VAXstation 100

This document provides a technical summary of the Digital Equipment Corporation VAXstation 100, an add-on workstation terminal designed to integrate with existing UNIBUS VAX systems. It offers a low-cost, high-productivity alternative to stand-alone workstations, featuring a high-resolution 19-inch monochrome monitor (1088x864 pixels, 60Hz), multiwindowing capabilities, and a user-friendly interface.

The hardware includes a display processor subsystem with a Motorola MC68000 microprocessor, 128 Kbytes of program memory, 512 Kbytes of screen-refresh memory, a low-profile keyboard, a three-button mouse, and an optional graphics data pad. A high-speed fiber-optics link connects the VAXstation 100 to the VAX host, allowing for remote placement of the VAX processor.

The VAXstation 100's software, layered onto the VMS operating system, provides extensive support for screen management, graphics operations, and text manipulation. It implements a System Display Architecture (SDA) that uses "virtual displays," "pasteboards," and "windows" to manage multiple concurrent tasks efficiently. The software also includes the VAXstation Display Management Library (VSTA) for native graphics and the VAXstation CORE Graphics Library (CGL) for general-purpose, portable graphics applications. It can emulate Digital's ASCII terminals and Tektronix 4014 graphics terminals.

Interaction with the workstation is primarily mouse-driven, facilitating easy navigation between multiple jobs displayed in windows. A vertical utility area on the screen helps manage tasks and provides access to system documents like notices, help, and user profiles. Digital offers comprehensive support and service for the VAXstation 100.