Wang 2200 | 1973

Wang 2200

 In May 1973, Wang Laboratories released the 2200 series, an all-in-one minicomputer. Unlike other desktop computers of the time, such as the HP 9830, the 2200 series was integrated into a cabinet that included a CRT (cathode ray tube) display, a computer control cassette tape storage device, and a keyboard. The system was essentially driven by microcode and was designed to run BASIC language immediately upon booting, a feature similar to later home computers. The 2200 series became widely used by small to medium-sized businesses worldwide, with around 65,000 units shipped.

Over time, the 2200 series evolved into larger systems that could support up to 16 workstations. By leveraging commercial disk technology that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s, clusters could be configured to support up to 240 workstations. The 2200 systems were sold as customized solutions through the VAR (Value-Added Reseller) distribution model. For example, in the early 1980s, the system was used in Hong Kong in collaboration with Algorithms, Inc. to provide a "Vapor" service using dozens of 2200 systems.

The first models of the 2200 series, the 2200A and 2200B, were released in April 1973. These models were differentiated by microcode, with the B model offering additional commands in Wang BASIC to enhance data processing capabilities. The later 2200C model added simple error handling features and some additional commands.

The A, B, and C models were later replaced by the S and T models. The S model featured a reimplementation of the CPU using new Large-Scale Integration (LSI) components, with added commands for number and string conversion. The T model added matrix math commands and new I/O capabilities. Both the S and T models used internal power supplies instead of external ones.

The E and F models were similar in functionality to the S and T models but were versions with restructured CPUs. These models also featured new terminal cases and used a new I/O system that was not compatible with earlier models.

In 1974, Wang Laboratories began preparing a complete redesign of the CPU for the 2200 series. This new CPU used an entirely different machine language, although users could still program in the same BASIC language as before. The new CPU was revealed at the Westcon show in 1976 and released as the 2200VP in 1977. The 2200VP supported BASIC-2 and provided features such as automatic file cataloging and absolute sector addressing, which were useful for database construction. Additionally, two commands, $GIO and $IF ON/OFF, enhanced compatibility with various devices.

The 2200VP evolved into the 2200MVP, a multi-user upgrade model. Released in the early 1980s, this model supported high-speed printers, IBM diskettes, 9-track magnetic tapes, communication devices, and special instrumentation control.

In the early 1980s, the VP series was replaced by the "Micro VP," a single-chip VLSI implementation that offered similar functionality but with improved performance.

The final model in the 2200 series, the 2200 CS/386, was released in July 1989 and used a 16 MHz Intel 80386 CPU. This model was designed to plug into the existing 2200 series hardware, allowing users to keep using their existing peripherals. BASIC was loaded into 256KB of static RAM and executed using an incremental compiler, as opposed to the interpreter used in previous models.

In March 1991, the CS/386 Turbo model was released, with performance improved to 32 MHz.

In the 1970s, the Wang 2200 was widely used by major Soviet planning and statistics agencies, such as Gosplan and Goskomstat. Concerned about potential backdoors in Western hardware, the Soviets reverse-engineered the Wang 2200 and developed a fully binary-compatible clone called the Iskra-226. Development of the Iskra-226 began in 1978 and it went into mass production in 1980. The Iskra-226 maintained software compatibility with the Wang 2200 while adding many useful features for industrial control, such as the IEEE-488 device control interface and CAMAC crate control circuits. A simplified Unix port was also developed later.

The Wang 2200 series lost popularity in the late 1980s, supplanted by more powerful systems such as the Wang VS. However, the 2200 series saw a brief resurgence when Wang offered a new 2200 CS model to its 2200 customers in the late 1980s. This model was offered at a lower cost than maintaining older 2200 systems, and many customers upgraded to the 2200 CS. By 1997, Wang was still maintaining about 200 2200 systems worldwide.

The BASIC-2 code from the 2200 series could be run on modern PCs or Unix systems using compilers and runtime libraries sold by companies like Niakwa and Kerridge, which allowed the code to execute much faster than on the original hardware.