Enterprise Forever

:UK => Hall of Fame => Topic started by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.17. 10:07:50

Title: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.17. 10:07:50
Our latest member is a very important person of the Enterprise history!

As he has a lot of work and has no time to answer a lot of questions directly on the forum, he asked me as "speaker" to publish the discussed information here.

First of all here is his introduction:
Quote from: WernerLindner
I 've registred for your great website/forum two days ago, after stumbling over it just by accident. I already spent several hours with surfing through the forum and reading a lot of interesting stuff. I was astonished to find people like Bruce Tanner, Peter Hiner or Tim Box here after all that time and a lot of fantastic memories came up into my mind.

Just something about my person:
I have been working for ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH in Munich from 1986 till it's liquidation in 1997. In the beginning (I was student at that time) I was responsible for end users and for the technical support of the office staff there. In 1987 (after the liquidation of ENTERPRISE UK) my task was to contact all the manufacturers and suppliers which were involved in the production of the Enterprise 64/128 and ancillaries. I personally travelled to England several times, visiting all the companies and trying to find out, whether it would be possible to start a production of the computer again.

Later I became technical director of the company. I was involved in the various ENTERPRISE projects in the USSR (Moscow, Almaty, Dhezgazkhan - all between 1989 and 1992). I had a very good contact to Vilmos Kopacsy from á-Studio at that time and spent several weeks together with him in Almaty to set up the first school networks.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.17. 10:21:10
The first question: do you know how many machnies were sold in Germany and in other countries? We already know machines sold in the UK, Germany, Hungary (more than 20000), the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, France, Egypt (4000) and Soviet Union (3000).

Quote from: WernerLindner
As for the sold machines in every country I really have to admit, that I do not know exact figures in any case. My work for ENTERPRISE Germany started, when UK was already closed. In the beginning I was responsible for end user support and I did some training - as far as hard-/software is concerned - for the new sales people. New, because the original staff of Germany was also fired by Lachu Mathani in autumn 1986. These people had promised to be able to sell thousands of computers in Germany, but managed only about 2.500 in appr. one year. Because of their promises ENTERPRISE UK had produced a lot of German EC128k machines and Lachu had them in stock now (his company Broadlight Ltd. had taken over all of the remaining ENTERPRISE stock).
 
There is a lot of paperword missing, especially as far as sales figures is concerned and therefore all quantities before autumn 1986 are just estimations:
 
Germany:
Appr. 2500 128k machines and a very small number of ENTERPRISE 64k (both by ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH) and a very small number of Mephisto PHC (via Hegener & Glaser). In fact: I have only seen one Mephisto BASIC Cartridge and one Mephisto PHC, that came in for repair.
 
Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, France, Spain and probably other western european countries:
ENTERPRISE UK had direct dealer contracts with one importer for each country, but these people had only small companies. In fact they were more ordinary dealers but real importers/distributors and therefore there is probably only a small number of machines in each of those countries - a few hundred maybe in each country. The import and contact stopped in almost all cases after ENTERRPRISE UK went into receivership.
 
In Germany we had only contact to the people in Denmark and the Netherlands. I talked to the guy from the Netherlands several times by phone and met him once, when he came to Munich to buy 12 machines from us. He showed us some hardware prototypes from his country: An internal 512kByte Memory Expansion with dynamic RAM and a small EXDOS controller, that was stacked on top of the computer (shown on ENTERFACE 198704-05).
 
As far as Denmark is concerned, I had contact to Anders Roar Nielsen. He and his brother were the heads of the local user group and made a lot of things for the ENTERPRISE. Apart from nice programs and system extension (like the cards extension) they'd made a modem card and software for the ENTERPRISE. With this package the computer could be used as a BBS (there was neither internet nor email at this time :-) ).
 
Egypt:
The Egypt importer was Computer Technical Co. in Cairo. The founder and M.D. was Mr. Nabil Lashine. He had already bought about 500 ENTERPRISE 64k machines from England. He imported them to Egypt and sold them as electronic typewriters to other companies. He was not interested in games or other ancillaries, because he couldn't sell them (nobody in Egypt could afford a home computer for private purposes at that time). He made his own software for the computer and did the green keyboard print by himself. He bought additional 64k machines from us, but there was only appr. one shipment per year and not more than 150 machines (25 boxes á 6 computers). He also got appr. 500 empty cartridges from us. He always payed with monthly cheques. Sometimes it took long to get the money, but he was very reliable. His last order was in 1993, last contact to him in 1994. At this time his company was in big trouble and his bank had the hands on his remaining stock of EC machines. I've never heard of him afterwards, but I still have a complete set of printed keys, that he gave me while he was visiting us in Munich. All in all I think that 4000 units is too much - I personally know only about 1500 units, incl. the machines from England (but maybe Latchu has sold something to him directly).
 
About Hungary and the countries of the former Soviet Union:
These are both very special stories. I do not know all the details and I would like to ask a good friend of mine, who made these contracts, before I'm going to tell you anything wrong. I will also ask him about the total number of stock computers in England, because I cannot remember this figure at the moment.
 
England:
I have no idea about the total number of sold machines there but I assume, that they have not sold more than 25.000 units. The people of GRI Ltd told me, that they have produced something around 45.000 machines (64 and 128k engl./german). I do not know the production figures of the former producer (between 10/84-06/85), but the overall output was very low in 84 and they produced a lot of scrap too, which forced ENTERPRISE to look for a different manufacturer finally. The people of GRI told me a lot more (Communication problems, problems with supply of parts and materials, big problems with the test gear and all in all a much to expensive production due to the design of the machine and a lot of manual work, like memory expansion, ...), but  this is also a separate story, that has to be told later.

Quote from: WernerLindner
In 1996/7 there was a remaining stock of appr. 2000 ENTERPRISE computers (64k, 128k UK and 128K German), which we sold to a company in the czech republic. Together with these computers went almost all ancillaries (cables, cassette programs, disk drives, tools, test gear, ...) and that was the official end of ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH as you know them.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.17. 10:30:56
Next question: what do you know about the Nick chip problems and different versions (08-04/08-47)?

Quote from: WernerLindner
Now something to NICK/DAVE:
The people of IS/ENTERPRISE contacted AMI in 1983. AMI representatives said to me, that these people came into their office with just two handwired prototypes of "something" and told them, that they would need to custom chips out of it. Neither where there concrete drawings/plans of these chips, nor was the design a final one. Obviously the IS people never had done something like that before. They did not know, that it is not possible, to take a circuit with standard parts and IC's and make a 1:1 copy of it in silicon. The AMI people had to model the standard parts of the prototypes with a much bigger number of "low level" logical gates. At that time there was nothing like today's configurable logic (FPGA, CPLD, ...).
 
Therefore the very first design of the DAVE-chip (it was called ESPRIT at this time and AMI kept the name throughout the whole production) was ready in August/September 1983. The first (and faulty) design of NICK (ELITE) was ready in November 1983. It is not known, when the first prototypes arrived in London, but they were not really working as expected. Until october 1984 ESPRIT underwent 5 major revisions and ELITE had four revisions till both reached the actual state, that we know as 08-05 resp. 08-47.

NICK Problem 08-04:
As far as I know there is no chance of fixing the problem with this revision by external hardware (neither cooler, nor fast video-ram will help). Only the late D-Revision of the chip was stable.


The chip code names really surprise for me!
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: lgb on 2015.March.17. 10:31:25
One of my fixations :) is to try to get information about the "future" Enterprise, features can't get into the Ep64/Ep128 (because of lack of enough time, money, whatever) and also "only ideas". This can be important, as nowdays' technology makes it possible to re-create EP (or even an EP v2.0) by hobby, but for advanced features over the original Ep design, it would be great to know the ideas of the original creators and people behind the Ep, to have something which at least seems to be the natural evolution of the Ep product line. Or something like this :) Of course this includes documentations, ideas, stories, hardware and software as well, so basically everything. Since Werner also wrote that he knew Kopacsy, maybe he also knows something about the "Super EP"?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.17. 10:41:36
Please be patient! :-) A lot of interesting and amazing things will come :-D
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: lgb on 2015.March.17. 10:43:09
Please be patient! :-) Will coming many interesting and amazing things :-D

OK, I thought one of the purposes of this forum thread is to collect questions from forum members as well, that's why I've written my own. :)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.17. 10:46:36
About the manufacturers I asked it: on some motherboards no sticker, another ones have a sticker with different names: AEL, FLHK, E&E
Do you know anything about these?

Quote from: WernerLindner
E&E: http://www.eleceltek.com/en/aboutus.php
Most of the motherboards were made by OPC:
http://www.hkexporter.net/electronic/circuit/opc-manufacturing.html
 
So, in principle: Almost all Motherboards (EXDOS and the cartridges too) came from far east and AMI shipped the production lots to Hong Kong, That ist also the reason, that there were no significant stocks of unsoldered NICK/DAVE-Chips in England.
 
AEL and FLHK is out of my mind at the moment, but I have a copy of the ENTERPRISE code-book (the bible of all parts, that ENTERPRISE ever used). Probably I can find something there. Please be patient.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.17. 11:23:21
About the Enterprise hard disk we read what Mr. Kopácsy told in an interview in 1991. (http://gafz.enterpriseforever.com/ep128.htm) But never knew any more :-(
Until few years ago when we found this on Adrian Graham's page. (http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/Museum/Enterprise/harddisk/index.php) This is the first evidence! Later Adrian sent me the ROM image of the hard disk exansion.

Now I asked Werner about it:

Quote from: WernerLindner
This design is from 1989 and used two small PCB's. One for my Minibus-Expansion-system (which is described in ENTER-NEWS 1/88) and a smaller one for the hdd-controller-card. There was a flat ribbon cable between the two PCB's. Unfortunately I have only two prototypes (wire-wrapped) of this expansion system anymore, but my exdos-controller from 1986 fits to it. The Minibus-System was expanded later and got the name Motherboard-Extension-Bus: There was a driver board, which fitted to an EXDOS-Controller case and a 50pin ribbon-cable to a 19" box with power-supply and backplane. The harddisk and the controller were in this 19" box. Unfortunately only the computer-side of the project survived. Both systems were no commercial "success", because the overall number of users, who were interested in this system was too low. So there were only three or four handmade samples.
 
What is on the website is the prototype design of the harddisk- and memory-expansion-pcb for the teacher machines of 70 school networks for the Dhezgazkhan region in Kasakhstan. We needed one PCB, that contained the memory expansion with 256 kByte of static ram, the socket for the existing EXDOS-controllers and the socket for the SEAGATE Controller (ST11-R). The design, testing and production of the 70 units was done in Hungary. Vilmos Kopacsy has organised it.

Werner sent me the Technical manual of the hard disk system. (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/HDOS_1.1A.pdf) It includes schematics so it is possible to recreate it :-)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: gflorez on 2015.March.17. 15:18:55
It seems that this is the time when all the raw truth is revealed....
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: geco on 2015.March.17. 16:38:58
Thank you very much Werner these great info, we are waiting next part :)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.18. 10:44:17
Little piece of the history, but very interesting:

Quote from: WernerLindner
We at ENTERPRISE Germany used a PC based Compiler for our developments. Code was written with a text editor, we also had batch files for the compilation and we used Eprom simulators for testing the extensions roms on the ENTERPRISE. The simulators were connected to the sockets within a cartridge or to a socket on an expansion board via a ribbon cable. It was very easy: Write the code, compile it, send it to the simulator via LPT-copy, reset the Enterprise and look what happens.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: geco on 2015.March.18. 21:04:56
It means the source was written and compiled on PC and the compiled code was sent via PC Parallel port to the simulator?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.18. 21:08:34
It means the source was written and compiled on PC and the compiled code was sent via PC Parallel port to the simulator?
Yes.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: geco on 2015.March.18. 21:41:02
Yes.
Amazing, what a great idea, and solution.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: szipucsu on 2015.March.18. 22:04:43
Amazing, what a great idea, and solution.
What could a simulator be like?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.18. 23:18:11
Quote from: WernerLindner
Photos of a prototype cartridge-pcb with direct bonded BASIC 2.1 chip. EC UK was looking for possibilities to reduce production cost and GI made these engeneering samples for them for evaluation purposes.
[attach=1]
[attach=2]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.19. 22:01:55
What could a simulator be like?

Quote from: WernerLindner
some people were asking about the eprom simulator in the forum. Unfortunately I do not have the original one anymore, that we used from appr. 1990 onwards. However, I still have one working sample of the newer model, that we bought in 1993, to support the work of the programmers (pictures attached).
 
The older model was much bigger and had only 128kByte (simulated eprom up to 27128). It was horrible expensive at that time, but development work got to a new level with it. The model on the pictures has 512kByte of static ram and can simulate eproms up to 27512. It is powered from the eprom socket, which it is connected to.
 
Operation is really simple:
- Put the connector to the EPROM socket
- Select the eprom you would like to simulate with the rotary switch on the front
- Connect the simulator to a PC via a standard LPT-cable (25 Pin/Centronics)
- Send the HEX-File from the PC to the LPT:-Port (in binary mode of course)
- Reset the ENTERPRISE and look, whether your code is working or not
[attach=1]
[attach=2]
[attach=3]
[attach=4]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.19. 23:19:23
Quote from: WernerLindner
Attached the promised pictures of the very stylish-looking EXDOS-Controller from the Netherlands (Enterface 87/04-05 (http://enterprise.iko.hu/magazines/ENTERface_198704-05.pdf), picture on title (http://enterprise.iko.hu/magazines/ENTERface_198704-05.jpg)). It has a plastic housing and the design looks very much like being original ENTERPRISE :-). The mechanical structure of the expansion port socket/connector can be seen on the title (http://enterprise.iko.hu/magazines/ENTERface_198905-06.jpg) of Enterface 89/05-06 (http://enterprise.iko.hu/magazines/ENTERface_198905-06.pdf) but I never saw an additional expansion card for that system. The card on top of the "stack" is a prototyping card, so I believe that the EXDOS-Controller was the only professional produced board.
 
An interesting detail is the aluminium tube within the expansion connector. It supports the structure and acts as a cooler for the 5V power regulator too.

They were using the 3mm variant of "Leistensteckverbinder DIN 41612". One part was directly soldered to the expansion port, which gave a very strong connection.
 
In my MINIBUS/Motherboard Expansion Bus I also used this kind of connector, but with 5mm spacing between the two rows. These connectors are ideal for the ENTERPRISE extension bus, because they have 64 pins (2 rows of 32 pins) and they are very well constructed.
[attach=1][attach=2]
[attach=3][attach=4]
[attach=5][attach=6]
[attach=7][attach=8]
[attach=9][attach=10]
[attach=11]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.19. 23:30:50
Quote from: WernerLindner
You probably know the EXDOS/Floppy-Station ("Diskettengrundeinheit") which was sold in Germany. We had a prototype for an additional drive on top of the first one and I've attached some pictures of it. This is really a one-off.
 
It was never produced/sold in Germany or elsewhere. The single drive with it's metal case and the big switching power supply was already too expensive. It had been ordered by the first ENTERPRISE sales team in 1986 and the total number of produced drives was only around 600. In the beginning it was sold for DEM 698,00 incl. VAT. At this price nobody was interested in a second drive.
 
The prototype suffered a little bit from being stored in my cellar for at least 25 years, but both drives are still working. With the connector on the backside of the second drive you can connect additional drives. We had two Cumana double 3.5" FDD's and showed the ENTERPRISE with four connected disk-drives in our office in Munich.
[attach=1][attach=2]
[attach=3][attach=4]
[attach=5][attach=6]
[attach=7][attach=8]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.19. 23:37:48
I always thought the German machines and the German expansion ROM are produced by the German company.
Now when I asked about the BRD ROM, the answer totally surprised me! :shock:

Quote from: WernerLindner
The 08-59 EPROM and it's contents did not come from ENTERPRISE GmbH. The German ENTERPRISE 128k was the only official foreign version, which was planned, produced and shipped from England. Apart from that there were only english 64/128 machines. The contents of the 08-59 EPROM must have been produced by IS directly.
 
I think, that the story started at a time, when Hegener & Glaser tried to sell the ENTERPRISE 64k as Mephisto PHC. They had to realize, that a pure English machine was difficult to sell, especially as they tried to sell it as a network computer (for schools, ...). Therefore the beginning of the BRD-extension must be somewhere between December 1984 and early 1985. German ENTERPRISE was founded mid 1985 and the German 128k machine was already ready at this point.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: gflorez on 2015.March.20. 00:33:14
Then may be one of the Intelligent Software unlabelled roms have that secret inside....
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.20. 10:41:42
About the drive units: For build these dismantle existing EXDOS cards, or used remain EXDOS PCBs?

From the single drive unit only 3.5" version exist or also produced with 5.25" drives?

Quote from: WernerLindner
the German Floppy-Disk-Station was produced in Germany. From England came the following parts: Complete system bus bridges, packed in poly-bags and bare Exdos-controllers without ROM (no case, just the boards, packed in cartons and individual poly-bags). The German producer took these parts and mouted them in the case, together with the power-supply and the fdd-drive itself. He had got a master of EXDOS 1.3 and did eprom-programming by himself.
 
There were no Floppy-Disc-Stations with a 5,25" drive, only that prototype had such a drive. All other stations had the black 3.5" BASF-drive. The reason for powering the controller from the computer was simple: The existing system-bus-bridges, that they had to use (for cost reason) already had the power regulator and delivered 5V to the controller. Therefore only the drive was powered by the built-in psu.
 
As there were no manuals coming with these exdos-controllers, German ENTERPRISE was under pressure: They rushed out a translation of the original manual and simply did photocopies of it. Some of these photocopies were very bad. The IS-DOS manual had the same size and the same quality in the beginning. The A4-sized German manuals came later, when the crew at ENTERPRISE Germany had already changed. As far as I remember it was Michael Leopoldseder (who did the Harddisc-Software later) and me who translated the original manuals again. The translation was done on an ENTERPRISE, with Wordstar 3.0 :-). I still have the original files in my backups.
 
The EXDOS-Controllers, which were sold in Germany, did all come from England as a kit. These Controllers had no foam and/or carton packages. Furthermore there was also the EXDOS EPROM missing. The producer of the Floppy-Stations completed them with the EPROM, put them in the housing an repacked the stuff. That was the reason, why there were no originally packed EXDOS-Controllers in Germany. You can easily indentify these controllers out of German assembly, because the are all missing the coloured EXDOS-sticker on top.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.20. 18:44:31
Quote from: WernerLindner
Pictures of my collection of original master ROMs for the ENTERPRISE, from ex office ENTERPRISE UK Ltd. The German ROM is one of them and we got this collection together with the other stuff in late 1986.
[attach=1]
[attach=2]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Tuby128 on 2015.March.20. 19:05:18
For which purpose are used the "Dave test" and "Nick test" EPROMs?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.20. 19:41:43
For which purpose are used the "Dave test" and "Nick test" EPROMs?
I think these used at the factory for verify the machines. Somewhere I read a article about: the EP company spent a lot of money for the quality control, and all machines verified in the factory.

I asked Werner for reading out the EPROMs.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: gflorez on 2015.March.20. 21:43:03
It can be the rom inside this cart.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/231452195506?_mwBanner=1

Seems to be from Mr Kopecsy.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.21. 11:09:11
And now there are some really fantastic things! :ds_icon_cheesygrin:
I never thought that I would see them!

Nick chip plans Sheet 1 (http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/3006-0000-22_Sheet-1.pdf)
Nick chip plans Sheet 2 (http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/3006-0000-22_Sheet-2.pdf)
Nick chip Technical Descriptions (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/NICK-Old-VDC-ELITE-description.pdf)
Nick chip Internal Timing (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/NICK-Internal-timing-of-VDC-Elite.pdf)

Dave chip plans Sheet 1 (http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/3007-000-22_Sheet-1.pdf)
Dave chip plans Sheet 2 (http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/3007-000-22_Sheet-2.pdf)
Dave chip pinout and plastic package informations (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/DAVE-Chip-Pinout-and-plastic-package-dimensions.pdf)

NICK/DAVE Legend to Plans (http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/NICK-DAVE-Legend_to_Plans.txt)

Many-many big thanks to Werner!!!

Quote from: WernerLindner
today I got the scans for NICK and DAVE and therefore it's time for a really big package of data. Attached as a download you'll find any additional original documentation I have about the two chips, including:
- Very first description of the VDC (name was not settled at this time)
- A more or less final description of the VDC ELITE (the later NICK)
- Drawings/measurements for the 68pin housing incl. a telex from AMI, informing EC/IS about a change in the pin-layout of ESPRIT
- Four A0 plans with the final chip design for both chips
 
The plans were scanned in A0 with 400DPI. They are very different in size because of their different quality. The service provider did his utmost to get the best quality out of my "original" AMI-copies and I hope that everything is readable.
 
The plans for ESPRIT do not show any revision over time. Therefore I assume, that although DAVE had revision D, this was the one and only produced version (08-05) ever. On sheet 1 of ESPRIT you can see some major changes/additions. The original drawing is dated 12.08.1983, but the sheet carries the date 04.11.1983. I think that DAVE was ready for production at this point, but it already had four major corrections up to this date.
 
The plans for ELITE show five revisions over appr. one year of production. It is not known, when the change from version 1 (08-04) to version 2 (08-47) has taken place, but the last revision E is definitely 08-47. Unfortunately the plans show no signs of any change, so we can only assume, that there were minor, but important changes.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: geco on 2015.March.21. 15:00:59
 :smt041: :smt041: :smt041:
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.21. 23:04:41
We already know something about this card from its creator, but he doesn't have one. But Werner does :-D
It is a modem card, in Denmark it was used for Enterprise BBS!

Quote from: WernerLindner
The card has a Z80CPU, running at 2.4 MHz, 2 kByte of static ram and a Z80DART. It is the most complex expansion for the ENTERPRISE, that I know. At least it has not more power than the computer it was connected to :-).

The connector is exactly the same as that one used for the exdos-controller from the Netherlands.
[attach=1][attach=2]
[attach=3][attach=4]
[attach=5][attach=6]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.24. 13:11:00
I asked about the next Enterprise model, which is detailed by Mr. Kopácsy in the interview (1991): (http://gafz.enterpriseforever.com/Dokumentacio/Cikkek/VTGe.htm)
"It is a further development of the 128K. It is looks a flat PC, with a
external keyboard. The EXDOS are on the mainboard, also built in MIDI interface, and hardware network interface. The amount of RAM will depend
about the market prices. CPU are the Hitachi Super Z80, and the OS are the EXOS 3.0. This EXOS know everything what the 2.1 know, and have a graphical user
interface, the EGI (Enterprise Graphical Interface), which looks like the Atari GEM"

Quote from: WernerLindner
The only thing I can tell you in advance is, that the machine, that was mentioned in the interview with Vilmos, is pure fiction. It never existed and the details Vilmos told there were a mixture of facts from the Vulcan-Project (Model 911 or ENTERPRISE X), part of his own developments (MIDI-Interface) and some ideas, we were developing in some talks, while sitting together and having a beer. We were also talking about the 64180 cpu, but there never was a machine running with this CPU and any version of EXOS at that time.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: lgb on 2015.March.24. 13:23:51
Does it mean, there would be no planned Nick/Dave ("EP custom chips") development too much, but using the "Super Z80" and some additional hardware (MIDI interface, network), and softwares (EXOS3, EGI)? Just I wish we know how that network and MIDI interface would work exactly and how the Hitachi CPU would be connected exactly (the extra address space is how to related to the EP address space), and we can try to make it ourselves to really have the next EP model :)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.24. 15:01:57
how the Hitachi CPU would be connected exactly
This also would be a interesting for me :-)

But:
Quote from: WernerLindner
Finally EC UK did not have the money for additional versions of NICK and DAVE, and there was no money for major changes to EXOS too. Their only chance was doing some development with the existing two chips and therefore the only option was to take a Z80B, running at 6 MHz. There never was a 64180-machine.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: lgb on 2015.March.24. 15:13:19
Quote
Finally EC UK did not have the money for additional versions of NICK and DAVE, and there was no money for major changes to EXOS too. Their only chance was doing some development with the existing two chips and therefore the only option was to take a Z80B, running at 6 MHz. There never was a 64180-machine.

:(

However there can be still hope there were plans (even just by "rumour") or even written plans (eg documents etc) about future versions of Nick and Dave ...
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.25. 14:52:07
However there can be still hope there were plans (even just by "rumour") or even written plans (eg documents etc) about future versions of Nick and Dave ...

Quote from: WernerLindner
The 6 MHz machine was their last option, based on the existing hardware design. Originally they planned to produce the 64k machine for at least one year and they hoped to sell them quickly and in big volumes (Michael Shirley was talking about 500.000 - 600.000 units). Then it was planned to place the 128k machine in the market and sell even more. The faster machine was planned to come out not before at least two to three years of selling the base models. This didn't work at all - as we know - and they were forced to bring out the 128k earlier as planned. And they started with the the development of the big machine in late 1985, just one year after they had started production of the 64k.

Developing new versions of the chips was probably planned for a later stage, but never done. There even were no concepts for that or any documents about it as far as I know. And without new money from the financiers and with no money coming back out of the sales of the existing products there was nobody interested in that too.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.26. 13:45:38
About the Hungarian business:
Quote from: WernerLindner
The initial deal was about the full number (appr. 20.000), but shipping was done in several lots. The English stock came directly from England and was put together with the German stock at MIDI-DATA  in Frankfurt. From there there were several trucks going to Hungary. The OMEGA recorders came from Hong Kong. I personally know about one shipment of 5000 units, but I don't know whether there were more. The management side (contracts, shipments, ...) was done by H.M.Windisch ("Mike" Windisch) at that time, who later became MD of ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH. I already tried to contact him (for details about Hungary, Almaty, Dhezkazghan and Moscow) but unfortunately he is abroad at the moment. He will be back somewhere in mid April and I think there will be no chance to get more information earlier.

Then I asked about the tape recorders, who had made this nice design. (http://gafz.enterpriseforever.com/Galery/Alapgep/Picture/ENTERPRISE_Cassette_recorder_model_555~1.jpg) And why do the other versions exist (Cloud 7/Omega)?
Quote from: WernerLindner
all recorders that were shipped to Hungary came from Hong Kong as far as I know. The order/shipment was arranged by the HK branch of Locumals Ltd., the trading company of the Mathani family. The black/green housing was our idea and we sent films for the logo to Heny Mathani, who arranged everything with the supplier. The inital order was 10.000 I think, but I cannot remember exactly.
 
When we had to reorder, Heny told us that the original supplier/design was not available anymore. He had to take a different supplier (these were the Cloud 7 / Omegas finally) and searching for the alternative was time consuming. There was no time for a black housing and inividually printed logo. Furthermore the transport was a mess: long and expensive: Shipping from Hong Kong went over Rotterdam and then by truck via Germany to Hungary, but there was no other alternative at that time. The overall quantity was not high enough to send a 40" container and our container always had to wait for some other stuff going in the same direction.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.27. 00:08:11
Some ultra rare cartridges:
ELAN case, with early prototype PCB:
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]

Cartridge of the Mephisto PHC:
[attach=4][attach=5]

Quote from: WernerLindner
Quasar-Pascal
written by R.J. Horst in the Netherlands was offered to us in 1986. He wanted to produce the boards by himself and sell them to us. There was no contract between us and it was never sold. Quasar Pascal is also available for MSX-Computers and you can still find Mr. Horsts name on the internet.
[attach=6][attach=7]

Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: BruceTanner on 2015.March.27. 08:49:44
Some ultra rare cartridges:
ELAN case, with early prototype PCB

Wow I think that is my 30 year old handwriting on the "Elan" eproms! (Not many people write '1' like that). I remember the red dots but I can't remember what they signify :( As you can see we had a big mix of various manufacturers eproms!
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.27. 09:16:47
Wow I think that is my 30 year old handwriting on the "Elan" eproms! (Not many people write '1' like that).
Great!

I remember the red dots but I can't remember what they signify :(
See the previously uploaded EPROM photos. (http://enterpriseforever.com/hall-of-fame/qa-with-werner-lindner-technical-director-of-the-enterprise-computers-gmbh/msg45556/#msg45556)
As I see 2 dots on EXOS 2.1 and 3 dots on BASIC 2.1. Not see any with only one dot :-)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: BruceTanner on 2015.March.27. 09:25:05
As I see 2 dots on EXOS 2.1 and 3 dots on BASIC 2.1. Not see any with only one dot :-)
Maybe dots=number of bugs! :lol: :smt083
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.27. 09:25:37
Maybe dots=number of bugs! :lol: :smt083
:smt043
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.27. 12:25:24
Another thing is that we have never seen: 64K RAM expansion in a EXDOS style case! :shock:

Quote from: WernerLindner
64k Memory Expansion:
This is the only known expansion (apart from the EXDOS-Controller), that was produced (in prototype quantities). After they had taken the decision not to produce the expansion systems, there was no need/purpose for it and it vanished.
[attach=1][attach=2]
[attach=3][attach=4]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Tuby128 on 2015.March.27. 13:16:37
I don't understand. EP-Expansion connector is a card-edge (male), on this picture I see the same. How can it be connected to the EP?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.27. 13:31:40
I don't understand. EP-Expansion connector is a card-edge (male), on this picture I see the same. How can it be connected to the EP?
Look the original EXDOS card with the System Bus Bridge! It is totaly same.
Originaly planned 6 slot Expansion Unit (http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/EXPANSIONMOTHERBOARD.jpg), but finaly only the 1 slot version released with the EXDOS card, this is called as System Bus Bridge.

More documents and schematics will coming about this topic.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Tuby128 on 2015.March.27. 15:29:44
I think my misunderstanding based on that I don't know the exact name of the things.
So the right side of the EP there is the System Bus Connector, which is a male connector. The EXDOS card has the same male connector, and if I want to connect these things, I need a System Bus Bridge which has 2 female connectors. Am I right?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.27. 15:46:37
So the right side of the EP there is the System Bus Connector, which is a male connector. The EXDOS card has the same male connector, and if I want to connect these things, I need a System Bus Bridge which has 2 female connectors. Am I right?
Yes. (http://gafz.enterpriseforever.com/Galery/Bovitmenyek/Picture/HPIM0051.jpg) But it is also have a +5V regulator, and add the Slot Address lines for the address decoding. The original concept are "plug and play", the expansions can't conflict. Unfortunatelly in Hungary we don't know anything about this system, then the Hungarian expansions using fixed address decoding.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.28. 09:53:30
Enterprise Code Book: Parts and Suppliers (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/Enterprise-Code-Book_Parts-and-Suppliers.pdf)
Enterprise Parts of foreign variations (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/Enterprise-Parts-of-foreign-variations.pdf)

Quote from: WernerLindner
ENTERPRISE Code-Book (and Part-List for foreign versions):
The code book is very interesting, because it shows all parts and suppliers of ENETREPRISE Computers UK. It is very accurate and shows the state of June 1986. The handwritten things were done by myself. Unfortunately there is no original version anymore and my printout has faded, but everything is readable.
 
The Part-List for foreign version is also very interesting, because it shows only one foreign computer (Model 408, EC 128k German). ENTERPRISE UK has never produced other specific versions apart from 64k/128k UK English and 128k German. There were some model-variations with/without manual, with/without cassette, with German power plug, with European power plug, ...) but no other keyboards or system-extensions like :BRD. The company in Cairo made the keyboard printing by themselves and the cyrillic computers we've made simply got transparent stickers on the keytops.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.28. 19:15:34
Enterprise 64/128 Expansion Bus (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/PER-6-7_Enterprise_64-128_Expansion_Bus.pdf)
Enterprise 64/128 Expansion Motherboard Bus (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/PER-7-8_Enterprise_64-128_Expansion_Motherboard_Bus.pdf)
Expansion Unit Power Supply Specifications (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/PER-8-10_Expansion_Unit_Power_Supply_Specifications.pdf)
Enterprise Expansion Bus Test Timing Results (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/PER-10-3_Enterprise_Expansion_Bus_Test_Timing_Results.pdf)
Enterprise 64/128 System Expansion (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/PER-11-4_Enterprise_64-128_System_Expansion.pdf)
Enterprise 64/128 System Expansion Provisional Specifications (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/PER-12-1_Enterprise_64-128_System_Expansion_Provisional_Specifications.pdf)
Disk Controller Parts List (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/PER-13-7_Disk_Controller_Parts_List.pdf)
RAM Card Parts List (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/PER-14-8_RAM_Card_Parts_List.pdf)
Expansion Motherboard Parts List (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/PER-15-8_Expansion_Motherboard_Parts_List.pdf)
Enterprise 64/128 64K RAM Expansion Module (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/PER-17-7_Enterprise_64-128_64K_RAM_Expansion_Module.pdf)
Enterprise 64/128 Disk Controller Module (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/PER-18-10_Enterprise_64-128_Disk_Controller_Module.pdf)
Enterprise Peripherals Test Report (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/PER-24-1_Enterprise_Peripherals_Test_Report.pdf)
Enterprise 64/128 Bus Timing (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/A3PER-1_Enterprise_64-128_Bus_Timing.pdf)
Enterprise 64/128 64K RAM Expansion Module Timing (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/A3PER-4_Enterprise_64-128_64K_Expansion_Module_Timing.pdf)
Enterprise 64/128 Disk Controller Module Bus Timing (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/A3PER-5_Enterprise_64-128_Disk_Controller_Bus_Timing.pdf)
Quote from: WernerLindner
Expansion Unit:
Planned but never produced. Probably only a prototype for testing the expansion bus under full load. There are no drawings for a cabinet. This unit looks very much like the various expansion concepts from Denmark, Germany, Hungary and uses the original edge-connectors on the expansion cards. The existing system bus bridge is the smallest possible version of this bus-system.
 
Important: This unit is different from that one I have the detailed construction drawings of. The latter had a concept with two FDD drives/EXDOS and a power supply coming next to the computer and than a system of stackable units (max. four) on the right hand side of the FDD. This unit is shown on one of the early english prospects (which I am still looking for in my files). It is looking great and typical ENTERPRISE design. But I think it was much to expensive for production. The IS system however was much to big to be connected to the right hand side of the computer and therefore it was also never produced.

ENTERPRISE 64/128 Explosion drawing (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/ENTERPRISE_64-128_Explosion_drawing.pdf)
ENTERPRISE 64/128 Motherboard Dimensions (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/ENTERPRISE_64-128_Motherboard_Dimensions.pdf)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Tuby128 on 2015.March.28. 19:44:47
If we open the "ENTERPRISE 64/128 Motherboard Dimensions" drawing, we can see 3 mylar tail termination zones. Can someone tell me what purpose are they served?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: BruceTanner on 2015.March.28. 21:40:12
If we open the "ENTERPRISE 64/128 Motherboard Dimensions" drawing, we can see 3 mylar tail termination zones. Can someone tell me what purpose are they served?

Space for the keyboard connection cables to "curl up" when the top is on? :?:
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.29. 09:47:21
Space for the keyboard connection cables to "curl up" when the top is on? :?:
I also think this.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.29. 09:49:48
ENTERPRISE 64/128 Explosion drawing (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/ENTERPRISE_64-128_Explosion_drawing.pdf)
See this drawing! The rubber keymat full sized. Later cutted the joystick part, and replaced with the red rubber ring. (http://enterprise.iko.hu/historical/Concession%20Note%208.pdf)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.29. 22:34:59
Another thing what we never seen:
[attach=1][attach=2]
[attach=3][attach=4]
[attach=5][attach=6]
[attach=7][attach=8]

Quote from: WernerLindner
now the details about the MIDI-cartridge:
 
When Vimos Kopacsy was in Munich in autumn 1989 he presented me a MIDI-catridge for the ENTERPRISE. The cartridge was longer than a standard EC cartridge and contained an eprom, an EF6850P async I/O chip, some Ics and two MIDI-connectors for MIDI out/through. The software was far away from being ready, but the cartridge was already able to play some midi-files. He brought a Roland MT-32 digital sequenzer to show communication and the result was impressive.
 
He told us, that they would develop a software with a full graphical user-interface and promised that within 1990. A few months later I visited Budapest and he presented me the cartridge with a software package called "ScoreTrack 1.0". It looked complete, and ready for use, but he told me, that the software would still have some stability problems, which they were working on. He gave me a sample cartridge, incl. the software.
 
The software reads and writes *.SND, *.MID, and *.ENV files, but unfortunately not compatible to the common standards. To show the file-format I have added the file "OKTAVE.MID". The copyright in the files and in the software says "ENTERPRISE Computers Ltd. EED". EED stands for "East European Division". This was a joke, because it should have been "VTGe Electronics Ltd.", which was a joint venture between us and aStudio.
 
A little bit later he told me, that all development on this cartridge/software has been stopped, because there would be no market for it in Hungary or anywhere else. Instead of this they were working now on equipment for the ATARI ST series.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.29. 22:58:53
And now something very special!
:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Quote from: WernerLindner
Amongst the boxes,  which we received from the UK was one, marked with "Harrods Computer". What we unpacked, was really a surprise for us: It was an ENTERPRISE 128k machine with a dark and light grey keyboard. The light grey keys are not painted, they are fully moulded of light grey ABS. When asking Lachu Mathani about the story behind this machine he told me the following:
 
After the christmas sales of 1985, which were far behind all expectations, the sales staff at EC UK looked for additional potential customers. Among others they offered the 128k machine to Harrods, the big department store in London. The Harrods people however refused, telling them that with the colorful keyboard the computer would more look like a toy, than a serious computer.
 
After that, the ENTERPRISE management decided, to make a more seriously looking version of the machine and try another sampling at Harrods. They ordered a sample quantity of light grey keys from Sovrin Plastics instead of the blue/green/red ones and presented the model to Harrods again. Unfortunately they were not able to convince them and the computer went to a box in the office and was never shown again - until now!
[attach=1][attach=2]
[attach=3][attach=4]
[attach=5][attach=6]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: gflorez on 2015.March.29. 23:08:11
About the MIDI interface.

The specs of the EF6850P chip, 500000 bits/s max is a respectable speed, as MIDI is fixed at 31250 bits/s. It could be a good serial port for networking.

It reminds me to when I connected my Amiga 500 with a serial modem.....25 or more years....


The cartridge seems a Frankenstein type made of two ones.... glued.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: gflorez on 2015.March.29. 23:32:49
Some Midi approaches don't have optocouplers to make them cheaper, but this have the 4N25.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Bagpuss22 on 2015.March.29. 23:40:42
MIDI.... yes please!!

:shock:
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: lgb on 2015.March.30. 00:01:34
We should really now, how that EP6850 is connected, etc. It can be used as general serial (also EXOS "driver" as SERIAL:) solution for the EP, including PC-EP file transfer, etc, not just MIDI (afaik midi is just a serial connection just with a fixed baud rate), but of course it can be nice too, and the fact that it would compatible with some piece of the history ... Is the software available shown on the images (or in the cartridge maybe, when it would be nice to have the ROM content ...)?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: gflorez on 2015.March.30. 00:25:38
EF6850Ps only have....250000 bits/s as they have 1Mhz clock but is a nice speed.


Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.30. 09:17:01
or in the cartridge maybe, when it would be nice to have the ROM content ...
Do you not noticed the attachment? :oops:
But it is don't run without the hardware :cry: Anyway disassembly possible... :-)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: BruceTanner on 2015.March.30. 10:15:08
And now something very special!
:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

:smt103 Did it come with a monochrome monitor? :lol:
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.30. 10:23:57
:smt103 Did it come with a monochrome monitor? :lol:
:ds_icon_cheesygrin:

I asked about the EXOS, for example the blinking ENTERPRISE screen also removed?
Quote from: WernerLindner
It is running and has a standard EXOS 2.1/BASIC 2.1, full English version.

The serial number label is untouched. Therefore I believe, that they just took off the keyboard top and replaced it with the special one. As keyboard printing was done by the assembler (GRI Ltd.) the keyboard top must have been in Scotland before :-).
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.30. 12:18:32
Quote from: WernerLindner
When Vimos Kopacsy was in Munich in autumn 1989 he presented me a MIDI-catridge for the ENTERPRISE. The cartridge was longer than a standard EC cartridge and contained an eprom, an EF6850P async I/O chip, some Ics and two MIDI-connectors for MIDI out/through. The software was far away from being ready, but the cartridge was already able to play some midi-files. He brought a Roland MT-32 digital sequenzer to show communication and the result was impressive.

Can you remember which music played? They are familiar to you?
http://enterprise.iko.hu/EPV1.MP3
http://enterprise.iko.hu/EPV2.MP3
http://enterprise.iko.hu/EPV3.MP3
http://enterprise.iko.hu/EPV4.MP3
http://enterprise.iko.hu/EPV5.MP3
http://enterprise.iko.hu/EPV6.MP3

I got these on a side 2 of one Paradise Software tape:
http://ep128.hu/Album/Ep_Kazetta/Paradise_Soft_1.jpg
http://ep128.hu/Album/Ep_Kazetta/Kazetta/Paradise_Software_2.jpg

Somebody told me: Enterprise with MIDI interface played these. If you
heard least one of them then the story true!

Quote from: WernerLindner
I can't believe it !!!! The first song is definitely played by the ENTERPRISE and I think it was on a Roland MT-32. I will never forget this song, because it was the first one that Vilmos presented me in Munich. It is very much like something from Jean Michel Jarre and that is the reason, why I am remembering it so well. The others I cannot remember, but Vilmos had a wide collection of them.
 
The sound is coming from a MT-32 or something similar of that time. You can hear that, because the voices sound a little "metallic". You can find some sound-demos of the device under
 
https://web.archive.org/web/20040509162801/http://homepage.mac.com/synth_seal/html/mt32.html
 
What a pity that we do not have some Scoretrack-Files for the cartridge. I played a little bit with Scoretrack and I think the preset for the voices (8 + 1 channel) was also taken from the MT-32, but I am not shure. Maybe I can take more screenshots of the program later.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: lgb on 2015.March.30. 12:44:50
Do you not noticed the attachment? :oops:
But it is don't run without the hardware :cry: Anyway disassembly possible... :-)

Ooopps, I've seen it, but a quick peek into the ZIP did not indicate any ROM image... Now I can see that file MIDI-10 at hex offset 0x4000 has the string EXOS_ROM ... (and :HELP provided the EXOS command :ST though it just sets up some invalid LPT at least for JSep it is ... PC is at C610 which is a HALT instruction, probably waiting for Nick interrupt and this is an JSep bug, or the lack of the actual hardware, though my intent was exactly to see IN/OUT to "unknown" port numbers). My stupid disasm tries: http://epbas.lgb.hu/tryit/?storage=midi.rom.html (http://epbas.lgb.hu/tryit/?storage=midi.rom.html) (only the second 16K starting with EXOS_ROM)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: gflorez on 2015.March.30. 13:20:30
The Midi Rom loads on the EP128emu emulator, but if you execute ":ST" it hangs.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: gflorez on 2015.March.30. 15:03:11
Can be that Scoretrack software the same or a clone from Scoretrack (http://www.deepsonic.ch/deep/htm/c-lab_2.php) for C64?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: gflorez on 2015.March.30. 16:29:56
The screen is more like this "Euphony (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44FthiLMdJs)" program.



Edit:I think is one more case of the "Elan" fate, naming things with registered marks...
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.March.30. 16:44:21
Because Mr. Kopácsy worked with Atari ST then I think look around about Atari ST programs.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Ep128 on 2015.March.30. 23:45:45
"A little bit later he told me, that all development on this cartridge/software has been stopped, because there would be no market for it in Hungary"
No market? Maybe it's because the VTGe was not at all connection with the users! Just heard as a legend about the MIDI interface. We not even seen least a photo! Until now.
Thousands of Enterprise users waited for new developments for a years but don't got anything from the official company.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.01. 11:24:29
More screenshots from the MIDI software:
[attach=1][attach=2]
[attach=3][attach=4]
[attach=5][attach=6]
[attach=7][attach=8]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.01. 11:54:08
German brochure what we never seen:
It is including photo of the German Floppy Station, but look closely: it is with another drive, not with the regular BASF drive. And the slot cover from the System Bus Bridge are missing. I think this is one early prototype.
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3][attach=4]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.03. 11:11:46
it is with another drive, not with the regular BASF drive
Werner found the type:
Quote from: WernerLindner
the drive on the German brochure is a Mitsubishi MF-353-12M, I have one of these drives and will take some photos for you
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.03. 11:43:43
EXDOS variations:

Quote from: WernerLindner
EXDOS - Engeneering sample

- Small mounting hole
- the FDD connector is not the flat one (90°) but an upright one.
- Yellow placeplan
- Shorter edge connector (2mm shorter than final version)
- Sligthly different contour on the edge connector

This version does not fit to the final EXDOS controller housing.
[attach=1][attach=2]

Quote from: WernerLindner
EXDOS - Early version - small hole

- Small mounting hole
- Shorter edge connector
- Contour of the edge connector is not optimal for System Bus Bridge (alignment is wrong)
[attach=3][attach=4]

Quote from: WernerLindner
EXDOS-Controller with handcrafted Box

- A handmade sample of a controller in a box. This sample was used for some press pictures, as there was no Exdos-Box at that time.
The handmade controller from UK can be seen on the following page together with the Cumana double fdd:
http://www.zock.com/8-Bit/D_Enterprise64.HTML
[attach=5][attach=6]
[attach=7][attach=8]

Quote from: WernerLindner
EXDOS-Controller in Polybags

- Exdos, as it arrived in Germany in polybags. The controller plastic housing parts have been shipped separately, but I do not have original samples anymore.
[attach=9][attach=10]

Quote from: WernerLindner
EXDOS-Final version

- Bigger mounting hole (8mm diameter)
- Long edge connector

This version fits to the final EXDOS controller housing.
[attach=11][attach=12]

Quote from: WernerLindner
- Pictures of a German controller and the original English retail controller
[attach=13][attach=14][attach=15]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.03. 11:50:34
And this nice EXDOS clone designed by Werner:

Quote from: WernerLindner
My own EXDOS Controller from 1986.

I made 20 of the controller boards.
Unfortunately the card is not very well documented, because it was my first project for the ENTERPRISE and as you can see from the board: It was completely made by hand with self-adhesive tapes, symbols and in 2:1.
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.03. 13:43:58
Quote from: WernerLindner
This is my DIY double fdd drive, made of OEM drives and OEM housings, that I got at a very low price in one of the electronic ware houses in Munich. I could never find out, who originally made/sold them, but the drives are from EPSON. I made an external power supply (12V/5V) for them and used them for several years on my own ENTERPRISE 128k.
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.03. 13:52:37
Quote from: WernerLindner
I made an internal static 64kByte card for ENTERPRISE, to upgrade 64k machines to 128k. I have empty pcb's of that expansion, but they are out of early production and there is a wire missing (as you can see from the attached pictures).
[attach=1][attach=2]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.03. 13:54:48
Quote from: WernerLindner
As I told you earlier we made 70 teacher stations with HDD for Kazakhstan/Kyrgystan. The teacher machine was an original 64k machine, equipped with EXOS 2.1 and teacher cartridge (BASIC 2.1, cyrillic character set, cyrillic printer driver). Due to the 256kB static ram on the interface card the machine had 320k of memory. Therefore we made these stickers. The picture shows the last surviving ones.
[attach=1]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.03. 14:00:57
Quote from: WernerLindner
ENTERPRISE GmbH had some give aways for customers. There were two different self-adhesive stickers, a ruler with built-in digital clock and two puzzles.
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3][attach=4]

Quote from: WernerLindner
There was a plan for a ENTERPRISE Computer Club but I think, it never became reality.
[attach=5]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.05. 19:31:09
About the "EXDOS - Early version - small hole" I asked it:
Look at this photos about the Floppy Station. I think it is developed
for the early "small hole" cards. For the final cards needed the big
screw washer.
[attach=1][attach=2]

Quote from: WernerLindner
yes I believe that too. Probably the Germans got the early version of the controller to start developing the floppy disk station and there was neither a box for the controller, nor there was one for the system bus bridge at that time. This is probably the reason why there is the "naked" edge connector on the fdd-unit, that is shown on the German brochure.
 
The metal tooling was already finished for the German fdd-unit, when Enterprise UK released the final version of the controller incl. the ABS housing. Then they made this big metal washer to fix the new controller in the case. Unfortunately there was this slight change in the contour of the edge connector as well. So the first German drives had a problem with the expansion port connection. The "fingers" on the edge connector were not fully aligned to the contact of the system bus bridge. Therefore there were a lot of floppy disk stations coming back as "non-functional".
 
We had to rework all drives of the first production lotl: We turned the washer upside-down and moved the exdos controller a little bit forward towards the front end. You can see that on your picture, as the stud is not centered in the hole. And we had to remove appr. 1mm from one side of the system bus bridge. That moved this pcb in the same direction. Then everything was working well.
 
And there was another mechanical problem: We had to use the existing system bus bridge. The bridge was designed for sitting in a stand-alone box. The height of it's pcb matches the height of the computer pcb exactly. When mounting the bridge and it's ABS housing in the metal case of the fdd, the edge connector of the bridge was appr 2 mm higher than the computer pcb. Therefore the computer was appr. 2mm above ground on its right-hand side, when it was connected to the fdd. We had to cut these 2mm from the bottom-end of the ABS housing of the bridge to be able to "lower" the pcb. After this conversion the heat-sink of the bridge was sitting directly on ground of the fdd-case. This increased mechanical stability too.
 
The fdd-units worked properly after that conversion and we had no further problems with the drives. All-in-all we had to do appr. 250 units, that we had in stock. It was a nice job and caused a lot of trouble and it was a costly exercise too. But it is a typical example for a variety of problems that Enterprise UK caused themselves by sloppy planning, pressure of time and fading financial resources.

Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.05. 21:34:37
Quote from: WernerLindner
attached the documentation for the internal 64kB expansion (http://enterpriseforever.com/hall-of-fame/qa-with-werner-lindner-technical-director-of-the-enterprise-computers-gmbh/msg45892/#msg45892) of the computer, that I made for ENTERPRISE GmbH in 1992. You can see the necessary changes (the additional wire on the first pcb version) on the new/old circuit diagrams. It is the /MREQ-signal, that is additionally inverted and put on pin 1 of both 74ALS30.
 
Of course there were bigger chips available at that time. But it was not the task to make a big expansion. The task was to make 128k machines out of the appr. 350 64k machines, that we still had in stock at that time. No-one was interested in 64k machines anymore, but no-one would have paid extra money for "big" home computers, that were already 5 years old at that time, too :-)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.06. 11:49:03
From Werner ROM collection some diagnostic ROMs. These used as TEST_ROM, at 04h segment in the cartridge.
DAVETEST: generate some test sound
NICKTEST: display test picture
DIAG 1.0 and 1.1: used in the factory to test the boards. The menu use 15 keys keypad which connected to the Control 1 port. (Use all possible 15 buttons in one Enterprise joy port!) Some test can be started with simple Ext 1 joy.
For the peripherial ports test need additional wires for make input/output signals.
The 1.0 and 1.1 version are same, just the date and version number modified.

Quote from: WernerLindner
The Testgear-software was for the Hypertone-Testgears. These machines were for testing the ready to use motherboard of a machine, not for testing the fully assembled computer. As the EC keyboard had to be attached manually at the later assembly there was a small keyboard, attached to one of the joystick ports to be able to make some inputs. I do not have any information (cabeling, ...) about that.
[attach=7]
[attach=1][attach=5]
[attach=2][attach=6]
[attach=3][attach=4]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.06. 15:58:07
Another test ROMs. Probably for something automatic testing? Need to find what is connected to the machine.
It is check the FCh segment filled with 55h? If not then fill it and wait for reset. If FCh fill ok then check Printer Strobe signal connected to Ready? Later parts need to discovered...
The Final 64 and Final 128 are same, just the tested RAM amount the difference. At the non final versions, are more difference, probaly the non final 128 made from later (but also non final) 64 version.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.06. 16:04:29
For these I not have a idea :-(
It is not looks a Z80 code. Probably ROM for the testing machine? Or data ROM for the previous test ROMs?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.06. 16:37:08
There is the programs for the interesting labels: BASIC CART LOADING AID 1.0 and QUICK LOAD BOMBER CART
A little program developed for loading BASIC programs from ROM. It is make a new EXOS device, which can be used for the load.
The name at the LOADING AID is a ROM: then use LOAD "ROM:" and it is contain only little example program.
At the BOMBER use LOAD "BOM:" and it is contain the well know Bomber game from the demonstration tape.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.06. 16:46:09
EXDOS version 1.1
It is the German version of the EXDOS 1.0 (as the 1.3 are the German version of the 1.2). Language switchable (BRD/UK).
[attach=1][attach=2]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.06. 17:21:05
Quote from: WernerLindner
MEPHISTO Cartridge
Hegener & Glaser originally tried to sell the computer to schools. EC UK is also talking about the possibility of using the EC especially at schools in one of their early prospects. I think, that IS made some system-extension especially for that purpose and the Mephisto was originally equipped with it.

The mephisto eproms (Pupil-20 for the 64 and Pupil-21 for the 128) are early versions of the BRD-extension. The command for the German character set is FONT, furthermore the VLOAD, VDUMP and VSAVE commands all already there. There are two additional commands NET X and ASK. NET X is for setting a channel number to a teacher machine and ASK is for "asking the teacher". But I do not have any further information about these extensions.

I found it is also define a TEACHER: device.
[attach=3][attach=4]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: BruceTanner on 2015.April.06. 17:26:55
For these I not have a idea :-(
It is not looks a Z80 code. Probably ROM for the testing machine? Or data ROM for the previous test ROMs?
I would suggest not UK in origin: they contain the strings "PULL THE RESET BUTTON. THEN PROCEED" (among others) but in English you would PUSH the reset button. But then why the messages in English...?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.06. 21:07:54
Something very-very-very interesting coming :ds_icon_cheesygrin:
[attach=1]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.06. 22:36:38
[attach=1]
[attach=2]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Ep128 on 2015.April.06. 23:31:56
:shock:
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: BruceTanner on 2015.April.06. 23:32:52
:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Is this Enterprise GMBH's creation? The PCB says Copyright 1986, very near the end of Enterprise UK! Z80B and build-in WD1770, now you know why the timings for a faster processor were in the code!
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.07. 00:01:14
Is this Enterprise GMBH's creation?
It is from UK. (http://enterprise.iko.hu/articles/PopularComputingWeekly86071700005.jpg)
Full story and many more photos will come :-)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: CiH on 2015.April.07. 00:42:31
My head just exploded.

And that is quite something, after watching the Revision 2015 demo party video streams this weekend!
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.07. 09:38:42
The Enterprise X, Model 911 or Project Vulcan
Quote from: WernerLindner
it took me a while to sort out all the information I have about this matter and to write everything down in the right order, but now I am ready to present you the last big mystery in the history of Enterprise Computers. Up till today there was only one small picture in Popular Computing Weekly, telling something about the new Enterprise from July 1986, as you know.
 
The story behind this machine goes back to autumn 1985 when it became clear, that the original plans for producing/selling the 64k/128k had to be revised. The home-computer computer market was changing rapidly, the first 16bit machines were already announced. Due to the late arrival of the 64k/128k there was a variety of competitors, that had already occupied the market. Sales were not as expected and EC UK had to do something. Releasing the 128k machine earlier as planned didn't push the business. In fact sales were going down after loosing contracts with bigger department stores and retailers and they decided to develop some kind of a "super ENTERPRISE".
 
The had not many alternatives as far as the hardware design is concerned: NICK and DAVE had to be used further on, there was no money for a redesign of the chips. Therefore first designs were more or less bigger 128k machines with built-in EPROM bank and Exdos controller. The plan was to target companies and offices with a package, that contained a business Enterprise with bundled software, monochrome monitor and a single floppy disk drive. This project got the model number 911.
 
Right from the start it was clear, that they had to do something for getting production cost down. The assembly of the existing machine was to time consuming and therefore to expensive. The existing moulds would have to be renewed after appr. 100.000 "shots" too. Therefore they needed a new design with a reduced number of parts. A design study was started and as a result there were at least 6 different proposals. The management decided to go for draft no. 6 with some minor changes on the cooling slots on top of the machine. The final drawing (marked "1.3") went to the model maker later for a first prototype housing.
 
The first circuit diagrams for the new machines were made out of the existing drawings of the 64k/128k machine and are dated 16.12.1985. These plans got a number of changes over the next month and the last known change is from 03.06.1986. It is not known, when EC UK started with the first prototype motherboards, but this must have been after the design study and after they had determined the final measurements of the new machine.
 
When they had fixed final dimensions of the machine, work on the pcb started immediately. The first and only available version of the motherboard is dated somewhere in february/march 1986. At that point some parts of the old machine (the UHF modulator and it's circuits and the old power regulators) were still planned to be on the new machine. And there is no 8MHz clock circuit for the internal exdos.
 
The old power regulators showed to be overloaded (at least they get very hot in a machine with additional ram/serial board) and a plan for an external switching power supply with 5V/12V was born, although the documentation of 25th, february 1986 show a drawing for an intermediate heat sink, that should be mounted between the old power regulators and the metal chassis. The existing metal chassis (all prototype made by a company named "Brigthon Sheet Metal") already have a hole for the power plug of the new external power-supply (the old socket does not really fit to this).
 
The first and only top cover for the computer (made by a model maker) was ready somewhere in april/may 1986. The same applies to the one and only keyboard that has survived. This keyboard is a PC style keyboard without internal electronics and a keyboard membrane, that has the same layout as on the 64/128k machines. On the working prototype not all keys are assigned to their correct keycodes (because EXOS 2.1 had got no changes for the new model yet) and therefore some of them are not in the position you would expect them to be, but the keyboard is working fine.
 
EC UK worked on the prototype until they had to close down in July 1986. At this point there were no drawings for the housing, there was only a preliminary version of the metal chassis (no final construction drawings), there was no final keyboard and there was no newer versions of the pcb for the machine. And there was absolutely no work done as far as EXOS/BASIC/EXDOS and/or the planned word processor is concerned. The EXOS on the prototypes was only changed as far as the clock settings for DAVE (running on 6 MHz) is concerned and EXDOS 2.0 only contained changes to be able to format floppies on a 6 MHz machine.
 
I assume that there must have been a lot of paperwork relating the prototype and the current state of development, but this was all scrapped/lost, when the remains of EC UK went to Broadlight Ltd. When we took over everything in autumn 1986 and discovered the prototypes, we immediately contacted Lachu Mathani, to find out more. As he had no idea about the prototype, he contacted Steve Groves, who answered him with the attached letter in November 1986. Steve made an excellent summary about the current state of development and the planned features of model 911. But his letter also showed, that IS was not too deeply involved in the development work on the prototype. Asking Lachu about the reason he told us, that IS was asking for a lot of money for this work and EC UK was not able/not willing to afford that.
 
All in all there were only 4 PCBs, 3 chassis, 2(3) ram/serial boards and one complete prototype, that had survived. Two of the pcb's were in very bad condition and not working at all, but I kept them together with all the other stuff. The complete machine was securely packed and never touched by us. The working prototype without keyboard was used for intensive testing on our side. I made a stand-alone keyboard out of a non working EC128k machine for it to be able to use the computer and the complete prototype and my own "creation" are still running today.
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.07. 09:47:39
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]
[attach=4][attach=5][attach=6]
[attach=7][attach=8][attach=9]
[attach=10][attach=11][attach=12]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.07. 09:55:35
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]
[attach=4][attach=5][attach=6]
[attach=7][attach=8][attach=9]
[attach=10][attach=11]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.07. 09:56:42
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]
[attach=4][attach=5][attach=6]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.07. 10:03:11
Prototype with separate Keyboard - Made by EC GmbH

Quote from: WernerLindner
Kopácsy Vilmos saw this prototype machine with the separate keyboard once, when he was in Munich. I am quite sure, that this is the reason, why he was talking about the separate keyboard in this interview later.

[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]
[attach=4][attach=5][attach=6]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.07. 10:07:13
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]
[attach=4][attach=5][attach=6]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.07. 10:13:41
I asked about the well know PW360 name:
Quote from: WernerLindner
The internal model number was 911. The only name i know was PW320 or ENTERPRISE 320. I do not know what the "PW" is standing for.
PW320 are more logical for 320K memory :-) Probably someone somewhere mistyped the name... but where is the origin?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.07. 10:20:56
My notes:
I think the design started with 4Mhz Z80, and later changed to 6Mhz. Then needed the plus clock generator to the EXDOS.
The Parts List also say about Z80A. In Werner's EPROM collection are a BASIC 2.1 + EXDOS 1.2 EPROM, which is for the 4Mhz 911.

About the keyboard: look the XT keyboard. (http://www.pcguide.com/ref/kb/layout/z_011261xt.jpg) Then the lot of unused key holes on the prototype keyboard. (http://enterpriseforever.com/hall-of-fame/qa-with-werner-lindner-technical-director-of-the-enterprise-computers-gmbh/?action=dlattach;attach=12166;image)
I'm sure: just a new keyboard membrane produced for a existing XT keyboard, and some keys moved to new position. New EP printed key caps not produced for the prototype.

Quote from: WernerLindner
Yes, you are right: The keyboard was a standard PC XT keyboard with a special membrane. The producer of the membrane for the old machines was NFI, but I think the new keyboard incl. membrane was from Far East. When we contacted NFI for the tooling of the old membrane they did not mention another project or different tools for the PW320.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: gflorez on 2015.April.07. 10:23:54
I see the original connectors on other shapes, it lacks the RF modulator and one of the two Tape relays, but I can see the Parallel port and the legacy Net/serial port. The Controller ports are on the keyboard, and the expansion bus is on the Ram/Serial expansion.

But what is that Din 5pin connector, an Hi-FI output-input? A Midi port?(surely not...)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: gflorez on 2015.April.07. 10:27:54
Ah, and the cartridge Bay is now internal.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: BruceTanner on 2015.April.07. 10:28:54
The Enterprise X, Model 911 or Project Vulcan (Attachment Link) (Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)
But his letter also showed, that IS was not too deeply involved in the development work on the prototype. Asking Lachu about the reason he told us, that IS was asking for a lot of money for this work and EC UK was not able/not willing to afford that.

I think it is quite likely that IS refused to do any more work until they had been paid for previous work, which of course they never were, resulting in IS going bankrupt.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.07. 10:35:58
The Controller ports are on the keyboard,
Just on the unfinished one. Werner made the keyboard for this from a dead EP128.

Quote
But what is that Din 5pin connector, an Hi-FI output-input? A Midi port?(surely not...)
It is the NET port.

I suggest read the attached Steve Groves letter :-) he wrote a lot of details.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: gflorez on 2015.April.07. 10:59:30
OK, I have to read more.....


Steve Groves writes about Control ports : "Combined into IDC socket with 5v and 0v. Special adapter was designed for Joystick/mouse use"...
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.07. 11:09:54
"Combined into IDC socket with 5v and 0v. Special adapter was designed for Joystick/mouse use"...
Only Control 1 port kept. Conector replaced 12 pin edge (2 pin unused) to 10 pin IDC.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.07. 13:06:21
I try to summarize the changes from EP128:
-onboard EXDOS
-4MHz Z80A replaced to 6MHz Z80B
-8x1 bit RAM ICs replaced with 2x4 bit ICs as Video memory
-EXOS ROM socket still 32K
-cartridge port removed, replaced by onboard cartridge ROM socket, but it is only 32K
-2 additional 32K ROM sockets
-external System Bus connector and the internal EXP1&EXP2 connectors removed, replaced by Internal System Bus connector
-internal RAM expansion have 256Kbit ICs instead the old 64Kbit ICs. Then the total memory are 320K (64+256)
-PAL video ICs and RF modulator removed (but you can see the place for these on the prototype PCBs), RGB monitor output with 15 pin DA-15S connector, ond monochrome output on RCA
-internal spekar replaced with bigger one (Why not removed? :roll: )
-REM2 removed. REM1 controled by both REM1 and REM2 signals
-Serial/Lan connector only kept for Enterprise LAN. Connector replaced to DIN socket
-new hw Serial port added on same PCB with the RAM expansion. It is built with Z80 SIO. But the new SERIAL: driver need to be written.
-Printer connector replaced with 14 pin IDC connector
-Control Port 2 removed, Control Port 1 connector replaced with 10 pin IDC connector.
-keyboard replaced by modified PC keyboard, but still using membrane. Membrane connectors are same with the old.
-power LED moved to the power connector, the light can be viewable at the speaker holes
-planned new external PSU which also generate +12V and -5V. But the kept the +5V regulators in the machine :roll: This change only on schematic, the existing prototype borads using the old PSU

Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: szipucsu on 2015.April.07. 14:03:14
image (http://enterpriseforever.com/hall-of-fame/qa-with-werner-lindner-technical-director-of-the-enterprise-computers-gmbh/?action=dlattach;attach=12145;image)
Does it really work? Do you have one?
Anyway, where is the LOCK key? :D
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.07. 14:14:33
Does it really work?
Yes!

Quote
Do you have one?
Werner have two :-) (One complete and one with the "external Enterprise keyboard")

Quote
Anyway, where is the LOCK key? :D
See the keymap in the drawings PDF.
Used existing components of PC keyboard, not produced Enterprise key caps for the prototype.
[attach=1]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: lgb on 2015.April.07. 14:30:33
Werner have two :-) (One complete and one with the "external Enterprise keyboard")

Aha, so soon, you will have one :)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: szipucsu on 2015.April.07. 14:53:01
not produced Enterprise key caps for the prototype.
(Attachment Link)
So, the only possibility to reach ALT, SHIFT or CAPS words in the status line was using SET 6,8, SET 6,2, SET 6,1?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.07. 14:55:13
So, the only possibility to reach ALT, SHIFT or CAPS words in the status line was using SET 6,8, SET 6,2, SET 6,1?
:?: Lock is under the Enter. Just not printed the "LOCK" to the key cap.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.07. 15:17:21
Aha, so soon, you will have one :)
:lol: Werner want to keep the working prototypes. But we talking about one non working board... :ds_icon_cheesygrin:
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.07. 15:23:53
I asked about the model number: Why 911? Because the Porsche 911? :-D
Quote from: WernerLindner
I have absolutely no idea. Maybe it was the emergency call number at that time :-) ? Today it is 999 in England but USA and Canada are using the 9-1-1. But for the model number history this machine should have got the model number 300 (500=64k, 400=128k, 300=PW320), don't you think so too?
Yes, it is more logical.

Bruce! Do you have any idea about the 911 at that time?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Tricky on 2015.April.07. 19:15:43
Zozo,

In the UK its been 999 for the emergency services long before the Enterprise so some link to 911 in the US is possible. As you guys say only alternative is the link to Porsche 911's. In the 80's the 911 had a reputation as a car for a certain type of people (bankers) so would be a surprising link.

Machine looks fascinating though. Keep up the great work !!

Cheers

Tricky
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: BruceTanner on 2015.April.08. 00:04:25
Bruce! Do you have any idea about the 911 at that time?

No idea at all, I know nothing about this machine! Maybe wishful thinking regarding speed, maybe someone "high up" in Enterprise had a Porsche 911, maybe number of days between announcement and shipping :mrgreen:

As others have said 999 has been the emergency number in the UK since the 1930s. An American link seems unlikely since it was never sold there.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.08. 00:07:03
maybe number of days between announcement and shipping :mrgreen:
:smt044
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.08. 09:21:10
I look for the origin of the wrong PW360 name. Used google with date range limited search.
This article from 2005 (http://alive.atari.org/alive12/ent64.php) the origin.
CiH! You wrote this :oops:
Can you remember for your source?

Evidence for PW320: Enterprise Code Book, page 8 (http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/Enterprise-Code-Book_Parts-and-Suppliers.pdf)
And Werner's memory :-) (http://enterpriseforever.com/hall-of-fame/qa-with-werner-lindner-technical-director-of-the-enterprise-computers-gmbh/msg45973/#msg45973)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: SlashNet on 2015.April.08. 10:19:37
(P)roject (W)erner 320? :lol:
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: CiH on 2015.April.08. 21:17:31
Quote
CiH! You wrote this :oops:

From an imperfectly remembered article in Popular Computing Weekly. As already shown earlier in this thread!
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.08. 21:25:36
From an imperfectly remembered article in Popular Computing Weekly. As already shown earlier in this thread!
It is (http://enterprise.iko.hu/articles/PopularComputingWeekly86071700005.jpg) not write the name, and also not the Z80B!

I think the Enterprise Computers GmbH created the PW320 name. The original printed lines (these from UK) in the Code Book always talking about Model 911.

Probably you read about it in some German magazine? And this magazine write the wrong PW360 name?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: CiH on 2015.April.09. 22:35:19
Quote
Probably you read about it in some German magazine? And this magazine write the wrong PW360 name?

Quite possibly. I do remember the PCW article and picture from 'back in the day'. Where the 'PW360 came from, recollection fails me. At least we know now what went down here.

I have idly pondered what a next-gen Enterprise designed to compete with ST/Amiga would have looked like?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.10. 10:10:04
Some help for the diagnostic ROMs:
Quote from: WernerLindner
I have made a design for a Test-Unit-II, that is completely compatible to the Hypertone-Test-Gear, as far as the pcb-tests in the cartridges are concerned. Attached you'll receive the circuit diagrams and my board-design of 1992. You need cables to connect the test-unit to an ENTERPRISE, but apart from that it should work like the original I/O-Unit of the Hypertone.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.13. 11:11:20
Little more about the Enterprise 320 (Modell 911):
Quote from: WernerLindner
I really cannot remember who used PW320 for the machine for the first time, but the handwriting in the code-book is mine :-)

EC320 memory/rom-mapping
Apart from the internal 64k from segments FF-FC there is the 256k memory expansion on segments EF-E0. On the full prototype (incl. housing) EXOS is on segment 00/01, BASIC is on segment 04 and EXDOS on segment 05. Attached the ROM-Files from the prototype.
My notes for the ROMs: in the EXOS just the DAVE initializaton (BFh port) changed to 6MHz, and also the ROM CRC corrected. Not changed the timing constants in the TAPE: and NET: drivers, then it is probably not compatible with the original 4MHz machines. I think these functions not tested before the company crashed.
The BASIC 2.1 and EXDOS 2.0 same with we already have. In the EXDOS 2.0 some timings modified for 6MHz machine, other parts same with the 1.2 version.

Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.13. 15:45:45
Quote from: WernerLindner
As promised I have scanned the ISSUE 6 films (component/solder/placeplan) as 400dpi TIF-Files
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.20. 12:10:27
Drawings of the 6 slots Expansion Unit (which is later not released):
http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/A3PER-12_Enterprise_64-128_Expansion_Motherboard_Schematic.jpg
http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/Expansion-Unit_Place-Plan.jpg
http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/Expansion-Unit_Component-Side.jpg
http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/Expansion-Unit_Solder-Side.jpg
http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/A3PER-13_DPC-PER_Motherboard_PCB_Profile.jpg

The original EXDOS card, and the 64K external Memory Expansion developed for this unit.
There is thes Test Report about the expansion system:
http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/PER-24-1_Enterprise_Peripherals_Test_Report.pdf
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: pear on 2015.April.20. 12:34:15
This version of the Expansion Unit requires the proper operation of the connected card signal /EXP.
EXDOS supports this signal, but, for example, ZX Spectrum Emulator is not.
The Emulator design need to improve.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.20. 12:45:04
This version of the Expansion Unit requires the proper operation of the connected card signal /EXP.
EXDOS supports this signal, but, for example, ZX Spectrum Emulator is not.
Yes. Because this Unit not released, and also the documents not published, just the original EXDOS card follow this system. The emulator card also have a big bug for this system: the Slot Address lines used as extra GND and +5V wires on the Emulator...

All other expansion which produced for the Enterprise using only the normal 2x33 pin bus of the machine.
The hungarian Bus Expansion card the most popular used:
http://gafz.enterpriseforever.com/Hardware/PCB/Picture/bus-1.gif
http://gafz.enterpriseforever.com/Galery/Bovitmenyek/Picture/buszbovito.jpg
http://gafz.enterpriseforever.com/Galery/Bovitmenyek/Picture/BuszBovito~3.jpg

Some cards:
http://gafz.enterpriseforever.com/Galery/Bovitmenyek/Picture/SRAM-EPROM~3.jpg
http://gafz.enterpriseforever.com/Galery/Bovitmenyek/Picture/RS232~3.jpg
http://gafz.enterpriseforever.com/Galery/Bovitmenyek/Picture/Clock_and_Calendar~1.jpg
http://gafz.enterpriseforever.com/Galery/Bovitmenyek/Picture/1MB_RAM~1.jpg
http://gafz.enterpriseforever.com/Galery/Bovitmenyek/Picture/IDE~1.jpg
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: gflorez on 2015.April.20. 13:47:27
Zozo, could the Microteam work "as is" with that official Expansion Unit if the connector is unwelded?

Hypothetically, of course... but it seems that impossible things are happening lately...
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.20. 14:02:20
Zozo, could the Microteam work "as is" with that official Expansion Unit if the connector is unwelded?
Not. With the official Expansion only the original Exdos and this RAM expansion (http://enterpriseforever.com/hall-of-fame/qa-with-werner-lindner-technical-director-of-the-enterprise-computers-gmbh/msg45679/#msg45679) working.

MICROTEAM can work with the Hungarian Bus Expansion card.
[attach=1]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.20. 18:33:56
Little interesting thing: the "EXOS Card" :-D
It is a internal EPROM card with 4x8K or 2x16K EPROMs, placed to the internal expansion connector (where normaly the second 64K placed in EP128).
The ROM signal come from onboard ROM socket CE pin.

It is little strange to me, why did this :oops: I think 4x8K EPROMs and PCB will more expensive than one 32K EPROM :shock:

Bruce! Do you have any memories about this? The schematic are from the IS.

http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/Flan-Enterprise-Eprom-Sub-Board~0.jpg
http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/Flan-Enterprise-Eprom-Sub-Board~1.jpg
http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/Flan-Enterprise-Eprom-Sub-Board~2.jpg
http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/Flan-Enterprise-Eprom-Sub-Board~3.jpg
http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/Flan-Enterprise-Eprom-Sub-Board~4.jpg
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.20. 19:56:36
Quote from: WernerLindner
An original 64k-internal-memory expansion ex works Elec&Eltek. There is a missing IC (U111). At that time, some components were not obtainable in far east and the memory expansions have been produced without them. The missing components had to be soldered to the pcb's during the assembly process at GRI later.
[attach=1][attach=2]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.20. 20:01:26
Quote from: WernerLindner
And there is an early version of the MIDI-cartridge together with an original disk from Vilmos, carrying the Scoretrack ROM-File and some demonstration songs. The cartridge pcb is the same as in my complete cartridge. But instead of the eprom there is a static 62256 ram, an additional TTL chip and a switch. The switch is for the /WE-pin of the ram (you can "write-protect" the ram) and the red wire to pin 1 is for A14. I have not tested this cartridge (I do not have the software for moving a rom-file to this ram), but I think it should be fine. At least we know now, that the one circuit is a 74S133.
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.20. 20:05:18
Quote from: WernerLindner
Enterprise Fischertechnik
One of our guys from the office was very fond of Fischertechnik at that time and he had this very expensive robotic interface and the 3-axis robot-arm. He had written some very interesting software for this device in Turbo Pascal and asked me, whether he should try porting it to the Enterprise (that was in 1993). The robotic interface had a centronics parallel interface and therefore connecting it to the Enterprise was very easy. However the existing pascal programs had to be reduced to very elementary functionality due to the limited processing power of the EC under IS-DOS/Turbo Pascal. But at least the TEACH.COM-program has a teach-in mode with way-points for all motors of the robot, a facility to save and load the trained programs and a "player" for running the programs once/continuously. You can see the robot in action on the attached photos. The source-codes of TEACH.COM are not existing anymore (at least I coudn't find them in my backups yet).
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]
[attach=4][attach=5]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: gflorez on 2015.April.21. 00:04:03
I've found this (http://www.meccanotec.com/fischer.htm) description of that robot arm.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: BruceTanner on 2015.April.21. 10:17:23
It is little strange to me, why did this :oops: I think 4x8K EPROMs and PCB will more expensive than one 32K EPROM :shock:

Bruce! Do you have any memories about this? The schematic are from the IS.

No I don't, but I wouldn't necessarily have heard about things like this. But I think we're at the limits of economic technology at the time and 27128s were really only just appearing, even 64s seemed big!
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.22. 15:25:27
Better quality versions of the schematics from Werner:
EP64 motherboard 4/1 (http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/EP64-1~0.jpg)
EP64 motherboard 4/2 (http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/EP64-2~0.jpg)
EP64 motherboard 4/3 (http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/EP64-3~0.jpg)
EP64 motherboard 4/4 (http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/EP64-4~0.jpg)
EP128 internal 64K expansion (http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/EP128INTERNALRAMEXPANSION~0.jpg)
EXDOS card (http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/A3PER-6_Enterprise_64-128_Disk_Controller_Module_Schematic.jpg)
Expansion Module (http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/A3PER-8_Enterprise_64-128_Expansion_Module_Cable_Schematic.jpg) (~Bus Bridge)
Elan Enterprise Cartridge Configurations (http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/Elan-Enterprise-Cartridge-Configurations.jpg)
These are new:
1 socket cartridge (http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/Enterprise-Rom-Cartridge-Schematic.jpg)
2 sockets cartridge (http://enterprise.iko.hu/schematics/Flan-Enterprise-Eprom-Cartridge-Schematic.jpg)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: NoP on 2015.April.22. 22:39:14
Wow, this topic is pure gold. Thank you, Mr. Lindner!
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.24. 12:02:09
Some additional documents of the robot.
http://docs.fischertechnikclub.nl/computing/39461.pdf (http://docs.fischertechnikclub.nl/computing/39461.pdf)

And some words about the Enterprise configuration on the photos:
Quote from: WernerLindner
The EC on the pictures including all the peripherals was the demonstration machine in our office. The big station to the right of the computer is the 30MB harddisc station with built-in 5.25" fdd. On top of the Cub RGB monitor there is a Cumana 3.5" double-disk-drive. This harddisc is the one which survived and once it is back in operation (power supply) I will present it to you in detailed pictures.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.24. 21:55:44
Something interesting coming soon, especially for SlashNet :-)
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: SlashNet on 2015.April.24. 23:27:47
Wow. :smt023
Symbols on keyboard not only cyrillic.
Additional symbols (on numeric keys) is from kazakh alphabet:
(http://paratype.ru/help/language/pictures/40.gif)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.24. 23:52:49
Yes, it is from Алма-Ата schools projects.
Character set:
[attach=1]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: SlashNet on 2015.April.25. 01:08:15
Ouch. Very ugly font. :(
I hoped that it was 256-character table, but it only 128-characters.

Interesting how they made switching of keyboard layout?
CAPS+LOCK - English big letters, NORM - Cyr small characters, ALT - Cyr big letters?
Or they change KB driver?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.25. 09:04:14
I hoped that it was 256-character table, but it only 128-characters.
For a 256 characters mode need to write new video driver.

Quote
Or they change KB driver?
Yes. Normal and SHIFT mode write small and big cyrillic letters. ALT for big english letters, numbers and symbols.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.25. 21:12:15
Firstly some stories from Werner:
Quote from: WernerLindner
The story about the cyrilic cartridge is a special one. Although I will give you the full story later I can tell you, that we had to do it in less than 5 months. In early summer 1989 there was a computer exhibition (or a technical exhibition) in Budapest. Vilmos and we took part with our products and a company called Olympiatrade contacted us there, asking us about the possibility of exporting the EC to the states of the former USSR. They brought a delegation of the Kazakh ministry of education to us and these people were looking for school computers for computer technical education. They were very fond of the Enterprise, especially as one computer with green monitor was only around DEM 500 instead of appr DEM 2700 for an IBM compatible XT clone from far east at that time.
 
We invited the delegation to Munich (they came in autumn 1989), not having any russian version of the machines ready. Work on the cirillic cartridge started immediately. As there was no time to make a new cartridge pcb, we took the already existing three slot pcb from Hungary. Vilmos made a first version of the cyrillic keyboard/printer driver and self-adhesive stickers for the keyboard have been designed. The demonstration machines were finished the night before the minister arrived in Munich (I remember, that Vilmos and I went home from the office around 04:00am, just to sleep an hour or two and go back again to welcome the delegation). I have lots of pictures from that time but there was no time to scan them yet.
 
The delegation was impressed, but asked for additional Kazakh characters (you can see them in the first keyboard-row on the pictures). We promised to be able to do that and therefore they signed a contract for two demonstration networks for Almaty. Installation should be soon (i.d.within 1989). We really had to do our utmost, to be able to get ready till then. The hardware (standard unmodified machines ex stock munich) were sent immediately by airfreight and Vilmos and I went to Almaty by the end of november, were we stayed till the 23rd, december. The software for the first two networks got ready somewhere on the 17th/18th, december and we tested the computers and the networks in our hotel rooms, were we had our "office" or "laboratory". We got back on the 23rd/24th of december, but our plane was delayed and there was no flight back from moscow to Budapest on the 24th anymore. We had to spend christmas on moscow airport and flew back to Budapest on the 25th, were I had my car.
 
As you already discovered, the Cyrillic roms have some specialities:
- We had to uppercase all reachable messages and error codes because of the missing smaller latin characters in cyrillic-mode.
- We decided to take version number 2.2 for all roms of the machines, just to have separate versions for the cyrillic machines
- The ZZZIP-compiler was only on the demonstration cartridges for Munich. The computers in Almaty had only the two-slotted cartridge with BASIC 2.2 and the PUPIL/TEACHER-ROM inside.
- EXOS137 and EXOS 138 are the EXOS versions for school number 137 and school number 138 (schools in Almaty had no names, but only a number at that time). These two schools got the demonstration networks. I cannot tell you the reason for these special EXOS roms anymore.
 
All the strange other things (Help-Screens, ...) are simply a result of the unbelievable short time we had to invent that all. We had nothing in June/July and two working computer networks with cyrillic/kazakh keyboard, printer driver, word processor in december of the same year. And this all happened appr. 4950 km away from Munich/Budapest in a time, were Perestroika and Glasnost were just 4 years old. There was no internet nor email at that time and communication was done by telex/teletex, by fax or by phone. There were no direct flights, applying for a visa took appr 4 weeks and everything was more than complicated - a real adventure :-).
Quote from: WernerLindner
we were in Moscow in March 1990 to talk about the possible manufacturing of the EC computers in the USSR (we were talking to ASI Computers, a far-east/russian joint venture at that time). And we met Alexander Perewostschikov (sorry for any misspelling) from Technika Molodeschi. This magazine got a shipment of computers, programs, printers and monitors from us a little bit later. The people from Olympiatrade managed all the appointments in Moscow and organized shipments and payments.
 
At these times it was almost impossible to sell anything to these countries against hard currency. Everything was done with barter contracts, i.e. goods against goods. Companies like EC GmbH always needed a man-in-the-middle who officially did the deal in both directions. Fx. Dhezgazkhan payed for their computers with copper. They delivered the copper, we delivered the computers. As we were not in a position to sell copper on the stock market by ourselves, Olympiatrade was managing everything around that and we received the money from them.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.25. 21:48:42
There is the ROMs, and what I'm already discovered:
You can found a "fake" 2.2 versions of EXOS, BASIC and EXDOS. The main modification on these: all messages converted to upper case.
Then these are displayed right also in cyrillic mode.

EXOS: the version number only modified at the memory test screen.
[attach=1]
 See the ASMON screen, the system report version 2.1
[attach=2]
Because the modifications the ROM CRC are wrong. Instead calculate the right CRC the CRC check routine removed.
If external memory test run with these EXOS roms, INTERNAL CHECKSUM ERROR detected and system halted.
[attach=3]
Another byte modified in the EXOS:
;PRE VER COPYRIGHT CHECKING
;SEGMENT 00
;    EXOS 2.1    EXOS 2.2
;0181    031H    032H
;019C    0C9H    SCHOLL NO    YET 089H,08AH

At the first character of "INTERNAL CHECKSUM ERROR" message stored the school number.
You can see this in the error screen.
This number byte the reason for the strange EXOS137 and EXOS138 filenames.

Error messages don't modified in EXOS, because these are stored in compressed format.

BASIC: version number in the HELP list modified. But I think if we ask the version number with BASIC system call then it is still report 2.1...
Copyright modified for 1989 Enterprise Computers GmbH
[attach=4]
Some texts which are in this ROM are upper cased, for example the OK message or the "bytes in system".
But the BASIC error messages still original, because these are in the EXOS ROM Segment 01h, and also in compressed format...

EXDOS: its a hacked 1.3 version, English messages are upper cased. Copyright changed to 1989 EC GmbH
[attach=5]
Cyrillic ROM: the first and big surprise for me the starting screen! It is a variant of the 'a' Studió Enterprise Plus cartridge! :shock:
For the comparision I also made screen shoots with the Plus ROM.
[attach=6][attach=7]

At the start the CIRIL ROM is check the modified bytes in the EXOS ROM. If these not right then come the GAME OVER screen :-)
[attach=8]

Compare the HELP list of the CIRIL and PLUS, the PLUS have more functions, but the CIRIL HELPs little more detailed.
[attach=9][attach=10]
[attach=11][attach=12]

Both expansion include WP. This is very interesting point!
The Plus don't include in the HELP list, and not autostarted (if no other ROM started), only started with WP command.
The CIRIL are list as WP 2.2, and it is can be autostarted. The copyright also are 1989 EC GmbH.
[attach=13]
The big surprise when it is started! It is the Super WP! Just all text upper cased.
[attach=14]
But in the PLUS ROM, the WP looks same with the original 2.1 version. Only in the Status line write it is a WP PLUS. And the upper screen are strange: it is widder than the original, like in the Super WP.
[attach=15]
I can't find any functional difference in this version from the 2.1...
There is the most strange thing: the Plus Cartridge User Manual are talking about: new better WP, with printer functions included in the Plus ROM. But we not found the better functions...
But this is right for the Super WP, which is included in the CIRIL ROM! Very strange why it is missing from the Plus!

Back to the HELP list: the CIRIL ROM are illegally close the HELP list, for avoid the WP 2.1 displayed. This make other problem: in the complete Cyrillic cartridge (what we see on the photo) included another EPROM with the ZZZIP BASIC compiler.
But because the HELP list illegally closed, the ZZZIP don't displayed. For solve this problem HELP items added fot ZZZIP in the CIRIL ROM. Strange solution... :-)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: BruceTanner on 2015.April.26. 00:40:33
Quote
Fx. Dhezgazkhan payed for their computers with copper. They delivered the copper, we delivered the computers

Amazing story! :smt043

Quote
But because the HELP list illegally closed, the ZZZIP don't displayed. For solve this problem HELP items added fot ZZZIP in the CIRIL ROM.

:smt018   :smt021
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: geco on 2015.April.26. 12:16:28
Great story :) Did the Kazakh story end here, or the story continued ?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.27. 10:33:05
Great story :) Did the Kazakh story end here, or the story continued ?
More will come, also other ex-Soviet countries :-)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.28. 16:03:38
About the robot Werner previously wrote:
The source-codes of TEACH.COM are not existing anymore (at least I coudn't find them in my backups yet).
But now:
Quote from: WernerLindner
Then while putting the harddisk back into operation I found the complete sources for the Fischertechnik robot on it and you'll find them attached.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.28. 16:11:07
Article from Mein Homecomputer 12/1985:
[attach=1][attach=2]

And from Computer Aktuell 01/1986:
[attach=3][attach=4]
[attach=5][attach=6]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.28. 16:14:58
Prices from METRO catalogue at 1986. For the comparison IBM PC pages included:
[attach=1][attach=2]
[attach=3][attach=4]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.28. 16:18:39
CIAEGI monitor technical manuals. Now we know who produced these Enterprise monitors. (http://ep128.hu/Album/Pic/Speccyalista_2008_14.jpg)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Tuby128 on 2015.April.28. 17:58:05
Quote from article of Mein Homecomputer 12/1985:
"Umschalten zwischen BASIC und Textsystem, ist jederzeit über die Funktionstaste 8 (mit Shift zum Textsystem, ohne Shift zum BASIC) ohne Verlust der eingegebenen Texte bzw. Programme möglich."

Translation:
Switching betwenn BASIC and WP, is always by using Function 8 (with Shift to WP, without Shift to BASIC) without loss of program or edited text.

I don't think that this statement is true. With switch to WP I always lost my programs. What if the first version of EP could do that?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: SlashNet on 2015.April.29. 08:45:52
And we met Alexander Perewostschikov (sorry for any misspelling) from Technika Molodeschi

I think that this person is still working in editorial office of magazine "Техника Молодёжи": http://technicamolodezhi.ru/o_nas/ (http://technicamolodezhi.ru/o_nas/) (Александр Перевозчиков: editor-in-chief)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.29. 09:01:43
I don't think that this statement is true. With switch to WP I always lost my programs.
Yes. The magazine wrote false information.

Quote
What if the first version of EP could do that?
In the 1.x system no WP, just BASIC included in the mainboard ROM.

Anyway: in my Spectrum Emulator ROM the IS-BASIC program kept! Entering to the Spectrum mode, and switch back = hot reset from the IS-BASIC view point.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.29. 09:58:48
About the METRO prices I asked: is other 8 bit system in the catalogue, for example Commodores?
Quote from: WernerLindner
METRO is a reseller, that has only companies and dealers as customers - no endusers. Therefore they didin't offer any other "home computer" at that time. The first ENTERPRISE management tried to place the machine in the professional corner and that is the reason, why they offered it to METRO.
 
Unfortunately this was not a big success at all: The METRO-outlets got the machines and the peripherals on a commission base, i.e. they payed for everything but had the right to give back any unsold components within a specific period. All-in-all METRO sold only a few hundred machines and all the unsold stuff came back by the beginning of 1987.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Tuby128 on 2015.April.29. 14:44:26
Can he estimate how much units were sold to Metro how much came back?
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.29. 20:04:13
Quote from: WernerLindner
Appr. 50 METRO outlets took part in that deal and every outlet had 12 machines (2 cartons) , some monitors, printers and 4 disk drives (1 karton). Appr. 300 computers, some monitors, printers and half of the disk drives came back. One big problem was, that they had thrown away the boxes for the demonstration machines in the outlets (which they gave back too), so we had about 50 computers, disk drives, printers and some monitors without boxes, without cables, without manuals after that deal. Counting the time and money we had to spend for unpacking/packing, replacing missing items, ... and the loss of money, when selling these obviously used items, the deal was a flop for us.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.30. 14:09:39
Another legendary item that we never saw previously:
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Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.30. 14:15:32
[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]
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Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.30. 14:23:38
Quote from: WernerLindner
OK, here comes the long promised harddisk.
 
As I already told you the original design goes back to 1988/1989. The software was done by Michael Leopoldseder and Martin Schillinger, who both worked for EC GmbH on a freelance basis. The hardware design was my job and I made an extension card for the Minibus/Motherboard Extension Bus system and a smaller adaptor board for the OMTI/SEAGATE Controller. Both boards were connected via a 40pin flat ribbon cable and we successfully tested it up to a length of 1m. I have only the circuit diagrams and the top/bottom layer design as printouts anymore, there are no surviving prototypes.
 
The pcb design was done in a way, that both boards fit to an euro-card (160x100mm) for cheaper production. The board on the bus-side has the 64pin VG-connector, that you already know from my other cards. We produced three or four samples and sold appr. 10 kits (PAL, EPROM, description). Users, who had no MINIBUS/Motherboard Extension Bus had to interface the circuit to the existing EXDOS-controller. Users with MINIBUS/Motherboard Extension used my EXDOS controller card design. The harddisk software is made in a way, that you can connect up to two hdd drives with a max. of 32 MByte each to the system. The drives are mapped to drive letters F: and G:. The software supports German or English machines.
 
The principle design of this first version was taken for the harddisk system, that was used for the school networks in Kyrgysthan in 1992. We created the "Interface 4" card, that carried the complete harddisk interface electronics and two additional 128k static rams for a memory expansion. The existing EXDOS-controller was piggy-backed to the interface card. We used 64k machines for the teacher computer and therefore the memory expansion was decoded to segment FBh. The eprom with the harddisk was decoded to segment 30h. My working prototype is one of these later models. We have produced appr. 50 units that all went to Kyrgysthan. (Bishkek).

Quote from: WernerLindner
We have made one card with the complete controller electronics on-board with a connector, where the earlier used OMTI controller could be plugged in directly. And than I have a wire-wrapped version of the Bus-Interface of the controller (that one where the 40pin ribbon-cable is coming out to go to the adaptor card). Both cards are using a 74LS154 for decoding the eprom. Using the PAL/GAL was my idea, because I really like this kind of programmable logic.
 
At around 1990 OMTI controllers became were rare. Before we used them together with MFM-drives. My first harddisk on the ENTERPRISE was a combination of OMTI 5520 and SEAGATE ST225 with 20 Mbytes. Later we were using the ST11R with any kind of small RLL-drives. The ST157R was the smallest available drive in 1992, when we created the last version for the school networks.
 
The existing HDOS software cannot address more than 65535 sectors. As sector size is 512 Bytes, this will result in a total capacity of appr. 32 Mbytes. You cannot use more on a single drive. The remaining space on the ST157R is unused therefore. However you can connect a second drive to the controller and this will give you another 32 Mbytes.

Quote from: WernerLindner
The Pin-Layout on the IF4 is not compatible to my extension system, but to the original EXDOS controller. We had to use them, because they were in stock. There was no way of making a special EXDOS controller for only 50 units.
 
The memory is decoded from FBh to ECh and the machine should be fully compatible to the 128k. We had a second version of the GAL which started from F7h, to be able to use it with 128k machines as well. But for the school networks we used 64k machines as teacher machines only. This is the really big advantage of programmable logic: You can move memory or I/O-Ports around the system with only reprogramming the decoder chip.
 
The wires on the SRAM do have a stupid story: At that time there was no internet or other electronic media to get some information about new chips. There only were printed data books and data sheets. When designing the board we used the information we had about the 128kByte static rams and we supposed that all manufacturers would have the same pin-layout, to be compatible to each-other. At the time, when boards where ready the only supplier being able to deliver the static rams was SAMSUNG. And SAMSUNG had an incompatible pin-layout: They had changed /WE and /RD as far as I remember and we had to do the two small wires on each board.

Thenk I asked: In that interview (where talking about the new Enterprise model) Vilmos also told: "With the Enterprise 128K can use hard disk up to 160MB.
Finished interface which can handle the most of PC cards, than can be used VGA monitor for the system."
It is clear now, this system which use the Seagate card are the origin of the legend. But is any truth with the others: 160MB hard disk, or using other cards, for example VGA?


Quote from: WernerLindner
All the other things out of the interview with Vilmos are just fiction. There never was a plan for having bigger hdd drives on the Enterprise and there was no way of connecting a VGA-card or something similar to the machine. Of course the interface we made for the hdd-controllers can be used for other i/o based cards as well, but a VGA-card or a SCSI-controller is not only I/O based and there is no way for DMA-access to a PC-card with an ENTERPRISE. 

As far as Vilmos is concerned: The ideas about the big hdd's, the vga-cards, ... and so on were really his ideas only. I think he mentioned them in this interview to push his own business and to keep the ENTERPRISE in the papers and the media. He still had spectrum emulators in stock that he wanted to sell and he tried to keep up public interest high.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.30. 14:26:28
Documents for the first version:
http://enterprise.iko.hu/technical/HDOS_1.1A.pdf
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.April.30. 14:27:46
GALs for the Interface 4
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: BruceTanner on 2015.April.30. 15:29:20
Quote
Both boards were connected via a 40pin flat ribbon cable and we successfully tested it up to a length of 1m

A very extended Enterprise! :mrgreen:

Fascinating stories. I was completely unaware! :)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: pear on 2015.April.30. 15:40:55
Both boards were connected via a 40pin flat ribbon cable and we successfully tested it up to a length of 1m.
It is very good news for my FlexiBridge :) It could work :)
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.May.01. 11:41:23
Service manual for the EP80 printer.
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.May.06. 23:37:58
Quote from: WernerLindner
The N12H has a monochrome/amber tube and was used as the monitor for the pupil machine on all school networks. The pupil computers all were english 128k machines.
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Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.May.06. 23:47:33
Quote from: WernerLindner
My Enterprise Monitor is an original ENTERPRISE Monitor from England. It is a MICROVITEC Colour Monitor Model 3N250264BPQ, #125866 with built-in audio speaker/amplifier. This monitor was used at EC UK for doing photos for some of the advertising materials and official pictures. The monitor came with the stuff from England and I kept it for it's authenticity.
It is also on these brochures:
http://www.ep128.hu/Album/Pic/UK_Brochure_2.jpg
http://www.ep128.hu/Album/Pic/German_brochure.jpg

[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]
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Poster:
[attach=7]

Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.May.07. 00:08:35
Quote from: WernerLindner
I never talked about that before, but while looking for other stuff I came across my small "stock" of original cables for the ENTERPRISE. The pictures and descriptions are probably useful for your website. I never had a description for 900-07 (cynch-cable) and I have never seen an original cable. We always made our own Cynch-Cables by soldering the necessary connector to an open-end cable.
900-02 Scart Peritel
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900-03 Joystick 1-2
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900-04 Monitor open end
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900-05 Serial-Net
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900-06 Printer
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900-08 Joystick Adaptor
[attach=17][attach=18]

900-10 Monitor TTL-DIN
[attach=19]



Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.May.07. 00:12:50
Cables for the Model 911!
900-12 Peritel
[attach=1]
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900-13 Printer
[attach=4]
[attach=5][attach=6]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.May.07. 14:08:18
I asked about the teacher machines monitor:
Quote from: WernerLindner
Teacher stations on the russian networks had the CIAEGI M14H (color RGB with SCART-connector).
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.May.09. 22:26:07
Quote from: WernerLindner
The idea of having an expansion system for the Enterprise goes back to 1986, when I created my EXDOS-controller. I was not very fond of the edgs connectors of the enterprise. Especially the expansion port with it's 66 pins was too big, too special, too expensive and not very stable, as far as mechanical and electrical things are concerned. And the biggest problem: It was already blocked by the system bus bridge and the original EXDOS controller.
 
Not knowing anything about the Expansion system from IS/EC UK my friend Michael Leopoldseder and I decided to make a small expansion system, based on DIN 41612 connectors. These were/are cheap, reliable and mechanically stable. And they have 64pins, which is almost the same as on the Enterprise. Furthermore there are many prototyping cards (paper, FR4) available, that already have mounting holes and copper pads for these connectors. Doing prototypes for this system is very easy and the resulting boards are very solid and can be used for years like a  card with a produced pcb.
 
We made a concept for the bus buffering and found a very cheap way of driving the /EXP signal (we did it with a simple diode, first with 1N4148, later with BAT46 because of the lower drop in voltage), that was connected to the /RD-signal of the card. We left out all signals, that may disturb the bus (no anlog signals, no audio/video, ...) and buffered everything else in one/two directions. The sockets on the bus all have the same layout, i.e. we were not doing any predecoding of sockets, memory or address space. That means, that expansion cards for this systems must do a proper and full decoding of all i/O-ports and all address lines, but this is only a minor disadvantage against a system, that has no limitations. We created the name "MINIBUS" for the smaller version, that is directly attached to the expansion port of the computer. After finishing my EXDOS controller we both used this system at home and had a stable platform for future hardware expansions (fx. the harddisk interface). I made a second version of the MINIBUS adaptor with a DIN-VG-connector, that was directly soldered to my test machine. I put an additional 5V regulator on the machine to drive a4/b4 directly and made the 8 MHz circuit to support an EXDOS controller on the  6 MHz machine. It's from a 911 motherboard (quick & dirty).
 
Later I made the Motherboard-Extension-Bus-System. It was divided into two boards: One (the computer interface) fitted to an EXDOS-housing and used the System-Bus-Bridge for getting connected to the ENTERPRISE. The other side (the bus interface) used a euro-board-pcb (160x100mm) and fitted to a standard 19" box with 64pin backplane as a bus system. The box contained a power supply for 5/12V, that was powerful enough to supply the harddisc drive. Unfortunately there is only the computer interface, that survived. I had given away my 19" box to another ENTERPRISE user and had the plan to make a fully professional looking one, but this never got finished. I only have the box with fitted backplane for it, but not more. But in principle I could finalize it to have a complete system. I never made a special memory expansion for this system (don't ask me why :-)).
 
Both system were never produced professionally. All-in-all there were only about 20 MINIBUS-systems and probably only a handful of Motherboard Extension Busses (we only produced ten evaluation pcbs) of it.

Then I asked: "Not knowing anything about the Expansion system from IS/EC UK", it is before you got the all plans?
Quote from: WernerLindner
The plans for a small extension system were born together with my EXDOS controller. This is from 1986 and it was ready, before I had direct contact to EC GmbH. Therefore I had only a complete set of circuit diagrams of the machine and of the EXDOS controller at that time, not more. The EXDOS controller was my "entry" to EC GmbH, because I presented the controller and my bus-system to my dealer and he immediately called EC GmbH. Mike Windisch invited Michael Leopoldseder and me to the office at Sonnenstraße 3 in Munich and that was the beginning :-). Appr. half a year later we had the technical documentation from England for the expansion system than.

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Base System with Cards
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Second Prototype with 8MHz Conversion
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Rom Card with jumper for Segment
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Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.May.09. 22:33:32
You wrote previously about the harddisk system: "I have only the circuit diagrams and the top/bottom layer design as printouts anymore, there are no surviving prototypes."
Then it is true for the "cabled" version? As I see in these photos the very first prototype are exist!
Quote from: WernerLindner
Well, you are right as far as very early prototypes is concerned. The one proto card with the PC connector on board is the very first board from Michael, where he tested the first HDOS-software. The second card with the 40pin IDC-connector is my first prototype for the bus side of the cabled harddisk version. My document "Harddiisk_11A.PDF" has a part list for this cabled interface and b/w printing for the pcb from page 10ff. On page 10 you can see the last line "0.80m 40 poliges Flachbandkabel". That means 80cm ribbon cable with 40 pins. That was the distance we were sure that it will work on the customers eqipment, but we successfully tested 1m as well, as I already told you. But there are no surviving working prototypes of that version, only the earlier proto-boards. Furthermore I do not have the EAGLE-files for it anymore, but the films for component-/solder-layer for the PCB survived.

As I wrote previously my first harddisk was a ST225 on an OMTI 5520 but we tested all controllers, that are shown in my above mentioned document. The first HDOS version 1.0 was for the OMTIs only but we tested other controllers as well and Michael made the adoption for the SEAGATE ST11R very soon after he had completed V1.0. The OMTIs already became rare on the market at that time and RLL controllers and drives were all over. So Michael decided to try the ST11R, but this was the only other controller type, that was adopted.

Adaptor for OMTI Controller
[attach=1][attach=2]

MINIBUS Card
[attach=3][attach=4]

OMTI Controller
[attach=5][attach=6]
Title: Re: Q&A with Werner Lindner (technical director of the ENTERPRISE Computers GmbH)
Post by: Zozosoft on 2015.May.09. 22:46:55
Enterprise GmbH Motherboard Bus
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