Sixth Annual Extra All-IBM Edition

Display until January 20, 1990

II VIE
IBM SPECIAL EDITION

REDEFINING THE STANDARDS

Lab Tests: 15 33-MHz 80386-based Machines

Benchmark Results: 100 Different Computers

Plus: the 80486 •Extending DOS

SQL •Bus Mastering •OS/2 $3.95 U.S.A.
$4.95 IN CANADA
o 4
Super VGA •Unix •More £3.50 U.K.
0360-5280
 I NEW

fieweeee,Wigli

THE DELL SYSTEM '325 THE DELL SYSTEMS 316 THE DELL SYSTEM° 220 THE NEW DELL SYSTEM°,210
25 MHz 386. 16 MHz 386SX.'" 20 MHz 286. 12.5 MHz 286.
When you need atruly high-performance Expandable, aftinlable access to 386 Ifs faster than many 386 computers, and has The price says this is an entry-level system.
386 computer, this is it. architecture. asmaller Motprinr. The performance says it's alot more.
STANDARD FEATURES: STANDARD FEATURES: STANDARD FEATURES: STANDARD FEATURES:
•Intel 80386 micropnwessor running at •Intel 80386SX micropnicessor running at •80286 microprocessor running at 20 MHz. •Intel 80286 mien processor running at
25 MHz. 16 MHz. 12.5 MHz.
•Choice of IMB, 2MBor 4MB of RAM*
•Choice of IMI3, 2MB or 4MB of RAM* •Choice of IMB, 2MBor 4MB of RAM* expandable to 16 MB (8 MB on system •Choice of 512 KB, 640 KBtt, IMB or
expandable to 16 MB (using adedicated expandable to 16 MB (8 MB on the system hoard). 2MB of RAM expandable to 16 MB
high-speed 32-bit memory slot). hoard). (6 MBon system boon)).
•Page mode interleaved memory architecture.
•Advanced Intel 82385 Cache Memory •Page mode interleaved memory architecture. •Rige mode interleaved memory architecture.
•LIM 4.0 support for memory over IMB.
Controller with 32 KB of high speed static •VGA systems include ahigh performance •LIM 4.0 support for memory over IMB.
RAM cache. •Integrated diskette and VGA video con-
16-hit video adapter. •Integrated diskette and high performance 16-
•Page mode interleaved memory architecture. troller on system board.
•LIM 4.0 support for memory over IMB. hit VGA video controller on system board.
•VGA systems include ahigh performance •Socket for Intel 80287 math coprocesnw.
•Socket for 16 MHz Intel 80387SX math •Socket for Intel 80287 math coprocessor.
I6-bit video adapter. •One 3.5" 1.44 MB diskette drive.
coprocessor. •5.25" 1.2 MBr ir 3.5" 1.44 MBdiskettedrive.
•Socket for 25 MHz Intel 80387 or 25 MHz •Integrated high performance hard disk
•5.25" 1.2 MB or 3.5" 1.44 Bdiskette drive. •Integrated high performance hard disk inter-
WEITEK 3167 math coprocessor. interface on system board.
•Integrated high performance hard disk drive face on system board.
•5.25" 1.2 MBor 3.5" 1.44 MB diskette drive. •Enhanced 10I-key keyboard.
interface and diskette ci into iller on system •Enhanced 101-key keyboard.
•Dual diskette and hard drive controller. board. (ESDI based systems include ahard •Iparallel and 2serial ports (integrated on
•Iparallel and 2serial ports.
disk controller ) system hoard).
•Enhanced 10I-key keyboard. •3full-sized 16-bit AT expansion slots
•Enhance'd 10I-key keyboard. •3full-sized 16-hit AT expansion slots available.
•Iparallel and 2serial ports.
•Iparallel and 2serial ports. available.
•200-watt power supply ..Lease for as kw $64 /month.
Lease for as low as $109 /month. •-Extended Service Plan pricing scans as $190.
•200-watt power supply.
•8industry standard expansion slots (6 •
Extended Service Plan pricing starts at $264.
available). •8industry standard expansion slots (7 20 MB VGA Mi in( >chrome System $1,699
available). 40 MB VGA Mom >chrome System $2,999
IsLease for as lots as $196/ month. 20 MB VGA Color Plus System $1,999
*Lease for as low as $98 /month. 40 MB VGA Color Plus System $3,299
•Extended Service Pkm pricing starts at.5 370. 40 MB VGA Monochnime System $1,899
Extended Sevier Plan pricing starts at $234. 100 MB VGA Monochnime System $3,599
40 MIS \I la any System $5, 399 40 MB VGA Clokir Plus System $2,199
40 MBTTL Monochn'ow System $2,699 100 MB VGA Color Plus System $3,899
100 MB VI IA ( rho System $6, 299 Prices listed reflect 512 KB of RAM.
40 MB VGA Color Plus System $3,199 Prices listed reflect IMB of RAM. External
100 MB Super Vt. A Col, aSystem 5.25" 1.2 MB diskette drive available. t+ 640 KB versions of the above systems are
(K)0x6001 56, 399 ICIO MIS VGA Color Plus System $3,799 available for an additional $80.
150 MR Super VGA Gil. wSysrem 100 MB Super VGA Color System 100 MBhard drive coraigurati, ms also
(800x600) $6.899 (800x600) $3,899 available.
Prices listed reflect IMB of RAM. 150 DISCLAIMER: All systems are photo-
Prices listed reflect INIB of RAM. 322 MB
and 322 hard drive MB configurations also graphed with optional extras.
hard drive configuratn,ns ilx° available.
available.
*Performance Enhancements (Systems 325,
310, 316 and 220): within the first megabyte
of memory, 384 KB of memory is resented for
use by the system to enhance perfonntmce.
4MB configurations mailable All prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. Dell cannot be responsible for errors in typrigraphy or photography.
.
on all systems. Can for **Payments based on a36-month open-end lease. +Leasing arranged by I-easing Onxtri, Inc. In Canada, configurations and prices will vary.
pricing. DELL SYSTEM is aregistered trademark of Dell Computer Corporation. Microsoft, MS, MS-DOS and XENIX are registered trademarIcs owned by
Microsoft Corp. Intel is aregistered trademark; 386 and 386SX are trademarks of Intel Corporation. UNIX is aregistered trademark of AT&T
l)ell UNIX System Vis based on INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation's 386/ix.'" 'Signifies trademarks r dentities other than Dell Computer
Corporation. -:-Service pnwided by Xerox Corporation. Service in remote locations will incur additional travel charges. 01989 Dell Computer
Corporation. All rights reserved.

THE DELL SYSTEM" 310 20 MH: 386.

The best combinati, in of performance and value available in its class.
CUS IOM
LEASING PLANS
STANDARD FEATURES:
AVAILABLE.
•Intel 80386 microprocessor mming at 20 MHz. No matter how many reasons we give you to
•Choice of IMB, 2NIB or 4MB of RAM* expandable to 16 MR (using adedicated
buy aDell system, sometimes it makes more
high-speed 32-hit memory skit).
•Advanced Intel 82 3S5 Cache Memory Contndler with 32 KB of high speed static sense to lease one instead. Whether you need
RAM cache. asingle computer, or an entire office full, leasing
•Page mode interleaved memory architecture.
is just like 100% financing. So you don't tie up
•VGA systems include ahigh performance 16-hit vide( adapter.
•Socket for 20 NIH: Intel 80387 or 20 MH: WE1TEK 3167 math coprocessor. working capital. Or credit lines. Of course, there
•5.25" 1.2 MB "or 3. 5" 1.44 NIB diskette drive. can also be tax advantages as well.
•Dual diskette and hard drive cm «roller.
And just as we can custom configure your
•Enhanced 10I-key keyboant
•Iparallel and 2serial ports. computers, we can see to it you get acustom
•200-watt poem-supply. designed lease plan to fit the exact needs of
•8industry standard expansion skits (6 available). your business?
**Lease for as low as $131 /month.
It's just another example of why over half
Extended Service Plan pricing starts at $251.
the Fortune 500 companies now own or lease
40 NI 13 TTL Monmmchrm mw system $3.595)
40 NIB V(. hA C(Am Plus System
Dell systems.
$•109,)
100 MIS \LIA C hwPlus System $4.69,) And why you may decide that from now on,
IN MIS Super VGA Ll‘ wSystem (800x600) $4,799 the only place you'll go to buy acomputer
Prices listed reflect IM Bof RAM. 150 and 322 MB hard drive cJinfigurations als( available. is the phone on your desk.
 ▪1=i
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EDITOR'S — CAL flu

CHOICE
"You will hate
to look far and wide
find abetter
price-perfonnance
package for the
power user that is
lurking inside you."
November 29. 1988

'cm MO
 tioned speed, but enough horse-
power to do everything from
CAD/CAM to megaspreadsheets
to databases the size of the
Manhattan Yellow Pages.

OUR SYSTEM 310 It even has the umph to

work as anetwork file server.

IS FASTER TELL US

THAN A BAT
WHAT TO
DO NEXT.

OUT OF HELL.
As much as the System 310
has to offer, it doesn't even
begin to reach its full potential
until after we've heard
your input.
For it's only in this way that
we're able to custom configure
every 310 system.To give users
exactly what they need. No
more. No less.
Do you do alot of spread-
sheets? There's an optional Intel
80387 or WEITEK 3167 math
coprocessor available.
Storage ? You can have a40 MB
hard disk drive. Or choose a100,
150, or 322 MB hard drive.
The System 310 comes
standard with IMB of RAM.Want
more? We can configure up to 8
MB on the system board.
Still not enough? We can
add another 8MB by installing a
high-speed memory expansion
board. You can even run your
System 310 as either aMs-Doe
Me-OS/2 or UNIX®system.
The same holds true for
If you've been looking at 386 7 the Compaq" 386/20e. Not to monitors. You can choose between
based computers, you obviously mention the IBM PS/2" Model VGA Monochrome with paper-
feel the need for speed. 70-121. Leading one reviewer to white screen, VGA Color Plus, or
Something the Dell System® comment, "It's fast enough to Super VGA for high resolution
310 delivers in spades. bum the sand off adesert floor." colors on alarger screen.
In fact, the System 310 has For us, however, fast enough The point here is that when
more speed than even the most is not enough. By utilizing an you order aSystem 310, you not
seasoned 386-users have come Intel* 82385 Cache Memory only get a386-based system that's
to expect. Case in point, PC Labs Controller, page mode RAM and incredibly fast, powerful and
benchmark tests.The System interleaved memory, the 310 versatile, but incredibly personal
310 consistently outperformed not only delivers the aforemen- as well.
 YOU CAN'T GET
MORE DIRECT
THAN THIS.
To asophisticated com-
puter user, there's nothing
worse than having to buy
from aretailer who knows
AND YOU
little more than you do.
In fact, in arecent poll,
DON'T HAVE 10
92% say they'd like to skip
the middleman and deal
GO THERE
with the manufacturer.
Because, after all,
TO BUY IT.
computer retailers are in the
retail business first. And in
the computer business second.
So expecting expert advice
on computers is asking alot.
Getting after-the-sale service
isn't always easy either.
But when you buy from us, you
never set foot in acomputer store.
Instead, you deal direct. You
talk with acomputer expert who
can offer sound advice. Some-
one who can help you configure
asystem that not only meets
your needs, but meets them for
up to 35% less than you'd pay
aretailer.

WE COME WHEN
WE'RE CALLED.
One of the things that very
clearly sets Dell systems apart
from other computers is not just
how they're sold but how they're
supported.
Overkill was one descrip- Corporation. Put it through its paces, at your
tion used in arecent PC Week And you get all this help for a pace. If you're not completely
article. full year—whenever you need satisfied, send it back anytime
That's because every Dell it —at no exta charge:n' within 30 days. And we'll refund
system comes with self-diag- As you've probably guessed your money. No questions asked.
nostic software and atoll-free by now, one of the things that
technical support line. We solve
90% of all problems right over
drives us most is customer
satisfaction.
DELL
COMPUTER
the phone. So we'd like to give you the
CORPORATION
The other 10% receive next- ultimate guarantee: Try aSystem
TOORDER,t ALL

day, deslcside service. Thanks 310 in your office for amonth. 800-426-5150
1,,:t ALL ,..V•3S7.5752
to our new alliance with Xerox Run your toughest applications. I\ t.E RAI ANA tALL ,
(\IIIH K
,t,103,7011«.,
ALL 0«,414535

AD CODE NO. IIEBM

Circle 79 on Reader Service Card
How To Support Your Customers
You can provide software updates, answer tech-
nical questions, and offer reams of product information (tIGtIACUCODI
400028
to anyone with amodem. 24 hours aday, 7days aweek,
EOM ME 2=A

unattended. liCOVE1 10

OGRACRe51, oGAL,Ç no.=

All you need is aPC, XT, AT, or 386-compatible, URI e. 4C0029
and a Galacticomm multi-user hardware/software XE 2fal

package. And some phone lines.

Our multi-user Bulletin Board System software,
r
11111 III
called The Major BBSTM, supports your customers in
several ways: "nellene. '

•Public Posting Areas ....technical dialogue, Our multi-modem PC cards are available in several
bulletins, Q&A listings configurations: 2to 8modems per card at 2400 baud, or
•Private E-Mail for one-on-one 2to 16 modems per card at 1200 baud. These are true
customer support single-slot cards with the modems built right in — no
additional serial ports, power supplies, or external
•Teleconferencing online "seminars" and
boxes of any kind are required.
real-time interaction
The Major BBS can support up to 64 users simul-
•File Upload/Download ..distribute updates, P.R.
taneously, although most of our customers operate
info, "app notes"
small 4- to 16-user systems. The C source code is also
•Questionnaires for market research, available, so that you can modify the system to suit
order forms, etc. your specific requirements.

Waste III' 42 12
1111 PC CII led
n. 111 4
/ewe. 131
Wed, 17 4
111•r1 11.1 Ix
IC. MI 4.1 el 14
1 11 h
'

19. 1.1 11,1

'16.'011 •rri In II. VI 11,1111
Ids W. ow. ap,

[
r...‘ 1111111 Pale... 'a._... ti-F—or...
er,111, if - ... .
-II: lémilnow.

For $59, we'll send you an introductory

E Yes! Send me acopy of (Florida orders add $3.54 tax. Oversea7
copy of The Major BBS, suitable for orders add U.S. $25 for shipping.)
THE MAJOR BBS!
use with your standard COM1 and/or E $59.00 check enclosed
COM2 modems. This is a fully func- Name
E $67.30 for C.O.D.
tional version for up to 2 simultaneous D $65.15 for credit card:
users (3 if you count the Sys0p). You Company E VISA Ei MC III AMEX /
Exp. Date
can upgrade later to a fully supported
4, 8, 16, 32, or 64-user version for only Address
1
-1
-ITIFITI -
11111111-111
$300 per doubling (plus modem hard-
ware of course!). State Zip Signature

®GALACTICOMM
Galacticomm, Inc. 4101 S.W. 47 Ave. Modem: (305) 583-7808
Fax: (305) 583-7846
Suite 101, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 Voice: (305) 583-5990
Circle 113 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 114)
 VOLUME 14, NUMBER 11, 1989

II VIE

IBM
SPECIAL EDITION
8 Editorial: More Bang 159 Is It Really Super?
for Your Bucks by Bill Nicholls
by Fred Langa
175 SQL: A Database Language
13 Megahertz Madness Sequel to dBASE
by the BYTE Staff by Mark L. Van Name
and Bill Catchings
49 Benchmarks at aGlance: 1989
by Stanford Diehl 185 Unix Filenames for Turbo
Pascal
by Jim Kerr
56 Redefining the Standards
by Martin Heller
195 Which LAN?
by Richard Watson
67 The 80486: A Hardware
Perspective
by Ron Sartore 203 The Language of Lasers
by Kent Quirk
79 Stretching DOS to the Limit
by Frank Hayes 209 A Standards Dictionary
BYTE (ISSN 0360-5280) is published monthly with an additional issue in Oc-
tober by McGraw-Hill. Inc. Founder: James H. McGraw (1860-1948). Exec- by L. Brett Glass
utive, editorial, circulation, and advertising offices: One Phoenix Mill Lane.
Peterborough, NH 03458. phone (603) 924-9281. Office hours: Monday 87 The State of OS/2
through Thursday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM, Friday 8:30 AM-1:00 PM, Eastern
Time. Address subscriptions to BYTE Subscriptions, P.O. Box 551. Hight- by Mark J. Minasi 221 Optimizing Numeric
stown, NJ 08520. Postmaster: Send address changes. USPS Form 3579. and
fulfillment questions to BYTE Subscriptions, P.O. Box 551, Hightstown. NJ
Coprocessing
08520. Second-class postage paid at Peterborough. NH 03458. and additional by Stephen Fried
mailing offices. Postage paid at Winnipeg. Manitoba. Registration number 95 AIX on the PS/2s
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delivery to Europe. Y28,800 for one-year air delivery to Japan. YI4.400 for
229 Inventing the PC's Future
one-year surface delivery to Japan. $30 surface delivery elsewhere. Air deliv- by Gordon A. Campell
ery to selected areas at additional rates upon request. Single copy price is 105 Looking Beyond the DOS
$3.50 in the U.S. and its possessions. $3.95 in Canada. $4.50 in Europe. and
55 elsewhere. Foreign subscriptions and sales should be remitted in U.S.
Prompt
funds drawn on aU.S. bank. Please allow six to eight weeks for delivery of by Stan Miastkowski 264 Editorial Index by Company
first issue. Printed in the United States of America.
Address editorial correspondence to: Editor, BYTE, One Phoenix Mill
Lane, Peterborough, NH 03438. Unacceptable manuscripts will be returned if
accompanied by sufficient postage. Not responsible for lost manuscripts or 123 Using Expanded Memory 269 The Status of Applications
photos. Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of BYTE.
Copyright e 1989 by McGraw-Hill. Inc. All rights reserved. Trademark by David M. Yancich Software: Late
registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Where neces-
sary, permission is granted by the copyright owner for libraries and <idlers by Dennis Allen
registered with the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) to photocopy any arti-
cle herein for the flat fee of $1.50 per copy of the article or any part thereof. 131 Serving Many Masters
Correspondence and payment should be sent directly to the CCC. 29 Congress
St., Salem, MA 01970. Specify ISSN 0360-5280/83. $1.50. Copying done for by Brian T Anderson 276 The Wages of Sin
other than personal re internal reference use without the permission of
McGraw-Hill. Inc.. is prohibited. Requests for special permission or bulk
and Marcy A. Puhnaty by Pete Wilson
orders should be addressed to the publisher. BYTE is available in microform
from University Microfilms International, 300 North Zeeb Rd.. Dept. PR.
Ann Arbor, MI 48106 or 18 Bedford Row. Dept. PR. London WCIR 4E1.
143 Clash of the Graphics
England. PROGRAM LISTINGS
Subscription questions or problems should he addessed to: BYTE ee
Titans From BIX: See 239
Subscriber Service. P.O. Box 551. Hightstown, NJ 08520. by Rick Cook On disk: See card after 208

COVER ILLUSTRATION: DOUGLAS BOWLES © 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 3
Microsoft professior
something other lang
11Ph.
4

•
il
•

eyou
cp,
A lI
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L41 teitelt-'%IC

uagesdont verage.
In an industry that evolves practically over-
night, it's tough to stay ahead of the crowd.
You need tools that not only give you an
edge day-to-day, but open up endless possibilities.
Tools that can only come from Microsoft.
Combine Microsoft' Cand Macro Assem-
bler and you've got enough power to create pro-
grams for MS-DOS7WinC,ows and OS/2 systems.
What's more, you can do it all in record time
because our renowned CodeView® Debugger,
Linker, Microsoft Editor, and MAKE utility work
ingeniously and seamlessly
together.
In other words, you've
got the leverage of the most
inventive and comprehensive
tools around.
When you develop un-
der OS/2 systems, you've got
options no one else can touch.
Like multi-tasking.And blast-
ing through the 640K barrier
In addition, Microsoft
Cand Macro Assembler can moo ax,Odata
.CODE

accommodate more third lou ds, ax

party add-ons than any other

PC professional languages.
Maybe that's why the
most popular applications on the market today
were developed through the unic ue power of our
Cand Assembler: Lotus® 1-2-37 WordPerfect® 5.0.
Microsoft Excel. And Aldus® FgeMaker.®
So drop by your nearest Microsoft dealer
soon. And start turning out the most airtight, fine-
tuned code ever to touch adisk.
After all, you've got the leverage.

Mi
Making it all make sense:

Customers in the U.S., call (800)426-9400.ln Canada. call (416)673-7638. Outside North America. call (206)
882-8661. (0 Copyright 1989 Micinsoft Corporation All rights reserved. Micnasoft, MS-DOS and the Mims&
logo are registered trademarks and Making it all make sense is atrademark of Micmsoft Corporation
 EDITOR IN CHIEF
II VIE PUBLISHER/GROUP VICE PRESIDENT
Frederic S. Lange J. Burt Totaro

OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATION ADVERTISING SALES

Glenn Hartwig Associate Managing Editor Donna Nordlund Publisher's Assistant Steven M. VitoAssociate Publisher,
Vice President of Marketing
REVIEWS (Hardware, Software, Product Focus) MARKETING AND PLANNING
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Arthur H. Kossack Eastern Regional Sales Manager,
BYTE Lab, Stephen Apiki Testing Editor, BYTE Lab, Manager, Dawn Matthews Public Relations Manager, Lisa
(312) 751,3700
Stanford Diehl Testing Editor, BYTE Lab, Howard Jo Steiner Assistant Promotion Manager, Stephanie
Jennifer L. Bartel Western Regional Sales Manager,
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Testing Echtor, BYTE Lab Art Director, Julie Perron Senior Market Research Analyst
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Faith Kluntz Copyrights Coordinator, Cynthia Damato
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Peterborough: D. Barker Senior Editor, News and FINANCIAL SERVICES John C. Moon (617) 262-116o
Technology, Anne Fischer Lent Senior Editor, New Philip L. Penny Director of Finance and Services, Kenneth
Products, Roger Adams Associate News Editor, David A. King Business Manager, Marilyn Parker, Diane Henry, ATLANTIC
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PRODUCTION Graphics, Gary Kendall Operating Systems, Steve Krenek Brian Higgins (603)924-3754
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Laurence H. Loeb Macintosh Exchange Editor
TYPOGRAPHY BYTE DECK
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6 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 LabWindows

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Circle 189 on Reader Service Card

 EDITORIAL II Fred Langa

MORE BANG FOR

YOUR BUCKS
New 80486-based relative pricing, or better still, price/
performance, these systems represent a
abrand-new chip in the same machine.)
The story is currently under astrict em-
systems from Cheetah stunning advance. bargo, so we can't release the name of
Maybe "stunning" sounds like hyper- the manufacturer yet; but I'll bet that you
and ALR prove that bole. After all, there are no "real" will be surprised when you see just who
high-performance 80486 machines yet: Every system we've it is.
seen so far is built around a prototype In any case, the appearance of arela-
hardware doesn't have motherboard carrying aprototype ("A" tive "low end" in 80486 machines is a
to cost afortune Step) CPU chip.
But from the early benchmarks, we're
welcome development. Cheetah and
ALR have done us all afavor.
confident that the production-model For one thing, the aggressive prices
Cheetah 80486 systems will outpace announced by Cheetah and ALR place

S
everal months ago, Icrossed my many, and maybe all, of the current crop immediate pressure on the high-priced
fingers for luck and wrote, "We of 33-MHz 80386-based systems. For 80486 vendors. To justify the extra
may see the 80486 market split in example, the Everex Step 386/33—a very costs, 80486 vendors will have to be sure
two radically different direc- nice machine—turns in CPU, FPU, and they've added meaningful extra value
tions: killer systems with killer prices for video benchmark indexes of 6.84, 15.48, beyond the pizzazz of simply having an
departmental computing needs, and rela- and 4.26, respectively (where an 8-MHz 80486 chip inside.
tively inexpensive fast systems for per- AT equals 1). The preproduction 25- Aggressive low pricing may even ad-
sonal desktop use." MHz Cheetah already yields 6.52, vance the date when 80486 price wars
In this industry, one of the safest 21.49, and 5.57, respectively. break out.
things that you can do is to predict high At its introductory price, the Chee-
prices. But fortunately for me (I don't tah's cost is only about half that of the Big Ripples
like the taste of crow), Cheetah and ALR next-least-expensive 80486-based box. And the ripple effects will be profound.
delivered on the low-price prediction. I'd call that "stunning." Consider that an 80486 chip, with its on-
Their machines could trigger amajor re- The ALR system, with its AT-bus bot- board FPU and cache, outperforms and
shuffling of prices across all Intel-archi- tleneck, isn't nearly as fast as the Chee- currently costs less than a 33-MHz
tecture machines. tah, or any 80486 with afull-width data 80386 with separate FPU and cache
Cheetah's new 25-MHz 80486 tower path: Its preliminary CPU, FPU, and chips. Very simply, for the 80386 chip to
system is based on the motherboard it video benchmark indexes are 4.18, survive, 80386 machines will have to
showed last spring (see the June and Au- 21.85, and 3.80, respectively. drop to aprice point well below that of
gust editorials). The entry-level version But the ALR system also isn't nearly similarly equipped 80486 systems. With
of the new system comes with 4 mega as costly as most other 80486-based sys- Cheetah and ALR already drawing the
bytes of RAM, a60-megabyte hard disk tems: The ALR system is simply the lower boundaries of 80486 pricing, ven-
drive, aVGA controller, amonochrome world's least-expensive 80486, period. dors of fast 80386 systems now have a
VGA monitor, and a 1.2-megabyte 5'4- For some non-I/O-intensive software, we clear target to beat.
inch floppy disk drive. For this, you pay expect that the PowerFlex 486 will easily There will always be aplace for de-
just $4995. keep up with machines costing two and partmental "killer" systems that only a
ALR's PowerFlex is based on its at- even three times as much. "Stunning?" corporate budget can afford. But these
tractive $1495 12-MHz 80286 system You bet. first low-cost 80486 machines may help
that comes standard with a40-megabyte lower all 80x86 system prices back down
hard disk drive and 1megabyte of RAM. EISA on the Way toward the range where personal comput-
With the addition of a $2995 plug-in BYTE's November issue will have a ing can become personally affordable
module, it becomes a $4500 80486- complete First Impression and prelimi- again.
based system, albeit one with a 16-bit nary benchmarks of the Cheetah and Systems like these two from Cheetah
data bus; sort of an 80486SX. ALR 80486 systems. and ALR may be just what the doctor
We're also planning coverage of three ordered.
Stunning Price and Performance other 80486-based machines, including —Fred Langa
In absolute terms, $4500 or $5000 is still what will be the first announced EISA- Editor in Chief
afair chunk of change. But in terms of bus machine. (Yes, abrand-new bus and (DIX name Ilanga")

8 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

I
NSTANT MAINFRAME. JUST A
DD SCO.
N T
ot too long ago, afew dozen people sharing the same pro- oday, SCO UND( System solutions are installed on more than
grams, resources, and information on asingie computer at one in ten of all leading 386 computers in operation worldwide.
the same time meant only one thing—a mainframe. Running thousands of off-the-shelf XENIX! and UNIX System-based
Powerful, big, expensive, and proprietary. applications on powerful standard business systems supporting 32
More recently, the same people could be found doing exactly the or even more workstations—at an unbelievably low cost per user.
same things—simultaneously sharing programs, resources, and And with such blazing performance that individual users believe
information—on aminicomputer. they have the whole system to themselves.

Alot cheaper, alot smaller, yet powerful enough to do the same Running electronic mail across the office—or around the world—
jobs. And just as proprietary. in seconds.
Running multiuser PC communications to minis and mainframes
Then along came the latest generation of personal computers.
through TCP/IP and SNA networks.
1 And now, the same people are more and more likely to be
found doing exactly the same things—simultaneously sharing nd doing some things that no mainframe—or even DOS- or
programs, resources, and information—on aPC. nOS/2'°-based PC—ever thought about, such as running multiple
And not awhole officeful of PCs networked together, either, but DOS applications. Or networking DOS, OS/2, XENIX and UNIX
asingle PC powering the whole office at once. Systems together. Or running UNIX System versions and workalikes
of popular DOS applications such as Microsoft® Word, I-2-3®, and
Alot cheaper, alot smaller, yet still easily powerful enough to do
dBASE III PLUS.®
the same jobs. Built to non-proprietary, open system standards
that allow complete freedom of choice in hardware and software. Or even letting users integrate full-featured multiuser productivity
packages of their choice under astandard, friendly menu interface.
And running the industry-choice multiuser, multitasking UNIX®
System Vplatform that gives millions of 286- and 386-based PC Today's personal computer isn't just a"PC" anymore, and you can
users mainframe power every business day. unleash its incredible mainframe-plus power for yourself—today.
The UNIX System standard for PCs—SCO:" Just add SCO.

The SCO family 91 UNIX System software solutions is available for all 80286-
and 80386 based industry-standard and Micro Channel - computers.

INV Is aregistered trademark of AT&T SCO and the SCO logo ve outmode el The Santa Coat Operatic« Inc Atiemsaft and XENIX are nrgineed
endemic, of Allacison Oxporance 00/2 and Micro Clunnel are settees of International Boehm Machines Corporation 1-2-3 is aregime
trademark of Lobo Dreelopment Corporanon. deASE DI MS is aregimen midemet ol Ashion-Taie
019e9 n. sm. Coo Operatic« Mc. 400 Emitted Sean, PO Box >00, Santa Om. California 95061 IZO
I/89

The Santa Cm: Operotion, Let, Cavalry Centre. Betters Lone, Watford 11/DI 8S9 United Kingdom, +44 (3)923 810344, FAX +44 (0)923 1317781
TEMC 917372
sco
THE SANTA CRUZ OPERATiON

Circle 233 on Reader Service Card

We develop products on the premise that

P341SL: Wide carriage (up to 270CP1,), 216/72

cps, advanced paper handling 4part forms

I t_1;;,,te...eadorerddridiwidiadilidaholi
II/I/111'111f

aft al 1144

SI: "LOW '

see a 1
a, IL

71000: 6.4 lbs, 4.77MHz 80086 512KB RAM expandable

to 12Mli MS-DOS in ROM, 720KB 3W' diskette drive.
Built-in RGa parallel serial and external driveportc.

71200FB: 9.8 pounds, 9.54MHz 80086 1MB

RAM.2 720KB 3efloppy drives, removable/
Page Laser12: 12 ppm, up to 3paper bins, 750 sheet
tr. s =,... rechargeable battery pack
caPabilibt ToshibalQume,Diablo,IBM& HP emulations
0••••••••• 13.1.4
rat

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Express Writer 301: 4lbs, letter-quality 2-f-dot print heach 60 cps,
Toshiba/Qume and Epson LQ emulations. 5resident fonts.

P351.U: 360/120 cps, 24-pin

letter quality, color option,
73100e:12MHz 80286 internal IBM sic* 75100: 16MHz 803Et6 microprocessor, 40 or 100MB hard disk 2MB Toshiba/ Qume and IBM
20MB hard disk gas plasma display ¡MB RAM RAM expandable to 4MR 14.6 lbs Built-in EGA display with high emulations standard Epson
expands to 5Mll 1.44MB 3g" diskette drive resolution gas plasma screen. & Diabk,emulations optional
great minds dont think alike.

11600:11616e Batterypowered 12MHz 285 20MB hard

disk, L44MB floppy 1MB RAM expands to 5MI1 backlit
EGA LCD, removable/rechargeable battery packs.
T5200: 20MHz 80386 processor, 2internal IBM campatibk
expansion slots, 40 or 100MB hard disk VGA display with
external VGA monitor port 2MB RAM expandable to 8MR

Numeric Keypad: 73200:12-MHz 286

full function, 15 or 2IBM compatibk
Ines,for many (If slots. 40MB hard
our portable PCs. disk, 1.44MB floppy
1MB RAM expands
to 4MB, EGA screen.
Canying cases:
available in leather or fabrie make
our portable PCs even more portable

ErgressWriter 311: 24-pin dot mahit 180 cps draft/60 cps letter
quality 3resident emulations (ToshibalQsane, Epson LQ, IBM
Proprinter), 16K buffer, 5residentfonts plus card slots, 11 lbs.

_e r l• _1 IF 1 11

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hard disk 1MB RAM, indudes 344KB LIM- Toshiba/Qume and IBM emulations slat:dare Epson and Diablo emulations
EMS Removable/rechargeable battery pack optiona4 32KB print buffer, front panel controls, advanced paperhandling.

People have their own quirky of truly portable PCs anywhere. of each of our individual users.
ways of doing things. Some think And aline of printers that Because the fact is, at Tosluba,
fast Some slow. Some are deliber- includes everything from ahigh we have an incredibly diverse and
ate. Some intuitive. Some work volume lase to afour-pound, letter- sophisticated customer base.
from 9to 5. Others never stop. quality, battery-operated portable. And from what we've been able
That's precisely why we offer All of which can be easily to determine they have only one
so many different products. networked. But all of which are de- thing in common.
Including the widest range signed to meet the specific needs They're all different

In Touch with Tomorrow

TOSHIBA
Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Computer Systems Divisan

Circle 249 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 250)

 We've got the guts,
you get the glory.
Whether you're building systems
or simply upgrading existing hard-
ware, you can bet your reputation
on DTK.
We offer clearly superior 80386,
80286 and 8088-based Bare Bone'
systems with FCC, UL, CSA and
TUV certification. Plus motherboards
and fully compatible add-on cards.
All built to deliver the performance
and reliability today's sophisticated
computer users demand.
More Guts. Choose from a
dozen Bare Bone systems designed
to fit every need—and every desk.
Including a33MHz 386 file server
with cache memory. Or select from
an extensive line of motherboards
(our XT and AT compatible models
are widely regarded as industry
standards).
Want LAN adapters? Or VGA,
I/O, or disk controller cards? Maybe
you need to gain an extra slot or two
with multiple function cards. DTK
can provide the solutions.
At prices you'll really like.
Better Quality. Our substantial
R & D capabilities and stringent QC
•Ir A L procedures mean you can depend on
us for the most reliable, highest per-
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formance products available today.

.-. ,
' 4. ..;--------....„..........._y e
e . . And tomorrow. Our inspection con-
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".."

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«se

•14.
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So why take chances? We've got
all the guts you need at prices that
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Call or write DTK COMPUTER,
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Edison, NJ(201) 417-0300
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West Germany (0211) 656031

DTK is aregistered trademark and Bare Bone is atrademark of Datatech Enterprises Ca, Ltd.
Clearly superior.
Intel 386 is atrademark of Intel Corporation. XI' and AT are registered trademarks of IBM Corporation.

Circle 89 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 90)

 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

M EGAHERTZ
M ADNESS
BYTE editors

check out 15 of the world's

fastest PCs

or the last couple of months, BYTE has received for the units we received may vary from the entries in the

F
asteady stream of press releases touting the vir- tables. Some systems start at avery low price but offer little
tues of the latest "world's fastest PC." Since more than akeyboard, acase, amotherboard and memory, and
Intel began shipping its 33-MHz version of the afloppy disk drive. Two, the Dyna Cache 386 and the Tangent
80386 CPU, PC makers have hustled to get it 333, don't have standard models at all; the companies custom-
into their systems in the hope that amagazine like BYTE will configure each unit to the buyer's specifications.
award them that title. We would like to oblige, but the task is Higher-priced units offer more in the way of hardware, and
more complicated than it first appears. they often carry awell-known brand name. You pay apremium
BYTE received 14 33-MHz PCs and the new Unix-based for acomputer from acompany with an established reputation
Altos 80386 system (see the text box "Altos 386 Series 1000: that can presumably provide greater system reliability and bet-
For Unix Only" on page 30). We benchmarked them all. We ter customer support. But buying from alesser-known com-
can tell you which one had the fastest CPU (the Everex Step pany can save you several thousand dollars—an important fac-
386/33) and which one had the best overall application index tor for those with alimited budget.
(the SIA 386/33). But when you run applications that are not Keep in mind, too, that the prices we give in this roundup are
CPU-intensive or change the system configuration, those rank- the manufacturers' retail prices. Retailers, value-added resell-
ings become less meaningful. ers (VARs), and mail-order houses may have lower prices.
A fast CPU will always be afast CPU, but it won't make your We've omitted some obvious categories from tables 1and 2
hard disk drive access data any faster. For abetter application because all vendors offer the same type of feature. For in-
index score, all you have to do is install agood disk-caching stance, all systems come with a1.2-megabyte 5'A-inch floppy
controller with lots of memory—expensive, but the results are disk drive standard (a few will swap it for a1.44-megabyte 31 /-
2

impressive. inch floppy disk drive if you wish), and all systems accept
The "world's fastest PC" is the one that lets you finish your either an Intel 80387 or aWeitek 3167 math coprocessor. Each
work in the least amount of time. Since this is what the BYTE system allows you to change the CPU speed setting, and all the
application index measures, the SIA 386/33 has the most right systems will run OS/2 or avariety of Unix given sufficient
to the claim. But then, no other PC in this group had a4.5- RAM and hard disk capacity.
megabyte hard disk cache, which dramatically improves per- Table 3 and figure 1give the BYTE benchmark indexes.
formance for disk-intensive applications. When reading the de- When looking at the rankings, it's important to maintain per-
scriptions of each machine, remember that every PC here, even spective. Even the slowest 33-MHz PC is over 20 times faster
the SIA 386/33, could have received better application index than an IBM PC AT on the application index. In fact, it's about
scores by using faster I/O interfaces, increasing the size and 20 percent faster than the fastest machine that IBM currently
speed of the CPU and disk caches, or using faster hard disk offers. Speed is wonderful, but other factors, such as expand-
drives. It's just amatter of how much money you want to spend. ability, construction quality, and price, are just as important.

Speaking of Money Wonderful, Yes; But Who Needs It?

We have compiled several tables so you can more easily com- Buying abarn-burning 33-MHz PC for everyday office grunt
pare the systems. Tables 1and 2list the features of each sys- work is silly; relatively simple tasks such as word processing
tem's base model. The configuration and model designations continued

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 13

 MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

Table 1: Main system features, price, and warranty. Price variations are due mainly to differences in what's offered
in the standard configuration. Note that most vendors use third-party motherboards; variations in performance among
systems using the same motherboard are possible by using faster I/O controllers and devices, larger and faster caches,
and faster memory.

Computer Price Motherboard RAM ROM Power Warranty

maker BIOS supply
Standard Access Max. RAM cache
memory time RAM

ALR FlexCache 33/386 Model 150 $9990 ALR 2Mb 60 ns 16 Mb 128K; 25 ns Phoenix 200 W 1year
AST Premium 386/33 Model 115V $8495 AST 2Mb 80 ns 36 Mb 32K; 25 ns AST 220 W 1year
Blackship 386/33 $4195 Micronics 1Mb 80 ns 16 Mb 32K; 25 ns Phoenix 220 W 1year
Compaq Deskpro 386/33 Model 84 $10,499 Compaq 2Mb 80 ns 16 Mb 64K; 25 ns Compaq 300 W 1year
Dyna Cache 386 1 $9993 AMI 4Mb 70 ns 16 Mb 64K; 20 ns AMI 275W 1year
Everex Step 386/33 $7599 Everex 4Mb 100 ns 16 Mb 64K; 20 ns Phoenix 200 W 1year
FiveStar 386 Model 333 $3395 Micronics 1Mb 80 ns 16 Mb 32K; 25 ns Award 200 W 1year
Matrix MDP 386-33 $5585 Micronics 4Mb 80 ns 16 Mb 32K; 25 ns Phoenix 275 W 1year
Micro Express ME 386-33 $5995 AMI 4Mb 70 ns 16 Mb 64K; 20 ns AMI 220 W 15 months
National MicroSystems Flash 386-33 $4999 Micronics 4Mb 80 ns 16 Mb 64K; 25 ns Phoenix 200 W 1year
PC Link 386/33 Model 160 $5995 Hauppauge 4Mb 80 ns 64 Mb 64K; 20 ns Award 220 W 1year
SIA 386/33 $6490 AMI/SIA 2 4Mb 70 ns 16 Mb 64K; 20 ns AMI 350 W 1year
Tangent 333 1 $6995 Mylex 4Mb 80 ns 32 Mb 128K; 25 ns AMI 250 W 1year
Zenith Z-386/33 Model 150 $11,499 Zenith 2Mb 80/100 ns 64 Mb 16K; 15 ns Zenith 200 W 1year

INo standard model; systems are built to customer's specifications. Configuration shown represents system sent to BYTE.
2 AMI customizes its 33-MHz motherboard for faster memory to SIA's specifications.

Table 2: Standard storage, video, I/O, and expansion features, plus bundled software and FCC ratings. Hard disk storage
and controller type vary considerably, although in virtually all cases it is possible either to specify the drive and controller
type of your choice or to buy astripped system and install your own. When considering expansion slots, keep in mind that
on most systems at least one slot is occupied by avideo, memory, CPU, or controller card. Systems that integrate these
functions onto the motherboard may have fewer slots, but the same or greater expansion capability. Most vendors sell the
operating system at extra cost, often offering achoice of MS-DOS or OS/2. An FCC rating of A means that the machine
is certified for use only in business environments; B is certification for home or residential use.

Computer Hard disk drive Case

typel
Controller Hard disk Access Capacity Hardware Max. #
type maker time cache? bays

ALR FlexCache 33/386 Model 150 ESDI Maxtor or CDC 17 ms 150 Mb No 5 T

AST Premium 386/33 Model 115V AT Imprimis 16 ms 110Mb Yes 5 D
Blackship 386/33 AT Seagate 28 ms 40 Mb No 5 D
Compaq Deskpro 386/33 Model 84 AT Conner 25 ms 84 Mb No 5 D
Dyne Cache 386 4 ESDI Micropolis 18 ms 147 Mb No 6 T
Everex Step 386/33 AT Option — — No 5 D
FiveStar 386 Model 333 Option Option — — Option 5 D
Matrix MDP 386-33 AT Option — — No 55 T
Micro Express ME 386-33 ESDI Option — — Yes 5 D
National MicroSystems Flash 386-33 ESDI Option — — Yes 5 D
PC Link 386/33 Model 160 ESDI Micropolis 17 ms 159 Mb No 5 D
SIA 386/33 Option Option — — Option 10 T
Tangent 333 4 ESDI CDC 18 ms 100 Mb No 10 T
Zenith Z-386/33 Model 150 ESDI MiniScribe 18 ms 150 Mb No 4 D

ID. desktop; T=tower.

2 a-MS-DOS 3.3; b= MS-DOS 4.xx; c=system setup software; d—disk-caching utility; e=system utilities; f= Microsoft Windows.
3 Game port.

No standard model; systems are built to customer's specifications. Configuration shown represents system sent to BYTE.
5 Two bays accept only 31
2 -inch devices.
/

14 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

perform only slightly faster at 33 MHz than they do at 12 MHz.

Place a33-MHz machine in front of an engineer, financial ana-
lyst, or software developer, though, and you've made afriend.
Fill a33-MHz PC with afew hundred megabytes of hard disk
storage and the right networking hardware, and you have a
powerful file server for a LAN or multiuser environment.
Combine a33-MHz machine with alaser printer and imaging
hardware, and you get afast workstation suitable for desktop
publishing.
With a33-MHz PC, you can expect to shave 20 percent to 30
percent off the CPU processing time of a 25-MHz PC. The
longer your application takes to process, the greater the benefit.
Switching to afaster processor might save you seconds, min-
utes, or even hours. For some tasks, even the most expensive
33-MHz PC could pay for itself in the time it saves.

ALR FlexCache 33/386

Advanced Logic Research's 33-MHz entry sports a unique

tower design. Remove the side panel and you see alarge swing-
arm on which the hard disk drive is mounted. The advantage is
twofold: The arm's full-height hinge and an accompanying
brace on the other side add much-needed rigidity to the ALR's
otherwise flimsy case, and swinging out the hard disk drive
provides easy access to the rest of the FlexCache 33/386's
internals.
The brace, however, is apain to reinstall. Although held in
continued

Video Expansion slots Ports Software FCC

included 2 rating
Graphics Monitor
board 8-bit 16-bit 32-bit Parallel Serial Mouse

16-bit VGA Option 1 7 0 2 1 0 a,c,d A

16-bit VGA Option 1 3 3 1 2 0 a,c,d,e B
Monochrome Monochrome 2 5 1 2 2 03 c,e B
VGA Option 1 6 1 1 2 1 d,e B
16-bit VGA VGA 1 6 1 2 1 03 e A
Option Option 2 6 0 1 1 0 a,c,d,e B
Option Option 2 5 1 1 2 0 — A
Option Option 2 5 1 1 2 03 g A
Option Option 1 6 1 1 2 0 a,e B
Option Option 2 5 1 1 2 0 e B
16-bit VGA Option 1 6 1 1 1 0 aor b,c,e A
Option Option 1 6 1 1 1 0 c,e A
16-bit VGA VGA 1 4 2 1 2 03 a A
VGA Option 0 3 4 1 2 0 a,e,d,f B

BY IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 15

Circle 225 on Reader Service Card

Introducing aPS/2 joystick adapter MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

as reliable as aSidewinder
at pointblank range.

Table 3: (a) The BYTE low-level benchmark indexes,

sorted from highest to lowest CPU rating. Of these
numbers, the disk I/O index had the greatest influence
on the cumulative application indexes.

Computer CPU FPU Disk I/O Video

Everex Step 386/33 6.84 15.48 2.45 4.26

ALR FlexCache 33/386 6.74 15.66 2.60 2.83
SIA 386/33 6.27 14.97 8.99 3.27
Compaq Deskpro 386/33 6.09 15.50 2.90 4.53
The GPA.l000TM from
Qua Tech. It supports the National MicroSystems 6.06 15.07 6.48 2.01
IBM® Micro ChannelTM for PS/2n4 Flash 386-33
Models 50, 60, 70, and 80. And it's Blackship 386/33 6.03 13.71 2.37 3.61
compatible with the IBM Game Control
Matrix MDP 386-33 5.75 15.07 1.93 5.73
Adapterni for the PC-XT®and AT
The GPA-1000 handles two joysticks FiveStar 386 Model 333 5.74 15.75 7.14 2.22
or four paddles. Tangent 333 5.73 14.83 2.28 1.79
Also for the PS/2 Micro Channel from
Qua Tech: the SP-1000 Parallel Port Adapter Dyna Cache 386 5.67 14.86 2.56 3.85
and the SP-1050 Serial/Parallel Port Adapter. Both offer multiple Micro Express ME 386-33 5.66 15.06 7.02 2.97
address and interrupt options. PC Link 386/33 Model 160 5.10 14.87 2.83 2.11
And the DS-1000 Dual Serial Adapter. For users who are looking
for terminal communication flexibility. AST Premium 386/33 4.80 14.21 2.32 3.89
Take aim at the PS/2 market, with Qua Tech. Zenith Z-386/33 4.79 15.10 2.96 5.05
For order info, call:
11 QUA TECH
1-800-553-1170
OUA TECH, INC
IBM. Moro Channel. PS/2. PC-XT. AT. and Game Control Adapter are
4713 E Etchange Street
trademarks or registered trademarks of IBM Corporation
Akron OH 44304
GPA-I000 oatrademark of Qua Tech. Inc place by only two screws, the housings for the mass storage de-
vices fit into notches on the brace's backside. The edges of
those housings are fitted with plastic strips that immediately
fall off when you remove the brace. Replacing them can get te-
dious if you frequently tinker inside the machine.

HARD DRIVE But this is aminor annoyance, especially in light of the Flex-
Cache 33/386's superb performance in the BYTE benchmark
tests. With a6.74 CPU index, it is the second-fastest PC we've
REPAIR ever tested, CPU-wise, after the Everex Step 386/33. Its cumu-
lative application index of 24.02 is arespectable one, especially
We will repair your hard drive at a considering that it doesn't have ahardware disk cache. ALR has
historically taken performance seriously, and the FlexCache
fraction of the cost of replacing it. Fast
33/386 certainly reflects that attitude.
turn-around. ALR designed most of the electronics inside the FlexCache
33/386, the only exceptions being the ESDI disk controller
• Specializing in recovering your (Adaptec or Western Digital), the 200-watt power supply, and
lost data. the drives themselves. The motherboard was free of engineer-
•Sell new and rebuilt drives, ing wire changes.
The ALR FlexCache, in its base configuration, comes with a
low prices!! 150-megabyte 17-millisecond Maxtor or Control Data hard
•Purchase used, excess, and disk drive, a1.2-megabyte 5'4-inch floppy disk drive, an ALR
defective drives. 16-bit VGA card, 2 megabytes of 60-nanosecond RAM (ex-
pandable to 16 megabytes), 128K bytes of 25-ns cache RAM,
Call for details!!! room for another four half-height storage devices, and MS-
DOS 3.3. The base unit price is $9990.
H & W micro, inc. The unit has eight expansion slots: one 8-bit and seven 16-bit.
528-C Forest Parkway Three slots are taken by the hard disk drive controller, aserial/
Forest Park, GA 30050 parallel port card, and the VGA card. Memory goes on the
404-366-1600 motherboard in single in-line memory module (SIMM) slots for
up to 16 megabytes.
The unit BYTE received had a380-megabyte Maxtor drive,
an Adaptec ESDI controller, 4 megabytes of RAM, an ALR
VGA II monitor, and a33-MHz 80387 math coprocessor. This
We bring High-Technology configuration costs $14,587.
Down to Earth If you need afast computer, the ALR FlexCache 33/386 is
worth your consideration. -Michael E. Nadeau
continued

16 Fall 1989 • BYTE Circle 137 on Reader Service Card

 MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

(b) The BYTE cumulative application indexes, sorted from highest to lowest. These numbers give an idea of what kind of
performance for agiven application you can expect in comparison to an IBM PC AT. The rankings are quite different from
the low-level results, which measure performance at the system level.

Word Spreadsheet Database Scientific/ Compilers Cumulative*

Computer processing engineering

SIA 386/33 5.49 4.32 8.09 7.42 7.32 32.64

Micro Express ME 386-33 4.76 4.32 5.83 7.12 5.55 27.58
National MicroSystems 5.08 4.35 5.77 6.00 5.37 26.58
Flash 386-33
FiveStar 386 Model 333 4.82 4.31 5.91 5.90 5.53 26.47
Compaq Deskpro 386/33 4.28 5.01 3.00 7.86 4.46 24.61
Dyna Cache 386 5.02 4.27 2.91 7.51 4.42 24.13
ALR FlexCache 33/386 4.61 4.50 2.88 7.18 4.86 24.02
Blackship 386/33 4.69 4.45 2.89 7.30 4.44 23.77
AST Premium 386/33 4.11 4.22 3.01 7.23 4.11 22.69
Everex Step 386/33 4.43 3.93 1.96 8.05 4.25 22.62
PC Link 386/33 Model 160 5.03 4.43 2.68 5.51 4.36 22.01
Tangent 333 4.57 4.45 2.45 5.43 4.27 21.17
Zenith Z-386/33 3.91 3.97 1.87 6.59 3.85 20.19
Matrix MDP 386-33 3.95 3.90 1.74 7.09 3.43 20.11
•Cumulative application index based on indexes at left.

BYTE BENCHMARK RESULTS

Low-level Application-level

SIA 386/33 32.64

Micro Express ME 386-33 27.58

Flash 386-33 26.58

FiveStar Model 33/D 26.47

Compaq Deskpro 386/33 24.61

Dyna Cache 386 24.13

ALR FlexCache 33/386 24.02

11 I Blackship 386/33 23.77

II I AST Premium 386/33 Ill 1 22.69

Li 1 11 Everex Step 386/33 22.62

PC Link 386/33 22.01

Tangent 333 21.17

D Word processing
D CPU
FPU
Zenith Z-386/33 I1II 1 20.19 D Spreadsheet
D Database
D Disk I/O Matrix MDP 386-33 111 120.11 D Scientific/engineering
D Video 1: Compilers

Figure 1: The systems that used the Distributed Processing Technology disk-caching controller took the top four spots on our
cumulative application indexes, followed by the Compaq Deskpro. Installing ahardware disk cache in any of the other 33-MHz
PCs would dramatically increase their scores, although expensively and sacrificing some hard disk capacity.

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 17

Circle 101 on Reader Service Card

MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

lue PC» MODM eD-Dei

AST Premium 386/33
FEATURES: 1MB RAM, 80286 BASED
PROCESSOR, 10MHZ, (1) 1.44MB 3.5"
FLOPPY, 20MB FIXED DISK, VGA
ADAPTER, PS/2 101 KEY K/B,
PARALLEL & SERIAL PORT, CABLES
& MANUALS, 100% IBM PRODUCT
**REMANUFACTURED**

SLIGG. RETAIL NEW $3, 595•

00
OUR PRICE $1,888.00
INCL. 90 DAY DEPOT WARRANTY,
JUST LIKE NEW UNITS!
FREE NEW AMDEK MODEL 432 VGA
MONITOR INCL. WITH EVERY UNIT
$245.00 VALUE AT NO CHARGE!

dne.
VISA 1-800-624-2001 MC

716-272-8770 FAX 716-272-8624

With "Premium" as its middle name, AST's 33-MHz entry has

thouqht tiou_ • • e Yes, Tc11•1. 13c,t an image to live up to. The AST Premium 386/33 does this
said te woes • u .2‘° FAHRENHEIT nicely with its clean, integrated design, solid construction, and
o
• ° a • • O 0
proven components. An $8495 base price further enhances its
•
• 0 high-quality image.
I • o • Its performance, however, is about average compared to the
• other machines tested here. AST includes adisk-caching utility
• • 9
that dramatically improves disk performance, though at the
• cost of extended RAM. Iallocated the maximum 1megabyte of
RAM to the disk cache, which improved the BYTE disk I/O
index score nearly sixfold. A 16K-byte RAM track buffer is
standard.
The AST-designed motherboard integrates items usually
found on separate cards: aparallel port and two serial ports,
and the AT-style floppy and hard disk drive controllers. The
o ' system's 32K-byte RAM cache is also integrated into four logic
chips, including memory. The AST 386/33 has seven slots in-
NOW, with S.I. Plus you will never be caught in the stead of the usual eight. Two of those slots are taken by the
COLD again. S.I. Plus converts units from one system optional AST VGA card and the CPU card. The five remaining
to another (Celsius to Fahrenheit, Miles to Kilometers, slots should meet most users' needs, considering the devices
etc.) on any IBM Personal Computer or compatible. Over that are integrated on the motherboard. The unit comes with
70,000 different conversions can be performed in 80 setup software that allows you to disable these devices should
classes of units. S.I. Plus can be run as aseparate pro- you want to install your own.
gram or from within most other programs. The tables Only Zenith offers more 32-bit expansion slots than AST
within Si Plus can be customized so you only see the (four versus three). Both machines allow for placing AT-type
conversions you need. cards or proprietary 32-bit memory cards in those slots.
Si. Plus is ONLY $79.00. The CPU card contains the CPU, FPU, up to 4megabytes of
80-ns SIMM RAM, and the 80325 cache controller. Additional
ANYONE with a PC and the need to CONVERT
memory, up to atotal of 36 megabytes, requires proprietary
units should CALL GEOCOMP at (800) 822-2669 memory cards from AST. Conceivably, this design could per-
for more information and a FREE DEMO DISK. mit easy upgrading should, heaven help us, afaster CPU be-

GEOCOMP Corporation
come available. The rugged metal case is about 11 / inches nar-
2

rower than those of most other desktop 33-MHz PCs we tested,

66 Commonwealth Avenue, Concord, MA 01742 thanks to the space-efficient integrated motherboard.
>0. (508) 369-8304 continued

18 Fall 1989 • BYTE Circle 121 on Reader Service Card

(DEALERS: 122)
Until now theit was only one way
to integrate Cand Assembler

While Cand Assembler give you power Quick Advisor gives you access to information
to bum, switching back and forth between them on all ROM BIOS and MS-DOSecalls. And it
can leave your brain feeling alittle fried. even lets you cut and paste sample programs,
All that stopping. And starting. And con- so you can make both Cand
stantly retracing your steps. Assembler subroutines part \ e ()tuck(' Compiler
NSItil OlIkk

Well, relax. Now there's Microsoft® of your routine in no time.

QuickAssembler. Available with our clever For more details on =IC Inhkr
-
QuickC® Compiler in one location: the first inte- the incredible integrated C.0 '

grated environment for Cand Assembler. power of QuickAssembler

For the first time, you can save time with and QuickC Compiler, call
an integrated editor, compiler, assembler and (800) 426-9400. If you own
debugger that let you create Cprograms, mixed QuickC Compiler version 2.0 already, we'll tell
Cand Assembler programs, or Assembler pro- you how to add on QuickAssembler quick.
grams that stand alone. And take aload off your mind.

Arr
To make sure you feel at home in your
new environment, we've designed Microsoft
Quick Advisor, ahypertext electronic manual
that coaches, coaxes and guides you on screen. Making it all make sense:
Customers inside the 50 United States, call (800)426-9400 In Canada, call (416) 673-7638. Outside the U.S and Canada call (206) 882-8661. Copyright 1989 Microsoft Corporation. All rights toserveci. Microsoft, the
Microsoft logo, MS-DOS and QuickC are registered tracterna-ks and Making it ail nratee sense is atrademark of Miaosaft Corporation.
Circle 105 on Reader Service Card

MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

Nine
Track
Our test unit came with a 110-megabyte Rigidyne (Control
Data) 31 2 -inch hard disk drive, aTEAC 1.2-megabyte floppy
/
disk drive, an AST VGA card and Premium Display/VGA

Tape...
monitor, a33-MHz Intel 80387 FPU, MS-DOS 3.3, and atotal
of 4 megabytes of 80-ns SIMM memory. The total estimated
cost for this system (AST does not offer amath coprocessor;
33-MHz 80387s sell for about $1000) is $11,828.
Ihad no problems using the machine with aMicrosoft Mouse

One
and card, and an NEC CDR-77 CD-ROM reader and its SCSI
controller. The Premium 386/33 ran Windows 2.0, Lotus 1-2-3
release 3.0, XyWrite 3.51, afinicky public domain fractal pro-

Track
gram, and NEC's Clip-Art 3D, aWindows-based graphics li-
brary on CD-ROM. Compatibility seems good with the AST.
The Premium 386/33's main selling points are its high-qual-
ity design and AST's track record as avendor of solid, reliable

Mind. hardware. Unless you must have either the fastest or the cheap-
est 33-MHz PC, the Premium 386/33 should be among your top
choices. —Michael E. Nadeau
If you can't get your mind off 9
'Ruck Tape...there's good reason.
Blackship 386/33

Its still the number one choice in

the entire world for exchanging
information between computer
systems.

Using a9'Rack-Tape drive, you literally

turn your PC into amainframe.

Here's areasonably priced system that performed well. Like

We not only sell more 9luck Tape drive several other systems that we tested, the Blackship 386/33 uses
systems than anyone else. we're known
the Micronics motherboard. It includes a RAM cache that
as problem solvers. People who develop
really speeds things up. Itried several informal tests using two
and nurture solutions for other people.
CPU-intensive programs, AutoCAD and MapInfo. With the
Give us acall today arid let us solve
your next conversion problem. cache on, which is the default mode for the system, the Black-
ship performed 27 percent to 42 percent better than with the
GSA# GSOOK89AGS6390 cache off. (All benchmark tests were run with the cache on.)

E
The basic system comes with a33-MHz 80386, aPhoenix
FLAGSTAFF BIOS, 1megabyte of 32-bit RAM, a1.2-megabyte floppy disk
ENGINEERING drive, adisk drive controller with 1-to-1 interleave, aSeagate
40-megabyte (28-ms) hard disk drive, two serial ports, one
'Helpi•
ng people read
parallel printer port, and one game controller port. It also in-
aworld of information
cludes a32K-byte RAM cache, amonochrome display adapter
1120 Kaibab (602) 779-3341
continued
Flagstaff, AZ 86001 FAX 602-779-5998
20 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition
 Somet
Worth

U.S. Education Costs

1%1-1989

113.41nree. GM*
11.11

his graphic created wita GRASP.

OLIfix5Sy cf Paul Mace Software

Announcing VGA-TV's, the first VGA card that takes Fully compatible with previous graphics standards,
VGA right from your PC and puts it on your TV or such as EGA and CGA, VGA-TV runs on the IBM
VCR. It's fast. It's easy. It's economical. And, it will PC/XT, PC/AT and compatibles. It can be used with aTV
change the way you view VGA forever. alone, or together with amonitor.
VGA-TV lets you display broadcast quality graphics, IT'S YOUR SHOW NOW, BABY!
conduct PC training sessions, run interactive software
demos, or simply see the full impact of your work on Unleash the power of your PC with VGA-TV and let the
TV. Plus, you can videotape anything you display and world watch your show in style. Priced at an unbeat-
send it to one or one million viewers. able $699.00, VGA-TV is fully backed by Willow's three-
year warranty and toll-free technical support.
EYE-OPENING POWER
'fo order, or for more information, contact your dealer
VGA-TV is astandard VGA card that is or ca111-800-444-1585, Ext. 36. Mastercard and VISA
100% register and BIOS compatible. It out- cards honored. Dealer inquiries welcomed.
puts abroadcast quality NTSC (or RGB) Willow Peripherals, 190 Willow Ave., Bronx, NY 10454
signal of VGA images to your television, projection TV,
Phone: (212) 402-0010 or Fax: (212) 402-9603
large screen TV, or VCR.
Willow Peripherals is adivision of ARV Electronics,
On your TV, which connects to your computer by a Ltd. Registered and unregistered
trademarks/owners: VGA- TV/Willow Peripherals;
simple RCA jack, VGA-TV gives you resolution up to GRASP/Paul Mace Software, Inc.
Computer courtesy of Hewlett-Packard, Inc.
640 x480 x16 colors (256 colors when optional
memory is added to the board's expansion sockets). On VGA Boards That
amultifrequency monitor, you get resolution up to Do More Than VGA.
800 x600 x16 colors (256 with the additional memory).
VGA-TV ei) hir-• •
Ierlipheralt

Circle 270 on Reader Service Card

 MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

and monitor, and aKey Ironic 101 enhanced keyboard. It sells also has one 32-bit slot for the 32-bit memory card, which was
for $4195. installed in my unit. You can expand the memory to 16 mega-
The unit Itested was equipped with 4 megabytes of RAM bytes, although you'll need to buy adaughterboard to exceed 8
and aMaxtor 150-megabyte 5'4-inch ESDI hard disk drive in megabytes.
place of the Seagate unit. Instead of amonochrome display, it The system comes with aone-year parts and labor warranty
had aParadise VGA Plus 16 board and an NEC MultiSync 2A that's handled exclusively by the manufacturer, so you'll have
monitor, and it had atotal of 64K bytes of RAM cache. This to send your system back for warranty service. Though not toll-
configuration costs areasonable $7495. free, the company's customer support is courteous, fast, and
Iused the Black ship as my primary work computer every day competent. When Iexperienced aproblem that turned out to be
for about six weeks. Most of the time Iused the extended RAM just an improperly seated drive controller (probably caused by
and asupplied driver to emulate EMS memory for adisk cache. shipping), the company's technical-support staff provided me
With the disk cache, it took my Lotus Agenda files, whose cate- with solid technical advice.
gory list and heavy disk activity had outgrown my old 80286 Overall, the Blackship did an average job on the benchmark
system, and made that program useful again. Without the disk tests, and better than some of the big name-brand systems. Con-
cache, though, Ihad to wait—albeit less than before—for Agen- sidering its reasonable price, it's easy to recommend this com-
da to respond. puter. —Dennis Allen
None of the other many application programs Itried failed on
the Blackship. It also ran multiple programs using DESQview
with no problem. However, the Blackship made its real worth Compaq Deskpro 386/33
clear while processing numbers and VGA graphics. Two nota-
ble examples were drawing MapInfo's detailed maps and plot- Although the Compaq Deskpro 386/33 was not the fastest sys-
ting the heavens with an obscure astronomy program called tem tested—either in raw CPU power or in the BYTE cumula-
EZCosmos. Both programs do calculations and plotting that, tive application index—it did score impressive results. Thanks
on aslower machine, would leave you tapping your fingers. to its 64K-byte cache (with 25-ns static RAM), it was the
The unit is astandard desktop design. Inside, the system lay- fourth-fastest system in the BYTE CPU test. In the BYTE appli-
out is easy to work with, and Ihad no trouble accessing periph- cation index, it was the fifth-fastest system overall and the fast-
eral cards. Neither did the system have any trouble working est system that did not use aspecial hardware disk cache.
with a CompuCom 8-bit 2400-bps modem card Itried. The The standard Model 84 comes with 2megabytes of memory.
Blackship has five 16-bit and two 8-bit slots for add-in cards. It continued

Your computer system shipped in ...

2,880 mutes
Your computer system shipped in...

48 hOUPS
Your computer system shipped in ...

2days
Rack mounted, rugged, 10 slot passive Rack mounted, rugged, 14 slot passive
backplane, with 12.5 MHz 80286 CPU backplane, with 20 MHz 80386 CPU
No matter how you say it, Model 2001 high reliability computer Model 3014 high reliability computer
that's quick! •Fully compatible with ATTm hardware •Fully compatible with AT/386 hard-
and software ware and software
•1 MByte RAM on CPU card • 1MByte RAM on CPU card
Now the two most popular industrial •20 MByte hard disk •40 MByte hard disk
computers are being shipped in 48 •1.2 MByte 5.25 inch floppy drive • 1.2 MByte 5.25 inch floppy drive
hours. Complete, ready to plug in and •2 serial, 1parallel I/O port •2 serial, 1parallel I/O port
use. No ifs, ands or buts. •Controller for floppy and hard disks •Controller for floppy and hard
•EGA video controller disks
*ABOUT OUR PRICING AND DELIVERY •101 key keyboard •EGA video controller
These two high reliability industrial quality com- •DOS 3.3A • 101 key keyboard
puters are the most popular models we make. We •One year on-site GE service policy •DOS 3.3A
can ship them, equipped exactly as shown, fully •FCC Class "A" certified •One year on-site GE service policy
tested and burned in, within 48 hours after accep- •FCC Class "A" certified
tance of your order. Prices shown are for single
unit orders, net, Lab. Houston. Other models and ALL
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ALL
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pricing is available.

TO PLACE AN ORDER OR OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION,

CONTACT YOUR NEAREST AUTHORIZED TEXAS TEXAS MICROSYSTEMS
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MICROSYSTEMS SALES REPRESENTATIVE, OR CALL OUR
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10618 Rockley Road • Houston, Texas 77099 GE on•site service

1-800-627-8700 (713) 933-8050 available nationwide

Conforms To FCC Class
Designers and manufacturers of quality computers for more than adecade A requirements

22 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition Circle 246 on Reader Service Card
 Our Printer Sharing Unit
Does Networking!
An Integrated Solution MasterLink — utility diskette for PCs it. We also have automatic switches, code-

Take our Master Switch — ,asophisticated comes with every unit and unleashes the activated switches, buffers, converters,

sharing device, combine it with MasterNet" power of the switch with its memory-resident cables, protocol converters, multiplexers,

networking software for PCs, and you've access to the commands and menus. line drivers, and other products.

got an integrated solution for pr'nter and Other Products Commitment to Excellence
plotter sharing, file transfer, electronic mail, We have afull line of connectivity solutions. At Rose Electronics, we're not satisfied
and a lot more. Of course you can also If you just want printer sharing, we've got until you're satisfied. That's why we have
share modems, minis, ano mainframes or thousands of customers around the world
access the network remotely. Installation including large, medium, and small
and operation is very simple. businesses, factories, stores, educational

Versatile institutions, and Federal, state, and local

Or you can use the Master Switch to governments. We back our products with

link any computer or peripheral with aserial full technical support, aone-year warranty,

or parallel interface. The switch accepts and a thirty-day money-back guarantee.

over 20 commands for controlling the flow

of data. It may be operated automatically,
by command, or with interactive menus. Its
Call now for literature or
buffer is expandable to one megabyte and
more information.
holds up to 64 simultaneous jobs. The %heed ELECTRONICS (800) 333-9343
g
lee 4e 042e CO, ercet CeiSql«tet
P.O. Box 742571 • Houston, Texas 77274 • Tel (713) 933-7673 • FAX (713) 933-0044 • Telex 4948886

Circle 230 on Reader Service Card

 WEITEK CORPORATION

TUESDAYS, THE SHIPMENT OF TIME ARRIVES EARLY.

But what if they needed more? What then?

B If time could be manufactured, you'd buy it. Weitek's Abacus 3167 math coprocessor comes close.
It can give a386-based computer 2X to 3X its normal speed—workstation-level performance—for
less than $1,000. With high-end CAD, CAM, engineering and math applications like VersaCAD,
Anvil-5000pc, CADKEY, Mathematica and many others. You can readily install Abacus and
its 2X to 3X speed in machines from Compaq, H-P, AST, Zenith, Dell, Everex and many
more manufacturers. And two times speed equals two times as much time for you.
Call Weitek Corporation at 1-800-HOT-3167 or see your dealer. Soon.
W EITEK is aregistered trademark of WEITEX CORPORATION. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective holders. ©1989 W ETU CORPORATION

Circle 264 on Reader Service Card

Circle 219 on Reader Service Cold (DEALERS: 220)

MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

Intelligent
SCSI
Controllers
for NetWare,
OS/2 & DOS

•Novell DCB compatible

•OS/2 & DOS drivers available
•286/386 ISA & PS/2 MCA versions
•Handles any SCSI drive
•Optical CD drive support available
•Use up to 4boards & 32 SCSI drives
•Works with 33 MHz systems
•Available now.

Dealers and Distributors wanted.

PROCOMP USA, INC.

6801 Engle Road
Cleveland, OH 44130
FAX: (216) 234-2233
Phone: (216) 234-6387
For additional memory, you must use an expansion board,
which fits into aspecial 32-bit expansion slot. This board has
Trademarks: NetWare—Novell, Inc.; OS/2—Microsoft Corp.;
PS/2--IBM Corp.; PROCOMP is an MT company. room for seven 2-megabyte memory modules (at arather hefty
$1299 each), bringing the total memory capacity up to 16
megabytes.
The unit we received had 4megabytes of RAM, a33-MHz
80387 math coprocessor, a second 1.44-megabyte 5'4-inch

DURANT
floppy disk drive, aCompaq Advanced Graphics 1024 control-
ler, a Compaq Advanced Graphics color monitor, aCompaq
2400-bps internal modem, a40-megabyte tape drive, MS-DOS
Uninterruptable 4.01, and OS/2 1.1. Total price for this system is $19,657.

Power Supplies
In physical appearance, the Compaq system looks like a
standard desktop AT clone, considerably larger than the com-
pany's other 80386 systems, such as the Deskpro 386/20e. The
standard configuration consists of a 1.2-megabyte floppy disk
You know that you need power pro-
tection, but how do you choose?
drive, an 84-megabyte hard disk drive, and aVGA controller on
Durant's BPS Series of Uninter- the motherboard. One nice touch is the inclusion of aMicro-
ruptable Power Supplies (from soft-compatible mouse connector on the back panel.
300 VA to 1.2 kVA) solves any possible Along with the VGA controller is aVGA pass-through con-
problem that would ever cross your
ou power line. The solution starts with a
nector. This connector appears to have the same function as the
- / millisecond sense and switch time.
4
3 VGA lines on IBM's Micro Channel bus. If you purchase Com-
Speed is important, but we paq's Advanced Graphics 1024 board (the company's equiva-
realize that absolute safety involves lent to IBM's high-resolution 8514/A controller), the VGA
much, much more. Switching
technology is only an indication of
pass-through connector allows the Advanced Graphics board to
what the BPS has to offer. At display high-resolution 1024- by 768-pixel graphics as well as
TESTED Durant, we leave nothing to chance. standard VGA graphics.
APPROVED
You simply have too much to lose. Like many high-end systems, the Compaq has room for five
To find out why only Durant's
premium quality will insure your
half-height storage devices. But the Compaq system has one ad-
® USTED security write or call toll free. ditional feature. On the back panel is a removable grill that
1 800 451-4813 allows access to the two rear drive bays. Although Compaq
In Illinois: (312) 647-6707 does not spell this out, this possibly could allow all five of the
drive bays to be used for removable media, such as floppy disk
Don't turn on without us! drives, tape drives, optical drives, or removable magnetic
drives. This, along with the system's password protection

# Durant Technologies, Inc.

5627 W. Howard Avenue
Niles, IL 60648
scheme, indicates that the system could be used well as afile
server.
The motherboard seems clean, although I did spot two
See us at COMDEX/FALL 89 jumpers. The two sockets that you will most probably need—
Bally's Booth 1537 those for the 80387 and the Weitek 3167 coprocessors—are
continued

26 Fall 1989 • BYTE Circle 91 on Reader Service Card

(DEALERS: 92)
 "It's asimple formula.
The more power under the
hood, the faster you go. Well,
Ijust found a386PC with a
Ferrari engine."

ZENITH INNOVATES AGAINTM

Racing at 8.2 MIPS,* Zenith shatters the 33MHz speed barrier with
one of the fastest Inte1386 workstations ever built.
Even after you see it, you still might not believe that any 386/33 workstation
can deliver such unprecedented speed and reliability as Zenith Data Systems'
Z-386/33. But it's true.
Up to 30% faster than many 25MHz desktops, Zenith's Z-386/33 even
exceeds the limits of other 33MHz systems. In fact, its super-fast processor, disk
and memory subsystems give you uncompromising performance. So you can
blaze through the most demanding scientific, engineering and manufacturing
applications at an almost unheard of 8.2 MIPS.
For those who need 25MHz power, there's the Zenith Z-386/25. It, too, gives
you high-powered file serving, CAD/CAM/CAE, multi-tasking and multi-user
capabilities. And each lets you take advantage of thousands of industry standard
peripherals as well as such advanced operating environments as MS OS/2®
and SCO' Xenix?
Both 32-bit powerhouse workstations also let you add hard drives and up
to 64MB of memory to keep pace with your growing needs. Plus, they come
standard with MS-DOS? And all hard
drive models even include Microsoft'
Windows/386.
So if you need afaster workstation—
or the fastest—shift into overdrive with
Zenith's Z-386/25 or Z-386/33 today.
For the name of your nearest Zenith Data
Systems authorized dealer, call:
1-800-553-0350.

data
systems
THE (DUALITY GOES IN BEFORE THE NAME GOES ON

Graphics simulate Microsoft°Windows, aproduct and trademark of Microsoft

Corporation. MS-DOS, MS OS/2, Microsoft Windows/386 and Xenix are
registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. SCO is atrademark of The
Santa Cruz Operation, Inc. Inte1386 is atrademark of Intel Corporation.
°Source: Power Meter' VI.5, The Database Group, Inc., Upland, CA. MIPS: Millions of Instructions Per Second 1989, Zenith Data Systems

Circle 272 on Reader Service Card

Circle 20 on Reader Service Card

SDLC/HDLC/X.25
MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

$289 SDLC/HDLC Secondary Stn. $689 Primary Link

$889 Virtual Circuit Network $889 X.25 DTE.
Management Software easy to access. The design may still be in flux, however. Just
For IBM PC/XT/AT with before the product was announced, the floppy disk drive con-
IBM SDLC Comm. troller was moved from the motherboard to an expansion card.
Why You Want It!
adapter, PS/2 with IBM And although Compaq says that the system's hard disk drive
.Save thousands on access connections,
Multiprotocol adapter controller is on an expansion card as well, on our system it
traffic, superfluous development costs!
seemed to be on the motherboard.
•Engineer & administer custom network architectures, PADs,
Compaq should be commended for a number of small de-
concentrators, gateways, protocol translators & analysers
*Synch-Series II runs on IBM PC and PS/2 hardware
tails: for example, the easy way that the system cover can be
*Simple applications program interface
removed (via two small thumbscrews), the mouse connector on
•Synch-Series II reduces public carrier X.25 access costs the back panel, and aSetup program that allows you to quickly
•Source code is available — call us! set the system up. Some things were less than admirable, in-
cluding Compaq's use of Torx screws inside the system.
What You Get! 30-day $back guarantee!' The system comes with aone-year warranty. No on-site ser-
•Synch-Series II — 4 modules — separately licensed — at low cost vice or other service contracts are available directly from
•SDLC/HDLC secondary/primary station API development libraries Compaq.
•X.25 network interface/gateway software At a list price of $10,499 for an 84-megabyte system, the
-Synch-Series II — VCNM module (X.25 DCE/DTE) allows a
Compaq is surely one of the more expensive systems around.
backbone of LAPB stations creating asubnet interconnecting &
Even with astreet price considerably lower, it will still be an
providing end-to-end virtual circuit services
expensive system. But Compaq has areputation for quality, and
•IBM Physical Layer — full/half duplex data rates up to 9600 bps. —
this system does alot to uphold that reputation. The high cost of
synchronous with or without modems
the Deskpro 386/33 should buy asubstantial amount of peace of
*Synch-Series II provides run-time libraries, network traffic
analysis, diagnostics & administration software
mind. —Rich Malloy
•Synch-Series II is user friendly, providing pop-up windows for
network definitions & queries
Dyna Cache 386

AQUYTEK Real Time Systems Inc.

#400-1235 Bay St, Toronto. Canada. N1512 3K4 (4 16) 924-7699

SMARTCLOCK
Slotless Clock and Calendar
For Your Personal Computer
•Automatically updates the time
and date every time you turn on
your computer
•Fits all IBM PS/2 computers
•Never enter the date and time
again
•Does not require aslot
•Compatible with virtually all
MS-WS computers
•Easy to install
•Fas in any 28-pin ROM socket
•Keeps track of time even when
the power is turned off
•Complete documentation,
SMART, installation software included
•30-day money-back guarantee
AChision of Wholesale
— Owed WC
CUT AND MAIL
Send check or money order to: SMARTCLOCK
WHOLESALE DIRECT INC.
WHOLESALE (206) 883-0227 •FAX (206) 882-2801
D I2 1 C 1 15247 N.E. 90th •Redmond, WA 98052
$39.95 Dyna Computer takes asmorgasbord approach to constructing
a 33-MHz 80386; you start with an AMI motherboard and
ce $39.95 ea. = $ BIOS, and then select from alist of recommended subsystem
Dealers Welcome
Shipping &Handling 3.00 ea.
Quantify Discounts components. The machine Itested was a sturdy, tower-style
— WA Resents Add 13.10% Sales Tax — TOTAL ENCLOSED $
unit configured to provide the best performance for under
NAME PHONE (
$10,000. The Dyna Cache 386 was an able performer, coming
STREET
in sixth in BYTE's cumulative application index.
CITY STATE ZIP
El VISA E WC El PAYMENT ENCLOSED
In addition to a switchable (8- or 33-MHz) 80386 and an
CARD I/ EXP
80387, our test machine included 4megabytes of 70-ns DRAM
SIGNATURE on the motherboard with room for 4 more megabytes on
AR Orders Shipped in 24 Hears SIMMs, and up to 8additional megabytes on a32-bit add-in
continued

28 Fall 1989 • BYTE Circle 269 on Reader Service Card

 Ih/A
Available at ter
\
Entre 'CoTneCBC
/..
Centers, ...
Coniputer Factory
ret ailer s The Universal
and oth External Network
nationwide!
(plus: Dataniex in Canada)

Up to 31
users can..
•Share Printers
Share Plotters E;;`'-'
any unshielded
four-wire cable
Mainframe
via protocol
converter

•Share a Modem
•Share a FAX
Exchange E-MAIL
•Transfer Datafiles tee
Example: 17 micros (mixed brands, some on a LAN) anc amainframe, each
equipped with aSystemizer Plus, sharing 3 printers, a plotter, and EMAIL.

Systemizing has become the connectivity standard Corporate computing managers prefer Systemizing
at many of the worlc's largest corporations and over other connectivity methods because it offers:
throughout the federal government. Ten's cf thou- •Up to 6210 ports, each parallel and serial capable.
sands are already in use. The new Systemizer Plus •Compatibility. Mix PC's, LAN's, mainframes, laptops.
is the latest model in Applied Creative Technology's •Easy owner installation. Low cost cabling.
line of Systemizing products, and it delive-s what •5 min. user t-aining with no support needed after.
95% of corporate computer users want from a •Flexibility; readily accomodates growth and changes.
Local Area Network— at far less cost and com- •Powerful distributed buffering (up to 31 Megabytes)
plexity, and yet with much more versatility. •Distributed processing for high speed and reliability.

Call 1-800-433-5373 The CO NNEXPERTS'

A Division of Applied Creative Technology Inc.

to get a FREE demo! 8333 Douglas Ave., Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75225 U.S.A.
(214) 358-4800
Copeght 1909 by ...00ded Crea-,ve Techrmogy lev Eistenwer Plus and Systemong are trademarks o, applect Creauve Tecnoclogy Inc

Circle 19 on Reader Service Card

 MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

Altos 386 Series 1000:

For Unix Only
nlike the other machines in this hundreds of users. It will serve an office
roundup, the Altos 386 Series or department well. When our Unix
1000 does not run MS-DOS except as a minicomputer failed, the Altos filled in
guest of the Unix operating system. The very easily. In fact, it outperformed the
Altos does not have an AT bus, aMicro five-year-old 68020-based minicomput-
Channel bus, or any other bus, for that er on every function, even though you
matter. It is engineered to run Unix. might mistake it for a20-inch-high dwarf
The AT bus machines are not designed version of the 5-foot minicomputer.
to run afull 32-bit operating system; the The Altos ran most of the low-level
Altos machine is. BYTE Unix benchmarks (beta version)
The 33-MHz Altos has everything at 65 percent to 90 percent of the perfor-
except the serial I/O on the mother- mance of the Everex Step 386/33 run-
board. The basic system comes with ning SCO 386 Xenix, but it excelled in a
eight serial ports, atape drive, a40- few areas. It created subprocesses twice
megabyte SCSI hard disk drive, and 4 as fast as the Everex. But the bench-
megabytes of RAM. Both the CPU data marks showed the Altos able to read,
and address buses are 32 bits wide. Per- write, and copy file segments at aphe-
formance is further enhanced by a32K- nomenal 10 times the rate of the Everex.
byte memory cache. You can expand the If you plan to run database applications,
RAM to 24 megabytes, the hard disk this machine is considerably better than
storage to 300 megabytes, and the ports any other 80386 in its class.
to 24, but all these upgrades require Usually we don't focus on operating
proprietary hardware, which you must systems in ahardware roundup, but on
buy from Altos. Unix machines, the quality of the oper-
Unlike with AT-style Unix com- ating system and compiler is as impor-
puters, the Altos's console, as well as tant as the hardware. Altos Unix is a
any terminals, are connected to serial mix of Unix System V, Berkeley Unix,
ports. Typical of all the newer Altos and Xenix. The entire system is de-
boxes, the machine stands on end and signed to work to the best advantage of
slips under adesk. All ports and switch- both the hardware and the operating sys-
es are on the back. Only the floppy disk tem. The disadvantage is that every-
drive and tape drive are on the front. thing is alittle bit different than on any
The Altos falls into the category of other Unix system.
general-purpose Unix engine. It is not In fact, everything about the Altos is
your lightweight AT-bus machine, nor just alittle bit different. You can't buy it
is it the heavy-duty mainframe serving from your average computer vendor;

card. Cache memory consisted of 64K bytes of 20-ns SRAM. Everex Step 386/33
The 16-bit Quadrex VGA board with 256K bytes of shadow
RAM made the Dyna Cache one of the fastest machines in the
scientific/engineering application benchmark category. The
system came with aMitsubishi Diamond Scan monitor.
Storage devices included aWestern Digital ESDI controller
supporting 1.2- and 1.44-megabyte TEAC floppy disk drives
and a Micropolis 147-megabyte ESDI drive with an average
seek time of 18 ms. This combination proved slower than many
of the other machines in our low-level disk I/O benchmarks.
Our test system had one parallel port, one serial port, and a
game port on a Courier I/O card (which occupied two card
slots), and a second parallel port on the Quadrex card. The
backplane had eight slots; one 8-bit, six 16-bit, and one 8-132-
bit. Four of the 16-bit slots were occupied. The system can hold
one more full-height or two half-height storage devices.
Compatibility was generally good. The machine worked
flawlessly with avariety of add-in cards and application pro-
grams. Overall, the Dyna Cache 386 is awell-designed, well-
built, and competitively priced machine. —Rob Mitchell

30 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

Unlike most other 33-MHz PCs, the Step 386/33 provides

only one serial and one parallel port. Its eight expansion slots
include two 8-bit and six 16-bit slots. All memory mounts on
the motherboard, eliminating the need for 32-bit memory-ex-
pansion slots. The case can accommodate up to five half-height
storage devices. A switch on the front panel allows you to set the
operating speed to 8, 16, or 33 MHz.
Though not the least expensive PC in this group, the Everex
Step 386/33 is priced reasonably, and its performance speaks
for itself. Everex is amidsize PC maker with asolid reputation;
buying its 33-MHz PC is arelatively safe choice.
—Michael E. Nadeau

FiveStar 386

FiveStar Electronics' 386 machine comes in two main configu-

rations. The base Model 333 has 1 megabyte of RAM, an
Award BIOS, a1.2-megabyte 5V4-inch (or 1.44-megabyte 31 2 -
/
inch) floppy disk drive, and an I/O card with serial, parallel,
and game ports. The cost is $3395.
The Model 33/D, which we tested, is built around the same
Micronics 09-00021 motherboard but comes with 4megabytes
of RAM, a90-megabyte Control Data ESDI hard disk drive and
controller, DOS 4.0, and an extra serial port and aclock/calen-
dar on the I/O card. The unit also has an 80387 math copro-
cessor, a FastWrite VGA card driving an NEC MultiSync
monitor, and ayear's worth of on-site service through General
Electric for atotal cost of $8179.
The FiveStar's 33-MHz chip operates at 6, 8, or 33 MHz,
selectable by software, or you can select 33- or 8-MHz speeds
using apush button/digital readout on the front panel. The 32K-
you must go to an Altos value-added re- byte, zero-wait-state hardware cache uses the Intel 82385 cache
controller. As you can see from the benchmark results, the
seller or asystems house. If you need a
good Unix engine for your office and FiveStar Model 33/D falls about in the middle of the pack on
the CPU benchmarks. It led the pack in the FPU tests, but here
require a generic system, the Altos
gives you alot of performance, and you the differences between systems were minor.
The Micronics motherboard provides five 16-bit AT slots
won't have to find someone other than
(two of which, in our system, were taken up by the disk and
your vendor to support both the hard-
ware and the operating system. But, as video controllers), two 8-bit slots (one of ours contained the
with any proprietary system, you must serial/parallel/clock/calendar half-card), and aproprietary 32-
go totally with Altos or not at all. bit slot for system memory.
—Ben Smith The hard disk is driven by the Distributed Processing Tech-
nology (DPT) SmartCache controller for ESDI drives, which
continued

For raw CPU speed, the Everex Step 386/33 is the fastest PC
we've ever tested. Its 6.84 CPU index narrowly beats ALR's
33-MHz machine. On the application side, the Everex didn't
fare quite as well; it placed tenth among the 33-MHz PCs. Add-
ing a hardware disk cache would significantly improve its
performance.
For $7599, you get an Everex-designed motherboard, 4
megabytes of 100-ns RAM (expandable to 16 megabytes), an
AT-style hard disk drive controller, a 1.2-megabyte 5V4-inch
TEAC floppy disk drive, and an adequate 200-W power supply.
Our evaluation unit came with 4 megabytes of RAM, a 160-
megabyte Control Data hard disk drive and ESDI controller, a
33-MHz 80387 math coprocessor, a Renaissance RVGA II
board, and a14-inch multisync VGA monitor for atotal price of
$10,945.
Like all Everex machines, the Step 386/33 is well engi-
neered. The motherboard is free from the wire fixes often
found on early-production PCs, and it is housed in asturdier-
than-most stainless steel case. Everex uses a64K-byte, 20-ns
RAM cache of its own design.

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 31

Circle 214 on Reader Service Card

MATHPAK 87'v3.0 Now available for Turbo C & MS C

MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

Over 180 assembler coded Timings (COMPAQ 286, 12MHz)

routines which are designed Bmetaloollue for 100,04470p4rmiom
to take full advantage of
80x87 math coprocessors. 9
comes with 512K bytes of RAM on-board. The SmartCache's
MATHPAR 87
Designedfor Speed
Turbo PlacV 7.0
Up to 20 Xfaster than high level 7 usefulness is attested to by the Model 33/D's excellent perfor-
hanituage mance in the disk I/O benchmarks.
1K complex FFT on a386/ 20 The video card in the Model 33/D is aFastWrite VGA card
takes 0.25s; real 0.12s (2.(s &
4 from Video Seven. This too has 512K bytes of on-board RAM.
1.1s on an IBM XT); dot
product (length 10,000) in -f—r- The memory card in our unit contained 4megabytes of system
0.08s (0.49s on XT). 2 RAM in 80-ns DRAMs. The system can hold up to 8megabytes
MATHPAK 87 provides you on the memory board, or up to 16 megabytes with an optional 8-
with the fastest, most con- o ,7d1 megabyte daughtercard.
venient and comprehensive Cope ABSV Nee 7..roV °oared Opening up the case, we found the FiveStar to be anice,
set of tools available. cleanly designed machine, with room for four more mass stor-
MATHPAK 87 v3.0 includes: 67 vector/scalar routines; 27 complex vec- age devices. According to its manual, the FiveStar comes with a
tor/scalar routines; 11 matrix utility rountines; 22 complex number
one-year warranty on materials and workmanship. The com-
routines; LU decomposition/backsolving routines for real 8t complex sys-
tems; gaussian elimination; matrix inversion, tridiagonal equation solver pany maintains atoll-free number for service.
mutines; EISPACK type eigenvalue/vector routines; statistical routines; The cost of the FiveStar is about what you'd pay for asimi-
FFTs (1-D, 2-D, complex, real, convolution,...); spectral anillysis routines larly equipped system from many of the other vendors. If your
(windows: Parzen, Hamming, ...); routines for non-linear equations, applications tend to be disk-intensive, the ESDI drive and
numerical integration & solution of differential equations; missing func-
tions for Modula-2 & Pascal (tan, log10, alog10, power, sib, ...); & more.
SmartCache combination might make this the system for you.
—Ken Sheldon
Widely used in signal et image procteming, simulation, spectral analysis, etc.

Order Today! Users like MATHPAK 87 & take the

30-day money bock guarantee time to tell us!
Precision Plus Software Matrix MDP 386-33
$129us Available for Turbo Pascal,
1239 Sir David Drive Fortran (MS, IBM Professional or F77L),
Oakville, Ontario C (MS, Turbo or Lattice), and Modula-2
Canada L6.1 6Y9 (Logitech or ITC).
Tel: 416429-1511 Add $69us for complete source code.
Fax: 416-829-1742
Add $5 for shipping. Specify compiler.
aternational Dealer: SOS Software Service, GmbH, Alter Postweg 101, 8900 Augsburg,
West Germany, Tel: 0821/57 1081, Fax: 0821/57 7659.

Protects
while yo
type!
„„a• 47.'" ••

0. * •••
e 00 , it • 10
e e
e

•Remains Place while you use your computer. The MDP 386-33 features aMicronics motherboard in atower
•Avoids C tly Repairs. Protects delicate electronics
enclosure. It is an AT compatible with five 16-bit, two 8-bit,
from dust, spills, smoke, ashes, staples.
•Soft, Flexible, retains normal keyboard feel.
and one dedicated memory slot. The speed of the I/O bus is
•Washable, Durable High-Tech Polymer lasts years. hardware-switch-selectable between 8.1 and 11 MHz. In its
•Hundreds of Models. SafeSkIn is available for most basic configuration, the MDP 386-33 has two serial ports, a
PCs, laptops, workstations and clone keyboards. parallel port, agame port, and aDTC 7280 hard/floppy disk
•Office •Home •Factory •Classroom •Laboratory drive controller with a1.2-megabyte floppy disk drive. It also
List Price $29.95. Please call or write for free color has 4 megabytes of DRAM and 32K bytes of static RAM
brochure. Dealer Inquiries encouraged. (SRAM) for the memory cache.
The interior layout makes it easy to configure and upgrade

ealSe416
KEYBOARD PROTECTOR
the machine. The I/O slots, configuration DIP switches and
jumpers, 80387 socket, and sockets for added cache memory
are easily accessible. The motherboard is free of visible
jumpers. The machine Itested came with a Phoenix BIOS
Merritt Computer Products, Inc. 5565 Red Bird Center Drive
Suite 150, Dallas, Texas 752341(214) 339-0753 •FAX (2141 339-1313
ROM; an Award BIOS ROM is also available. Iencountered no
In Canada call 1-800-663-1061 hardware or software compatibility problems.
continued

32 Fall 1989 • BYTE Circle 174 on Reader Service Card

 "Your closet may not be this cluttered.
But how about your PC hard disk?"
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And not "compression" utilities which only "squish" the files without Ineed a:
Name
irchiving them (of course, PC LIBRARIAN also provides you the convenience 05 /'or Et 3
4
1 /"disk
2
1
Send to: Company
)f compression and encryption.) United Software Security
Address
PC Librarian — the essential new archiving product that saves you hassle, Dept. ABO9N, Suite 380
ayes you time, saves you money. 8133 Leesburg Pike, City/State/Zip
Vienna, Va 22182-2705
Uld speaking of saving you money... Phone
Circle 151 on Reader Service Card

MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

The one problem Ifound with the design of the machine in-
volves the memory slot. Either the alignment of the slot with the
mounting bracket is off or the slot is too close to the bracket,
because the memory card is bent slightly. This didn't affect the
REAL-TIME operation of the machine for the three weeks Iused it, but the
stress that the bend creates could cause long-term problems
MULTI-TASKING with the sockets for the memory chips.
To keep the bottleneck between the processor and memory as
KERNEL free as possible, the system uses a32K-byte direct map or two-
for protected mode 80386 way set-associative memory cache (hardware-selectable). The
cache consists of 25-ns SRAM chips that provide zero-wait-
• No royalties • Intertask messages state performance. The cache hit rate is about 96 percent. On a
• C language support a Message exchanges cache miss, the system accesses the 80-ns DRAMs that form
• Preemptive scheduler • Dynamic operations the main memory. This memory access entails two wait states.
a Time slicing available — task create/delete Both the SRAM on the motherboard and the DRAM in the
a Configuration Builder — task priorities
memory slot run at 33 MHz.
a List Manager — memory allocation
a 20 us task switch • Event Manager
The SRAM cache is upgradable to 64K bytes; the added 32K
at 16 MHz (ro waits) • Semaphore Manager bytes brings the hit rate up another percentage point. Main
memory is expandable to 8megabytes on the memory board,
and to 16 megabytes using adaughterboard.
Source Code Included
With aCPU index of 5.75, the Matrix MDP 386-33 finished
Manual only $75 US (albeit barely) in the top half of its class—an excellent showing
AM X 386 $3995 US KADAK Products Ltd. considering its price. The problem with the Matrix machine,
(shipping/handling extra)
206 -1847 W. Broadway and the reason it brought up the rear in the application bench-
Vancouver, B.C., Canada marks, is its disk subsystem. The controller uses an ST-506 in-
V6J 1Y5 terface—a good ST-506, to be sure, but an ST-506 nonetheless.
Also available for 8086. 80286, :I&:Telephone: (604) 734-2796
Using this interface in a33-MHz machine is nearly criminal,
8080. Z80. 68000
-or Fax: (604) 734-81:4
as the disk and application benchmarks show. A high-powered
machine needs afast disk interface. Matrix supplies optional
ESDI interfaces; it should make them standard.
One application area where the Matrix machine excelled is

We've Got Guts!!

the scientific/engineering benchmarks. The review unit came
with ahigh-resolution, 16-bit, PaeLIT VGA board which, in
conjunction with the machine's very good CPU and FPU per-
Compare formance, made the MDP 386-33 a tempting choice ($7190
with the VGA board and 72-megabyte hard disk drive) as a
Open up any competitor's model; CAD workstation.
compare it to the ISOBAR'
Buying a Matrix MDP 386-33 won't give you that warm,
photo...You can really see the
fuzzy feeling you might get with aCompaq, but it can save you
difference!
money—even after you shell out the extra $1425 for the 145-
If you are using any other brand, megabyte ESDI disk upgrade option. Don't use it as afile server
you're not getting full protection.
LIFETIME WARRANTY! on large networks, but do consider it for less-disk-intensive ap-
ISOBAR': The Most Advanced Power
ISOBAR° FEATURES plications. —Bob Ryan
Line Filter to Protect Your Sensitive
OUR GOLD SEAL
Electronic Equipment.. And the
INSURANCE POLICY.. ONLY surge suppressor to protect
NOT ONLY WILL WE your system from itself! Micro Express ME 386-33
REPLACE AN ISOBAR
SHOULD IT FAIL, BUT IF ONLY ISOBAR' GIVES YOU: Distinguishing itself from some of the 33-MHz pack, Micro
ASURGE DAMAGES YOUR 1. Unique isolated filter banks with Express provides acaching disk drive controller in the ME 386-
C.P.U., WE PAY FOR THE multiple filtering components to 33 to help it avoid I/O bottlenecks. The controller, which is
REPAIRS... FOR THEIR safeguard against any interaction
included in the base system price, helped place the ME 386-33
LIFETIME! between their CRU. and printer. among the top I/O performers. Depending on the hard disk
2. Superior RFI/EMI noise suppres- drive used, you can choose either an ESDI or an ST-506 DPT
sion and rejection. controller, each providing 1-to-1 interleaving and 512K bytes
UL 1449 PASS
3. OurCASCADE DESIGN" filter of on-board memory.
THROUGH: 330V network to allow users to choose The BYTE benchmark tests ranked the Micro Express third
D Check here if you would like the level of protection they need. fastest in disk speed, while its CPU speed placed amodest elev-
to see asample! 4. Up to 21 filtering components. enth. But the controller helped the ME 386-33 to perform re-
spectably in the database, scientific/engineering, and compiler
application tests. Notably, the system scored second overall in
cumulative application performance.
Es, 500 North Orleans St. However, even though our evaluation unit used a150-mega-
Chicago, IL 60610 byte ESDI hard disk drive, the controller recognized only 133
312-329-1777 megabytes of formatted space. The company says the controller
"THE POWER PEOPLE" Fax 312-644-6505
continued

34 Fall 1989 • BYTE Circle 253 on Reader Service Card Circle 83 on Reader Service Card —•
 Building quality into our computers
is not the solution to aproblem,
But the creation of an asset.

SYSTEM V SYSTEM VIII-TOWER

286- ,6M NOVAS NEAT MOTHERBOARD 386-25 MHZ MONOLITHIC MO1HERBOARD

EGA MOM-TOR •(MOTHERBOARD IS GUARANTEED FOR 5 vEARS),
EGA ADAPTER VG A SUPER seNc
1ME RAM VGA ADAPTER
12MB 5-1/4 FLOPPY 4MB RAM
144 MB 3-1/2 RLOPPY 12 MB 5,14 FLOPPY
40 fv113 HARD :RIVE 144' ME 3-1/2 RLDPPY
MULTI PO PARALLEL 2SERIAL 1GAME 100. MB HARD DRIVE WITH CONTROLLER
REAL TIME CLOCK MU _
T1110 1PARALLEL 2SERI AL 1GAME
FD/
HD CONTROL _ER RE ALTIME CLCCK
101 ENHANCED KEYBOARD 101 ENHANCED KEYBOARD
200 WATTS POWER SUPPLY MOUSE SERIAL DR BUS
DOS 3.3 GW BASIC 220 WATTS POWER SUPPLY
PHOENI .
KOR AWARD BI
OS $2,692.00 DOS 33G'A/ BASI
C
AWARC 310 S $5,576.00

ONE FULL YEAR WARRANTY PARTS AND LABOR ON COMPUTER. KEYBOARD AND MONITOR
UNCOMPROMISING HIGH QUALITY AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE.
DEALERS INQUIRIES WELCOMED!

See us at SYSTEMS BY DIONEX

8211 LaPorla Freeway
0 COrninfiDEN'ilFail 19 Hosuton, Taxas 77C12
November 13-17, 1989
(713:. 921-55.
61
Ttopicana Hotel
Las Vegas, Nevada TO ORDER CALL: 1-800-729-5465
Circle 43 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 44)

MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

Create Your Own

100,000 Rule Expert System

• Powerful multi-path decision trees

• Flexible development options

• No programming needed

• Customized reports

• PC based

• $495. 0°

LogicTree
CAM Software, Inc. • 750 North 200 West • Provo, litait 84601 • (801) 373-4080
doesn't acknowledge disk space above 1024 cylinders in DOS,
idling the remaining 17 megabytes. But Micro Express claims
The Expert System Development Tool that DPT has developed an extended BIOS that will plug into an
existing controller socket and allow use of the full disk space.
Micro Express plans to offer the extended BIOS as astandard
component with future ME 386-33 systems.
In other respects, the ME 386-33 sports aclean and typical
design. Its American Megatrends, Inc. (AMI) motherboard is

.. .m.........,
uncluttered and allows for eight expansion boards to be in-
stalled in one 8-bit, one 32-bit, and six 16-bit compartments.
A standard 4 megabytes of RAM comes with the machine.

ATTENTION
Eight logic chips provide a64K-byte 20-ns static cache. Mem-
ory can be expanded to 8megabytes on the main board or to 16
megabytes with an expansion board. The motherboard also in-
CAD/CAM USERS cludes four SIMM sockets. The system accepts either an Intel
80387 or aWeitek math coprocessor chip.
If you're involved in Printed Circuit Board A 15-month repair warranty covers parts and labor. The
design using a CAD system... you now have company also provides atelephone service that allows custom-
a reliable source for accurate PHOTOPLOTTING. ers to call technicians about machine problems. In some cases,
you can arrange to have replacement boards sent or, if neces-
sary, ship the entire computer back to the company for service.
Printed Circuit Photoplotting The base ME 386-33 sells for $5995 and includes either a
within 24 hours! 1.2-megabyte 51 /-inch or a 1.44-megabyte 31
4 /-inch floppy
2

Send us your MS DOS floppy disk or 9track disk drive, one parallel and two serial ports, and a101-key key-
Mag tape with Gerber formatted files, and board. Our evaluation system had a 150-megabyte ESDI hard
we can produce an accurate 1:1 positive disk drive ($1500), aVGA Plus card and an NEC MultiSync 2A
or negative using our state-of-the-art Raster monitor ($750), an 80387 math coprocessor ($750), and two
photoplotter. floppy disk drives. At $9125, this system demands less than top
dollar for near-high-end performance. —Alan Joch
FOR MORE INFORMATION...
CALL: 1-800-325-3878 Well be glad
National MicroSystems Flash 386-33
1-314-343-1630 (MO) to quote on your
next project.
The Flash 386-33 would make its comic-book namesake proud.
or o Built around a 33-MHz Micronics motherboard and a DPT
Kepro Circuit Systems, Inc. high-speed caching disk controller, the unit turned in excep-
630 Axminister Drive tional benchmark times—often outrunning the bigger-name
Fenton, Missouri 63026
Kepro CircJit Systems, Inc. systems. The base price for the Flash 386-33, which includes 4
megabytes of memory, adisk drive controller, a floppy disk
continued

36 Fall 1989 • BYTE Circle 155 on Reader Service Card

INTRODUCING HAUPPAUGE'S 33MHz SYSTEM BOARDS.
If your computer feels slow, we know where it hertz. For afast cure, get our Yes, send me your product information!
new 386 MotherBoard/33MHz. We've built in 4Megabytes of high speed
RAM, 64K of RAM cache, and both 387 Weitek math coprocessor sockets. This Name
board makes your 386 computer the fastest PC available!
Company
Network Savvy With the 386 MotherBoard/33MHz, you can build
afile server or workstation that makes Novell networks scream. Enjoy Address
compatibility with Token Ring, Arcnet, Ethernet, and other network cards.
Cit, State, Country
The UNIX Engine. Great for VALS, Systems Integrators and UNLX
OEMs, the Hauppauge 386 MotherBoard/33MHz runs SCO Xenix, Interactive Tek-phone Zip Code
386/ix and AT&T's UNIX System VWith its PC/AT compatible 1/0 system, Mail Coupon to:
our 33MHz board accommodates the latest in disk control, graphics, and Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc. or Hauppauge Computer Worlcs, GmbH
175 Commerce Drive Hansaallee 201
network I/O cards.
Hauppauge, New York 11788, USA. 4000 Dusseldorf 11,West Germany
CAD Capability. Do your AutoC.AD and other CAD programs seem slow? Tel 01-516-434-1600 Ibl: 0211-594320
The 386 MotherBoard/33MHz boosts your math and graphics applications, Fax: 01 -5 16 -434 -3198 Fax:0211-593908
and supports the high speed 387-33 and 33MHz Welt& math coprocessors.
Technical Features. The 386 MotherBoardt33MHz includes: For more information call Hauppauge,
•4Megabytes of high speed 32-bit memory, expandable to 64 Megabytes (516)434-1600. In Europe: (49) 211-594320.
•64K of 20 nsec cache memory •Six 11-bit expansion slots. one 8-bit and eiggegam
one 8-bit/32 -
bit slot •PC/AT compatible I/O system for support of OS,..2 Hauppauge Computer Works _
and UNIX. Your high performance 386Serigg
11-adentarks: IBM PC, XT, PS2 and CIS/ 2: IBM. Intel 386:Intel Corp.:Windows/38a: Micresofttorp. DESQtiett: Quarterdeck Circle 127 on Reader Service Card
Circle 231 on Reader Service Card

MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

DATA RECOVERY
Successful Data Recovery:
October, 1987

fer
P°SUCCESS!
•Emergency data recovery
•Quality disk drive repair, sales & service
•Removable hard disk drives
•Rapid turn around time

IIEB
see us at COMDEX

Rotating Memory Services

1506 Dell Avenue

Campbell, CA 95008 drive, a200-W power supply, and akeyboard, is $4999. With
TEL: (408) 370-3113 the hard disk drive, VGA video system, and math coprocessor
FAX: (408) 370-7233 that our review unit had, the complete system rings up at $7995.
The Micronics design puts all system memory on adaughter-
card that fits in aproprietary 32-bit slot. Total 32-bit memory
capacity, which will require apiggyback unit in addition to the

10-Key &12-Key Templates daughterboard, runs up to 16 megabytes. The unit we tested

had adaughterboard half-filled with 80-ns, 1-megabit DRAM,

for 50 popular PC Programs bringing the system RAM to 4 megabytes. A 33-MHz Intel
82385 manages the 25-ns, 64K-byte static cache.
Dac-Easy Accounting 4.0, Dac-Easy Accounting 3.0, Dac- The CPU memory subsystem performed admirably on our
Easy Payroll 4.0, Dac-Easy Payroll 3.0, AutoDesk AutoCAD low-level benchmarks, placing the Flash 386-33 solidly along-
Release 10, AutoDesk AutoCAD 2.0 -9, AutoDesk side Compaq's entry. CPU performance also contributed to the
AutoSHADE, Ashton-Tate dBase IV, Ashton-Tate dBase Ill
Plus, IBM Display Write 4/2, Electronic Arts Advanced Flight Flash 386-33's strong showing on our application tests.
Trainer, Electronic Arts 688, Microsoft Excel, PFS:First Choice Other system board features include aDIP switch-selectable
3.0, PFS:First Choice 2.0, PFS:First Publisher 2.1, PFS:First bus speed of 8.25 or 11 MHz, five 16-bit and two 8-bit slots, a
Publisher 1.0, Ashton-Tate Framework Ill, Ashton-Tate Phoenix ROM BIOS, and 80387 support. The unit can also run
Framework II, Digital Research GEM 1st Word Plus, Digital a Weitek 3167 with an adapter card. Since high bus speeds
ResearchGEM Write, Lotus 1-2-3 Release 3, Lotus 1-2-3 2.2,
often mean compatibility problems, we ran all our benchmarks
Dac-Easy Lucid 3-D 2.0, Dac-Easy Lucid 3-D, Microsoft
at the default 8.25-MHz bus speed.
Multiplan 3.0, Ashton-Tate MultiMate Advantage II, Ashton-
Tate MultiMate Word Processor, SPC OfficeWriter 6.1, Aldus Disk I/O performance was another key in the Flash 386-33's
PageMaker 3.0, Bor/andParadox, SPC Professional File 2.0, outstanding application index. The hard disk drive unit is a150-
PFS Professional File 1.0, PFS:File, SPC Professional Plan megabyte Control Data ESDI drive (standard type formatting
1.0, PFS:Plan, SPC Professional Write 2.1, PFS Professional under DOS will leave you with 127 megabytes) with arespect-
Write 2.0, PFS Professional Write 1.0, Borland Quattro,
able 18-ms average access time. National MicroSystems' stan-
Borland Sprint, Lotus Symphony, Dac-Easy Word 3.0, Dac-
Easy Light 1.0, MicroSoft Word 5.0, MicroSoft Word 4.0, dard 33-MHz configuration also includes DPT's SmartCache
MicroSoft Word 3.0, WordPerfect WordPerfect 5.1, disk controller, outfitted with 512K bytes of RAM. Low-level
WordPerfect WordPerfect 5.0, WordPerfectWord Perfect 4.2, disk benchmarks best illustrate the dramatic effect of the
MicroPro WordStar 5.5, MicroPro WordStar 5.0 MicroPro SmartCache—systems with the controller (the SIA 386/33, the
WordStar 4.0, MicroPro WordStar 3.3
Micro Express ME 386-33, and the Flash 386-33) all had disk
10-Key, 5-Color Templates -Only $2.98 I/O indexes higher than 6, while noncached units typically
scored in the mid-2's. If you plan to use the Flash 386-33 as a
12-Key, 5-Color Templates -Only $3.98
file server and need really screaming disk performance, you
Add $1.00 Shipping & Handling per total order. can add cache memory to the controller up to aceiling of 16
(Texas Residents, add 6% sales tax) megabytes.
FuncKey Enterprises Peripherals such as areasonably comfortable Chicony key-
board and a Sony VGA monitor round out the Flash 386-33.
(817) 482-6613
Video speed was disappointing, but the Sony monitor is easy on
Route 1, Box 639G, Sanger, TX 76266 the eyes and provides good contrast. —Steve Apiki
continued

38 Fall 1989 • BY IBM Special Edition

 •
ee «eel»
ea»
oesess•\
,
tewlitt illettab
eaten..
,»«_ eonse eek
z

SOLUTIONS
High capacity and networking solutions from 90 MB to 4gigabytes for Compaq®,
IBM®, ASP, Epson®, Hyundai®, NEC® and leading compatibles.

W
So contact your nearest CMS
ith CMS Enhancements, you can
put an end to costly mistakes and Enhancements dealer today. And let CMS
corrections in meeting your computer Enhancements fill in the blanks of your com-
mass storage needs. That's because CMS puter system— with storage solutions you won't
Enhancements provides the total solutions to need to pencil in.
today's most challenging hard disk storage For the name and telephone number of
problems. your local CMS Enhancements dealer, call us at
714-259-9555.

2across
Highest speed ESDI drives for IBM PS/2 models 60 and 80. 150
and 320 MB, 14.5-16.5 ms. **

CMS' complete line of high-speed, high-

capacity disk drives are designed and manufac-
tured with the finest components and
craftsmanship— for reliable performance, time
after time. No wonder CMS Enhancements is 7across
Highest quality internal SCSI drive series available. 90, 180, 300,
5across the leading producer of mass storage subsys- and 600 MB capacities; 16-18 ms.*
SCSI technology that can be daisy-chained for up to 4gigabytes of
storage. 90, 180, 300, 600 MB capacities; 16-18 ms.* tems in the world.

*Also compatible with Hyundai® (16 BID, NEC® Powermate Series, Epson® Equity Series and Hewlett Packard® Vectra Series.
•• Also compatible with IBM® PS/2 Model 60, AST® Premium Series, Compaq® Deskpro Series, Epson Equity Series, Hyundai and Hewlett Packard Vectra Series.
ENHANCEMENTS
oCMS logo naregmered trademark of CMS Enhancements. Inc. ea products and brand names are metered trademarks of their respecove companies.
Copyrtglu eI 91º •
CMS EMUMMIIMM. I M.
CMS Enhancements, Inc. 1372 Valencia Avenue, Tustin, CA 92680

Circle 47 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 48)

e
1
 Getting anetwork off the ground is easy
with AIX': Because AIX, IBM's enriched version
of the UNIX® operating system, brings awhole
new standard of performance, documentation
and security to the open systems environment.
In fact, AIX has improved
Your plans to connect up other UNIX systems
in so many ways, the Open

up all your systems Software Foundation

recently chose
will fly alot easier with AIX. AIX as its core
operating system.
AIX gives you avery high degree of
flexibility. AIX lets you create atransparent net-
work between platforms from abroad range of
vendors—from SUN® to DEC® to AT&T® and HP.®
It also lets you fink up abroad range of IBM
systems—from the PS/2® to the RT,- all the way
up to the System/370°'
All for one, and one for all. AIX can inte-
grate anetwork so effectively, you'd swear it was a
single system.
Distributed Services on the RT lets
everyone in the network share files, programs
and devices. And to optimize your PS/2 and
System/370 investment, AIX's Transparent
Computing Facility lets you shift power from
one processor to another, as the need arises.
And since AIX allows you to merge DOS
and UNIX functions, you protect your soft-
ware investment, too.
AIX's ease of use also sets anew
standard. AIX is well documented, easy to
learn and provides connectivity through
multiple communications protocols.
So if you want to raise the quality of your
networking, connect with your IBM marketing
representative or IBM Business Partner today
about AIX. The one system that connects the
flexibility of open standards with all the classic
strengths of IBM.
For more information, call 1800 IBM-2468,
ext 148. AIX from IBM. Making your business coro
together.

IBM. PS/2 and System/370 are registered trademarks and R7 is atrademark of International Busness Machines Corporation. AIX is IBMS Advanced Interactive Executive which is atrademark of International Busrness Maciknes Corporation.
AT&T and UNIX are regeteled trMemarks of Arne, Karl Telephone and Telegraph Company DEC Is aregistered trademark of Drgital Equipment Corporatron. SUN Is aregistered trademark of Sun Merosystern. Inc HP Is aregstered trader nark of
Hewlett Packard Company ro1989 IBM Corp.
 MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

CON 1
P \ 1
\101Z \I T10 \

Advanced Logic Compaq Computer Corp. Matrix Digital Products, Inc. Systems Integration
Research, Inc. P.O. Box 692000 1811 North Keystone St. Associates
9401 Jeronimo Houston, TX 77269 Burbank, CA 91504 222 East Pearson, Suite 502
Irvine, CA 92718 (713) 370-0670 (800) 227-5723 Chicago, IL 60611
(714) 581-6770 Inquiry 1164. (818) 566-8567 (312) 440-1275.
Inquiry 1160. Inquiry 1168. Inquiry 1172.
Dyna Computer, Inc.
Altos Computer Systems 3081 North First St. Micro Express Tangent Computer, Inc.
2641 Orchard Pkwy. San Jose, CA 95134 2114 South Grand Ave. 303 Beach Rd.
San Jose, CA 95134 (408) 943-0100 Santa Ana, CA 92705 Burlingame, CA 94010
(408) 432-6200 Inquiry 1165. (800) 642-7621 (415) 342-9388
Inquiry 1161. Inquiry 1169. Inquiry 1173.
Everex Systems, Inc.
AST Research, Inc. 48431 Milmont Dr. National MicroSystems Zenith Data Systems
2121 Alton Ave. Fremont, CA 94538 2833 Peterson Place 1000 Milwaukee Ave.
Irvine, CA 92714 (415) 498-1111 Norcross, GA 30071 Glenview, IL 60025
(714) 863-1333 Inquiry 1166. (404) 446-0520 (800) 553-0331
Inquiry 1162. Inquiry 1170. Inquiry 1174.
FiveStar Electronics, Inc.
Blackship Computer 2100 North Greenville Ave. PC Link Corp.
Systems, Inc. Richardson, TX 75081 29 West 38th St.
4031 Clipper Court (800) 752-5555 New York, NY 10018
Fremont, CA 94538 Inquiry 1167. (800) 221-0343
(415) 770-9300 (212) 730-8036
Inquiry 1163. Inquiry 1171.

PC Link 386/33
laser printer using Micrografx Designer 2.0; accessed BIX,
Prodigy, and BYTE' seditorial LAN; ran DESQview 386, Nor-
ton Utilities 4.05, and Scanning Gallery with an HP ScanJet;
and negotiated the numerous small chores expected of all our
lab computers. The PC Link was up to the task. It ran every-
thing from PageMaker 3.0 to anew desktop publishing soft-
ware package currently in beta testing. The only hitch was an
annoying mechanical problem with the 31 /-inch floppy disk
2
drive.
PC Link Corp. sells the 33-MHz system in two basic flavors.
Both models are based on the Hauppauge 386 Motherboard/33
and come with 4megabytes of RAM, a101-key Enhanced key-
board, a220-W power supply, one parallel and one serial port,
a 1.2-megabyte floppy disk drive, and a 16-bit Trident VGA
board. Only the disk drive type distinguishes the configura-
tions: The Model 160 ($5995) supports a159-megabyte, 17-ms
ESDI Micropolis hard disk drive, and the Model 330 ($6995)
packs a330-megabyte, 18-ms ESDI Micropolis drive.
Our evaluation unit was the Model 160 with the following
options: a1.44-megabyte 31 /-inch floppy disk drive, a33-MHz
2

80387 math coprocessor, aVideo Seven 16-bit VGA adapter,

and an NEC MultiSync 3D monitor, for atotal of $7818.
Three of the system's expansion slots are occupied, leaving
four 16-bit slots free. An eighth expansion slot supports adedi-
cated 32-bit memory bus. A monitor is not included with any
model.
The Intel CPU can access up to 64 megabytes of 32-bit mem-
ory. The motherboard comes stuffed with 4megabytes of 80-ns
Idoubt that any of the other 33-MHz machines got the same RAM; further memory upgrades require acard for the dedi-
strenuous workout as the PC Link 386/33. As soon as it arrived, cated 32-bit memory slot. The PC Link optimizes memory ac-
Iset it up in the BYTE Lab. Immediately, the hard disk drive cess with a64K-byte 20-ns cache and four banks of interleaved
and the open card slots began to fill up. In addition to the stan- DRAM. Extended memory conforms to EMS 4.0 specifica-
dard BYTE application benchmarks, the PC Link transferred tions. The motherboard also supports either an 80387-33 or a
megabytes of data using Lap-Link and aBernoulli Box; ran at Weitek 3167-33 math coprocessor.
least three versions of Windows; tested anew 400-dot-per-inch
continued

42 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 Most good work has an edge to it. computer user, to full use.
And good work turns into a And in as little as 47 seconds,
sharp, 300-dpi, colorful, awe- you print out adocument with a
inspiring PostScript-compatible virtually unlimited range of bright,
business weapon on the Tektronix clear colors. You print out desk-
Phaser GP Color Printer. top presentations. Transparencies.
The Phaser GP works with a Color layouts or comps. PC/CAD
color thermal-wax process for IBM design. Or just about anything
PC/XT/AT or bus-compatible your heart desires.
computers, in any variety of net-
work configurations. So you can
To see aPhaser GP, or to find
the best remedy for paper cuts Tektronix
finally put your color, HPGL and once you get one call for more The best and the brightest.
PostScript-compatible applica- information, 1-800-835-6100
tions, not to mention every Dept. 4J, or fax to (503) 682-3408.

The printer for those who

rade like to play with sharp objeâz.
ning
Ginsberg Investigations
Detective Agency

In come Breakdo
BY Percent

Followng
24,,
SPOUses

Tracing
Thugs
27%

Tailing
Politicians
26%

eeéPéeqd°;:)# C ) 404:410.e)

Expenses

Equipment
Magnifying gl asses Expense Account
Cigarettes Staying in sleazy hotels
_Wire ta) gadgets Paying for busted-up
Secret decoder ring hotel rooms
Shoe phone Whistling lessons
Hospitalization Scriptwriters for TV pilot
Cab fare

Copyright ©1989 Tektronix, Inc. All rights reserved. Phaser is aregistered trademark of Tektronix, Inc. IBM PC/XT/AT are registered trademarks of International Business
BOARDING PASS •• - Machines. PostScript is aregistered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated. The documents in this ad were created by an art director on abright, sunny Saturday after-
noon on aMac II; with Adobe Illustrator '88; graphics from Postcards:" © 1987 Activision, Inc. The entire document was then transferred to an IBM PC, and printed on a
BOARDING PASS TARJETA DE EMBP Tektronix Phaser CP. Working on aweekday and directly with aPC, it'll be even easier for you.

ovot. cttssUg..
t
nuolünktompAswEAmen gi'
Circle 243 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 244)

\
 MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

The PC Link did not excel on the BYTE benchmarks, but it both SIMM and DIP sockets are compatible with the 4-mega-
performed credibly for an inexpensive, no-frills system. Many byte versions of each package.
of the systems reviewed here boost their performance with ex- With 1-megabyte parts, you can get up to 8megabytes on the
pensive disk controllers and on-board caches. The PC Link, on motherboard; when 4-megabyte components are released, the
the other hand, offers only adisk-cache utility on the bundled board will take not 32, but 16 megabytes—a system board limit
disk. A software cache is not as efficient as ahardware one, and imposed by the AMI BIOS.
it also consumes valuable RAM. The decision to forego an on- The 10-bay tower is well designed, with cabling connections
board cache may stunt the benchmark results, but such choices up top where they're protected by aslide-off cover. The cover
also keep arein on the system's price. PC Link has done agood has handholds for moving the 75-pound behemoth. Loosen two
job balancing the price/performance equation. Nothing spec- screws, slide the cover off, and you have easy access to install
tacular, perhaps, but asolid machine at areasonable price. drives and cards in the swing-mounted side cover.
—Stanford Diehl You can easily distinguish the 10-bay system from the others
from the loud roar of the two thermostatically controlled cool-
ing fans that drag filtered air past the 350-W power supply. The
SIA 386/33 standard configuration ($6490) has aPS/2-style keyboard, 4
megabytes of RAM, one serial port, and one parallel port. It
does not have any hard disk drives or acaching controller.
The machine Ireviewed had asecond 1.2-megabyte floppy
disk drive, an 80387 math coprocessor, an extra serial port, a
16-bit VGA card and VGA color monitor, two 16.5-ms, 680-
megabyte hard disk drives with an accompanying DPT caching
controller, a 125-megabyte tape drive, and aDPT mirroring
kit. The total cost for this system is awhopping $26,365.
As configured, this machine is designed for heavy-duty file
server applications for large LANs. The mirroring kit works
with the two hard disk drives, mirroring the information from
one onto another for backup. Besides transparently writing on a
second hard disk drive, the SmartCache mirroring kit automat-
ically patches bad sectors with good data from the mirrored
drive. Like the mirroring, which is handled transparently by
the controller, patching sectors is transparent. —Roger Adams

Tangent 333

My first impression of the Tangent 333 was that you could live
in this box. The huge tower measures almost 2feet deep, just as
After the BYTE Lab tested Systems Integration Associates' high, and 9 inches wide; there's enough space inside for 10
386/33, we realized how hard-disk caching can influence sys- half-height mass storage devices.
tem performance. With an optional 4.5 megabytes of disk- Even though the unit Itested had two floppy disk drives and a
cache memory, the SIA 386/33 achieved the BYTE Lab's rat- 100-megabyte hard disk drive (all ESDI), and I/O boards that
ing as one of the fastest PCs on the market. included aVideo Seven FastWrite VGA card, amultiport I/O
A caching controller from DPT is one key; it allows the SIA card (with two serial, one parallel, and one game port), plus the
386/33 to read and write to the controller cache while the con- controller board for the disk drives, the insides looked empty
troller card simultaneously accesses the disk. Because of the and lonely. Like Dyna, Tangent builds its systems to each cus-
DPT controller, the SIA 386/33 blasted its nearest 33-MHz tomer's specifications; it offers no standard models. The price
competitor by 18 percent on the cumulative application index. of the system Iused was $6995.
And the disk caching can be expanded to 12 megabytes. This is asystem you won't easily outgrow. The power supply
CAD redraws were, at most, anuisance for this machine. is alarge two-fan cube mounted in the bottom of the case. Regu-
Word processing disk-access applications were even less taxing. lated by atemperature sensing circuit, both fans blow air up
To keep main (motherboard) memory from slowing down and across a Mylex motherboard mounted so that the I/O
the processor, all SIA 33-MHz systems include a64K-byte, di- boards are installed with their backsides pointing up.
rect-mapped, 20-ns SRAM cache. SIA claims zero-wait-state This means that you attach monitor cables, keyboard cables,
operation and an 81 percent hit rate for the write-through and whatnot across the top. But don't worry about spilling cof-
cache, operated by a discrete logic controller. In a direct- fee into your RS-232C connector—a special cowling covers the
mapped design, each memory access involves comparing atag top of the machine, protecting its insides like achimney hat.
(which specifies blocks within the cache) with part of the re- The power supply in the model Itested was rated at 250 W
quested address. The system uses faster 15-ns SRAM to store continuous, but if you're certain to be loading your machine
the frequently used cache tag. Up to 16 megabytes of main up, Tangent sells models with supplies rated at 360 W.
memory can be cached; accessing any memory installed be- The motherboard appears to be capable of handling anything
yond this limit will slow the system considerably. you can throw at it. It accepts either a33-MHz 80387—which
The SIA 386/33 ships with 4 megabytes of 70-ns DRAM. was in the system Itested—or aWeitek 3167 coprocessor. The
Four bands for DIP memory are available on the motherboard, peripheral board slot arrangement is geared to versatility: four
along with four SIMM slots. DIP sockets are compatible with 16-bit slots, an 8-bit slot, and two Intel AT/32-bit slots. If your
both 256K-byte and 1-megabyte DRAM chips. SIA says that continued

44 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

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Circle 165 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 166)
Circle 66 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 67)

MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

Sweating Data
Transfers?
Before DBMS/COPY, transferring data was a
real nightmare. With its user friendly menu
system, DBMS/COPY makes moving data
between 65 packages a snap. Now you can
move data among spreadsheets, databases,
SQL DBMSs, time series, graphics and
statististics packages in seconds. Many
packages claim to read spreadsheets, but
only DBMS/COPY with its revolutionary
spreadsheet grabber lets you visually select
the cell range you want to transfer. And sawn
users say they actually enjoy moving ASCII tui nifilitagli III 1111.11100111111MM MI
=Wan PRRIMIIIP ROM Main
files with DBMS/COPY. can Mil Pi MI lià Mil 13 1
,1=
,maiive...
All this can be yours for $195 (add $5
shipping). Of course, there is a 30 day
money back guarantee. If you don't believe
this ad, call or write for your free limited
version of DBMS/COPY. Power users, ask
about the PLUS version. Order today and
8-bit boards are fast enough, they'll run fine in the 16-bit slots;
stop sweating over your data transfers!
conversely, a16-bit card works in the AT/32-bit slots.
Conceptual Software, Inc. (800) STAT-WOW A proprietary slot holds the main memory board. The only
P.O. Box 56627 (800) 782-8969 memory on the motherboard is 128K bytes of 25-ns SRAM.
Houston, TX 77256 (713) 667-4222 The machine Itested housed 4 megabytes of conventional
(713) 667-3FAX DRAM, but Tangent said that the Mylex memory board could
handle 4-megabit SIMMs (expected in the next six months),

Gil i
Ei
which would be able to take the machine up to 32 megabytes.
Memory is arranged on the board in interleaved fashion;
there are two banks, and the system refreshes one bank while
the CPU accesses the other. My machine had only one bank
populated, so the system was unable to perform this clever re-
fresh interleaving. Consequently, Tangent claims, the system

,
suffers a2percent to 3percent performance degradation.
The entire front of the machine is adoor that swings open to
expose the power switches and hard disk drive. (Floppy disk
drives are accessible through acutout, even when the door is
closed.) You can lock this door, and when you do, no one can
get at the screws that loosen the side panel for access to the in-
DIGIVISION ternals. Neither are the top cowling screws accessible; it's diffi-
cult for someone to tamper with the I/O port cables.
framegrabbers are high-
The Tangent system turned in mediocre performance on our
quality, versatile, affordable
benchmarks, but this doesn't dampen my enthusiasm for it.
real-time digitizer cards. The basis of many
The Tangent should make an ideal network server or Unix ma-
of today's OEM products, our boards excel in
chine. With plenty of room for expansion, an eye toward
robotics, inspection, security and medical imaging.
tamper-resistance, and awell-designed power system, this is
DV-512 Programmable resolution up to 512 x480. Indepen- hardware you won't have to worry about. —Rick Grehan
dent field buffers, input and output LUTS, 24 bit RGB dis-
play, dual RS170b inputs. Advanced features. $1,199.00
Zenith Z-386/33
DV-02 256 gray level board. 256 x240 resolution, 24 bit ana-
log RGB display, output LUTS, dual inputs, chroma filter
and hardware cursor. $849.00 Several features of the Z-386/33 make it stand out. All the data
lines to the serial and parallel ports have RF filters to minimize
DV-03 64 gray level board with many DV-02 features.$549.00 radio frequency interference; the system has FCC Class B ap-
PC-P1096 8255-based digital 10 card for PC. $175.00 proval. A built-in Monitor program allows you to diagnose, set
_ up the computer, and do programming. A lithium "Smart Bat-
tery" circuit displays an error message telling you to replace the
.>•
4 battery before you lose the setup information in CMOS RAM.

Control Vision . .: :,. . . •

•
":.•••• Finally, the Zenith documentation is excellent. It is well writ-
ten, well organized, and liberally illustrated.
The Zenith Z-386/33 came configured with one 1.44-mega-
P.O. Box 596, Pittsburg, KS 66762, 800-292-1160,(316)231-6647 byte 31/-inch floppy disk drive, a 155-megabyte MiniScribe
2
continued

46 Fall 1989 • BYTE Circle 71 on Reader Service Card

 We'll take your stats
and make you the
most valuable player
in your league.
HRON D

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
1 983

Proposed remap of sales territories based on

SPSS analysis of economic and consumer
infrends. Increased new-customer revenues 38%
2years.
1985
Used SPSS data entry/tabulation system to
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Eliminated outside costs of more than $75,000.
1986
Identified current customers likely to need
added services, increasing average billings by
more than 20%.
1988
MAGAZINE Rewarded
and bonus. with special corporate recognition
EDITOR'S
CHOICE
March 14,1989

application software. Then manipulate it And you can always count on the
Data analysis software
in countless ways. From data entry to training, support, and ongoing
from SPSS gives your PC advanced statistics, forecasting, upgrades of SPSS. The team that's
awinning advantage. presentation and more. come through for over 1million users
Vetad #1 by the fans. since 1968.
It doesn't matter which field you play
When the readers of PC Week chose Find out how SPSS can make you first
hardball in. With the right combination of
t-e top statistical software for "user in your micro league, by calling
equipment and ability, you can be ahero.
satisfaction" (12/5/88), their choice was [312] 329-3315.
You get that ability with SPSS.
Whether your equipment runs on SPSS. And no wonder. We'll give you the numbers to really
MS-DOS" or PC-DOS" OS/2' or a SPSS is designed not only for your stand out in your field.
Macintosh 7e So you turn raw data into computer's operating system, but also
useful facts. And yourself into asmarter
decision maker.
for its operator. With menu and help
systems, plus an on-line statistical SPSS inc.
Best in the final analysis.
With SPSS and its options, you can glossary. So you're always in control. For
444 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611
interface directly with data from your market research, sales analysis, quality SPSS International BV: Avelingen West 80,
database, spreadsheet or other control and more. P.O. Box 115,4200 AC Gorinchem,
The Netherlands

SPSS is aregistered trademark of SPSS Inc. PC-DOS and 05'2 are Vademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. MS.DOS is atrademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Macintosh is aregistered t•acie -rdrk Df Apple Computer, Inc. Not all options are available on all operating systems.

Circle 241 on Reader Service Card

Circle 17 on Reader .S! rvice (aid

MEGAHERTZ MADNESS

MAcRoCALC windows
The Ultimate l'Jrsonal Calculation System for Business,
Science. Engineering, Progranunng, and Education.

("--) )

Faetastic Flexibility.
MacroCalc provides ove ,
200 operations. 27
constants, and over 3.000
unit conversions! The full
spectrum of functions
ranges from amortization
and depreciation to linea ,
regression and base
conversion. RPN
calculator-style operation
enables rapid
familiarization and use
Record your calculations
for review, filing. editing
or printing using the versatiie tape window. Use the Men-prize" n -acrie
feature to easily repeat calculations or create your own fuectians. Sott
keys provide easy access lathe functions you use most often: select
one of the thirteen predefined key layouts, or create your own! All $127
operations can be performed with the keyboard or amouse.

PC Performance. Built-in routines solve, integrate, and plot functions (using polar or
rectangular coordinates). The extensive manual contains tutonial, advanced use, and reference
sections. Or ignore the manual, context sensitive help is only eke7streike away. Create complex
programs quickly with the handy macro editor and deDugging windows. The versatile macro
system provides complete control; you can even create pop-t p»Mows and mean!

3180E ESDI hard disk drive, 3megabytes of 80-/100-ns system

Anderson Consulting & Software
RAM, 16K bytes of 15-ns SRAM for the cache, and a200-W
800-733-9633 P.O.Box 40, C-7-3 Cascade Drive, North SonnewIle, WA 98639 power supply. It also came paired with the Zenith ZCM-1490
509-427-5335 Flat Technology 14-inch analog color monitor. The system
comes with MS-DOS 3.3 Plus and Windows/386. The total
price of this system is $13,197.
The Z-386/33 has seven expansion slots on the motherboard.
Three are for standard, 16-bit, AT-compatible cards. The other
four are Zenith's proprietary 32-bit SuperSet slots that are com-
From Five patible with 16-bit cards and with Zenith's 32-bit memory-ex-
pansion and I/O cards.
to Three The computer is unusual because the motherboard holds the
system RAM, CPU, FPU (80387 or Weitek 3167), cache
RAM, and expansion slots. The Zenith BIOS and Monitor pro-
in gram ROMs, real-time clock circuit and battery, serial and par-
allel ports, and additional support circuits are on the I/O card
that plugs into one of the 32-bit expansion slots.
nothing
Eight slots are available for the system memory. Either 1- or
4-megabyte SIMMs can be installed for amaximum of 8or 32
megabytes of RAM on the motherboard. Optional Zenith ZA-
3600-MQ memory-expansion cards can be plugged into the 32-
bit slots to increase system RAM to atotal of 64 megabytes.
The 16K bytes of RAM for the cache is located on aseparate
card that plugs into its own slot on the motherboard. Zenith an-
ticipates offering a256K-byte cache card in the future.
There is space for four half-height devices in the front panel.
The floppy and hard disk drives are mounted in cradles. Re-
2.8 Mil vervion amo available move one screw, and the cradle that holds two drives can be
easily moved back and lifted out of the chassis.
Megamate includes everything you Megamaie gives your • Installs in minutes
The floppy and hard disk drives are controlled by a Data
need to add tomorrow's disk drive customers compatibil- • Handlesany 3.5 inch Technology ESDI hard/floppy disk drive controller card. Ze-
to today's computers. Installation is ity with IBM com- IBM disk, 720KB or
asnap, just plug in the card, plug puters that use 3.5 inch 1.4MB automatically
nith gives it adata transfer rating of 10 megabits per second
in the drive, and run the setup soft- diskettes, both the • Complete package with a1-to-1 disk interleave.
ware (4 keystrokes and you're 720KB laptop diskettes — for any PC, XT,
done). Megamate is easy to use, and the I.4MB PS/2 AT, or compatible
The hard disk drive versions of the Z-386/33 come with aZ-
just like a5inch drive. It works with diskettes. It automati- • Attractive and com- 549 VGA card made by Sigma Designs. On boot-up, the video
PCs, X11, and Alb, and 'sou can add cally detennines which pact, barely bigger
it to any computer because it's ex- type of diskette is be- than adiskette
BIOS ROM is copied to 32-bit RAM to improve performance.
ternal. ing used. • One year warreutty The card provided acrisp display on the Zenith monitor.
The Zenith Z-386/33 is not at the top of the list when it comes
Micro5olution 132 W Lincoln Hwy.
DeKalb, IL 60115
to performance—perhaps because it is keeping such exotic
Computer Products 815 756.3411
company in this review. Where the Zenith does shine is in the
overall quality of its design and construction. —Stan Wszola •

48 Fall 1989 • BYTE Circle 179 on Reader Service Card

This is where it all comes together. Price Service
We founded Gateway 2000 on this farm located near Sioux Gateway 2000 offers the most aggressive prices in the industry. Gateway 2000's quality-standards set us apart from our Gateway 2000's service policies are the best in the industry.
City, Iowa to provide top quality computers at unbeatable prices We offer fully loaded machines for the same price as most competition. From the top quality name brand components used We stand behind all of our systems with a30 Day Money Back
with uncompromising service after the sale. No other company vendor's stripped down models. One customer wrote I'm surprised in our systems to the painstaking quality assurance tests we Guarantee and al Year Warranty. We also offer Lifetime
offers you the combination of Price, Quality, and Service that that the computer media haven't mentioned anything about your run on our machines, you are guaranteed atop quality computer. Toll-Free Technical Support, and Free Federal Express Ship-
we do. We want you to be completely satisfied with your decision to prices relative to the rest. You don't merely edge them out you Our complete line of computer systems are hand built in our ping of replacement parts. If our technicians can't solve your
purchase aGateway 2000 computer system, and you have our blow them away"—Clarence Larson. Look at our prices on the factory located just outside Sioux City, Iowa. State of the art problems over the phone or Fed-X you asolution we can dispatch a
personal pledge that you will be. We look forward to you joining back page of this ad, shop around, compare apples to apples, technology is used to provide you with acombination of perform- technician to most locations to provide Free On Site Service.
our thousands of satisfied customers, and establishing along then call Gateway 2000's knowledgeable sales staff to discover the ance, compatibility, and reliability that few vendors can match. Our policies are great, but it's our people that really set us apart
lasting business relationship. GATEWAY DIFFERENCE. "I chose Gateway after much One customer recently wrote: "The quality ofyour work is from the competition. Look at what our customers write:
research because I felt that the product was the best value for the exempla?),and frankly has made alot of others jealous because "Thank pu very much for kind attention and help. Iam
Sincerely; they bought systems which were comparable in quality,but with highly recommending your corporation to colleagues for your
money and the sales staff was very patient with my never ending
list of questions and and inquiries"—Keith Lazan. astiffprice difference"—George Syty. quality and service"—Herbert Markley.
Ted Waitt Norm Wain Jr. "I've always heard your forte is customer service, and now you
President Vice President have definitely proven it to me"—Jose De Jesus.
7am really glad Ichose Gateway 2000"—Jerry I ,angland.
"I feel compelled to express my gratitude to your companyfor the
1 9 8 8
impeccable service and support Ireceived"—Andrei Weiszmann.
"It ie apleasure indeed to work with acomputer sales
▪a I _L-BU
M company that exhibits agenuine desire to satisfy the customer"—
BB- 1
▪ - MrA Ron L. Kinney.
BB - r
- Bra
BB - 1
- BrBB

▪ZWBOBBM
B
BYTE
A WARDOF

DISTINCTION

lie ON**
e Milli 61 W M

er.
Ma» 1111.1113==..-.9 team; -

GATEWAY 2000 • P.O. BOX 2000

SERGEANT BLUFF, IOWA 51054
800-523-2000 • 712-943-2000
FAX 712-943-2023
Due to the volatility in the DRAM market, all prices are subject to change.

t
-.À...
••
 IMeg RAM 4Megs RAM 64K Cache RAM
1.2 Meg 514"Drive
/ 1.2 Meg 514"Drive
/ 4Megs RAM
1.44 Meg 3.5" Drive 1.44 Meg 3.5" Drive 1.2 Meg 51/"Drive
4
80 Meg 28ms Drive 150 Meg I6.5ms ESDI Drive 1.44 Meg 3.5" Drive

Price
16 Bit VGA Board 16 Bit VGA Board 150 Meg 16.5ms ESDI Drive
14" Multisynch Monitor 14" Multisynch Monitor 16 Bit VGA Board
1Parallel & 2Serial Ports 1Parallel & 2Serial Ports 14" Multisynch Monitor
101 Key Keyboard 101 Key Keyboard 1Parallel & 2Serial Ports
MS DOS 3.3 or 4.01 MS DOS 3.3 or 4.01 101 Key Keyboard
MS DOS 3.3 or 4.01
$2995.00 $3995.00
Upgrade to 4Megs $400
64K Cache Add $250
64K Cache Add $5495.00
$500

Quality
Service 2Megs RAM
1.2 Meg 514"Drive
/
1.44 Meg 3.5" Drive
40 Meg 28ms Drive
16 Bit VGA Board
r
- Gas Plasma Display Screen
2.6 Megs RAM
1.44 Meg 3.5" Floppy Drive
External Port for 51
/"Drive
4
40 Meg 28ms Hard Drive
14" Multisynch Monitor
1Parallel & 2Serial Ports tillgarittordi 1Parallel & 1Serial Port
Expansion Slot (16 Bit)

This is where it all

101 Key Keyboard External EGA Monitor Port
MS DOS 3.3 or 4.01 84 Key Keyboard
GATEWAY 2000 • P.O. BOX 2000 MS DOS 3.3 Installed
$2395.00 SERGEANT BLUFF, IOWA 51054
800-523-2000• 712-943-2000
FAX 712-943-2023 $2995.00
Due ro the volardav in Me DRAM market, all prices are subject to change.

comes together. 80286-12 Processor 80286-16 Processor 80286-20 Processor

2Megs RAM 2Megs RAM 2Megs RAM
1.2 Meg 51/"Drive
4 1.2 Meg 51/"Drive
4 1.2 Meg 51/"Drive
4
1.44 Meg 3.5" Drive 1.44 Meg 3.5" Drive 1.44 Meg 3.5" Drive
40 Meg 28ms Drive 40 Meg 28ms Drive 40 Meg 28ms Drive
16 Bit VGA Board 16 Bit VGA Board 16 Bit VGA Board
14" Multisynch Monitor 14" Multisynch Monitor 14" Multisynch Monitor
IParallel & 2Serial Ports 1Parallel & 2Serial Ports 1Parallel & 2Serial Ports
101 Key Keyboard 101 Key Keyboard 101 Key Keyboard
MS DOS 3.3 or 4.01 MS DOS 3.3 or 4.01 MS DOS 3.3 or 4.01
$2195.00 $2295.00 $2395.00

Circle 115 on Reader Servià Card

 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

Benchmarks at aGlance:
1989
BYTE 's performance rankings
ofpopular IBM PC compatibles and Macs

Compiled by Stanford Diehl

ver since the new BYTE benchmarks debuted

in June 1988, adiverse field of microcomputer
systems has vied for the title of "fastest per-
sonal computer." The BYTE Lab has busily
tested the gamut of systems from 33-MHz net-
work servers to the new notebook-size laptops. The boxes keep
shrinking while the power within keeps growing, and new
speed champions appear almost daily. Still, some systems de-
serve special notice.
While the crop of 33-MHz machines now dominates the top
of our list, the ALR FlexCache 25386 clung to the top spot for
over six months. At one time, aslick memory-caching scheme
was enough to lead the pack. But now, with most observers
agreeing that 80386 speeds have topped out, vendors are using
more extreme measures to keep ahead, using extensive caching
and top-of-the-line components in their speed demons.
As the BYTE benchmarks have evolved, so have the available
computer systems. The Compaq Deskpro 386/16, still apower-
ful desktop model, has dropped to the bottom tier. The porta-
bles are now formidable foes, seriously competing with full-
fledged systems. The Toshiba T5200 is one of the top 20-MHz
performers, and the IBM PS/2 Model P70 edged out the PS/2
Model 70-121. The day of the desktop portable has arrived.
The 80386SX machines are also gaining stature. They, too,
achieve arespectable showing on our list, comparing favorably
with the 80386/16 machines. If the SX prices drop alittle fur-
ther, the chip may become significant after all.
As always, the BYTE benchmarks offer aglimpse of low-
level component performance as well as application-specific
performance. You can easily evaluate each system's overall
standing, or you can analyze asystem's performance by one of
four component modules or one of five separate applications.
The listing also tells you when each machine was reviewed or
otherwise mentioned in the pages of BYTE if you'd like amore
detailed picture of asystem.
The BYTE benchmark indexes are relative. The IBM
continued

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 49

 BYTE BENCHMARK INDEXES-WITH MATH COPROCESSOR

Low-level Applications
Cum.
Month CPU FPU Disk Video WP SS DB Sc.! Cmplr. appl.
Computer appeared Eng. lndx.

SIA 386/33 IBM Spcl. 89 6.27 14.97 8.99 3.27 5.49 4.32 8.09 7.42 7.32 32.64
Micro Express ME 386/33 IBM Spcl. 89 5.66 15.06 7.02 2.97 4.76 4.32 5.83 7.12 5.55 27.58
National Micro Systems 386/33 IBM Spcl. 89 6.06 15.07 6.48 2.01 5.08 4.35 5.77 6.00 5.37 26.58
FiveStar Model 33/D (386/33) IBM Spcl. 89 5.74 15.75 7.14 2.22 4.82 4.31 5.91 5.90 5.53 26.47
Compaq Deskpro 386/33 IBM Spcl. 89 6.09 15.50 2.90 4.53 4.28 5.01 3.00 7.86 4.46 24.61
Dyna Cache 386/33 IBM Spcl. 89 5.67 14.86 2.56 3.85 5.02 4.27 2.91 7.51 4.42 24.13
ALR FlexCache 33/386 IBM Spcl. 89 6.74 15.66 2.60 2.83 4.61 4.50 2.88 7.18 4.86 24.02
Blackship 386/33 IBM Spcl. 89 6.03 13.71 2.37 3.61 4.69 4.45 2.89 7.30 4.44 23.77
AST Premium 386/33 IBM Spcl. 89 4.80 14.21 2.32 3.89 4.11 4.22 3.01 7.23 4.11 22.69
Everex Step 386/33 IBM Spcl. 89 6.84 15.48 2.45 4.26 4.43 3.93 1.96 8.05 4.25 22.62
PC Link 386/33 IBM Spcl. 89 5.10 14.87 2.83 2.11 5.03 4.43 2.68 5.51 4.36 22.01
ALR FlexCache 25386 Nov. 88 5.07 10.55 2.74 2.57 4.41 4.13 2.83 5.80 4.08 21.24
Tangent 333 IBM Spcl. 89 5.73 14.83 2.28 1.79 4.57 4.45 2.45 5.43 4.27 21.17
SIA 386/32 Apr. 89 5.99 14.20 2.36 3.06 4.41 4.07 2.02 6.24 3.94 20.67
Zenith Z-386133 IBM Spcl. 89 4.79 15.10 2.96 5.05 3.91 3.97 1.87 6.59 3.85 20.19
Matrix MDP 386/33 IBM Spcl. 89 5.75 15.07 1.93 5.73 3.95 3.90 1.74 7.09 3.43 20.11
AST Premium 386/25* 3.78 9.92 2.49 2.34 3.62 3.93 2.60 5.36 3.68 19.20
Dell System 310 (386/20) Oct. 88 3.91 8.38 3.21 2.45 3.45 3.56 2.84 4.98 3.41 18.24
Proteus 386/25MX* 4.26 9.97 2.37 1.72 3.69 3.88 2.40 4.33 3.66 17.95
ALR FlexCache 20386 Jun. 88 3.92 7.93 2.50 2.01 3.44 3.51 2.88 4.66 3.44 17.94
Compaq Deskpro 386/20 Feb. 88 3.61 8.34 2.23 2.54 3.20 3.51 3.09 4.67 3.45 17.93
Toshiba T5200/100 (386/20) Aug. 89 3.96 8.27 2.22 2.16 3.34 3.66 2.57 4.89 3.40 17.86
ALR MicroFlex 7000 (386/25) Sep. 89 4.99 10.29 2.41 2.97 3.54 3.82 1.50 5.45 3.30 17.61
Compaq 386/20e* 3.62 8.19 1.89 3.03 3.26 3.64 2.62 4.68 3.07 17.26
IBM PS/2 Model 70-A21 (386/25) Jul. 89 4.71 10.23 1.64 2.96 3.42 3.75 1.52 5.33 2.62 16.64
Dolch-P.A.C. 386-25 Aug. 89 3.84 8.77 2.12 2.64 3.16 3.14 2.37 4.67 3.11 16.45
AST Premium/386C (386/20)* 3.26 7.42 2.31 2.28 3.12 2.60 2.61 4.50 3.31 16.14
Micro Express Regal II (386/20) Aug. 89 3.30 8.08 2.51 2.50 2.93 3.18 2.22 4.29 3.14 15.76
AST Premium/386 (386/20) Sep. 88 2.51 5.26 2.41 1.90 2.80 2.90 2.42 3.98 2.74 14.85
FiveStar Model 320 (386/20) Jun. 89 3.31 7.99 1.66 2.11 3.07 3.21 1.49 4.31 2.59 14.67
Tandy 5000 MC (386/20) Feb. 89 3.71 7.91 1.25 2.26 2.97 3.23 1.50 4.35 2.23 14.27
Tandon 386/20 Jun. 89 3.30 8.02 1.49 1.71 2.91 3.19 1.52 3.97 2.41 14.01
Everex Step 386/20 Aug. 88 4.11 8.14 1.41 1.59 2.94 3.37 1.55 3.67 2.46 13.98
Dolch P.A.C. 386-20C (386/20) Jan. 89 3.30 5.35 1.41 2.23 2.96 2.78 1.68 3.79 2.37 13.58
Compaq Portable 386 (386/20) Aug. 89 2.82 7.34 1.60 2.46 2.68 3.11 1.49 3.73 2.32 13.33
IBM PS/2 Model 80-111 (386/20) Nov. 87 2.68 6.97 1.53 2.31 2.81 3.07 1.45 3.63 2.21 13.16
Sun386I (386/25) Dec. 88 3.61 6.02 5.87 0.70 3.24 2.66 2.36 1.94 2.96 13.16
IBM PS/2 Model P70 386 (386/20) Aug. 89 2.66 6.98 1.62 2.16 2.99 2.88 1.35 3.58 2.22 13.02
IBM PS/2 Model 70-121 (386/20) Jan. 89 2.66 6.84 1.74 2.34 2.63 2.74 1.46 3.75 2.15 12.72
Wells American CompuStar (286/20) Apr. 89 2.74 2.04 2.01 2.30 2.62 3.11 1.65 3.06 2.06 12.49
NEC ProSpeed 386 (386/16) Aug. 89 2.41 6.00 2.15 1.59 2.34 2.33 2.14 3.11 2.37 12.29
Compaq 386s (386SX/16) Nov. 88 1.86 5.03 1.78 1.87 2.24 2.15 2.06 3.01 2.05 11.51
ADC Powerlite 386 (386SX/16)* 1.92 4.88 2.64 1.37 2.38 2.25 2.48 2.24 2.13 11.47
Dell System 220 (286/20) Dec. 88 2.72 1.73 1.40 2.02 2.71 2.68 1.39 2.55 2.11 11.44
Toshiba T5100 (386/16) Aug. 89 2.38 5.90 1.34 1.32 2.25 2.48 1.69 2.64 1.97 11.04
Zenith TurbosPort 386 (386/12) Aug. 89 1.96 2.36 1.48 1.91 1.93 2.22 2.00 2.73 1.97 10.84
Tatung TCS-8000 (386/20) Aug. 88 3.04 1.74 1.18 0.94 2.41 2.98 1.13 2.09 1.92 10.53
IBM PS/2 Model 70-E61 (386/16) Jan. 89 2.11 5.50 1.55 1.93 2.28 2.18 1.35 2.94 1.78 10.52
Compaq Deskpro 386/16 Feb. 87 2.20 1.52 1.45 1.49 2.26 2.40 1.52 2.25 1.96 10.38
Twinhead 386SX (386SX/16) Mar. 89 1.93 4.91 1.45 1.17 2.29 2.00 1.62 2.57 1.76 10.23
Mitac 2386 (386/16) Oct. 89 2.04 4.41 1.38 1.57 2.08 1.82 1.36 2.76 1.67 9.70
GRiDCase 1530 (386/12.5) Aug. 89 1.76 2.69 1.55 1.24 1.78 2.01 1.81 2.17 1.82 9.58
IBM PS/2 Model 55 SX (386SX/16) Oct. 89 1.78 4.02 1.36 2.42 2.07 1.97 1.21 2.61 1.67 9.53
GRiDCase 1535 EXP (386/12.5) Aug. 89 1.76 2.68 1.55 1.20 1.69 2.04 1.78 2.13 1.80 9.44
Amdek System/286A (286/12.5) Jul. 88 2.19 1.56 4.16 1.01 2.02 2.21 1.53 1.72 1.70 9.17
Dell System 200 (286/12.5) Jul. 88 1.60 1.72 4.05 1.09 1.83 2.01 1.31 1.74 1.46 8.34
IBM PS/2 Model 50 Z(286/10) Jan. 89 1.85 1.80 1.24 1.42 1.76 1.72 1.17 2.00 1.47 8.12
Arche Rival 286 (286/12) Jul. 88 1.51 1.50 2.50 1.49 1.75 1.43 0.96 1.84 1.14 7.12
AST Bravo/286 (286/8) Sep. 89 1.48 1.03 1.12 1.18 1.57 1.30 1.22 1.53 1.27 6.89
NEC PowerMate Portable (386SX/16) Aug. 89 1.96 3.76 1.23 1.27 1.25 1.23 1.65 1.50 1.13 6.77
Leading Ecge Model D2 (286/10) Jul. 88 1.27 1.25 3.86 0.79 1.63 1.24 1.32 1.28 1.21 6.68
Epson Equly II+ (286/12) Jul. 88 1.28 1.21 3.43 0.92 1.54 1.47 1.07 1.22 1.24 6.54
IBM PC AT (286/8)* ' 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 5.00
IBM PC XT (8086/4.7)** 0.22 0.71 0.32 0.25 0.33 0.28 0.22 0.35 0.29 1.47

System has been benchmarked but not yet covered in BYTE.

•'Listed for reference only.

50 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 BYTE BENCHMARK INDEXES—WITH MATH COPROCESSCR

Low level Application level

SIA 386/33
Micro Express ME 386/33
National Micro Systems 386/33
FiveStar Model 33/D (386/33)
Compaq Deskpro 386/33
Dyna Cache 386/33
ALR FlexCache 33/386
Blackship 386/33
AST Premium 386/33
Everex Step 386/33
PC Link 386/33
ALR FlexCache 25386
Tangent 333
SIA 386/32
Zenith Z-386/33
Matrix MDP 386/33
AST Premium 386/25
Dell System 310 (386/20)
Proteus 386/25MX
ALR FlexCache 20386
Compaq Deskpro 386/20
Toshiba T5200/100 (386/20)
ALR MicroFlex 7000 (386/25)
Compaq 386/20e
IBM PS/2 Model 70-A21 (386/25)
Dolch-P.A.0 386-25
AST Premium/386C (386/20)
Micro Express Regal II (386/20)
AST Premium/386 (386/20)
FiveStar Model 320 (386/20)
Tandy 5000 MC (386/20)
Tandon 386/20
Everex Step 386/20
Dolch P.A.C. 386-20C (386/20)
Compaq Portable 386 (386/20)
IBM PS/2 Model 80-111 (386/20)
Sun386i (386/25)
IBM PS/2 Model P70 386 (386/20)
IBM PS/2 Model 70-121 (386/20) _
II Wells American CompuStar (286/20) _
NEC ProSpeed 386 (386/16) _
Compaq 386s (386SX/16)
ADC Powerlite 386 (386SX/16)
Dell System 220 (286/20)
Toshiba T5100 (386/16)
Zenith TurbosPort 386 (386/12)
Tatung TCS-8000 (386/20)
IBM PS/2 Model 70-E61 (386/16)
Compaq Deskpro 386/16
Twinhead 386SX (386SX/16)
Mitac 2386 (386/16)
GRiDCase 1530 (386/12.5)
IBM PS/2 Model 55 SX (386SX/16)
GRiDCase 1535 EXP (386/12.5)
Amdek System/286A (286/12.5)
Dell System 200 (286/12.5)
IBM PS/2 Model 50 Z (286/10)
Arche Rival 286 (286/12)
I IWord processing
AST Bravo/286 (286/8)
CPU _NEC PowerMate Portable (386SX/16) _ t Spreadsheet

FPU Leading Edge Model D2 (286/10) I Database

Epson Equity II+ (286/12) Scientific/Engineering
Disk
IBM PC AT (286/8)
Video Compiler
El IBM PC XT (8086/4.7) JI

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 51

 BENCHMARKS AT A GLANCE

BYTE BENCHMARK INDEXES-WITHOUT MATH COPROCESSOR

Low-level Applications
Cum.
Month CPU Disk Video WP SS DB Sci./ Cmplr. appl.
Computer appeared Eng. indx.

Micro Express ME 386 (386/20) Oct. 88 3.30 1.47 2.58 3.46 2.73 1.73 1.31 2.32 11.54
Gateway 386 (386/20) Oct. 88 2.77 1.55 2.80 3.16 2.25 2.39 1.14 2.27 11.21
Fortron 386 (386/20) Oct. 88 2.77 1.33 2.84 3.15 2.78 1.54 1.12 2.15 10.74
Zeos 386 Tower (386/16) Oct. 88 2.61 1.97 2.25 3.08 2.67 1.54 1.05 2.30 10.64
Data World 386 (386/16) Oct. 88 2.20 1.52 1.64 2.76 2.34 2.15 0.90 2.14 10.29
Spear Mono-386A (386/16) Oct. 88 2.61 1.38 2.28 3.01 2.66 1.45 1.05 1.92 10.09
Northgate 386/16 Nov. 88 2.61 1.38 2.27 2.86 2.75 1.34 1.06 2.04 10.05
Micro 1Power 386/20 Oct. 88 2.54 1.44 1.86 2.90 2.39 1.69 0.98 2.07 10.03
Club 386 (386/16) Oct. 88 2.62 1.39 2.28 2.91 2.17 1.56 1.05 2.06 9.76
Whole Earth 386 (386/16) Oct. 88 2.75 1.30 2.25 2.92 2.16 1.50 1.05 2.05 9.68
VIPC Micro 386 (386/20) Oct. 88 2.91 1.33 1.90 2.71 2.46 1.54 1.07 1.90 9.68
CompuAdd Standard-386 (386/16) Oct. 88 2.20 1.43 1.66 2.64 2.34 1.50 0.88 1.91 9.27
Pacesetter 386 (386/20) Oct. 88 2.36 1.43 2.06 2.60 2.15 1.48 0.97 1.88 9.08
Suntronics-386 (386/16) Oct. 88 2.20 1.23 2.33 2.62 2.15 1.44 0.90 1.83 8.93
Blackship 386 (386/16) Oct. 88 2.43 1.33 1.48 2.74 2.01 1.43 0.89 1.81 8.88
Bus 386 (386f16) Oct. 88 2.20 1.04 1.63 2.57 2.14 1.51 0.89 1.70 8.81
GCH EasyData 386 (386/16) Oct. 88 2.42 1.34 1.84 2.45 2.00 1.50 0.90 1.90 8.75
Value 386 (386/16) Oct. 88 2.20 1.22 1.65 2.66 2.00 1.32 0.87 1.84 8.69
PC Network THE 386 (386/16) Oct. 88 2.20 0.93 1.63 2.54 1.97 1.43 0.91 1.83 8.67
Uniq 386 (386/16) Oct. 88 1.87 1.26 1.50 2.47 1.91 1.45 0.82 1.78 8.44
Compaq SLT/286 (286/12) Mar. 89 1.59 1.77 1.43 1.77 1.67 1.95 0.61 1.69 7.70
Hertz 386 (386/16) Oct. 88 2.03 1.32 1.57 2.09 1.61 1.32 0.82 1.79 7.59
NCR PC916sx (386SX/16) Mar. 89 1.87 1.34 1.11 2.11 1.70 1.28 0.72 1.71 7.52
Ogivar 286 Laptop (286/12.5) Mar. 89 1.70 1.19 1.38 1.75 1.63 1.34 0.62 1.45 6.79
Zenith SupersPort 286 (286/12) Feb. 89 1.55 1.06 1.38 1.59 1.53 1.28 0.64 1.40 6.43
Mitsubishi MP-286L (286/12) Feb. 89 1.62 0.92 1.29 1.45 1.41 1.05 0.59 1.13 5.64
Epson Equity LT (NEC V30/10) Oct. 88 0.93 0.61 0.82 1.01 0.86 0.92 0.34 0.81 3.94
HP Vectra CS Model 20 (V30/7.16) Jun. 88 0.64 0.26 0.62 0.77 0.84 0.68 0.25 0.65 3.19
NEC MultiSpeed HD (V30/9.54) Jun. 88 0.68 0.47 0.59 0.74 0.89 0.41 0.27 0.64 2.96
NEC UltraLite (V30/9.83) Aug. 89 0.93 1.42 0.80 N/A 0.90 N/A 0.35 0.99 N/A

BYTE BENCHMARK INDEXES-MACINTOSH FAMILY

Low-level Applications
Cum.
CPU FPU Disk Video WP SS DB Sci./ Cmplr. appl.
Computer
Eng. indx.

Macintosh Ilcx 4.61 1.15 3.65 2.58 2.72 3.25 3.07 6.13 2.79 17.97
Macintosh SE/30 4.61 1.16 3.01 2.33 2.68 3.53 2.99 5.23 2.60 17.04
Macintosh Ilx 4.57 1.16 3.02 2.59 2.60 3.20 3.15 5.32 2.53 16.81
Macintosh II 3.81 1.00 2.56 2.35 2.00 2.72 2.53 4.24 2.16 13.66
Macintosh SE 1.00 N/A 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 5.00
Macintosh Plus 0.81 N/A 0.75 0.91 0.80 0.88 0.93 0.91 0.84 4.36
•FPU index based on Macintosh II. All other indexes based on Macintosh SE.

PC-compatible systems are referenced against an 8-MHz IBM tive of its speed since the application-level bar lacks two seg-
AT with an 80287 coprocessor. The cumulative application in- ments. For all graphs, the low-level bar extends to the left of the
dex represents an overall score based on all application tests. listed system and the application-level bar extends to the right.
The baseline AT registers at 1.0 on each application index for a Predictably, the 68030 machines (IIcx, SE/30, and ¡Ix) top
cumulative index of 5.0. Therefore, acumulative score of 20 the Macintosh list. The 68000 processor inside the SE and the
would suggest an operating speed four times that of the stan- Plus does not support an integrated math coprocessor, so those
dard AT. The NEC UltraLite could not run the entire set of machines could not generate an FPU index. For the same rea-
application tests and so does not have acumulative application son, the Macintosh FPU indexes are referenced against the Mac
index. The UltraLite's low-level bar graph is more representa- II, while all other indexes are based on the Mac SE. The Macin-

52 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 BENCHMARKS AT A GLANCE

BYTE BENCHMARK INDEXES—WITHOUT MATH COPROCESSOR

Low level Application level

1 Micro Express ME 386(386/20)

I Gateway 386 (386/20) - 1 1 1
Fortron 386 (386/20) 1 1 1
Zeos 386 Tower (386/16) 1 i 1
1 DataWorld 386 (386/16) I 1I
Spear Mono-386A (386/16) 1 1 1
Northgate 386/16 1 1 1
Micro 1Power 386/20 1 1 1
1 Club 386 (386/16) 1 1 I 1
1 Whole Earth 386 (386/16) I 1
1 VIPC Micro 386 (386/20) 1 1 I
1 I CompuAdd Standard-386 (386/16)
1 Pacesetter 386 (386/20) 1 1
1 Suntronics-386 (386/16) I 1
1 I Blackship 386 (386/16) 1
Bus 386 (386/16) I
1 GCH EasyData 386 (386/16) 1 1 11
Value 386 (386/16) I I 11
1 1 1 PC Network THE 386 (386/16) 1 III
Uniq 386 (386/16) 1
Compaq SLT/286 (286/12)
1 Hertz 386 (386/16) I I
I NCR PC916sx (386SX/16)
I Ogivar 286 Laptop (286/12.5) I I
Zenith SupersPort 286 (286/12) 1 1 1 I
Mitsubishi MP-286L (286/12) I 1
Epson Equity LT (NEC V30/10) 1 1
I 1 HP Vectra CS Model 20 (V30/7.16) 111
1I NEC MultiSpeed HD (V30/9.54) 1 Ill
1 1 NEC UltraLite (V30/9.83) 1

BYTE BENCHMARK INDEXES—MACINTOSH FAMILY

Low level Application level

Macintosh Ilcx I 1 1 I
I 1 Macintosh SE/30
1 1 1 1 Macintosh Ilx 1 1 i
I 1 Macintosh II 1 1 1
Macintosh SE I 11
Macintosh Plus I1 1

O CPU O FPU = Disk 1:::: Video I

- 1Word processing = Spreadsheet I= Database

= Scientific/Engineering = Compiler

tosh indexes should not be compared to the PC indexes. vised since the last update, so the numbers have changed
Benchmarking can be atricky business, especially given the slightly. The PC benchmarks have not faced amajor revision
wide range of methods employed to make systems run faster. since the December 1988 listing.
For the most part, we run the systems intact, testing them the As systems continue to stretch the performance curve and as
same way you would use them—as complete systems. We do the 80486s start to appear, the BYTE Lab will be ready with a
lisable software caching because it steals precious RAM, but new generation of system benchmarks. Stay tuned. •
hardware caching is fair game. We try to test all machines with
acoprocessor installed. Machines tested without acoprocessor Stanford Diehl is aBYTE testing editor. He can be reached on
are listed separately. The Macintosh benchmarks have been re- BIX as "sdiehl."

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 53

 After years of fi
we built
Introducing the
And unlike some of our competitors, we don't imbed the VGA or disk
controllers on the mother board -that can just lock you out of future
innovations. Instead, we provide a high-speed VGA controller which
best built, best backed supports all VGA modes. And atotally IBM-compatible disk controller
which features the latest in track-buffer technology to boost drive

286- and 386-based systems. performance by an amazing 30% to 50%.

Since 1983, CSR has been aleading microcomputer maintenance provider.

We repair all major brands - IBM! Compaq t and the best-known
Compatible with reality.
peripherals - for the largest dealer networks and third-party service You've invested alot in software That's reality. So we designed our machines
companies nationwide. So when we decided to build our own 286- and to be 100% compatible with all your MS-DOS® and OS/2® software.
386-based systems we knew how to make them even better. And we know you have software on both 3 1/2" and 5 1/4" media.
With CSR, you can put your confidence in acompany that has it all -the That's why all CSR computers have both size drives -even the low profile,
service, support, performance and IBM compatibility you expect -but at small footprint 286/20 SL. It's aconvenience we've added without adding
prices that will surprise you. to the price.
Plus you'll find our high resolution high contrast VGA monitors and
The industry's best 2-YEAR warranty. "clickable" keyboard to be consistent with your definition of how a
computer should look and feel.
For the first full year we provide complete on-site service on all parts and
labor. During the second year we'll repair or replace any parts that fail.
This revolutionary warranty demonstrates the high degree of confidence Compatible with your budget.
we have in the quality and reliability of our computers. You may have computing needs that are incompatible with what other
Plus, when you call our toll-free Technical Support Hotline you'll be computer companies would like you to spend. Tell us the details of your
connected to a highly-skilled Customer Engineer (CE). Your CE will needs. Then tell us your budget. And we'll build you asystem that's
either fix the problem over the phone or dispatch aService Engineer compatible with both.
to your site - within 24 hours of your call -for prompt, professional So if you want abetter built, better backed computer system, compare
problem resolution. warranties. Compare specifications. Then pick up the phone and call
And what's best about this CSR-exclusive is that everything is included us at 800-366-1277. We'll deliver what you need at prices that will
in the price of your computer! surprise you.
Full leasing options available. Rates begin as low as $60/mo.
High performance, not ahigh price. We accept MasterCard, VISA and certified checks.

CSR delivers high performance in every machine we make. Our 286/20

tThe brands or product names mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their re.pectiee
uses an Intel t based 80286 chip that runs at a blazing 20 MHz and holders. MS-DOS and OS/2 are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

outperforms most 386-based machines. Made in the USA.

xing their best,
Durs better.
CSR 286/14 CSR 286/20 SL CSR 386/20 CSR 386/25c
CSR 286/14 SL CSR 286/20
•80286 Intel based microprocessor running at •80286 Intel based microprocessor running at • Inte1.80386 Microprocessor running at •Intel 80386 Microprocessor running at
14 MHz. 20 MHz. 20 MHz. 25 MHz.
• IMB RAM expandable [0165113(8 MB on the • IMB RAM expandable to 16503(8 MB on the • 1MIS RAM expandable to 16 MB on the • IMB RAM expandable to 16 MB on the
system board).• system board).* system board. system board.
•Page mode interleave memory architecture •Page mode interleave memory architecture •Page mode interleave memory architecture. •Advanced Austek Cache memory controller
•High speed VGA controller. •High speed VGA centroller. •Socket for 20 MHz Intel or Weitek math with 32k of high speed static RAM Cache
•Dual Diskette/Hard Disk Controller. •Track buffered high speed dual diskette/hard coprocessor. •Page mode interleave mentor} architecture.
• S.25" 1.2 MB or 3.5" 1.44 MB diskette drive disk controller. •5.25' 1.2 NIB or 3.5" 1.44 MB diskette drive •Socket for 25 MHz Intel or Weitek math
•Enhanced 101 tactile "click" keyboard with •5.25" 1.2 MB or 3.5" 1.44 MB diskette drive •Track buffeted high speed diskette/hard disk coprocessor
copy holder and dust cover. •Enhanced 101 tactile "dick" keyboard with controller. • 5.25" 1.2 MB or 3.5" 1.41 ME diskette drive
•Socket for Intel 80287 or Weitek math copy holder and dust cover •Enhanced 101 tactile Click" keyboard with •Track buffered high speed diskette/hard disk
coprocessor. •Socket for Intel 80287 or Meitek math copy holder and dust cover contodler.
• 1parallel, Iserial port and aMicrosoft coprocessor. •High speed 16 bit VGA controller. •Enhanced 101 tactile "click" keyboard with
compatible bus mouse port. • 1parallel, 1serial port and aMicrosoft • Iparallel, tserial port and aMicrosoft copy holder arid dust cover.
•8industry standard expansion slots. •• compatible bus mouse port compatible bus mouse port. •High speed 16 bit VGA controller
•Power reset switch. •Sindustry standard expansion slots." •200 watt power suppl. • Iparallel, 1serial port and aMicrosoft
• ispeed selectable 8MHz. 16 MHz or20 MHz •8industry standard expansion slots compatible bar: mouse port.
•Security keylock.
'Peed •Power reset switch. •200 watt power supply.
•AMI bios.
•Power reset switch. •Security keylock. •8industry standard expansion slots.
•Real time clock with battery backup.
•Secunty keylock. •AMI bios. •Power reset switch.
•MS-DOS and MS-OS/2 compatible.
• AMI bios. •Real time dock with battery backup. •Security keylock.
Popular Options •Real time dock with battery backup. •Award bios.
•MS-DOS and MS-OS/2 compatible.
IMB to 16 MB of high speed memory. • MS-DOS and MS-OS/2 compatible. •Real time dock with batters' backup.
80287 math coprocessor. Popular Options
•MS-DOS and MS-OS/2 compatible.
Slim line case with one 5.25" and two 3.5" Popular Options 2MB to 16 MB expansion memory options.
drive bays accessible. 2MB to 16 MB of high speed memory. 29 MHz Intel coprocessor chip. Popular Options
NorrC •t ptoo NMR on sl cer ••ietpanslon slots in M. cur 20 MHz math coprocessor. Intern:II sr external tape backup. 2MB to 16 MB expansfon merory options
Slim line case with 'sue 5.25" and two 3.5"
25 Mlb. Intel coprocessor chip
drive bays accessible' Mormons adapien
Internal or external tape backup.
CIA 2116/1, Mon tors rAdaplers nMt 3HW/0 Won Mono, HA color
lard Doak Drnrs Monorhmme %GA Mono NIA COtOr SINE •l in MB on M •• ropansoon aka- on SI ear Hard Orsk >vas IMB troll .MB Ban 155 tl,M 41111 LW

cse :WM Money oAdders 10 MK '.2 MS $4,099 $3,399 $4,399

'":„4ms $1,699 $2,099 $2,399
Hard In” Dnves St% Mono Mlo. o.olor 90906
099
13 ,
Almon,. 11daplecs
,,,n,o06as $1,899 CB Mior25c %CA Mono. %GA Color
$2 .299 $2,599 Didnolle Drive
$1.999 82.299 68 00 :2 MS $3,199 $4,199 $3,499 $4,499
Hard Dd. Dom 1MB 1lAM 1MB RAM 1411 RAM iMB RAM

an MB :2MS $2 .599 MFIM

' 18
$1,999 $2,399 $2,699 Snlb
12, 7 99 g° ms
$3 699
-I
$4,699 84,099 $5.099 g° " "I MS $4.799 $3 79G $5,199 $6,199

00 MK in ms
, $2,599 $2,899 $3,299 Boa MII dd ms $2,799 $2,999 '
1°50uue
mil
$4 ,199 $5,199 $4,499 . $5,499 IM eB 18 ms
ESIrl
$5,299 $6.29G 85,699 86.6'k)
I
IM1 SIB
rosIn ,i, $3 ,0,, $3 ,299 $3 ,699 90 MK 18 MS 83,..499 i2: MB IS MS -,9
F
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Eel

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srler
Computer Systems Research
We build ours better.
Circle 64 on Reader Service Card
56 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition ILLUSTRATION: DOUGLAS A. BOWLES © 1989
 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

REDEFINING
THE STANDARDS
What did and didn't happen, what came and went,
and what's coming—maybe ...

Martin Heller

o
n the cover of the June backup, and aCD-ROM drive. In addi- another round of speed improvements.
BYTE it says "The Fast- tion, ahigh-resolution PC displays 256 Further on the horizon, quantum transis-
est 386s Ever?" Inside colors at 640 by 480 pixels, 16 colors at tors may replace bulk transistors on
are reviews of real PCs 800 by 600 pixels, or black and white at chips, which will lead to even more
running the 80386 chip 1280 by 720 pixels, and it prints fonts improvement.
at 33 MHz. That's fast—a noticeable im- from 6to 60 points at 300 dots per inch.
provement over last year's speed record, A portable PC can fit into your briefcase, In Search of New Standards
which was 20 MHz. (Between 20 MHz with room to spare for your notepad, First, the old standards are still out there.
and 33 MHz, you briefly saw 25-MHz pens, and paperwork. Despite what you read, wherever the
machines.) For software developers and During the past few years, AT-class price matters more than the perfor-
others needing the horsepower—like computers have become commodity mance, machines using the 8088 are still
people needing fast LAN servers-33 items, and PC-class computers have be- alive and well. My writing's agood ex-
MHz is the new standard. come inexpensive enough to buy for ample: Imay use a20-MHz 80386 ma-
Meanwhile, Intel announced the home use. OS/2 caught on among pro- chine with ahard disk drive for program-
80486—four times faster than the 80386 grammers, but not enough OS/2 applica- ming, but I use a 4.77-MHz 80088-
at the same clock rate, with clock rates tions came out to interest users in the based laptop for word processing. In
destined to go higher yet—and the complexities—or RAM requirements— other words, Idon't need aPorsche when
80860, a supercomputer on a chip that of a new operating system. Unix got aHyundai Excel can get me to and from
can also act as a coprocessor for the ported to the 80386 and started looking the supermarket.
80386 or 80486. When you see a real like apossible competitor to OS/2. Lotus But there are some new standards.
machine running an 80486 at 40 MHz 1-2-3 release 3.0, dBASE IV, and alot of IBM's Micro Channel architecture
with an 80860 processor, you'll be see- other software slipped behind schedule. (MCA) looks like it might have some
ing aPC capable of solid modeling in real DOS 4.0 had so many bugs that few peo- uses after all. Microsoft Windows seems
time. For engineers and designers that ple upgraded from DOS 3.3. like it's becoming astandard for agraph-
need such things, this scenario is arevo- There's atrend here—the same trend ical environment. At least 640K bytes of
lutionary change. Even though you can that has been characteristic of the com- RAM per machine is a new standard,
now get this sort of performance on high- puter industry since 1948: Computers too. Others include EMS 4.0 and XMS
end engineering workstations, having an keep getting faster, smaller, and less (memory standards for expanded and ex-
affordable PC with these capabilities expensive. tended memory under DOS), as well as
opens awhole new world. Chips on silicon are getting denser and the virtual-control program interface
This year, afast PC goes at 33 MHz faster—but new technology is waiting to (VCPI), astandard for control programs
and performs about 8 million instruc- take over. For instance, RISC chips, and DOS extenders on 80386-based ma-
tions per second. Last year, a fast PC currently used in engineering worksta- chines. Finally, there is OS/2, which
went at 20 MHz and ran at 5MIPS; the tions, are produced both in silicon and in IBM and Microsoft would like to make
standards are changing quickly. Now, a gallium arsenide—which can run much into the standard multitasking protected-
"big" PC has 300 megabytes of hard disk faster. When this technology becomes mode operating system.
storage, 8 megabytes of RAM, tape inexpensive enough for PCs, you'll see continued

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 57

 REDEFINING THE STANDARDS

Around these standards, there's a Storage, Storage, Storage There are three kinds of optical disks:
plethora of products. PCs are packaged Processor performance is only part of CD-ROMs, WORMs (write once, read
as towers, desktops, portables, and the story in computer performance. The many times), and erasable optical disks.
laptops. Their processors include Intel's other part, which, in some applications CD-ROM disks are read-only digital ver-
8088, 80286, 80386SX, 80386, and—in (e.g., accounting), is the dominant part, sions of audio compact disks. They hold
the dream world of announced products is I/O performance. On PCs, there are 550 megabytes and are inexpensive to
not yet shipping—the 80486 and 80860. four major flavors of floppy disks-5 1 4- produce in quantity—mastering a CD-
Given identical clock rates, an 80286 inch and 31 /-inch form factors at low and
2 ROM costs about $1500, and reproduc-
is still faster than an 8088. However, the high density, giving 360K-byte, 1.2-mega- ing one costs about $2 per platter. CD-
clock rate enters the performance equa- byte, 720K-byte, and 1.44-megabyte ca- ROM drives sell for about $700.
tion, too. The original PC ran its 8088 at pacities. All are very slow-10 times CD-ROMs are coming of age as an
4.77 MHz; turbo PCs run the 8088 as slower than the slowest hard disks. Hard information distribution medium, with
fast as 10 MHz. The original AT ran its disk drives can have access times as slow about 200,000 CD-ROM drives in the
80286 at 6 MHz—this produced a ma- as 80 milliseconds or as fast as 14 ms. field and about 600 titles—including
chine that was seven times faster than a Interestingly, the 720K-byte 31 /-inch
2 worthwhile, readily available applica-
PC. Improved 80286 chips, including floppy disk was available at the time the tions such as Microsoft Programmer's
the CMOS 80286 variant, are powering PC was introduced. But despite its ad- Library, the Oxford English Dictionary,
machines at up to 20 MHz—although the vantages, it didn't become widely ac- and Grolier's Electronic Encyclopedia.
garden-variety AT clone that sells for cepted in the PC world until the laptop However, CD-ROM drives are slow com-
well under $2000 probably runs at 10 or phenomenon took off late last year. Lap- pared to hard disk drives. In addition,
12 MHz. Available from Intel are 80386 tops (despite an FAA threat to ban them CD-ROM drive interfaces have not been
chips rated for speeds of up to 33 MHz; from airplanes) now seem ubiquitous. standardized, so it is not possible to
at this writing, the first few 33-MHz ma- Transfer speed is just as important as freely mix CD-ROM drives and control-
chines are shipping. access times to ahard disk drive's per- lers.
A 33-MHz 80386 running with zero formance. Four kinds of hard disk drive WORM drives are anear-ideal medi-
wait states pans out at about 8 MIPS— interface are currently available—modi- um for backup and archival storage; their
roughly eight times faster than the DEC fied frequency modulation, run-length- higher speed and low mastering costs
VAX-11/780—for ordinary integer in- limited, ESDI, and SCSI. MFM, also make them a good alternative to CD-
structions. Without a numeric copro- called ST-506, is the standard; RLL is ROMs for small-audience products.
cessor, its floating-point performance is basically MFM with data compression, WORM gear is expensive, though—
still pathetically slow. With a 20-MHz which buys you higher data density and drives cost about $2500, and disks can
80387, it runs at about 220,000 floating- faster access at the expense of reduced cost $100 each, so the economics favor
point operations per second; with a20- reliability. RLL controllers are recom- CD-ROM plus atape backup.
MHz Weitek coprocessor (and software mended only for RLL-rated disk drives. The revolutionary change in hard disk
to match), it cruises at about 450,000 ESDI, atechnology that migrated from storage this year has been rewritable, re-
FLOPS. minicomputers to PCs, has adata trans- movable optical disks—first seen on the
The 33-MHz 80387, which is not ship- fer rate roughly twice that of MFM hard NeXT machine and announced shortly
ping yet, should run at about 350,000 disk drives. SCSI hard disk drives don't afterward for PCs.
FLOPS. The 33-MHz Weitek Abacus has have afixed transfer rate—since SCSI is NeXT-style 256-megabyte rewritable
just been announced, but it should run at asystems interface and not aplain drive magneto-optical cartridges cost $50 for
about 650,000 FLOPS. For CAD, CAE, interface, the drive has enough intelli- the media and $1500 for the drive. Simi-
and scientific computing, the floating- gence to negotiate transfers with the con- lar products announced for the PC list for
point performance of acomputer is just troller. The promise of SCSI to give fast, more like $4500. And 20-megabyte 31 /-
2
as important as the integer perfor- inexpensive drives hasn't really been inch "floptical" disks ($8) and drives
mance—if not more so. fulfilled yet. In head-to-head compari- ($250) from Insite Peripherals also let
The announced 80486 includes the nu- sons, ESDI drives still tend to outper- you "carry your whole world with you."
meric processing functions of the 80387 form SCSI drives. But as SCSI drives and While too slow to replace hard disk
as well as the integer processing func- controllers improve, they'll probably get drives, too expensive to use as asoftware
tions of the 80386—and some additional faster than ESDI drives. distribution medium, and not likely to be
advanced features—all on one chip. It is Hard disk drives come as small as 10 widely available this year, floptical disks
expected to run about four times faster megabytes and as large as 450 mega- look like agood bet to become standard
than an 80386/80387 pair at the same bytes. It's agood bet that a10-megabyte equipment on high-end PCs and work-
clock rate, and Intel expects to push it to hard disk drive will have an 80-ms access stations in the early 1990s.
higher clock rates. time and an MFM interface, and a150- For backup today, the best storage
Intel has also announced the 80860, megabyte or larger hard disk drive will value for your money still comes on tape.
which can operate as acoprocessor to the have an access time of under 30 ms and High-density streaming cartridge and
80486—giving even better floating- either an ESDI or aSCSI. Whether ESDI cassette tape drives cost about $10 per
point, signal-processing, and graphics or SCSI will dominate the high-end hard megabyte of storage capacity—for in-
performance. Industry speculation is disk drive market in the future is any- stance, a 60-megabyte streaming car-
that the 80860 could be the basis of a body's guess. Most hard disk drive tridge tape drive goes for about $600; the
desktop supercomputer. The 80860 pro- manufacturers are hedging their bets and media costs about 50 cents per megabyte.
totype boards in PS/2s have already out- are producing larger, faster drives with And you certainly wouldn't want to back
performed high-end workstations in both interfaces. up a 150-megabyte hard disk drive onto
demos. Tantalizing stuff, but abit far off For even more capacity, you have to floppy disks. Daily tape backups are
to affect this year's buying plans. switch from magnetic to optical disks. continued

58 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 russian technology of programming

NOLOGY
PLEASE CONTACT:

PROSYSTEM
Computer Technic

Austria Europe
A-1010 Wien, Paricring 12A/8/5
Tel.: AUSTRIA-222/51 34 760-0*
Tlx.: 112937 prote a -Fax: AUSTRIA-222/51 34 764

R-TECH
GRAPHICAL
PROGRAMMING

DEC-MINI/-HOST
IBM-Host
PDP-11,VAX (VMS)
VM/370,CMS,VM/SP for-C
Assembler, Cobol, C, for-FORTRAN
Fortran, Pascal,PL- 1 for-PASCAL
for-ASSEMBLER
Standard PC's
PC-DOS/MS-DOS
TURBO-PASCAL
TURBO-C
Future Systems MS-C
?-DOS, ?-NIX MODULA-2
?-Compiler
?-Interpreter
?-Procedural language

To Order...
Example of graphic Modula -2 program And the same program
Phone"
in traditional form
FAX:
MODULE PrintIct,
FROM InOut IMPORT Read.Write,WriteLn: MODULE Printld:
FROM InOut IMPORT Read.Write.WriteLn;
VAR c:CHAR:
VAR c:CHAR:
Name
BEGIN
',\iiiIii Read(c);
WHILE c < Company
IF c='."THEN
WriteLn:
Read(c): \dress
WHILE c="Do
Read(c) lty State Zip
END:
ELSE
Write(e): Carda Exp.Date
Read(c)
END: SMnature
Write(c); END:
WriteLn
Read(c)
END Printld. Phone
END Printld.

Circle 218 on Reader Service Card

 REDEFINING THE STANDARDS

COMPANY INFORMATION

Adaptive Networks Autodesk, Inc. Intel Corp.

Kendall Sq. 2320 Marinship Way Personal Computer Enhancement
P.O. Box 1020 Sausalito, CA 94965 Operation
Cambridge, MA 02142 (415) 332-2344 15220 Greenbrier Pkwy.
(617) 497-5150 Inquiry 915. Mail Stop CO3-04
Inquiry 881.
Beaverton, OR 97006
CADKey, Inc. (800) 538-3373
Adobe Systems, Inc. 440 Oakland St. (503) 629-7369
1585 Charleston Rd. Manchester, CT 06040 Inquiry 896.
P.O. Box 7900 (203) 647-0220
Mountain View, CA 94039 Inquiry 916. Microsoft Corp.
(415) 961-4400
16011 Northeast 36th Way
Inquiry 882. Canon USA, Inc. P.O. Box 97017
1Canon Plaza Redmond, WA 98073
Advanced Logic Research, Inc. Lake Success, NY 11042 (800) 426-9400
9401 Jeronimo (516) 488-6700 (206) 882-8080
Irvine, CA 92718 Inquiry 889. Inquiry 897.
(714) 581-6770
Inquiry 883. Compaq Computer Corp. O'Neill Communications, Inc.
20555 SH 249 100 Thanet Cir.
AGFA Compugraphic Houston, TX 77070 Princeton, NJ 08540
200 Ballardvale St. (800) 231-0900 (609) 924-1095
Wilmington, MA 01887 (713) 370-0670 Inquiry 898.
(800) 822-5524 Inquiry 890.
(508) 658-5600
Open Software Foundation
Inquiry 884. Everex Systems, Inc. 11 Cambridge Center
48431 Milmont Dr. Cambridge, MA 02142
A.I. Architects, Inc. Fremont, CA 94538 (617) 621-8700
1Intercontinental Way (415) 498-1111 Inquiry 899.
Peabody, MA 01960 Inquiry 891.
(508) 535-7512
Phar Lap Software, Inc.
Inquiry 914. Hewlett-Packard Co. 60 Aberdeen Ave.
Office Systems Division Cambridge, MA 02138
Aldus Corp. 8010 Foothills Blvd. (617) 661-1510
411 First Ave. S, Suite 200 Roseville, CA 95678 Inquiry 900.
Seattle, WA 98104 (916) 786-8000
(206) 622-5500 Inquiry 892. Pixar, Inc.
(408) 727-8484
P.O. Box 13719
Inquiry 885. Hitachi America, Ltd. San Rafael, CA 94915
Office Automation Systems (415) 499-3600
Amdek Corp. 19530 Cabot Blvd. Inquiry 917.
3471 North First St. Hayward, CA 94545
San Jose, CA 95134 (415) 785-9770 Quadram
(800) 722-6335 Inquiry 893. One Quad Way
(408) 436-8570
Norcross, GA 30093
Inquiry 886. IBM (404) 923-6666
900 King Dr. Inquiry 901.
AST Research, Inc. Rye Brook, NY 10573
2121 Alton Ave. (800) 426-2468 Quarterdeck Office Systems
Irvine, CA 92714 Inquiry 894. 150 Pico Blvd.
(714) 863-1333
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Inquiry 887. Insite Peripherals, Inc. (213) 392-9851
2363 Calle del Mundo Inquiry 902.
AT&T Data Systems Group Santa Clara, CA 95054
100 Southgate Pkwy. (408) 727-8484 Rational Systems, Inc.
Morristown, NJ 07960 Inquiry 895. 220 North Main St.
(800) 247-1212
P.O. Box 480
Inquiry 888.
Natick, MA 01760
(508) 653-6006
Inquiry 903.

60 Fall 1989 • BY TE IBM Special Edition

 REDEFINING THE STANDARDS

inexpensive insurance against losing multiple-frequency monitor can display

your data. Windows at 800- by 600-pixel resolution
Sony Corp. of America On the cutting edge of new technology with 16 colors for a combined cost of
Computer Peripheral Products are higher-density tapes. For instance, about $1000. For about the same price,
Sony Dr. TEAC America has ahard disk drive that the Wyse 700 terminal displays 1280- by
Park Ridge, NJ 07656 stores 320 megabytes on cassettes. For 760-pixel resolution in black and white.
(201) 930-1000 even higher density, look for tape drives High-resolution color images hog your
Inquiry 904. based on 4-millimeter digital-audio tape hard disk drive, use lots of RAM, and
cassettes, which can hold gigabytes and stress the system. Even with the com-
TEAC America, Inc. are headed toward being able to handle pression built into aformat like GIF (for
7733 Telegraph Rd. terabyte capacities. Like VCRs, DAT graphics interchange format), a640- by
Montebello, CA 90640 drives use helical-scan techniques. Heli- 480- by 256-pixel color photographic
(213) 726-0303 cal scan is a diagonal recording tech- image can easily take aquarter megabyte
Inquiry 905. nique that provides for very high-density or more to store. The sheer size of such a
storage. Under development are cassette file means it will take awhile to load—
Trans-M Corp. drives using helical-scan techniques. anywhere from 10 seconds to several
28 Blacksmith Dr. Coming down the pike is digital paper, minutes. Computing such an image with
Medfield, MA 02052 the latest thing in awrite-once optical- even the best rendering software and PC
(508) 359-5144 storage medium. Digital paper differs hardware available takes the better part
Inquiry 906. from existing WORM media in that it is of an hour, and with run-of-the-mill
flexible and can be cut, stamped, and equipment, it's an overnight job.
Unix International otherwise made into a variety of prod- To deal with this problem, there are
6Century Dr. ucts, including floppy Bernoulli disks several emerging CD-ROM vision and
Parsippany, NJ 07054 and tapes (see "Digital Paper," Febru- sound standards. Digital Video Interac-
(800) 848-6495 ary BYTE). Its promise is to make small- tive (DVI) uses a highly compressed
(201) 263-8400 er, faster, and less-expensive WORM hardware/software scheme to fit an
Inquiry 907. drives as available for PCs as floppy disk hour's worth of fully animated images
drives are today. and sound onto aCD-ROM, which other-
Weitek Corp. wise would hold only a few minutes'
1060 East Argues Ave. Seeing Is Believing worth.
Sunnyvale, CA 94087 The most obvious part of acomputer is For less-demanding applications,
(408) 738-8400 the display; today there are video options Microsoft, Philips, and Sony have col-
Inquiry 908. from monochrome to SuperVGA to spe- laborated on the CD-ROM extended ar-
cialized intelligent display systems for chitecture (XA), which is avariation on
Wyse Technology CAD/CAM, imaging, and solid model- current CD-ROM drives that uses an
3571 North First St. ing. SuperVGA systems can display TV- adaptive compression chip and an ordi-
San Jose, CA 95134 quality images; 256 colors from apalette nary CD-ROM drive to combine high-fi-
(800) 438-9973 of 256,000 gives the illusion of continu- delity sound with photographic-quality
(408) 473-1200 ous color, and 640- by 480-pixel resolu- images.
Inquiry 909. tion appears photographic if given an At the moment, CD-ROM XA demos
image with continuous color. animate an image of a few inches and
Zenith Data Systems With such a system and appropriate synchronize it with stereo sound: "Talk-
1000 Milwaukee Ave. software, you can display adigitized or a ing heads" are within the capabilities of
Glenview, Il 60025 synthesized image. Solid modeling or the technology, but the larger images
(800) 842-9000 rendering software with Gouraud or that DVI produces require considerably
(312) 699-4800 Phong shading, such as CADKey solids, more hardware and are still out of reach.
Inquiry 910. can compute and display a convincing
image of athree-dimensional solid; with Back to the Bus
the addition of Pixar's RenderMan soft- The original PC bus carries 8bits of data
ware, the solid can have natural textures, at atime; the AT bus, also called the In-
and the image can be photo-realistic. dustry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,
Autodesk and CADKey have both an- carries 16 bits. For slow peripherals,
nounced support for RenderMan; neither such as serial and parallel ports driving
has announced when it will be available. modems and printers, 8bits of data com-
High-resolution color displays are ing from the bus is plenty. For fast disk
good for more than displaying images; drives, a 16-bit data path helps speed
Windows, Presentation Manager (PM), things up. However, for very high-speed
and anumber of other graphical user in- devices, such as memory, even a 16-bit
terfaces (see "A Guide to GUIs," July bus can be abottleneck.
BYTE) virtually require high resolution. This problem has at least three solu-
The worst-case display for Windows is tions. Compaq, ALR, AST, Everex, and
CGA, whose "high" resolution turns out other manufacturers of high-perfor-
to be aless-than-acceptable 640 by 200 mance 80386-based machines use asec-
pixels in black and white. On the other ond, high-speed 32-bit bus for memory.
hand, the right SuperVGA card with a continued

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 61

 REDEFINING THE STANDARDS

P Lprinters
are multiplying like gerbils. It isn't
Up until this year, Adobe had close
control of the PostScript market it
created. It managed this feat by encrypt-
ing its fonts partially in the fonts them-
selves and partially in the PostScript
controller. Adobe is so proud of its en-
just that they're cheaper than cryption that its president, John War-
nock, publicly challenged anyone to
PostScript printers—they're also break the scheme.
Hackers, however, love a challenge.
convenient for PCs since they print Needless to say, Adobe's encryption has
been broken, and it is now offering to li-
text without any special settings. cense its technology. This opens the
door for printer controllers with ersatz
PostScript interpreters to use Adobe
fonts, and for competing type foundries
to offer PostScript fonts with Adobe en-
Compaq calls this "flex architecture." 80386SX chip is good for is making an cryption and hints (rules that improve the
The advantage of this solution is high inexpensive computer with the flexibility quality of scalable type in small sizes).
performance, but it comes at the expense and multitasking abilities of a full At the same time, PCL printers are
of standardization—memory-expansion 80386, but without the performance of multiplying like gerbils. It isn't just that
boards for 80386-based systems are not one. Lots of applications can benefit they're much cheaper than PostScript
interchangeable. from the 80386's memory management printers—they're also more convenient
IBM's MCA bus supports arich set of capabilities without requiring screaming for PCs since they print ordinary text as
bus-control signals, including "bus mas- performance—for example, desktop received without any special settings.
ters." This flexibility means that MCA publishing. There's enough competition The HP LaserJet and its descendants and
can support multiple processors directly. between vendors so that an 80386SX ma- imitators have sold so well that just about
MCA also has enough grounding and chine might not cost any more than an all software supports them.
shielding for a higher bus frequency— 80286 with the same performance. Because of the success of the HP laser
rumor has it that it can go as high as 80 Does anyone really need a 33-MHz printers and because the PCL language
MHz, or 10 times the rate of the AT bus. 80386? Well, Ido. Programming Win- and font formats have been openly avail-
Unfortunately for anyone with an invest- dows and OS/2 applications exercises a able, numerous vendors have produced
ment in ATs, the MCA bus is totally in- computer like nothing else. Rebuilding a fonts for HP-compatible laser printers.
compatible with ISA cards. 300K-byte program on an XT used to In the last year, Bitstream has revolution-
Extended ISA, arival 32-bit bus stan- take me 8hours; now Ican do it in about ized the font market with FontWare.
dard promoted by the "Gang of Nine" 15 minutes on my 80386-based ALR This technology can scale HP fonts to
(Compaq and other rivals of IBM), main- FlexCache with afast ESDI disk drive. any size from 6to 64 points.
tains compatibility with ISA cards. EISA All the high-end word processing and
members do not propose to standardize Printers Galore desktop publishing companies got into
memory architectures. Instead, they in- Iused to have adaisy-wheel printer in my the act—Lotus started shipping Font-
tend to continue to compete in the area of office. The output was beautiful, but Ware with Manuscript, Microsoft in-
memory subsystems. when it was running Ihad to leave the of- cluded it with Word, WordPerfect in-
fice to preserve my hearing. So I re- cluded it with its eponymous best-selling
Obsolete Processors? placed this "machine gun" with anear- word processor, and Aldus shipped it
Is the 8088 a has-been? Hardly. Even letter-quality dot-matrix printer, which with PageMaker. At the same time, Bit-
though the other Intel processors are wasn't much better; it sounded like an stream offered a large family of Font-
faster, the 8088 consumes the least air-raid siren. Ware typefaces for $199 each.
amount of power, especially in CMOS. A laser printer put an end to this prob- Recently, several other type vendors
This makes the 80088 the obvious lem. It makes less noise than acopy ma- have jumped into the fray with their own
choice for battery-powered laptops. The chine while printing immaculate text at scalable font systems. Of these, perhaps
one Iuse runs for 31 / hours on alittle
2 eight pages per minute. However, at the most formidable is Compugraphic.
2-amp-hour nickel-cadmium battery. prices of about $2000 and up, it's not for Users can only welcome the competition,
And 8088-based computers are inexpen- everyone. One alternative is the ink-jet which will undoubtedly bring the prices
sive enough (under $1000) to be sold as printer. For about $700, the HP DesIdet of scalable fonts down to affordable
home computers. offers the same 300-dpi resolution as levels.
Is the 80286 without value? Not if you laser printers and the same silent opera-
care how much bang for abuck you get. tion—although at amuch slower printing Many Tasks, Big Tasks,
AT clones have become commodities— speed. or Many Big Tasks?
you can buy them complete with ahard For desktop publishing, there's noth- One of the most emotional issues in the
disk drive for well under $2000. If you ing like aPostScript printer. It's true that trade press this past year has been the
care about multitasking, an 80386 might the software packages support the less- merit of and prognosis for OS/2. The
be abetter choice, but if you are on abud- expensive Printer Control Language pro-IBM/pro-Microsoft camp takes the
get, you can do fine with an 80286. (PCL) printers, but these printers use up religious position that OS/2 is the or-
Is the 80386SX an idea whose time lots of disk space for holding download- dained and logical successor to DOS.
will never come? Not likely. What the able fonts. Doubters and heretics, although divided

62 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 Circle 258 on Reader Service Card

REDEFINING THE STANDARDS

Bring
Documents
into camps favoring various alternatives
to OS/2, are united in decrying OS/2 as
fat, incomplete, overambitious, under-
supported, and, most damning of all, as-
sociated with IBM.
virtual memory system will.
Phar Lap's 3861VMM is afull-blown,
paged virtual memory system that runs a
20-megabyte program in 4megabytes of
RAM—but it is limited to pricey 80386-
based systems. And neither Phar Lap's
InView
'1=1:11Elan M

At present, OS/2 is an excellent oper-

ating system that offers little or no bene- product nor Rational System's allows bar fir pr alamliarIataMM laia al Sam SS p55
Mmtèmia. Immalr "Mama Malellim
m, MM./ale Magda •MY Irs MIN lam Ileal

fit to end users. For adeveloper, OS/2 multitasking. A.I. Architects has aprod- IM mina ramd,
Man Is 151fl IS
co um ratia M. lab

offers robust multitasking, transparent uct that does both DOS extension and fn.,* éI.ad Med maim talaIIIMI
$.11M. S
M. tr14. amtal ad DM, Im am,

memory management, and excellent de- multitasking—but only if you buy its maam
:uliwut
Mel aroM »M. sIS
m Madame. M Imar

velopment and debugging tools. Given a HummingBoard, which is essentially an- arlmaallomea.

farM

choice between trying new code under other computer. air al lii Mao lalman
as al. girt«.

DESQview allows multitasking, but it ata A 4I,1%

OS/2 or under DOS, I'll always choose IMM
a
r,ii
tanii
a. /MU
Yap aal
IEEMPlal

OS/2. Under OS/2, the bugs show up at won't permit asingle application to use as,
as,
neon
Sial
dadeert,
la

more than 640K bytes of memory. Win-

MANI I III
the instruction that caused them, instead a Mal ma TM. ràaet coM1
I'S da

of, under DOS, resulting in ahung ma- dows/386 allows multitasking of DOS
chine and possibly a corrupted disk and Windows applications, but, again, Actual Screen-132 Columns

ZOOM ou tto seeup to 8ti

directory. DOS applications can't have access to
For an end user, OS/2 offers only po- more than 640K bytes of memory, and on on a singmlee
inf orm ati sm
sc o
reer
e
n

tential. Too many of the currently avail- the memory management used by Win-
able applications for OS/2 are little more dows applications is somewhat limited with InViewni—the high speed file viewer.
and incurs alarge overhead. To give you Now use the full potential of your EGA or VGA
than ports of DOS or Windows applica-
tions. In some cases, they are better or an idea of how much overhead, consider to see multiple pages, with asingle keystroke!
faster or have bigger workspaces than that when Windows 2.1 increased the
yipVV time with adjustable dual windows.
/multiple documents at the same
under DOS; in other cases, something memory available to Windows programs
has been lost in the translation. Mostly, by amere 60K bytes, PageMaker and Ex- Advanced search and mouse support makes
this situation is amatter of immaturity. cel both ran three times faster. document navigation asnap. It's simple to use
OS/2 (and, in particular, PM) is still an Windows applications are, in fact, since it can mimic common key tunctions of
infant system, with little user and soft- very similar to PM applications. One other software packages.
ware base.
Up until the beginning of the summer,
paradoxical result of the marketing push
behind OS/2 and PM has been that Win-
FAST thte
ogrpaeprhaitcion chnainq ues p
mos tr
o
tv
exi
debaf
t a
ss
ete r
d

for instance, the only PM printer driver I dows under DOS has flourished like
products. InView is written entirely in assembly
had was for an IBM dot-matrix printer; never before. Microsoft is now shipping
language for the ultimate in performance. The
now Ihave a full set of Epson printer more copies of Windows than Apple is
result is blinding speed, on any machine!
drivers and aPostScript driver. The ge- shipping Macs; somehow, Idon't think
that was what IBM intended. with all IBM PC, XT, AT,
WORKS PS/2 and compatibles,
neric driver with HP LaserJet support is
coming—you guessed it—real soon.
Unix is much more mature, but it was When Is aPC Not aPC? without device drivers. Not copy protected.
designed by programmers for program- It is atribute to the power of 20 million
mers. OS/2 demands at least 8megabytes PCs and the applications that run on Typical Screen Capacity
of space on your hard disk drive, and its them that most workstations and mini-
GUI, PM, comes standard with the sys- computers support virtual PCs. They Very
Video MDA- Standard Standard Super Hi _
Ges
tem. Unix demands at least 32 mega- support them in two ways: with a PC EGA VGA EGA/VGA
Adapter CGA VGA
bytes, and it has several competing board or with PC-emulation software.
GUIs, none of which is standard. Of At the same time, high-end PCs are Mono FD:ed Fixed Mue Multi-
Monitor Sync' Sync*
these, OSF/Motif (from Open Software trying to be workstations and minicom- ECIA VGA
:.,...:, .›,„,?.,;;;',.6,,zi, -g
-- ,e,
..- 1,: i•'4.,
-S:si- .; ,
.;,., ,
Foundation) has the virtue of interopera- puters. What's the difference between a
PC and a workstation? It's not just the Columns 81) 80 90 132 160+
bility with PM and the backing of over
100 of the players in the Unix market. nameplate. Workstations come with big Rows 25 87 120 140 180
But Open Look has the backing of both displays, lots of RAM and disk space,
'All combinat ons of co umns and rows may not
Unix originator AT&T and Unix Interna- Ethernet built in, and specialized soft- be possible on some equipment
tional, the rival consortium to OSF. ware. The very word workstation denotes

In View $69"
While Unix and OS/2 both offer full- connectivity. The phrase personal com-
blown multitasking and virtual memory, puter denotes isolation and autonomy.
most of the DOS-based alternatives offer Workstation vendors are quick to tell
only one or the other—and sometimes you that their systems and applications Shipping 8. Handing USA $3; Canada/Mexico $-
10: Other Countries
neither. DOS extenders, such as Rational software make as much difference as $15: CA Residents add sales tax. VisaiMasterCardiCOD accepted.

System's DOS/16M (used by Lotus for their hardware. Workstations generally

its 1-2-3 release 3.0), offer access to all run Unix or something similar and al- For orders or information call:
1-800-662-8266
the extended memory in your machine, ways have aGUI; the mouse and graphics
up to the 80286's addressable limit of 16 display come standard. Intense engineer-
megabytes of RAM. This is a big im- ing applications, such as printed-circuit-
provement over DOS's 640K-byte limit, board routing, take advantage of all V COMMUNICATIONS, INC
but it won't let you run a 20-megabyte workstation features: gobs of memory, 3031 Tisch Way, Suite 802, Dept. BYT
program in 4 megabytes of RAM like a continued San Jose, CA 95128 (408) 296-4224

BY IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 63

Circle 215 on Reader Service Card

REDEFINING THE STANDARDS

Control Your
Presentation
scads of disk space, plenty of pixels, PCs equipped with this type of modem.
with transparent networking, and aGUI. Adaptive Networks is one of the compa-
GUIs are necessary features on a
SilentPartner'
nies that make this type of modem.
workstation for many reasons. To begin A relatively new wrinkle on the whole
with, they look good. Don't discount vi- LAN concept is to eliminate the wires al-

Only $349.00!
sual appeal—it makes abig difference in together. O'Neill Communications has
your attitude if you're looking at some- developed a wireless LAN that uses a
thing attractive. In addition, GUIs are high-frequency radio to communicate
SilentPartner, the first universal easy to learn and easy to use. Then throw between network nodes. The local-area
handheld remote keyboard, is the into the GUI's feature/benefit statement wireless network is designed primarily
most powerful, easy to use, reli- the advantage of interoperability among for workgroups with as many as 20 users
able and compatible wireless con- different computers and operating sys- who want to share peripherals, such as
tems, and you have some rather compel- laser printers or modems, to transfer
troller for PCs. Use SilentPartner
ling reasons for mice and windows. Once files, and to send and receive E-mail. A
for presentations, training, meet-
you have learned to use Microsoft Win- LAWN doesn't allow file sharing, and its
ings, briefings or any other PC-
dows, for instance, you'll find that you operating system won't support client/
PS/2 remote control application.
already know how to use OSF/Motif and server applications.
OS/2 PM. Although the $495 cost per node of a
LAWN is higher than most low-end or
To LAN, or Not to LAN? zero-slot LANs, which run as low as
PC LANs have begun to seriously chal- $100 per node, O'Neill Communications
lenge minicomputers as the best host for claims that the savings from not having to
multiuser applications. You would think wire up a network more than compen-
that computers would be cheaper by the sates for the difference.
dozen, but when you have to wire them
together, the costs add up quickly. The Yellow Brick Road
Consider that the file server is prob- What's happening in IBM's Oz? If you
ably a 25- or 33-MHz 80386 machine look down the yellow brick road, you'll
with at least 6 megabytes of RAM and see faster, smaller, and less-expensive
300 megabytes of hard disk space. It PCs. You'll also see standardized win-
needs an uninterruptible power supply to dow-icon-mouse-pixel interfaces across
avoid file and database corruption prob- all computing platforms and operating
lems; its software costs anywhere from systems, and transparent data exchange
$2000 to $8000; and its network cards among different brands of computers,
and wiring are likely to run $500 per whether they run DOS, OS/2, Unix,
workstation. LANs may be cheap com- VMS, or Pick. Along with optical-stor-
pared to minicomputers, but they can be age facilities, helical-scan tape backup
• Use with any LCD panel pricey compared to stand-alone micro- devices will become popular.
or video projector computers, even considering the savings But if the past is any guide, you're in
• Plug into keyboard (no soft- gained by sharing peripherals. for some surprises. What will be the next
ware driver!) or serial port One way to cut the cost of anetwork is new application area for PCs—next
to use diskless workstations. MIS man- year's equivalent of desktop publishing
• Easy to program and use agers love this solution—it gives them or distributed databases?
back the control they lost when PCs The most striking thing about PCs this
SilentPartner works reliably with started taking over from big iron. But a year, though, isn't how fast they run or
virtually all software for the PC, user on adiskless workstation is totally how portable they are or how much
dependent on the availability of the file graphics resolution comes in how many
even OS/2 and UNIX. Silent-
server. One little disk problem, and you zillion colors or how they network; it's
Partner can enter all keyboard
have 50 people telling customers, "I'm something much more subtle. PCs have
commands and adds the power of sorry, Ican't help you right now—the
macros to any program! Imagine, system's down." done more than join the mainstream of
computing; by their very numbers and
presenting with any software, free Another way to reduce the cost of a practical importance, they have become
from the keyboard! You have all network is to eliminate the file server.
the mainstream of computing. PCs
the parts of a great computer However, in the process, you lose some aren't "toys" beneath the contempt of
presentation system except the performance and features. OS/2 LAN MIS and corporate computing managers
one that puts you in control... Manager, while it embodies a client- anymore. PCs are an essential, ubiqui-
server model, can be set up with servers tious part of the computing toolkit in
SilentPartner running as tasks on workstations. Trans- businesses large and small, in academia,
M is one firm that makes apeer-to-peer in science and engineering, and in pub-
network, also known as azero-slot LAN. lishing. •
There are some modems that now let
800-888-9281 PCs communicate through wall sockets. Martin Heller develops software and
Presentation Electronics Incorporated
You can plug your computer in, unplug writes about technical computer applica-
4320 Anthony Court, 48, Rocklin, CA 95677 it, move it, and plug it in again; it will tions. He holds a Ph.D. in physics. He
still be able to communicate with other can be reached on BIX as "mheller."

64 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

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 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

THE 80486:
A HARDWARE
PERSPECTIVE
By putting the math coprocessor and cache controller on-chip,
Intel shows that the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts

Ron Sartore

y now, you probably testing or programmability. Because pin 80486. The designers eliminated
know that Intel's 80486 Intel has not publicly defined the 16 no- four of the 80386's pins, added 20 pins to
consists of a "souped- connect pins, system designers and de- allow for integrated and new features,
up" 80386 processor, an signers of printed circuit board layouts and threw in 19 inert logic pins. All the
enhanced 80387 copro- can immediately say: "Our project is al- remaining 129 pins can be considered
cessor, an integral cache controller, and ready 10 percent done." Unfortunately, logically identical. Iguess that makes the
8K bytes of static RAM (SRAM) all completion of the job comes with more project 88 percent complete now (129 +
rolled into a1.2-million-transistor pack- difficulty. 19 /168 = .88 ). Piece of cake. The text
age. You've probably read and reread all Table 1shows the pin-out differences box "The New Pins on the Block" on
the marketing explanations and rationale between the 132-pin 80386 and the 168- page 70 provides ashort description for
behind the 80486 (see the text each new signal.
box "The Economics of Per-
formance" on page 68). But What's New?
have you thought about the It may be instructive to think
real aspects of constructing a of the 80486's new features as
well-behaved, high-perfor- three different kinds of
mance AT system around the "hooks": cost-reduction/
80486? convenience hooks, perfor-
nance-improvement hooks,
On the Pins Ind future hooks. Some of the
A comparison of the 80386 new features hit combinations
and 80486 pin-outs reveals 36 of these. The easiest new sig-
more pins on the 80486. Some nal to categorize is the pin
extra pins provide more that identifies transfers to an
power connections to the de- 8-bit device (the /BS8 pin).
vice, some allow the proper This pin is an obvious cost-re-
use of the newly integrated duction/convenience feature
caching and coprocessor ele- because it enables the 80486
ments, and others can be con- to recognize and adjust itself
sidered outright new features. to devices that can accept only
Many have been left as "no- 8-bit transfers.
connects"—pins that you can On the other hand, the sig-
truly leave unconnected—that nals involving bus ownership
will be available to future and control (there are three of
software development tools or these) in conjunction with the
to provide amethod for spe- six pins used to manage the
cific manufacturing circuit continued

ILLUSTRATION: CLAUDIA TANTILLO CD 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 67
 THE 80486: A HARDWARE PERSPECTIVE

The Economics of Performance

Gene Su mrall

Tfthe laws of supply and demand con- system cost less?" Based on Intel's ini- than $650. And now the hard part: You
tinue to function as they have in the tial pricing of the 25-MHz 80486 and must find an adapter board with two
past, you may be able to purchase an the 33-MHz 80386 chip sets, it appears serial ports and one parallel port for
80486 system for less than some compa- that the answer is yes. There is, how- less than $8050. If you can find one for
rably configured 33-MHz 80386 sys- ever, asmall problem. about $45, you have succeeded in build-
tems. When you total the cost of a33- The first 80486 chips will be in short ing abase model 80486 for $6995. This
MHz 80386 CPU, a 33-MHz 80387 supply. If Intel distributes them in the is less than some comparably config-
math coprocessor, and a33-MHz 82385 same way that it did the 80386 chips, ured 33-MHz 80386s.
cache controller chip, you come up with initial shipments will go exclusively to
$991. That's $41 more than the cost of the major PC companies and large dis- Family Planning
the 25-MHz 80486 chip. The compari- tributors of PC components. If history When Intel introduced the 80486, it
son becomes even more lopsided when repeats itself, the first 80486 systems made apromise to the PC world that
you consider that the 33-MHz 80386 de- may list for more than $15,000. As the went something like this: "If you de-
sign requires expensive static RAM and volume of 80486s increases, shipments velop operating systems and software
glue logic that raises the ante even more. will find their way to the smaller, more for the 80386 instruction set, you can
It becomes laughable when you consider competitive PC companies, and that's depend on having asolid platform for
the difference in performance. when you should see an interesting the next 10 years and beyond." Every
It's interesting that Intel should ini- phenomenon. major hardware and software company
tially price the 80486 chip lower than a Assembling a hypothetical $15,000 in the industry has given the Intel 80386
not-so-comparable 33-MHz 80386 chip 80486 system, dollar by dollar, should instruction set its blessing. Predicting
set. Intel certainly knows that the 80486 prove instructive. The CPU will cost the future of the PC industry has never
is considerably faster and has more fea- $950, aprice set by Intel. An 80486 sys- been easier—it will be based on the 32-
tures, and that PC manufacturers will tem board, less CPU and memory, bit 80386 instruction set. The least com-
gladly pay apremium for it. From acost should have a street value of about mon denominator has been defined.
point of view, 80486 systems should sell $2750. Add in $800 for 4megabytes of Predicting the obvious is easy; con-
for less than 80386 systems. From aper- memory, and you still have $10,500 left verting that knowledge into apurchas-
formance and functionality point of to spend. A case, a250-watt power sup- ing strategy for the 1990s is the hard
view, 80486 systems should sell for ply, and aquality keyboard will cost an- part. Perhaps Ican help here. You can
much more. Intel has provided the best other $400. Then you include the stan- immediately eliminate any processor
of both worlds: relatively low cost and dard 1.2-megabyte floppy disk drive, that does not have the ability to run the
high performance. Eventually, supply and, while you're at it, add a 1.44- 80386 instruction set. Then your choice
and demand will correct this odd situa- megabyte floppy disk drive just to be is between three members of the Intel
tion, presumably by reducing the mar- safe. With a 100-megabyte ESDI hard family of 80386-based chips.
ket price of the 80386 chip sets. disk drive and a 1-to-1 interleave con- The baby of the family is the 16-MHz
troller, this adds about $1400. 80386SX, previously known as the P9.
What's the Cost? You now have $8700 left. A quality Think of the 80386SX as afast 80286
You may reasonably ask, "If the cost of 14-inch VGA multisync monitor and chip that has the ability to run 32-bit
the 80486 chip is less, will an 80486 VGA adapter card should be no more 80386 code at amiserably slow pace. If

80486's cache appear to contain all the crease the system's performance later in MHz 80286 would require amemory ac-
essential ingredients to construct multi- the article. cess to be complete within 125-
ple 80486 machines. The implicit soft- nanosecond clock increments-125 ns,
ware development needed to take full ad- A History of Memory Demands 250 ns, and 375 as correspond to zero,
vantage of such a hardware-concurrent Back in 1985, when the first volume one, and two wait states, respectively).
architecture is realistically five to 10 shipments of zero-wait-state memory Late in 1986, 80386 processor systems
years in the future. (If that sounds pessi- add-ons for the AT became available, emerged with 16-MHz clock speeds.
mistic, look at how far protected-mode users would ask: "What's await state?" Now wait states were measured in incre-
code for the 80286 and 80386 has gone!) Today, performance is recognized to be ments of 62.5 ns, and systems were un-
See the text box "The BIOS Challenge" gauged almost solely on the number of able to achieve true zero-wait-state per-
on page 72 for more details on utilizing wait states between the processor and the formance using conventional DRAMs.
the 80486. memory subsystem. Yet the wait-state Many (somewhat unethical) suppliers,
The "new-feature" pins that provide question is still as valid (and more com- attempting to boost their 80386 specifi-
for asignificant (though subtle) perfor- plex) today as it was then. cations, claimed (wrongly) that they
mance advantage—ignoring the cache In 1985 the processor of distinction were running zero wait states when in
and coprocessor—are the ones associated was the 80286 (and then only at 6and 8 fact they were running with one or two.
with the parity path and the address bit MHz). The 80286, with its coarse clock Actually, they were using the 8-MHz
20 gating. I'll go into the details of how granularity, made zero-wait-state opera- 80286 as the yardstick. Their fear was
the parity path and address A20 gate in- tion relatively straightforward (i.e., an 8- that if they advertised their machines as

68 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 THE 80486: A HARDWARE PERSPECTIVE

job of keeping the contents of the fast

SRAM valid fell right back on good old Table 1: Pin changes for the
DRAM. 80486. The total of added pins
From table 2(which represents an op- yields 39—four pins more than
timistic, high-performance implementa- expected—until the defunct 80386
tion), it is apparent that many so-called pins are removed.
you are absolutely certain that you will zero-wait-state systems are reading adif-
continue to run primarily DOS, with a ferent spec sheet than Intel's. Table 3 New feature pins
few OS/2 applications mixed in, the shows asimilar comparison for both the
80386SX could be a possible choice. 25- and 33-MHz 80486. Parity path 5pins
Burst transfers 2pins
Like the other members of the 80386
AT A20 emulation 1pin
family, the 80386SX has the ability to The Burst and the Pipeline
8-bit bus interface 1pin
simulate EMS 4.0 in extended memory. The major memory-access difference be- Bus ownership and control 3pins
No special expanded-memory boards tween the 80386 and 80486 (excluding
are required; software does the trick. If the 80486's on-chip cache) is pipelined New "forced-feature" pins
you use programs such as DESQview or versus burst operation. The 80386 has a Cache controller 6pins
Lotus 1-2-3, this could be justification feature called "pipelined access" that Coprocessor 2pins
for purchasing the 80386SX as opposed was not fully utilized by most systems or
to afast 80286 system. But when you entirely effective in some situations. New inert pins
Ground 7pins
consider that atrue 32-bit 80386 system Pipelined access presented the address of
Power 4pins
costs only afew dollars more, the the next access—if available and at the
No-connects 8pins
80386SX is not your best choice. system's request—so that memory could
The true 32-bit 80386 (the DX series) have ahead start on that next access. A Dropped 80386 pins
is available in four flavors: 16-MHz, good concept, yet it appears that it was No pipelining 1pin
20-MHz, 25-MHz, and 33-MHz. Sys- often utilized only to keep the 80386's Coprocessor/
tems based on the 16-MHz and 20-MHz instruction prefetch buffer full. (The in- CPU interconnect 3pins
versions of the 80386 series are obvious struction prefetch buffer assumed that a
winners in the low-end 80386 market- series of linear sequential addresses
place. They offer exceptional value as would be the next required code and tried tocol required of the first access. You
compared to the 80386SX at about the to maintain four words resident within may recognize the burst concept under a
same price. It is reasonable to expect the chip.) Often this effort proved to be different name: nibble mode, video
that, in time, the prices of 25-MHz and nothing more than memory busywork, RAM, page mode, or any block transfer
33-MHz chips will drop and that they thus creating the undesired side effect of mechanism. Even disk drives have en-
will take the place of the slower chips. keeping the DRAM system in anonopti- dorsed this technique, albeit under the
It's agiven that the 80486 will domi- mal situation for fast access. Pipelined name "multiple sector transfers." Mem-
nate the high end of the PC market be- memory writes were also hampered by ory bandwidth is greatly enhanced by
cause it has no competitors. If you are not having the data until after apending this concept.
thinking of buying a 25-MHz or 33- read was completed. (The pipelined A quick calculation of the system's
MHz 80386, you should now seriously write could not proceed until the data memory speed requiréments to support
consider the 80486 as an option. from apreceding pipelined read left the the 80486 burst mode reveals an amaz-
data bus.) The perfect hurry-up-and- ingly obvious memory architecture.
Gene Sumrall is cofounder of Cheetah wait scenario. Given that the chip has one clock to
International, Inc., in Longview, Texas. Armed with 20/20 hindsight, Intel transfer data to and from memory and
He can be reached on BIXdo "editors." saw that the intended function of the that the preferred memory device would
80386's instruction prefetch buffer was be DRAM, how can you utilize the rela-
nothing more than apoor man's cache. tively slow and less expensive DRAM?
executing at anything but zero wait Put the cache on-chip, chuck the prefetch Remember, the 80486 already has an on-
states, the machines would have been mechanism as we know it, and—voilà— chip SRAM cache.
perceived as running slower than ano- instant 80486. As to the pipeline mecha- The answer lies in the fact that akey
wait-state 8-MHz AT clone. nism, it's agood concept (maybe pipe- element of bandwidth is width. Even for
As Intel improved clock speeds on the lined bursts are to come on the 80586), the 33-MHz 80486, true zero-wait-state
80386, the memory speed demands ex- yet in the 80386 implementation it still burst cycles can be achieved by using
ceeded the capabilities of conventional took two clock cycles per transfer, DRAM. This is possible by structuring
DRAM architectures. Following the his- whereas the 80486 burst mode takes only the 80486 main memory -as 64 bits wide.
tory of mainframes, main-storage one. To state it simply, the 80486 burst- The initial access to the memory requires
SRAM caches became common in high- transfer mechanism represents atwofold only one true wait state, while the subse-
speed 80386 systems. These high-speed increase in data transfer rates over the quent accesses are already present. The
SRAM caches were able to achieve zero- equivalent 80386 clocked approach. third and fourth accesses of the burst
wait-state operation most of the time. Burst mode, an old mainframe bus each then utilize the clocked page-mode
Many benchmarks ran as never before, technique, rightfully assumes that most mechanism to achieve zero wait states.
yet not all applications reflected the im- of the delay in accessing main storage is The implementation of this approach is
provement indicated by the benchmark. in the connection time to retrieve aspe- not difficult or unwieldy, and a 60-ns
Why? Well, ignoring applications that cific data address. Once the initial access DRAM array organized in a64-bit-wide
were truly I/O bound, certain applica- occurs, adjacent or neighboring data is architecture is capable of achieving a
tions kept thrashing the cache, and the readily available without the formal pro- continued

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 69

 THE 80486: A HARDWARE PERSPECTIVE

The New Pins on the Block

Hsor's new pins. They are catego-

ere's a list of the 80486 proces- sors this function was handled through external device to present the 80486
external hardware. with an address. If that address matches
rized by function, with descriptions of an address in the 80486's cache, the as-
what they'll mean for upcoming sys- Bus Ownership and Control sociated data is flagged as invalid. For
tems built around the 80486. BREQ: The bus request output signal an AT single-processor machine, only
indicates that the CPU needs the ad- direct-memory-access cycles would re-
Parity Path dress/data bus. BREQ lightens the task quire use of this mechanism. In amulti-
DPO-DP3: The four parity data path of designing well-behaved multiple-pro- ple-processor implementation, this in-
(I/O) pins allow less external logic and cessor systems. validation would likely occur from
faster memory interface than on the another processor.
80386. /BOFF: With the back off input, an ex-
ternal system device (another proces- /FLUSH: The flush cache input could
/PCHCK: The parity checker output pin sor, perhaps) can take control of the en- be considered the "punt" approach to
signals aparity error and emulates the tire address/data bus, even within an cache management. Essentially, it in-
AT memory parity-check function. active, yet incomplete, cycle. forms the 80486 that the entire contents
Note that the system must decide wheth- of its cache are invalid. Why would you
er to pay attention to this error. For ex- /PLOCK: Intel defines the pseudolock need this? Consider one 80486 electron-
ample, RAM on video boards carries no output signal as abus cycle definition. ically switching between two complete-
parity component and so will likely gen- From asystem viewpoint, it appears to ly different memory systems. Each time
erate aparity error that the system can be more of a pseudo-bus-priority bit. the processor switched to anew system,
ignore. When the processor asserts this signal, its entire cache would be invalidated.
it's saying "Don't take the bus away With proper management of the other
Burst Transfers now; I've transferred only part of the signals (i.e., /KEN, /EADS, and
/BRDY: The burst-ready input pin indi- data Iwanted." This differs from the AHOLD) this should be alast resort.
cates that the current cycle is complete /LOCK bit, which typically signifies a
and that the system will assume data critical read-modify-write operation in PWT, PCD: The page write-through
transfer in the next clock cycle unless which no other system element can ex- and page cache-disable output pins re-
signal /BLAST is presented. amine the item being modified until the flect bit settings in internal registers.
current operation is complete. While /KEN allows hardware to control
/BLAST: The burst last output signifies the caching of specific physical regions
that burst-transfer mode is done. Cache Control of memory, these pins indicate caching
/KEN: The system is required to control control that software has exerted over
AT A20 Emulation the cache enable input through hard- logical memory pages.
/A20M: This input is the address bit 20 ware. In practice, rather than being
mask. When the system asserts /A20M, used to enable cache, this signal is most Coprocessor
address bit A20 from the CPU is forced frequently used to disable areas of mem- /FERR: The floating-point error output
low (under 1megabyte). This function ory that cannot be cached. System im- pin is similar to the 80387's error pin
was previously implemented by the AT plementations vary, but for most AT and is used under certain conditions to
to maintain 8086 compatibility. machines, the area of memory between generate interrupt 13 on ATs.
640K bytes and 1megabyte should not
8-bit Bus Interface be cached because it holds I/O-con- /IGNNE: The ignore numeric processor
/BS8: The system board provides the trolled and externally swapped data. error input pin has no effect if not prop-
bus size 8bits input signal in response to Caching it proves futile or disastrous. erly activated by software. Iassume that
atransfer request when the desired sys- this pin will be properly managed by an
tem element can execute only 8-bit AHOLD, /EADS: The address hold and unannounced coprocessor. For now,
transfers. On 80286 and 80386 proces- external address strobe inputs allow an this an elaborate no-connect.

sustained processor/memory transfer word; assert burst ready to the (best case with zero-wait-state cache and
rate of over 88 megabytes per second in 80486. Start 64-bit access of the next assuming acache hit):
burst mode. page.
Here's how it works on the 80486 Clock cycle 4: Transfer latched Clock cycle I: CPU initiates access.
using DRAM (organized for a 64-bit- contents of memory (the second Clock cycle 2: Memory responds
wide data bus): word); assert burst ready. with the first word.
Clock cycle 5: Transfer the third Clock cycle 3: CPU initiates access.
Clock cycle 1: The CPU initiates word (paged); assert burst ready. Clock cycle 4: Memory responds
access. Clock cycle 6: Transfer the fourth with the second word.
Clock cycle 2: The memory is not word (paged); assert burst ready. Clock cycle 5: CPU initiates access.
ready; add await state. Clock cycle 6: Memory responds
Clock cycle 3: Transfer the first Here's how it would play on the 80386 continued

70 Fall 1989 • BYT E IBM Special Edition

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Circle 180 on Reader Service Card
 THE 80486: A HARDWARE PERSPECTIVE

The BIOS Challenge

René Vishney
Protected-mode operating systems or
T he 80486 processor has taken AT Timing Is Everything
architecture to a new plateau. Since the last IBM PC AT 8-MHz up- applications will need to change meth-
Throughout Award Software's develop- date, 80286/80386 processor speeds ods for trapping coprocessor instruc-
ment of aBIOS for the Intel 80486 (in have doubled and tripled. Using timing tions. Such changes will be well worth
conjunction with Cheetah Internation- loops that depend on processor speed the effort; initial benchmarks have
al), our benchmark tests have shown has been invalid for several years. shown an order of magnitude of im-
performance to be significantly greater You've got to use other methods within provement in the performance of float-
than existing 80386 processor architec- the AT architecture to find a reliable ing-point instructions. Most packages
tures with acache controller and math real-time base. Two such methods are on the market now are conservative in
coprocessor. Benchmark tests will need available on the 80486. The first utilizes their use of floating-point instructions,
to be rewritten to reflect this perfor- arefresh timer that can reliably return even in applications that double in per-
mance improvement. 30-microsecond time bases. Award's formance with a coprocessor. Most
An 80386 BIOS will run on current 80486 BIOS uses this method for the standard systems do not contain a co-
implementations of the 80486, but with- timing of "slow" devices such as floppy processor for cost reasons. Developers
out the 80486 BIOS you won't experi- disk drives and hard disk drives. simply cannot afford to write applica-
ence the improved performance of the The second method involves timing tions for only 10 percent of the potential
built-in cache controller and math co- between accesses of external chips to market. The bulk of the compiled code
processor. Using an 80386-style BIOS the processor, such as the direct-mem- still uses floating-point emulation.
on an 80486 would be like using an ory-access controller and the interrupt For example, C's floor () function,
80286 BIOS on an 80386 machine. The controller (i.e., the CPU has to wait a commonly used in comparisons, can
critical hardware and relatively minor few clock cycles for aperipheral chip to use floating-point libraries. This type
software differences between the 80386 become ready). Timings of this sort re- of code would normally compile with
and 80486 technologies are the keys to quire delays of several microseconds. emulation; atrue coprocessor would be
understanding how the 80486 BIOS can The only time base available is through restricted to more time-critical areas.
give users the full benefit of this new executing CPU instructions that con- However, because the 80486 guarantees
technology. sume aknown number of cycles. Cache the availability of a floating-point co-
controllers for the 80386 have caused processor, applications can be packaged
Not the Same some problems in this area as guaran- with all sections of the code utilizing
Intel has incorporated many new fea- teed times for instruction fetches have floating-point, which will provide
tures into the 80486 that allow it to sup- been reduced. There are several nonde- greater overall performance.
port multiple processor systems. Other structive instructions that you can use to Intel is encouraging ajoint effort to
significant enhancements include an "spin the wheels." By experimenting, develop astandard method for software
on-board math coprocessor and an on- we found that we could use more or less applications (primarily operating sys-
board cache controller. These additions the same delay instructions on the tems) to identify the processor type and
will help remove the processor-speed 80486 that we used on the 80386, even revision of the 80486. The intent is to
bottlenecks that are characteristic of cur- at the greater speeds. begin planning for future extensions to
rent 80386 systems. The associated in- the processor family. If these efforts be-
creased performance of the 80486 has Minor Software Differences come astandard, they will also be appli-
proved to be greater than the obvious In terms of software, even at the BIOS cable to the 80386 architectures already
combination of an 80386, an 80385 cache and operating-system level, there are in the field with the appropriate BIOS
controller, and an 80387 math copro- few differences between an 80386 and changes. In fact, the 80486 will require
cessor system. To put it tritely, the whole an 80486. These differences will re- BIOS products to evolve to provide asta-
is greater than the sum of its parts. quire changes at the system level but ble platform for software in this market.
Power-on self-test operations have should not affect upward migrations of
also been improved in the 80486. The 80386 applications to the 80486. Wide Open
80486's loop timing allows the entire The software differences involve the The 80486 processor will open up many
POST routine to run faster than on an on-chip math coprocessor and the cache new possibilities in hardware design.
80386. Now that the cache is on the pro- controller. Some flags used to interact The work on fully utilizing the 80486
cessor, the BIOS includes a POST with the math coprocessor in protected through the BIOS has only begun. BIOS
cache-memory test. The POST math co- mode behave differently. Intel has also products for it will constantly be up-
processor routine is also faster now that added new instructions to control the dated, upgraded, and introduced as new
the coprocessor is no longer outside of initialization of the internal cache. The capabilities become available through-
the CPU. Award's POST routines flash only functional effects on the BIOS are out the 1990s.
the chip's version number on the chip on differences in initialization. For exam-
the screen, making life easier for field ple, apreviously nonfatal error in co- René Vishney is president of Award Soft-
*ice technicians and system de- processor initialization becomes afatal ware, Inc., in Los Gatos, California. He
velopers. processor error. can be reached on BIX do "editors."

72 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 THE 80486: A HARDWARE PERSPECTIVE

with the third word.

Clock cycle 7: CPU initiates access. Table 2: The 80386 zero-wait-state comparison (nonpipelined read). All times
Clock cycle 8: Memory responds are in nanoseconds. All CPU timings are from the Intel 1989 Microprocessor
with the fourth word. and Peripheral Handbook, vol. 1(Intel Corp., 1989).

You should realize that the above com- CPU speed 16 MHz 20 MHz 25 MHz 33 MHz
parison shows the 80386 in its very best
light. Also, the 80486 has an on-chip Zero-wait-state
cache that frequently relegates the main access budget 125 100 80 60
memory to the chore of efficiently filling Address valid delay
the on-chip cache—a chore well-per- (from CPU) —36 —30 —21 —5
formed by the burst-transfer mechanism Address buffers
of the 80486. (CPU to memory) —6.5 —6.5 —6.5 —6.5
The use of a64-bit-wide DRAM archi- Data buffers —4.5 —4.5 —4.5 —4.5
tecture does present some challenges to a Data setup
system's minimum memory configura- to CPU —11 —11 —7 —5
tion. For example, implementing this ap-
proach with 1 megabit x 1 DRAMs Remaining time
would require 72 devices, yielding atotal for zero-wait-state
of 8 megabytes minimum of system memory device 67 45 40 29
memory. Each expansion to this ap- Remaining time
proach would also be in 8-megabyte in- for one-wait-
crements. Using 256K X 4 DRAMs state memory
device 129.5 95 80 59
solves the memory granularity problem
for this 64-bit architecture but compli- Remaining time
cates the parity data path by requiring for two-wait-state
the inefficient use of 1 megabit x 1 memory device 192 145 120 89
DRAMs or the mixing of current-tech-
nology (256K-bit x 4) with older-tech-
nology (256K-bit x 1) DRAMs (i.e.,
you would need one 256K-bit x 1 Table 3: The 80486 zero-wait-state comparison (nonburst-mode read). All
DRAM—parity—for each pair of 256K- times are in nanoseconds.
bit x 4 DRAMs). Furthermore, many
currently available high-density single CPU speed 25 MHz 33 MHz
in-line memory modules (SIMMs) do not
provide for the mixing of DRAM tech- Zero-wait-state access budget 80 60
nologies. These obstacles are not actu- Address valid delay (from CPU) —22 —19
ally technical problems, but they do pre- Address buffers (CPU to memory) —6.5 —6.5
sent areal conflict in attaining minimum Data buffers —4.5 —4.5
system costs while achieving highest sys- Data setup to CPU —5 —5
tem performance.
Remaining time for
Problems Solved zero-wait-state memory device 44 35
Writing parity-checked data to main Remaining time
memory on 80386 systems has always for one-wait-state memory device 84 65
been trouble, because the fastest you Remaining time for
could generate the parity checkbit was 17 two-wait-state memory device 124 95
ns after you were presented with valid
data from the CPU. This wreaked havoc
with control logic because it alone repre- In the 8086 world, no address could go level (an additional delay) within the sys-
sents half await state for a33-MHz sys- beyond 1megabyte (there was no address tem to perform this task. The result is
tem. Should you complicate the control line A20). Computed addresses beyond that when an address is asserted on the
of the parity data bit during writes by the 1-megabyte limit would "wrap back" address bus, every line except A20 be-
treating it separately? Or should you pe- into low-order memory. IBM's AT de- comes valid in a specified time. Thus,
nalize read access time to accommodate signers rightfully maintained that com- for the memory speed requirement to
the write constraint? patibility through the 80286. They ac- achieve the zero wait states shown in
Happily, Intel's engineers plugged complished this by masking off table 2, you must subtract agood 7 ns.
this hole on the 80486 by adding aparity (jamming inactive) the address A20 line That's a10 percent slowdown to a70-ns
path. Now when all data bits are valid on through a control spigot from the key- memory.
the data bus, that includes the parity bits. board controller chip. Fortunately, Intel engineers came to
Thank you, Intel. Brilliant, right? Not quite. Remember the 80486's rescue again. They've added
The 80386 still bears the scars of the the zero-wait-state calculations in table a line into the chip that, when active,
8086's migration upward through the 2? Well, those figures don't compensate tells the chip to operate its A20 line to
80286. One particularly visible injury for aslow address line A20. So hardware emulate the action of the AT's A20 line.
was Intel's handling of address bit A20. designers were expected to insert alogic continued

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 73

 THE 80486: A HARDWARE PERSPECTIVE

No major logic here, but amajor perfor-

mance boost. It's obvious that the semi-
conductor group at Intel had an excellent
system mouthpiece (their board group? processor clock speeds
A. data I/O bus 80486 is (if you consider
multiple 80486 systems), it is not adesir-
able architecture in a 60-MHz single-
processor implementation.
IBM? other users?) to champion this The solution? Separate the data lines
cause. Bravo! increase, the physical on the CPU into DATA OUT and DATA
IN. (Hey, at $1000 achip, what do afew
What They Missed properties of electronics more pins cost?)
The 80486 contains so many great sys- The 80486 represents alogical growth
tem features that to criticize any part of it remain the same. of the PC-compatible standard. That says
seems almost blasphemous. My personal alot. The large base of applications soft-
gripes with the chip are relatively minor ware that has been established for the
at 25 MHz but become substantial when 80x86 is unparalleled in computing's
you extrapolate operation at 40 and 60 short history. The 80486 promises to be a
MHz. Ibase these opinions not on RISC To the engineer, this presents reliability major commitment by Intel to software
versus CISC issues, but on the more fun- and manufacturing problems if not given development maturation and stability.
damental issues of the physics of elec- proper attention. The job of hardware is to provide the reli-
tronics. The problem is exacerbated as system- able vehicle to maintain and enhance this
System implementers have had their memory speeds increase. Given the elec- desirable goal.
hands full "managing" a common I/O tronics components currently available to All CPU timings for the 80386 come
bus at 33 MHz. The difficulty lies in system designers, the quickest they can from Intel's 1989 Microprocessor and
avoiding bus contention. Data travels turn off or "shut up" abus source from Peripheral Handbook, vol. 1. All CPU
along the bus from asource to adestina- driving a common bus is about 11 ns. timings for the 80486 are from Intel's
tion (memory to CPU or vice versa), and This suggests that, in theory, ultimate manual, 80486 Microprocessor, April
bus contention occurs when—in the pro- usable processor speed is limited to 45 1989 (#240440-001). •
cess of switching from one source to an- MHz. And even as processor clock
other—two sources are present on the bus speeds continue to increase, the basic Ron Sartore is cofounder of Cheetah In-
simultaneously. To the layman, I can physical properties of electronics aren't ternational, Inc., in Longview, Texas.
best describe this as abrief short circuit. going to change. As useful as common He can be reached on BIX c/o "editors."

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Circle 293 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 294)

 The Era of the
Personal Workstation
The TESS IV PERSONAL WORK-
W
hen 1981 the first personal com- The TESS IV PERSONAL WORK-
uter from IBM was introduced to STATION is based on the Intel i486 mic- STATION is equipped with four serial
the market, no expert predicted it's suc- roprocessor. This microprocessor com- and two parallel external interfaces. It
cess. After only one year, this computer bines the features of the 80386 micropro- can be expanded by plug-in expansion
set anew standard, the PC standard. Of cessor and the 80387 arithmetic copro- cards compatible to the ISA-bus interfa-
course, there were other computers, like cessor together with asophisticated ca- ce. The complete system exept the desk-
the Apple II. Some of these computers che management unit on one chip. The top devices is mounted in atrim deskside
were faster and more reliable than the 1486 microprocessor has a raw proces- tower case in aunique design. It is powe-
IBM PC. But the standard was set by this sing power of 14-15 MIPS. In the TESS red by a300 W switching power supply
machine. And it was set by the users, IV PERSONAL WORKSTATION, this with build-in battery backup and surge
who bought this computer and deman- microprocessor is combined with 8Me- protection.
ded applications, programs, peripherals gabyte of 70 ns dynamic random access
To unleash the full processing power
and services. A whole industry grew up memory. The system has aclock rate of
of the i486 microprocessor, we chose the
with this one machine. The personal 25 MHz. Early benchmarks indicated a
newly developed Open Desktop from
computers of today are the great-grand- processing power of 12 MIPS for the
SCO as operating system. Open Desktop
children of this little computer. One can whole system. We developed aconfigu-
ration for this system, which represents features the full 32-bit, multiuser, multi-
find it's roots in nearly every personal
tasking capabilities of the UNIX System,
computer that works with MS-DOS. the best combination of available op-
agraphical user interface offering Pre-
When the IBM PC was introduced, it tions. The TESS IV PERSONAL
sentation Manager-compatible "look
worked with MS-DOS, too. It was MS- WORKSTATION is equipped with our
and feel", the industry-standard X Win-
DOS 1.1, the first release. And it became i486-computer. We chose a SCSI host
dow System, SQL database manage-
standard as an operating system, just like adapter as storage interface. In the stan-
ment, TCP/IP networking to dissimilar
the PC became standard as THE perso- dard configuration, one 200 megabyte
systems, full data sharing between DOS
nal computer. hard disk drive and one 3.5" Floptical
and UNIX Systems, and instant access to
disk drive are connected to the host
thousands of existing DOS and UNIX
The technology today is far more ad- adapter. It offers asustained data trans-
System applications. Open Desktop deli-
vanced than it used to be in 1981. This an fer rate of 1megabyte per second and it
vers the multitasking computing power,
effect of the tremendous market power, can handle up to seven SCSI devices.
friendly graphical interface, and seam-
which was unleashed by the PC stan- The hard disk drive has an access time of
less connectivity required for today's de-
dard. But know, the great history of this 16 ms. The Floptical disk drive is anew-
ly developed 3.5" floppy disk drive that is manding business and technical profes-
standard has become aburden, it slows
sionals who require dedicated personal
down any development in this industry, able to store up to 20.8 megabyte of data
productivity systems. And it's equally
which is bound to be "compatible". To- on a3.5" Floptical diskette. It can also
well-suited as amultiuser, multitasking
days microprocessors have more proces- format, write an read standard 3.5" dis-
platform for workgroups of 8, 16, 32 or
sing power than the big mainframe com- kettes in the PS/2 formats. The Floptical
even more users.
puters in 1981. But they use only 5-10 disk drive has an access time of 65 ms.
percent of their real abilities for the The graphics subsystem of our TESS IV To meet the high standards we set
users, because of the existing industry PERSONAL WORKSTATION contains ourselves by designing this computer,
standards. We at Bauer Systems think it's own Texas Instruments TI 34010 gra- we developed a sophisticated distribu-
it's time for anew standard, it's time for phics processor, clocked at 40 MHz. At tion and service system. The TESS IV
the PERSONAL WORKSTATION! this clock rate, the TMS 34010 has apro- PERSONAL WORKSTATION will be
cessing power of 6MIPS. The processor distributed by the microtronics Trade
Stop! This is not abreak with the re- is combined with 1megabyte VRAM for Service through field consultants. Your
ported history of computers. It's abreak amaximum screen resolution of 1024 x computer will be set up at your site and
with compromises, which were made to 768 pixels in 256 out of 262.144 colors. configured to your demands. The micro-
have the highest grade of compatibility. Our display features a21" fiat-type sc- tronics Trade Service will provide world-
We have found away to have the best of reen offering the user an optimal vie- wide on-site service for one year. If your
both sides: Unforeseen processing po- wing area. The etched, non-glare 0.31 system can't be repaired on-site, you will
wer and user friendliness and compatibi- mm dot pitch CRT allows for brilliant receive aequal replacement for the re-
lity with existing industry standards. We FULLSCREEN graphics and text. A pair time.
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word processor will run on our new ma- crisp images on-screen. The keyboard of To receive more information or to
chine, and we cannot promise either that our TESS IV PERSONAL WORKSTA- purchase your TESS IV PERSONAL
your beloved screen will work with our TION is connected to the screen and WORKSTATION, please contact the
machine. But we can promise you that if contains astandard 102 keys AT-layout. microtronics Trade Service. We hope
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microtronics Trade Service, Bettendorfer Str. 36, 5173 Siersdorf, Federal Republic of Germany, phone +49-2464-2147,
fax: +49-2464-8280
All trademarks used in this advertisement are property of the respective companies.
All information contained herein is subject to change without prior notice.
Designed by H. Bauer, set by HGB Druck, Jülich

Circle 184 on Reader Service Card

effie 'V) elegMecoeputey
VoNver eîo 1o"Ce
 tiget means only ame- disk pettottnance late task sizes. Veen 3.0
and 286-based also intettaces with l`fovell Les, 37.10 mainttame
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 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

STRETCHING DOS
TO THE LIMIT
VCPI brings order to DOS multitaskers, DOS extenders,
and EMS emulators

Frank Hayes

wo years ago, OS/2 and full memory—of 80386-based PCs. terdeck (DESQview), and Qualitas
sounded like a dream Until now, though, these have largely (386Max)—set out to agree on astandard
come true. No more ap- been independent, ad hoc solutions; for that, they hoped, would create some
plications that had to example, there has been no guarantee order out of the burgeoning chaos of ad
squeeze into 640K bytes; that a program using a DOS extender hoc solutions. The result, several drafts
no more overlays; no more cobbling to- would run under amultitasker. later, is the Virtual Control Program In-
gether collections of TSR programs and terface, or VCPI.
utilities to create auseful work environ- Enter VCPI VCPI isn't aprogram. In fact, it isn't
ment. With OS/2 running on an 80386- In late 1987, six companies—including even the outline for aprogram. It's just
based PC, programs could be as large as Phar Lap (386 DOS-Extender), Quar- the specification for how a VCPI-com-
necessary—and you would be patible program should be-
able to run as many as you have. But it isn't vaporware,
needed, concurrently. either: Lotus has joined the
But OS/2 hasn't yet deliv- original members of the VCPI
ered on its promises. Two committee, and all the mem-
years later, we're still waiting bers are busy making their
for OS/2 for the 80386, and software conform to the VCPI
we're still waiting for applica- specifications. And applica-
tions software that will turn tions developers using VCPI
the current 80286-based OS/2 DOS extenders and multi-
from agreat idea into agreat taskers are also aiming for
operating system. Once that VCPI compatibility.
software does arrive—and it VCPI is designed to solve
should be checking in over the two main problems that show
next six months or so—OS/2 up when several 80386-aware
will become acontender. programs run at the same
But if OS/2 hasn't already time: conflicts over the use of
generated the applications it extended memory, and con-
needs to become abest-seller, flicts over which one of sev-
it has intensified demand for eral programs is in charge.
its features: big programs and ez The original six sponsors
multitasking. Software pub- of the VCPI were A.I. Archi-

,
lishers have responded by of- tects, Phar Lap Software,
fering multitasking systems, Quadram, Qualitas, Quarter-
DOS extenders, and EMS em- deck Office Systems, and Ra-
ulators that enable DOS pro- tional Systems. The original
grams to tap the full power— continued

ILLUSTRATION: FRANK BOZZO © 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 79
 ,té, tit VI, lilt 1.-.11/C1

ChiWriter STRETCHING DOS TO THE LIMIT

Powerful Scientific/Multifont Word

Processing at a Reasonable Price specification was developed by Phar Lap returns the processor to protected mode.
How are you currently producing your scientific and Quarterdeck and was published in Protected and V86 modes greatly sim-
documents? Are you using a "golf ball" style December 1987. A more detailed and ex- plify multitasking on an 80386. Each or-
typewriter? A regular word processor, hand let- plicit revision of the spec was drafted in dinary DOS application can run in V86
tering the special symbols? Are you fighting
against a "what-you-see-is-definitely-not-what- March of this year for the April VCPI mode as if it had its own CPU and mem-
you-get" system with a special command Developer's Conference. At that confer- ory; the multitasker itself, which switch-
language? Or are you using one of our com- ence, Lotus Development added its name es among the different applications, runs
petitors' expensive and inflexible programs? Find to the list of sponsors, and Compaq and in protected mode, handling exceptions
out how ChiWriter can solve your scientific word
processing problems.
Intel were among the observers. The and generally directing traffic.
specification went through two more re- If all the programs running under a
visions before the final version was ap- multitasker are ordinary DOS applica-
1 2 proved in June. tions, this arrangement works fine—the
- e dx
The complete VCPI specification is multitasker is the unquestioned boss,
available from Phar Lap Software, Inc., running in protected mode. But multi-
60 Aberdeen Ave., Cambridge, MA taskers aren't the only programs that use
02138, (617) 661-1510. the 80386's protected mode. Programs
built with DOS extenders use it, too.
Who's the Boss? A DOS extender creates arun-time en-
Unlike real multitasking operating sys- vironment that lets aprogram run under
H
tems, such as Unix or OS/2, DOS is de- DOS but still use the more powerful ca-
From an actual ChiWriter screen display signed for one user running one applica- pabilities of the 80386. Since DOS
tion program. As a result, from its doesn't run in protected mode (where the
ChiWriter is acomplete word processor, designed
especially for scientific and foreign language text.
earliest days, aDOS program was tradi- real power lies), a DOS-extended pro-
Its features include: intuitive formula editing com- tionally written with the assumption that gram starts out running in V86 mode.
mands, automatic pagination, variable headers it was the only car on the road. That was But when it's time to kick into high gear,
and footers, footnotes, box draw mode, anotepad fine when it was true. But as soon as the V86 program calls the DOS extend-
window, and an integrated spelling checker.
users began adding pop-up TSR utilities, er, which jumps into protected mode to
Best of all, ChiWriter is completely "what-you-see- each application program found itself access large amounts of memory or to ex-
is-what-you-get." Even complicated formulas can
be entered easily because the screen display cor-
sharing memory with other programs. If ecute specialized instructions.
responds exactly to the printout. the programs didn't all follow the rules There's also athird category of pro-
ChiWriter runs on IBM PC compatibles with 2flop-
(or at least cheat in regular, predictable grams that use protected and V86
py disks or ahard disk, 384K RAM and CGA, Her- ways) conflicts were sure to arise. modes: EMS emulators. An EMS driver
cules, EGA,VGA or AT&T graphics. Support for The same problem, only magnified, lets aDOS program swap blocks of mem-
all popular dot-matrix printers is included. The appears when a multitasker tries to ory into and out of the memory-address
Laser Printer Support is required for HP Laser-
Jet, DeskJet and PostScript printers. squeeze several full-scale application space above the DOS 640K-byte limit but
programs into memory at the same time. still below the 1-megabyte limit of the
In Short: An easy-to-use WYSIWYG package with That's cheating the limits of DOS, and if 8086 CPU. The original EMS memory
powerful scientific/multifont word processing at a
bargain price.
all the programs don't cheat predictably, boards worked with any PC or XT; sev-
PC Magazine, July 1988 they'll step on each other's toes. eral extra megabytes of memory could be
Fortunately, the 80386 CPU features swapped in and out, so aprogram could
▪ D ChiWriter Program $149.95 two modes—protected and virtual get fast access to lots of extra space for
O Laser Printer Support $74.95
O WordStar/WordPerfect Converter $59.95 8086—that can alleviate some of these data or program overlays. An EMS emu-
D Chemistry Font Set $59.95 problems. In protected mode, software lator uses the same set of protocols, but,
O Russian Font Set $29.95
D ChiWriter Deluxe (all of the above) $299.95
has full access to all the capabilities of instead of using memory on a separate
D Conographic Font Set $149.95 the 80386, including all its most power- board, it uses the 80386's own memory
D MergeChi Mail Merge Program $29.95 ful instructions and the entire 4 giga-
D Index Generator $59.95 above the 1-megabyte limit. Once again,
Add $5.00 for 31 2 "Disk
/ bytes of memory that can potentially be the DOS program runs in V86 mode;
D Check here for 20% educational discount stuffed into an 80386-based PC. Once
(school and university teachers and students only) when it calls the EMS driver, the CPU
III Shipping & handling the CPU is in protected mode, it can kicks into protected mode so the driver
$5 U.S. &Canada, $15 Europe, $20 elsewhere switch into virtual 8086 (or V86) mode. can access the extra memory.
Name When software runs in V86 mode, the Each of these kinds of "control pro-
Address CPU and memory act as if they're run- grams"—multitaskers, DOS extenders,
ning on an 8086 with its own 1-megabyte and EMS emulators—needs to switch
City (or less) cohort of memory—hence the back and forth between protected and
State Zip Country
name "virtual 8086." V86 modes. However, the 80386 is de-
But although aprogram runs in V86 signed so that only one protected-mode
Phone (
mode as if it's in asingle chunk of mem- program will handle the exceptions gen-
Payment by D Check CI Purchase Order D VISA D MC
ory, it may actually be split up all over erated by V86-mode applications. That
Card # Exp.
ine.0 BY IBM/8i the 80386's available memory in small- means that if you try to use them all to-
er, 4096-byte pieces. Moreover, al- gether—say, an EMS emulator with a
Horstrnann Software Design Corporation though the CPU appears to act like an or- multitasker that's running one or more
4N. 2nd St., Suite 500/P.O. Box 5039 dinary 8086, there are some instructions DOS-extended programs—only one con-
San Jose, CA 95150-5039, USA that can't be used in V86 mode. When
(408) 298-0828, FAX (408) 298-6157
trol program can use protected mode; the
the CPU encounters one of those instruc- others must use V86 mode. But, as I've
herstinann nMveir@ tions, ft generates an exception, which continued

80 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

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Circle 80 on Reader Service Card

 STRETCHING DOS TO THE LIMIT

Extended-Memory Allocation Techniques

T he three techniques that VCPI al-
1 lows for allocating extended mem-
Top-down memory allocation is
straightforward; it only requires lower
and anew set of signature blocks and al-
location-size markers.
ory—the memory above the 1-megabyte ing the memory ceiling, as indicated by If this sounds more complicated than
address boundary—are EMS alloca- the result of the extended-memory-size top-down allocation, it is. Unfortunate-
tion, top-down allocation, and bottom- call. To do this, aprogram installs a ly, the process has to be more complex
up allocation. Using EMS memory is new interrupt handler for Int 15h, one than it should be. It's necessary to
the easiest of the three; it involves noth- that passes all functions except 88h and check both the boot block and the inter-
ing more than requesting pages of mem- returns anew, lower value for that func- rupt handler for the size of the memory
ory through the standard EMS 4.0 inter- tion. Thus, in amultitasking situation, that's already been allocated, since
face. Using EMS memory has another any other program that wants to allocate some functions (such as the DOS 3.3
advantage for DOS-based applications; extended memory from the top down PRINT function) will wipe out some of
even if an application isn't running on will first make its own call to Int 15h the allocation information in one of the
an 80286- or 80386-based PC, it can function 88h—and carve off its chunk of two locations. Still, it's possible to do;
still use EMS memory if an EMS mem- memory beginning where the first pro- from the Int 19h vector, you can trace a
ory card is installed. gram's chunk left off. 24-bit value that points to the first free
Both top-down and bottom-up alloca- Bottom-up allocation, by contrast, byte of extended memory, and you can
tions depend first on knowing how uses the technique that was originally get the same value from the boot block
much extended memory is available. used in IBM's VDISK driver for the AT. at offset ¡Eh, which is the address in K
That information is available from the VDISK allocated memory for aRAM bytes; shifting it left 10 times gives the
BIOS extended-memory-size system disk by installing anew interrupt han- actual address.
call (Int 15h, function 88 hexadecimal). dler for the PC reboot interrupt, Int By installing interrupt handlers and
This function returns the amount of ex- 19h. A signature block and an alloca- allocation-size markers, each program
tended memory in K bytes. It's asimple tion-size marker go in the interrupt han- in memory can allocate as much avail-
matter to convert that number into the dler, and aboot block with an alloca- able extended memory as it needs with-
highest address occupied by extended tion-size marker goes at the 1-megabyte out interfering with other programs' al-
memory: You shift the value left 10 boundary. Whether or not the bottom of locations. However, once memory has
times to multiply by 1024 and then add extended memory has been carved off been allocated, it cannot safely be deal-
100000h (1 megabyte). If function 88h by VDISK or a similar program, it's located and the original interrupt han-
of Int 15h returns 0, that means there's possible to raise the floor still further dlers restored until all programs are fin-
no extended memory in the system. by installing another interrupt handler ished using extended memory.

shown, they all need to be in protected extended-memory ceiling, it's the BIOS tor. The EMS emulator typically plays
mode—or, at least, they need away to let extended-memory-size system call (Int the most crucial role, because it handles
each control program use protected 15h, function 88 hexadecimal). In the VCPI functions.
mode. That's where VCPI comes in. case of bottom-up allocation, which
raises the extended-memory floor, it's How VCPI Does It
Sharing Extended Memory the PC reboot interrupt (Int 19h). Be- Table 1lists the VCPI functions that an
A second problem that can show up once cause all programs in memory share application program can call while it's
an EMS emulator and several DOS ex- these interrupts, each one can, in turn, running in V86 mode. Each function is
tenders have been stuffed into memory carve achunk off the top or the bottom of called through the EMS interrupt (Int
together is that they may all want to use extended memory without interfering 67h), using afunction call that's illegal
parts of extended memory (i.e., memory with the other programs. (See the text for an ordinary (non-VCPI) EMS emula-
above the 1-megabyte boundary). box "Extended-Memory Allocation tor. The VCPI function calls allow each
There are four basic ways for apro- Techniques" above.) application to switch to protected mode
gram to make use of extended memory. There's one other common technique and determine EMS and extended mem-
One is to simply use it, no questions for allocating extended memory—an ory availability (as well as get access to
asked—but that almost guarantees prob- EMS emulator, which uses top-down al- certain 80386 registers and interrupt
lems when more than one program is in location to acquire a block of extended controller information). Table 2lists the
memory at once. memory and then parcels out sections of VCPI functions available to applications
Two other standard techniques treat it through the standard EMS interface. once they are in protected mode.
extended memory as a big chunk of Since there's only one EMS emulator in How does it typically work? When
memory from which a piece can be memory, it's also shared by all the pro- DOS boots up, it installs an EMS driver
carved off either the top or the bottom grams that want to use it; thus, programs whose name is in the CONFIG.SYS file.
end: top-down and bottom-up extended won't unintentionally interfere with each That EMS emulator—called the "VCPI
memory allocation, respectively. Both of other if they get their memory through server"—will handle all VCPI func-
these techniques require the program- the EMS emulator. tions. A user can then run a DOS-ex-
mer to install anew interrupt handler for VCPI allows programs to use extended tended application—or a multitasker,
an operating-system function. In the case memory through top-down or bottom-up which in turn will run regular or DOS-
of top-down allocation, which lowers the allocation, or through the EMS emula- continued

82 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

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Circle 198 on Reader Service Card

 STRETCHING DOS TO THE LIMIT

extended applications.
Table 1: The V86-mode interface is provided through the EMS interrupt (Int Each application can make use of EMS
67h), with afunction code of DEh in the AH register and a VCPI function code memory and VCPI functions once it
in register AL. The function calls allow an application to switch to protected knows for sure that they're available.
mode, determine availability of and allocate EMS and extended memory, and That requires a series of checks: First,
get access to 80386 debug registers and interrupt controller information. the program checks to see if the CPU is
an 80386; if so, the program looks for an
EMS emulator; if it's there, the program
THE VCPI VIRTUAL 8086—MODE INTERFACE turns the EMS emulator on by allocating
one EMS page, putting the CPU into V86
Subfunction Purpose mode; finally, the program uses VCPI
function 0 to test whether VCPI is avail-
00h: VCPI Presence Detection Checks for the presence of VCPI.
able through the EMS driver.
01h: Get Protected Mode Interface Sets up the client's page table.
From that point on, the application can
02h: Get Maximum Physical Memory Initializes client's memory management deal with extended memory and jump
Address data structures. into protected mode through VCPI calls
03h: Get Number of Free 4K Pages Returns the total number of 4K-byte while still enjoying the advantages of
pages available to be allocated out of the running under DOS. (Of course, if the
server's EMS memory pool.
EMS driver doesn't support VCPI, the
04h: Allocate a4K Page Allocates a4K-byte page of memory.
program will have to make its own ar-
05h: Free a4K Page Frees apage of memory previously rangements for protected mode and ex-
allocated with subfunction 04h.
tended-memory support.)
06h: Get Physical Address of 4K Page in Returns the physical address of a4K-byte Of course, VCPI does require a cer-
First Megabyte page in the first megabyte of the V86- tain amount of extra work on the part of
mode linear address space.
each control program. For example,
07h: Read CRO Returns the current value of the CRO
each control program must maintain its
register.
own set of system tables, which it shares
08h: Read Debug Registers Stores the values of the debug registers
with the VCPI server. Also, the control
into an array in memory.
programs—and applications—must al-
09h: Load Debug Registers Loads the debug registers with the values
ways use VCPI to switch into protected
in the array.
mode and then back to V86 mode.
0Ah: Get 8259A Interrupt Vector Returns the interrupt vectors that will be
Mappings generated by the 8259A interrupt
What Hath Not OS/2 Wrought?
controller when ahardware interrupt
occurs.
Is VCPI a replacement for OS/2? Not
really. VCPI isn't amultitasking operat-
OBh: Set 8259A Interrupt Vector Used by the client to inform the server if it
Mappings remaps the 8259A interrupt controllers.
ing system with all the trimmings—it's
really just akludge that reduces abit of
OCh: Switch from V86 Mode to Protected Switches CPU to protected mode, sets up
Mode all system tables for the client, and
the anarchy that was bound to arise when
transfers control to the specified entry single-tasking, 640K-byte-bound DOS
point in the client. came face-to-face with a demand for
multitasking and big applications. From
that point of view, VCPI is just an attempt
to stretch DOS's life out alittle longer.
But if it's a kludge, it's a critically
Table 2: The protected-mode interface is aFAR entry point in the EMS needed one. And right now, VCPI has
emulator. The address of the entry point is obtained during initialization with two big advantages over OS/2. First,
the Get Protected Mode Interface system call (Int 67h, function DEh, VCPI multitaskers and DOS extenders that use
function 01h). An application running in protected mode makes aFAR call to a the VCPI are available today. They run
USE32 segment, with an EMS function code of DEh in register AH and a VCPI DOS applications that are tried and
function code in register AL. tested, and they're the same familiar
DOS programs that have been used for
THE VCPI PROTECTED-MODE INTERFACE years—without the likelihood of new
bugs or changes that could creep in dur-
Subi unction Purpose ing arewrite to run under OS/2.
Just as important, you need at least 4
03h: Get Number of Free 4K Pages Returns the total number of 4K-byte
megabytes of RAM to do anything sub-
pages available to be allocated out of the
server's EMS memory pool.
stantial under OS/2. VCPI doesn't re-
04h Allocate a4K Page
quire that much memory. In that respect,
Allocates a4K-byte page of memory.
VCPI may be the perfect answer for users
05h: Free a4K Page Frees apage of memory previously
who already have an 80386-based PC
allocated with subfunction 04h.
and need to tap more of its power—but
OCh: Switch from Protected Mode to V86 Switches CPU from protected mode back
can't afford the cost of OS/2. •
Mode to V86 mode after setting up all the
server's system tables.
Frank Hayes is a BYTE news editor. He
can be reached on BIX as "frankhayes."

84 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 ssss-
-1011115111e,-.-.
-

Gfe, ea. CM Mg6 Is ar

The Tatung
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detiver the new standard Tatung
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 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

THE STATE
OF OS/2
OS/2, longer in ascendancy than planned,
has avery bright future

Mark J. Minasi

ell, it's clear by now that this, 100 more programs should be The 1982 IBM PC Product Guide
OS/2 is a flop. It just available. sports full-page ads from the big ven-
never made the grade. Here's a look at DOS's record. The dors. Corvus, of course, was the only
Only afew hundred soft- following examples are from two com- company offering hard disk drives for the
ware vendors are writing puter magazines: an IBM PC-specific PC. Ashton-Tate was offering to "make
programs for it, and only 400 programs trade publication that published a com- your micro work like amainframe" with
are currently available. prehensive list of available software for dBASE II. A lot of game programs.
Huh? the PC in September 1982 (one year after Some snappy ads for anew kind of pro-
Yes, we all read that "OS/2's not going the PC's release) and BYTE's first IBM gram, called Context MBA, that incor-
to make it" stuff in the trade press. But, PC special issue in the fall of 1983. porated spreadsheet, database, and
then, the trade press needs graphics all under one roof.
something to write about. Lotus 1-2-3 wasn't to appear
OS/2 is actually not doing for a year yet. Excluding
badly, all things considered. games, 600 programs were
First, I'll give alittle histori- available for the IBM PC one
cal perspective, and then I'll year after its release. Of the
look at what's out there for 600, nearly a third were for
OS/2 now. What can develop- program development—com-
ers do in building OS/2 appli- pilers, utilities, and libraries.
cations that they couldn't do BYTE's first special issue
under DOS, and are they on the IBM PC was actually a
doing those things? Also, I'll regular issue (November
look at a few examples of 1983) that featured several ar-
unique OS/2 applications. ticles about the PC. By this
time, the PC had been around
Looking Back at DOS for slightly over two years.
Examining the history of The debate about whether or
DOS in the same way that not it would endure had dis-
OS/2 has been scrutinized solved. However, the market
would lead you to conclude still had some growing to do.
that DOS is areal flop. As of My copy has adog-eared page
early June, 400 OS/2 applica- so Icould easily find an ad for
tions were shipping—not an interesting new compiler
DOS programs that can run in called Turbo Pascal.
the DOS-mode session, but Jerry Pournelle wasn't even
protected-mode OS/2 pro- using a PC yet, although he
grams. By the time you read continued

ILLUSTRATION: ROBIN JAREAUX © 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 87
Circle 192 on Reader Service Card

THE STATE OF OS/2

memory greatly improves database First, LAN capabilities are built into
speed, as any user of one of the "ex- OS/2. Machine-to-machine communica-
tended" database products like Fox- tions avenues are right there. Developers
BASE 386 or Paradox 386 can attest to. needn't mess around with NetBIOS to
Name any major database product, and write LAN-aware applications. Remote
it's available for OS/2 now: Oracle, Fo- execution (another feature built into
cus, Informix, Paradox—even the prod- OS/2) and a machine-to-machine com-
uct similar to dBASE III Plus, Quick- munications system called named pipes
silver/SQL from Wordtech. provide the foundation for client-server-
Large scientific and analytic pro- type applications.
Second, OS/2 provides system tools

O
that make multitasking programs easy to
create. For example, why should you
have to wait while saving afile in aword
S/2 processor? You should be able to keep
working while the save goes on concur-
programs can be rently. This can be done under DOS, but
it requires alot of tricky code. OS/2 has,
fundamentally different built in, the notion of threads of execu-
tion. It's relatively simple to set up apro-
from DOS programs. cedure within a program as a separate
thread of execution that runs in parallel
with the main program. In the word pro-
cessor case, the "save" thread could save
the file in the background while the main
grams are being moved from VS FOR- editing thread continued. The thread-
TRAN on IBM mainframes to OS/2, creation and thread-destruction mecha-
now that the memory to do these applica- nism is fast, and it involves fairly low
tions justice is available. Powerful pro- overhead.
grams like MACSYMA and Mathema- Third, OS/2's minimum platform is
tica will no doubt show up in an OS/2 richer than that for DOS. The DOS de-
incarnation. Matrix manipulation, linear veloper who wants to sell many copies
programming, and statistical packages must write aprogram that will run well
are all either delivered or on their way. on the average user's machine. The aver-
The same programs that you needed a age user doesn't have a mouse, so the
mainframe to use five years ago fit in program shouldn't require one (unless
OS/2's memory space quite nicely. it's aWindows program, which assumes
Every major desktop publishing pack- that it's on a platform that requires a
age will be on OS/2 by the end of the mouse). There are several competing
year, as well as a few new ones. And video graphics standards, and some
where would desktop machines be with- video boards don't support graphics at
out word processing? The two biggies, all, so you shouldn't include graphics in
Word and WordPerfect, are both out in acrucial section. Or, if you do support
OS/2 versions. And they don't run badly. video, you must support all kinds of
IBM originally offered the first OS/2 video—Hercules, CGA, EGA, and VGA
word processor, DisplayWrite 4/2. Now at a minimum; AT&T, 3270 PC,
there's DisplayWrite 5/2. Of course, 8514/A, and Professional Graphics
with all this memory and graphics, word Adapter in the next bunch; and so on.
processing will continue to look more Ditto color. Very discouraging.
and more like desktop publishing. OS/2 eases the burden. The OS/2 de-
veloper knows that the target machine es-
Do OS/2 Applications Differ? sentially must have a mouse and must
At this stage in OS/2's development, have video, and the video is managed by
most programs are mere ports of DOS the Presentation Manager (PM), so there's
programs. This is, again, arepeat of the no need to worry about what type it is.
DOS experience, where the early DOS Are OS/2 programs different from
programs were ports of CP/M applica- DOS programs? Initially, not so much,
tions. The first dBASE II was indistin- but the newer applications are showing
guishable from the CP/M version, as off OS/2's unique features.
were early WordStar and VisiCalc. Ash-
ton-Tate actually shipped the CP/M How Not to Write
manual with the first dBASE II. an OS/2 Application
But OS/2 programs can be fundamen- As Isaid earlier, at this stage in OS/2's
tally different from DOS programs, for history, applications are generally just
several reasons: continued

90 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

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Circle 186 on Reader Service Card

 THE STATE OF OS/2

DOS conversions. Let's look at an exam-

ple of how not to write an OS/2 applica-
tion. Idon't want to name any names, be-
cause the product itself is good enough in
A
stage, OS/2 applications
tthis
files while waiting for advice on the
problem file.
There are other problems, but you get
the picture. Even big-name word proces-
its particular product category. Most of sors don't have background saves incor-
the current OS/2 programs share its sins, are generally just porated yet. DOS-ported programs ex-
so Idon't want to beat up on it in particu- ploit OS/2 features chiefly in cases
lar. This application searches for data on DOS conversions. where the developer has already labored
a hard disk, akin to what GOfer does to add a feature to the application that
under DOS. It has the ability to search DOS lacked. The most common one is
across a fairly wide variety of string virtual memory. For example, BRIEF, a
patterns. text editor under DOS, can edit files
Under OS/2, this program doesn't wait while it looks for others! That's def- that are larger than memory. Under-
seem to have any new functions. Basical- initely crazy. The edit/display screen Ware, BRIEF's developer, added extra
ly, you fill out arequest screen that in- should come up immediately with the code to provide the ability to spill file
cludes the search criteria that you want to first match, and the program should then overflow onto adisk. UnderWare happily
use. Ican say something like, "Find a spawn athread in the background to keep removed the extra code for the OS/2 ver-
line where 'banana' and 'monkey' show searching. sion, because virtual memory is an auto-
up, but not where 'ape' shows up." Then As the application searches, it comes matic and integral part of OS/2.
the program starts searching over what- across asystem file, 0S2.INI. It gets a The applications that exploit OS/2 fea-
ever paths and filenames Itell it to. Very "sharing violation." Well, of course it tures, as would be logical, are those that
nice. does—that file is kept open by the sys- have been built from scratch under OS/2.
But the program keeps grinding away, tem. Does it skip over it? No, it actually Hamilton Laboratories' Hamilton C
one file at atime. It informs me at the wants me to answer "Continue or Stop? Shell is an example of this. It makes disk
bottom of the screen that it has found, let (C or S)" for every silly open file. On searches seem much faster, for example,
us say, 30 proper matches. It is still DOS, that's no sweat—there aren't too by cleverly exploiting multithreading.
working to find others. Think about that: many open files. But on OS/2? Give me a Since making an application aPM appli-
This program has found 30 files that break. Even if the error were legitimate, cation requires some massive code re-
match my criteria, and it's making me the program should keep searching other writing, the pile of programs coming in

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Circle 160 on Reader Service Card

 THE STATE OF OS/2

for PM will no doubt be built to be more choose not to write for OS/2 say it's be- Unix boxes that hasn't been ported to the
OS/2-aware. cause OS/2 is Intel-specific, whereas PC, partly because it's such apain to cut
Unix is not; OS/2 requires too much and arrange everything to fit in the silly
OS/2 Applications Will Appear (compared to DOS) in terms of hardware small Intel segments. With OS/2 2.0,
Unexpectedly high memory prices and platforms; OS/2 is buggy; or OS/2 that problem will go away. The 80386
delays from Microsoft and IBM on devel- doesn't use the 80386 features yet, supports multiple DOS sessions, so ver-
oper tools have held back OS/2 develop- whereas some versions of Unix do. sion 2.0 can provide the best of both
ment. But memory prices are subsiding, Like all software, OS/2 will improve worlds—DOS multitasking and 80386
and the tools that are out now are fairly with age. Around the time you read this, OS/2 features.
good. Third-party debugging products OS/2 version 1.2 will be released. It will There are hundreds of OS/2 programs
like Logitech's MultiScope are powerful incorporate fixes for things like the in existence today—and thousands more
additions to any programmer's toolkit brain-damaged print spooler and the lack are still to come. Many are warmed-over
that simplify development. of printer drivers, as well as introduce DOS applications. But native OS/2 pro-
One reason why OS/2 applications will the much-improved file system. grams will appear toward the end of this
probably continue to appear is that devel- Next spring, the 80386 version of year and the beginning of next year.
opers report that once they get started OS/2 will finally arrive in version 2.0. Memory prices are dropping, so the larg-
with OS/2, they find that they like it as a That will spur even more software. Re- est hardware barrier to OS/2 acceptance
development environment. Since it is a member that the 80286, although blessed is slowly going away. The applications
protected-mode operating system, appli- with its protected mode that lets it ad- are broad-based and apply to many in-
cations cannot go too awry without trip- dress 16 megabytes of memory, is cursed dustries and users. All these things spell
ping a protection exception that causes with having to address it 64K bytes at a success for OS/2—even if not the kind of
the operating system to shut down the er- time. This is not so with the 80386. It success that IBM and Microsoft were
rant program. Thus, anot-yet-debugged brings a new protected mode, a 32-bit expecting. o
program won't crash the entire system, mode that can address 4-gigabyte address
only its session, which is then easily spaces, with segments as large as 4giga- Mark J. Minasi is amanaging partner at
restarted. bytes. No more fumbling with 64K-byte Moulton, Minasi & Company, a Colum-
I've yet to talk to adeveloper who was segments! bia, Maryland, firm specializing in tech-
dissuaded from working with OS/2 by There's alot of software out there sit- nical seminars. He can be reached on
the quality of the tools. Those who ting on IBM mainframes, VAXes, and BIX as "mjminasi."

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Circle 82 on Reader Service Card

 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

AIX
ON THE
PS/2s
A look at IBM 's version of Unix
and why you should care

Ben Smith

BM has gone the distance to the power and capacity of the mini- Unix is not areasonable operating sys-
for a qualifying Unix computer of five years ago, Unix also is tem for asingle user running asingle ap-
event. It has fully imple- found on the desktop. plication program such as Lotus 1-2-3,
mented AIX (its licensed Unix utilities and file organization although it is quite possible to do just
version of Unix) on the have been the model for the enhance- that. Unix is areasonable operating sys-
PS/2s. All the pieces are there, and they ments of MS-DOS. In fact, Microsoft tem for asingle user doing several tasks
all work. But why should you consider once published amemo to developers that concurrently; it is an excellent operating
using AIX? And for that matter, why stated that each subsequent release of system for many users sharing comput-
should you consider using Unix in any of MS-DOS would bring it closer to Xenix ing resources and information.
its incarnations? (its license of Unix).
Unix Versions and Politics
Who Wants Unix? Unix goes by many different
Although there are proprietary names (e.g., AUX, AIX, Ul-
operating systems that may trix, Xenix, and HPUX), but
offer more capabilities for a these names all reflect source
specific task, Unix is agener- code licenses from AT&T for
ally solid and widely accepted roughly the same thing. Each
operating system that runs on vendor has added its own util-
the widest range of computers ities and enhancements. The
in the world. As aresult, it of- basic core and utilities remain
fers a consistent kernel the same throughout. Until
around which application pro- recently, all the vendor li-
grams can be wrapped, giv- censes for Unix fell into two
ing developers maximum por- flavors, System V and BSD.
tability for their work. System V represents the
Unix was developed about "pure" AT&T release. BSD
20 years ago at Bell Labs. (Berkeley Software Distribu-
Since then it has gone through tion) is connected with apath
many generations of design of parallel development from
and distribution. It became a the common parent, System
commercial operating system 7. BSD was the first version to
just before MS-DOS was take advantage of the virtual
thrust on the world, but at that memory capability of the
time it was generally found VAX. Nowadays, all Unix li-
only on large minicomputers censes have many BSD fea-
and mainframes. Now that tures and utilities.
the microcomputer has grown continued

ILLUSTRATION: TIM TEEBKEN © 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 95
t-truir .1J1 un nruner Jervtur t-uru

AIX ON THE PS/2S

"BOOST YOUR Recently, AT&T and Sun Microsys- second one until you have spent at least a
PRODUCTIVITY tems (which is the major exponent of few days experimenting with the first in-
BSD) reached an agreement to codevelop stallation. Be sure to spend some of your
WITH A the next release of System V, merging the time with Merge. Decide how much disk
BUNDLE OF two versions. But there was astrong neg- space you want to dedicate to pure DOS.
ative reaction from many of the manufac- Put aside at least 4hours for each instal-
FAST, turers of hardware for Unix, including
Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment
lation. (With experience, you can prob-
ably get that down to 2hours.)
POWERFUL Corp., and IBM. Although each of these
companies had adopted many of the BSD Merge
SCREEN AND features into their versions of Unix, they If you are aDOS user migrating to Unix,
believed that the coalition of AT&T and you will definitely want Merge (devel-
KEYBOARD
Sun shut them out of the control of the oped by Locus Computing) on your PS/2
UTILITIES!" new standards. They decided to form AIX. When you run Merge, everything
their own standards organization, the appears as it would when running ava-
NEW VERSION 3.00 Open Software Foundation. All mem- nilla DOS, evtn though you are actually
• Speed up screen writing 2-6 times!
bers of this list of elite computer manu- running AIX as the host and the disk is
• Add zip to cursor keys 2-5 times! facturers contributed huge amounts of really aUnix (AIX) file system. Merge
• Get back up to 800 scrolled pages!
• Save valuable scrolled info to disk
money and personnel to form OSF. IBM manages and maintains DOS files and
• Extend your ANSI.SYS to VT100 8, more also contributed the source code of AIX, programs on an AIX partition. (As I
• Turns off screen when not in use its enhanced version of Unix. mentioned, you may still want apurely
• 43/50/60/80 line EGA/VGA support
• 90/100/132 column EGA/VGA support There is no doubt that AIX will be a DOS partition, though.)
• Fix bugs in EGA/VGA ROM BIOS major design element in the OSF stan- Merge is really the hook in AIX that
• Keyboard BIOS for 101 key keyboards
• Over 60 useful options! dard version of Unix. And there is also enables you to run DOS. It is not aDOS
• Works well w/thousands of programs no doubt that OSF will influence future emulation like VP/ix (from Interactive
uFast ANSI Console Driver
Fast ANSI Console Driver.

• Used by thousands since 1984!

releases of AT&T versions in the same Systems). With Merge, you actually in-
"The Best of The Best Utilities" way that BSD has. Although the union of stall a fully licensed PC-DOS. Disk
—PC Magazine June 23, 87 pg 281. BSD and System V spawned anew child, drives, serial ports, and the screen all
"Programmers who like to tinker will OSF, achild often influences the deci- behave as if you were running DOS inde-
enjoy it" sions of the parent. AIX will be an im- pendently of any other operating system.
—InfoWorld October 19, 87 pg 67. portant element of design in all future Iactually ran System Sleuth from the
"You will refuse to use acomputer versions of Unix. Merge DOS (see the Short Take "Sleuth-
without it"
ing Your Troubles Away," June BYTE).
—Alfred Glossbrenner/Master Guide
AIX Everything behaved as if there were
To Free Software 1989 pg 287.
Traditionally, IBM offered Unix only on nothing between DOS and the real physi-
"Quite useful. ..it's acertifiable
its RT (RISC technology) machines. But cal devices, except when Iwas memory
bargain"
—Embedded Systems Programming last autumn, it announced that it planned snooping: There appeared to be only
Aug 89 pg 50. to offer Unix on all families of com- 640K bytes of memory when, in fact,
puters, from its largest (3090-600) down there were 6megabytes.
to its smallest, the PS/2s, the first for DOS is run on avirtual machine, and

:ANSI- TM
which it was released. It is shipping, and
it is good; but it's also immense. AIX for
the devices are managed by Merge and
AIX. But your DOS programs will never
the PS/2s includes not only all the stan- know: awonderful and useful illusion. It
'CONSOLE dard stuff (a selection of shells, editors,
mail system, communications, compiler,
is so well done that you can easily forget
that you are actually running Merge. The
The Integrated Console UtilityTm report generator, calculator, and so on), stand-alone DOS versus Merge DOS per-
but also networking protocols (TCP/IP), formance degradation is trivial (pro-
User Manual & 2@5" or 1@3" Disks 3270 support for interfacing with tradi- vided that you have sufficient memory in
tional IBM machines, DOS as aguest op- your system to dedicate 1megabyte to the
Only $75! (FMN)
erating system (Merge), communications virtual machine).
User & Tech & 4@5" or 2@3" Disks with terminal emulation (ATE), and a
Only $104.95 (FPN) generous supply of excellent tools for the AIX Is Unix
(plus $4 s/h in 48 states)
application program developer. It is nice to have atransition from DOS to
With all the modules available for Unix, but the real question is, how good
With No Risk, 60 Day Money-Back
Satisfaction Guarantee PS/2 AIX, there are 50 1.44-megabyte is AIX as aUnix? There had been some
disks. That comes to more than 70 mega- rumors that AIX was not really Unix.
CALL (313) 994-3259 NOW bytes for the operating system and asso- Not true: AIX is real Unix (whatever that
to order with Visa/MC/AmEx
ciated utilities! might mean). It will be fully POSIX-
or special order
Installing an operating system of that compliant .(POSIX is the operations
at your favorite software store
size is no small matter. And, if this is specification currently being developed
HERSEY MICRO CONSULTING, INC.
your first time, plan on doing it twice. by ANSI and IEEE. It is being supported
Box 8276, Ann Arbor, MI 48107
The first installation will serve to ensure by the U.S. government and will prob-
Circle 131 On Reader Service Card that everything works. The second will ably be supported by the International
To Get FREE Brochure w/Reprints be necessary to get the disk partitions Standards Organization.)
that you really need. Don't plan on the continued

96 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

The Standard for
Circuit
ation
I-V curves aatriode vacuum tube

Analog Behavi oral Modeling

The Analog Behavioral Modeling option Besides Analog Behavioral Modeling, these other
for PSpice allows one to describe analog PSpice options are also available:
components, or entire circuit blocks, using •Digital Simulation, which allows one to simulate
aformula or a look-up table. For linear mixed analog/digital circuits with feedback between
blocks, the description can be either aLaplace the analog and digital sections.
transform or atable of frequency response. •Monte Carlo analysis to calculate the effect of
Once defined, PSpice can simulate circuits parameter tolerances on circuit performance. This
includes statistical, sensitivity, and worst case
including such blocks.
analyses.
The ability to model entire blocks of circuitry is a •The Probe "software oscilloscope" provides an
powerful aid in designing asystem from the top down. interactive viewing environment for simulation
A functional block can be described by its behavior results (see photo above).
without worrying about how that function will be
•The Parts parameter extraction program, allow-
implemented. Later, the block can be replaced by the
ing one to extract adevice's model parameters
actual circuitry.
from data sheet information.
Another application is the modeling of electronic
PSpice is available on these computers:
components which are not built into PSpice. The
photo above shows an example of simulating the DC •The PC family, including the PS/2, running DOS,
characteristics of a3/2-power-law device. Protected Mode DOS, or OS/2.
•The Macintosh II.
Since its introduction over five years ago, MicroSim's
PSpice has more copies sold than all other commercial •The Sun 3, Sun 4, and SPARCstation families.
Spice programs combined. Here are some of the •The Apollo DN3000 and DN4000 workstations.
features which have made PSpice so popular:
•The VAX/VMS family, including the MicroVAX.
•Standard parts libraries of over 2200 analog models:
diodes, bipolar transistors, small-signal JFET's, Each copy of PSpice comes with our extensive product
power MOSFET's, opamps, voltage comparators, support. Our technical staff has over 100 years of
experience in CAD/CAE and our software is supported
transformer cores, and opto-couplers.
by the engineers who wrote it. With PSpice, expert
•GaAs MESFET devices, BSIM MOS model. assistance is only aphone call away.
•Non-linear transformers modeling saturation, hys-
For our free information packet, including aPSpice
teresis, and eddy current losses.
demo diskette, call us toll free at (800) 826-8603 or, in
•Ideal switches for use with, for example, power California, (714) 770-3022. Find out for yourself why
supply and switched capacitor circuit designs. PSpice is the standard in circuit simulation.

Circle 182 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS:

MicroSim Corporation 20 Fairbanks •Irvine, CA 92718 USA •Telex 265154 SPICE UR

['Spice is aregistered trademark ut MicroSim Corporation. All other brands and pnxioet names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
 AIX ON THE PS/2S

AIX contains all the standard System

V calls and utilities as well as most of the
Berkeley calls and utilities. Where there
é 1m 1111.111. --
are overlaps, Berkeley Unix is given the
Introducing OS/RAM8'. decision. For instance, is to the stan-
dard output (screen) defaults to amulti-
ple-column list of the file subdirectory.
V 8Mbytes of memory + 2serial ports. The UUCP (for Unix-to-Unix communi-
V Extended and expanded memory. LIM 4.0. cations) system is the HoneyDanBer ver-
sion, BNU (Basic Network Utilities).
V Works with all of your programs. This more modern set of utilities has
V Run DOS or OS/2 effortlessly. more versatile device-control tables and
remote-site specific permissions offer-
V Fast and simple switchless installation. ing better security than the earlier ver-
V Auto-configuration for all operating systems. sions found on System V machines. None
of the machines using the System V BNU
V Works in all Micro Channel' computers.
were affected by last year's network
V Expanded memory 10 times faster than Intel. worm that brought thousands of com-
V Risk free guarantee. Two year warranty. puters to astandstill.
The system administration and X Win-
V IBM approved ID. Best price. Fast delivery. dow management programs are IBM's
Call today 1-800-234-4232 or 617-273-1818 own (more on these later). You will not
find EMACS, but vi and its friends are
there. The mail system is the Berkeley
Capital Equipment Corp. version. The compiler is IBM's. AIX
Burlington, MA. 01803 looks like Unix, feels like Unix, acts like
Unix, runs Unix programs, and is aUnix
license. It is as solid as any Unix you will
PS/2 and Micro Channel are trademarks of IBM
find. Ihave no complaints. In fact, Ihave
many compliments.
Perhaps due in part to shared libraries,
but also to good operating-system engi-
NOW IN C, PASCAL & MODULA 2 neering and compiler design, AIX is
GFX GRAPHICS LIBRARY faster and more efficient in almost every
activity than other versions of Unix on
GFX FONTS & MENUS OURCE the PS/2s. The only exception is an im-
C portant one: floating-point operations.
GFX Fonts & Menus Library: The GFX Libraries: Without a math coprocessor, floating-
Now you can provide that slick point operations creep along. With the
Both graphics libraries have
graphics user interface: pull- addition of this expensive piece of ce-
been translated from C to Pascal
down menus driven by mouse ramic and silicon, the floating-point op-
& Modula 2. No huge driver to
or hot-keys; dialog boxes; forms erations are marginally better than their
load at run-time. Just small, fast,
boxes; context-sensitive help non-AIX counterparts. (I obtained these
linkable libraries. Each library
boxes; and much more: results with an early version of the new
stands alone. Use them together
Font & Icon Editor BYTE Unix benchmarks [available on
or with other graphics libraries.
Great Mouse Support BIX or on disk; see page 3 for details].
Common Features Include: Unfortunately, the 25-MHz PS/2 Model
Huge Font (100+) Selection.
No Royalties:
Suggested Retail: $150.00 70-A21 that Iwas using was also an early
Source Code: in your language. release, and the machine died before I
Video Modes: CGA, EGA and
GFX Graphics Library: could complete the benchmarks.)
VGA (up to 800x600x16),
More power, speed and video
Hercules, 640x400 Mono.
modes than your compiler's Special Features
Supported Compilers:
library. With virtual colors and Not the least of my compliments for AIX
C: Microsoft, Borland, Lattice
auto-scaling your code can adapt comes from my gratitude for decent
to any video mode at run-time. Metaware, Zortech
documentation. Although the binding of
Pascal: Borland, Microsoft
You also get rubber-banding, the documentation is far from elegant,
Modula 2: Logitech, JPI
and multiple viewports with the writing and organization are acon-
Free Demos: from 24 hr BBS.
automatic clipping, integer and siderable improvement over the standard
816 478-0944 8Da/lSt/NoPa.
floating-point scaling. AT&T documents. Ihave eight full sets
Suggested Retail: $125.00 Call or write for literature: of Unix documentation from various
C Source, Inc. sources. The prettiest are Apple's A/UX
Special Offer 111 Nov 15, 1989 400 NE Point Dr manuals. But IBM's is the most useful
Both Libraries: $175.00 Lee's Summit, MO 64064 and readable. Most Unix implementers
Check/COD/PO or Visa/MC. TEL: 816 478-1888 FAX: 816 478-3133 do little more than republish the AT&T
continued

98 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition Circle 42 on Reader Service Cant
 TimeWands -The Obvious Choice
You have specific bar coding requirements. Both TimeWands transfer their data through the
That's why we give you a choice! host computer's serial port where the data is
stored in an ASCII text file. This allows the data
The TimeWand ll is aruggedized bar code to be easily combined with awide variety of
reader ready for heavy-duty use. Its software packages.
programmability allows your custom applications
to be pre-set with prompts and cross-reference Choosing either the original TimeWand or
files. The large internal memory sizes of 32, 64, TimeWand II provides you with aquality bar code
and 128K easily hold aday's worth of reader at an affordable price. Call Videx at 503-
transactions along with the date and time of 758-0521 and ask for your free information kit.
each entry.
TimeWand (8K) $248.00
If your data collection needs are TimeWand II (32K) $698.00
simpler, the original TimeWand
offers acost effective
alternative. The TimeWand
date and time stamps each
bar code scan, like the
TimeWand II, but is 1105 NE Circle Blvd.
contained in asmaller and Corvallis, OR 97330-4285
lighter package. Even though it 503-758-0521 *FAX 503-752-5285
is compact, the TimeWand can still See us at ScanTech, Oct. 17-19, San Jose, C4, booth #1529;
gather an impressive 2000 scans. Comdex/Fall 89, Nov. 13-17, Las Vegas, NV, booth #2998; and
Videx and TimeWand are registered trademarks of Vides, Inc. at AutoFact, Oct. 31-Nov. 2, Detroit, MI, booth #2659.
Circle 261 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 262)
Circle 144 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 145)

AIX ON THE PS/2S

FINALLY...
aprofessional menu system
in agraphics environment for
TURBO C, MICROSOFT C,
TURBO PASCAL: TM
Table 1: You could spend around $4000 to become fully involved with AIX.

a hics-MENU AIX PRODUCT PRICING

ONLY $99 (BGI) SOURCE AVAIL. Product Description Price

PS/2 AIX Kernel and basic Unix utilities. $595

1- to 2-user license included;
1- to 16-user license: add $200.

Operating Systems UUCP, message handler, mail, $275

Extensions and some extensions to system
administration and user tools.

DOS Merge Hooks to run PC-DOS under AIX. $275

Usability Services Tools and interface for the hOvice $275

NOW AVAILABLE FOR: Text Formatting Plain ASCII text formatting and $220
Borland Graphics Interface System typesetting for CAT phototypesetter.

XWindow System Standard network and local windows $214

graphics-MENU from ISLAND SYSTEMS is acom-
prehensive utilities package that allows the communications and controls, including
developer of graphics software applications to aprimitive window manager.
quickly create auser-friendly interface. You can
spend more time focusing on the internals of your
application.
VS FORTRAN $302
Mouse handling.
holetais Deft, !roe • Full keyboard support.
VS Pascal $302
7. fad Ir. %5«,•15.1to • Pulldown Menu & Popup mes-
sages.
11zd Dar - • Underlying graphics automat-
ically saved.
IBM CLanguage $302
• Mouse can drag menu/message to
reveal image beneath.
Shadowed menus create a3-b effect. Application Development $192
Disabled entries and divider lines. Tool kit
Vertical List optionally titled.
Horizontal list with corresponding pulldown menus
that may have nested submenus to any depth. Workstation Host Connections to IBM mainframes. $441
Popup message boxes with or
without user prompt. Interface Program
Button menus in any arrangement.
Controls & guages with analog style
entry. TCP/IP Network communications and control. $330
• Analog clock settable by moving
its hands with the mouse.
• Limitless hybrids of the above menus Ten/Plus Interactive Systems' visual shell, $275
for customization. editor, and mail system for Unix.
• Geometric interface functions:
point rotation, distance, degrees/
radians conversion, true 4-quadrant Total: $3998
arc tangent.
• Color Custonnur ailowS complete color contról.
• Data entry module (optional add-on) allows easy
forms creation with data validation and range check-
ing. documents. IBM has completely edited and far from intuitive. It can be driven by
We are also including two utility programs: the set and added many useful supple- amouse, but it requires special Alt-key
CUREDIT and MenuDesigner. CUREDIT is aCur- ments. sequences as well. A good X Window
sor icon Editor that enables you to create custom
cursor icons and associate them with any mouse
AIX's implementation of Interactive manager and associated user environ-
button or chord. Systems' Ten/Plus user interface is a ment would be far more useful than this
MenuDesigner is a very powerful utility that
valuable addition. The core of this is product.
enables you to create and view complex horizontal
& vertical menu structures on-screen and then INed, an easy-to-use and aesthetically AIX does provide asolid port of the X
writes TP, or TC/MS-C code to implement this pleasing integrated file manager and edi- Window System (from MIT). Although
structure in your application program.
tor. Although it is not as rich in com- IBM contributed its own window man-
mands as vi nor as flexible as EMACS, it ager, which provides little more than the
30 day money back g arantee on non-source
is much easier to learn and allows multi- public versions from MIT, all the parts
BOI VERSION META VERSION
Recluses, Borland Turbo Pas- Requires, MetaWindow (from ple editing windows. INed provides a are there if you wish to develop your
cal or Turbo C. IBM or close Metagraphics Software), IBM or
compatible wrth graphes. hard close compatible with graphics, history of versions of INed files, from own. I suspect that the AIX window
disk hard disk
which previous versions can be recon- manager is a stopgap until IBM starts
for TP or TC
source. add.$119
SIM (pricing Includes MenuDesigner) structed. Unfortunately, in order to pro- shipping Motif (from the OSF), atruly
for TP or TC or MS-C 5149
AlanulMaigner _9 19 source(TP)- add 5149 vide all these facilities, INed does not complete graphical user interface and a
Data Entry Module.. S59 source(C)-
Data Entry Module 59 use plain ASCII files, although they can probable winner on all counts.
be imported and exported. Ten/Plus also
includes a mail and remote-connect in- Important Subtleties
Iellnr>ct Syaterr•ft
terface. Of direct importance to the developer
7Mountain Rd. Burlington MA 01803 IBM has amore general-purpose win-
(617) 273-0421 and of indirect importance to the end
FAX: (617) 933-1152 dowed interface to AIX called Usability user, AIX implements shared libraries.
• Services. Ifound this interface awkward This means that those parts of different

100 Fall 1989 • B YTE IBM Special Edition

 Circle 161 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 162)

AIX ON THE PS/2S

People
who
write
programs that are the same are loaded stations and Unix boxes are the fashion. well—
into memory only once. Shared libraries Although TCP/IP is fully implemented
do not become part of the programs until in AIX, the Network File System (devel-
the programs actually run, rather than at oped by Sun Microsystems) is missing,
the time the programs are compiled and even though it is included in Ultrix
linked. Because asubstantial portion of (DEC's Unix) and the new System V.4
every program is common, shared librar- Unix standard from AT&T. Although
ies may use less disk space. Processes NFS is missing, IBM has not been negli-
that use shared libraries may also require gent. True to form, IBM is implementing
less main memory but may load slower. its own network interconnectivity, the
As with all modern versions of Unix,
the AIX kernel provides some form of
Transparent Computing Facility (TCF).
(See "A Transparent Environment,"
area
virtual memory, the ability to run pro- July BYTE.) This provides far more util- step ahead
ity and transparency than any other com-
grams that require more memory than is
available in physical RAM. A process parable system. But it is proprietary to of the competition.
running under the kernel uses three stan- IBM, agreat weakness.
dard virtual segments: a text segment Another weak element in AIX for the Ever wonder why someone else gets the promotion,
(usually the executable code of the pro- PS/2s is the system administration inter- closes the big deal or clinches the interview? People on
gram associated with the process), adata face. Old-time Unix systems required the fast track know they're judged every day by how they
segment (the location of most of the vari- Spartan priests (always a rare class) as write. Winners recognize the effectiveness of awell-writ-
ables used by the program), and astack system administrators. AIX does provide ten letter to introduce anew product, call ameeting,
close asale, or secure an important interview. Good
(the active area used for parameter pass- amore consistent and carefully crafted
business writing takes time and it isn't easy.
ing, register snapshots, and address set of system administration tools than
stashing). The use of shared libraries were found in those antique systems. But Introducing three new INSTANT SOFTWARE prod-
may also specify additional text and data its set of administrative tools is lackluster ucts to slash writing time by 90%!
segments. AIX processes can also create when compared to that of SCO and Inter-
Instant Business Letters, Instant Sales Letters and
and use segments that are shared with active Systems.
Instant Resumes are complete writing systems that
other processes. There is no reason that aclever admin-
make you and your IBM PC the equal of atop executive's
With the exception of the ugly and un- istrator couldn't pull the AIX tools to- professional office staff. Each Instant package gives you:
necessary messages issued from the C gether under amenu structure, but the
•afree best-selling book on business, sales or
compiler that inform you that your com- whole idea is not to require aclever ad- resume writing
piler is copyrighted by IBM, AIX devel- ministrator. Small Unix systems seldom
•hundreds of sample letters, resumes, memos and
opment tools are excellent, efficient, and have more than a few users, none of proposals on diskette
well documented. Virtual and shared whom should need to be wizards.
•The Instant Cardfile. Let your PC keep track of
memory, standardized program message important business and personal contacts
services, program monitor tools, and an Why AIX on the PS/2s?
advanced symbolic debugger are features The PS/2 configured for AIX is not No Expertise Required
that enhance the standard Unix applica- cheap (see table 1). It is more than twice The incredibly easy-to-use Instant Software lets you
tion developer's environment. as expensive as an 80386 AT clone run- preview and select any letter on-screen, make important
ning SCO. So why would anyone want it? changes and select the name-and-address you want
Virtual Terminals And why did IBM develop AIX for the from the computerized Instant Card file. Anyone with an
PS/2s? The PS/2 Models 70 and 80 are IBM PC or compatible and any wordprocessing software
AIX provides virtual terminals on the
can be writing like apro in minutes.
console (the screen and keyboard con- designed as full 32-bit computers (unlike
nected directly to a PS/2). But unlike the AT machines). AIX for the PS/2s Ordering Instant Business Letters, Instant Sales Letters
SCO Xenix and Interactive Systems' takes advantage of the new hardware. or Instant Resumes could be the most important career
Unix, AIX does not use asimple entry in But of greater importance is IBM's decision you make this year.
the device directory that looks to the sys- commitment to AIX. At first, Iques- Includes
SPECIAL $ Instant
tem administration like any other serial tioned the sincerity of its announcement LIST
PRICE
nr,
oe. OFFER • Card File
terminal connection. Instead, auser al- to put AIX on the entire range of its com- ki FREE
BONUS
ready on the system initiates avirtual ter- puter families. IBM's demonstration at CHARGE-BY-PHONE
BOOKS

minal by issuing open followed by a the 1988 Fall Unix Expo started to build LI 1-800-426-4381 In CA 408/241-1990)
command. For example, open sh opens a my confidence in the company. IBM has Unconditional Money Back Guarantee

new virtual terminal running the Bourne revived its RT line and has nearly com-
shell; open dos opens avirtual terminal pleted afull AIX for the 3090. These ef- YES, Iwant to step up to better business writing
I: Instant Business Letters 12 Check or Money Order
running DOS; and open login opens a forts are encouraging. The implementa- E Instant Sales Letters VISA E MC D AMEX
new log-in. There are 17 virtual termi- tion of the Locus Operating System as I: Instant Resumes E Company PO accepted
nals available. A special key combina- TCF is agreat glue to bind together all Add $4 shipping. CA residents PO it
add 7% sales tax.
tion rotates through the active virtual ter- IBM systems. But the one grain of sand
minals. Processes associated with a that tipped the scales of belief is the trin-
Card I

Signature for Card Order

virtual terminal continue even when that ket that IBM handed out at the 1989 sum-
mer Usenix, alittle flashlight with the
Name
terminal is not being displayed.
Company
words, "We've seen the light: AIX." •
Address
Weaknesses
City Stile Zip
The trend these days is away from stand- Ben Smith is aBYTE technical editor. He LIGHTNINGINORD
alone Unix machines. Networked work- can be reached on BIX as "bensmith." Firà CORPORATION
1601 Civic Center Dr. Suite 206 Santa Clara, CA 95050

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 101

 DESQview 2.2 and DESQview 386. The
multitasking, windowing environments
that work with your favorite software.
:rquirrs ia I AI

Methods o
DESQview- is the operating environment Suitch Uinduu, background. Run 32-bit 386 programs, like
- Transport. Close Uindou
that brings OS/2- power to DOS. And it Paradox 386, and IBM Interleaf simultane-
lets you, with your trusty 8088, 8086, Pa
ME: Ask Report
0- thew o table.
Create ously with your favorite DOS programs.
80286, or 80386 PC, leap into the next REP
1
By
PLICR
Date
7,15/8
Hock All with the speed and performance you
Transfer
generation in PC productivity For not 2
3
GP
111
7226/8
8,08 ,8
Scissors expect out of your 386. And with protec-
much money. And without throwing tion against 'misbehaved' programs.
away your favorite software.
Unr.-8, rlect Promise and performance
Introducing DESQview 2.2 If after using
please do not h
And, of course, both DESQviews have all
And now, DESQview 2.2 adds capabilities, I Al l 41 MOW,:I,íinFA
the features that made prior versions the
I}Pried` 5 All DEPARTAF N

performance, and compatibility

I
.1 Acrid/ Acs rculetiolozreiNY
- ,
popular choice in operating environments.
enhancements you've been asking for.
b Iroepleryne L.ponses
b Ill hoboes &Ylhee, The ability to multitask in 640K and
beyond. View programs in windows or
Like being able to fine tune DESQview
full screen. Transfer data. Access DOS via
performance "on the fly" Run Lotus Express DESQview lets you run your favorite programs in windows side-by
-side. menus. Dial your phone. And create key-
and Metro. And the Intel Connection Co
stroke macros within and between programs.
Processor. Even use the DOS 4.0 shell with PS/2s. For example, DESQview overhead on
DESQview. Have DESQview automatically install EMS 4.0 and 386 PCs can be as low as 10K on Our story gets better and better
Quattip, Sprint, Aldus PageMaker, Microsoft EGA/VGA PCs. And DESQview actually
Excel, Word Perfect, Dataease and as many as 80 increases memory 30K on CGA PCs; 20K on If there's any doubt about our commitment to
other programs. And using the DESQview API, monochrome and Hercules PCs. That's good your PC and PS/2 productivity just look at our
be able to dynamically fink them. news for users of big desktop publishing, CAD accomplishments over the years. We think you
and database programs. will understand why GE, Ford, Aetna,
More bang; less bytes Monsanto, and so many other major
While other programs get bigger, we've worked
Introducing DESQview 386 corporations use DESQview.
to make DESQview smaller. And we've For users of 80386 PCs and PS/2s (or PCs with And why PC Magazine twice gave DESQview its
succeeded in abig way on PCs and PS/2"'s with 80386 add-in boards, such as the Intel Inboard Editor's Choice Award for "The Best Alternative
extended, EMS 3.2 (AboveBoard), EEMS and 386), there's DESQview 386 (a combination of to OS/2," why readers of InfoWorld voted
EMS 4.0 memory—as well as on 386 PCs and DESQview 2.2 and the new QEMM-386 DESQview 'Product of the Year three times.
Quarterdeck Expanded Memory Why, by popular vote at Comdex Fall for two
Manager, version 4.2). years in arow, DESQview was chosen "Best PC
Environment" in PC Tech Journal's Systems
DESQview 386 gives you
Builder Contest, and just won their 'Professional
extraordinary power. Run text,
Solutions" Award.
CGA, EGA, VGA, and Hercules
programs in windows and in the DESQview lets you have it all now.
1
ThE QEMM. DESQview API Toolkit.
STANI

• 8021 Break the New Cand Pascal

640K barrier Libraries, Debugger.
• ProÍ
Wet
• 640 1

for $59.95 Panel Designer. And more.

mot
• Soc
cop
• 5.2!
• We
• Enh
Your 80386 PC, IBM Personal System/2 Model
• VG,
16-1 80, PC or AT with 80386 add-in board, as well as
API Reference Manual bolically along with the program counter,
registers, and stack at the time of the call. Trace
• 20C
your IBM Personal System/2 Models 50 or 60 The key to the power of the DESQview API, our
• 2s( conditions can be specified so that only calls of
can all break through the DOS 640K barrier. Now Reference Manual contains all you need to know
can interest are reported.
you can have maximum use of your to write Assembly Language programs that take
• ROI
• Ma, memory—whether you have one megabyte or full advantage of DESQview's capabilities. And API Panel Designer
32—with the Quarterdeck Expanded Memory there's an 'include' file with symbols and macros This interactive tool helps you design windows,
Manager. All without having to pwchase special to aid you in development.
menus, help screens, error messages, and forms.
even experienc expanded memory boards.
API CLibrary It includes an editor that lets you construct an
spite all the j image of your panel using simple commands to
44MB QEMM uses hidden Here are Clanguage interfaces for the entire set
about the up enter, edit, copy, and move text, as well as draw
155M features within your of API functions. It supports the Lattice' C,
graphical user lines and boxes. You can then define the charac-
320M posedly make existing memory to make Metaware C, Microsoft@C, and Turbo C
it compatible with the teristics of the window that will contain the
*Sub' ier to use, GUI compilers for all memory models. Included with
Lotus-Intel-Microsoft panel, such as its position, size, and title. Finally,
designed for hi the CLibrary package is the API Reference
OR ing expensive) Expanded Memory Manual and source code for the library you can specify the locations and types of fields
FOR I lots of RAM, f Specification (EMS) version 4.0. in the panel.
disk drives, a API Pascal Library The Panel Designer automatically generates
Now you can run colossal spreadsheets,
OPT' processors. Ai The Pascal library provides interfaces for all the DESQview API data streams necessary to
databases, and CAD models designed for
• RP mention all t entire set of API functions. It supports Turbo display and take input from your panel. These
expanded memory, using Lotus 1-2-3, Symphony,
•I
nt delivered soft% Pascal V4.0 and V5.0 compilers. Included are the data steams may be grouped into panel libraries
co be fine-tuned Framework, Paradox, AutoCAD, Excel and
more. API Reference Manual, solute code for the library, and stored on disk or as part of your program.
• On GUI. (For ac and example programs.
• Mt
the subject, se And if you'd like to use these programs all More Tools are Coming
• Ot1
GUIs," July B together —multitasking beyond 640K— QEMM API Debugger Quarterdeck is committed to adding tools as
tb
That's all w works with our popular DESQview multitasking The DESQview API Debugger is an interactive needed by our users. To that end we have been
the future, bul environment. tool enabling the API programmer to trace and working with Ashton Tate and Buzzwords
of the millio single step through API calls from several
If you are one of the 12 million or so 8088, International on dBASE ifi and dBASEIV
microcompt concurrently running DESQview-specific
probably been 8086 or 80286 PC users who feel left out, don't translators. And in the works, we have BASIC
programs. Trace information is reported sym- and DOS Extender libraries.
and even forgc despair. We have options that let you keep your
pecially true i computer and favorite programs and give you
8088- or 808 today what the newest PCs and operating
even low-en systems are promising for the future.
such as Micr
and DESQvie, Visit your dealer for more information on
longer availab barrier-breaking Quarterdeck products. Quarterdeck Office Systems, 150 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405 (213) 392-9851
tern or run um FAX: (213) 399-3802
And even if y( For additional information, please use the following Reader Service numbers: DESQview: #282 QEMM: #283 API Tools: #284 API Conference: #285
6-MHz 8028(

ILLUSTRATION:
Wil
LOOKING BEYOND THE DOS PROMPT

Ea
file or directory names. because the vast majority of DOS shells very few icons. Instead, they rely mainly
Another crucial difference between essentially unload themselves from on windowing concepts and plain text to
GUIs and DOS shells is that the shells RAM each time you run an application, get the message across.
don't need to be aware of the applica- leaving a small RAM-resident kernel Most DOS shells offer additional fea-
tions. They'll gladly start any communi- that "calls back" the full shell when you tures for graphics-equipped systems, but
cations file or executable file. That's exit the application. The Norton Com- icons are still rare, mainly because of the
very different from a true GUI like mander is acase in point: Normally it legal questions involved due to the Ap-
Microsoft Windows or OS/2's Presenta- takes up 140K bytes of RAM, but it can ple/Microsoft lawsuit. One company
tion Manager (PM), where applications be configured to leave asmall 12K-byte that's apparently not too concerned about
must be specifically developed and tai- kernel when it's not being used. The the legal situation is IBM. Version 1.2 of
lored to the GUI's application program- DOS 4.0 shell option (described later) OS/2 PM (due on dealer shelves by No-
mer interface. Of course, you can run does basically the same thing. vember) will feature many more optional
most off-the-shelf DOS applications with Most DOS shells are character-ori- icons, including the ability to design your
GUIs, but only through the pain-in-the- ented. They don't use those cute little own. Of course, the ideal situation is to
neck process of exiting from the GUI en- icons, for anumber of reasons. One is the give users achoice of text or icons.
vironment. simple fact that there are still lots of low- Finally, all the DOS shells mentioned
end DOS systems that don't have graph- here, from the simplest to the most so-
Memory, Icons, Mice, ics cards or monitors, and one of the big- phisticated, let you use amouse if you're
and Smarts gest selling points of DOS shells is that rodent-inclined. At the same time, none
Until recently, one of the biggest prob- they're useful to virtually any DOS user, of them require amouse. This reflects a
lems with DOS shells was their RAM no matter how limited his or her system. still-deep-seated aversion to mouse use
hunger. Early DOS shells often took up And with apologies to Macintosh afi- in the DOS world. Mouse users and key-
Unlike ir 100K to 200K bytes of precious RAM cionados, the jury is still definitely out board users still have heated arguments
ments which space. With today's power applications on just how useful armies of icons really over the relative merits of each method.
often requiring 512K bytes or even 640K are. Remembering what acouple dozen However, mice are destined to eventually
one copy of
bytes of RAM to run, the RAM require- cryptic icons actually mean can be as become anear necessity for the easiest
only 386 cc ments of some shells (nearly all of which much of achore as remembering esoteric access to DOS shell features. All the
provides coi are RAM-resident) was just too much. DOS commands. In fact, GUIs such as DOS shells I've used are easier and faster
ence. With That problem has largely been solved Microsoft Windows and OS/2 PM use continued
architecture
for the 8038
can even Cr;
plication—w
the others.
The Professional Library for Object-Oriented Pascal
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over 30 object types con- data types by simply inher-
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each virtu capability for mi mouse support provide • swappable
multitaskin; •scroll bars • menus u text TSRs in only 6K of man Kent Porter, DDJ, 4/88

own termil editing • dialog boxes u pick lists RAM u DOS and BIOS profrssioi "The range of this toolkit is
ma scrolling data entry screens capabilities u EMS simply astonishing."
(TSR) prof management • keyboard Jeff Duntemann, DDJ, 5/89
• printed forms help capability,
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customers may upgrade for $60, include your serial number. TurboPower Software PO Box 66747 Scotts Valley, CA 95066-0747

c 19139 IGC VM 386 is a

Hercules Is aregistered 1
IBM is aregistered trade,

108 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition Circle 255 on Reader Service Card
 QEMM. DESQview API Toolkit.
Break the New Cand Pascal
640K barrier Libraries, Debugger.
for $59.95 Panel Designer. Anct more.
Your 80386 PC, IBM Personal System/2 Model API Reference Manual bolically along with the program counter,
80, PC or AT with 80386 add-in board, as well as registers, and stack at the time of the call. Trace
your IBM Personal System/2 Models 50 or 60 The key to the power of the DESQview API, our conditions can be specified so that only calls of
can all break through the DOS 640K barrier. Now Reference Manual contains all you need to know interest are reported.
you can have maximum use of your to write Assembly Language programs that take
memory—whether you have one megabyte or full advantage of DESQview's capabilities. And API Panel Designer
32—with the Quarterdeck Expanded Memory there's an 'include' file with symbols and macros This interactive tool helps you design windows,
Manager. All without having to purchase special to aid you in development. menus, help screens, error messages, and forms.
expanded memory boards. API CLibrary It includes an editor that lets you construct an
image of your panel using simple commands to
QEMM uses hidden Here are Clanguage interfaces for the entire set
enter, edit, copy, and move text, as well as draw
features within your of API functions. It supports the Lattice' C,
lines and boxes. You can then define the charac-
existing memory to make Metaware C, Microsoft@ C, and Turbo C
teristics of the window that will contain the
it compatible with the compilers for all memory models. Included with
panel, such as its position, size, and title. Finally,
Lotus-Intel-Microsoft the CLibrary package is the API Reference
you can specify the locations and types of fields
Expanded Memory Manual and source code for the library.
in the panel.
Specification (EMS) version 4.0.
API Pascal Library The Panel Designer automatically generates
Now you can mn colossal spreadsheets, all the DESQview API data streams necessary to
The Pascal library provides interfaces for
databases, and CAD models designed for display and take input from your panel. These
entire set of API functions. It supports Turbo
expanded memory, using Lotus 1-2-3, Symphony, data streams may be grouped into panel libraries
Pascal V4.0 and V5.0 compilers. Included are the
Framework, Paradox, AutoCAD, Excel and and stored on disk or as part of your program.
API Reference Manual, source code for the library,
more.
and example programs.
More Tools are Coming
And if you'd like to use these programs all
together —multitasking beyond 640K— QEMM
API Debugger Quarterdeck is committed to adding tools as
works with our popular DESQview multitasking The DESQview API Debugger is an interactive needed by our users. To that end we have been
environment. tool enabling the API programmer to trace and working with Ashton Tate and Buzzwords
single step through API calls from several International on dBASE Ill and dBASEIV
If you are one of the 12 million or so 8088, concurrently running DESQview-specific translators. And in the works, we have BASIC
8086 or 80286 PC users who feel left out, don't
programs. Trace information is reported sym- and DOS Extender libraries.
despair. We have options that let you keep your
computer and favorite programs and give you
today what the newest PCs and operating
systems are promising for the future.
Visit your dealer for more information on
barrier-breaking Quarterdeck products. Quarterdeck Office Systems, 150 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405 (213) 392-9851
FAX: (213) 399-3802
For additional information, please use the following Reader Service numbers: DESQview: #282 QEMM: #283 API Tools: #284 API Conference: #285
 With VM/386 Multitasking,
Each DOS Stands Alone
vs • •ek#1.,
fAiel/
1 erk#3
IsKe

*i
Unlike multitasking environ- programs full-time in the back-
ments which force each task to share ground. VM/386 supports MDA,
one copy of DOS, VM/386" is the Hercules,
only 386 control program which EGA, and
provides complete task independ-
ence. With our virtual machine
architecture, designed specifically
for the 80386 microprocessor, you
can even crash and reboot an ap-
plication—without affecting any of
the others. Richard Eckhouse of VGA. It
IEEE Computer said "Unlike runs Novell, 3COM,
other such systems, VM/386 not and IBM Token Ring
only works well, but seems to be networks, and micro-
unbreakable." to-mainframe communications.
Each virtual machine is just like Why wait for a"new" operating
astand-alone PC, complete with its system, and its inevitable compati-
own copy of bility and "first-release" prob-
PC-DOS or lems? With VM/386,
MS-DOS - emiesacw:. it takes only afew
714e."21te -remEsuce,
(the real 77WIES2w e -
are using this feature to minutes to set up a
thing, mind Ck
• nrieSzice
,
77 -
update virtual machine fully-configurable,
you, not an V/v11 • -''• .2
performance "on the fly." DOS-compatible
imitation). So Another significant capability multitasking envi-
each virtual machine in your of VM/386 is the ability to run ronment on your
multitasking environment gets its graphics and communications
WINNER
386.
own terminate-and-stay-resident Call today: IGC,
386 SOFTWARE
TECHNOLOGY

(TSR) programs, AUTOEXEC, 4800 Great Amer- VM/386

1988
and CONFIG files. ica Parkway, Santa
As Namir Clement Shammas Clara, CA 95054
said in our Byte review: "VM/386 Telephone: 408-986-8373, or call
provides you with excellent control Toll Free: 800-458-9108

See us at Comdex Fall '89

West Hall Booth #856
19891GC 0111 ,38615 atrademark of IGC 386 Ise trademark ol Intel Corp
Hercules is aregistered trademark of Hercules Computer Technology. Inc
IBM is aregistered trademark of International Business Machines. Inc Circle 139 on Reader Service Card
(DEALERS: 140)
 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

LOOKING BEYOND
THE DOS PROMPT
A host ofproducts bring ease of use to DOS systems
without resorting to agraphical user interface

Stan Miastkowski

hat bland C > prompt you're still not out of the woods, since ear descendant of CP/M, the first truly

T
that stares at you from these systems often lack the power to useful and widely available operating
your microcomputer's handle the large disk space requirements system for personal computers. Al-
screen has long been the and heavy computational loads that GUIs though the folks at Microsoft would
bane of many new (and put on asystem. probably deny it, the first version of DOS
even experienced) computer users. De- The C > prompt, or DOS prompt, is was ahastily patched-together modifica-
spite all the publicity and excitement part of acommand-line interface (CLI), tion of CP/M concepts (though not the
about the upcoming generations of in which text commands, entered line by actual operating-system code). In an ef-
graphical user interfaces that will sup- line, direct the computer through a se- fort to capitalize on the usefulness of that
posedly make computers incredibly eas- quence of operations. It's actually alin- early operating system, users have been
ier to use, GUIs are generally saddled with that C > prompt
designed for high-end (mean- ever since.
ing expensive) systems with
lots of RAM, fast-access hard Enter the Shell
disk drives, and high-speed As microcomputers became
processors. And that's not to the standard operating plat-
mention all the as-yet-un- form, it quickly became evi-
delivered software that has to dent that users needed abetter
be fine-tuned to a specific way to interact with their sys-
GUI. (For adetailed look at tems. While it usually takes
the subject, see "A Guide to only a straightforward com-
GUIs," July BYTE.) mand to start most applica-
That's all well and good for tions, many users have prob-
the future, but if you own one lems remembering the syntax
of the millions of low-end of even the common DOS
microcomputers, you've "housekeeping" commands
probably been feeling left out (have you ever remembered
and even forgotten. That's es- the precise arguments to for-
pecially true if your system is mat a 720K-byte, 31 / -inch
2
8088- or 8086-based, since floppy disk without looking in
even low-end DOS GUIs, amanual?). It only gets worse
such as Microsoft Windows for those more useful but eso-
and DESQview, either are no teric commands, such as
longer available for your sys- XCOPY. And there are many
tem or run unacceptably slow. things that plain-vanilla DOS
And even if you have an early just doesn't do well at all. A
6-MHz 80286-based system, continued

ILLUSTRATION: TOM CENTOLA © 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 105
 LOOKING BEYOND THE DOS PROMPT

case in point is the DIR command, which chical subdirectory-based file structure and f rustrating.
gives you an unsorted list of files that is supposed to make things more man- The beginnings of the solution came
normally scrolls off the screen before ageable, but you have to remember which with what are widely known as DOS
you can find the specific file that you're subdirectories contain what data. Even if shells. Shells are software (usually
looking for. you remember what goes where, getting RAM-resident) that "surround" DOS
Since hard disk drives are nearly a there requires that you manually type in with a program that interacts directly
standard component of most systems, aCD (change directory) command, plus with DOS's COMMAND.COM. This
many users quickly build up alarge col- the sub-sub-subdirectory name, which file, the operating system's command in-
lection of files. And thanks to DOS's makes the whole process apain. As the terpreter, intercepts and translates text
"eight plus three" naming limitation amount of information on your hard disk commands into the low-level system calls
(another of CP/M's legacies), filenames grows, the process of locating and using a that DOS really understands. Another
often need to be cryptic. DOS's hierar- specific file gets more time-consuming way to think of DOS shells is as inte-
grated environments that sit between
your application and the operating sys-

FREE
tem. This extra processing layer extends
DOS by adding functions and features
that DOS doesn't have by itself.

More than 49 Flavors

DOS shells come in awide variety of fla-
vors and approaches, but they all have

MEMORY.
some features in common. Most are very
simple file managers: they find, display,
and organize files, usually by showing
something on the screen beyond that
mute C> prompt. That something is
usually alist of files in an individual di-
rectory, and because plain-vanilla DOS
If you think the only way to get grams and device drivers when they displays files only in the order in which
more memory is by adding more RAM are needed. they were put on the disk, shells take the
chips, its time you got your hands on Headroom is more than aswap- process one step further by sorting them,
HEADROOMe. ping and switching "merry-go-round" usually alphabetically. The best shells
Designed to actually "free up" ... much more. By taking the "resi- also give you the ability to sort them by
memory by shifting parts of programs dency" out of RAM resident programs, various other parameters, such as size.
and TSRs (RAM resident software) to it gives you the added benefit of having
A common thread throughout DOS
your hard disk, extended more than enough mem-
shells is their ability to easily navigate
or expanded memory, ory to handle even the
most "RAM ravenous" through the maze of subdirectories and
Headroom eliminates the
dreaded "640K" barrier projects and applications. files through the simple process of
we all know too well. That's why PC "pointing and shooting." Point to the
Of course, there's Magazine said that file (by moving the cursor) and press Re-
more to Headroom than "Headroom performs turn (or click the mouse), and you're
just freed memory... more death-defying moved directly to it.
...Like hot-key switch- escapes from DOS's Another common feature of DOS
ing between programs. 640K straightjacket shells is their ability to perform common
So you can go from word than any other pro- DOS operations on files and subdirector-
processing to database gram available."
ies. Although not all packages contain all
to spreadsheet at the If you've got these features, with roost you can do the
push of a button. Head- memory on your
following:
room even lets you pop up mind, call us today at
your TSRs with their normal hot-keys, 1-800-451-0551
•Copy files
in the middle of any application — for free memory...
even graphics programs —without Headroom style. •Move files
using any memory. •View files
•Fully transparent environment
Speaking of hot-keys, Headroom •Change file attributes (e.g., read-only,
•Requires only 50K of memory
lets you load up to 32 applications •Works with all app!. —even windows hidden)
simultaneously, assign your hot-keys, •Swaps mainframe emulators •Delete files and subdirectories
and use them to switch between pro- •Ends RAM resident conflicts •Rename files and subdirectories
grams fast and easy. •Network compatible •Create files and subdirectories
More than just swapping TSRs, •Tag multiple files for other operations
l"
mui $129 95 + $5 per order shipping
Headroom automatically "senses"
($20 outside U.S.) VISA/MC/C.O.D.
what particular RAM resident pro- The key to the usefulness of DOS

HEW
gram is needed, and "directs" it to shells is their ability to perform most of
where it has to go, so it can swap in IFOFTWARE these operations on more than one file at
print spoolers, communications pro- COMPANY
atime. You perform these tasks without
© 1989 Helix Software Co.. Inc. Patent Pending 83-65 Daniels St., Briarwood, NY 11435 (718)262-8787
having to physically type in individual
continued

106 Fall 1989 • BY TE IBM Special Edition Circle 130 on Reader Service Card
 Alb

The Manufacturer: "Big Saving

a

On Award-Winning Products."
C
all today for the lowest prices on some of the finest
equipment on the market. Powerful, high-performance
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The GV286/120 PC Designs delivers: Quality. Compatibility.

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• 640KB RAM, expandable to 1MB on circuit using high speed (35ns) static RAM.
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coprocessor. • 5.25" 1.2MB or 3.5" 1.44MB floppy drive.
• 5.25" 1.2MB or 3.5" 1.44MB floppy drive. • Western Digital 1:1 interleave dual controller.
• Western Digital 1:1 interleave dual controller, • Enhanced 101-key keyboard.
• Enhanced 101-key keyboard. • System is capable of expanding to 16MB
• VGA systems include ahigh performance, of 32-bit RAM.
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• 200-watt power supply. expansion slots.
• 2serial/1 parallel port standard (on add-in • VGA systems include ahigh performance,
card). 16-bit video adapter with 512K RAM.
• ROM based set-up and diagnostics • 2serial/1 parallel port standard (on add-in
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• Made in U.S.A.
VGA' Extended VGA* Extended
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155MB, 18ms, ESDI $3,399 $3,699 155MB, 18ms, ESDI $4,499 $4,699
m•-•esym
320MB, 18ms, ESDI $4,199 $4,499 320MB, 18ms, ESDI $5,299 $5,699
*Subtract $200 for TTL rather than VGA. Subtract $200 for TTL rather than VGA.

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• On-site service agreement. •EMIR
coprocessors.
• MS-DOS 33or 4.01.
• On-site service agreement.
• Other hardware configura- Li • MS-DOS 3.3 or 4.01.
tions available. • Other hardware configura-

Mifflin" tions available.

¡III ri I I t II I I I 1-1

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1

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FAX 918-251-7057 EBBS 918-252-9137

PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE •"386" IS TRADEMARK OF INTEL CORP •RESTOCKING CHARGES MAY APPLY TO RETURNS
Circle 202 on Reader Service Card
 LOOKING BEYOND THE DOS PROMPT

file or directory names. because the vast majority of DOS shells very few icons. Instead, they rely mainly
Another crucial difference between essentially unload themselves from on windowing concepts and plain text to
GUIs and DOS shells is that the shells RAM each time you run an application, get the message across.
don't need to be aware of the applica- leaving a small RAM-resident kernel Most DOS shells offer additional fea-
tions. They'll gladly start any communi- that "calls back" the full shell when you tures for graphics-equipped systems, but
cations file or executable file. That's exit the application. The Norton Com- icons are still rare, mainly because of the
very different from a true GUI like mander is a case in point: Normally it legal questions involved due to the Ap-
Microsoft Windows or OS/2's Presenta- takes up 140K bytes of RAM, but it can ple/Microsoft lawsuit. One company
tion Manager (PM), where applications be configured to leave asmall 12K-byte that's apparently not too concerned about
must be specifically developed and tai- kernel when it's not being used. The the legal situation is IBM. Version 1.2 of
lored to the GUI's application program- DOS 4.0 shell option (described later) OS/2 PM (due on dealer shelves by No-
mer interface. Of course, you can run does basically the same thing. vember) will feature many more optional
most off-the-shelf DOS applications with Most DOS shells are character-ori- icons, including the ability to design your
GUIs, but only through the pain-in-the- ented. They don't use those cute little own. Of course, the ideal situation is to
neck process of exiting from the GUI en- icons, for anumber of reasons. One is the give users achoice of text or icons.
vironment. simple fact that there are still lots of low- Finally, all the DOS shells mentioned
end DOS systems that don't have graph- here, from the simplest to the most so-
Memory, Icons, Mice, ics cards or monitors, and one of the big- phisticated, let you use amouse if you're
and Smarts gest selling points of DOS shells is that rodent-inclined. At the same time, none
Until recently, one of the biggest prob- they're useful to virtually any DOS user, of them require amouse. This reflects a
lems with DOS shells was their RAM no matter how limited his or her system. still-deep-seated aversion to mouse use
hunger. Early DOS shells often took up And with apologies to Macintosh afi- in the DOS world. Mouse users and key-
100K to 200K bytes of precious RAM cionados, the jury is still definitely out board users still have heated arguments
space. With today's power applications on just how useful armies of icons really over the relative merits of each method.
often requiring 512K bytes or even 640K are. Remembering what acouple dozen However, mice are destined to eventually
bytes of RAM to run, the RAM require- cryptic icons actually mean can be as become anear necessity for the easiest
ments of some shells (nearly all of which much of achore as remembering esoteric access to DOS shell features. All the
are RAM-resident) was just too much. DOS commands. In fact, GUIs such as DOS shells I've used are easier and faster
That problem has largely been solved Microsoft Windows and OS/2 PM use continued

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108 Fall 1989 • BY T E IBM Special Edition Circle 255 on Reader Service Card
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 LOOKING BEYOND THE DOS PROMPT

to use with amouse. characteristics. They let you organize spreadsheet or database files without
Recent DOS shells have become in- your data by function and context, and having to run a program (commonly
creasingly sophisticated. The crying they essentially don't care what directory known as "viewing").
need for an easier way to interact with the data is located in. For example, you
DOS has spawned anew category of in- can associate groups of files with agiven Forests and Trees
telligent DOS shells. In addition to file program (e.g., these files belong to this The tree is an aptly named term for afea-
management, intelligent shells can pro- spreadsheet program), or you can pro- ture that lets you quickly find individual
vide you with services based on afile's vide the ability to examine the contents of files in the "forest" of files that inhabit
the typical hard disk. It's simply avisu-
Photo 1: XTree C:%X111(0 al—but not necessarily graphical—
was the first add-in display of all the files and subdirectories
DOS shell to on ahard disk. In fact, the TREE com-
DISK: 8:
incorporate the Atiaildblc
mand has been a little-used feature of
now-familiar Bytes:38,556,11k DOS since version 2.0, when subdirec-
xy
graphical tree BYTE OISK Statistics
tories first became available. It was lit-
display of adisk's I APRIL Total tle-used for the simple reason that while
JUNE Files 121
directory structure. MAY Bytes: 2.1118.501
it showed you the tree structure on your

1
PERSONAL
LETTERS
I CAM
Matching
Files: ELY
Bytes: 2.18E1,581
disk, it did little else. You still had to
navigate your way through subdirectories
TAXESII9 Tagged by typing the CD command.
MEADME .DUC MHO .X81. XIFIO .X10
Files:
Bytes:
8
e The first and still best known program
XTFEII .0111 XTPRO .X18 XVIII .X50 Current Directory to take the tree concept and actually
STEW yir XTPHO .X28 XITIOCFG.EXE XT110
make it useful was XTree from Execu-
MERU .X0I XTPRO .X38 Bytes: TIMOR
tive Systems (now called XTree Co.).
DIR Available D
COMMANDS Ilendmr Si
Edit Filespre Global Log disk
Tag Gulag Mum eXecute Quit
Makedir
Although it has gone through several it-
.11. , ENTER aands ALT menu CTIL menu FI kr. erations (XTreePro is now also available
for networks and multiple disk volumes),
its basic approach to dealing with DOS
Photo 2: In remains essentially unchanged. XTree's
addition to being main screen (see photo 1) is awindow
the first DOS shell into your disk's file system, with subdir-
to display multiple ectories shown in atree structure. As you
directories --rem move from subdirectory to subdirectory,
--Aron the files contained in that subdirectory
concurrently, the
Norton --JUME are shown in abox below it. You can then
Commander is the F-TAXES89
perform those common file operations
only one that lets L-LETTERS on one or more files by pointing to the
you enter DOS L-CAN
file, pressing Escape, and choosing the
MID
commands ITCMD operation.
directly. XTree's user interface is useful be-
cause of its elegant simplicity. And the
product's basic "look and feel" has been
copied by anumber of competitors, who
have added their own changes, additions,
and enhancements. Tree86 3.0 from The
Aldridge Co., with its window into the
file/directory structure, is similar but
Photo 3: The takes amore contemporary approach to
=trieton4rrvor___E_zIt_
l
its user interface by using "drop down"
l ee 4ignel'

optional shell in Ltr

DOS 4.0 is IBM's Pile options. .. menus. Although its features are similar
first graphical )1.0u Infornetion...
to those of XTree, Tree86's less cluttered
operating-system display is acloser-to-GUI approach that
ElrI201 .CPI 6.409 11-30
interface for PC RE_GAH in1208 .CPI 720 11 - many users prefer. It also works best
./ DOS M5202 .CPI 370 11
users. It conforms SETUP MIAMI .SVS 9,105 11-
with a mouse, although one isn't
to the company's F-n ?DDcco
LACAD
APPEND
YiSSICM
.EXE
.0101
11.154
5.753
11-30
11-30
required.
Systems LDRIVERS rie-ATTHI13 .EXE 18,263 11-30 And for those of you who would like to
f-O FT1J1IE CHXDSK .0011 17,787 11-30
Application I-0601100 07.“
- OMMAMD .COM 37,557 11 -30- have DOS-shell power without a huge
TIC WiCOMP .11111 9,159 11 -30
Architecture. XV EaCOMMTBV .SVS 12,806 11-30- outlay of bucks, there's ashareware tree-
SUPERPCX
DEiDE111.16 .COM
ŒDDISECOMP.0011
21.574
9.857
11-30-8S
11-30-88
oriented shell called TreeView. From the
HOY RTYOI
PINFO
GÉDD1SKCOPY.COM 10.396
15.692
11 -30-
11-
folks who distribute apopular shareware
EEIDISPLAY .SYS
}- DR lutos Ce3DOSSHELL.BAT 196 07 package called AutoMenu, TreeView has
BDYFILES IMDOSUTIL .MD1 6.660 11
FILES 0550010106 .SYS 5,211 11- a raft of features; these include the
PMITILES q@DEDLIM .COM 14.069 11-
IMGFILES E:b121,1386 .SYS 87.776 1l - unique ability to display as many as six
TEMP (fflCe281M .1NE ?,%3 11-
F10 Actions Shift•r3,,Cnnnnnfl Prn pt different directories and drives at the
same time.

110 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 LOOKING BEYOND THE DOS PROMPT

Letting You Be You breed of intelligent DOS shells. tems, from mainframes to minicomput-
There is one big problem with most DOS The Norton Commander sits squarely ers to workstations to microcomputers.
shells: While they make dealing with the in the middle between standard DOS The aim is connectivity, and the DOS
inadequacies and idiosyncrasies of DOS shells and intelligent shells. In fact, you 4.0 shell is SAA all the way (see photo
easier, they often add their own idiosyn- might call it "semi-intelligent." Taking 3). And because SAA supports both
crasies that you have to learn to live with alook at the work behind it also indicates graphics displays and character-oriented
if you use them. Like all applications, a that developing atruly useful DOS shell displays, even non-graphics-equipped
DOS shell is one person's (or acommit- is far from atrivial exercise. The source microcomputers can use it. This is, how-
tee's) vision of what the DOS interface code for the Norton Commander 2.0, for ever, atrade-off, because SAA eats into
should be. Although the major packages example, consists of some 32,000 lines system overhead and runs slowly on
that I'm talking about here usually have a of C and about 15,000 lines of assembly many microcomputers.
wide-enpugh variety of features, some language. Unfortunately, there hasn't exactly
DOS shells are incredibly quirky, seem- been awild rush to DOS 4.0. Part of the
ingly designed by a programmer from At Long Last, DOS reason is that the first release was buggy.
another dimension. As with all software, With the release of DOS 4.0 last year, And although IBM fixed the bugs in a
it's best to try before you buy. both IBM and Microsoft finally recog- later release last fall, DOS 4.0 still has an
One of the most popular DOS shells nized the need to make DOS easier to undeserved reputation for incompatibil-
gives you a choice in the matter. The use. DOS 4.0's optional SHELL utility ity with older DOS applications and as a
Norton Commander, now in version 2.0, bears similarities to the GUI of Micro- RAM hog. But its $150 price tag, while
offers you what at first glance is an in- soft Windows and IBM's PM, with pull- just abit higher than many stand-alone
credibly cluttered screen. But the useful- down and pop-up menus. DOS shells, also gives you the full DOS
ness and organization of what's there be- That IBM included ashell in DOS 4.0 operating system.
comes apparent quickly. And if you look isn't very surprising. It's all in keeping One particularly even-handed feature
carefully at the bottom of the screen (see with IBM's commitment to its Systems of the DOS 4.0 shell is the very fact that it
photo 2), you'll see the C> prompt inno- Application Architecture (SAA), awide- is optional. DOS 4.0 and whatever comes
cently sitting there. If you're an experi- ranging user interface specification that after it are sure to become standards
enced DOS user, sometimes you actually IBM plans to implement for all its sys- continued
want to bypass shell features and type in
a normal DOS command. The Norton S
Photo 4:
..----- Views Items
Commander is the only DOS shell that 3COM C Traveling
lets you do this, and it's indicative of the 3S8080 Ù—. .....› ftale(s) 21678 Dec 86 11:18:84 1986
Software 's
APPLICATIOMS build by item dAtc(%) 1282 Jan 81 82:36:38 1988
careful design and hard thinking about build by item tYpc 71667 Mov 27 12:41:34 1986 ViewLink is the first
user needs that the company puts into all DOSIMSTA build by formula
in anew
EDITOR Build by content
its products. LAMMAM View to bu Id: 11L-CAITEI generation of
The Commander was also the first MODEMS Text: carter
"intelligent DOS
MET1_38 Add or rep ace items: ADD
DOS shell that recognized the real-world METTEST shells," which let
need to work with more than one direc- METWARE PI - Help Al.! - Total items: 111
you create custom
MEWSLETT tires clinked: III
tory at a time. Its "dual-window" ap- PC Item found: 1 "views" keyed to
proach also remains unique to DOS RAMUTIL Linking: your style of
shells and makes the process of copying SQLBASE Press any key
working.
TEST
or moving files from directory to direc- TFILES
tory or from disk to disk particularly VIEWS
UL CARTER
easy, because you immediately see the
results of the operation.
19 Views 4 Items 0 tagged NEWSLETTER
Surprisingly, the Norton Commander
(fl for help) VIewLink version 1,880 Copyright 1989 Traveling Software, Inc.
didn't add atree display to its list of fea-
tures until its second release, and then it
did so only because Norton Commander PDATE
Photo 5: Magellan
users asked for it. Norton's tree display is JIMMY (JAME ffifIL) lujujj uses proprietary
optional, and most users find that they 65z 00103,2
technology to
411, METAPHI111,180 Jimej (Jame, far)) rter 3'1th resident, Democrat, was the
really don't need it because of the Com- 32z 1 xp ore was born index the contents of
mander's screen display and the ease 38z Gordy C
all files on your
38z All Piles Concerning: d gradua
with which you can move among files 38z D Current Explore Path Text: [carter à peanut_i lne progr disk. It also
and subdirectories. 38z S Lotus 1-2-3 files Line Union C specializes in
38z P Sgmphong files Marked text
Norton also was the first to add ad- T Manuscript files performing fuzzy
Pile take one
vanced file-finding features, and version 38z P Lotus Express Files n-ginnin searches.
38z E Agenda files
2.0 was the first DOS shell to offer con- 38z Practice files
Setup.. or, 1966
Hew... ted Pres
textual file viewers. These allow users to 27z. C
view Lotus 1-2-3 and dBASE files as 26% 0 Enter text to use as explore criterion
d6z k otiation
they actually appear in the programs 26z SP tacked t
without having to actually start up the as- 26z RE in Teheran and held members of the embassy staff hostage. Du
26z TEST.0 was widely criticized for the poor state of the economy and
sociated program. File viewers are one of 264 MT.0 He was ola viewed as weak in his handling of foreign policy.
the most important add-on DOS features File 1 of 38 C:\SQLSASMILEA.TXT leit --- Line 1 WA
to come down the pike in years, and they 4 5 111 F9

play acrucial role in the utility of the new

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 111

 LOOKING BEYOND THE DOS PROMPT

ITIENIS DISCUSSED

Magellan $195 Tree86 $89.95 ViewLink $149.95

Magellan Viewer Toolkit $150 The Aldridge Co. Traveling Software, Inc.
Lotus Development Corp. 2500 City West Blvd., Suite 575 18702 North Creek Pkwy.
55 Cambridge Pkwy. Houston, TX 77042 Bothell, WA 98011
Cambridge, MA 02142 (800) 548-5019 (800) 343-8080
(800) 635-6887 (713) 953-1940 (206) 483-8088
(617) 577-8500 Inquiry 1073. Inquiry 1075.
Inquiry 1071.
TreeView $50 registration fee XTree $69.95
Norton Commander 2.0 $89 (shareware) XTreePro $129
Peter Norton Computing Magee Enterprises, Inc. XTree Co., adivision of Executive
100 Wilshire Blvd., Ninth Floor P.O. Box 1587 Systems, Inc.
Santa Monica, CA 90401 Norcross, GA 30091 4330 Santa Fe Rd.
(800) 365-1010 (800) 662-4330 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(213) 319-2000 (404) 446-6611 (800) 634-5545
Inquiry 1072. BBS: (404) 446-6650 (805) 541-0604
Inquiry 1074. Inquiry 1076.

eventually, and it's only amatter of time Adding Real Intelligence to DOS aprogram when you select the data file.
before developers will take advantage of with ViewLink But in ViewLink's very power lies a
new features that will require you to use Perhaps the biggest problem with all the paradox. Getting the most out of View-
the latest and greatest DOS. But since DOS shells I've talked about so far is that Link requires asizable time investment;
DOS shells differ so much, there's still they force you to deal with the restric- there's alot of work to do beyond the ini-
going to be a hot market for add-in tions of DOS's set-in-cement hierarchi- tial automatic installation. To get the
shells, allowing users to choose the one cal file structure. Although directories most from the program, you have to
(if any) that they're most comfortable and subdirectories make lots of sense in- spend agreat deal of time continuously
with. ternally to DOS, when you stop and fine-tuning it. Having a sophisticated
think about it, this linear way of working DOS shell that can adjust itself to the way
3-2-1 Launch just isn't the way people work in the real you work sounds great, but the minus
Another important part of contemporary world. This is where intelligent shells go side is that you have to take ahard look at
DOS shell technology is the user's abil- astep further by associating data files to your work habits. You'll eventually have
ity to point to afile and run it. There are their programs. asystem that acts like it's anatural exten-
two parts to this equation: application At first glance, both Traveling Soft- sion of you, but it takes acommitment
files and data files. As mentioned earli- ware's ViewLink and Lotus Develop- that not everyone is willing to make.
er, most shells let you point and shoot at ment's Magellan look agreat deal like The way ViewLink works is tightly
any communications or executable file. standard DOS shells, but there's more tied to specific applications. The instal-
Things get more complicated when you there than meets the eye. These packages lation utility lists some 60 of the most
want to point to adata file and have it are multifunction software that, in addi- popular application programs. You tell
start up its associated application. Mac- tion to the features of standard DOS ViewLink which applications you'll be
intosh users have had this ability for shells, incorporate some of the features using, and it then goes through amulti-
years, because Mac data files have a of indexers, outliners, and even Macin- ple-step process that links data files to
header that identifies the applications tosh HyperCard. views and applications, searching
that created them, but this feature hasn't ViewLink links together your data and through your entire hard disk. The end
been available for DOS. That's one area applications using aconcept called views result is a master link file that keeps
where GUIs shine, but that ability is now (not to be confused with viewing). Views track of views, data files, and the appli-
slowly becoming available for DOS are categories of related data. The cru- cations they're linked to.
users. cial concept of ViewLink is that it lets Since Traveling Software has applied
The Norton Commander and some you gather related data into groups based for apatent for the linking technology,
other DOS shells have a rudimentary on your work preferences instead of what details on it aren't available. But its so-
ability to associate data files with appli- DOS forces you into. phistication is just a harbinger of what
cations through the simple process of ViewLink's screen display (see photo you can expect to see in future intelligent
using common file extensions. For ex- 4) is one of those ubiquitous split-screen DOS shells. For ahard disk filled with
ample, you can set up the Norton Com- views. It has the views (categories) on the nearly 50 megabytes of programs and
mander to start up Lotus 1-2-3 every left, and files you've associated with the data, ViewLink's master link file takes
time you choose afilename with a.WK I views on the right. Initially, the views up only about 130K bytes.
extension, or Microsoft Word when you are primarily subdirectory names. Be-
choose afilename ending in .TXT. But cause the data files that you incorporate Magellan's New World View
true associative file management is only into aview are automatically linked to Magellan takes a different approach to
just beginning to become available with their associated programs, ViewLink has dealing with data. It treats your hard disk
intelligent DOS shells. aMacintosh-like ability to directly start coniinued

112 Fa111989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 pto date.
own to earth.
hanging the world. UNIX is biggest high tech companies. Subscribe and Save. Subseribe
hanging the world of comput- Easy-to-understand program- today, and receive the next 12
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 LOOKING BEYOND
THE DOS PROMPT

GIVE YOUR COMPUTER

as awhole, creating amaster index of all
A BETTER IMAGE! files and their contents. Magellan also
uses aproprietary technology that Lotus
first used in its HAL AI interface to
Lotus 1-2-3. Although HAL was acom-
When it comes to hand scanners, IMAGE IS EVERYTHING! NISCAN's mercial flop, the technology behind it
advanced image processing technology is well suited for desktop publish- lives on. The Magellan index, which is
ing, optical character recognition, and paint programs. All for under $300. the key to its incredibly fast perfor-
mance, creates an index file that normal-
FULLY FEATURED!
ly takes up only 5percent to 10 percent of
Pass NISCAN over any photograph, text or illustration and watch as acrisp, the data space. In hopes of making Ma-
clear image appears instantly on your screen. Then employ any of gellan something of an "industry stan-
NISCAN's advanced editing features to help transform the ordinary into
dard" DOS shell, Lotus has just released
the extraordinary. the Magellan Viewer Toolkit ($150). De-
NISCAN covers afull 4.2 inch path and has 6software selectable dither pat- signed for applications developers, it lets
terns and 32 contrast levels. The NISCAN package comes complete with them integrate a Magellan viewer into
scanner, GEM scan software, half card and helpful users guide. their finished software.
The most unusual feature of Magellan
NISCAN IS COMPATIBLE! is its use of custom viewers for popular
NISCAN runs on IBM PC/XT/AT s and compatibles. Image files are easily applications (see photo 5). It goes beyond
used in most paint and publishing programs, including VENTURA PUB- the limited file-viewing abilities of the
LISHER*, ALDUS PAGEMAKER* and PC PAINTBRUSH +s. Norton Commander. Magellan's inte-
Call 1-800-245-SCAN today and let us tell you about optional optical char- grated viewing technology lets you
acter recognition, image vectorization and image file conversion software. quickly scroll through lists of files and
see most files as you'd see them within
the application. Magellan comes with 16
For more information or the nearest NISCAN dealer, call 1-800-245-SCAN.
NISCAN is made by NISCA Incorporated, 1919 Old Denton Pd, #104, Carrollton, Texas 75006. viewers that are automatically invoked,
Product names preceding '"' are registered trademarks of their respective companies. because the files and applications are
MI images displayed are NISCAN output. Color has been added to some of the monochrome images. linked to the correct viewers during the
installation process. Magellan even lets
you peek into binary files and shows cer-
tain packed files (.ARC) in their un-
packed state—instantly.

NISCAN
Magellan's index also links data files
and applications for quick launching.
And its other features are numerous, in-
cluding the ability to do fuzzy searches
«e '
e4eee eeiee e
re4;n using plain-English phrases in an "ex-
plore" function. This is DOS shell tech-
nology taken to its current limits.

Hope for the GUI-Deprived

Although all the attention of computer
1OLLJALt gLIC MUNK.
1,«C , .10"..31141.11.1.....1110
buyers seems focused these days on high-
end systems and which GUI to choose
(when, of course, they become generally
available), the continued proliferation of
products that enhance and extend plain-
vanilla DOS and make it easier to use
portends well for the numerous non-
power users of nonpower systems. And
even many power users will find enough
features in these products to decide to
stay with DOS until they're compelled to
make the substantial investment in the
hardware and software for advanced sys-
tems like OS/2. The reports of the death
of DOS are greatly exaggerated. •

Stan Miastkowski is a BYTE consulting

editor, managing director of K-F S Con-
cepts (a documentation and consulting
firm), and editor of the OS Report news-
letter. He can be reached on BIX as
"stanm."

114 Fall 1989 • BY IBM Special Edition Circle 193 on Reader Service Card
•PC Resource Magazine, "ZEOS... provides quality compar-
able with IBM or Compaq and does so for about 70% of the
price
•Personal Computing "ZEOS ... is the best value we've come
across ... its performance is right up there with the slickest,
most expensive PCs you can buy:'
•PC Magazine, "Don't pass up the ZEOS ... solid construction,
flexible design and escape-velocity performance make it atop
flight choice!'
•InfoWoed "We find the ZEOS 386 an excellent value. Speed:
Excellent. Compatibility: Excellent. Value: Excellent:'
•PC Magazine Editors Choice, "The ZEOS 386 blows away
every other computer... asmart choice!'

The Choice is Cleat

Dial 800-423-5891
IBM is aregistered trademark of IBM Corporation, Compaq is aregistered trademark of Compaq Computer
Corporation, ZEOS is aregistered trademark of ZEOS International, Ltd.

Circle 273 on Reader Service Cad

 ZEOS 386SX
/IDS Smashes the '386
Your best reason
If you plan to buy of the water." As PC Magazine
a16- or 20MHz 286 machine, says, "386SX-based machines
think again. are the right choice..." and the
yet to move up to a A fundamental change in new ZEOS 386SX is the right
computing is about to take place. choice for you.
'386. Now you can Systems based on the 80286
processor will be replaced by
30 Day Absolute Satisfaction
own acomplete systems based on the 80386SX.
As America's premier manu-
Guarantee. One Full Year
Limited Warranty.

ZEOS '386SX facturer of 80386 based systems,

we've designed the new ZEOS
If acompany believes in their
product, they should stand Rock

16Milz hard drive

Solid behind it. That's why your
386SX to provide everyone with
new ZEOS 386SX hard drive sys-
awindow to the future. A future
system for less
tem includes our famous 30 Day
of '386 speed and performance
Absolute Satisfaction Money
at afraction of what you would
Back Guarantee, One Full Year
than comparable expect to pay.
And ZEOS knows '386 sys-
Limited Warranty and Express
Parts Replacement Policy.
'286 systems. tems better than anyone. After all,
PC Magazine chose ZEOS above 24 Hour aDay Sales and Toll
57 other companies for "For Over- Free Technical Support!
The ZEOS all acellence"in their recent '386
Blockbuster issue.
And talk about service! ZEOS
is the only computer company in
'386SX. ZEOS The new ZEOS 386SX simply
runs circles around '286 based
America standing by ready to
help you Toll Free, 24 hours aday,
performance, machines. PC magazine noted
that the ZEOS 16MHz 386SX
365 days ayear Nobody supports
their customers like ZEOS!
quality and compares "favorably with the
20MHz '286 machines reviewed
Order your new ZEOS 386SX
now with confidence. Your choice
support. ZEOS in 'The 80286: Unsafe at Higher
Speeds?" (PC Magazine, De-
of ZEOS quality and performance
is Guaranteed. Order now by
value. The Choice cember 27, 1988).
So forget those 16- and 20MHz
calling 800-423-5891.

is Clear. '286 machines forever. The ZEOS

'386SX-16 "blows 'em right out

All prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. Please call for current pricing and warranty details.

116 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 The New ZEOS

Onlys1695
386SX Hard Drive
System. Below
'286 Prices!
Only $1,695
Thefuture is now!
Why be left behind with yes-
terday's '286 technology? This

Price Barrier!
fast new ZEOS 386SX system
is your high pelformance ticket
to '386 computing power Its
actually faster and yet less
expensive than comparable
'2.86 systems.
•80386SX-16 CPU, 8/16MHz
Dual Speed Keyboard Select-
able. ResetlIkrbo Buttons.
•512K DRAM, expandable to
aSystem Total of16MB.
•Shadow RAM and EMS
capability.
•Fast 32MB Seagate 138R
Hard Drive with autopark,
1.2MB Par floppy drive.
•Ultra high speed Hard/
Floppy controller 1:1inter-
leave, High Speed transfer
•Genuine Hercules® brand
graphics controller High-Res
Amber Display with Tilt/

•ZEOS1RS Enhanced
Tactile/Click keyboard.
•2High Speed Serial Ports
plus one Parallel and one
Game Port.
•6-16, 2-8 bit expansion slots.
80387SX support.
•Rugged ZEOS space saver
case. Security lock and LED
indicators.
•Includes ZEOS 24 Hour a
Day Toll Free Technical
Support and Customer
Satisfaction package.

Order Now Toll Free

800-423-5891
FAX Orders Dial: 612-633-1325
In Minnesota Call: 612-6334591
MasterCard, VISA, ZCARD, COD
Open 24 Hours aday, 365 Days
ayear.

ZEOS is apublicly traded company; MPLS/St. Paul Local OTC. 4 1989 ZEOS International. Ltd., 530 5th Avenue, N.W., St. Paul, MN 55112.

Circle 274 on Reader Service Card BY IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 117
 MOS'386 Systems
"For Overall
Excellence..7 PC Magazine, May30 1989

Complete ZEOS 20Milz '386 •101 Key ZEOS Tactile/Click

keyboard.
System. 80MB SCSI Drive!
•2High Speed Serial Ports plus

Only $2995 one Parallel and one Game port.

•1-32, 6-16 and 1-8 bit slots.
16MHz systemsfrom $2295.1 •80387 math coprocessor suPport.
•Rugged ZEOS 5-bay case.
The standard by which others
Including Security Lock and
are measured! Featuring 64K
LED indicators.
CACHE (twice that of most com-
petitors) providing Zero-Wait •Includes ZEOS 24 Hour aDay
State performance vastly superior Toll Free Technical Support and
to page/interleave memory Customer Satisfaction package.
schemes. Incredible Value. Options Galore: Including 14"
•High speed Zero Wait 64K read VGA, add only $595. And an in-
and write-back SRAM CACHE. credible selection of hard drives:
0 1,
The fastest method known. SCSI, RLL, ESDI or MFM and
atiel rg virtually any other add-on you
•Genuine 32-bit Intel 80386- could want!
kedlega a Hints .
20MHz CPU. ffleeiewomme.

•1MB ofZero-Wait DRAM

Expandable to 16MB.
•Fast 80MB, 28ms SCSI
Seagate Hard Drive, Twee' Performance Comparisons using PC Labs Benchmark Series Order Now Toll Free
12MB Floppy Drive. Release 4:
•High speed HDD/FDD SCSI
Host Adaptor with Software.
80386
Instruction
Mix
Floating
Point
Calculation
Conventional
Memory 800-423-5891
•Genuine Hercules® brand ZEOS 386/16 Desktop 358 13 62 0 58 FAX Orders Dial: 612-633-1325
In Minnesota Call: 612-633-4591
graphics controller High-Res ZEOS 386/20 Desktop 2.87 10.82 038 MasterCard, VISA, ZCARD, COD
Amber Display with Tilt/ IBM PS/2 Model 70-E61 408 16 04
Open 24 Hours aday, 365 Days ayear.
0.75
Swivel.
Compaq Deskpro 386/16 4 12 15 47 075

All prices and specifications are subjec to change without notice. Please call for current pricing and warranty details. ZEOS is apublicly traded company; MPLS/St. Paul Local OTC.

118 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 ht)J

ye-16

"Out of 104 machines from Free Technical Support 24

58 companies ... For overall Hours aday, seven days aweek,
excellence we selected ZEOS 365 days ayear! At ZEOS, we
International's 386-16 and 386-207 believe in standing by our cus-
PC Magazine, May 30, 1989 tomers whenever they need us.
The Editors of PC Magazine Then add our 30 Day
came to this conclusion after in- Absolute Satisfaction Money
vesting "25,000 hours of work by Back Guarantee, One Full Year
Limited Warranty and Express
60 people testing and reviewing 104 'Price is always a Parts Replacement Policy. You've
'386 PCs': The review was thorough
and their conclusion specific. Simply, consideration. So are got the best.
that out of all the manufacturers in benchmark test results. And when you order your ZEOS
'386 you can have your pick from
the world, ZEOS offers you the very
best '386 Value. But both factors can be the industry's broadest selection of
In all areas, ZEOS machines deceiving, which is why options. As PC Magazine said, ZEOS
are top performers. With uncom- offers "more options than even
promising attention to quality and
we consider them in the the most configuration hungry hound
detail throughout. Not only do context of other aspects could possibly need':
ZEOS systems themselves afford Quality, Performance, Reliability
you the very best Values in com-
that will make the differ- and Support. Overall Excellence.
puting today, they're backed up by ence months and years That's why ZEOS is PC Magazine's
#1 choice. And that's why ZEOS is
the strongest after sales support
in the industry
down the road. Things like your best choice as well. So pick out
At ZEOS we feel that if a quality of construction, that dream machine today and
order it now with confidence. Your
company believes in its products reliability, expandability, choice of ZEOS excellence is Guar-
it should stand Rock Solid
behind them. and ease of service:' anteed. Order now by calling
That's why ZEOS offers Toll PC Magazine, On "What 800-423-5891.
Makes an Editor's Choice"

Complete 25111Hz '386 •Genuine Hercules® brand

Vertical System. 80MB graphics controller High-Res
Amber Display with Tilt/SwiveL
SCSI Drive! •BIOS and Video Shadow RAM

Only $3995
plus EMS support.
•ZEOS Tactile/Click keyboard.
Complete 33MHz systems •2High Speed Serial Ports plus
one Parallel and one Game port.
only $4995!
•1-32, 6-16 and 1-8 bit slots.
ZEOS 25MHz and 33MHz •80387 math coprocessor support.
80386 systems are the fastest,
•Rugged ZEOS 5-bay case.
most advanced available any-
Security Lock, LED indicators.
where. Government Computer
News calls the ZEOS '386-33 •Includes ZEOS 24 Hour aDay
"arguably the fastest MS-DOS Toll Free Technical Support.
and OS/2 micro in the world." Many options available: Including
Review after review, these ZEOS 14" VGA, add only $595. Plus a
systems are selected as the best large selection ofSCSI, RU, ESDI
price/performance buys. A power or MFM hard drives and more.
user's dream!
•Ultra High speed Zero-Wait Order Now Toll Free
64K SRAM CACHE.
•Genuine 32-bit Intel '386-25
or 33MHz CPU
Performance Comparisons using PC Labs Benchmark Series
Release 4:
800-423-5891
80386 Floating
•1MB ofZero-Wait DRAM Instruction Point Conventional
Expandable to 16MB. Mix Calculation Memory

•Fast 80MB, 28ms SCSI ZEOS 386/25 Desktop o

Seagate Hard Drive, Teat.° ZEOS 386/33 Desktop 1.67 6 43 0.27

L2MB Floppy Drive.
IBM PS/2 Model A 2.27 8.33 0.60
•High speed HDD/FDD SCSI
Compaq Deskpro 386/25 2.36 8.59 0.37
Host Adaptor with Software.

01989 ZEOS International, Ltd., 530 5th Avenue, MW, S. Paul, MN 55112. All product and company names are trademarks
or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Circle 275 on Reader Service Card BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 119
 Com ut
Right Now. Guaranteed!* 1. Your order must be received by 1PM Central Time.
Yes, we can ship your new ZEOS® '286 or '386 2. Credit Cards are subject to credit card authorization.
today! We've built up an extra supply of the hottest 3. Orders must be for our standard 286-12MHz
selling computers in America. The celebrated system or 386-20MHz system, either mono-
ZEOS 286-12 and PC Magazine's Editors Choice — chrome or VGA. Any other systems or upgrades
the ultra fast ZEOS 386-20. are custom built and will take slightly longer.
Take your pick now for immediate delivery.
These are both complete, genuine ZEOS Zero-Wait *Our Guarantee to You:
state systems. Both include an ultra-fast Seagate If we fail to ship your system under the conditions
hard drive and all the other goodies. And they're outlined, we will ship it at our expense as soon as it
ready to ship. Right Now. is ready. All systems are fully burned in and tested.
Here's how it works. We have these extra systems Each system includes our 30 day Money Back
pre-built and ready to ship. They include both High Guarantee and One Full Year Limited Warranty
Resolution Monochrome and VGA systems. While Plus 24 Hour aday Toll Free technical support and
supplies last, we will ship either of these systems to Express Parts Replacement are included too!
you the day you order subject to these conditions: This offer is good only as long as these pre-built

Complete ZEOS l2Milz '286 •Fast 32MB Seagate 138R

with 32MB Hard Drive! Hard Drive with auto-park,
L2MB Floppy Drive.

Only $1,395 •Ultra high speed Hard/Floppy

controller 1:1 interleave, 800
For VGA color add $595 KB/sec transfer rate.
•Genuine Hercules® (Yes,
FREE Shareware Disks Too! Hercules!) Blue graphics
25 Software Programs Included card. High-Res Amber Display
Every system will include 25 with Tilt/Swivel Base.
ready to mn Shareware programs •ZEOS Enhanced 101 Key
on free disks. Included are Keyboard with our Pleasant
programs for Word Processing, Tactile/Click Feel.
Spread Sheets, Educational, •Serial and Parallel Printer
Financias Business, Games and Ports.
more. With Shareware you can •Clock/Calendar with Battery
try the programs first before you Backup.
register them with the author
•6-16 and 2-8 bit expansion slots.
What agreat idea!
•80287 suPport, up to 12 MHz.
Standard Features Include: •Heavy Duty Case Complete
with Security Lock and LED
•80286-12 CPU, 6/12MHz Performance Comparisons using PC Labs Benchmark Series indicators.
Dual Speed keyboard/hard- Release 4:
80286 Floating
ware selectable. Reset and
Turbo buttons right upfront.
Instruction
Mix
Point
Calculation
Conventional
Memory Order Now Toll Free
•Zero-Wait State DRAM, 512K
expandable to 4111B on the
ZEOS 286/12 Desktop

IBM PC AT (8MHz) 8.96

18.84

35.60 132
800-423-5891
mother board (16MB System IBM PS/2 Model 50 720 28 34 1.05
Total). EMS Capability on board.

All prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. Please call for current pricing and warranty details. COD orders may require an advance deposit. PS/2 and AT are trademarks of IBM Corporation.

120 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

crs Now!
SM

systems remain in stock; please give us acall to from 58 companies ... for overall excellence in both
verify availability. This offer does not apply to other the 16- and 20MHz categories, we selected ZEOS
ZEOS systems or custom configurations. International's 386-16 and 386-20!' And ZEOS '386
systems have racked up three PC Magazine Editor's
Immediate shipment is only part ofthe stay. Choice awards sofar this year!
ZEOS builds Rock Solid computers. That's why we PC Resource Magazine put it this way "ZEOS
offer you our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, Toll Free ... provides quality comparable with the IBM or
technical support and Full One Year Limited Warranty. Compaq and does so for about 70% of the cost:'
Compare that to the others. Then compare performance. Personal Computing simply says "The best value
Performance is what ZEOS is all about. If you're we've come across so far::
buying acomputer you may as well buy the fastest. We couldn't have said it better ourselves.
The ZEOS 286-12 is thefastest in its class. It features And these are the machines that we have
true Zero-Wait state operation with speeds dose to ready to ship to you right now. Rock solid block
many 386 systems! buster ZEOS machines with quality and perform-
Or select the ZEOS 386-20. The Editors of PC ance that is, in aword, Guaranteed. Order now by
Magazine did. In fact, they said "Out of 104 machines calling 800-432-5891

Complete ZEOS 20M1Iz '386 •101 Key ZEOS Tactile/Click

keyboard.
with 80MB 28ms SCSI Drive!
•High speed Serial and

Only $2,995 Parallel Ports.

•1-32, 5-16 and 2-8 bit slots.
For VGA color add $595 •80387 math co-processor
1c) support.
Standard Features •ZEOS 5-bay case with security
Include: lock and LED indicators.
•Genuine 32-bit
Intel 80386- Order Now Toll Free
800-423-5891
2011/1Hz CPU
•High speed
Zero-Wait FAX Orders Dial: 612-633-1325
64K SRAM In Minnesota Call: 612-633-4591
CACHE. MasterCard, VISA, ZCard and COD
Open 24 Hours aday!
•1MB of ZEOS International, Ltd.
Zero-Wail DRAMExpandable 530 5th Avenue, N.W
to 16MB system total. St. Paul, MN 55112 USA

•Fast 80MB, 28ms SCSI

Seagate Hard Drive, 1.2MB
Floppy Drive. Performance Comparisons using PC Labs Benchmark Series
Release 4:
•Ultra high speed Hard/Floppy 80386 Floating
Instruction Point Conventional
SCSI controller Mix Calculation Memory
•Genuine Hercules* Brand 7FOS 386/20 Desktop - .10.40 0.39
graphics card. High-Res Amber IBM PS/2 Model 70-121 3.24 12.72 0.61
Display with Tilt/Swivel Base.
lb:mm.1 Deskpro 386/20e 2.91 10.54 0.40

Corporate leasing plans are available. ZEOS is apublicly traded company; M PLS/St. Paul Local OTC. 0 1989 ZEOS International. Ltd.
Deskpro is atrademark of Compaq Computer Corporatio .

Circle 276 on Reader Service Card BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 121
 ele

°Lee

Terminal emulation doesn't

have to be this way.
We've all been there. Trying to remember whether the "Do" key is The best in terminal emulation software. With the PowerStation
really <Ctrl-Fl>. Or was it <Alt-F1>? And the editing keypad. keyboard you get the fastest, most precise, DEC terminal emulation
Can you be absolutely sure you're about to press the "Select" key software available: ZSTEM. You have the choice between two
and not the "Remove" key? The results can be disastrous. popular software packages: ZSTEM 240, our VT241/VT340 graphics
That's why KEA developed the PowerStation. The PowerStation, emulator and ZSTEM 220, our VT220 text emulator. Both packages
an exact VT200 layout keyboard bundled with VT240 or VT220 will impress you with their speed and feature-by-feature accuracy.
terminal emulation software, turns your IBM PC or compatible into To top it off, the PowerStation gives you all this at asurprisingly
akey-by-key replica of aDEC terminal -without messy labels! low price. But find out for yourself why Digital Review Labs says
But what does that get you? "the PowerStation 240 is agodsend:' Call us at 800-663-8702.
Peace of mind. The PowerStation keyboard takes the frustration
out of switching between aDEC terminal and aPC because
each key is right where you'd expect it to be. And our "Gold Key"
version makes ALLAN-1 and WPS abreeze.
Savings. If you think you can't afford both emulation software
anda keyboard, think again! The PowerStation can actually save
you money by eliminating the time you waste every day trans-
lating between VT and PC keystrokes. And with the PowerStation,
startup training costs are virtually eliminated
Consistency. The PowerStation keyboard provides aconsistent
interface for both VT emulation and regular PC applications. In
emulation mode you get the 105-key functionality of areal DEC key-
board and in PC mode you get asuper enhanced keyboard. And
you can use the PowerStation on virtually any PC! Move between
an XT, AT, PS/2, AT&T PC and aDEC terminal without missing
akeystoke.

PowerStation and ZSTEM are trademarks of KEA

Systems Ltd. All other brand and product names
KEA Systems Ltd., 2150 West Broadway, Suite 412
are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6K 4L9
their respective holders. Telephone: 604-732-7411 Fax: 604-732-0715

Circle 154 on Reader Service Card

 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

USING EXPANDED
M EMORY
Before you abandon DOS for other operating systems,
look to expanded memory

David M. Yancich

s application programs technique called paging, or bank switch- act as gateways between the "physical"
become more powerful ing. Simply put, paging redirects mem- window within the 1-megabyte space and
and flexible, the demand ory accesses within a 64K-byte, or the "logical" memory that resides on the
on system memory in- larger, window of the 1-megabyte physi- expanded memory board. The device
creases. When the sys- cal address space to memory outside of driver, called the expanded memory
tem is based on real-mode, segmented- that space. The requirements for ex- manager (EMM), controls the registers
addressing processors, such as the 80x86 panded memory include additional hard- so that aprogram's memory accesses can
family, that demand often results in the ware (in the form of bank-switching reg- be redirected throughout the entire range
640K-byte limit being exceeded. How- isters) and asoftware device driver. The of available expanded memory. The
ever, if a large portion of the applica- bank-switchin registers physical address window consists of a
tion's memory requirement is minimum of 64K bytes of un-
for data storage, there is a used contiguous memory-ad-
simple remedy. dress space, accessible in four
The Lotus/Intel/Microsoft 16K-byte pages. Each page
Enhanced Expanded Memory can be individually addressed
Specification (LIM/EEMS) and directed to any part of the
can relieve much of the data expanded memory, which is
storage burden from conven- also accessible in 16K-byte
tional memory by providing pages (see figure 1).
access to as much as 32 mega- A program that has not
bytes of additional memory. been written specifically to
take advantage of expanded
Expanded Memory memory will gain no benefit
The 80x86 processors, oper- from it, no matter how much
ating in real mode, have phys- expanded memory you have
ical addressability to 1mega- in your system. To access ex-
byte of memory. Although the panded memory, a program
80286 and 80386 processors needs to communicate with
have greater physical address- the EMM for the purposes of
ing capabilities when operat- verifying hardware/software
ing in OS/2 protected mode, functionality, allocating
when running in real mode memory, "mapping" physi-
they have the same 1-mega- cal pages with logical pages
byte limitation. EMS was de- so that memory accesses are
veloped to allow real-mode routed to the proper place,
processing to have access to and deallocating expanded
additional memory. It uses a continued

ILLUSTRATION: JOHN BREAKEY e 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 123
 USING EXPANDED MEMORY
"We're looking for
retired managers
who want to get
memory when you end the program. memory, and Iwill suggest some tech-
back into action:' Communication with the EMM is simi- niques that may be of interest.
lar to making calls to DOS. The program First, you need the low-level functions
sets up the proper CPU registers and that allow the application code to com-
makes asoftware interrupt request (in- municate with the EMM. The EMM is
terrupt vector Ox67). More than 30 major accessed using software interrupt Ox67.
functions are defined by the LIM/EEMS Most C compilers have functions that ex-
standard, and they give applications and ecute software interrupts. Microsoft C
operating systems control over expanded includes several variations, of which
memory. int86( )and int86x( )provide all the
When aprogram allocates expanded proper register passing required to exe-
memory pages, the EMM returns ahan- cute the EMM (see listing 1). The func-
dle to the requesting program. This han- tions Iwill describe were developed
dle (integer value) is then used in future using this method. So, while developing
calls to the EMM to identify which block these functions is essential to all subse-
of logical pages is being manipulated. quent steps, the work has largely been
done. Complete details of the EMM
Developing aC Library functions are available from Intel (EMS)
Many of the programs that Ihave written and AST Research (EEMS).
have been for real-time data acquisition When Iwas writing my programs, I
and data analysis, applications that re- wanted to allocate expanded memory in
quire substantial data buffer and data amanner similar to allocating standard
Harold W. McGraw, Jr., array sizes. Storing this data in expanded memory using the malloc ()functions. I
Chairman Emeritus, McGraw-Hill, Inc. memory allows me to generate more therefore needed a function that would
I'm avolunteer supporter of the Inter- code to increase program functionality check for memory availability, allocate
and user friendliness. the desired number of pages, and return
national Executive Service Corps, a
not-for-profit organization with avital Ihave developed and placed in the some type of information to inform the
public domain a library for use with program of the results. But unlike with
mission:
Microsoft C that has functions that dy- malloc (), more information than an ad-
We send retired U.S. managers over- namically allocate and access expanded dress would be necessary. The function,
seas to help businesses in developing memory, similar to C's intrinsic mal- which Icall xpmalloc(), returns a
countries, which often respond by loc() functions. There are several pointer to astructure that contains the in-
increasing their imports of U.S. goods. issues that should be considered when de- formation shown in listing 2. As with
In fact, developing countries consume veloping code that will access expanded continued
about 40 percent of U.S. exports.
As an IESC volunteer, you would
not get asalary. But you would get
PHYSICAL AND LOGICAL LAYOUTS
expenses for you and your spouse,
plus aworld of personal satisfaction.
IESC leads the field in this kind of work. Window and
size hardware
depends on
installed
EMM version
We've done over 9,000 projects in 81 / Logical page (16K bytes)
countries. We could have aproject
1024
that's just right for you.To find out, send Total installed
960K expanded memory
this coupon to: Harold W. McGraw, JE, Page frame area ,
for expanded memory - Bank-
Chairman, McGraw-Hill, Inc., P.O. Box
access
2 switching Maximum to 32
10005, Stamford, CT 06904-2005. megabytes
(four 16K-byte pages) \
-'3
registers
,rarlik_%\ International
»Min 768K Logical memory
Executive
«le 640K Application space
‘ItrOe
i
Service Corps M
Program accesses
data by using afar
Dear Mr. McGraw: Tell me more about becoming arn
IESC volunteer. Iam a recently retired manager or
pointer to high
technician—or am about to retire—from aUS. com- -memory
pany. I'm free to accept an overseas assignment.
Iunderstand that volunteers receive expenses for Physical memory
themselves and their spouses, but no salary.
256K

Name
OK
Address

City State Zip Figure 1: Bank-switching registers direct data traffic between physical and logical
memory areas.
L iwhat publication did you see this ad/ MJ

124 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 Okay, we admit it may not be as any of the other more powerful modules.* But
profound as Einstein's Theory of that's not all. CompuStar features an incredible
Relativity. But, ifyou're acomputer seven disk/tape compartments that we'll gladly
user, we bet it's abit more, shall we custom configure for you at the factory. No mat-
say,"relative" — not to mention a ter what your application, we can tailor fit a

T
CompuStar to match it precisely.
whole lot more sensible.
"C" stands for CompuStar® — the world's
first and only multi-processor, convertible bus'"
microcomputer. And, as the theory states,
CompuStar means AT, MCA and EISA compati-
bility — all in asingle system.
CPU MODULES ARE INTERCHANGEABLE.
A CONVERTIBLE BUS?
IT'S NUMBER ONE RATED.
Each CompuStar features snap-in bus If you're thinking a computer with as much
"modules" that let you convert from one bus flexibility as CompuStar would have to compro-
standard to another — a PC/AT' bus, a PS/2 mise something, like performance — think again.
(MCA) bus. ..or both! The CompuStar is one of the fastest, most power-
ful systems available. In fact, CompuStar's per-
formance and flexibility so impressed Info World

SNAP-IN PS/2
111111111111111111111 magazine they gave it the highest rating of all
hardware products tested in 1988! That's aston-
AND AT BUS MODULES. 111111111111111111111 ishing when you consider you can buy a
Depending on configuration, you can have CompuStar for thousands of dollars less than a
up to 13 AT and/or PS/2 bus expansion slots. comparably equipped system from IBM or
Plus, when the new EISA bus becomes popular, Compaq.
we're licensed to offer it as well. If the next generation in personal comput-
ers is what you're shopping for, why not call us
THREE COMPUTERS IN ONE. today at 803/796-7800 to arrange a no obligation, 31-day
Buses are not the only thing you can reconfigure in a CompuStar® trial in your office! Relatively speaking, it's the
CompuStar. Each system can be equipped with any of three only sensible thing to do. VAR inquiries also welcome.
CPU Modules — an 80286, an 80386 and soon — an 80486!

Wells American.
Since the modules are interchangeable, you won't have to
worry about buying the wrong computer system. We'll even
let you trade-in your CPU Module toward the purchase of
Circle 265 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 266)

Corporate Headquarters: 3243 Sunset Boulevard •West Columbia, SC 29169 •803/796-7800 •FAX 803/796-7029

1Personal Computer AT, AT, PS/2 and IBM are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. 2 MCA is a trademark of IBM.
'Some restrictions may apply. Call us for details on our trade-in and total customer satisfaction programs.
 USING EXPANDED MEMORY

Listing 1: Low-level functions

like this one allow communication
between applications and the
expanded memory manager. standard memory allocations, the re- quires that the index into the data be con-
quested amount of expanded memory is stantly monitored so that if it crosses the
(Get Status - function 1)
reserved by calling this function, but ac- 64K-byte boundary, the proper page re-
#include <dos.h> cess requires slightly more preparation. mapping can occur. If the data size is less
The next issue to consider is the size of than 64K bytes, this is not aconcern. As
#define IAN inRegs.h.ah
#define OAH outRegs.h.ah your largest memory allocations and ac- four 16K-byte pages can be mapped at a
#define XPMINT Ox67 cesses. There are two possibilities: sizes single time, direct access to 64K-byte
#define GETSTATUS Ox40
greater than the physical window size memory can occur without the need to
union REGS inRegs,outRegs; (64K bytes) and sizes less than 64K remap pages. Obviously, there is atrade-
bytes. To access expanded memory, the off between performance and array size.
int getStatus()
{
physical and logical pages first have to be Idecided to develop two functions that
IAN = GETSTATUS; mapped. Since the size of the physical would take care of page mapping and
int86(XPMINT,&inRegs,&outRegs);
window is 64K bytes, access to data ele- boundary checking when used with data
return(OAH); ments greater than that requires new log- arrays larger than 64K bytes: one for
1 ical pages to be mapped into the window reading data, and one for writing data.
space. The parameters passed to these functions
From aprogramming aspect, this re- are the data item index, the data value
(writing) or pointer-to-data variable
(reading), and apointer to the xpmalloe
Listing 2: Expanded memory is allocated using avariant of the malloc () structure, which was returned by xpmal-
functions. The function xpmalloe( )returns apointer that contains memory- loe (). The values in the xpmalloe
allocation information. structure are used in the boundary-
typedef struct typxpmalloc
checking algorithms and page-mapping
char *dataPtr; /* Pointer to data (pageFrame) */ procedures.
struct typhandlepages The functions must be defined for a
unsigned int handle; /* Expanded memory handle */
unsigned int pagesAlloced; /* Number of pages allocated */ specific data type so that an element size
) xpmId; is known. For example, if the data is to
unsigned int topLogicalPage; /* First logical page mapped */
unsigned long totalSize; /* Total memory required */
be an array of float, the functions
unsigned int accessedflag; /* Structure mapped flag */ would use (sizeof(float) *index) to
) typXPMALLOC;
determine if the 64K-byte boundary has
been crossed. If the boundary is crossed,
new logical pages must be mapped into
the physical window.
The next starting logical page number
can be calculated by ((sizeof( float )*
REMOTE STORE AND SEARCH index) / PAGESIZE), where PAGESIZE
= 16K bytes. This new logical page, and
all higher logical pages allocated to this
Logical pages array, are then mapped into the physical
Physical pages Logical page 0 window, allowing access to data ele-
ments beyond the 64K-byte boundary.
1024 Logical page 1 It's important to be aware of how page
9601< remapping changes the effective index
--- Element 64K +1 Logical page 2
located in logical into the data array. Since the physical
page 4 window consists of 64K bytes of contigu-
Logical page 3
ous address space, aconventional mem-
Logical page 4 ory access for element (64K bytes /
768K
sizeof(element)) + 1 would have an
6401< Application accesses Logical page 5 address that points outside the physical
array element window. Because the new logical page
[64K +1] Logical page 6 was mapped into the window starting at
the first physical page, the effective
Function accesses Logical page 7 index for that element is 0(see figure 2).
•physical address
My data-accessing functions use a
(64K +1) % 64K = Allocated array size simple mod operation (index % 64K
pageFrame +0 128K bytes bytes) to calculate the proper physical
256K Eight logical pages address associated with the passed index
parameter. When programs use these
OK functions, every data access is checked
for boundary integrity, causing aperfor-
mance penalty. However, if the data
array must be larger than 64K bytes and
Figure 2: A conventional memory access for element (64K bytes /sizeof the application needs to access the entire
(element)) +1would have an address that points outside the physical window. array in a random order, the trade-off
continued

126 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

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Circle 117 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 118)

 USING EXPANDED MEMORY

favors the boundary-checking function. removes the 64K-byte direct-data-access

Listing 3: Allocating and When you use expanded memory allo- limitation and allows direct access up to
accessing a32K-byte integer array cations with third-party memory func- the window size.
(within the physical window size tions, remember that these functions The window size will vary from sys-
limit—extended-memory-manager expect to have access to contiguous ad- tem to system, depending on the amount
functions assumed available). dresses. No logical page mapping can be of unused contiguous address space. Ac-
performed externally. Thus, access is cess to alarger window cannot be accom-
Initialize
strictly limited to physical window size. plished by installation of the later version
Again, in cases where the size of the of the EMM alone; an expanded memory
data is less than 64K bytes, you don't board that supports larger windows (i.e.,
/*
** Code to access expanded memory. have to do any boundary checking. All has more bank-switching registers) is
'- required pages can be mapped, and ac- also required. Use EMS function 25 (Get
register int i;
int *intArray; cess can occur. Limiting data sizes to the mappable physical address array) or
char *pageFrame; window size is the most straightforward EEMS function 33 (Get standard physi-
int num0fPages;
int total, available;
way to access expanded memory. Listing cal window array) to determine the max-
int handle; 3shows an example of allocating and ac- imum window size that is available in
cessing a32K-byte integer array (within your system.
/*
** 32K array / 16K PAGESIZE the physical window size limit, with the Along with larger windows in high
*/
EMM functions assumed available). memory (above 640K bytes), mapping
num0fPages = 2;
Allowing multiple data allocations has into conventional memory-address space
/* Function 3 an effect on the page mapping. If only is allowed, but this technique was actu-
** Check for available pages
** returns: total pages and
one data allocation is involved, and it is ally included for operating-system ac-
available pages less than 64K bytes, you can map the cess. Several functions available in the
*/
pages once and forget about them without latest versions of the specifications offer
numAvailPages(&total,&available)
incurring any further performance pen- enhanced capabilities, such as easy ma-
/*If there are available pages */ alty. Clearly, this is the simplest and nipulation of memory—both expanded
if (available > num0fPages)
most direct access of expanded memory. and conventional—and multiple page
/* Function 4 If multiple allocations are involved, mapping with asingle call.
** Reserve expanded memory pages
** returns: expanded memory handle
and their sizes are less than 64K bytes, For example, EMS function 24 pro-
*/ logical pages should be mapped before vides memory move/exchange capabili-
allocatePages(num0fPages,Mumdle);
access and unmapped after access (un- ties without page mapping. Ifound this
mapping protects the data from inadver- function useful in saving screen images
/* Function 2 tent accesses). This creates a perfor- to expanded memory when developing a
** Get pageFrame address
** returns: segment address of mance penalty when random accesses to "windowing" user interface. EMS func-
physical window different arrays are required. To reduce tion 17 will map all pages within the
*/
getPageFrameAddr(&pageFrame);
this penalty, as many continuous ac- physical window size in one call, which
cesses to asingle array as possible should is useful in reducing the performance
/*
be performed before the pages are re- penalties in page remapping. Some bene-
** Integer array address will be
** address of MN window (pageFrame) mapped for adifferent array access. If fits of the latest versions of the specifica-
*/
both size and multiple allocations are in- tions require supporting hardware, but
intPtr = (int *)pageFrame;
volved, you incur the greatest penalty some do not. If you have earlier versions
/a from the combination of boundary of the hardware, you can still install
** Function 5 - map individual pages
** Point to proper logical pages
checks and page mapping. EMM updates and gain some benefits.
*/ The xpmalloc structure includes an The expanded memory specifications
for (1=0;1<2;i++)
integer member, accessedFlag, that in- have been around for several years, but
physicalPageNum = 1; dicates which data allocatión is currently until recently their use has seemed some-
log1calPageNum = 1; mapped. If the same array is accessed thing of ablack art known only to major
mapPage(physicalPageNum,
logicalPageNum,handle); several times in arow, the check for this application or operating-system develop-
1 flag will reduce page mappings and im- ers. Today, many well-known and not-
/*
prove performance. Another point to re- so-well-known applications have begun
** Access data member when you're allocating ex- to exploit expanded memory and the
*/
for (1=0;1<1000;1++)
panded memory is deallocation. When EMM functions. If your application is
your program terminates, all allocated knocking on the 640K-byte door, before
*intPtr++ = 1; logical pages must be deallocated, or you decide to move to OS/2 or other op-
- OR - they will be inaccessible for future use erating systems, give expanded memory
until the system is rebooted. alook. •
intPtr[1] = 1;
1
Specific Specifications Editor's note: Source code in Cfor the
The latest expanded memory specifica- memory-allocation functions library is
/* tions are EMS 4.0 and EEMS 3.2. These available on disk and on BIX. See page 3
** Function 6 - Deallocate pages two versions offer several benefits that for details.
** Release allocated pages
*/ greatly enhance their use. The major en
releasePages(handle); hancement to both specifications over David M. Yancich is asystems consultant
earlier versions is the ability to have in Baltimore. He can be contacted on BIX
larger physical address windows. This do "editors."

128 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

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Circle 49 on Reader Service Card

 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

SERVING
MANY MASTERS
New microcomputer bus architectures let multiple devices
control input and output in asystem

Brian T Anderson and Marcy A. Puhnaty

erhaps the biggest per- are also critical in improving system existing peripheral devices and applica-
formance bottleneck in a performance. tions software.
microcomputer is the I/O The evolution of the I/O bus architec-
bus. In most machines, ture in microcomputers hasn't been as The Evolving Standard
the CPU must handle straightforward as the evolution of The most common microcomputer I/O
data transfers between peripherals and CPUs. It is much harder to speed up the bus architecture is the Industry Standard
memory. This keeps the CPU from per- bus than it is to speed up the CPU. You Architecture. ISA is an 8-MHz bus with
forming its more sophisticated process- do gain some performance benefits by 24-bit direct memory access (DMA),
ing chores and therefore degrades system simply speeding up the bus, but you also providing 16 megabytes of addressable
throughput. Recently, however, new I/O run the risk of losing compatibility with memory. It was introduced with an 8-bit
architectures have been intro- data path by IBM in the XT.
duced that allow peripherals The second version, with both
to take control of the bus. an 8-bit and a 16-bit data
Called bus masters, these in- path, appeared in 1984 in the
telligent peripherals represent AT. The ISA bus in the AT is a
a significant advance in per- superset of the ISA bus in the
sonal computer design. XT, so all peripheral devices
compatible with the XT are
Processors and Buses also compatible with the AT.
Since the introduction of the Billions of dollars have been
IBM PC in 1981, changes in spent on peripheral devices
personal computing technol- for this architecture.
ogy have focused on the CPU The need for an improved
and the architecture of the PC bus architecture was
I/O. CPU technology has mi- prompted by the introduction
grated from the 4.77-MHz of the 80386 processor. The
8088/8086 to the 80286, with increase in CPU performance
clock speeds of up to 20 MHz, that this chip engendered led
and now to the 80386, with IBM to introduce the Micro
clock speeds of up to 33 MHz. Channel architecture in 1987
The next plateau, 80486 tech- with the PS/2 line of personal
nology, is fast approaching. computers. MCA is a10-MHz
But because asystem is only bus with 24-bit DMA, provid-
as fast as its slowest part, ing 16 megabytes of address-
faster processors alone cannot able memory. It also features
ensure faster systems. Im- a32-bit data path. MCA is not
provements in I/O technology continued

ILLUSTRATION: MARK MOSCARILLO © 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 131
 SERVING MANY MASTERS

compatible with the existing ISA stan- DMA, providing 4gigabytes of address- over ISA. These include switchless auto-
dard and therefore will not support any able memory. The consortium—the so- configuration, bus mastering, and burst-
of the existing ISA peripheral devices. called Gang of Nine—consists of AST mode transfer. Of these, bus mastering is
As an alternative to MCA, microcom- Research, Compaq, Epson America, the most intriguing and promises the
puter manufacturers formed a consor- Hewlett-Packard, NEC Information Sys- greatest performance benefits over the
tium in October 1988 to establish anew tems, Ing. C. Olivetti & Co., Tandy, long term.
bus architecture that would maintain Wyse Technology, and Zenith Data Sys-
compatibility with the ISA bus while pro- tems. Intel has announced the availabil- Basics of Bus Mastering
viding for the advanced features intro- ity of the EISA chip set, and EISA ma- Put simply, abus master is an intelligent
duced by MCA. The result is the Ex- chines should be available later this year. device—typically, a microprocessor—
tended Industry Standard Architecture. In addition to 32-bit data paths, MCA that interfaces to the system bus and has
EISA is an 8-MHz bus with 32-bit and EISA both feature notable advances the ability to control the transfer of data
across that bus without intervention from
the CPU. Since the CPU is not used for
bus management, the bus master can op-
erate in parallel with the CPU to transfer

Maxon MVGA-16rm adapter data across the bus at high speeds. This
differs from the standard ISA I/O bus ar-
chitecture, where the CPU controls all

workewith flying colors

bus activity with the exception of DMA.
In the case of DMA, devices that are at-
tached to the bus transfer data directly to

4144.,
main memory using the system's DMA
controller instead of the CPU.
All peripheral devices attached to the
bus are categorized as either masters or
slaves. Whereas amaster can take con-
trol and own the bus, aslave device must
use the CPU to manage all bus transac-
tions. Slave devices are serviced by the
CPU only after arequest is made via an
interrupt signal. This signal notifies the
CPU that the slave device needs it and the
bus for a transaction. In ISA-based
microcomputers, all peripheral devices
•16 bit are slaves; the CPU is the only master.
AT® design — A bus master can play either of two
auto- detects roles in acomputer system: It can be ded-
and adapts to 8bit icated to handling specific tasks, or it
PC® or XTTm slots can be a general-purpose processor.
Typically, task-oriented bus masters are
•Super font capability peripheral devices that perform high-
•Fast RAM and 1-to-1 performance tasks such as graphics, net-
memory access inter- work control, and data acquisition. Gen-
leave with CPU eral-purpose bus masters are typically
coprocessor peripherals. A coprocessor
•Total corn •Total hardware and soft-
peripheral acts like the CPU so that the
with IBM's ware emulation of EGA®,
system work load can be shared or split
hardware and software CGA® MDA° and Hercules®
between the two.
•132 column modes —display
•No drivers needed for
on standard VGA monitors Sharing Control
standard VGA modes
See the MVGA-16 at Maxon's COM- A system bus can effectively support
•Large selection of drivers for DEX booth, Nov. 13-17, or contact multiple bus masters by implementing a
super VGA modes Maxon Systems, Inc., 10828 NW Air bus-arbitration mechanism in the bus-
World Drive, Dept 777 Kansas City,
•Extended modes / colors: MO 64153 — Tech. Info. 800 262-462Z
control circuitry. Bus arbitration selects
and grants control of the bus to a bus

maxon
800x600 /16, 640x400 /256, Sales/Orders 816 891-1093
1024x768 /4(standard 256K master. When several bus masters are
contending for control of the bus at the
card —upgradable in the field
SYSTEMS INCORPORATED same time, acentral arbiter mediates the
to 512K)
The following are tradenames or registered tradenames
requests according to assigned priority
•512K version adds 640x480 /
256 of the companies listed: IBM, PC, XT, AT, VGA, EGA, levels. Depending on the implementa-
and 1024x768 /16 modes CGA, and MDA — International Business Machines
Corp.; Hercules — Hercules Computer Technology, Inc.;
tion, priority levels might be assigned ac-
1989 — MSI and MVCA-16 — Mason Systems, Inc. cording to slot identification number or
location, or the priority information
continued
Circle 169 on Reader Service Cad
132 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition (DEALERS: 170) Circle 24 on Reader Service Card
 Our standards are
the toughest part
of our 3.5"diskette.
We've got you covered.
The rigid plastic jacket of
our 3.5" Micro Diskette is
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BASF
 SERVING MANY MASTERS

might be stored on the bus-master board, the peripheral device to obtain the infor-
as in the case of MCA. In this way, no mation to be transferred. It then writes
bus master can control the bus for indefi- that information to main memory. Thus,
nite periods of time. the transfer requires two bus cycles: one
Bus architectures provide several sig- bus master can take for the read and one for the write. With a
nals to facilitate bus arbitration. Bus bus master, however, only one bus cycle
masters use these signals to request con- complete control is needed to transfer the data to main
trol of the bus and to determine if the memory, and the CPU is bypassed alto-
request has been granted. Although bus- of the system bus gether. With abus master, only the write
arbitration signals vary across archi- operation requires use of the bus. In
tectures, all perform the same general in order to transfer theory, use of abus master doubles the
function. For example, AST Research's data transfer rate for this operation.
SMARTslot architecture provides avery data to main memory. Another important advantage of the
simple approach to bus arbitration. newer PC I/O bus architectures is the
SMARTslot was one of the first ISA- ability of bus masters to perform burst
compatible bus architectures to support transfers. Burst-mode operation allows a
bus mastering through the use of addi- bus master to transfer a block of data
tional connectors added to the bus slot. during asingle arbitration cycle. For ex-
Under SMARTslot, each slot has its own grant line. When the bus master detects ample, 16 bytes of data can be trans-
dedicated set of bus-arbitration signals: the bus-grant line, it asserts the bus busy ferred in one block using burst mode
bus request, bus grant, and ashared bus signal to indicate that the bus is in use. with MCA, as opposed to just 2 bytes
busy signal. To request control of the under normal data transfer operations.
bus, the bus master sends arequest by as- The Mastering Advantage Because the bus master operating in
serting its unique bus-request line. The To assess the relative merits of bus mas- burst mode is transferring data in larger
bus arbiter on the system board then de- tering versus standard ISA bus commu- blocks, it can complete its transfer in less
termines which requesting bus master nications, consider how each method time and relinquish control of the bus
has the highest priority level. Bus control transfers data to main memory. With faster so it can be used by other system
is then granted to the winning bus master ISA, the CPU controls the entire transac- devices. Bus masters initiate burst mode
by asserting that board's unique bus- tion. First, the CPU performs aread to continued

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 9R

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-) Wells American Corporalion 1989 Circle 297 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 298)
 SERVING MANY MASTERS

in different ways. With MCA, for exam-

ple, bus masters request burst mode via
the burst signal on the bus.
Bus-master technology permits acom-
pletely open bus. It allows abus master to
take complete control of the system bus in
order to transfer data to main memory or
to other peripheral devices attached to
the bus. For example. communication
can occur directly between abus-master
network controller and the system's hard
disk-controller interfaced to the system
bus. Communication between intelligent
devices attached to an ISA-based system
can occur only via the central processor.
Depending on the bus implementation,
the CPU could continue to handle other
system tasks while the bus-master device
has control of the system bus. Such is the
case with MCA. This functionality fa-
cilitates multitasking by providing an ef-
fective foundation in hardware to distrib-
ute processing. Specific tasks normally
performed by the CPU can now be off-
loaded to the bus master.
To gain abetter understanding of the
benefits provided by bus mastering and
burst-mode transfers, you need to exam-
ine the specific implementations of this
The Swiss Army Knife provides all the basic tools in one convenient package. It's
technology.
amasterpiece of engineering.
So indeed is BASIC Tools. It provides all the essential programming tools in one Bus Flavors
brilliantly conceived package. Bus-master technology is an integral
And at aspecial introductory price of $79.00, it's going to make Swiss cheese of part of numerous bus architectures. In
the competition. the microcomputer world, you can find
hardware support for bus masters on
Look at all you get for one low price. IBM's MCA, AST's SMARTslot archi-
"Windows" lets you simultaneously display multiple overlapping windows and tecture, and the NuBus architecture most
manage their titles, footers, contents, color, size and on-screen position. You can also notably used by Apple's Macintosh II.
scroll and move them around. Machines using the EISA bus, expected
"Input Editing" routines help you build powerful and easy to use data entry late this year, will also support bus-mas-
tering technology. Each of these buses
screens. You can use Home, End, Ins, Del, arrow keys, function keys and Alt-key approach the implementation of bus-
combinations. Set default values, colors, valid characters and field length. Enable master technology in different ways to
or disable echo on input fields. Set amasking character to hide data input. accommodate unique objectives.
"B+ Tree file manager" lets you use up to ten indexed files in asingle program. Each Although not acomplete implementa-
record can be accessed through as many as eight different keys. Unlimited records per tion, the original ISA has aprovision for
another bus master aside from the CPU.
file. Add indexes to existing BASIC random files without modifying them. This feature is implemented by aspecial
Furthermore, our comprehensive manual and "Pop-up On-line Help" implemented signal on the ISA bus called MASTER.
through aTSR utility, along with sample source programs, make BASIC Tools easy to A bus master takes control of the ISA bus
learn. Also, your applications are royalty free. by first issuing aDMA request (DRQ) to
Take advantage of the $79.00 introductory price by ordering now. Call toll aDMA channel. Upon receiving aDMA
acknowledge (DACK), the bus master
free at 1-800-232-8228. In Florida (305) 477-2703, 9-5 EST. Visa and MC accepted. brings the MASTER line low. It now has
30-day money-back guarantee on direct orders. complete control of the system address,

BASIC lbols
Add $5.00 shipping and handling. data, and control lines. Data transfers
Florida residents add 6% Sales Tax. Free can now be made without the help of the
technical support. Dealer inquiries welcomed. CPU, thus saving clock cycles.
The integrated programming package. Since the ISA bus architecture con-
Finalsoft Corporation, 3900 N.W. 79 th Avenue, Aproduct of :mg-aSOft tains no arbitration circuitry in hard-
Suite 215, Miami, FL 33166. ware, the mediation of requests between
multiple bus masters and the automatic
System requirements: IBM' PC'. PS/2' or compatible: DOS 2.0 or higher: Microsoft BASIC 6.0. Microsoft Quick BASIC 4.0. BASICA'. or GW'
Xi.
BASIC. r, Copyright 1989 Finalsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Finalsoft is aregistered trademark of Finalsoft Corporation. IBM. PC
transfer of bus control to an alternate bus
Ps/2 and BASICA are registered trademarks of the International Business Machine Corporation. Microsoft and GW are registered trademarks continued
of Microsoft Corporation.

136 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition Circle 103 on Reader Service Card
(DEALERS: 104)
SOFTWARE SECURITY

WHETHER
REPORT.
SentinelProTM
•Runs under DOS. OS/2
and Xenix •Algorithm
technique (Never a fixed
response) •External
parallel port installation
•Minimal implementation
Whether you're asoftware developer writing new applications for effort •Higher level lan-
guage interfaces included
the IBM or Mac, or aPC user securing proprietary data files, •100 times faster than fixed-
software and data protection has never had abrighter silver response devices (1 ms)
•ASIC design for reliability
lining. For anumber of very good reasons.

Beginning with the whether-expert' Rainbow Technologies. •Protects multiple packages Sentinel-CTM
with one device •126 bytes
And ending with its Software Sentinel family of hardware keys. of non-volatile memory pro-
grammed before shipment
Starring five models that fit virtually any software program or of the software •Rainbow
supplies a unique adapter
data file you need to protect. for programming the unit
•Higher level language
interfaces included •Runs
There's the best-selling SentinelPro for the IBM PC/XT/AT, PS/2 under DOS, OS/2 and Xenix
•E.xiernal parallel port
and compatibles, and even the Atari ST. Known worldwide for its installation

virtually unbreakable security. And its ASIC technology. And its

invisible operation. Aclose relation, the Sentinel-C stands at-the-
ready for custom configurations and multiple software packages. •For the Macintosh SE and Eve TM

If •Complies with Apple

Desktop Rus Interface
requirements •Rainh,.u..
In the Apple market, security-minded Mac software developers assigned developer pass-
words to prevent tampering
turn to Eve. For completely transparent operation and world- by other developers or
sophisticated "hackers" •7
class security of the protected software. Just by plugging Eve into locks per key, usable indi-
vidually or in combination,
the Mac ADB connector. on one or up to seven appli-
cations

PC users wanting alow cost, user-friendly solution to the prob-

lem of securing sensitive data can call on the DataSentry. Using
•Completely user-installable DataSentryTM
aproprietary Rainbow algorithm or DES, the DataSentry •Pocket-sized external
device •Menu-driven, user-
encrypts data files on individual PCs, protects modem transmis- friendly interface. Single- or
multi-user security system
sions and secures data on local area networks. •Audit trail, log-on identi-
fiers and automatic encryp-
tion/decryption of entire
Rainbow's latest protection strategy is the SentinelShell— that directories •Secures data
transmitted by modems
lets users place a'shell' around existing, off-the-shelf programs. •Prevents recovery of data
by utility programs
Because access can be limited to those issued akey, libraries,
universities and corporations can very simply guard their
software investments. SentinelShellTM
•Runs under DOS on IBM
PCs and compatibles
Whatever your whether, Rainbow Technologies has the software •Protects without requiring
access to the source code
and data protection products that make the difference. For more •Completely transparent to
information, call 714-261-0228 in the U.S., or contact Rainbow the end user •User-friendly
software •Pocket-size key
Technologies Ltd. in the United Kingdom for the distributor attaches quickly to any
standard PC parallel port
nearest you. Whethercasters are standing by. •ASIC design for reliability

RAINBOW TECHNOLOGIES
18011-A Mitchell South, Irvine, CA 92714 •(714) 261-0228 •TELEX: 386078 •FAX: (714) 261-0260
Rainbow Technologies, Ltd., Shirley Lodge, 470 London Rd., Slough, Berkshire, SL3 SQY, U.K., Tel: 0753-41512, Fax: 0753-43610
1989 Rainbow Technologies. All product names are trademarks of their respective manufacturen.

t",'ircle 228 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 229)

 SERVING MANY MASTERS

ever, some of these fixed priorities can

be changed through programming. MCA
supports up to 16 bus masters.

ISA Extensions
AST Research's SMARTslot architec-
ture is afully compatible 16-bit ISA bus
extended with additional signals to sup-
port multiple bus masters. Arbitration
control is centralized in the system's bus-
control circuitry, and arbitration prior-
ity-level assignments are fixed according
to slot location. Each slot has its own
unique arbitration signals for communi-
cating with the central arbiter. Up to
three bus masters are supported in addi-
tion to the CPU.
The EISA bus, like SMARTslot, is a
fully compatible extension of the ISA
bus. It supports multiple bus masters as
well as a 32-bit data path, enhanced
DMA functions, burst-mode transfers,
and switchless auto-configuration. Arbi-
tration on the EISA bus is also central-
ized on the system's bus controller. Arbi-
tration priority levels are fixed, and each
one has its own line to signal requests for
bus control on arotational basis. Figure 1
illustrates the EISA rotational arbitration
sequence. Note that athree-way rotation
occurs between DMA, DRAM refresh,
and all other devices in the arbitration
scheme. DMA is given some preference
to provide for compatibility with existing
ISA DMA devices. It is important to note
that although EISA is an open specifica-
Figure 1:The round-robin priority scheme allows bus masters to gain control tion, all participating vendors are under
of the bus while maintaining compatibility with current ISA direct-memory-access nondisclosure on the specifics of the
peripherals. specification until the first EISA ma-
chines are released.

master cannot occur. Therefore, only previous bus master is finished with its NuBus
one bus-master board can reside on the data transfer, the central arbiter recog- NuBus is atrue arbitrated system bus in-
ISA bus. This bus master cannot transfer nizes the PREEMPT line and then drives dependent of the CPU. NuBus uses adis-
blocks of data under burst mode, as can the arbitrate/grant (ARB/GNT) line into tributed arbitration protocol like MCA
MCA or EISA. An ISA bus master is arbitration state. When the ARB/GNT and also supports an arbitration fairness
limited to transferring 2bytes per cycle. line goes to the arbitration state, the bus scheme. Once a bus master has been
The lack of burst mode and the exclusion master places its priority-level identifica- granted control of the bus and subse-
of bus arbitration on the ISA architecture tion into the arbitration cycle on the four quently releases it, this bus master can-
has inhibited development of boards op- arbitration lines: ARBO, ARB1, ARB2, not arbitrate for the bus again until all
erating as bus masters for the ISA bus. and ARB3. Each bus-master device then other requests have been serviced. Nu-
monitors these signals. If abus master Bus also provides bus and resource lock-
The MCA detects a priority level higher than its ing signals to enhance the use of bus mas-
IBM's MCA extends the CPU's local bus own, it removes itself from the arbitra- ters for multiprocessing applications.
to provide an easy interface to the outside tion cycle. At the end of the arbitration
world. In this way, it is quite similar to cycle, the ARB/GNT line changes state Bus-Master Peripherals
the ISA bus. MCA, however, has many from high to low, thereby granting con- Although bus mastering is relatively new
additional features, including support trol of the bus to the bus master with the to personal computers, it has been imple-
for bus masters and a32-bit data path. highest priority. mented on some peripherals. Some rep-
Bus arbitration on the MCA is distrib- MCA also supports afairness feature resentative examples follow.
uted, meaning all contending bus mas- to prevent higher-priority devices from Even though the ISA bus does not effi-
ters play arole in the arbitration process. retaining indefinite control over the bus. ciently support bus masters, some third-
When abus master wants to take control It is important to note that priorities for party board makers have designed add-in
of the bus, it first drives the arbitration system devices in MCA, such as DMA boards that make use of this feature.
request signal (PREEMPT). When the channels, are fixed in hardware. How- continued

138 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

Am ...What the teck!
EXTREMELY POWERFUL VERY EASY TO USE VERY LOW PRICED
DesignCAD 3-D version 2.0 is as powerful Just because DesignCAD 3-D is powerful doesn't The first question asked by many people is,
as most CAD systems costing $5000 - mean it is difficult to use. Single keystroke com- -Why is DesignCAD 3-D priced so low?" The

$10,000! Features like: Complex Extrusions- mands and side-bar menus which give short direc- answer? After developing DesignCAD 3-D
linear, scaler, and circular, Blending of Sur- tions on how to proceed make DesignCAD 3-D a version 2.0, we were unable to decide how
snap to use! While not required, DesignCAD 3-D
faces, Shading, Cross Sectioning, Complex the product should be priced. We consulted
supports all popular digitizers and mice.
Sweeps and Translations, and Boolean opera- experts. We used the finest spreadsheets on
Many of the older, more cumbersome CAD systems
tions make DesignCAD 3-D one of the most the market We took employee polls. Finally, in
require weeks of training before a user can be
powerful 3-D CAD systems available ... at the great American Tradition, we said, "Aw...
productive. DesignCAD 3-D users find they can be
any price! Engineers, Architects and Consul- producing useful drawings in amatter of minutes! What the Heck! Let's see the other guys
tants constantly tell us that they use CAD In a recent CAD contest only one contestant was beat this price!" DesignCAD 3-D version 2.0
systems costing thousands of dollars which able to match our drawing time. The package sold sells for $399.
are not as powerful as DesignCAD 3-D. for $3000.00. The other CAD packages took up to
twice as long to perform the same drawing and
cost up to $5000.00!
Still don't believe us? The goblet pictured below
required only 16 keystrokes and 3 commands to
create! The top, front side, and isometric views
were created simultaneously... in less than one
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ft,
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CAD 3-D:
"After you've worked with DesignCAD, the single
keystroke commands are simple to remember and
it becomes easy to "flick one key" to execute acom-
mand. An extremely ergonomically designed pro-
gram."
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Designed a65.000 sq. Ir. nursing home using DesionCAD

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also allows scientists and engineers to quickly
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HOW DO IGET ONE?

DesignCAD 3-D version 2.0 is available from most retail computer stores, or you may order directly from us.
::•American
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DesignCAD 3-D is available in anumber of foreign languages from distributors throughout the world. All you
327 South Mill Street
need to run DesignCAD 3-D is an IBM PC Compatible and 640K RAM. DesignCAD 3-D supports most graphics
Pryor, OK 74361
cards, printers, plotters and digitizers. Free information and ademo diskette are available by contacting us at: 918/825-4844
FAX: 01-918-825-6359
TELEX: 9102400302

Circle 14 on Reader Service Card

 SERVING MANY MASTERS

It is very important to note that there

PC SALES FORECAST BY BUS ARCHITECTURE have been no formal announcements in
the operating-system or applications soft-
100% ware arenas with respect to support for
bus masters. When available, this sup-
port will provide greater increases in sys-
80% — tem performance than what is provided
by hardware alone.
60% —
The Road from Here
As is typical in the microcomputer indus-
40% —
try, I/O hardware technology is far
ahead of available peripheral and soft-
20% — ware support. Lack of support has lim-
ited immediate user demand for the new
0% '1 technology and has created areluctance
on the part of peripheral and software de-
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 velopers to embrace the new I/O bus
technologies. Despite this lack of imme-
EISA CI MCA XT/AT diate support, bus architecture and bus
mastering have become important issues
Figure 2: Bus-mastering technologies are expected to account for half of to people making microcomputer pur-
microcomputer sales in 1994. (Source: InfoCorp) chasing decisions. The reason is that I/O
bus technology can greatly affect the
longevity of the system you buy.
Racet Computes Ltd. (3150 East Birch the card was designed from scratch spe- The new bus technologies are ahard-
St., Brea, CA 92621, (714) 579-1725) cifically for MCA, BICC converted it to ware foundation for the future. As pe-
manufactures the RCP host adapter for act as a bus-master Ethernet controller ripheral and software support for the
SCSI or ESDI subsystems. By imple- for the ISA bus. new I/O architectures builds, the bene-
menting the bus-master feature of the IBM demonstrated aprototype gener- fits of bus mastering and burst transfers
ISA bus, the RCP host adapter is capable al-purpose bus-master peripheral device will be apparent. Bus mastering provides
of transferring data at a minimum of code-named Wizard at Uniforum in Feb- a way to protect your investment in
850K bytes per second across the bus by ruary. Wizard is an accelerator card that microcomputer technology while taking
eliminating the involvement of the CPU uses the Intel 80860 RISC processor. advantage of new technologies. In the
in data transfers. The RCP accomplishes IBM equipped aPS/2 Model 80 with the short term, bus masters will first make a
bus mastering through the use of firm- Wizard board and OS/2 to compare its dent in networking, data acquisition, and
ware on the board and software drivers. performance against the Sun Microsys- graphics applications. In turn, these pio-
BICC Data Networks (1800 West Park tems Sun-4/110 workstation and the Sili- neer products will sell more bus-master-
Dr., Westborough, MA 01581, (508) con Graphics Iris-4D workstation. IBM ing machines, which will lead to the de-
898-2422) produces the Isolan 4110-3 representatives claimed a performance velopment of more high-performance
Ethernet bus-master controller for MCA. improvement of 30 times that of the Sun bus-mastering products. With high-per-
The Isolan board is one of the first MCA workstation and eight times that of the formance peripherals available to free up
cards available that takes advantage of Iris workstation for computational and your CPU, you don't need to constantly
bus-master technology. It is unique in graphics processing. IBM has also devel- upgrade to higher-performing CPUs to
that it supports bus mastering without the oped aSystem/370 general-purpose bus- upgrade the overall performance of your
use of amicroprocessor. master adapter for its PS/2 computers. system.
According to engineers at BICC, the Although IBM is not actively market- Bus mastering is the wave of the future
arbitration control and burst-mode trans- ing the product, it is available upon re- (see figure 2). Unlike the ISA bus, it will
fers can be effectively implemented quest. The System/370 card allows the allow you to migrate to higher levels of
using programmable array logic chips PS/2s to run System/370 software. performance without having to migrate
and the MCA bus-controller chip on the IBM demonstrated anumber of task- to anew CPU. This will lengthen the us-
expansion board. Their MCA Ethernet specific bus-master cards at 1988's Fall able lifetime of your microcomputer,
controller can transfer 16-byte blocks at Comdex. Among them was aSCSI adapt- thus protecting your investment in to-
one time using bus mastering and burst er card that could simultaneously control day's technology. •
mode, versus the 2-byte maximum on an several SCSI hard disk drives. It was de-
ISA bus. The board's ability to transfer veloped by IBM to demonstrate the bene- Brian T. Anderson is the senior manager
data in larger blocks allows it to complete fits of bus mastering. IBM also demon- of channel marketing at AST Research,
its transfers in ashorter period of time. strated Texas Instruments' bus-master Inc. He earned a B. S. in computer sci-
This means that the controller's require- Token Ring adapter, which took over ence at the University of New Orleans.
ment for bus bandwidth is reduced, and most network management duties from Marcy A. Puhnaty is the product man-
the bus is more frequently available for the CPU. IBM representatives claim that ager of high-performance systems at AST
use by other devices and the CPU. this technology lets the CPU in aPS/2 Research, Inc. She has aB.S. in business
Ironically, BICC developed its MCA operate at 70 percent to 75 percent effi- administration from Duquesne Univer-
Ethernet bus-master controller before it ciency, since it will not have to deal with sity. They can be reached on BIX do
developed an ISA bus version. Although network management chores. "editors."

140 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 Change is the enemy of procedural
programming. Altering one aspect of a
program can take weeks. And while you
redesign, recode and retest, you spend huge
sums of money, and sacrifice irretrievable
market opportunities.
Unfortunately, change is inevitable, and
survival depends on your ability to adapt.
That's not just acruel law of nature. It's ahard
fact of business.
It's time that programming, too, embraced
change.
The time has come for Objectworks,
the object-oriented development system
from ParcPlace.
Objectworks for Smalltalk-80 and
Objectworks for C++ provide the tools to
create and deliver programs designed to
work in the fast-moving, ever-changing
world of business.
More and more companies are evolving to
Objectworks for designing commercial
applications. Because designing for the future
means designing for change.

Objectworks.

ParcPlace Systems

1550 Plymouth Street

Mountain View CA 94043

1300-822-7880. In CA (415) 691-6700

By its very nature, the world embraces change.

By its very nature, conventional programming does not.

Objectworks for Smalltalk-80, circle 199 Objectworks for C++, circle 200
ParcPlace products are available on 80386 MS-DOS, Sun, Macintosh, DECstation 3100, and HP-9000 Series 300. Smalltalk-80 and Objectworks
are trademarks of ParcPlace Systems, Inc. All other brands are trademarks of their respective holders. C1989 ParcPlace Systems, Inc.
 TARGA® Videographics

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PC, XT and AT are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corp. :t" 1989, Truevision Inc.

Circle 254 on Reader Service Card

 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

CLASH OF THE
GRAPHICS TITANS
IBM and Texas Instruments present
rival graphics standards

Rick Cook

GA, the latest graphics computer's main memory, subject to ma- would be considerably slower than
standard for MS-DOS- nipulation by the main processor. How- boards using graphics coprocessor chips.
and OS/2-based com- ever, this gets increasingly clumsy and For high-performance graphics, it
puters, offers 640- by time-consuming as resolution and the makes more sense to off-load graphics
480-pixel resolution and number of colors increase. functions to a specialized graphics co-
256 available colors. This is much better It is possible to design an extended processor. Graphics coprocessor cards
than earlier graphics standards, but users VGA board that can display 1024- by with resolutions beyond VGA have been
are already demanding higher resolution 768-pixel resolution in interlaced mode. available for some time. But since they
and more colorful graphics. However, such aboard couldn't display have been expensive, they have generally
This demand is due in part to the more than 16 colors. More significant, it been used only for applications demand-
"more-is-more" mentality ing high resolution. Now,
that has driven the computer however, the broader demand
industry. Part of it is the need is pushing high-resolution
for higher resolutions for spe- graphics into the PC main-
cialized applications like stream. That, in turn, is pro-
CAD and desktop publishing. ducing agrowing demand for
However, much of the de- astandard interface.
mand is due to the growing This year, two major ap-
appeal of windowing inter- proaches to ahigh-resolution
faces like Presentation Man- graphics standard came to
ager under OS/2 and Micro- fruition. (For the purposes of
soft Windows for MS-DOS. this article, high resolution
Although they can run on means anything beyond ex-
lower-resolution monitors, tended VGA, which is 1024
they look much better in high by 768 pixels.) Texas Instru-
resolution. ments is supporting the Texas
Making displays that are Instruments Graphics Archi-
much more capable than VGA tecture (TIGA) as astandard
requires some fundamental interface between computers
changes in the way that MS- using Intel microprocessors
DOS and OS/2 graphics sys- and graphics boards using its
tems work. Until now, the 340x0 series of graphics co-
standard displays have been processor chips. Western
based on direct memory ac- Digital, Headland Technol-
cess, with the CPU doing ogies, and Chips & Technol-
most of the work. A display ogies are each pushing their
was treated as an area of the continued

ILLUSTRATION: TOM FOTY 0 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 143
 CLASH OF THE GRAPHICS TITANS

versions of the 8514/A graphics adapter, pixels, where display resolution begins to 8514/A companies are making their
which was originated by IBM for the approach the limits of the human eye), products register-compatible with the
PS/2 series. and both offer many more colors and IBM version so that programmers can go
A third possibility is astandard built much more speed than VGA. How many directly to the hardware if that's what
around Intel's new 80860 graphics chip. more colors and how much more speed they want to do.
However, although several companies depend partly on the implementation. Except for IBM's 8514/A card, no sys-
are working on graphics boards using it, Most of the time, both TIGA and the tem using either standard is available yet.
so far no one has tried to produce astan- 8514/A standard are intended to be Western Digital announced its version of
dard graphics interface for the 80860. worked through software interfaces the 8514/A in early June, and TI started
Both would-be standards have ahigher rather than going directly to the hard- shipping version 1.1 of TIGA about the
resolution than VGA. Both approach the ware. However, TIGA is completely a same time.
"magic megapixel" mark (1024 by 1024 software interface, while the third-party Both the 8514/A and TIGA have long
lists of announced supporters. Over the
next year, expect to be deluged with an-
nouncements for TIGA- and 8514/A-
based graphics boards. Already the war
of words has started between the two
camps, as each side tries to influence
users and software developers.

Graphics Platforms
Although TIGA provides apath to high-
er-resolution graphics, as is true with the
8514/A, the two quasi standards are
quite different in design, intention, and
implementation. IBM designed the
8514/A to be aclosed hardware product
and has never published the hardware
specifications. TIGA is designed as an
open software standard. TI is actively
promoting it and is selling software de-
velopment kits to help get TIGA-compat-
ible products out into the market.
Both TIGA and the 8514/A are in-
tended as software standards, but the
third-party manufacturers of 8514/A
chip sets expect that at least some soft-
ware developers will want to go directly
to the hardware. Thus, they are con-
cerned about maintaining register-level
compatibility with the 8514/A. TIGA
was developed so that programmers

,/
, he new microtvpe space-saver keyboard saves an amazing 60% of would never have to go to the hardware.
the desk space used by equivalent standard keyboards. Without loss of The purposes behind the standards are
functionality or ability to touch type! different as well. IBM wanted areason-
microtype is ideal for CAD Actual size 10.75" x6.07 •Full One ably priced high-resolution graphics sys-
systems, point-of-sale, mobile or Year Warranty. •Guarantee—Full tem for its PS/2 computers, and other
imbedded applications or anywhere the Refund if Returned in 15 Days! •OEM , manufacturers want to offer 8514/A-
keyboard must compete for valuable and Volume Purchases—Call for compatible graphics. IBM has the market
desk or counter space. special terms. power to establish ade facto standard.
Space is saved by compressing rows Order Toll Free 800-782-7177 or FAX None of the manufacturers of 34010
(not columns) and eliminating wide 703-435-1837 Hours Mon.-Fri. 8am-5 pm EST graphics boards has that kind of market
borders. Re-arranging and elevating the Shipment within 72 hours. muscle. Left to their own devices, they
function key clusters also saves space have all offered boards with different in-
while improving accessibility with terfaces, complicating life for software
reduced eyescan and head movement. Microtype Space-Saver Keyboard $124.50 developers and programmers and bury-
Keys have full travel with alight tactilly PS/2 Adapter (if required) 9.00 ing users in different drivers.
responsive touch. All standard features UPS shipment by ground 6.00
2nd day air 11.00 Overnight 19.00 TIGA
such as auto-repeat, caps, num and scroll
lock are included on the microtype. 461 Carlisle Drive TIGA is an attempt to bring order to the

illE1
The microtype works with most Herndon, Virginia situation by standardizing the software
PC, XT, AT and 386 IBM compatibles. 22070 interface. Many companies are already
IBM PS/2's require an adapter. 703-435-9496 offering graphics cards using TI's 34010
coprocessor. However, their interfaces
continued

144 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition Circle 172 on Reader Service Card À
(DEALERS: 173)
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Circle 212 on Reader Service Card
 Circle 58 on Reader Service Cani (DEALERS: 59)

CLASH OF THE
GRAPHICS TITANS

to applications have little in common.

Software companies that wanted to sup-
port the 34010 had to offer different
drivers for nearly every card. In April TI
took ahand and announced TIGA as a
way of eliminating the differences.
TIGA is asoftware interface. Its pur-
pose is to establish astandard interface
between applications and system soft-
ware on one hand and the 340x0-based
graphics cards on the other.
The 34010 and 34020 are fast, power-
ful 32-bit graphics coprocessors that owe
agood deal in design and philosophy to
Ti's 320x0 line of digital signal process-
ing chips. Unlike the 8514/A, which
takes aminimalist approach to providing
additional graphics functionality, the
Introducing the CAT Reader OCR for Hand Scanners. 340x0 chips are full-blown microproces-
Now there's an OCR for your PC that allows you fast, accurate conversion of sors with apowerful set of hardware in-
scanned text for only $295.00. The CAT Reader is pre-trained, as well as fully trainable, structions for graphics operations.
to read virtually any font (monspaced, proportional, typeset). And can automatically
The 34010 has 15 general-purpose
pull split columnar scans into complete pages while reading text at 200 dpi. You can
even mask out unwanted graphics. The CAT Reader supports Complete ........ registers, a256-byte instruction cache, a
PC, Logitech, Mitsubishi, Niscan and more. To direct order, or for more arem—f l 32-bit ALU, abarrel shifter, 32-bit inter-
information, call 214-631-6688 or Fax 214-631-4059 (Visa, M/C or ir-immiat nal data paths, and 16-bit I/O. Like the
AmEx). Afrisky OCR at a fi ni
cky pr i
ce. ...--.....—. TI digital signal processors, the 34010
-...,..
uses aHarvard architecture, with mem-
Computer Aided Technology, Inc*
ory access and instruction execution
, une 212, Dallas, Texas 75235
done in parallel to increase speed. The
34020 is an advanced version that has 32-
bit I/O and other added features.
NOW!! A high speed stand alone copier In addition to its general-purpose fea-
for 51/4 and 31
2 inch diskettes
/ tures, the 34010 has special features for
handling graphics, including program-
duplicates virtually any format mable CRT control and adirect interface
When your requirements call
Top quality copying
to DRAM and video RAM, or VRAM
The modular design of the
for unattended, high speed du-
plication of rxtually any 554 or Victory Duplicators actually (dual-ported memory that can be read
improve the quality of copies V3200 and Victory% overnight
31/ inch diskette, Victory's
2 shipment of replacement parts and written essentially simultaneously).
during duplication. The V3200
Stand-Alone V3200 Duplicator let's you service the system at
validates the integrity of each
is what you need. The reliable, your location, avoiding costly
desk-top design is ideal for
master disk and verifies copies
offsite repair and downtime. TIGA Primitives
bit for bit to ensure quality.
both office and industrial use. Victory stands behind the TIGA is a full-fledged programming
The system automatically
V3200 with afour month
sorts coped disks into an ac-
The V3200 features:
cept or reject output canister.
warranty. language with nearly 150 functions and
•Simple push-button operation
•Switchable 31 2 and 544 inch
/
primitives. The primitives come in three
Do-it-yourself service
copy drives
Victory systems have built-in
flavors: core primitives, which are al-
•Support for most formats in- Call (800) 421-0103.
cluding IBM, Apple, Amiga.
diagnostics to test and main- And ask about Victory's family ways available; extended primitives,
tain the systen. A preventive
and Atari
maintenance indkator alerts
of affordable Autoloaders. which are kept in libraries and loaded at
•Copy speed up to 250
disks/hour
you at regular intervals to initialization if the program needs them;
check drive alignment and
•Batch Processing multiple
clean drive heads using utili-
and user-extended primitives, which are
jobs with different formats ties included with the system. written by the programmer and kept in li-
•Production statistics display
•Exceptional copy quality braries like extended primitives. Func-
tionally, there is no difference between
VICTORY extended and user-extended primitives,
ENTERPRISES and TI says there is no difference in over-
Technology, Inc.
head or speed.
Generally, the core primitives are
Victory Plaza concerned with basic environment ma-
1011 E. 53 1
2 Street
/
Austin, TX 78751-1728 nipulation (e.g., screen clears, return
(512) 450-0801 foreground and background colors, and
in Europe cal/ BEL Paris (331)45330137,
Frankfun (49-6074) 27051, Milan (39-2)
set cursor shape). Most of the drawing
33100535. England (44-6) 22 88240. commands, like draw line, and the array
Loadplan-London (44-1) 200-7733,
off Loadplan-Australia (61-3) 525 4088 functions, like BitBlt (a block pixel
`nee-
move), are extended primitives to facili-
tate replacing them with custom routines
if the programmer desires.
SEE US AT COMDEX/FALL #117712
Although TIGA is tied to the 340x0
146 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition Circle 260 on Reader Service Card
 CLASH OF THE GRAPHICS TITANS

family of coprocessors, it is independent

of screen resolution, number of colors,
and graphics constraints. Intended as a nless they
general-purpose interface, it readily
adapts to new graphics equipment and
new 340x0 coprocessors.
are cloning an industry standard, like
The Structure of TIGA
VGA, board manufacturers don't
TIGA comes in three parts: the Applica-
tion Interface (AI), the Communications
want to stick slavishly to amodel.
Driver (CD), and the Graphics Manager
They want to add features that will
(GM).
The AI consists of header files and a
library that the application uses at com-
make their products work better.
pile and link time. It is the responsibility
of the applications programmer to pro-
vide the AI, which is written using the
TIGA primitives. TI sells adriver devel- formatting the packets and pushing the
confused with the C programming lan-
oper's kit for direct access to the stan- information onto the stack. The other pa-
guage; in this case, C refers to astack.)
dard TIGA environment and asoftware rameter-passing mode, direct mode,
developer's kit for writing downloadable Parameters for C-packet functions are
received on the host side and passed to avoids this overhead.
extensions to TIGA, including extended Direct mode is faster but alittle more
the communications buffer in the graph-
primitives. complicated to write. The raw data is
ics card's memory by the CD. From
The AI connects to the CD, aTSR pro- simply fed into the communications buf-
there, the parameters are pushed onto the
gram. This runs on the host PC and is fer in GSP memory on the graphics card.
processor's stack. The function behaves
specific to the graphics board. The CD The only thing placed on the stack is a
as if it were invoked local to the host.
takes function calls from the AI and parameter that is apointer to the place
To make this work, the GM must
passes information back and forth be- where the data is stored in the communi-
understand the function's arguments. In
tween the board and the host. cations buffer. The function must get the
The CD in turn communicates with C-packet mode, each argument is asepa-
data from the buffer in the format it
rate packet with its own header. To make
the GM on the 34010 board. Like the expects.
writing headers easier, the TIGA.H in-
CD, the GM is specific to each graphics In direct mode, the length of the pa-
card and is supplied by the card's manu- clude file contains extra defines to repre-
rameter list is expressed in 16-bit words.
sent the different data types.
facturer. TI has asoftware development The entry point used determines the for-
The general format of a C-packet
kit for hardware manufacturers who mat that the parameters can be specified
want to make their products TIGA-com- function is as follows:
in and how these parameters will be re-
patible. The GM includes acommand ex- ceived by the communications buffer.
ENTRY_POINT_NAME (CMD_ID,
ecutive that handles the board side of For example, the most common di-
numpackets, packetl, packetn)
communications, the library of core rect-mode entry point is dm_cmd, re-
primitives, and the extended and user- ferred to as the standard command entry
extended primitives downloaded at The entry point is one of three entry
point. A typical function using this entry
points, depending on the type of function
initialization. point is the TIGA core primitive called
call made by the function. One entry
poke_breg, which sends a16-bit register
point is for functions that do not require
Programming with TIGA number and a32-bit value to be loaded
Although graphics functions can be writ- return data, one is for functions that do
return data, and one is for functions that into the register:
ten directly on TIGA, the simplest ap-
pass pointers to data that is modified in-
proach is to write the routines as part of #define poke_breg (regno,value)
directly by the function. CMD_ID /identi-
the program on the host and then extract dm_cmd (POKE_BREG,3, (short)
fies the function, the number of packets
them and port them to TIGA. Since the C (regno) ,(long) (value);
compiler for TIGA, GSP (for graphics tells the GM the number and kind of
packets, and, finally, the packets them-
systems processor) C (part of the soft- The length is 3 because the parameter
ware kit from TI), is Microsoft C-com- selves arrive.
A function to fill arectangle would be value is 32 bits (i.e., two words). To in-
patible, this is astraightforward process. voke the primitive, a parameter data_
When writing for TIGA, aprogram- ptr would be placed on the stack to point
mer will probably want to exploit the in- #define fill rect(w, h, x, y)
cp_cmd (USER_CP (CMD_ID) , to the location of the first parameter
herent parallelism of aTIGA system to repo.
get more speed. This means designing 4,WORD(w),WORD(h),WORD(x),
TI expects that most functions will use
the code so the graphics card can work as WORD(y)
the C-packet mode. Only time-critical
much as possible without referring back functions will use direct mode, and they
where cp_cmd is one of the entry points,
to the host. will probably be written as C-packet
the function's command number is
To get more speed, TIGA provides two functions initially and modified later. In
stored in CMD_ID, and the function has
ways to pass parameters from the host addition to being easier to write, C-
four arguments, all WORD.
computer to the graphics board. The sim- packet functions are safer. There is no
C-packet mode is simple and flexible,
plest and most flexible method is to use continued
C-packet functions. (These are not to be but it carries overhead associated with

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 147

 CLASH OF THE GRAPHICS TITANS

Playing the Benchmark Game

Ifindyou're
f reading this expecting t
tables of numbers showing you
o (and extensible to boot), while the
8514/A is arigid hardware standard.
takes to set up the curves.
The real test, TI claims, comes with
conclusively which standard is the fast- None of this has stopped Western real-world applications. TI points to its
est, you're out of luck. There are some Digital and TI from engaging in abattle AutoCAD driver, which it claims gives
very good reasons for this, not the least of benchmarks over the merits of their superior performance over AutoCAD
of which is that it is physically impossi- approaches. On the basis of raw com- on the 8514/A. Western Digital's
ble to do comparative benchmarks as puting power, the 34010 probably gets 8514/A AutoCAD driver is no faster
this is written. the edge. It rates at about 1.2 million in- than VGA, says TI.
Although the 8514/A has been avail- structions per second compared to about Headland Technology comes back
able from IBM for two years, none of 1MIPS for the 8514/A. However, with its Windows driver, claiming it
the third-party chip makers are selling MIPS don't even begin to tell the whole gives better performance with Windows
chips at this time. Western Digital an- story on something as specialized as a than any other driver.
nounced its first chip set in early June; graphics coprocessor. Beyond all that, TI points to its latest
Headland Technology was expected to Western Digital claims that the IBM graphics chip, the 34020, which is
have its first chips by the fall. 8514/A is significantly faster than the about five times as powerful as the
Since both companies claim that their 34010 and that its version will be faster 34010 and is still TIGA-compatible.
implementations will be faster than the yet. It has released aseries of six bench- The company says that 34020 boards
IBM version, what is available now isn't marks showing the 8514/A running will run 12 to 25 times faster on redraws
representative of what is supposed to be much faster than the 34010. The bench- than the 8514/A. The 8514/A backers
the best performance for the 8514/A. marks include line drawing and filling a dismiss that as overkill, and much too
Nor are TIGA boards released products. polygon. In five of the six (the exception expensive for the business and general
Texas Instruments has adeveloper's kit is the polygon fill), the 8514/A comes out markets to boot. Besides, TI says, there
for its own 34010 board, but it didn't ahead. Western Digital attributes this to will be faster versions of the 8514/A in
start shipping version 1.1 of TIGA until the superior design of the 8514/A, espe- the future.
early June. No one is marketing aTIGA cially amuch better blitter. In the long run, it is probably true
board for end users yet. Needless to say, TI isn't impressed. It that the important thing for most users,
All this may have changed by the claims that five of the six benchmarks at least most business users, is how well
time you read this, but as of now, there were chosen to show the strengths of the the systems perform on applications, es-
is no way to compare the developed 8514/A and ignore the chip set's major pecially when running under OS/2 or
commercial versions of either standard. weaknesses. For example, none of the Windows. However, that will depend
In any event, it would be difficult to benchmarks involved drawing acurved very strongly on the quality of the appli-
come up with afair benchmark for two line, since the 8514/A doesn't have a cation drivers written for each standard.
such different products. Not only are curved-line primitive. In another six months or ayear, it
the architectures, instruction sets, and Curved lines are immaterial, says should be possible for third parties to
design philosophies of the 34010 and Western Digital, since the time it takes make meaningful performance com-
the 8514/A completely different, but to draw the vectors that make up the parisons between the standards. For
TIGA is explicitly asoftware standard curves overshadows the time that it now, it isn't.

size checking with the fastest form of di- pense of writing their own drivers for TIGA libraries. For that matter, applica-
rect mode, and it is easy to overflow the specific cards. tions programmers can write new com-
buffers. Better to get everything right in The problem with hardware manufac- mands and link them into TIGA.
C-packet mode first. turers is market differentiation. Unless Speed is amore difficult problem. TI
they are cloning an industry standard, has spent a lot of time optimizing the
Inherent Extensibility like VGA, board manufacturers don't primitives and interfaces to make TIGA
One of the advantages claimed for TIGA want to stick slavishly to amodel. They work as quickly as possible.
is an assured growth path. TIGA is not want to add features that they think will By adding extended primitives, you
inherently limited in screen resolution, make their products work better and can optimize TIGA for particular appli-
number of colors, or the coprocessor it faster. (Actually, even when cloning a cations. TI used aset of extended primi-
uses. Already, TI has introduced the standard, board makers like to provide tives to write its Windows driver, for ex-
34020, which is roughly five times as extras. Most EGA and VGA cards offer ample, and this is part of the reason why
powerful as the 34010 and also TIGA- features that aren't found on the IBM it is so fast.
compatible. products.) The manufacturers want a Source code for the libraries is avail-
Anyone trying to establish astandard way to add features in spite of the stan- able from TI. A programmer who wants
software graphics interface has two dard interface. aspecial function to speed up aparticu-
major problems: one with software de- TIGA addresses the desire for extras lar job can study the functions in the li-
velopers and one with hardware manu- by providing an extensible command set. braries and use the information to adapt
facturers. The problem with software Manufacturers or users with aTIGA de- them or to write acompletely new one.
companies is speed. A graphics interface velopment kit can write extensions using Another way to get speed with a
has to be extremely fast or applications a compatible C compiler or assembler graphics coprocessor is by exploiting the
developers will bypass it, even at the ex- package and link the extensions into the continued
148 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition
 NEW FROM PERISCOPE

eal-Time Debugging for 386s and 286s

tion of Hardware-Assisted Debugging

User Jeff Garbers, Crosstalk
Communications' Director of Compatible with virtually any 286 or 386 with an AT-style bus, Periscope IV
Software Development, has been works on machines running up to 25MHz with any number of wait states.
debugging with Periscope® Model Because it gets information directly from the CPU, instead of from the system
IV and says, "The hardware bus, Model IV is not sensitive to bus compatibility issues.
Periscope IV collects CPU information in its hardware trace buffer while
really makes Periscope shine,
the CPU runs at full speed. Whether you tell Periscope IV to capture just
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timing-related problems. Ican buffer commands to search for and display the execution history the way you
now track down changing need to see it. And you can use the CPU cycle count information to get the last
pointers and altered buffers on bit of performance out of your code.
my 386. I've been using it to With Periscope IV you can set hardware breakpoints on memory accesses
debug Crosstalk® Mk. 4and (within the first 16MB), I/O ports, and data. You can also set breakpoints on
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Periscope IV gives you the ability
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grams with intermittent errors. You can
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PC Magazine, January 17, 1989
Company, Inc FAX 4041872-1973

Circle 206 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 207)

 CLASH OF THE GRAPHICS TITANS

inherent parallelism of the system. With

ible. The 8514/A is aPS/2 product, and
careful programming, TIGA offers an pixel address manager chip) and apixel
the PS/2 series has VGA on the mother-
opportunity for processing graphics chip (the pixel data manager chip).
board. In the PS/2s, the 8514/A adapter
commands in parallel. The CPU can (Chips & Technologies' implementation
sits on the video bus and does nothing is all on one chip.)
start a graphics process through TIGA
when VGA is active. IBM has not re-
and work on other things until the pro- The master chip contains the interface
leased aversion to run on the AT bus and
cess is finished. to the PC bus, the display controller, and
probably never will. The 8514/A is in-
the graphics processor. The pixel chip
tended only for the PS/2 series.
The 8514/A does the data manipulations on pixels
Further, IBM broke tradition and did needed to produce the images.
The third-party manufacturers' ap- not release the hardware specification for
proach to cloning the 8514/A is similar The display controller synchronizes
the 8514/A. Instead, programmers are
to what they did with VGA, EGA, and signals to the display, like the horizontal
supposed to use function calls to the ap-
other earlier IBM graphics standards. and vertical sync signals. It also gener-
plications interface. This means that
They are attempting to leverage off ates addresses for transfer cycles for the
IBM is not committed to maintaining
IBM's market power and at the same serialized portion of display memory and
hardware or register compatibility in fu-
time standardize their hardware at the the interface control, if one is used. The
ture products that use the AI.
register level while providing compatible display controller also refreshes the dis-
One result is that cloning the 8514/A is play memory.
extensions to enhance their products. Al- harder than it was for VGA. It has taken
ready, VESA (for Video Electronics The graphics processor is the most in-
more than two years from the announce-
Standards Association) has asubcommit- teresting part of the master chip from the
ment of the IBM product to the first reg-
tee working on an 8514/A standard. programmer's standpoint. It does most
ister-compatible chip sets. (The 8514/A
Among IBM graphics products, the of the work in creating graphics. Among
was announced in April 1987 and started
8514/A is in aclass by itself. It has not other things, it generates coordinate ad-
shipping in July 1987.) The 8514/A in-
evolved from any other IBM graphics dresses, draws lines, copies rectangles to
volved much more reverse engineering
standard, as VGA was developed from and from anywhere in display memory,
because of less initial information.
EGA, nor is it backward-compatible with and transfers host data.
any of them. The pixel processor has amore limited
8514/A Architecture
In the IBM implementation, there isn't job. It handles the manipulations of
Physically, the 8514/A is a VLSI two-
any reason for the 8514/A to be compat- pixels in display memory. It can perform
chip set consisting of amaster chip (the
continued

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DESIGNS, INC.

150 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

Circle 30 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 31)
 KAYPRO COMPUTERS
Rugged, Reliable, Reputable
All Kaypro computers
feature:
• A rugged, American-built 1MB
chassis with vinyl-clad case RAM
• A reliable, one-year limited
- OM -
warranty
men • A reputation of 37 years in date«
aerospace electronics; 8years
in the computer business
KAYPRO XT
386/20
KAYPRO 286/16
XT 286/12 286/16
$549
Standard Features

Base System with Single Floppy, No Video

CPU 8088/V-20 80286 80286 80386
20
$1399
4.77/10.0 6/12 8/16
Speed (MHz) Base System with Single 1.2MB Floppy. No Video
Video Options 640KB 1MB 1MB 1MB
XT Computer (includes monitor &video adapter)
Standard RAM
101 Key V'deo Options
101 Key 101 Key
Keyboard 101 Key 286/16 (includes monitor &video adapter)
Disk Drive 14" Flat True .31 Dot Pitch Clock/Calendar Lithium Battery Back-ui
Disk Drive 14" Flat True .31 Dot Pitch
Options Mono VGA VGA Plus 6 4
Expansion Slots (16-Bit) 6 Options Mono VGA VGA Plus
Dual Floppies 899 1399 1599 8 2 2 3
Expansion Slots (8-Bit) 20 MB (40ms) 1699 2249 2449
20 MB Hard Drive, Serial Ports
1150 1649 1849 40 MB (28ms) 1999 2649 2849
single floppy Parallel Ports
Additional I/O Ports 1Game 70 MB (28ms) 2149 2749 2949
30 MB Hard Drive, 1210 1699 1899
4 6 6 6
single floppy Device Bays
150W 200W 200W 200W
Power Supply
Free Free Free Free
Operating System'

Ask about Kaypro's full line of high-

performance microcomputers, including
the new 80386, 33 MHz machine.

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee 1MB

1MB
RAM
RAM CALL TOLL-FREE
-
- 1-800-289-9899 ang-7111111111
Mee. FAX: 619-481-4369
Phone: 619-481-4302

Hours: Mon. -Fri., 8:00 a.m. -4:30 p.m. PST.

KAYPRO 386/20
KAYPRO 286/12 Payment: MasterCard, Visa, or Cashier's Check
preferred. Terms available on approved credit.
Shipping and Handling: Within U.S.A., 3%
$2299
$999 minimum for UPS Ground. Call for shipping
Base System with Single 1.2MB Floppy. No Video
charges with alternate carriers.
Base System with Single 1.2MB Floppy, No Video Sales Tax: California residents, add 7%.
V'deo Options
Video Options 386/20 (includes monitor &video adapter)
286/12 (includes monitor &video adapter(
Dealer and Corporate Inquiries Welcome True .31 Dot Pitch
Disk Drive 14" Flat
14" Flat True .31 Dot Pitch Options Mono VGA VGA Plus
Disk Drive
Options Mono VGA VGA Plus
40MB (28ms) 2799 3349 3549
1499 2049 2249
20MB (40ms)
70MB (28ms) 3099 3649 3849
COMPUTERS
40MB (28ms) 1799 2449 2649
533 Stevens Avenue 150MB (28ms) 3849 4395 4595
1949 2549 2749
70MB (28ms) Solana Beach, CA 92075
Prices, terms, and specifications subject to change without notice.
'Each Kaypro computer is shipped with DR DOS 3.4 by Digital Research, Inc., an MS DOS -compatible operating system that runs up to 25< ;fastor.

Circle 152 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 153)

 CLASH OF THE GRAPHICS TITANS

16 logical and 16 arithmetic functions on more with a single command, but the
combinations of source and destination But writing useful programs with the
process is more like loading commands
pixels. It has two color registers for 8514/A isn't necessarily simple. Even
into aqueue than programming amicro- with the AI, the programmer has to deal
across-plane pixel processing, and eight processor. One of the jobs of the PC bus
color-compare functions to allow the se- with the 8514/A on a very basic level.
interface on the master chip is to main- Because the functions are limited, the
lection of only certain pixels for process- tain the command queue, including
ing. It also has read and write masks to programmer may have to spend more
knowing when the queue is full.
limit processing to given display planes. time figuring out how to make some-
Further, IBM expects programmers to thing happen. One 8514/A proponent
Another important feature of the pixel use the AI with the 8514/A. This is a
processor is the barrel shifter. This lets compares programming the card to pro-
function-call system using a TSR pro- gramming aplotter.
the chip do very fast alignments of gram called HDILOAD.EXE to access
source pixels during block copy opera- For example, to perform aBitBlt, the
the graphics board.
tions and helps explain the 8514/A's program first executes acommand tell-
In contrast, register programming is
speed on BitBlt. ing the 8514/A what kind of transfer is
done through I/O ports, with each regis- required (e.g., host to display or display
In addition to the two chips, the ter treated as an I/O port at a specific
8514/A board includes display memory to host). A second command gives the
memory location. Most of the 56 regis- address to be read from or written to.
(usually 1megabyte of VRAM), apixel
ters in the 8514/A set are word registers.
serializer chip, and a RAMDAC (for The exception is the palette registers,
RAM DIA converter), as well as power- Third-Party Enhancements
which are all byte registers.
on self-test ROM. The pixel serializer Both Western Digital and Headland
Each major component of the 8514/A Technology have announced their own
takes the byte-at-a-time data from the
chip set (i.e., graphics processor, display 8514/A chip sets, which are compatible
display memory and converts it into a controller, and pixel processor) has its
stream of bits. The RAMDAC (an IN- right down to the register level. Like the
associated set of registers. For example,
MOS IMS171 or compatible) converts many third-party VGA boards, these
the pixel processor registers include the
the digital pixel information received chip sets are designed to go beyond IBM
background color register, foreground
from the serializer into the analog RGB by offering more features and better per-
color register, write mask register, read formance.
signals needed by the 8514/A monitor.
mask register, color compare register,
Western Digital calls its chip set the
background mix register, foreground Personal Workstation Graphics Array I.
Programming the 8514/A
mix register, short stroke vector transfer It includes a number of features not
Unlike the 340x0, the 8514/A is not a
register, and pixel data transfer register. found on the 8514/A, including the abil-
general-purpose graphics processor. It is
A number of these, like the display con- ity to support interlaced and noninter-
not so much programmable as command- troller registers, are write-only.
able (i.e., it doesn't have facilities for laced monitors with amaximum resolu-
In one sense, it is much simpler to tion of 1280 by 1024 pixels. The clock
stored programming on the board), and program the 8514/A than to program a
its command set is both simple and not speed of the chip set is 60 MHz, 30 per-
TIGA board. You use the appropriate cent faster than the IBM version, so it
extensible.
function calls (under the AI) or place the
The commands do more-complex jobs speeds up operations like BitBlt and rect-
appropriate values in the registers. In angle fill. The PWGA Ialso has ashorter
than they do with VGA. With VGA, a
either case, the command set is sparse memory-transfer time, which further
command essentially alters the state of compared to that of TIGA. There is less
the graphics system. The 8514/A does speeds up operations.
to remember and deal with •
continued

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Tel: +31-45-441535, FAX: +31-45-444747

152 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

Circle 123 on Reader Service Card
 Here's the PC Voice Mail system that can
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Circle 190 on Reader Service Card

 CLASH OF THE GRAPHICS TITANS

In addition, the PWGA1 features a Interlaced Video

turbo BitBlt mode that can double the fast enough that no flicker is noticeable.
Another peculiarity of IBM's 8514/A is
speed on 16-color images. In this mode, Doubling the vertical resolution and
that it produces an interlaced display. halving the refresh rate would drop the
8-bit data transfers from the on-board Headland Technology and Western Digi-
VRAM are treated as two 4-bit transfers, scan rate to 30 times per second, slow
tal say their chip sets can do the full enough that flicker becomes apparent.
meaning that two pixels can be read per 1024- by 768-pixel display without inter-
transfer. Four bits are sufficient to de- lacing. By holding the vertical resolution to
fine 16 colors, and 8bits can define 256 768 pixels, IBM was able to use ascan
Interlaced modes are hardly new. rate of 44 times per second. This is fast
colors. If the application is using 16 or Broadcast TV uses an interlaced system.
fewer colors, the PWGA1 can combine enough to significantly reduce flicker. In
So, in fact, does the Commodore Amiga.
two 4-bit transfers into one 8-bit transfer, addition, the 8514 monitor uses along-
However, they have been uncommon in
cutting the time needed in half. persistence phosphor, and the combina-
MS-DOS systems until now. tion gives adequate display quality for al-
The advantage of an interlaced mode is most any application.
Going to the Hardware
that it lets you double the vertical resolu-
The conventional wisdom of MS-DOS
tion of asystem without having to double Is Adequacy Sufficient?
graphics has always been that program- the scan frequency of the monitor. Since
mers will want to go to the hardware to The 8514/A appears to be designed with
the cost of amonitor increases with the the philosophy that adequacy is suffi-
get the maximum speed on their dis- scan frequency (although not lineally),
plays. Working through asoftware inter- cient. It is not afull-fledged graphics co-
that holds down costs.
face is significantly slower. Most manu- processor with an extensive library of
In the case of the 8514/A, that could
facturers think this will be less of an built-in functions. Instead, it is arather
have been asignificant cost. Even before simple processor with limited, hard-
issue with the 8514/A.
the standard was announced, anumber wired instructions.
There are some significant differences of multisync monitors were available that
between the 8514/A and the previous In theory, the more powerful the
almost reached the 8514/A's frequency
standards. For one thing, the 8514/A is a graphics coprocessor, the better. This is
of 33 kHz. Providing 8514/A resolution
good deal faster, even through the AI. the philosophy behind the 34010, the
without interlace would have meant go-
For many applications, it has enough 80860, and most other graphics co-
ing to a60-1cHz monitor, well outside the processors. In practice, apowerful co-
speed that developers won't feel the need
PC state of the art at the time the system
to bypass the software interface. processor trades off cost and ease of pro-
was announced.
A second difference is that the 8514/A gramming to get power. IBM apparently
In designing the 8514/A, IBM was decided it made more sense to settle for
is designed to work in the brave new
clearly concerned about keeping down less power in aless-expensive product.
world of OS/2. The IBM version is avail-
the scan rate of its monitor. The logical As aresult, the 8514/A's instruction
able only on PS/2s, which are intended to
display resolution would be 1024 by 960 set is limited. Programming it is easy in
be IBM's platforms for OS/2. It is harder
pixels. Backing off the horizontal scan the sense that once you decide how to do
to play games with the hardware under
rate to 768 pixels cut the frequency re- something, doing it is very straightfor-
OS/2 than it is under MS-DOS. quirements.
This combination of speed and diffi- ward. But figuring out how to go from a
A lower vertical resolution also makes
culty means that most applications soft- requirement to aprogramming strategy
it easier to avoid flicker, one of the inher- may take some thinking.
ware developers won't be tempted to go
ent disadvantages of interlaced video. In Notably missing from the 8514/A's in-
directly to the hardware. However, sys- effect, interlacing cuts the screen refresh
tem ware developers may very well struction set are arc-drawing primitives.
rate in half, since it takes two scans to Nor is there apolygon-fill primitive, al-
want to write to the registers to get as
completely refresh the screen. If the ef-
much speed for their applications as they though polygon fills can be done readily
fective refresh rate is too low, the results
can. This is the approach that Microsoft using the Begin Filled Area and End
are very noticeable.
took in developing its 8514/A drivers for Filled Area commands.
The typical scan rate on a computer
Windows. Although the command set is fixed in
monitor is 60 times per second. This is
continued

A M ESSAGE To OUR SUBSCRIBERS

F ROM TIME TO TIME WE MAKE THE
mailing list, and look forward to finding informa-
BYTE subscriber list available to other companies
who wish to send our subscribers material about their tion of interest to them in the mail. Used are our
products. We take great care to screen these com- subscribers' names and addresses only (no other
information we may have is ever given).
panies, choosing only those who are reputable, and
While we believe the distribution of this informa-
whose products, services, or information we feel
would be of interest to you. Direct mail is an tion is of benefit to our subscribers, we firmly respect
efficient medium for presenting the the wishes of any subscriber who does not want to
latest personal computer goods and EWE
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154 Fall 1989 • B Y TE IBM Special Edition
 COMPUTER DISCOUNT WAREHOUSE"

WHY PAY intel

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SPEED UP YOUR
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INTEL Inboard 386/PC 569.53
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NTEL 80387-20 390.65
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FTWARE & PERIPHERALS AT DISCOUNT PRICES

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PRINTERS
COMPUTERS SOFTWARE STARTER KITS WORDPERFECT 5.0 525" /3.5" $229.90 /238.90
EPSON Entry-Level 286 Starter Kit. 4Users $429.90 ASHTON TATE dBase III, /dBase IV .....424.00 /476.10
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LX810 CALL L0510 ALL EPSON Entry-Level 286 Starter Ka 8Users 899.89 ASHTON TATE Multimate Advantage II. ........... .....288.12
MI:a 70. ...... .CALL COW. MDL 390C. IN STOCK L0850 . CDW' L0950 MODELS NOVELL 286 Soltware V. 2.15 ........ .183935 LOTUS 1-2-3 5r25* /3.5" V2.2 339.95
MDL 140_ ... .FOR ALL MDL 3150C ..8i READY FX850..............FOR BEST L01050 READY NOVELL SPI Nehvare V. 2.15 2986.60 LOTUS 1-2-3 V.3 iLOTUS Nehvorker..337.00 /1592.20
MDL 300C AST MDL 386 25 TO SHIP FX1050..........PRICE EVER L02550 TO SHIP NOVELL NETPRO 1120.50
COW. stocks all cut sheet feeders and ribbons. BORLAND Paradox 3.0 439.17
MDL 340C PRICING MDL 386/33 __CALL
BORLAND Cluattro /Sidekick , 149.52 /131.25
WORKSTATIONS NEC $685.33 3COM ETHERLINK
INTERFACE CARDS
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252.50 /129.05
119.37
AST 105X ALL AST
ARCNET PC110 LANboard PS/2. ..... ..... Al2.50 SYMANTEC OSA 217.40
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ARCNET PC130E LANboard 189.50 XEROX Ventura Software Version 2.0.
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EARTHSTATION V40 or 286. Arcnet or Ethernet...CALL
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PACKARD BELL ETHERNET Interlace Connector (NE1000) 298.90
3215L.....................$468.95 Expressmiter 311. ..$377.16
ETHERNET Plus Board (for 286) (NP600)... 335.35 COW' . Color /Mono Cards w/P ..$99a0 8900
P131000.12 Web ....$1219.70 P0920.12 MHz $1193.86 G-NET Interlace Card wiCable 298.52 HERCULES' . Color /Mono Cards wrP 146.14 179.84
PB1000,40Mag......51614. PB900. 16 NOVELL NE2000 394.15
brother
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AT&T Monochrome Monitor 189.40
THOMAS CONRAD 16 Port Hub 814.25 AMDEK 410A/ 1280 149.99 ,679.78
11:14 PS/2 $384.47 THOMAS CONRAD 8POrt Hub. ... 378.65 COMPAQ Mono .VGA Mono . . 167.00 r209.95
MDL 30.20 Meg 51655.17 MDL 55SX. 30 Meg$2899.59
MDL 60.40 Meg .3340.15 MIX 55SX. 60 Meg.3178.39 Ethernet Terrnmators 39.50 IBM PS/2 8503 209.95
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MDL 30286.1 Dr. .1412.10 MDL 70. 121 Meg .3259.84 ML 182 Turto $23448 ML 321 $479.28 NEC Monograph.1297.25
See WORKSTATIONS under Computers.
MDL 30286.20 M1929.50 MDL 80.40 Meg.. 4374.40 475.96 PGS MAX 12E ,MAX 15. 139.40 ,258.20
MDL 50Z, 30 Meg 2876.75 MDL 80 70 Meg .5069.37 639.48 PACKARD BELL Green or Amber . . 8395
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LASERLINE Ii 1292.69 ML 393 .995.90
ML320 329.68 ML 393 Gobi 1067.60 $97.90 i184.15 COLOR GRAPHIC MONITORS
286. MDL 1 .. 31549.95 386. 251v9a krd300 5817799 EVEREX 1200B r2400B....•
286E. MDL 1
286E. MDL 20
1899.50
2172.45
386-20E. 40 Meg ...4298.12
386-20E. 100 Meg 4943.22
Panasonic EVEREX 2400 Ea. 2400 PS 2 199.80 /205.45
149.75 IBM PS/2 8512
$449.40
5339.18 1592 $142.44 INTEL 2400 Internal 540.20
386E. MDL 40 2453.41 PORT II, MDL 2.....1858.10 1595 453 45 3131 318.30 IBM PS/2 8513
INTEL 2400 External
386. 20 MHz. 130 5718.33 PORT. II. MDL 4.....2697.42 1180 193.95 1524 _ 562.10 SAMSUNG ROB Color
386. 25 MHz 60 5588.90 PORT Ill, MOL 20 .3495.85 1191 232 12 CALL FOR ACCESSORIES HAYES 255
9.8°
199
MAGNAVOX 8762
1451. MDL L.. .2324.49 PORT. III. MDL 40.3999.35 HAYES 1200........ $278.60 2400B $378.45
386S. MDL 20 2783.12 PORT. 386. MDL 40 .542624 LASER PRINTERS VGA & EGA PRODUCTS
WrY MDL 40 3092.84 PORT 386 MDL 1006689.74 120013 269.20 2400P52-------------------387.15
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T.1000
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$657.95 11600 $3237.60 H-P Deskiet MI-
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NEC LC890.. Courier 1200 $278.60 1200 External .........$129.10
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2:52
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73100e ..... .2688.76 15200. 100 Meg .....5375.50 12008 108.45 14 400 HST 64320 MITSUBISHI 1409 11410... ............... .......282.44 /385.50
73200 3393.25 CALL FOR ACCESSORIES Dual 14.400 HST 978.65
MITSUBISHI
NEC Multisync1381
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 CLASH OF THE GRAPHICS TITANS

hardware, the chip set has considerable IBM Moves

potential for expansion in resolution and intends to put the 8514/A on the mother-
The 8514/A not only breaks new techni- board of future models of PS/2s. It has
color. For one thing, according to Head- cal ground for IBM-compatible graphics
land Technology, the chips themselves indicated that it intends to stay with the
standards, it also poses amarketing risk
will support resolutions of 1280 by 1024 8514/A for several years, albeit with ex-
that earlier IBM-compatible standards pansions and extensions.
pixels, even if the present boards won't. did not. Because IBM did not release any
That means that increasing the resolution Further, the 8514/A's backers say that
of the hardware specifications, there is they expect to build enough momentum
will be fairly straightforward.
nothing to stop the company from com- in the market that it will be astandard no
Equally significant, one address chip ing out with acompletely new product to-
can handle up to four pixel chips. That matter what IBM does. If there are 2or 3
morrow that conforms to the software
would let the 8514/A do 32-bit color at million 8514/A systems in users' hands,
specification.
the same speed as the present 8-bit color. applications developers are going to pro-
On the other hand, IBM has said that it vide drivers for the 8514/A.
Upgrading to the 8514/A poses a di-
lemma for users. It is not backward-com-
patible, and not all software comes with
ARE YOU STILL DRAWING FLOWCHARTS BY HAND? 8514/A drivers.
There are several ways around this.
One of them is to install the 8514/A
adapter alongside aVGA card and use the
standard pass-through connector that is
part of the VGA specification. That
works, but it takes up asecond expansion
A/P
---elDistribution
slot. In addition, in some VGA imple-
Other Text \ Invoice Information
mentations, you run into amemory con-
*
> Entered into
flict. Third-party VGA board manufac-
Computer System le
(d) \ turers have added features and modes to
General the boards, so their BIOSes are larger
(d) Ledger than IBM's, and their implementations
run over into 8514/A memory space.
O. Copy
(h) Another possibility would be for man-
Discrepancy R.R. Copy ufacturers to offer boards that have both

I
Payment A/P Voucher
Sheet VGA and 8514/A on them. That would
Selections Register Invoice Copy be more expensive than aregular 8514/A
card, but it may prove popular with users
Check Copy
(f) (e) with existing systems.

A Standard for the 1990s?

As this is written, it is much too early to
tell which graphics system will become
the next standard. Both the 8514/A and
TIGA are attractive, and they both have
strong and weak points.

FLOW CHARTING 11+ TIGA offers a uniform, resolution-

independent software interface that can
Flow Charting II+ will amaze you with its speed, power and simplicity be extended to meet programmers' needs
•Update and print charts as fast as the situation changes and can grow to handle new generations
of graphics coprocessors. The 8514/A
•See your revisions right away—no long wait for charts to be hand drawn
follows the classic path of turning an
•Select 26 standard shapes; 10 text fonts IBM product into astandard. It includes
•Tutorial manual makes learning easy the ability to access the hardware directly
•Runs on IBM or compatibles for maximum speed, and the hardware
•Produces excellent organizational charts! may very well be less expensive than
•Only $229! TIGA. Its backers also claim that it is
faster than TIGA.

BURN &PATTON
Technically, both of these proposed
standards represent asignificant advance
over VGA. Which of them is successful
Software Corporation
will probably depend at least as much on
Excellence in charting the flow of ideas the market factors as on their inherent
benefits. •
For more information, see your local retailer or call
1-800-525-0082, ext. 47 (outside Calif.) 408-629-5376 (Calif./Intl.) Rick Cook is afreelance writer in Phoe-
81 Great Oaks Blvd., San Jose, CA 95119 nix, Arizona, specializing in computers
and high-technology subjects. He can be
reached on BIX as "rcook."

156 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition Circle 201 on Reader Service Card
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IBM PC in 1982 and we repeated that ef- We've been told It's the best in the
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includes 20 graphic controllers that range Peak Performance: We combine ARTIST Years of Experiene: 6years of graphics
in resolution from 800 x600 to 1664 x controllers with ARTIST software drivers experience go into the development of new
1200. They display up to 16.7 million to give you fast, feature-packed graphic hardware and software products. As long
simultaneous colors and use Hitachi, TI and subsystems that few can match. Our as you own your ARTIST graphic worksta•
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complex drawing commands.*
drivers give you instant zooms, birds-eye- port you and offer you advanced ARTIST
Single Screen Options: VGA, EGA, and views, transparent pans, and more. products.
CGA modules give you single screen High Customer Satisfaction: Our in-
workstations.* At the same time, they bouse testing procedures guarantee
allow you to run popular software you smooth installation and operation.
packages that support IBM graphic Less than 1% of ARTIST controllers are
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returned for repair. P.O. Box 64750 St. Paul, MN 55164
PC & MC Bus Compatible: We offer
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ARTIST and ARTIST GT are trademarks of Control Systems, Inc. IBM is aregistered trademark and PSI2 and Micro Cnannel are trademarks of International Business Systems.
Images courtesy of MCS, CADKEY, VersaCAD, Ithaca Software, Autodesk, Sigma Design, AT&T GSL. AutoSolid is atrademark of AutoDesk, Inc. Copyright 1988 Control Systems
 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

I
SITREALLY
SUPER?
The Super VGA standard is both abeginning
to solving some problems and an end to simple solutions for others

Bill Nicholls

ics modes (via hardware and BIOS exten- limited support for the special extended
GA, Hercules, EGA, modes unique to a specific adapter.
sions) that differentiate its product from
PGA, VGA, 8514/A— Thus, the video-adapter manufacturers
haven't we had enough? others. For text, these special modes
have had to greatly expand their pro-
With resolutions ranging range up to 132 by 60 characters. For
gramming and technical-support effort
from 320 by 200 pixels to graphics, they range up to 1024 by 768
to provide software drivers for each
pixels, interlaced and noninterlaced, as
1024 by 768 pixels and color options graphics package in order to solve your
well as 800 by 600 pixels in 16- and 256-
from monochrome to 256 colors from a installation problems. And you still have
palette of 256,000, we seem to have over- color options.
to figure out what combination of modes
As aresult, software companies that
done the graphical user options a bit. and software gives you the best result
produce graphics software have provided
What started as asimple choice between with your current display!
monochrome and color has
become aconfusing and ex- How Bad Can It Get?
pensive set of options for Five chip sets currently sup-
users and has escalated into a port VGA-compatible dis-
nightmare for manufacturers plays: Renaissance, AT!
and programmers of video Technologies, Western Digi-
display adapters. tal Imaging (Paradise), Video
Each of these classes of Seven, and Tseng Labs. All
display adapters has one or have extensions requiring dif-
more standard text modes, ferent programming to acti-
ranging from 40 columns by vate similar modes. A similar
25 rows to 80 columns by 50 number of chip sets exists for
rows, and standard graphics the EGA standard and exten-
modes that range from 640 by sions, and the 8514/A has
200 pixels by 2colors (CGA) both a software application
to 640 by 480 pixels by 16 interface and adecoded hard-
colors (VGA). Most of the ware interface from Western
modes in the earlier adapters Digital. 8514/A clones are
are supported in the later expected soon and could fur-
ones, though sometimes with ther expand the incompatible
different setup parameters. setup and programming prob-
For true IBM modes, all com- lem. You could have 30 to 60
patible adapters support the independent sets of code for
setup via BIOS calls. each application to drive the
In addition, almost every most common video adapters
maker of display adapters has continued
added special text and graph-
BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 159
ILLUSTRATION: MICHAEL KLEIN © 1989
 IS IT REALLY SUPER?

in the most common graphics modes.

adapter. The VESA Super VGA Stan-
With the exceptions of Microsoft Win- mode 6Ah, all other VESA modes will
dard is the proposed software interface
dows and GEM for DOS, Presentation equal or exceed 100h (see table 1).
that will isolate the hardware differences
Manager for OS/2, and X Window for An extended BIOS support using ex-
and provide information in ahardware-
Unix, no common driver interface exists tended function 4Fh in the video inter-
independent manner. This means you
for graphics applications. Graphics ap- rupt 10 handler is also proposed. Func-
will finally be able to write graphics
plications now face atwo-level software- tion calls will return status in the AX
software without needing special code register concerning support or nonsup-
support decision: which interface stan-
for each specific chip set or having to
dards they should support, and which port, success or failure (see table 2).
identify which adapter you're using.
stand-alone adapters DOS should sup- In addition to these functions, further
VESA is proposing standards for de- analysis and discussions are aimed at
port. To support the growing number of termining the video environment, pro-
environments and video adapters, each other aspects of the video adapters.
gramming support, compatibility, mode These include the following:
graphics application must devote more
numbers, and BIOS functions. The
programming resources to the graphics video-mode numbers are 15 bits wide,
interface rather than to the application. • Extended video-memory mapping,
while current VGA video-mode numbers
The good news is that agroup of video which could simplify windowing soft-
are 7bits wide and range from 00 hexa-
chip, board, and display vendors saw this ware by insulating it from most of the
decimal to 13h. Manufacturers have es- hardware details.
problem coming and formed an indepen-
tablished extended modes in the range •External palette control to 6- and 8-bit
dent organization—VESA, the Video
from 14h to 7Fh. Values in the range 80h
Electronics Standards Association. This D/A converters, which could create a
to FFh are not allowed since bit 7 is a
organization recommends standard BIOS uniform interface to either a 256,000-
Clear Video Memory flag. Except for
and programming interfaces for the ex- color palette or a 16-million-color pal-
tended graphics modes that hide the in- ette.
compatible hardware implementations. •Variable start address for the CRT, im-
Table 1: The VESA video-mode
The bad news is that the task is com- portant in animation techniques.
numbers are 15 bits wide, while
plex and must be done in a backward- •Standard timing parameters for the
current VGA video-mode numbers
compatible manner so as not to orphan display so that monitor manufacturers
are 7bits wide. Except for mode
the current installed base of VGA cards. can provide monitors that synchronize
6Ah, all other VESA modes will
The VESA VGA BIOS extension propos- without adjustment and provide the prop-
equal or exceed 100h.
al version 2.0, called Super VGA, was is- er picture size at any resolution.
sued in April. It will take time for final
PROPOSED VESA MODES
agreement and implementation of the How Does This Affect the End User?
new standards, and still more time to re- Mode Resolution Number Except for the installation difficulties, as
write or upgrade the software drivers. Number of colors an end user, you don't see most of the
current problems directly. What you do
The Standards 6Ah 800 x 600 16 see are long delays required for the ex-
The term Super VGA refers to video 100h 640 x 480 256 tended graphics modes, and separate
graphics products that implement a 101h 800 x 600 256
drivers for each graphics software pack-
superset of the standard IBM display age for each specific adapter family.
VESA has yet to make an impact on
the end user, but once the standards are
Table 2: VESA function calls will return status in the AX register concerning accepted, you will see fewer but more-
support or nonsupport, success or failure. functional software drivers. In addition,
switching to anew video display adapter
PROPOSED VESA FUNCTIONS
usually won't mean getting awhole new
set of drivers, since adriver written to
Function Purpose the VESA standard should work with any
number VESA-compliant adapter.

00h Return Super VGA information. This function returns apointer to abuffer Performance Issues
containing supported Super VGA capabilities and other pointers. VESA standards may solve the incom-
patibility problem, but higher resolution
Olh Return Super VGA mode information. This function returns apointer
presents another problem. Higher resolu-
to adetailed table of size, attributes, and resolution for aspecific Super
VGA mode. tion means more pixels; more pixels
mean more operations to update each
02h Set Super VGA video mode. This function sets the desired mode, screen; and more operations mean a
if available; otherwise, it leaves the environment unchanged. slower response to any change.
Given today's systems and adapters, a
03h Return current video mode.
4.77-MHz computer will be slow at sup-
porting EGA graphics. For basic 8-MHz
04h Save or restore Super VGA video state.
ATs, VGA at 640 by 480 pixels is prob-
ably the best resolution with acceptable
05h Set CPU video-memory window. This function allows direct access
to the hardware-paging registers of the video memory. graphics performance. A 12-MHz AT
can support VGA at 800 by 600 pixels,
but 1024 by 768 pixels needs a 16-MHz
continued
160 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition
 If you're thinking of
puffing an IBM monitor
on your PS/2, you're not
seeing the big picture.

When it comes to displays, bigger is better. That's any glare or distortion. And far less eyestrain than Big
one reason why the Amdek Monitor/432 monochrome Blue's PS/2 monitor with its smaller, 12" curved screen.
VGA has abig edge over IBM's own standard PS/2 What's more, IBM's smaller screen also carries a
monitor. bigger price tag.
But it's not the only reason. Because the 432 is, after So, if you're choosing amonochrome monitor for aPS/2
all, from Amdek. A company with over 12 years experi- or any AT compatible, remember the company that hasn't
ence in the computer monitor business, and the leading lost sight of the big picture Amdek. For the dealer nearest
independent monochrome supplier.* you, call 1-800-PC A/VIDEK.
The 432s Wetched-surface, flat screen produces hardly MDEK
Amdek is aregistered trademark at Amdek Corporation. Other trademarks/owners: PSI2, VGA, IBM/International Business Machines. 1989 Stanford Resources, Inc.

Circle 13 on Reader Service Card

 IS IT REALLY SUPER?

memory access is faster, the larger pixel

Table 3: Most graphics software runs at 640 by 480 pixels today, so the array requires as many as five I/O com-
processor is handling 2.4 times as many pixels as CGA. The higher-resolution mands for each update due to the seg-
screens will clearly be slower. mented addressing required to access
256K bytes or 512K bytes from a64K-
EFFECT OF RESOLUTION ON NUMBER OF PIXELS byte address space. While in 16-color
mode, VGA can update two pixels at
Video Resolution Number Percent once; but in 256-color mode, it must ac-
mode of pixels of CGA
cess each pixel separately.
CGA 640 x 200
Adding insult to injury, many VGA
128,000 100
adapters still have 8-bit registers even if
EGA 640 x 350 224,000 175
they have 16-bit interfaces to the AT bus.
VGA 640 x 480 307,200 240
Add further delays due to slower ROM
Super VGA 800 x 600 480,000 375 BIOS access, and the situation can't get
8514/A 1024 x 768 786,432 614 much worse. The amazing thing is that
good performance is delivered in most
cases because of skillful programming
AT or 80386-based machine for good higher-resolution screens will clearly be in the graphics drivers, which are finely
performance in graphics modes. slower (see table 3). Two other factors tuned to specific adapter hardware.
However, not all the limitations are in also affect the delays: access to the video To accomplish further performance
the processor—a 16-bit VGA will be adapter memory, and the number of opera- gains in the high-resolution area (800 by
faster than an 8-bit VGA, provided the tions required to change asingle pixel. 600 pixels and up), hardware assistance
hardware and software used can handle EGA is particularly bad for memory in the form of dedicated graphics proces-
16-bit graphics access. Unfortunately, access, as five out of six memory access- sors will provide the repetitive pixel ma-
this is the exception rather than the rule. es must be dedicated to refreshing the nipulations currently dependent on the
Look at this another way. Since most display, leaving only one out of six for host CPU. Graphics chips available to-
graphics software runs at 640 by 480 updates. This is the primary reason for day include the Intel 82786, the Texas
pixels today, the processor is handling slow EGA displays. Instruments 34010 and 34020, and,
2.4 times as many pixels as CGA, but the VGA has adifferent problem. While continued

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162 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition Circle 133 on Reader Service Card
 BEST PICTURE
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*Rea.ders Poll, Data Based Advisor, February 1989
•

CATEGORY: BEST DATABASE MANAGEMENT

GRAPHICS PACKAGE.

deE the most powerful database graphics Impress your boss, your For more information and your FREE DEMO
DISK just call 1-800-231-1293
iackage on the market, has just been voted the
'best graphics tool for adatabase manager;'
clients, and yourself. Easily. or 1-206-941-2300 or
iccording to the readers of Data Based Advisor. write Pinnacle Publishing,
dGE does what you want. And it does it with the dialect
P.O. Box 8099, Federal
fyou think that's impressive, consider this: of your choice. Consider the possibilities:
Way, WA 98003.
he vote was based on dGE 2.0.
GRAPHS: When you're ready for
gow dGE 3.0 is here. •Bar •Polyline the best, you're ready
\ dGE 3.0 •3-D Bar figure for dGE.
•High-low-close •Polyvector
is better •Pie •Time series
Price: 8195.00; contact
Pinnacle Publishing or your
-. than ever. •Polar •Cartesian
local software dealer.
The Graphics Design DIALECTS:
Center, included in the new •dBASE III+ •Quicksilver
3.0 version, supports the •dBASE IV •dBFast GUARANTEE
creation of graphic •Clipper •Eagle dGE is backed by athirty-day
charts and pictures •FoxBASE+ •Microsoft C money back guarantee.
in afree-form menu •R:BASE •Quick C
driven environment. Compiler •llirbo C
dGE comes complete with interface Pi
nnacl
e P.O. Box 8099
So instead of requiring you to to all dialects listed.
program in dBASE source code, the
What's more, dGE 3.0 works with: Publishing 2
F0
e6
d;1172e0
e . WA 9""
;milks Design Center writes the code for you
CGA, EGA, VGA and Hercules Inc. 800/231-1293
ifter you've designed the image using pull-down FAX 200946-1491
monitors, IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2
nenus and WYSIWYG editing screens. © 1989 Pinnacle PuNieing, Inc
and compatibles. Supports the
['here's more good news. Version 3also adds most popular printers and plot- The Database Enhancement Expertrm
tfont editor, expanded printer support, 3-D bar ters including HP-G/L language dGE is atrademark of Bits Per Second. Other brand and product
I

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also included. COME VISIT US AT

COMDEX BOOTH #C-740
ircle 210 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 211)
 Circle 147 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 148)

IS IT REALLY SUPER?
1)Is( 'DRIVE REPAIR SPECIAL
Formatted Cap. Flat Rate SPECIAL
SHIPPING YOUR DRIVE
10-19 mb $99 89.10 FOR REPAIR
20-29 mb $125 112.50 Pack your drive carefully and fully
30-39 mb $150 135.00 protected in a sturdy shipping
$175 157.5. box. Include your name, add ress
expected near the end of this year, the
40-49 mb
$210 100.00 and daytime telephone number.
chip supporting the IBM 8514/A.
50-85 mb
$275 247.50 Allow $9 for shipping per drive. However, this is only half the equa-
86-120 mb
121-150 mb $325 292.50 WE DO DATA RECOVERY tion. Graphics code today is written for
151-275 mb $425 392.50 CALL FOR QUOTE host-processor bit- and pixel-twiddling.
276-380 mb Changing to outboard chips will require
$495 445.50 FLOPPY 5.25" REPAIR $45
at least arewrite of the graphics driver,
TEST & EVALUATION $25 VALID THROUGH 6/30/90
and maybe a redesign of the interface.
DISC DRIVES LIQUIDATION Functions with repetitive operations,
,
such as line drawing and area fill, are
XT/AT FLOPPY DRIVES XT/AT HARD DRIVES quick to pass as parameters, but complex
3.5" 720k new $105 5 MB ref. $75 shapes may be slower than the host CPU
3.5 1.44mb. new 115 10 MB unu 105 can handle. These complex operations
5.25....360k .ref. 49 20 MB ref. 159 will require bit maps of graphics objects
5.25... .720k ref. 59 30 MB ref. 239 to move rapidly between the host CPU
5.25 ..1.2mb ref. 89 42 MB unu. 295 and display processor.

KITS FOR MY AT &COMPAT1ILE8 72 MB ref. 595

Future Directions
120 MB new 1295
84 MB ST506 $695 Except for Texas Instruments' TIGA
SCSI HARD DRIVES
147 MB ESDI 1395 standard for 340x0 boards, the issue of
230 MB ESDI 1695 20 MB $225 I 85 MB $995
30 MB 265 147 MB 1495 standards for "smart" video adapters is
320 MB ESDI 1995
42 M8 295 310 MB 1995 two years behind that of the VESA stan-
THOUSANDS OF DISC DRIVES IN STOCK dard for VGA boards. As these boards
We Feature Technical Support for Everything We Sell drop below $1000 in the 1990s and be-
We Specialize in Disc Drives—Ask for Our Brochure come mainstream components, the prob-
jb TECHNOLOGIES, INC. TEL 818 •709 •6400 lem of proliferation of interfaces will re-
FAX 818 •341 •2935 cur unless VESA or a follow-on group
21011 Itasca SL, #F Chatsworth, CA 91311 TELEX 678953 soon begins the lengthy process of
achieving astandard through consensus.
In addition to the current proposed
VESA standard, other standards work is

Voice Mail Card

planned, and new working groups in-
clude the 8514/A interface. To those
groups should be added a group for
analysis of performance issues, another
for operating environments like Win-
dows, and athird to study the transition
VM-328 MAKES IT EASIER! issues as software has to support the
IT TURNS ANY PC INTO A POWERFUL VOICE MAIL SYSTEM smart graphics adapters.
As an end user, you can look forward
LOW COST VOICE MAIL SYSTEM APPLICATION AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE
to Super VGA as both abeginning and an
vm-328 gives you 100 individual private voicemail
Like most expensive voice mail systems. VM-328 end. Graphics-driver standards are be-
boxes, each coded by apassword. Incoming phone
records right on your hard disk. You will be amazed
calls will be answered automatically with your ginning to solve the problems of incom-
at the clarity of reproduction. Lots of application for
personal greeting message. You can retrieve mes- less money. Tailor it to your own specific needs. All patible hardware, but simple CPU sup-
sages remotely from any touch-tone phone. You can
even pre-program any messages to be sent out to
you need is an MS-DOS PC, a hard disk and alot of port for higher-resolution displays is
incoming calls. It is affordable at an introductory low
any phone number at any pre-set time! price of $ 150! coming to an end.
For the near future, 1024 by 768
pixels will be an economic limit for most
EXTERNAL 3.5" 720K/1 .44M DRIVE of us for graphics displays. This is also
the approximate limit for reasonable per-
IT MAKES LIFE EASIER FOR IBM PC/XT/AT OWNERS formance when driven directly by an
WHO WANT AN AFFORDABLE 80386-based CPU. For the next 8to 12
3.5" DISK COMPATIBILITY!
months, these displays will become more
• High quality TEAC Mechanism in a slim case
• 1.44 M Drive reads 720K disk as well
Ext. 3.5" 720K Drive (FD-228E) $ 149 cost-effective and popular as software
With controller card (FD-228EP) 209
• Our controller card supports up to 4drives of any support catches up with hardware capa-
combination 5.25" or 3.5" including the 1.44M. It Ext. 3.5" 1.44M Drive (FD-268E) 169 bility and production volume enables
can also be used as adirect replacement for std. With controller card (FD-268EP) 229
XT disk controllers in a PC or XT, or be jumpered prices to come down. Beyond that, future
Controller card alone (DI-268) $ 85
as a secondary controller for 286 computer.
advances of graphics resolution and per-
formance will depend largely on begin-
For more information, call: ning to create new standards now. im
TOLL FREE ORDER LINES
KINSON PRODUCTS CORP.
Inside NY 1-800-553-6224 482-484 Sunrise Highway Bill Nicholls has aB. S. degree in physics
Outside NY 1-800-433-6224 Rockville Centre, NY 11570 from Notre Dame University and is the
Tel. (516) 763-0906 owner of BGW Systems (Puyallup, WA).
He can be reached on BIX as "billn."

164 Fall 1989 • BY TE IBM Special Edition Circle 21 on Reader Service Card
(DEALERS: 22)
 What Problems Lurk
In Your Computer?
System Sleuth Knows!
Operating as easy-to-use PC environmental diagnostic software, System
Sleuth probes every single sub-system in your PC — unravelling the mysteries of
system problems and configuration conflicts — giving you the facts and nothing
but the facts.

System Sleuth is thorough. The Testimony:

It explores the entire PC environment — from "This is one of those programs that! didn't know
available memory to add-in boards to disk Ineeded until Igot it; now, what with all the
drives to hardware interrupts — nothing es- hardware Itry out around here, Iuse it all the
capes System Sleuth. time, and Ican't think howl got along without
it." Jerry Pournelle, Byte Magazine
System Sleuth is fail-safe. May, 1989

—beyond a shadow of a doubt. We're talking "System Sleuth, an absolutely wonderful new
all diagnostics and no slip ups — no accidental utility.. It shows an even better idea than
changes to any part of your system. IBM's on how to help the PC user and
those who try to keep him up
System Sleuth saves time and and running."
money. It's fast. It's accurate. Jim Seymour, PC Week
So before you December, 1988

call in technical The Price:

support people, Just $ 1
49.00
get the facts from
The Verdict:
System Sleuth. Order now.Call

1-800-999-1557
Visa and MasterCard
30-day, money-back
guarantee

SYSTEM SLEUTH
Dariana Technology Group Inc.
23704-5 El Toro Road, Suite 34B, El Toro, CA 92630 • (714) 994-7400
System Sleuth is a trademark of Dorian:3 Technology Group, Inc. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective holders.

Circle 87 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 88) BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 165
Nlou cote buy anew
DELI:210 ye
5121( of esI\11
20Mbytel-led Deg
12.5MW, Pfccesse SPeed

s69900

atésSe*

BUYERS BEWARE! Northgate charges

credit card sales only when system is
in the shipping process. Some others
use your money by charging cards at
time of sale. We recommend you
be aware of this when considering
your vendor.
 e 1•••
1Full Megabyte RAM
Ceetew 100% GREATER!

How can Northgate afford to offer a 32 Mbyte Hard Drive

286/12 with 32MB hard drive and one full megabyte
50% LARGER!
of RAM when Dell's newest Series 210 system, for the
same money doesn't match up?
Maybe it's the high cost of color advertising. We
12 MHz Processor Speed
use two colors and pass the savings on to our
customers. Would you rather get more computer for
the money...or be entertained with color pictures?

Here's afresh idea... Make Northgate and

$169900
Dell's money-back guarantee program meaningful:
Order from both companies.
BUYER'S SCORE SHEET.
30 days later send back the loser. Read the Specs. Check the Leader.
Total the winning checks and make your decision.
Or keep life simple and place your order with
Northgate. Odds are it's the one you'll keep anyway. Standard
Features DELL , NORTHGATE ..-
Processor 12.5 MHz 80286 12 MHz 80286
Memory 5I2K One Megabyte
NORTHGATE Video Interface 16 Bit Built-
In 16 Bit Add-on
COMPUTER 1Factory Fixable) Only ¡On-Site Fixable)
Display 12" VGA Mono .31 DP 12" VGA Mono .31 DP
v SYSTEMS Floppy Drive One -1.2 or 1.44 One -1.2 or I44
Std. Hard Drive 20 Mbyte 32 Mbyte RLL
Capacity
;#/tiereereee r Northgate Computer Systems. Inc.
Hard Drive Type IDE Built-in Can use -RLL, MFM.
• 13705 First Avenue North
IDE. ESD1
Plymouth. Minnesota 55441
I/O Capabilities 2Ser., 1PP 2Ser.. 1PP

Phone Northgate for full details and pricing Keyboard Mushy Touch" 101 Famous OmniKey/102
Software Diagnostic On-Line Help. MS-DOS

800-548-1993
Space Saver Case 15W. 15"L, 4"H 14.5W. I6.5"L. 5.5"H
Moneyback 30 Days 30 Days
Period
Warranty IYr. Parts & Labor IYr. Parts & Labor
Canada: 800-338-8383 Phone Tech Unlimited, Toll Free Unlimited. Toll Free
Support
f i
Sie =Vi Hours Open - Standard Daytime. Eve 24 Hours
TeleChack Sales All Day Every Day

FINANCING: Use the Northgate "Big N" revolving credit card instead of Hours Open - Standard Daytime 24 Hours
Tech All Day Every Day
tying up Visa or MC credit. Millions in financing available, easy to qualify.
OR...Lease Northgate with up to five-year terms. Ideal when cash flow is lbtal $1,699 $1,699
important. Phone for details.
SCORE DELL NORTHGATE
©1989. Northgate. ONINIKE11102. OmniKey/Plus, and the Northgate N logo are trademarks
of Northgate Computer Systems. Inc All other product and brand names are trademarks and
registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. Northgate reserves the right to
substitute components of equal or greater quality or performance. All items subject to
availability.
And the winner is...
Northgate offers flexible purchase plans including alease program to fit your individual

Call NOW!
financing needs.
PS. Ask about OmniKey/PLUS, the new Northgate Keyboard designed the way you want!

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 167

 Hot
386/20 MHz
System
,1111111111111111111111wwwomr
=11111r.
ii -

Scorching
386/20 MHz
PH
D

When you want to know

COMPLE YSTEM: MHz Processor; all about acomputer
system Ask
65MB Hard Drive; 800,000 KBS Data Transfer;
1MB RAM (Expandable to I6MB); 1.2 and 1.44
high density floppy drives; 14" Monitor; Herc.
Compat. Card; MS-DOS 4.01; Full Sze
Desktop Case with 5drive bays; OmniKey
Keyboard; 1-Year parts/labor warranty;
Replacement parts express overnight at our
Dr, Jerry Pournelle.*
expense or At-Your-Office next day onsite
Put amachine in Pournelle's workshop. He'll
service, one year at no extra cost. THE BEST
PHONE TECH SUPPORT IN THE soon tell you everything you want to know about
COMPUTER BUSINESS. Toll free, unlimited. it with no punches pulled.
NOTE: Pi aeline Page Mode system architecture is
preferred in many applications to cache design:. It is faster Recently, Dr. Poumelle looked at Northgate's
than all but the largest cache systems in certain
applications requiring substantial memory cal s.
80386 Pipeline Page Mode system and reported
in BYTE July, 1989 (excerpted):
**BUYERS BEWARE! Northgate charges credit card
sales only when system is in the shipping process. Jerry Pournclle holds adoctorate m psychology and is a
Some others use your money by charging ca -ds at writer who also earns wcomfortatde living wring

time of sale. We recommend you be aware athis

about computers present and futum.

when considering your vendor.

"... the case is sturdy, and the motherboard "... Ihave reports from other people who have
construction is clean and neat. The boards are Northgate computers, and they're happy."
thick; I've seen some clones with boards so thin
"... All in all, the Northgate 80386 looks like
they wave in the breeze." one of the best deals in town."
"... Ilike this machine alot."
SUDDEN SERVICE: We Ship Al! Orders
"... The workmanship is superior." for 386/20 Systems within 4days!**
"... there sure wasn't any installation required /

for this system. Ijust turned it on, and it came up „f,A_

in MS-DOS 4.01."

[a software program] ... "which is all graphics is

/IV, 800-548-1993
almost twice as fast on the Northgate 80386 as NORTHGATE COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.
13705 First Avenue North, Plymouth. Minnesota 55 4 41
on my other machines. So is Windows ..."
Canada: 800-338-8383
"... Irate the Northgate 80386 as better than HOURS: Monday -Friday 7a.m. -8p.m. Central
good enough on CPU and disk speed and wow! NEW EXTENDED SAT HOURS: 8 Pm. -4 p.m. Central

on video speed." FINANCING: Use the Northgate "Big N" revolving credit card instead of
tying up Visa or MC credit. Millions in financing available, easy to qualify.
()Copyright hoeing. Compeer Systems. Inc. 1989. All Rights Reserved.
OR...Lease Northgate with up to five-year terms. Ideal when cash flow is
NOItheate ONINIKEY/102, OmniKey PLUS. and the Northgate N logo are trademarks of
NorthgatevCanputer System. Inc. All other product and brand names are trademarks and important. Phone for details.
regeterechtragemarks of Mir respective canpanies.

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 169

 NEW...

Northgate
OmniKey/PLUS F KEYS ON THE LEFT...
The keyboard you asked us to design!
CONVENIENCE CLUSTER ...
12 easy to reach. programmable Large Backspace Key, hard to
FKeys where they belong and miss: Lshaped Enter Key: Bad
where your fingers expect to find slash next to Shift; Unshihed
them instinctively.
Thousands of you asked us to make akeyboard Asterisk Key—a wonderful add

designed the way you want, not what IBM and all their
keyboard clones force on you.

Now .. discover OmniKey/PLUS!

al Alps Click/Tactile OmniKey/PLUS
Key Switches weighs 5.5 lbs.,
As age all our keyboards, Northgate's engineers designed
made to stay put on
this gem from the ground up. It's not aPacRim economy your desk
job anyone can buy. IT'S EXCLUSIVELY NORTHGATE. • Dip Switch
compatible with Cable plugs into
One look, one touch tells you this is the best in keyboard nearly any IBM PC back of keyboard
type system—PS/2,
design, in quality, in all its many features so you can type Zenith, Compaq, Low Profile Elegant
faster, confident all the keys are where you want them. Dell, Tandy, AT&T Sty:ingl

Now! Two separate keypads. Cursor arrows in logical,

comfortable array—gone is the ill-conceived "inverted T" Introductory Limited Time Price
And the backslash key is placed "just right." See detail
panels.

Will you prefer OmniKey/PLUS enough to discard your

current keyboard? Take ten days to make up your mind.
If not, return for full product cost refund.
For Dealer and Distributor Program Pricing, Phone Keyboard
Quantities may be limited so call or send your order today. Dept. at 612-553-0734.

170 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 Compatible with
virtually every
IBM type
computer in
the world!

Ten-day trial
return for
unquestioned
full refund

Three-year
unconditional
warranty,
any cause,
we will repair
or replace.

New OnnniKeym/102 Model

SORISCREEN KEYPAD ... NUMERIC KEYPAD ... Also Available ...$99.00
arrows in familiar diamond With all the math operands in
For those who prefer Northgate's
ern. No need to hit Nun, place around the numbers. Large
OmniKey/102. are up-dated version
or hold down Shift Key. INS, DEL and ENTER Keys. Has
we "nuked" the inverted T. lighted indicators above pad. now joins our line. Same trial offer,
same 3-year warranty.

Northgate Computer Systems. Inc.

Phone Toll Free Yes. Shrp my OmniKey order(s).

13705 First Avenue North, Plymouth. Minnesota 5544

Name
I

Iunderstand Imay use it for

800-5262446
Company
10 days and if Iwish. may return
Ship to laddressl
it for full product cost refund.
Iagree to pay for freight City State Zip

both ways. Phone

HOURS: Mon.-Fri 7ann-8pm, Sat. 8am-4pm Central Northgate will accept COD Computer Brand & lype
and purchase orders from
Oty. Item Shipping Total
credit-worthy buyers for quan-
OmnIKey/PLUS* 5119.00
tities totalling S500.00 or
OmnIKey/102 5 99.00
greater. Dealer and distributors:
NORTHGATE for quantity prices phone our
Cfr 101 S 99.00
TOTAL OF ORDER
COMPUTER corporate headquarters

7
1 -V
*You must specify which cable you require—for addltio al cables add $25 00 ea
612-553-0734.
/A SYSTEMS FAX orders to 612-S53-1695.
Compatibility Notes: Please read before placing your order.
OmniKey/PLUS is made compatible through acombination of dip
SHIPPING: Allow 5days for switch settings and the proper connecting cable We must know the
computer make and model you will be using with OmniKeyiPLUS
Northgate Computer Systems, Inc. order processing before ship-
7#/teee
Otherwise we cannot guarantee compatibility
13705 First Avenue North ment. Thereafter, shipments
• Plymouth, Minnesota 55441
can be: Brand Model IAT/XTI

-.Copyright
, Nonngate Cornouler Systems, inc 1089 • UPS Ground add $7.00 ea.: Prepaid amount enclosed S
All Rights Reserved
Northgate, OmniKey/102, OmniKay/RLUS. arm the Nohhgate te logo
allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Please charge to my: CI Visa E MasterCard
are trademarks of Northgate Computer Systems, nc All other product • Overnight Air add $25.00 ea. Card No Expires
trhd brand names are trademarkaand registerthd :radernarks of their
respective companies. • Second Day Air add $12.00 ea. Signature of Cardholder
ikly signature authorizes acharge to my account for the above merchandise prior
to shipping to Initiate processing of my order I

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 171

 Here's How Buyers Who Deman
the World's Highest Performanc
and Quality...
Order from Northgate..

DIAL 800-548-1993
Canada 800-338-8383
You'll be connected to a Northgate If you're strictly shopping for the
Account Manager. In an instant, you'll lowest price without considering quality
know you're dealing with a professional. A and performance, don't call. But if you
highly trained individual who understands want the most computer for your invest-
computers and more importantly, under- ment...a system that runs rings around
stands people like you. the others...with the most meaningful
You'll immediately feel confident. Your warranty* in the computer industry...
questions will receive intelligent, careful
CALL NORTHGATE TODAY!
consideration. And you'll get the truth, not
the baloney.

Join the ranks of

Fortune 500 corporations... \
colleges and universities...
individuals...government
agendes around the world.

HOURS: Monday through Friday 7 a.m. -8 p.m. Central •If anything in your Northgate system goes down and disables your
NEW EXTENDED SATURDAY HOURS: 8 a.m. -4 p.m. Central computer. Northgate guarantees to ship the proper replacement part
OVERNIGHT AT OUR FREIGHT EXPENSE. You get a brand new
part—be it the largest and most expensive hard drive to the smallest
NORTHME part—and its shipped to you BEFORE YOU RETURN THE OFFEND-
ING PARE Check our competition. In most cases they must get the part
back before you get areplacement. Often that's weeks. And you sit there.
lnA'tli COMPUTER out of business until they get the old part repaired or replaced.
SYSTEMS Northgate's phone tech crew is here to back you up. Unlimited phone
help is available for as long as you own your Northgate. And for one year.
you're protected with Northgate's Overnight Parts Replacement War-
ranty. If a system needs to come back for service, all parts and labor
NORTHGATE COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.
are FREE unless damage is caused by the end user.
13705 First Avenue North, Plymouth, Minnesota 55441
"

Call Northgatemlbday!
 Now Northgate Gives You Credit
and No Payments Until 1990*
(Payments begin 90 days from the date your Northgate Computer System is delivered to you.)

BIG 'N' REQUEST FOR CREDIT

NOTICE TO WISCONSIN APPLCANTS A married person may apply for individual credit. Iam applying tor (please check appropriate box):
You must disclose your marital status JOINT CREDIT with another person. Complete entire application.
married
INDIVIDUAL CREDIT but rely on income or assets of another person as abasis for repaying the credit
unmarried
requested. Complete entire application.
legally Separated
. INDIVIDUAL CREDIT. Complete sections "a" and "b" only.
Please complete all appropriate sections, providing at least two year's residence and employment history. This will enable your application to be
processed as quickly as possible If you are self employed. please be sure to complete section "D" on back.

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

a. Your Personal Information Requested Line of Credit S

Year Name: First Initial Last Date et Birth: Secret Security Number:
Mo Day Yr
Present Addœss Street Apt City State Zip Nome Pb...

L__ )
Date et IlesIdence: Month Year Buy Rent Other
D [1
2153 13905 213508
Mentsl_ Payment: S
Previous Mau: Dates et
Residence: From TO
Yew Employer (It sell employed, see rear panel ) Date el Employment: Pentien: Meaner Income:
o Yr Gross $ Net $
301-ni .3 DOE Empleyer's Address: Street City State Business Pb...:

)
Previous Address: Dates it
Employer: Emplepeent• From To
Income horn alimony. child support a Otber beasere:

WHY TIE UP separate mantenance payments need

not be duclosed you Clo not wish —
Monthly Income
to trate it yonoittetoo ata mo t sfor Ihave received since

YOUR OTHER repaying this ',Mignon IDate)

Name and Address of Nearest Relative Not Living With You

Gross $ Net $
Relationship

CREDIT CARDS?
b. Credit Information
Jse the Northgate, "Big N" include Joint applicant's Informatron, it mint account requested
Bank Name Address Checking
redit card, and avoid the Bask Account: D Savings

payment crunch." Bank Account: D

Checking
Savings

;imply fill out the "Big N" Bank Leas Netereece

Payment Balance

Ipplication, and send it in. Prompt VISA

ipproval assured! Bank Card nelmence: Wasteful

Olber Cried«

)nce you're approved, simply call Card Reference

)ur TOLL FREE number and one Expires

)f our expert system consultants

:an help you design the Northgate
i'ystem which will best suit your
Ewes.

leeds, and it will be shipped to c. Joint Applicant's Personal Information

'ten ale amanied wisconsin applicant, you must >wale your spouses into/motion bee.. even
lough you, spouse may not be signing this contract
iou right away. Joint Applicant's name: Date el BUM Social Security Member
Mo Day_ Yr
3est of all, there will be no Address Street State Dale el Residence Name Mee

myments due on your Northgate Date it Employment

Mn Yi _ )
Meinbly Income:
Empleyer:
3ystem for afull 90 days starting Mo Yr Gross S Mel

:rom the day you take delivery! Employer's Address: City State Business Pb...:

Northgate also offers flexible long

:erm leasing plans too. You can d. Self-Employed Information Complete this section only if you are self employed

:hoose the plan that will best Business Name

Proprietorship Corporation Partnership

'it your needs, with terms up to Business Address Business Telephone

5years. I
Description of Business Mur Position In Business

Phone Northgate Now!... Since

Your annual Business'

income from business annual income (gross) (net)

800-548-1993 Yea must provide at least one it the

1. rusikness
ian Name
lamming:
Telephone
i i
Personal Bankers Name

HOURS: Monday -Friday 7a.m. -8 p.m. Central 2. Accountant's

Name
telephone
'JEW EXTENDED SAT HOURS 8 a.m. -4 p.m. Central
'2anada Toll Free Order Hotline: 800-338-8383
3. Numcial statement on business attached. BYI1089

Complete this application and mail to Northgate today!

*Interest will accrue during deferred period. 1.5% per month. 18% APR.
•Based on purchase price of $1.299.00 on the "Big N" revolving charge.
Proces subject to change without notice. Offer not valid for APO
or FPO customers.
Copyright Northgate Computer Systems. Inc. 1989 All Rights Reserved
NORTHOATE COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC. Northgate OMNIKEY/102. OmniKey PLUS, and the Northgate N logo are trademarks of
Northgate Computer Systems. Inc All other product and brand names are trademarks arid
13705 First Avenue North, Plymouth, Minnesota 55441 registered trademarks of their respective companies

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 173

 Text Editor

This text editing program--

including pull-down menus,
scroll bars, and all other
Windows items--was created with
just two lines of Actor code.

Actor is the fastest, easiest way to develop applica- Data Exchange (DDE) and expanded memory.
tions for Microsoft' Windows. The mason—Actor's Actor is apowerful, pure object-oriented pro-
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Circle 247 on Reader Service Card

 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

SQL: A DATABASE
LANGUAGE SEQUEL
TO dBASE
A look at SQL's command structure shows why
it's likely to become anew standard

Mark L. Van Name and Bill Catchings

or many years, dBASE has been the dominant Where IBM goes, others are sure to follow; today, over 100
microcomputer database language. While vendors offer versions of SQL. SQL microcomputer implemen-
dBASE undoubtedly still has along life ahead tations abound, including IBM's OS/2 Extended Edition Data-
of it, another database language, SQL (pro- base Manager, Oracle Corp.'s Oracle, Relational Technol-
nounced "sequel"), is emerging as a second ogy's INGRES, the Sybase/Microsoft/Ashton-Tate SQL
standard for both database servers and stand-alone microcom- Server, the SQL component of dBASE IV, and Gupta Technol-
puter databases. ogies' SQLBase.
SQL has for several years been the standard language for All these versions follow, to at least some degree, a SQL
mainframe and minicomputer relational database systems. As standard that the X3H2 Database Committee of ANSI started
such, it offers microcomputer users asingle language for both developing in 1982. That group's initial proposal, which ANSI
stand-alone and host databases. SQL is particularly good for ratified in 1986, was very similar to IBM's DB2 dialect of
working with such host or server databases, in large part be- SQL.
cause it can manipulate groups of records at atime—an impor-
tant capability when you're reading records over anetwork. SQL's Many Faces
SQL also tries to minimize the effort that adatabase pro- The ANSI SQL standard establishes acommon target for the
grammer must expend to retrieve data. It is anonprocedural many SQL vendors, but it by no means precisely defines asin-
language: You tell aSQL database system what data you need, gle, all-inclusive language. In fact, no two versions of SQL,
not how to get that data. even those that are ANSI-compatible, are identical. The differ-
SQL is not, however, a full application development lan- ences between SQL versions are due largely to the two different
guage like dBASE. While many SQL vendors have added pro- ways in which users and programmers must work with SQL.
gramming extensions to the language, it's designed to work in Most SQL database vendors offer one or more interactive
conjunction with such traditional programming languages as utilities that accept SQL. With such tools auser can, for exam-
COBOL, Pascal, PL/I, or C. ple, write aSQL statement that requests the records of all the
salespeople in Minneapolis, and then see those records. The
A Long History dialects of such interactive products generally follow the ANSI
SQL has been around since 1974-1975, when IBM developed standard, but they cannot do so completely.
the first version, SEQUEL (for Structured English Query Lan- That inability isn't the fault of the vendors; the ANSI stan-
guage), at the company's San Jose research center as part of a dard doesn't define an interactive version of SQL. Instead, it
prototype relational database system, SEQUEL-XRM. A sec- concentrates on making SQL work with such traditional pro-
ond version, SEQUEL/2, followed in 1976-1977 as part of gramming languages as COBOL and PL/I. The standard actu-
IBM's System R relational database prototype. ally defines two different ways for SQL to work in program-
SQL emerged from the research world in 1979 in acommer- ming languages.
cial database system, Oracle, from Oracle Corp. (then Rela- Differences between interactive and programming language
tional Software). Oracle actually beat IBM to market with versions of SQL are almost unavoidable because of the way the
SQL, but IBM brought out its own products in the early two environments must handle multiple records that satisfy a
1980s—first SQL/DS for DOS/VSE mainframes, and then single request. An interactive environment can just display
DB2 for MVS systems. continued

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 175

 Circle 102 on Reader Service Card
SQL: A DATABASE
LANGUAGE SEQUEL TO dBASE
CPCg‘l 1
Irje PCM enoDn go-cm
those records in asuitable format, hiding any programming de-
FEATURES: 1MB RAM, 80286 BASED tails from the user. But aprogrammer must contend with alim-
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In the following discussion of SQL statements, we'll use a
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SQL statements in aprogramming language. Because SQL is a
& MANUALS, 100% IBM PRODUCT large and comprehensive language, and one whose complete ex-
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that satisfy some criteria, SQL will return those rows to you in
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176 BYTE •NOVEMBER 1989 Circle 77 on Reader Service Card

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SQL: A DATABASE LANGUAGE SEQUEL TO dBASE

is adefinition of the part of the database that each user owns. tables by referring to them with the qualified form U. T, where
U is the name of the user who owns the schema and T is the
For example, the SQL statement
table's name. So, if there were another Employees table in a
different schema, you might refer to your table as USER I-
CREATE SCHEMA AUTHORIZATION USER1
. Employees.
creates aschema that USER Iowns. You refer to columns in a similarly qualified form, T. C,
Once you've created aschema, you can define its tables, all where Tis the table name and C is the column name. (You can
of which start out empty. To define the two sample tables from sometimes omit the Tqualifier when the context makes it clear
above, you would issue the following commands: to SQL which column you want.) Thus, Employees.Last_
Name and Dependents.Last_Name identify two of the fields in
our example. We could still further qualify Employees, as in
CREATE TABLE Employees
( Employee_Id DECIMAL(5) NOT NULL UNIQUE, USER1.Employees.Last_Name, if there were asecond Employ-
Last_Name CHAR(15), ees table in another schema.
First_Name CHAR(15), We introduced two new elements in these examples: NOT
Address CHAR(15), NULL and UNIQUE. Any row can be missing the value for any
City CHAR(15), column unless the definition of that column includes aNOT
State CHAR(2), NULL qualifier. Because we wanted to force every row in both
Zip CHAR(10) ) tables to include at least an employee ID, we made those col-
umns NOT NULL. The UNIQUE qualifier on Employees.Em-
ployee_Id forces every row in the Employees table to have a
CREATE TABLE Dependents
( Employee_Id DECIMAL(5) NOT NULL, unique employee ID. You can use this qualifier only on col-
Lest_Name CHAR(15), umns that are NOT NULL.
First_Name CHAR(15) )
Other Commands
Each CREATE TABLE statement gives the table's name, along With the statements described above, you can define acomplete
with the name and data types of each of that table's columns. ANSI SQL database. There are, however, afew other impor-
Each table in each schema must have aunique name. It is tant DDL commands.
The CREATE VIEW statement lets you define asubset of a
possible, however, for two tables in two different schemata to
have the same name. When that happens, you distinguish those continued

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 177

 SQL: A DATABASE LANGUAGE SEQUEL TO dBASE

table. A view is asubset of the columns of atable and, option- when you want them all, you can replace <selection> with an
ally, aquery that selects asubset of the table's rows. If, for asterisk (*). Thus, another way to express the above query is as
example, we wanted aview that listed the employee IDs and last follows:
names of all employees who live in Florida, we would enter
SELECT *
CREATE VIEW Floridians ( Employee_Id, Last_Name ) FROM Dependents
AS SELECT Employee_Id, Last_Name
FROM Employees By default, SELECT will return to you all the rows that
WHERE State = 'FL' match the query criteria that you present, even if some of those
rows are completely redundant. In our example, if two parents
Note that the SELECT statement defines aquery that picks the work together and the company stores each dependent row
rows we wanted. twice (once for each parent), the above query would return
Once you define aview, you can treat it almost as if it were those redundant rows. To eliminate them, you add the DIS-
another table. The only difference is that SQL doesn't let you TINCT qualifier:
update the rows of certain classes of views; basically, you can
update rows in any view whose columns all come from asingle SELECT DISTINCT *
table, as long as it includes all the NOT NULL columns from FROM Dependents
that table.
SQL's DDL also contains astatement, GRANT, which con- If you want to be sure to retain those rows, you can use the ALL
trols database security. The GRANT statement has the follow- qualifier in place of DISTINCT, but ALL is the default.
ing form: Some queries naturally span several tables. If, for example,
you wanted the first names of all dependents of employees in
GRANT <operation> ON <table> TO <user> Florida, you would need to use the following, more compli-
cated SELECT:
In this statement, <operation> is one or more of the SQL
DML verbs (such as SELECT or INSERT). For example, SELECT Dependents. First_Name
USER1 could let USER2 query the Employees table by entering FROM Dependents, Employees
WHERE ( Employees.State = 'FL' )
GRANT SELECT ON Employees TO USER2 AND ( Employees.Employee_Id =
Dependents. Employee_Id )
As it stands, this statement doesn't let USER2 pass on this
ability to other users. To add that ability, you must append the This example illustrates several more options. First, you're
WITH GRANT OPTION clause: retrieving from more than one table, so you must list both tables
in the FROM clause. Next, because there's aFirst_Name field
GRANT SELECT ON Employees TO USER2 WITH GRANT OPTION in both tables, you have to qualify which one you want. Finally,
you're now using the <optional_quer,y> clause. This clause
You can also take shortcuts. You can let auser do anything to can be far more complex than space permits us to cover fully
atable by replacing <operation> with ALL. And you can open here, but afew key portions are worth noting.
atable to all users by using PUBLIC instead of auser name. For astandard query, you first use the keyword WHERE and
then give a Boolean expression that identifies the rows you
After the Definition: DML want. That expression can contain groups of comparison
Once you've defined adatabase, you can begin working on it. clauses much like those of most programming languages,
SQL has four main DML verbs: INSERT, SELECT, UPDATE, which you can separate and group by using AND, OR, and pa-
and DELETE. All these verbs can work on more than one row rentheses. The parentheses in the above example aren't neces-
at atime. sary, but they make the query easier to read.
The SELECT statement is the heart of the language. It lets The comparisons in aWHERE clause can involve afield and
you query the database. Its result is essentially an unnamed, avalue, or two fields. In our example, the first comparison
temporary relation that contains the data you requested. The chooses employees whose state is ' FL' .The second compari-
SELECT statement follows this pattern: son is more complicated; it performs what relational systems
call ajoin. A join lets you choose matching rows in two differ-
SELECT <selection> ent tables. In this example, we ask for all the Dependents
FROM <table_list> whose Employee_Id column matches the Employee_Id column
<optional_query> in any Employee record—in other words, the dependents of all
employees. The SQL system puts these two clauses together so
Here, <selection> is the list of fields that you want, and that you get only dependents of employees in Florida.
<table_list> is a comma-separated list of the tables that Joins can be very expensive because they can retrieve many
you're using in the query. rows; in this example, finding the dependents of all employees
If you wanted all the rows of the Dependents table, for exam- could take alot of time. The SQL philosophy is that you should
ple, you would enter state the query you want and leave to the system the task of fig-
uring out an efficient way to retrieve the data. In this example,
SELECT Employee_Id, Last_Name, First_Name it's more effective for the system first to find all employees in
FROM Dependents Florida and then to join those rows to their dependents' rows,
rather than to do the join first.
There are several other options for performing even this simple The problem of determining how best to execute aSELECT
query. To avoid individually listing all the columns in atable continued

178 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

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BOCARAM/AT PLUS, BOCARAM,AT I/O PLUS, BOCARAM/AT, BOCARAM/XT, and BOCARAM/30 are trademarks of Boca Research, Inc All other references to computer systems, software,
and peripherals use trademarks owned by their respective manufacturers. °Copyright 1989 Boca Research, Inc.

Circle 33 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 34)

 SQL: A DATABASE LANGUAGE SEQUEL TO dBASE

query is called query optimization, and it's an area in which SELECT to identify the row or rows that you want to change.
SQL vendors are constantly trying to best one another. Most For example, if the last name of employee 55816 changes to
SQL systems also have guidelines that help you frame your que- Jones-Smith, you can make that correction in all dependent
ries in away that the system is most likely to execute efficiently, records with the statement
but those guidelines vary widely.
Our example will return the First_Names we wanted, but UPDATE Dependents
the order in which they will appear is unknown. We can control SET Last_Name ='Jones-Smith'
that order with the ORDER BY option. The query WHERE Employee_Id =55816

SELECT Dependents. First_Name The DELETE statement similarly uses aWHERE clause to
FROM Dependents, Employees identify the rows that you want to remove. To delete all depen-
WHERE ( Employees.State = 'FL' ) dents for employee 55816, enter
AND ( Employees.Employee_Id =
Dependents .Employee_Id ) DELETE FROM Dependents
ORDER BY Dependents.First_Name ASC WHERE Employee_Id =55816

returns the first names in ascending order. Because ASC (for Obviously, with this kind of power you have to be careful. If
ascending) is the default in an ORDER BY clause, we could you leave off the WHERE clause, as in
have omitted it here and produced the same result. To see the
names in descending order, replace ASC with DESC. DELETE FROM Dependents
There's much more to the SELECT statement; you can nest
selects, group results, and compute functions like MIN, MAX, you delete all the rows in the Dependents table. The table defi-
and AVG over the groups, and you can execute many other nition itself remains, but the rows are gone. Fortunately, SQL
functions. You can also use more complicated comparison op- also defines some transaction controls that provide away to
erators, including range checks and partial string matches. undo many errors.
Three other SQL verbs let you manipulate the rows in atable. A SQL transaction is aseries of one or more commands that
You add new rows to atable with the INSERT statement. In its can end either normally or abnormally. If atransaction ends
simplest form, you just give atable name and the values for the normally, all its commands are done. If atransaction ends ab-
columns of the new row. The statement normally, then none of its commands are done. The SQL sys-
tem guarantees that the database is never in an inconsistent
INSERT INTO Dependents state (i.e., astate where one or more transactions are partially
VALUES (55816, 'Jones ','
Fred' ) done).
To end atransaction normally, we use the verb COMMIT.
creates anew dependent, Fred Jones, for employee 55816. Be- COMMIT WORK completes the current transaction. It also ef-
cause SQL remembers the order of atable's columns, we don't fectively starts anew transaction; you're always working in a
need to include any column names. If you want to insert the transaction.
column values in adifferent order, you can list the columns, Its counterpart is ROLLBACK; ROLLBACK WORK cancels
after the table name, in that new order, as in all the database changes of the current transaction. The data-
base then appears as it would if the transaction had never oc-
INSERT INTO Dependents ( First_Name, Last_Name, curred. By using ROLLBACK right after our earlier accidental
Employee_Id ) deletion, you could undo that mistake.
VALUES ( 'Fred', 'Jones', 55816 )
SQL in Programming Languages
You can also leave any columns null that the table's defini- The SQL standard concentrates on making the SQL commands
tion allows. To omit the first name from the new row above, use work with traditional programming languages. It offers two
the NULL keyword: ways to do this.
The less frequently used approach is called the module lan-
INSERT INTO Dependents ( First_Name, Last_Name, guage. In it, you write amodule that consists of aheader and a
Employee_Id ) series of procedures. The procedures contain only parameter
VALUES ( NULL, 'Jones', 55816 ) definitions and one or more SQL statements.
For example, amodule that lets us perform our simple DE-
You can use amore complicated form of INSERT to insert LETE might be
multiple rows at once. This form uses aSELECT statement as
the source of its rows. For example, if we had atemporary MODULE Deletion_Work LANGUAGE PLI AUTHORIZATION
table, Temporary, whose definition had only First_Name and USER1
Last _Name fields, we could use the following INSERT state- PROCEDURE Delete_Deps
ment to fill it with the names of all Florida employees: SQLCODE;
Emp_Id DECIMAL( 5) ;
INSERT INTO Temporary ( Last_Name, First_Name ) DELETE FROM Dependents
SELECT Last_Name, First_Name WHERE Dependents.Employee_Id =
FROM Employees Emp_Id;
WHERE Employees .
State = 'FL
Emp_Id is aparameter that will contain the ID of the employee
You can change values in specific rows with the UPDATE whose dependents we want to delete. Note the special
statement. UPDATE uses aWHERE clause just like the one in continued

180 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

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are trademarks owned by their respective manufacturers. CD Copyright 1989 Boca Research, Inc.

Circle 35 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 36)

 SQL: A DATABASE LANGUAGE SEQUEL TO dBASE

parameter SQLCODE; SQL requires this parameter in every

procedure. When the procedure finishes, SQLCODE will con-
tain the result of the operation—positive for success, and nega-
tive for failure. DCL name CHAR(15);
We could then call this procedure from aprogram in the EXEC SQL END DECLARE SECTION;
usual way. In PLII, it would be
EXEC SQL DECLARE CI. CURSOR FOR
CALL Delete_Deps (return_code, 55816 ); SELECT Dependents.First_Name
FROM Dependents, Employees
Real modules would, of course, contain many more compli- WHERE ( Employees.State = :state )
cated procedures, but they would follow the same framework AND ( Employees.Employee_Id =
as our example. Dependents.Employee_Id )
The big advantage of the module language is that it requires ORDER BY Dependents.First_Name ASC;
very little from the host programming language. A new SQL-
specific compiler can compile the module into an appropriate The colon in front of state in the SELECT statement identifies
form, and then the host language needs only to be able to call state as avariable. (We'll consider the other variable, name,
and link to the module's procedures. Most systems support below.)
some form of cross-language procedure calls, so these require- Once you've defined acursor, you treat it much like afile.
ments are easy to meet. First you open it, and then you can cycle through its rows until
However, the module language is not very satisfactory, be- there are no more. You could retrieve all the Floridian depen-
cause you must write and compile all your SQL statements sep- dents using the above cursor in only afew statements, as the
arately. To provide amore unified programming environment, following pseudocode demonstrates (we ignore error checking
the SQL standard also includes aseries of appendixes that de- here to save space).
fine embedded versions of SQL for several languages.
An embedded version is designed to fit more smoothly into state = 'FL'; /* pick the state
the language itself. It would be possible for vendors to imple- you want */
ment embedded SQL by changing the compiler, but, instead, EXEC SQL OPEN Cl; /* tell SQL to
most provide preprocessors that convert embedded SQL into perform the query */
more-primitive calls that the underlying database system un- DO WHILE <more employees> /* read all rows
derstands. the query retrieved */
Embedded SQL lets you put SQL statements in the middle of EXEC SQL FETCH Cl INTO :name; /* now do what
ordinary code by prefixing those statements with EXEC SQL. you will with
For example, we could use embedded SQL to replace the above the name you
CALL to the SQL procedure with this code fragment: retrieved */
END;
EXEC SQL DELETE FROM Dependents EXEC SQL CLOSE Cl;
WHERE Dependents.Employee_Id = 55816;
You can treat these three EXEC SQL options—OPEN,
Most SQL vendors today offer embedded SQL for one or more FETCH, and CLOSE—much like typical file open, read, and
languages. close statements.
The one remaining problem for SQL in programming lan- Once you're on arecord, you can change it with UPDATE or
guages lies in dealing with multiple rows. SQL solves this prob- delete it with DELETE; both commands have embedded SQL
lem with asimple technique borrowed from traditional file pro- versions that work on the current cursor row. Again, this is
zessing: It defines acursor that marks the current position in much like traditional file operations. You finish your work in
the group of result rows. the usual SQL way, with aCOMMIT or ROLLBACK (pre-
You declare acursor by giving the SELECT statement that fixed, of course, by EXEC SQL).
lefines it. A cursor for the example that selected the first
lames of dependents of Floridian employees would look like The Rest of the Story
.he following: SQL is alarge and powerful language, and we've hit on only
the high points. While it may at first seem intimidating, SQL is
EXEC SQL DECLARE Cl CURSOR FOR similar to many of the file-querying tools that users have had on
SELECT Dependents.First_Name microcomputers for years. Once you're familiar with the
FROM Dependents, Employees SELECT statement, SQL's embedded versions closely resem-
WHERE ( Employees.State = 'FL' ) ble traditional file-processing functions.
AND ( Employees.Employee_Id = SQL lets an organization use a single language to link its
Dependents .Employee_Id ) microcomputer, minicomputer, and mainframe databases. It is
ORDER BY Dependents.First_Name ASC ; also the language that virtually all the announced LAN data-
base servers support. As such links to host and server data-
You can also include variables in these definitions, as long as bases become more important, SQL will emerge as the second
fou first declare those variables in aspecial SQL declaration microcomputer database language standard. •
,ection. To make this example work for any state, you could use
he following: Mark L. Van Name, aBYTE consulting editor, and Bill Catch-
ings are independent computer consultants and freelance writ-
:XEC SQL BEGIN DECLARE SECTION; ers based in Raleigh, North Carolina. You can reach them on
DCL state CHAR(2); BIX as "mvanname" and "wbc3," respectively.

82 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

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 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

UNIX FILENAMES
FOR
TURBO PASCAL
Metaname is asimple unit that provides the flexibility
of Unix filenames for Turbo Pascal programs

Jim Kerr

ost operating systems eludes the characters a, k, p through z the character-class specification. For ex-
permit the use of wild- (inclusive), and 6. ample, the character class *—* matches
card characters, or meta- Note the special meaning of the hy- all filenames that contain a hyphen,
characters, in commands phen in this example. When it appears in while ?[-0-9]* matches all filenames
that make reference to acharacter class between two other char- that have ahyphen or adigit in position 2.
files. Metacharacters allow you to refer acters, the hyphen is interpreted as a The hyphen has asort of dual nature; de-
to certain files as a group, rather than range indicator. The hyphen may also be pending on the context, it may be inter-
having to specify the individual file- interpreted literally. This occurs if it ap- preted as either ametacharacter or alit-
names. Unix, however, provides amore pears as the first or last character in a eral. For the sake of convenience, I'll
sophisticated way of specifying file- character class, or if it appears outside refer to file masks containing metachar-
names than DOS does. acters as metacharacter ex-
MS-DOS has just two meta- pressions.
characters, * and ?. The * Given a metacharacter ex-
character represents any se- pression for filenames, how
quence of zero or more char- can you tell if a particular
acters, and ? represents any filename matches the pat-
single character. (MS-DOS tern? I'll discuss an algorithm
filenames cannot contain the to answer this in the next sec-
characters "f \[] I<>—+ tion and then describe a
=; . ,*and ?.) Turbo Pascal unit that imple-
In the Unix operating sys- ments the file-matching algo-
tem, there are five metachar- rithm. Using the Metaname
acters: * ? [] —. The *char- unit (described in detail
acter matches any sequence of later), a Turbo Pascal pro-
zero or more characters, in- gram can use Unix metachar-
cluding the period, and can be acters in filename searches.
followed by other characters. This is illustrated in asimple
The symbol ? matches any demo program that accompa-
single character. The remain- nies the source code for this
ing three metacharacters are article.
used to define character
classes. Character classes are Finite Automata
just sets of characters, and In automata theory, a lan-
they're described by asyntax guage is defined as any col-
similar to that used for sets in lection of strings. In this
Pascal. For example, the context, a metacharacter
character class [akp—z6] in- continued

ILLUSTRATION: MARCEL DUROCHER © 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 185
 UNIX FILENAMES FOR TURBO PASCAL

Thereafter, characters are read from the

input string one at atime. Each time a
character is read, the automaton makes a
transition from some state s, to some state
sf, if the arcs permit it. For agiven input
- character, there may be no legal transi-
tions, exactly one, or more than one.
so [d-z] S3 [XYZ] S3
For example, if the automaton is in
state si and the input character is q, the
machine can either stay in si (using the
Figure 1: A nondeterministic finite automaton that accepts the metacharacter arc labeled *) or move to 53.The opera-
expression f*[d -z]*[xyz]. tion of the automaton is not determined
solely by the input string, because the
machine can sometimes "choose" which
state to enter next. For this reason, au-
Table 1: Operation of the finite automaton in figure 1on the input string tomata such as this are referred to as non-
fuzzy. deterministic finite automata.
If there's some way to move from the
Unread Input State set start state to the final state such that the
final state is entered after the last input
fuzzy character has been read, the finite au-
uzzy tomaton "accepts" the string; otherwise,
zzy it's rejected. For the automaton in figure
zy 1, with the input string fuzzy, the proper
y choice of transitions yields the sequence
so->s 1->s,->s,->s 2->s 3.Several other se-
quences are possible—for example, s o
->5 1->s 1->s i->s 1->s 2—but none of these
leave the automaton in state 53 when all
expression such as f*[d -z]?? describes nondeterminism introduced by the meta- input has been consumed.
alanguage—namely, the language of all character *. For a given automaton and input
strings that fit the implied pattern. To de- Perhaps the best way to illustrate how string, how can you tell whether there's a
termine whether afilename is in the lan- afinite automaton works is through an sequence of transitions that takes the ma-
guage L associated with ametacharacter example. Figure 1shows the finite au-

R
expression, I'll use alanguage-recogni- tomaton for the metacharacter expression
tion device called afinite automaton or f*[d -z]*[xyz]. The automaton consists
finite state machine. This device takes a of states, labeled so through 53, and
string as input, performs some computa- labeled arcs connecting the states. The unning
tions, and then signals whether or not the labels on the arcs indicate which charac-
string is in the language L. ters permit atransition from one state to afinite automaton is
Were it not for the metacharacter *, the next. In any automaton, there are two
filename matching would be easy. To de- special states. State so is called the start like navigating
termine whether afilename matches the state, because this is the state in which
expression f[aelou] ?, for example, you the automaton begins operating. State 53 through amaze.
would only need to check that the file- is the final state. In acertain sense, the
name begins with f, contains avowel in final state represents the goal of the com-
the next position, and terminates after putation. Most often, the start state is in-
the third character. dicated with an arrow, while the final
Once you include * in the metachar- state is drawn as adouble circle. chine from its start state to its final state?
acter repertoire, however, file matching The process of running afinite autom- One solution involves keeping alist of all
becomes more complicated. To see why, aton is something like navigating through the possible states the automaton can be
consider what happens if the metachar- amaze. In amaze, there are prescribed in, on the basis of the input characters
acter expression is f*[d -z]*[xyz] and start and stop positions, and restrictions read thus far. If this state list contains the
the filename is fuzzy. It's easy to see on which direction you can go from any final state after all input has been read,
that the leading characters match, but point. Moreover, it's not always clear then there must be some sequence of
what about the second character? Should which choice of direction will bring you transitions that takes the automaton from
the ube matched to the metacharacter *, to the desired goal. In afinite automaton, the start state to the final state, and the
or should it be assigned to the character there are designated start and final string should be accepted.
class [d-z]? When considering how to states, and restrictions on when you can If the final state doesn't appear in the
match the third character, z, you again move from one state to another. As in a final state list, the string is rejected.
have two options. You have to be pre- maze, there may be several states to Table 1illustrates this process for the au-
pared to manage several simultaneous move to under some circumstances, and tomaton that is shown in figure 1. Since
decision paths when seeking apossible the proper choice may become clear only the order of states in the list isn't impor-
match. Understanding finite automata is in retrospect. tant, you can use aset representation for
helpful in understanding the element of Initially, the automaton is in state s o. continued

186 Fall 1989 • BY IBM Special Edition

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 UNIX FILENAMES FOR TURBO PASCAL

Regular Expressions
A regular expression is acompact no- ing utility is with is [ab]*, the shell The definition of L(r), like the defini-
tation for describing sets of strings interprets [ab]* as (a U b)(anything)*, tion of regular expressions, is recursive:
that have apattern to them. These pat- the set of strings that begin with aor b.
terns are formed by taking primitive But grep interprets [ab]* as the regular 1. L(E) = [el, the language consisting
strings, such as single characters and expression (a U b)*; that is, as strings of the empty string. Also, L(a) =
the empty string, and repeatedly apply- of length zero or greater that consist ex- [al for each ain E.
ing them to operations of alternation, clusively of a's and b's. Since every line 2. L(r*) = (L(r))*. The expression on
concatenation, and repetition. in afile contains the zero-length mem- the right (the Kleene closure) is
Regular expressions are formed from ber of this set, the grep command will formed by concatenating zero or
the combination of metacharacters with print out every line in the file. When more strings in L(r). Parentheses
standard characters. For example, the using regular expressions under Unix, around aregular expression don't
expression (\+1--)? [0-9]+\ .?[0-9]* it's important to keep in mind whether affect the language it denotes, so
matches adecimal number with an op- you're dealing with the shell or with a L((r)) = L(r).
tional sign and optional fractional part, utility. 3. L(r,r 2)= L(r 1)L(r2), and L(r, U
and the expression ( AB )+C matches r2)= L(r,) U L(r2). The first
ABC, ABABC, ABABABC, and so on. Formally Defined relation says that L(r ir2)is obtained
The Unix editors and utilities use reg- To form a regular expression, begin by constructing all strings of the
ular expressions extensively. In fact, with aset of characters E, called an al- form s1s2,where 3. 1is in L(r 1)and S2
there's autility called grep (for global phabet. The regular expressions over al- is in L(r 2). The second says that
regular-expression printer) that does phabet E are defined as follows: L(r, U r 2)is the union of the
nothing more than find all strings in a languages L(r 1)and L(r2).
file that match agiven regular expres- 1. The empty string e is aregular
sion. Unfortunately, the way regular ex- expression. Any single character a It's customary to give *the highest
pressions are used under Unix is some- in E is aregular expression. precedence in regular expressions, con-
what inconsistent. 2. If ris aregular expression, so are catenation the next highest, and union
The Unix shell—the part of the oper- r* and (r). the lowest. The usual precedences can
ating system that resides between the 3. If r, and r2 are regular expressions, be overridden by using parentheses.
kernel and the user—interprets regular so are rir2 and r, U r 2. Under this convention, you have L(a U
expressions differently from grep, text bb*c) = L(a) U L(b)L(b)*L(c) = ta,bc,
editors, and other text-based utilities. Associated with each regular expres- bbc,bbbc, .), while L((a U b)b*c) =
For example, if you invoke the file-list- sion ris alanguage, denoted by L(r). Pc,bc,abc,bbc, .

states instead of a list, as is done here. This algorithm only applies to finite two outgoing arcs. Also, the automaton
Since the final state, 53,is in the last state automata that recognize metacharacter cannot have more than 12 states, since
set, the string fuzzy is indeed accepted expressions. These expressions, and the DOS filenames are limited to 12 charac-
by this automaton. languages they generate, are but asmall ters. This means that you can represent
Now that I've described how a finite subclass of the so-called regular expres- the automaton as an array of records:
automaton operates, Ishould discuss how sions and regular languages (see the text
to construct an automaton from ameta- box "Regular Expressions" above). var Arcs : array[0..11] of
character expression. For the purpose of Some regular languages are quite com- record
this discussion, Iwill refer to the parts of plex, and constructing finite automata setl,set2 : set of char;
ametacharacter expression—the symbols that recognize them is no simple matter. NextStatel,NextState2 :
* and ?, character classes, and single The relationship between finite automata 0..11
characters not in aclass—as subexpres- and regular languages is well under- end;
sions. The algorithm to build the autom- stood, however, and there are algorithms
aton goes as follows: to answer almost every question relating The fields set1 and set2 are the sets of
to them. References 1, 2, and 3contain characters associated with the outgoing
1. Begin with astart state so.Let n = comprehensive discussions of automata arcs from aparticular state; NextStatel
0. and languages. and NextState2 are the states that these
2. Read the next subexpression from outgoing arcs lead to. For the finite au-
the metacharacter expression. If Implementation tomaton shown in figure 1, you have
it's a*, draw an arc labeled *from s, The algorithms given so far for automa-
to itself. Otherwise, create anew ton construction and operation are simple Arcs[1].set1 := AllChars;
state draw an arc labeled with enough to master without much practice. Arcs[1].set2 := [d..2];
the subexpression from s„ to s,„›,, They're also simple enough to easily im- Arcs[1].NextStatel := 1;
and increment nby one unit. plement in software. Moreover, there is a Arcs[1].NextState2 := 2;
3. Repeat step 2until the entire direct way to represent this sort of finite
metacharacter expression has been automata in Pascal. One consequence of where AllChars is the entire set of
read. State s„ then gives the final the algorithm given earlier is that no ASCII characters. If astate has only one
state of the automaton. state in the machine will have more than continued

188 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 "BYTE Gives Us Competent
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 UNIX FILENAMES FOR TURBO PASCAL

outgoing arc, then set2 is empty. The

final state has no outgoing arcs, so both
setl and set2 are empty for the final
state.
t here is a
direct way to represent
Procedure MatchNext(var S:
SearchRec);

The first argument of procedure

Having decided what data structure to MatchFirst specifies the path and meta-
use for the automaton, you can then write this sort offinite character expression you want to match.
procedures to construct and run the au- A legal value for the variable Path might
tomaton. The procedure MakeAutomaton automata in Pascal. be TP4\PROGRAMS\*PGM[0 -9]*. The
accepts a metacharacter expression as Path string doesn't have to be uppercase;
input and generates as output afinite au- MatchFirst performs case conversion
tomaton that accepts the associated lan- automatically. The variable Attr gives
guage. Procedure Accept takes a file- the attribute of the file you're seeking:
name as input and returns a Boolean find matching filenames. To this end, I read-only, archive, directory, or what-
value (true or false, indicating whether have written two procedures, called ever. If a match is found, information
the automaton created by MakeAuto- MatchFirst and MatchNext. These pro- about the matching file is returned in the
maton accepts the filename). cedures have the same calling sequence record variable S. The record type
I've written aTurbo Pascal 4.0 unit as the Turbo Pascal file search proce- SearchRec (which is declared in the
called Metaname, in which Ihave assem- dures FindFirst and FindNext, but standard unit DOS) contains fields for
bled the procedures MakeAutomaton, Ac- they accept Unix metacharacter expres- the filename, size, date of creation, and
cept, and some required support code. sions rather than just DOS wild cards. file attributes.
Actually, MakeAutomaton and Accept The interface section of the Metaname If MatchFirst succeeds, you can in-
don't appear in the interface portion of unit is as follows: voke the procedure MatchNext to find
this unit at all. Since the only purpose in the next matching file. These procedures
constructing automata is to match file- interface return error codes through the DOS unit
names with metacharacter expressions, uses DOS; variable DosError. If the path argument
there's no good reason to even mention Procedure MatchFirst (Path: in MatchFirst references anonexistent
automata in code that uses Metaname. String; directory, DosError is set to 2. If either
The user should be able to specify a Attr: Word; var S: MatchFirst or MatchNext fails to find a
wild-card expression and use the unit to SearchRec); continued

QUERY
select report graph histogram esess
Poe
se ,
Display fields from 2tables by typing, on DOS prompt

C> SELECT ID,PC.NAME,SPEED FROM SPEED,PC WHERE ID= PC.ID vp.,\

c, Noto'
• wildcard & metacharacter in filter
• 1-1 or 1-many relation, multiple relation
• readonly,frozen,calculated field, running total
\'\ ccee'
• sort result, group it, print it or save it in a new database
• free form report with header,footer,subtotal,color & font

Oops!
• read database fields & plot x-y graph on EGA or VGA monitor
• weighted histogram displayed as graph & stored as table
• nested subselect & user defined view supported
• experienced QUERY user can set up queries & organize them
into menu & submenu for their colleagues to run

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 UNIX FILENAMES FOR TURBO PASCAL

match, DosError is set to 18. If no error Metaname unit doesn't perform any syn- groups of files described by Unix meta-
occurs, DosError is 0. To find all tax checking on metacharacter expres- character conventions. Once you've be-
matching filenames, call MatchFirst, sions. If you try to match filenames to come accustomed to Unix file conven-
and if it returns without error, call something like ][-?, be prepared to suf- tions, you may not want to move back to
MatchNext until DosError is nonzero. fer for your transgressions. DOS wild cards again! •
When using character classes, remem-
Using the Metaname Unit ber that the first and last characters in a Editor's note: Metaname is available in a
To use Unix metacharacters in aTurbo range obey ASCII ordering. If you spec- variety offormats. See page 3for details.
Pascal 4.0 program, you need only in- ify aclass like [16-24], you won't get
clude the Metaname and DOS units in the the numerals 16 to 24, but rather the digit REFERENCES
uses clause at the beginning of the pro- 1, the range 6-2 (whatever that is), and 1. Aho, Alfred, Ravi Sethi, and Jeffrey
gram. After that, you can invoke Match- the digit 4. On most Unix systems, a Ullman. Compilers: Principles, Tech-
First and MatchNext in the same way range in which the second character has a niques, and Tools. Reading, MA: Addison-
that you would call FindFirst and Find- lower ordinal number than the first is Wesley, 1979.
Next. processed by including the two charac- 2. Hoperoft, John, and Jeffrey Ullman. In-
There are some points to keep in mind ters into the class. With this interpreta- troduction to Automata Theory, Lan-
when using the Metaname unit. To main- tion, the class [16-24] is the same as guages, and Computation. Reading, MA:
tain strict compatibility with Unix file [1246]. This approach is used here. Addison-Wesley, 1979.
operations, the metacharacters * and ? If you wish, you can use the code in 3. Lewis, Harry, and Christos Papadimi-
match all characters when used in afile- Metaname to perform string matching on triou. Elements of the Theory of Computa-
name search, including the period. If you objects other than filenames. If you de- tion. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall,
want MatchFirst and MatchNext to be cide to do this, you will have to change 1981.
upwardly compatible with DOS wild- the value of the MaxStates variable ac
card matching, you should include the cordingly, and you will need to modify Jim Kerr is aformer mathematics profes-
statement {$DEFINE DOSCOMPAT1 near the getchar function if you want to en- sor who is now studying computer science
the beginning of the Metaname unit. This able case sensitivity. at the University of California at Santa
will exclude the period from the set of With a modest amount of program- Cruz. His principal interests are com-
characters that *and ?match. ming effort, you can write stand-alone piler design and language theory. He can
Also important to know is that the programs to copy, move, delete, or list be reached on BIX do "editors."

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• Many customization options. of the water." — Dr. Jon Mirsalis
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192 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition Circle 227 on Reader Service Card
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Circle 109 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 110)

 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

W HICH LAN?
Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the popular
LAN connection options helps you get the system that fits your needs

Richard Watson

ANs are spreading like problems of connectivity. tocol and connection design. Backed by
wildfire because they of- While many connection solutions IBM, Token Ring is expected to rival
fer computing power that exist, only afew enjoy widespread sup- Ethernet in the Fortune 1000 market.
rivals that of minicom- port in today's microcomputer LAN
puter and mainframe in- market. Two of the more popular—ARC- Following Protocol
stallations at afraction of the cost. When net and Ethernet—are minicomputer Selecting the proper LAN hardware has a
choosing a LAN, however, you have to connection solutions that have become direct impact on the performance and
take care that you don't get burned. standards in the LAN market. A later ar- flexibility of the final LAN configura-
While the business benefits of LANs rival on the scene is Token Ring, which tion. ARCnet, Ethernet, and Token Ring
are numerous, so too are the connection can be considered athird-generation pro- all have advantages and disadvantages
options available. You can you must consider in selecting
choose from over 20 network equipment appropriate to you.
operating systems that work What may be applicable for
with hardware from more one implementation may not
than 60 ARCnet, 50 Ethernet, be the best choice for another.
and 20 Token Ring vendors. Understanding some basic
The key to simplifying your design aspects of each proto-
choice is to acquire agood un- col is important for making
derstanding of the basic LAN informed judgments. Table 1
technologies and the bench- summarizes ARCnet, Ether-
marks used to measure them. net, and Token Ring.
This article presents an over-
view of the most common ARCnet
LAN connection hardware Datapoint Corp. originally
and outlines how you should developed ARCnet to permit
evaluate aLAN. Datapoint accounting equip-
ment to exchange data in real
Roots of Connectivity time. Because Datapoint con-
Linking computers to share trols the hardware specifica-
information is nothing new. tions and protocols of ARC-
The technology for most of net, the microcomputer LAN
today's LANs was created in version is virtually identical
the 1970s by minicomputer to the minicomputer imple-
companies. As with most new mentation. The popularity of
technologies, the absence of ARCnet in LANs today is a
standards led vendors to de- result of the simplicity of its
velop proprietary answers to continued

ILLUSTRATION: NURIT BOCHNER 0 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 195
 WHICH LAN?

Table 1: Prices reflect the average retail cost of one board and one driver—they do not reflect the cost of other
components of the LAN.

LAN FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS

Protocol Transfer rate Maximum Cost per Access Media types Attributes
(megabits per packet size connection
second) (bytes)

ARCnet 2.5 512 $200 Token-passing Coaxial, unshielded Inexpensive; reliable;

twisted-pair, fiber-optic broad vendor support
Ethernet 10 1.5K $400 CSMA/CD Thin/thick coaxial, Fast; broad vendor
unshielded twisted-pair support; IEEE standard
Token Ring 4/16 4K $400/$700 Token-passing Shielded/unshielded Extensive features; IBM
twisted-pair support; IEEE standard

edgment (ACK); the sending station then

transmits the packet (see figure 1). If no
ARCNET TRANSMISSION PROTOCOL buffer is available, the destination station
returns a negative acknowledgment
Station A Station B (NAK). Most ARCnet adapters have 2K-
byte buffer memories, which hold four
Receive token packets. This limitation can cause net-
work performance to suffer when abusy
node has no free buffers. In particular, a
central server will often indicate a "no
Send "free buffer?" Receive query buffer" condition under heavy network
traffic conditions.
After transmitting or receiving anega-
tive acknowledgment, the sending station
Receive ACK Send ACK
passes the token. Having built-in hard-
ware support that helps ensure reliable
packet delivery differentiates ARCnet
Receive packet
Send packet from other LANs.
in buffer
Adding and subtracting nodes is sim-
ple with ARCnet. Anytime the addition
or subtraction of anode changes the se-
Receive ACK Send ACK quence of active-node IDs, the network
halts data transfer operations and recon-
figures the network. These processes re-
quire only several hundred milliseconds
Pass token to complete, but the network is down for
this time. Thus, anetwork adapter that
fails sporadically can bring the network
to astandstill.

Figure 1: The "free buffer?" query helps ensure the reliability of ARCnet Ethernet
data transfers. Developed by Xerox in cooperation with
Digital Equipment Corp. and Intel to in-
terconnect DEC minicomputers, Ether-
maintenance and low cost per node. order on the node list. The token starts at net has become a popular LAN for
ARCnet uses atoken-passing protocol the node with the lowest station ID, microcomputers. It is noted for superior
implemented with acombination of dedi- which either initiates communication or performance and wide vendor support.
cated communication controllers and hy- passes the token to the next-higher nu- Ethernet's dialogue on the network is
brid interface components. ARCnet's meric station. When a station with the much simpler than that of ARCnet be-
basic star, or hub, topology and straight- token wants to transmit data, it initiates cause it supports larger buffers and
forward node configuration make it easy the ARCnet transmit protocol. CSMA/CD architecture. Unlike token-
to install and debug. You can assign a Before transmitting, astation must en- passing architectures, CSMA/CD places
network node one of 255 unique address- sure that the target station has a buffer no restrictions on when data is trans-
es by setting the configuration switches available to receive the next packet. It mitted; any station can transmit at any
on the network interface card. transmits a"free buffer?" inquiry to the time. When two or more stations trans-
The ARCnet protocol is simple. On destination station. If the destination has mit data simultaneously, acollision oc-
power-up, each node determines its abuffer available, it sends an acknowl- curs that can corrupt the data from each

196 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 WHICH LAN?

ETHERNET CSMA/CD SCHEME

station. The data-link layer detects colli-

Station A
sions and resolves the contention by hav-
transmits
ing each station wait for arandom period
before retransmitting (see figure 2).
Severe problems can occur on a
CSMA/CD network when an adapter be-
gins to fail and "jabbers" constantly. In
this case, the network will be flooded
with junk transmissions, causing almost Station Station Station B
A transmits,
constant collisions. To resolve this type
causing collision
of problem, the failing adapter must be
removed as soon as it is identified. II I
Token Ring
Token Ring was developed by IBM in the
early 1980s and is defined by the IEEE Both stations
Station Station
802.5 standard. It was designed to sup- A detect collision and
port abroad variety of host machines, in- stop transmitting
cluding mainframes as well as smaller
computers such as PCs. Token Ring uses
atoken-passing technique that ensures a
flat performance curve, regardless of the
volume of traffic on the network (see fig- After arandom
Station Station
ure 3). The Token Ring multiple-access- time-out,
A
control-level protocol is richer in its node station B
addressability than is ARCnet (48 bits transmits
versus 8bits). It also has integrated rout-
ing and priority mechanisms that let you
1
optimize any configuration. Token Ring
has no data-link mechanism for assuring
Station Station After arandom
that the destination node has a receive
A time-out,
buffer available; this is handled at higher station A
levels by software. transmits

Architectural Comparisons
Token-passing adherents and fans of
CSMA/CD have anearly religious devo- Figure 2: Stations detect collisions by listening for their own packets. If apacket
tion to their favorite access method. The is garbled, acollision is assumed.
"token-passers" are quick to point out
that aCSMA/CD architecture can theo-
retically be brought to its knees by the
collision arbitration scheme. On the TOKEN RING ACCESS METHOD
other side, the "collision detectors" note
that token-passing architectures are pe-
nalized in aclient-server configuration Station A Station 3
where the predominant flow of data is
from the server to the client nodes. The Receive token
server must wait its turn while the work-
stations process the token; hence, token
passing is deterministically slow.
Send packet Receive packet
In reality, both architectures suffer
under heavy loads. A heavily loaded
CSMA/CD network experiences perfor-
mance degradation due to the increased Mark packet
Receive packet
"received"
number of collisions. Similarly, atoken-
passing network begins to suffer in a
heavily loaded environment due to full
buffers at busy receiving stations. This Pass token
situation is an especially serious one for
ARCnet installations because most
adapters can buffer only four packets.
The only generalization that you can
make based on architecture is that, al- Figure 3: Token Ring is relatively simple at the physical and data-link layers,
though both collision detection and token thus minimizing the traffic needed to establish communications.
continued

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 197

 WHICH LAN?

passing work fine in atypical office envi-

LAN Yardsticks ronment, token passing is superior for

process control applications that require
real-time control over data delivery.

T he goal of aLAN benchmark is to

determine asingle performance in-
CPU speeds of individual nodes, the
speeds of file server disks, the amount Hard Numbers
dex for a LAN implementation. With of cache memory, and other important Quantifying the performance of a net-
LANs, however, it is important to factors all have an impact on the ob- work is difficult because there is no ac-
understand that many components from served throughput in some way. cepted standard for determining LAN
different vendors contribute to the gen-
performance metrics. In lieu of a stan-
eration of a performance metric. To Benchmark Fallacies dard, Iused common utilities to deter-
achieve optimum performance, you'll Reported test values are often based on mine simple performance metrics for
have to configure your system with single-workstation (i.e., one file server, ARCnet, Ethernet, and Token Ring. The
components from many vendors. one workstation) configurations. While tests used simple DOS utilities on identi-
You can simplify the problem of mea- these values are reported correctly, you cal equipment to obtain a baseline per-
suring the performance of a multiven- should not extrapolate the same perfor- formance metric for each technology.
dor LAN configuration by ranking the mance levels across amultistation con- This provided a mean performance de-
components in the order of their impact figuration. More representative perfor- termination that normalized the effects
on LAN performance in relation to the mance figures can be derived from 6- to of disk speed, workstation CPU speed,
target application environment. In a 10-workstation configurations, which
and server caching features. In all cases,
database environment, for example, the is closer to the reported average number Iinstalled Tiara network adapters on a
record-locking mechanism is likely to of nodes per network. LAN using Novell's NetWare 2.12.
be the most significant factor in network Too often, reported test results favor The first test copied the entire server
performance. Thus, you can optimize the evaluation of asingle component of disk across the network to the source sta-
performance by selecting fast disk the LAN (e.g., a network card or file tion and determined the average K-bytes-
drives and by configuring servers and server) and do not reflect observable per-second throughput. The second test
workstations with as much cache mem- performance in auser application envi-
ory as possible. used Novell's PERFORM2. Table 2lists
ronment. The results from a READ/ the results of the tests.
Listed below, in the order of their im- OVERLAY operation are typical of Observed performance in a LAN re-
pact, are the factors that determine the these types of tests. In this case, asingle sults from the complex interaction of
performance of a generalized LAN user file is cached at the server (and par- many subcomponents within the LAN
implementation. tially cached at the workstation), and configuration. In evaluating complete
the same data block is repeatedly read systems, you should use tests that assess
1. Multiple access control (record in atimed test. While this test may give the impact of subcomponents such as net-
locking) some indication of the efficiency of the work interface cards, workstation mem-
2. Hardware configuration network interface card and driver, it ory configurations, and CPU speed. See
3. Network operating-system doesn't reflect the I/O pattern of any the text box "LAN Yardsticks" at left for
inefficiency known application. more on evaluation.
4. Application inefficiency In addition, many tests use 4096 bytes
5. Driver/network interface card as astandard I/O size. This model does Standards Issues
inefficiency not fit most PC applications and gives Standards have become more important
6. DOS inefficiency results that are difficult to correlate to as the LAN industry has matured. Fortu-
7. Protocol overhead user applications. Tests modeled closer nately, ARCnet, Ethernet, and Token
to auser application give more realistic Ring are all defined by a controlling
Applications Impact results. body or standard that states exactly how
To agreat extent, the observed perfor- The best performance tool for any the technology should be implemented.
mance in any configuration depends on LAN evaluation is utilization of the tar-
the type of application. For applications Ethernet and Token Ring are defined
get application itself. Only with this ap- by IEEE 802 (LAN technologies) com-
such as word processing, you will ob- plication can you accurately model the mittees. Specifically, the Ethernet pro-
serve virtually no performance differ- performance of the LAN. While any tocol falls under the auspices of the 802.3
ence at an individual node regardless of performance values generated by using (CSMA/CD) committee, and Token
the size of the network. For adatabase this tool will be accurate, multistation Ring is controlled by the 802.5 commit-
application, the observed performance tests are difficult to simulate because of tee. These committees have generated
will be greatly affected by the number the lack of amechanism to automate and design specifications for their respective
of nodes in the network because of the synchronize the stations. technologies; any product claiming to
logical record contention that's inherent Understanding all the factors in- support one of these connection types
in any complex multiuser file-access volved in performance numbers is im- must adhere to these specifications.
system. portant in making a valid decision on ARCnet is different: Datapoint acts as
In addition to the impact of the appli- your best network configuration. When the controlling body for any implementa-
cation, the exact hardware configura- choosing a LAN, be sure to consider tion of ARCnet. Datapoint has final ap-
tion can greatly impact the observed how closely any reported tests reflect proval over all hardware implementa-
performance. The raw throughput of your application environment. Don't tions of the ARCnet technology to the
the LAN medium is important, but the follow the numbers blindly. point of being responsible for the micro-
code of all new ARCnet communication
continued
198 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition
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 WHICH LAN?

its CSMA/CD architecture, some people

Table 2: The network consisted of aCompaq Deskpro 386/20 server, three 12- question Ethernet's ability to deliver
MHz 80286 workstations, two 10-MHz 80286 workstations, and one 8-MHz high performance under a heavy work
80286 workstation. As expected, ARCnet trailed Ethernet and Token Ring in load. In all practicality, however, Ether-
performance. Ethernet 's superior showing probably reflects the configuration net performs very well in most situa-
of the LAN rather than any inherent superiority over Token Ring. tions. Ethernet costs more than an ARC-
net installation, but the speed and con-
LAN TESTING RESULTS nectivity features offset the higher price.
Token Ring provides good perfor-
Connection type Server-to-station PERFORM2 mance connections plus features such as
simple connectivity to mainframe sys-
ARC net 200K bytes/second 137K bytes/second
tems, simplified bridging for large net-
Ethernet 450K bytes/second 971K bytes/second works, and more sophisticated protocol-
Token Ring 230K bytes/second 192K bytes/second tuning mechanisms. For full-featured
(4 megabits/second) networks, Token Ring is the technology
Note: 16 megabits/second not available. of choice.
ARCnet, Ethernet, and Token Ring
thrive in today's marketplace because
controllers. Thus, ARCnet has remained If cost is a driving concern for your each satisfies the requirements of certain
"pure" even though it is not controlled LAN configuration, ARCnet is a good customers. As long as you know your re-
by any governing standards body. choice. No other LAN connection inter- quirements, you will be able to select the
face offers a"standard" product for such connection option that's best for you. •
Best Choice? alow cost per node. ARCnet is simple to
There is no "best" LAN configuration install and features very acceptable per- Richard Watson is vice president of engi-
per se. You have to weigh the importance formance, especially in atypical office neering/development for Tiara Computer
of cost, performance, and functionality environment that on average contains Systems of Mountain View, California,
in configuring your installation. Each fewer than 20 nodes. which produces hardware and software
connection type has its good and bad If performance is a major concern, products for LANs. He can be reached on
points. you should consider Ethernet. Because of BIX c/o "editors."

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200 Fall 1989 • BYTE Circle 286 on Reader Service Card
 DADiSP Worksheet DSP S-03-1989

52: RUN I.1.8081061 WS: Table View

(28] 18.7 [28] 12.3 1(28) 7.3

NAO 0 6.89
(21] 15.3 _[21] 11.4 , [21] 3.8
(22) 19.7 [22] 21.5 h(221 2.7

.
[23] 24.6 [23] 17.8 ' [23] 8.7
4.8- \
[24] 26.8 [24] 21.2 [24] 5.3
11.11:ml'e telen. [25] 22 3 [25] 19.9 (25] 4.6 '

oté.8 .7. . 150.6 360.0 . 450.0 .. L___(261 21.1 [26] 18.8 i [26] 9 .9 I

We: 21101o018(Sportrum(51)) r- le5: Surfece Plot WS: QC Chart

8.8

4.0

2.0
-180.8
0.00 0.19 0.70 0.30 0.40 1.0 2.8 1.0 4.8 1.8 6.8 7.8

w,. alindoama(150.309) We: Symbol Plot WS, NY Plot

8.8 1511.e, ?so. 0 458.8

LOAD SAVE ADD REMOVE QUIT DADiSP

Ver 2.00A
Enter Worksheet Cc/ 19Sq nsr

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 Teach your eLaserelet Series
the powerful PostScript®
In one

PA.CIFICPAGÈ
PostScript' Language Fluency Quiz
\00%
1. What applications can be enhanced-with PACTFICIPA.Ge•
l'‘.1ScniPt language compatibility^
A. Desktop Publtshing pi. Click Art Orsplitse
B. Word Processing E. All of the Above, and Morel

Graph ic»
C. Presentatton
2. Which font control cispabilities no you get 'Witt. PACiPtCPAGV.T.
dITALIC

8. 1
0
C.
Ail o( the Above, soil lAosei
OLT) en
A. SCALING
2222" Pi

3- go. ilt.ilY hOPbelduotVliitor" III« equivalent font (settee ogee PACIFICPAGE

with 1
, itcs VIC? AGE 1
t -

4. Chock the fcaturos that conic etnnanni with Venttel'AGu.

0 Wes Resolution Grephles 0 Sesoods Circlet, ad M orel

Screens sod Yettertut 0 Rotated TYPe

0 Smooth Arts 0 All of the A bove, "
0
c-:,:
wiTb AD Of
5. PACIVICPA.Git in compataile

il.
A rub; comp,,dt,u,
a. nu its the b.lee.k... ui th....i ,
laniolage coos est ut Poatficript
product on the sae.

PACIFICPAGE
the PostScript Language
Compatible Plug-in Cartridge
It's never been this easy. with IBM® and IBM-compatibles.
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That's all. No other add-ins, software or vative PostScript emulation skills of
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of Pace Data Products, Inc. PostScript's aregistered trademark of Adobe Systems Inc. PhoemPage is aregisiered trademark of Phoems Terhnolcwes, Ltd.
Copyright 1987, 1988 Phoenix Technologies Ltd. AI) other company and product names are trademarks of the company or manufacturer respednrely
DATA PRODUCTS Copyright 1989 Pacific Data Products. Inc. PlsoinhAye.

Circle 196 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 197)

 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

THE LANGUAGE
OF LASERS
PostScript and PCL establish arange ofpage-description languages
while newcomer CaPSL fills in the middle

Kent Quirk

hen Hewlett-Packard in- But PCL offers only bit-mapped fonts by typing ESC followed by apunctuation
troduced its printer-con- that cannot be scaled or rotated (although mark and aletter. Numeric parameters
trol language (PCL) level landscape fonts are available). PCL can't and aterminating letter may follow. PCL
1 with its first LaserJet execute drawing commands more com- considers any other character printable
printer, the company es- plicated than horizontal and vertical text.
tablished the first standard for page- lines, which it implements as filled rect- PCL prints raster images using pixel
description languages (PDLs). But even angles. It supports a few levels of gray replication to change resolutions. It sup-
after three revisions, PCL level 4 is an (but not continuous shading) and several ports macros and overlays to create fre-
aging standard, challenged by two nota- pattern fills for rectangular areas. quently used logos and forms.
ble alternatives: Canon's newcomer You begin nearly all PCL commands Complicated images must be handled
CaPSL and Adobe's sophisti- by the CPU, which will gen-
cated PostScript. erate abit map and then print
The good news for laser- the figure. However, using
printer users is that each tech- the CPU for rasterization
nology performs its job dif- means larger code sizes,
ferently as ahigh-level printer longer image transmission
language. Clear choices exist times, and awaste of CPU re-
in a market where perfor- sources. For example, to print
mance strides are atradition text at an odd angle, you must
(see the text box "Rigid Grids choose a host-resident font,
Spawned Today's PDLs" on draw the font into abit map,
page 206). and transmit the entire bit
map as an image.
HP's PCL level 4
PCL level 4 can place black Canon's CaPSL
text at any location on apage, CaPSL, released last June,
and page elements can be draws any shade of gray,
drawn in any order. Layouts places fonts in any orienta-
begin at the upper left corner tion, and offers aselection of
of the page, but application plotting commands for vector
software isn't forced to create drawing. The language is de-
a page from top to bottom. signed to quickly transmit
For example, a program and execute page descrip-
could draw ablack border to tions.
define acopy block before the CaPSL implements aset of
text is actually printed (see the ANSI/ISO screen control
table la). continued

ILLUSTRATION: LYN BOYER PENNINGTON © 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 203
 THE LANGUAGE OF LASERS

commands like those used by the AN-

SI.SYS device driver and many computer Table 1: The following code samples (a)from HP 's PCL level 4, (b) Canon's
terminals. CaPSL, and (c) Adobe's PostScript each produce text in two different fonts
The command format is simple: Most and create agray box bordered by 0.1-inch rules.
sequences begin with the command se-
quence initiator (CSI), which consists of DECODING THREE PDLS
the Escape character followed by a left (a) PCL level 4
square bracket. (CaPSL also provides a
single-character replacement for the Command Action
(ESCJE Reset.
CSI.) Following the CSI are parameter
(ESC)(sOT Select line printer.
numbers separated by semicolons. The
LESCRs16.66H Select 16.66 pitch.
last parameter is followed by an interme- (ESC]&a720v720H Move to 1inch (720 decipoints) from top and left.
diate character and aterminator, which This was generated
together define the function to be exe- in HP's PCL using
cuted. CaPSL considers anything not the line-printer
part of acommand sequence to be print- font at 16.66 cpi.
able text (see table lb). (ESCJ(s3T Select Courier.
For example, CSI 10; 20f instructs the LESC)(s1OH Select 10 pitch.
(ESC)(s3B Select bold.
printer to begin drawing at row 10, col-
(ESC)&a1440v720H Move to 2inches from top, 1inch from left.
umn 20 (f is the terminator). These com-
This text is written
mand sequences are fast to transmit and in Courier Bold at 10 cpi.
interpret. They are also extensible while (ESCJ`p1200x1200Y Move to 4inches from top and left.
remaining within the standard. Unfortu- [ESCJ*c45G Set 45 percent gray scale (HP doesn't have
nately, they are difficult to read and pro- a50 percent gray).
gram (but this shouldn't hinder most [ESC)* c300a300B Box of 1inch by 1inch.
users). (ESC]*c2P Print the gray box.
Page layouts originate at the upper left (ESCJ`p1185x1185Y Move to corner less width of line.
(ESC)*c330a3OB Box 1inch by 0.1 inch.
corner. The y-axis is inverted from the
(ESCJ`cOP Print ablack solid rule.
normal Cartesian plane. Coordinate
(ESC)* c30a300B Box 0.1 inch by 1inch.
measurement is flexible. Positions can [ESCJ*cOP Print ablack solid rule.
be specified in several coordinate sys- {ESCI*p1185x1485Y Move to corner less width of line.
tems. There are horizontal and vertical (ESC]*c330a3OB Box 1inch by 0.1 inch.
motion indexes, the size of which can be (ESCJ'cOP Print ablack solid rule.
set according to each font. Position set- (ESCI`p1485x1185Y Move to corner less width of line.
tings can be units measured in deci- (ESC1`c30a330B Box 1inch by 0.1 inch.
points, mils, hundredths of millimeters, (ESCJ*cOP Print ablack solid rule
and print the page.
or device dots (1/300 of an inch).
CaPSL's high-level drawing com-
mands include instructions for lines, (b) CaPSL
polylines, rectangles, arcs, circles, ellip-
ses, quarter-ellipses, and graphics mark- Command Action
ers for line graphs. CaPSL can't combine (ESC< Soft reset.
lines and arcs into a single fillable ob- {ESC}[2&z Paint memory mode full.
ject, nor can it produce nonelliptical [ESC)[?32h Enable scaling character sets.
curves, such as Bezier curves. Although [ESC)[?33h Enable character set rotation.
(ESC)[Op Select page format.
restricted to rectangles, clipping can
(ESC)(2 I Units are 1/720 of an inch (decipoints).
make them precise to the nearest pixel,
(ESCH11h Set positional units to size.
character, or string. tESCJPzSwiss.ISO_USA(ESC) Select character set.
The language can handle both bit- (ESC11100 C Set 10 point.
mapped and scalable fonts, including {ESC}[720;720f Position to 1,1.
outline-font "hints" that tell the printer This was generated
how to draw a font in a different size. in Canon's CaPSL using
CaPSL uses hinted fonts internally. Its the Swiss font at 10 point.
continued
bit-mapped images can be downloaded as
either binary or hexadecimal data. It can
scale these images up through pixel repli- in creating forms and logos. (Canon eration, especially when an algorithmic
cation by afactor of 1, 2, 3, or 4. Scal- printers come with many preloaded specification is the only compact way to
able-font characters can be scaled, rotat- macros that set up the printer to various describe an image. But what PostScript
ed, skewed, outlined, shadowed, or modes or generate commonly used offers in sophistication, it sacrifices in
filled with apattern. forms.) speed—PostScript generally is the slow-
Macros include some programming- est of the PDLs.
language features. Macros can execute Adobe's PostScript PostScript constitutes acomplete pro-
other macros, or you can set amacro to PostScript can do things no other printer gramming language with features spe-
run aspecified number of times without language can do. It offers an elegant and cific to generating printed images. Most
conditionals or variables. This is helpful highly extensible approach to page gen- printers accept printable text and embed

204 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 1.4/1.4e £10 Left /Weiler, cer rterc twits

THE LANGUAGE OF LASERS

Have you ever wished that

WordPerfect could format

complicated equations, use

150+ high quality fonts and

hundreds of special symbols

jESC}PzDutch-ltalic.ISO_USA(ESCI \ Select alternate character set.
fESCI[240 C Set 24 point. on almost any
(ESC)[1440;720f Position to 2,2.
This is written
in 24-point Dutch Italic.
monitor or
IESCH2880;2880f Position to 4,4.
[ESC][0&) Change to virtual device metafile mode printer?
with current origin.
HOS21 Begin picture.
1011[1S21 Set scaling mode (1/72 of an inch like before).
$(1S2) Begin picture body.
E101[IS2] Set line type to solid.

NEW
Fi 08[1S2} Set line width to 72/720ths of an inch.
1(1(lS2) Set interior style (draw border, fill with gray).
j:BtOCa0BtOCa0[1S2] Draw rectangle.
olotIS2j End picture.
End VDM mode.

FASE
jp9S2)

(c) PostScript
Font And Science Extensions
Command Action
/inch 72 mull def Define an inch for easy positioning.
1inch 10 inch moveto Position to 1inch from top (10 inches from bottom).
makes your
/Helvetica findfont Get the font.
10 scalefont Scale it to 10 point
and tell PostScript to use it.
wish
setfont

(This was generated with

come true
PostScript in the Helvetica
font at 10 point.)
Requires CD-
•IBM PC 640K
•MS DOS 2.00+
1inch 9inch moveto Draw the next text.
•WordPerfect 5.00
/Times-Italic findfont Change to Times Roman Italic.
Suppouts
24 scalefont setfont 24 point.
• HP LaserJet +, II
• Epson 9it 24 pin
(This is written in • NEC PinWriter
24-point Times • HP Desklet
Roman Italic.) • ProPrinter
• PostScript
4inch 7inch moveto Draw the box • Toshiba
1inch 0rlineto
0-1 inch rlineto
—1inch 0rlineto
closepath We've defined the box as aclosed path.
gsave Remember the path.
.5 setgray
fill
grestore
Use 50 percent gray
and fill it.
Get the path back.
to ts..)

0.1 inch setlinewidth Use fat lines

stroke and draw the outline.
showpage Print the page.

the specially coded commands in the cuted in one pass, without backing up. A
data stream. But PostScript reads its data PostScript program usually is machine
stream as aset of commands, so you must generated, although it is based on aset of
enclose text in parentheses for it to print. English keywords.
Prices start from $149. Demo Diskette $3. For
A PostScript page description is really a The result is alanguage similar to but
more information or to order call or write to
program, and the text it generates is just a more readable than Forth. PostScript of-
MICROPRESS inc
set of strings within that program (see fers a stack-oriented architecture, with 67-30 Clyde Str. #2N
table lc). separate dictionaries to hold data and Forest Hills, NY 11375
As a programming language, Post- code for random access. (718) 575 1816
Script is designed to be read and exe- continued WordPerfect it • trademark of WPC tiletvfeee it • trodeensek el MtcroPreet

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 205

 THE LANGUAGE OF LASERS

Rigid Grids Spawned Today's PDLs

Iturers
nthe past 10 years, printer manufac- correspondence relied on daisy-wheel Fonts lacked standardization. It was
have steadily developed more- printers, despite the heavier weight, obvious that most programmers and
sophisticated ways to put marks on louder noise, and slower speed. printer manufacturers created their own
paper. As printer technology evolved, But dot-matrix printers offered more fonts. Vendors found thousands of ways
many people changed their ideas about flexibility. They provided a choice of to make the letter A, and most of the let-
what actually is aprinter. two or three different (if ugly) fonts and ters looked bad. Even when individual
In the mid-1970s, people saw two or three sizes of text. You could add letters were not hideous, they often
printers merely as ameans for putting emphasis to words without babysitting looked unrelated to other characters
text on paper. The output page was an the printer. Text was still defined as let- within the same font.
imaginary grid, and a printer placed ters in boxes, but now you could vary Later, laser printers and 24-pin dot-
vertical letters into boxes within the box sizes and create proportionally matri x printers became affordable.
grid. Letters were a fixed size and spaced text. They offered vastly improved resolu-
shape, and they generally came from As ROM and microprocessor prices tion, greater intelligence for better
fully formed characters. You could dropped, dot-matrix printers grew more graphics, and enough resolution to print
print pages quickly or print them to look intelligent. Old, one-character control recognizable fonts. Initially, manufac-
good, but trying to do both required ex- sequences became two and three char- turers packaged standard fixed-width
pensive equipment. In any case, bold- acters long, but they were generally in- typewriter faces, such as Courier and
facing was about the only choice for em- vented from whole cloth by the manu- Prestige, in proportional and nonpro-
phasizing text, and you accomplished facturers. A minimal standard of Epson portional forms. Some vendors sold
this by changing the daisy wheel or compatibility arrived to keep the peace, downloadable fonts or font cartridges,
overprinting. Languages used to control but most manufacturers added to it in which provided avariety of fonts at full
printers were simplistic. A few control little (or not so little) ways. printer speed. Programs using the
characters moved the printer carriage The dot-matrix printer defined a graphics mode to generate interesting
left, right, up, and down. smaller grid on the page, and you could pages became available.
The Diablo 630 daisy-wheel printer fill any grid location with adot or leave Note, however, that printers still di-
defined acontrol-language standard. it blank. This meant that PCs could vided printing "text" (now defined as
Even today, most word processors and draw graphs or characters of arbitrary horizontally oriented letters in aprede-
many printers support this minimal shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, pages fined font collection) from printing
control language. The most expensive had to be generated from top to bottom, "graphics" (which are simply patterns
printers used proportional type for a which strained memory and computing of bits). The printing program was still
"typeset" look, but few word proces- power. Also, the process was slow, tak- bound by the printer's mechanical char-
sors took advantage of it. ing minutes per page. Resolution was acteristics, such as resolution, available
The dot-matrix printer evolved as an poor, typically 72 dots per inch. Worst fonts, and size of font characters.
inexpensive way to produce characters of all, some companies that claimed Today, with the advent of page-
quickly. Initially, dot-matrix printers Epson compatibility apparently never description languages (PDLs), aprint-
were considered to have poor quality. tested their printers with an appropriate er's task is evolving further into the job
As recently as the mid-1980s, business program. of placing marks on agridless page.

PostScript's biggest (and for some, de- Drawing commands include arcs, a translation matrix that lets the pro-
bilitating) problem is that it is slow. Opti- lines, and Bézier curves. Drawings con- grammer use any coordinate system with
mization techniques and interpreter aids sist of apath, which is aset of connected two axes on aplane. You can directly ma-
help, but in general, an image produced or disconnected lines and curves. A path nipulate this matrix or use scale, transla-
by PostScript takes longer than creating can be stroked (i.e., traced with paint). tion, and rotation operators.
the same image in another language. Closed paths can be filled (using either PostScript typically stores fonts as out-
Also, most PostScript printers use a of two fills), used as aclipping bound- lines and then converts them to bit maps
serial interface, so even simple images ary, smoothed, converted to line seg- during printing. A printer font cache
can reach abottleneck when you try to ments, or processed in various ways. stores bit maps as they are generated,
send them to the printer. PostScript isn't dependent on the out- greatly improving text-processing speed
put device's resolution until it draws into with reused characters. PostScript fonts
Imaging Model the bit map with the show, stroke, or fill also function as paths, so you can treat
The PostScript imaging model is impor- operators. Elements are then converted letter forms as outlines for special pur-
tant. PostScript draws with various into pixels at the device's resolution. poses.
colors of paint on paper, and the paint is PostScript's measurement system is Font outlines must change with the de-
opaque. For monochrome printers, the device independent. The default unit is vice resolution and point size. Adobe
paint varies from white through shades of the printer's point (1/72 of an inch), and fonts resident in PostScript include hints
gray to black. For color printers, you the coordinate system is arranged in Car- that tell the printer how to render out-
choose the color as relative levels of red, tesian form, with the origin at the lower lines for different type sizes. Adobe
green, and blue, or as hue, saturation, left corner of the page. With afew excep- won't reveal how to do this, although it
and brightness, depending on your needs. tions, points are first processed through continued

206 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 ntroducing the first color
PostScript printer priced to
keep you in the black.
Show-stopping presentations, powerful Limitless Possibilities. The new QMS
projections and crystal clear calculations in ColorScript100 Model 10 allows you to have
hard copy or transparency form. Everything total control over the final appearance of
The QMS your business needs to stand out from the your hard copies and transparencies. The
ColorScript 100 crowd. All in afull spectrum of color for Model 10 includes 35 resident typefaces
that, thanks to PostScript, can be scaled to
just '9,995. The QMS ColorScript?" 100
Model 10. Model 10 easily connects to your Mac® or virtually any size and shape. Put that
PC to add full color and the power of true together with its ability to print over 16
Just '9,995• Adobe® PostScript to your business — and, million color variations and you'll see an
at this price, it helps you stay in the black! entirely new dimension to composition.
It's another first from QMS® and a
breakthrough in color PostScript® printers. Exclusive Advantages. The compact
Model 10 gives you advantages you won't
find with the competition. For example, PC
users can put the Model 10 to work without
adding any additional boards. And Mac
users simply plug the Model 10 into the
ApplëThlk® port. The Model 10 prints at 300
dpi for near typeset quality presentations
that spring to life in colors that adhere to
PANTONE®* Color Standards. If you need
to expand your printing capabilities or
memory, the Model 10 is designed to easily
accept a 1MB or 4MB RAM upgrade. The
Model 10 also features an SCSI interface that
makes adding enough memory to store the
entire PostScript typeface library as simple
as plugging in alamp.

1-800-523-2696. If improving your business

edge is important to you, call our toll free
number for the nearest Laser Connection®
dealer. Your Laser Connection dealer can
give you ademonstration and show you
how the QMS ColorScript 100 Model 10
will add acolorful dimension to your
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the black.

itg LASER
%.-.connEcrion®
AQMS" Company
The following are trademarks of their respective companies: QMS, QMS
ColorScript, Laser Connection of QMS, Inc. PostScript Adobe of Adobe
1-800-523-2696
Systems, Inc. Mac, AppléPalk of Apple, Inc. PANTONE of Pantone, Inc.
•Pantone, Inc.'s check-standard trademark for color reproduction and
C1989 Laser Connection
color reproduction materials.

Circle 223 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 224)

 THE LANGUAGE OF LASERS

ter than a downloaded version of the tions' Freedom of the Press and Laser-
same font. Go's GoScript now implement Post-
PCL level 4 Bit-mapped images plague PostScript, Script in software on the host computer
Hewlett-Packard Co. even though it can scale them into and then send abit map to aprinter in
19310 Pruneridge Ave. arbitrary sizes. Because its input data raster-image mode. This approach is
Cupertino, CA 95014 stream cannot handle binary data, this also slow, but it may be an alternative at
(800) 752-0900 data is often sent in hexadecimal form, sites where PostScript is used only occa-
Inquiry 911. doubling the image size and the trans- sionally.
mission time. A vast array of software products sup-
CaPSL Given PostScript's abilities, why ports PCL, so it's a safe purchase for
Canon U.S.A., Inc. doesn't everyone just go out and buy it? those wanting laser-printer resolution.
One Canon Plaza Its lack of speed can be impractical, es- With newcomer CaPSL, Canon is betting
Lake Success, NY 11042 pecially for systems that generate hun- that amarket segment needs more func-
(516) 488-6700 dreds of pages a day, such as print tionality than PCL but not as much as
Inquiry 912. servers on large LANs. Unlike Post- PostScript's. Even if CaPSL becomes a
Script, CaPSL features speed optimiza- contender, powerful PostScript will
PostScript tions like marker drawing commands likely remain the technology of choice
Adobe Systems, Inc. and image compression. A normal Post- for typesetting and image processing.
1585 Charleston Rd. Script page description as generated by However, as laser-printer processing im-
P.O. Box 7900 current word processing programs is sig- proves, the speed and price gaps between
Mountain View, CA 94039 nificantly longer than the same page as PostScript and its competitors will prob-
(415) 961-4400 described by CaPSL or PCL. PostScript ably continue to shrink. •
Inquiry 913. can't cope with something as simple as a
PrintScreen key press, because it can't Kent Quirk is a freelance writer and
handle straight text. Finally, PostScript president of Totel Systems, Inc., in
publishes the raw font metrics (the height is expensive. Until the recent PostScript Westford, Massachusetts, acompany that
and width of the individual characters). clones hit the market, PostScript added develops device drivers and embedded
This means that resident fonts in the $1000 to $2000 to aprinter's cost. software. He can be reached on BIX as
smallest and largest type sizes look bet- Products such as Custom Applica- "k quirk."

Don't Move!
without telling

II VIE
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new address and/or name change

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Clip out New address, name
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208 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

A STANDARDS
DICTIONARY
Which IBM PC standards have stood the test of time and are working
well for vendors and users? Here are afew that fill the bill.

L. Brett Glass

he IBM PC architecture and PKPAK have been discontinued due many vendors other than Ashton-Tate
has spawned literally to litigation by SEA.) Neither the origi- read and write this format.
hundreds of standards, nal ARC program nor the file format is
conventions, and com- PC-specific, but the program gained .PCX File Format
mon practices through- most of its popularity and installed base This is the file format for images pro-
out the industry. At this point, seven in the PC marketplace. duced by ZSoft's PC Paintbrush (ZSoft
years after the introduction of the PC, is in Marietta, GA). It's a common
it's worthwhile to take agood look at this .DBF File Format graphics file format on the PC and is also
collection of standards and see how far This is the file format used by Ashton- used by most scanners, fax programs,
we've come and, by extrapolation, where Tate's dBASE programs. Products from and desktop publishing programs.
we're going.
The following list is limited .ZIP File Format
to PC- or IBM-specific stan- The file format for PKWare's
dards (SCSI, for example, PKZIP utility, this is acom-
does not qualify because it pression and archiving pro-
can be used with virtually any gram similar to SEA's ARC.
machine). And while this list
has numerous entries, it is by 8514/A Graphics Adapter
no means complete. (Terms This is IBM's current top-of-
in italics are discussed under the-line graphics adapter. It
their own headings.) can display 1024 by 768
pixels in as many as 256 si-
multaneous colors. A number
.ARC File Format
This is the file format used by of third-party intelligent
graphics adapters emulate the
the ARC file-compression
8514/A as well as providing
program, published by Sys-
tem Enhancement Associates their own sets of graphics
(SEA) of Wayne, New Jersey. commands.
Programs from several other
vendors read and write files in Advanced Basic Input/
this format—most notably, Output System (ABIOS)
PKARC and PKPAK utilities The ABIOS is a set of low-
from PKWare, which added level routines that is similar to
to the standard by providing the PC's real-mode BIOS, but
additional compression op- the ABIOS is designed to
tions. (Although still avail- work in protected mode. It
continued
able on many BBSes, PKARC

ILLUSTRATION: R. J. KAUFMAN © 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 209
Circle 32 on Reader Service Card

A STANDARDS DICTIONARY

EXPANDED MEMORY SPECIFICATION (EMS)

Four 16K-byte
EMS pages 1-megabyte real-mode address limit
visible at once
ROM BIOS
16K bytes
EMS "expands"
Version 1.1 Bedelines 16K bytes memory by
Desktop Publishing—Again EMS page frame switching up to
de eto
Ir 16K bytes 32 megabytes of
BIOS extension Expanded memory 16K-byte pages
16K bytes ROM in and out of the
page frame.

Video RAM

640K-byte "barrier"

RAM available for

use by "standard"
DOS applications

ackship's 386/25 is
ellow price leader.
— 1NPOWORLD, May 1989 DOS

BIOS data Bottom of memory

... remarkably strong performance (address 0)
at bargain prices:'
WORLD, June 1988
— PC Figure 1: To remember the difference between EMS memory and extended memory,
the 80386.based clones you can think of the bank-switching process as "expanding" the memory map
"... one of ary ew laterally rather than vertically.
that offer arevolution n
feature — affordabilityr
— BYTE, October 1988 comes standard on every PS/2 machine, Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)
"The Blackship offers low price but it is not present on IBM's older ma- The BIOS is the heart of the PC and is
33-Mtlz performance •.. we rate it chines or on most clones. (See "The IBM among the most important factors in PC
avery good valuer PC BIOS," April BYTE, for acompre- compatibility. (For acomprehensive dis-
hensive description of the ABIOS and cussion, see "The IBM PC BIOS," April
lackship
Reliability
— 1NP3O8W6O/2R5LD, July 1989at a how it works.) BYTE.)
Good Price •.. the only machine
Advanced Program-to-Program Color Graphics Adapter (CGA)
tested that was entirely trouble-freer
— PC WORLD, August 1989 Communication (APPC) The CGA was one of the first two display
stems
The APPC is the part of IBM's System boards offered for the IBM PC (the other
Other 286 and 386 Sy Network Architecture (SNA) that allows was the monochrome display/printer
lAvailable to Meet "'lour Best processes on the same or different ma- adapter (MDA). The CGA has amaxi-
/Perf ormance Needs chines to communicate with one another. mum graphics resolution of 640 by 200
Price
APPC is designed to be implemented on pixels (two colors only) and can display,
14300 431.,_ (USA)
awide variety of hardware. It is some- at most, 80 columns by 25 lines of text.
1-800 651:49
55 (CA) times called LU 6.2; in fact, the two are All later IBM offerings are capable of
intimately connected but are not the emulating the CGA on acolor screen.

BLACKSHIP
COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.
same thing. APPC refers to the higher
layers of the protocol and its application Communicating Applications
lkflHIII program interface (API), while LU 6.2 Specification (CAS)
BEST
4031 Clipper Court refers to the software that implements CAS is an API that allows programs to
r--
Fremont, CA 94538 APPC on agiven machine. (For more on communicate with Intel's Connection
415-770-9300 this protocol, see "A Logical Choice," CoProcessor fax modem card. (See
BUY FAX 415-770-8674 January BYTE.) "Making Applications Talk," January

210 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 Circle 259 on Reader Service Card

A STANDARDS DICTIONARY Commenting Disassembler!

SOURCERTM 486
• SEE HOW PROGRAMS WORK
BYTE, for further information on this to be visible at any one time; 4.0 ex-
standard.) tended the standard to allow any portion MI EASILY MODIFY PROGRAMS
of RAM to be switched in this manner. SOURCER creates detailed commented
Enhanced Industry Standard This and other features of EMS 4.0 were source code and listings from memory and
Architecture (EISA) adapted from AST Research's EEMS. executable files directly suitable for reassem-
bly. Built in data analyzer and simulator re-
EISA is abus that theoretically will be solves data across multiple segments and
upwardly compatible from the industry Extended Memory Specification provides detailed comments on interrupts and
standard architecture (ISA) and offer en- (XMS) subfunctions, I/O ports and much more. In-
hanced performance. EISA's develop- The XMS manages extended memory on cludes adefinition file facility to include your
ment currently is being finalized by a AT-class and 80386-based PCs. Before own remarks and descriptive labels, force
consortium of compatible vendors. Some XMS, there were only ad hoc standards data types, and more. Complete support for
8088 through 80486,8087 to 80387, and V20/
200 vendors have paid for the details of for reserving parts of this space; even
V30 instruction sets.
the specification. EISA was designed to IBM's VDISK and disk caching pro-
We welcome comparisons with any other prod-
compete with IBM's Micro Channel ar- grams used different techniques. uct, because no product comes close to the
chitecture (MCA). Intel recently finished XMS defines an API that allows you to ease of use and output clarity of SOURCER.
development of an EISA chip set. reserve blocks of extended memory (ex- Outstanding reviews in many magazines
tended memory blocks, or EMBs) and including PC magazine 4/26/88 page 46.
Enhanced Expanded Memory transfer data between them and the low-
Specification (EEMS) est 1megabyte of RAM (i.e., the area
EEMS was proposed by AST Research as
an extension to the original Lotus/Intel/
available to real-mode programs). Fig-
ure 2shows how XMS can also give real-
BIOS SOURCE
Microsoft EMS. EEMS allows more than mode programs access to almost 64K for PS/2, AT, XT. PC and Clones
one 64K-byte area of RAM to be paged bytes of additional memory in an area
in and out at atime and lets applications that is known as the high memory area II CHANGE AND ADD FEATURES
run from the bank-switched RAM. Both (HMA). • CLARIFY INTERFACES
these features were incorporated into The area from hexadecimal addresses The BIOS Pre-Processor' with SOURCER
version 4.0 of EMS. FFFF:0010 to FFFF:FFFF can be ad- provides the first means to obtain accurate
dressed from real mode if the A20 line of legal source listings for any BIOS! Identifies
Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) the CPU is enabled; an XMS driver can entry points with full explanations. Resolves
reserve that area of memory for apro- PS/2's multiple jumps for improved clarity.
The EGA, IBM's enhanced follow-on to Provides highly descriptive labels such as
the MDA and CGA, incorporates all the gram and take charge of enabling and
"video_mode" and much more. Fully automatic.
text and graphics modes of both—plus a disabling A20.
few more. It can produce ahigh-resolu- Finally, XMS manages blocks of
tion monochrome display similar to that
of the Hercules graphics card (HGC).
memory between 640K bytes and 1
megabyte in the processor's "normal" ASMtoolT.
Unlike the HGC, though, the EGA can address space. Add-on cards sometimes
display graphical pixels in two intensities provide chunks of RAM that fall into • CLARIFY COMPLEX CODE
and has different numbers of pixels in this area; XMS allocates the space as
• AUTOMATIC FLOW CHARTING
each row and column. upper memory blocks.
In its color modes, the EGA can pro- ASMtool is an assembly language flow chart-
Graphical Environment Manager ing tool and source code analysis tool that
duce an output signal equivalent to that
simplifies the understanding of complex soft-
of the CGA or adenser, higher-quality (GEM) ware. Flow chart generation clarifies complex
color image with a greater scan rate. A graphical windowing environment logic paths. Static analysis of stack and regis-
(The standard EGA monitor switches be- created by Digital Research (Monterey, ter usage helps locate potential problems. Tree
tween these two rates.) The EGA has a CA), GEM runs not only on PCs but also diagrams of all procedure calls assist in quick
software-selectable color palette and on Atari STs. Many applications, includ- program navigation. ASMtool is the only as-
sembly analysis tool to perform so much with
limited pixel-manipulation hardware on- ing Xerox's Ventura Publisher, run in the
such little effort!
board. Despite the introduction of the GEM environment.
more powerful professional graphics SOURCER—Disassembler $ 99.95
adapter (PGA), the EGA remained the Graftrax SOURCER w/BIOS Pre-Processor 139.95
Graftrax is actually Epson's standard for ASMtool—Source code analyzer 89.95
dominant color graphics standard for the UNPACKER—Unpacks packed files 39.95
PC until the multicolor graphics array performing graphics on a dot-matrix
(MCGA) and video graphics array (VGA) printer. But IBM's decision to use Epson Shipping &Handling: USA $3; Canada/Mexico $10;
as the OEM for the IBM Graphics Printer Other Countries $15; CA Residents add sales tax.
were introduced.
meant that Graftrax became ade facto NOT COPY PROTECTED
Expanded Memory Specification standard for IBM PC graphics output. 30-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
If within 30 days of purchase you find our product does
(EMS) Most laser printers for the PC can emu- not perform in accordance with our claims, call our
The Expanded Memory Specification late an Epson printer running Graftrax. customer service department and we will gladly
arrange arefund.
allows access to more than 1megabyte of
For orders and information, call:
memory on astandard IBM PC by bank- GWBASIC
switching 16K-byte blocks of RAM in Because of the large number of features
this language contains, the "GW" in the
1-800-662-8266
and out of one or more 64K-byte areas
called page frames (see figure 1). Ver- name of Microsoft's GWBASIC reput- V COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
sions of EMS before 4.0 allowed only edly stands for "Gee Whiz." Derived 3031 Tisch Way, Suite 802, Dept. BY
one page frame with four 16K-byte pages continued San Jose, CA 95128 (408) 296-4224

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 211

 Circle 124 on Reader Service Card

SOLUTIONS A STANDARDS DICTIONARY

Bigger—
Vfeature Deluxe TM lets your DOS system
use hard disks it thought it couldn't, all in one EXTENDED MEMORY SPECIFICATION (XMS)
bootable piece—no artificial partitions! Span
two drives into C: and boot from it, use MFM,
RLL, ESDI, or SCSI. Interleave selection, Extended memory above high memory area (HMA) is
physical format, security options included. Extended allocated as extended memory blocks and cannot be
memory accessed directly from real mode.
DOS 3.1-33 $120
The HMA is the first 65,520 bytes above 1megabyte.
HMA You can access this area in real mode by doing
DUB -le PCB takes adifferent approach to tricks on an AT or compatible.
drive expansion, stretches your AT's Drive 1-megabyte real-mode address limit.
Table to support the drive you choose—MFM, ROM BIOS
ESDI, RLL, up to 2048 cylinders! Comes with
setup and low-level format routines, works
with UNIX, XENIX, Pick, Novell, DOS. $95
Any unused space in this area can be filled with
BIOS extension RAM and allocated as upper memory blocks. XMS
Faster— ROM will not interfere with EMS.

VcaChe n4 speeds disk operations, stores data

in RAM so it's there for you next time you need Video RAM
it—no waiting! Optional delayed sector write,
lookahead buffer. Works with any type of 640K-byte "barrier"
memory, caches up to 15 Mb, bundles accel-
erators for your diskettes, screens, and
keyboard. DOS 2-4.
$59.95

VOpt n"defragments disks for quicker access. RAM available for use by "standard"
Run it every day and keep your drive as fast r- DOS applications
as new! In afew seconds at boot time, Vopt ar-
ranges all your files neatly in contiguous
clusters so you won't waste any time reading
them back. Bundles timing and diagnostic
utilities. DOS 2 -4 $59.95

DOS
Safer—
BIOS data
Vlock ne protects your system and its data
from vandals and accidents. System access
passwords control booting, activity menus Figure 2: Extended memory is the area above the I-megabyte mark on an 80286- or
decide who does what to which files, even 80386-based PC; it's simply alinear extension of the RAM below 1megabyte.
locks out Ctl-Break during boot! $135

from Microsoft's CP/M BASIC, GWBA- CGA's. It also included aparallel printer
Easier— SIC has been largely supplanted by newer port like the MDA's.
offerings such as QuickBASIC and Generally speaking, the HGC has now
Vt00/S Tm is a slick set of disk management
Turbo BASIC. Nevertheless, GWBASIC been outmoded by newer adapters that
tools for DOS and OS/2. Display directories in
is still an important standard in the PC bring the same resolution (or better) to
whatever order you like, browse files and
world because IBM shipped it with all its color screens, but it remains one of the
change or delete them, compare and update machines. most successful third-party graphics
multiple versions, find and manipulate
board standards.
categories of files, and more! $49.95
Hercules Graphics Card (HGC)
Of the original IBM PC display adapters, Industry Standard Architecture
SEE YOUR DEALER OR CALL TOLL-FREE neither the CGA nor the MDA provided (ISA)
everything early PC users wanted. The ISA refers to the bus signals and timings
CGA could display graphics but used a used in the original PC and AT com-

1 (800) 284-3269 coarse 8- by 8-character cell; the MDA

displayed much clearer 9 by 14 charac-
puters. Because no formal timing speci-
fications have ever been published for
ters but could show only text. this bus, it has been thought of as an ad
GOLDEN BOW SYSTEMS The Hercules graphics card, intro- hoc standard; to this day, peripheral
duced during the early days of the PC, cards are often tested empirically for ISA
2665 ARIANE DRIVE #207
gave users the best of both worlds (except compatibility. Proponents of EISA and
SAN DIEGO, CA 92117
(619) 483-0901 for color). It emulated the MDA and ran MCA believe that one of these newer ar-
FAX (619) 483-1924 TELEX 201520 GBS UR on the same monochrome TTL display, chitectures will eventually replace or
MC/ VISA US shpg/hdlg $3 CA orders add 7%
but it added monochrome graphics capa- supersede ISA.
bilities with ahigher resolution than the continued
Wralure DUB-1t Itathr, lbpf. lladc, and Wools art nedernarks of Golden Bow Systems

212 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 Hard Drives Color/EGA Monitors
Seagate 20MB $225 Amdek C732 $445
Seagate 40MB 410 Amdek C722 515
Seagate 80MB 600 AST EGA 515
Plus Hardcard-20 535 Mitsubishi 1410C 345
Plus Hardcard-40 670 Mitsubishi 1430C 405
Plus Passport-20 415 Samsung EGA 14 375
Plus Passport-40 560
VGA/CAD Monitors
'Pape Drives
Mitsubishi 1381A $515
Archive 5240 $325 NEC Multisync 11A 505
Archive 5540 345 NEC Multisync 3D 675
Archive VP601 675 NEC Multisync plus 915
Mountain 4340 400 NEC Macsync 600
Math Co-processors Sony 1302P Call
Intel 80287-8 $225 Printers
Intel 80287-10 260
NEC P2200 $330
Intel 80387-16 415
NEC P5200 525
Intel 80387-20 470
NEC P5300 695
Intel 80387-25 590
Okidata 320P 375
Intel 80387SX 375
Okidata 321P 520
Intel 80c287 315
Okidata 390 520
Software Okidata 391 705
Aldus Pagemaker $455 Okidata 393 1105
dBASEIV 450 Okidata 393C 1185
Lotus 1-2-3 v. 3 310 Toshiba 301 315
Lotus Symphony 415 Toshiba 311 380
S Systems 10 MHz XT Microsoft Windows 286 70 Toshiba 341SL 650
•Intel 8088-1 CPU •Enhanced 101 key keyboard Microsoft Windows 386 130 Toshiba 351SX 985
•Phoenix BIOS •XT style case Microsoft Excell 285 Laser Printers
•640K on board •165W power supply Microsoft Word 215
•TEAC 360K floppy drive NEC LC 890 $3405
Microsoft Works 105
•Multi 1/0 w/1P, IS, 1G, Toshiba Pagelaser 2785
Paradox 3.0 415
fdc, clock HP Laserjet 11/11D Call
PFS First Publisher 70
XT/10 Video Options Ventura Publisher 485 Plotters
Drives Mono CGA EGA VGA Word Perfect 5.0 220
HI DMP-52 $2495
Single 650 775 1045 1115 Symantac QSLA 3.0 215
HI DMP-52MP 2945
Dual 675 855 1125 1195
Mice HI DMP-61 3245
20MB 975 1150 1425 1495
Logitech Serial Mouse Call HI DMP-62 4000
40MB 1125 1305 1575 1645
Logitech Bus Mouse Call
Microsoft Mice Call
Video Boards
S Systems 286/12 Modems Hercules Colorcard $155
•Intel 80286-12 CPU •Enhanced 101 key keyboard Hercules Incolorcard 210
•Ami or Phoenix BIOS •Baby AT style case US Robotics 1200 Call Hercules VGA 189
•1MB RAM on board •200W power supply US Robotics 2400 Call
Paradise EGA-350 195
•TEAC 1.44 3.5" floppy drive •Multi I/O card w/1P, 2S ports Okitel 1200B int 125 Paradise EGA-480 210
•Hard/floppy drive controller Okitel 2400B int 200 Paradise VGA-Plus 280
Okitel 2400B Plus int 285 Paradise VGA-Plus-16 320
AT 286-12 Video options Laptop Computers Paradise VGA-Prof 470
Drives Mono EGA VGA
Toshiba 1600-20 $3375 Quadram Quadega 250
Single 855 1305 1375 Video 7 Vega Deluxe 225
Toshiba 1600-40 3775
20MB 1190 1640 1715 Video 7 Vega VGA 300
Toshiba 3100E 2800
40MB 1345 1795 1865 Video 7 Fastwrite VGA 380
Toshiba 3200 3500
Toshiba 5100-40 4275 Video VRAM-VGA 475
S Systems 386-20 Toshiba 5100-100 4925
Multifunction/Memory Boards
•Intel 80386.20 CPU •Hard/floppy controller 11:1) Toshiba 5200-40 5185
•Ami BIOS •Enhanced 101 key keyboard Toshiba 5200-100 5475 AST Rampage 2-256 $290
•1MB on board •AT full style case Zenith Supersport 286 Call AST Rampage-286 Call
•TEAC 1.44 & 1.2MB floppy •220W power supply AST Rampage Plus-286 420
drives •1P, 2S ports Scanners
Intel Above 286-Plus 435
HP Scanjet Call Intel Above PS286 Plus 485
AT 386-20 Video options Logitech Scan Man 225
Drives Mono EGA VGA Niscan OCR 395 Floppy Drives
1795 2225 2305 Surge Protectors Toshiba 360K $70
20MB 2028 2475 2545 Toshiba 1.2MB 85
Curtis Diamond Call
40MB 2325 2625 2700 Toshiba 720K 75
Curtis Emerald Call
80MB 2450 2885 2965 Toshiba 1.44MB 90
Curtis Ruby Call
Kensington Masterpiece 100 TEAC 360K 75
TEAC 1.2MB 90
Monochrome Monitors Fax Machines TEAC 720K 80
Amdek V210A $85 Sharp FO-220 $750 TEAC 1.44MB 90
Amdek V410A 150 Sharp FO-300 1025
NEC Multisync GS 220 Sharp FO-330 1075 Accelerator Boards
Samsung mono-12 flat 105 Murata 1200 650 Intel Inboard 386-PC 650
Samsung mono 14 105 Murata 1600 875 Intel Inboard 386 900

To order call 1-800-837-3573; Fax # 708-495-2629

• Lease Available • No returns without RMA# ELS ENTERPRISES, LTD.

• Certified & Cashiers Check • 30 Day Return Policy 15 E. Madison, Lombard, IL 60148
• Wire-Transfer, Money Orders • No returns on Software
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm CST
• Personal & Co. checks allow 10 days • Prices subject to change without
Saturday 10am-4pm
to clear. notice.

Circle 95 on Reader Service Card

Circle 167 on Reader Service Card

A STANDARDS DICTIONARY

Small Drive.
Great Deal.
Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) Microsoft for the AT, PS/2s, and other
With the advent of the PS/2 machines, machines with Intel 80286, 80386, or
IBM introduced the Micro Channel ar- 80486 microprocessors. Although it is
chitecture, a multimaster, fully speci- not in widespread use at the present mo-
fied 16-/32-bit bus with a minimum ment, OS/2 (along with Presentation
cycle time of 100 nanoseconds. The Manager, its graphical user interface) is
from MCA is IBM's contender to replace ISA, slowly gaining popularity in the PC

Manzana.
but it is seeing only alimited acceptance marketplace.
due to incompatibility with existing
cards and IBM royalty considerations. PC-DOS
This sleek little drive is our IBM's PC-DOS is an OEM version of
Host-Powered Plus. Shop Microsoft Windows MS-DOS. There are various versions of
Microsoft Windows (and its 80286 and PC-DOS that populate the majority of
around. Compare this ex-
80386 cousins) is a windowing and PCs and compatibles.
ceptional 3.5" drive with our multitasking environment for PCs and
competition. It's about 1/3 compatibles running MS-DOS or PC- PC-DOS-CP/M Text File Format
the size, at least $20 cheaper, DOS. The Windows user interface re- The text file format used by PC-DOS is
and it comes with all hard- sembles that of IBM and Microsoft's Pre- the same as that used by its ancestor,
sentation Manager for OS/2. CP/M. Lines are terminated by both a
ware and software needed
carriage return character (CR, ASCII
for most installations. In Monochrome Display/Printer code 13) and alinefeed character (LF,
fact, all our 3.5" and 51/ 4" Adapter (MDA) ASCII code 10), and the end of the file is
products are agreat deal. MDA was one of the original display op- indicated by a Control-Z. (Many PC-
They come with documenta- tions on the PC. Driving ahigh-persis- DOS programs omit the latter convention
tence TTL monochrome monitor with and rely on the operating system's record
tion PC Magazine calls two display intensities, the MDA showed of the file size.)
"outstanding" and are 25 lines of 80 characters each. The 9- by Although this file format doesn't have
backed by knowledgeable 14-character cell made this adapter supe- an official name, all files sent as text via
sales and technical support rior to the CGA (which used an 8- by 8- the XMODEM protocol, for instance,
character cell) for text. must be converted to it before being
teams. When you're ready
transmitted. Other operating systems
for the best, call Manzana. Microsoft Disk Operating System (such as Unix) use alinefeed character
HOST-POWERED PLUS $374.95
(MS-DOS) alone to end aline; still others use alone
External 1.44MB 3.5" drive for ATs. This PC operating system had its origins carriage return.
HIGH -DENSITY EXTERNAL $384.95 in an 8086-based CP/M clone, 86-DOS,
Host-powered 1.44MB drive for XTs. created by Seattle Computer Products. Presentation Manager (PM)
Includes HDC to replace controller. Presentation Manager is the graphical
3rd INTERNAL' PLUS $289.95 MS-Net user interface standard developed for
Third internal 3-
5" 1.44MB drive for ATs.
MS-Net is Microsoft's standard for net- OS/2 by IBM and Microsoft. (It was first
INTERNAL PLUS $199.95
working MS-DOS. Using a redirector shipped with OS/2 1.1.) PM uses over-
1.44MB 3.5" drive in a51/
4"frame for ATs.
and NetBIOS, an MS-Net-based network lapping windows, each containing an op-
MANZANA/12 $374.95
External 1.2MB/360K 51/
4"drive for PS/2s.
allows peer-to-peer networking through tional mouse-driven menu. PM is an
MANZANA/360 $344.95 the server message block (SMB) protocol. evolving standard; one of the most sig-
External 360K 51/
4 "drive for PS/2s. nificant ways that OS/2 1.2 is expected to
MANZANA/1M $374.95 Multicolor Graphics Array (MCGA) be different from 1.1 is in its greater use
External I.44M133.5" drive for PS/2 model 30. IBM introduced the MCGA as part of the of icons.
3rd INTERNAL' MUX CARD $99.95 PS/2 Model 30. It provides some of the
Supports athird internal 3.5" drive. capabilities of IBM's VGA display adapt- Professional Graphics Adapter
HIGH-DENSITY er and runs with aPS/2 analog monitor. (PGA)
CONTROLLER (HDC) $94.95
The IBM professional graphics adapter
Replaces XT controller to support 1.44 MB
NetBIOS was ahigh-end intelligent graphics board
3.5" drives, such as Internal Plus.
NetBIOS is an API that lets programs mostly used for CAD applications. Due
running on IBM PCs access a LAN. to several factors, PGA did not become a
TM
Commands are provided to control activ- popular standard.
ity on the Medium Access Control and
session layers of the International Stan- RS-232 Connector (nine-pin)
dards Organization protocol stack; all When IBM decided to make acombina-
Manzana other layers are hidden. MS-Net uses Net- tion serial/parallel adapter for the AT, a
BIOS to implement peripheral sharing. small connector format was needed to
Manzana MicroSystems, Inc. (See "Understanding NetBIOS," Janu- allow both of the interfaces to fit on the
PO Box 2117 •Goleta, CA 93118 ary BYTE.) back of a standard ISA interface card.
(Fax: 805/968-5449) Because the parallel connector could not
GO WITH OS/2 be shrunk, the serial connector was; sub-
MICRO D
805/968-1387 OS/2 is a protected-mode multitasking sequently, the nine-conductor pin-out for
operating system developed by IBM and continued

214 Fall 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition

 The New 25 MHz Executive
325ET combines all the latest tech-
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Circle 217 on Reader Service Card

 A STANDARDS DICTIONARY

RS-232C became a de facto industry on the work of an earlier standardization the VCAPI allows applications to control
standard. The nine pins are assigned as effort called Ringmaster. interfaces to telephone lines, a speech
follows: synthesizer, amodem, adialer, an adap-
Video Graphics Array (VGA) tive differential pulse-code modulation
1—carrier detect; 2—receive data; 3— VGA is IBM's primary graphics stan- (ADPCM) sound-recording/playback fa-
transmit data; 4—data terminal ready; dard for the PS/2 line of machines, and cility, and aspeech recognition facility.
5—ground; 6—data set ready; 7—re- VGA-compatible graphics cards are cur- Reached via interrupt 14h, the VCAPI
quest to send; 8—clear to send; 9—ring rently available from many vendors. The manages amultitasking TMS 320 signal-
indicator. VGA works with either acolor monitor processing chip, along with its associ-
or ablack-and-white gray-scale monitor; ated hardware.
Server Message Block Protocol it is able to sense automatically the type
(SMB) of monitor and adjust accordingly. The WordStar File Format
The SMB protocol is used in MS-Net net- maximum graphics resolution of the Like the standard MS-DOS text file for-
works for peer-to-peer file and periph- VGA is 640 by 480 pixels; it can display mat, this format is aveteran of the CP/M
eral sharing. SMB is generally imple- up to 16 simultaneous colors at that reso- operating system. It is similar to the stan-
mented using the session commands of lution, or 256 simultaneous colors with a dard text file format but sets the high bit
NetBIOS; however, implementations are resolution of 320 by 200 pixels. in the last letter of each word in filled and
available for machines other than the PC justified text. The high bit of each char-
(e.g., the VAX) so that they can act as Virtual Control Program Interface acter is also used to distinguish between
servers. (VCPI) hard and soft end-of-line sequences and
The VCPI is astandard that allows pro- movable and nonmovable hyphens. Con-
TesSerRact (TSR) grams that take advantage of the 80386's trol characters set off regions of the text
TesSerRact is astandard developed by a protected mode to run under MS-DOS or with special attributes, such as boldface
team of programmers on CompuServe PC-DOS. and underlining. •
for. terminate-and-stay-resident pro-
grams for the PC. TSR programs devel- Voice Communications Application L. Brett Glass is afreelance program-
oped to this standard can coexist amica- Program Interface (VCAPI) mer, author, and hardware designer re-
bly with one another and can be removed Part of IBM's voice communications op- siding in Palo Alto, California. He can be
safely from memory. TesSerRact builds tion (now out of production) for the AT, reached on BIX as "glass."

How does FOUNTAIN 386SX

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Circle 106 on Reader Service Card

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Circle 240 on Reader Service Card

Several steps faster than the competition.

EVEREX STEP EVEREX STEP EVEREX STEP

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*MIPS benchmaries based on 'The Databaie Croup Power Miter MIPS verston 1.2

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 Better yet, you'll find that STEP systems are about as flexible as they come. We offer,
for instance, both small-footprint and standard chassis sizes. 8full-length expansion slots.
3front panel selectable clock speeds. Plus BIOS support for over 60 drives.
All brought to you by one of the fastest growing computer companies in
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Which makes your next step arather obvious one. Call 1-800-334-4552 for more
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AMMA, Everex and STEP are trademarks of Everex Systems, Me. 384 Ira trademards of Intel Co?. All other names indssated by eare reg stored trademarks of their respernve holders. (.) 1989 Everex Systems, In.

Circle 99 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 100)

Irvaaarm0,1 re JICJI14 CItt4 Ill -

unnecessary.
eludes components specific to Not all strength reductions
a particular language: the are made in the interest of
scanner, which recognizes generating the best code. For
lexical elements, and the example, many compilers
parser, which builds a tree- perform the famous Whet-
structured representation of stone strength reduction
the program. The compiler's exp(ln(u)) = u. This redue-
tree walker, or intermediate continued

ILLUSTRATION: ROB COLVIN @-1 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 221
 Don't Let the
Deskton
OPTIMIZING NUMERIC COPROCESSING

tion—only one of a number of similar just the hot spots in the code. This com-
ones that could be made but are not— Listing 1: FORTRAN code for promise works well.
plays akey role in the speed of the Whet- the crucial section of the Whetmat Peephole optimization smooths out the
stone, which affects the sales of chips benchmark. rough edges in machine-generated code.
and compilers but little else. Its name reflects the small (two- or
INTEGER I,J,K
The other common front-end optimi- three-instruction) window, or peephole,
DIMENSION A(140,140),B(140,140),
zation is the reduction of constant expres- C(140,140) used to examine the code. The peephole
sions into literal constants. If the com- optimizer looks for short sequences that
DO 150 I = 1,100
piler can determine that an expression's DO 140 J = 1,100 are easy to recognize and reduce. For ex-
arguments are constants, it can perform C(I,J) = 0 ample, the sequence
DO 130 K m 1,100
the operation itself and replace the opera- C(I,J) m C(I,J) + A(I,K)*B(K,J)
tor node in the tree with aconstant node. CONTINUE push eax
140 CONTINUE
pop eax
150 CONTINUE
Intermediate Optimizations
Among the intermediate optimizations is ameaningless piece of code that can be
are eliminating code that never executes removed in the peephole stage.
or whose output is never referenced,
moving loop-invariant code outside Listing 2: Pseudocode for the Benefits of Optimization
loops, rearranging loops, caching (plac- crucial section's inner loop. Now Iwant to present two benchmarks
ing in registers) hot variables and ad- I've adapted from the Whetstone bench-
start:
dresses used in loops, and eliminating compute the address of the i,kth mark. The first, which Icall Whetscale,
common subexpressions. Such optimiza- element of A tests scalar floating-point arithmetic and
tions are normally accompanied by a load A(I,K) in fp register 1
compute the address of the k,jth
measures raw coprocessor speed. This
data-flow analysis that generates statis- element of B benchmark is available on BIX along
tics about each block, procedure, and multiply B(K,J) with the contents with several other benchmarks under
of fp register 1
variable in the program. These statistics compute the address of the i,jth "jmicroway." The second, which Icall
will be used downstream by the code element of C Whetmat, does amatrix multiply, which
add C(I,J) to fp register 1
generator. Since all this information is compute the address of the i,jth complicates the arithmetic with index-
stored in the tree, the process is often re- element of C ing. In the Whetmat, the interaction be-
ferred to as "decorating the tree." store the contents of fp register 1
to C(I,J)
tween CPU and FPU makes good opti-
Intermediate optimizations can make increment k mization especially critical. I'll trace
ahuge difference in the way some code test k and jump to start if less what happens to the speed of the Weitek
than 101
performs and hardly any in other cases. 3167 as the various optimization and
Why? If you write code that already in- code-generation features of aFORTRAN
corporates these optimizations, there's compiler are successively enabled.
little the compiler can improve. In prac- When compiled with aglobally opti-
tice, though, manually optimized code Listing 3: The inner loop with mizing compiler, the Whetscale mea-
isn't very legible, so many programmers register-caching optimization. sures the rate at which anumeric copro-
prefer to write more readable code and cessor performs elementary register-to-
let the optimizer spruce it up. Most pro- DUN = 0
register floating-point operations. These
DO 130 K . 1,100
grams do benefit from optimization. DUN = DUN + A(I,K)*B(K,J) operations are always the fastest because
lnlining of procedures is an important 130 CONTINUE they don't reference memory and can
optimization. As more programmers take advantage of the wide internal data
write in C and use structured techniques, paths inside the coprocessor. The Whet-
the overhead of function calls becomes computers will be able to do 20 to 40 mil- scale code is an example of a piece of
significant. Such programs tend to jump lion floating-point operations per second software that is 100 percent floating-
around as much as they execute. Assume (MFLOPS) as long as everything stays point-bound and for which it is easy to
that it takes 100 cycles to call and return on-chip. Variables that stay in registers figure out what the precise floating-point
from afunction that takes only 20 cycles can be accessed much faster than those in activities are: 12 additions, 1negate, 4
to execute. Placing the procedure in-line the cache or off-chip memory. Going off- multiplies, and 4 floating-point stores
(i.e., within the main program flow) chip for operands is like throwing out an and loads. Ideveloped a weighting
yields afivefold improvement. anchor from asailboat—something you scheme that produces aresult measured
The technique used to inline functions just don't want to do. Intelligent register in Whetscales, and these can be inter-
is to compile all the procedures in an ap- allocation is the way to prevent that. preted as the number of scalar floating-
plication into unoptimized trees, taking A good compiler analyzes variable us- point operations per second. Since there
statistics about each. Then the tree-walk- age over procedures before it allocates are no 80386 instructions in the code, the
er decides whether to graft aprocedure registers. It also tries to keep the number Whetscale—when compiled optimally,
onto the tree (i.e., inline it) or call it. In- of variables that are register candidates with all variables in registers—places an
lining plays acrucial role in speeding up as large as possible until the allocation upper limit on coprocessor speed.
systems that incur abig penalty when re- has occurred. Even with data-flow anal- Iran the Whetscale on several ma-
quired to refill the processor's pipeline. ysis, this task is complicated by the pos- chines. The 25-MHz Acer was represen-
sibility of aliases (i.e., multiple variables tative of the best results. With a25-MHz
Generating Code that refer to the same location). So the Weitek 3167, the Acer achieved 3.05
Register allocation is the crucial issue code generator tries to minimize the MFLOPS. The 25-MHz 80387 result
here. The forthcoming generation of analysis by doing avery thorough job on was, by contrast, .798 MFLOPS. The re-

222 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 Better yet, you'll find that STEP systems are about as flexible as they come. V4 offer,
for instance, both small-footprint and standard chassis sizes. 8full-length expansion slots.
3front panel selectable clock speeds. Plus BIOS support for over 60 drives.
All brought to you by one of the fastest growing computer companies in
America. Namely, Everex. And anationwide network of the finest resellers who
ever configured asystem or supported acustomer.
Which makes your next step arather obvious one. Call 1-800-334-4552 for more
information and the name of your nearest Authorized Everex Reseller. VEREX— lit

AMMA, Everm and STEP are trademarks 35 Evmex Systems, Inc 386 ,s atrademark of Intel Cogs All other names mdtrated ak are regtsteres("trademarks of them respernw holders 4) /989 berm Systems, 1rd

Circle 99 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 100)

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Circle 168 on Reader Service Card

 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

OPTIMIZING
NUMERIC
COPROCESSING
Advanced numeric devices need quality code
to deliver rated performance

Stephen Fried

ntil the day arrives when section, traverses the representation and mations that replace one run-time calcu-
CPUs with on-chip rearranges it in a more efficient form. lation with another, faster one. For
FPUs, such as the 80484 The back end, or code generator, writes example, the FORTRAN expression
and T800, perform float- the object code. You can find and per- (x**2) can be replaced by (x*x); simple
ing-point operations in a form optimizations in the front end and multiplication is about 10 times faster
single cycle, there will be aneed for nu- the intermediate section. than exponentiation. For an 80386 run-
meric coprocessors like the Weitek 3167 ning with a3167, it pays to perform this
and 4167. These devices employ large Front-End Optimizations strength reduction for integral exponents
areas of silicon to perform multiplication The most common front-end optimiza- that fall between —4 and 11.
and addition nearly as fast as they are fed tions are strength reductions—transfor- Other opportunities for strength re-
operands and operators. That duction are cases of multipli-
also makes them exquisitely cation or division by 1or —1;
sensitive to the quality of the multiplication, subtraction, or
CPU code that drives them. addition of 0; and addition or
I'll explore how compiler op- subtraction of 1. However, the
timizations can yield anearly new generation of coproces-
sixfold increase in the speed sors invalidates some previ-
of aWeitek 3167. ously standard strength re-
The art of generating fast- ductions. For example, it
running programs boils down used to be faster to add or
to two problems: transform- shift than to multiply, so an
ing the program into a new excellent reduction was to
program that is faster but convert multiplications to a
gives the same results (opti- series of shifts and additions
mization) and choosing the where possible. The more
fastest sequence of processor powerful multipliers of the
instructions for that new pro- latest generation of coproces-
gram (code generation). sors render that optimization
A compiler's front end in- unnecessary.
cludes components specific to Not all strength reductions
a particular language: the are made in the interest of
scanner, which recognizes generating the best code. For
lexical elements, and the example, many compilers
parser, which builds a tree- perform the famous Whet-
structured representation of stone strength reduction
the program. The compiler's exp(ln(u)) = u. This reduc-
tree walker, or intermediate continued

ILLUSTRATION: ROB COLVIN 0 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 221
 OPTIMIZING NUMERIC COPROCESSING

tion—only one of a number of similar just the hot spots in the code. This com-
ones that could be made but are not— Listing 1: FORTRAN code for promise works well.
plays akey role in the speed of the Whet- the crucial section of the Whetmat Peephole optimization smooths out the
stone, which affects the sales of chips benchmark. rough edges in machine-generated code.
and compilers but little else. Its name reflects the small (two- or
INTEGER I,J,K three-instruction) window, or peephole,
The other common front-end optimi- DIMENSION A(140,140),B(140,140),
zation is the reduction of constant expres- C(140,140) used to examine the code. The peephole
sions into literal constants. If the com- optimizer looks for short sequences that
DO 150 I = 1,100
piler can determine that an expression's DO 140 J = 1,100 are easy to recognize and reduce. For ex-
arguments are constants, it can perform C(I,J) = 0 ample, the sequence
DO 130 K = 1,100
the operation itself and replace the opera- C(I,J) C(I,J) + A(I,K)*B(K,J)
tor node in the tree with aconstant node. CONTINUE push eax
140 CONTINUE pop eax
150 CONTINUE
Intermediate Optimizations
Among the intermediate optimizations is ameaningless piece of code that can be
are eliminating code that never executes removed in the peephole stage.
or whose output is never referenced,
moving loop-invariant code outside Listing 2: Pseudocode for the Benefits of Optimization
loops, rearranging loops, caching (plac- crucial section's inner loop. Now Iwant to present two benchmarks
ing in registers) hot variables and ad- I've adapted from the Whetstone bench-
start:
dresses used in loops, and eliminating compute the address of the i,kth
mark. The first, which Icall Whetscale,
common subexpressions. Such optimiza- element of A tests scalar floating-point arithmetic and
tions are normally accompanied by a load A(I,K) in fp register 1 measures raw coprocessor speed. This
compute the address of the k,jth
data-flow analysis that generates statis- element of B benchmark is available on BIX along
tics about each block, procedure, and multiply B(K,J) with the contents with several other benchmarks under
of fp register 1
variable in the program. These statistics compute the address of the i,jth "jmicroway." The second, which Icall
will be used downstream by the code element of C Whetmat, does amatrix multiply, which
add C(I,J) to fp register 1
generator. Since all this information is compute the address of the i,jth
complicates the arithmetic with index-
stored in the tree, the process is often re- element of C ing. In the Whetmat, the interaction be-
ferred to as "decorating the tree." store the contents of fp register 1 tween CPU and FPU makes good opti-
to C(I,J)
Intermediate optimizations can make increment k mization especially critical. I'll trace
ahuge difference in the way some code test k and jump to start if less what happens to the speed of the Weitek
than 101
performs and hardly any in other cases. 3167 as the various optimization and
Why? If you write code that already in- code-generation features of aFORTRAN
corporates these optimizations, there's compiler are successively enabled.
little the compiler can improve. In prac- When compiled with aglobally opti-
tice, though, manually optimized code Listing 3: The inner loop with mizing compiler, the Whetscale mea-
isn't very legible, so many programmers register-caching optimization. sures the rate at which anumeric copro-
prefer to write more readable code and cessor performs elementary register-to-
let the optimizer spruce it up. Most pro- DUM * 0 register floating-point operations. These
DO 130 K m 1,100
grams do benefit from optimization. DUN * DUN + A(I,K)*B(K,J) operations are always the fastest because
miming of procedures is an important 130 CONTINUE they don't reference memory and can
optimization. As more programmers take advantage of the wide internal data
write in C and use structured techniques, paths inside the coprocessor. The Whet-
the overhead of function calls becomes computers will be able to do 20 to 40 mil- scale code is an example of apiece of
significant. Such programs tend to jump lion floating-point operations per second software that is 100 percent floating-
around as much as they execute. Assume (MFLOPS) as long as everything stays point-bound and for which it is easy to
that it takes 100 cycles to call and return on-chip. Variables that stay in registers figure out what the precise floating-point
from afunction that takes only 20 cycles can be accessed much faster than those in activities are: 12 additions, 1negate, 4
to execute. Placing the procedure in-line the cache or off-chip memory. Going off- multiplies, and 4 floating-point stores
(i.e., within the main program flow) chip for operands is like throwing out an and loads. Ideveloped a weighting
yields afivefold improvement. anchor from asailboat—something you scheme that produces aresult measured
The technique used to inline functions just don't want to do. Intelligent register in Whetscales, and these can be inter-
is to compile all the procedures in an ap- allocation is the way to prevent that. preted as the number of scalar floating-
plication into unoptimized trees, taking A good compiler analyzes variable us- point operations per second. Since there
statistics about each. Then the tree-walk- age over procedures before it allocates are no 80386 instructions in the code, the
er decides whether to graft aprocedure registers. It also tries to keep the number Whetscale—when compiled optimally,
onto the tree (i.e., inline it) or call it. In- of variables that are register candidates with all variables in registers—places an
lining plays acrucial role in speeding up as large as possible until the allocation upper limit on coprocessor speed.
systems that incur abig penalty when re- has occurred. Even with data-flow anal- Iran the Whetscale on several ma-
quired to refill the processor's pipeline. ysis, this task is complicated by the pos- chines. The 25-MHz Acer was represen-
sibility of aliases (i.e., multiple variables tative of the best results. With a25-MHz
Generating Code that refer to the same location). So the Weitek 3167, the Acer achieved 3.05
Register allocation is the crucial issue code generator tries to minimize the MFLOPS. The 25-MHz 80387 result
here. The forthcoming generation of analysis by doing avery thorough job on was, by contrast, .798 MFLOPS. The re-

222 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 OPTIMIZING NUMERIC COPROCESSING

suits can be interpreted simply. The Wei- it depends on data-flow analysis. 4 to the current address of A and
tek 3167 does over 3million basic float- Once you've handled the redundant 4x140 =560 to the address of B. It ac-
ing-point operations per second, the address calculation, though, you've complishes this by setting up registers to
80387 only about 800,000. Used as a barely scratched the surface. The com- hold the addresses of A and B and incre-
baseline, the Whetscale makes it possi- putation of the addresses of the inner loop menting them by 4and 560 at the end of
ble to figure out how much time other variables is the next candidate for simpli- the loop. This optimization, in conjunc-
benchmarks waste doing address calcu- fication. These addresses depend on the tion with the previous one, boosted per-
lations and fetching operands from mem- single variable K and several constants formance on the Weitek from .29
ory. For example, Iweighted the Whet- that don't change (I, J, and the size of the MFLOPS to .77 MFLOPS.
mat in the same way I weighted the array) as K does. K is an induction vari- Next, the compiler can take advantage
Whetscale but at best got only 1.7 able; the compiler figures out that, every of the fact that the array elements C(I,J)
MFLOPS from the 3167 (see next sec- time K increments, it's necessary to add continued
tion). From this Iconcluded that an opti-
mally coded 3167 vector operation
spends 40 percent or more of its time per-
forming nonnumerical activities.
Engineers and Scientists
Found Plotting Behind
The Whetmat Benchmark
Idesigned the Whetmat benchmark to
measure the speed of asingle-precision
matrix multiplication. This is the kind of
real-world problem at which a good Businessmen's Backs!
FORTRAN compiler must excel. It also
shows how optimization is the key to
high-speed numeric processing. Listing
LOAD CURVES
1shows the most time-consuming part of
the Whetmat. It's slowed by several 0.5 with
things: two floating-point operations per (Ike successful atest)

TECH*
0.0 o °
iteration of the loop, address calculations
for all elements in the arrays, and oper-

GRAPH*
-0.5
and fetches from memory.
As Ienabled the various optimizations 1.0
of the NDP FORTRAN compiler, the re-
sults improved by afactor of 5.8. This 15 2nd Order Curve Fits:
o y= .16 -
26x +.014,2
PAD...
actually means that as the code im-
lest saeeesstof WO me y=.34 -37e +.020e2
proved, the number of 80386 cycles re-
quired to support the Weitek 3167 de-
-2A
o y=.21 -104e +.113e 2 Plotting and
clined by afactor of 5.8. 2.5
0 7 4 6 8 17 12 11 14
20 graphing software
Listing 2 shows how anonoptimizing
compiler would handle the Whetmat's for engineers and
inner loop. You can see immediately that
the address of C(I,J) is computed twice
100% LOTUS Compatible scientists.
per iteration—a waste of time. There are
three ways to tackle this problem. A Still trying to get engineering & scientific graphs from spreadsheets
compiler that can remove local common or business programs? If so, you need TECH*GRAPH*PAD, the
subexpressions would analyze this block, industry standard technical graphing & plotting software for
discover that the second address calcula- engineers & scientists. Directly reads data from Lotus 1-2-3 work-
tion was redundant, and eliminate it. sheets, other spreadsheets, & most data acquisition hardware &
Similarly, a compiler that can remove software. GUARANTEED easy-to-use or your money back!
global common subexpressions would
find that the address of C(I,J) was com- According to PC MAGAZINE, "TECH*GRAPH*PAD
puted in the previous block (when the ref- is fast, easy-to-use, and produces good-looking output."
erenced element was initialized to zero)
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Circle 29 on Reader Service Card BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fa 111989 223
 OPTIMIZING NUMERIC COPROCESSING

refer to asingle entity from the point of in-line. It takes more space but runs case, Idetermined that the increase in
initialization to the end of the inner loop. much faster because it keeps the proces- speed over the whole range of the experi-
This entity should be treated like ascalar sor's pipeline filled. Since the 80386 has ment was virtually identical to the reduc-
for the course of the calculation. That to fill its prefetch queue every time it tion in the number of 80386 op codes per
way, the code generator can leave C(I,J) makes ajump, unrolling the loop yields loop—that is,
in aregister for the duration of the inner considerable savings. At the same time,
loop, where it really belongs. The effect the compiler can use base addressing ratio of throughput = 1.7/2.91 = 5.8
of this optimization is to transform the mode with an immediate constant that in- ratio of 80386 op codes/loop = 23/4
inner loop into the fragment shown in creases by 4and 560 on each roll through = 5.75
Listing 3. This transformation is called the loop. Loop unrolling brought the
register caching. Few compilers perform benchmark result to 1.4 MFLOPS. These results prove my thesis. In situa-
it because in addition to aglobal data- There's one more possibility. Because tions where numeric operations run as
flow analysis it requires acareful search dot products are so important in the nu- fast as basic CPU operations, the crucial
for aliases. Because even some of the merics repertoire, advanced FPUs like issues in attaining rated numeric
best mainframe compilers don't do regis- the Weitek 3167 often supply aspecial throughput are register allocation and re-
ter caching, well-written programs like instruction to perform them. It's called duction of the number of CPU operations
LINPAK explicitly use dummy variables the multiply/accumulate, and NDP FOR- required to support the numerics. The
in place of array elements when the array TRAN supports it. With the multiply/ next generation of numeric processors
element is being used as an accumulator. accumulate switch turned on, the bench- will reach their full potential only with
With register caching turned on, perfor- mark result jumped to 1.7 MFLOPS. the help of advanced optimization tech-
mance jumped to 1.11 MFLOPS. In the process of turning on these opti- niques that minimize the number of sup-
At this point, you're starting to scrape mizations, Whetmat performance went porting 80386 (or 80486) operations. •
the bottom of the barrel. The next opti- from .291 MFLOPS to 1.7 MFLOPS—a
mization depends on an idiosyncrasy of nearly sixfold improvement in code qual- Stephen Fried is well known for his work
the 80386 prefetch mechanism and ity. There's another way to look at this: in chemical lasers and the use of numeric
works in conjunction with advanced The code in the inner loop of this pro- coprocessors in the IBM PC. He is vice
80386 addressing modes. The trick em- gram was reduced in size by afactor of president of R & D at Micro Way, Inc., in
ployed here, called loop unrolling, en- almost 6. By counting the 80386 op Kingston, Massachusetts, and can be
tails placing sets of four loop iterations codes executed per inner loop in each contacted on BIX do "editors."

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 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

I
NVENTING
THE PC's
FUTURE
Architectural limitations could have the DOS world up against the wall
without compatibility, technology, and design breakthroughs

Gordon A. Campbell

everal issues have to be opposed to merely cranking up CPU was the minicomputer of the 1970s,
resolved before personal speeds—will dominate the development launched by companies such as Digital
computers will be able to of the industry-standard personal com- Equipment, Wang Laboratories, and
perform better, faster, or puter in the 1990s. Data General. Today the industry is
more powerfully. One firmly entrenched in phase three, the era
major concern is that certain barriers Anything You Can Do... of the personal computer.
may have been reached and that going be- The computer industry evolved through Each phase of this evolution was based
yond them may require more than just a three distinct phases. The first, really on a parallel development in semicon-
leap of faith. Jumping up to the next level started by IBM, was the mainframe ductor chip technology. This process is
of personal computer performance may computer of the 1960s. The second phase especially true in the IBM PC world,
not happen as quickly or as which is by far the fastest-
smoothly as the orders of evolving branch of the com-
magnitude of previous im- puter industry.
provement took place. Throughout the 1980s, the
During the past 25 years, PC-compatible world, includ-
chip technology has kept up ing semiconductor suppliers,
with developments in associ- PC manufacturers, and PC
ated device hardware and users, has gone through some
software. But after pushing interesting technology transi-
the limits of personal com- tions. In most cases, the tran-
puters to levels unthought of sitions were driven primarily
even afew years ago, the in- by the rate of productivity and
dustry may have painted itself the innovations present in sili-
into atechnological corner. It con technology.
must now take the time to un- The first PC, as defined by
ravel some tangles that it has IBM, processed approximate-
created in the areas of com- ly 100,000 instructions per
patibility, silicon technology, second—about one-tenth of a
and design expertise. MIPS (1 million instructions
In part because of advances per second). In those days
made in chip technology, the (the early 1980s) it cost about
industry has been able to build $50,000 to put atheoretical 1
higher and higher perfor- MIPS of processing power on
mance into microcomputers. your desktop. During the last
This process of continual ar- five years or so, the suppliers
chitectural innovation driven of microprocessors, systems
by silicon methodology—as continued

ILLUSTRATION: KATHERINE MAHONEY © 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 229
 INVENTING THE PC'S FUTURE

logic, and other PC system semiconduc- machines may come with astandard 10 ure 1). This economy of scale is one rea-
tor components have driven the transfor- MIPS of processing power. son PCs have reached such astaggering
mation from one-tenth-of-a-MIPS ma- Sometime between 1990 and 1995, level of sales.
chines to 2- to 4-MIPS machines. 100-MIPS PCs should arrive. This im- The nose-diving cost of raw comput-
In the course of this transition, the cost provement in collective processing ing power is the result of two factors:
of that theoretical 1MIPS of processing power will bring the cost per MIPS down progress in microprocessor technology
power was driven below $1000. In fact, below $50. The dramatic drop from and the growing numbers of manufac-
some 80286-based machines now ship- $50,000 to $50 per MIPS illustrates the turers of integrated system logic, graph-
ping already approach the $500-per- orders-of-magnitude increase in produc- ics, I/O, and communications chip sets.
MIPS point. By 1990, PC-compatible tivity the industry has achieved (see fig- continued

THE DECLINING COST OF POWER

4.77

$50,000
8

8
$5,000
Cost per MIPS

25
16
12
20
6 25 33
40

20
25
$500

$50

84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92

Year

KEY:

8088/86 PC, 96 SSI chips BIM 80386 PC, 4VLSI, 40 SSI chips SSI =small-scale integration
4.77 to 8+ MHz 16 to 25 MHz

I I80286 PC, 4VLSI, 40 SSI chips 80386/486 PC (with cache) VLSI =very large-scale integration
6to 25 MHz 3VLSI, 19 SSI chips
25 to 40+ MHz

Figure 1: These curves represent processing power (in MHz and chip technology) and aPC time line.
Succeeding generations offaster and more-complex microprocessors have married with ever-higher levels of integration
to produce lower computing costs per MIPS.

230 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 1j _J\ Ir1
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writing the code. your program. quickly and easily.
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Quickly create your own your application with a Capture screens, then Use fast ASCII-based
program screens in the memory-resident utility. modify and supplement screen design to
screen design module. Edit them in the screen them with the screen express your ideas.
Use "what if" editing design module and design module. Use Build an exciting "slide
features to experiment create any additional versatile 4GL commands show" with easy 4GL
with layout and color. screens you may need. to interact extensively commands for special
All screens are saved to Use simple 4GL with your user. Build a effects such as wipes,
disk and may be edited commands for interactive realistic tutorial with dissolves and animation.
repeatedly. Simulate or timed screen display. the added benefits of Add captured graphics.
your program in action, Add animation to make pop-up help windows, Control display by
including menu structure, your demo come alive. prompts, error messages, pressing akey, or time it
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Circle 119 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 120)
 NEC INVENTING THE PC'S FUTURE

PORTABLE
MULTISPEED
EL LAPTOP COMPUTER The advent of the microprocessor created When this technology was first put into
the PC and revolutionized the industry place, NMOS was the highest-perfor-
because it offered end users vast amounts mance, cheapest way to manufacture
of inexpensive processing power. transistors in an integrated block. How-
Closely related to the importance of ever, arelated technology called CMOS
the microprocessor is the concept of the provided the technology to reach VLSI
chip set. With this innovation, manufac- levels of hundreds of thousands of tran-
turers were able to shoehorn the same sistors on a chip and even ultra-large-
logic functions onto five or fewer very- scale-integration levels of over 1million
large-scale-integration (VLSI) chips, transistors on achip.
compared to the 100-plus small-scale-in- During the same time frame in which
tegration and medium-scale-integration the industry was moving into NMOS and
chips that IBM had used to design the CMOS process technologies, line-width
original PC. technologies, which govern the actual
The coming of the chip set not only physical dimensions of transistors, have
•8086 microprocessor (4.77 Mhz/9.54 Mhz) moved line widths from around 2 to 4
software & hardware switchable. mils down to 4to 5microns and, today,
•640K RAM. •LCD Supertwist Screen. something like 1.5 microns and rapidly
•Resolution: 640x200 dpi. going to 1 micron. Beyond CMOS, a
•Two 720KB 3-1/2" disk drives.
•1RS232 serial port.
The newer process technology known as Bi-
CMOS (a hybrid of bipolar and CMOS
PC industry is now fully
•1Centronics parallel port.
•1CRT adapter. •MSDOS 3.2. technologies) promises to deliver both
•Standard keyboard with HELP speed and the ability to integrate large
& POP-UP keys. •Separate numeric entrenched in the world numbers of transistors.
keypad. •AC adapter. •Nicad battery pk. The 1-micron CMOS process barrier
•Resident software programs: Notepad-
20,000 word spell checker, Filer, Dialer,
of CMOS. is amilestone in the semiconductor and
Telcom, & Setup. •Model #: EL1-1601 PC industries. As they make the transi-
•Dim.: 13.vw x12.4"Dx 3.25H. tion to 1-micron technologies, the possi-
•Weight: 11.5 lbs. •One Year Warranty! bility of producing the oft-talked-about
•Factory New! • Factory Perfect! single-chip PC becomes apractical real-
lowered raw silicon costs but also pro- ity. The 1-micron barrier is atrue water-
Manufacturer's vided away for manufacturers to easily shed for putting PCs into silicon technol-
PUBLIC NOTICE
Suggested Retail and quickly bring new generations of
Due to a manufac- ogy. The technology is solid and is likely
turers closeout, we $2,195.00 PCs to market. The same concept was to have adramatic impact.
were able to obtain
a large inventory of DAMARK PRICE: applied to graphics and is now being ap- The PC industry is now firmly en-
these portable corn
plied to I/O, mass storage control, and trenched in the world of CMOS. VLSI
puters. As a result
we can now Ow
them to you at
799
Item No. B-1442-127698
other PC subsystems. circuits are driving integration levels to
the ultimate Holy Grail of single-chip
HUGE SAVINGS! Insured Ship/Hand.: $12.00
Alphabet Stew systems. PCs with single-chip AT-com-
So far, the history of the PC, as ex- patible logic are due to begin shipping
FOR FASTEST pressed in the cost-per-MIPS model out- any day now.
SERVICE CALL lined earlier, has followed apredictable The PC-compatible world is also just
TOLL FREE course: Through sheer manufacturing entering the ULSI world, which is usu-
volume and by offering architectural in-
1-800-729-9000 novations captured in silicon, silicon
ally defined as the ability to manufacture
1-million-plus transistors on achip. One
suppliers brought down the cost of build- of the first examples is Intel's 80486
mual6pLa_s_tja)dj ing aPC. microprocessor with approximately 1.2
What technologies are driving the sili- million transistors.
RUSH DELIVERIES ONLY con suppliers? The integration power of From the standpoint of PC-compatible
LIPi
lieI rier l $3.95 plus normal S/H. Ask an
ril
operator to "SHIP IT FED EX®
VLSI techniques rests on process tech- users, one way to view all this rapid tech-
Delivery Service'" nology. In the early 1980s, the semicon- nology change is that when manufac-
ductor industry was really just starting to turers were saddled with NMOS and
DAMARK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
6707 Shlngle Creek Parkway, lenneapolis, MN 55430
feel comfortable with its ability to inte- line-width technologies of 2 to 5 mi-
Customer ServIce •612-566-4940 grate significant blocks of logic in atech- crons, they could produce only one-
Please rush me:
nology called negative-well metal-oxide tenth-MIPS machines, and the cost of 1
NEC Portable Laptop Computer(s)
@ $799 each, plus $12.00 s/h each. semiconductor. NMOS was the first of MIPS was very high. Today, as manu-
MN res. add 6% sales tax. the so-called MOS technologies, which facturers are about to cross the 1-micron
Name
have radically changed the semiconduc- technology barrier, users have in their
Address
tor industry. MOS technologies differ sights 10-MIPS processing power below
City.State.Zip
1:1 Check/MO 13 VISA D Master Card 13 Discover
radically from the previous power- the $500-per-MIPS cost threshold.
Card No hungry so-called bipolar techniques. When less-than- 1 -micron process tech-
Exp. Date Ph # ) NMOS made it theoretically possible nologies are reached, manufacturers will
SIgnature to manufacture thousands of transistors see even more productivity gains, and
Item No. B-1442-127698 on asingle piece of silicon without exces- the 100-MIPS PC will become areality.
DELIVERY TO 48 U.S. STATES ONLY sive thermal and power constraints. continued

232 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

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#3 in aseries on consumer habits

The polar bear is the great white

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 INVENTING THE PC'S FUTURE

What About Memory? DRAM generation, which was probably This has prompted many companies to
So far Ihave been discussing the logic the briefest memory-density phase, the develop both hardware and software
side of the equation: microprocessors, 256K-byte DRAM is the workhorse of solutions to enable users to transcend the
systems logic, graphics, and so forth. the industry. And, although artificially 640K-byte barrier and be able to address,
The memory side of the equation is high prices slowed down its acceptance even with the lower end of the processor
equally important, especially today with somewhat, the 1-megabit DRAM is spectrum, large memory sizes in PCs.
the advent of enormous, memory-hungry rapidly phasing in. Future machines will be designed to ac-
application programs and operating It did not take long for the 640K-byte cept many megabytes of memory largely
systems. memory barrier inherent in MS-DOS to because today's application programs
The early PCs were shipped with 4K- become aheadache; with PCs now rou- are starting to demand more memory
byte and then 16K-byte DRAM. Today, tinely shipping with 8megabytes or more space for data and for the programs
after the transition through the 64K-byte of memory, the problem is compounded. themselves.
One result of faster processors coupled
with larger addressable memory space is
that users can handle larger computing
problems in more reasonable time
frames. This leads to aneed to improve
the I/O to try to keep pace with process-

tt)ni L© ing power and available memory.

The I/O under the original definition
of the PC being about one-tenth that of a
ICTORY ©_•7t NAIrm 1-MIPS machine was fairly adequate.
Then the AT came out, and it was about a
OVER 1-MIPS machine and, again, I/O wasn't
really an issue.
TATISTICS But now that manufacturers have taken
the original 6-MHz AT and boosted it to
At last, PC users can the 80286-powered machines that today
run at up to 25 MHz, they have boosted
master statistical analysis
theoretical throughput by an order of
without a masters in math.
magnitude. The implication of this is that
when you get that much additional pro-
It's Victory Over Statistics, a 200-page manual, published by cessing power, more memory support
GTE Data Services, Inc. Written in everyday English, Victory and better I/O are required. Today,
Over Statistics with its menu-driven diskware will take you from many of the old AT bus and XT bus struc-
tures effectively hobble the processing
the basics, such as averages and variance, all the way to
power.
double exponential smoothing and regression analysis. With respect to I/O-bound perfor-
Step by step, at the pace you choose. mance, the most significant change is the
transition at IBM from the old industry-
All you need is an IBM PC or compatible with a 5.25 disk drive standard architectures of the XT and the
AT to the new Micro Channel definition.
and 128K memory plus $35.00.
With Micro Channel, IBM provided
much better I/O capabilities and a bus
That's one set of numbers even a math hater can love. definition that had the flexibility to do
things that the old bus structure could
not, such as bus mastering.
The adoption of the Micro Channel
(313 Data Services was not only an attempt to address I/O
THE POWER IS ON problems, but also amajor transition on
IBM's part. In essence, the introduction
of the Micro Channel represents IBM's
To order, send the coupon and acheck, payable to GTE Data Services, Inc. recognition that the adoption of main-
Please allow four weeks for delivery. frame computer architectures was re-
Here's my check for $35.00, plus $4.00 for postage Victory Over Statistics, F1M
quired to keep up in the PC performance
and handling. Florida residents please add 6% sales GTE Data Services, Inc. race. Today throughout the industry, so-
tax. Please rush my P. O. Box 290152 phisticated mainframe techniques are
Victory Over Statistics manual and disk. Temple Terrace, FL 33687-0152 migrating down to PCs. Mainframe
techniques, such as cache memory sub-
Name
systems, have now become a common
Address item on PCs. Other mainframe tech-
niques will also be applied to the PC, es-
City State Zip
pecially in the area of I/O processing.
Telephone Number ( ) The challenge for all the PC silicon
continued

236 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition Circle 125 on Reader Service Card
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Circle 51 on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 52)

INVENTING THE PC'S FUTURE

BLAST..
Complete suppliers is to adopt mainframe tech- controllers, and so on. Laptop manufac-
Communications, niques and recast them into fast and inex-
pensive silicon. For example, cache con-
turers are relentless in their pursuit of in-
tegration, and the semiconductor indus-
ONE Software trollers must be integrated into the other
elements of the PC system logic. At Chips
try is responding in kind.
Then there will appear, on the very
Package. & Technologies, we have integrated both
the cache controller and the DRAM con-
low end, techniques such as those com-
bining several ICs in one package. This
troller onto the same chip as the CPU advanced packaging technology is now
controller. Other companies (e.g., Intel) in demand to support what is being
have taken different approaches. called the "pocket computer." In this
Cache architectures are clear indica- case, single-chip integration is insuffi-
tors of the migration of the mainframe to cient; advanced packaging techniques
DP MIS PCs at Hundreds
the desktop. The significance of the are required.
Minis and of Remote Sites cache is that, as we push PC architec- Probably the two most significant
Mainframes
tures up into the 16-, 20-, and 25-MHz trends in the PC world are the drive for
performance ranges, there is aneed for higher levels of integration and the sud-
Any Async more efficient memory management. den rise of alternative microprocessors.
4/ Modem,
/ Any Speed
The key to this process is to deliver the The 8086 architecture has matured
benefits of advanced computer architec- through the 80286, the 80386, the
ture and still drive down costs. In con- 80386SX, and now the 80486. Today the
templating the role of silicon in the main- 80286 continues to be the workhorse of
1111111111111111111
frame approach to PC design, it is the single-task, single-user market and
MACs In Marketing important to realize that, unlike the will most likely be so for the foreseeable
PC, MAC, UNIX, XENIX, VAX, mainframe, power and size constraints future. The 80286 market will probably
and more. 30 popular operating systems. will require even greater emphasis on so- not grow alot but will continue to be a
Connect and manage file transfers around phisticated CMOS process technologies. high-volume segment of the overall mar-
the office or around the world. Most mainframes today derive much ket. At the slightly higher end, and par-
RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX of their speed and throughput from the ticularly in machines where people want
Use regular modems, V.32, new high widespread use of emitter-coupled-logic better communications capabilities, net-
speed modems, X.25,LANs ...
BLAST makes them all compatible.
circuits. ECL is blazingly fast but im- working, and coupling capabilities, Iex-
poses aheavy penalty in terms of power pect to see the 80386SX as the highest-
FOR INSTANT NETWORKS
Link two computers or 2000 ...with requirements and thermal dissipation. volume microprocessor, followed closely
•One easy, identical interface The PC's success is due to the fact that by the 80386, and that followed closely
•One set of commands manufacturers have managed to push by the 80486.
•One powerful script language performance levels while also incorpo- Currently, several RISC-based ma-
•One reliable program
rating direct cost improvements. Most chines are making a play to become a
WITH ALL THE FEATURES cost contributions have come from the factor in the PC world. Basically, these
•Bulletproof file transfer
ability to do higher levels of integration microprocessor architectures are coming
•Terminal Emulators — VT 100/220, etc.
and performance in fewer CMOS chips. out of the workstation world with the
•Scripting for customized routines
•PC to PC Remote Control Semiconductor technologies offer a ability either to do software emulation of
•Fully automated operation wide and almost unlimited range of per- MS-DOS packages or to actually include
•Unbeatable noise resistance formance. But in the PC world, it is are- an Intel-architecture microprocessor in
IN GOOD COMPANY quirement to adopt the technology that the computer.
•Over 50,000 users worldwide will continue to drive the relative dollars- Although interesting, Idon't think
•Top-Notch technical support
per-MIPS curve downward. that these software-emulation capabili-
Process technology and semiconduc- ties will ever be successful as acommod-
Call 800-24-BLAST tor chip design are the basis of the PC in- ity product. There are too many compati-
APPLE MACINTOSH
dustry. And there is afair degree of com- bility problems in that approach, and
IBM PC-XT,AT,PS/2 MS-DOS,SCO XENIX, UNIX V monality across product lines ranging speed will remain an issue.
UNIX systems UNIX 1/3,42,386
DEC VMS,RSX,RT-I1, ULTRIX
from powerful server-type machines to However, Ido believe that some hybrid
DATA GENERAL DOS.MPOS.RDOS,AOSNS emerging notebook computers. machines will appear that can support
HARRIS VOS,UNIX, XENIX
HEWLETT-PACKARD MPE,RTE.UNIX
For example, the rush in the laptop both Unix and DOS. It is likely this ap-
IBM Vkl/CMS/MVS/TS0 arena is to produce thinner and thinner proach will have some common hard-
PRIME PRIMOS
UNISYS 8TOS.CTOS.UNIX
machines. To support that, you will see ware, but largely separate processors.
WANG VS OS. MS-DOS laptops go in acouple of different direc- In the near to medium future, Ithink
plus many more
tions. One will be an improvement in that anumber of different developments
BLAST terms of thinness and weight; another will ultimately lead to adramatic change
BLAST will be support of VGA-quality graphics in PC architectures. One clear trend is
and 16 shades of gray and black-and- that just by pushing the clock speed in
white and, ultimately, support of 16- some current microprocessors, 8-MIPS
BLAST color LCD with VGA resolution.
This class of machine requires ex-
machines based on 33-MHz 80386
microprocessors and 10-MIPS machines
Communications Research Group tremely high levels of integration: single- based on 40-MHz 80386s become feasi-
5615 Corporate Blvd. •Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808 chip logic systems, single-chip graphics ble. Now that the 80486 has introduced a
(504) 923-0888 controllers, single-chip power supply continued

238 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 Ask
••C, •

Finally. An on-line service

that doesn't nickel and dime you.
It's BIX's flat-fee service. product information. more information, including your
BIX is short for BYTE Information Plus support from hardware local Tymnet access number, call
Exchange. The on-line informa- vendors and software publishers, 800-227-2983 (in New Hampshire
access to extensive software and outside the United States, call
tion service that's yours for an
libraries, and the use of our 603-924-7681).
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 INVENTING THE PC'S FUTURE

different microprocessor architecture fully compatible processing power. This scenario is likely to develop for
that allows almost adoubling of perfor- That is what Iwould expect to see hap- two reasons. The first problem concerns
mance, Iexpect to see 80486 machines pen on the PC side. On the workstation the silicon technology and the sheer
that will support between 15 and 20 side, Ithink we're going to see RISC ar- complexity of designing and manufactur-
MIPS in the main processor. chitectures that are inherently very fast, ing the part. Submicron process technol-
However, one thing that will happen is powerful processors pushing up easily ogies are not trivial undertakings, and
that the use of accelerators, floating- into the 100-MIPS range. The interest- the design methodology of advanced
point processors, graphics processors, ing question to ask is, when will we hit semiconductor devices is becoming more
and communications processors will in- the wall in terms of pushing clock speeds? complex.
crease. It should come as no surprise that In the case of the PC, somewhere in the The second problem is that the indus-
the coupling of all that silicon will result 40-MHz range is probably getting close to try is trying to build these super-PCs on
in amachine that has 50 to 100 MIPS of the top end of the spectrum. plain old cheap PC boards using as few
layers as possible. In the case of amain-
frame product that runs at 60 or 70
MIPS, much of the design expertise is
devoted to issues such as special kinds of
terminations and special techniques used
to reduce ringing, radio frequency gen-

(T)EXPERTISE.
eration, and other technical problems
that are related to extremely high-fre-
quency electronics.
The upshot of this approach is that PC
For document board technology and current silicon
typesetting and (T)EXPERT technology may limit the speed of PCs to
formatting quality, TYPE less than 50 MHz. A different architec-
PC TEX is the ture is needed to further increase the
difference between Name Definition productivity of the PC. A possible solu-
average and expert. tion is the approach being taken by some
00 current manufacturers of workstation ar-
It's the next step
beyond standard Gamma f(z) = dt chitectures. These RISC-based ma-
desktop publishing. o chines offer more MIPS than the Intel ar-
chitecture can provide.
(T)EXPERT Sine sin(x) = 1 (e ix— e—is ) PCs with multiple processors could
Of PC TEX, TABLES 2i appear as early as 1990. A true multi-
INFO WORLD said: processor architecture will dictate some
"... No non-TEX- erf(z)= 2 r e— z2 dz dramatic changes, especially in operat-
Error
based program has V7 0 ing systems. In the area of graphics, for
such typographical instance, there will be development and
œsthetics... enorm- 1r integration into the PC of not just graph-
Bessel Jo(z) = — cos(z sin 0) d6+
ously flexible..." 0 ics processors, but accelerators and
graphics management chips as well.
And PC MAGAZINE 00

wrote: "(With PC TEX)

... you can achieve
Zeta ((s) =E k —» (Rs > 1)
These chips will be dedicated to support-
ing performance and productivity in
k=1 those specific areas.
incredible precision
A major caveat in this scenario is com-
in formatting text,
patibility, which is pretty much taken for
especially mathemat-
(T)EXPERT FORMULAS & MATH granted today. The likely evolution of
ical expressions."
graphics accelerators and other hardware
For afree PC E Tx TEX for PCs = Personal TEX, Inc. accelerators will once more raise com-
demo diskette, 12 Madrona Avenue patibility as an issue.
product catalog and Mill Valley, CA 94941 Compatibility was, and continues to
information on a be, the foremost issue in the PC business;
users can't reap the benefits of higher
configuration for
your system, call PERSONAL performance or lower cost if they don't
have compatibility. As performance is
415/388-8853.
enhanced, compatibility becomes an ar-
Then give your
chitectural issue. So far, the industry has
next job the
(t)expert touch. successfully adapted the architecture to
accommodate higher performance. •
PC TEX is oregistered TM of Personal TEX, Inc.
TEX is an American Mathematical Society TM. Gordon A. Campbell is president and
Inquire about PTI distributorships. Site licenses CEO of Chips & Technologies in San
arailoble to qualified organizations. This ad
was typeset using P( Tg and Bitstream fonts. INC Jose, California, a company he founded
in 1984. He can be contacted on BIX do
"editors."

240 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition Circle 208 on Reader Service Card
 RIE

PRODUCT
SHOWCASE
BUYER'S MART PRODUCT SPOTS
IN BYTE BITS • MICRO PRODUCT CENTER

ILLUSTRATION: JULIE E. MURPHREE 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 241
 THE BUYER'S MART
A Directory of Products and Services

THE BUYER'S MART is amonthly advertising section which enables readers furnish typewritten copy. Ads can include headline (23 characters maximum),
to easily locate supplies by product category. As a unique feature, each descriptive text (250 characters is recommended, but up to 350 characters can
BUYER'S MART ad includes aReader Service number to assist interested be accommodated), plus company name, address and telephone number. Do
readers in requesting information from participating advertisers. not send logos or camera-ready artwork.
RATES: ix-$525 3x-$500 6x-$475 12 x-$425 DEADLINE: Ad copy is due approximately 2months prior to issue date. For ex-
Prepayment must accompany each insertion. VISA/MC Accepted. ample: November issue closes on September 8. Send your copy and payment
to THE BUYER'S MART, BYTE Magazine, 1Phoenix Mil Lane, Peterborough,
AD FORMAT: Each ad will be designed and typeset by BYTE. Advertisers must NH 03458. For more information call Brian Higgins at 603-924-3754.

ACCESSORIES APPLICATION GENERATOR BAR CODE

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professional print since 1982. You can choose from 3 as keyed data. With steel wand-$399. Top rating
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of performance and lots of features Why buy a shelf
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1MB-2MB-4MB MEMORY EXPANSION BOARDS 13 text sizes to at 50'. AIAG, MIL-STD, 2of 5, 128, No royalties required-source code included.
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242 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition
 THE BUYER'S MART
BBS/PUBLIC DOMAIN CD-ROM DATA/DISK CONVERSION

MedCom BBS CD-ROM Developers Lab DISK CONVERSIONS

Use your modem to call Multimedia production resource for Mac 8 PC developers 8 Media transfer to or from: IBM, Xerox, DEC, Wang,
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nquiry 590. nquiry 596. Inquiry 601.

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 243
 THE BUYER'S MART
PROGRAMMER'S TOOLS PROGRAMMER'S TOOLS SECURITY

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246 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition
 THE BUYER'S MART
SOFTWARE/BUSINESS SOFTWARE/DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE/ENGINEERING

Moby Words' SIMULATION WITH GPSS/PC"

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SOFTWARE/ENGINEERING

LP88-SPREADSHEET LP SCADA SYSTEM DESIGN FREE ENGINEERING MAGAZINE

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gram are abargain at its low price" $149 with 8087 support cle below or send request on letterhead to:
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LOCATE HARD-TO-FIND BUSINESS

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•Marketing Statistics •Experimental Statistics •ANCAIN •R139 ,05 Full Featured 999 block program, full text and examples.
Differential and proportional comparisons made An analog computer in your "IBM compatible."
son •Linear Programming •Pronact Planner •Forecasting 8Time
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Until Thanksgiving: $97.50 + $5 SAH + (in CA) State Tax.
Expenments •Parameter and Tolerance 0.519e •And Many More! Fractional, and Exponential notation. For IBM PCs and
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DEMPSEY'S FORGE,sortwar• TUTSIM Products, 200 California Ave., #212,

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PO Box 379 Alburg, VT 05440 Pt 2 Box 407, Gladys, VA 24554
Poisoned TUTSIM is not licensed for corporate use, government
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SOFTWARE/ENTERTAINMENT

DATA ENTRY Analog Circuit Simulation BE MORE ENTERTAINING!

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thing front schematic entry ters, or everyday conversation. Create original jokes
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Evaluation copy (all programs 8 documentation) available. prehensike interactims post pro- database. Only $49.95 + $5 S&H. IBM PC or Com-
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sells for just 5700
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Infuso ft Responsive Software
Birmingham, AL 35233
The leader in low cost, full PO. Box 6607, San Pedro, CA 90734 1901 Tunnel Rd., Berkeley, CA 94705
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SOFTWARE/DATA TRANSFER SOFTWARE/GEOLOGICAL

UNIVERSAL DATA COMPATIBILITY PCB THERMAL ANALYSIS GEOLOGICAL CATALOG

CrosaFIle-An intelligent, seamless, interactive data link
APrinted Circuit Board's greatest enemy is ex- Geological software for log plotting, gridding/con-
for DOS-based applications including spreadsheet,
database and vertical market programs.
cess heat. Prevent overheating by using PCB touring, hydrology, digitizing, 3-D solid modelling,

•Capture any data

THERMAL ANALYSIS SOFTWARE. PCB is an synthetic seismogram, fracture analysis, image pro-

• Select only the fields and records to move easy to use, fully integrated analysis package cessing, scout ticket manager, over 50 programs

•Move data easily to another application that provides concise results. Temperatures are in catalog. Macintosh too! Please call, or write, for
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Saxon Systems, Inc. Cost $5000, demo $15. RockWare, Inc.
18007 Kensington Ave., Cerritos. CA 90701
KCR PRODUCTS 4251 Kipling St., Suite 595, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 USA
(213) 404-4030 PO Box 1415, Burleson, TX 76028 (303) 423-5645 Fax (303) 423-6171
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BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 247
 THE BUYER'S MART
SO FTWARE /
GRAPHI CS SO FTWARE /G RAPHI CS SOFTWARE /
MATHEMATIC S

PC TECHNICAL GRAPHICS GRAPHICS PRINTER SUPPORT Derive'

TEKMAR is agraphics library for the VGA, EGA or Tac- AT LAST! Use the PrtSc key to make quality scaled BM A M athematical Assistant
mar Graphics Master. Similar to PLOT-10, includes WIN-
or color reproductions of your display on any dot matrix, Makes math more inspiration and less perspiration!
DOW, VIEWPORT, AXIS. Support for HP, HI plotters.
inkjet, or laser printer (incl. PostScript). GRAFPLUS sup- Combines the power of computer algebra with 20 & 3D
Curve fitting, complete plotting program. Log, semi-log, plotting and afriendly menu-driven user interface. Does
ports all versons of DOS with IBM (md. EGA. VGA. Super
multi-axis, 3-D, contours. Jerry Pournelle (Mg 86 Byte): VGA), Hercules, or compatible graphics boards Link- equation solving, calculus, trigonometry, vector & matrix
'As good as any Ihave ewer seen..." Demo disks, algebra, and more Derive requires a PC compatible
ablerOEM versions available $99.95.
literature available. computer 8 512K memory.
Advanced Systems Consultants Jewell Technologies, Inc. Soft Warehouse, Inc.
21115 Devonshire St. #329, Chatsworth, CA 91311 4740-44th Ave. SW, Seattré, WA 98116 3615 Harding Ave., Suite 505, Honolulu, HI 96816
(818) 407-1059 800-628-2828 x527 (206) 937-1081 (808) 734-5801

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SOFTWARE /
PA CKA GIN G

SOFTWAREICELLULAR AUTOMATA FORTRAN PROGRAMMER? HARD TO FIND COMPUTER SUPPUES FOR

Now you can call 2-D and 3-D graphics routines within your
Want to explore an entirely new any to compute? With Autodesk's
FORTRAN program.
SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS ILPOWER USERS
Cellular Automats Lab and your IBM* PC, creating dazzling anima-
Cloth binders 8slipcases lée IBM's Vinyl binders, boas, and folders
tions. simulating complex physical systems, exploring massively GRAFMADC: screen routines MS
parallel computation, and expenmenting with artificial life is just PLOTMATIC: plotter driver 135. in many sizes oet4 pages, emelopes, 8labels. Low quantity Imprint.
the beginning. CA Lab is your passport to the frontiers of corn. PRINTMATICi printer driver 135. ling. Bulk delis. Everything you need to bring your sofhwre b market.
puling, Includes a250-page introduction to cellular automata by Disk and binder mailers. Much more! Loa Prices! Fast service Call
awardwinning author Rudy Rucker. $59.95 For the IBM PC, XT, AT & compatibles. We support a
or write lor aFREE CATALOG.
variety of compilers, graphics Ods., plotters and printers.
Autodesk, Inc. Anthropomorphic Systems, Limited
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CAD/CAM Programmers! GRAPHIC TOOLS LIBRARY SAVE SAVE SAVE SAVE

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$199 includes source code and telephone support.
compilers FORTRAN, MS Oulck8ASIC Manual,
SOFCOM Printing and Packaging
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Call (617) 628-5217 today for information or to order! P.O. BOX 68976 Schaumburg, IL 60168
513-563-7136
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SOFTWARE /
SCANNERS

Technical Report Graphics ADULT ONLY SOFTWARE Optical Character Recognition

Stop retyping: PC-OCR" software will convert typed or
EDTECH scientific graphics for PC has new laser You must be 18 yrs or older to order
printer and dot matrix versions. 1. 4 AMAZING digitized movies! CGA/EGA printed pages info editable tart Ses for your word processor
2.5 disks of XXX GIF Pics + viewer EGANGA req'd. Works with HP ScanJet, Panasonic and most other scan-
— Database, worksheet-style data editing
You'll love them. ners. Supplied with 18 popular fonts. User trainable: you
— Technical W I' plots from data for reports
3.4 XXX CGA games. Fun to Turn-On! can teach PC-OCR" to read virtually any typestyle, ind.
— Graphics editing on screen, drawing, text
— Log axes, Greek, symbols, Lotus imp/ex Each item - (5.25 @ $20, as^ 05251 foreign fonts. Proportional text, matrix printer output. Xerox
copies OK $385 CheckNISA/MCJAmExp/COD
FREE CATALOG WITH EVERY ORDER
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SO FTWARE /
LANGUAGES SO FTWARE /SC IENTIFI C

TECHNICAL GRAPHICS Your Complete C Resource TableCurve—TableCode

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leaders such as P.J. Plauger, Rex Jaeschke, Robert Ward.
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PEN PLOTTER EMULATOR FORTH with DRUMA FORTH-83 C SCIENTIFIC LIBRARY

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FPLOT turns your dot matrix or laser printer into Well designed, attractively priced. $3 Standard. (»eloped and documented kir use by techniggl specialists and C
programmes in research, education, engineering, and scientific ao
an HP pen plotter. Fast hi -res output. No jagged •1Mb+ automated memory management
Nicalions Over 550 kinctions superior documentation—lour manuals,
lines. Vary line width, color. Works with Autocad, •On-line documentation, ASCII/block files
including Tutorial. Function Pages, and Example Programs Includes
Drafix, etc. Supports NEC P5/P6, IBM Proprinter, •Many powerful and useful features
Real and Complex linear Algebra, Eigensystems, Differential Eque
Epson LC:1/FX, Toshiba, HP Laserjet, Okidata •Other products: windows, modules, profiler
lions, Quadrature, Smoothing, Filtering and Prediction, MultiVariate
•IBM PC/XT/AT 8 all compatibles
29x/39x, Hercules/CGA/EGA/VGA. $64 check/m.o. Sleets, MueDimarisknal Optimize:1n, Line« Programming, Curse
Writs or call for FREE example diskette. Fitting and Inerpolaborts, ce $295 object onty and $935 with C source
Fplot Corporation DRUMA INC. code
24-16 Steinway St., Suite 605, Astoria, NY 11103
6448 Hwy. 290 East E103, Austin, TX 78723 EIGENWARE TECHNOLOGIES
718-545-3505 Orders: 512-323-0403 BBoard: 512423-2402 13090La vise Dr. Saratoga, CA 55130 (400) ee7-1184

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248 Fail 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition
 THE BUYER'S MART
SOFTWARE/SCIENTIFIC STATISTICS UTILITIES

LARGE MATRICES DBMS/COPY AppieWorks IBM

Imert a235 x 235 REAL*8 nonsparse matrix in 35 min on your CONVERTS YOUR DATA INTO INFORMATION CROSS -WORKS transfers both ways between
640K DOS based 16 MHz 386/367 (13 min on 12 MHz 2861287) using Nain your favorite stet package can access any database. Apple Ile/licillgs and IBM PC/XT/AT/PS-2 &
DBMS/COPY can directly cornea any database or spreadsheet file
LU decomp with back subst. Also large matrix capability for matrix compatibles. Exchange AppleWorks with Word-
(ORACLE, PARADOX, dBASE, LOTUS etc.) into any stet package
multiply transpose scale add, simul 03, etc 80 be pre-cision. No added file (SAS, SPSS, SYSTAT, etc.) and vice versa. The PLUS version Perfect (keeps formatting), Lotus 1-2-3 (keeps
memory boards required. Use with Microsoft or IBM Pro FORTRAN allows sorts, selections, and recalculations. 519S 30-day guarantee
formulas), and dBase III/1111! Included cable
unformatted matrix files Full featured demo disk can generate and VISA/MC/AMEX/PO/COD.
plugs in serial ports for 19,200 baud transfers.
run large random matrices VD
CONCEPTUAL SOFTWARE INC. Easy menu operation.
JOYCE NUMERICS INC. PO. Box 56627, Houston, TX 77256
500 Chesterbrook Blvd., Suite 15 C-6, Wayne, PA 19087 (713) 667-4222 FAX: (713) 667-3FAX Phone (919) 878 -7725 for tree Info packet.
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Free catalog includes THE SURVEY SYSTEM SAVE TIME and MONEY
An easy-to-use package designed specifically for with the RED Utilities. Programs include: Batch file
technical application notes questionnaire data. Produces banner format cross compiler speeds batch files. Disk cache speeds
tabs & related tables, statistics Oct regression) & bar hard and floppy disks. Printer spooler. Path com-
mand for data files. Wild card exceptions. Sort
1-800-942-MATH
charts. Codes and reports answers to open-end
questions. All reports are camera-ready for profes- directories. Over 10 more programs. Only $79.95.
sional presentations. CRT interviewing option. Order today! 30-day money-back guarantee. IBM
PC. Visa/MC,
MicroMath Scientific Software CREATIVE RESEARCH SYSTEMS
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WORD PROCESSING

POWER FFT StatPac Gold' We can read 130 languages

High performance FFT routine library for the IBM-PC Uses StatPac Gold is the award-winning statistics and from Armenian to Zulu
improved FFT, Prime Factor, and General-N algorithms to Use SPOT OCR Software with an image scanner and your
forecasting package that delivers. It's fast, flexible,
give unmatched performance. Over 6000 efficient lengths up PC to read 130 foreign languages, typed pages, typeset
easy to use and dependable lime-tested and loaded
to 64K points. Coded in assembly. Complex 1038 FFT in material, magazines and books into standard tee files
135ms on Compaq 20MHz 386-387 or 866ms on 12MHz with features. You be the judge. Get the facts! Call Flagstaff Engineering can provide any OCR solution. Call to-
286-8MHz 287. Forward/inverse, multidimension and real for your FREE brochure. day to discuss your application!
transforms. Use with most C, FORTRAN, and Pascal 1-800-328-4907
products. Flagstaff Engineering
Waionick Associates, Inc. 1120 Kaibab Lane, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
SOFFTEC
$145.00
plus $3 shipping 6500 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55423 (602) 779-3341
(612) 866-9022 1.1.13NrCard-Vine-Arnerican Envess AccePtad
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SOFTWARE/SECURITY TERMINAL EMULATION

HANDS OFF THE PROGRAM® DEBBI Does Dbase FARSI 1GREEK IARABIC IRUSSIAN
OPERATING SYSTEM SECURITY Dbase/Emulation Board Binary Interface Hebrew, all European. Scandinavian, plus either Hindi, Pun-
jabi, Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, Thai, Korean, Viet, or IPA. Full-
Secures subdireetories, files, printers and floppies Now, with DEBBI 8 Obese, you can easily design programs featured multi-language word processor supports on-scneen
Keyboard lock - automatic or manual that utilize your IRMA II or Forte PJ board. Load DEBBI and foreign characters and NLO printing with 110 hardware
Log PC boot, program exec, file opens, login/logouts then call her throughout your applications to exchange data modifications. Includes Font Editor. $355 dot matrix; $150
Prevents DOS FORMAT and most viruses with your host. Very fast-very simple to use. Includes Obi
add'I for laser; $19 demo. S/H in U.S. incrd. Req. PC, 640K.
Drive A: Boot Protection /Hard Disk Lock module for Clipper users. $85 single user/$295 developers.
graphics 30-day Guarantee. MCNISA/AMEX
IBM PC or 100% comp. - DOS V3.0+ - $8995 + $3.75 S/H
Finny Software GAMMA PRODUCTIONS, INC.
SYSTEMS CONSULTING INC. 6802 Ridge Blvd ,Suite 4-H, Brooklyn, NY 11220 710 Wilshire Blvd ,Suite 609, Santa Monica, CA 90401
PO BOX 111209, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
(718) 748-0249 213/394-8622 Ilk 5106008273 Gamma Pro SNM
(412) 963-1624

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SOFTWARE/SORT UNINTERRUPTABLE POWER

OPT-TECH SORT/MERGE HOW TO PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER DuangJan

And Make It Last Longer Bilingual word processor for English and: Armenian,
Extremely fast Sort/Merge/Select utility. Run as an
FREE money-savIng literature. What you need to kn. about UPS- Bengali, Burmese, Euro/Latin/African, Greek, Gujarati,
MS-DOS command or CALL as a subroutine Sup- uninterruplible power supply. How to get complete protection from Hindi, Khmer, Lao, Punjabi, Russian, Sinhalese, Tamil,
ports most languages and file types including Btrieve poxer line problems 350VA through 15KVA models from the world's Telugu, Thai, Ukranian, Viet, ... Only $109+55 sill
and dBASE. Unlimited file sizes, multiple keys and largest manufacturer of single-phase UPS (foreign + $12 8/hl. Font editor included. For any IBM
much more! MS-DOS $149. OS/2, XENIX, UNIX
compatibles with dot-matrix & LaserJet printer. Demo
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PO. Box 280, Necedah. WI 54646
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PO Box 678 - Zephyr Cove, NV 89448 See our Ad on page 260 (215) 331-2748 FAX: (215) 331-4188

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STATISTICS UTILITIES

COPY AT TO
NEW STATISTIrm 3.0 PC-BRIDGE-IT 3.5
"CPYAT2PC" RELIABLY writes 360KB Maples on 1.2 MB drives, swing a
PC-Write 3.0 - Shareware
Fast, full featured word processor for IBM PC. Nov edits large
PC Magazine Editors Choice! dot for asecond hard disk or tape back-up. Only MAO + S/I1
"BRIDGE-FT 35" a aDEVICE DRIVER supporting 31 2 "120KE21.44141
/ files &multiple columns. Also spell check, mailmerge, net-
• Superb Data Management •Excellent manual working. ASCII, and macros. Easy-to-use, optional menus.
(him for PC/XTAT without upgrading DOS/1310S. Only $39.00 « S/11
• Easy to use •Fast, free support
BRIDGE-IT as BUNDLED WITH INTERNAL 1.44IAB DRIVE AT Supports 503 prirkers inci. lasers. Software, guide and tutorial
• Range & Depth of Statistics
512990 « Sei VISNMC/C00 UPS Elie on disk: $19. Registration with manual, support newsletter
Buy the BEST for V3 the price of the competition and 2 free updates: $99.
MICROBRIDGE COMPUTERS
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BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 249
Circle 107 on Reader Service Card Circle 11 on Reader Service Card

Excellence in Emulation 9-TRACK MAG. TAPE SUBSYSTEM*

FOR THE IBM PC/XT/AT AND...

Tektronix graphics for PS/2s and PCs

•enhanced PC productivity
• network and serial communications
• correct and complete emulation
• easy to install and use For information interchange, backup and archival storage,
•clear documentation AK Systems offers a9-track, IBM format-compatible
/
12"magnetic tape subsystem for the IBM PC, featuring.
• dedicated tech support staff
• IBM format 1600/3200 and 800 cpi.
• Software for PC-DOS, MS-DOS, XENIX.

FTC DATA
SYSTEMS
• Also for AT&T, DEC, VAX,
VME, S-100.
AKSystems
20741 Marilla St.
FULL TEK GRAPHICS Chatsworth, CA 91311
10801 Dale Street, Suite J-2, RO. Box 615, Stanton, CA 90680 (818) 709-8100
FAX: (818)407-5889
(714) 995-3900 (800) 962-3900 FAX (714) 995-3989 Write, phone or TWX for information.
TWX: 910-493-2071

VI: Point & Shootrm Don't Move!

PERSONAL MENU
SERIES I $75" without telling

Navigate through your PC painlessly.

A menu system which makes FIE
your PC work the way you do.
Clip out form below
• Access to 160,000 applications
and mail to:
• Full security including Exit to DOS
• Built-in Screen Saver with date/time box
BYTE Magazine
• Non-memory resident
• Over adozen new features that you've asked for P.O. Box 555
Hightstown, NJ 08520
NEW ADDITIONS to the
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At least 8 week before you move, please give us your
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new address and/or name change
VI: Security Blanket -Elegant, PC security and menu
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VI: InfluenceTm $98" Name

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The electronic rotary file for every
PC user who must locate /talk to / City

-Influence! -someone else to get things State Zip

done. Print current name and address

• Finds contacts as you type (or affix the mailing label from your current issue of BYTE here)
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250 Fall 1989 • BYTE Circle 295 on Reader Service Card

Circle 18 on Reader Service Card Circle 128 on ader Service Card (DEALERS: 129)

VOICE RECOGNITION/SYNTHESIS
HEARSAY 1000 -An advanced, easy to use high-quality
system that adds voice recognition and speech synthesis to
existing MSDOS or applications software. Voice commands

DOS IN EPROM replace keyboard commands and macros. Verbalizes text

printed to the screen. Includes plug-in card, speaker/micro-
phone assembly and instructions -$149.95. Speech only -$99.

Or any other code, for that matter! PromKit allows you

to create Eproms that look like read-only disk drives in
your PC-compatible systems. Use PromKit even if you're
not aprogrammer. Just use PromKit to convert any disk
into EPROM images for your Prom blaster! Copy sy§-
tern files, batch files, data files, or anything else you
IBM PC and COMPATIBLES
want. Use Proms for read-only, SRAMS for read-write! HEARSAY 2000 -Similar to the HEARSAY 1000, incorporat-
Includes source cede in C. Over 180 pages, including ing advanced recognition algorithms that generate 98%
disk, only $179. accuracy, are 3times faster and utilize rejection. Includes
Well include a free copy of the plug-in card, high-quality headset assembly and instruc-
FREE pocket -sized XT-AT Handbook by fions -$299.95. Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.
Choisser and Foster with each PromKit if you men- HEARSAY WORD PROCESSOR VOICE INTERFACE -
An on-line system that automatically controls top word
tion this ad when you order. Of course, this $9.95
processors (WordPerfect, Word Star, etc.) via voice. Voice
value is also available by itself. Or buy five or more for
tutorial option also included. Increases productivity and
only $5.00 each. eliminates costly training investments -$299.95. With Hear-

IND
say 2000 $499.95. Allow 4-6 for delivery.
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Model 2400 (without DIS) at $95 outperforms the low cost alternatives,
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Corporation CALL (408) 732-4500 (800) 228-6648
TEL: 619/571-5555 • FAX: 619/571-0982

Circle 57 on Reader Service Ca Circle 195 on Reader Service Card BYTE • Fall 1989 251
 /eau/ °lee's( 4( ¿as Vepe
California Residents call:
nitex 1-800-843-8414
and save 6% SALES TAX
Established 1976

VIDEO ADAPTER
slum SIPP MATH CO-PRO
MODULES
D RAM
aTI TECHN.L'GIES
8087 3(5MHZ) $88
'1 MG X11-tor MAI TYPES 1MG X 1-12ONS $11.00 8087-2(8MHZ) $118 VGA WONDER 512TM -(5121( video memory)
1MG X9-12ONS .. $125 1MG X MOONS $11.75 8087-1 6165 i High performance VGA graphics. 100% register-level
1MG X9-10ONS .. $135 1MG X 1- BONS $12.50 80287-6 $120 I compatibility In VGA, EGA, CGA, MDA and Hercules.
1IVG X9- BONS .. $140 1MG X 1- 7ONS $13.00 80287-8 $195 I
i Displays Super-VGA 803X600 i n256 col ors and 1024X768
1MG X9- 7ONS .. $189 DIP 80287-10 $218 in 16 colors. Switchless installation. .
80C287-12 $295 Pambalibie bus moult
256 X9- tar IBM TYPES 256 X1-15ONS $3.50
80387-16 8310
256 X9-12ONS 256 X 1-12ONS $3.75
256 X MOONS $4.20
80387-20 8360 VGA WONDER 256nd -(2561( video memory,
I 256X 9-10ONS $45 80687-25 8460
256 X 1- BONS user upgradeable) Same asVGA WONDER 512., except
256 X9- BONS $55 $4.95
80387-33 8599 800X600 in 16 colors and 1024X768 in 4colons.
256 Xg- 6ONS $65 256 X 1- 7ONS 85.75
256 X 1- 6065 $8.00 Microsoft çonmatib Me bus mouse er9

ADVANCED
CO PROCESSORS
-'
MATI
256 X4 VGA EDGE"' -EnhancedVGAgraphicscarddisplays
1MG X8-12ONS _1125 801(600.100% register compatibility in VGA. EGA, CGA,
256 X4-12ONS $11.00
1MG X8-10ONS 140 •Faster than standard MDA and Hercules. Switchkiss installation. Analog and
256 X4-10ONS $12.00
MATH CO-Processors
256 X8-12ONS $39 256 X4- BONS $14.00 digital monitor support. $239
•5year Warranty
256 X8-100NS $49
64X1 for 211 Machines VIP .'" -(VGA Improved Performance) BIOS compatible
2C87-10 $239 VGA graphics card displays 800X560, VGA, EGA, CGA,
PS-2 PRODUCT 4164-15ONS 81.39
2C87-12.5 . $300
4164-12ONS $1.99 MDA arid Hercuies on analog &digital menitors.$219
256 X9(FOR PS21 2C87-20 . $329
4164-100NS $2.20
256 X9-12ONS $65
ter SU Machines EGA WONDER 800+ -Versatile EGA graphics
3C87-16. 6329 adapter that displays Any Sohware, Any Monitor, Any
30F5348(K1T-2EA )$ 1 3 3097-20. $389 Time. Displays 800X600. 640X480, VGA modes 11 &12,
4464-15ONS $4.00 3C87-25. 8499 EGA, CGA, MUA and Hercules in digital mcde. .8199
4464-12ONS $4.50 3C89-33. 8839
Imgx9 100 4464-10ONS $5.00
30F5360 (107-2EA )$47 GRAPHICS SOLUTION- Affordable COM-
4464- 8ONS $6.50 CPU CHIPS pattiilty. Ideal entry-ievel card that displays CGA, Hercu-

502 SIMM SIPP les and Plantronks on TEL Composite and ROB moni-
256 X 4 STATIC COL 8068 $5.00
6450603 (1MG) $279 80286-8 $49
°tors. 879
514258-1CONS $25
6450604 (2MG) .. $589 80286-10 $59
GRAPHICS SOLU110Nig -Same as GRAPH-
80286-12 $89
256 X1STATIC COL ICS SOLUTION, including game port (no composite sup -
PS-2 80386-16 $180
KIM $99
51258-10ONS $5.00 80386-20 $240
MODEL70580
51258- 8ONS $6.00 80386-25 $330
SIMM 51258- 7ONS 88.50 I V-20 (8MHZ) $7.50
ORCHID
vG atoms ..$219 DESIGNER 800 VGA. $229
ZENITH 386 MODULES VIDEO RAM
1MG X 9- BONS $279 800 X600 -16 Colons
MG X9-80 NS.. $299 FOR VGA CARDS PRODESIGNER VGA $319
2MG Xg-8ONS $685
(6450608) Supports 1024 X768 -16 Colors
AST 386 L100qi. ES
(For 70A21) 64 X
a4(15ONS)
4(12ONS) e PRO DESIGNER VGA PLUS . $399
386/25 $295 Same as Prodesigner
2MG X9-8ONS $589 64 X4(10ONS) $10
386/33 $329 1
Has dovmbadabk fonts
(6450604)
(For70E61/ 70-121/ ail
models) HEWLETT- PACKARD
1MG X9-8ONS $279
(6450603) LASERJET MODULES MONOCHROME
GRAPHICS CARD . $41
(For 70E61 /70-121)
1MB (f0f Laserfet II & IID) $279 Wih Par pod •Pew Hercules
1mg(6450375) $429 COLORGRAPHICS CARD. $41
2MB (for Laur)e) so) $399
2n10450379)6929 Warranty - RGB Color with Par Port •EON sew CGN Hercules
1year on parts 41113 0orLaserjet II &IID) $599 EGA CARD . 8149
640 X480, 16 CoIors, EGA/ MGA/ CGA/ Hercuks
VGA CARD . $199
IBM SERIAL CARD $18.95
600 X800. 16 Colors.VGN EGA/ AGN CGA
CABLES (1501485)
IBM PARALLEL PORT. $18.95

• 'EMS
IBM PARALLEL (6) $5.50 (1505200)

IBM PARALLEL (10) $12.95

IBM SERIAL (6)61 61 $9.95
NO SLOT CLOCK Everex
EverCom 12 303/1200 bps Becom Software $74
IBM SERIAL (6)M- F $9.95 Cbck for PC & XT Computers
Plugs into empty ROM Socket on Mother Board EverCom 24 2900 Baud Int. Bilcom Software ..$139
CENTRONS (6') $12.95
Accurate 1/100th of asecond External 2400 Baud $199
CENTRONICS (101 $16.95 Only $34.95
Hayes Compatatble
1200 Saud Internal w/Software $59
TERMS AND CONDITIONS 1200 Baud External Fully Hayes Compatible $99
2400 Baud Internal 112 card w/Software $109
No Surcharge for MC/VISA • Terms: MC •VISA •COO •CASH *AMC add 4%
2400 Baud External Fully Hayes Compatible $129
Purchase Orders from qualified froms • 20% restocldreg fee on non-defectIve returns
Prices Subiect to Change 2 Year Warranty on all items above

P••Il IÙfeCI • PVT TE1701

 MEMORY EXPANSION BOARDS

BOCA RESEARCH IBM ORCHID

TOPHAT -A16-bk board designed to top out conwn-
1497259 -For PS-2 MOD 50/60 $439 RAMQUEST IIZ -U pto 2MB of 0wait state memory for
honer memory area of the IBM AT(or 16-bit compatible) with OK Expands to 8MB the IBM PS/2 Models 50, 50Z &9:I• Guaranteed EMS 4.0
from 512K up to 640K. Operates at CPU speeds up to Uses 256K SIMMS (IBM only) and OS/2Compatible• Easy 4-keystroke installation. Uses
6450605 -For PS-2M00 70/80 $1299 1
10MHz using 15ONS RAMs. Asocketed design enables 1MG Dip's $199
with 2MG Expands to 8MB
purchase with or without memory. $89
Uses 2MG SIMMS (IBM only)
RAMQUEST EXTRA -The only multif unction card
TOPHAT II •TophAT 11 has 128 soldered on the board 6450203 -For AT -Has 512K RAM $129 that provides up to8MB and two serial ports on one board
which results in alower profile. Maintains the ability to for the IBM PS/2 Models 50,60 and 80. •Guaranteed EMS
bac4dill conventional memory from 512 to 640K In a16- 4.0 and 0612 Compatible. •Easy to install with only 4key
bit AT type machine. Operates at CPU speeds up to 10 UNITEX strokes. Uses 256 and/or 1MB SI MM .S. $319
MHz. $129
3MG Multifunction - for AT $129 RAMQUEST EXTRA 16/32 -The only 0-8MB,
BOCARAM/XT -A full length expanded memory Expands b 3MG -has SER/PAR PORT 0wait state card for PS/2 Male 50, 50Z, 60, 70 and 80
board for the IBM PC, XT, AT and 8-bit PC-bus compati- 256K D-RAM which fully supports both 16-bit and 32-bit memory ac-
ables operating at CPU speeds up to 12 Mkt. Uses 384 Multi-function Card for PC/XT $89 cess. Includes one serial and one parallel port plus afree
standard 256K RAM chips and provides up to 2MN of Expands to 38410es SER/PAR/CL(/Game port sedal cable. Guaranteed EMS 4.0 and DM compatible Earty
expanded memory. $129 Uses 64K D-RAMS 4-keystroke installation. Uses 256 and/or 1MB SIMMS
$319
BOCARAM/AT -Conventional, expanded and/or ex-
•" à• MEM. • RAMQUEST XT/AT -A fullers, 0-8 MB, zero wait
tended memory for the IBM AT and 16-bit compatibles.
Will operate In systems at speeds up to 16Mhtz. Uses state card for IBM PC, XI, AT, PS/2 25,30 and compat-
standard 15ONS RAM chips. Can bringAT conventional ¡ ii -IN MsI abet. Uses 256K arid/or 1MB SIMMS. Automatically
memory up to 640K, provide amaximum 2Meg of UM supports either 8or 16-bit bus. $259
MODEL 1MG 4MG
EMS 4.0 and/or max. 4Meg of extended memory$149
386/20 $319 $899 RAMQUEST XT/AT with I/O- Same as above
BOCARAM/AT PLUS -Otters conventional, 386/25 $319 $899 plus 1-serial and 1-parallel port $319
expanded and/or extended memory for the IBM AT and 386/20E $319 $899
16-bit compatibles. Operates in asystem up to 33MHz and 386/S $319 $899 ACCELERATORS
is set up through software, with the configuration stored 286 E $eni $899
In EPROM. Uses 12ONS 1Meg RAM chips. Available in TINY TURBO 286 Low-cost Hgh-speed Half-slot
lour configurations, OK up to 8Meg $149 PC/XT -Accelerates your PC/XT with an 8 MHz 80286

BOCARAM/AT I/O PLUS -Offers conventional,

MEMORY EXPANSION BOARDS Micro-processor. 80287 math chip socket $239

expanded and/or extended memory as wet as other VO MODEL 1MG 4MG

TINY TURBO XT ra High-speed Hall-slot accelera-
capabilities for ATs and compatibles. Provides up to 4 386/20E 3479 $1349 tor for PC/XT- Accelerates your PC/XT up to 4.5X faster
Meg of memory using 12ONS1Meg RAM chips, 1parallel 386 3 $479 $1346 with a12 MHz 90286 microprocessor. 80287 math chip
port and up to 2serial ports per board. $189 3116/16 -- $1429 socket. $299
286 E $479 $1329
BOCARAM 30 -atoll length expanded memory board JET 386-Hyperspeed Accelerator Card for ATs- Acceler-
SLT/286 $479 --
for IBM PS/2 models 25,30 and true 8-bit PC-bus com- ates your AT up to 3X faster with a16 MHz.80386.Socket
patibles that ut litre 3VT floppy deletes. The board uses PORTABLE 386 -- $1429
for math chip $895
standard 256K RAM chine and provides up to 2Meg of 2Year Warranty
expanded memory per board. $169 MA. Exported« baud Mee
w/16 MG
BOCARAM 50Z- 2MG, 0wait state expanded and/or PORTABLE 3116 (1MG Memory Upgrade) $479 EVEREX
extended memory board designed for IBM PS/2 Models
50, 50Z, 60 and true compatibles. The zero wait design PORTABLE III UPGRADE KIT RAM 3000 DELUXE -Up to 3 MB. Selectable
uses standard 1MG 100NS RAM (DRAM) chips. 512 K $129 memory addresees.Expancked Memory Specifications
TRAM(Translation RAM) Is used to map out bad memory 2MG MN ((MS)4.0/0S/2. Can be asedio backlit base memory up to
sections during power-up and to ensure long tern com- 2Year Warren 640K and the rest as ekherExpanded or Extended or both.
patibility with OS/2 $169 Uses 256K D-RAM $99.00

BOCARAM 50/60 -Up to 4MG for model 50-60 •0

ZUCKER MEMORY BD RAM 8000-Up to 8MB capacity/supports base, ex-
wait state expanded,extended and base memory.- Uses PS2 -2MG MB -Up to 21.IG for microchannel PS2and tended or expanded memory ir any combination. Fully
1MG D-RAM (DIP) $169 Compatibles. Uses 256 X9SI MM $49 compatable with LotusAnteV Microsoft EMS 4.0/ EEMS.
Supports multitasking andDMA multitasking in hardware.
10/XT -extends the perip heral capabilities of IBM PCs, XTs PS2 -2MG Muhl unction 80- Up to 2MB- Has serial and Software conlgurab4e (no dip switches to set).Fult 161.413
and compatibles. Connects to an 8-bit PC-bus and pro- PAR Port- Sofhvare. Uses 256 X9SIMM $89 window for future expansion of Lotus/ InteV Microsoft
vides one 25-pin parallel port, one 9-pin serial port, an EMS 4.0. ewait states, uses 1MG D-RAM (D1P)$279
optic* 25-pin serial port, and aclakkalender. $59
D-RAM TESTERS RAM 10000-Up to 10 MB capacity/supports base, ex-
10/AT -Expands the peripheral capabilites of IBM PCs, tended or expanded memory in any comnbination. Com-
UNI-001RT $119
XT., ATs , and compatibles by providing a9-pin serial port patible wIthLotue/InteVMicrosoll EMS 4.0. Opentes with
Tests all parameters but speed
and a25-pin parallel port. Optional 25-pin serial pal also no additional wait states.Uses 1MG D-RAM (D1P)$179
64X 1/256/1 /1MX 1
available for further expansion. Installation of this 8-bit
64X 4 /256/4 /4MX 1
board Is easy—simply set the jumpers and install $69 MINI-MAGIC -
(EV138)-Up to 576K For PC-AT. Uses
UNI-002 RT. $149.95 I 256K &64K $59
BOCA MCA Parallel Card (for PS,2) $99 Tests speed plus parameters
BOCA MCA Serial Card (for PS/2) $169 64X 1/256 X1/1MGX 1 2 Year Warranty

UNI-003 RT. $199.95

Tests standard &MAI Modules •IBM is the registered trademark of
2 Year Warranty
1Year Warranty International Business Machine Corp.

MANI
Mon-Fri 7am -5pm
IDCPRESS
CAN Unitex Inc e Sat 8am -2pm
Corporate Headquarters

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fs:rele S7 nn Reutilar Çor-viro Card 1:7I VT r Itil'of Ce.c.,•i•A GAir:r.e. • g,11 1040 ,CO
Circle 256 on Reader Service Card

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Circle 141 on Reader Service Card
LASER DIODE (DEALERS: 142)
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Designed for general
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SuperSound GANG PROGRAMMER Does
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STOCK # PINS DESCRIPTION 194 2598 1019 DEVICES. INC. (3051 491-7404
PH:(408) 446 -4521 VISA -MasterCard
1702 24 256 x4Ins 4.79 4.55 4.10 toprrt.nund.
. Sound, ‘...11.111. ard. and S....II,. art Iradtmaria of Silitnn `than,. 1-800-331-7766
2708 24 1024 x845Ons 6.79 645 581
2758 24 1024 x8450es 199 179 3.41
2718 24 2048 x8450as (25v) 3.59 3.41 3.07
27191 24 2048 x8350ns (25v) 3.99 3.79 3.41 Circle 235 on Reader Service Card Circle 163 on Reader Service Card
1932716 24 2648 v845Ons 679 645 581 (DEALERS: 164)
27C16 24 2048 x845Ons (25v-CMOS) 419 398 358
7732 24 4096 x845013 (25v) 379 360 324
27324 2 24 4696 x8206ns (21v) 399 379 341 ON TARGET ASSOCIATES
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27C32 24 4096 x845000 (25v-CMOS) 4.79 4.55 4.10 for Design and Manufacturing Engineers.
2764-20 28 8192 x820Ons (21v) 3.99 3.79 3.41
2764 28 8192 x8250ns (210 159 3.41 107
2764E2D 28 8192 x820Ons 112 5v) 399 379 341 Micro Channel Design Consulting
27644 28 8192 x8250ns (12.5v) 359 341 307
TMS2564 28 8792 u825.2ns (25v) 679 645 581
Prototype Cards
27128-20 28 16.384 x8200ns (21v) 679 645 581 Newsletter
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ASIC's
27CI 28
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PS/2 Extender Cards
77256 28 32,768 x825Ons (12.5v) 5.29 5.03 4.53
277256 28 32768x 825Ons (12.5v-CMOS) 5.99 5.69 5.12 Adapter Bracket Sets
27512,20 28
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10.49 9.97
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CATALOG
iCS12 28 65.536 x8250ns (*Sy-CMOS) 999 949 854
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58764 24 8192 x845Ons 1899 1804 1E24 We will move your PC/XT/AT products to the
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PS72 and Micro Channel are trademarks of IBM Coro.
ORDER BY FAX (818) 998-7975

256 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition Circle 194 on Reader Service Card Circle 175 on Reader Service Card
 i•hQualit * o-Risk Guarantee *L w Price *Ex ert Service *Fast Deliver
miumminimer- --msfflonmseummr--
Ne've Built Our Reputation on These Factors for 10 Very Successful Years.
CLONE VALUE CHART
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12MHz CPU, 32MB

$1279 $1690 $1813
40MS SEAGATE HD

ut.N.OrgiieuÎEVO0NYTAIgt.
20MHz, 32MB HARD DRIVE, 1MB 0 WAIT
A !L.. 16MHz CPU. 32MB
IAM. AND 14" MONOCHROME MONITOR. 1479 1890 2013
40MS SEAGATE HD
,1MB RAM. base system 1499 Add $20 for "Click/Tactile" 101-key keyboard.
,
1MB RAM, 326 cache. base systern 1786 12MHz, 1MB RAM. base system 784 Add $20 for 14" Monochrome Monitor.

,
1MB RAM. 32K cache, base system 2094 16MHz, 1MB RAM. base system 983 i
CLONE 386 MONOCHROME IEGA tS0
- 1.0R VGA 1
C'OLOR
,
1MB RAM. 32K cache, base system 2729 With k1S-DOS. 3.3 or 4.01 wed
GWBAS1C 575 or 199 fora
With MS-DOS - 33 or 4.01 and 20MHz CPU. 32MB
$1999 ' $2393 $2516
GWBAS1C 579 or 591 Extra CLONE 286 STANDARD FEATURES: 40MS SEAGATE HD
• 1MB Fast 0 Wait Slate RAM
E 386 STANDARD FEATURES:
nne 80386 -20/25/33 CPU's. • High Performance 1 1Interleave. 800
20MHz CPU. 32K CACHE.
2299 I
• 2693 2816
32MB, 40MS SEAGATE HD
Fast 0Wait State RAM (32K Cache on some Kb/sec 2 Floppy/2 Hard Disk Controller I
eta, see chan). 251Aliz CPU, 32K CACHE.
• 1.2M 5.25" or 1.44M 3.5" Floppy Drove 2604 2998 3121
Performance 11Interleave, 800 Kb/sec 32MB 40MS SEAGATE HD I
(Your Choice).
ippy/2 HD Controller
• 101 Key Enhanced keyboard. 33MHz CPU, 3215 CACHE.
5 25" or 144M 3.5" Floppy Dove 3240 1 3634 3757
• 1Parallel, 1Serial. 1Joystick Port 32MB 40MS SEAGATE HD
rchoice).
Key "Click-Tactile" Keyboard • 200 Watt Power Supply
rebel. 1Serial, 1Joystick Port • 80287 Math Coprocessor Socket OPTIONS FOR CLONE 286/386 COMPUTERS:
220 Watt Power Supply • On-board Clock/Cal 0/Battery Backup Add $27 for 32MB, 28MS Seagate HD. Add $495 for 1221113, 28MS Seagate HD
i7/Weitek Coprocessor (Except Base • 8 Expansion Slots Add $42 for 48MB. 40MS Seagate HD. Add $30 to VGA price for
Hz) • Setup Utility in ROM. Add $89 for 48MB. 28MS Seagate HD. 18 blt VGA card.
aoard Clock/Cal sr/Battery Backup Add $146 for 65MB. 40MS Seagate HD. Add $49 to VGA price for 14" Multi-
pension Slots • System Reset Switch on Front Panel
Add $173 or 65MB. 2814S Seagate HO. frequency Monitor.
ip Utility in ROM • CPU Speed Switchable
Add $203 for 85MB. 28MS Seagate HD, Add $125 for 6 drive tower ease.
em Reset Switch on Front Panel • Fully Expandable to 4/8MB.
EMS 4.0 Driver. • FCC Certified
Speed Switchable • Novell Compatible
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR CLONE COMPUTERS
yExpandable to 18M8 RAM
• One Year Parts & Labor Warranty Star NX-1000 Printer. 192/63 cps, LO. 24 pin349 s
)Certified 144/36cps, NLO $179 Panasonic KX-P1191 Printer
• Complete Software Package including
ell and OS/2 Compatible Star NO-1000 Rainbow Printer, 240/48 cps. NLO 259
Year Parts .6 Leber Warranty PC-Write -°Modern -ExpressCalc
same as above w/color 239 Star )03-2410 Printer 240/80 Cps,
notate Software Pack Including AutoMenu -HorneBase -MoneyMaster
Star NS-2400 Printer. super LO. 24 pin, 16 fonts 469
Write -°Modern ExpressCalc Finder -Hard Disk Cache -Clone
oMenu HomeBase -MoneyMaster Clone 386 20MHz monochrome system pictured. 170/57 cps. LO, 24 pin 339 Star 513-2415 Printer (same as
Utilities Star XR-1000 Printer, 300/76 cps. above with wide carriage) 599
lea -Hard Disk Cache-Clone
ibes NLO, 8 fonts 359 1200/380 baud int modem 59

FISFACTION GUARANTEED! SERVICE AFTER THE SALE! FAST DELIVERY!

TURBO CLONE
699
get a rock-solid one year guarantee on Your Clone equipment will be promptly and Clone Computers are custom-manufactured
;and labor, plus a 30 day money-back expertly serviced by our specially trained, to their buyers' speci)ications, burned-in AT Style K•yboard Save Nowt
:faction Assurance guarantee (except knowledgeable technicians who know what and shipped within one week of their order.
they are doing. in most instances. Standard Features' Optional at $291
Dftware and Shipping) •8086 O. 4 77- • Game-JOyslick port
10MHz Turbo., peed •Clock/Calendar
Mainboard • Fully Expandsble
•1340K RAM standard • PC-Wrrie -°Masan. ,
Buy with Confidence! Our Guarantee Removes •ao87 Socket ExpressCalc Horne
NO ORPHANED CUSTOMERS • 150-watt powes sup Base MoneYM•at-
All the Risk from Your Buying Decision! •360K Floppy Drive er •Fendes -Clone
ie have been supplying our customers with high quality
The Clone guarantee is simple and straightforward wear Desk Controller -AutoMenu
ardWare and software since 1980. We enjoy an excellent
You have 30 days after receipt of your Clone to see of • Hercules. Compel- •FCC Closet:, Cenit
idustry-wide reputation built on providing top quality you and it are going to be cornpatible. It you are not ible Video Card • Keyboard Lock
ierchandise, a no-risk guarantee, low price, expert •Hines TTL monitor •LEDs tor Power,
satisfied with your Clone for any reason within that
(green or ambe'l Turbo and Hard
ervice and fast delivery. Our customers expect and time, you may return it for afull ref und, less shipping •2-Parallel prnt ohs Disk Access
sceive no less. charges • 1-Serial port 12cd • 1yr parts lab war

Save Your Data and Money, Too! Peripherals Sale!

Easy
to Install.
This is the fastest floppy
interface tape drive around!
SOFTWARE SALE!
LOWEST PRICES - FAST DELIVERY
60MB TAPE DRIVES
This list Is only a small portion of our inventory! Add $10 $ 40MB Tatae $18
Call us for all of your software needs! ter Shipping 60MB Tape 530 Total
isomirctre.s, Power
dIS-DOS-BUSINESS SOFTWARE Carbon Copy. (need two criPieSt $194
Udirs Pagemaker 30 6549 Copy 11 PC 25 External model now available for only $99 extra! Protection!
111ways 67 Copy II PC Option Board Deluxe. .118
Works on PC. XT. Al.'s and 100% fions and the data compression soft-
butane Ouattro (1-2-3 Clone! 169 Fallback Plus 113
briard Reflex 20
3oriand Sprint Word Processor .
179
138
Gramme,. Ill
Microsoll C Compiler 51
53
289
compatibles. Connects to the inter- ware that allows up to 100MB data UNINTERRUPTABLE
POWER SUPPLY
storage on a 40MB tape - 150MB on

$279
JAC Easy /Steno het version 31 61 Microsoft Macro Assembler 5 1 99 na) floppy (B:) connector or the
DAG Easy Payroll 61 Microsoft Quick Basic COmpiler 67 a 60MB tape. Easy to install. Order
optional adapter card ($77). Comes
JAC Easy Bonus Pack (includes Microsoft Quick C Compiler 67
now at this low price and save. 5Ci Model
toot:hinting, payroll both tutors) ... 120 Microsoft Windows 286 67 complete with installation instruc-
)AC Easy Light ... 42 Microsoll Windows 386 127 As Low As 2ssa n e n.
479 Norton Commander 53
Design CAD 162 Norton Utilities 45Advanced Edit as
Design CAD 30 214 PC Tools Deluxe 55
Procornm Plus
79
46
Limited Time Only! Fantastic Prices Now On 250 Watt 120 Volt $ 279
Desqview 79

LOW COST HARD DRIVES

Despvieks with OEMM 386 114 Sideleays 42 300 Watt 120 Volt 399
Forrntoot 55 X Tree Professional 70
500 Watt 120 Van 099
Framework III 399 OTHER MS-DOS
Generic CAOD. Level 3(includes Alga Blaster S28 For IBM and Tandy 600 Watt 120 Valt 639
DotPlot and DeakConxert).. 172 Chess Master 2100 32
120 Volt 1099
149 239
Lotus 1-2-3 version 30 369 F-19 Stealth Fighter 44 1200 Watt
Lotus Agenda 285 Falcon AT 32
Brand 1600 Watt 120 Vet 1444'
Lotus Symphony 459 Kings Quest 0.11. Ill or 1Vi 31 mow
Microsoft Multiplan 126 Leisure Suit Larry 11 30 Gamine 230 volt unlls •Iso • •Ilable SgsscIt .1.1 input voltage
42.8MB Shinned motor Ineishl
369
Microsoft Word 50 235 Math Blaster Plus 28 Senate Arld
Paradox 30
Peachtree Complete System II .
Peachtree Double Bonus Bundle
446
tel
239
klaviS Beacon Teaches Typing
Reader Rabbit
where ri U SA is C San Oregon
32
24
27
Drives. SIO
tor
SMoping
12LI. ST ItIl s
259 OotTZion.
tee
nems
$ Protects Against
• Brownouts
Features
• Two Audible Alarms
pls. First Choice 91 • Blackouts • LED Displays
pfs First Publisher
pfs Professional Write
Printshop Bundle
83
144
36
BOOKS
Take ad ..... ge of our volume discounts
and save • bundle! Buy any 3 books and
319
49.18111
419
85.5M5
'579110.21118
'539M.9Me
'639122.71411
• Overvoltage.
• Overload
• Optonal Network Port
• Transfer Times As Fast
Publish 120 earn an additional $3 discount Buy 4and 40ms STY5711 405W 87-2776 211no ST-4096 Same ST.296N aims ST-4144n • Spills/Surges As 1Millisecond (De-
OSA 215 deduct S4. Buy 5and deduct 55. roc ask ewe PILL xr Kb MFM Bare SCSI Kit FILL Bare
• EMI pends on Model)
Quicken 30 39 Using 1-2-3. Special Eclibon . 518 Sams Optional hen 0 11••••
Rightwriter 51 dBase Ill Plus Handbook
We provide the best low cost. nigh quality, last software to park the heads (some drives self -
wordperlect 50 242 Managing Your Hard Disk If
access nerd drives for your IBM, 100% com- park) Tandy 1000 requires DMA and ROM
Wordstar Professional ReNase 55 216 MS-DOS Users Guide 17
615-1)05 LANGUAGES/UTILITIES
Autosketch Enhanced S99
Running MS-DOS .la
Using Autocad e
patible or Tandy computer Our XT and SCSI
kits are complete with drive, controller, cables
1.01- Not for EX/HX Please specily the com-
puter brand and model when ordering. ST 506. Save on Low Cost Floppys!
Borland Turbo Base 69 and installation instructions We use only brand 4096 and 4144R are f ull sue5 .". and ST 157R IS Select the drive or drives you want, pock the enclosure and
Using Managing Your Money ...15
Borland Turbo C 96 new genuine Seagate drives so you can be 3" Alt others are half height 5 ." Sizes listed appropriate cable and we will assemble and test at no
Using 0 8 A 16
Borland Turbo Pascal 103 Using Symphony 19 assured Of long trouble-free drive life Data are after formatting. One year pans and labor additional cost to you All drives are brand new, not factory
Bor Turbo Asxmbier/Debugger 99 Using WordPerfect 5O. ... 18 transfer rates as fast as 500KB persecond MFM. warranty Satisfaction guaranteed or your mon-
seconds, and carry a full one year part and labor warranty
800KB RLL and 1MB using SCSI We provide ey back. less shipping
Add $5 shipping and handling per drove
3606 5 25" TEAC 558 bare fas
720K 525" TEAC 55F bare es
ERICAN
1.2M 525" TEAC 55FGH bare 79
DO.RESS
bItCheck Save on 32MB & 49MB Hard Cards 360K 3 5" TEAL 358 bare 59

329
720K 35" TEAC 35F bare as
1.44M 35" TEAC 35FGH bare 79
sa.m .. $ 49.110D
Mrs 111.1. $ 429 5.
5.25"mt.oupnti.
inie
g)bracket for 3.5" dr ves 10
grr ORDER TOLL FREE! 1:16
co

(Includes rails, signal and power adapter Specify beige un

b
Mon-Fri. 9-7; Sat. 10-3 These units are completely assembled with brand new
Call from anywhere In the lower 48 states and Hawaii. Dual 3 5" external case/power supply Use with one or
drives and come ready to install. For IBM XT's, 100%

1-800-527-0347..4
Completely Iwo 3.5" drives (horizontal) $49
compatibles and Tandy 1000/1000A, SL. SX, TL, TX Dual 5 25" some as above except vertical 59
Assembled
Ready to Please specify the exact make and model of your IBM esternal floppy cable for CIO DB37 required.. 39
Install computer One year parts and labor warranty. (Add $10 for brushed Stainless Steel cover)
DUE TO THE EXTENDED LIFE OF THIS EDITION OF STYE, PRICES
SHOWN ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE (THEY RE PROBABLY LOWER) Circle 46 on Reader Service Card

CD SERVING CLONE COMPUTERS • 2544 W. Commerce St. • Box 223957

Clone 9noD
Illy of Analogy Corp

YOU Dallas, Texas 75222-3957 • Telex: 882761 • Fax: 214-634-8303 iwarsIlSre Modal«

SINCE For professional technical assistance

on Clone products, call 214-638-8826.
1980 !AMC
.1989 by Clone Computers All rights remrved Pricers and specifications autirect to change
Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. without notice All prices me in U S Dollars Payments muat ba In 05 funds drawn on •U. S bank
 TO ORDER CALL 1? 1(800) 531-5369
MODULAR SWITCHBOXES PARALLEL BNC CONNECTORS
ADAPTER KITS PRINTER CABLES Male Solder Type
DB25 to Centronics

TRIPPLITE
Complete Battery
9021 for RG-58 $1.27
9020 for RG-59, 62 1.27 Back-Up Systems
Turn any D-Sub port into amodular jack Heavy metal cases. All female connections. PPC301-6 6 ft. 56.95
9025 for RG-59, 62 teflon 2.18
in either RJ-11 or RJ-45. PPC301-10 10 ft. 7.95
DB-25 25 Line PPC301-15 Male Crimp Type-3 Pc.
MA9M-6 9 male to RJ-11 $2.40 15 ft. 11.95
AB25-2 2Way $18.95
PPC301-20 20 ft. 14.95
MA9F-6 9female to RJ-11 2.40 AB25-3 3Way 23.95
PPC301-25 25 ft. 17.95
MA15M-6 15 male to RJ-11 2.80 A1325-4 4Way 26.95
MA15F-6 15 female to RJ-'1 2.80 PPC301-ORA Rt. Angle 12.95
AB25-5 5Way 37.95
PPC301-10RA Rt. Angle 14.95
MA25M.6 25 male to RJ-11 2.40 AB25-6 6Way 49.95
PPC301-60 Diablo 14.95
MA25F-6 25 female to RJ-11 2.40 AB25•X X-Over 27.95
MA9M-8 9 male to R..1.45 2.80
MA9F-8 9female to RJ-45 2.80
Centronics 36 Line DB-25 CABLES
AB36-2 2Way $21.95 9101 for RG-58 $1.18
MA15M•8 15 male to RJ-45 3.20
AB36-3 3Way 28.95
MA15F-8 15 female to RJ•45 3.20
AB36-4 4Way 33.95
,- 9100
9103
for RG-59, 62
for teflon-plenum cable
1.00
1.18
BC-200 200 waft $208.00
MA25M-8 25 male to RJ-45 2.80 BC-325 325 wan 258.00
AB36-5 5Way 44.95
MA25F-8 25 female to RJ-45 2.80 Male Crimp Type-2 Pc. BC-450 450 wan 338.00
AB36-X 0-Over 36.95 BC•750 750 watt 490.00
COAXIAL BALUNS DE-9 9 Line BC-1200 1200 watt 725.00
AB09-2 2Way $19.95 BC•1200LAN 1200 waft 750.00
AB09-4 4Way 29.95 All 25 line wired straight through BC.2000 2000 watt 1,190.00
BC-4000 4000 watt 2,495.00
BNC Coaxial Male to Male
ABBN-2 2Way 23.95 25MM-6 6ft $6.95
ABBN-4 4Way 29.95 25MM-10 10 ft. TRIPPLITE
1.'9 9001 for RG-58 $1.36
Modular RJ-11 & 45 25MM-15 15 ft. 17 955
Line Stabilizer/Conditioners
ABRJ11-2 2Way S18.95 25MM-20 20 ft.
25MM-25 25 ft. ;1;4...999555 90
990
99
9 f
or
o
f rR
F1 G
G-
-59
59.
,6
62
2 teflon 1.36
ABRJ 11-4 4Way 26.95
These batons come with RJ-11 jack & ABRJ45-2 25MM-50 50 ft. Female Crimp Type-2 Pc.
2Way 19.95
screw terminals. 25MM•100 100 ft. 62 . 9014 for RG-58 $1.45
ABRJ45-4 4Way 29.95 95

11101 BNC to RJ-11 & st. S7.50 Twin-Axial Male to Female 9003 for RG•59, 62 1.45
BLO5 Twinax to RJ-1I & s.t. 15.00 25MF•6 6 ft $6.95 9015 for RG-59. 62 teflon 1.45
ABTWX-2 2Way $31.95
8107 BNC-TNC Wang bufan 25.45 25MF-10 10 ft. 7.95
ABTWX-4 4Way 38.95
25MF-15 15 ft. 11.95 Male Twist On Type
MODULAR PLUGS MODULAR
25MF•20
25MF-25
20 ft.
25 ft.
14. 9
1
7.
95
5

Wall Plates 25M F-50 50 ft 33.95

25MF-100 100 ft 62.95

a
CENTRONICS
36 PIN CABLES 9051 for RG-58 $1.27
9050 for RG-59, 62 1.18
MWP6-1 6conductor 1jack $1.46 9054 for RG-59, 62 teflon 1.36
MWP6-2 6conductor 2jacks 2.20 •
MP-4M 4 pin handset pluo 4x4 5.15
MWP8-1 8conductor 1jack 1.48
Female Twist On Type
MP-4 4pin RJ-11 plug 4x6 .15 9031 for RG-58 S2.18
MWP8-2 8conductor 2lacks 2.76
MP-6 6pin RJ-12 plug 6x6 .18 9053 for RG-59, 62 1.64
MP-8 8pin RJ-45 plug 3x8 .30 Surface Mount Jacks 9033 for RD-SO, 62 tenon 2.18

"T" Type Connectors

MODULAR Male to Male LS-600 600 Watt. 5amp $77.00
36MM-6 6f S7.95 2Outlets
CRIMPING TOOLS 36MM-10 10 ft 9.95 LC-1200 1200 Watt, 10 Amp, 139.00
36MM-15 15 ft 12.95 2Circuits, 4Outlets
SM•6 6conductor $1.46 36MM-20 20 h 14.95 LC-1800 1800 Watt. 15 Amp, 188.00
SM-8 8 conductor 2.46 36MM-25 25 ft 17.95 3Circuits, 6Outlets
Cord Couplers Male to Female
CC-BC 6conductor 5.94 36MF-6 6h 57.95 8140 2female 1male $2.13 COAX
CC-8C 8conductor 1.30 36MF-10 10 ft 9.95 8141 all female 2.73 Crimping Tools
Patch Panels 36MF•15 15 ft 12.95 8142 all male 5.09
36MF-20 20 ft 14.95

gib
Modular lacks to 50 pin male telco con-
36MF-25 25 h 17.95
Terminators
nectors. 19" rack mountable
PP448 RJ-11 48 port $122
PP648 RJ-12 48 port 135 TWINAXIAL
earl*
PP848 RJ-45 48 port 138
CONNECTORS HT-301A 58, 59. 62 -3pc. $29.95
Harmonicas HT-3018 174, 58, 6 •3pc 29.95
Modular lacks to 50 pin male telco con- CT-8858 283pc 58 8, 59, 29.95
nector 62 teflon
4W-12P 4wire 12 port $16 9008 50 ohm $2.18 CT-8859 283pc RG-59 62 29.95
MCI-04M MP-4M handset $12.95
MCI-06 MP-4 & MP-fi 12.95
6W-8P 6wire 8port 16 9007 75 ohm 2.18 Stripping Tool
8W-6P 8wire 6port 16 9093 93 ohm 2.18
MCI-08 MP 8 12.95
Octopus Cables Adapters
MODULAR WIRE 50 pin female telco connector to modular
plugs
9080 male $3.55 7430 female splice $1.27
9081 female splice 4.09 8130 male splice 2.00
MW-4 4conductor $40/1000 ft. 4W-121 4wire 12 leg, 6ft. $41 9083 chassis mount feed thru 5.82 8470 chassis mount feed thru 2.73
MW-6 6conductor 6511000 ft. 6W-81 6wire 8leg, 6ft, 40 9085 T-connector all female 7.73 8460 bulkhead receptical .82 CST-7735 strips 58. 59, 62 515.95
MW-8 8conductor 83/1000 ft. 8W-61 8wire 6leg. 6ft 39 9086 100 ohm terminator 7.27 8150 right angle 3.27 coaxial cables

Fax: 1-512-344-2985 TERMS

Altex Electronics, Inc.

* MC, VISA, AMEX, DISCOVER welcome
* Actual Freight charges apply
* C.O.D. add COD charges
* Orders under $100 add 3.00 handling

Call for Volume Discounts 1-800-531-5369 *

* most
Open accounts
orders ship
with
same
approved
day credit

Mail Order Dept, 300 Breesport, San Antonio, TX 78216 -(512) 349-8795; FAX: 1-512-344-2985 *pPieicce
e I
isrce
p edon connectors is 25-

258 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition Circle 12 on Reader Senlce Card
 Circle 85 on Reader Service Card

INVENTORY MARKETING PORTABLE BACK-UP OVER RS-232

CONSULTANTS, INC. 32 Megs -"Plug and Run"
P.O. Box 91659. Long Beach, CA 90809-1659 With MS-DOS Driver
IMC OFFERS:
Full Blown IBM Compatible Micro Comuters! Includes
full memory complement, hard drives, mono monitor
and enhanced keyboard And More!... o.
XTTurbo 47700 MHZ
AT 286 6/10 MHZ
AT 286 12 MHZ
$1299
$1399 5 1
4 DD )14 HD
AT 286 16 MHZ $1599
AT 386 20 MHZ
EMS BOARDS Supports Lotus/INTEL (EMS) 8
$2999
25 1119.
Software Written To That Standard
DFI Above Board w/1MB $269
DFI Above Board w/2MB $499
SIMM MODULES
1MGx9 {120) IBM . 142 256x9 (120) IBM .$39
1MGx9 100) IBM . $145 256x9 (100) IBM .$45 •MULTIPLE PC BACK UP WITH SINGLE EASI 3 1
2
- HD

2595Pl ft
1MGx9 80) IBM ... $152 256x9 (80) $52 TAPE SYSTEM
D-RAM
1MGx1 {120) $12.75 64x4 (80) $6.00 •NO SPECIAL ADO IN" PC CARDS NEEDED
1MGx1 100) $13.(X) 256x4 (100) $18.17 •NO SPECIAL BACK UP" SOFTWARE NEEDED
1MGx1 80) $13.50 256x4 (80) $18.00
64x1 151 $1.40 256x1 {151 $3.25
•RS232 INTERFACE
64x1 120 $2.10 256x1 120 $3.75 •PRICE IS $1295 IN SINGLE QUANTITIES BOX
64x1 100 $2.40 256x1 100 $4.00 •OPTIONAL 488, 8BIT PARALLEL, 485, 422,
64x4 (100) $5.00 256x1 180) $4.90
2526 x 1Static INTERFACES AVAILABLE FOR USE IN DATA
H1.1512511 P-10 $4.25 LOGGING APPLICATIONS

IBM
Also Available: All PS/2 SIMM Modules. 28 other systems with storage from 100K to 42 megabytes
Meet or Beat Everyone's Price -Call for Pricing.
Lowest Price. In Town. Fully Guaranteed. ANALOG A DIGITAL PERIPHERALS, INC
Toll Free Outside Ca: 1-800-747-1MEG •Ask for Pete 251 Soulh Muloetry SI, l'on. 011e 45373
(213) 498-0955 • FAX (213) 494-4247 PO Boa 499 TWX 810 450.2665
MASTERCARD 8 VISA ACCEPTED 513 339.2241 FAX 513339.0070

Ribbons & Supplies

Circle 143 on Reader Service Card Circle 16 on Reader Service Card

DISCOUNTS ON ALL ITEMS

Turn old XT/AT SOME ITEMS AS MUCH AS..
THE GENERAL STORE
sour
into aWARPSPEED/386
f
RETAIL EIPERATIGN5 iYiTEM
- 386SX Motherlioard

600PF
The premier system for retail store management
Supports cash drawers, barcode readers, receipt
printers, customer displays, digital scales and
complete online credit card authorization. Controls
all types of retail stores bob hardgoods and apparel
with complete size/color matrix management and
•
Ms' Call Toll Free ,
reporting. Easy to install and use. Field proven for
speed and reliability. Provides all the features
needed for today's retail merchant at a price far
below comparable systems. Demo system available • e""'!-'•
54• Accounts Receivable
- 7..i-
--21311111
ihee

LASER
Point of Sale *Intel 16 MHz 80386 SX CPU'
Inventory Control *Socket for Intel 80387 SX Coprocessor
*Shadow RAM Support
ccounts Payable 8Expansion Slots 6-16 bits. 2-8 bits

TONER
POINT
General Ledger I/O Speed at 8 MHz to use existing cards
Interleave w/IMb RAM
I SUE
Mailing List •Fully AT Compatible

f/ 1
... .
• " .Multiuser/Network Ready...
386/20 w/OK $ 595.00
$995 Complete system

Sirea.
I rin ire in • 386/25 w/OK $ 975.00 *HP LaserJet 2 & 2D
386/25 Cache $1495.00 *CANON 2
Crichlow Data Sciences, Inc. *HP LaserJet Plus 8, 500+
(8041 471-0500 •CANON LPB
P.O. Box 6420 - Virginia Beach, VA 23456 1(800) 627-6998 *APPLE LaserWriter

Circle 75 on Reader Service Card Circle 132 on Reader Service Card

Ricoh Toner Kit 80 no CALL"
Ricoh OPC 80,81-150 s139 9J
Qume Toner 95
For data with a
SKI & LEARN FRENCH! KYOCERA F1000A, F1010
BROTHER LP 10
UNISYS 37
Full-time & Part-time work all mer Europe

9-track mind.
from a Swiss Alps hase while you fine-tune
hardware installations and train operators!
Join ayoung, dynamic leant with one foot in the
Uhl arid the other in Switzerland this season.

Wouldn't It be nice If all

he computers the world
Tri,in, learn and progress in many business
sk i.ls. sports and cultural areas.
Dirkette#
all spoke

language'
thr

Sony folks, Mats put no:

samr
• PC Hardware Application & LAN
Support Engineers UOnneetiOir
he way thrngs arc tn the
real world, so we've corne
• FW Ill, Dbase IV, Ventura Delaware 1-800-451-1849
up vitth a more mask
&/or Pagemaker - P.O. BOX 10247, WILMINGTON. DE 19850
manded approach. You Software support specialists
give us your data, tell us
• Desk Top Publishing, Oklahoma 1•800•654-4058
where d ame from and
Graphic Designer/Artists PO. BOX 1674, BETHANY. OK. 73008
whrrc you nerd it a go
and we'll get a there.
We are very talented and Applications are requested for exceptional and Nevada 1•800- 621-6221
speak many language.s, so ambitious people, flexible about working hours PC BOX 12396, LAS VEGAS, NV. 89112
foryourown peace of mind and :he balance between compensation and the
call ta today and kt u, quality of life. rrnum order $20 0_9 No Surcharge on Visa
take care of your data
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Circle 76 on Reader Service Card Circle 248 on Reader Service Card BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 259
 E/EPROM & MICRO DYNAMIC RAMS
PROGRAMMER
How to Protect SIMM 80/100 $CALL
Your Computer 1MBIT 100ns $11.00
51 4256100ns $11.50

$895 41464 Isom

41256 12Ons
$ 3.75
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1./ 41256 150ns 4 .MTC
51258 •0Ons $ 4.00
• EP-1140 includes: software, cable, user's if 4164 '50ns 4MEEC
manual, 2 free software update coupons,
toll-free technical support, one-year warran- • MATH COPROCESSORS • E PROMS
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microcontrollers FREE money-making literature. What you need to 80287-10 5209 00

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Circle 41 on Reader Service Card Circle 28 on Reader Service Card Circle 138 on Reader Service Card

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Circle 263 on Reader Service Card Circle 181 on Reader Service Card Circle 177 on Reader Service Card

o
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KNOWLEDGE DYNAMICS CORP.

1
Computer Modules, Inc. Precision Data ProductsTM HC4 Box 185-H, Canyon Lake, TX 78133
2348C WALSH AVE NUE SANTA CLARA, CA 95051
ci P O. Box 8367, Grand Rapids. MI 49518 1-800-331-2783 MCNISA/COD/P0
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TEL (408) 496-1881 FAX (408) 496-1886 FAX: 616-452-4914 :11: naliens
1-512-964-3958 (24-hr FAX) $149.95

Circle 62 on Reader Service Card Circle 213 on Reader Service Card Circle 156 on Reader Service Card
BEST-386/25 W/387/25 $4,895.00 BEST-386/20 Tower System $2,995.00

"CAD/CAM WORKSTATION SPECIAL" SI 23.0 LM 22.6

80386 20 MHz system board
SI 28.7 LM 36.7
1MB SIMM RAM 100ns
80386 25 MHz system board w/32 KB static cache
Super 16 Bit VGA card 800 X 600 res. (Tatung)
80387 25 MHz Math Co-processor INCLUDED
14" Color Multisyn Monitor 800 X 600 res. (Tatung)
4 MB SIMM RAM
Clock calendar with battery backup
ATI VGA Wonder card/512K 1024 X 768 res.
5.25" 1.2 MB floppy drive (Teac)
ATI Bus Mouse 3.5" 1.44 MB floppy drive (Teac)
NEC 3D Multisyn Color Monitor 1024 X 768 res. 80 MB hard disk (Seagate ST-4096 28ms)
5.25" 1.2 MB floppy drive (Teac) 1:1 interleave Hard disk/Floppy drive controller
3.5" 1.44 MB floppy drive (Teac) 2serial, Iparallel and 1game port
90 MB SCSI hard disk Tower case w/275 W power supply
SCSI Host Adaptor 101 Enhanced keyboard
Floppy drive controller MS DOS 4.01. GW Basic
2serial, Iparallel and 1game port Support 80387. Weitek Math Co-processor
Tower case w/275 W power supply AMI BIOS with full MS-DOS. OS/2, SCO Xenix
101 Enhanced keyboard Novell. 3COM and PCNET compatibility
MS DOS 4.01, GW Basic
AMI BIOS with full MS-DOS. OS/2. SCO Xenix
BEST-286/16 Laptop System $2,645.00
Novell. 3COM and PCNET compatibility

411
LCD PORTABLE System BEST-286/12 Laptop System $2,495.00
640 X 200 $1,495
286/16 (286/12) MHz 0wait system board
640 X 400 $1,645 IMB RAM expandable to 8MB
EGA COMPATIBLE $1,845 10.25" Gas Plasma Screen (720 x 400 res.. 4level gray)
EGA compatible with external adaptor
1.44 MB Floppy drive
CRT PORTABLE System 40 MB Hard disk 25ms (Connor)
Iserial, 1parallel ports
MONOCHROME $1,375 85 key tactile keyboard w/ external keyboard connector
EGA COMPATIBLE $1,525 MS DOS 4.01, GW Basic
Size: 15" X 14.25" X 3.5" Weight: 16 lbs.

30 DAYS MONEY BACK GUARANTY ONE YEAR P/L WARRANTY CALL FOR QUANTITY PRICE

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PRICE & SPEC. ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE

To Order Call 1-800-634-7920

Circle 27 on Reader Service Card
 MICROCOMPUTER
MAR <ETING COUNCIL

4[21 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE • 1 YEAR WARRANTY ON ALL PRODUCTS • TOLL-FREE TECHNICAL SUPPORT

itt MODULAR CIRCUIT TECHNOLOGY

MINI-SIZED 386 MOTHERBOARDS

Dn -300 $199 95
ETHERNET CARD
USE THIS LOW-COST NETWORK CARD WITH
JUST ABOUT ANY LAN SOFTWARE DESIGNED

$699
FOR ETHERNET PROTOCOLS.

20MHZ 386
THE MCT-M386 USES MEMORY INTERLEAVING FOR NEAR
25MHZ 386 CACHE $1499
THIS RACEHORSE 386 COMBINES MEMORY CACHING AND MEMORY
• 1•00% HARDWARE COMPATIBLE WITH
NOVELL NE-1000 ETHERNET CARD •COMPAT-
IBLE WITH THICK OR THIN ETHERNET • 15 PIN
ETHERNET CONNECTOR • BNC CONNECTOR
ZERO WAIT STATES. CLEANLY DESIGNED MOTHERBOARD INTERLEAVING TO REACH 95% CACHE HIT RATIO FOR NEAR ZERO FOR THIN ETHERNET •IICLUDES ADDITIONAL
HAS A6LAYER PCB FOR QUIET OPERATION. WAITS. DRIVERS FOR OPTIONAL CONFIGURATIONS
•SOCKETED FOR 80397 COPROCESSOR • 16MHZ/20MHZ •25MHZ 80386 •SOCKETED FOR 80387 OR WEITEK 3167 COPROCES- DFINET-300
SELECTABLE SPEEDS •USES SONS 21ti6K OR 1MB SIP RAMS SORS • 16MHZr25MHZ SELECTABLE SPEEDS • INTEL 82385 CACHE
• 16MB RAM CAPACITY, 8MB ON BOARD, 8MB USING CONTROLLER W/ 32KB FLEXIBLE CACHE MEMORY •CHIPS AND
OPTIONAL RAM CARD (0103 INSTALLE)) •STANDARD XT TECHNOLOGY CHIPSET • USES BONS OR SONS SIP RAM •8.5" X le
HOLE SPACING •FIVE 16-BIT SLOTS, TWO 8-BIT SLOTS, ONE •STANDARD XT HOLE SPACING •FOUR 16-BIT SLOTS. THREE 8-BIT
32-BIT SLOT FOR PROPRIETAFtY RAM CARD •AMI BIOS SLOTS, ONE 32-BIT SLOT FOR PROPRIETARY RAM CARD •AMI BIOS
CALL OUR 24-HR BEIS
•MEASURES 8.5' X 13" MCT-C396-25 (408) 559-0253
MCT-M386-20
•ON-LINE ORDEING • CONFERENCING •
MCT-M386-M 8MB RWCARD, OKB INSTALLED $149.95
TECHNICAL INFORMATION •

MINI UPRIGHT TOWER CASE

$249 95 MINIATURE UPRIGHT LETS

YOU PUT YOUR CPU WHERE
YOU WANE IT.
new! new!
•SMALL FOOTPRINT (1TH X
16' LXer inn •COMPATIBLE
W/ 8389 OR MINI 286/386
MOTHERBOARDS
•ROOM FOR 6INTERNAL MODULAR CIRCUIT TECHNOLOGY
EXPANSION CARDS
•HOLDS THREE 5.25'
DRIVES AND ONE 3.5' DRIVE
4800/2400 BAUD $ 19
(HALF HEIGHT) •200 WATT FAX/DATA MODEM Nis HIGH DENSITY
•jiiTel POWER SUPPLY •2-DIGIT
' LED SPEED DISPLAY
A2400/4800 BAUD COMBINED DALA-FAX MODEM FOR LESS
THAN MOST 2400 BAUD DATA MODEMS ALONE! BY SACRI-
FLOPPY CONTROLLER
•e• •FRONT MOUNTED POWER-
FICING THE FAX RECEIVE FUNCTION WE CAN OFFER THIS NEED A THIRD OR FOURTH DRIVE CONTROLLER FOR
ON, RESET AND TURBO
REMARKABLE PRICE! YOUR AT? TRY THIS ONE!
SWITCHES, KEYLOCK
•LEDS FOR HARD DISK, •4800 BAUD FAX TRANSMISSION CAPABILITY TO ANY • USE WITH EXISTING CONTROLLER CARDS IN SYSTEM
TURBO AND POWER-ON GROUP III FAX MACHINE •2400 BAUD V.22BIS DATA MODEM • XT OR AT COMPATIBLE • INTEL UGENT CONTROLLER
KNOWS HOW MANY FLOPPY DRIVES ARE INSTALLED AND
new! CASE-120 •XT/AT COMPATIBLE HALF CARD •CONVERTS DOS TEXT.
PCX, AND TIFF FILES FOR FAX GROUP III TRANSMISSION AUTOMATICALLY ASSIGNS DRIVE LETTERS WITHOUT
•EASY TO USE MENU DRIVEN SOFTWARE •PI-100E BOOK RESETTING SYSTEM DIP SWITCH •SUPPORTS 1.44MB,
•MULTIPLE FAX TRANSMISSIONS TO GROUPED I2MB, 726K AND 360K FLOPPY DRIVES (ANY COMBINATION)
ADDRESSES •INCLUDES PROFAX FAX SOFTWARE MCT-FDC-HD
SUPER UPRIGHT TOWER CASE MCT-FAXM MCT-FDC-HD4 4DRIVE VERSION $59.95

new!
ROOMY CASE WILL HOLD
ALL YOUR PERIPHERALS!
•SPACE FOR 11 HALF
HEIGHT DRIVES OR 3FULL
HEiGHT AND 5HALF HEIGHT 14" SEIKO
•5,EXPOSED DRIVE BAYS
MONITOR

$74 95
FOR FLOPPY OR TAPE

$599
DRIVES •HINGED FRONT
DRIVE PANEL RESTRICTS
ACCESS TO FLOPPY DRIVES
•KEYLOCK, TURBO AND
RESET SWITCHES THIS DUAL FIXED FREQUENCY MONITOR UTILIZES A SONY ENHANCED KEYBOARD
TRINITRON TUBE WITH ASINGLE ELECTRON GUN INSTEAD
•LED SPEED DISPLAY (2
OF THE USUAL THREE TO OBTAIN REMARKABLY WELL-
WITH CALCULATOR
D.GiTS) •HARD DISK AND
POWER-ON LEDS •250 FOCUSED IMAGES AND EXCEPTIONALLY VIVID COLORS THE NUMERIC KEYPAD ON THIS ENHANCED KEYBOARD
WATT POWER SUPPLY • 14' NON-GLARE SCREEN •ULTRA HIGH 9ESOLUTION DOUBLES AS A CALCULATOR. COMPLETE WITH MEMORY
•2ND FAN FOR ADDITIONAL (1024 X 768 MAX) •SUPER-FINE 26 MM DOT PITCH AND TILT-UP LCD DISPLAY.
COOLING •HINGED SIDE •COMPATIBLE WITH 8514A, VGA AND MCGA ADAPTERS •SPACE-SAVING 101-KEY KEYBOARD DESIGN •TACTILE
PANEL FOR QUICK ACCESS HAVING PGA, EGA, CGA AND HIGH RES DISPLAY MODES FEEDBACK • 12 FUNCTION KEYS • XT, AT AND PS/2
•STEEL CASE W/ROLLERS •AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTS 10 DISPLAY MODE COMPATIBLE •SOLAR POWERED MULTI-FUNCTION
CASE-200 •TILT SWIVEL BASE BUSINESS CALCULATOR WITH MEMORY FUNCTIONS
CM-1430 FC-3001

CALL FOR FREE CATALOG!

JOE MICRODE , CEE AND THE JOE 811CRODEVICES LOGO ARE TRADEMARKS OF JOB MICRODEVICES IBM PS 2 ARE SR ADEMADOS OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACH1NOS COPYRIGHT 1989 JOB VICIRODEYICES

262 Fall 1989 • B Y TE IBM Special Edition Circle 6on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 7)
 NEW LOW

R011a1-11-115 VGA PRICES! HARD DISKS KITS

2400 BAUD
e3 -1
1
COMPATIBLE 20 MB $199 20 MB $249
MODEM PACKAGE $
499 30 MB $219 30 MB $279
$9995 •720 X 540 MAX RESOLUTION. 640 X480 IN 16 COLORS, 40 MB $319 eSeagate
528 X480 RESOLUTION IN 256 COLORS •IBM STYLE MONITOR
•HAYES COMPATIBILITY •VGA, EGA. CGA. AND MGA COMPATIBLE 28 MS $389

jam a
•AUTO DIAL/ANSWER VGA-PKG (INCLUDES VGA CARD AND MONITOR)

so me $389
•SELF-TEST ON POWER UP .4T
•FULL AND HALF DUPLEX VGA MONITOR $359
•TOUCHTONE OR PULSE DIALING •2ND PHONE JACK NEW LOW- 1'

so me $569
•14" ANALOG VGA •GLARE RESISTANT SCREEN •720 X480
PRO-241 •TILT/SWIVEL BASE •FRONT MOUNTED POWER SWITCH
VGA-MONITOR

DFI RELISYS MULTISYNCH $429 AVG. FORM DRIVE XT ATM.

HANDY SCANNER-400 DPI •FULL FEATURED MULTISCAN MONITOR WITH UNLIMITED
SIZE MODEL
SPEED FACTOR ONLY KIT KIT
COLORS •800 X 560 RESOLUTION. 14" NON-GLARE DISPLAY 20MB ST-225 65 ms I5-1/4" $199 $249 $309
•AUTO SWITCHING •TTUANALOG VIDEO INPUT 20MB ST-125 40 MS I 3-1/2" $259 $299 $373
JDR-MULTI 30MB RLL ST-238 65 MS ' 5-1/4" $219 $279 $379
30MB RLL $T-138 40 MS , 3-1/2" $289 $339 $429
•QUICKLY SCANS UPTO 4.1' EGA SPECIAL! CARD & MONITOR-JUST $479 40MB ST-251 40 MS 5-1/4" $319 $369 $429
WIDE IMAGES •100, 200. 300.
40MB ST-251-1 28 MS 5-1/4" $389 $439 6499
400 DPI BOTH DIRECTIONS •B&W &
3 HALF-TONE MODES •32 LEVELS OF EGA-MONITOR 14.. RGB MONITOR $339.00 60MB RLL ST-277 40 MS 5-1/4" $389 $449 $549
GRAY SCALE •HERCULES, CGA. EGA AND VGA COMPATIBLE JOB-ROB 14' ROB MONITOR TILT/SWIVEL BASE $239.95 80MB ST-4096 28 MS 5-1/4" $569 - $679
•INCLUDES HALO DPE AND IMAGE EDITOR SOFTWARE JDR-MONO 12' TTL MONOCHROME- GREEN $69.95
HS-3000
rn_ MONOCHROME-AMBER
JOB-AMBER 12 1 - $69.95

OCR-SOFT CHARACTER RECOGNITION SOFTWARE $99.95

150MB ESD1$1095
UPRIGHT QUALITY DRIVE KIT
CASE $ 299 95 KEYBOARDS
5-1 4- HARD DISK, FLOPPY HARD
CONTROLLER. CABLES, MOUNTING
STANDARD KEYBOARDS: HARDWARE 8. SOFTWARE. 1355-PKG
SPACE SAVING DESIGN HOLDS ALL SIZES
BTC-5060 AUTOSENSE FOR XT/AT $59.95
OF MOTHERBOARDS AND INCLUDES:
MAX-5060 W TACTILE FEEDBACK $64.95
•250W POWER SUPPLY •MOUNTS
FOR 3FLOPPY &4HARD DRIVES
ENHANCED KEYBOARDS:
•TURBO & RESET SWITCH •LED SPEED
DISPLAY •POWER d DISK LED'S BTC-5339 AUTOSENSE FOR XT( AT, AUTOREPE/0 $69.95 1.44 MB 3-1/2" DRIVE
•ALL HARDWARE, FACEPLATES 8 SPEAKER K103-A AUDIBLE "CLICK" STYLE $84.95
MAX-5339 MAXI SWITCH W/TACTILE FEEDBACK $84.95
CASE-100
$ 99 95
CASE-FLIP FOR 8088 MB'S $39.95
CASE-SLIDE FOR 8088 MB'S $39.95 •ULTRA HIGH DENSITY IOW
NEW LOW •READ/WRITE 720K DISKS, TOO
CASE-70 FOR 286 MB'S $89.95
CASE-50 FOR MINI 286 MISTS $59.95
MODULAR CIRCUIT TECHNOLOGY PRICES! FDD-1.44X BLACK FACEPLATE
CASE -JR MINI-286 Wit 50W PS $149.95 DRIVE CONTROLLERS: FDD-1 44A BEIGE FACEPLATE
MCT-FDC )PPY DISK CONTROLLER $29.95 FDD-1 44 SOFT SOFTWARE DRIVER $19.95
MCT-FDC-HD 144 MB FLOPPY CONTROLLER $49.95

Dn SERIAL MOUSE
1 2 HEIGHT FLOPPY DISK DRIVES:
MCT-HDC HARD DISK CONTROLLER $79.95 $99.95
$3995 MCT-RLL RLL CONTROLLER $89.95 B2M
FD-55G
5-1/4" TEAC DS/DD
DS/HD 360K
1
$129.95
•3-BUTTON OPTO -MECHANICAL MCT-FH FLOPPY/HARD CONTROLLER $139.95 FDD-360 5-1br DS/DD 360K $69.95
•200 D.P.I. •5-112' CABLE MCT-AFH 286/386 FLOPPY/HARD $149.95 FDD-1 2 5-1/4" DS/HD 12AA $95.95
•USES SERIAL PORT COM 1/2 MCT-AFH-RLL 286/386 RLL CONTROLLER $199.95
•INCL. SOFTWARE DRIVERS
DISPLAY ADAPTOR CARDS:
DMS-200E MCT-MGP MONOCHROME GRAPHICS $59.95
MOUSE 8 HALO-OPE SOFTWARE MCT-CG COLOR GRAPHICS ADAPTOR $49.95 MOTHERBOARDS
659.95

r
DMS-200 MCT-EGA ENHANCED GRAPHICS ADAPTOR $149.95 UPGRADE YOUR
MCT-VGA-8 8-BIT VGA, ANALOG ONLY $199.95 25 MHZ 386 $1049 MOTHERBOARD!
MCT-VGA-16 16-BIT VGA, 1024X768 RES. $329.95 • 10 25 MHZ
a
I e-l LOGITECH MICE MCT-MGMIO MONOGRAPHICS MULTI I/O $119.75 • 16 MB RAM CAPACITY 8MB
• •THREE-BUTTON SERIES 9 MCT-MGAIO 286/386 MONOGRAPHICS I/O $99.95 ON-BOARD(OK), 8MB RAM CARD
[opinpg •320 DPI RESOLUTION e' MULTIFUNCTION CARDS: •USES 256K OR 1MB DRAMS
ULU' , •SERIAL PS/2 COMPATIBLE
MCT-M10 MULTI I/O FLOPPY CONTROLLER $79.95 •8SLOTS: 1%32-BIT RAM
LOGC9 SERIAL MOUSE $98.95
MCT-I0 MULTI I/O CARD $59.95 2X 8-13IT & 5% 16-BIT
LOGC9-P SERIAL MOUSE WITH PAINTSHOW $109.95 ust.
MCT-AMF 286/386 MULTIFUNCTION $139.95 •SHADOW RAM FOR BIOS
LOGC9-PBL SERIAL MOUSE WITH PUBLISHER $149.95
MCT-AIO 286/386 MULTI I/O CARD $59.95 VIDEO •AMI BIOS .
LOGC9-PC SERIAL MOUSE WITH PAINT/CAD $154.95
•INTERLEAVED MEMORY "."
LOGB9 BUS MOUSE $89.95 MEMORY CARDS:
•ADJUSTABLE BUS SPEEDS
LOGB9-P BUS MOUSE WITH PAINTSHOW $104.95 MCT-R AM 576K RAM CARD $59.95
LOG B9-PBL BUS MOUSE WITH PUBLISHER $139.95 MCT-386MB25
MCT-EMS EXPANDED MEMORY CARD $129.95
LOG B9-PC BUS MOUSE WITH PAINT/CAD $149 95_ALMCT-AEMS 286/386 EMS CARD MCT-386MB20 10/20 MHZ 386 $849.00
$139.95
MCT-386-M 8MB RAM CARD (OK) $149.95

12 MHZ MINI-286 $299

MODULAR PROGRAMMING SYSTEM EPROM MODULE $119.95 •AT COMPATIBLE •KEYBOARD SELECTABLE 8/I2MHZ
•PROGRAMS 24-32 PIN EPROMS, CMOS EPROMS •EXPANDABLE TO 4MB ON-BOARD WITH IMB DRAMS (0K)
INTEGRATED MODULAR SYSTEM EASILY EXPANDS! ALL & EEPROMS FROM 16K TO 1024K • HEX TO OBJ •SIX 16-BIT 8. TWO 8-BIT SLOTS •AMI BIOS •LED SUPPORT
MODULES USE A COMMON HOST ADAPTOR CARD--USE JUST CONVERTER •AUTO, BLANK CHECK/PROGRAM/
ONE SLOT TO PROGRAM EPROMS, PROMS. PALS & MORE VERIFY •VPP 5, 12.5, 12.75, 13,21 & 25 VOLTS MCT-M286-12
•NORMAL, INTELLIGENT, INTERACTIVE & QUICK MCT-M286 6/10 MHZ MINI-286 $269.95
PULSE PROGRAMMING ALGORITHMS MCT-M286-16 8/16 MHZ 286 $489.95
HOST ADAPTOR CARD $29.95 MOD-MEP MCT-M286-20 10/20 MHZ 286 $589.00
•UNIVERSAL INTERFACE FOR ALL
THE PROGRAMMING MODULES'
MOD-MEP-4 4-EPROM PROGRAMMER 1169.95 MCT-XMB STANDARD 4.77 MHZ 8088 $87.95
MOD-MEP-8 8-EPROM PROGRAMMER 259.95 MCT-TURBO 4.77/8 MHZ 8088 $95.95
•SELECTABLE ADDRESSES MOD-MEP-1616-EPROM PROGRAMMER 499.95 MCT-TURBO-10 4.77/10 MHZ SINGLE CHIP 8088 $99.00
PREVENTS CONFLICTS
•MOLDED CABLE DIGITAL IC MODULE $129.95
MOD-MAC •TESTS TTL, CMOS, DYNAMIC 8. STATIC RAM
•AUTO SEARCH FOR UNKNOWN PART NUMBERS EPROM PROGRAMMER $129"
UNIVERSAL MODULE $499.99 •USER-PROGRAMMABLE TEST PROCEDURES •PROGRAMS 27XX AND 27XXX EPROMS UP TO 27512
•PROGRAMS EPROMS. EEPROMS. MOD-MIC •SUPPORTS VARIOUS PROGRAMMING FORMATS &
PALS. BI-POLAR PROMS, 8748 &8751 VOLTAGES •SPLIT OR
SERIES DEVICES, 16V8 AND 20V8 GALS PAL MODULE 8249.95 COMBINE CONTENTS OF
(GENERIC ARRAY LOGIC) FROM LATTICE. SEVERAL EPROMS OF
•PROGRAMS MI. NS, TI 20 &TI 24 PIN DEVICES
NS, SGS •TESTS TTL. CMOS, DYNAMIC DIFFERENT SIZES
•BLANK CHECK, PROGRAM, AUTO. READMASTER,
& STATIC RAMS •LOAD DISK. SAVE DISK. •READ, WRITE, COPY,
VERIFY &SECURITY FUSE BLOW
EDIT. BLANK CHECK, PROGRAM, AUTO, ERASE. CHECK &VERIFY
MOD-MPL •SOFTWARE FOR HEX
READ MASTER, VERIFY AND COMPARE
•TEXTOOL SOCKET FOR .3" TO svi 8-40 PINS) CUPL SOFTWARE-ENTRY-LEVEL PAL DEV KIT AND INTEL HEX FORMATS
MOD-MUP MOD-MPL-SOFT $99.95 MOD-EPROM

Terms, Minimum order $10.00. For shipping 8 handling Include $3.50 for ground and
JDR MICRODEVICES, 2233 BRANHAM LANE, SAN JOSE 95124 $4.50 for air. Orders over 1lb and foreign orders may require additional shipping
charges-please contact the sales department tor the amount. CA residents must
LOCAL (408) 559-1200 FAX (408) 559-0250 TELEX 171-110 Include applicable sales tax. Prices subject to change without notice. We are not
responsible for typographical errors. We reserve the right to limit quantities and to

[ 1 RETAIL
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HOURS:
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ORDER TOLL FREE 800-538-5000

COPYRIGHT 1989 JDR MICRODEVICES

Circle 6on Reader Service Card (DEALERS: 7) BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 263
 Wheres' the @/# EDITORIAL I
NDEX BY COMPANY
cursor? Index of companies covered in articles, columns, or news stories in this issue
Each reference is to the first page of the article or section in which the company name appears

Make the cursor BIG and BOLD

INQUIRY 11 COMPANY PAGE INQUIRY # COMPANY PAGE
and BLINK at any rate! The No-
Squint Cursor "is a lifesaving
utility for laptop users."-- 914 A.I. ARCHITECTS 56,79 1169 MICRO EXPRESS 13
Computer Digest. Recommended 881 ADAPTIVE NETWORKS 56 897 MICROSOFT
by Peter Lewis in the NY TIMES; 882 ADOBE SYSTEMS 56,203 56, 87, 95, 175, 209, 269
Bill Machrone in PC magazine; 913 MIPS 276
and Jerry Pournelle in 883 ADVANCED LOGIC
INFOWORLD. No-Squint is 1160 RESEARCH 13, 56 1170 NATIONAL MICROSYSTEMS 13
$39.95 + 2.50 shipping from: 884 AGFA COMPUGRAPHIC 56 NEC INFORMATION SYSTEMS...131
SkiSoft Publishing., 1644 Mass. 885 ALDUS 56
Ave., Lexington, MA 02173 1161 ALTOS COMPUTER SYSTEMS 13 898 O'NEILL COMMUNICATIONS 56
(617)-863-1876 Visa/MC/Amex 886 AMDEK 56 899 OPEN SOFTWARE
ASHTON-TATE 87, 175, 209 FOUNDATION 56,95
887 AST RESEARCH ORACLE 175
Circle 236 on Reader Service Card 1162 13, 56, 123, 131, 209
AT&T 95 1171 PC LINK 13
888 AT&T DATA SYSTEMS GROUP 56 1072 PETER NORTON COMPUTING ....105
EPROM PROGRAMMER ATI 159 900 PHAR LAP SOFTWARE 56,79
915 AUTODESK 56 917 PIXAR 56
PKWARE 209
BELL LABS 95
BICC DATA NETWORKS 131 901 QUADRAM 56,79
1163 BLACKSHIP COMPUTER QUALITAS 79
SYSTEMS 13 902 QUARTERDECK OFFICE
SYSTEMS 56, 79
916 CADKEY 56
889 CANON U.S.A. 56,203 RACET COMPUTES 131
912 903 RATIONAL SYSTEMS 56, 79
CHIPS & TECHNOLOGIES 229 RELATIONAL
890 COMPAQ COMPUTER 13, 56, 131 TECHNOLOGIES 175
1164 RENAISSANCE 159
*Quick pulse pgms. eight 1Mbit EPROMs in 40 sec. CORVUS 87 SEATTLE COMPUTER
•Stand-alone or PC-driven •1Megabit of DRAM
PRODUCTS 209
•RS-232, parallel in &out ports •Made in U.S.A.
•Binary, Intel hep, &Mot. Sformats •A9 I.D. DATAPOINT 195 904 SONY CORP. OF AMERICA 56
•100 user-definable macros •2year warranty DIGITAL EQUIPMENT 95, 195 SUN MICROSYSTEMS 95,276
•Inf ormation, cal (916) 924-8837 •Single pgmr. $550 DIGITAL RESEARCH 209,269 SYBASE 175
1165 DYNA COMPUTER 13 SYSTEM ENHANCEMENT
NEEDHAM'S ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATES 209
4539 Orange Grove Ave. •Sacramento. CA 95841 EPSON AMERICA 131 1172 SYSTEMS INTEGRATION
891 EVEREX SYSTEMS 13, 56 ASSOCIATES 13
1166
Circle 191 on Reader Service Card TANDY 131
1167 FIVESTAR ELECTRONICS 13 1173 TANGENT COMPUTER 13
FORMALSOFT 269 905 TEAC AMERICA 56
GUPTA TECHNOLOGIES 175

iJ
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS 159
1073 THE ALDRIDGE CO. 105
HAMILTON LABORATORIES 87 906 TRANS-M 56
892 HEWLETT-PACKARD ....56, 131, 203 1075 TRAVELING SOFTWARE.... 105,269
911
011111MUTOP TSENG LABS 159

ialmmummv», 'Sure 893

HILGRAEVE
HITACHI AMERICA
87
56 907 UNIX INTERNATIONAL 56

itc insured? 894 IBM

ING. C. OLIVETTI
56
131
VIDEO ELECTRONICS STANDARDS
ASSOCIATION 159
SAFEWARE® Insurance provide full INMOS 276 VIDEO SEVEN 159
replacement of hardware, media and 895 INSITE PERIPHERALS 56
purchased software. As little as $39/yr. covers: 896 INTEL 56, 67, 123, 159, 209, 276 908 WEITEK 56, 221
•Fire •Theft •Power Surge WESTERN DIGITAL IMAGING ....159
•Earthquake •Viater Damage •Auto Accident LOCUS COMPUTING 95 909 WYSE TECHNOLOGY 56, 131
For information or immediate coverage call. LOGISTIQUE 87
LOGITECH 87 XEROX
1-800-848-3469
195
1071 LOTUS 1076 XTREE 105
DEVELOPMENT 105, 209, 269
In Ohio call 1-614-262-0559
910 ZENITH DATA
1074 MAGEE ENTERPRISES 105 1174 SYSTEMS 13, 56, 131
1168 MATRIX DIGITAL PRODUCTS 13 ZSOFT 209
SAFEwARE, The Insurance Agency Inc

Circle 232 on Reader Service Card

READER
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Alphabetical Index to Advertisers

Inquiry No. Page No. Inquiry No. Page No. Inquiry No. Page No. Inquiry No. Page No.

8 ABACUS SOFTWARE 177 • DELL COMPUTER 80A-B 153 KAYPRO COMPUTERS 151 218 PROSYSTEM COMP.TECHNIC .59
9 ABACUS SOFTWARE 177 80 DELL COMPUTER 81 154 KEA SYSTEMS 122 219 PROCOMP,U.S.A.,INC. 26
286 ACS INTERNATIONAL,INC 200 160 DESCRIBE,INC 92,93 155 KEPRO CIRCUIT SYSTEMS 36 220 PROCOMP,U.S.A.,INC. 26
11 AK SYSTEMS 250 82 DIGIBOARD 94 21 KINSON PRODUCTS CORP 164 221 PROGRAMMERS WHOLESALER 271
12 ALTEX ELECTRONICS 258 83 DIONEX 35 22 KINSON PRODUCTS CORP 164 222 PROGRAMMERS WHOLESALER 273
13 AMDEK 161 85 DISKETTE CONNECTION .259 156 KNOWLEDGE DYNAMICS 260 223 OMS 207
14 AMERICAN SMALL BUS.COMP. 139 86 DSP DEVELOPMENT CORP ..201 161 LIGHTNINGWORD CORP 101 224 OMS 207
16 ANALOG & DIGITAL PERIPH. 259 10 DSP TECHNOLOGY CORP .. 193 162 LIGHTNINGWORD CORP 101 225 QUA TECH 16
17 ANDERSON CONSULTING &S/W48 89 DTK COMPUTER,INC 12 163 LOGICAL DEVICES 256 282 QUARTERDECK 102,103
18 ANNABOOKS 251 90 DTK COMPUTER,INC 12 164 LOGICAL DEVICES 256 283 QUARTERDECK 102,103
20 ACIUYTEK REAL TIME SYSTEM 28 91 DURANT TECHNOLOGIES 26 165 LOGITECH 45 284 QUARTERDECK 102,103
23 ATI 109 92 DURANT TECHNOLOGIES 26 166 LOGITECH 45 285 QUARTERDECK 102,103
24 BASF 133 94 ELITE MICROSYSTEMS 157 167 MANZANA MICROSYSTEMS 214 227 QUICKSOFT,INC 192
27 BEST COMPUTER 261 95 ELS ENTERPRISES,LTD 213 168 MATRIX SOFTWARE 220 228 RAINBOW 137
28 BEST POWER TECHNOLOGY 260 96 EMERSON ELECTRIC 184 • MAXELL CIV 229 RAINBOW 137
29 BINARY ENGINEERING 223 97 EMERSON ELECTRIC 184 169 MAXON SYSTEMS,INC 132 230 ROSE ELECTRONICS 23
30 BITWISE DESIGNS,INC 150 98 ENERTRONICS RESEARCH,INC 225 170 MAXON SYSTEMS,INC 132 231 ROTATING MEMORY SERVICE .38
31 BITWISE DESIGNS,INC 150 99 EVEREX SYSTEMS 218,219 171 MEGA DRIVE 89 232 SAFEWARE 264
• BIX 224 100 EVEREX SYSTEMS 218,219 172 MEI 144 233 SANTA CRUZ OPERATION 9
450 BIX 239 101 EXSEL,INC 18 173 MEI 144 289 SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVORS . 272
32 BLACKSHIPCOMP.SYSTEM. 210 102 EXSEL,INC 176 174 MERRITT COMPUTER PRODUCTS 32 290 SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVCÍFIS 272
33 BOCA RESEARCH 179 103 FINALSOFT CORPORATION 136 175 METRABYTE 256 291 SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVORS 272
34 BOCA RESEARCH 179 104 FINALSOFT CORPORATION 136 293 MEXTEL 74 235 SILICON SHACK 256
35 BOCA RESEARCH 181 105 FLAGSTAFF ENGINEERING .20 294 MEXTEL 74 236 SKISOFT PUBLISHING CORP 264
36 BOCA RESEARCH 181 106 FOUNTAIN TECHNOLOGIES 216 177 MICRO ELECTRONIC TECH. 260 237 SOFTWARE LINK 76,77
37 BOCA RESEARCH 183 107 FTG DATA SYSTEMS 250 178 MICROPRESS 205 238 SOFTWARE LINK 76,77
38 BOCA RESEARCH 183 • FUNCKEY ENTERPRISES 38 179 MICROSOLUTIONS COMP PROD .48 239 SOFTWARE SECURITY 65
39 BOLT SYSTEMS 88 109 FUTURE SOFT ENGINEERING 194 180 MICRONICS COMPUTERS,INC 71 240 SOTA TECHNOLOGY 217
40 BOLT SYSTEMS 88 110 FUTURE SOFT ENGINEERING 194 181 MICROPROCESSORS UNLIMITED .260 241 SPSS 47
41 BP MICROSYSTEMS 260 111 GTEK INC 86 182 MICROSIM CORPORATION .. ..97 242 TATUNG COMP.OF AMERICA 85
• BUYER'S MART 242-249 112 GTEK INC 86 183 MICROSIM CORPORATION. .97 243 TEKTRONIX 43
296 BYTE BITS 256 113 GALACTICOMM 2 • MICROSOFT 4,5 244 TEKTRONIX 43
• BYTEWEEK/NEWSLETTER 275 114 GALACTICOMM 2 • MICROSOFT 19 246 TEXAS MICROSYSTEMS,INC 22
• BYTE PUBLICATIONS 189 115 GATEWAY 2000 48A-D 184 MICROTRONICS TRADE SERV 75 247 THE WHITEWATER GROUP .. 174
• BYTE PUBLICATIONS . 234,235 116 GENERAL PARAMETRICS . 187 • MICROWAY CIII 248 THORBURN &ASSOCIATES ..259
• BYTE SUB.MESSAGE 270 117 GENERIC SOFTWARE 127 185 MOSAIC MARKETING 129 249 TOSHIBA 10,11
42 C SOURCE 98 118 GENERIC SOFTWARE 127 186 MULTI-MICRO 91 250 TOSHIBA 10,11
43 CAM SOFTWARE 36 119 GENESIS DATA SYSTEMS . 231 187 NANAO 228 253 TRIPP LITE 34
44 CAM SOFTWARE 36 120 GENESIS DATA SYSTEMS . 231 188 NANAO 228 254 TRUEVISION 142
45 CAPITAL EQUIPMENT CORP 98 121 GEOCOMP CORPORATION .. 18 189 NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS 7 255 TURBOPOWER SOFTWARE . 108
• CLEO SOFTWARE 199 122 GEOCOMP CORPORATION ... 18 190 NATURAL MICROSYSTEMS 153 256 UNICORN ELECTRONICS . 256
46 CLONE COMPUTERS 257 123 GLENCOENGINEERING,INC 152 191 NEEDHAM'S ELECTRONICS 264 • UNITED SOFTWARE SECURITY 32A-B
47 CMS ENHANCEMENTS 39 124 GOLDEN BOW 212 192 NEWER TECHNOLOGY 90 • UNITED SOFTWARE SECURITY 33
48 CMS ENHANCEMENTS 39 125 GTE DATA SERVICES 236 193 NISCA INCORPORATED 114 257 UNITEX,INC 254,255
49 CNS,INC 130 126 G.REED,INC 252 • NORTHGATE COMPUTER SYS. 166,167 • UNIXWORLD 113
51 COMMUNICATION RESEARCH GR 238 127 HAUPPAUGE COMPUTER 37 • NORTHGATE COMPUTER SYS. 168,169 258 V COMMUNICATIONS,INC 63
52 COMMUNICATION RESEARCH GR 238 128 HEARSAY,INC 251 • NORTHGATE COMPUTER SYS. 170,171 259 V COMMUNICATIONS,INC 211
53 COMPFAX 237 129 HEARSAY,INC 251 • NORTHGATE COMPUTER SYS. 172,173 295 VARTECH INT'L 250
54 COMPFAX 237 130 HELIX SOFTWARE COMPANY 106 194 ON TARGET 256 260 VICTORY ENTERPRISES 146
57 COMPUCOM 251 131 HERSEY MICRO CONSULTING .96 195 OVERLAND DATA 251 261 VIDEX 99
58 COMPUTER AIDED TECHNOLOGY 146 132 HOME SMART COMPUTING . 259 196 PACIFIC DATA PRODUCTS .. 202 262 VIDEX 99
59 COMPUTER AIDED TECHNOLOGY 146 133 HOOLEON CORPORATION 162 197 PACIFIC DATA PRODUCTS . 202 263 VIZIFLEX SEELS 260
60 COMPUTER DIRECT .. .226,227 134 HORSTMANN SOFTWARE .80 198 PARA SYSTEMS 83 264 WEITEK CORPORATION. 24,25
61 COMPUTER DISCOUNT WAREHSE 155 135 HYPERKINETIX,INC 233 199 PARCPLACE SYSTEMS 141 265 WELLS AMERICAN(N.AMER) 125
62 COMPUTER MODULES 260 136 HYPERKINETIX,INC 233 200 PARCPLACE SYSTEMS 141 266 WELLS AMERICAN(N.AMER) 125
63 COMPUTER PERIPHERALS . 78 137 H&W MICRO,INC 16 201 PATTON & PATTON 156 267 WELLS AMERICAN (INT'L) 125
64 COMPUTER SYSTEMS RESEARCH54,55 • IBM-AIX PRODUCT 40A-B 202 PC DESIGNS 107 268 WELLS AMERICAN (INT'L) 125
65 COMTROL CORP. 191 • IBM-AIX PRODUCT 40,41 203 PC POWER &COOLING 66 297 WELLS AMERICAN(N.AMER) . 135
66 CONCEPTUAL SOFTWARE .46 138 I.C. EXPRESS 260 204 PC POWER &COOLING 66 298 WELLS AMERICAN(N.AMER) 135
67 CONCEPTUAL SOFTWARE. 46 139 IGC 104 205 PERIPHERAL TECHNOLOGY .252 299 WELLS AMERICAN (INT'L) 135
19 CONNEXPERTS 29 140 IGC 104 206 PERISCOPE COMPANY,INC . 149 300 WELLS AMERICAN (INT'L) 135
68 CONTECH 252 141 IMAGENET SYSTEMS,INC. 256 207 PERISCOPE COMPANY,INC 149 269 WHOLESALE DIRECT,INC .28
69 CONTROL SYSTEMS 158 142 IMAGENET SYSTEMS,INC. 256 208 PERSONAL TEX 240 270 WILLOW PERIPHERALS 21
70 CONTROL SYSTEMS 158 143 INVENTORY MARKETING CONSL 259 280 PI COMPUTER CORP 252 271 YSCTECH 190
71 CONTROL VISION 46 144 ISLAND SYSTEMS 100 281 PI COMPUTER CORP 252 272 ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS 27
75 CRICHLOW DATA SCIENCES 259 145 ISLAND SYSTEMS 100 210 PINNACLE PUBLISHING 163 273 ZEOS INTERNATIONAL 115
• DAMARK INT'L 232 146 JAMECO ELECTRONICS 253 211 PINNACLE PUBLISHING 163 274 ZEOS INTERNATIONAL 116,117
87 DARIANA TECHNOLOGY GROUP 165 147 JB TECHNOLGIES 164 212 POPKIN SOFTWARE &SYSTEMS 145 275 ZEOS INTERNATIONAL 118,119
88 DARIANA TECHNOLOGY GROUP 165 148 JB TECHNOLGIES 164 213 PRECISION DATA PRODUCTS 260 276 ZEOS INTERNATIONAL 120,121
76 DATACOPY SERVICE OF TEXAS .259 6 J.D.R. MICRODEVICES 262,263 214 PRECISION PLUS SOFTWARE .32 279 ZOLTRIX 134
77 DATABASE & DATACOM SOL. 176 7 J.D.R. MICRODEVICES 262,263 215 PRESENTATION ELECTRONICS 64
292 DATAPRO 274 151 KADAK 34 216 PRESENTATION ELECTRONICS 274
79 DELL COMPUTER CII,1 152 KAYPRO COMPUTERS 151 217 PRIORITY ONE 215 •Correspond directly with company.

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 265

 READER
To get further information on the products advertised in BYTE, fill out
the reader service card by circling the numbers on the card that cor-
respond to the inquiry number listed with the advertiser. This index is
provided as an additional service by the publisher, who assumes no

SERVICE
liability for errors or omissions.

Correspond directly with company.

Index to Advertisers by Product Category

Inquiry No. Page No. Inquiry No. Page No. Inquiry No. Page No. Inquiry No. Page No.

806 MASS STORAGE 31 BITWISE DESIGNS,INC 150 284 QUARTERDECK 102,103

HARDWARE 32 BLACKSHIP COMP.SYSTEM . 210 285 QUARTERDECK 102,103
11 AK SYSTEMS 250 64 COMPUTER SYSTEMS RESEARCH54,55 227 QUICKSOFT,INC 192
16 ANALOG & DIGITAL PERIPH 259 79 DELL COMPUTER CII,1
800 ADD INS 24 BASF 133 • DELL COMPUTER 80A-B 818 IBM/MSDOS APPLICATIONS
68 CONTECH 252 80 DELL COMPUTER 81 Scientific/Technical
286 ACS INTERNATIONAL,INC 200 105 FLAGSTAFF ENGINEERING 20 83 DIONEX 35
23 ATI 109 • MAXELL CIV 89 DTK COMPUTER,INC 12 18 ANNABOOKS 251
33 BOCA RESEARCH 179 171 MEGA DRIVE 89 90 DTK COMPUTER,INC 12 29 BINARY ENGINEERING 223
34 BOCA RESEARCH 179 195 OVERLAND DATA 251 99 EVEREX SYSTEMS 218,219 86 DSP DEVELOPMENT CORP 201
35 BOCA RESEARCH 181 100 EVEREX SYSTEMS 218,219 124 GOLDEN BOW 212
36 BOCA RESEARCH 181 807 MISCELLANEOUS 106 FOUNTAIN TECHNOLOGIES .. 216 125 GTE DATA SERVICES 236
37 BOCA RESEARCH 183 115 GATEWAY 2000 48A-D 134 HORSTMANN SOFTWARE 80
38 BOCA RESEARCH 183 292 DATAPRO 274 189 NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS 7
127 HAUPPAUGE COMPUTER 37
45 CAPITAL EQUIPMENT CORP. .. 98 174 MERRITT COMPUTER PRODUCTS 32 132 HOME SMART COMPUTING 259 201 PATTON & PATTON 156
62 COMPUTER MODULES 260 203 PC POWER & COOLING 66 152 KAYPRO COMPUTERS 151 212 POPKIN SOFTWARE &SYSTEMS 145
65 COMTROL CORP. 191 204 PC POWER & COOLING 66 153 KAYPRO COMPUTERS 151 214 PRECISION PLUS SOFTWARE 32
69 CONTROL SYSTEMS 158 231 ROTATING MEMORY SERVICE 38 180 MICRONICS COMPUTERS,INC. 71 241 SPSS 47
70 CONTROL SYSTEMS 158 235 SILICON SHACK 256 184 MICROTRONICS TRADE SERV. 75
82 DIGIBOARD 94 260 VICTORY ENTERPRISES 146 • MICROWAY CIII 819 IBM/MSDOS — CAD
98 ENERTRONICS RESEARCH,INC .225 263 VIZIFLEX SEELS 260 186 MULTI-MICRO 91
107 FTC DATA SYSTEMS 250 • NORTHGATE COMPUTER SYS. 166,167 14 AMERICAN SMALL BUS.COMP 139
113 GALACTICOMM 2 808 MODEMS/MULTIPLEXORS • NORTHGATE COMPUTER SYS. 168,169 117 GENERIC SOFTWARE 127
114 GALACTICOMM 2 • NORTHGATE COMPUTER SYS. 172,173 118 GENERIC SOFTWARE 127
111 GTEK INC 86 • CLEO SOFTWARE 199
202 PC DESIGNS 107
112 GTEK INC 86 57 COMPUCOM 251
205 PERIPHERAL TECHNOLOGY 252 820 IBM/MSDOS COMMUNICATIONS
128 HEARSAY,INC 251 63 COMPUTER PERIPHERALS 78
280 PI COMPUTER CORP 252
129 HEARSAY,INC 251 113 GALACTICOMM 2 51 COMMUNICATION RESEARCH GR .238
281 PI COMPUTER CORP 252
132 HOME SMART COMPUTING 259 114 GALACTICOMM 2 52 COMMUNICATION RESEARCH GR 238
240 SOTA TECHNOLOGY 217
21 KINSON PRODUCTS CORP . 164 177 MICRO ELECTRONIC TECH.. .260 77 DATABASE & DATACOM SOL. 176
246 TEXAS MICROSYSTEMS,INC .22
22 KINSON PRODUCTS CORP 164 249 TOSHIBA 10,11 109 FUTURE SOFT ENGINEERING 194
169 MAXON SYSTEMS,INC 132 809 MONITORS 250 TOSHIBA 10,11 110 FUTURE SOFT ENGINEERING 194
170 MAXON SYSTEMS,INC 132 265 WELLS AMERICAN(N.AMER) .125 154 KEA SYSTEMS 122
180 MICRONICS COMPUTERS,INC .71 13 AMDEK 161 190 NATURAL MICROSYSTEMS 153
266 WELLS AMERICAN(N.AMER) .125
• MICROWAY CIII 94 ELITE MICROSYSTEMS 157
267 WELLS AMERICAN (INT'L)... .125
192 NEWER TECHNOLOGY 90 187 NANAO 228 821 IBM/MSDOS — GRAPHICS
268 WELLS AMERICAN (INT'L) ..125
206 PERISCOPE COMPANY,INC 149 188 NANAO 228
297 WELLS AMERICAN(N.AMER) .135
207 PERISCOPE COMPANY,INC 149 242 TATUNG COMP.OF AMERICA 85 86 DSP DEVELOPMENT CORP 201
298 WELLS AMERICAN(N.AMER) .135
219 PROCOMP,U.S.A.,INC. 26 279 ZOLTRIX 134 116 GENERAL PARAMETRICS 187
299 WELLS AMERICAN (INT'L). .. 135
220 PROCOMP,U.S.A.,INC. 26 300 WELLS AMERICAN (INT'L) .. 135 210 PINNACLE PUBLISHING 163
225 QUA TECH 16 810 NETWORK HARDWARE 272 ZENITH DATA SYSTEMS 27 211 PINNACLE PUBLISHING 163
235 SILICON SHACK 256 273 ZEOS INTERNATIONAL 115
20 AOUYTEK REAL TIME SYSTEM 28 822 IBM/MSDOS — LAN
254 TRUEVISION 142 274 ZEOS INTERNATIONAL 116,117
47 CMS ENHANCEMENTS 39
264 WEITEK CORPORATION. 24,25 275 ZEOS INTERNATIONAL 118,119
269 WHOLESALE DIRECT,INC 28 48 CMS ENHANCEMENTS 39 219 PROCOMP,U.S.A.,INC. 26
276 ZEOS INTERNATIONAL 120,121
19 CONNEXPERTS 29 220 PROCOMP,U.S.A.,INC. 26
270 WILLOW PERIPHERALS 21
10 DSP TECHNOLOGY CORP 193
815 UPS
801 21 KINSON PRODUCTS CORP 164 823 IBM/MSDOS — LANGUAGES
DRIVES
22 KINSON PRODUCTS CORP 164 91 DURANT TECHNOLOGIES 26
167 MANZANA MICROSYSTEMS .214 190 NATURAL MICROSYSTEMS 153 43 CAM SOFTWARE 36
92 DURANT TECHNOLOGIES .26
171 MEGA DRIVE 89 219 PROCOMP,U.S.A.,INC. 26 44 CAM SOFTWARE 36
96 EMERSON ELECTRIC 184
179 MICROSOLUTIONS COMP.PROD 48 220 PROCOMP,U.S.A.,INC. 26 119 GENESIS DATA SYSTEMS 231
97 EMERSON ELECTRIC 184
230 ROSE ELECTRONICS 23 120 GENESIS DATA SYSTEMS. 231
198 PARA SYSTEMS 83
802 FACSIMILE 253 TRIPP LITE 34 • MICROSOFT 4,5
811 PRINTERS/PLOTTERS • MICROSOFT 19
53 COMPFAX 237 199 PARCPLACE SYSTEMS 141
54 COMPFAX 237 196 PACIFIC DATA PRODUCTS 202 200 PARCPLACE SYSTEMS 141
197 PACIFIC DATA PRODUCTS 202 SOFTWARE 218 PROSYSTEM COMP.TECHNIC .59
803 HARDWARE PROGRAMMERS 223 OMS 207 247 THE WHITEWATER GROUP ..174
224 OMS 207 255 TURBOPOWER SOFTWARE 108
41 BP MICROSYSTEMS 260 243 TEKTRONIX 43 816 APPLE/MAC APPLICATIONS
111 GTEK INC 86 244 TEKTRONIX 43 Scientific/Technical 824 IBM/MSDOS — UTILITIES
112 GTEK INC 86 249 TOSHIBA 10,11
163 LOGICAL DEVICES 256 250 TOSHIBA 10,11 182 MICROSIM CORPORATION 97 39 BOLT SYSTEMS 88
164 LOGICAL DEVICES 256 183 MICROSIM CORPORATION 97 40 BOLT SYSTEMS 88
191 NEEDHAM'S ELECTRONICS 264 812 SCANNERS/IMAGE PROCESSORS 42 C SOURCE 98
817 IBM/MSDOS APPLICATIONS 49 CNS,INC 130
804 INSTRUMENTATION 58 COMPUTER AIDED TECHNOLOGY .146 Business/Office 87 DARIANA TECHNOLOGY GROUP 165
59 COMPUTER AIDED TECHNOLOGY 146 88 DARIANA TECHNOLOGY GROUP 165
175 METRABYTE 256 193 NISCA INCORPORATED 114 17 ANDERSON CONSULTING &S/W48 103 FINALSOFT CORPORATION 136
261 VIDEX 99 66 CONCEPTUAL SOFTWARE.. 46 104 FINALSOFT CORPORATION 136
805 KEYBOARDS/MICE 262 VIDEX 99 67 CONCEPTUAL SOFTWARE . .46 • FUNCKEY ENTERPRISES 38
77 DATABASE & DATACOM SOL. 176 119 GENESIS DATA SYSTEMS ...231
133 HOOLEON CORPORATION. 162 813 SOFTWARE SECURITY 160 DESCRIBE,INC 92,93 120 GENESIS DATA SYSTEMS ....231
165 LOG ITECH 45 116 GENERAL PARAMETRICS .. 187 130 HELIX SOFTWARE COMPANY 106
166 LOGITECH 45 123 GLENCO ENGINEERING,INC 152 161 LIGHTNINGWORD CORP 101 131 HERSEY MICRO CONSULTING. 96
172 MEI 144 228 RAINBOW 137 162 LIGHTNINGWORD CORP 101 135 HYPERKINETIX,INC 233
173 MEI 144 229 RAINBOW 137 185 MOSAIC MARKETING 129 136 HYPERKINETIX,INC 233
293 MEXTEL 74 239 SOFTWARE SECURITY 65 210 PINNACLE PUBLISHING 163 141 IMAGENETSYSTEMS,INC. 256
294 MEXTEL 74 211 PINNACLE PUBLISHING 163 142 IMAGENET SYSTEMS,INC. 256
• NORTHGATE COMPUTER SYS. 170,171 814 SYSTEMS 212 POPKIN SOFTWARE &SYSTEMS 145 144 ISLAND SYSTEMS 100
215 PRESENTATION ELECTRONICS 64 282 QUARTERDECK 102,103 145 ISLAND SYSTEMS 100
216 PRESENTATION ELECTRONICS .274 30 BITWISE DESIGNS,INC 150 283 QUARTERDECK 102,103 156 KNOWLEDGE DYNAMICS . 260

266 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

READER
SERVICE *Correspond directly with company.

Inquiry No. Page No. Inquiry No. Page No. inquiry No. Page No. Inquiry No. Page No,

199 PARCPLACE SYSTEMS 141 122 GEOCOMP CORPORATION 18 • UNIXWORLD 113

200 PARCPLACE SYSTEMS 141 182 MICROSIM CORPORATION . 97 831 MISCELLANEOUS
206 PERISCOPE COMPANY,INC 149 183 MICROSIM CORPORATION . .97
207 PERISCOPE COMPANY,INC 149 830 MAIL ORDER/ 76 DATACOPY SERVICE OF TEXAS 259
137 HEW MICRO,INC 16
214 PRECISION PLUS SOFTWARE .32 827 OTHER—LANGUAGES RETAIL 155 KEPRO CIRCUIT SYSTEMS 36
218 PROSYSTEM COMP.TECHNIC 59
194 ON TARGET 256
282 QUARTERDECK 102,103 71 CONTROL VISION 46 12 ALTEX ELECTRONICS 258
232 SAFEWARE 264
283 QUARTERDECK 102,103 27 BEST COMPUTER 261
284 QUARTERDECK 102,103 46 CLONE COMPUTERS 257
285 QUARTERDECK 102,103 828 DESKTOP 60 COMPUTER DIRECT . 226,227
832 ON-LINE
227 QUICKSOFT,INC 192 61 COMPUTER DISCOUNT WAREHSE .155
289 SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVORS .. 272
PUBLISHING 75 CRICHLOW DATA SCIENCES 259 SERVICES
290 SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVORS ....272 • DAMARK INT'L 232
160 DESCRIBE IINC 92,93 • BIX 224
291 SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVORS ... 272 168 MATRIX SOFTWARE 220 85 DISKETTE CONNECTION 259
95 ELS ENTERPRISES,LTD 213 450 BIX 239
236 SKISOFT PUBLISHING CORP 264 178 MICROPRESS 205
247 THE WHITEWATER GROUP .174 101 EXSEL INC 18
196 PACIFIC DATA PRODUCTS 202
255 TURBOPOWER SOFTWARE ..108 102 EXSEL,INC 176
• UNITED SOFTWARE SECURITY 32A-B
197 PACIFIC DATA PRODUCTS 202
115 GATEWAY 2000 48A-D 833 OPERATING
208 PERSONAL TEX 240
• UNITED SOFTWARE SECURITY 33 126 G.REED,INC 252 SYSTEMS
258 V COMMUNICATIONS INC 63 143 INVENTORY MARKETING CONSL 259
259 V COMMUNICATIONS,INC . 211 138 I.C. EXPRESS 260 • IBM-AIX PRODUCT 40A-B
295 VARTECH INT'L 250 829 EDUCATIONAL/ 146 JAMECO ELECTRONICS 253 • IBM-AIX PRODUCT 40,41
271 YSCTECH 190 INSTRUCTIONAL 147 JB TECHNOLGIES 164 139 IGC 104
148 JB TECHNOLGIES 164 140 IGC 104
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 IBM SPECIAL ISSUE

THE STATUS OF
APPLICATIONS
SOFTWARE: LATE
BYTE 's software reviews editor offers his views
on the widening gap between hardware and software

Dennis Allen

fyou've ever set out to will be is less clear. But you can identify hardware. Although OS/2 happens to
accomplish a particular some of the forces driving the changes. work on 80386 systems, it was not de-
task on your PC only to The one thing that is certain is that users signed for them. It's a 16-bit operating
find there was no soft- know what they want. system for 80286 machines.
ware that could do it, On the other hand, developers have yet
you've experienced software lag. It's a The Operating-System Bottleneck to conquer OS/2. Even the grandest ap-
frustrating feeling—knowing that your Of course, not all the fault for the soft- plication of them all—Lotus 1-2-3 re-
computer is capable of doing what you ware lag belongs to applications develop- lease 3.0, which took years to produce—
need but is prevented from doing so by ers. They're missing an operating system was designed for DOS 3.x. You'd be
the lack of the right software. You've designed specifically for 80386-based hard-pressed to walk into any computer
been cheated. The computer store and find five OS/2 ap-
that once promised so much plications sitting on the shelf.
now has so little to offer. A lot of software companies
The root of the problem is talk about OS/2 applications,
forked. Neither IBM nor but few have actually pro-
Microsoft has provided a32- duced any.
bit DOS-compatible operating The reasons offered are
system, and developers are many, but it all boils down to
still learning how to cope amatter of investment. While
with many megabytes of data. OS/2's complexities, such as
As a result, the current crop multitasking and data shar-
of applications software often ing, ultimately offer more
relies on brute force to get headroom for sophisticated
things done. programs, its learning curve
Not everything, however, for developers is more like a
is bad in the software world. brick wall.
In fact, there is evidence that Even the software giants
applications software is head- such as Lotus, Ashton-Tate,
ed for a common user inter- and Microsoft, with their
face, and that WYSIWYG abundant resources, have ex-
may become a way of life. perienced setbacks. Just con-
And programs may even be sider the long waits for 1-2-3
getting smarter. release 3.0, dBASE IV, and a
Although you don't need a full-featured Windows word
crystal ball to predict that new processor. And those are just
changes in software are com- DOS-based applications. The
ing, exactly what the changes continued

ILLUSTRATION: JAMES YANG e 1989 BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 269
 THE STATUS OF APPLICATIONS SOFTWARE: LATE

point is that, even for these companies A better arrangement would be appli- chives on floppy disks. Both would also
with their millions of R&D dollars, the cations software that really takes advan- fall short in handling agigabyte or more
number of labor hours needed to develop tage of read/write or WORM (write of data on optical disks. Even worse,
sophisticated applications is gargantuan. once, read many times) optical disks. both of these programs create a whole
Such software would, on aregular basis, new set of problems. Magellan takes up
Managing Megabytes archive your old records and files on op- valuable hard disk space with its index,
To complicate matters further, increased tical disks. More important, the applica- and it needs to update the index frequent-
storage capacities have offered new op- tion program would manage those ar- ly, sometimes taking several minutes to
portunities and challenges for applica- chives. It would continually update its do that. And because ViewLink doesn't
tions developers. While more storage indexes so that, say, five years from use an index, its searches can take along
would seem obviously better, not every- now, on a moment's notice, you could time if you're working with alarge disk
one is certain how best to use the hun- call up the spreadsheet for October with lots of data. Equally as bad, there
dreds of megabytes that optical drives 1989's production costs. If you needed to are no Magellan or ViewLink equiva-
provide. change optical disks, the program would lents for Windows or Presentation Man-
For now, publishers are using CD- tell you which one to insert. ager (PM).
ROMs to provide static reference materi- Also, your application should be able
als. Notable examples are Grolier's Elec- to use that archived information. It Calling on Brute Force
tronic Encyclopedia and Microsoft's should be able to correlate it with more Also considerable is the muscle needed
Programmer's Library. But what most recent information to generate compara- to run the current crop of software. Most
users really need is for their applications tive reports and to project the next year's of us have traded in our 8088-based sys-
to manage dynamic archiving. performance. tems for 80286s, and many have already
Currently, when your hard disk be- Unfortunately, that kind of software traded their 80286 systems for 80386s.
comes nearly full, you have to remove does not exist today, even though the We do this to get merely adequate perfor-
your older files. Maybe you archive them hardware to handle such tasks exists. The mance, while none of the software really
on floppy disks. If you do, chances are fact is, software for dealing with large takes advantage of the 80286 or 80386
that you don't bother referring to those amounts of on-line data is just emerging. architectures. Even worse, as we move
files again because it's too much trouble: Consider Lotus Magellan and Traveling up to systems that are more powerful
You would have to fumble through all Software's ViewLink, for example. than were thought possible just a few
your archive disks, trying one and then They are the first major attempts to help years ago, we still find ourselves wait-
another, to find acertain bit of informa- you actively manage several megabytes ing: waiting for AutoCAD to regenerate a
tion. You might even find it easier and of disparate information. Either will let complex drawing; waiting for 1-2-3 to re-
faster to search through printed reports you peer into data files on your hard disk calculate alarge spreadsheet; and wait-
in afile cabinet. and view the data in its native format. ing for Lotus Agenda to stop fiddling
That's one of the ironies of today's ap- Both will also search your hard disk for with the heads on the hard disk drive.
plications software. Although most of the file or files containing specific infor- Agenda is agood example of the prob-
the modern world is convinced that you mation. lem. Like other high-powered applica-
can do record keeping and manage things But while Magellan and ViewLink tions, Agenda is sophisticated and com-
better on personal computers, you still work fine as utilities for managing plex, and it demands an extraordinary
have to resort to afile cabinet and Penda- what's currently on your hard disk, amount of computing muscle. Yet aside
flex folders to see your old records. they're really no help at managing ar- from the brute force that it commands, it

A M ESSAGE To OUR SUBSCRIBERS

FF ROM TIME TO TIME WE MAKE THE mailing list, and look forward to finding infor-
subscriber list available to mation of interest to them in the mail. Used are
other companies who wish to send our our subscribers' names and addresses only (no
subscribers material about their products. We other information we may have is ever given).
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ing only those who are reputable, and whose formation is of benefit to our subscribers, we
products, services, or information we feel would firmly respect the wishes of any subscriber who
be of interest to you. Direct mail is does not want to receive such
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270 Fall 1989 • B Y TE IBM Special Edition

 Circle 221 on Reader Service Card

THE STATUS OF APPLICATIONS SOFTWARE: LATE From

PrOglammers
Wholesaler
doesn't really take advantage of the fea- menu styles. So some programs imitated
tures that 32-bit hardware offers.
Just to use Agenda, you have to devote
alot of time to learning it. In return, it
1-2-3's menu format, calling it ade facto
standard. Others went further and pro-
vided pull-down or pop-up menus. Ap-
Attention!
organizes information like no other soft- plications became easier to use, but for Corporate Accounts
ware—making lists and doing mundane the most part, they were all different.
Then came Digital Research's GEM
Resellers
chores for you automatically. It does so
much that, in its relentless scans of your and Microsoft's Windows. After several F'rogrammers
data looking for something it should do, years, it appears Windows has gained a
you're left with acomputer that responds toehold in the PC market. Corporate
with all the speed of asnail.
So here we are, using high-powered
buyers wanted PM for OS/2, but until it
became available they saw Windows as a deed euet cialaee1
80386-based systems (and probably logical stepping-stone. The attraction LIST 1-2 3+
80486 systems, soon) to run applications was that businesses could develop their ASSEMBLERS
that were designed years ago and written in-house applications on Windows today MS Macro Assembler 150 97 92
for 8088-based systems. Software devel- and later adapt them to PM for OS/2. Turbo Assembler/Debugger 150 98 93
opers for the PC have been somewhat Now, that corporate strategy is begin- C LANGUAGE -COMPILERS
ambivalent toward OS/2 (and toward ning to pay dividends to individual users. Lattice C-6.0 250 156 143
Unix, for that matter), and they've been Because of the significant number of sys- Microsoft C5.1 450 287 283
less than eager to commit to using the tems running Windows in the corporate Microsoft Quick C 99 67 64
Micro Channel architecture. Rather than environment, developing applications for Turbo Cby Borland 150 98 94
write applications software directly for Windows is more attractive to develop- COBOL
these high-powered systems, developers ers. Granted, the number of Windows MS COBOL 900 599 569
have instead sought to extend DOS, "en- programs so far is small, but the group Realia COBOL 995 799 769
hance" memory, and employ various includes some really heavy hitters, such DATABASE MANAGEMENT
other tricks. as Aldus PageMaker, Micrografx De- Clarion 695 399 379
But users expect more, and, in fact, signer, Samna Ami Professional, and Dthe data language 395 339 289
they need more. They need programs Microsoft Excel. Magic PC 299 259 229
that can manage several tasks at once so While the number of Windows pro- Paradox 3.0 725 489 479
that they don't have to. They need pro- grams is growing, it's not by leaps and DBASE
grams that can work without conflict in a bounds. Although the user interface Clipper Summer '87 695 429 419
heterogeneous environment of applica- issue has been all but resolved, applica- dBASE IV 795 489 479
tions. And they need software that can tions developers, worried about the flu- FoxBASE +2.1 395 209 199
work with other software, sharing infor- idity of the software market, have been DBASE TOOLS
mation and files. riding the fence between developing for Clear+ for dBASE 200 149 139
Windows and developing for OS/2. From dBRIEF w/BRIEF 275 Save Save
The Common Interface their point of view, developing for both dSalvage 100 83 79
Applications are making progress in the simultaneously isn't practical. They R&R Relational Reportwriter 149 99 93
area of user interfaces, however. Call it need to get their software products to DEBUGGERS/DISASSEMBLERS
Mac envy, if you like—PC users liked market as quickly as possible to compete, Periscope II 175 129 109
what they saw on Apple's Macintosh. and they need to concentrate their ef- Periscope Ill 1395 1069 999
The Macintosh's graphical interface forts; they can't afford to have half ade- Soft Probe II/TX 395 269 239
with pull-down menus was exactly what velopment team working in OS/2 and the DEVELOPMENT TOOLS
the corporate world had been looking other half in Windows. CLEAR+ FOR C 150 143 139
for: an easy-to-learn system. For busi- You might say that developers have PC-Lint 139 99 89
nesses, the time and expense for training learned alot from Lotus's experiences in PolyMake 149 129 123
people to use PCs has soared with no trying to develop its 1-2-3 for amultitude PVCS Professional 395 339 309
ceiling in sight. of platforms. The resulting delays have EDITORS
None of this is news, really. It's just cost that company more than just alittle BRIEF 195 Save Save
that the Mac proved long ago that per- overtime: Lotus also suffered a loss of Epsilon 195 139 109
sonal computers could be made easier to credibility, which was reflected in the KEDIT 150 129 109
learn and use. But in those early days of stock market. SPF/PC 245 169 144
the Mac, there was no such interface for It all comes down to this: Today's ap- Vedit+ 185 109 99
the IBM PC. Turning to the next best plications software for the PC is only
thing, the corporate world embraced inches away from acommon user inter-
simple menuing software that simply face. Although it seems inevitable that in
worked as a DOS shell to launch other time that goal will be reached, it may not
applications. Programs such as Magee happen as quickly as users would like. Programmers
Enterprises' AutoMenu filled avoid left Wheilesaler TM

Going in the Right Direction

800-228-3736
by the software giants.
Meanwhile, virtually every applica- In other areas, applications developers
tion began to take on parts of the Mac in- have made more headway. Consider the 20 Fort Street
CANADA
terface. In many cases, developers sim- WYSIWYG phenomenon. Page-layout Quincy, MA 02169
800-344-2495 Hours: M-F 8:30-5
ply added menus. Unlike the Mac, systems such as Aldus PageMaker and Sat. 10-4 est
FAX 617-472-4951
however, the PC had no standards for continued
"BV1089"

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 271

 THE STATUS OF APPLICATIONS SOFTWARE: LATE
': TM
:-

"gives you all the C

language routines you
need to write an impres- ecause of
sive scientific graphing the significant number of systems
program of your own.
Highly recommended.*" running Windows in the
PC Magazine corporate environment, developing
—. 3—D Teat Plol—Qu.d.lb
applications for Windows
I

is more attractive to developers.

1 1îj _

Se«
RS, INepante ;
Xerox's Ventura Publisher have been the exception. Samna's Ami lets you write
catalysts. Although WYSIWYG on aPC and edit in WYSIWYG mode. It's also
had been possible before, for many peo- the first real word processor for Micro-
:
:a
ple those were the pioneering programs. soft Windows. Others will certainly fol-
- I 11111111 I I
As page-layout programs, PageMaker's
I:

low, and among them will be an offering

and Ventura Publisher's existence de- from Microsoft itself as well as an en-
IBM® PC version pended on WYSIWYG. hanced version of Ami (Ami Profession-
(with source code) $395 Other applications have followed suit. al). Another similar program, Len-
Circle 289 on Reader Service Card In fact, awhole subgenre of software— nane's DeScribe Word Publisher, is
presentation graphics—faces near ex- under development for OS/2 PM.
Macintosh® version
tinction merely because word proces-
(no source code) $295 sors, spreadsheets, and other applica- Advancements in
Circle 290 on Reader Service Card tions have incorporated WYSIWYG Number Crunching
presentation features. Another area of software that's been
For personal use only.
It's really no wonder. After all, pre- moving forward is number crunching.

V•T
sentation counts for alot in today's soci- Spreadsheet applications have matured
ety. People give presentations to sell both somewhat, and users have recently wit-
:
TM
goods and ideas. Strangely, though, nessed the emergence of a whole new
, ,' . s many word processor developers try to generation of spreadsheet software. Gen-
skirt around the WYSIWYG issue, say- erally, the most significant improvement
ing that users don't actually need is the three-dimensional worksheet,
DEC® VT100/102/52 WYSIWYG during the writing process which lets you work on several worksheet
& Tektronix® and that users only need to see mono- pages at once. More and more of the
spaced characters as they create text. major spreadsheet programs are offering
4010/4014/4105 Their argument is that you can go back that feature.
later and make the whole thing look the
Terminal Emulator way you want it to.
However, only one relatively new
spreadsheet, FormalSoft's ProQube,
In truth, that argument is just smoke to
"its ease of use, high hide the fact that most word processing
provides true 3-D manipulation. Instead
of simply letting you calculate separate
resolution graphics, software is simply too slow to work in pages, ProQube also lets you view your
emulation, and price WYSIWYG mode as you type. That's spreadsheet data from any aspect—front-
partly the fault of developers overbur- to-back, side-to-side, or top-to-bottom.
make it amore attrac- dening their products with alist of fea- Imagine, for example, that you have a
tive purchase than the tures so long that no one can remember or worksheet page for each month of the
use them all. Each of those features year, and that it calculates your profit or
other products.*" steals precious memory and execution loss. Each of those pages would use the
MINI-MICRO Systems speed from the application. So, you end same template, and if you stacked one on
up with a word processor that can do top of another, you would have a"cube"
Only $150 many things you'll likely never ask it to (actually a block) of spreadsheet cells.
Circle 291 on Reader Service Card do but cannot show you how your printed Viewed from the front of this imaginary
page will look—that is, of course, unless cube, each layer of cells would represent
*Full reprints on request you exit the edit mode and enter the aparticular month.
graphics mode to view your work, and Any so-called 3-D spreadsheet can
Scientific En weavors then exit the graphics mode and enter the handle that task. But with ProQube, you
edit mode to continue writing. How silly can rotate the imaginary cube of data to
508 North Kentucky Street
the whole process is—to treat one com- view, say, the net profit from each month
Kingston, TN 37763 puter as if it were two machines, one for of the year. Or, from another angle, you
(615) 376-4146 writing and the other for layout.
There is, however, at least one notable
might view the net profit for the month of
May for each of the last five years.

272 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

 Circle 222 on Reader Service Card

THE STATUS OF APPLICATIONS SOFTWARE: LATE

And savings
we do offer...
Admittedly, with a little time, you fluences will affect applications soft-
LIST 1-2 3+
could program formulas in any other ware, but they may not be what you
FILE ADDONS
spreadsheet to accomplish the same think. What will greatly affect U.S. ap-
Btrieve ISAM 245 169 144
tasks. But the conceptual difference is plications software development is the
XQL 795 579 529
quantum. ProQube lets you play "what- foreign market—in particular, the long-
c-tree by Faircom 395 279 249
if" in anew way—one that requires less awaited European community market. d-tree 495 319 299
work on the part of the user. ProQube is a The European market after 1992 will r-tree 295 199 179
real attempt at handling human perspec- cause two major changes. The first that
FORTRAN
tives of spreadsheet data. users will probably see will be created by
MS FORTRAN 450 299 289
But spreadsheets are not the only ap- the vast new opportunities for U.S. soft- RM FORTRAN 595 409 389
plication area where number crunching ware firms to sell their products in Eu-
GRAPHIC ADDONS
is being pushed. Another, perhaps less rope. Although software developers will
GSS Development Toolkit 620 459 429
obvious, application is CAD. A sophisti- face the problem of writing programs for
Halo '88 395 256 238
cated CAD package typically places many languages (in fact, many already
Hoops 30 Graphics 495 389 369
more demands on acomputer's mathe- do), they will also begin to produce ap-
OBJECT-ORIENTED
matical abilities than any statistical anal- plications that have more "global" char-
Actor 495 399 379
ysis or equation solver package. acteristics.
Smalltalk/V 100 59 54
While 2-D drafting products, notably Until now, most software written in
Zortech C++ 150* 129 Save
AutoCAD and others like it, have been the U.S. has been specifically tailored
around for some time, only recently have for U.S. tastes. It directly reflected feed- OS-SUPPORT
back from U.S. users and their work hab- DESQview 130 79 73
solid modeling packages become avail-
MS Windows/286 99 67 64
able. The difference is that the latter lets its and concepts. But as the European
you construct objects with blocks, cones, market becomes more important to U.S. OTHER PRODUCTS
spheres, and cylinders. software developers, it stands to reason Carbon Copy Plus 195 115 104
Let's say, for example, that you need that future applications software will re- CO/SESSION 249 179 159
flect the needs of European users, too. HEADROOM by Helix 100 79 69
to draw ahole for avertical vent pipe that
Link &Locate 350 249 219
goes through the roof of ahouse. That's The change will probably be subtle.
Norton Utilities Advanced 150 79 77
not as simple as it might sound. Because Since users may all be introduced to new
PC Tools Deluxe 80 45 43
the roof is slanted and, therefore, the and sometimes better ways of accom-
Remote2 195 104 99
pipe is not perpendicular to the roof's plishing their tasks, eventually much
SPREADSHEETS
plane, the hole is not a perfect circle. good will probably come of this gradual
1-2-3 495 299 289
And trying to calculate the precise shape change. On the downside, there is arisk
Excel 495 239 229
and size of the elliptical hole is not triv- that developers will tend to overburden
Multiplan 195 139 129
ial. That's where solid modeling comes programs with even more features.
Quattro 248 164 159
in. Instead of drawing ahole, you create The second change caused by the new
SuperCalc V 495 319 299
acylinder the size of the vent pipe and European market may come about more
TEXT SCREENS ADDONS
then simply place it through the slanted slowly, but it could be much more signif-
CWorthy w/Forms 295 Save Save
roof. Then, through what's called geo- icant than the first. That change will be
Greenleaf DataWindows 295 179 159
metric subtraction, the solid modeling the emergence of large European-based
Vermont Views 395 319 299
program can erase the cylinder (and software development houses. In fact,
WORD PROCESSING
everything that was in its way), leaving a European-based companies will be the
Miicropro International 495 259 249
perfectly shaped ellipse. first to benefit from the new trade regu-
Sprint 200 134 129
From the user's view, it's all quite lations there. Small but established soft-
WordPerfect 495 239 234
simple, and it simply makes sense. Un- ware companies will suddenly have eas-
derneath it all, however, an awful lot of ier access to amuch wider market—one Prices subject to change without notice.
computations are made. For now, you that's based in their own backyard. That
can only find solid modeling systems at opportunity will inevitably lead to
the high end of the CAD spectrum. But growth in European-based software We have over 2000
companies, and that growth will thrust
in time the technology will likely sift
down to applications such as graphics de- them into astrong position for entering different products
sign packages. and succeeding in the U.S. market. It in our inventory!
could be that the next Lotus- or Micro-
Future Applications soft-like software giant will be one that's
Understanding where we are in applica- based in Europe. Call us! Our staff is ready and
tions software is, of course, only apre- Then there is another external influ- willing to help.
lude to knowing where we're going. In ence to consider: the USSR. So far, the
time, developers will overcome the ob- only software to come from the USSR is a Provammers
stacles of the hardware-software gap and game, Tetris, but that may soon change; Whol esa l
er
the operating-systems bottleneck and in fact, one U.S.-based company is al-
will adhere uniformly to agraphical user
interface. The resulting applications
ready planning to introduce an expert
system that was developed in the USSR. 800-228-3736
software will no doubt reflect the trade- With trade restrictions lifted for export- CANADA 20 Fort Street
Quincy, MA 02169
offs and compromises that are made to ing 80286-based computers to the So- 800-344-2495
Hours: M-F 8:30-5
achieve those goals. viets, along with the Soviet desire to FAX 617-472-4951 Sat. 10-4 est
In addition, market-based external in- continued
"BY1089"

BYTE IBM Special Edition • Fall 1989 273

Circle 292 on Reader Service Card

THE STATUS OF APPLICATIONS SOFTWARE: LATE

become aleader in world trade, you can Forecast Systems' Forecast Pro, astatis-
expect to see more Soviet-based applica- tical forecaster that brings sophisticated
tions in the future. The first Soviet soft- mathematical formulas within reach of
ware wW probably be Americanized ap- nonstatisticians. Forecast Pro has its own
plications based on Soviet-developed expert system that analyzes your data
software engines. Such is the case with and then applies an appropriate forecast
the soon-to-be-released expert system. model. Before Forecast Pro, it took a

HAVING The U.S. company is taking aSoviet-de-

veloped expert-system engine and adding
real expert—someone with a degree in

TROUBLE
statistics—to choose and run the correct
a practical application interface for fi- mathematical model just to project a
nancial modeling. company's business income.

FINDING ALL THE The real wild card, however, is Japan.

So far, largely because of cultural differ-
We need more programs like ProQube

INFORMATION
that let us view our numerical data in
ences, Japan has found the American ways that make sense to us, not just to our

YOU NEED
software market impenetrable. It's not computers. Likewise, we need CAD and
that Japan isn't trying, though. The Japa- graphics design software that take advan-
nese microcomputer industry is working

ON UNIX®?
tage of solid modeling. Moreover, we
on a new universal operating system, need solid modeling software that allows
called IRON, and anew system of dis- the objects we create to have real-world
tributing software electronically—via characteristics. That way, when we de-

TAKE THE FIRST phone, radio, and even vending ma-

chines. If either effort materializes, Jap-
sign something, we can test its strength
and function in the real world without re-

STEP.. anese software companies will find

themselves in an enviable position that
sorting to aseparate analysis program.
We also need applications that inte-

CALL DATAPRO could allow them to dominate the appli-

cations market. Their plan is grandiose
grate other applications. Forget the
dream of all-in-one applications for word

TODAY! and perhaps unattainable. But given

Japan's past successes in identifying,
penetrating, and ultimately controlling
processing, database management,
spreadsheets, and so forth. Those inte-
grated packages are nothing more than
If you're looking for detailed analysis world technology markets, the possibil- modern-day jacks-of-all-trades in a
of the critical issues surrounding ity of continued success is very strong. world of specialization. It's just plain
UNIX ...if you need timely infor- smarter to buy separate programs that
mation on the products and key What the World Needs Now precisely fit your needs. What we really
Aside from those external market forces, need is anew breed of software that can
players in the industry ... then turn
just where should applications software oversee all those separate applications: a
to Datapro Reports on UNIX Sys-
be headed? In a nutshell, applications kind of intelligent shell that watches over
tems & Software. need to be smarter and easier to use. You your work, learning your routines.
should not have change your way of Let's say that every month you extract
Updated monthly, this unique new
thinking and conform to the way apar- the sales data from your inventory system
information service is designed to
ticular application program does things. and import that into your forecaster to
help you discover the opportunities Tasks that are obvious should be done project next month's sales; then you im-
UNIX offers ... decide how UNIX automatically. And the user interface port those projections into aspreadsheet
fits in your organization ...optimize should allow instinctive choices. to do your financial planning; and then
results while minimizing risk. We need to see more programs like you generate a report with your word
Lotus Agenda that are smart enough to processor to reflect the outcome. An in-
Each month, Datapro Reports on
do things automatically. Agenda is near- telligent shell would recognize the pat-
UNIX Systems & Software brings ly miraculous in the way it can take free- tern and do the tasks for you at precisely
you in-depth analyses of everything form information and automatically cat- the same time every month. When such
new and noteworthy in the UNIX egorize it; independently create project intelligent software finally exists, all
market. You receive the most up-to- reports, to-do lists, and tickler files; and you will have to do is remember to leave
date, thoroughly researched infor- make associations between otherwise the computer turned on.
mation available. Information you differing subjects. In those respects, The sad thing is that the personal com-
can put to use in planning your own Agenda comes the closest yet to imitating puters that we have today, particularly
UNIX strategies. atop-notch personal secretary. the 80386-generation systems, can han-
But for all its glory, Agenda is slow, dle the job. But our present-day applica-
Find out how much of adifference and learning to use it is slower. In fact, tions software, spawned by the 8088-
Datapro can make to your decision- one piece of Agenda folklore claims that based generation, is generations behind,
making: call us today at 1-800- White House Chief of Staff John Sununu, and newer and better hardware is on the
DATA PRO (1-800-328-2776) or apersonal computer enthusiast himself, way. The unfortunate truth is that we
considered Agenda for the Bush transi- cannot escape the generation gap.
use the reader service card.
tion team. But the learning curve was so
UNIX' is aregistered trademark of AT&T.
steep, and time for the transition team Dennis Allen is asenior technical editor

dalapto Nth
was so short, that Agenda was discarded
in favor of another, simpler program.
We need more programs like Business
for BYTE. He coordinates reviews of ap-
plications software. You can reach him
on BIX as "dallen."

274 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition

Quality In...
Quality Out
byS tV5,3 .b. Vier Snrd, CO..., a . .odirs5• 7;:e.Ti.

DEC Deals A New Hand;

Eases Back Into PC Market SP FM%
• «4 *ord. •••••. m.wom

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1...»....m. •netrnhol
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rift ntek to RIV it If

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No matter how well acquainted you are

with making important personal Subscribe now and take advantage
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 STOP BIT III Pete Wilson

THE WAGES OF SIN

What price has the IBM PC world paid
for its compatibility?

' ntel has released the 80486. A fine puter with an established software base, ly overhyped by the rumor mill (and,
piece of work, it manages to put a and the whole thing costs no more (and possibly, by Intel's marketing) is easily
â complete 80386 system-80386 perhaps less) to make than an 80386. twice as fast—and perhaps three times as
I. processor, 80387 FPU, cache, Moreover, it can attract amuch higher fast—as the 80486. And the new member
memory management unit, and so on— price by virtue of its 80486-ness and of the 960 family, which tries to execute
onto asingle chip. And not only that, but higher performance. Everybody wins, three instructions per clock cycle under
to substantially improve the perfor- right? reasonable conditions, is much faster
mance of the various bits, the 80486 Well, no, they don't. The big losers than the 80486.
takes fewer clock cycles than the 80386 are the users who buy the machine—be- Yes, IBM PC/MS-DOS fans, your ad-
to do the most frequent instructions. At cause they have always believed the story diction to the past has cost you adrop in
constant clock rates, the 80486 is faster. about maintaining their "investment" in performance of 50 percent or more. If
The 80486 version of the 80387 is quick- software. They have always fought for you had been happy to eschew the past
er than the real 80387, too. Not to men- (and bought) a new machine that runs when better machines turned up, you
tion that you get an 8K-byte cache (one- their old floppy disks, unchanged. As a wouldn't have encouraged the software
eighth the main memory of most early result, they have bought themselves the vendors to live in the past. Then, per-
PCs) on-chip. dead weight of decade-old technology. haps, they would have decided that there
It is clear that the decision to make the The 80486 involves afair amount of cir- was real money to be made in portable
80486 an integrated 80386 system was cuitry; how much of it is there simply to software. Manufacturers might have
not made by accident. It does nice things make the beast 8088-compatible, we can created operating systems that added new
for users; it offers higher performance, a only guess. But we do know that when and useful facilities (such as graphics)
lower chip count, floating-point, lower other companies have made machines— but that were simple and clean enough
power, and higher reliability. And all the or microprocessors—that didn't have to not to be bound to just one proprietary
4.77-MHz 8088 software designed for be 8088-compatible, they produced de- piece of hardware. (Of course, too much
64K-byte machines will still work. signs that used many fewer transistors to silliness in the operating-system spec
The 80486 does nice things for Intel, go much faster. INMOS's 1400 family would have been ignored by the software
too—the company doesn't need to worry uses about as many transistors as an 8086 vendors.) Then you could have bought
about losing aslice of business to 80387 but keeps pace with an 80386. Sun's this year's smart new machine with the
copiers (the math chip is built in), other SPARC architecture (in its various assurance that your old software could be
cache controller vendors (ditto), or guises) and MIPS's R2000/R3000 pro- upgraded to the new machine for anomi-
80486 cloners (since copying the whole cessors use more transistors than an nal fee, and we'd all have much nicer,
CPU is aserious undertaking). 80386 for much higher performance. faster—and probably cheaper—com-
The 80486 is a goody to vendors of And now, the 80486 isn't even the fastest puters than we do. •
high-end machines, as well; all they machine that Intel produces.
need to do is take awell-designed 32-bit Indeed, the 80486 is the slowest of the Pete Wilson is a senior engineer at
80386 system, make a few (if any) three high-performance introductions Prisma, Inc. (Colorado Springs, CO).
changes to the design, and stick an 80486 this year. The most prominent of these He previously worked on the design team
into it. The result is apowerful new com- was the 860, which, despite being gross- for the INMOS transputer.

276 Fall 1989 • BYTE IBM Special Edition. ILLUSTRATION: CHRIS SCHMIDT @ 1989
Discover
Parallel
Processing! • ..

• -- -------- -f
------- -
,.,‘ -•
LI
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D•

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Monoputers or Quadputers to build atransputer be linked to build large systems. One
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Microway stocks parallel languages from 3L, Logical Systems and
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