Industrial IBM PS/2s
Industrial PS/2s from Blue Chip
 
Microbytes Daily News Service
Copyright (c) 1989, McGraw-Hill, Inc.
Blue Chip Technology has signed an agreement with IBM that makes
it the first to offer a range of industrial versions of IBM's
PS/2 Models 50 and 70. The computers are designed for use in
factories, workshops, and laboratories, and in places where
adverse operating conditions, such as dust, dirt, oil, water,
and rough handling, would damage a standard computer.
 
The industrial PS/2s run in parallel with the existing range of
computers. Blue Chip mounted the IBM motherboard together with
the standard IBM peripherals within a heavy-gauge steel chassis
to protect the unit against physical damage and electrical
interference. The company also added special air filters for
dusty environments.
 
A cast-aluminum plate covers the front of the unit and houses
an inset, 6-mm-thick, perspex window. The perspex window, which
locks for added security, closes onto a neoprene seal, making the
front of the unit splashproof and dustproof.
 
Triple extending slide rails let you mount the unit into
standard 19-inch cabinets and let you withdraw them for
maintenance or installation of I/O cards.
 
Three monitors are available that you can also mount in a
19-inch rack along with the base unit. The monitor housing
features a steel chassis and perspex cover and is splashproof and
dustproof. You can use a standard IBM keyboard or a fully sealed
wipe-clean version.
 
Blue Chip has added a special facility to the machines that
automatically monitors internal temperature, fan speed,
power-supply voltages, a watchdog timer channel, and two
opto-isolated external inputs. In the event of a fault developing
in the computer, it generates an interrupt and closes an alarm
relay output. This makes the system suitable for use in
high-reliability applications.
 
Several base units are available, including the 80286-based
Model 50 and the 16-, 20-, or 25-MHz 80386-based Model 70. The
machines feature the Micro Channel architecture and include
bidirectional parallel, serial, mouse, and keyboard ports; VGA
graphics; 3.5-inch floppy disk drives; and hard disk drives with
capacities ranging from 20 to 120 megabytes.
 
Price: L4145 and up.
 
Contact: Blue Chip Technology, Main Ave., Hawarden Industrial
Park, Deeside, Clwyd CH5 3PP, UK, 44-024-452-0222.
 
                              --- Martha Hicks
 
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