UUCP> root@ucsfcca.UUCP (Computer Center) writes: > >> > > Those following the trail of the fabled <$1000 UNIX workstation should check > > > > > >PC Week for 25 Feb 86 reports an under $1000 IBM PC/XT compatible > >machine* (including hard disk, one floppy, monitor, etc.). > > > >Unfortunately, they only supply 128K at the $999 price; so one would > >also need some memory chips which would take it over $1000. > > I believe that lacks a hard disk, too. AMT (same magazine) offers a $@k > AT clone which includes a 20MB hard disk. Still no <$1k machine, tho. > -- > -bill davidsen > When you set out to correct someone you should make a minimal effort to know something about the subject, something Mr. Davidsen neglects. On p. 22 of Infoworld 3 Mar 86 there is an ad for the system described in the PC Week article referred to above which says: For $999 Kamerman Labs new XT gives you 16 bit 8088 System Unit (Turbo option available) 640K Mother Board, 128K on Board 10 Mbyte Fixed Disk & Card 360K Floppy Drive & Card Keyboard Monitor and Card 8 Expansion Slots 135W Power Supply adding two sets of 256K memory chips ($58 form PC's Limited ad p.38 of same issue) gives $1057. Not quite <$1000 but the closest I have seen yet. If their claims of compatibility with the IBM PC/XT are correct then it will run PC/IX which makes it the lowest priced system capable of running a real Unix system I know of. Thos Sumner ...ucbvax!ucsfcgl!ucsfcca!thos (No connection with Kamerman except reading their ads and press releases)