Keep the timeframe in mind ... in the '80's I think the generalization I made
holds up pretty well.  As hardware became denser, things changed.
Nowadays, those old big-iron machines are all either toys or scrap, after all.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris" <mythtech(a)mac.com>
To: "Classic Computers" <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2002 9:01 PM
Subject: Re: "Toy" computers (was Re: Micro$oft Biz'droid Lusers)
  > > An
easy way to spot a product intended for the toy market as opposed to
> > one intended to be seen as a computer, is that the disk drive interface
> > is external. 
 I would propose that the label "toy"
might be suitable for machines that
have external disk controllers _and_ an external network interface 
 Woah... my PS/2 is a 'real' computer?
 It has internal storage (built in DVD drive, and 2 user upgradable RAM
 slots), AND has built in network interfaces (2 USB ports on the front
 which can be used for connecting 2 PS/2's together, and a proprietary
 expansion slot on the back for the recently released network/modem
 connector for connecting your PS/2 to the internet.. which I would
 classify as built in, since it connects to the single body unit, and was
 intended pretty much for this network box, and really is more of an
 optional part).
 Glad to know I didn't spend $300 on a toy.
 Oh... and the GameBoy is a real computer to. It has built in storage
 (game card slot), and built in networking (head to head port).
 I could probably go on with more examples... I could even narrow it down
 to ones that have built in floppy drives (to fade off the non "disk"
 drive concept, although I think claiming to need a floppy drive excludes
 an awful lot of other legit storage mediums, like all those systems that
 only use tape). There is a V-Tech kids learning "computer" that comes to
 mind that used 3.5" floppies (although, it might have lacked the required
 network port, but I think it had a serial port, but probably didn't
 support a "network" protocol).
 -chris
 <http://www.mythtech.net>