I just bought an Apple color composite monitor that needs some work. It
comes on fine, and the screen goes to a bright white if I turn up the
brightness. When I plug it into the computer the picture doesn't change a
lick. I tried messing with all the settings to no avail. The picture
stays a field of white.
Any tips on how to proceed diagnosing this thing? I've got it opened up,
the digital VOM is on and the soldering iron is hot.
Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ever onward.
September 26 & 27...Vintage Computer Festival 2.0
See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!
[Last web site update: 08/09/98]
Found these amongst Linux 'fortunes':
PIC Punch Invalid Card
POPI Punch Operator Immediately
PVLC Punch Variable Length Card
RASC Read And Shred Card
RPM Read Programmers Mind
RSSC Reduce Speed, Step Carefully (for improved accuracy)
RTAB Rewind Tape And Break
RWDSK Rewind Disk
RWOC Read Writing On Card
SCRBL Scribble to disk (faster than a write)
SLC Search for Lost Card
SPSW Scramble Program Status Word
SRSD Seek Record and Scar Disk
STROM Store in Read Only Memory
TDB Transfer and Drop Bit
WBT Water Binary Tree
Seen at: http://www.amnewsabuse.com/aafamily.htm
-Quote
Honey Sit On This For A Second So I Can Adjust It: - Corvallis OR is hosting
Da Vinci Days beginning Friday - a three day festival featuring a contest to
see how far you can hurl an obsolete personal computer with a big wooden
medieval catapult. (Jul 15 '96)
-End quote
I think we should massively e-mail their chamber of commerce about the
enormous stupidity of that event, this is an event supposed to celebrate
technology not destroy it!
Francois
At 09:12 PM 8/24/98 -0500, you wrote:
>
>< Oh, you mean like a National 8X300?
>
>No national 8x300 was the second source. ;)
OIC.
Hm, up to this point I thought it was all National's idea.
Did the 8X305 belong to SMS also? Or was the enhanced
chip a National invention?
>SMS was the creator. An 8bitter design for DSP at better than 6mhz
>throughput. Very non-Von machine with very seperate instruction and
>data paths.
That's a Harvard archetcture, right?
Jeff
The correct way to unsubscribe is to send a message to
listproc(a)u.washington.edu with the line below being the only one in the
message:
unsubscribe classiccmp
Posted publicly for the benefit of all. See end of post for better
instructions I got back from the listproc after my failed first attempt to
explain this.
On Tue, 25 Aug 1998, C. Boyer wrote:
> Must unsubscribe for a week or so while my
> wife & I move into our new home.
>
> Has a nice BIG basement....unfinished....1950sq ft.......hmmm!
>
> Cliff Boyer
> Computer collector with small but growing collection!
>
Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ever onward.
September 26 & 27...Vintage Computer Festival 2.0
See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!
[Last web site update: 08/09/98]
----
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Hi Scott,
I think I'd be interested in the xerox and the Amstrad.
Are they spoken for yet?
Where are you located? I'm in NH.
Thanks,
Jon
==================
>Hello All:
>
>I was lucky enough to buy the old building downtown where I have stored
>and worked on all my old machines over the past three years, but
>renovation is starting soon and some of this stuff has to GO! I wondered
>if any of you are interested in any of this stuff:
>
>LOTS of PCJr parts (most new in the box)
>Several complete working Juniors, one with expanded RAM, 2nd story 3.5"
>720K floppy, and Ramdrive. Some really interesting software for these,
>original M'soft Flight Simulator, Lotus 123 (on cartridge rom for pete's
>sake), even an accounting software package. and others!
>
>1 Amstrad PC640 w/software (and a lot of spare parts and monitors for
>same).
>
>1 Apple IIe ( w/ 2 floppies, monitor, just a few pieces of software, a
>couple of original manuals w/disks)
>1 Amdek Apple color monitor (one RCA Video-in jack)
>
>LOTS of PC XT's (doesn't everyone want one of these?)
>
>1 Xerox 16/4 with COMPLETE documentation, machine boots and runs fine
>from floppy, but HDD fails to pass initialization (think it needs a new
>controller card).
>
>MUCHOS basic Commodore stuff, no fancy REU's or anything, but several
>complete working systems with matching floppy drives, C64, C64c, Vic20.
>Also C128, C16, piece of a Colt 286. Also 1 non-working PET 2001.
>Printer interface for C64.
>
>2 Hewlett Packard things (I think I promised these to a listmember in
>Florida, if you are reading this, please get in touch, as I have
>forgotten your name!)
>
>Anyway, if you can use any of this stuff, please contact me. I don't
>expect to get rich off the sales and I'd rather another collector get it
>than dumpsterize it. I live in Eastern NC so factor that into the
>shipping. I will try to make a more complete inventory of this stuff and
>put it on my website if there is enough interest in it.
>
>Kirk Scott
>scottk5(a)ibm.net
>
Hm, up to this point I thought it was all National's idea.
< Did the 8X305 belong to SMS also? Or was the enhanced
< chip a National invention?
Nope, Signetics improved it under cross license to SMS.
< That's a Harvard archetcture, right?
To the rest of us up here it's Hahvad. ;)
Allison
> On 24 Aug 98 at 21:02, Uncle Roger wrote:
>
> > At 11:45 AM 8/24/98 PDT, you wrote:
> > >Today I saw an Atari 5?0ST and an 800XL. As I understand,
> the ST ran
> > >GEM. Is this an interesting computer at all? What about the XL? Was
> > >this one of the BASIC computers?
> >
> > 520ST does indeed run GEM; it's about equivalent to a Mac
> Plus or so.
>
> Not to start a flame-war or anything but I have a 4 meg Mac+
> and there's no
> way it is the equivalent of an ST. The only thing they had in
> common was the
> 68000 processor. In productivity applications, games, music
> programs, graphics,
> and ease of use it is vastly superior. The proper comparison
> would be the
> Amiga, which excelled in graphics versus the ST which
> excelled in music. Their
> capabilities IMHO exceeded the later 386 and with the various
> add-ons is
> still my machine of choice when not on the net. It's just a
> pleasure to use.
I'd like to chime in here. The Amiga was a great machine for Graphics,
Video, AND music during it's time (which is still ongoing). It was very
easy to attach a midi interface and there were alot of really killer
sequencers available. Plus, the Amiga bore the MOD music file format!
Must unsubscribe for a week or so while my
wife & I move into our new home.
Has a nice BIG basement....unfinished....1950sq ft.......hmmm!
Cliff Boyer
Computer collector with small but growing collection!
Hey, how about Soviet military parades? Best of both worlds!
>
>At 05:34 PM 8/24/98 -0500, you wrote:
>>
>>Myself, I prefer dancing and singing to celebrate things. What
happened
>>to dressing up in costumes and building floats and giving away free
stuff
>>like candy or food?
>>
>>Ah well...
>
>Blame the lawyers and the liabililty laws... (from a one time float
>builder and one who remembers when it was actually fun to be in a
parade)
>
>-jim
>
>---
>jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com
>The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw
>Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174
>
>
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
I was going to suggest that but since I've never used them, I was
afraid someone might like them. Why the Altair, though?
How about we all pitch in and build a nuclear-powered electromagnetic
mass driver to hurl the ENIAC into space (inadvertentley destroying
an oncoming alien fleet and being the saviours of the world)?
>
>< > Here's a question: what _obsolete_ computer would you choose for
this
>< > miracle machine, assuming you have unlimited power?
><
>< I'd get out my best documentary camera, place an Altair on the
catapult
>< and then film you guys trying to catch it. :-)
>
>I'd want to be the one pulling the catapult release. ;)
>
>But, before I did that one it would be a TI99/4a... nice cpu hobbled by
a
>really bad design.
>
>Allison
>
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Anthony Clifton wrote:
> It never ceases to amaze me that, when offered an opportunity to
> celebrate in a positive manner, groups of people will choose to smash,
> burn and destroy things instead. If it were some kind of demonstration
> against a particular company for some kind of social violations, it least
> smashing a computer made by that company would have some kind of symbolic
> purpose (albeit still a negative one). But to just smash something for
> the hell of it.
>
> I think there's a song about smashing a "perfectly good guitar."
>
> Myself, I prefer dancing and singing to celebrate things. What
> happened to dressing up in costumes and building floats and giving away
> free stuff like candy or food?
I was hoping not to get drawn into this somewhat strange thread, but...
I agree with Anthony. (Why is smashing pottery always such a popular
sideshow at the fair?) I have noticed a similar trend in other areas,
such as sponsored events to raise money for charity. People always want
to be sponsored to do something useless like walking 1000 miles or
jumping out of an aeroplane (airplane). If it's a worthwhile cause they
are supporting, I'll go ahead and sponsor them, but why can't we have
sponsored events like "Pick up all the litter in the neighbourhood -
sponsorship per bag collected"? The worst thing is, no-one would
sponsor people to do something useful because "Aren't the council
supposed to be doing it anyway? Why am I paying council tax? [Rant,
Rant]"
Sad, but that's human nature for you.
Philip.
At 11:45 AM 8/24/98 PDT, you wrote:
>Today I saw an Atari 5?0ST and an 800XL. As I understand, the ST ran
>GEM. Is this an interesting computer at all? What about the XL? Was
>this one of the BASIC computers?
520ST does indeed run GEM; it's about equivalent to a Mac Plus or so. 512K
RAM, (unless expanded) 68000 CPU. What it does have that other machines in
the same class (early Mac's, early Amigas) don't have is built-in MIDI
ports for connecting to musical keyboards and synthesizers.
That's what I (would) use in my studio (if I had it all set up) for
composition and sequencing. (Doncha just hate moving?)
The 800XL is an updated version of the venerable 800. Has BASIC built-in
and only one cartridge. Nice machine.
Today I saw an Atari 5?0ST and an 800XL. As I understand, the ST ran
GEM. Is this an interesting computer at all? What about the XL? Was
this one of the BASIC computers?
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Well, I don't necessarily see anything wrong with once in a while
destroying a useless piece of junk, like a PC or a C64 (despite
popular belief, third world countries will _not_ be better off with
more computers). In general, moderated violence is vital in society,
so that unmoderated violence is not as common. Singing and dancing
is good too, but remember that Cain is the one who was a vegetarian.
Of course, I have no idea why people showing off technology would
want to do it by smashing stuff. Ah, that's life...
>The whole exercise is such a Beavis and Butthead thing to do.
>
>It never ceases to amaze me that, when offered an opportunity to
>celebrate in a positive manner, groups of people will choose to smash,
>burn and destroy things instead. If it were some kind of demonstration
>against a particular company for some kind of social violations, it
least
>smashing a computer made by that company would have some kind of
symbolic
>purpose (albeit still a negative one). But to just smash something for
>the hell of it.
>
>I think there's a song about smashing a "perfectly good guitar."
>
>Myself, I prefer dancing and singing to celebrate things. What
happened
>to dressing up in costumes and building floats and giving away free
stuff
>like candy or food?
>
>Ah well...
>
>Anthony Clifton - Wirehead
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
--- Tony Duell wrote:
>
> RE: the discussion on converting the Sun Remarketing Mac XL back to a Lisa
> 2 - I called Sun Remarketing and spoke with their most knowledgable Lisa
> person (thanks Marion!) who was less than encouraging about the project.
> According to him, it is not just replacing a few ROMs and PALs, and removing
> a transformer from the CRT yoke - it requires replacing the main logic board
> from an original Lisa, and unless you have a wrecked Lisa, that item may be
> a little hard to find.
I thought the only difference between the logic boards was the
PROMs/PALs. Of course, not owning a Lisa, I can't be sure about this,
alas...
--- end of quote ---
This is what I've heard, too. In fact, one of the newer Lisa gizmos sold by Dafax is a "ROM switcher" so you can use both the original Lisa H-roms and the modification 3A-roms without further tinkering. (I guess you'd just put up with oval circles and whatnot in Mac apps, since the ROM switcher doesn't do squat about changing the video.) All these repair manuals say "hang onto your old ROMS so you can run Lisa stuff in the future" which seems to indicate that it's feasible to revert the change. ???
-- MB
< Thanks, that's about the sort of detail I needed (I assume that was jus
< written from memory)....
mostly.
< One question, what's the difference between the AB and CD slots in the
< backplane?
varies. There are generally two styles of cards dual width (AB) and quad
width (ABCD) and two styles of backplane those that are bussed with the
same signals on AB/CD pairs and those that are bussed on the AB side and
the CD has a unique bussing for user configs and special use.
Allison
At 03:29 PM 8/24/98 -0700, you wrote:
>
>Max, depending on how large this catapult is, and therefore how high the
>object goes, an object hurling back to earth at 100MPH would certainly end
>up in state hardly susceptible to repair.
Just for accuracy sake, they fling using a trebuchet (sp?), not a catapult.
Lest my SCA associates get their mail in a bunch... B^}
(also; I've not made it down to monitor the goings on either...)
-jim
---
jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com
The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw
Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174
In a message dated 98-08-24 23:36:05 EDT, you write:
<< Have a Memorex Telex model B7000000 286 machine in a slim line case and
a 3.5" floppy on a riser and a
Quantum Prodrive 40S hard drive. As per the usual, the setup is
botched and the hard disk is not recognized >>
I have heard of "generic" IBM AT setup programs available that might work on
this and my nonfunctioning mitsulaptop 286. can anyone provide web sources for
these setup programs?
Have a Memorex Telex model B7000000 286 machine in a slim line case and
a 3.5" floppy on a riser and a
Quantum Prodrive 40S hard drive. As per the usual, the setup is
botched and the hard disk is not recognized. I
have the usual generic setup utilities but am hesitant on doingt
hat since the 40S is an SCSI drive. Does anyone
know if this machine is a software setup or keystroke started CMOS
and where to get the setup program or what
the keystroke(s) are. This is getting set up to help a
homeschooling single mom out here and it would suit her need
fine once I can access the setup.
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Russ Blakeman
RB Custom Services / Rt. 1 Box 62E / Harned, KY USA 40144
Phone: (502) 756-1749 Data/Fax:(502) 756-6991
Email: rhblake(a)bbtel.com or rhblake(a)bigfoot.com
Website: http://members.tripod.com/~RHBLAKE/
ICQ UIN #1714857
AOL Instant Messenger "RHBLAKEMAN"
* Parts/Service/Upgrades and more for MOST Computers*
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Doug and all,
At 07:51 PM 8/24/98 -0500, you wrote:
>On Mon, 24 Aug 1998, Richard A. Cini, Jr. wrote:
>
>> While in the process of examining my old P-E and R-E magazines, I came
>> across an ad for MITS from mid-1974. The ad was for a 4-channel digital
>> handheld memory scope (model MS416) for $189. It seems to be a simple
>> digital logic analyzer.
>
>I think Dave mentioned that ad a few days ago, and I've seen one too.
>MITS made a bunch of other stuff before they made the Altair. Stan Veit
>tells the story about MITS and the Altair in his book "History of the
>Personal Computer." He mentions that Roberts had done a "built your own
>calculator" project for P-E. Anybody know which issue that was?
>
>-- Doug
>
I don't have this issue, but the Dec. 71 index shows for the November '71 issue:
"An electronic desk calculator you can build", by Roberts, page 27.
Later in the Oct. -Dec. 1974 issues he had a digital logic course with a low
cost terminal- 3 octal digits.
In the 1974 Electronic Experimenter's Handbook, there was a 6/9/12 digit
hand-held calculator by Lorinda Russell amd Bill Yates of MITS. I don't know
what P.E. issue this is from. This issue also had 2 articles by Harry
Garland and Roger Melen, including the "Muscle Whistler". I still have one.
Later Cromemco had a similar relation with P.E. For example, in the Feb.
1976 issue was the "TV Dazzler" article.
-Dave
< While in the process of examining my old P-E and R-E magazines, I ca
< across an ad for MITS from mid-1974. The ad was for a 4-channel digital
< handheld memory scope (model MS416) for $189. It seems to be a simple
< digital logic analyzer.
<
< Does any one have info on this? If anyone's interested, I'll post th
< picture.
If you dig a bit further back in the issues you find it as a project.
logic analyser is far more than it was.
Allison
To create a logical disk:
create file.dsk/alloc:494. (rx01 size, RX02=988, rx50=800)
mount ld0 file.dsk dk (mount as LD0, assign ld0 dk)
init/bad/noq dk: (impose a directory structure)
now proceed to use ld0 as you would any other device...
If you already have a disk image with stuff in it..
mount ld0 image.dsk dk (mount existing file as ld0,
assign ld0 dk)
dir (get a directory)
Again, just use it as you would any other disk volume.
Megan Gentry
Former RT-11 Developer
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
| Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry zk3.dec.com |
| Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg world.std.com |
| Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of ' ' |
| 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ |
| Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler |
| (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg |
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
>Well, it says that it is a full networking OS that allows mac's and
PC's
to communicate, etc. seems somewhat along the lines of what francois
has. also has a "secret proprietary etc etc" program disk called
"RTERM", circa 1985.
Daniel A. Seagraves wrote:
>
> If it is what I immediately thought it was, (Which it can't be,
> DEC owned TOPS, not Sun...) *I WANT A COPY!*
>
> (TOPS-20 on a PC! The horror!)
> -------
Seems there is some confusion here. TOPS-10 and TOPS-20 were DEC
operating systems for the 36-bit DEC-10 and DEC-20 mainframes, circa
late 60's (DEC-10) thru late 70's (DEC-20). TOPS dies when the VAX came
out, thought there are vestiges left in VMS.
The TOPS networking cards were essentially Appletalk cards for PCs. It
was a low speed network using a Z80 SIO (or SCC?) serial USART and
RS-422 drivers instead of RS-232. IIRC the speed was around
230Kbits/second (I have one in the back of a closet, haven't looked at
it for a while). No relation to the TOPS operating system at all.
Jack Peacock
< Oh, you mean like a National 8X300?
No national 8x300 was the second source. ;)
SMS was the creator. An 8bitter design for DSP at better than 6mhz
throughput. Very non-Von machine with very seperate instruction and
data paths.
< Westen digital used 8X300's for awhile on disk controllers.
< Alot of PC <-> Mainframe adaptors used 'em too . . .
Yep.
Allison
Allison -
IIRC, you were about to write some code to hook up one of these
parallel-IDE HD kits to a CP/M machine with an EPP. Could this be made into
a more generic project to allow file transfer over any CP/M parallel port?
I for one would like to be able to transfer CP/M files from a variety of old
systems to a portable IDE drive which could also be read on my PC in order
to make archival copies of software for CD-ROMs. And I think there would be
other interested parties as well.
On another matter, thanks for the RAM 17 manual. And I'm sending you 2
unopened boxes of Dysan 10-hole hard sectored disks for your N*, plus
another dozen of used, but perhaps not as used as some of yours, N* disks.
Bob Stek
bobstek(a)ix.netcom.com
Well, it'll fit into the landfill better anyway...
Here's a question: what _obsolete_ computer would you choose for this
miracle machine, assuming you have unlimited power?
My choice would have to be an IBM PC just to vent..
>
>> Plus consider that you could then ask for the smashed machines and
>> restore them. THere is unlikely to be any serious damage except
>> drives and CRTs. You could certainly scrounge the chips.
>
>Max, depending on how large this catapult is, and therefore how high
the
>object goes, an object hurling back to earth at 100MPH would certainly
end
>up in state hardly susceptible to repair.
>
>Sam Alternate e-mail:
dastar(a)siconic.com
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Ever onward.
>
> September 26 & 27...Vintage Computer Festival 2.0
> See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!
> [Last web site update: 08/09/98]
>
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Hello, all:
While in the process of examining my old P-E and R-E magazines, I came
across an ad for MITS from mid-1974. The ad was for a 4-channel digital
handheld memory scope (model MS416) for $189. It seems to be a simple
digital logic analyzer.
Does any one have info on this? If anyone's interested, I'll post the
picture.
Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com>
- ClubWin/CW7
- MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking
- Preserver of "classic" computers
<<<< ========== reply separator ========== >>>>>
Huw Davies <H.Davies(a)latrobe.edu.au> wrote:
>One question, what's the difference between the AB and CD slots in the
>backplane?
On *some* backplanes, there is no difference. A dual-high board could
be plugged into the CD side just was successfully as in the AB side.
In other backplanes, the AB side is the Qbus side, and the CD side is
set to connect adjacent boards so that they can communicate (such as
the VSV11, the RLV11, and the 11/83 and its PMI memory).
In yet other backplanes, you find that it is Qbus in the AB slots and
CD bus in the CD slots for part of the backplane (BA23 = three slots,
BA123 = 4 slots) and then it switches to Qbus in both the AB and the
CD sides.
Bottom line -- make sure you know what backplane you are plugging
boards into before you do so. Also, make sure that quad-high options
which can plug into both Q/CD and Q/Q have the CD jumpers on the board
set correctly.
Megan Gentry
Former RT-11 Developer
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
| Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry zk3.dec.com |
| Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg world.std.com |
| Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of ' ' |
| 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ |
| Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler |
| (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg |
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
At 11:20 AM 24-08-98 -0700, Jack Peacock wrote:
>>This is an old auction on eBay I happened to run across. Perhaps this
>item is still available:
>
>>MOOG Walter Carlos- Switched on Bach Mint Item #23979261
>
>Was there a reserve? I have one too, from high school days but hardly
>in mint condition, it's been played many times. For the last 15 years
>I've used a copy on cassette I still play every few months, the 3rd
>Brandenburg was a favorite.
Well it (and a lot of Carlos' other works are available on CD). I used to
use this sort of music to program to, but I'm more into the original
arrangements for programming now (not that I do a lot at the moment, but
there is this nice program I want to write for work that could end up
written in BCPL for old time's sake :-)
Huw Davies | e-mail: Huw.Davies(a)latrobe.edu.au
Information Technology Services | Phone: +61 3 9479 1550 Fax: +61 3 9479
1999
La Trobe University | "If God had wanted soccer played in the
Melbourne Australia 3083 | air, the sky would be painted green"
>> Myself, I prefer dancing and singing to celebrate things. What
happened
> to dressing up in costumes and building floats and giving away free
stuff
> like candy or food?
>Rape and pillage is far greater fun.
Robert Duvall said it best in Apocalypse Now: "I love the smell of
napalm in the morning. It's the smell of...victory."
In this case, victory over every bug-ridden PC ever made.
Jack Peacock
< I'm about to expose a lack of understanding of Q-bus, but do you need a
Dig up a PDP-11 Qbus book, most had a good description of the bus and
bus protocals.
< slot for uVAX-II memory given that it has the PMI (private memory
CDbus is used for PMI too.
< interconnect)? As you can tell, I'm not up there with Q-bus specifics an
< all the uVAX Q-bus systems I've used came with a suitable back plane (a
< vast cost at the time from Digital :-)
Makes it a lot easier.
Alliosn
>It never ceases to amaze me that, when offered an opportunity to
celebrate in a positive manner, groups of people will choose to smash,
burn and destroy things instead. If it were some kind of demonstration
against a particular company for some kind of social violations, it
least
smashing a computer made by that company would have some kind of
symbolic
purpose (albeit still a negative one). But to just smash something for
the hell of it.
How odd, seems like a natural thing to do. Many's the time I'd like to
have taken the PC under my desk, loaded it into the trusty old trebuchet
and slung it across the countryside. As for wanton destruction, don't
knock it till you try it. Last month I had the opportunity to fire a
75mm cannon at some cars, wasted a really nice Subaru. Then I got to
watch as the rest of the cars were strafed by a .50 Browning from a
helicopter. It's a great feeling to watch a Lincoln being blown apart.
We surely do live in the best of times.
Jack Peacock
< Well I'm not really a Qbus person. I never got into PDP-11s much and apa
< from adding and removing boards from a uVAX-II didn't get to play with Q
< much. The sort of thing I'm looking at is a little more sophisticated th
< "a bus is something that connects cards together" but a little less bori
< than a dry description of arcane features of signal timing and decay
< (although I've read plenty of these in my time).
let's see if I can do a little on this.
Q-bus DECs compaction of Unibus. Qbus is a time multiplexed, asychronous,
16bit data and depending on age of the system 16, 18 or 22 bit address.
It has termination and controlled loading to allow operation at high spped
using open collector drivers. While a 16 bit bus it also supports various
byte transfers. Q-bus is compact and fairly sparce in signals but supports
memory, device, interrupt and DMA transfers using the bus data lines and a
set of 10 control signals. There are other signals present for processor
control such as RUN, PowerOK and Binit are examples. There are more pins
than actual signals, some are redundant power for example. There are
lines for bus mastering, DMA and interrupt grant/ack are examples.
Most devices fall into several loose catagories, IO and memory.
The lower 16bits are multiplexed on the bus before every transaction using
the same lines data will be transferred on. Cards use BSYNC to capture
address and start any bus cycle that pertains to them.
Memory is fairly straight forward in that its timed off bsync and will
use the other 9 signals to synchronize it's operation. Transactions will
be read (word/byte) or write (word/byte). One of the characteristices
of PDP-11s is they always read before write (a read modify write cycle
is the normal thing). IO devices are identical to memory and by
convention and use of BBS7 are located in the top page of the 32KW
address space (1 11x xxx xxx xxx xxx).
The remaining transacions of not are interrupts and DMA. Interrupts are
posted via a request line that can be superceeded by another board
physically (buswise) closer to the CPU and will be granted by the CPU
to the higest(closest) requestor then and acceeding requesting modules.
When an interrupt is granted the board will place a byte(7 bits lowest set
to 0) VECTOR on the data bus that the processor will use as a pointer
to a table in the first 512byts of ram (interrupts vector table PSW and
interrupts service address is located in two words). DMA also has a grant
acknowledge and positional priority. Once granted DMA may proceed with
byte or word transfers of any length, though generally restricted to short
bursts to avoid hogging the bus.
The basic signals are:
BDAL 0->15-L -L denotes active low signal
BSYNC-L
BBS7-L Predecoded bank 7 signal (IO bank)
BAIKO-L Bus interrupt acknowledge
BWTBT-L Bus Write Byte
BRPLY-L Bus Cycle reply (must be supplied to continue the cycle
or a bus time out error occurs)
BDIN-L Bus Data IN toward CPU
BDOUT-L Bus Data OUT -> to module
Bus cycles have a distinct protocal (sequence) and timings.
< Does this narrow it down a little? I'm sort of surprised that there isn'
< nice description on the web somewhere....
Me too, though trivial it's not. I tried to avoid a description of each
line as that is quite lengthly.
Allison
At 04:48 PM 8/24/98 -0500, you wrote:
>
>< SMS300-1
>< 0002624
>< 001 A 7620 on it
>
>An early bipolar processor (very strange) that was often used for signal
>processing or stuff like hard disk controllers.
>
>Allison
>
Oh, you mean like a National 8X300?
Westen digital used 8X300's for awhile on disk controllers.
Alot of PC <-> Mainframe adaptors used 'em too . . .
Jeff
In a message dated 98-08-24 19:01:57 EDT, you write:
<< Here's a question: what _obsolete_ computer would you choose for this
miracle machine, assuming you have unlimited power? >>
how about any of the IBM family one series? there's plenty of them and no
shortage of them except for the 5155 and 5140 maybe. i'd keep those.
david
Plus consider that you could then ask for the smashed machines and
restore them. THere is unlikely to be any serious damage except
drives and CRTs. You could certainly scrounge the chips.
>> I think we should massively e-mail their chamber of commerce about
the
>> enormous stupidity of that event, this is an event supposed to
celebrate
>> technology not destroy it!
>
>If it is an XT, VAX, C64, Amiga, or whatever - I think humanity could
>spare one for a bit of fun.
>
>William Donzelli
>william(a)ans.net
>
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
< sent us a cardboard baffle to try to get it to work but the only real
< solution for us was to use a different brand of 8" drive. Did anyone
< ever have a good experience with Calcomp floppy drives?
DEC used the mechanics and heads for the RX01 and RX02 disks with good
results. The electronics however were DEC built.
< This was pre-CP/M days, we used the floppy as a sort of fast paper tape
< replacement, keeping a manual directory of tracks which held code. I
< patched in a crude driver to the ALS-8 assembler development ROM system
< from Processor Tech to read/write memory blocks onto the floppy.
It's needs for a seperate CPU and a NEC D372 controller is familiar.
The grandfather to the design was used as a proto for a NEC TECH note
which I have. I used a version that for a NEC (NOT S100) PDA80
development system and it worked ok with good drives.
Allison
RE: the discussion on converting the Sun Remarketing Mac XL back to a Lisa
2 - I called Sun Remarketing and spoke with their most knowledgable Lisa
person (thanks Marion!) who was less than encouraging about the project.
According to him, it is not just replacing a few ROMs and PALs, and removing
a transformer from the CRT yoke - it requires replacing the main logic board
>from an original Lisa, and unless you have a wrecked Lisa, that item may be
a little hard to find. On the other hand, this group always seems to have
someone who, not knowing a task was impossible, did it anyway! I you're out
there and have "done it" - please make yourself known!
Bob Stek
bobstek(a)ix.netcom.com
Saver of lost SOLs
>Two, not one, two Imsai's with Imsai disk units up for auction on ebay.
Imsai disk unit as in the original 8" Calcomp floppy? Hmm, from '76?
Be careful if it is, those drives had an extremely short lifespan (we
experienced a 300% failure rate, every drive ordered failed, and
replacements failed too). Cooling on the first Imsai floppy cabinet was
completely inadequate for 8" drives, IMSAI later redesigned it. They
sent us a cardboard baffle to try to get it to work but the only real
solution for us was to use a different brand of 8" drive. Did anyone
ever have a good experience with Calcomp floppy drives?
The controller was pretty sophisticated for it's day, used a channel
type design, you sent it basic info and it read the data into memory.
This was pre-CP/M days, we used the floppy as a sort of fast paper tape
replacement, keeping a manual directory of tracks which held code. I
patched in a crude driver to the ALS-8 assembler development ROM system
>from Processor Tech to read/write memory blocks onto the floppy.
Jack Peacock
The 800XL (circa 1983) is a streamlined version of the Atari 800 (circa
1979). Although the 800XL has 64K RAM standard, while the 800 could only
support 48K, the 800 had an expansion bus that the 800XL lacks. The 800XL
is a 1.79 MHz 6502 machine with 24K ROM including BASIC. It accepts most of
the same peripherals as the 800, including software (mostly game)
cartridges. It has 2 joystick ports that accept 2600-style joysticks.
Floppy drives are available, which run Atari DOS. See
http://www.geocities.com/~compcloset/atari800XL.htm.
The Atari 520ST (circa 1985) is a 16 MHz Motorola 68000-based machine that
was created to compete against the Commodore Amiga (Atari almost acquired
Amiga Technologies before Commodore did, and was always jealous of that
fact). It indeed runs a GEM-based GUI and the TOS operating system. The
STf version has an internal floppy drive, and the STfm version has a floppy
drive and RF modulator. See
http://www.geocities.com/~compcloset/atari520stfm.htm.
Kai
-----Original Message-----
From: Max Eskin [mailto:maxeskin@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, August 24, 1998 11:46 AM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: Ataris
Today I saw an Atari 5?0ST and an 800XL. As I understand, the ST ran
GEM. Is this an interesting computer at all? What about the XL? Was
this one of the BASIC computers?
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
< SMS300-1
< 0002624
< 001 A 7620 on it
An early bipolar processor (very strange) that was often used for signal
processing or stuff like hard disk controllers.
Allison
In a message dated 98-08-24 14:50:19 EDT, you write:
<<
Today I saw an Atari 5?0ST and an 800XL. As I understand, the ST ran
GEM. Is this an interesting computer at all? What about the XL? Was
this one of the BASIC computers? >>
800xl is just a 8bit atari machine. nothing really special about it although
it did have some pretty good sound and graphics similar to the 2600. the 520st
would be worth getting. supposedly ran a pretty good gui and is still used
elsewhere.
--- SUPRDAVE(a)aol.com wrote:
<< Anyone who wants a copy by email, let me know. If you have a PC or are
using
UNIX (anything other than a Mac), tell me what kind of compression to use (I
can create a pkzip archive, if needed). >>
how about putting it somewhere like on a web page or something?
--- end of quote ---
I did, but you'll starve to death waiting for it to load. ;) That's if you use the Netscape/Acrobat PDF-viewer plugin. If you just want to download it (it's not compressed), that might be better.
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~marionba/deserial.pdf
-- MB
Two, not one, two Imsai's with Imsai disk units up for auction on ebay.
Our very own Bob Wood is high bidder on one. Been willin' to sacrifice
alot to get one of them Imsai disk units but when one comes up on Ebay,
I already spent all my budget on other crap :)
Tony
The 520 is a 68000 based GEM machine. From what I understand, it's an OK games machine and really really cool if you're heavy into MIDI.
The 800XL is one of the nicer machines in the expansive Atari 8 bit line.
Tony
--
On Mon, 24 Aug 1998 11:45:31 Max Eskin wrote:
>
>Today I saw an Atari 5?0ST and an 800XL. As I understand, the ST ran
>GEM. Is this an interesting computer at all? What about the XL? Was
>this one of the BASIC computers?
>
>______________________________________________________
>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
>
-----== Sent via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/ Easy access to 50,000+ discussion forums
>This is an old auction on eBay I happened to run across. Perhaps this
item is still available:
>MOOG Walter Carlos- Switched on Bach Mint Item #23979261
Was there a reserve? I have one too, from high school days but hardly
in mint condition, it's been played many times. For the last 15 years
I've used a copy on cassette I still play every few months, the 3rd
Brandenburg was a favorite. I also have Switched On Bach II and Sonic
Seasonings. And just to keep it on topic (a stretch), all these were
popular with the late nite programming crowd before the days of
timeshare, when you went down to the university computer lab room where
the keypunches and chess boards were located.
Jack Peacock
Right but the original post was about the PC-MAC network and not the DEC OS
thus the path the thread is taking.
There was also a TOPS for UNIX (Sun 386). Also TOPS could work through
Ethernet (used mostly when UNIX was involved) wich would allow for more that
just PC-MAC networks.
According to the Book "Networking with TOPS" the original version was made
by SUN.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jack Peacock <peacock(a)simconv.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Monday, August 24, 1998 12:18 PM
Subject: RE: TOPS for PC, from sun
>
>>Well, it says that it is a full networking OS that allows mac's and
>PC's
>to communicate, etc. seems somewhat along the lines of what francois
>has. also has a "secret proprietary etc etc" program disk called
>"RTERM", circa 1985.
>
>Daniel A. Seagraves wrote:
>>
>> If it is what I immediately thought it was, (Which it can't be,
>> DEC owned TOPS, not Sun...) *I WANT A COPY!*
>>
>> (TOPS-20 on a PC! The horror!)
>> -------
>
>Seems there is some confusion here. TOPS-10 and TOPS-20 were DEC
>operating systems for the 36-bit DEC-10 and DEC-20 mainframes, circa
>late 60's (DEC-10) thru late 70's (DEC-20). TOPS dies when the VAX came
>out, thought there are vestiges left in VMS.
>
>The TOPS networking cards were essentially Appletalk cards for PCs. It
>was a low speed network using a Z80 SIO (or SCC?) serial USART and
>RS-422 drivers instead of RS-232. IIRC the speed was around
>230Kbits/second (I have one in the back of a closet, haven't looked at
>it for a while). No relation to the TOPS operating system at all.
> Jack Peacock
>
One more. Sorry.
MOOG Walter Carlos- the well tempered synth Item #23980914
Ebay. Again, no bids.
Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ever onward.
September 26 & 27...Vintage Computer Festival 2.0
See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!
[Last web site update: 08/09/98]
This is an old auction on eBay I happened to run across. Perhaps this
item is still available:
MOOG Walter Carlos- Switched on Bach Mint Item #23979261
The auction ended with no bids.
Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ever onward.
September 26 & 27...Vintage Computer Festival 2.0
See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!
[Last web site update: 08/09/98]
>>So, I'm back from my short (2wks) vacation in Estonia.
>>And I have a new Baby: A Juku. Thats an estonian
>>Z-80 Home computer from 1990 (ok, less than 10 Years,
>>but it fitts well here :). And in fact it is a SU computer,
>>since estonia was still part of the SSSR at this time.
>>Anything beside CPU and PIO ist still discrete TTL. The
>>caracterset is a 8 bit code with ASCII in the lower 128
>>chars and cyrillic and special symbols in the upper 128.
>>CUTE! I also aquired a dual FD and a _mouse_. But I miss
>>the DOS. The previous owner tried to use all Disks in a
>>PC :(((( THere are also no Manuals. So, if anybody knows
>>any additional source of information, pleas give me a
>>hint.
> As usual, I am willing to decode any cyrillic for you.
Oh, decoding cyrillic istn't a real problem - it just
consumes a lot of processing time for my biodynamic
interpreter :)
> No, I haven't heard anything about this, but what does
> this thing look like? Commodoreish?
Hmm - a bit - think of a Dragon after kissed by a steam
roller. It's a 4 MHz Z80A clone with 16 KB dyn mem (max
64 kb), 6 kb video mem (afaI can guess) and integrated
FD controller.
Gruss
H.
--
Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut
HRK
IIRC alot of companies OEMed TOPS from TOPS (the original company) then
Digital once TOPS was acquired.
Tony
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Francois [mailto:fauradon@pclink.com]
> Sent: Sunday, August 23, 1998 3:27 PM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: Re: TOPS for PC, from sun
>
>
> Well actually I have a SUN branded version of TOPS for the
> MAC and a Centram
> branded version for both the PC and the MAC. I guess it's
> going from hand to
> hands or maby on is a clone of the other.I haven't installed
> them yet but
> I'm planning on using them to hook my MACs to my PC network
> with a FlashCard
> on a dedicated PC..
> Francois
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> Visit the desperately in need of update
> Sanctuary at: http://www.pclink.com/fauradon
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Daniel A. Seagraves <DSEAGRAV(a)toad.xkl.com>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Date: Sunday, August 23, 1998 1:42 PM
> Subject: Re: TOPS for PC, from sun
>
>
> >If it is what I immediately thought it was, (Which it can't be,
> >DEC owned TOPS, not Sun...) *I WANT A COPY!*
> >
> >(TOPS-20 on a PC! The horror!)
> >-------
> >
>
Allison -
IIRC, you were about to write some code to hook up one of these
parallel-IDE HD kits to a CP/M machine with an EPP. Could this be made into
a more generic project to allow file transfer over any CP/M parallel port?
I for one would like to be able to transfer CP/M files from a variety of old
systems to a portable IDE drive which could also be read on my PC in order
to make archival copies of software for CD-ROMs. And I think there would be
other interested parties as well.
On another matter, thanks for the RAM 17 manual. And I'm sending you 2
unopened boxes of Dysan 10-hole hard sectored disks for your N*, plus
another dozen of used, but perhaps not as used as some of yours, N* disks.
Bob Stek
bobstek(a)ix.netcom.com
So, I'm back from my short (2wks) vacation in Estonia.
And I have a new Baby: A Juku. Thats an estonian
Z-80 Home computer from 1990 (ok, less than 10 Years,
but it fitts well here :). And in fact it is a SU computer,
since estonia was still part of the SSSR at this time.
Anything beside CPU and PIO ist still discrete TTL. The
caracterset is a 8 bit code with ASCII in the lower 128
chars and cyrillic and special symbols in the upper 128.
CUTE! I also aquired a dual FD and a _mouse_. But I miss
the DOS. The previous owner tried to use all Disks in a
PC :(((( THere are also no Manuals. So, if anybody knows
any additional source of information, pleas give me a
hint.
Gruss
H.
--
Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut
HRK
If anyone has definitive information on obtaining / copying the ROM's needed
to convert the Lisa / Mac XL back to the original Lisa, please copy me with
the info. Never having had even a Mac before, I hate to think that I ALMOST
have a Lisa, but instead have just an old Mac.
Bob Stek
bobstek(a)ix.netcom.com
Well, not only did I win the Ebay auction for all the 70's electronics
parts (he didn't even want my winning bid), I went over this weekend to
fill up my car (a 1990 Ford T-bird).
I am going back to get the rest next weekend but I was able to fill my
then empty trunk with 74lsxxx parts, all brand new in tubes (the guy
believes there is at lease one tube of every part in the series in
there). My back seat is full of 3M ribbon cable (various wire counts)
and tons of din and card edge connectors. I think I grabbed a box full
of 68K and Z80 processors also.
What I'm nabbing next week; A NEC Spinwriter with a bunch of spindles, a
box full of 10MB Priam hard drives, a box full of Shugart 8" floppy
drives, more din and card edge connectors and (if I can get Allison's
help) a 19" 6-foot rack :)
Once I can go thru and sort all this stuff, I'll probably be offering
them online for people that need them. I'll probably just charge for
shipping, maybe a meager fee to offset the cost of storage.
Tony
Subject: Re: The glorious 12th.....
From: Sparky <dl(a)r-m-c.demon.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1998 09:43:28 +0100
Message-ID: <eJeG6UAwMT31EwnX(a)r-m-c.demon.co.uk>
Organization: Timber Kitchen Utensils R Us
Newsgroups: demon.local
On Thu, 20 Aug 1998, Sparky wibbled thusly:
Hmm... FUTOP :(
>>:We ripped our PDP out a couple of weeks ago, when we replaced our
>>:Process Control Software. I can make enquiries if you wish?
>>
>>Wow! That'd be brilliant (If you could)
>
>I'll ask around next week.
Coupla calls: One of our sites still uses PDP, and our old one is being
kept incase of problems. However, that site is upgrading in a few weeks.
The PDP will be available in about two months, free to a good home (at
least, that's what they're saying ATM), so remind me nearer the time.
As usual, I am willing to decode any cyrillic for you. No, I haven't
heard anything about this, but what does this thing look like?
Commodoreish?
>So, I'm back from my short (2wks) vacation in Estonia.
>And I have a new Baby: A Juku. Thats an estonian
>Z-80 Home computer from 1990 (ok, less than 10 Years,
>but it fitts well here :). And in fact it is a SU computer,
>since estonia was still part of the SSSR at this time.
>Anything beside CPU and PIO ist still discrete TTL. The
>caracterset is a 8 bit code with ASCII in the lower 128
>chars and cyrillic and special symbols in the upper 128.
>CUTE! I also aquired a dual FD and a _mouse_. But I miss
>the DOS. The previous owner tried to use all Disks in a
>PC :(((( THere are also no Manuals. So, if anybody knows
>any additional source of information, pleas give me a
>hint.
>
>Gruss
>H.
>
>--
>Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut
>HRK
>
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>OK, it's become obvious to me that I'm not going to figure out how to
>create a logical disk under RT-11. If someone would be so kind as to
>explain the steps involved, I would appreciate it.
Let's say you want a 2000-block logical disk, which you'll call
MYLOG.DSK, and you want it mounted as LD3:
.create du1:mylog.dsk[2000]
.mou ld3: du1:mylog.dsk
.init ld3:
LD3:/Initialize; Are you sure? Y
.dir ld3:
19-Aug-1998
0 Files, 0 Blocks
1986 Free blocks
-----
Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com
Trailing Edge Technology Voice: 301-767-5917
7328 Bradley Blvd Fax: 301-767-5927
Bethesda, MD, USA 20817
>Doh! Do you have any idea how stupid you just made me feel :^) Thanks, I
>just copied the files to RX50. Since I couldn't get the emulator to read
>the disk image I foolishly didn't consider that putr might be able to :^(
Bob Supnik's emulator is a fine emulator, but it's not the same
sort of all-purpose tool that PUTR is for dealing with certain file
systems.
>Ummm, two reasons. I'm not sure I've got the necessary hardware pieces in
>the Box (would I be able to go through a printer port)
You've got a console port, right? That's all you need!
See ftp://kermit.columbia.edu/kermit/b/krt.doc for full installation
instructions.
> and secondly I
> haven't a clue as far as Kermit is concerned. I think I've used it once or
> twice to transfer data between a Honeywell Mainframe and a PC, but there
> was a written reciept to follow for that.
Too bad you suffered through so many years without realizing what
a wonderful took Kermit is. It's available for just about every
computer platform there is (or was), and can deal with communications
channels that X/Y/ZMODEM will just stare blankly at (for example,
one-way-at-a-time async channels common on IBM mainframes). Even
better, it can be just as fast or faster than ZMODEM. I use it just
about every day to move data between RT-11, RSX-11, CP/M, VMS, Unix,
MS-DOS, OS/8, etc...
-----
Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com
Trailing Edge Technology Voice: 301-767-5917
7328 Bradley Blvd Fax: 301-767-5927
Bethesda, MD, USA 20817
--- You wrote:
I have this document available on my website
http://www.asap.net/~rbedeaux/lisa
Rob Bedeaux
--- end of quote ---
Whew! That's far better than the 2MB pdf I put together.
-- MB
< In the case of this SMS-1000 and it's wierd disk controller I suspect th
< it might be able to emulate the RX02 on a 5.25" disk, which was the reas
< for the original statement. However, I've got a second SMS-1000 that wa
< Identical to this one, prior to my changing some stuff, that is differen
< only in that it has a 8" drive.
Maybe but more likely it was an 8" drive so that RX02 media could actually
be read.
The use of ODD drives to simulate a different media was common enough but
it was generally done to allow use of older software that was media
dependent.
Allison
In a message dated 98-08-23 14:33:15 EDT, you write:
<< Anyone who wants a copy by email, let me know. If you have a PC or are
using
UNIX (anything other than a Mac), tell me what kind of compression to use (I
can create a pkzip archive, if needed). >>
how about putting it somewhere like on a web page or something?
OK, it's become obvious to me that I'm not going to figure out how to
create a logical disk under RT-11. If someone would be so kind as to
explain the steps involved, I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Zane
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
| healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast |
| healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector |
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
| Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
| and Zane's Computer Museum. |
| http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ |
>>Umm... 8" is what pretty much defines RX02s... I don't know of an RX02
>>which was other than 8"
>
>You gotta get out of the development world and into the real world
>a little more often, Megan :-). I do a lot of software development
>for ADAC NMR (aka MRI) scanners that run a heavily modified RT-11 V4,
>where the 5.25" 80-track floppies are basically treated as if they
>were double-sided RX02's. (i.e. the geometry only uses 77 tracks,
>and actually skips the first track, just like a real RX02!)
That may be (about getting out of the development world...) but
my statement stands. A true RX02 is pretty much defined as being
an 8" floppy... you said so yourself in this response by saying that
it was 'treated as if' it were an RX02... But the fact is that a
3.5" or 5.25" (or some size other than 8") device which is 'treated
as if' it were an RX02 *IS NOT* an RX02.
Megan Gentry
Former RT-11 Developer
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
| Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry zk3.dec.com |
| Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg world.std.com |
| Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of ' ' |
| 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ |
| Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler |
| (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg |
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
>OK, I've got the RX02 virtual disk images I want on my 486 (it's the one
>with the 1.2Mb floppy, booted into DOS, and started up 'putr'. I made a
>RX50 using putr, and go to copy the smltcp.dsk image to the RX50.
>Unfortunatly it complains that there isn't enough room. I take it that a
>RX50 is less than 500k? I think the image is 492k.
An RX50 is 400Kbytes.
>Is there some way that I can split the disk images and then recombine them
>once I've got them copied over to the /73?
You may as well just copy half the files on each RX02 image to one
RX50, and the other half of the files to a second RX50.
Rather than juggling floppies around all day, why not just
Kermit the TCP/IP disk images into your -11?
Tim.
>DECsystem-10 fiche? Which 10?
>If you pitch that, I'll personally show up and disembowel you with a
>blunt object. :)
I felt the same way... I asked whether it was software fiche or
hardware fiche... I am working on lining up a KS10 for myself
and was interested in it...
I have a set of fiche which contains the listings of TOPS-10, some
version (I don't remember which), and utilities... I won't be
getting rid of that anytime soon (if ever). But I'm interested
in whatever hardware fiche I can get...
Megan Gentry
Former RT-11 Developer
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
| Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry zk3.dec.com |
| Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg world.std.com |
| Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of ' ' |
| 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ |
| Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler |
| (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg |
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
If you are interested in the PET or can help him on the Micro Craft
email Terry direct as he isn't on this list that I know of.
_________________________
Terry Yager <tyager(a)match.org>
Flint, MI USA - Sunday, August 23, 1998 at 21:07:24
Commodore PET 2001 Series Professional Computer, Model #2001-8N.
Computer only, no
software/peripherals. Runs ROM Based BASIC. Looks great. Best offer
over $100.
_________________________
Terry Yager <tyager(a)match.org>
Flint, MI USA - Sunday, August 23, 1998 at 19:30:51
Need software/documentation/any info in re: Micro Craft Dimension
68000 computer, manufactured c.1984 by
Micro Craft Computer Co., Dallas, TX. Arcticles. reviews, etc. also
appreciated. TNX.
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Russ Blakeman
RB Custom Services / Rt. 1 Box 62E / Harned, KY USA 40144
Phone: (502) 756-1749 Data/Fax:(502) 756-6991
Email: rhblake(a)bbtel.com or rhblake(a)bigfoot.com
Website: http://members.tripod.com/~RHBLAKE/
ICQ UIN #1714857
AOL Instant Messenger "RHBLAKEMAN"
* Parts/Service/Upgrades and more for MOST Computers*
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Huw,
----------
> From: Huw Davies <H.Davies(a)latrobe.edu.au>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: Odd Q-Bus questions 18/22bit
> Date: Friday, August 21, 1998 9:02 PM
> Well a quick look through the engineering archives at work didn't lead to
> anything describing Qbus in any more detail.
What information about the q-bus do you need ?
cheers,
emanuel
>Other than the media will not store the same amount without resorting
>to RX33 (or similar) formatting. The RX02 is 512kb on 77 tracks and 26
>sectors of 256 bytes. That really doesn't work on 5.25 floppies. So
>likely the format is a bit more munged. Anyhow calling something that's
>media incompatable a "RX02" sorta makes for great confusion. Hell I
>have a solidstate serial disk that emulates a TU58 that uses ram for
>storage, it's a TU58 to the software (DD driver) and it's 256k per tape
>but it's hardly media compatable. So if someone says RX02 it means 8"
>SSDD floppy using DEC M^2FM encoding of the data fields and is able to
>read and write RX01 media. Even a DSD880/120 obeyed that!
Thanks, Allison... exactly my point...
And in fact, early versions of DSDs didn't look exactly like RL01s,
they were larger... requiring changes to the driver so that they
would work. But these changes were NOT made to the distributed
sources... the owner's manual for the DSDs described the changes
to make.
Megan Gentry
Former RT-11 Developer
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
| Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry zk3.dec.com |
| Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg world.std.com |
| Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of ' ' |
| 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ |
| Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler |
| (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg |
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
< for ADAC NMR (aka MRI) scanners that run a heavily modified RT-11 V4,
< where the 5.25" 80-track floppies are basically treated as if they
< were double-sided RX02's. (i.e. the geometry only uses 77 tracks,
< and actually skips the first track, just like a real RX02!)
Other than the media will not store the same amount without resorting
to RX33 (or similar) formatting. The RX02 is 512kb on 77 tracks and 26
sectors of 256 bytes. That really doesn't work on 5.25 floppies. So
likely the format is a bit more munged. Anyhow calling something that's
media incompatable a "RX02" sorta makes for great confusion. Hell I
have a solidstate serial disk that emulates a TU58 that uses ram for
storage, it's a TU58 to the software (DD driver) and it's 256k per tape
but it's hardly media compatable. So if someone says RX02 it means 8"
SSDD floppy using DEC M^2FM encoding of the data fields and is able to
read and write RX01 media. Even a DSD880/120 obeyed that!
Allison
>It's definitely hardware only. See my other reply to Daniel as to why I
>don't know exactly what's on it....
Is there any service which duplicates fiche? (and produces something
readable?)
I remember making fiche for listings of various things back when I worked
on some DECsystem-10s at the PK1 (parker St, Maynard, MA) facility. The
fiche was produced by some device which read magtapes with
machine-readable listings, produced on the -10... At one point, I did
what was required to produce a set of fiche with the RT-11 listings
on it... this was RT V2C.
Megan Gentry
Former RT-11 Developer
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
| Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry zk3.dec.com |
| Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg world.std.com |
| Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of ' ' |
| 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ |
| Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler |
| (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg |
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
>Umm... 8" is what pretty much defines RX02s... I don't know of an RX02
>which was other than 8"
You gotta get out of the development world and into the real world
a little more often, Megan :-). I do a lot of software development
for ADAC NMR (aka MRI) scanners that run a heavily modified RT-11 V4,
where the 5.25" 80-track floppies are basically treated as if they
were double-sided RX02's. (i.e. the geometry only uses 77 tracks,
and actually skips the first track, just like a real RX02!)
-----
Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com
Trailing Edge Technology Voice: 301-767-5917
7328 Bradley Blvd Fax: 301-767-5927
Bethesda, MD, USA 20817
<OK, I've found the TCP/IP distributions on the Kent University web site
< The thing is, they're on RX02 disk images of some sort. How on earth do
< deal with these? They obviosly aren't compatible with Bob Supnik's
< Emulator, at least I couldn't access them.
post the URL I'll look.
<
< I'm wanting to use them on my SMS-1000. It is a PDP-11/73, 4Mb RAM,
< Ethernet, and a funky drive controller which in the case of the 5.25"
< floppy I believe is able to emulate either a RX50 (how it currently is s
< or a RX02. I'm wondering if the RX02 mode requires the model with the 8
< drive, which I just happen to have in a shed out back (obviously not as
< decked out, and with a dead hard drive, but still a /73).
RX02 is an 8" media so it would stand to reson it would be an 8" drive
to be compatable.
Allison
<
< Zane
< | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
< | healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast |
< | healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector |
< +----------------------------------+----------------------------+
< | Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
< | and Zane's Computer Museum. |
< | http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ |
<
OK, I've got the RX02 virtual disk images I want on my 486 (it's the one
with the 1.2Mb floppy, booted into DOS, and started up 'putr'. I made a
RX50 using putr, and go to copy the smltcp.dsk image to the RX50.
Unfortunatly it complains that there isn't enough room. I take it that a
RX50 is less than 500k? I think the image is 492k.
Is there some way that I can split the disk images and then recombine them
once I've got them copied over to the /73? I'm just not feeling energetic
enough to want to move a RL02 drive around and juggle the controller
between my MicroVAX and /73 to get the files transferred tonite.
Zane
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
| healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast |
| healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector |
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
| Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
| and Zane's Computer Museum. |
| http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ |
>Logical disks, cool... What can I say, I'm learning :^) On the other
>hand, it looks like this shows a definite problem with having manuals that
>are a LOT older than the version of RT-11 I'm running. I can't even find
>'mount' in the manuals :^(
Which version are you running? LD: wasn't a standard distributed
driver until V5. For pre-V5 systems, there are DECUS equivalent
drivers.
Tim.
"Daniel A. Seagraves" <DSEAGRAV(a)toad.xkl.com> wrote:
>[Megan's getting a KS...]
I'm hoping to... nothing definite yet. But I'm also almost definitely
getting an 8/E soon...
>I know where I could get a KL, but I don't have room for it... (Or
>power...) It's safe, don't worry about it :)
Good...
Megan Gentry
Former RT-11 Developer
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
| Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry zk3.dec.com |
| Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg world.std.com |
| Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of ' ' |
| 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ |
| Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler |
| (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg |
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
> Well, I know basically nothing about Apple ///'s, however, I do know that
> the ///+'s are well marked as that. At least mine is.
>
My school had a bunch of Apple ///'s, and also a bunch of Apple ///+'s.
The ///+'s are definitely marked as that. Unless the "+" got rubbed or
scraped off of yours...
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
>>OK, I've found the TCP/IP distributions on the Kent University web site.
>>The thing is, they're on RX02 disk images of some sort. How on earth do
>>I deal with these? They obviosly aren't compatible with Bob Supnik's
>>Emulator, at least I couldn't access them.
>
>You put the disk image on a RT-11 disk and mount it using the LD:
>(logical disk) handler. Logical disks are RT-11's implementation of
>subdirectories, and you can even have logical disks inside logical
>disks. As an example:
Thanks, Tim... I took him at his word that he had RX02 images...
>Well, first we have to get the thing to Rhode Island! A preliminary visit
>to the beast shows us a load of SIX big racks, in a location that is
>definitely truck unfriendly.
Time for a mobile crane or at least a heavy-duty cherry-picker? :-)
Tim.
>OK, I've found the TCP/IP distributions on the Kent University web site.
>The thing is, they're on RX02 disk images of some sort. How on earth do
>I deal with these? They obviosly aren't compatible with Bob Supnik's
>Emulator, at least I couldn't access them.
There is an RX02 emulation in Bob's package (that I remember). The only
thing I can think of which might affect whether they are readable is
whether the disk images you have are sector-by-sector image copies, or
block-by-block image copies. If they were copied using one technique,
but read using the other, then you'll actually be mixing unrelated
sectors together to form a block.
I would have to check the source (or ask Bob) which technique is supposed
to be used to make image RX01/02 copies so that they work.
>I'm wanting to use them on my SMS-1000. It is a PDP-11/73, 4Mb RAM,
>Ethernet, and a funky drive controller which in the case of the 5.25"
>floppy I believe is able to emulate either a RX50 (how it currently is
>set) or a RX02. I'm wondering if the RX02 mode requires the model with
>the 8" drive, which I just happen to have in a shed out back (obviously
>not as decked out, and with a dead hard drive, but still a /73).
Umm... 8" is what pretty much defines RX02s... I don't know of an RX02
which was other than 8" (except for the advanced development RX's which
communicated with the controller via FDDI back in 1983 or so which I
got working using a modified DY handler).
Megan Gentry
Former RT-11 Developer
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
| Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry zk3.dec.com |
| Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg world.std.com |
| Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of ' ' |
| 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ |
| Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler |
| (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg |
+--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
Well actually I have a SUN branded version of TOPS for the MAC and a Centram
branded version for both the PC and the MAC. I guess it's going from hand to
hands or maby on is a clone of the other.I haven't installed them yet but
I'm planning on using them to hook my MACs to my PC network with a FlashCard
on a dedicated PC..
Francois
-------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the desperately in need of update
Sanctuary at: http://www.pclink.com/fauradon
-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel A. Seagraves <DSEAGRAV(a)toad.xkl.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Sunday, August 23, 1998 1:42 PM
Subject: Re: TOPS for PC, from sun
>If it is what I immediately thought it was, (Which it can't be,
>DEC owned TOPS, not Sun...) *I WANT A COPY!*
>
>(TOPS-20 on a PC! The horror!)
>-------
>
>OK, I've found the TCP/IP distributions on the Kent University web site.
>The thing is, they're on RX02 disk images of some sort. How on earth do I
>deal with these? They obviosly aren't compatible with Bob Supnik's
>Emulator, at least I couldn't access them.
You put the disk image on a RT-11 disk and mount it using the LD:
(logical disk) handler. Logical disks are RT-11's implementation of
subdirectories, and you can even have logical disks inside logical
disks. As an example:
.dir du1:*.pkg
23-Aug-1998
TCPIP .PKG 22000 23-Aug-1998
1 Files, 22000 Blocks
23189 Free blocks
.mou ld0: du1:tcpip.pkg
.dir ld0:
23-Aug-1998
TSDSK1.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998 TSDSK2.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998
TSDSK3.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998 RTDSK1.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998
RTDSK2.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998 RTDSK3.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998
SRDSK1.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998 SRDSK2.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998
SRDSK3.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998 SRDSK4.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998
SMLTCP.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998 SSDSK1.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998
DVRDSK.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998 CCDSK1.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998
CCDSK2.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998 CCXDSK.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998
DOCDSK.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998 RNODSK.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998
TSHTML.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998 RTHTML.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998
SSHTML.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998 TCPIPM.DSK 988P 01-Jun-1998
V02 .24 1 01-Jun-1998 DIR2P2.DOC 97 01-Jun-1998
24 Files, 21834 Blocks
98 Free blocks
.mou ld1: ld0:docdsk.dsk
.dir ld1:
23-Aug-1998
SS .DOC 162 01-Jun-1998 RT .DOC 335 01-Jun-1998
TSX .DOC 345 01-Jun-1998 SS .ABS 3 01-Jun-1998
RT .ABS 5 01-Jun-1998 TSX .ABS 5 01-Jun-1998
6 Files, 855 Blocks
119 Free blocks
If you want to learn more about operations like this, I'd advise you to
throughly look over the description of the MOUNT command in the
System User's Guide.
-----
Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com
Trailing Edge Technology Voice: 301-767-5917
7328 Bradley Blvd Fax: 301-767-5927
Bethesda, MD, USA 20817
--- "Seth J. Morabito" wrote:
I currently have leads on three Lisa 2/5 systems (two working, one
completely dead and scavanged for parts already). It's very very
possible that both of the working models have already undergone
the "Mac XLectomy".
--- end of quote ---
Wait a sec, I just re-read that. I think the modification can only be done to Lisa 2/10's (aka Mac XL's) -- so if they're 2/5's, then they must be actual Lisas...right? Can anyone verify this?
-- MB
--- <cdrmool(a)interlog.com> wrote:
>
> What's the matter with your Lisa?
>
> -- MB
>
I don't know apples, I usually work on P.C.'s, so I'm not sure. When I
try to turn it on it chirps. I've experienced that with monitors before
and the man who gave it to me (yes, you heard that right) said that it had
been working but the monitor was not coming on anymore. He also added
that he was able to get it up if he gently wiggled the circuit board at
the back. After hauling it down from the bedroom into my "lab" today and
asking it nicely to work, I wondered if it isn't the power supply
instead/as well.
Colan
--- end of quote ---
Re: wiggling the circuit board. Perhaps the card's contacts are dirty -- try rubbing alcohol with a lint-free cloth, you might get lucky.
The chirping sure sounds like a power supply thing to me...though for what it's worth, that was a real common problem (easily fixed) with the old compact Macs (128, 512, Plus) that used the analog board power supply. There was a distinctive ring of solder points, visible from the non-component side of the board, where the flyback transformer was attached (the blocky part with the little suction-cup connector that sends high voltage to the built-in CRT). Over time the solder would crack from repeated heat expansion and contraction. The symptom was either no video, or a more-or-less chirping sound. Often the solution was as simple as resoldering those points -- maybe there's some similarity with the Lisa's internals?
Dafax Processing has replacement power supplies for $250 (gouge! Sun Remarketing sells a entire Lisa for that, I think. But it's Mac-modified, bummer.) Maybe there's a discount if you trade in your old one, I don't know. Dafax's number is 718-746-8220, and Sun Remarketing's is 1-800-821-3221 (maybe they have parts for less?)
Good luck!
-- MB
--- "Seth J. Morabito" wrote:
I currently have leads on three Lisa 2/5 systems (two working, one
completely dead and scavanged for parts already). It's very very
possible that both of the working models have already undergone
the "Mac XLectomy". Is it possible to reverse the Macification of
the Lisa? I want to run the original virgin Lisa software :)
I believ3 that the dead Lisa still has the motherboard, and that it
is an original Lisa 2/5 motherboard. Can I just make a swap, or
is the XLectomy more insidious?
--- end of quote ---
The Macintosh Screen Modification involves changing out some ROMS (boot and video) and replacing the yoke coil, as well as performing voltage and video geometry adjustments afterward. It's technically reversible if you have the old parts -- where to get them, I don't know. You'd need the voltage and screen-size specs to get it just right (and avoid blowing the power supply). Sun Remarketing still sells the mod kit, so perhaps they have the parts that were removed to do modifications?
-- MB
OK, I've found the TCP/IP distributions on the Kent University web site.
The thing is, they're on RX02 disk images of some sort. How on earth do I
deal with these? They obviosly aren't compatible with Bob Supnik's
Emulator, at least I couldn't access them.
I'm wanting to use them on my SMS-1000. It is a PDP-11/73, 4Mb RAM,
Ethernet, and a funky drive controller which in the case of the 5.25"
floppy I believe is able to emulate either a RX50 (how it currently is set)
or a RX02. I'm wondering if the RX02 mode requires the model with the 8"
drive, which I just happen to have in a shed out back (obviously not as
decked out, and with a dead hard drive, but still a /73).
Zane
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
| healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast |
| healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector |
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
| Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
| and Zane's Computer Museum. |
| http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ |
--- Tony Duell wrote:
[Re: copying Lisa disks w/o a working Lisa]
I think the only way is to find some other Lisa 'up and running'.
--- end of quote ---
There is another way, I think, using Mac utilities. Mr. Craig sent me several Mac-formatted floppies containing CompactPro archives of disk images of the LOS disks. (Whew! Did you follow that?) He also sent along the older version of Apple's Disk Copy (4.2, I think) which will happily make disks from images it cannot mount. (It also knows to make an 800k floppy be 400k if that's what the original image calls for.) Obviously, somewhere along the line, he was able to make the images from the original Lisa diskettes, but I don't know the details of this -- Disk Copy must be able to make images from weird disks (I know it can do ProDos ones.)
Incidentally, there is a way to de-serialize LOS diskettes using FEdit -- I don't know where your set of disks came from, or whether they've been used. (The LOS install disks have to be un-write-protected because the first time you install the software, the installer reads the Lisa's unique hardware serial number and writes it to the disk for piracy prevention. If you ever try to install the software on another machine, it won't let you.)
What's the matter with your Lisa?
-- MB
In a message dated 98-08-22 15:57:55 EDT, you write:
<< Wow! It's amazing how different a CRT looks after three weeks' break.
I don't even feel like sitting at a computer that much anymore.
Sorry to start off again on a bad foot, but does anyone know why a
certain hard drive of mine won't spin up unless whacked firmly
against a table? Is there anything I can do? This is a laptop drive. >>
stiction. nothing you can do about it.
Let me make an offer (without knowing exactly what I'm getting into...) I
haven't been following this thread too closely because I've never had a Lisa
or even a Mac...until yesterday. I now am the proud (but ignorant) owner of
a fully working 1 MB Lisa 2 (the Mac XL variety) with the 10 meg HD and 3.5"
disk. If given explicit instructions on how to de-serialize, I'd be happy
to make copies of whatever disks you would like. And since I've been short
of time (and I'm lazy!) I'd appreciate a few choice URL's with solid info of
all sorts on the Lisa - less on its history and more on hardware and
software, operational hints, etc.
Bob Stek
bobstek(a)ix.netcom.com
On Sat, 22 Aug 1998 10:39:13 -0700 (PDT), Don Maslin <donm(a)cts.com> wrote:
>>I am confused by this! The MacPortable FAQ says that the drive is a
>>40meg SCSI with a (typically Apple) proprietary interface of 34-pins.
>>But the Pocket PCRef list the CP3045 as an AT/IDE drive. Is that a typo
>>in the PCRef?
Could be a typo in the PCRef. The drive is labeled CP-3045 (with no
suffix character, i.e., A for ATAPI or S for SCSI). It is Apple-labeled and
has an Adaptec-based SCSI controller. Could have Apple taken a stock CP hard
drive and grafted a different controller card onto it? The interface from
the drive hardware to the drive electronics seems to be standard (i.e., an
18-pin pin-header interface), so maybe Apple swapped controllers. It does
have a proprietary SCSI pin-out, though, for which an adapter is available
to connect a sdandard SCSI drive to the portable.
Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com>
- ClubWin/CW7
- MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking
- Preserver of "classic" computers
<<<< ========== reply separator ========== >>>>>
>My school had a bunch of Apple ///'s, and also a bunch of Apple ///+'s.
>The ///+'s are definitely marked as that. Unless the "+" got rubbed or
>scraped off of yours...
Nope. That's definately not the case. I guess they're both slight
variants of ///'s. Thanks for the info, everybody.
Tom
--
Sysop of Caesarville Online
Client software at: <http://home.earthlink.net/~tomowad/>
I just purchased an Apple /// and noted some interesting differences
between the new Apple /// and one I've had for a while.
Upon turning on the new ///, it displays some garbage, then beeps and
shows "Diagnostic RAM" on the screen, along with a square pattern of
'.'s. Not until I press "Reset", does the comptuer dead the floppy drive
My old Apple /// (which, BTW, I beleive to have some bad RAM) immediately
starts reading the the floppy drive with no "Diagnostic RAM" or need to
hit "Reset".
Also noted:
The new Apple /// has darker keycaps
The older Apple /// has a shielded "Color Video" Port
On the tags on the bottom of the units:
The older has a place to check off either 64k 96k or 128k (128k is
checked)
The new has a place to check off either 128k or 256k (128k is checked)
I understand there was an upgrade to the Apple /// dubbed the "Apple
///+". I was under the impression the '+' was actually written on the
case. Is this the case, or is it possible my newer unit is a ///+? If
its not, what causes the discrepancy in startup procedure? Just minutely
different versions of the Apple ///, or does the older units bad RAM have
something to do with it?
Thanks!
Tom Owad
--
Sysop of Caesarville Online
Client software at: <http://home.earthlink.net/~tomowad/>
--- Tony Duell wrote:
>
> --- Tony Duell wrote:
> [Re: copying Lisa disks w/o a working Lisa]
> I think the only way is to find some other Lisa 'up and running'.=20
> --- end of quote ---
>
> There is another way, I think, using Mac utilities. Mr. Craig sent =
I would guess that the Mac disk controller would be able to read the
later 3.5" Lisa disks. Of course this doesn't help with the 'twiggy' disks.
--- end of quote ---
Right, but in this case it was specified "Lisa II" which means no Twiggies. (Unless there's some _really_ weird modification happening here...)
;)
-- MB
> The problem is that these requires (obviously) that the disk controller
> can read the data off the disk, at least at the bit/byte level. And Apple
> have always used GCR (Group Code Recording) which is incompatible with
> the FM (single density) or MFM (double density) recording systems used by
> most other manufacturers. I don't know if the Lisa uses GCR encoding, but
> since the Apple ][ and Macs do, it's a reasonable bet that the Lisa does
> likewise.
>
> So, alas, the PC's disk controller can't read bytes off Lisa disks. So
> there's no way to make a copy using a PC.
Aren't there programs that allow PC's to read Apple disks?
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
Wow! It's amazing how different a CRT looks after three weeks' break.
I don't even feel like sitting at a computer that much anymore.
Sorry to start off again on a bad foot, but does anyone know why a
certain hard drive of mine won't spin up unless whacked firmly
against a table? Is there anything I can do? This is a laptop drive.
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
I'm looking for some info on old Panasonic plasma displays. For those
of you who have computers that use them for sale, I might be interested
in paying a reasonable price for one just to get a working display so I
can measure the voltages and get all of them working. I have the
controllers for the touchscreen and would especially like to get that
working.
(Forward of message I also sent to Panasonic and ELO:)
Shawn T. Rutledge wrote:
>
> I have a couple of old Matsushita/Panasonic plasma displays (about 10
> years old I think). One of them has an Elo touch screen. I was
> wondering if you happen to have the power supply voltages for the plasma
> displays? The power connector on one has 3 pins, and on the other has 4
> pins but only 3 of them are hooked up to wires on the cable. The
> polarity is marked, but not the voltages themselves, only "high voltage"
> vs. "low voltage" and I'm wondering how high is high?
>
> One display has the numbers
> MD400F640PD5
> 9.5.3 C:153536
>
> The other:
> MD400F640PD4
> 8.1.2 T-7050
>
> Or, if all else fails, can you tell me what kind of computer these would
> have been used in? maybe I can find some archives on that or find one
> of the computers for sale somewhere. (I'm suspecting a Compaq
> lunchbox?)
>On 21 Aug 1998, Marion Bates wrote:
>
>**** snip ****
>
>> Incidentally, there is a way to de-serialize LOS diskettes using FEdit --
>> I don't know where your set of disks came from, or whether they've been
>> used. (The LOS install disks have to be un-write-protected because the
>> first time you install the software, the installer reads the Lisa's
>> unique hardware serial number and writes it to the disk for piracy
>> prevention. If you ever try to install the software on another machine,
>> it won't let you.) >
>
>I, for one, would be interested in learning the details.
>
> - don
>
>
Okay -- it's several pages of text and diagrams (screen shots, I think). If I
can scan and OCR it without losing too much, I'll email it. Maybe save as
low-res pics otherwise. Will do that later today...
-- MB
At 09:18 PM 8/18/98 -0500, you wrote:
>At 09:26 PM 8/19/98 -0400, you wrote:
>>Almost sounds like something from the government - even the name.
>
> Very likely. Harris does a LOT of government work. Their satellite
>division (and others) are literally right around the corner from this place.
>
> How
>>much are they asking for it?
>
> "Make an offer". They bought it (probably dirt cheap) by mistake and
>know NOTHING about it.
>
> If it's not that much, it may be worth it
>>just to get it and see just what the heck it actually was for...
>
> Maybe. It's kinda big though. About a 30" cube. Ugly too, it looks
>kind of like a car that's been crushed.
>
> Joe
>>--
You sure it's not a working model of a BORG scout ship?
Nobody mentioned *who's* govenrment Harris contracted for!
(Sorry for raising the noise floor, guys. Couldn't resist).
:-))
Jeff
--- Don Maslin wrote:
A chap that has gotten some Osborne 1 disks from me has a Lisa II.
Apparently, he has some bootable application software for it, so he is
able to bring it up.
He mentioned that he is looking for a copy of the 'seven disk set' that
was bundled with it. Can anyone help me help him? He is willing to pay
reasonable costs.
- don
--- end of quote ---
I posted a message with exactly that information last night. If you didn't get it, email me, <raoulduke(a)dartmouth.edu> and I will re-send it to you.
-- MB
I'm in the process on restroing one of these now, so I've had the same
problems.
I think that you can substitute a PB100/140 adapter for the stock MP
adapter and have it work. The MP adapter is 7.5v at 1.5a. I think that the
minimum for startup is north of 2a.
I also just got a replacement CP3045 hard drive, and brand new
batteries. Now I need to bring it up...
Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com>
- ClubWin/CW7
- MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking
- Preserver of "classic" computers
<<<< ========== reply separator ========== >>>>>
Update:
< Can anyone help me I was just given a parallel port syquest 270
< external cartridge disk.
<
< I don't have the install disk... well I do but it's hopelessly munged.
< I need that so I can do transfer media to PC from...
This part is solved, Syquest has a webpage (www.syquest.com).
< More importantly I want to try and hang it on one of the CP/M systems
< that happens (by my design) to have a EPP compatable port. So, I need
< the gory details of how to talk to such a critter so I can write a CP/M
< bios.
I can pull the drive out of the parallel port case and use it with out the
parallel port adaptor as it's IDE. I'd rather figure out how to talk to
it using the parallel port adaptor as it seems to elude everyone.
Allison
This'll seem insignificant to most Californians. :)
I've hauled all this stuff home this week, even though I wasn't
really looking for stuff (just lucky!):
IBM PCjr (no power supply)
Timex/Sinclair 1000
TS-1016 RAM cartridge
TS-2040 Printer (no power supply)
Dynalogic Hyperion
VIC-1906 'Alien' game cartridge for VIC-20
'Tennis' cart for CoCo, with box and docs
Carts for the Atari 2600 (yes, I know it's not a computer):
Grand Prix, Gyruss, Jungle Hunt, Keystone Kapers, Mega Force, Skiing,
Sky Jinks, Sorcerer, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The
Empire Strikes Back, Vanguard, Zaxxon.
All from the same Salvation Army store I cursed a few weeks back for
tossing out all their computer junk.
Well, they keep doing it, but I'll take back my curses because I
understand why they'd do such heinous things. With the way stuff has been
pouring in in the past couple of months, they must get innundated with
this stuff!
I have a feeling that if I visited every day or two, instead of every week
or two, I'd be hauling away a lot more stuff.
I'm still pissed off about the potential Wang monitor tossing, but these
folks are clueless about what's worth keeping.
Anyway, some notes about the stuff mentioned above...
The Dynalogic Hyperion isn't in nearly as good shape as the last one I
hauled out of the very same store. This one is _very_ yellowed, like it's
been sitting directly in the sun for a few years. Which is probably why
someone installed a wire mesh in front of the display. I figure it
must've been an anti-glare measure, though it's still quite shiny so maybe
it was just to ease the fears of a radiation-scared employee.
Anyway, whoever installed the mesh cracked chunks of the case off here and
there. They also neglected to replace several screws. The internal
screws they left out would've been hard to put back, though, with that
mesh in front of the display. Anyway, the front panel is kind of loose.
At least the ports are all labeled on this Hyperion, so I'll have
to revise the poor guesses (ahem) on my web page. :) Also, there aren't
any knock-out panels on this one.
I did notice that there are two EPROMs in the machine. I'm definitely
going to have to get an EPROMmer of some sort. One of the EPROMs in
this Hyperion is soldered directly to the PCB, though, which makes things
difficult. (I haven't checked the other Hyperion.)
This 'new' Hyperion has some 'display issues'. :) The display on the
monitor isn't square, and it jumps inward and back out frequently.
Something I found interesting about the Hyperion is that the cover comes
off identically to that of an old Macintosh. Undo the screws under the
handle, pop the rest of the case from the front face, and pull the case
off. I was scared to try popping the case on the other Hyperion, but this
busted up one just begged to be looked into.
On to the TS-1000. Or at least, what I assume to be a TS-1000. The label
is missing, as are three of its four rubber feet, and some gummy tape had
been affixed to its top. Anyway, it's got "Timex Computer Corporation"
printed on its underside, and it has 2K of RAM (verified with a PRINT PEEK
16389). The motherboard says "ZX81" on it.
The Sinclair ZX81 was the first computer I really wanted to buy. (Note
that this is VERY different from wanting to OWN - I could actually almost
afford a ZX81, I definitely could NOT afford the Northstar Advantage in
one of the local shopping centres ;) ). So finally getting my hands on
one is pretty special. And I was even introduced to its innards right
away, because the damn thing had dead keys on the keyboard. :)
It just turned out to be cracked plastic contact strip thingies. I just
trimmed the contacts with scissors and shoved them back into the sockets.
Hopefully I won't have to do that again or I'll run out of slack. :) It's
kind of neat that I can actually SEE how the keyboard is wired, without
opening the keyboard. :)
The big metal ground thingy on the bottom of the board also broke off at
one end. Bad solder job, I guess. :)
I'm just using my Atari 2600 power supply at the moment, because the ZX81
supply wasn't there.
Man is this thing slow! :) Up until now the (unexpanded) TI-99/4A was my
slowest, crappiest system, but the Sinclair thing beats it for that title
so easily it's not funny! But it's got nostalgic value the TI will never
have for me. And besides, TIs are like earwigs around here. The
Salvation Army has put at least 50 in the landfill that I know about. But
this is the first Sinclair machine to turn up.
The RAM cartridge has a broken, wobbly connector, and bent pins, and I
can't get it to work reliably.
The printer doesn't have a power supply (anyone know the specs?) or the
roll of toiled paper, so I don't know if it works yet.
I also don't know if the PCjr works. The external transformer was
missing. I got the better keyboard with the thing, too, instead of the
original button keyboard. I actually have the Tech Ref for the PCjr
sitting around in a box somewhere, so it'll be cool to go poking around in
it as soon as I know how.
I haven't tested the VIC or CoCo carts yet, but the 2600 carts all work
with the exception of Jungle Hunt, which I think just has dirty contacts.
It's an Atari cartridge, though, so the contacts are 'protected' and I
haven't bothered to find something to stick in those slots yet.
Other recent acquisitions include an IBM-PC (5150) with 64-256K
motherboard (damn!), an Atari 400 with several books, magazines, and
cartridges, and some cool toys for my Amigas.
The collecting has been pretty good this summer.
Doug Spence
ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca
http://alcor.concordia.ca/~ds_spenc/
At 12:47 PM 8/21/98 -0700, you wrote:
>At 09:46 PM 8/20/98 -0500, you wrote:
>>30 7100/66or80 PPC macs; most with 16-32 mb ram, additional vid cards,
>>token ring. IIci's, about 15? with 20mb ram each. 6 Quadra 950 servers
>>with typically 2 300mb scsi drives and between 25-50 mb ram. ummm...
Screwed up the reply-to of course. Sorry folks!
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/
>Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1998 11:45:52 -0400 (EDT)
>From: Bill/Carolyn Pechter <pechter(a)shell.monmouth.com>
>>
>> < Was DEC's EDT text editor ever `ported to any non-DEC platforms, such a
>> < PCs or unixes? It is still my favorite text and program editor, and I'
>> < love to have on on some of my "everyday" machines.
>>
>
>I've got some hardcopy of an EDT clone for the Rainbow called
>Small-EDT which isn't too bad, however -- the sources have been
>hacked by me in an aborted attempt to squeeze them on to a DEC VT180.
>
Also try in
ftp://ftp.update.uu.se/pub/rainbow/msdos/latrobe/mn/medt03.zip
description is
MEDT03.ZIP 93 Mini EDT screen mode editor written in C (with sources)
haven't used it, so I can't comment other than it's there.
- Mark
--- Uncle Roger wrote:
At 08:41 PM 8/20/98 EDT, you wrote:
>--- Tony Duell wrote:
>Do you have a working battery in the machine? IIRC, the PSU can't supply
>enough current on it's own to get the machine and hard disk started up.
>When the hard disk tries to spin up, the PSU shuts down, etc. Giving you
>exactly what you're seeing
That is true. Took me a while to figure that out.
>Really? I'm charging a pair of batteries overnight. Tomorrow I'll see if
>anything works with a charged battery. I thought that with the 9-volt
>backup and the power adapter, that was enough juice -- Uncle Roger, is
>that what you were saying earlier?
Yes, that seems to work, provided you take the cover for the main battery
off. Also, the 9v has to be pretty new.
--- end of quote ---
Yeah, I pulled the main battery cover and it was definitely drawing on the backup 9V, but maybe it's too low. That dual-battery thing scared the bejesus out of me the first time I tinkered with a Portable -- I'm staring at the power adapter, unplugged, with the main battery in my hand, and the bloody machine's still humming and chiming, seemingly getting power from _nowhere_. I thought there was a ghost. ;)
Thanks to everyone for the advice.
-- MB
How much for the monitors?
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
----------
> From: Poesie <poesie(a)geocities.com>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: more info on systems....
> Date: Thursday, August 20, 1998 10:46 PM
>
> well, I found out none of the NEC versa laptops are for sale;
> apparently some VP is holding onto them for some reason. We have maybe
> 30 7100/66or80 PPC macs; most with 16-32 mb ram, additional vid cards,
> token ring. IIci's, about 15? with 20mb ram each. 6 Quadra 950 servers
> with typically 2 300mb scsi drives and between 25-50 mb ram. ummm...
> maybe 50? or more DuoDocks, both the Duo 230 or 280, and the Dock. don't
> know the possibility status of selling these. several sony video
> monitors that are touch screens, accept various inputs, came with weird
> computerized videodisc systems.
>
Can anyone help me I was just given a parallel port syquest 270
external cartridge disk.
I don't have the install disk... well I do but it's hopelessly munged.
I need that so I can do transfer media to PC from...
More importantly I want to try and hang it on one of the CP/M systems
that happens (by my design) to have a EPP compatable port. So, I need
the gory details of how to talk to such a critter so I can write a CP/M
bios.
And you thought it's all non classic! Graft new technology to old
and keep it crankin.
Allison
At 08:41 PM 8/20/98 EDT, you wrote:
>--- Tony Duell wrote:
>Do you have a working battery in the machine? IIRC, the PSU can't supply
>enough current on it's own to get the machine and hard disk started up.
>When the hard disk tries to spin up, the PSU shuts down, etc. Giving you
>exactly what you're seeing
That is true. Took me a while to figure that out.
>Really? I'm charging a pair of batteries overnight. Tomorrow I'll see if
>anything works with a charged battery. I thought that with the 9-volt
>backup and the power adapter, that was enough juice -- Uncle Roger, is
>that what you were saying earlier?
Yes, that seems to work, provided you take the cover for the main battery
off. Also, the 9v has to be pretty new.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/
>>Could someone please enlighten me... What, pray, is FLEX?
>
> For years, it was *THE* disk operating system if you had a 6800/6802
> based system. Originally written in the late 70's, it powered the
> majority of the SS-50 computers until the 6809 came out. Then came
> FLEX/09, StarDOS, UniFLEX, OS/9. . . .
Thanks. I wonder why I'd never heard of it.
> It was a bit limited, but it was small enough to fit within the 6800's 64K
> address space, with *plenty* of room to spare!
The 4052 has a 128K address space - separate 64k spaces for code and
data. That said, there are ways of running code in the data space and
accessing data in the code space.
> Well, yeah, but still faster then 1Mc (or 800kc if you didn't modify
> the cpu board).
Yes, much.
>>I must do some more research into the relationship between 4052 and 6800
>>instruction sets.
>
> Yes. How the implemented the microcode would be of particular interest.
The service manuals tell you a lot about how the microcode is executed,
but little about what's in there. Similarly there is a list of
instruction mnemonics and addressing modes against opcodes, and even an
explanation of how the addressing modes work, but nothing to tell you
what the instructions do, let alone anything in the way of ROM listings.
One day I might get around to decompiling the microcode...
Philip.
At 09:46 PM 8/20/98 -0500, you wrote:
>30 7100/66or80 PPC macs; most with 16-32 mb ram, additional vid cards,
>token ring. IIci's, about 15? with 20mb ram each. 6 Quadra 950 servers
>with typically 2 300mb scsi drives and between 25-50 mb ram. ummm...
I'd like to offer, on behalf of Garden Village Elementary School, $750 for
the 30 PPC 7100's as one lot. In addition, I'll offer an addition $150 for
the Quadra's. This is a serious offer. I can forward the funds via check,
money order, cash, or I can just add it to my next mortgage payment. (Just
kidding!) Feel free to call me at 1-415-469-7924 or page me at either
1-415-201-0273 or <4152010273(a)alphapage.airtouch.com> (just the message
body gets sent; about the first 256 chars.)
>maybe 50? or more DuoDocks, both the Duo 230 or 280, and the Dock. don't
>know the possibility status of selling these. several sony video
If you want to sell these, I would be interested in quite a few as well.
(Probably one for each teacher.)
>-Eric
Thanks, Eric for all your effort in this!
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/
It plays death chimes??
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
PS>> do you maybe want to sell one of those?
----------
> From: Marion Bates <Marion.Bates(a)Dartmouth.EDU>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Mac Portable problems (was Re: Mac Portable batt charger)
> Date: Thursday, August 20, 1998 2:56 PM
>
I've got three semi-functional Portables, and am hoping to wind up with at
least one that works. But they all seem to have bad hard disks (Apple 40SC
internal) -- if the drive is connected at power-up, it makes a
tick-tick-tick noise, the screen flashes, and it repeatedly plays
interrupted Death Chimes until I turn it off. The drive never actually
spins up.
Ok, after a few more days of scoping things out, here's the deal: I
started working for GE Capital, at Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Minnesota.
They are disposing of alot of the mac systems, and I figured that I
would be able to pull the ROM's out of the old ones that I knew were
never going to be used again, ever. (Just so you know, I would probably
lose my job due to that but it's a shame to let such things go to waste.
If someone reading this is from my new employers, I haven't done
anything!!!!!)
Anyway, one of my bosses, the asset manager, is actively trying to
dispose of pallets of stuff. So if someone out there can actually buy
quite a bit, that might be nice... apparently last year he made 300
bucks selling all systems to scrap dealers that melted it all for the
metal content. bummer.)
We have lots of old IBM mainframe systems, Quads, CRTs, etc etc. also,
a good lot of those macs were all used by the Graphic Design dept; so
they are chock full of cool stuff (tons of ram, souped up video cards,
yadda yadda.) lots of hard drives, all have token ring cards. (I
reiterate: LOTS of token ring cards. I'm swimming in them.) I currently
have a large pallet of mac 14/15 inch monitors; a pallet of IIsi, IIci,
IIcx's; Quadra 700s, Quadra 950 servers(awesome machines), PowerPC
7100/66, 7100/80's. also other random ones. also, *several* pallets of
Duo Dock 230's and 280's. tons of NEC versa V/50's and 4000c's. quite a
few 21 inch mac color monitors (definitely not for sale, unless you made
an attractive offer to my boss!)
alot of this stuff is earmarked for employee sales, but alot of it is
also headed for disposal. If anyone is truly interested, I will print
out and give serious inquiries to my boss. emailing the head of a large
national corporation won't do much, but I can give your requests to the
right person.
in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
-Eric
(PS. - I only offered to grab roms or small chip components because
they wouldn't be used where the machines were headed, and they wouldn't
be missed. I cannot personally recover systems or anything of that
nature. I am sure however that my boss would be very reasonable if you
made an offer!)
PPS- we also have several sony trinitron touch screens. anyone know of
a use for these?
At 05:41 PM 8/19/98 -0500, you wrote:
>
>> Another "crossover" machine that I have a little info
>> (mainly pictures) of is the HP 9830, called a calculator
>> but in fact a computer with BASIC.
>
>The 9830 doesn't get discussed much, but it's one of my favorites.
>There's a lot of noise on this list about the Altair, a "PC" from 1975
>that was just a big box with lights and toggles. In 1972, the HP 9830 was
>an elegant light-weight
Light-weight!!!!!!!!!! I have both an Altair and a 9830 and the 9830 is
at least three times as heavy as the Altair! It's also probably 5 times
stronger. I have used my 9830 as a step stool (after it died of other
causes). I wouldn't even think of doing that with the Altair.
desktop computer with full alphanumeric keyboard,
>built-in secondary storage, built-in display,
One line LED. Whoppee!
built-in BASIC,
Yes, and ONLY BASIC! The Altair was a general purpose machine.
and it just
>plain works. There was nothing else remotely like it at the time, and it
>was even reasonably priced (around $5000, I think).
That's what, 12 times the price of the Altair? The two machines aren't
comparable. They're completely different. Have you ever tried to generate
music or word process on a 9830? You can't do it. You could on an
Altair. The 9830 is a sophisticated programmable calcualtor. The Altair is
a striped down general purpose computer.
Joe
>
>-- Doug
>
>
>
They're in a warehouse and the way they're shelved I couldn't see any
model #s. The guy told me they were hooked up to a 32, and they look
like 32/34 gear.
I could probably get some part#s tomorrow, but I think they'd be happier
if someone just took the whole mess.
-----Original Message-----
From: William Donzelli [mailto:william@ans.net]
Sent: Friday, August 21, 1998 12:51 PM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: RE: IBM System 32 stuff...
> Oh yeah... my profuse apologies... I'm in Maryland,
> the marina is in Virginia near DC.
Cool. Any chance you could get some of the type numbers from the things
(they may follow the x32x format, like 5230 for the CPU)?
William Donzelli
william(a)ans.net
Oh yeah... my profuse apologies... I'm in Maryland,
the marina is in Virginia near DC.
-----Original Message-----
From: William Donzelli [mailto:william@ans.net]
Sent: Friday, August 21, 1998 12:38 PM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: Re: IBM System 32 stuff...
> There are some system 32 terminals, keyboards, and printers available
at
> a marina out here. They haven't been used as boat anchors, yet. I'll
> be going
> back to the marina to pickup a boat tomorrow, so if you're interested
> let me know.
Where is "here"?
William Donzelli
william(a)ans.net
Hey folks,
There are some system 32 terminals, keyboards, and printers available at
a marina out here. They haven't been used as boat anchors, yet. I'll
be going
back to the marina to pickup a boat tomorrow, so if you're interested
let me know.
-Joel
Okay, I finally figgered I could use two Duo 280s with docks.
Tony
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Poesie [mailto:poesie@geocities.com]
> Sent: Thursday, August 20, 1998 10:46 PM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: more info on systems....
>
>
> well, I found out none of the NEC versa laptops are for sale;
> apparently some VP is holding onto them for some reason. We have maybe
> 30 7100/66or80 PPC macs; most with 16-32 mb ram, additional vid cards,
> token ring. IIci's, about 15? with 20mb ram each. 6 Quadra 950 servers
> with typically 2 300mb scsi drives and between 25-50 mb ram. ummm...
> maybe 50? or more DuoDocks, both the Duo 230 or 280, and the
> Dock. don't
> know the possibility status of selling these. several sony video
> monitors that are touch screens, accept various inputs, came
> with weird
> computerized videodisc systems.
>
> we used to sell these things as scrap, and paid! them
> to take them, and
> then got rebates for 10cents a pound, or sometimes we ended up owing
> them. He is actively looking for vendors to buy, so we could probably
> make an offer for pallet(s) since I'm the only one doing any work with
> them. I will also do the legwork in my spare time, for this.
>
> However, someone else should be the point man, so to
> speak... I can't
> really get involved. I've tried, believe me. I'll try to do some more
> inventory type stuff... But there's alot. Also a whole room
> full of an
> IBM 3480? mainframeish type of thing, with disk boxes etc.
> looks like a
> room full of washing machines...
>
> -Eric
>
Eric wrote:
> However, someone else should be the point man, so to speak... I can't
> really get involved. I've tried, believe me. I'll try to do some more
> inventory type stuff... But there's alot. Also a whole room full of an
> IBM 3480? mainframeish type of thing, with disk boxes etc. looks like
> a room full of washing machines...
Sounds like a complete IBM 4381 installation (the 4381 was known as the
Chest Freezer when I was there in '86)
If I (a) had space and (b) was on the same side of the Atlantic, I'd
grab it. Definitely not to be missed.
Philip.
Kevan Heydon wrote:
> On Thu, 20 Aug 1998, Alex Knight wrote:
>>
>> So far, I haven't either. The Anita and Friden EC-130 electronic
>> calculators both came out in 1963, they're generally regarded as
>> the first two electronic desktop calculators but neither are
>
> I reckon that the original Anita was 1962. The reason I say this is
> because my mother used to be a comptometer operator for the national
What date was the Casio AL 1000, anyone? Tony?
Philip.
Thanks to everyone that responded. I have more than I needed as I found
them for $10 each at Computer Recyclers and a few others from private
parties. I no longer need any more, unless of course you just have to
give them away ;-)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Russ Blakeman
RB Custom Services / Rt. 1 Box 62E / Harned, KY USA 40144
Phone: (502) 756-1749 Data/Fax:(502) 756-6991
Email: rhblake(a)bbtel.com or rhblake(a)bigfoot.com
Website: http://members.tripod.com/~RHBLAKE/
ICQ UIN #1714857
AOL Instant Messenger "RHBLAKEMAN"
* Parts/Service/Upgrades and more for MOST Computers*
--------------------------------------------------------------------
At 02:07 AM 8/17/98 -0400, you wrote:
>
>
>On Sun, 16 Aug 1998, Joe wrote:
>
>> sing. You should hear two of those on a 426 Hemi at WOT!
>>
>Big old engines, big old computers...the appeal is pretty similar...What's
>the Hemi in?
A 1970 Superbird what else! Big engine, big car, NO computers!
I also have a '70 Dodge Challenger RT convertible with a 440 6 pak. :-)
These are the remains of my car collecting days.
>
>> And if you tweak the engine for more efficiency,
>> >many of them automatically compensate -- no need to swap out jets and
>> >other mechanical parts by trial end error.
>>
>> Yes but I can still swap a jet faster than I can burn an EPROM! The big
>> advantage of the EFI is that it's more precise than a carburator, can
>> monitor and adjust for more conditions and employs feed back sensors for
>> even more precise control.
>>
>Don't forget the most important thing, you can REALLY control the spark
>curve :)
Yes and the transmission shift points in some cars.
>
>> Another motor-head!
>> >
>And one more.
They're everywhere!
Joe
>
>rob
>
>
Hi,
I'm combining several responses here on early programmable
calcs ...
At Wed, 19 Aug 1998 17:41:17 Doug Yowza wrote:
>Hi, Alex. I really think this is the coolest find yet. I have a desktop
>programmable computer from 1959, but mine is analog. I haven't heard of
>any desktop programmable solid-state digital machine that predates your
>Mathatron.
So far, I haven't either. The Anita and Friden EC-130 electronic
calculators both came out in 1963, they're generally regarded as
the first two electronic desktop calculators but neither are
programmable. I'm not aware of any other programmable calculator
coming onto the market until the Wang units.
>
>> Another "crossover" machine that I have a little info
>> (mainly pictures) of is the HP 9830, called a calculator
>> but in fact a computer with BASIC.
>
>The 9830 doesn't get discussed much, but it's one of my favorites.
>There's a lot of noise on this list about the Altair, a "PC" from 1975
>that was just a big box with lights and toggles. In 1972, the HP 9830 was
>an elegant light-weight desktop computer with full alphanumeric keyboard,
>built-in secondary storage, built-in display, built-in BASIC, and it just
>plain works. There was nothing else remotely like it at the time, and it
>was even reasonably priced (around $5000, I think).
In addition to the pictures I have on my Web site, David Hicks' Museum
of HP Calculators has a bunch more info on the 9830 and the
available peripherals (including things like printer, plotter, paper
tape reader, digitizer, etc.). I was surprised when I got my
9830A and it had aftermarket ROM and memory cards in it. The ROM
is a "Fast Basic" card and it and the memory were made by Infotek.
The 9830 has a bus architecture for it's main ROM and memory
cards, and it has an I/O bus on the rear. I don't know if HP
ever published the specs for these buses, perhaps Infotek reverse-
engineered the timing/functionality to make their cards. Also
curious about the Infotek cards was that the markings on all
the ICs on their cards had been intentionally rubbed off. I
wonder if that was to make it harder for others to clone their
design. At any rate, it predated the Apple II by about 5 years,
it has built-in BASIC and storage, and you could add stuff to
it. What more could you ask ;-)
The darned things are built like a tank, too. Extremely heavy
and rugged. There is also a 9830B version, but from what I can
tell by comparing the guts they are the same except for the
memory cards (the 9830B supports more RAM). It looks like the
Infotek memory card in my 9830A was used to upgrade it to the
same amount as would be in a maxed-out 9830B (16K, I'm not sure
if this is words or bytes).
>
>-- Doug
At Wed, 19 Aug 1998 19:12:22 dave dameron wrote:
>At 05:41 PM 8/19/98 -0500, Doug wrote:
>I found a book I would recommend if anyone finds a copy, although I am still
>getting used to it. It is "Computer Structures: Readings and Examples" by
>Bell and Newell. It uses strange notation (for me) and even the table of
>contents is "virtual".
>
>Anyway, it includes descriptions of 2 desktop calculators, both about 1968:
>an Olivetti 101 (USD$3500) and a HP 9100A. The HP uses core memory, its
>program ROM uses 16 layer PC board technology. The HP article is a reprint
>from the HP Journal. Does anyone have either of these?
Text (and some/most of the photos) from the HP Journal articles about the
9100A (and a lot of other HP calcs) can be found on the Museum
of HP Calculators in the "HP Journal Articles" section. These make
for very interesting reading about the machine's architecture and
how it works. I have a copy of the original patent on the 9100
(unfortunately the quality isn't good enough to scan and I haven't
found an on-line source yet), this gives some real insight into
how the machine operates.
The Olivetti Programma 101 was apparently targeted more for the business
market than the scientific market, the pictures of it that I've
seen show that it's basically a programmable, four-function calculator
with several memory registers. Like the 9100, it used a magnetic
card to store programs.
>-Dave
>
At 12:38 AM 8/20/98 -0500, Doug Yowza wrote:
>
>Somebody with a better sense of calc history should chime in here, but I
>think Monroe, Olivetti, HP, and Wang all had programmables in the 60s.
As far as I know, the Mathatron, HP9100, and Wang calculators were
the only scientific-oriented programmable machines available during
the 1960s. I don't know if the Wang LOCI series was programmable
or not. The 300-series (300, 310, 320, 360) Wang machines used
a separate keyboard/nixie display unit and an electronics box
with the actual calculator (on some of the models four keyboard/
display units could be attached to "time-share" the calculator
electronics). The electronics box itself wasn't programmable,
but one of the keyboard/display models (I think it was the 370)
could be programmed to execute a series of key sequences, which
were then sent down to the electronics box to do the math.
In the early 70s (late 1970 or early 1971), CompuCorp developed
a pair of programmable calculators (one printing, one Nixie) that
were marketed by Monroe (the Model 1655 is the Nixie one) and Dietzgen.
Rick Bensene's Web page has a lot more info about the Wang
300 series calculators.
In the 60s, there were business-type programmable
machines from Monroe (EPIC 3000), Olivetti (Programma 101),
Smith Corona Marchant (Cogito 516 PR), and Canon (Canola 164P).
There is also the Burroughs C3660 business programmable, but
I don't know if it's a 60s machine or not, and Sony made
a programmable Sobax but I'm not sure when. All of these
machines were very large and were probably either transistorized
or used early Small-Scale integrated circuits.
>
>I have an HP9100A manual and the first HP _Keyboard_ that describes it. I
>think I recall at least four people on the list having a 9100. It was not
>the first programmable, but it was the first HP, and it is pretty cool
>with its built-in CRT and expansion bus.
Apparently there were also aftermarket accessories made for the 9100
by other companies. I recall seeing something on the net from
one company that took a 9100 and modified it to become an instrument
controller.
>-- Doug
At Thu, 20 Aug 1998 07:33:46 dave dameron wrote:
>Yes, that's it. My copy was published in 1971, so the HP9100A is one of the
>later computers in it. Yes it is neat with the custom CRT and all the boards
>stuffed into its case. I guess it sold for about $6000.
The 9100A initially sold for $4995. Its price was dropped to $4495
when the 9100B (with 2x the memory) was introduced (at $4995) a little
while later.
Hope this info. has been of some interest.
REFERENCED LINKS:
http://www.hpmuseum.org -- David Hicks' Museum of HP Calculators
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/7510 -- Rick Bensene's Web Page
Regards,
Alex
Calculator History & Technology Archive Web Page
http://aknight.home.mindspring.com/calc.htm
At 12:38 AM 8/20/98 -0500, you wrote:
>On Wed, 19 Aug 1998, dave dameron wrote:
>
>> I found a book I would recommend if anyone finds a copy, although I am
still
>> getting used to it. It is "Computer Structures: Readings and Examples" by
>> Bell and Newell. It uses strange notation (for me) and even the table of
>> contents is "virtual".
>
>That wouldn't be Gordon Bell, would it? The book sounds familiar, but
>it's not on my shelf.
>
>> Anyway, it includes descriptions of 2 desktop calculators, both about 1968:
>> an Olivetti 101 (USD$3500) and a HP 9100A. The HP uses core memory, its
>> program ROM uses 16 layer PC board technology. The HP article is a reprint
>> from the HP Journal. Does anyone have either of these?
>
>Somebody with a better sense of calc history should chime in here, but I
>think Monroe, Olivetti, HP, and Wang all had programmables in the 60s.
>
>I have an HP9100A manual and the first HP _Keyboard_ that describes it. I
>think I recall at least four people on the list having a 9100. It was not
>the first programmable, but it was the first HP, and it is pretty cool
>with its built-in CRT and expansion bus.
>
I have a HP 9100 and the original HP Journal. You can order reprints
(color, I think) of the HP Journals through HP's website.
Joe
well, if people are putting in requests for various mac models that are
getting ready to be scrapped, i wouldnt mind having an se/30 or colour
classic. a IIfx wouldnt be bad except for the fact that it can only use
special simms.
>She said that they were invented by Hollerith
at the end of the last century for use with the census. Was I drunk or
did
we just go through a whole discussion about the cards being invented for
the Jacquard loom?
Different types of punched cards. Hollerith invented the modern
computer punch card. The Jacquard loom used punched cards in a linked
belt type arrangement, similar to a player piano, to control the shuttle
of his loom. Jacquard had more in common with pianos than computers.
Jack Peacock
FWIW Dept: Found this in comp.os.vms.... You Southwest folks may be
interested. If they were close I sure would consider them as I'd like to
find a Qbus SCSI controller (or simply use the machine as is instead of
upgrading my MVII.)
From: mesprime(a)aol.com (MES PRIME)
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Subject: Old VAX hardware for sale
Lines: 24
Message-ID: <1998081415580800.LAA06833(a)ladder01.news.aol.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: ladder01.news.aol.com
X-Admin: news(a)aol.com
Date: 14 Aug 1998 15:58:08 GMT
Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
Xref: post.servtech.com comp.os.vms:190118
We have just retired our old VAXs and are looking for a nice home for them.
We have two systems:
System 1is a Micro Vax 4 with 128M ram, expansion bus, Q-Bus, CMD and UC08
SCSI
Controllers, Emulex communication multiplexor boards and CP34 Panels, Drive
bay
and 19' Rack and DR11-C interface.
System 2 is a Micro Vax 3 with 64M ram, exapnsion bus, Q-Bus, Emulex UCO8 SCSI
Controllers, Emulex communication muliplexor board and CP34 Panels.
Also available ( serious ) a couple of working Deckwriter's
If intersted, e-mail me for more information:
mslaughter(a)basstickets.net
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Slaughter
IS Manager
BASS Tickets
1855 Gateway Blvd. Suite 630
Concord, CA 94520
Anyway, contact Mr. Slaughter directly!
-- --
Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian
Jamestown, NY USA
Member of Antique Wireless Association
URL: http://www.ggw.org/freenet/a/awa/
Is this iron old enough that someone here could help Vicki?
To: silent-tristero(a)world.std.com
From: Vicki Rosenzweig <vr(a)zebra.acm.org>
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1998 17:01:18 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: help--trailing edge equipment
Sender: silent-tristero-approval(a)world.std.com
Precedence: list
Reply-To: Vicki Rosenzweig <vr(a)zebra.acm.org>
Status: U
I'm not sure this is relevant to tristero, but I can't
think of who else to ask. I have a network of three
Sun Sparc IPXs, plus an Annex II terminal server and
a bunch of dumb terminals hanging off the Annex.
Xylogics, the company that made the Annex, is no longer
supporting that model, at all--the last time I tried
calling them about something, the only suggestion they
were willing to make was "we could sell you something
more modern." It may come to that, but I hope not.
Here's the situation: for Reasons Too Complicated To
Explain (in other words, I'd start frothing at the mouth),
the cables that connect the Annex to its dumb terminals
and to the Ethernet are in the open, under a desk. Thus,
they get kicked semi-regularly.
Someone kicked the cable connecting the Annex to the
Ethernet transceiver loose this afternoon. The first I
knew of it was when someone came to find me, and asked
why all the terminals were dead. When I tried to plug
it back in, I found I couldn't--a couple of the pins on
the transceiver had been bent out of shape. I replaced
the transceiver (with one of a different model, but which
I know is good--it worked elsewhere in this network).
Nothing. I rebooted the Annex: it gets as far as a set
of lights that translate to "trying to reach the Ethernet
to download software." I got desperate, pulled the only
other cable of the same kind off the network (which involved
undoing about eight NFS cross-mounts), and plugged it in
instead.
Nothing.
So, basically: I tried replacing the transceiver, I tried
replacing the cable, and the Annex box insists that it's fine,
it just needs to download software. Does anyone have any
idea of what might be going on here, or of how I can fix it?
(I do know where to buy a live chicken, but I suspect
management would look askance if I brought it into the office.)
Signed,
Desperate in New York
Vicki Rosenzweig
vr(a)cr.acm.org | vr(a)interport.net
http://www.users.interport.net/~vr/
--
Warbaby
The WebSite. The Domain. The Empire.
http://www.warbaby.com
The MonkeyPool
WebSite Content Development
http://www.monkeypool.com
Dreadlocks on white boys give me the willies.
I need a couple Seagate ST351A/X hard drives in working condition. If
you have some for sale, trade or otherwise let me know soon. Any other
IDE drive that will definitely work with a Seagate ST05X controller also
wanted in 40 or more megabyte capacity.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Russ Blakeman
RB Custom Services / Rt. 1 Box 62E / Harned, KY USA 40144
Phone: (502) 756-1749 Data/Fax:(502) 756-6991
Email: rhblake(a)bbtel.com or rhblake(a)bigfoot.com
Website: http://members.tripod.com/~RHBLAKE/
ICQ UIN #1714857
AOL Instant Messenger "RHBLAKEMAN"
* Parts/Service/Upgrades and more for MOST Computers*
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--- Markus Blumrich wrote:
My portable powers up without the battery inside it as well. I'm assuming
by your email address "dartmouth.edu" that you are in Nova Scotia? (If not
- pardon my ignorance). If so these machines have probably been subjected
to some cold weather. I have lost 2 Mac Portable hard drives to cold
weather - I'd put them in the trunk of my car, travel to location X and
then fire up the Mac only to learn that the drive didn't work anymore.
This was most likely due to condensation inside the drives.
----
Actually, it's Dartmouth College (NH) but I'm telnetting in from Miami, FL because I'm home for the summer. As far as I know, these drives haven't seen cold weather, but it's certainly possible.
----
If I read your post correctly the drives aren't spinning up at all, but
they emit noises which make it sound as if they are trying to - in this
case they are most likely stuck. I have convinced old hard drives to
become 'unstuck' by whacking them on the side. I know it sounds cruel but
if the drive isn't working there is nothing to loose.
----
Yeah, I tried that -- it's worked many times before, but not now. (The technician I worked for six years ago used to fix Mac SE's with sticky hard drives by picking up the whole computer and giving it a quick half-spin with a sudden stop -- the torque loosens the lubricant.)
----
Also, when the death chimes sound, is there a picture of a sad mac on the
screen with an error number? The error number (if I remember correctly)
may be a key indication as to what is happening. If your mac is repeatedly
sounding the death chimes it is in some kind of endless loop and you are
most likely not getting to the error #.
----
When I let it go long enough, I get a sad mac with error codes which I haven't looked up in the TIL yet. They all translate to some hardware (occasionally software) problem diagnosis.
----
I have also opened the drives and lubricated the 'spindle' or whatever
it's called - however doing so allowed dust particles inside the drive.
The end result though was a reliable, non sticking drive that works to
this day. Perhaps I was lucky...
--- end of quote ---
Huh, I always thought that opening up a drive would wreck it -- maybe I'll try that with one of them. Thanks.
But wait, there's more! New problem. I have an external hard drive attached to the least messed-up Portable, which boots nicely, but anytime I insert a floppy disk, the machine restarts over and over. What triggers it is pushing the tiny white button just inside the floppy (it gets pressed by the disk usually, but I was trying to see what exactly was setting the restart loop in motion, and when I pushed down on that button alone that did it). It WAS working fine with floppies before. Guess the logic board is having problems handling both at once. Aaargh! Three bad drives and now *two* fouled-up motherboards.
-- MB
So far I have heard from 12 people wanting a total 35 cpu's and 4 monitors.
I would have liked to make them a offer this Friday but this is not enough
units to purchase it all. This what I will do now, I will connact a scrape
dealer I know and offer to buy it all with him only if he allows me to pull
the units you guys want first and he gets what's left. This way we all can
get our units at a low price with a bulk purchase by the pound. I have not
heard back from Eric if his boss is willing sell and the date of the
employee sale. I will until Monday to see how many more people want in
otherwise the 12 of you will get your items if the sale is a go.
I was watching a local show called New Media News
(http://www.newmedianews.com/) last night and they had a bit with Gwen Bell
talking about punch cards. She said that they were invented by Hollerith
at the end of the last century for use with the census. Was I drunk or did
we just go through a whole discussion about the cards being invented for
the Jacquard loom?
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/
I'm posting some info I already sent to someone privately. I wanted to get permission from Mr. Craig first, in case he was trying to keep the volume of requests down or something. My apologies for wasted bandwidth if y'all already knew about him -- just trying to help. - MB
--- awhile ago, Sam Ismail wrote:
Ok, so I'd like to make use of the recent discussion we had concerning
hard drive repair and attack the "widget" drive in my Lisa 2/10 to see if
I can bring it back to life. Does anybody know where I can find technical
info on this drive? A web resource that I don't know about perhaps?
--- end of quote ---
David T. Craig, email 71533.606(a)compuserve.com, has just about EVERYTHING ever written about/for the Lisa. (Even the Product Introduction Plan!) There's a list of his stuff at http://www.atomicnet.com.au/simon/lisa/LisaLegacy/References.html. While you're there, check out his Lisa Legacy paper. He sent me copies of Lisa repair stuff from Apple, Sun Remarketing, and Larry Pina's "Mac Repair Secrets" book, as well as some historical info and a set of Lisa Office System 3.0 diskettes and LisaTest diagnostic diskettes w/ instructions. He copied the written stuff for ten cents a page and the diskettes for a buck apiece, plus shipping.
He also has some stuff for the Apple ///, but I don't know what. Email him for info.
If anyone wants Lisa help right away, I can look up error codes and other stuff in the manuals he sent me, and email an answer usually within a day. My 2/10 displayed error 84, which means the boot blocks had been erased, but luckily LisaTest reported no damaged blocks, so all it needs is a low-level format. Sun Remarketing will reformat Widget drives and send them back (which is, according to the manuals, your only hope if LOS installer refuses to do it, as was the case with mine). It costs $75 to have them do it, which includes return shipping. They will install the OS of your choice (LOS or MacWorks, maybe Pascal Workshop but I don't know for sure).
Sun Remarketing's phone number is 1-800-821-3221. If you get someone who's never heard of the Lisa or some such nonsense (which happened to me the first time) ask for Brian, ext. 340. He seems to know what's up.
-- MB
--- Tony Duell wrote:
Do you have a working battery in the machine? IIRC, the PSU can't supply
enough current on it's own to get the machine and hard disk started up.
When the hard disk tries to spin up, the PSU shuts down, etc. Giving you
exactly what you're seeing
-tony
--- end of quote ---
Really? I'm charging a pair of batteries overnight. Tomorrow I'll see if anything works with a charged battery. I thought that with the 9-volt backup and the power adapter, that was enough juice -- Uncle Roger, is that what you were saying earlier?
Thank you very much!
-- MB
--- George Currie wrote:
Actually it should power up with the 9v and the power supply. If
you have a fresh 9v battery and have the unit plugged in and it still
won't come up, then the problem could still be with the drive. Have
you tried removing it and seeing if the unit boots? Also, have you
tried pressing both the reset and nmi buttons on the side to reset
it?
--- end of quote ---
Yes, it's been powering up with just the AC adapter and 9-volt battery, and it boots fine with the hard drive cable disconnected (it's happy booting from a floppy).
I'm pretty sure I tried pressing the side buttons in all sorts of combinations -- what specifically are you describing? Just press them and let go, or hold them down while powering on, etc. ?
Thanks for the suggestions.
-- MB
Jeff wrote:
> Yow!!! That means maybe it will run FLEX! [insert Homer Simpson
> impersonation]
Could someone please enlighten me... What, pray, is FLEX?
> Woo Hoo!. Dang! I can just imagine running FLEX at 25Mc! Its performance
> over a 1Mc 6800 must have been blistering!
Warning. Clock speeds may not be comparable. 6800 and friends
(including 6502) often do more per cycle than 2901s.
That said, the 4052 is a 16 bit system, despite its 8-bit instruction
set. The data path is 16 bit throughout, it fetches two byte
instructions in a single memory cycle, etc.
And Tek do claim some quite impressive performance boosts upgrading from
4051 to 4052 (average gain they claimed was ten times, I think)
> Yikes!! I think I may have seen some boards from a system like that one
> in a junk heap last week! It used four 2901's eh? Hm, I'm gonna haveto
> revisit that particular junque pile . . .
Bear in mind Tony Duell's comments - 16 bit systems based around 4 2901s
used to be common, but may now be worth grabbing anyway.
I must do some more research into the relationship between 4052 and 6800
instruction sets.
P.
Hi John,
I would love to join you in that effort. I am also interested in acquiring
on of each unit. Maybe we can poll our resources and make a few people happy
in the process.
Anyway, Eric if you can find out the actual cost per palette that would be a
great indicator of the fund needed.
Thank you for flagging this one.
Francois
-------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the desperately in need of update
Sanctuary at: http://www.pclink.com/fauradon
-----Original Message-----
From: John R. Keys Jr. <jrkeys(a)concentric.net>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Wednesday, August 19, 1998 10:13 PM
Subject: Re: Macs, IBM systems, roms, etc etc...
>I'm right here in the Twincities also and would like to purchase some of
>the machines. Here's my offer to those on the list that want some of these
>items in one's and two's e-mail your list and the price you want to pay for
>each item and I will make them a offer for all of it. You have only pay me
>the shipping cost plus the item cost. If I get it all cheap enough them I
>will divide the number of units into the price I pay and charge the lower
>price per unit. Say I get 100 items at $300 that means the cost per item
>would be $3. I do not need it all I also just want one of each type of unit
>for my collection that I do not already have. Let me know as soon as
>possible before it's all gone. Thanks Eric for the tip and I will get back
>to my Friday with some type of offer based me being able maybe see some of
>these units.
>At 09:09 PM 8/19/98 -0500, you wrote:
>>Ok, after a few more days of scoping things out, here's the deal: I
>>started working for GE Capital, at Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Minnesota.
>>They are disposing of alot of the mac systems, and I figured that I
>>would be able to pull the ROM's out of the old ones that I knew were
>>never going to be used again, ever. (Just so you know, I would probably
>>lose my job due to that but it's a shame to let such things go to waste.
>>If someone reading this is from my new employers, I haven't done
>>anything!!!!!)
>>
>> Anyway, one of my bosses, the asset manager, is actively trying to
>>dispose of pallets of stuff. So if someone out there can actually buy
>>quite a bit, that might be nice... apparently last year he made 300
>>bucks selling all systems to scrap dealers that melted it all for the
>>metal content. bummer.)
>>
>> We have lots of old IBM mainframe systems, Quads, CRTs, etc etc. also,
>>a good lot of those macs were all used by the Graphic Design dept; so
>>they are chock full of cool stuff (tons of ram, souped up video cards,
>>yadda yadda.) lots of hard drives, all have token ring cards. (I
>>reiterate: LOTS of token ring cards. I'm swimming in them.) I currently
>>have a large pallet of mac 14/15 inch monitors; a pallet of IIsi, IIci,
>>IIcx's; Quadra 700s, Quadra 950 servers(awesome machines), PowerPC
>>7100/66, 7100/80's. also other random ones. also, *several* pallets of
>>Duo Dock 230's and 280's. tons of NEC versa V/50's and 4000c's. quite a
>>few 21 inch mac color monitors (definitely not for sale, unless you made
>>an attractive offer to my boss!)
>>
>> alot of this stuff is earmarked for employee sales, but alot of it is
>>also headed for disposal. If anyone is truly interested, I will print
>>out and give serious inquiries to my boss. emailing the head of a large
>>national corporation won't do much, but I can give your requests to the
>>right person.
>>
>> in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
>>
>>-Eric
>>
>> (PS. - I only offered to grab roms or small chip components because
>>they wouldn't be used where the machines were headed, and they wouldn't
>>be missed. I cannot personally recover systems or anything of that
>>nature. I am sure however that my boss would be very reasonable if you
>>made an offer!)
>>
>> PPS- we also have several sony trinitron touch screens. anyone know of
>>a use for these?
>>
>>
>
At 09:42 PM 8/20/98 -0500, you wrote:
>Jeff Kaneko wrote:
>
>> Not that I know of. TSC went under some years ago; we all assumed
>> that it took the source to its grave. Rumour has it that some former
>> employees of TSC *may* possess some sources, but they have not stepped
>> foreward.
>>
>> FWIW: A co-worker of mine was approached some years ago with an offer
>> to sell the FLEX sources. My co-worker wasn't interested, and the
>> guy went away. Don't know who he was. For all we know, it ended up in
>> the dumpster. :-/
>
>Some of this can be found at <http://www.rtmx.com/UniFLEX/>. Also
>further FLEX stuff at <http://www.blackbelt.com/flexem.html>.
>
>Regards,
>
>_---_--__-_-_----__-_----_-__-__-_-___--_-__--___-__----__--_--__-___-
>Hans B Pufal Comprehensive Computer Catalogue
><mailto:hansp@plato.digiweb.com> <http://plato.digiweb.com/~hansp/ccc>
>
But all of this is for the 6809. None of this references the 6800/6802. I
contend that the original FLEX/2 sources will remain lost to the world.
It's a shame, too, as it was the first commercially successful OS for *any*
Motorola processor. It was to Moto what CP/M was to Intel.
Jeff
Doug Yowza <yowza(a)yowza.com> wrote:
> Of course, you know that Woz worked at HP before doing the Apple thing.
> The resemblance of the Apple ][ to the HP desktops (esp. the 9825) is
> pretty striking.
Look inside a Lisa someday -- it's got color-coded card lifters.
That's what convinced me that Apple of the late 1970s was just an HP
wannabe.
-Frank McConnell
--- Tom Owad wrote:
>Can someone tell me what the output of the Mac Portable battery charger
>should
>be? (What I should read across the charger contacts?) When I plug it in
>using a
>known-good AC adapter, then place the battery on it, there's no LED glow.
It's most likely the same as the Mac Portable's power adapter, which is
7.5vdc, 1.5A.
--- end of quote ---
Thanks for the info. Actually, according to Apple Service Source docs (found 'em after I posted the question) the charger puts out about a volt less. The power adapter itself is fine, but the external charger seems to be fried.
I have a more pressing problem now. Basically, the computer has a grand mal seizure whenever the internal hard drive is connected.
I've got three semi-functional Portables, and am hoping to wind up with at least one that works. But they all seem to have bad hard disks (Apple 40SC internal) -- if the drive is connected at power-up, it makes a tick-tick-tick noise, the screen flashes, and it repeatedly plays interrupted Death Chimes until I turn it off. The drive never actually spins up.
I'm not familiar with that hard drive model. Since there's no separate power cable, I assume it's some sort of funky low-power-combined-with-SCSI thing. So, anyone got any ideas about what to do with them (besides drop-kick 'em into a swimming pool)? Is there some goofy reset I can do, or a bad fuse somewhere to replace?
If there's no repair possible, then is there any other kind of hard drive that will work in a Portable? Or does someone have a spare they'd sell/trade?
-- MB
Where can I get a replacement battery?
Kai
-----Original Message-----
From: Marion.Bates(a)Dartmouth.EDU [mailto:Marion.Bates@Dartmouth.EDU]
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 1998 1:48 PM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: RE: Mac Portable problems (was Re: Mac Portable batt charger)
--- "Dellett, Anthony" wrote:
Hmmm... Check out this URL... You can replace the internal HD40SC with
any 3.5" drive ya want.
Tony
http://www.micromac.com/products/portable_scsi.html
--- end of quote ---
Wow! After I tinker with these old ones a little more, I might just go with
that. Thanks!
-- MB
At 12:08 PM 8/20/98 -0700, you wrote:
>I have the same problem with my Mac Portable but
>I havent had much time to tinker with it.
>
>Have you replaced the 9 volt battery? I'm wondering
>if that might have something to do with it in some
>strange, phases-of-the-moon way.
First off, check the MacPort FAQ at
<http://www.bford.demon.co.uk/mac/portablefaq.txt>. The hard drive is a
proprietary connector, but you can build an adapter or purchase one
ready-made (see the FAQ).
The Mac Port needs power to boot. That power has to come from either the
6v LA battery or the 9v. The 9v needs to be in good shape though. To use
the 9v, remove the cover to the big battery compartment (the cover trips a
switch when it's in place).
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/
--- "Dellett, Anthony" wrote:
Hmmm... Check out this URL... You can replace the internal HD40SC with
any 3.5" drive ya want.
Tony
http://www.micromac.com/products/portable_scsi.html
--- end of quote ---
Wow! After I tinker with these old ones a little more, I might just go with that. Thanks!
-- MB
Is the mail Lead-Acid battery any good? If the battery is discharged or
shot, the computer won't power up at all. This may be your problem. I
believe it is a 6V battery. If I'm correct, then one out of a power wheels
thing should work to find out if it's a battery, or a bad computer.
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
----------
> From: Marion Bates <Marion.Bates(a)Dartmouth.EDU>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: Mac Portable problems (was Re: Mac Portable batt charger)
> Date: Thursday, August 20, 1998 3:19 PM
>
> I checked the backup battery and it read 8.7 volts or something, which I
> figured was adequate...maybe not?
>
>
> -- MB
>If there's no repair possible, then is there any other kind of hard drive
>that will work in a Portable? Or does someone have a spare they'd sell/trade?
Well, the Paul Kelbaugh <kelbaugh(a)aol.com> I mentioned earliear has
adapters to make your Portable work with ordinairy SCSI hard drives.
$30, IIRC.
Tom Owad
--
Sysop of Caesarville Online
Client software at: <http://home.earthlink.net/~tomowad/>
Hmmm... Check out this URL... You can replace the internal HD40SC with
any 3.5" drive ya want.
Tony
http://www.micromac.com/products/portable_scsi.html
-----Original Message-----
From: Marion.Bates(a)Dartmouth.EDU [mailto:Marion.Bates@Dartmouth.EDU]
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 1998 3:19 PM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: Re: Mac Portable problems (was Re: Mac Portable batt charger)
--- "Tony Dellett" wrote:
I have the same problem with my Mac Portable but I havent had much time
to tinker with it.
Have you replaced the 9 volt battery? I'm wondering if that might have
something to do with it in some strange, phases-of-the-moon way.
--- end of quote ---
I checked the backup battery and it read 8.7 volts or something, which I
figured was adequate...maybe not?
-- MB
Not that I know of. TSC went under some years ago; we all assumed
that it took the source to its grave. Rumour has it that some former
employees of TSC *may* possess some sources, but they have not stepped
foreward.
FWIW: A co-worker of mine was approached some years ago with an offer
to sell the FLEX sources. My co-worker wasn't interested, and the
guy went away. Don't know who he was. For all we know, it ended up in
the dumpster. :-/
Jeff
At 02:33 PM 8/20/98 -0500, you wrote:
>
>< For years, it was *THE* disk operating system if you had a 6800/6802 bas
>< system. Originally written in the late 70's, it powered the majority o
>< the SS-50 computers until the 6809 came out. Then came FLEX/09, StarDOS
>< UniFLEX, OS/9. . . .
>
>Are sources available?
>
Hmmm... Seems that if a Mac Portable battery is dead, you cant power the
machine even with the AC adaptor. I'm certain this has something to do
with my problem.
It also seems that if the Mac Portable battery ever gets discharged
below 5.4v it becomes a doorstop.
Tony
I have no idea if it makes any difference or not. My guess is that the
9V powers some parameter ram or something. It just makes me wonder that
all three Mac portables you have all contain dead HDs
?
Tony
-----Original Message-----
From: Marion.Bates(a)Dartmouth.EDU [mailto:Marion.Bates@Dartmouth.EDU]
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 1998 3:19 PM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: Re: Mac Portable problems (was Re: Mac Portable batt charger)
--- "Tony Dellett" wrote:
I have the same problem with my Mac Portable but I havent had much time
to tinker with it.
Have you replaced the 9 volt battery? I'm wondering if that might have
something to do with it in some strange, phases-of-the-moon way.
--- end of quote ---
I checked the backup battery and it read 8.7 volts or something, which I
figured was adequate...maybe not?
-- MB
I have the same problem with my Mac Portable but I havent had much time to tinker with it.
Have you replaced the 9 volt battery? I'm wondering if that might have something to do with it in some strange, phases-of-the-moon way.
Tony
(this is my hit the home email from work route, dont reply to this email address)
--
On 20 Aug 98 14:56:48 EDT Marion Bates wrote:
>--- Tom Owad wrote:
>>Can someone tell me what the output of the Mac Portable battery charger
>>should
>>be? (What I should read across the charger contacts?) When I plug it in
>>using a
>>known-good AC adapter, then place the battery on it, there's no LED glow.
>
>It's most likely the same as the Mac Portable's power adapter, which is
>7.5vdc, 1.5A.
>--- end of quote ---
>
>Thanks for the info. Actually, according to Apple Service Source docs (found 'em after I posted the question) the charger puts out about a volt less. The power adapter itself is fine, but the external charger seems to be fried.
>
>I have a more pressing problem now. Basically, the computer has a grand mal seizure whenever the internal hard drive is connected.
>
>I've got three semi-functional Portables, and am hoping to wind up with at least one that works. But they all seem to have bad hard disks (Apple 40SC internal) -- if the drive is connected at power-up, it makes a tick-tick-tick noise, the screen flashes, and it repeatedly plays interrupted Death Chimes until I turn it off. The drive never actually spins up.
>
>I'm not familiar with that hard drive model. Since there's no separate power cable, I assume it's some sort of funky low-power-combined-with-SCSI thing. So, anyone got any ideas about what to do with them (besides drop-kick 'em into a swimming pool)? Is there some goofy reset I can do, or a bad fuse somewhere to replace?
>
>If there's no repair possible, then is there any other kind of hard drive that will work in a Portable? Or does someone have a spare they'd sell/trade?
>
>-- MB
>
>
-----== Sent via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/ Easy access to 50,000+ discussion forums
At 04:52 PM 8/20/98 -0500, you wrote:
>Jeff wrote:
>
>> Yow!!! That means maybe it will run FLEX! [insert Homer Simpson
>> impersonation]
>
>Could someone please enlighten me... What, pray, is FLEX?
For years, it was *THE* disk operating system if you had a 6800/6802 based
system. Originally written in the late 70's, it powered the majority of
the SS-50 computers until the 6809 came out. Then came FLEX/09, StarDOS,
UniFLEX, OS/9. . . .
There were other (some better) DOS's that were available at the time from
Smoke Signal, Moto, and a couple of others, but FLEX gained alot of support
>from developers, and had alot of applications. I'm trying to get one of my
s-50's working again so I can play with FLEX (I won't settle for emulation
when I can have the *real* thing).
It was a bit limited, but it was small enough to fit within the 6800's 64K
address space, with *plenty* of room to spare!
>> Woo Hoo!. Dang! I can just imagine running FLEX at 25Mc! Its
performance
>> over a 1Mc 6800 must have been blistering!
>
>Warning. Clock speeds may not be comparable. 6800 and friends
>(including 6502) often do more per cycle than 2901s.
Well, yeah, but still faster then 1Mc (or 800kc if you didn't modify the
cpu board).
>That said, the 4052 is a 16 bit system, despite its 8-bit instruction
>set. The data path is 16 bit throughout, it fetches two byte
>instructions in a single memory cycle, etc.
OIC
>And Tek do claim some quite impressive performance boosts upgrading from
>4051 to 4052 (average gain they claimed was ten times, I think)
Yeah, still pretty hot s---.
>> Yikes!! I think I may have seen some boards from a system like that one
>> in a junk heap last week! It used four 2901's eh? Hm, I'm gonna haveto
>> revisit that particular junque pile . . .
>
>Bear in mind Tony Duell's comments - 16 bit systems based around 4 2901s
>used to be common, but may now be worth grabbing anyway.
Umm, yeah, but being a 6800 enthusiast, this carries with it some
especially interesting possibilities!
>I must do some more research into the relationship between 4052 and 6800
>instruction sets.
Yes. How the implemented the microcode would be of particular interest.
Jeff
< For years, it was *THE* disk operating system if you had a 6800/6802 bas
< system. Originally written in the late 70's, it powered the majority o
< the SS-50 computers until the 6809 came out. Then came FLEX/09, StarDOS
< UniFLEX, OS/9. . . .
Are sources available?
>Can someone tell me what the output of the Mac Portable battery charger
>should
>be? (What I should read across the charger contacts?) When I plug it in
>using a
>known-good AC adapter, then place the battery on it, there's no LED glow.
It's most likely the same as the Mac Portable's power adapter, which is
7.5vdc, 1.5A.
Paul Kelbaugh <kelbaugh(a)aol.com> has Mac Portable power adapters for sale
for around $25, I believe.
Tom Owad
--
Sysop of Caesarville Online
Client software at: <http://home.earthlink.net/~tomowad/>
At 07:23 PM 8/19/98 +0100, you wrote:
>> We had quite a few when I was growing up (ds21's, mostly, including a
>> wagon) and they were maintained by a Citroen-only shop, but still, I'd
>
>Having seen the sort of work put out by Citroen Main Dealers in the UK,
>I'd sooner let a PC repairman fix one of my computers than let some of
Nah, these were frenchmen, (independents) known throughout the state as the
best in Citroens. That's all they did. They had no problem working on the
citroens and keeping them running.
I, on the other hand, couldn't understand the inner or outer workings of
those vehicles. I still think that whoever designed 'em must have been
jealous of swiss watchmakers, but with all the design skills of the
samsonite gorilla.
>> And to relate it to classic computers, it was about 10 years ago that I
>> drove through downtown SF in a Citroen with a flat tyre and Jerry Pournelle
>
>Oh, but Citroens are easy to change wheels on. That's what the highest
>position on the height controller is for....
Yeah, but you have to remove the (rear) fender to get the wheel off, (I'm
not kidding!) and who wants to do that when you've got (what I at the time
considered) a major celebrity in the car? I limped along back to Moscone
and dropped everyone off before skulking off to a nearby parking lot...
P.S., I still have scars on my right hand from another time working on
those #$&*@( things... Give me a Land Rover any day! 8^)
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/
Still in need of a few microchannel (for PS/2) ethernet adapters with
the BNC 10base2 setup. Doesn't matter if they have AUI or RJ45 with it
as well, as long as it has the BNC/10base2 setup. I don't need 3270
cards so check any cards you think you have with the BNC connector to
see what they are.
Looking for donations, trades or reasonable priced cards for a parochial
school network project that's overdue. I've gotten a few good reponses
and have a couple on the way but I'm going to be about 4 or so short
yet. I've also gotten one or two ridiculously high quotes for used
cards. This is a project on a shoestring budget so no $30 or $40 cards
please.
Russ Blakeman
Harned, KY USA
At 06:12 PM 8/19/98 GMT, you wrote:
>Most power adapters are constant voltage, and quote a maximum current.
>So the requirement is for 22V, capable of at least 0.82A. A power
>supply that can put out 1.2A (not Ah) would be ideal.
Here's a question... I get a lot of laptops minus their PS's. The ones
that are 12vdc or 9vdc with a standard plug are no problem, but the ones
like the outbound (I'm lucky enough to have a PS) or the GRiD's (17.5vdc?)
or whatnot aren't even covered by the select-a-warts from Radio Shack.
So, does anyone make a box where you can set it for whatever voltage you
want from, say, 1vdc to 50vdc or something, with some way of hooking up
different plugs? Does anyone know where to get such a beast *cheaply*?
Thanks...
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
Subject: Re: Altair - A different perspective
Author: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu at internet
Date: 8/20/98 12:59 PM
At 07:23 PM 8/19/98 +0100, you wrote:
>> We had quite a few when I was growing up (ds21's, mostly, including a
>> wagon) and they were maintained by a Citroen-only shop, but still, I'd
>
>Having seen the sort of work put out by Citroen Main Dealers in the UK,
>I'd sooner let a PC repairman fix one of my computers than let some of
Nah, these were frenchmen, (independents) known throughout the state as the
best in Citroens. That's all they did. They had no problem working on the
citroens and keeping them running.
I, on the other hand, couldn't understand the inner or outer workings of
those vehicles. I still think that whoever designed 'em must have been
jealous of swiss watchmakers, but with all the design skills of the
samsonite gorilla.
>> And to relate it to classic computers, it was about 10 years ago that I
>> drove through downtown SF in a Citroen with a flat tyre and Jerry Pournelle
>
>Oh, but Citroens are easy to change wheels on. That's what the highest
>position on the height controller is for....
Yeah, but you have to remove the (rear) fender to get the wheel off, (I'm
not kidding!) and who wants to do that when you've got (what I at the time
considered) a major celebrity in the car? I limped along back to Moscone
and dropped everyone off before skulking off to a nearby parking lot...
P.S., I still have scars on my right hand from another time working on
those #$&*@( things... Give me a Land Rover any day! 8^)
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/
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Thu, 20 Aug 1998 09:46:16 -0700
Message-Id: <3.0.16.19980819192810.52370f22(a)ricochet.net>
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1998 09:41:05 -0700 (PDT)
Reply-To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
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From: Uncle Roger <sinasohn(a)ricochet.net>
To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers"
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: Altair - A different perspective
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
X-Sender: sinasohn(a)ricochet.net
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN
Hi,
If any of ya'll out there are interested in a Kaypro 4
"suitcase" computer, I have one on the ol' "trading block".
The machine itself is complete and working but I do not
have any diskettes for it. On power up it displays a
"please insert system diskette in drive" type of message.
Per my previous postings I'm mainly interested in
calculator stuff (and have a detailed "want" list on my
Web site). Please write me directly if you have any
interest in this machine.
Regards,
Alex
aknight(a)mindspring.com
Calculator History & Technology Archive Web Page
http://aknight.home.mindspring.com/calc.htm
At 12:40 AM 8/16/98 +0100, you wrote:
>engine, transmission, hydraulics (it's a Citroen with hydraulic
Omigawd... You poor soul you... Here, let me send you an Altair to make
up for your suffering! 8^) (The french should make love, not cars.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/
You could use a camcorder or camcorder charger to charge the battery. It
would be a lot safer. You could overload the supply if it's not the right
volt/amperage, worse yet, you could blow something in the computer.
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
----------
> From: Tom Owad <tomowad(a)earthlink.net>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Charging batteries
> Date: Wednesday, August 19, 1998 10:16 AM
>
> I have an Outbound Notebook which takes a camcorder-style 12v 2 Ah
> battery. The Outbound's power adapter, which is used to both run the
> unit and charge the battery is 22v, 0.82A. Unfortunately, I don't have
> the adapter or anything similiar.
> What I would like to know is how forgiving the Outbound and its
> battery would be if I used an innapropriate adapter. I have an adapter
> that puts out 14v and 1.2 amps. Am I correct in assuming the 14v would
> suffice for charging the batter (not running the unit)? What about the
> 1.2Ah, though? Will the extra amperage do any harm?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Tom Owad
>
> P.S. Anybody have a 22v, 0.82A adapter for sale?
>
> --
> Sysop of Caesarville Online
> Client software at: <http://home.earthlink.net/~tomowad/>
>
At 12:38 AM 8/20/98 -0500, Doug wrote:
>On Wed, 19 Aug 1998, dave dameron wrote:
>
>> I found a book I would recommend if anyone finds a copy, although I am still
>> getting used to it. It is "Computer Structures: Readings and Examples" by
>> Bell and Newell. It uses strange notation (for me) and even the table of
>> contents is "virtual".
>
>That wouldn't be Gordon Bell, would it? The book sounds familiar, but
>it's not on my shelf.
>
Yes, that's it. My copy was published in 1971, so the HP9100A is one of the
later computers in it. Yes it is neat with the custom CRT and all the boards
stuffed into its case. I guess it sold for about $6000.
-Dave
< I buy the weirdest stuff sometimes. It's a hex keypad that obviously
< belongs to a single-board computer, but not for a CPU I'm familiar with
< CPU-specific labels are AC0, AC1, AC2, AC3, PC, NI, FLAG, and STK0. Wha
< does this keypad belong to? (And does anybody need one?)
My guess would be a DG NOVA/Microflame series. It's the only one I know
of with four accumulators.
Allison
< >Dig up a PDP-11 Qbus book, most had a good description of the bus and
< >bus protocals.
<
< Any suggestions as I'll have to go beg/borrow/steal/buy one. All the boo
< I have either predate Q-Bus or talk about "real" VAX systems (like Massb
< Unibus etc).
Look around they are fairly common. DEC Published them every year from
late '70s through the 80s. Also check with your local DEC down under
as they may have a copy in the office.
On the other hand the ones you have are scarce!
Allison
On Aug 19, 21:26, Sam Ismail wrote:
> Subject: Re: My Web Site
> On Wed, 19 Aug 1998, Richard A. Cini, Jr. wrote:
>
> > Well, this is my first attempt at a Web site. Actually, there's two, at
> > these URLs:
> >
> > http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/pdp11/index.html
> >
> > and
> >
> > http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/index.html
>
> PS. These links did not work for some reason. I believe your index.html
> is missing. I think your pdp11 directory is also MIA.
The directory's there, but the pages are called "index.htm" not
"index.html"... looks like they were created with that nasty FrontPage
stuff.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Dept. of Computer Science
University of York
At 05:41 PM 8/19/98 -0500, Doug wrote:
>On Wed, 19 Aug 1998, Alex Knight wrote:
>
>> One of the more interesting machines that I have written
>> an article about for my Web site is called a Mathatron, which
>> was advertised as a desktop calculator/computer and sold as
>> early as 1964.
>
>Hi, Alex. I really think this is the coolest find yet. I have a desktop
>programmable computer from 1959, but mine is analog. I haven't heard of
>any desktop programmable solid-state digital machine that predates your
>Mathatron.
>
>> Another "crossover" machine that I have a little info
>> (mainly pictures) of is the HP 9830, called a calculator
>> but in fact a computer with BASIC.
>
I found a book I would recommend if anyone finds a copy, although I am still
getting used to it. It is "Computer Structures: Readings and Examples" by
Bell and Newell. It uses strange notation (for me) and even the table of
contents is "virtual".
Anyway, it includes descriptions of 2 desktop calculators, both about 1968:
an Olivetti 101 (USD$3500) and a HP 9100A. The HP uses core memory, its
program ROM uses 16 layer PC board technology. The HP article is a reprint
>from the HP Journal. Does anyone have either of these?
There are many other computers described, both common and uncommon. Some are
valved, such as the UK Pegasus, which was only 3 "bays" large.
-Dave
At 03:29 AM 8/19/98 -0500, Doug wrote:
>ObCC: Supposedly, MITS came out with a hobbyist machine a couple of years
>before the Altair called the MITS 816. I haven't found much info about
>it. Is it real?
>
>-- Doug
>
Have you found any more? I looked for MITS ads in Popular Electronics
>from about 1971 to 1974. They had many calculators, sometimes the last 2 digits
in the model number = calsulator digits. I think the nmost digits I saw was
14, though. Also clocks, etc.
In late 1974 their ads were for a 416 which was a 4 channel x 16 led "logic
scope" Built in one of those black bakelite boxes. It sounds like one of
those oscilloscope "multi-channel" adapters that were popular when CMOS
multiplexers came out, like the 4051, but this one used led's instead of am
external scope.
-Dave
Hello, all:
Well, this is my first attempt at a Web site. Actually, there's two, at
these URLs:
http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/pdp11/index.html
and
http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/index.html
I found out today looking at the site "live" that certain FrontPage
elements did not translate (such as the hit counter). I'm opening up these
URLs for criticism. Let me know what y'all think.
I also need good links recommendations. I have a few, but I need more.
Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com>
- ClubWin/CW7
- MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking
- Preserver of "classic" computers
<<<< ========== reply separator ========== >>>>>
Actually they do both, unfortunately sometimes simultaneaously:)
>At 12:40 AM 8/16/98 +0100, you wrote:
>>engine, transmission, hydraulics (it's a Citroen with hydraulic
>
>Omigawd... You poor soul you... Here, let me send you an Altair to make
>up for your suffering! 8^) (The french should make love, not cars.)
>
Francois
-------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the desperately in need of update
Sanctuary at: http://www.pclink.com/fauradon
< As far as I know, all DEC versions of the VT103 came
< with an 18 bit backplane for the QBus. If an LSI-11/03
Correct.
< is used, I understand it may be ill advised to make any
< changes in the backplane, as well as fruitless, since this
< CPU can use only a maximum of 56 KBytes of memory
< in any case.
Also correct.
< for the PDP-11. However, I have also heard that the
< use of a quad CPU with a 22 bit backplane may also
< risk damage to the CPU in the VT103 environment.
I've done it. The bigest things is the power supply
is somewhat limited.
< BUT, I have seen both the dual 11/23 (M8186) and
< the dual 11/73 (M8192) used with an upgraded 22
< bit backplane within the VT103 along with a full
< 4 MBytes of memory. In addition, there was a
Very doable. The biggest thing is for most DEC OSs
256k (18bit) is plenty.
A good package is a 11/23, 256kram, DLV11j, RQDX3, BDV11.
That gives you 4 serial ports, full memory without backplane mods,
RX50/RX33 floppy and MSCP hard disk (RDxx) and the BDV terminates
the bus plus supplies some of the desireable boots (no mscp).
using a 11/23b or 11/73 you can remove the BDV11 and they have
mscp boots. however the PS is right on the edge.
< tube. The disk drive happened to be a Micropolis
< 1325 of 70 MBytes. And while I would strongly
< recommend against running with a DHV11 for any
< extended period of time due to the lack of a proper
That would overstress the PS and seriously need a bigger fan.
< with the 11/23, and shortly thereafter with the 11/73,
< a far better PC than the MS-DOS/Intel combination
< could produce until the 486 was released in 1989.
you bet!
< If anyone has a VT103 and needs some help with
< how to set it up as well to convert to a 22 bit backplane,
< likely both Megan Gentry and I are able to supply the
< necessary technical information.
I've built a few and have data as well.
Allison
Question of the day, how do you go about cleaning an RL02 pack. I'm not
talking about the "Customer" cleaning that the user manual talks about.
I'm talking about the "Dec Certified Tech" six month cleaning or however it
was they put it (read it last night). The six month cleaning sounds like
it includes cleaning inside the pack, which is what I"m interested in. I
know someone, Tony I think, mentioned taking apart and cleaning RK05 packs.
Well that's what I'm wanting to do with this RL02.
It's called the pack is visably dirty inside, with a thin film of grim.
Any suggestions, recommendations, crys of "are you out of your freaking mind"?
Zane
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
| healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast |
| healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector |
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
| Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
| and Zane's Computer Museum. |
| http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ |
At 10:44 AM 19-08-98 -0400, Wayne Cox wrote:
>With all the DEC enthusiasts here, maybe someone can help:
>
>Was DEC's EDT text editor ever `ported to any non-DEC platforms, such as
>PCs or unixes? It is still my favorite text and program editor, and I'd
>love to have on on some of my "everyday" machines.
Well from (rusty) memory Boston Business Computing (Computers?) had a
version of EDT that ran on PCs. In addition, Digital had a version of eve
that ran under Ultrix and it had EDT emulation. I used the latter approach
for a while but then just got assimilated by the vi cube :-)
Huw Davies | e-mail: Huw.Davies(a)latrobe.edu.au
Information Technology Services | Phone: +61 3 9479 1550 Fax: +61 3 9479
1999
La Trobe University | "If God had wanted soccer played in the
Melbourne Australia 3083 | air, the sky would be painted green"
< >CPU + memory + I/O cards in there. You need a serial port on the Q-bus,
< >which you then link to the VT100 logic board that's also in there.
<
< I also believe a uVAX-II will also work in a VT103....
Save for your limited to the 1meg of ram (no CD) and the power is
limited. the vt103 was designed as a small system and if you smoke
the PS you may have a time finding another.
Allison
Hello out there in classic computer land,
I'm new to the list and wanted to introduce myself and
my Web pages to the rest of ya'll. My name is Alex
Knight and my Web page, the Calculator History and
Technology Archive, is located at:
http://aknight.home.mindspring.com/calc.htm
My interest is primarily in early-model electronic
calculators, but there are some crossover machines that
seem to fit the bill as classic computers, and
in my searching for old calculators I sometimes turn
up some interesting old computer stuff.
One of the more interesting machines that I have written
an article about for my Web site is called a Mathatron, which
was advertised as a desktop calculator/computer and sold as
early as 1964. The Mathatron is a very large and heavy
(24" x 24", 80 lbs) machine, but it will fit on top of
a sturdy desk. I believe it to be the first programmable
calculator, and some other people I've talked to consider
it to be the first desktop computer (because of it's
programmability, available peripherals, etc.). So ya'll
take a look and let me know if you have any additional
info. on this unit that I may be able to add to my article.
Another "crossover" machine that I have a little info
(mainly pictures) of is the HP 9830, called a calculator
but in fact a computer with BASIC.
Also on my Web site is a list of things that I'm looking
for and things I have for trading, as I find classic
computer items that I put on the trading block I'll
send a message to the list to let ya'll know.
Have fun,
Alex Knight
Hillsborough, NC
At 09:51 PM 18-08-98 +0100, Pete Joules wrote:
>Don't know if this is classic but I just got an entire VMS 5.2 'grey
>wall'free. Allison - can I reliably use this as a reference for my 5.5
>system?
I would have thought so. I don't think there were any features "retired" in
going form 5.2 to 5.5. Of course, there were lots of new things added
although sitting here I can't think of what - it's been a while since 5.5
was released!
Huw Davies | e-mail: Huw.Davies(a)latrobe.edu.au
Information Technology Services | Phone: +61 3 9479 1550 Fax: +61 3 9479
1999
La Trobe University | "If God had wanted soccer played in the
Melbourne Australia 3083 | air, the sky would be painted green"
Yow!!! That means maybe it will run FLEX! [insert Homer Simpson
impersonation]
Woo Hoo!. Dang! I can just imagine running FLEX at 25Mc! Its performance
over a 1Mc 6800 must have been blistering!
Yikes!! I think I may have seen some boards from a system like that one
in a junk heap last week! It used four 2901's eh? Hm, I'm gonna haveto
revisit that particular junque pile . . .
Jeff
At 06:05 PM 8/19/98 -0500, you wrote:
>>> I just picked up a Tektronix 4041 computer. I think it's a general
>>> purpose HP-IB instrument controller similar to a HP 9915. How close is
it
>>> to your 4052? I HAD a Tektronix 4046 disk drive unit for the 4041 a few
>>> months ago but I traded it off (A_ S___!) Does anyone know anything
>
>Not at all similar, I'm afraid.
>
>The 4051 was a 6800 machine, and the 4052 used four 2901 chips and a
>homebrew sequencer to give you a 25MHz 6800 with some extra
^^^^^^^^^^
>instructions. More about this - and the disgusting piece of
>pessimisation they included - at my talk at VCF...
>
>Philip.
>
>To charge a 12V battery with a 22V power supply suggests some internal
>regulation, in which case 14V probably wouldn't work. On the other
>hand, it probably would do no harm.
What if I hooked the charger directly to the batter? Would the extra 2v
be a problem?
>You don't say whether the 22V is dc or ac - if it's ac, dc might work,
>but if it's supposed to be dc, ac could damage your machine.
Both the intended adapter and the one I have are DC.
>> P.S. Anybody have a 22v, 0.82A adapter for sale?
>
>I could build you one, but shipping it to the US might be expensive :-)
I'll probably end up with an explanation that's way over my head, but -
How do you build one?
Thanks.
Tom Owad
--
Sysop of Caesarville Online
Client software at: <http://home.earthlink.net/~tomowad/>
> i started a new job last week; one of my duties is going thru a
> warehouse load (no joke) of older mac systems. everything from se30's to
> older powerPC machines. question is this: since they all are being
> scrapped and i cannot save them, anyone want me to pull some roms for
> them? or any other useful components? let me know WHAT they are, and
> WHERE they are, as I am not a mac tech. more than happy to see what i
> can do for you people out there who want these.
Would you be able to save any complete systems?
> Maybe. It's kinda big though. About a 30" cube. Ugly too, it looks
> kind of like a car that's been crushed.
>
> Joe
Well, then it's probably from the government. There's not too much pretty
stuff from the government (going in and coming out). It would be
interesting to see what's on those HD's. If it doesn't' have a monitor, it
could have been some type of mainframe.
--
-Jason
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#-1730318
I'm heading down to this guy's place sunday to take a look around. He
offered to let me make multiple trips so I'll prolly go down, make a
list, nab what I want, and let y'all know what's there for the taking
and maybe I can go get some of it for you and ship it out (within reason
of course).
Tony
> -----Original Message-----
> From: allisonp(a)world.std.com [mailto:allisonp@world.std.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 1998 8:56 AM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: Re: Parts is parts (not scanjet stuff)
>
>
> < http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=25437342
> <
> < When I last looked (an hour ago?) no-one had bid, the minimum bid is
> < $1.00 (though there's work involved getting the stuff),
> there's a bit
> < under two days to go, and here's the description:
> <
> < >Hundreds of tubes of brand-new 7400 & 74LS TTL DIPs and resistor
> < >networks. 8 MHz 68000's and 16K DRAMs. Boxes and boxes of
> brand-new 3M
>
> snip...
>
> Sounds interesting but I'm cubed out here.
>
> Allison
>
I have an Outbound Notebook which takes a camcorder-style 12v 2 Ah
battery. The Outbound's power adapter, which is used to both run the
unit and charge the battery is 22v, 0.82A. Unfortunately, I don't have
the adapter or anything similiar.
What I would like to know is how forgiving the Outbound and its
battery would be if I used an innapropriate adapter. I have an adapter
that puts out 14v and 1.2 amps. Am I correct in assuming the 14v would
suffice for charging the batter (not running the unit)? What about the
1.2Ah, though? Will the extra amperage do any harm?
Thanks.
Tom Owad
P.S. Anybody have a 22v, 0.82A adapter for sale?
--
Sysop of Caesarville Online
Client software at: <http://home.earthlink.net/~tomowad/>
At 02:44 AM 8/18/98 +0100, you wrote:
>Oh, actually I love it. It's unconventional, like all the classic
Oooh, you are sick. 8^)
>People who don't like Citroen hydraulics have either never owned such a
>car, or have owned one, but let someone with no knowledge of how it
>should work (aka 'a garage' :-)) look after it. Properly maintained
We had quite a few when I was growing up (ds21's, mostly, including a
wagon) and they were maintained by a Citroen-only shop, but still, I'd
rather walk. (Citroen is pretty darn close to Citron, which of course
means Lemon. 8^)
And to relate it to classic computers, it was about 10 years ago that I
drove through downtown SF in a Citroen with a flat tyre and Jerry Pournelle
and several other muckity-mucks from McGraw-Hill(?) in the car with me.
Very embarassing...
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/
I got a VMS ver. 5.4 "Grey Wall" myself with the 'Great Haul' a while back.
I took an inventory of all the manuals based on the first several pages of
the Introduction to the Master Index (found in General User vol. 1)
I discovered at least four binders are missing. Not too bad considering
there seems to be a total of at least 29 grey binders in the whole of the
three manual subkits. They probably were left on somebody's desk at the
southern college from where the previous owner obtained my VAX 11/750 back
in '90 or '91.
Would anybody have just odd parts and pieces of the VMS 5.4 manual
collection? If so, would any of you be willing to part with several to
help complete mine?
Here's the manuals/binders I'm missing:
General User Subkit Volume 4, "VMS DCL Dictionary" (may consist of vol.
4A and 4B in one _or_ two binders as hinted by a footnote.)
System Management Subkit Volume 3, consisting of : "VMS Access Control
List Editor Manual", "VMS Audit Analysis Utility Manual", "VMS Authorize
Utility Manual", "Guide to VMS System Security" all in one binder.
Programming Subkit Volume 7A, consisting of: "VMS I/O User's Reference
Manual: Part I" and "VMS I/O User's Reference Manual: Part II" both in one
binder.
Programming Subkit Volume 7B, consisting of: "VMS Delta/XDelta Utility
Manual" and "VMS System Dump Analyzer Utility Manual" both in one binder.
Later, I may ask for help in completing my RSX-11M ver. 4.1 'Orange Wall"
when I get around to doing a precise inventory. Seems to be several of
those binders missing. (At least my RT-11 ver. 4.1 manual set seems quite
complete :-) )
Thanks loads for the help!
Regards, Chris
-- --
=======================================================
Christian R. Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian
31 Houston Avenue Phone: +716-488-1722 -Home
Jamestown, New York email: cfandt(a)servtech.com
14701-2627 USA
Member of Antique Wireless Association
URL: http://www.ggw.org/freenet/a/awa/
< I've got some hardcopy of an EDT clone for the Rainbow called
< Small-EDT which isn't too bad, however -- the sources have been
< hacked by me in an aborted attempt to squeeze them on to a DEC VT180.
<
< I ended up with a 68k binary and a 52k (or so) TPA.
Sedt? it was PC huge. To get that functionality it didn't need to be
60+k of code. Even VAX EDT is smaller! Most of the EDT clones FYI are
about 12-15k of 8080/z80 asm code and about 22k if written in a C
compiler.
Allison
> I have an Outbound Notebook which takes a camcorder-style 12v 2 Ah
> battery. The Outbound's power adapter, which is used to both run the
> unit and charge the battery is 22v, 0.82A. Unfortunately, I don't
> have the adapter or anything similiar.
> What I would like to know is how forgiving the Outbound and its
> battery would be if I used an innapropriate adapter. I have an adapter
> that puts out 14v and 1.2 amps. Am I correct in assuming the 14v would
> suffice for charging the batter (not running the unit)? What about the
> 1.2Ah, though? Will the extra amperage do any harm?
I don't know the outbound, but I can offer the following thoughts:
To charge a 12V battery with a 22V power supply suggests some internal
regulation, in which case 14V probably wouldn't work. On the other
hand, it probably would do no harm.
You don't say whether the 22V is dc or ac - if it's ac, dc might work,
but if it's supposed to be dc, ac could damage your machine.
Most power adapters are constant voltage, and quote a maximum current.
So the requirement is for 22V, capable of at least 0.82A. A power
supply that can put out 1.2A (not Ah) would be ideal.
> P.S. Anybody have a 22v, 0.82A adapter for sale?
I could build you one, but shipping it to the US might be expensive :-)
Philip.