IBM Corp has added several new features to its low-end RS/6000, the Model 220. They include enhancements to graphics, communications, disk and multimedia support. The 220 now supports the Power GTO three-dimensional graphics subsystem which performs at 990,000 three-dimensional vectors per second. The 8-bit GTO is UKP10,406, the 24-bit version is UKP13,875 and a GTO accelerator attachment costs UKP631. Other graphics enhancements include a second Power Gt3 two-dimensional adaptor that performs at 650,000 vectors per second. It enables users to attach additional displays to the same workstation and costs UKP2,703 per adaptor. Lighted Programmable Function Keyboard and Dials devices for manipulation of images are now supported by the 220, and the keyboard costs UKP334 while the Dials device is UKP803. All the graphics enhancements are available in June. In terms of storage and communications, the 220 now supports the 9334 model 500 Deskside Expansion Unit, enabling it to access up to 5.4Gb of external storage. Also available next month, it starts at UKP7,000 with one 670Mb drive. As from July, the 200 will support the SCSI High-Performance External input-output controller which provides an SCSI connection in addition to the integrated SCSI on the motherboard. It will facilitate the connection of extra storage devices – tape, CD-ROM or drives and distributes the workload across both SCSI devices. Support for the Ethernet local area network adaptor provides a second Ethernet connection and enables the 220 to function as a gateway with extra redundancy. Also supported is a 64-port Asynchronous Controller, said to provide a fourfold increase in the number of devices that can attach to the 220. The four-port Multiprotocol Communications Controller attaches the 220 to synchronous communications networks and up to two adaptors can be used on each system. The SCSI support feature costs UKP1,073, UKP592 for the Ethernet connection, the 64-port enhancement is UKP1,428 and Communications Controller support is UKP2,234. In the multi-media arena, the RS/6000 M-Audio Capture and Playback Adaptor enables 220 users to record and playback sound. It works with standard audio input devices like microphones, disks and cassette tapes, and plays back on a variety of devices. Up to two adaptors attach to the 200 at UKP386 each. The M-Video Capture Adaptor captures, displays and digitises video images and it will be available from July at UKP1,892. Those features with June availability in the UK will be available on May 26 in the US, June 26 for the rest. The SCSI Controller costs $1,245, the Voice Server Attachment Adaptor is $1,200, the M-Audio Capture and Playback Adaptor is $500 and the M-Video Capture Adaptor costs $2,250. The Four-Port Multiprotocol Communications Controller costs $2,600, $1,600 for the 64-Port Async Controller, and a 16-Port Async Concentrator is $1,365. The 7235 Power GTO is $1,300, the Accelerator feature is free.
