SAGE Computer Technology
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SAGE Computer Technology was a computer company based in Reno, Nevada, United States.
Founded in 1981 by Rod Coleman, Bill Bonham and Bob Needham; it went through several name changes. The change from Sage computer came about when "Sage Software" in Maryland demanded the cease of using the name Sage in the computer segment. [1]
- SAGE Computer Technology
-
- - created the Sage II and Sage IV computers based on the Motorola 68000 microprocessor.
- SAGE Computer
- Stride Micro
- MicroSage Computer Systems (a wholly owned subsidiary, 1987)
Contents |
[edit] SAGE IV
Hardware:
- Board0: CPU: MC68000 @ 8 MHz, 2x serial RS-232 ports 38,4 kbps, Parallel input/output (PIO) for printers, GPIB, Floppy disc controller, 512 KByte DRAM. Same as in SAGE II.[3]
- Board1: 2x serial RS-232 ports 38,4 kbps, Hard disk controller, 512 KByte DRAM.[3]
- Memory consist of 64 Kbit 150 ns memory modules. Parity error protected setup. [4]
- Minimum system memory is 256 KByte. [5]
- Storage: 1x 5,25" 800 KByte F.D. drive. 1x 5 - 40 MByte Winchester harddisk.
- Built-in multi-user BIOS.[3]
Managed multitasking with 6 serial ports in real time with 1 MByte of RAM in 1983. Used by scientists and engineers for more than ten years when it was popular. "running over 10 years with zero admin, and maybe even zero reboot."[3] "13 times faster than the Apple II" (when introduced).[1] Used for development of the Amiga prototype "Lorraine".
Access was through 80x25 serial video terminals. Graphics capability was possible with the addition of a 3rd-party colour graphics system from Robinson Systems which plugged directly into the Sage 68000 bus and provided output compatible with a range of colour monitors (e.g. Cotron Sword, Electrohome 1301).
Delivered with the "USCD P-System - CP/M 68K" operating system, at least 16 operating systems were available.[1] But others like CP/M, Posix, PDos, Tripos, Pluto.. were available. Programming languages like Pascal, Fortran77, Basic, 68000 Micro assembler, CP/M-68k, Hyper-Forth, Modula 2,[4] Lisp.[1] were included.
The MC68000 CPU were introduced in 1979 by Motorola.
[edit] System bus
Upto the Stride series of computer (Sage VI). A "m68k" bus was used. Later an VME bus were used.
[edit] NOD
NOD is a head-motion operated mouse device that Wilbur and Rod came up with one afternoon in ~1983. It works by putting a special reflective pencil behind your ear and a quadrature detector that track its movement. The point was to be able to use the keyboard while you used the mouse cursor.[1] It had a RS-232C interface. And a price of 400 USD. [6] Apple Inc. were presented with a prototype but the project it was intended for got canceled.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f "Sudden Disruption: Stride Micro". http://suddendisruption.blogspot.com/search/label/Stride%20Micro. 090427 suddendisruption.blogspot.com
- ^ "dsc00928 pictures from computers photos on webshots". http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2345898300102595274UXKVCb. 090428 entertainment.webshots.com
- ^ a b c d "OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum". http://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/computer.asp?c=647. 090427 old-computers.com
- ^ a b "Sage(tm) technical briefing". http://bp0.blogger.com/_YdtTy7yAtcU/RypQZxGRqKI/AAAAAAAAAbA/xlohgi5yX60/s1600-h/39+Rare+Sage+VI+Photo.jpg. 090428 bp0.blogger.com
- ^ "Price List". http://www.sageandstride.org/html/price_list_2.html. 090428 sageandstride.org
- ^ "The NOD(tm) (image)". http://bp1.blogger.com/_YdtTy7yAtcU/RypQaBGRqLI/AAAAAAAAAbI/Etk0Rdxe6ZI/s1600-h/40+Nod.jpg. 090428 bp1.blogger.com
