[GEM Development] Ventura Publisher again

[Heinz Rath]

Hi

For some infos on the PS/2e you can look here
http://www.walshcomptech.com/ohlandl/9533/9533.html
or simply ask questions in comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware
You will have it easier to search for this machine if you search for
the ibm model number (9533).

with nice greetings
Heinz

DB> John Elliott wrote thusly:
>> : If you think they're 'picky' about RAM wait thill you try swapping a
>> : HDD! Oh, is that what you're thinking of trying? Advice. Don't. It just
>> : may be that like some PS/2 desktops they have a PROPRIETORY interface.
>> : For example, there is IDE and then there is IBM IDE!!! ... and then
>> : there is IBM 8-bit IDE. I know I've got one in my PS/2 25-286. 

DB> This isn't an early PS/2 like my Model 30 or my Model 50Zs.  This is a 
DB> later, pretty compatible odd little computer.  It seems to have been 
DB> targeted as either an educational system or as an power-saving 
DB> workstation for business.  It came with an EduQuest XGA monitor.

>>   There are, in fact, at least three IDEs:
>> 
>> * 16-bit ISA IDE (ATA). The sort we use nowadays.
>> *  8-bit ISA IDE (XTA). The sort in later Amstrad XTs and some hardcards. 
>>    It looks exactly like 'normal' ATA, but it certainly doesn't quack like
>>    it. A few drives can do either (selected with jumpers).
>> * MCA IDE. What you get in at least some PS/2s.
>> 
>>   In each case, it's called IDE because the controller is integrated with 
>> the drive; but in each case, it's a different type of controller. 
>>  
>>   If all else fails, find a SCSI card and use that :-)
>> 

DB> Actually this "IBM PS/2 E" is an interesting system (I googled for it 
DB> but can't find anything so I'll take a pic and put it up on my website). 
DB>   It is the size of an early laptop or about the size of two medium 
DB> pizza boxes stacked.  It has 4M RAM onboard with 2 72P SIMM slots. 
DB> Since it has a 486SLC25 CPU (a 16/32-bit hybrid) it can't address more 
DB> than 16M RAM.  I successfully got one 8M SIMM recognized out of about 12 
DB> I tried (in 5 hours) so I have 12M right now.  Bad thing is you have to 
DB> go through a complete setup from floppy twice everytime you change the 
DB> RAM which takes forever.  From my experiments it seems to take parity 
DB> (9-chip) SIMMs and non-EDO only.  I tried an 8M MAC parity SIMM  though 
DB> and it actually gave a "not-recognized" error in addition to the size error!

DB> Other interesting features are:
DB> Built in 1M XGA video
DB> Thinkpad compatible floppy drive (it's even black)
DB> Thinkpad compatible 2 1/2" IBM notebook HD with a standard IDE to laptop 
DB> adater cable; has room and proper plug for a standard IDE drive
DB> 1 16-bit ISA slot which presently has a 4-slot PCMCIA card with 2 slots 
DB> front (1,2) and 2 slots rear (3,4) so any upgrades I do would probably 
DB> be through PC Cards like a notebook.  No MCA at all.

DB> Note: in a box of old cards someone gave me was this 4-slot PCMCIA card. 
DB>   I couldn't figure out how you'd use it as only 2 slots would be 
DB> accessible when it's installed in a normal system.  It turns out it's 
DB> this exact card, so I now have 2!  It actually could be used in a 
DB> standard system using only slots 3 & 4 or preinstalling the PC Cards in 
DB> slots 1 & 2 and leaving them in.

DB> It looks like most everything is pretty compatible on this system.  As 
DB> it's a little limited with XGA (not SVGA) video & 16M RAM max I thought 
DB> it would make a pretty kewl machine to play with GEM and other DOS 
DB> stuff.  Anyone know how the GEM VGA drivers work on XGA or if there is 
DB> an XGA driver for GEM?

DB> Can't play too much tonight.  Its halloween and there's some good scary 
DB> flicks on TV!  Happy Halloween everyone ;)