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From: peterr@utcsrgv.UUCP (Peter Rowley)
Newsgroups: net.micro,net.micro.pc
Subject: IBM Announces Popcorn as "PC AT"
Message-ID: <5041@utcsrgv.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 15-Aug-84 02:36:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.5041
Posted: Wed Aug 15 02:36:44 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 15-Aug-84 06:46:46 EDT
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
Lines: 48

Today (Tuesday Aug. 14th), IBM announced its "Popcorn" machine, as the
"IBM Personal Computer AT", an 80286-based machine, claimed to be 2 to
3 times faster than the PC and PC/XT.  There are two models, one with 20M hard
and one without.

Specifications:
	Intel 80286 microprocessor
		- MUCH faster than an 8088
		- has on-chip memory management
	64Kb ROM
	Standard RAM:  256K base model, 512K enhanced
		- expandable to 512K with a "plug-in memory module"
		- expandable to 3M with option cards
	Standard disk: 1.2M floppy drive
		       20M hard disk on the enhanced model
	Expansion: 8 slots
		- 1 occupied on base model (disk adapter)
		- 2 occupied on enhanced model (disk, serial port)
	Operating System:  DOS 3.00
		A Product Centre rep. said that 3.00 is a "temporary"
		version, with the "real" 3.1 ("without the bugs") out in
		early 85.
	Numeric Processor: optional 80287
	Enhanced version of BASIC in ROM
	3 disk drives are allowed:
		- 1.2M floppy (required)
		- extra 1.2M floppy, or 360K floppy, or 20M hard disk
		- second 20M hard disk
	  Thus, a max. of 41.2M, all in the System Unit.
	Keyboard:  modified PC keyboard, with keypad and 10 function keys,
		   in the same place as before.  Bigger Enter and Shift keys.
		   LED indicators on the Num Lock, Caps Lock, Scroll Lock
		   keys.  A 3m keyboard cable.
	Keylock to turn on the system (!!).

	The Product Centre rep. indicated that Xenix will be available, as
	will network hardware (soon) and software ('85).

	21.3" width, 17.3" deep, 6.4" high; 37lbs (42 lbs enhanced model);
	noise level of 42dB; power consumption of 192W of 190-259V AC (?!?).

	Cdn price is under $7000 for the base model, under $10000 for the
	enhanced model (Cdn dollars; $1Cdn = $US0.76).
----------
Also, I saw the new IBM Pascal compiler (2.00), with support for the 8087
and "long heap" (>64K).  There's no mention of Microsoft in the manual,
so it may well have been developed internally by IBM, as rumoured in this
group.