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From: halkoD@batman.moravian.EDU (David Halko)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os9
Subject: Re: TC-70 and MM/1
Summary: Followup to TC70/MM1
Message-ID: <2657@batman.moravian.EDU>
Date: 14 Feb 91 15:51:09 GMT
References: <1990Dec28.012907.24001@davidge> <2535@batman.moravian.EDU> <1991Jan27.135517.12380@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA
Lines: 67

In article <1991Jan27.135517.12380@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu>, cocoiii@hobbes.ncsu.edu (John Vestal) writes:
> First a little clairfication (sp), I did not say that I knew anything
> about the TC-70.  I just gave what I knew about the MM/1.  As a
> college student, I see the MM/1 as a more practical system than the
> TC-70.  I am NOT am impartial party.  I favor the MM/1, David Halko
> seems to favor the TC-70.
> 
> 
> halkoD@batman.moravian.EDU (David Halko) writes:
> 
> >The TC-70 comes with more memory than the MM/1 (from what I last remember...)
> 
> True, 512K more I think.
> 
> >Because of the extra memory, the TC-70 is slightly faster than a stock MM/1.
> 
> Not sure about that... A little faster on graphic puts, probably, but
> not in CPU speed.  

The extra memory frees up the machine and gives it a slight throughput advantage
but nothing that can't be solved by putting more memory in the MM/1.

> >The TC-70 will run on the KBus, making available for it a tremendous amount 
> >available expansion options... excellent for POS applications which need
> >all the terminals they can get (aimed at Business)
> 
> True, but the KBus is a 16-bit bus.  The MM/1 has a 32-bit bus.  

If I remember correctly, the MM/1 dioes not come with a stock 32 bit bus,
but comes with a 16 bit bus to the outside world like the KBus. This was
subject for alot of discussion on the Princeton Listserver.
 
> By the way, both machines are easily upgraded.  You just have to take
> the graphics processor out, and install a new one.  Of course, you
> would have to have new drivers, but that would be easy enough.  I
> really don't think anyone would go wrong with either system.  I don't
> think we should be fighting amoung ourselves about which OSK system is
> best.  Let's just lest the rest of the world know what we have.  OS-9
> is the best OS that I have seen, and I have see MS-DOS, AmigaDOS, and
> the Mac.  Let's just let this one ride.  Please David, correct me if

The point of my article was to show that there was a descent market for
the TC-70, which differed slightly from the MM/1. Rather than clashing, 
the markets complment themselves quite nicely. The MM/1 is mostlikely
better suited for institutionalized applications, like low power, low 
cost multiuser/multitasking workstations, home computers, small business,
and such while the TC70 market seemed better apt for people wanting to
upgrade their current FHL machine, use for business (larger POS based
systems with needs for lots of terminals), data aquisition at a larger
scale (since many ports can be connected simultaneously due to the 20
slot bus structure which is inherent to the K-Bus.) These are two very
similar machines aimed at two different markets and both shall fare well,
hopefully, hopefully in the OS9 world. Most home users will choose the
MM/1 because of the economical value of the machine (you don't get the
speed, options, etc. in any other computer system at an equivalent price.)
Franks current user base will be around for a long period of time and will
definitely remain loyal through all of Frank's hard work, etc. 

Two very similar machines aimed at two very different market places, that 
is what we have here. The mail question is what the people choose if they
overlap both market places and do not solidly fit into either one solidly.
Those were the points that I had tried to highlight.

 
>                             cocoiii (John Vestal)

David J. Halko


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