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Like I need another big project :-) The IBM Datamaster is an interesting system, but it was doomed. It had an 8-bit Intel 8085 processor, cost $9000, and came
by kens 7mo ago
Like I need another big project :-)
The IBM Datamaster is an interesting system, but it was doomed. It had an 8-bit Intel 8085 processor, cost $9000, and came out in July 1981. The IBM PC had a 16-bit 8088 processor, cost $1565, and came out a month later. So there was no reason to buy a Datamaster
There's a good description of Datamaster in "A Personal History of the IBM PC" by Dave Bradley (one of the PC's designers). Unfortunately, it's paywalled.[1]
[1] https://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/MC.2011.163 https://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/MC.2011.163
- II2II 7mo agoThat sounds like a great starting point. There's a university library 500 meters from where I work, so bypassing the paywall ought to be easy. And thank you for all of your articles over the years. They border so close to applied physics they are fascinating reads.
- pinewurst 7mo agohttps://annas-archive.gl/scidb/10.1109/mc.2011.163/ https://annas-archive.gl/scidb/10.1109/mc.2011.163/
- rbanffy 7mo ago> Like I need another big project :-) You know you want it. > So there was no reason to buy a Datamaster It did use a screen font closer to the 3270 series. That is a big pro ;-) IBM also was studying home computers, and was talking to Atari. There are other gorgeous design studies in “ Delete - a Design History of Computer Vaporware”, a lovely book. I want to 3D print half of those designs.