Modern computers with docs

Ethan Dicks [ethan.dicks at gmail.com] wrote: Indeed. In the beginning that sort of data was expected. As time went on the industry moved to a model where was a "user" manual and a "technical" manual (under various names). DEC eventually realised that the cost of producing the "technical" manual was never recouped by sales of said manual. They didn't think that they could up the price enough to recoup the costs (since upping the price would decrease sales ... vicious circle), so they stopped producing the manuals in many cases. Internally you could get hold of specifications and such like, but not the professionally produced manuals. In some cases there were special circumstances and a technical manual was produced or was cheap to produce from some documentation that had to be provided anyway (required by big government contract or what not). But in most cases detailed docs stopped existing. These days the most you are likely to get are detailed datasheets (if you buy enough parts and maybe sign an NDA). If you buy enough motherboards (or have bought enough in the past) you might be able to get a schematic. As a normal end-user, however, you simply could not afford the price they'd ask. Antonio