Rick J. writes:
 
> 1) EISA I/O bus. If you are going to want *any* kind of network attach
>    other than a core 10 Mbit Ethernet, EISA I/O services would need to
 
ok...I'm happy with core Ethernet....this is a single user system we're
describing.
 
>    Same if you want any additional SCSI interfaces. The low-end 700's
 
no.
 
> 2) I don't think a 700 can generate a powerfail interrupt.
 
So?  Sounds like the 3000/9x8 series ... no battery backup (I'd still
like to find the person who screwed that up!) (and no jack to plug in an
external battery backup (not a UPS!)).
 
...so I guess I'll put it on a UPS if I am concerned.
 
Remember: MPE survives a sudden turn-off far better than HP-UX does!
 
> 4) Core I/O is non-NIO. I'm not sure if MPE supports GSC peripherals?
>    That could mean that even for the built-in 10 Mbit Ethernet, the
>    serial ports, the keyboard interface, all that, drivers would need
>    to be written/ported.
 
Yes.
 
> 5) Graphics hardware. If you aren't going to use the graphics of a
>    700, might as well get a cheap WrightBrothers. If you do want
>    graphics, you'll need to get the graphics adaptor software ported.
 
Don't tell anyone at HP, but after the first 3000/7xx is shipped, I'd
be back asking for native support of the graphics hardware :)
 
However, I'd be happy with the graphics hardware stripped out ... give me
a serial port (for an optional console), and a network interface (for my
X terminal / PC).
 
> 6) Audio - if you want the audio supported, that's another port.
 
No. ... not until after the native graphic support :)
 
thanks, Rick!
 
--
Stan Sieler                                          [log in to unmask]
                                     http://www.allegro.com/sieler.html