Prior to their development of the STD Bus, Pro-Log offered non-bussed boards and systems. The PLS-868 is listed as a new product in the 1977 Pro-Log Price List and Short Form Catalog. Pro-Log's PLS (Programmed Logic Systems) are described as an "Edge Connected Card System", which, in Pro-Log parlance, means a card system that is expandable via an ad-hoc point-to-point wired connectors, i.e., not a through-bus backplane. While these cards were mounted in a card cage, the edge connectors were typically wire-wrap or solder eyelets and required system specific configuration. Pro-Log did offer pre-wired card cages for standard systems.
The PLS-868 is a single board computer (including RAM, ROM, and I/O). In addition to this stand alone single board computer, in 1977 Pro-Log offered two other M6800 based CPU cards, the 8611 and 8611-1. These cards were CPU only and required additional cards for memory and I/O.
The catalog provides the following description:
The 6800 is well suited to small scale data processing applications and is also capable of high speed bit manipulation for control applications. The PLS-868 allows the designer to select either RAM or 1/0 in memory base page 00 for use with high speed direct instructions. Expansion to ten additional Input ports and twelve additional output ports through simple ribbon connector. Single +5V supply.
Includes 6800 Processor with one microsecond cycle time, crystal clock, two interrupt inputs, power on and external reset, 1024 bytes of D 1004 RAM (2 114orequivalent), with sockets for additional 1024 bytes, and sockets for 8192 bytes of D2002 PROM (lntel2716 or equivalent), 16 TTL input lines and 24 TTL output latches. Requires +5 VDC . Does not include PROM