[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Serial port & Modems (External)
In message Fri, 1 Jul 1994 08:13:45 -0700 (PDT),
Randal Whittle <whittle@chaph.usc.edu> writes:
>> about a 9600 level. Of course, I have one of those antique TP700's
>> with a 16550AFN serial port :) ^^^^^
> Does anybody have a clue why IBM would put 16550 UARTs in their
> early 700 series ThinkPads but not in the 750's?!!!! This is ANGERING! :(
The 700 and 720 were MicroChannel Architecture machines. All MCA machines
have 16550 UARTs (as well as other features that make multitasking go more
smoothly). The 750 was in a way a concession to the market's continuing
use of ISA - it is an ISA machine. I guess too many people complained they
couldn't run Linux on the Thinkpad 7xx. :)
I think the real reason is that the docking station for an MCA machine could
only take MCA cards (unless you plunked down more money for an adapter).
Enough people complained they wanted to use ISA cards so they got their
wish.
Personally I think they should've stuck with MCA. I doubt they're selling
*that* many docking stations, especially at the price they charge.
--
John H. Kim | "Just try telling the IRS you don't feel like
jokim@jarthur.cs.hmc.edu | 'contributing' this year come April" - Bob Dole
This mail sent by NUPop | on Bill Clinton's avoidance of the word "taxes"