Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!ncar!boulder!pikes!udenva!isis!csm9a!japplega
From: japplega@csm9a.UUCP (Joe Applegate)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.tandy
Subject: Re: Tandy memory upgrades
Message-ID: <1672@csm9a.UUCP>
Date: 21 Jul 89 16:11:49 GMT
References: <1189@ucf-cs.UCF.EDU> <1404@aws.cme.nbs.gov>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Colorado School of Mines
Lines: 87

In article <1404@aws.cme.nbs.gov>, durham@cme.nbs.gov (James H. Durham) writes:
> In article <1189@ucf-cs.UCF.EDU>, wordproc@ucf-cs.UCF.EDU (Gang of Three) writes:
> > 
> > Re: Specific references to Tandy in advertisements
> > 
> > I've noticed that quite a variety of add-on boards, hard cards and so forth
> > are advertised as being for PC/XT/AT and then also for Tandy 1000A/SX/SL/TL/etc.
> > 
> > It's one of the reasons I didn't buy Tandy when I bought my 286/20MHz machine;
> > I was concerned about availability of add-ons.  (Of course, price was a factor,
> > especially since I wanted 2MB of memory).
> > 
> > Apparently Tandy's proprietary motherboards have different bus addressing or
> > some other type of difference so that other companies either have to sell
> > Tandy-compatible items separately or not serve the Tandy owners at all on the
> > specialized hardware (hard cards, memory boards, etc.).
> > 
> > -- Marcus
> 
> This just isn't true.  Period.  Unless you REALLY know an answer, please do
> not post anything.

Actually one might question whether you know anything????

Of the number of Tandy 1000's in use I would doubt that more then 10% of them
are SL/TL model 1000's .... all the others ARE non-IBM compatible!!!

>  The only difference between the SL/TL slots and standard
> PC/XT slots is that maximum length of the card is about two inches shorter than
> traditional machines.  Since the hardcard is designed to take the full space
> it is alotted so that it can remain stable inside the computer, it would be
> two inches too long for the tandy, so.... companies have to obviously shorten 
> the card simply by moving the drive itself closer to the controller electronics.
> The $20 added to the card is for this "service" which really doesn't cost
> anything.

Most card... even hard cards now days are short cards... this is not the
problem... the problem... the problem is Tandy designed the 1000 series
computers to be Tandy compatible and not to industry standard specs... as a
result a Tandy compatible hard card or HD controller uses a different interrupt
form an IBM (read that as Idustry standard!) controller...

The extra bucks are for the strange interrupt and the need for a custom
HD bios!

True the SL/TL now use the standard interrupt... and the SX had a switch to
use either Tandy or standard... but companies selling to 1000 users can not
know which model you have and so they must sell the Tandy compatible version!

> Any 8-bit card will
> go in there, including accelerators and music cards, IO cards, modems...
> W H A T E V E R you want, except maybe the INTEL 386 accelerator, which
> requires the full length.

WRONG!!!!

An MPU-401 (MIDI) card will not work unmodified in ANY Tandy 1000... even the
SL... even though it is a shart card!  That is why Tandy sells their own
MIDI card... of course the only software that works with Tandy's card is
Tandy's... oh well... SALES SALES SALES, NO SERVICE, NO SUPPORT!

> So as far as "different bus addressing" and "..or not serve Tandy owners at
> all on the specialized hardware" ..... it is 99% untrue.  The only 
> non-"standard" thing you'll ever have to buy is the hardcard. For $20 more.
> And probably not even that.

Maybe true on the SL... but time will tell... previous Tandy 1000 buyers
have been stuck with uncompatible lemons...

Non standard keyboards
Non standard printer ports
Non standard Co-Processor requirements
Non standard Joysticks
Non standard monitor scan rates

Basically a non-standard computer!

> Big deal.

It sure is if you spent $2000 for one of these turkeys!!!!

			   - Joe Applegate -

    ======================STANDARD DISCLAIMER============================
     All views and opinions are my own and do not represent the views or
     opinions of the Colorado School of Mines, whatever they might be.
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