22 Feb
2003
22 Feb
'03
10:10 a.m.
On Sat, 22 Feb 2003, Fred Cisin (XenoSoft) wrote:
The PC (that means 5150!) was significantly better
documented
than any of the other microcomputers being sold retail to the
general public at the time. (conveniently excluding guvmint,
industrial, and institutional sales :-)
The "PC Technical Reference Manual" was cheap, and contained
complete schematics and source code for the BIOS. Third party
"disassemblies" being sold by third parties are NOT comparable!
Apple, Atari, Commodore, Radio Shack, etc. had documentation,
but not comparable. How many CP/M machines provided both
schematics and source code?
Fred, all the machines you mention (Apple, Atari, Commodore, Radio Shack)
included schematics and ROM source code listings with their machines, or
at least the machines that were contemporary with the IBM PC. Well, the
Radio Shack might be the exception, as I believe you had to specially
order them. But I know that the Apple ][ Users Manual had a complete
schematic, description, and ROM source listings, and it came with every
Apple ][ and ][+. With the //e you had to order those volumes separately.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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