Packard Bell, was: Re: Eee PC hands on?

[Jerry Feldman]

On Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:04:42 -0500 (EST)
Ric Werme <ewerme at comcast.net> wrote:

> Hmm.  I don't recall their radio days, but in 1962 they produced computers.
> The Packard Bell 250 used a magnetorestrictive delay line memory (basically
> audio pulsed running around many turns of stiff wire).  

If I recall, Raytheon Data Systems acquired a line of computers from
Packard Bell. RDS had 3 lines of computers:
1. Minicomputer which I think was the 250.
2. PTS 100 - This was a field mode controller with memory mapped
terminals that could emulate IBM 3270, and other field-mode terminals.
This was used by most airlines in the 1970s. 
3. PTS1200. This used the same hardware as the PTS 100, but with
additional capability and operating system. 

I don't recall where the PTS100/1200 architecture was developed, but in
an IBM bisynch network it significantly out performed the IBM hardware
based controller. By 1980, the PTS line was getting very old, and some
decisions to develop a replacement system never panned out. Raytheon
sold the division in 1983. 

-- 
--
Jerry Feldman <gaf at blu.org>
Boston Linux and Unix
PGP key id: 537C5846
PGP Key fingerprint: 3D1B 8377 A3C0 A5F2 ECBB  CA3B 4607 4319 537C 5846
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