#: 7886 S15/Hot Topics
    29-Oct-90  03:44:30
Sb: #7885-#Compatible OSK Machines?
Fm: Ed Gresick 76576,3312
To: Ed Gresick 76576,3312 (X)


(Continued)

The MM/1 and TC70 use the Signetics 68070 chip.  The instruction set for this
chip is supposed to be identical to the 68000 so there should be no problem. I
sent a set of the TOP disks to one of the MM/1 developers.  He did try a couple
of the programs and reported that they did work OK.  He hasn't had time to try
them all, so I don't know about the programs that won't run on the hardware
described above.

Programs using graphics -

There _may_ be a problem here.  We are using the standard ANSI sequence set
where possible.  Unfortunately, ANSI does not cover color.  We filled part of
the gap with 'IBM ANSI COLOR' sequences but they are not complete. (We are
talking to Keving Darling and FHL to agree on a 'standard'.)

Disk drive formats -

MW has set standards for 720K drives, both 5 1/4" and 3 1/2".  The drivers on
the SYSTEM IV follow these standards.  I assume the MM/1 will also follow these
standards.

MW has _not_ set standards for high-density drives.  When we decided to support
high density drives we called MW and asked for their recommendation - they
would not provide any.  We checked with some of the other manufacturers
providing VME boards.  We couldn't find any that were supporting high-density
drives.  We set 'TOS' and 'SCT' (sectors on track 0 and sectors per track) to
34 sectors per track.  We tried 36 sectors but had some problems with some
manufacturer's drives.  35 sectors seemed OK so we settled on 34 to be safe.
This work was done about six months ago.

(Continued)

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