Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jarthur!petunia!news
From: jdudeck@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU (John R. Dudeck)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec
Subject: Re: Info wanted about VT180
Message-ID: <2756c66b.733e@petunia.CalPoly.EDU>
Date: 30 Nov 90 20:51:55 GMT
References: <0bJ_ewH0BwweN1WWhK@transarc.com> <1990Nov30.095902@mccall.com>
Organization: Cal Poly State Univ,CSC Dept,San Luis Obispo,CA 93407
Lines: 25



In an article tp@mccall.com (Terry Poot) wrote:
>The VT180 (also known as a "Robin") is a Z80 based CPM machine. It was
>discontinued sometime around '84 or '85. I was on a project that used them as a
>user interface front-end (hmm...network based workstation running applications
>remotely on a VAX, sounds like X windows ... nah!). Don't remember about the
>floppies. I think they are standard in CPM. This machine was discontinued when
>the Rainbow came out. We tried to use the Rainbow, but there were problems. The
>company then proceeded to start stockpiling VT180's to supply to customers as
>front ends.

Would you believe I am still supporting one of these for some very elderly
ladies who are using it to write books!


The system is a very generic CP/M Z80.  The terminal is of course a VT100.
Actually the VT180 disks would boot on a Rainbow.  They are 40 track single
sided 9 sectors.  The Rainbow is 80 track, but it knew how to skip every
other track, and the Rainbow's Z80 would run the CP/M.

-- 
John Dudeck                                  "If it's Object Oriented then by
jdudeck@Polyslo.CalPoly.Edu                    definition it's A Good Thing".
ESL: 62013975 Tel: 805-545-9549                                 -- D. Stearns