Date   : Fri, 29 Mar 1985 14:00:00-EST
From   : Herb Lin <LIN@mit-mc.ARPA>
Subject: report on Macrotech 80286/Z80H card

To:   ddb%mrvax.DEC at DECWRL
Re:   Have you used Concurrent DOS? Macrotech 80286/Z80H card?

    Would you recommend it to someone as the processor for a multi-user home
    computer system?

yes, but with reservations.  I had a huge hassle with it trashing a
hard disk running with a Morrow controller (HDCA).  It seems happy how
when I use a Compupro Disk2 controller.

    Are you running it with Macrotech dynamic memory, or
    are you using static?

I use Compupro static RAM.

    Since you didn't mention what O/S you use on it, these may not apply...

I am on M/PM 8-16.

    How many users do you support?

3 users

  What kind of uses?

word processing, some number crunching, spreadsheet, minimal
programming.

    Have you found a C
    compiler that produces good code for it?

haven't checked.

    (Is the 80286 strictly upwards
    compatible from the 8086 in user mode?

Rumor says yes.  I don't know.

    If you're running concurrent DOS or concurrent CP/M, would you say that
    512K memory is enough to support 4 light users?

Well, I think so.  it does noticeably slow down though.

    Are there any things you wish you'd known about the CPU card in particular,
    and your system in general, before you bought it?

yeah, though I think I would have done it anyway.  I wish I had more
thoroughly explored the possibility of a master 8086 and a slave z-80.

hope this is is useful.

herb