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From: ForthNet@willett.pgh.pa.us (ForthNet articles from GEnie)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.forth
Subject: Forth based products
Message-ID: <1939.UUL1.3#5129@willett.pgh.pa.us>
Date: 28 Oct 90 17:36:50 GMT
Organization: String, Scotch tape, and Paperclips.  (in Pgh, PA)
Lines: 76

Category 4,  Topic 9
Message 24        Sun Oct 28, 1990
GARY-S                       at 06:36 EST
 
  
  In the October 17, 1990 guest conference on GEnie's Forth RoundTable,
 Jef raskin mentioned there were still _some_ Canon Cats available through
 David Wing. I contacted Mr. Wing who advises he still has the following
 units available:

 1) A Project 7 protoype, with firmware developed for the 1989 design for the
 unmarketed portable. This is an early production Cat case, and has the 
 programmer's switch to give instant access to the Forth interpreter. Instead
 of USE FRONT this and that, it uses function keys at the top of the keyboard
 for each command. It has 384K of RAM and is in daily use as a backup system
 in Mr. Wing's office. The screen display is adjusted to match the aspect
 ratio of the proposed LCD screen. The firmware shows an occassional bug, but
 the machine is quite useful for any serious hacker who saves work fre-
 quently. The P7 firmware does not support the modem or the parallel port,
 but it does share disk compatibility with the standard CAT, although the
 LEARN commands on a Cat will be erased (as when you load a Cat v1.66 text
 disk into the later v1.74 machines).

   This machine is available with a Cat How-to Manual (generally explains
 operation) and a spare main circuit board and keyboard for $400.00. (A
 good technician can convert this to a standard Cat.) UPS shipping prepaid.

 2) A working 1989 Swyft 9" prototype, which was made in quantity of 200 to
 demonstrate the manufactuability of the Cat design. It has direct access to
 FORTH also, uses a different disk format on its 3-1/2" drive, and sports a
 lighter weight and neat carrying handle. It has no on-off switch per Jef's 
 original specifications, and shuts down to idle with its monitor actually
 off after automatic save. One of these is available, to be sold with
 another 80% complete unit for spare parts; $200.00 for the package. No
 documentation is available for the Swyft, but David will help as much as
 he is able.

 3) A complete demo cat, in complete working order with documentation.
 There is slight screen burn, but otherwise looks new. This unit has the
 final draft, improved v1.74 firmware produced by Information Appliance,
 Inc. and discussed during Steve Robert's Winnebiko conference on GEnie.
 The price for this unit is $750.00.   

 4) A totally new, pristine Unit with the v1.74 software. The only time this
 unit has been out of the box is during the test burn by Mr. Wing just before
 he and I discussed these systems. This unit goes for $1250.00.

   If anyone is interested in reading what a Cat can do should capture and
 read Jef raskin's conference. He was using one throughout the conference,
 was able to read and capture the questions while composing a response, and
 could do computations and edits without having to exit the comm program .
 These machines were created with user interface as there strong suit. 

   Standard disclaimers apply. I have no vested interest in the sales of 
 these last few remaining Canon Cats.

   It is strictly 'first-come, first-served', so if you want one time is of
 essence. 

   If anyone is interested in buying one of these, you may do so by sending
 a check or money-order in the proper amount to the following:

    David Wing
    1538 Granada Ave.
    San Diego, CA  92102

   I can not give Mr. Wing's phone number, but can call Mr. Wing on your 
 behalf if there is a pressing reason to do so.
    __         _  - -> (Gary Smith) uunet!ddi1!lrark!glsrk!gars             *
   / _' _   _ (_' P. O. Drawer 7680    *  GEnie Forth RT  &  Unix RT SysOp  *
  /__/ (_|_/ '._) Little Rock,AR 72217 * winken!well!gars * claris!wet!gars *
  gars@glsrk.uucp        - U. S. A. -  * ames!chinet!gars * ph:501-227-7817 *

 note * uunet!ddi1!lrark!glsp+HV,..H-----
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