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From: rps@homxc.UUCP (R.SHARPLES)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.att
Subject: Re: 6300 bugs?
Message-ID: <1437@homxc.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 26-Sep-87 13:07:58 EDT
Article-I.D.: homxc.1437
Posted: Sat Sep 26 13:07:58 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 27-Sep-87 11:14:20 EDT
References: <290@gvgspd.UUCP> <862@sask.UUCP> <1409@homxc.UUCP> <2150@ihuxy.ATT.COM>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel
Lines: 57
Summary: 6300 and 6300+ are different animals
Xref: mnetor comp.sys.ibm.pc:8341 comp.sys.att:1333

In article <2150@ihuxy.ATT.COM>, vg55611@ihuxy.ATT.COM (gopal) writes:
> > Maybe the stock system setup is 100% compatible (I'm not saying this
> > but I can't think of any software that I have ever heard of that 
> > doesn't work on the stock AT&T PC 6300).  But, just try to add an
> > EGA card!  I know this is a pain.  There are certain problems with the
> > way the EGA memory is handled, etc.  In this respect, it is not a 100%
> > compatible.
> 
> Sure, it is not a 100% compatible - that is because it is better.  The problem
> with adding an EGA card etc. is due to the fact that the the 6300 comes with
> a built-in video display board (on the orig. IBM PC, you had to add a card !)
...
> The compatibility you are talking about is perhaps better described by the
> words "mirror image".
> 
> AT&T sells a video bridge adapter and also a spider chip so that you may 
> install third-party video boards - and as far as I know, the latest ROM BIOS
> supports EGA.  I don't know what problems you have had in trying to install
> an EGA card - but on my 6300 plus, I have an EGA card running and have had
> absolutely no problems with it!
...
> 
> Think again.
> 
> Venu P. Gopal
> ihnp4!ihuxy!vg55611

The 6300 and 6300 Plus are very different animals, or fruit if you want
to talk apples and oranges.  They learned from the 6300 that it was a 
good idea to make it possible to put a different video adapter in the 
computer.  I don't have any direct experience, but I have heard that
is not possible to put one in the early 6300s.  In the recent ones 
you still have to go through the replacement of a chip and I don't
think it is 100% compatible even after that.  If done right it should
be either DIP switch controlable or you should be able to pull out
the card that comes with the machine.  There are few reasons why
the IDB can't be easily removable (the only one I can think of is
the power for the monochrome monitor, which was a stupid idea anyway).

With the Plus, *assuming you have the 2.05A ROM/PAL upgrade*, it is
supposed to be fairly straight forward to switch cards and actually 
100% compatible, sort of.

I do agree, that if you will never need EGA, and many users don't,
the 6300 package is a good one.  The legible text, extra Hi-res mode
and 100% compatible CGA mode are a good combination.  If you do need
EGA, you are probably better off with a 6310, 6312, 6386 or a 
compatible.  The 6300/6300+ is not your machine.

Russ Sharples
homxc!rps

NOTE:

The above in NO WAY reflects the opinions of AT&T.
These opinions are my own and the results of un-scientific and 
highly irregular analysis methods.