Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!XEROX.COM!Kushall.Henr
From: Kushall.Henr@XEROX.COM (Edward)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec.micro
Subject: Re: DEC Rainbow
Message-ID: <890222-053509-5002@Xerox>
Date: 22 Feb 89 13:34:59 GMT
References: <4028@ingr.com>
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 32

Jeff:

The PC100 has a Z80 and 8088 CPU and can run CPM/80/86 and MS-DOS (not PC
DOS)
The machine is not IBM PC compatiable, although some software for the PC
will run on the machine.

The computer uses DEC RX50 'dual' disk drive (single side 80 tracks)

The machine has a serial printer port and a serial COM port.
The computer also emulates a DEC VT-100 terminal (almost!)

The machine is somewhat expandable, hower the expansion is via DEC
proprietary dedicated cards, there is room for a memory expansion board, a
hard disk controller OR (but not both) communications option, graphics
option, and an 8087 co-procesor PWB is also available.

The base machine is equiped with 64K (original PC100) or 128K(PC100B and
PC100+)
The PC100+ is a PC100B with a hard disk.

Since the mother board holds a max of 128K on the 100B and 64K on the 100B
memory expansion is a must for most applications(the 100A requires memory
expansion to boot MS-DOS 2.11!)

The machine is obsolete and accessories are costly from DEC (20 MB disk and
controller list for $2500)

I got mine cheap in 84 when I was a student a a school that had a deal with
DEC.
I is a good machine and there is underground suppor but I don't reccomend
getting into one now.