Larry@sri-unix (07/16/82)
I haven't seen any discussion in this list about DEC's new personal
computers, so I thought I'd describe some. Please excuse me if this
material has already been covered.
Last May, DEC announced four personal computer products. The
Rainbow 100 is a CP/M machine. The DECmate II is a word processor.
The Professional 325 and 350 are, well, I guess I'd call them personal
workstations. I assume the Professional 325 and 350 are of most interest
to this list, so I will only describe them here. The 350 has the highest
price of the four. I will send a description of the Rainbow 100 to Info-CPM.
Here is a summary of the major features of the Professional 325 and 350.
Everything mentioned below comes in the standard configuration. The only
differences between the two machines lie in the options they can have.
Processor:
Contains a 16 bit processor based on the PDP-11/23B.
Operating System:
Based on RSX-11M-Plus, with a menu interface layered on top. Supports
multi-tasking, task protection, and memory management.
Mass Storage:
5 1/4" dual disk drive with 400Kbytes (formatted) per disk.
Memory:
256Kbytes RAM.
Monitor:
12" screen. Selectable 80x24 or 132x24 characters displayed.
Graphics:
1024x256x1 bitmap graphics memory (960x240 pixels visible on screen).
Keyboard:
Super thin "ergonomic" keyboard with VT100-type keypad, arrow keys,
and 18 special function keys (8 user-definable).
Packaging:
Separate monitor, keyboard and system box (latter houses floppy drive).
Communications:
Printer port and RS232C port on system box.
Two modular telephone plugs on system box (see options).
There are also a number of options available, including the below:
Floating point adaptor.
5Mbyte 5 1/4" Winchester disk (fits in system box - Professional 350 ONLY).
Board with integral modem and voice to digital and digital to voice
converters (requires the Winchester disk option).
Extended bitmap graphics (to a total of three bits per pixel) with color map.
Color monitor.
Dot matrix printer that can reproduce screen graphics.
VT100 emulation software.
Ethernet interface board planned (not yet designed).
A bunch of software is currently being written (see below).
Now for the bottom line. The Professional 350 is priced at $5000.
The Professional 325 (which can't have a Winchester disk) is priced at
$4000 (the 325 has fewer option board slots and a smaller system box
than the 350). The Winchester disk option costs $3500. All of this
stuff will be marketed through ComputerLand, Hamilton/Avnet, and directly
from Digital Equipment Corp. Volume manufacturing starts in October,
so you can't buy one yet, but the ComputerLand stores are supposed to
have demo machines fairly soon. Some 22 software houses have signed
agreements with Digital to produce software for the Professionals.
If you want more information, ask me, or else call 1-800-DIGITAL.
Larry Seiler, Seiler@XX
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