The AT&T UNIX PC is a Unix desktop computer originally developed by Convergent Technologies[2] (later acquired by Unisys),[5][1] and marketed by AT&T Information Systems in the mid- to late-1980s. The system was codenamed "Safari 4"[6] and is also known as the PC 7300, and often dubbed the "3B1". Despite the latter name, the system had little in common with AT&T's line of 3B series computers. The system was tailored for use as a productivity tool in office environments and as an electronic communication center.[7]
![]() AT&T UNIX PC | |
Manufacturer | Convergent Technologies[2] |
---|---|
Typ | Professional Computer |
Release date | March 26, 1985[3] |
Introductory price | US$5,095 (equivalent to $14,400 in 2023) - US$7,290 (equivalent to $20,700 in 2023)[3][4] |
Media | 5¼-inch floppy disks, optional QIC tapes |
Operating system | AT&T UNIX v3.51[1] (Based on SVR2) |
CPU | Motorola 68010 with custom MMU clocked at 10 MHz |
Memory | 512 KB to 4 MB RAM |
Storage | 10 MB, Optional 20 MB, 40 MB,[2] and 67 MB hard drives[1] |
Display | 12 inches (30 cm), 720 x 348 |
Input | Keyboard, 3-button Mouse |
Connectivity | RS-232 port, Parallel port, 3 phone jacks |
Mass | 40 lb (18 kg) |
Hardware configuration
edit- 10 MHz Motorola 68010 (16-bit external bus, 32-bit internal) with custom, discrete MMU[2]
- Internal MFM hard drive, originally 10 MB,[3] later models with up to 67 MB[1]
- Internal 5-1/4" floppy drive[2]
- At least 512 KB RAM on main board (1 MB or 2 MB were also options), expandable up to an additional 2 MB via expansion cards (4 MB max total)[2]
- 32 KB VRAM
- 16 KB ROM (up to 32 KB ROM supported using 2x 27128 EPROMs)
- 2 KB SRAM (for MMU page table)
- Monochrome green phosphor 12-inch (300 mm) monitor[2]
- Internal 300/1200 bit/s modem[2]
- RS-232 serial port[2]
- Centronics parallel port[2]
- 3 S4BUS expansion slots[2]
- 3 phone jacks[2]
PC 7300
editThe initial PC 7300 model offered a modest 512 KB[2] of memory and a small, low performance 10 MB hard drive.[3] This model, although progressive in offering a Unix system for desktop office operation, was underpowered and produced considerable fan and drive bearing noise even when idling. The modern-looking "wedge" design by Mike Nuttall was innovative, and the machine gained notoriety appearing in numerous movies and TV shows as the token "computer".[8]
AT&T 3B/1
editAn enhanced model, "3B/1", was introduced in October 1985 starting at US$8,495 (equivalent to $24,100 in 2023).[9][1] The cover was redesigned to accommodate a full-height 67 MB hard drive.[1] This cover change added a 'hump' to the case, expanded onboard memory to 1 or 2 MB, as well as added a better power supply.[1]
S/50
editConvergent Technologies offered an S/50 which was a re-badged PC 7300.[10]
Olivetti AT&T 3B1
editOlivetti released the "Olivetti AT&T 3B1 Computer" in Europe.[11]
Operating system
editThe operating system is based on Unix System V Release 2,[2] with extensions from 4.1 and 4.2 BSD, System V Release 3 and Convergent Technologies.[1] The last release was 3.51.[1]
Windowing software (xt/layers) from SVR3 was provided to allow connection to a DMD 5620 graphics terminal.
Programming languages
editApplication software
edit- Business Graphics (produces chart graphics from 20/20 spreadsheet data)
- dBASE III (DBM)[3]
- Informix (DBM)
- Oracle (DBM)
- Paint Power (drawing package)
- Samna/AT&T Write Power 2 (word processor/spreadsheet)
- Samna Plus (word processor/spreadsheet)[12]
- SMART System (Office Suite)
- Sound Presentations (presentation graphics)[13]
Spreadsheet software
editWord processors
edit- AT&T Word Processor[13][1]
- Crystal Writer[1]
- Microsoft Word[13][3][1]
- Samna Word[1]
- SMART Word Processor[1]
- WordMarc[1]
- WordStar 2000[1]
Games
edit- Chess
- Klondike[14]
- Leben
- Mahjongg[15]
- Larn
- Moria
- NetHack
- Pac-Man clone
- Robots
- Rocks (Asteroids clone)
- Super-Rogue 9.0
- Tetris clone
Utility
editExpansion cards
editThe UNIX PC has three proprietary S4BUS slots for expansion cards:
- DOS-73 8086 co-processor card running at 8 MHz, Hercules graphics-compatible, with 512 KB RAM, an RS-232 COM2 port and optional 8087 math co-processor. Mouse, floppy, modem (on COM1), and printer are shared in a DOS session. MS-DOS 3.1 was included. This board was designed and built for AT&T by Alloy Computer Products of Framingham, MA.
- RAM could be added using 512 KB RAM or 2 MB RAM cards, up to a maximum of 4 MB (2 MB on the motherboard and 2 MB on expansion cards).
- EIA/RAM combo cards contained extra RAM (512 KB, 1 MB, or 1.5 MB) and two RS-232 serial ports.
- Dual EIA port card (same card as the EIA/RAM but without the RAM sockets)
- StarLAN 1 Mbit/s (1BASE5) network over twisted-pair wire local area network typically used in star format
- Ethernet 10 Mbit/s LAN card (AMD Lance-based) using AUI connector and Wollongong TCP/IP stack/drivers
- AUDIX Voice Power (“Speech Processor”) card allowed for the capture and digital recording of voice conversations. This was an option of the "Integrated Solution" package for the AT&T System 25 PBX where the UNIX PC served as the "Master Controller".[17]
- PC/PBX Connection Package 4 for AT&T PBX System 75 or System 85
- Floppy Tape card provided interface for 23 MB MFM Tape Cartridge Drive (e.g. Cipher FloppyTape 525)
- QIC-02 card for tape backup
- Expansion chassis card was hard-wired to the externally-powered Expansion Unit with five additional S4BUS slots (manufactured by Alloy Computer Products)
- Piiceon Model SR-2048 (2 MB) RAM expansion card
Public domain software
editThe STORE! was a public domain software repository provided by AT&T and accessible via dialup UUCP.[1][18]
Emulation
editCancelled successor
editThree prototypes of a follow-on "P6" model were alleged to have been built[19][1] with the specifications claimed to be:
- Motorola 68020
- Optional Motorola 68881 FPU
- SIMM sockets for up to 16 MB RAM
- Color monitor
- 2400 baud modem
- 60 MB QIC tape
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac "3b1 FAQ". unixpc.org. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Mayer, Alastair J. W. "System Review: The AT&T UNIX PC" (PDF). Byte. No. May 1986. pp. 254–262. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Howitt, Doran (1984-04-08). "At Last, AT&T's 7300/Unix PC". Infoworld. p. 17. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
- ^ "AT&T Introduces Computer Gear Aimed at IBM-Led Office Market".
- ^ CBR Staff Writer (December 13, 1988). "UNISYS Corp Puts Ely in Charge of $2,000m UNIX Group". Tech Monitor. New Statesman Media Group Ltd. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
- ^ "NEW AT&T COMPUTER OFFICE GEAR". Chicago Tribune. March 27, 1985.
- ^ AT&T, Select Code 999-601-311IS, AT&T UNIX PC Owner's Manual (1986)
- ^ "AT&T PC 7300". Starring the Computer.
- ^ Petrosky, Mary (October 14, 1985). "6300 Plus Launched By AT&T". InfoWorld. Vol. 7, no. 41. p. 8.
- ^ "Vendors of Multiuser Microcomputer Products". Infoworld. 1986-10-13.
- ^ "Olivetti Technical Specifications". Olivetti.
- ^ "Samna Plans Unix-based Product Line". InfoWorld. June 16, 1986. p. 17.
- ^ a b c d e Satchell, Stephen (1985-09-23). "A Look at Software for AT&T's Unix PC". Infoworld. pp. 32–33. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
- ^ "Games".
- ^ "Comp.sources.3b1 Archive Volume 1".
- ^ "Miscellaneous Software".
- ^ AT&T System 25 Reference Manual. September 1989.
- ^ "The STORE".
- ^ "SVR3.5 + source code".
External links
edit- AT&T Leapfrogs IBM With the Unix PC., InfoWorld, April 15, 1985, pp. 15–17
- The AT&T Unix PC, article from BYTE magazine Volume 10 Number 05: Multiprocessing (May 1985), pp. 98–106
- The AT&T Unix PC Review, article from BYTE magazine Volume 11 Number 05: Multiprocessing (May 1986), pp. 254–262
- comp.sys.3b1 FAQ
- AT&T 3B1/7300 (UNIX PC) Information
- AT&T UNIX PC at old-computers.com
- http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/att/3b1/
- http://www.unixpc.org