CAD:tektronix:bobb (12/24/82)
It's been too long, but here is a posting of my information on the HP9000
and IBM Instruments Computer System. Since both systems have been discussed
on the net, I will be (relatively) brief, and concentrate on the IBM, since
that seems to have been discussed less. If you want more info, mail to me
(reply after Jan 5).
First, the HP. I had initially thought that the 9000 and the IBM were in the
same class. WRONG! The HP is a VAX competitor. I received one significant
response (edited for brevity):
Date: 27 Nov 1982 at 1818-PST (Saturday)
Subject: Re: Questions on new IBM and HP scientific machines
Bob: the article on the HP 9000 in the 22.Nov.82 issue of "Electronic
Engineering Times" (front page) supplies the following answers:
1. What is included in the base price? How much are the printer
and other options?
"The Model 20, the lowest-priced workstation, comes with a single
superchip CPU, 912k main memory, a single 270k Sony microfloppy and a
monochrome display. Adding color graphics to the base configuration
ups the cost to $39,855. For a full-blown Model 20 system, the price tag
is $64,565. This expanded-function version of the workstation ups the
RAM to 1 Mbyte and tacks on more mass storage with a 10-Mbyte Winchester.
Also added is the color display and a thermal printer."
2. What operating system is used? Is it proprietary?
Two operating systems: HP-UX, which is Unix (huzzah!), and HP-Basic.
4. Are the GPIB and RS-232 interfaces easy to program?
Doesn't say, my guess is probably, as under both operating systems
you go through a device driver rather than talking directly to the
interface. Since this is HP, there may not be RS-232, but of course
this is only conjecture.
-- Andrew Klossner (tekmdp!laurir)
By far the best information I saw on the HP machine was provided to the net
by Jeffrey Stone. I would like to thank Mr. Stone for taking the time type in
his long report. I hope all who are interested saw it; if not, I have a copy.
On to the IBM: This has a 68000 with 256K memory standard (max 5Mbytes), real-
time clock, 3 RS-232, 1 IEEE-488, and 1 parallel (non-Centronics??) port, 4
DMA channels, and optional printer, keyboard (!), and disks (floppy/hard). The
standard keypad has 57 user-definable keys. CRT display is 30x80 (768x480
pixel graphics. An analog and digital I/O card is available. Software included
or to be available includes BASIC, I/O drivers, FORTRAN 77, PASCAL,
communications software including IBM 3101 and 3270 emulators, a screen
editor and a math/statistics package.
Price on the IBM: with keyboard, BASIC, and two 5 1/4 floppies: $7460. For a
printer/plotter and 1Mbyte total memory, add $5276.
The main disadvantage of this system would seem to be the lack of a
standard OS and the not-too-large list of IBM software. (I think I read on
the net that somebody else was providing a version of UN*X.)
Happy Holidays all!
Bob Bales
Tektronix FDI