It runs "Multi-DOS" which is apparently a version of DOS that is multi-user multi-tasking and runs simultaneous programs for up to 4 users, all on one system. It supposedly can run unmodified DOS programs, even graphical ones!
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This sounds too good to be true. PCs at the time were running an OS with no understanding of multitasking, no understanding of multiple users, and extremely limited memory. And Anex promised running up to 4 simultaneous terminals into unmodified DOS programs on one PC?
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An ad for Anex from PC Mag Oct 1, 1985pic.twitter.com/7cdu9abzcD
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Anyway, this one on eBay has a slightly insane price but I'd really like to see how this thing works. I'm worried it's incomplete, though. I sent an ask to see if it has any software or the proper interface board. It comes with some cables, at least? and it's in-box.pic.twitter.com/SMZguuyxn1
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And they show one expansion card but I think this is just the Multi-Spool shown above. This is for spooling up print-outs, so that if you print something, it doesn't pause the whole system until it finishes.pic.twitter.com/3hxgaCmCRK
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this thing definitely originally came with two things that are required to use it: 1. An expansion card to go in the original PC/XT/AT (I think this is the AT version) 2. The MULTI-DOS software, cause there's no way in a billion years this worked on unmodified DOS.
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but they show this picture of the box which has "NO BUS" written on it and I think that means this one has no bus card. So it's useless without it.pic.twitter.com/YcabD4MwBV
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in any case, when you google this thing, you get that announcement I posted above, the later ad, and a few more ads, then nothing.pic.twitter.com/BRsHE7QGfN
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so that makes me think that this thing either: 1. didn't work as well as they're claiming 2. cost way too much so just buying multiple PCs made more sense.
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I can't imagine this thing had great compatibility. DOS had no understanding of multiple users and multitasking. Everything would break SO EASILY.
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That it fascinating. PC time sharing.
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