Do your homework!

From: Bill/Carolyn Pechter <pechter_at_shell.monmouth.com>
Date: Mon Apr 13 13:40:24 1998

>
> > I've seen a small MicroVAX, but was there a small portable PDP-11?
> There was a small PDP-11 about the size of a MicroVax 2000. It was
> called the PDT. It had an 11/03 CPU, 64KB, 8" floppy (RX01), and some
> serial ports. RT-11 was the only supported OS as the floppy took a
> special driver. It was a real lemon, we had a few, proved to be very
> unreliable as they would constantly overheat. They were also
> susceptible to static discharge on the case, so they didn't work too
> well in carpeted offices.
> Jack Peacock
>

Actually, the PDT 11/150 ran quite well once they came out. I ran one for
three years under RT11 with FB and multiterminal support. It's biggest
problem was comm overruns/underruns because the I/O was all handled by an
8080 (or was it an 8085). The 11/130 used DECtapes and the 11/110 was
downloaded.

The biggest problem with the PDT was the price, the fact it was not
easily expandable by third parties (no Qbus) and slow.

DEC repeated some of the same mistakes in the PC line in the 80's. (no
QBUS on the Pro, special i/o drivers, non-standard OS version).

I never saw a static hit here in my den that crashed it.

Bill
ex-DEC Field Service PDT lover...
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Received on Mon Apr 13 1998 - 13:40:24 BST