yann64andClaude Opus 5.5
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1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
131 lines
4.7 KiB
Markdown
131 lines
4.7 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Altos Computer Systems ACS-586 / 686
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Professional Computer
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origins:
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- U.S.A.
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years:
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- '1983'
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cpus:
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- Intel 8086
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params:
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name: ACS-586 / 686
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image: /media/museum/photos/altos_acs686_system_s1.jpg
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company: /companies/altos-computer-systems
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company_name: Altos Computer Systems
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: ACS-586 / 686
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Altos Computer Systems
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- label: TYPE
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value: Professional Computer
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: U.S.A.
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- label: YEAR
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value: January 1983
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: None
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: Full-stroke keyboard (108 keys), editing & numeric keypad, 16 function keys
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- label: CPU
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value: Intel 8086
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- label: SPEED
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value: 10 Mhz
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- label: CO-PROCESSOR
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value: Intel 8089 (I/O), Z80 (Serial ports)
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- label: RAM
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value: 512 kb (up to 1Mb)
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- label: ROM
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value: 32 kb
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 40 x 25, 80 x 25, 132 x 40
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: 800 x 325
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- label: COLORS
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value: Monochrome
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: 6 x RS232, Serial expansion, multibus bus, Ethernet, Altos-Net (RS422)
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: |-
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One 5''1/4 disk-drive, 1Mb\
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Winchester hard-disk (10, 30 or 40Mb)
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- label: OS
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value: Xenix, MP/M-86, Pick, MS-DOS
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: Built-in PSU
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: 512k RAM expansion, additional RS232 ports (4), network card, second hard-disk, streamer
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- label: PRICE
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value: $7990 (System with 512 KB RAM, 10 MB hard disk and 1 MB floppy disk)
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tabs:
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- photos
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- adverts
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forum_thread: 509
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photos:
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- title: COMPLETE SYSTEM
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/altos_acs-586_1.jpg
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- title: LARGE VIEW
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/altos_acs686_system_s2.jpg
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- title: REAR SIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** 6 console connectors\
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**(2)** Worknet connector\
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**(3)** External HDD connectors\
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**(4)** Aux. port connectors
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image: /media/museum/photos/altos_acs686_backside_s1.jpg
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- title: 'INSIDE #1'
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subtitle: ''
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text: The upper part holds the switching power supply unit, the hard disk drive (here a 20 MB), and the floppy disc drive.
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image: /media/museum/photos/altos_acs686_inside_s1.jpg
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- title: 'INSIDE #2'
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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The bottom part holds the I/O board and the main CPU board.
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**(1)** Intel 80286 processor\
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**(2)** 1 MB RAM chips\
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**(3)** console I/O chips
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image: /media/museum/photos/altos_acs686_inside_s2.jpg
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adverts:
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- title: FRENCH AD
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subtitle: ''
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text: '"From 1 to 16 users"'
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image: /media/museum/pubs/altos_pub-1-16-utilisateurs_1.jpg
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- title: 'FRENCH AD #2'
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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Isn't this a stupid advert ?!\
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Look carefully at each face !
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image: /media/museum/pubs/altos_pub-1-16_stupid.jpg
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oc_id: 515
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230605030330/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=515
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date: '2023-06-05'
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---
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The ACS-586 was a multipost system which could handle 5 users or more (8) with optional cards. To connect the terminals, there were several RS232 ports at the back of the system, labeled JA, JB, JC, JD, JE, etc... The ports not used by the terminals could be used to connect any serial peripheral, i.e. modem or printer.
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The 186 was the first computer from a big company to use Xenix as its native operating system. Xenix was the Microsoft "adaptation" of Unix.
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This system was quite well designed with its squashed hexagon shaped box and its thin monitor. These were medium-sized desktop cases, usually beige but often came in custom colors.
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A fully-loaded 586 contained four printed-circuit boards.\
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The main board held the 80186 and 512 KB of RAM; a Z80 I/O processor supporting six serial I/O ports, floppy disc access, and an RN422 LAN; and sundry memory management components allowing the 586 to support Xenix.\
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A second board held a hard disk and tape controller with an Intel 8089 I/O processor\
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An optional communication board provided an Ethernet chipset and processors supporting either the X25 or SNA protocols, or four additional serial I/O ports.\
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The fourth board was an optional memory expansion board providing an additional 512 KB of RAM.
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It had a 5''1/4 disk-drive built-in on the right part of the front panel, and a hard-disk on the left part.\
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A real-time clock was included with the system. There were 128 semi-graphic symbols available.
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The **Altos 686** appears to be the same machine as the 586, but with an 80286 processor.\
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Altos also produced an 8-bit version of this system, called the [ACS-580](/museum/altos-computer-systems-acs-580/).
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