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From: wtm@neoucom.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Cooling down (more on IBM PS/2)
Message-ID: <547@neoucom.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 13-Apr-87 09:27:40 EST
Article-I.D.: neoucom.547
Posted: Mon Apr 13 09:27:40 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 14-Apr-87 23:46:44 EST
References: <1750@isis.UUCP> <199@homxc.UUCP> <1977@hoptoad.uucp> <1619@bnrmtv.UUCP>
Organization: Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
Lines: 33
Summary: Memories of the DEC Rainbow

In article <1619@bnrmtv.UUCP>, connery@bnrmtv.UUCP (Glenn Connery) writes:
> In fact the engineering on the new PCs is very good.  The machines can
> be taken apart without any tools, and everything that comes apart is marked
> in blue plastic, with big fat knobs and handles on everything.  If you
> haven't even seen one of the machines, you really can't comment.


I agree.  I don't love or hate IBM any more than any other company.
Regardless of whether or not the PeeCee has/had any technical
merit, IBM managed to use market clout to get enough people to
notice personal computers enough to finally create a mass market.
The result has been to get enough impetus in the industry to goad
developers into putting out the effort to make some really neat
hardware and software.  Regardless of what Jerry Pournelle says
about his faithfull Compupro, Pantagruel, (or whatever its name is)
I enjoy my MS-DOS clone much more than my old CP/M machines.

Well, to the point of this letter.  The new IBM offerings sort of
remind me of the DEC Rainbow.  The new keyboard is a pretty close
knock-off of DEC's VT series.  The Rainbow could also be cut,
stripped and gutted without lifting a screwdriver (if you had
strong fingernails).  The new IBM computers even have incompatible
expansion board connectors as did/does? the Rainbow.  The new IBMs
even run MS-DOS that is *somewhat* usable with current software,
just like the Rainbow.  The Rainbow even offered stunning graphics:
800 * 480 in 16 colors, RGB analog.

Only time will tell if IBMs new machines will set a new standard,
or will sell to a specialized and limited niche as did the
Rainbow.  IBM's advertising seems to be pushing connectivity with
their own mainframes, as did DEC's marketing for the Rainbow.

  --Bill