Datapoint Marketing No. 37 "Out· thinking our competition to help your customers out·think thei1's" September 1981 Powerful 8600 .} J Processor Unveiled Datapoint announced on Sep­ tember 9 the introduction of its powerful, low cost 8600 processor which features "ergonomic" -­ human factors -- design, plus a powerful central processor and a memory capacity of up to 256K bytes. Additionally, Datapoint in­ troduced a new 51/4 inch 20 MB disk system that features an in­ Newest addition to the Datapoint family - Designed with the user in tegral cartridge tape drive; plus a mind, the Datapoint 8600 features a powerful central processor and a new ergonomic video workstation. memory capacity of up to 256K. The 8600's circuitry includes the first integrated circuit on the market designed specifically to interface to a local network. The chip replaces the RIM box formerly used to interface Datapoint® processors to Datapoint ARCTM local networks. The new RIM chip includes the equivalent of 7,000 transistors in a 40-pin package, and represents 18 months of development. The chip is custom designed for Datapoint equipment and uses NMOS (n-channel metal oxide semi-conductor) technology. Ergonomic Features The 8600's ergonomic features include a optional tilt-rotate base, plus a detached low-profile keyboard, allowing the user to configure a workstation for maximum comfort. Characters are displayed in a pleasant amber color on a dark brown background, and the use of a 7x9 dot matrix allows true lower case descenders and maximum legibility. Screen brightness can be adjusted to 16 different levels. (continued on page :2) Datapoint Purchases International Expanded Print Distributors Option Offered for Datapoint Corporation an­ and three that were jointly owned Matrix Printer nounced on August 4 the by TRW and non-U.S.companies. acquisition of seven TRW Datapoint had acquired total An expanded print option Inc.international distributors for equity in Datapoint Denmark providing 42 type sizes for the 160 Datapoint products, and indicated A/S, formerly DP Computers CPS Matrix Printer was in­ that equity acquisition of two A/S, in February of 1981. troduced September 1. This option additional distributorships in In addition to the equity also allows the programmer to Canada and Spain is pending ' acquisitions, Datapoint an­ design and download custom local government approval. nounced the purchase of rights character fonts. The purchase price for the nine under the master distributorship The option, to be available equity distributors is ap­ agreement with TRW for a direct October 15, 1981, will be offered proximately $85 million. marketing relationship with 20 as an add-on for Datapoint's model Evaluation of business alter­ independent international 9621 and 9622 Matrix Printers. natives in France is continuing. distributors. The master and can be ordered with ne\\' The seven distributorships distributor rights were purchased printers or installed as a field acquired include four that were for approximately $17.5 million. (continllcd (11/ Prl,(lC 5) previously wholly-owned by TRW (continued on page 6) 1 Copyrig-ht (C; I m-n hy Dalapoint Corporation . All H.ig-ht :-; Ht.-':';l'rved. For Internal Use Only 8600 continued from page 1 Ergonomic Workstation Built with the same ergonomic features is the new Datapoint 8220 video workstation, which functions as a remarkably cost-effective full -function terminal when operating under RMS software. The 8220 offers the same screen, cabinet, and adjustable screen brightness as the 8600, plus powerful firmware diagnostics. Hardware Configurations The 8600 comes in four configurations: the 8601, the 8602, the 8620, and the 8630. The 8601 is a basic system designed to serve as an application processor in an ARC network. The 8602 has enhancements that allow it to support attached terminals and disk systems. An upgrade kit is available to convert an 8601 to an 8602. Model Code Description Purchase Price (U.S.) 8601 *128K or 256K (optional) of memory *Serial port for printer or terminal $7500 *ARC processor 8602 *128K or 256K of memory *MFCA modem interface (option) *MPCA terminal interface (option) $10950 *Microbus Interface board for (without 9310 disk, or Peripheral I/O options) for 9301 disk (options) *ARC processor - 8620 *8602 with Peripheral Interface Board *10MB Datapoint cartridge disk $28500 *lMB diskette *ARC or stand-alone processor 8630 *8602 with Microbus Interface Board *20MB fixed disk and tape system supports 100MB with extension disks *ARC or stand-alone processor $33500 2 For Internal Use Only Disk Systems The 8620 includes a standard 8600 conLinued.frorn page 2 Datapoint 9310 10MB cartridge disk drive and a 1411 1MB double­ sided double-density diskette unit for backup. Three additional 9310 drives can be added, allowing the unit to support 40MB of hard disk storage. For the 8630, an extension unit is available which offers either 20MB or 40MB of storage in one cabinet, using the tape cartridge and controller board of an at­ tached 9301. Using a 9301 and two extension drives, an 8630 can support up to 100MB -- a remarkable total for such a compact stand-alone system. The new 20MB disk system, the 9301, is a high technology fixed­ media mini-disk system that uses special thin-film disks to store 20 million bytes on a stack of 51/4 inch platters. For back-up pur­ poses, the 9301 has an integral cartridge tape drive that can transfer the contents of the disk to a single quarter-inch tape car­ tridge in 12 minutes. A specially designed signal-seeking read head is used to ensure tapes can be transferred between units without data loss. Software Features Operating with RMS will give the 8600 full multi-processing capabilities. For instance, COBOL, word processing, data entry and electronic mail could be handled simultaneously with RMS. Since the additional functions require only inexpensive video work­ stations, RMS makes the 8600 a highly cost-effective way of im­ plementing a multi-user automated office system. Stand-alone 8620 and 8630 systems will be available with RMS only. Software offered or planned for the 8600 include DATABUS, COBOL, FORTRAN, BASIC­ PLUS, RPGPLS, Word Processing and Electronic Message Service Software. RMS-compatible ver­ sions of FORTRAN, BASICPLS, word processing and message Top and middle: Lineworker Robert Ibarra puts the finishing touches services will be available in the on a new 8600 terminal. Bottom: The finished terminals are tested in early part of 1982, while an RMS Quality Control. version of RPGPLS will be available in September, 1981. 3 For Internal Use Only Name That Reference Account! As we all know, reference selling presentations and telephone information from existing cor­ is a highly effective sales tool. support to salespersons around the porate databases on what hard­ Sales brochures and presentations country and contacts with other ware complements are at which are interesting, but for many departments in San Antonio, we sites, and who has what software potential Datapoint customers quite often can suggest potential (i.e. 98XX only) we have no in­ there's nothing more convincing reference accounts. Conversely we formation on how the hardware is than talking to peer companies often informally solicit for likely configured, what applications have solving similar business problems reference accounts and request been implemented, and what the with Datapoint equipment. you to update us if you find our current customer relations en­ Unfortunately this sales tool information to be outdated. While vironment is like. YOU are the often degenerates into a there are other potential sources, sole source of this information for frustrating game known as this covers the primary ones. your accounts. "NAME THAT REFERENCE ACCOUNT" whose playing time Current Information Important Give us a Call may well exceed that of Monopoly! What sources are available for Note that the currency of Approaches such as online obtaining reference accounts? reference account information is systems accessible from the field vital. Don't use a reference ac­ have been tried in the past to count's name in pre-sales facilitate exchange of such in­ Your Office situations unless you've checked formation, but failed primarily due First, the most effective source with the account's salesman to lack of input and updating. If of reference accounts is right in recently. Even though they were you know of successful approaches your office. The customer base pleased with their system last to the problem of acquisition/ knowledge of branch salespersons month, unanticipated problems distribution of reference account and systems personnel is by with credit, billing, shipments, information, please let us hear necessity very high and the in­ software bugs et. al. may make from you. We need to work formation current. Also any them temporarily undesirable as a together to solve this problem, and reference account found will reference account. It may require are VERY interested in your naturally be geographically close to considerable creativity to explain input. the prospect which will facilitate a why your prospect can't talk to Many of you have had a phone site visit if required. Acme Armadillo Supply. call from us recently gathering If the reference account being After all, you described the information on your RMS sought is unusual, such as an wonders of their inventory control customers for reference purposes. industry-specific application or application in a presentation just Thanks to your cooperation we rare communications protocol, you last week. All contact with the now have a pretty good base of may need to broaden your search reference account should be information on what these com­ area. Regional staff such as senior coordinated through the account's panies do, what applications analysts and S.E. managers have salesperson (i.e. do unto others ... ). they've got going, and what an overview of what's happening In fact when Product Marketing hardware configurations are in­ in their region due to their day-to­ gives out reference account in­ volved.