Re: I ran across this strange modernistic Data General ...odd computer

[Bruce Ray]

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.01.pdf
>>
>>
>> -----
>>
>> 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
>