Message-ID: <15332@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Jan-84 12:02:34 EST
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.15332
Posted: Wed Jan 11 12:02:34 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 15-Jan-84 01:37:36 EST
Lines: 48

From:  Steve Dennett 


I recently visited two local computer stores to examine the
Sanyo MBC 550/555 IBM PC compatible.  Here's what I was
told:

CPU -     Intel 8088 running at 3.6 MHz

RAM -     128K std., expandable to 256K

DOS -     MS-DOS 1.25

printer - parallel printer port

Disks -   1 or 2 160K drives std. 320K & 640K optional

Software -Wordstar, spreadsheet, Sanyo color graphic Basic
          utilities, included.
Options  - monochrome  or  RGB monitor, 8087, joysticks, RS232 port

List prices are: MBC 550 (1-160K drive)..........$ 999
                 MBC 555 (2-160K drives).........$1394

     As to the question of compatibility, the dealers claim
(caveat emptor) it will run 85% - 90% of IBM software.
However, it' graphics are NOT IBM color graphics compatible.
Also, it has NO expansion slots.

IBM PC COMPATIBILITY

With the plethora of PC compatibles coming out, it would be
handy to have an easy way to test for IBM compatibility.
Perhaps one of you ingeneous programmers could devise a
"Compatibility Diagnostic Program" that would run a series
of operations to test a machine's compatibility, starting
with basic reading and writing of data, and working up
through color graphics.  It might even include some routines
that shouldn't work because the compatible lacks the IBM
ROM. Like the standard diagnostic disk, it could report to
the user as a machine succeeded or failed each type of test.

If you do write such a program, be sure to pass it on the
the library!

Steve Dennett
SRI
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