Tadpole RDI UltraBook

RDI UltraBook
© Tadpole-RDI 2000

RDI UltraBooks are SPARC64-based RISC laptops for mobile Unix computing, introduced by RDI in 1997 to be used as a portable Solaris workstation for training, demonstrations, exhibitions and portable deployment (C&C).

UltraBooks are binary compatible with Sun workstations for standard Sun Solaris Unix. They were designed for government and security agencies, their removable drives were marketed as a plus for classified environments.

UltraBook 170 UltraBook 200
Introduced 1997 1997
Based on Sun Ultra AX reference
CPU UltraSPARC 167 MHz UltraSPARC 200 MHz
Cache 16/16 KB L1, 512 KB L2
Design 64-bit RISC Sun SPARC64 with RDI custom chipset
RAM 64-512 MB
Video ATI RAGE LT or Sun Creator 3D
Screen 12.1″ or 14.1″ TFT
Drives 1-3 IDE drives
Expansion PCMCIA
I/O Ethernet, 13W3, SCSI, PS/2, floppy, audio, docking, serial, parallel
OS Solaris
Price $11,995-20,085 $14,895-25,085
RDI UltraBook Components RDI UltraBook RDI UltraBook
UltraBook Components, UltraBook Beauty© Tadpole 2000

RDI built UltraBooks in the same case as the PA-RISC PrecisionBooks, which were much less successful however. UltraBooks were reportedly used in US Navy aircraft and vessels for ISR.

System chipset

UltraBooks are 64-bit SPARC computers, based on Sun Ultra AX reference design which RDI integrated into laptops. Chipset and devices used are:

[i] - integrated into chipset
* - takes the place left of harddrive, not available with 12.1 TFT
Some of the chipset details is conjecture.
Usage Device Type Bus
System UPA Ultra Port Architecture crossbar
CPU and graphics to memory (144-bit)		 UPA
Chipset Sun Psycho Plus PCI bridge UPA
PCI
Chipset Sun Cheerio Bus bridge + devices
Storage PC87415? EIDE controller for hard disk PCI
Storage 53C876? 16-bit fast-wide SCSI-2 PCI
Network Antares? 10/100 Mbit Ethernet controller PCI
Video ATI RAGE LT
Sun Creator 3D
24-bit accelerated double/Z 3D		 PCI
Cards ? PCMCIA controller PCI
I/O PC87303? Serial and parallel I/O EBus
I/O PC87303? PS/2 for keyboard/mouse EBus
Audio ? 16-bit sound Ebus

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Expansion and I/O

There are few possibilities to expand the UltraBook with devices:

Device Type Details
Memory Modules Two ECC 60ns for 64-512 MB RAM
Storage IDE one to three 2.5″ IDE drives ATA-3 PIO 4
second drive removes 3D graphics, third battery
Storage External 68-pin fast-wide
Media Floppy external 3.5″ floppy, special port
Media CD-ROM external SCSI portable 6X CD-ROM
Cards PCMCIA two Type I or Type II or one Type III
Network Ethernet TP
Input Keyboard 97/98-key Sun5 keyboard and three-button trackpad
Input PS/2 one DIN-8 port
I/O Ports 50-pin breakout cable
for two serial and one parallel
Output TFT 12.1″ LCD or 14.1″ TFT 1024×768, 262K colors
Output Video 13W3 D-Type
Audio jacks four jacks, internal speaker
Docking optional PEM and MAX module, unclear if available from RDI

Battery was one Li-Ion with 40Wh capacity for 0.5-1.0 of continuous use.

RDI provided an optional 56K PCMCIA fax/modem card with cellular phone support.

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Operating systems

RDI UltraBooks are portable Unix workstations and shipped with Sun Solaris 2.6 (or 2.5.1 or Solaris 7). They are 100% binary compatible with Sun SPARC workstations and could run the same applications. Open source operating systems like Linux and BSD possibly also work.

Driver support for PCMCIA cards in Solaris was spotty, provided by RDI.

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Benchmarks

SPEC benchmark data and comparisons to contemporary laptops and workstations:

System CPU SPEC92
int		 SPEC92
fp		 SPEC95
int		 SPEC95
fp
UltraBook 170 Sun UltraSPARC-I 167 MHz 265.3 354.6 5.56 9.06
UltraBook 200 Sun UltraSPARC-I 200 MHz 322.0 462.0 7.44 10.4
Comparison
Siemens PCE-5S Intel Pentium 100MHz 96.2 81.2 4.04 2.35
Intel Alder Intel Pentium Pro 150MHz 276.3 220.0 6.08 5.42
RDI PrecisionBook 180 PA-7300LC 180 MHz 9.22 9.43
HP Visualize C180 PA-8000 180 MHz 11.80 18.70
Siemens SCENIC 1000 Pentium II 333MHz 13.00 9.43

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Documentation

Specifications

Articles and reviews

Announcements

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