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From: nather@utastro.UUCP (Ed Nather)
Newsgroups: net.rumor
Subject: Re: A new PC from Cray?
Message-ID: <408@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 22-Feb-86 14:49:03 EST
Article-I.D.: utastro.408
Posted: Sat Feb 22 14:49:03 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Feb-86 03:43:01 EST
References: <196@octopus.UUCP>
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 28
Summary: summary

In article <196@octopus.UUCP>, pete@octopus.UUCP (Pete Holzmann) writes:
> 
> A copy of an internal memo... a proposed Press Release for March 3, 1986:
> 
> Long considered a holdout in the PC compatibility ratrace, Cray has finally
> joined the pack: The firm has announced its SuperPC I, an MS-DOS portable
> that packs many of the features of the reknowned Cray supercomputers.
> 
> This computer, however, is not for all: It's exteremely fast -- using GaAs
> ICs, tunnel diodes, and Josephson-junction circuits, it has a clock rate
> of 2.2 GHz. It costs $4,000,000.00 (US).   Although about the size of a 
> Compaq portable
> PC, the Cray portable requires a tractor-trailer support truck for the
> liquid helium, the 1 MWatt power generator, and the fire extinguisher; all
> are required for normal operation.
> 
> (YES... this is :-) of course!)

I understand from a local source that Motorola was approached to put the CPU
on a chip, but refused unless they could include super-speed graphics sprites
and other hardware color graphic assists as well.  

They also demanded it be called the Cray-ola.
-- 
Ed Nather
Astronomy Dept, U of Texas @ Austin
{allegra,ihnp4}!{noao,ut-sally}!utastro!nather
nather@astro.UTEXAS.EDU