Sage Computer Technology
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | Rod Coleman, Bill Bonham, Bob Needham |
| Headquarters | Reno, Nevada , United States |
| Products | Sage II, Sage IV, Stride 420, Stride 440, Stride 460, Stride 660, Stride 740 computers; NOD head-motion controlled mouse device |
SAGE Computer Technology was a computer manufacturer headquartered in Reno, Nevada, United States, established in 1981 by Rod Coleman, Bill Bonham, and Bob Needham. Due to trademark issues with "Sage Software" located in Maryland, the company experienced multiple rebrandings. Its names over time included:
- SAGE Computer Technology
* Created the Sage II and Sage IV systems powered by the Motorola 68000 CPU.
- SAGE Computer
- Stride Micro
* MicroSage Computer Systems (a fully owned subsidiary formed in 1987) * Developed the Stride 420, Stride 440, Stride 460 (VME), Stride 660, and Stride 740 computer models.
SAGE IV
Introduced in 1983, the SAGE IV was equipped with:
- Board0: Central processor: MC68000 running at 8 MHz; two RS-232 serial interfaces at 19.2 kbit/s; parallel output for printers; GPIB interface; floppy disk controller; 512 KB DRAM.
- Board1: Four RS-232 serial ports at 19.2 kbit/s; controller for hard disk drives; an extra 512 KB DRAM.
- Memory modules with parity protection using 64 Kbit chips, providing a minimum of 256 KB system RAM.
- Storage devices included one 5¼" floppy drive with 800 KB capacity and a Winchester hard drive ranging from 5 to 40 MB.
- Integrated multi-user BIOS functionality.
- Base price: $3,600 USD for a single-floppy drive entry-level setup.
The SAGE IV supported real-time multitasking capabilities featuring six serial ports and expandable memory up to 1 MB RAM. Its dependability and performance made it a favorite among engineers and scientists for more than ten years. At launch, it was promoted as operating "13 times faster than the Apple II." The system played a significant role in the creation of the Amiga prototype known as "Lorraine," where it earned the moniker "Agony."
Users accessed the system through serial video terminals. Third-party color graphics hardware enhanced its visual output and was compatible with various display monitors.
The main operating system was the UCSD p-System, complemented by support for CP/M-68K, Idris, PDOS, HyperFORTH Plus, BOS, TRIPOS, Mirage, and MOSYS. Supported programming languages encompassed Pascal, Modula-2, C, FORTRAN77, BASIC, 68000 assembly language, APL, BCPL, LISP, and Forth.
System bus
Up until the Stride series (Sage VI), an "m68k" bus architecture was utilized. Afterwards, the company transitioned to employing a VME bus standard.
NOD
NOD refers to a head-motion controlled mouse device developed circa 1983 by Wilbur Harvey and Rod Coleman. This device used a reflective pencil positioned behind the ear tracked via a quadrature detector, allowing users to manipulate the cursor while typing simultaneously. Equipped with an RS-232C interface, it was marketed at a price of US$400. A prototype was demonstrated to Apple Inc., although the project did not proceed further.
See also
References