The following document appears to be a production plan for the partly implemented Vectrex II. From what I gather, the Vectrex II was a plain Vectrex with new executive code (it can do lower case letters which the Vectrex can't), a light pen, a port hacked on to communicate with a box which drives a raster display and some type of computer module. Accompanying this document were 4 slightly different Vectrex II demo ROMs which will shortly be uploaded to the archives. They all contain the following text. I have not tried to run this on my regular Vectrex yet but I think it will at least display the text although not properly as all lower case letters will show up as special graphics (or perhaps not at all). ======================================== GCE 1983 RV-DEMO GENERAL CONSUMER ELECTRONICS, INC. (A MILTON BRADLEY COMPANY) - Presents - VECTREX II GRAPHIC COMPUTER DISPLAY YOU WERE THERE !!! ... for the FIRST KNOWN DEMONSTRATION of SIMULTANEOUS RASTER and VECTOR! ======================================== Here is the original document which was typed landscape on 8.5x11 paper. [Page 1] GENERAL CONSUMER ELECTRONICS INC. (A MILTON BRADLEY COMPANY) VECTREX II INTELLIGENT DISPLAY ------------------- October 1983 [Page 2] Background ---------- GCE is a subsidiary of the Milton Bradley Company. Principal product is Vectrex, a video game system. Differentiated from competitive systems by: - Use of vector scan rather than raster scan technology to generate images, which are faster and require less memory; - A self-contained CRT display. Patent application has been filed on unique method of generating vector images. Experience with display technology has lead to development of two new displays. [Page 3] Purpose ------- To present two new displays which have significant implications for the word processing industry for your review. - Display A combines vector and raster technology to combine high resolution, free-flowing imagery with character generation - Display B uses raster technology to provide character generation efficiently [Page 4] A. Vector/Raster Display --------------------- Method: Combine vector and raster technologies to produce high resolution, free-flowing imagery with character generation Advantages: Primarily in use of vector scan technology to generate images and combine these with raster generated text. Provides high resolution images with a minimum of instruction; thus, reducing program time, and storage area required to refresh the image on the display. Efficient use of memory results in high drawing speed at low cost. Combines these images effectively and efficiently with raster generated text. Applications: Display drawings and printed text simultaneously. Valuable for engineering drawings, computer aided design, instruction manuals, learning materials, diagnostic uses, etc. [Page 5] B. Raster Display -------------- Method: Uses raster technology to generate large numbers of characters efficiently Advantages: System generates 4800 characters (80 columns by 60 lines) and in sharp focus at low cost Applications: Primarily in word processing. User has the advantage of seeing the full page of text displayed. Provides opportunity for final review, editing prior to printing. Results in improved quality of work, time saving. [Page 6] VECTREX II VS TELEVIDEO 950 COMPARISON CHART -------------------------------------------- VECTREX II TELEVIDEO 950 __________ _____________ MONITOR Size 12 inch 12 inch Phosphor (Black & White w/overlays P31 green nonglare available in green/amber/ blue-vector/raster display) P39 yellow/green nonglare* (raster display) CHARACTER FONT 5 x 9 character in 8 x 10 10 x 14 character cell w/ cell with descenders descenders DISPLAYED CHARACTER SET 240 displayable: 128 displayable: 96 ASCII U/L Case 96 ASCII U/L Case 32 control 32 control 112 primitives, foreign, 15 graphics math NUMBER OF CHARACTERS 4800 characters, 60 lines 2000 characters, 25 lines x 80 cols (Raster Display) x 80 columns ANSI COMPATIBLE YES YES CHARACTER ATTRIBUTES Protected fields NO** YES Reverse video YES YES Underline fields YES YES Blink YES YES Blank YES YES Half Intensity YES YES Highlighting YES YES EDITING Insert/delete character YES YES Insert/delete line YES YES Line/page edit NO** YES Local/duplex NO** YES [Page 7] VECTREX II TELEVIDEO 950 __________ _____________ SPECIAL FEATURES Smooth scroll NO YES Line Lock NO** YES CURSOR CONTROL Up/down/left/right YES YES Home/tab/back tab YES YES Center/left/backspace NO** YES REPEAT N/A - no keyboard 20 cps auto repeat PARITY N/A-unless serial link E/O/send/Mark/No used WORD STRUCTURE N/A-see above 7/8 bits BAUD RATES N/A-see above 50 to 19200 TRANSMISSION Full/half duples [sic] Local/Block/Full or half duplex COMM PROTOCOL N/A-unless serial link X-on/X-off, DTR used INTERFACES N/A-see above RS-232 PRINTER PORT NO YES VECTOR GRAPHICS YES (vector/raster display) NO NO (/raster display) PERIPHERALS Light Pen-interacts elec- tronically with screen NOTES: * To be discussed ** Not currently implemented in software, but can be added [Page 8; stapled in upside-down!] Preliminary Development Schedule of Events ------------------------------------------ 11-01-83 Product Decision "Go Ahead" 11-07-83 Project Start 11-21-83 Start System Operating Software 1-16-84 Build Engineering Prototypes 1-30-84 Design and Release Tools 1-30-84 Design Freeze 2-01-84 Start Test Plan 2-15-84 Key Components Identified + Specs Completed 2-15-84 Product Spec Start 3-12-84 Engineering Pilot, (10) Units 3-12-84 System Test/Qualification Start 3-15-84 Agency Submission 3-15-84 Preproduction Pilot 3-29-84 Environmental Testing Start 4-15-84 First OFF Tool Samples 4-30-84 Second OFF Tool Samples/Approvals 5-05-84 Production Pilot 5-12-84 Production Release 6-15-84 Agency Approvals 6-22-84 Production Start