ABN.ISCAMS@USC-ISID.ARPA (09/03/85)
NetLandians, I've been burning in my new MS-DOS system, a PC-compatible from Gulfstream Micro Systems (an outfit in Florida). Configured with 256Kb RAM, 360 Kb floppy, 10 megger HD, and their optional 80286 mother board, the Bullet-286. Running PC-DOS 3.1. Runs just fine. NO incompatibilities to date (though only have a standard monochrome card, so donno about graphics programs). Rascal is fast - the good old Eratosthenes Sieve runs in 4.1 seconds (had to kick it up to 100 loops to get a decent time) when compiled in Turbo Pascal (2.0). Excellent screen display with a Quadram Amberchrome monitor: no flicker, no streaking, nice characters. Didn't realize how early I entered their fielding plan though -- the system doesn't even have a formal serial number - just a label "Evaluation Unit 003". Hope I'm not in a Beta test, but guess not - sure works fine. NO technical manuals or specs yet - "not yet available because the machine is still in initial production stage." However Gulfstream did include a 2-page mimeographed extract from the Bullet 286 tech manual which gave me all the switches. Didn't need them, though - everything, to include boards, were all configured correctly. Strangely, the hard disk was not formatted, but they provided a special floppy to do that with a .BAT file. So .. all in all, quite happy with it, and the price was extremely right! Usual disclaimers - no commercial interest in the firm, no kickbacks, etc. Just letting you know since I've seen nothing in the literature on this particular high-powered system. Regards, David Kirschbaum Toad Hall ABN.ISCAMS@USC-ISID