Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!genrad!decvax!cca!cfh
From: cfh@cca.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: New Coleco Home Computer - (nf)
Message-ID: <4882@cca.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 14-Jun-83 22:47:08 EDT
Article-I.D.: cca.4882
Posted: Tue Jun 14 22:47:08 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 15-Jun-83 20:10:08 EDT
Lines: 22


There have been several articles in the Wall Street Journal recently
about the new Coleco microcomputer.  (By the way the Journal seems to
be the most timely source of information on new computer products
outside of this network.)

The cost was reduced by a number of ploys so obvious it is a wonder
that no one has tried them yet.  Some examples are:

  1.  The low speed of the printer allows the use of a stepping motor
      instead of the more complicated control mechanism required for
      faster printers.

  2.  Putting everything in one package allowed sharing of power
      supplies, etc.

The consensus was that all of these engineering tricks had given
Coleco more than a few months lead on the competition.

It seems there was a company called Volkswagon that tried a similar
idea many years ago.  It was quite successful, even to the point of
redefining the auto industry.