31 May
2010
31 May
'10
11:22 p.m.
On May 31, 2010, at 8:59 PM, Mr Ian Primus wrote:
--- On Mon, 5/31/10, Brian Lanning <brianlanning at
gmail.com> wrote:
The PC 3270 is a little more than that. It uses a lot of hardware and
a little software to give you a multitasking XT that can be used as a
multiple-session 3270 terminal. It has a special display adapter
taking up to three slots and offering an incomplete CGA emulation
(with the optional APA card), a special keyboard interface card which
contains the necessary ROM code for the display adapter and 3270
communications, and the 3270 communications card.
I think part of the reason for this was the small memory size on the
XT, combined with the unsuitable display adapter options. Eventually
the hardware got good enough that all the emulation could be done in
software, with just a coax card providing the 3270 interface. But that
happened later. The PC 3270 ROM will not work with (all? most?) 3270
cards intended for use with the later, software-only emulations.
This one on eBay appears complete, with just the base video adapter
(no APA or PSA options) and a short 3270 card I didn't know it would
work with. The hard drive has been removed, obviously, which means you
would need to find a copy of the IBM PC 3270 control program before
you could put any of it to use. I think I probably have a copy of it
somewhere.
ok
bear
What's up with the badge?
Wasn't the 3270 a mainframe terminal?
Correct. It's a PC/XT with a 3270 emulation board in it. Originally
it would have been available with a monitor capable of displaying
all the 3270 colors, as well as a full keyboard with extra function
keys.