21 May
2018
21 May
'18
6:59 p.m.
G'day Zane -
Like every other computer system created, the Desktop Generation has its
own set of quirks and wonders. It was an interesting evolutionary
repackage of the microEclipse processor, but I never saw a customer or
user site actually using the Model 10's MS-DOS "compatibility feature".
The hardware consisted of modular metal frame chassis with snap-on
plastic covers. While great for manufacturing and cost control, the
delicate plastic cover retaining tabs were always breaking and the
covers would pull away from the chassis or just fall off. Only an
annoying cosmetic problem until you find that a "dead man's switch"
interlock was maintained by the power supply chassis front cover. Yes,
the power supply would always be cut off whenever the plastic cover
shifted, vibrated or fell off the chassis. Which happened often. (The
cheapest solution was the unintended, creative use of a ball point pen
combined with nerd engineering.)
Many OEMS delivered DG/RDOS- or AOS-based applications written in ICOBOL
or Business BASIC (i.e. NAPA). These were good systems for OEMs who had
previously developed software for DG - providing their application was
not disk-bound. DG eventually was forced to design and sell a parallel
I/O bus option to help improve disk performance... to the confusion of
customers previously told of the benefits of a serial I/O bus design.
The system was followed by the DG/500, which had a similar hardware
functional microEclipse-based design but enclosed in a then-familiar IBM
PC AT (desktop) form factor. This was the final unsuccessful attempt to
defend the low-end 16-bit Eclipse line from the PC onslaught.
-----
Bruce Ray
Wild Hare Computer Systems, Inc.
Boulder, Colorado USA
bkr at WildHareComputers.com
...preserving the Data General legacy: www.NovasAreForever.org
On 5/21/2018 6:36 PM, Zane Healy wrote:
Thank you Bruce, I took quick look through, and will
need to go back and read up on the hardware bits, Chapter 4 looks like it goes into the
stuff I?m curious about. I?m normally a software guy, but this is one case, where the
hardware is of more interest.
Thanks,
Zane
On May 21, 2018, at 12:22 PM, Bruce Ray <Bruce
at Wild-Hare.com> wrote:
G'day Zane -
I have placed Desktop Generation information for you at:
www.NovasAreForever.org/tmp/014-000751-00__The_Desktop_Generation__1983-Jul…
-----
Bruce Ray
Wild Hare Computer Systems, Inc.
Boulder, Colorado USA
bkr at WildHareComputers.com
...preserving the Data General legacy: www.NovasAreForever.org
-----
Bruce Ray
Wild Hare Computer Systems, Inc.
Boulder, Colorado USA
bkr at WildHareComputers.com
...preserving the Data General legacy: www.NovasAreForever.org
On 5/20/2018 6:37 PM, Zane Healy via cctalk wrote:
> On May 20, 2018, at 5:16 PM, Bruce Ray via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
wrote:
>>
>> G'day Ed -
>>
>> That picture was taken from our web site - specifically a photo of a Data General
Desktop Generation Model 10 beside a (1983) newsletter announcing the DG/10's
introduction. The computer system was announced in 1983 in DG's effort to blunt the
effect of the "microcomputer revolution" on Data General's proprietary
systems' sales. It was based on a 16-bit microEclipse processor contained in a small,
modular, consumer-oriented (desktop) form factor that ran DG operating systems and
software. However, one version also contained an Intel 8086 co-processor that could run
newfangled MS-DOS software, thereby targeting the pesky, soon-to-die microcomputer market.
;-)
>>
>> The system was designed around modules that could be plugged together which
simplified system configuration and expansion. It was very reliable (except for some of
the OEM disk drives used) but disk and tape operations were very slow due to its serial
I/O data bus design.
>>
>> The Desktop Generation series was very popular with many DG users and OEMs
worldwide but was overshadowed by the factors that affected the traditional minicomputer
manufacturers in the mid-1980s.
>>
>> And "yes", information does exist for these systems. Do you have
pictures of your system?
>>
>>
>> Bruce
> It sounds like a fascinating hardware design, and pretty much one I?ve long dreamed
of. It?s interesting to know that DG made such a system. Are any manuals for it online?
> Zane