On Wed, 15 Apr 1998, Jack Peacock wrote:
> > I am completely unfamiliar with S-100 systems, so could you please
> > explain... were S-100 technologically superior to PCs (i.e. IBM PC
> > 5150), or just aesthetically? As far as I know, they used an older
> > processor...
>
> S-100s started out with an Intel 8080, then Zilog Z80. That was
> pretty much the end of the 8-bit version, although there were
Hmmm...this is sort of like the Creationist version of where S-100 came
from. Actually, a guy named Ed Roberts at a company called MITS that
built a computer called the Altair 8800 invented the S-100 bus.
> slots. I built custom 286 based multi-user systems that
> supported 10 or more users running production business work.
> The response time compared quite favorably to contemporary low
> end DEC PDP-11s, and for a fraction of the cost.
Cool!
> Another problem was the unregulated power supply. Unregulated
> +8 and +/-16VDC was run over the bus itself, right next to
> signal lines. Every board required it's own regulation, which
> could take 20% or more of the board space, as well as being a
> nightmare to keep cool. If you see early pictures of loaded
> IMSAIs, the cover was always off. This was a necessity, the
> heat was too much with the cover on. I had to use a 16" fan to
> keep mine running with 64KB of 2102 based static RAM (not 21L02s
> BTW, they cost more than the fan did).
On one of my IMSAI's the original owner found that covering the vent holes
on the right (or was it left?) side of the case on the inside with
electrical tape forced the air flow across the boards.
> >As for laissez-faire, I never have believed in it. It makes society
> >too concerned about money. This is proven when complete crap hardware
> >is released now, and people don't care because it's good _financially_
>
> You don't like the profit motive? *gasp* That's, well, that's
> just plain un-american (understandable and excusable if you
> happen to be european tho).
Sounds Marxist to me, but then, Max *is* originally from Russia :)
Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar_at_siconic.com
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Received on Wed Apr 15 1998 - 09:43:45 BST