iav1917@ritcv.UUCP (alan i. vymetalik) (10/15/88)
Well, folks, here it comes, finally...
DEXPO West at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, CA begins Monday the 17th
(as I recall) and guess what?
"What?!" you all shout.
Well, Suitable Solutions takes the wraps off of their latest products
for the Rainbow. "The Rainbow?" you all ask in amazement and disbelief.
"Isn't that the computer Digital ABANDONED without even a fairwell party?
Isn't that the computer Digital LEFT FOR DEAD on the way to making money
for Digital's coffers? Isn't that the computer Digital wouldn't even
release the last products it developed (DOS 3.10, ethernet and mouse support,
Windows) before dropping it like a COLD POTATO? Isn't this the SAME
computer the press PANS TO DEATH everytime it gets a chance? Isn't it
also the same computer all of you are STILL using to this very moment?"
I ask.
If the answers to the above questions are "YES," then read on...
[Oh, any Digital people out there? Keep reading...]
Quoted from the 10/10/88 Digital Review magazine (used without persmission
- if they care, I'll be surprised. Quoted here for review purposes only.
There, my rear should be covered):
"Suitable Solutions is planning to take the wraps off two products for
DEC Rainbow computers, including an updated operating system, at Booth
516.
"The TURBOW-286 Accelerator Board features an 80286 CPU chip running at
12MHz, 64KB of 16-bit zero wait state static RAM, and support for an
8MHZ or 12MHz 80287 co-processor. The product is installed between the
memory board and the motherboard in piggyback fashion, allowing the
use of existing Rainbow memory. The board operates with CP/M-80/86,
Concurrent CP/M, and all versions of the MS-DOS operating system for the
Rainbow.
"The second product is MS-DOS version 3.10 for the Rainbow [shipping
since August 1, 1988 - ed]. It features support for hard disk
partitions on disks as large as 32MB [sic - means that support for
up to 32MB partitions on hard disks is available - you can have 4
32MB partitions, if desired], enhanced backup and restore capabilities,
and several new commands, including APPEND, ASSIGN, ATTRIB, FDISK,
JOIN, LABL [sic - LABEL], and XMODE.
"Suitable Solutions, Inc. can be contacted at 1700 Wyatt Drive, Suite
12, Santa Clara, CA, 95054, (408) 727-9090."
There you have it! A third-party company (it's not anymore, hmm, I wonder
if Suitable Solutions could be considered a 1st-party, source company?)
that is supplying AND supporting the DEC Rainbow - in some cases BETTER
than DEC EVER did!
And, the kicker, while the price of each product wasn't mentioned (MS-DOS
3.10 still holds at $99.00 plus an optional $50.00/year support package),
I hear that the TURBOW board will be REASONABLY priced (this means the
$600-$700 range or something close to that, probably).
A recent telephone conversion I had with Suitable Solutions left me with
the impression that the TURBOW board is a SCREAMER! ...try a Norton SI
rating of about 16! For the Rainbow? A FASSSSTTTT Rainbow! Can you
believe it? I can. And, of course, CodeBlue is fully supported. I
wonder what those Suitable folk have up their sleeve for their next
product... I hear that a Windows V2.0 CLONE is being developed some-
where and that early word has it that it works! But, don't hold your
breath.
So, if ANYONE on this newsgroup is planning to attend DEXPO, please,
PLEASE, post some prices and specs and impressions and whatever else
you happen to come across. I think the Suitable booth is the ONLY
DEC Rainbow-specific DEXPO exhibit. Maybe they will do quite well
being the only one. For some reason, I don't really mind having only
one source for my machine's future growth.
YEAH SUITABLE! Good show!
Oh, a word for Digital's upper level management (not the PC Group -
they did an EXCELLENT job):
"SPPPSHSHHHEHHWWWWRTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!"
(and some drool off my lower lip)
... I've waited a long time to do that...
Enjoy,
Alan
All e-mails to: {allegra | seismo}!rochester!ritcv!iav1917
All flames to: !lostnode!hades!flmbckt
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Alan I. Vymetalik | Standard Disclaimer: The above statements
Prism Software Designs | and opinions belong to the author. Any
44 Arborwood Crescent | resemblence to statements found in actual
Rochester, New York | reality is simply coincidence. And, as
14615-3807 | always, the above opinions have absolutely
(716)-458-4932 | nothing to do with the little, fat man
(leave message) | putting $100 bills in my pocket.
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