219 lines
11 KiB
Erlang
219 lines
11 KiB
Erlang
<%=-------------------------------------------------------------------------=%>
|
||
<%=--=%> The Macintosh II <%=--=%>
|
||
<%=--=%> <%=--=%>
|
||
<%=--=%> Presented by <%=--=%>
|
||
<%=--=%> The Dragons Den BBS/Cat-Fur/AE <%=--=%>
|
||
<%=--=%> (617) 922-1917 <%=--=%>
|
||
<%=--=%> March 2, 1987 <%=--=%>
|
||
<%=--=%> <%=--=%>
|
||
<%=--=%> Written by <%=--=%>
|
||
<%=--=%> The Dragonslayer <%=--=%>
|
||
<%=--=%> <%=--=%>
|
||
<%=-------------------------------------------------------------------------=%>
|
||
|
||
|
||
Powerful Open Macintosh Expands Applications
|
||
|
||
|
||
AppleWorld, Los Angeles, California, March 2, 1987. Apple Computer, Inc.
|
||
today introduced a high-performence, open architecture member of the Macintosh
|
||
personal computer family, the Macintosh II. The new Macintosh offers users
|
||
high speed, expansion and fleibility. It modular design and open architecture
|
||
permit a number of display options, including color displays, and th ability to
|
||
incorporate add-in cards from Apple and third party for additional
|
||
functionality.
|
||
|
||
This top-of-the-line model is intended for advanced applications in business,
|
||
desktop publishing, higher education and engineering enviroments.
|
||
|
||
"Because of its power and expandability, The Macintosh II strengthens Apple's
|
||
position in markets in which we are already participating and extends the
|
||
Macintosh personal computer family into new markets," said William V.
|
||
Campbell, executive vice president U.S. Sales and Marketing.
|
||
|
||
At introduction, the Macintosh II operates most existing Macintosh
|
||
applications up to 4 times faster than the Macintosh Plus. The Macintosh II
|
||
offers upward compatability with the majority of existing applications. Apple
|
||
is working closely with third-party hardware and software developers to ensure
|
||
that a wide range of software, peripherals and add-on cards are developed to
|
||
take full advantage of the advanced features of te Macintosh II.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Macintosh II Specifications
|
||
|
||
|
||
The Macintosh II is based on the 32-bit Motorola 68020 microprecessor
|
||
operating at 16 megaherta (MHz). It includes a floating point arithmetic chip,
|
||
the 68881, that can perform mathematical operations up to 200 times faster then
|
||
the 68020. These features let the Macintosh II process at a speed of 2 million
|
||
instructions per second (2 MIPS). The Macintosh II also features transfer
|
||
rates greater then 1 megabyte(MB) per second over its Small Computer Systems
|
||
Interface(SCSI) interface.
|
||
|
||
The Macintosh II come standard with 1 MB of random-access memory(RAM),
|
||
expandable to 8 MB on the logic board. Additional RAM expansion of up to 1.5
|
||
gigabytes(GB) can be achived with add-in boards.
|
||
|
||
The Macintosh II provides Macintosh Plus-compatable ports for a SCSI
|
||
connection, two RS-422 serial ports, an external SCSI disk drive interface and
|
||
a sound port with four-voice stereo capability. Like all Macintoh computers,
|
||
the Macintosh II has the AppleTalk network built in.
|
||
|
||
In addition, the Macintosh II includes six slots that use the
|
||
high-performance NuBus protocols. NuBus is a processor-independent, industry
|
||
standard bus that supports 8-, 16- 32-bit data paths. It permits the fast
|
||
transferof large quantities of data between add-on cards and he logic board.
|
||
NuBus features fair arbitration and geographical addressing. Te two
|
||
characteristics let the add-on cards "identify" themselves so, unlike other
|
||
computer systems thereis no need to set dip switches to configurethe ystem.
|
||
Because NuBus lets add-in cards be placed in any slot, thre is exceptional
|
||
flexibility and ease associated with system configuration. Th six slots let
|
||
the Macintosh II operate a wide range of performance-driven, deanding
|
||
applicatons and expand as users' needs expand.
|
||
|
||
The video interface is provided by the Macintosh II video card which fits in
|
||
one of the slots. The card can drive either of the high-resolution monitors
|
||
introduced today. In its standard configuration, the card can simultaneously
|
||
generate 16 colors or shades of gray from a standard palette of more than 16
|
||
million colors. With the addition of the Macintosh II video Card Expansion
|
||
Kit, the card can generate up to 256 colors or shades of gray from te same
|
||
palette.
|
||
|
||
Users may choose a 12-inch, high-resolution, monochrome monitor or a 13-inch,
|
||
high-resolution red-green-blue(RGB) color monitor. Both display units feature
|
||
640 x 480 pixel resolution and utilize an analog input format. This formatlets
|
||
the monochrome monitor display millions of gray values and he color monitor
|
||
display millions of colors or gray values.
|
||
|
||
The monochrome monitor, which is capable of displaying the full width and
|
||
over half the length of a page, suits a need in productivity applications such
|
||
as word processing, spreadsheets and business graphics.
|
||
|
||
The RGB monitor combines the full-width viewing area with te unique
|
||
capability of displaying high-resolution text and graphics in both colorand
|
||
black-and-white. This provides the Macintosh II user with a versatile,
|
||
high-performance monitor capable of satisfying a broad spectrum of user needs
|
||
from word processing to advanced graphics. A tilt-and-swivel monitor stand is
|
||
available as an option for the high-resolution monitors. Users can configure
|
||
the Macintosh II with multiple monitors by adding video cards in slots.
|
||
Various monitors and video cards are also available from third parties. The
|
||
Macintosh II also includes the Apple Desktop Bus(ADB) standard interface for
|
||
input peripherals. ADB is also used on the Macintosh SE as well as the Apple
|
||
//gs. The ADB lets users connect up to 16 input devices concurrently,
|
||
including such peripherals as a keyboard, mouse or graphics tablet. Users may
|
||
also choose from two Apple keyboards: the Apple Keyboard includes a typewriter
|
||
style layout, a numeric keypad and cursor keys: and the Apple Extended
|
||
Keyboard includes the numeric keypad, function keys and special purpose keys
|
||
for sing alternative operating systems, such as MS-DOS or terminal emulation
|
||
programs. Keyboards are packaged and sold separately. The Macintosh II can
|
||
internally accomodate, simultaneously, up to two 800 kilobyte(KB) floppy disk
|
||
drives and one 20, 40, 80 MB hard disk. Both the 40 and 80 MB hard disks
|
||
feature a very fast access time of less then 30 milliseconds(ms). In addition,
|
||
up to six storage devices can be daisy-chained through the external SCSI port.
|
||
For those users who want to back up critical data from thier hard disks, Apple
|
||
also introduced an optional SCSI 40 MB tape backup unit, which provides file
|
||
and image backup on preformatted, one-quarter-inch tpae cartridges. Apple also
|
||
introduced the Apple EtherTalk interface Card, which provides direct
|
||
connectivity to Ethernet networks for the Macintosh II. Apple will support
|
||
AppleTalk network architecture and A/UX (Apple's UNIX product) networking
|
||
software enviroment for use with the EtherTalk Card. Third party vendors are
|
||
expected to provide software support allowing connectivity to other
|
||
enviroments. The EtherTalk product will be available in the second half of
|
||
1987.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Alternative Operating Enviroments
|
||
|
||
|
||
A/UX, a version of AT&T UNIX
|
||
|
||
Apple also announced today that it will offer a version of the UNIX operating
|
||
system for the Macintosh II. This operating system is widely used in
|
||
universities, in government and by technical professionals. An optional
|
||
Motorola 68851 paged memory management unit (PMMU) is required for A/UX and
|
||
will be available from Apple. Unisoft Systems developed a significant portion
|
||
of A/UX under contract with Apple. A/UX is a full implementation of the AT&T
|
||
UNIX, System V, Release 2 Version 2 operating system and includes features from
|
||
Berkeley's 4.2 BSD version. The featurs incorporated from 4.2 BSD provide easy
|
||
portability of programs from 4.2 BSD to A/UX and andvanced communications
|
||
capabilities.
|
||
|
||
A Macintosh II running A/UX offers the tradidional user interface of a UNIX
|
||
operating system: a high-powered command line interpreter. Standard UNIX
|
||
System V applications can be easily ported to A/UX. Additionally, a key
|
||
enhancement from Apple lets A/UX developers have full access to the Macintosh
|
||
Toolbox. A/UX applications can therefore have the complete look and feel of
|
||
Macintosh programs. New applications, properly designed, can operate in both
|
||
enviroments.
|
||
|
||
A/UX also offers, through add-in cards, connections to Ethernet, AppleTalk
|
||
and serial communications networks using standard UNIX communications and
|
||
electronic mail systems. It can also act as a server or a client on a Sun
|
||
Microsystems Network File Systems (NFS) Ethernet network. The Apple EtherTalk
|
||
Interface Card provides direct connectivity to Ethernet networks for the
|
||
Macintosh II. A/UX is expected to ship this sumer. Pricing and licensing will
|
||
be announced in May.
|
||
|
||
MS-DOS
|
||
|
||
Apple's goal is to provide data file inter-change with other operating
|
||
systems, to provide MS-DOS data file compatability, Apple is introducing
|
||
InterFile, file transfer software, a 5.25-inch MS-DOS floppy disk drive and
|
||
drive controler cards. In addition, MS-DOS coprocessor cards for te Macintosh
|
||
II and the Macintosh SE are available from third parties.
|
||
For example, users who purchase the 5.25-inch drive and controler card
|
||
from Apple can read in a Lotus 1-2-3 data file so it can be used in a
|
||
spreadsheet program, such as Microsoft Excel, on the Macintosh. Or, users who
|
||
choose a coprocessor card from a third party can run dBase III or Lotus 1-2-3
|
||
in a window on the Macintosh screen.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
International Models
|
||
|
||
|
||
Apple is Simultaneously introducing the Macintosh II available in 15
|
||
localized versions in 10 different languages, including English, French,
|
||
German, Spanish, Flemish, Norwegian, Japanese, Dutch, Swedish and Italian. The
|
||
Macintosh II features a universal power supply that permits operation with all
|
||
common voltage.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Price and Availablity
|
||
|
||
|
||
The Macintosh II will be available in May in two configurations in a
|
||
new platinum color: a basic system, including 1 MB of RAM and one 800KB floppy
|
||
disk drive is offeredat a suggested retail price of $3,898, inclusing keyboard;
|
||
a second configuration, including 1 MB of RAM, one 800KB floppy disk drive and
|
||
one 40 MB internal SCSI hard disk is listed at a suggested retail price of
|
||
$5,498, inclusing keyboard. Many of the other products introduced today are
|
||
available as options for the Macintosh II.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Macintosh Technology
|
||
|
||
|
||
Macintosh personal computer technology -- manfested by ease of use,
|
||
graphics and unique functionality -- features a very high level of software
|
||
consistancy and tight intergration across all applications, resulting in low
|
||
requirements for user support and training.
|
||
These attributes have contributed to the widespread acceptance of the
|
||
Macintosh personal computer family accross all sizes of business and in higher
|
||
education and has increased momentum by third-party developers over the past
|
||
year.
|
||
Over one million Macintosh computers handle business, education and
|
||
consumer applications.
|
||
|
||
|
||
Call These fine boards.
|
||
|
||
Dragons Den...................(617) 922-1917
|
||
Capital Connection............(916) 448-3402
|
||
Capital Connection ][.........(716) 473-8051
|
||
|
||
|