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From: alford@ecsvax.UUCP (Ross Alford)
Newsgroups: net.micro.cpm
Subject: Re: Kaypro question
Message-ID: <1887@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 6-Aug-86 00:18:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: ecsvax.1887
Posted: Wed Aug  6 00:18:25 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 7-Aug-86 06:34:27 EDT
References: <644@marlin.UUCP> <8608010745.AA16733@cory.Berkeley.EDU>
Reply-To: alford@ecsvax.UUCP (Ross Alford)
Organization: Duke University Zoology
Lines: 23


Your question re Kaypro-->PClone modification is something I've 
wondered about.  The SWP board is more useful as a ramdisk than as
a MSDOS system--I have the 256k version, and it's great under CP/M,
but almost completely IBM-uncompatible, and there is very little
truly generic software around for MSDOS.  However, just because SWP
hasn't done it doesn't mean it can't be done:  A Kaypro provides
almost all of the parts you would need to build a PClone, except for
the motherboard--a nice sturdy case, power supply, keyboard (which
would need either modification or a tricky BIOS), two disk drives,
and an external-synch monitor.  It also has a large base of installed
systems, many of the owners of which are feeling that the world is
passing them by.  A clever hardware person ought to be able to install
one of these 'little-board' style all-in-one (serial, parallel
interfaces and pseudo color- or mono- graphics adapter all on the
board) motherboards in a Kaypro case for little more than the cost of 
the board.  A REALLY clever hardware/software person could probably
even build in Z80 support so the Kaypro could continue to fulfill
its original role.  I suspect that a kit of this sort could sell
briskly for around $400-500 and make someone a mint.  

Ross Alford
   ...mcnc!ecsvax!alford