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.