GRiD Compass laptops, peripherals, and software
br...@king.csd.mot.com
I have an extensive collection of GRiD Compass hardware and software
which I would like to sell. I'd prefer to sell it as a lot, but I'll
entertain offers for any part.
This is kind of a long posting, so here's the bottom line: six GRiD
Compasses laptop computers (various models in various conditions),
two hard+floppy disk units, one floppy disk unit, one ThinkJet printer,
and a ton of GRiD-OS software -- $1200 OBO for the lot, or make offers
on pieces. If you're at all interested, read on.
Many people are unfamiliar with the GRiD Compass, especially you young
folks :-), and so I've provided some general description before going
on to the hardware and software offered and prices.
DESCRIPTIONS
============
GRiD Compass and Compass II computers
-------------------------------------
The first laptop computer of any substance, the Compass was introduced
in around 1982(?). Among the many notable customers is NASA, which uses
them on the Shuttle.
Basic features of the Compass and Compass II are:
- 8086 processor and 8087 coprocessor
- 256KB RAM (model 1101) or 512KB RAM (models 1129/1139)
- accessible sockets for 512KB ROM (models 1129/1139)
- 384KB bubble memory -- instead of an internal disk or diskette
- amber electroluminescent display panel
- 320x240 pixel, 6 in. diag. display (1101/1129)
- 512x256 pixel, 8 in. diag. display (1139)
- RS232C serial port
- IEEE-488 GPIB port for peripherals
- built-in 1200 baud modem
- 57-key keyboard
- 11.5" x 15" x 2", 10 lbs.
- rugged magnesium case
- wide environmental operating range
The Compass and Compass II are not IBM PC compatible. A custom version
of MSDOS 2.11 is available (see below), but the display memory, serial
interfaces, and lack of a standard BIOS cause quite a bit of grief when
you try to run most PC software. Special versions of popular MSDOS
software packages were developed, but the Compass works best with its
native operating system.
Compass computers were designed to run GRiD-OS, which is a compact and
nicely designed multi-tasking operating system. The 1129 and 1139 have
enough RAM to take advantage of non-overlapping windowing features of
GRiD-OS.
Instead of a built-in disk or diskette drive, they have a 384KB bubble
memory. In case you're unfamiliar with it, bubble memory was a promising
technology in the early 80's that provided rugged non-volatile storage.
384KB is pretty small, but GRiD software tends to be quite compact.
On the 1129 and 1139 models, the user-accessible ROM sockets allow you
to run applications directly from ROM. They neither take up bubble memory
space for storage nor RAM space for execution.
External disk drives and printers use an IEEE-488 GPIB bus. A serial port
is also provided. All of the offered models have a built-in 1200 baud modem.
Compass peripherals
-------------------
The hard disk drives are 10MB and include a 360K floppy drive. The hard
disk can be partitioned into up to four partitions, mixing GRiD-OS and
MSDOS devices if desired. I also have a portable external 360K floppy drive.
I'm also offering an HP ThinkJet printer. All of these peripherals run
off of the GPIB bus.
I have several telephone handsets for the Compass units. They were made
to work with GRiD telephone dialing software, and plug into the back of
the Compass.
*****************************************************
** Unless otherwise noted, all of the descriptions **
** below refer to GRiD-OS software. **
*****************************************************
Application software
--------------------
Applications have a common menu-oriented user interface and are well
integrated (you can pass data among them transparently). Files are
"typed" according to application, so when you select a data file,
the appropriate application is launched. It's all pretty advanced
for early 80's computing, much less in a laptop! GRiD
GRiD applications include:
- an integrated office automation package "Management Tools": GRiDPlan,
a rather nice spreadsheet product; GRiDFile, a so-so database product
which works OK for small stuff; GRiDWrite, an OK word processor/formatter,
and GRiDPlot, a pretty nice plot package
- a draw package, GRiDPaint; it's a bit tedious with cursor keys;
it supports a serial mouse, but I don't have a driver for that
- a personal information manager, GRiDMaster, which I found to be quite
useable, and I used it for a number of years; it includes autodialer
support via GRiDAccess for dialing numbers stored in GRiDMaster's
card file
- various terminal emulators: VT100, IBM3101, Tek4016, and dumb TTY;
these work quite well, but although you can direct output and input
to and from files, they lack file transfer protocol support
Utilities
---------
GRiD provided a bunch of utilities for formatting, duplicating, and
repairing media, converting between GRiD-OS and MSDOS formats, and
generally shuffling files around.
There is also a keystroke macro utility GRiDRecord and GRiDPlayback
for automating routine tasks and building applications. This was later
extended into a macro language called GRiDTask, and even later, GRiDTask II.
Development tools and languages
-------------------------------
GRiD supported the Intel Universal Development Interface (UDI) mechanism
for interlanguage calling, object linking, etc. GRiD did most of their
development in Pascal, and so it is probably the best-supported of the
languages, but I have:
- C-86 (Mark Williams)
- Pascal-86
- FORTRAN-86 ('77)
- PL/M-86
- BASIC
- ASM-86
GRiD provided an extensive set of libraries for interfacing to their
common code subsystem of GRiD-OS. This makes the applications small,
user interfaces consistent, and (presumably) development time short.
There is an interesting mechanism and utility for program editing,
compilation, and linking. No, it's not make... I'll leave it up to
you to decide if you like it.
GRiD also provides a multi-window symbolic debugger. If you're lucky
enough to have more than one Compass :-), you can use a debugger on
one computer to debug a program on the other.
For the truly ambitious, I even have utilities for creating PROMs for
the Compass II models. You provide the Data I/O PROM programmer.
MSDOS Software
--------------
As mentioned before, the Compass doesn't do very well with MSDOS. It
should work OK if you don't need to access COM ports and you don't do
anything beyond ANSI-like display things, unless you develop your own
software to use their COM ports and display. I have the GRiD version of
MSDOS 2.11 and the Lotus 1-2-3 demo disk which cames with it. Current
versions of Kermit support the Compass, and I have a copy of Kermit 2.31.
I have the GRiD MSDOS GW-BASIC manual, but no GW-BASIC software.
Nonetheless, I took an 1101 on the road running MSDOS with Kermit installed,
and it worked perfectly well as an inexpensive remote terminal. The best
part was that I didn't shudder when I saw the airline baggage handlers
tossing it around!
Enough rambling. Here's what's available. Notes on equipment condition
are referenced by [numbers]. All equipment and software is offered as-is,
but I'm a pretty reasonable guy if you are truly dissatisfied with what
you get.
HARDWARE
========
REF PRODUCT MODEL NOTES
--- ---------------------------- ----- -----
1 Hard Disk 2101 [SOLD]
2 Hard Disk 2101
3 Hard Disk 2101
4 Compass computer 1101
5 Compass computer 1101
6 Compass computer 1101 [1]
7 Compass computer 1101 [2]
8 Compass II computer 1129 [3], [4]
9 Compass II computer 1139 [3],[SOLD]
10 Compass II computer 1139 [3]
11 Floppy Disk 2102
12 HP ThinkJet printer (GPIB) I/F 3120 [5]
13 Telephone handset 5101 [SOLD]
14 Telephone handset 5101
15 Telephone handset 5101
16 Telephone handset 5101
17 Telephone handset 5101
[1] GPIB port doesn't work. Possibly combine with item #7 to create one
fully working unit?
[2] Basket case. Unit is disassembled. RAM has been removed.
[3] Clock/calendar battery has expired. Battery is soldered in place, and
its replacement requires disassembly of the Compass unit. It's possible
to do, but you'll need to know which end of a soldering pen to hold.
[4] One of two latches which secures the display in the closed position has
broken. It stays closed OK with one latch, but I thought you'd like
to know...
[5] Virtually new. Hasn't even been through its first ink package.
SOFTWARE
========
I have multiple copies of most of these software packages and their manuals.
For some items, I don't have original distribution disks and/or only have
copies of manuals. See also notes indicated by [numbers].
REF PRODUCT MODEL VERSION NOTES
--- ------------------------- ----- ------- -----
18 GRiD-OS/Windows 110X/112X 29200 3.1.0.A [6]
19 GRiD-OS/Windows 113X 29210 3.1.5.D
20 GRiD-OS 110X/112X 29200 3.1.0.A
21 Management Tools 21100 3.1.0
22 GRiDMaster 21231 3.1.7
23 GRiDPaint 21214 3.1.5
24 GRiDWrite 21132 3.1.7
25 GRiDAccess 21212 3.1.7
26 GRiDPlan 3.1.5
27 GRiDPlan II 3.2.1
28 GRiDWrite 21132 3.1.7
29 GRiDVT100/Reformat 21191 3.2
30 GRiDVT100/Reformat 21191 3.1.5
31 GRiD3101/Reformat 21151 [7]
32 GRiD3101/Reformat 21151 3.1.5 [7]
33 GRiDTek4016 21228 36.9.4 [7]
34 GRiDTerm/Reformat 21141 3.1.5
35 GRiDTransfer/Partition 21210
36 GRiDRecord/Playback 3.1.5
37 C-86 23032 3.2.0
38 Pascal-86 23025 0.3.1 [1 COPY SOLD]
39 FORTRAN-86 23015 0.3.0
40 PL/M-86 23030 0.2.7
41 BASIC 3.1.0 [7], [1 COPY SOLD]
42 ASM-86 23031
43 GRiDDebug/Devel. Tools 29300 3.1.7
44 GRiDDebug/Devel. Tools 29300 3.0.0
45 GRiDTask II / Windows 21230 3.2
46 GRiDTask II 21230 3.1.7
47 GRiDTask 21230 3.1.7
48 ROM Builder 2.1.0 [7]
49 ROM: GRiD-OS System 112X 24100 3.1.0 [8]
50 ROM: GRiD-OS System 113X 24180 3.1.5 [8]
51 ROM: GRiD-OS Utilities 21400 3.1.0 [8]
52 ROM: GRiDMaster 3.1.7 [8]
53 ROM: GRiDVT100/Reformat 24150 3.2 [8]
54 ROM: GRiDWrite/Term/Refmt 24140 3.1.5 [8]
55 MSDOS OS 21040 2.11C [9]
[6] Windows operation won't work on Compass model 1101.
[7] No manual available.
[8] ROM software doesn't work on Compass model 1101.
[9] Includes Lotus 1-2-3 demo disk, GW-BASIC manual (but not BASIC program),
and Kermit 2.31 for the Compass.
MISCELLANEOUS
=============
I also have a bunch of miscellaneous stuff, way too much to mention, which
I will throw in as appropriate, including some stuff related to operating
in a GRiDServer environment (you need a GRiD 1705 Server for this), but also
including font files and printer/plotter drivers, hardcopy of some of the
e-mail traffic from a GRiD owner's mailing list which existed a few years ago,
quick reference cards, price lists, and other literature.
PRICES
======
I'll sell all of the remaining stuff (four 1101's, one 1129, one 1139,
two hard drives, one floppy drive, one printer, and all of the software)
for $1200 or best offer. If you want portions, let me know what you want
and make an offer! If you're unsure whether or not the Compass will do
what you want to do, let me know what you want to do with it and I'll
do my best to give you honest advice.
E-mail is best, Otherwise, try calling me at work. Details in the .sig below.
--
-Brian Smithson
Motorola Inc., Computer Group, Commercial Systems Division
10700 N. De Anza Boulevard, Cupertino, CA 95014 USA, (408)366-4104
br...@csd.mot.com, {apple | pyramid}!motcsd!brian
br...@king.csd.mot.com
>I have an extensive collection of GRiD Compass hardware and software
>which I would like to sell. I'd prefer to sell it as a lot, but I'll
>entertain offers for any part.
>This is kind of a long posting, so here's the bottom line: six GRiD
>Compasses laptop computers (various models in various conditions),
>two hard+floppy disk units, one floppy disk unit, one ThinkJet printer,
>and a ton of GRiD-OS software -- $1200 OBO for the lot, or make offers
>on pieces. If you're at all interested, read on.
I sold the lot. Thanks to all who were interested!