NEC Also Has Two New 386s; One's Designed as Xenix Host
 
Microbytes Daily News Service
Copyright (c) 1989, McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Back in the prosaic world of the Industry Standard Architecture,
or AT, bus, NEC announced two high-end 386-based machines. One is
the PowerMate 386/25, a 25-MHz 386 computer with 2 megabytes of
RAM standard and 32K of SRAM cache. The system has eight
expansion slots (one for memory, five full-size 8/16-bit (AT)
slots, and two 8-bit (XT) slots), and five half-height storage
bays. With a 5.25-inch floppy drive, the system lists for $4499;
with a 23-msec, 100-megabyte ESDI hard drive it lists for $6399.
Both models are available now.
 
The new BusinessMate 386/25 is similar to the PowerMate but is
intended for use explicitly as a Unix-based multiuser host
computer for small businesses. It comes standard with 4 megabytes
of RAM, 32K of SRAM cache, 100-megabyte hard disk, eight
peripheral slots, and five storage bays. Installed in the system
is a cluster of eight serial ports, controlled by an Intel 80186
microprocessor, which can be used for I/O to other PCs, printers,
or dumb terminals. Two additional clusters can be installed for a
total of 24. The system is designed to run under SCO Xenix and
lists for $8549.
 
All of these new NEC products will be marketed out of Boxborough,
MA, which will also be the corporate headquarters of NEC
Technologies. The company said it does not anticipate any layoffs
or moves as a result of merging the two divions, each of which
will continue to market its existing product lines. This means
that desktop computers, magnetic storage, printers, and a few
specialized divisions will be in Boxborough, while laptops,
optical media, monitors, graphics boards, and audio/vidio/home
entertainment will be in Wood Dale, IL.
 
                              --- Andy Reinhardt
 
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