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Eagle Computer
Eagle Computer, Inc., was an early American computer company based in Los Gatos, California. Spun off from Audio-Visual Laboratories (AVL), it first sold a line of popular CP/M computers which were highly praised in the computer magazines of the day. After the IBM PC was launched, Eagle produced the Eagle 1600 series, which ran MS-DOS but were not true clones. When it became evident that the buying public wanted actual clones of the IBM PC, even if a non-clone had better features, Eagle responded with a line of clones, including a portable. The Eagle PCs were always rated highly in computer magazines.[citation needed]
The AVL Eagle I and II had audio-visual connectors on the back. As a separate company, Eagle sold the Eagle I, II, III, IV, and V computer models and external SCSI/SASI hard-disk boxes called the File 10 and the File 40.
The first Eagle computers were produced by Audio Visual Labs (AVL), a company founded by Gary Kappenman in New Jersey in the early 1970s to produce proprietary large-format multi-image equipment. Kappenman introduced the world's first microprocessor-controlled multi-image programming computers, the ShowPro III and V, which were dedicated controllers. In 1980, AVL introduced the first non-dedicated controller, the Eagle. This first Eagle computer used a 16 kHz processor and had a 51⁄4-inch disk drive for online storage.
The Eagle ran PROCALL (PROgrammable Computer Audio-visual Language Library) software for writing cues to control up to 30 Ektagraphic projectors, five 16 mm film projectors and 20 auxiliary control points. Digital control data was sourced via an RCA or XLR-type audio connector at the rear of the unit. AVL's proprietary "ClockTrak" (a biphase digital timecode similar to, but incompatible with SMPTE timecode) was sourced from the control channel of a multitrack analog audio tape deck. The timed list of events in the Eagle was synchronized to the ClockTrak. Later versions of PROCALL included the option of using SMPTE timecode. Most programmers abandoned ClockTrak for SMPTE, as more multi-image programs began to incorporate video.
Two separate digital data streams were output from the Eagle via RCA or XLR-type audio connectors. These two telemetry streams, called "PosiTrak", each controlled up to five external slide projector control devices manufactured by AVL, known as "Doves". The Dove units received biphase data from the Eagle via audio cables and interpreted the Eagle's data streams to control as many as three Kodak Ektagraphic projectors (for large screens, compatible xenon-lamped projectors) and two dry-closure contacts per Dove unit. So then, on its own, the AVL Eagle can drive a multi-image slideshow of up to 30 projectors. AVL also made the Raven, a device similar to the Dove, for comprehensive control of a single 16 mm film projector and numerous other external control devices for lighting, sound, video projectors, and sources, etc.
When properly set up and powered, AVL Eagles and associated products were extremely reliable. During the 1970s through the early 1990s, when its competitors' products were not as reliable nor readily available, AVL became the industry standard for multi-image control equipment. However, the development of large-screen electronic media and HDTV ushered out the era of film-based multi-image productions.
All CP/M Eagles had the same basic design, except for the storage devices. The exception was a portable model, in which the keyboard formed a removable lid that could be snapped to the main unit for traveling. An attractive off-white case held the entire computer. The top section had a green monochrome monitor on the left and one or two full-height storage devices stacked above the other on the right. An anti-glare screen was held in place against the front of the monitor, and the front of the top section was shut by a black plastic bezel. This bezel snapped into place. The back of this section held a fan behind the drive enclosure and a silver label behind the monitor with the company logo, address, model number, serial number, voltage, frequency, and current.
The bottom section projected forward and had the keyboard and the system logo on its top. Inside this "clamshell" was the main circuit board, connected to the monitor, drives, keyboard, and ports by cables. A Xebec hard-disk controller card was underneath the main board and connected to it by cables. On the back of the clamshell was the reset button, two RS-232 serial ports labeled "Serial A" and "Serial B", a Centronics parallel port labeled "Parallel A", a SASI port labeled "Parallel B", the brightness knob for the monitor, and the on/off switch.
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Eagle Computer
Eagle Computer, Inc., was an early American computer company based in Los Gatos, California. Spun off from Audio-Visual Laboratories (AVL), it first sold a line of popular CP/M computers which were highly praised in the computer magazines of the day. After the IBM PC was launched, Eagle produced the Eagle 1600 series, which ran MS-DOS but were not true clones. When it became evident that the buying public wanted actual clones of the IBM PC, even if a non-clone had better features, Eagle responded with a line of clones, including a portable. The Eagle PCs were always rated highly in computer magazines.[citation needed]
The AVL Eagle I and II had audio-visual connectors on the back. As a separate company, Eagle sold the Eagle I, II, III, IV, and V computer models and external SCSI/SASI hard-disk boxes called the File 10 and the File 40.
The first Eagle computers were produced by Audio Visual Labs (AVL), a company founded by Gary Kappenman in New Jersey in the early 1970s to produce proprietary large-format multi-image equipment. Kappenman introduced the world's first microprocessor-controlled multi-image programming computers, the ShowPro III and V, which were dedicated controllers. In 1980, AVL introduced the first non-dedicated controller, the Eagle. This first Eagle computer used a 16 kHz processor and had a 51⁄4-inch disk drive for online storage.
The Eagle ran PROCALL (PROgrammable Computer Audio-visual Language Library) software for writing cues to control up to 30 Ektagraphic projectors, five 16 mm film projectors and 20 auxiliary control points. Digital control data was sourced via an RCA or XLR-type audio connector at the rear of the unit. AVL's proprietary "ClockTrak" (a biphase digital timecode similar to, but incompatible with SMPTE timecode) was sourced from the control channel of a multitrack analog audio tape deck. The timed list of events in the Eagle was synchronized to the ClockTrak. Later versions of PROCALL included the option of using SMPTE timecode. Most programmers abandoned ClockTrak for SMPTE, as more multi-image programs began to incorporate video.
Two separate digital data streams were output from the Eagle via RCA or XLR-type audio connectors. These two telemetry streams, called "PosiTrak", each controlled up to five external slide projector control devices manufactured by AVL, known as "Doves". The Dove units received biphase data from the Eagle via audio cables and interpreted the Eagle's data streams to control as many as three Kodak Ektagraphic projectors (for large screens, compatible xenon-lamped projectors) and two dry-closure contacts per Dove unit. So then, on its own, the AVL Eagle can drive a multi-image slideshow of up to 30 projectors. AVL also made the Raven, a device similar to the Dove, for comprehensive control of a single 16 mm film projector and numerous other external control devices for lighting, sound, video projectors, and sources, etc.
When properly set up and powered, AVL Eagles and associated products were extremely reliable. During the 1970s through the early 1990s, when its competitors' products were not as reliable nor readily available, AVL became the industry standard for multi-image control equipment. However, the development of large-screen electronic media and HDTV ushered out the era of film-based multi-image productions.
All CP/M Eagles had the same basic design, except for the storage devices. The exception was a portable model, in which the keyboard formed a removable lid that could be snapped to the main unit for traveling. An attractive off-white case held the entire computer. The top section had a green monochrome monitor on the left and one or two full-height storage devices stacked above the other on the right. An anti-glare screen was held in place against the front of the monitor, and the front of the top section was shut by a black plastic bezel. This bezel snapped into place. The back of this section held a fan behind the drive enclosure and a silver label behind the monitor with the company logo, address, model number, serial number, voltage, frequency, and current.
The bottom section projected forward and had the keyboard and the system logo on its top. Inside this "clamshell" was the main circuit board, connected to the monitor, drives, keyboard, and ports by cables. A Xebec hard-disk controller card was underneath the main board and connected to it by cables. On the back of the clamshell was the reset button, two RS-232 serial ports labeled "Serial A" and "Serial B", a Centronics parallel port labeled "Parallel A", a SASI port labeled "Parallel B", the brightness knob for the monitor, and the on/off switch.