Altos 586
The Altos 586 was a multi-user microcomputer intended for the business market. It was introduced by Altos Computer Systems in 1983.[1] A configuration with 512 kB of RAM, an Intel 8086 processor, Microsoft Xenix, and 10 MB hard drive cost about US$8,000.[2] 3Com offered this Altos 586 product as a file server for their IBM PC networking solution in spring 1983. The network was 10Base-2 (thin-net) based, with an Ethernet AUI port on the Altos 586.
| Manufacturer | Altos Computer Systems |
|---|---|
| Type | Microcomputer |
| Release date | 1983 |
| Introductory price | US$7,990–10,990 (circa US$20,500–28,200 today) |
| Media | 1 MB floppy drive |
| Operating system | Xenix or MP/M-86 |
| CPU | Intel 8086 16 bit @ 10 MHz |
| Memory | 512 kB to 1 MB RAM, 12 / 32 / 42 MB hard drive |
| Connectivity | 8x RS-232C serial port, expandable to 16; parallel printer port |
Reception
BYTE in August 1984 called the Altos 586 "an excellent multiuser UNIX system", with "the best performance" for the price among small Unix systems. The magazine reported that a US$10,000 (equivalent to $24,609 in 2019) Altos with 512 kB RAM and 40 MB hard drive "under moderate load approaches DEC VAX performance for most tasks that a user would normally invoke".[3] A longer review in March 1985 stated that "despite some bugs, it's a good product". It criticized the documentation and lack of customer service for developers, but praised the multiuser performance. The author reported that his 586 had run a multiuser bulletin board system 24 hours a day for more than two years with no hardware failures. He concluded that "Very few UNIX or XENIX computers can provide all of the features of the 586 for $8990", especially for multiuser turnkey business users.[4]
See also
- Fortune XP 20[5]
References
- Halamka, John (7 November 1983), "Review: Altos 586", InfoWorld, 5 (45): 89–90
- Yates, Jean L. (October 1983). "Unix and the Standardization of Small Computer Systems". BYTE. pp. 160–166. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
- Hinnant, David F. (Aug 1984). "Benchmarking UNIX Systems". BYTE. pp. 132–135, 400–409. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- Corson, Greg (March 1985). "The Altos 586 with the XENIX Development System". BYTE. p. 247. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- "Whole Earth Software Catalog".
You can now buy extremely fast UNIX systems that support multiple users for less than $10,000, including the new Fortune XP 20, the Altos 586, and the Tandy Model 16.