peterr@utcsrgv.UUCP (Peter Rowley) (08/15/84)
Today (Tuesday Aug. 14th), IBM announced its "Popcorn" machine, as the
"IBM Personal Computer AT", an 80286-based machine, claimed to be 2 to
3 times faster than the PC and PC/XT. There are two models, one with 20M hard
and one without.
Specifications:
Intel 80286 microprocessor
- MUCH faster than an 8088
- has on-chip memory management
64Kb ROM
Standard RAM: 256K base model, 512K enhanced
- expandable to 512K with a "plug-in memory module"
- expandable to 3M with option cards
Standard disk: 1.2M floppy drive
20M hard disk on the enhanced model
Expansion: 8 slots
- 1 occupied on base model (disk adapter)
- 2 occupied on enhanced model (disk, serial port)
Operating System: DOS 3.00
A Product Centre rep. said that 3.00 is a "temporary"
version, with the "real" 3.1 ("without the bugs") out in
early 85.
Numeric Processor: optional 80287
Enhanced version of BASIC in ROM
3 disk drives are allowed:
- 1.2M floppy (required)
- extra 1.2M floppy, or 360K floppy, or 20M hard disk
- second 20M hard disk
Thus, a max. of 41.2M, all in the System Unit.
Keyboard: modified PC keyboard, with keypad and 10 function keys,
in the same place as before. Bigger Enter and Shift keys.
LED indicators on the Num Lock, Caps Lock, Scroll Lock
keys. A 3m keyboard cable.
Keylock to turn on the system (!!).
The Product Centre rep. indicated that Xenix will be available, as
will network hardware (soon) and software ('85).
21.3" width, 17.3" deep, 6.4" high; 37lbs (42 lbs enhanced model);
noise level of 42dB; power consumption of 192W of 190-259V AC (?!?).
Cdn price is under $7000 for the base model, under $10000 for the
enhanced model (Cdn dollars; $1Cdn = $US0.76).
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Also, I saw the new IBM Pascal compiler (2.00), with support for the 8087
and "long heap" (>64K). There's no mention of Microsoft in the manual,
so it may well have been developed internally by IBM, as rumoured in this
group.albrecht@bsdgvax.UUCP (08/24/84)
[] According to Information Systems News (8/20) the IBM PC AT is not the long-awaited "Popcorn". They still expect IBM to unveil another system later this year "based on technology developed at IBM." Why would IBM release the PC AT with Xenix while offering PC IX at the same time on the PC XT? Any ideas? -- Tom Albrecht Burroughs Corp. SDG/Devon
mlsmith@NADC.ARPA (08/28/84)
As I read it AT will replace XT eventually. Could the *real* popcorn be the PC replacement?
tomk@ur-laser.uucp (Tom Kessler) (08/29/84)
IBM announced that they will support both xenix and pc/ix on the AT.
They might do this to encourage people to use the system best suited for
their needs. (i.e.) Xenix if you want to do development pc/ix for running
applications.(C compiler etc. optional). This also gives customers the
illusion that their un*x is suited for them. Also I believe only one
of them is available right away so maybe they just wanted to get the
product out the door.
--
--------------------------
Tom Kessler {allegra |seismo }!rochester!ur-laser!tomk
Laboratory for Laser Energetics Phone: (716)- 275 - 3786
250 East River Road 275 - 3194
Rochester, New York 14623jim@randvax.UUCP (Jim Gillogly) (08/30/84)
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A little clarification on PC/IX vs Xenix on the AT:
Yes, only one is available now on the AT - Xenix. Yes, PC/IX will be made
available on it. IBM said they expected it to happen 3Q84 or 4Q84.
However, PC/IX will be running in "8088" mode, while Xenix will be using
80286 instructions. (Again, according to the IBM guys - Jim Balter at
Interactive could set this straight if he's on... You on, Jim?)
I assume they'll do something with all that extra potential memory (??).
Note that DOS 3.0 is also an 8088-type system, since it has to run on the
whole line.
So PC/IX should be the UNIX of choice if you're planning applications across
the PC line, while you might prefer Xenix if you need the extra increment
of power.
Jim Gillogly jim@rand-unix {decvax, vortex}!randvax!jimhaapanen@watdcsu.UUCP (Tom Haapanen [DCS]) (09/07/84)
What my local computerland dealer told me was:
The only thing available *now* is DOS 3.0; Xenix and other multiuser
stuff will be out around Christmas.
Anyway, shouldn't this discussion be in net.micro.pc? Or do we need
net.micro.at? (But that'd be AT&T's group, right? :-).
Tom Haapanen
{allegra, decvax}!watmath!watdcsu!haapanen