# About terminals from various vendors...

A major trend in the video-terminal business during the past decade has been for companies to merge, change names, and/or acquire lines of business from each other, so tracking the affiliation of some terminals can be difficult. (The other significant trend has been toward using desktop computers that emulate a dedicated terminal.)

As the Twentieth Century recedes into recollection, many computer users who have recently joined the club are unaware of how many different (and, alas, mostly incompatible) character-cell video terminals were in wide use during a large part of the 1970's and 1980's. This proposed 1989 update of the list of terminals in RFC 1091 may give a hint of the variety that once thronged the marketplace, before the industry became "assimilated."

Another snag that newcomers to computing hit: the expectation that documentation must exist on the Worldwide Web for every piece of equipment that was ever made. For equipment sold after 1996, this expectation may be appropriate. However, for older gear, you are likely to be disappointed. Even into the 1980's, the user manuals for many video terminals were actually written on electromechanical typewriters (e.g., IBM Selectric), and no machine-readable original ever existed. If some older documents are Web-accessible, it is because some public-spirited person has done the techno-historical grunt work of converting old documentation to a form readable by a Web browser.

For glimpses of how computer hobbyists of the early 1980's used character-cell video terminals with the home computers of the day, you can visit a library and look up these articles from BYTE magazine.

The page you are viewing provides information on video-terminal products by a variety of vendors. For information that applies in general to all video terminals, see the general information page. Other pages in this site provide access to specific information on terminals sold by DEC, IBM, and Televideo.

## Archival Information About Various Text Terminals: by vendor

- Miscellaneous terminal news and discussion

- ADDS Viewpoint (vendor was NCR/ADDS; then SunRiver Data Systems, now known as Boundless Technologies)
- An advertisement for the Ann Arbor Ambassador 300 which ran in the September 1982 issue of BYTE (p. 243).
- Miscellaneous old terminal lore, including Ann Arbor Ambassador, videotex, and VT100.
- Terminal Products of Lear Siegler
  (The LS ADM-3 was advertised under the tradename Dumb Terminal.)
- How to set up Lear-Siegler ADM-xx Terminals
- Terminals built by AT&T
- AT&T 5620 Terminal
- Altos Terminals
- Discussion of Dorio products (also Boundless)
- Data General terminals: discussion of, and "termcap" entries
- DataMedia terminals
- Direct terminals (some portable)
- Geveke Visa terminals (Getronics)
- GraphOn terminals (discussion)
- Hazeltine/Esprit video terminals
  (Hazeltine is now a subsidiary of GEC-Marconi.)
- Heath/Zenith/Schlumberger made the H19 and other products.
  (H19 emulation is provided by several versions of Kermit.)
- Hewlett-Packard video-terminal products
  (with some information on using terminals with HP systems)
- Honeywell/Bull video-terminal products
- ICL video terminals
- Link Technologies terminals
  (Link Technologies merged with Wyse Technologies: both brands discussed in the archive; here are Link MC-5 specs.)
- MAI 4315 (Basic Four) terminal data sheet ::::
- Microdata/McDonnell[-Douglas] Information Systems/Prism (uuencoded Prism terminfo)
- NCR terminals (some overlap with ADDS, AT&T GIS, etc.)
- Memorex/Telex/MTX (mostly EBCDIC-speaking 3482/5250/3270 clones)
- Kimtron (with termcap entries)
- Pick and Liberty Terminals
- Prime PT250 ("termcap" entry)
- Qume products
- Facit terminals
- The Teletype, the very first ASCII terminal (featuring 20-mA serial communication)
- Tandem Computer terminals
- Unisys (Burroughs/Sperry-Univac) video terminals
  (see also Unisys History Newsletter)
- Visual Technology (a remnant at White Pine)
- Volker-Craig terminals
  (V-C terminals inspired artist Robert Tinney in creating many cover illustrations for BYTEmagazine,
  like Infinite Regression

from April 1979, shown here)
- Amusing uses for dead Volker-Craig Terminals (2003 link)
- Wang terminals
- Wyse Technologies terminals (merged with Link)
  (It appears that Wyse also bought out Qume and Amdek.)
- "termcap" and "terminfo" data for Wyse terminals
- Using Lynx with a Wyse terminal
- The Stratus V103 looks suspiciously like a Link MC-5.

  ## Tektronix Graphics Terminals

  - About Tektronix graphics terminals and emulators
  - What does a Tektronix 4105 look like? (gif)
  - Tektronix 4010 Information (pdp8online.com)
  - Description of Tektronix 401x graphics implemented by MS-Kermit
  - DECUS X11tek (V00463 for DECwindows/X11, in C, emulates Tektronix 4010/4014)
  Tektronix graphics terminals represent color by the HLS system, explained briefly here, or perhaps a picture is worth a thousand words.

  ## Special-Purpose Terminals

  A small amount of discussion of POS (point-of-sale) terminals is stored here. A number of resources are listed on Hal Stiles's Point-of-Sale Page.

  - Neuro Logic Systems (i-Term 1U rackmount flat-screen 15-inch-LCD terminal;
    emulates VT100, VT220, TVI, Wyse 60, Wyse 325, ADDS, ANSI Console.)
  - Televideo, Inc.,, (vendor of TeleClient flat-panel thin client--PDF file)
  - Planar Systems Electroluminescent Flat Displays
    (Beaverton/Espoo: info on the Planar ELT320 video terminal is in this PDF file.)
  - Eason Technology, Inc. (industrial terminals and peripherals)
  - Computer Dyamics (formerly Lucas-Deeco), maker of flat-screen industrial terminals, displays, and computers.
  - Axiom Technology (industrial workstations/flat displays)
  - EarthLCD (Earth Computer Technology) (surplus screens... beware: some web browsers lock up viewing this page)
  - Applied Data Systems Inc. (flat-panel controllers)
  - PixelVision Technology, Inc. (flat-panel LCD monitors)
  - ViewSonic Corporation (vendor of flat-panel LCD screens...
    note that viewing web site downloads hundreds of graphical images)
  - Smartline B&V (Italian vendor of the Terminale VGA Colore TK-635/29TE09 module,
    used with a PC-type VGA monitor and a PC keyboard)
  - ADDS 4000/260LFC Little Foot--compact footprint/POS terminal
  - Demex, Inc. (display screens for industrial assembly lines)
  - Heidenhain TNC (control machine tools)
  - Seetron (Scott Edwards Electronics--serial interface LCD screens)
  - Micro Electronics Corporation (LCD modules)
  - Compucat Communications Products (rugged, Tempest, mobile WS)
  - 2-Line Mini-Terminal (Roger Schaefer)
  - L-3 Communications (aerospace-grade flat-screen displays)
  - Panasonic ToughBook Wireless Windows Display (Remote Desktop Protocol)
  - Teklogix, Inc. (RF/wireless terminals)
  - LXE, Inc. (RF/wireless terminals; division of Electromagnetic Sciences, Inc.)
  - TTY FAQ (teleprinter-compatible devices for hearing-impaired persons)
  - Gallaudet TTY-to-PC Information
  - JBliss Low-Vision Systems (PC-based imaging, etc.)
  - Beam Ltd. (XVI X terminals for the visually impaired)
  - BRLTTY (Braille display for Linux)
  - Alva Access Group (ABT: Alva Braille Terminal, serial interface)
  - Alis Technologies, Inc. (Arabic video terminal)
  - Key Tronic ClienTerm (Citrix thin client in a keyboard)
  - Netvoyager Tarantella Thin Clients
  - ipcas GmBH Serial/Ethernet Converter products
  - Lantronix Universal Thin Servers (Ethernet/TCP/IP/Telnet to serial)

  ## Links to Other Pages in this Collection

  - How to set up your operating system to support character-cell terminals.
  - Vendors of terminal-emulation software (link collection)
  - Discussion of how to repair your video terminal when it breaks.

  ## Links to Vendor Pages

  Boundless Technologies (a.k.a. SunRiver Data Systems or ADDS) sells MultiConsole Personal Terminals

  - User's Guide for ADDS 4000 (ftp, Word documents)
  - Programmer's Guide for ADDS 260 (ftp, Word documents, includes a description of its DEC VT320 emulation)
  - Information on AT&T Terminals (ftp, Word documents)
  - Support Information: ADDS, Dorio, DEC, AT&T Terminals (http)
  - NetTerminal product with direct Ethernet connectivity

  Wyse Technology, vendor of general-purpose terminals, offers some support resources, such as these:

  - Wyse General-Purpose Terminal Support and Knowledge Base
  - Wyse Service Info (includes FAQs for 50, 60, 85)
  - WY-75 Native-Personality Control Codes
  (See also the Wyse UK Web site and the description of the current WY-520ES product.)

  And Hugo Villeneuve offers this Wyse 520 Terminal tour.

  - Axel, Inc. introduced during 2003 the AX3000/75E terminal, which supports the multiplatform VNC X11-based remote graphics protocol, in addition to MS-RDP and IBM 5250/3270.
  - Visara, Inc. (vendor of Network Computing Terminal and Linux Thin-Client Desktops, also under selling MTX and Memorex/Telex 3270/5250 products)
  - Hewlett Packard (700/60 and 700/70 Display Terminals: 2000 link)
  - VXL Instruments (Wyse or IBM-compatible terminals & "Network Computers")
  - Data General D1200i/D1600i terminals (updated June 1997)
  - GraphOn (thin clients: NT/Unix/PC server, Java X server, Go-Global)
  - Alpha Micro AMOS Terminals (2002 link ... AMOS data sheets)
  - Quest International (touchscreens, medical screens, CRT refurbishment)
  - What once was Tandem Computers, Inc. is now a subsidiary of Hewlett-Packard; it sold both proprietary and standards-compliant terminals.
  - Tektronix, Inc. does not admit to ever having made video terminals.
  - Neoware Systems, Inc. (used to be HDS, Human Designed Systems),
    vendor for NeoStation RDP/CE client, @workStation;
    also Neoware has taken over the "Capio" thin-client appliance product from Boundless.
  - eSeSIX Business Group (of Pfaffenhofen) in 2005 sells the ThinTune client package
  - C. Itoh scarcely remembers having ever made video terminals. (UK site)
  - MyVu (a iPod-type approach to display screens)
  - White Pine's Software Connectivity division has now become Powerlan-USA,
    still selling the eXodus server with Tektronix and ReGIS graphics under X.
    (This vendor also sells WebTerm: a product for emulating a terminal session within a Web Browser.)
  - Siemens-Nixdorf has split into Wincor-Nixdorf and Fujitsu-Siemens
  - Core Technology Corporation (Unisys A, V terminal emulation)
  - Black Box Corporation (data communication product vendor)
  - Optimum Technology Ltd. (PAL Teletext receiver)
  - The Zenith Data Systems website has disappeared.
  - Memorex.co.jp (Japanese)
  - EDS Global Field Services handles Memorex-Telex repairs.
  - Forvus Research (3270 host access solutions)
  - Crystal Point, Inc. (OutsideView/6530)
  - CAIL Systems, Ltd. (CTT/6530)
  - Unidata Inc. (Wintegrate, other products for Pick)
  - UltraTec, Inc. (vendor of TTY/TDD/special terminals...including an ASCII "Pocket Size TTY")
  - NXi Communications, Inc. (TTY/TDD)
  - The Unofficial Wang VS Information Center (tjunker.com)
  - Falco Data Products has undergone some kind of transformation; apparently queries are now being answered by Pathlink Corporation.

  ## Emulation Documentation on the Internet

  There is now also a good description of the emulation of Hewlett-Packard terminals as implemented in the WRQ Reflection product, available from the Walker-Richer-Quinn Support Page; this HP Terminal Reference Manual V8.0 is a large PDF file (you need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view it).

  ## Links to dealer pages

  - Arcy Solutions (CA: refurbished Wyse products, also Qume, Link)
  - Vecmar (OH: ADDS, Link, Wyse, NCR, Tally, Unisys, IBM, Boundless)
  - Vecmar (OH: DEC VT220, VT330, VT420, VT510)
  - 1st Solutions, Inc. (AZ: Qume, ADDS, Wyse, Link, Sherwood, Prime)
  - American Computer Exchange (NJ: Wyse, Link, ADDS)
  - EMI Solutions (Equipment Management, Inc.) (MA--Jungle Road)
  - Micro Technologies International (TX: ADDS, Wyse, Falco, Esprit, Link)
  - DataTrek Computers (ADDS, Wyse, Link, Televideo)
  - Quasar Systems, Inc. (TX: new and refurbished)
  - ComTech Systems, Inc. (NY: Stratus=Televideo|Boundless)
  - Vintage Computer Marketplace, with a regular schedule of regional Vintage Computer Festivals
  - Recycled Goods (terminals, keyboards)
  - Omni Systems Associates (NJ: DEC)
  - Commerce Computer Corporation (GA: IBM, Wyse)
  - PC Solutions/Heilman Systems (FL: used terminals)
  - Newman Computer Systems (dealer in used DEC, Sun, and HP equipment)
  - Pacific Data Systems (CA: used equipment)
  - 714 Used Printers (CA: also terminals)
  - Used Computer Equipment Dealers
  - MicroPricer Used Equipment (thin clients, terminals)
  - Electronics Exchange (Recycling, Reuse)
  - 9 to 5 Computer (DEC)
  - The Used Computer Mall
  - Regal Technology (TX: Televideo/Stratus terminals)
  - Contemporary Computer Source (TX: Televideo/Stratus terminals)
  - Ebinger Equipment Company (NCR equipment)

  > In addition to the above commercial sources, used terminals and related equipment are often available at amateur-radio hamfests; see the ARRL's listing.

  ## Information Source Web Pages

  As of early A.D. 2001, Bryan Blackburn is making the vintage user manual for the Lear-Siegler ADM-3 terminal available on the Web, each page a GIF-encoded image. (Also the ASR-33 Teletype.)

  - Volker-Craig technical documentation source (Dunfield)
  - Hal Stiles's Point of Sale (POS) Page
  - Microsoft TechNet
  - O'Reilly & Associates, Inc. (book publisher)
  - CompuBooks Online Bookstores
  - Various terminal-type parameter files maintained by Stratus Computer
  - Hewlett-Packard HPUX FAQ
  - Info and setup files for Hewlett-Packard/HP Envizex X-Terminals (Brian McElroy)

  ## Information and Links to Useful Communication and Accessory Products

  - Black Box Corporation
  - B&B Electronics Manufacturing Co.
  - WH Networks
  - Central Data Corporation (SCSI terminal servers)

  Go to page on PC-based terminal emulation.
  Go to page on keyboards, mice, and other pointing devices.
  Go to page on setting up an operating system to use terminals.
  Links to tangentally relevant information.
  Links to xterm information.
  Links to DEC terminal information (including VT100).
  Links to IBM terminal information (including 3270).
  (return to Video Terminal index page)

  (Is there a problem with this page?)

  Introductory material copyright © 1995
  and archive contents collection copyright © 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004 Richard S. Shuford.

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