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From: peterr@utcsrgv.UUCP (Peter Rowley)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: New details on PCjr;  Anyone used Quadcolor I?
Message-ID: <2637@utcsrgv.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 5-Nov-83 23:30:23 EST
Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.2637
Posted: Sat Nov  5 23:30:23 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 6-Nov-83 00:37:53 EST
Organization: CSRG, University of Toronto
Lines: 60

I have several sheets of PCjr "Family Computer" product data from the local
Product Centre.  As there seems to be interest, here's a summary.  I'll
try to skip over material that's appeared in this group already.

Target market: "homes, educational environments, and personal productivity
                applications"

The enhanced model is the entry model + 64K memory ($213Cdn add-on) +
Diskette drive ($725Cdn add-on).  The 64K memory expansion option is
actually called the "Memory and Display Expansion" option; it allows
display of 80 col. text (basic model restricted to 40 col. text).

Displays: TV (via $45Cdn RF mod'r), IBM Colour Display ($1055Cdn incl cable),
or "a compatible composite monitor" (there is composite output avail.).

ROM: 64K bytes in both units, containing self-test, cassette BASIC, cassette
OS, drivers, dot patterns for 256 chars (only 128 in PC's ROM), a bootstrap,
and (new to PCjr) user-selectable diagnostics.

Connectors: 2 for cartridges ("up to 64KB each"), 13 (!) for I/O: Cassette,
Joystick x 2, Kybd, Modem, Drive, Direct Video, Composite Video, TV Video,
Light Pen, "I/O Expansion Bus", std serial port, don't know what the 13th
is for.

Sound:  3 channel, plus noise channel (sounds a lot like the Comm. 64).

Keyboard: "Its 62 keys utilize the full travel, carbon contact/rubber dome
technology for long wear and reliability"... "It provides all the functions
of the 83 key keyboard in a way unique to the PCjr" (hmmm.)

Options: $150Cdn for parallel printer adapter.  $60Cdn for Joystick (!!).
$45Cdn for cassette cable (!!).  $93Cdn for carrying case (!).  $38Cdn
for serial cable.

Software: a variety of educational and home-oriented sw (on cart's I assume)
for $39Cdn to $129Cdn.  Many at $45Cdn.  A BASIC cart at $97Cdn (enhancements?)
and DOS 2.1 for $84.50Cdn (runs on all PC's-- with luck, fixes some of 2.0's
bugs).  Personal Communications Manager, at $129Cdn, runs on all PCs.
Updated versions of 7 old PC programs (all now ver 1.05 or 1.15) were
announced.  Interesting "family" sw: HomeWord "that uses pictures and enables
the user to see at a glance the format for an entire page" and Animation
Creation "that lets [PC users] create pictures and watch them come to life
with computerized animation."  The sales rep. I spoke to was most enthusiastic
about the last.

Books: BASIC for PCjr ($17), DOS 2.1 Tech. Ref. Manual ($39; I guess the
appendices were getting too big-- this means $123.50Cdn for a fully documented
DOS 2.1-- about $100US), PCjr Tech. Ref. Man. ($45).

The biggest question I still have about it:  what sort of graphics performance
does it have?  I can't find anything on it.  Certainly, NO NEW GRAPHICS CARDS
HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED BY IBM FOR THE PC, though the sales rep. said to wait a
bit (I don't put any creedence in this at all).  On the subject of graphics
cards, has anyone used a Quadcolor I or II for the PC?  They seem to be out
now and look pretty good.  A review would be most welcome.

peter rowley,  University of Toronto Department of C.S., Ontario Canada M5S 1A4
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