Model D86

The Model D−86 was a desktop computer offered by Leading Edge Products starting in 1985. It was a computer with a smaller stature than its predecessor and presented users with more modern amenities and hardware. The D−86, like the name implies, came equipped with an 8086 processor. The 8086 processor offered users a 16−bit data bus, memory upgradeable to one megabyte, and a 10MHz clock speed. Styling was significantly different from the Model D with a much shorter case and facelifted front.

Since the computer was equipped with an 8086 processor, this offered the computer a significant performance boost over the Model D, going from 4 MHz to 10 MHz and offering a 16−bit data bus for enhanced data handling. The Model D−86 realized performance boosts in other areas too, such as media storage. The dual 5.25" 360K disk drives offered on previous models were superseded by one 3.5" 720K floppy drive and a hard drive as standard equipment.

Video output was VGA standard and all of the usual serial and parallel ports were available for external peripherals. The mouse and keyboard interfaces were updated to the PS/2 standard with the mouse port being positioned on the back of the computer and the keyboard on the left−hand side.

Physically, the Model D−86 measured 15 ¼" long by 15" wide, and 4" high. Though the overall footprint was slightly bigger than the Model D's, its height was significantly reduced thanks mostly in part to the much smaller form−factor 3.5" floppy drive.

On the front of the case, Leading Edge gave the Model D−86 a business−like design. The front plastic was molded with eight vertical lines at the bottom extending the width of the case. Above the vertical lines the case was mostly a flat plain interrupted on the left by only the Leading Edge logo. Towards the middle of the face−molding was where the hard drive cover was generally located and directly to the right of the hard drive, the user could find the single 720K floppy drive. The drives area was sunk into the face of the molding by about ¼ of an inch, breaking up the otherwise flat face. Directly to the right of the drives area was the power button and green power indicator LED.

To either side of the machine, the styling remained rather subdued, especially on the right side where the large flat panel was only interrupted towards the bottom front where there was a keyboard lock. On the opposite side, in a similar position is the keyboard interface but the rest of the panel has been stamped with vents in a 3 by 4 column configuration repeated down once and three times back, totaling 96 vents.

At the rear of the case was the standard fair. Starting on the left with the power supply's power input and fan. The motherboard's I/O and riser board expansion slots were indented into the case by about ½ an inch. The bottom of the case was mostly flat save for where motherboard standoffs were inserted and four cork feet to protect desktop surfaces. The top of the case was completely flat and featureless as it was expected that the user would place a monitor on the top of the case.

Given that the monitor was expected to be placed atop the case, inside Leading Edge strengthened the case with a steel bracket spanning from front to back where the riser card resides. This lent strength to the case overall and to the cards and riser board. Since some expansion cards were expected to be full length in size, a plastic bracket toward the front was used to align the cards and keep card−sag to a minimum. The power supply rested directly on the rear floor of the chassis and the front−mounted power button reached the power supply with an elongated metal rod.