The 3194 is the most powerful of the nine models in the new display station
product line. All 3194 display stations are capable of running
in CUT or DFT mode. This represents a significant enhancement to the IBM
display-station, product line. In the past, DFT mode was restricted to the
3290 gas-plasma display.
The 3194 is almost a PC system with an 8 mhz 80186 microprocessor, 640K of
memory and a 720KB 3.5 inch floppy disk drive as standard features. However,
there are many incompatibilities between a 3194 and an MS/DOS or OS/2
system. Please read the "Special Features" section before jumping to any
conclusions about this product. It's quite sophisticated, but it's not an
IBM PC.
Displays
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The C series features a 12-inch color screen and supports mod 2 and 3
formats. The C series does not support graphics.
The D series features 15-inch green phosphor screens and supports mod 2, 3,
4, and 5 formats. The D series does not support graphics.
The H series features 14-inch color screens and supports mod 2, 3, 4, and 5
formats. The H series does not support graphics.
Keyboards
---------
The three standard keyboards are offered. The 102 key keyboard is a PC
keyboard with 24 function keys. The 104 key is a full, typewriter keyboard
with 24 function keys and no numeric pad. The 122 is a full, typewriter
keyboard with 24 function keys and a numeric pad. The keyboard is
waterproof and can be modified in setup mode. The keycaps can be removed
and replaced for specific applications. Each keyboard is bundled with a
display, so the second digit of the model number indicates which keyboard is
in the bundle.
Special Features
----------------
In addition to the standard 640K of memory, you can add a memory upgrade of
an additional 192K. A 2MB 3.5 inch floppy drive is also available.
DFT support gives the user the capability of having five host sessions
active at once. Four of these sessions can be 3270. With an optional async
interface, one of these sessions can be with an ASCII/Async host. The Async
feature uses VT100 terminal emulation. The device also supports two
notepads and one local "utility session", used to customize the display,
manage the diskettes, initiate file transfers, and do maintenance functions
like traces, dumps, and patches. The 3194 does not do "windows" in the
Macintosh sense, but instead toggles (using a "jump" key) from session to
session and provides a "screen split" capability.
Another significant feature is the implementation of an open 3270 API
interface on the 3194 products in DFT mode. This allows custom programming
of the device allowing multiple host/multiple session capabilities
transparent to the end user through application specific API programming
(using IBM's HLLAPI). This lets the programmer create "composite"
screens from multiple sessions to one or more host applications.
The API applications MUST be downloaded from the host. You cannot store
these on the local floppy disk. Development of these custom applications
can be done on an IBM PC with your favorite compiler using HLLAPI
extensions. This program is then compiled on the PC and uploaded to the
host, which distributes it to the devices. A "Device Function Modifier"
package is used to develop applications on the 3194 (if you don't want to
use a PC). The applications are uploaded to the host for distribution to
target 3194's.
The disk drive also lets you use DFT implementations on remote
controllers which do not support downline loading of microcode (like the
3174-81R or 82R).
The 3194's operating system has a restricted user "shell." The 3194 does
not run MS-DOS programs. It is intended for use in accounts where some local
intelligence (for custom API programming) is desirable, but PC
implementations are not. This puts control of the device firmly in the
hands of MIS management, rather than in those of the end user.
The disk drive format is incompatible with OS/2 and MS/DOS storage formats,
so forget about reading a 3194 disk on an MS/DOS or OS/2 compatible disk
drive.
The device supports file transfers to IBM IND$FILE packages under MVS/TSO,
VM/CMS, and CICS version 1 release 6 mod 1. You can use this file transfer
capability to enhance the API programming and API functionality of the
workstations. As the disk storage formats are incompatible with the MS/DOS
or OS/2 product line, you cannot share this data with a MS/DOS or OS/2
compatible disk drive. The local Utility session capability lets the user
initiate file transfers with IND$FILE mainframes. File transfers may also
be initiated by a custom API program.
All 3194 displays support the printer-port feature. All 3194's support the
Record/Play/Pause feature, through which the user can store up to 1500
characters and "play back" or modify these characters. 3194's have internal
baluns and use a special IBM cable with a special keyed connector with a
co-axial attachment at one end and an RJ11 on the other.
Pricing
-------
The 3194 series devices are priced as follows (list price as of 8/17/88)
One-year warranties are offered with all 3194's.
C series $2495-$2695
D series $2195-$2395
H series $2895-$3095
Memory Upgrade $325
ASCII feature $325
Internal Balun special cable $15.00