Wyse Systems (was RE: auction grabs)

From: Salzman, Jeff <jsalzman_at_hersheys.com>
Date: Tue Oct 13 08:58:40 1998

I worked for a company once as a service tech fixing CPT Word Processing
systems. When PC based word processing started to become popular (mid
'80s), CPT bridged the gap between their longtime standalone word
processing units and desktop PCs by using Wyse PC clones (the ones with
the blue backlit LCD display on them). They primarily consisted of a
clone style case with an expansion board. The CPU board plugged into the
expansion board like an add-on card and was primarily an entire 286 or
386 computer on a card. The keyboard connector was an RJ-11 with an
optional DIN adaptor for conventional keyboards. The other card
typically found in the system was a bridgeboard which was an entire CPT
system on a card with a monochrome video out. The 2 cards talked to each
other and became a full computer with built in CPT word processing
simultaneosly running along with a DOS/windows based environment. The
monitor was a portrait style page white display. The on screen display
could be split to show DOS on top and CPT on the bottom or made to show
a full screen CPT system as the CPT systems were originally designed.
Many govornment agencys used these systems to bridge their own
transition from dedicated word processing systems to PCs.

Jeff Salzman

>> > computer. Does WYSE ring a bell to anyone? But the biggest enigma is an
>>
>> Wyse terminals are fairly well-known, and I think they sold a PC clone at
>> one point.
>
>Actually several PC clones from 8088 up through at least the 80386. IIRC
>some of the later ones were quite stylish with diagonally-mounted LCDs
>(date, time, etc.).
>
>The later PCs and terminals used an RJ-11 (phone) connector for the
>keyboard cable. AS I recall, though, it was easily adaptable to an IBM
>AT connector. I believe the keyboards were interchangable between the PCs
>and terminals.
>
Received on Tue Oct 13 1998 - 08:58:40 BST