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