Gilles Schipper wrote in message ...
> The 930 was architechurally quite different from any other PA machine, and
really
>considered to be almost a prototype.
>
What do you mean by "almost"?  The one at TAC that I used to port some
TymLabs products
certainly wasn't up to "prototype" quality.  The innards looked as if though
it was constructed
with some left-over Series II chips and PCAs (To be fair though, the '930
CPU used
Schottky TTL chips clocked at 125NS -- instead of only 175NS for the Series
I/II/III boxes).
Not only that, but it didn't even work much of the time due to a TLB design
error.  However,
when it crashed, it was easy to diagnose the problem--since the SYSABORT
number was
always the same ("0").

At that time, MPE/XL was at about the same quality level as the '930, so the
hardware
and software were very well matched.  I also took a "Spectrum" System
Manager class
at Fullerton, where I got educated on  the '930 design philosophy and
construction.
I had hoped to learn more about the '950, which is what we ordered, but it
was still
"under wraps" and customers were not yet allowed to see/touch the "new"
box..
This ordeal was a requirement for participation in the CSY "FastStart
Program".  Boy
was I glad when we got the '950 (for a mere $300,000 or so) at the end of
'87 instead
of a '930.   I think the original '3000 was once referred to as "the donkey
with a golden
saddle".  The '930 was more like a mule without a saddle (IMHO)
.........................

Winston ("TTL Man") Kriger