BRAIL@SEISMO.ARPA (05/24/85)
A two-page ad on pages 80-81 of the June BYTE introduces
MacCharlie. It shows a Mac attached to an extra box on the left with a
5-1/4" floppy in it. Attached to the keyboard is an extension with 10
function keys on the left and a numeric/cursor keypad on the right,
just like the IBM PC. The screen shows MacPaint (no wonder people
think there's no other Mac software), and says "I'm IBM Compatible."
Here's some of the text of the ad:
"Macintosh and IBM PC software. Compatible at last, thanks to
MacCharlie, a rather innovative coprocessing system ...
"Nearly 10,000 IBM PC software programs ... now join forces
with Macintosh's own popular programs ...
"And, the myriad of IBM PC-compatible software adopts
Macintosh's many beloved features, including desktop utilities such as
the clipboard and the calculator ...
"You see, MacCharlie delivers hardware compatibility, as well.
For example, IBM letter-quality printers can easily be used with
Macintosh.
"Furthermore, MacCharlie now allows Macintosh to perform
virtually any networking an IBM PC can perform ...
"... Suggested retail price for the 256K single disk drive
model is only $1195, and just $1895 for the 640K dual disk drive
version ... call Operator 14 at 1-800-531-0600 (in Utah,
801-531-0600)."
It's from Dayna Communications, 50 S. Main St, Salk Lake City,
Utah 84144.
In other words, an IBM PC processor, floppy, and keyboard
extension that attaches to the Mac. (How? Through the disk drive
port?) It sounds like it might have IBM PC-compatible slots, but the
ad seems to suggest that there may only be a parallel port. Has anyone
heard anything else about this? Does it exist, or is it just
vaporware? Does it work? Does it work well? It sounds like it could be
really great, but it could also be a big hype.
Address any flames, etc. to me. I'll summarize, or you can
just post to info-micro. Whatever. Also, could someone post this to
info-mac (info-mac@sumex-aim) and to info-ibm (info-ibmpc@usc-isib).
As usual, I am not affiliated with Apple, IBM, Dayna Corporation, the
Mormon Tabernacle Choir, or anyone else. Similarily, my views do not
represent theirs, nor that of Usenet, Rutgers University, my computer,
or anybody's avocado plant.
ARPA: BRAIL@RU-BLUE.ARPA
UUCP:!{seismo,harvard,sri-iu,ut-sally,ihnp4!packard}!topaz!ru-blue!brail
-------toma@tekchips.UUCP (Tom Almy) (05/31/85)
The big question in my mind -- will the MacCharlie take a "Baby Blue" board, so that CP/M programs can be accomodated? ( :-), of course!).
john@moncol.UUCP (John Ruschmeyer) (06/03/85)
>From: toma@tekchips.UUCP (Tom Almy) >Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR >Message-ID: <32@tekchips.UUCP> > >The big question in my mind -- will the MacCharlie take a "Baby >Blue" board, so that CP/M programs can be accomodated? ( :-), of >course!). Actually, the really big question is whether it will take that board that Quadram puts out which would make it run Apple ][ software. :-) -- Name: John Ruschmeyer US Mail: Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ 07764 Phone: (201) 222-6600 x366 UUCP: ...!vax135!petsd!moncol!john ...!princeton!moncol!john ...!pesnta!moncol!john Silly Quote: I never wanted to be a barber. I wanted to be... a LUMBERJACK!