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.cb TERMINALS FOR LOTS


	Since LOTS was proposed, the preferred option for terminals
has changed several times.  The main proposals were for interim
solutions, because the high quality display terminal system
being designed for the AI Lab and the Computer Science Department
may also be suitable for LOTS.
We will know more about this in a month or so when the prototype
board is ready, but in any case such terminals couldn't be ready
in time for Winter quarter.

	The first proposal was for rented model 33 teletypes that
might be available at a price between $20 and $30 per month.
Everyone dislikes the noisiness, slowness, and limited character
set of these machines.

	The second proposal was that SCIP rent LOTS Decwriters
at $52.50 per month.  This possibility evaporated.

	The third and present proposal is that the University
finance the purchase of LSI terminal kits at $750 apiece which
comes to $798.75 with sales tax, say $800.  Modem kits will cost
another $100 apiece making $900.

	We propose to assemble them with volunteer labor
this summer and amortize depreciation to 1/3 value in 20 months,
i.e. at $30 per month.  At the end of this time, we expect to
offer them for sale at $300 to students and others.  Thus we
are proposing a LOTS policy of encouraging individual terminal
ownership.

	We propose that the Unversity purchase 40 such terminals
and modems at a cost of 40 x $900 = $36,000 and recover its money
by rental to LOTS.

	The special deal for the terminals will disappear July 15,
so we need a purchase order for 40 x $750 = $30,000 + tax by that
time.

	In addition to these display terminals, we want to order
about five hard copy terminals, but we don't have a precise proposal
for this yet.