21 Apr
2016
21 Apr
'16
9:57 p.m.
I worked for the FutureNet division of Data I/O in the late 1980s. One disastrous product
was a UNIX based coprocessor system that plugged into an IBM PC/AT. The idea was to run
circuit board layout software and simulation on a PC. This would be less expensive than
the Daisy, Mentor, or Valid workstations. The coprocessor was an Opus plug in board based
on the National 32032 CPU.
http://cpu-ns32k.net/Opus.html
When you ordered the package you got the coprocessor board and a 5 MB hard drive loaded
with UNIX and the design software. On a good day the system worked. It was discontinued
when PCs with the 368 processor were available.
Michael Holley