On: Why did the 1982-era MCZ 2/60 desktop computer hav...

[cbm-vic-20]

That also looks like a rebranded DEC VT-100 terminal.

[tyingq → cbm-vic-20]

I think it's actually a rebranded C-ITOH CIT-101. https://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/images/8/86/C._Itoh_CIT-101_...

[rbanffy → tyingq]

I wonder if the hardware inside the case is equally similar.

[tyingq → rbanffy]

I believe these were something like the Kaypro, where there was no onboard graphics...just a serial console. So, no reason to change it, other than maybe some tweaks to the ROM for branding in the admin interface and boot-up.

[rbanffy → tyingq]

Sorry. I meant in relation to the vt100 - it was a very expandable machine that served as the chassis for some stand-alone desktop computers sold by DEC.

[tyingq → rbanffy]

Ah, got it.

Here's some pictures of the guts of the CIT-101. https://m.imgur.com/a/fClBw

[guenthert → cbm-vic-20]

There are floppy drives beneath. Why would you have local storage with a terminal?

[cbm-vic-20 → guenthert]

They sometimes stuffed a computer into the terminal. DEC themselves did this: the VT103 is a VT100 with an LSI-11 (PDP11/23) built-in. The VT180 is a VT100 with a Z80-based CP/M computer inside.

https://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/index.php/DEC_VT103 https://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/index.php/DEC_VT180

[reaperducer → guenthert]

Maybe for backups, or sneakernet. I know one place I worked (the chemical factory I mention in another comment), the administrative offices weren't on the same network as the labs. I think it was a geographic limitation because the two buildings were separated by a 20-foot-tall earthen berm, to protect the admin building in case the lab building blew up.