Multibus micro and development system launched

Three Multibus-compatible products have been launched by Comark. They are an industrial microcomputer, a Winchester-based development system and an 8085 microprocessor board.

The computer, called MB 851, is built around an 8085 microprocessor running at 5 MHz and has 64 kbyte of parity RAM. Included in the package are a 12-in monitor with a 24 x 80 display and an 8-slot Multibus card file.

Protection from harsh environments is achieved with a sealed aluminium enclosure. Options include a 10 Mbyte hard disc, 5¼-in floppy drive and two door mounted hexpads. Delivery is

within 45 days and the price $5195 with up to 30 per cent discount for OEM quantities.

The MB85 Winchester development system runs under the CP/M 2.21 operating system and supports BASIC, FORTRAN and PASCAL. Hardware is similar to the M B851 with the addition of an 18 Mbyte Winchester disc.

The MC85 processor subsystem contains an 8085 microprocessor, 4k x 8 RAM, four EPROM sockets, 2k x 8 ROM monitor, display control- ler and 48 programmable I/O lines. There are 12 levels of interrupt and a display format of 80 x 24 or 64 x 16

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Industrial microcomputer (left) and Winchester development system

with a programmable font. The Winchester system and micro-

processor board cost $11 585 and $895 respectively. (Comark Corp., 25 7 Crescent Street, Waltham, MA 02154, USA. Tel: (617) 894 7000. Telex: 710 324 1503)

68000 microcomputer for industry and lab Industrial and laboratory automation markets are the target for an SBC based on the Motorola 68000 16-bit micro- processor.

Features on the M68KVMO2 include a VERSAbus interface for multipro- cessor applications and two multiproto- col serial I/O ports capable of support- ing serial networks in distributed con- trol systems. The board has 128 kbyte of dual port RAM.

The module is the first in a series of 68000-based VERSAmodules and is supported by real-time systems soft- ware including the VE RSAdos operat- ing system, and the RMS68K multi- tasking executive package in ROM.

The local bus extension which forms the I/O channel is an extension of the onboard bus by a 50-pin ribbon cable. It can be up to 4m long without de- grading the specified I/O performance, say the board's UK distributors, Lock

CP/M-80, -86 on dual micro machine Dual 8- and 16-bit microprocessors feature on a microcomputer from EuroMicro Ltd. The 8085 and 8088 processor allow CP/M-80 and CP/M-86 tasks to be run at the same time. The EuroMicro 8/16 has 5¼-in floppy disc drives which support the IBM PC disc format.

Tasks can be run on six terminals. On running a program, the EuroMicro 8/16 looks for a 16-bit (.CMD) file which can be executed directly by MP/M on the 8088. If no such file exists, a SWITCH program is run which searches for an 8-bit (.COM) file of the same name. When this file is found, a CP/M environment is set up using 64k of memory, and the file is executed on the 8085.

The system can be supplied with a variety of $100 boards including

EPROM emulation/blowing, analogue 1/0, IEEE 488 interfaces and graphics.

Prices start at £3795 for the single- user version and £5795 for the multi- user version. (EuroMicro Ltd, Coleridge Lane, London N8 BED, UK. Tel: 01- 341 2447)

Microsystems. System I/O functions may be added in small amounts out- side the main card cage. I/O transfers can run at up to 2 Mbyte/s.(Lock Microsystems, Neville Street, Oldham, Lancs OL9 6LF~ UK. Tel: 061-633 0431. Telex: 669619)

Portable 16-bit micro uses APL and $100

APL is the language chosen for a port- able 16-bit microcomputer from U K manufacturers MicroAPL. The choice of APL rather than BASIC is to 'reflect the changing economic reality' of falling hardware costs and rising soft- ware costs, said a director of MicroAPL, Robert Bittlestone.

Based on the 68000 microprocessor, the Scorpion has an 8-slot S100 circuit bus with up to 1 Mbyte of RAM. The

unit includes a 5¼-in disc drive which can be floppy or a 10 Mbyte Winchester.

There is a 9-in CRT built-in which provides 24 rows by 80 columns of characters. Other features include a clock/calendar that retains its memory even when the power is switched off, up to four serial RS232 ports with software setting of baud rate, and inter- facing to Ethernet and other LANs. The unit is housed in a 20 x 8 x 16 in box

Scorpion is set to be available this month at a price of £5950 for the entry level system. MicroAPL Ltd, 19 Catherine Place, Victoria, London SWIX 6DX, UK. Tel: 01-834 2687. Telex: 914505)

548 microprocessors and microsystems