Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!oakhill!jbudet
From: jbudet@oakhill.UUCP (jim budet)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.tandy
Subject: Re: Tandy hardware
Message-ID: <2057@elmer.oakhill.UUCP>
Date: 15 May 89 16:25:47 GMT
References: <2520@csd4.milw.wisc.edu> <1535@csm9a.UUCP>
Reply-To: jbudet@elmer.UUCP (jim budet)
Distribution: na
Organization: Motorola Inc., Austin Tx.
Lines: 61

In article <1535@csm9a.UUCP> japplega@csm9a.UUCP (Joe Applegate) writes:
>In article <2520@csd4.milw.wisc.edu>, chaz@csd4.milw.wisc.edu (Charles D Lembach) writes:

>First of all I am not fully qualified to comment on the new computers
>but I can comment on the 1000A that I have and the 1000 SX that ...

>A. non compatible monitor required or patch to DOS required
	Not true.  My original 1000 and my new 1000TL work just fine with
	normal CGA monitors.  The TL also can work as is, with a monochrone
	TTL monitor.  Tandy's CGA has an enhanced Tandy specific mode.  But
	ALL software that supported the IBM CGA mode worked just fine.  This
	includes the popular spread sheets, word processors, TSR's and
	compilers.  Some manufacturers even support the enhanced CGA mode.

>B. non standard floppy disk cable
	Yes, but big deal.  How many times are you going to change the
	drive cable?  You can buy it from RS.  I made my own.  Most people
	will not have to change it.

>C. non standard hard disk interrupt (fixed on the SX)
	Problem fixed on the TL.  But you will still want to by a Tandy
	compatible hard disk from CompuAdd.

>D. poor wattage power supply (I had to use an external PS to run 2 hard drives!
	I have not seen this problem.  My original 1000 ran two floppies, a
	20 meg hard card, memory expansion board, Midi Board, serial plus
	board and a smartwatch without any problems.

>E. non standard joystick interface
	If all you want to do is plug in joysticks then this is also no
	big deal.  The RS Deluxe joysticks are better that most of the
	IBM ones that I have seen.  The Tandy's also support two joysticks
	without the need for a special cable (that an IBM does).

>F. non standard parallel interface (requires a special cable which must be
>cut to use with industry standard printers like the Epson or HP laser!)
	True.  CompuAdd sells a Tandy printer cable for a good price.

>G. non standard keyboard (supposedly fixed in the SL and TL but time will tell)
	My TL keyboard works just fine thank you.

>Based on my experience the 1000 series IS NOT IBM compatible!
	It is true that the 1000 series is not identical to an IBM.  They
	are not trying to be.  Besides, are you talking about hardware or
	software compatibility.  I have not yet found any software that will
	not run on my 1000's.  They are trying to offer you more than an IBM
	compatible at a reasonable price.  Shop carefully, there are many
	good manufacturers to choose from.  Tandy is only one.  Skim through
	a "PC Magazine".

PS	I hope that this does not start another Tandy bashing session.

===============================================================================
					Jim Budet
	Disclaimer			Motorola Microprocessor Products Group
					Austin, Texas
===============================================================================
	     Phone : (512) 891-3175
	    Usenet : cs.utexas.edu!oakhill!elmer!jbudet
	Compuserve : 73177,171
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