It didn’t take Memorex Telex International NV long to come up with an answer to the new models of IBM’s 3174 terminal concentrator – the one on which users have to pay separately for the most modern version of the microcode (CI No 1,170) – and on Friday the company came out with the 1174, offering support for up to 96 co-axial and 32 ASCII devices, and up to four concurrent 64Kbps host connections. Prices start at UKP8,400, but fully configured, you’re buying quite a big computer, and the tag is UKP22,842. The base model supports 32 category A devices via multiplexers attached to four ports on the Multiplexed Co-ax Controller, or via four additional internal 8-port Co-ax Device Adaptors. Up to two more Multi-plexed Controllers and supporting General Purpose Processors can be added to get the full complement of 96 devices. The full range of 3270 functions, including multiple logical sessions and windowing, are supported on the ASCII terminals, which appear to be an alternative to the third set of 32 category A devices on a fully-configured 1174. Concurr ent use of various communications methods, including Token Ring. Ad ding processors, adaptors and host interfaces can be done by the user, and the modularity means that the thing will be expandable in future with other options as they arrive. Volume deliveries start next month.
