- test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org - classiccmp.org

by Russ9815A＠aol.com

>from hp-85 service manual 00085-90154 (5/83) (I think this is the same for Hp-85 and 85B) Belt, paper advance p/n 1500-0572 Belt, print head p/n 1500-0529 HP still sold these through thier HP Direct phone order system a couple of years ago (800-227-8164)

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

HP-85B Printer Repairs.

by manney＠nwohio.com

Small belts are available -- there's a company in NJ (Winifred M. Berg) that specializes in small stuff. I can dig up the address for you if you want. manney(a)nwohio.com ---------- > From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > To: Manney > Subject: HP-85B Printer Repairs. > Date: Monday, December 22, 1997 4:25 AM > > I would be grateful if someone on this list could help me. > > I have a somewhat old-fashioned colleague who still uses an HP-85B. > This morning he came and asked me why the paper advance on the built in > printer wasn't working, what was he doing wrong? > > He had borrowed an old HP-85 from another section (who had thrown it > out, apparently - it had a red sticker saying "Equipment not to be > used"), but this also wouldn't advance the paper, so he had concluded he > must be getting something wrong. > > I tried a couple of times to no avail, so I took the lid off. (Why do > they have to make the tape eject button so huge?). Not much poking > around to discover that the toothed belt that drives the paper advance > had perished and snapped. The rubber was mostly in dust all over the > place; the strengthening threads were wrapped around the drive gear on > the motor. The smaller toothed belt that drove the print head was also > very ropy. > > So, we opened up the other 85. The same fault, with the remaining belt > in worse condition. > > To conclude, then, does anyone know where to get replacement belts, or > what the HP part numbers are, or any other useful information? > > Philip. > > <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Philip Belben <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> > > Das Feuer brennt, das Feuer nennt die Luft sein Schwesterelement - > und frisst sie doch (samt dem Ozon)! Das ist die Liebe, lieber Sohn. > > Poem by Christian Morgenstern - Message by Philip.Belben(a)powertech.co.uk >

28 years, 3 months

3
2
0 0

Christmas Wishes

by rcini＠email.msn.com

Hello, all: I just wanted to take a moment {not ask a question, but} to wish everyone on the list a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, or a fairly non-sectarian, politically-correct Happy Holidays. I also wanted to take the time to say thanks to everyone who has helped me this year to get my classic collecting off the ground. I've learned a lot about many aspects of the early era of computers; an era that began too early for me to think about (I was 8 when my PDP-11 was manufactured!) I've also come to appreciate their "simple elegance." Anyway, thanks go to all, especially to Sam, Tim, Paul, Allison, and Uncle Roger. Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com> (remove nospam_ to use) ClubWin! Charter Member (6) MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking ============================================

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Coleco Adam

by foxnhare＠goldrush.com

Back when I was getting older issues of Computer Shopper, I read about the Adam in a regular column, seems the users group support was pretty strong for the bugger, they had several conventions over the years (I noticed their web page not too long ago.) The Adam did have some expansion beyond the second datadrive you could get a disk drive controller to hook in an external drive. I recall a warning about the datadrives or the Adam in general: don't turn on the Adam with a datatape in the drive, the drive will send out a pulse that may damage data stored on the part of the tape next to the write head (some said up to a few feet away, I don't know about that...:/ ) The datadrives can use cassette tapes but they need to have slight (housing) modifications done and be pre-formatted (a tape duplicator may do the job, though I bet there are formatting utilities on the Internet. All I have for the Adam now is some xerox catalog of PD software, it was cheap and I like to know what programs were on the other machines, to see if there any gaps to be filled for my collection. :) Larry Anderson -- -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Visit our web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/ Call our BBS (Silicon Realms BBS 300-2400 baud) at: (209) 754-1363 -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Plastic rot

by manney＠nwohio.com

I guess that's the loss of plasticizer ...the same thing you see in stiffening and embrittlement of vinyl. I've never see thermosets go bad, unless attacked by solvents (altho' I've seen epoxies go gummy.) ---------- > From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > To: Manney > Subject: Re: Plastic rot > Date: Monday, December 22, 1997 11:19 AM > > At 09:22 12/22/97, you wrote: > >I have several old HP computers that have done the same thing. Is there > >any way to repair or restore the color? > > No, there (currently) isn't. And the real bother isn't the discoloration, > but the accompanying embrittlement -- I picked up a mustard-colored HP > terminal once and had a piece of the case break off in my hand. > > A bloke who was researching this at the Science Mus. in London wrote an > article for the ANALYTICAL ENGINE in which he basically said that there was > no reversing the effect, and the only way you could limit the deterioration > was to keep the artifact in near-total darkness. I also asked the > Smithsonian and they concurred with this. > > __________________________________________ > Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org > http://www.chac.org/index.html > Computer History Association of California > >

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Micropolis - moon or bust?

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-12-22 02:25:29 EST, you write: > What about JTS (with their 500,000MTBF), the company that owns what's left > of Atari? (Their drives are on the top of MY list for quality.) > Tim D. Hotze i bought two of those JTS 1G drives, and seem to be no worse or no better than any other drive out there. also has 3 year warranty. david

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Mystery box -what is it?

by cgregory＠lrbcg.com

I saw this interesting, computer look-a-like box at a local thrift the other day, and decided to spring for the $2 and buy the thing. I have no idea what it is; hopefully someone in this group will recognize the description. First off the unit measures approximately 15" x 11" and is 4.5" high and is colored the typical office equipment beige. The front of the box is a darker brown with the name "ISAAC" written on the left hand side. Above the two A's in ISAAC is a graphic symbol of an apple. On the upper right hand side are the words "Cyborg model 91A". Across the bottom, left to right is a power, push button switch next to an light indicator; four small turnable knobs with indicator lights, marked 0, 1, 2, 3, respectively. Above the 0 knob is printed the word "Schmitt"; above the 1 & 2 knobs, "Reference"; above the 3 knob, "Adjust". On the right hand side are five push button switches labled "READ OFF"; Schmitt 0, 1; Reference 2, 3. Attached at the back by way of two flat connectors is a "91A Isaac Distribution Board". It has two rows of screw type connectors for attaching wire leads. They are marked off in banks with names such as "Binary In", "Binary Out", "A/D Inputs", "SCH In", and others. Nearly 100 separate connections possible. Across the bottom in small print is "Cyborg Corporation, 342 Western Ave., Boston, MA, U.S.A. 02135. Opening the box one finds a main system board with the words "91A ISSAC Main Board D91A - 8131 REV D 281-061" stenciled near the center. There are banks of what appear to be memory chips, as well as other various unidentifiable (to me at least) chips, several banks of dip switches, and a bank of eight slots, analogous to eight bit expansion slots, though somewhat smaller, about three inches long. There is nothing which resembles a CPU, nor is there any obvious way to connect power. I've done some internet searches using keywords such as Isaac, cyborg, etc. and have come up empty. Does anyone have any idea of what I bought with my two bucks? Cliff Gregory cgregory(a)lrbcg.com

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Micropolis - moon or bust?

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

What about JTS (with their 500,000MTBF), the company that owns what's left of Atari? (Their drives are on the top of MY list for quality.) Tim D. Hotze -----Original Message----- From: jpero(a)cgo.wave.ca <jpero(a)cgo.wave.ca> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, December 22, 1997 7:59 AM Subject: Re: Micropolis - moon or bust? > At 11:33 PM 12/20/97 +0000, you wrote: > >Hi! > > > >Have anyone noticed that Micropolis hung up their website and fallen > >off earth's face? > > Sorry to say, there was an announcement about a month ago that the parent > company of Micropolis, faced with continuing losses in the disk storage > division decided to terminate all operations. > > Or, in a more direct form: Micropolis got it's plug pulled. > > Yet another of the older companies falls by the wayside. > > -jim Thank you for this tidbit news! :) That is important because I get several questions or read others or helping out other guys with hd's... Who was the company who owned and (also pulled the plug) on this Micropolis? In other words, we have nothing to compare anything to this quality standards that was once Micropolis. Now, that is very unfortune news. Fujitsu is no longer on my favorite list. The definatine quality control of any remains with Quantum and Seagate's top end drives. HMO Thanks...Until anything changes, I will tell anyone who asks about buying hd to either pick Quantum for anything or Seagate (for medium to top end, low end are "Conner" design and QC and importantly compatiablity on master/slave relationship on these are still so so and bit slow). Their former low end before "Conners" replaced 'em were superb after years of debugging and had seagateshield which I consider this neat and good idea for short time! The design mark on these low end drives were left by long gone CDC and Imp---? and still see former designs in Cateeh and some few high end drives. If there is once in a while best deal on new remaining micropolis hds and expect no warrenty on them if the price is right. If I suspect rightly... WD is just ok, still too new to hd making since they're quit their card controller making exactly under 10 years ago. Superb but improvements would be good to speed up the ragged performances, oh well no more controllers from them now. :( ) Especially on newer series currently in production for least 2 years and still have problems with 3 platters drives usually. I hasten to add my tidbit about wdc, few years ago when I was using WD's drives (never brought any except for used buys) in service work and helping out friends. Noticed they can be commanded to seek harder when PIO modes is pushed over (set by on hard jumpered i/o VL cards) faster than their specs which made weird unhealthy noises and causes errors. Quickly put correct setting in order afterwards. Real fun to see WD 420mb hd read from out to in in seconds flat! That horrible noise and nearly metallic noise, ugh! Other than that, I have never seen like that in other hard drives of any makes besides WD. Maxtor, JTS and Samsung is what I prefer to avoid. Side comment: I wonder why several companies pulled out making 2.5" drives (Like to have more options myself.) and one or two jumping in making oddball 3.0" hard drives for portables recently? And finally, years ago, I was told by my best friend in computer service former Conners had problems with 2.5" drives, could anyone have a care to tell me more about this? Jason D. > --- > jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com > The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw > Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174

28 years, 3 months

3
3
0 0

I can see you!

by system＠minako.umtec.com

My VAX is working! And it talks TCP/IP! DNS is out, but I can send mail (by telnetting to port 25 of the mailserver) Once my new boss shows up with root's password, I'll make DNS work. Then I can be found at minako.umtec.com.

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

A computer not mentioned, IIRC

by manney＠nwohio.com

> Manney, what's up with your motherboard listing...I need bit more > info are they usually generics and chipset types usually; VLSI, UMC > etc is more than enough. Oh yeah...the motherboards. I keep forgetting to post the list. Probably after Christmas. Sorry -- been swamped.

28 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

HP-85B Printer Repairs.

by cgregory＠lrbcg.com

Eric Bal has a wealth of information on his web site (http://www.ebbsoft.com/) concerning HP series 80 computers. There are also links to suppliers who might be able to supply new belts. Good luck! Cliff Gregory cgregory(a)lrbcg.com -----Original Message----- From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> To: Cgregory <Cgregory> Date: Monday, December 22, 1997 6:26 AM Subject: HP-85B Printer Repairs. > >Received: from lists3.u.washington.edu [140.142.56.3] by LRBCG.COM with smtp > id AGBKABFL ; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 06:26:02 -0500 >Received: from host (lists.u.washington.edu [140.142.56.13]) > by lists3.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with SMTP > id CAA06210; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 02:18:26 -0800 >Received: from mxu1.u.washington.edu (mxu1.u.washington.edu [140.142.32.8]) > by lists.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with ESMTP > id CAA26702 for <classiccmp(a)lists.u.washington.edu>; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 02:18:24 -0800 >Received: from gatekeeper.powertech.co.uk (gatekeeper.powertech.co.uk [147.89.199.2]) > by mxu1.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.09) with ESMTP > id CAA30562 for <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 02:18:16 -0800 >Received: by gatekeeper.powertech.co.uk; id KAA29534; Mon, 22 Dec 1997 10:16:15 GMT >Received: from unknown(147.89.27.82) by gatekeeper.powertech.co.uk via smap (V3.1.1) > id xma029530; Mon, 22 Dec 97 10:16:09 GMT >Received: from ccMail by compsci.powertech.co.uk (SMTPLINK V2.11.01) > id AA882814779; Mon, 22 Dec 97 10:13:26 GMT >Message-Id: <9711228828.AA882814779(a)compsci.powertech.co.uk> >Date: Mon, 22 Dec 97 10:13:26 GMT >Reply-To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu >Sender: CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu >Precedence: bulk >From: Philip.Belben(a)powertech.co.uk >To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> >Subject: HP-85B Printer Repairs. >X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN > >I would be grateful if someone on this list could help me. > >I have a somewhat old-fashioned colleague who still uses an HP-85B. >This morning he came and asked me why the paper advance on the built in >printer wasn't working, what was he doing wrong? > >He had borrowed an old HP-85 from another section (who had thrown it >out, apparently - it had a red sticker saying "Equipment not to be >used"), but this also wouldn't advance the paper, so he had concluded he >must be getting something wrong. > >I tried a couple of times to no avail, so I took the lid off. (Why do >they have to make the tape eject button so huge?). Not much poking >around to discover that the toothed belt that drives the paper advance >had perished and snapped. The rubber was mostly in dust all over the >place; the strengthening threads were wrapped around the drive gear on >the motor. The smaller toothed belt that drove the print head was also >very ropy. > >So, we opened up the other 85. The same fault, with the remaining belt >in worse condition. > >To conclude, then, does anyone know where to get replacement belts, or >what the HP part numbers are, or any other useful information? > >Philip. > ><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Philip Belben <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> > > Das Feuer brennt, das Feuer nennt die Luft sein Schwesterelement - > und frisst sie doch (samt dem Ozon)! Das ist die Liebe, lieber Sohn. > >Poem by Christian Morgenstern - Message by Philip.Belben(a)powertech.co.uk > > >

28 years, 3 months

3
2
0 0

Aquarius/Aquarius II

by jscarter＠worldnet.att.net

At 12:37 AM 6/17/97 +0000, you wrote: >On Mon, 16 Jun 1997, Andy Brobston wrote: > >> Was the Aquarius II compatible with the old Aquarius programs? >> >> Can anyone give me a lead on an Aquarius II? > >Never heard of such a beast, and it would have been futile to attempt to >market an Aquarius II when the first one didn't do so hot. Perhaps you >are referring to the Radofin Aquarius? If not, I want to know what you >do, and I want to know it NOW! ;) > >Sam Go to: http://www.webcom.com/~makingit/bluesky/aquarius.html#aquarius2 http://www.webcom.com/~makingit/bluesky/tech/aquarius_tech.html "Confident in their system, Radofin's president, Lawrence M. Scott, Jr., announced that they would continue to sell Aquarius through a new distributor, and would release Aquarius II in March of 1984 and Aquarius III in July. None of this happened. " James jscarter(a)worldnet.att.net

28 years, 3 months

4
5
0 0

MicroVAXen parts in the Bay Area.

by kyrrin2＠wizards.net

Someone from my former home town has a bunch of MicroVAXen stuff that's going to, he says, go to the scrapyard if no one expresses interest. Any of the Bay Area crew care to negotiate with this guy? Please reply directl to him. Thanks! -=-=- <snip> -=-=- Path: Supernews70!Supernews60!supernews.com!news.maxwell.syr.edu!news-peer.sprintlink.net!news.sprintlink.net!Sprint!newsfeed.internetmci.com!204.156.128.20!news1.best.com!newsfeed.slip.net!news.slip.net!not-for-mail From: Paul Leondis <leondis(a)slip.net> Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec Subject: microVAX blowout in Bay Area Date: 21 Dec 1997 20:46:53 GMT Organization: Slip.Net (http://www.slip.net) Lines: 45 Message-ID: <67jv7t$m61$2(a)owl.slip.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: slip-3.slip.net X-Newsreader: TIN [UNIX 1.3 unoff BETA release 970124] Xref: Supernews70 comp.sys.dec:58516 Time to let go of some more treasured junk. I have enough miscellaneous parts to put together about 3 working microVAXEN, with many spare parts left over. The hoard includes but is not limited to: (3) BA23 cabinets, (2) w/ floor-standing tower setups (~5) CPUS (1) monochrome monitor for QVSS graphics system (1) color monitor for QDSS graphics system (history buffs! this is the system that X was developed on, (i think!)) (2) 1.2Gb SMD disks (lots) 80Mb RD53 MFM disks (3) TK50 tape drives lots of the typical controllers, memory, et cetera. various versions of Ultrix and VMS etc. ---------------------------------------------------------- Here's the deal: highest bid takes all the stuff. I'm not really expecting anyone to pay much for this stuff (but you can if you want:-)). If someone would trade me a 486 or better clone box (or even motherboard) that would be fine. Or, if you could come up with a fixed-scan PCI card, i'd keep just the color monitor. Or i'd trade the whole mess for a 17 or 19 inch multisync monitor, but i'm not gonna hold my breath on that deal. If after a week or two no one has expressed any interest at all, it will go to a scrap yard. ***NOTE: I like to collect old stuff myself, i've got tons of it and i sympathize with the obsession, but PLEASE, PLEASE do not send me mail from Nova Scotia or Britain saying could i ship the stuff to you it's a pity to see it trashed. I'll only deliver it local to the Berkeley California area, and then probably only if you can sweeten up the deal for me as outlined above. Thanks much, Paul Leondis leondis(a)slip.net 510-649-0993 phone Berkeley, CA -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, SysOp, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fido 1:343/272) kyrrin2 {at} wiz<ards> d[o]t n=e=t "...No matter how hard we may wish otherwise, our science can only describe an object, event, or living creature, in our own human terms. It cannot possibly define any of them!..."

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

A computer not mentioned, IIRC

by cgregory＠lrbcg.com

I have successfully restored old plastic to near its original condition by wiping it down with a "hot" solvent (I use acetone). Be advise that what you are actually doing is removing the very top layer of the plastic, thus exposing the original color. How much damage you do depends on the quality of the plastic, how "hot" the solvent, and how carefully you go about the work. A little trial and error on the underside will give some insight as to how well it will clean up. A little furniture polish or similiar at the end will generally gring back the luster of the plastic that has been deadened by the solvent wipe. Please, no flames about this. I do not recommend, nor do I personally use this procedure on any equipment that I deem too valuable to "clean up". I also have discolored HP equipment which will stay that way. OTOH, I see no reason not to clean up old Commodores, and the like, this way. As far as an ADAM goes, the owner will have to decide. I have a couple and put them in the same catagory as Commodores, i.e., clean-up candidates. Cliff Gregory cgregory(a)lrbcg.com -----Original Message----- From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> To: Cgregory <Cgregory> Date: Monday, December 22, 1997 9:40 AM Subject: Re: A computer not mentioned, IIRC >At 09:22 AM 12/22/97, you wrote: >>I have several old HP computers that have done the same thing. Is there >>any way to repair or restore the color? > >Not that I know of. It's not exactly smoke residue that you can wipe off, >it's in the plastic itself. You could try some paint, but it could get messy. > >- John Higginbotham >- limbo.netpath.net > >

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Check it out!!!

by desieh＠southcom.com.au

From: Desie Hay Email: desieh(a)southcom.com.au museum_curator(a)hotmail.com Join the Revolution: http://www.southcom.com.au/~desieh/index.htm let me know what you think?

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

HP-85B Printer Repairs.

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

I would be grateful if someone on this list could help me. I have a somewhat old-fashioned colleague who still uses an HP-85B. This morning he came and asked me why the paper advance on the built in printer wasn't working, what was he doing wrong? He had borrowed an old HP-85 from another section (who had thrown it out, apparently - it had a red sticker saying "Equipment not to be used"), but this also wouldn't advance the paper, so he had concluded he must be getting something wrong. I tried a couple of times to no avail, so I took the lid off. (Why do they have to make the tape eject button so huge?). Not much poking around to discover that the toothed belt that drives the paper advance had perished and snapped. The rubber was mostly in dust all over the place; the strengthening threads were wrapped around the drive gear on the motor. The smaller toothed belt that drove the print head was also very ropy. So, we opened up the other 85. The same fault, with the remaining belt in worse condition. To conclude, then, does anyone know where to get replacement belts, or what the HP part numbers are, or any other useful information? Philip. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Philip Belben <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Das Feuer brennt, das Feuer nennt die Luft sein Schwesterelement - und frisst sie doch (samt dem Ozon)! Das ist die Liebe, lieber Sohn. Poem by Christian Morgenstern - Message by Philip.Belben(a)powertech.co.uk

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

A computer not mentioned, IIRC

by higginbo＠netpath.net

Ran mine for two years, sold it to a friend, who ran it another two years before selling it to someone else... Who knows? Maybe one of you guys have it now. To make sure, check to see if the black nameplate on the top of the printer is glued back on... :) At 06:37 PM 12/21/97 -0500, you wrote: >They also were _horribly_ unreliable. The DOA ratio was very high, and >those that did survive rmoval from the shipping box often lasted a week or >two before something died (I think the printer was often a source of >problems). > - John Higginbotham - limbo.netpath.net

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Apples

by Zeus334＠aol.com

First of all, I found a bunch more Apple things in my uncle's basement. Anyone want? Manuals, software, etc. Visicalc, Terrapin LOGO, and some other ones are complete packages. There are some commercial things from '84, '85. F.E. there is an Apple II magazine that is all reviews. This is a 1985 copy with a Lamborghini on the front, mostly about making the Apple II look like a Mac. Now, for the second part. I have a //c, and my uncle has a II with an 80col. card. Does anyone know if my //c can use a Z80 processor? I would like to try CP/M on it. If it can't, does anyone have a Z80 card for a II, so that I could run it on my uncle's machine? Also, any RAM cards, hard drives, modems, etc. for the II and //c would be nice. Thank you.

28 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

Apples

by adam＠merlin.net.au

>Now, for the second part. I have a //c, and my uncle has a II with an 80col. >card. Does anyone know if my //c can use a Z80 processor? I would like to try >CP/M on it. If it can't, does anyone have a Z80 card for a II, so that I could >run it on my uncle's machine? Also, any RAM cards, hard drives, modems, etc. >for the II and //c would be nice. Do you mean the //c or the //e? The //c cannot take cards at all, being the small flat white one. The //e can take all that you mentioned. I do not know if the //c can take a hard drive, but I imagine so, if it is external (of course). However, I have a source in Adelaide of //c 1 meg memory cards - difficult to install, as you need to remove the cpu and several other bits, plug the card into the cpu socket and put it all back togeather again, but it is also the only way I know of expanding a //c's memory. Adam.

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

A computer not mentioned, IIRC

by higginbo＠netpath.net

Merch, I used to run one of these back in my teenage years. It was a pretty neat machine, except for a few downfalls: Little third party support, not a whole heck of alot of software to choose from and power supply was built-in to the printer. On the plus side: You could run CP/M on it, and yes, playing all those Colecovision games on it was a blast too. I think the normal retail price on the system was $599, but it quickly dropped to $499 the first year, and by the time it was headed out the stores you could snag one for $199. There's still a couple of ADAM user's groups out there, just have to search the web for them. At 02:57 PM 12/20/97, you wrote: >And for the crowning glory: A complete (hardware, software, and books) >Coleco ADAM computer! I don't recall hearing this machine mentioned on the >list as of yet (but I could be wrong), but it's an interesting machine! 80K >Ram, 4Mhz Z-80, built-in 10cps daisy-wheel printer, all of the original >dox, 2 keyboards, joysticks and a single 256K digital datassette drive. The >drive allowed random access to the information on the tape (tho it was >slower than floppy, for sure). It also had a copy of ADAMCalc w/dox, and a >boxed, unopened extra blank digital tape, and an extra keyboard. I have not >tested this yet, but it looks to be in perfect working order. > >This thing would even handle all of the original ColecoVision cartridges, >so it should make a nice game box as well! - John Higginbotham - limbo.netpath.net

28 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

Finds and info needed

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

Well it's been awhile and things have slow. One of my finds yesterday was AT&T UNIX PC with KB and mouse. Unit powers up find but then wants a logon id and password, I got the unit at Goodwill for $30 so no manuals or other information about it. My question is to anyone out there is there a way to break this protection so that I can get to the harddrive ? This week I also picked up a LISA with KB and mouse for $15 and it loaded with a OS >from Sun Remarketing and works great, I also got some upgrade parts for the LISA and will be installing them so I hope. I picked a large qty of computers, printers, and other items that do not meet the 10 year requirement yet but someday will and the prices were too low to pass on, so I will not list them here yet. Some of the computers in that lot were MAC Plus's, mice, and KB but I have not tested them yet. Got a TRS-80 model 100 that works but has one missing key that broken off so the guy gave me the unit for free. Got something called a Tektronix 4211 with kB and mouse for $5 (someone else got the 19" monitor for it) does anyone know what this is ?? Also a Pulse Generator Datron SPG2000 unit anyone know this one ?? A VTECH model L-128PS unit seems to work need to find more info on this one too. A Apple Peronal Laserwriter NT for $5 but it needs some work powers on but will not print anything ? A Hitachi CD-rom model CDR-1700S no way to test this baby yet (it was free). A Laser128 $5 not tested yet, a HP ThinkJet model 2225C not test yet free, Zenith model ZFA-138-42 free and not tested yet. Last was a HP 1727A Oscilloscope with manual that works for $5. I end here as I could write book, I hope to have my web site up in January there you can see my collection. Keep Computing.

28 years, 3 months

5
4
0 0

A computer not mentioned, IIRC

by manney＠nwohio.com

Your Adam is a rarity, if it works. I've got one (I gave away another last year). The interesting thing about Adams was the P/S was in the (serial daisy wheel (!!)) printer. manney(a)nwohio.com

28 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

IBM Series/1 update

by rexstout＠ptld.uswest.net

Well, it seems that my Series/1 is not working right. I plugged it in and turned it on, and everything(CPU, FD, small HD and I/O unit) SEEMS to be working OK. Except that it won't boot. I took all the cards except CPU, FD controller and 4978 terminal I/O cards out and setup the floppy drive as the primary IPL device. Threw in a floppy labeled IPL(unknown if it really is), set the CPU to auto-IPL on primary device, the LED's on the programmer's panel lit up and did a few things and then it freezes(I waited a around 15 minutes before I gave up) with LED's 8, 9, 10, 13 and 15 on. Nothing happens at all, when the Series/1 is powered up the 4978 terminal displays a "=" in the top left corner and does nothing. Right now I'm not sure if the problem is in the CPU or floppy drive(I haven't had time to clean out the floppy drive). Does anyone have any idea what's going wrong or know someone who would know? I think the system was originally setup to IPL from one of it's four 200MB hard drives, which are still up in the garage(and I can't plug it in because of only 1 220v outlet. not good with three racks needing power) along with two tape drives and another 4959 expansion unit. Well, at least it was free... -JR http://members.tripod.com/~jrollins/index.html http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Lair/1681/

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

Finds and info needed

by manney＠nwohio.com

I'd like to buy your disks (no manuals needed.) e-mail me. manney(a)nwohio.com ---------- > From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > To: Manney > Subject: Re: Finds and info needed > Date: Saturday, December 20, 1997 1:29 PM > > Greetings, > I have a PILE read manymany, copies ofDOS 4.0x and 5.0 MD-DOS for the Laser > Machines...anybody want 720k disks? GRIN the DOS 4 has a MS-DOS Manual and > the DOS 5.0 is on 5 5/14 INCH disks.. > looking for Osborne III (for no apparent reason) or any ready ANY amount of > $$ to further the collection..not looking to get rich but save cubic space > in the storage unit..well thats the secret isn't it > > Take care > > Bill Marx > billm(a)teleport.com

28 years, 3 months

2
1
0 0

Lisa 2/10 video daughter card

by desieh＠southcom.com.au

From: Desie Hay Email: desieh(a)southcom.com.au museum_curator(a)hotmail.com can anybody help me find a lisa video daughtercard for my lisa 2/10 i would be very greatful how can i tell if my floppy controller is stuffed, i mean on mine it could be that or the floppy drive itself, the floppy drive glows so it is getting power.... anybody got a Lisa 1 they want to sell....

28 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

MiniScribe 3438P jumpers?

by yakowenk＠cs.unc.edu

Has anyone got a service manual handy for a MiniScribe 3438P? I yanked one from an XT clone to use with my SwTPC S/09, but it won't format, and the most obvious possible problem is the jumper settings. There are four that are obviously for drive selects 0..3, and three others that might be the troublemakers. I've tried some random settings, and in most of them it comes up to speed okay, selects, and then after about three seconds starts a probably unhealthy wobbling, sounding as if it is rapidly seeking a million different tracks, one after the other. In at least one setting, it doesn't always recognize when it has got up to speed, and continues ramping up to a frightening pitch. With the jumpers set as they were in the XT, it selects okay, but I get error messages any time I try to read, write, or format the thing. It still works okay in the XT though. Anyway, help would be appreciated. I've already searched the web quite a bit. Found some specs, and a thread in which people were looking for the right settings to use in a PC, but nothing about what the jumpers mean (or how to set them for an S/09!). In other news, I recently realized that I can upgrade my S/09's memory just by slapping 4164's into the unused IC sockets. I had a few lying around, so it got an immediate 64K upgrate. 192K more is on order. I can still remember when this would have cost money! :-) Cheers! Bill.

28 years, 3 months

3
3
0 0

whats a TANDEM computer?

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

i saw a complete tandem computer system for sale for $8 today. it has the usual desktop case, a monitor and two external 5.25 floppy drives with what appears to be a seagate mfm drive with each floppy drive! the system is complete, and everything is connected together, but was unable to test it. is this thing worth getting, or is it just another pc compatible? i have plenty of xt and 286 variants to keep me going for a long time. if its something else, or has significant historical value, i'll go get it. david

28 years, 3 months

5
5
0 0

IBM Series/1 and question about ISA card

by rexstout＠ptld.uswest.net

I just got an IBM Series/1! This is going to be fun, but it's going to take a long time to get running. It's filled with more dust than I've ever seen in a computer, and it uses 230v which means I don't have much of a choice of where to plug it into. And the manuals... That's going to take WEEKS to go through! But hey, I got four 200MB hard drives, a 4956-K00 CPU, a few I/O units and an 8 inch floppy drive out of it! Whheee! I LOVE those 8 inch drives! OK, thats going to take a while to sort through everything. On to the PC card. I found this strange 8-bit card labeled: Scan Doubler S/N 1179 PGS P/N8403001 It has two DB-9 connectors on the end, and it was pulled from an old PC. It's probably about a half length card. Any ideas on what it is? I was thinking some sort of dual-monitor video card... TIA

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

RK05 question & stuff FS/T

by rcini＠email.msn.com

On Tue, 16 Dec 1997 18:47:09 +0000 (GMT), Tony Duell <ard(a)odin.phy.bris.ac.uk> wrote: >>Yes they are (at least, they are on all my RK05's). It's easiest to remove >>the entire front panel from the drive (4 Phillips screws), when you can >>trivially see the PCB that holds the switches and the lamps. The lamps >>plug into little sockets on the PCB - just pull them straight out. >>We call these lamps T 1 3/4 (That's 'T' one and three quarters) bi-pin >>bulbs in the UK. No idea what they're called elsewhere. The T 1-3/4 size exists here in the US, too, but I most frequently I see it in referring to LEDs. The T 1-3/4 incandescent bulb size is E-5 (for 5mm), I think. Anyway, so long as I am replacing these lights, why can't I replace them with amber LEDs? I figure that I can plug an LED-resistor combo into the same socket and tune the brightness with the resistor. I remember reading somewhere that the lamp power is 8v. I'll test it first, but does this sound right? Thanks for the info, Tony. Rich Cini/WUGNET Charter ClubWin! Member MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking

28 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

TO TONY DUELL

by jott＠whitefang.ee.nd.edu

Hello - I am still using my HP 71. Do you want to sell your HP 71 service manual? John > I remember that at the HP calculator conference 5 years ago I bought an > HP71 service manual. Now, this manual is not common, and it came in the > original shrink-wrap. Having got it, I ripped off said shrink-wrap, opened > the manual, and started reading. You see, I didn't buy the manual as an > example of HP shrink-wrap. I bought it to learn about the HP71. And that's > something you can only do when you've opened the manual. > > > > > No flame wars please, just the random philosophical question... > > Well, it's your machine, so you have to decide what to do in the end... > > > > > -jim > > -tony > > > -- *********************************************************************** * John Ott * Email: ott(a)saturn.ee.nd.edu * * Dept. Electrical Engineering * * * 275 Fitzpatrick Hall * * * University of Notre Dame * Phone: (219) 631-7752 * * Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA * * ***********************************************************************

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

There were two sites...

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

I remember two sites that you guys recommended for finding classics. http://www.haggle.com was one... and the other? Tim

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

CLASSICCMP digest 266

by foxnhare＠goldrush.com

Speaking of Osbornes, I recently ran across an Osborne 4 (I didn't even know they went that high), in a nice blue and white molded plastic case. The keyboard (kinda small) flipped open on hinges to reveal a 9"display, and couple drives (I think there were two), and given the portables of the time it was reatively light! Was able to attempt a power-up but no display... Bummer at $15 It almost went for the VFC 2.0 sale booth.. :) =================================================================== Did some updating to the PET FAQ, some notes on how to program sound. including a table of the notes you can produce, a listing of the extremely small but useful tape2disk program, etc. Next probably will be PET memory maps (all three ROMs, orogonal upgrade and 4.0); I have been attempting this the lazy route of scanning them in, but the books I have all use such small point sizes that the OCR program has problems translating. I will try to use a copier to enlarge them someday soon. I have cleared space on one of my desks (my brother is now a proud owner of a complete Amiga 500 system, which of course, I will still have access to) to set up a PET after a few years without easy access to one. This PET (32k upgrade ROMs) needs some work as one program keeps locking it up, I suspect it may be one of the 6520s... It also needs to have the RAM checked (anyone know a source for 4116-4s?) Once I get comfortable working with this one I'll switch and see about getting the SuperPET running and also the original PET (which I really want to get to, as I now have an EPROM programmer to read the ROMs with.) Another recent arrival is a package from DigiKey of 10-12/24 edgeboard connectors, for making a PET joystick adaptor, a mini-networking project I've been thinking about, and I may try this 'PET composite Video Adapter' I have plans for to see if it actually does not work as Enrico has warned me... The PET shares space with a VIC-20 (also recently set-up) and maybe if I can squeeze it in, a Plus/4 too.. Then I would have a large portion of the Commodore 8-bit models runnable (C128, C-64, Plus/4, VIC-20, PET). Some of my plans would be to refine my disk collections and work up some menus and utilites for each of the machines (including some sort of standardized compression/archive utility). I am anxiously awaiting the new year as many more families upgrade their older systems to something more contemporary and take their older ones to yard sales, flea markets, and thrift shops (or maybe call me to take them off their hands.)... ;) Larry Anderson -- -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Visit our web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/ Call our BBS (Silicon Realms BBS 300-2400 baud) at: (209) 754-1363 -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

28 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

Help needed in Australia: Anyone?

by kyrrin2＠wizards.net

Found this on Usenet. Can anyone help this fellow out? I know I've got at least one spare MicroVAX II CPU, possibly an 11/73... Please reply directly to the author. Thanks! Attachment follows. -=-=- <snip> -=-=- Path: Supernews70!Supernews60!supernews.com!news.maxwell.syr.edu!streamer1.cleveland.iagnet.net!iagnet.net!btnet-peer!btnet!knews.uk0.vbc.net!vbcnet-gb!news.mira.net.au!news.iinet.net.au!not-for-mail From: aceware(a)iinet.net.au (Tony Epton) Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec Subject: WTB: 11/73 cpu chips or cards or repair. Ditto MicroVax II Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 20:52:13 GMT Organization: Aceware Programming Pty Ltd Lines: 13 Message-ID: <349839d0.132980179(a)news.m.iinet.net.au> NNTP-Posting-Host: grunge166.nv.iinet.net.au X-Newsreader: Forte Free Agent 1.1/32.230 Xref: Supernews70 comp.sys.dec:58419 We have four 11/73 cpu cards in our museum collection which will run the ODT but cannot execute any instructions. We suspect the CPU chips. Can anyone source the cpu chips or the entire board at a reasonable price or service the boards at a reasonable price. Ditto MicroVax II cpu boards. Thanks Tony Epton President Australian Computer Museum Association (WA Branch) -=-=- <snip> -=-=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, SysOp, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fido 1:343/272) kyrrin2 {at} wiz<ards> d[o]t n=e=t "...No matter how hard we may wish otherwise, our science can only describe an object, event, or living creature, in our own human terms. It cannot possibly define any of them!..."

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

whats a TANDEM computer?

by manney＠nwohio.com

If it's that cheap, I'd get it for the drives and the controller board. That sort of thing is getting harder to find year by year. manney

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

PDP-8/E possibly available...

by jimw＠agora.rdrop.com

It looks like I may have a line on a couple (maybe three) of PDP-8/E CPUs, and while I intend to pickup one of them for my collection, it may make the deal easier if I take more than one (perhaps all) of them. So... anyone out there looking for a PDP-8/E to call their own? At the moment, I'm trying to gauge interest. Prices have not been finalized yet, and they are on the East Coast, so shipping will be a consideration as well. If you are interested, please drop me a note (please don't reply to the list) and indicate what one would be worth to you, and what options you want (need) to have... At present, it appears that all of the available units will have at least 16k of core, and EAE. The units are reported to be in good condition, recently removed from service. CPU chassis (box) only, (to save on shipping) none of the 6 foot 'corporate' racks... (unless someone *really* wants one) -jim --- jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174

28 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

Kaypro

by mmeisner＠nova.umuc.edu

Do you still have the Kaypro. please EMAIL me at JOHNGRAFF(a)COMPUSERVE.COM Thanks

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

E-mail address acrobatics.

by DSEAGRAV＠toad.xkl.com

I'm getting ready to kill the other account (dseagrav(a)tek-star.net). If you want to mail me, please mail me here (dseagrav(a)toad.xkl.com). The tek-star account will be active for a little longer, maybe a week. -------

28 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

Apple //gs emulator

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Thanks. I owe you one. Now.... if I could only get the ROM. (I don't currenlty own one; but they're really cool. When I got my hands on one; they were old and outdated, at a friends house. At the time, I had no respects for classics.) Bye, Tim D. Hotze -----Original Message----- From: kroma <kroma(a)worldnet.att.net> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, December 17, 1997 5:21 PM Subject: Apple //gs emulator > > > >>Does anyone know 'bout an emulator for a IIGS? (For x86) > > >There is XGS. Its available at http://www.jurai.org/~funaho/emulators/XGS/ > > -- Kirk > >

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Cipher model 540 tape drive anyone?

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 10:48 PM 12/16/97 +0000, you wrote: >Any tips to find out if this already does have or not: >hardware upgrades, etc? Because I can not open it up on site and >does not have anything, no boot disk, no power cord. Just that. I don't know, I'm afraid. (I think, though, that it uses a standard IEC line cord? Or is my memory gone?) >All I do is letting you know if anyone is interested in this Osborne. If I were lucky enough to be going to Canada any time soon, I buy it off you, but I already have several, and can't really justify the shipping costs. (Especially right now. 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Wang 2200

by foxvideo＠wincom.net

Having just received the donation of a Wang 2200 mini for the Windsor Science Centre, (no documentation of course,) am wondering if anyone can give me any information on it? We also received a Kim-1, but lots of info on that. Thanks Charlie Fox

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Apple //gs emulator

by kroma＠worldnet.att.net

>Does anyone know 'bout an emulator for a IIGS? (For x86) There is XGS. Its available at http://www.jurai.org/~funaho/emulators/XGS/ -- Kirk

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Good price for //gs system?

by higginbo＠netpath.net

At 08:25 AM 12/17/97 +0300, you wrote: >Does anyone know 'bout an emulator for a IIGS? (For x86) Take a look at this: http://www.haggle.com/cgi/getitem.cgi?id=201474433 It's a IIe emulator though. - John Higginbotham - limbo.netpath.net

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Good price for //gs system?

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Does anyone know 'bout an emulator for a IIGS? (For x86) -----Original Message----- From: Zane H. Healy <healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, December 17, 1997 8:02 AM Subject: Re: Good price for //gs system? > >Actually that doesn't sound like two bad of a price for a bare bones //gs, >especially if it includes the Keyboard and _Mouse_ (as both work on any Mac >SE or newer, there is demand just for them). I did some looking a few >months ago when I was looking for a //gs, and the average seemed to be $250 >at that time, needless to say I didn't spend that. > >Everynow and then I see them at GoodWill, and that's where I got one, I >think it cost me about $50 for a ROM.01, with a 1Mb card, and monitor. The >drives go for $10-15 at the local GW, but I had drives, keyboard, mouse and >manuals from a previous deal I'd gotten at an auction. You can get the >Operating System off of Apple's web site (I forget where). > >If it's got a 4Mb RAM card, a SCSI card, or an accelerated CPU I say it's >definitly worth the price. > >On the other had I personally don't see them being worth that much, they >seem to be rather inflated in price typically. They are a very cool >computer though. IIRC there are a couple businesses selling them for about >$500, how is that for inflated! > > Zane > >>For that price it should have 4megs. Im a //gs user as well >> >> >>> I found a guy on comp.sys.apple2 selling //gs systems. $125 + S/H for a >>very >>> clean ROM.03 version with both 51/4 and 31/2 floppy drives, an RGB >>monitor, >>> keyboard, and all cables. >>> >>> Since this is my first time looking at the //gs's, how does that price >>> sound? He also has ROM.01 versions. >>> >>> Rich Cini/WUGNET >>> Charter ClubWin! Member >>> MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking >>> >>> >>> >>> > > >| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator | >| healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast | >| healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector | >+----------------------------------+----------------------------+ >| For Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, | >| see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ | >| For the collecting of Classic Computers with info on them. | >| see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/museum.html | > >

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Good price for //gs system?

by thedm＠sunflower.com

For that price it should have 4megs. Im a //gs user as well ---------- > From: Richard A. Cini <rcini(a)email.msn.com> > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> > Subject: Good price for //gs system? > Date: Tuesday, December 16, 1997 2:14 PM > > I found a guy on comp.sys.apple2 selling //gs systems. $125 + S/H for a very > clean ROM.03 version with both 51/4 and 31/2 floppy drives, an RGB monitor, > keyboard, and all cables. > > Since this is my first time looking at the //gs's, how does that price > sound? He also has ROM.01 versions. > > Rich Cini/WUGNET > Charter ClubWin! Member > MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking > > > >

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

new additions: tandy mc10

by bwit＠pobox.com

The AC adapter is still available from Radio Shack although at a premium price - about $25. There is also a 16K memory add-on that can sometimes be found used on the net. Bob ---------- From: SUPRDAVE[SMTP:SUPRDAVE@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 1997 10:05 AM To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Subject: new additions: tandy mc10 just acquired a little computer called a trs80 model mc-10. at first i though it was a timex sinclair variant, but it really seems to be a baby coco. doesnt look to be expandable though and of course, i'm missing the ac adaptor. anyone have additional info? david

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Cipher model 540 tape drive anyone?

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 11:49 PM 12/13/97 +0000, you wrote: >recently saw a Osborne >that uses coiled keyboard cable with that dinky teesy monitor at $24. >Passed it for that stupid price (pirate!) (How can I tell >without powering it or open the shells up for custom internal Is that canadian $? Osbornes seem to regularly sell on ebay for US$100+; $24 doesn't seem like such a bad investment. (You could get that much for it even if it didn't work. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

RK05 question & stuff FS/T

by rcini＠email.msn.com

Before I start tearing apart my two "new" RK05 drives, can anyone tell me if the panel lamps are removable without soldering? I have a copule of lamps that need to be replaced and I can't see too well into the cavity. Also, I'm looking to get rid of two DEC 200/MC remote access concentrators and a Multi-Tech modem rack. The modem rack is cool, filled with 12, 2400 baud modems. I got these as part of a 6' equipment rack (which is now filled with a PDP11/34a). Also, just an aside. I sent the now-infamous Altair scans tape to Bill Whitson. I would assume that in the next two weeks they should be posted to the ftp site (assuming that they pass Bill's tests!) Rich Cini/WUGNET Charter ClubWin! Member MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

new additions: tandy mc10

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

just acquired a little computer called a trs80 model mc-10. at first i though it was a timex sinclair variant, but it really seems to be a baby coco. doesnt look to be expandable though and of course, i'm missing the ac adaptor. anyone have additional info? david

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

new additions: tandy mc10

by adam＠merlin.net.au

>just acquired a little computer called a trs80 model mc-10. at first i though >it was a timex sinclair variant, but it really seems to be a baby coco. doesnt >look to be expandable though and of course, i'm missing the ac adaptor. anyone >have additional info? I might be able to help - I came across one recently but haven't had the chance to stop by to pick it up. Anyway, the MC-10 or Micro Color Computer (I assume they are the same thing here - if I'm wrong please discount any comments I make here) cost around $120 when first released, and it was intended to compete with the Timex and VIC-20. (And, I imagine, the TI 99/2 - did any of these ever appear?) I don't know of its success as such, but as I have only seen the one I suspect it was far from great, especially considering that it was released late (for a ultra-cheap throw-away computer) against stiff competition. According to my info, video was 16 lines by 32 characters (uppercase only) with 8 colours. Apparantly there were also 16 graphics characters. It came with 4k RAM, expandable to 16K, and used the Motorola 6803. It has sound, but I have no idea about how good it was, and, as per normal, used cassettes for storage. They look keen, anyway. The one I am after was marked at $100 - they tried to tell me that was the price. I doubt it was much more here when new. :) I managed to talk them down to $15, but that was $14 more than I had on me - so I need to go back and get one of my own. Maybe this weekend. Hope that helps, Adam.

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

iRMX question for Clark Geisler

by jfeld＠mail.bcpl.lib.md.us

Dear Sir: I have been looking for someone to format and copy some hard disks used on an iRMX system. I noticed that you mentioned a company - InBUS - that repaired some of your equipment. I searched for references to them but found nothing promising. Perhaps you sitll have some information about them. If so would you be so kind as to pass along their contact info? At any rate I hope it all worked out for you. Ahhh... the joys of "Legacy Equipment"! thanks, Jim Feld Hathaway Industrial Automation

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Good price for //gs system?

by rcini＠email.msn.com

I found a guy on comp.sys.apple2 selling //gs systems. $125 + S/H for a very clean ROM.03 version with both 51/4 and 31/2 floppy drives, an RGB monitor, keyboard, and all cables. Since this is my first time looking at the //gs's, how does that price sound? He also has ROM.01 versions. Rich Cini/WUGNET Charter ClubWin! Member MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Test

by jolminkh＠c2.telstra-mm.net.au

Just testing. Havn't had any mail at all from the list lately.

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

CP/M

by manney＠nwohio.com

> Now... there are CPM for PC products like CCPM, DRdos7 and OpenDOS ...and Concurrent DOS (I think?) manney

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

CP/M

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<From: Zeus334(a)aol.com <Is there any way that CP/M is better than MS-DOS? i.e. does it provide <anything that DOS doesn't? CP/M is a generic but there are distinct flavors so... First off it's not a MS product and sources can be had. For the 8080/z80 crowd there is literally a mountain of free software out there. For the 8088/6 and 80x86 family MS managed to snuff it out before much was developed. CPM-86 uses a different directory than MSDOS. Now... there are CPM for PC products like CCPM, DRdos7 and OpenDOS and they are dos replacements based off the outgrowth of CP/M-86. Caldara is one source. They offer things dos didn't do and most are available as sources. Allison

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

CP/M

by IVIE＠cc.usu.edu

> Is there any way that CP/M is better than MS-DOS? i.e. does it provide > anything that DOS doesn't? One thing I've always really really missed in MS-DOS is the IOBYTE. I've done enought whacky wild things with the IOBYTE (debugging a program running on one screen by interacting with the debugger on another, interacting with a user on one terminal while drawing pictures on a Tek 4010, even a serial mouse-based dorky little sketch program) that I really miss it. But by far the absolutely most important thing CP/M does better than MS-DOS is be hardware independent. The CP/M community isn't tied to one hardware platform like the MS-DOS community is. Sure, there _used_ to be wild and interesting MS-DOS machines, but you can no longer run even the most basic software on anything that doesn't have memory mapped video in a certain location, a pair of 8259 interrupt controllers, 8250 UARTs, a particular keyboard controller, etc. I'm split about whether CP/M's filesystem or MS-DOS's file system is worse. FAT sucks big time (especially FAT12), but at least it doesn't have to go searching through the entire directory every 16KB. Of course, given exactly how much FAT sucks, it's usually only one day a week or so that I think CP/M's filesystem is worse than MS-DOS's... Roger Ivie ivie(a)cc.usu.edu

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

CP/M

by Zeus334＠aol.com

Is there any way that CP/M is better than MS-DOS? i.e. does it provide anything that DOS doesn't?

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

old mac SW

by thompson＠squirrel.tgsoft.com

Does anybody need some old Mac Software (great for all of those "classic" macs that don't have the memory for system >= 6). Lots of great stuff that I just can't bring myself to toss out, but which I will *never* use again. If you want it badly enough to pay for shipping, plus a token $1 for my trouble, email me. -mark <thompson(a)tgsoft.com> p.s. Includes lightspeed C, kriya neon, microsoft multiplan and borland reflex

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Donation For School Wanted

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Well; on the case; it just says "Zenith"; I believe. It's a square design; with two horizontally-located 5 1/2" bays; occupied by some kind of black disk drive. One of the computers IS a Zenith 286; w/ 20MB HDD; 2 FDDs; etc. and a CGA (EGA?) monitor. The others are Wangs.... not really too peachy either; but they seem to run like 286's. Of course; at the Embassy; we've all got our Pentiums; our Windows 95 w/ a Windows NT server..... But the HDD is just DEAD; from what I can tell. I'd just want to replace that; hardware-transparently if possible; but if not.... I've got all my life. Thanks for the advice, Tim D. Hotze -----Original Message----- From: Zane H. Healy <healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, December 11, 1997 10:59 AM Subject: Re: Donation For School Wanted >>malfuctioning PCs that I know of. Remember; this is for a high school; >>for >the Department of Defence dependants; and a few others, but their >>funding is >not... ideal. So if you could please just send a MFM HDD, >>or; if you have > >I can guarentee that, the whole base in Bahrain isn't that great. I just >happened to realize something, are these 286's "Zenith 248's"? If so they >can be a real pain to add anything to. The DOD had ton's of these, back in >'87 the government was getting them for about $1500 apiece. Horrible >design, but I've got "fond" memories of them :^) > > Zane > > >| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator | >| healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast | >| healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector | >+----------------------------------+----------------------------+ >| For Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, | >| see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ | >| For the collecting of Classic Computers with info on them. | >| see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/museum.html | > >

28 years, 4 months

4
6
0 0

Amstrad CPC6128 in Australia

by adam＠merlin.net.au

No idea how many Australians are on this list, but I have just been offered 3 CPC6128's with colour monitors. I am thinking I could do with one (both of the others I own have some faults) and would be willing to pick up the others if anyone is after one. They'll cost me around $30 each, though - a good price (they are normally around $50 because of the monitors), but not wonderful. Adam.

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Donation For School Wanted

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

>Dunno, I attended a Navy class on these back in '91 or '92, and the bit >that really shocked me was the CPU on a daughterboard. I'm also almost >positive it didn't use SIMMs. It could be this design was the DOD version >of the Z-248, or was yours upgraded with a different MB to get a more >expandable system. Well; we'll find out soon enough! (When I get the supplies) >I just happened to think of another oddity about this computer, it's the >only IBM clone I can remember using that had a Boot ROM that you could drop >into. I think CNTRL-ALT-INS drops you into it, but I'm not sure. I seem >to remember finding it by accident originally. I'll try that the next time I see one. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------| Tim D. Hotze | "I'm Sure that God intended for me to be | Techie | rich, it just hasn't happened yet." | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------|

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Donation For School Wanted

by manney＠nwohio.com

> Okay... I'll take the IDE cards; but then I'd need IDE HDDs. I used to have > 2; but then I gave one to a friend (and their 286!) and the other ended up > going to repair another friends computer. So I'd need the drives too.... As > close to 15MB as they come.... I don't know if there was such a thing as a 15 MB IDE. There was a 20 MB (ST 125? It had the same characteristics as the ST-225). I think I have a coupla 40 MB's. You'll have to have IDE cards with floppy controller, and serial/parallel, 'cause that's what I have. > You can just ship 'em to me. I can pay for shipping; if you want. Please. I'm not independently wealthy, as some of the collectors on this list seem to be (OH NO! I've just started another flame war! :) > DO NOT SHIP THEM TO THE SCHOOL. manney(a)nwohio.com

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

CP/M stuff in CA

by rcini＠email.msn.com

Cross-post from comp.os.cpm. Reply to the author. Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com> (remove nospam_ to use) ClubWin! Charter Member (6) MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking ============================================ "My basement is overflowing with stuff I have been unable to send to the landfill. Lots of Boards, 8" disks, Terminals, C P/M programs. What I'm trying to do is find a home for are some Godbout CompuPro CPUs running C P/M. I tossed several band printers into the dumpster along with the LearSiegler Terminal, but couldn't bear to do that with these reliable, inestructible old Classics.. I still have terminals for the S-100 's a Wyse with separate keyboard and a Heath/Zenith Z-19. The Godbout machines work marvelously. I am interested in contacting anyone who could use these reliable old machines. reply to joanahone(a)aol.com " ======================= ========================================= Doug Coward dcoward(a)pressstart.com Senior Software Engineer Press Start Inc. Sunnyvale,CA Curator Museum of Personal Computing Machinery http://www.best.com/~dcoward/museum =========================================

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Sanyo MBC - 675

by dcoward＠pressstart.com

Has anyone heard of a Sanyo MBC - 675. Do you know anything about it? ========================================= Doug Coward dcoward(a)pressstart.com Senior Software Engineer Press Start Inc. Sunnyvale,CA Curator Museum of Personal Computing Machinery http://www.best.com/~dcoward/museum =========================================

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

JTS (was: Classic Computer Rescue Squad)

by FAIAZMC＠hsd.utc.com

Not So. Atari was completely sold to Tramiel. You might be confusing them with Activision which was founded by former Atari programmers. ---------- From: Uncle Roger To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Subject: Re: JTS (was: Classic Computer Rescue Squad) Date: Friday, December 12, 1997 12:29PM At 05:24 PM 12/11/97 -0500, you wrote: >Atari is now making games for all the game platforms. They still retain >the rights! I think that's Atari Games which Warner held on to (? at least it didn't fall into the hands of Tramiel) and has been putting out arcade games as well, I think. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

JTS (was: Classic Computer Rescue Squad)

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 05:24 PM 12/11/97 -0500, you wrote: >Atari is now making games for all the game platforms. They still retain >the rights! I think that's Atari Games which Warner held on to (? at least it didn't fall into the hands of Tramiel) and has been putting out arcade games as well, I think. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

JTS (was: Classic Computer Rescue Squad)

by FAIAZMC＠hsd.utc.com

They gave JTS a bridge loan of 25 Million and merged with JTS. If the merger did not work JTS owes the loan. If it does work, then the loan is forgiven. Atari licensed games to Sega and Nintendo. They also write games for other platforms including MS DOS/Windows. I believe their name is now ATARI INTERACTIVE GAMES, but I'll check on it. ---------- From: Hotze To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Subject: Re: JTS (was: Classic Computer Rescue Squad) Date: Thursday, December 11, 1997 10:17PM Can you give me more info? -----Original Message----- From: Faiaz, Michael C. HSD <FAIAZMC(a)hsd.utc.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Friday, December 12, 1997 2:28 AM Subject: Re: JTS (was: Classic Computer Rescue Squad) >Atari is now making games for all the game platforms. They still retain >the rights! > > ---------- >From: Don Maslin >To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers >Subject: Re: JTS (was: Classic Computer Rescue Squad) >Date: Friday, November 14, 1997 3:06PM > > >On Fri, 14 Nov 1997, Uncle Roger wrote: > >> At 01:19 PM 11/14/97 +0000, you wrote: >> >Well, it won't help you now, but a company called JTS Corporation has >the best >> >HDDs I've seen in a LONG time. I was using a WD Caviar 2.0 GB, and it >was >> >> For a little classic content, JTS is the company that acquired the >remnants >> of Atari Corp. Haven't done anything with it, that I know of, but in the >> future...? >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- >> >> Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad >> sinasohn(a)ricochet.net that none but madmen know." >> Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates >> San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/ > >For a little more 'classic content', the "JT" in JTS is for Jugi Tandon >of oldtime floppy disk drive fame and later hard disk and PC clones. >The >hard disk rights were sold to Western Digital at the time that they >bailed out of the card making business. Small world, ain't it? > > - don > > donm(a)cts.com >*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* - >* > Don Maslin - Keeper of the Dina-SIG CP/M System Disk Archives > Chairman, Dina-SIG of the San Diego Computer Society > Clinging tenaciously to the trailing edge of technology. > Sysop - Elephant's Graveyard (CP/M) - 619-454-8412 >*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*- - >* > see old system support at http://www.psyber.com/~tcj > >

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

FAQ Part 2 (Web site problem)

by zmerch＠northernway.net

;-) Due to massive amounts of caffeine & sleep deprivation, Bill Whitson said: >So, everybody knows where the web site is >now ;). The system was changed to NT recently >and I'm still figuring out IIS. I'll either >fix the machine or the FAQ ;). This is NT we're talking about -- the machine is a lost cause unless ya revert to *nix / Solaris. Of course, I wonder if I could write a webserver for OS-9 Level II.... ;-) Does anyone have the specifications for programming a TCP/IP stack? (yea I've heard of KA9Q... but that's all in C, so it's too big for a CoCo). I'm talking from _scratch_... Have fun, "Merch" -- Roger Merchberger | Why does Hershey's put nutritional Programmer, NorthernWay | information on their candy bar wrappers zmerch(a)northernway.net | when there's no nutritional value within?

28 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

Donation For School Wanted

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Okay... I'll take the IDE cards; but then I'd need IDE HDDs. I used to have 2; but then I gave one to a friend (and their 286!) and the other ended up going to repair another friends computer. So I'd need the drives too.... As close to 15MB as they come.... You can just ship 'em to me. I can pay for shipping; if you want. DO NOT SHIP THEM TO THE SCHOOL. If it would make you feel more comfortable, I can get the teachers address, but not yet. Thanks, Tim D. Hotze -----Original Message----- From: PG Manney <manney(a)nwohio.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Friday, December 12, 1997 4:08 AM Subject: Re: Donation For School Wanted >Haven't they made 3 1/2 to 5 1/4 rails for lo, these many years? > >I have a box full of WD 103 controller cards somewhere...just not sure >where. I _do_ know where my ISA IDE cards are. > >...but where are these supposed to be sent? > >manney > >---------- >> From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu >> To: Manney >> Subject: Re: Donation For School Wanted >> Date: Wednesday, December 10, 1997 8:51 PM >> >> Yes; but then I'd have to ship the controller cards as well. These only >> have the 5 1/2" (or whatever) drivebays; the ones that fit the XTs; etc. >I >> think that they're half-height. >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Don Maslin <donm(a)cts.com> >> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers >> <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> >> Date: Thursday, December 11, 1997 1:25 AM >> Subject: Re: Donation For School Wanted >> >> >> >On Wed, 10 Dec 1997, PG Manney wrote: >> > >> >> Sent where? >> >> >> >> Since those are 286's, they could be outfitted with cheapo IDE's such >as >> >> ST-157's and 125's as well...IDE paddle cards are common. >> >> >> >Actually, that is probably the smarter thing to do. Smaller drives, >less >> >shipping weight and less postage. Also newer than MFM/RLL and more >> >readily available, and about equally inexpensive. >> > >> > - don >> > >>

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

No subject

by dcoward＠pressstart.com

I'm in contact with someone who has some good classic machines and alot of extras that he tring to find a good home for. He is located in Billings, Montana. ================= "My basement is overflowing with stuff I have been unable to send to the landfill. Lots of Boards, 8" disks, Terminals, C P/M programs. What I'm trying to do is find a home for are some Godbout CompuPro CPUs running C P/M. I tossed several band printers into the dumpster along with the LearSiegler Terminal, but couldn't bear to do that with these reliable, inestructible old Classics.. I still have terminals for the S-100 's a Wyse with separate keyboard and a Heath/Zenith Z-19. The Godbout machines work marvelously. I am interested in contacting anyone who could use these reliable old machines. reply to joanahone(a)aol.com " ================= ========================================= Doug Coward dcoward(a)pressstart.com Senior Software Engineer Press Start Inc. Sunnyvale,CA Curator Museum of Personal Computing Machinery http://www.best.com/~dcoward/museum =========================================

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

JTS (was: Classic Computer Rescue Squad)

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Can you give me more info? -----Original Message----- From: Faiaz, Michael C. HSD <FAIAZMC(a)hsd.utc.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Friday, December 12, 1997 2:28 AM Subject: Re: JTS (was: Classic Computer Rescue Squad) >Atari is now making games for all the game platforms. They still retain >the rights! > > ---------- >From: Don Maslin >To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers >Subject: Re: JTS (was: Classic Computer Rescue Squad) >Date: Friday, November 14, 1997 3:06PM > > >On Fri, 14 Nov 1997, Uncle Roger wrote: > >> At 01:19 PM 11/14/97 +0000, you wrote: >> >Well, it won't help you now, but a company called JTS Corporation has >the best >> >HDDs I've seen in a LONG time. I was using a WD Caviar 2.0 GB, and it >was >> >> For a little classic content, JTS is the company that acquired the >remnants >> of Atari Corp. Haven't done anything with it, that I know of, but in the >> future...? >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- >> >> Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad >> sinasohn(a)ricochet.net that none but madmen know." >> Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates >> San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/ > >For a little more 'classic content', the "JT" in JTS is for Jugi Tandon >of oldtime floppy disk drive fame and later hard disk and PC clones. >The >hard disk rights were sold to Western Digital at the time that they >bailed out of the card making business. Small world, ain't it? > > - don > > donm(a)cts.com >*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- >* > Don Maslin - Keeper of the Dina-SIG CP/M System Disk Archives > Chairman, Dina-SIG of the San Diego Computer Society > Clinging tenaciously to the trailing edge of technology. > Sysop - Elephant's Graveyard (CP/M) - 619-454-8412 >*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*-- >* > see old system support at http://www.psyber.com/~tcj > >

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

FAQ Part 2

by bcw＠u.washington.edu

============================================================================= ClassicCmp - The Classic Computers Discussion List Part 2 in the ClassicCmp FAQ Trilogy List Specific FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) v1.6.3 Last Update: 12/10/97 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This FAQ is written with the primary purpose of making readily available answers to the more common questions appearing on ClassicCmp. It is Maintained by Bill Whitson <bill(a)booster.u.washington.edu>. The infor- mation in this document has been gathered from a variety of sources but, in general, the members of ClassicCmp should be credited for all contain- ed herein. I have, of course, endeavored to be as accurate as is possible and often failed ;). This FAQ is Part 2 of the ClassicCmp FAQ Trilogy. The information presented deals with regular day-to-day issues on the list. If you have questions, comments, or corrections (always welcome) please contact me at the address above. A current copy of this FAQ is available on the web at http://haliotis.bothell washington.edu/classiccmp or via anonymous FTP at 140.142.225.188 in the directory /pub/classiccmp/faqs as cclpart2.faq. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Updates: Added: section 1.8 Changed: section 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, 3.1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. About the List ----------------- 1.1 What is ClassicCmp? 1.2 Why is ClassicCmp? 1.3 What's a Classic Computer? 1.4 Who runs this thing? 1.5 How come I can never reach this so-called list operator? 1.6 Don't you know you're duplicating what others have done? 1.7 How much mail should I expect to get on this list? 1.8 How long has this list been around? 2. Protocol and Etiquette ------------------------- 2.1 What can I talk about? 2.2 Can I talk about PCs? 2.3 Can I talk about Mini/MainFrames? 2.4 Can I post advertisements? 2.5 Can I ask people to give me their computers? 2.6 Can I ask for help fixing item x? 2.7 Where should I look before posting a dumb question? 2.8 Can I type obscenities about Microsoft in ALL CAPS?!? 2.9 Can I post trophy lists? 2.10 Can I use obscene languagein my posts? 3. Misc List Information ------------------------ 3.1 How many subscribers are there? 3.2 How many subscribers use machine x? 3.3 Is this list archived? 4. ClassicCmp Resources on the Net ---------------------------------- 4.1 Does ClassicCmp have a Web Site? 4.2 How come the Web Site is so ugly? 4.3 Does ClassicCmp have an FTP Site? Collecting ---------- 5.1 Where can I find Classic Computers? 5.2 How much is machine x worth? 5.3 Will thousands of innocent machines be scrapped if I don't save them? 5.4 I don't understand anything. Help! ============================================================================= 1.1 What is ClassicCmp? It's a mailing list for the discussion of classic computers. Topics center on collection, restoration, and operation. It is also an appropriate place for stories and reminiscences of classic computers. Lofty discussions dealing with the philosophical and/or metaphysical aspects of computers are often better handled in private e-mail ;) 1.2 Why is ClassicCmp? Uh, why not? There are lots of people who love these old machines and it seems like a fun idea to get together and talk about them. 1.3 What is a Classic Computer? _Any computer_ that has not been manufactured for 10 years is a classic. This definition is one I made up and it's entirely arbitrary. It seems to work OK, so I've kept it. This definition has come under fire recently but remains the guideline. Remember that it is certainly flexible. The idea is to keep conversation on track, not to restrict what you can talk about. 1.4 Who runs this thing? That would be me, Bill Whitson - email bcw(a)u.washington.edu. 1.5 How come I can never reach this so-called list operator? Sorry. It does often take me several days (sometimes weeks!) to respond to e-mail. I am often away for days at a time and when I'm not I'm still probably busy doing real work. I receive more than double the amount of mail that goes to the list in the form of spam, bounced messages, odd user requests, general bitching, etc. and I still have to filter out the messages I actually have to respond to, to remain employed ;). I will get back to you eventually. As an update, I've been _really_ hard to reach for the last couple months. Hopefully, this has now changed. Please keep in mind that this list is recreation for me, and I sometimes cannot devote any time to it. This does not indicate a lack of interest in the people or activities involved. 1.6 Do you know you're just duplicating work other people have done. I get a "reinventing the wheel" e-mail at least once a week. If you show me another group of computer collectors that claims a membership as large as this one I'll show you a group that must be very hard to find. Obviously there are other groups of collectors and I'm cheering them on - I don't see a problem with duplicating and reduplicating lore that's quickly disappearing anyway. 1.7 How much mail should I expect to get on this list? The daily load varies widely from about 20 messages to over 100. Average seems to be about (I haven't checked lately, will update) messages a day. There are times where the message load peaks for as much as a week. 1.8 How long has this list been around? The first message went out March 13, 1997. [][][][][][][][][] 2.1 What can I talk about? Anything related to classic computers as defined above. There are many people on this list that really know what they're talking about, so you might want to check facts before you start shooting off messages. It's also a good idea to actually read the FAQs and check the archives a little before posting. 2.2 Can I talk about PCs? Yes. PCs which haven't been manufactured for 10 years. Even then, be aware that in many cases you would get a better response posting to PC newsgroups. 2.3 Can I talk about Minis/MainFrames/WorkStations/Gigantic Talking Boxes with Flashing Lights & Coundown Timers/Robots from Alien Civilizations? There has apparently been some misconception that this is a list for micros/home computers only. You'll note I said "misconception". 2.4 Can I post advertisements? Sure. As long as they're related to _classic_ computers. And, of course, use your brain - don't spam. Also, please state up-front whether or not you are willing to ship the items you sell outside your country as there are members of this list in a number of different countries. If your post is commercial, please be sure to indicate that in some way in the subject line. 2.5 Can I ask people to sell/give me their computers? Sure. But you're not likely to get a very nice response. Mine, for example, would be: Get your own f***ing computer! There are several people on usenet who will vouch for this. When someone posts about one of their machines without offering to sell it - it's really a pretty good bet that they're not secretly trolling for offers. See section 5 for info on how to find yourself a computer. 2.6 Can I ask for help fixing item x. Yes. Be aware that it may be difficult to help you fix things if you don't have much knowledge of how computers work or of how to use basic electronics tools (VOM/DMM, soldering iron, EPROM burner, etc). I'm no whiz with this stuff and the little knowledge I have has come from asking questions and then buying books to find out what "Simple... Just check the voltage on the caps in the PS to make sure one of them isn't flaking out!" exactly means. 2.7 Where can I look before posting a dumb question? It might be a good idea to take a look at what's available in the Archive section of the ClassicCmp web site (see below). 2.8 Can I type obscenities about Microsoft in ALL CAPS!?! (Or, in general, be unreasonable with reagard to advocacy posts?) Check your anti-MS baggage at the door, please. For that matter, drop any posts that serve only to perpetuate the holy wars. 2.9 Can I post trophy lists? Some people like to read other peoples' trophy lists, some do not. There have been times when most people have been interested in these and times when many wanted to see them banned. So, they remain - appreciated or tolerated and somewhat controversial. Can't make everyone happy all the time ;) 2.10 Can I use obscene language in my posts? Yes. Although I'm sure many people would prefer you did not. A number of people have complained about this. I'm not going to outlaw swearing - now that I've informed you that it bothers people you can make your choice. [][][][][][][][][][] 3.1 How many subscribers are there? Around 210 and changing daily. 3.2 How many subscribers use machine x? Check the web site (see below). The Classic Computer Encyclopedia shows the number of machines registered by subscribers. 3.3 Is this list archived? Yes. The archives are available on the FTP site (see below) in the directory /pub/classiccmp/archive. The file name format indicates the month/year of the archive. Keep in mind that they are quite large. [][][][][][][][][][] 4.1 Does ClassicCmp have a web site? Yep. http://haliotis.bothell.washington.edu/classiccmp 4.2 How come the web site is so ugly? How come a PET is so ugly? Who cares as long as it works? 4.3 Does ClassicCmp have an FTP site? Yes. Anonymous FTP at 140.142.225.188. Look in /pub/classiccmp. There's not much there that's not available on the web site. I'm starting to load old drivers and system disks on occasion. There is an incoming directory which subscribers may use for ClassicCmp-related file transfers if needed. [][][][][][][][][][] 5.1 Where can I find classic computers? The best places seem to be thrift stores and swap meets. These are closely followed by pawn shops and mom and pop computer stores. The holy grails are electronics scrap yards - but they tend to be wary of individual pick-and-choosers. Oh yeah - garage sales! 5.2 How much is machine x worth? Precisely as much as you'll pay for it. Oh, you're selling it? Then, precisely as much as I'll pay for it. Seriously, no one prices these any more. I have an old Computer Blue Book that lists many classic computers but the prices are just ridiculous. Some machines (Apple Lisa's, old old Mini's, and unreleased prototypes) are starting down the road toward their original selling prices but it's unlikely that most will ever be worth more than the cost of their components. 5.3 Will 1000's of innocent machines be scrapped if I don't save them? Yes. This is the impetus behind every collector's tireless and selfless effort. Each machine we fail to save has it's gold parts mercilessly hacked off and sold (just like rhino horns - and look at the rhinos). The remainder is then sent to China to be made into bicycle spokes (you probably think I'm joking). Save a computer! Act now! Remind your SO of the rhino and cuter, fuzzier animals. It might work. In all seriousness - there are a large (and growing) number of so called "computer and electronics 'recyclers'" who take usable computers and recycle them into "reusable scrap". Small amounts of gold, silver, and platinum are extracted and the remainder of the material is generally just marketed to less wasteful countries. 5.4 I don't understand anything. Help! Don't worry - you're not the only one. Reading this list, old magazines, books and whatever else you can get your hands on is the first step. Once you reach a critical mass of knowledge thigs get a lot easier. =============================================================================

28 years, 4 months

5
5
0 0

Donation For School Wanted

by manney＠nwohio.com

Haven't they made 3 1/2 to 5 1/4 rails for lo, these many years? I have a box full of WD 103 controller cards somewhere...just not sure where. I _do_ know where my ISA IDE cards are. ...but where are these supposed to be sent? manney ---------- > From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > To: Manney > Subject: Re: Donation For School Wanted > Date: Wednesday, December 10, 1997 8:51 PM > > Yes; but then I'd have to ship the controller cards as well. These only > have the 5 1/2" (or whatever) drivebays; the ones that fit the XTs; etc. I > think that they're half-height. > -----Original Message----- > From: Don Maslin <donm(a)cts.com> > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> > Date: Thursday, December 11, 1997 1:25 AM > Subject: Re: Donation For School Wanted > > > >On Wed, 10 Dec 1997, PG Manney wrote: > > > >> Sent where? > >> > >> Since those are 286's, they could be outfitted with cheapo IDE's such as > >> ST-157's and 125's as well...IDE paddle cards are common. > >> > >Actually, that is probably the smarter thing to do. Smaller drives, less > >shipping weight and less postage. Also newer than MFM/RLL and more > >readily available, and about equally inexpensive. > > > > - don > > >

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Any 386s for sale?

by coslor＠pscosf.peru.edu

Greetings: I hope this isn't too far off the goal of this list... I am hoping that some of my friends from this great list might be able to help me out. I am desperately looking to buy 1 or 2 IBM compatible 386 machines. The reason is, I am looking to get a fairly low cost computer system for my brothers who are currently freshman and sophomore in college. Yes, I know, I tried the TRS-80, Commodore, and Apple, etc., route with them already, but my parents are looking to get them some fairly recent computers for a Christmas gift. I guess what they are looking for is 386/486 machines, with at least 4-8meg ram, Windows 3.1 (yuk!), 200 meg+ hard drive, and possible some old dot matrix printers. I of course have printers so that isn't a priority. But, the parents are willing to pay for them, so... if any of you have 1 or 2 old 386s setups around, PLEASE get in touch with me ASAP, with your offering price + shipping, and I know we could work out a deal. Software also isn't needed, as I have a $%!^ load, but I would like to get something that is fairly already setup, complete, and ready to go. Payment could be to in with a couple of days and would like to receive the units ASAP. Of course, this is all sight-unseen, so I'll trust your judgements and descriptions. Thank you very much for your consideration on these wants. I hope you could wade through my b.s. and figure out what I'm looking for. :-) Thanks, CORD //*=====================================================================++ || Cord G. Coslor P.O. Box 308 - 1300 3rd St. Apt "M1" -- Peru, NE || || (402) 872- 3272 coslor(a)bobcat.peru.edu 68421-0308 || || Classic computer software and hardware collector || || Autograph collector || ++=====================================================================*//

28 years, 4 months

4
3
0 0

JTS (was: Classic Computer Rescue Squad)

by FAIAZMC＠hsd.utc.com

Atari is now making games for all the game platforms. They still retain the rights! ---------- From: Don Maslin To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Subject: Re: JTS (was: Classic Computer Rescue Squad) Date: Friday, November 14, 1997 3:06PM On Fri, 14 Nov 1997, Uncle Roger wrote: > At 01:19 PM 11/14/97 +0000, you wrote: > >Well, it won't help you now, but a company called JTS Corporation has the best > >HDDs I've seen in a LONG time. I was using a WD Caviar 2.0 GB, and it was > > For a little classic content, JTS is the company that acquired the remnants > of Atari Corp. Haven't done anything with it, that I know of, but in the > future...? > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- > > Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad > sinasohn(a)ricochet.net that none but madmen know." > Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates > San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/ For a little more 'classic content', the "JT" in JTS is for Jugi Tandon of oldtime floppy disk drive fame and later hard disk and PC clones. The hard disk rights were sold to Western Digital at the time that they bailed out of the card making business. Small world, ain't it? - don donm(a)cts.com *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- * Don Maslin - Keeper of the Dina-SIG CP/M System Disk Archives Chairman, Dina-SIG of the San Diego Computer Society Clinging tenaciously to the trailing edge of technology. Sysop - Elephant's Graveyard (CP/M) - 619-454-8412 *--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*-- * see old system support at http://www.psyber.com/~tcj

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Donation For School Wanted

by jfoust＠threedee.com

Perhaps needless to say, old MFM and even < 100 meg IDE drives are throw-away items at today's computer shops. There's a mom-and-pop computer store near here that gave me a box of old drives. They regularly toss old 86/286/386 and even 486/33 machines. I'm in a town of 6,000, I can't imagine what's being tossed in the big city. - John Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

FAQ

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Also; while you've been gone; sometimes discussion wanders "off track"; so I think that because not everyone knows the best newsgroups; etc. the FAQ could possibly include a list of good ones; to take current problems/questions to. That should keep the discussion "on track"; making it more enjoyable for everyone. -----Original Message----- From: Bill Whitson <bcw(a)u.washington.edu> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, December 11, 1997 6:11 AM Subject: Re: FAQ > >Allright, I'll take a crack at revision for next time. >I agree that recyclers can be great to deal with - I never >thought this reflected badly on them. > >Recycling is what they do and they do it in the most >efficient way they can. It's sometimes tragic to see all >that history shoved in a compactor, but that's why we >collect these things. > >------------------------------------------------- >Bill Whitson bcw(a)u.washington.edu > (mail may come from alternate addresses) > Classic Computers List Operator/Owner >http://haliotis.bothell.washington.edu/classiccmp > > >On Wed, 10 Dec 1997, William Donzelli wrote: > >> >In all seriousness - there are a large (and growing) number of so called >> >"computer and electronics 'recyclers'" who take usable computers and >> >recycle them into "reusable scrap". Small amounts of gold, silver, and >> >platinum are extracted and the remainder of the material is generally >> >just marketed to less wasteful countries. >> >> I have always had a problem with this part of the FAQ. These people are >> our friends, as they often get the real gems. They do not always get the >> big stuff - one time I saw a bunch of Tempest rated PCs, and NeXT >> equipment, all on the same pile. >> >> The precious metal content of a big mini or mainframe can be quite a lot >> (check out <www.mrsscrap.com> and you will see what I mean), so the way >> they recycle is all based on ecomomics. Obviously, the gold is stripped >> first - it is the cream. The copper is probably next on the list, obtained >> by grinding the circuit boards and wires into powder. The rest is not >> worth it, literally. It is far too labor intensive to completely strip a >> computer down to basic metals - the money made would all go into paying >> the grunts! The labor in China is very cheap (actually, the strippers are >> young men that work like dogs for 2-3 years to make thier dowry money), >> thus the frames, disks, and power supplies get shipped overseas. >> >> William Donzelli >> william(a)ans.net >> >> >

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

WANTED TO BUY: EPSON PX-8

by bryn＠bwc.org

I'm looking for a replacement PX-8. Mine seems to have finally died, but since it did what we wanted perfectly, and I still have the peripherals for it, I'd rather just replace it than pay big bucks for lots of bang that we don't need. Please let me know if you have a working one that you no longer need but don't want to consign to the land fill - I could give it a good home. I'm currently in Haifa, Israel, but If any Americans have one we could arrange for the unit to be sent to one of three addresses in a) San Diego, Calif., b) San Rafeal, Calif. or c) Providence, Rhode Island all in the U.S.A. from where we get it sent to us by family members. For European sellers we may just try the airmail system and see how it goes... warm regards, Bryn Deamer 14 Shunamit St. Haifa 34562 Israel bryn(a)bwc.org -------------------------------------------------------------------

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

RED ALERT!! BIG LOAD OF FREEBIES!!

by kyrrin2＠wizards.net

ATTN: Classic Computer Rescue Crewmembers in the Dover, Delaware area! Take note of this missive I found on Usenet. If I were ANYwhere near the east coast, I'd already have visited the place. This is a terrific opportunity for those of you who want to get your hands dirty on DEC hardware to do it. And, if anyone goes down there and finds an M7552 module (RRD50 controller), please snare it for me! ;-) Attachment follows. -=-=- <snip> -=-=- OK. The powers that be no longer want to store this stuff, so the time has come to make it go away. We have around 5000 square feet of Vax and PDP equipment that needs to find new homes. It's mostly older Qbus and Unibus stuff, so don't expect to find state of the art stuff in here. There is way too much stuff to list, but in a nutshell, there are vaxen from 11/730 up to 8820, with many microvaxen in ba23's and ba123's. There are many unibus pdp-11's, and some pdp-8 stuff. There is also a DEC-system 2020. Many peripherals. TONS of books, manuals, and printsets. Miles of tape, zillions of disk packs, many 8" floppies, etc. If someone is looking for something in particular, let me know and I can see if it is there. Your best bet, however, is to come walk around and see what you can use. Equipment is free for the taking and is located in Dover, Delaware. Don't respond if you are only interested in scrap. We want to get rid of it, but don't want to see the stuff junked. Hell, we can junk the stuff ourselves if that is what we wanted to do. We thought there should be people out there that can use this equipment. take one piece, or take everything. First come, first served. You haul. Unfortunately, we do not have time to package things for shipping, although if the item is small enough, and you make a good enough case, exceptions may be possible. :-) We are interested in moving this stuff quickly, so please respond if interested. Email address has been purposely munged to prevent spam. Re-assemble the address below to respond. Thanks, Jim Bender jbender at corpamerica dot com

28 years, 4 months

5
8
0 0

Serial Networks

by roger＠sinasohn.com

At 10:06 PM 12/9/97 -0800, you wrote: >On Tue, 9 Dec 1997, Sam Ismail wrote: >Actually, I should say a couple things about LapLink since I have used it >once. It is easier to use than INTERSVR. The best thing about it is that I've used LapLink a fair bit (Did you know Traveling Software got their start doing m100 programs?) and I have to say I love it. I even use it to move things around on the same computer, or just to find the total size of a set of subdirectories. It is not, however, a network solution. (At least not the older version that I have.) If you want to move files around between machines, buy laplink. If you want to share disks among various machines (i.e., a network), get something else. It all depends on what you want to do. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Donation For School Wanted

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Hello. After paying a visit to the only local High School; someone made a comment about how their 286's didn't work. From an inspection of the school; it looks like 486's are used in half the labs; 2-4 286's and 1 386 per class room; and the process of Pentiums is being integrated. Some in the most recent wing do have one. But anyway; the 286s; as you might guess... are DYING. These are all PCs; and the problem is in HDDs. Now; I only have one MFM HDD handy; which I'll be installing soon; but there are 2 other malfuctioning PCs that I know of. Remember; this is for a high school; for the Department of Defence dependants; and a few others, but their funding is not... ideal. So if you could please just send a MFM HDD, or; if you have them; two (probably of the 20-40MB vairety; the standard sofware is a DOS menulite; WP51 for DOS; Qbasic; Printshop; etc. so it's not heavy; but for DOS 5.0 (what they have) I'd guess that a 10MB would be pushing it.); and then you'ld have elementary and high school (it's mixed) students smiling. Thanks in advance; Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

FAQ Part 3

by bcw＠u.washington.edu

============================================================================= ClassicCmp - The Classic Computers Discussion List Part 3 in the ClassicCmp FAQ Trilogy Technical FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) v1.6.2 Last Update: 12/10/97 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This FAQ is written with the primary purpose of making readily available answers to the more common questions appearing on ClassicCmp. It is Maintained by Bill Whitson <bill(a)booster.u.washington.edu>. The infor- mation in this document has been gathered from a variety of sources but, in general, the members of ClassicCmp should be credited for all contain- ed herein. I have, of course, endeavored to be as accurate as is possible and often failed ;). This FAQ is Part 3 of the ClassicCmp FAQ Trilogy. The information presented deals with regularly asked questions which are technical in nature. If you have questions, comments, or corrections (always welcome) please contact me at the address above. A current copy of this FAQ is available on the web at http://haliotis.bothell washington.edu/classiccmp or via anonymous FTP at 140.142.225.188 in the directory /pub/classiccmp/faqs as cclpart3.faq. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Updates: Nothing new, cosmetic changes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. General ------------------ 1.1 I just picked up a new machine. What should I do? 1.2 What's the best way to clean these dingy tan boxes? 2. Media -------- 2.1 What's a hard sector disk? What's a soft sector disk? 2.2 What's SS/SD, DS/DD, DS/QD, DS/HD, etc. 2.3 Can these formats be interchanged? 2.4 What disk sizes are there? 2.5 How do I take care of old media? 3. Component Failure Issues --------------------------- 3.1 Do EPROM's go bad? 3.2 How about ROM's, other chips? 3.3 How about capacitors? 3.4 Anything else? 3.5 So how do I backup all this stuff like you suggest? 4. Software ----------- 4.1 Where can I get a system disk for platform X? 4.2 What's the best way to back up my software? 5. Specific Problems/Solutions ------------------------------ 5.1 Is it possible to bypass an RF modulator to achieve composite output? ============================================================================= 1.1 I just picked up a new machine. What should I do? Don't power it up yet! All of the following should probably be done before that power switch gets flipped. Open the case - clean and visually inspect components. You're looking for traces of smoke, water, corrosion, loose screws, blown caps and resistors, cold (broken) solder joints, bent pins, etc. It may be a good idea to remove and re-seat all socketed components and connectors. If anything burned or overheated it will probably pay to replace it before powering up the unit. You can avoid a number of problems just by taking a peek inside. If you have the tools (and the machine is sufficiently rare) pull and dump backups of all EPROMs, ROMs, and PALs. If you have really cool tools (like a logic analyzer) it has been suggested that you use them to record critical information from those oh-so-hard-to-find custom chips. Specific information on how to do this is beyond the scope of a FAQ, but you probably know what you need to if you own the appropriate tools. Disconnect the power supply from the rest of the computer and start it up on a "dummy load". A six volt headlight bulb has been recommended as a convenient load. These should be available from any decent Volkswagen shop. Running the power supply without a load could result in damage to it. You may want to check the voltage output before you do this as it could be no where near the 5V average in micros. Even if you don't want to connect a load it's still probably a good idea to power it up separately from the computer for the first time. If you have a really rare beast it may be worth powering up some of the key capacitors out of circuit just to get them warmed up. Now you can power it up. Assuming it works, take a blank disk, format it, write some data to it, and read it back before using your precious software with it, as a bad disk drive could really ruin your day. 1.2 What's the best way to clean these dingy tan boxes? Cases: It seems best to start gently with such old equipment. Try soaking in a little water and dish soap and then scrubbing. This takes care of most jobs. For removing stickers try mineral oil or Goo-Gone (available at most hardware stores - in the US at least). If those don't work, acetone can be good but, if overused, can do more harm. For removing marker, almost any solvent is good (alcohol, naptha, etc) but will definitely discolor or dissolve plastic if not carefully applied. Lava soap is also good for removing marker but can smooth off textured plastic. For removing sun or tobacco discoloring a product called Purple Stuff available from auto parts stores (again, in the US at least) seems to do the job almost effortlessly. Recommended commercial products: Purple Stuff from Kragen [for discoloration] Brasso [ink/marker] (can discolor plastic) Antistatic Foam Cleaner from Electrolube [for discoloration/markings] Citra-Solv [for discoloration] (can dissolve plastic if undiluted) Cameo Copper Cleaner [ink/marker] Naptha [for stickers/goop/spooge] (very flammable) 3M GP Adhesive Remover [for stickers/goop/spooge] CRC 226 / CRC 556 [for stickers/goop/spooge] Fulcron [for discoloration] Blue Shower / BS II [for stickers/goop/spooge] Connectors: For edge connectors a plain pink eraser seems good for removing corrosion. Apparently other colors of eraser indicate a different texture - which may be damaging. Make sure to wipe the connectors with a clean cloth after erasing on them. There are a large number chemicals on the market that "magically" remove corrosion from components but as I don't know how safe they are, I'm not anxious to promote any of them. For pin style connectors a toothbrush and some softscrub or other mildly abrasive cleaner do wonders. Recommended commercial products: Electrolube contact cleaning sprays. Keyboards: I find a cycle through the dishwasher does a really nice job on keyboards. Just be sure they're completely dry before you put any power to them. If there is reason not to use a dishwasher (some key labels can come off) it is usually possible to remove each keycap and clean conventionally. [][][][][][][][][][] 2.1 What's a hard sectored disk? What's a soft sectored disk? We'll start with soft-sector since they're simpler to explain. On a soft-sector floppy disk the information that marks where a sector begins and ends is written to the disk by the computer (part of the formatting process). This means that various computers can use the same floppy disk types because the format of the disk is control- led by the operating system. Hard sector disks use a system of perforations in the media to mark the beginnings and ends of sectors. This means that computers which used hard sectored disks required the exact disk type they specified rather than a generic soft-sector floppy. A number of differently sectored disks were available - at least 10, 13, and 16 sector formats. 8 inch and 5.25 inch disks commonly used hard sectoring. 3.5 inch disks never came hard-sectored and, in fact, it would not be possible. 2.2 What's SS/SD, DS/DD, DS/QD, DS/HD, etc. These all refer to the number of useable sides on a disk and it's density (how "efficiently" the magnetic bits are pushed together). SS/SD is a Single Sided - Single Density disk, the earliest available type I believe. The storage afforded by a single density disk was very small compared to today's standards. Single Sided disks were popular because they were cheaper than DS and could be easily modified with a hole punch into double sided disks. SD was followed by Double Density which, amazingly, doubled the amount of storage space. Double Density was followed by the extremely short-lived Quad Density which doubled a DD disk. QD was short lived because High Density was right on it's heels and nearly doubled disk capacity again. DS/HD was as sophisticated as 5.25" disks became. 3.5" disks have progressed as far as DS/EHD double-sided / extra-high density. 2.3 Can these formats be interchanged? Well, that may depend on what computer you are using, but in general the following substitutions may be made: Desired Format Substitute --------------------------------------------------- Single Density Double Density Double Density none reliably Quad Density DD, HD (sometimes work, not advisable!) High Density none Other substitutions may be made, but due to physical differences in how the disks are made they are generally unreliable. It can almost be guaranteed that data written to a proper density disk of poor quality will last longer than data written to a good quality disk of the wrong density. In the case of quad density no substitution should be considered reliable. DD and HD disks both can be forced to work. One may work better than the other given the peculiarities of various drives. 2.4 What disk sizes are there? Disk Types? Physically? Standard Disks Unique/Proprietary Disks --------------------------------------------------------- 8" (Floppy) 5" (MiniFloppy) 5.25" (MiniFloppy) 3.25" (MicroFloppy) 3.5" (MicroFloppy) 3" (MicroFloppy) 2.5" 2" In addition to odd sizes - there is at least one type of disk which was physically different. "Twiggy" disks for the Apple Lisa 1 were regular 5.25" disks with the exception that they had two read/write windows. One was oriented "north" of the center hole, the other "south". 2.5 How do I take care of old media? Step one is Back It Up! After that, make sure it's kept in a clean, dry, temperature-controlled environment (I keep mine in a broken freezer). With disks it seems important to keep them standing on end rather than lying flat - the same goes for cassette tapes. I like to exercise disks and tapes at least once every six months although I have no real evidence that this has any positive effect. I have modified an old C64 floppy drive to simply spin when a disk is inserted and send large stacks of disks through it on a regular basis just to make sure they're not starting to stick up internally. An exciting and somewhat recent development is that availability of classic computer emulators that can make disk images of old media on PC's and Macs. This seems to be a very good way to backup disks since they will eventually go bad no matter how well we take care of them. The official line seems to be that floppy disks have a shelf-life of approximately 10 years. With proper care many are lasting a lot longer. [][][][][][][][][][] 3.1 Do EPROM's go bad? Definitely. They apparently are considered to reliably contain data for (on the outside edge) 15 years. This amount can be considerably reduced if, for example, the sticker over the window has dried out and fallen off. Luckily EPROMs were not used too extensively but they're out there. An EPROM writer/reader is a relatively cheap investment and an easy fix. Even if an EPROM has "forgotten" it's data it is still fine for being "re-educated". 3.2 How about ROMs and other chips? Things wear out. It's likely that even components which have not been fried by catastrophic failure will simply start to die someday. ROMs can be dumped to a file and re-written if they die. Other custom chips which are all too common in micros will be far more difficult to replace. The best advice is to stockpile these chips when you can - but someday even unused chips will probably start to turn up bad. In this case the best defense is to stockpile information in the hope of being able to modify an existing component to meet your needs. 3.3 How about capacitors? This seems to be another large concern, but rather than being an unreplaceable component a capacitor will take your unreplaceable components with it when it goes. It's a good idea to check out all the caps in a system if you haven't fired it up in a while. Caps go bad with time (even tantalum caps, apparently - although they are more reliable) and should be replaced if they are suspect. It's unlikely that it will be impossible to find a replacement capacitor as they are much more standard electronic components. 3.4 Anything else? Documentation: If there's anything which is entirely unreplaceable its the docs for uncommon equipment. Once they're gone, they're gone. I regularly pick up docs I find for equipment I don't have just because I may someday. Paper will, of course. go bad over time but it will be obvious and they will be easily duplicated. Hard Disks: ST-251s, ST-502s, MFM, RLL... old hard disks are going to go bad. Then they'll be gone. Theoretically, I suppose it's possible to crack a hard drive and replace a dead bearing, realign, relaminate, etc... but I've never heard of anyone doing these things in their base- ment. Perhaps in another 5 or 10 years many of us will be experts at this. 3.5 So, how do I back up all this stuff like you suggest? This answer will undoubtedly get longer as I learn more. The best ways seem to be to dump the particular ROM (or whatever) using the approp- riate equipment to a floppy disk (which most of this equipment allows).

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Donation For School Wanted

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Yes; but then I'd have to ship the controller cards as well. These only have the 5 1/2" (or whatever) drivebays; the ones that fit the XTs; etc. I think that they're half-height. -----Original Message----- From: Don Maslin <donm(a)cts.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, December 11, 1997 1:25 AM Subject: Re: Donation For School Wanted >On Wed, 10 Dec 1997, PG Manney wrote: > >> Sent where? >> >> Since those are 286's, they could be outfitted with cheapo IDE's such as >> ST-157's and 125's as well...IDE paddle cards are common. >> >Actually, that is probably the smarter thing to do. Smaller drives, less >shipping weight and less postage. Also newer than MFM/RLL and more >readily available, and about equally inexpensive. > > - don >

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

FAQ Part 1

by bcw＠u.washington.edu

============================================================================= DO NOT DISPOSE OF THIS PART OF THE FAQ. THIS IS THE PART THAT EXPLAINS HOW YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE AND UNSUBSCRIBE. IT WILL TAKE ME MORE TIME TO DO THESE THINGS FOR YOU THAN IT WILL TAKE FOR YOU TO DO THEM YOURSELF ============================================================================= ClassicCmp - The Classic Computers Discussion List Part 1 in the ClassicCmp FAQ Trilogy Mail/Internet Basics FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) v1.3 Last Update: 12/10/97 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This FAQ is written with the primary purpose of making readily available answers to the more common questions appearing on ClassicCmp. It is Maintained by Bill Whitson <bill(a)booster.u.washington.edu>. The infor- mation in this document has been gathered from a variety of sources but, in general, the members of ClassicCmp should be credited for all contain- ed herein. I have, of course, endeavored to be as accurate as is possible and often failed ;). This FAQ is Part 1 of the ClassicCmp FAQ Trilogy. The information presented deals with the use of mailing lists and internet-specific tools. If you have questions, comments, or corrections (always welcome) please contact me at the address above. A current copy of this FAQ is available on the web at http://haliotis.bothell washington.edu/classiccmp or via anonymous FTP at 140.142.225.188 in the directory /pub/classiccmp/faqs as cclpart1.faq. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Updates: Nothing new, cosmetic changes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Mailing Lists ---------------- 1.1 Mailing List Basics 1.2 How to Talk to the Robot How to set to Digest How to Subscribe How to Unsubscribe 2. FTP ------ 2.1 FTP Basics 3. World Wide Web ----------------- 3.1 WWW Basics ============================================================================= 1.1 Mailing List Basics A mailing list is a simple device which takes an e-mail and redistributes it to a group of people. People can add and remove themselves from the distribution list by Subscribing and Unsubscribing. When you send a message to the list, it is first examined by the robot for key words that tell it to process an automatic funtion (like help, subscribe, unsubscribe, etc). If the message does not contain a keyword it is sent to the distribution list. 1.2 How to Talk to the Robot There are a few List Processor commands that you might want to use. To send a command to the list processor, write a message to listproc(a)u.washington.edu (Do NOT send the message to classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu). In the body of the message (not the subject line, that is) write one of the following commands, then send the message. SET CLASSICCMP MAIL ACK Tells the robot to send you a copy of messages you write to the list. This is the default. SET CLASSICCMP MAIL NOACK Tells the robot NOT to send you a copy of messages you write to the list. I don't recommend this. SET CLASSICCMP MAIL DIGEST Tells the robot to send you a digest of messages rather than each as it is posted. With this option you will get a weekly bundle of messages and keep a nice, tidy in-box. SUBSCRIBE CLASSICCMP Your.Address Subscribes you to the list. UNSUBSCRIBE CLASSICCMP Your.Address Removes you from the list. [][][][][][][][][][] 2.1 FTP Basics FTP is a protocol by which files can be transferred over the internet. You can use FTP to connect to a remote site and retrieve files. The commands you use with FTP depend on the software you use. In general you must make sure that you are in BINARY mode before transferring a program file or compressed files. The process of downloading a file is usually termed GET and the process of uploading a file is usually termed PUT. Your FTP program will require an address to connect to. For the ClassicCmp site that address is 140.142.225.188. You then may be asked to log in (unless your program assumes an anonymous login). When asked for a name, use anonymous. When asked for a password enter your internet e-mail address. [][][][][][][][][][] 3.1 WWW Basics The only complicated thing with the WWW is knowing what bells and whistles your web browser supports. You don't really need to know much other than the address for ClassicCmp. The web site is all text which means just about any web browser from the oldest Lynx to the newest Netscape or Microsoft browser should support it. The ClassicCmp site is http://haliotis.bothell.washington.edu/classiccmp. =============================================================================

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Back to work

by bcw＠u.washington.edu

Hi all. I haven't been around much for the past few months and I know I left some of you in a lurch in the middle of projects. My work situation has been largely resolved and I am about to begin a long vacation, so here's a good time to ask if you need anything from me. If I've missed anything really cool, let me know ;) ------------------------------------------------- Bill Whitson bcw(a)u.washington.edu (mail may come from alternate addresses) Classic Computers List Operator/Owner http://haliotis.bothell.washington.edu/classiccmp

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Monitor

by djomega＠mindspring.com

Hey i need a good 14" montior for my mom and it gotta be a lease vga that goldstar is it good.......I'll make an 40 dollar offer

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Cipher 9 track tape drive

by salmwk＠worldnet.att.net

I am interested in this tape drive! Does it come with a controller card, software, cable, mannuals? What is your asking price? Thanks, Saleem

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Donation For School Wanted

by manney＠nwohio.com

Sent where? Since those are 286's, they could be outfitted with cheapo IDE's such as ST-157's and 125's as well...IDE paddle cards are common. ---------- > From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > To: Manney > Subject: Donation For School Wanted > Date: Wednesday, December 10, 1997 12:01 PM > > Hello. After paying a visit to the only local High School; someone made a comment about how their 286's didn't work. From an inspection of the school; it looks like 486's are used in half the labs; 2-4 286's and 1 386 per class room; and the process of Pentiums is being integrated. Some in the most recent wing do have one. But anyway; the 286s; as you might guess... are DYING. These are all PCs; and the problem is in HDDs. Now; I only have one MFM HDD handy; which I'll be installing soon; but there are 2 other malfuctioning PCs that I know of. Remember; this is for a high school; for the Department of Defence dependants; and a few others, but their funding is not... ideal. So if you could please just send a MFM HDD, or; if you have them; two (probably of the 20-40MB vairety; the standard sofware is a DOS menulite; WP51 for DOS; Qbasic; Printshop; etc. so it's not heavy; but for DOS 5.0 (what they have) I'd guess that a 10MB would be pushing it.); and then you'ld have elementary and high school (it's m

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Donation For School Wanted

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Printshop; etc. so it's not heavy; but for DOS 5.0 (what they have) I'd = <guess that a 10MB would be pushing it.); and then you'ld have elementary = I've an xt with a 20mb running dos6.22 and a bunch of stuff similar in size including wordperfect works and theres about 10mb free at the moment. DOS6.22 eats 5.0mb for EVERYTHING and goodly portions can easily be deleted to get to under 2mb. Dos 5.0 is smaller so 10mb is a serviceable though possibly cramped disk. 6.22 however also give you drivespace a disk space compressor like smartdrive so that the space can be better used. Allison

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Breach in subject

by manney＠nwohio.com

---------- > From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > To: Manney > Subject: Re: Breach in subject > Date: Tuesday, December 09, 1997 9:15 PM > > At 09:48 PM 12/9/97 -0500, you wrote: > > >Try Global. They have _everything_. > > Global what? Please don't make me do a search on "Global"!!!! :) Global computer Supply. I have the number at work (They've got an 800 number...call 1-800-555-1212 to get it). Once you're on their mailing list, tho', you get 100 catalogs a year. They have all kinds of oddball stuff (Rainbow disks, last I checked, for example.)

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

subscribe

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Breach in subject

by higginbo＠netpath.net

At 09:48 PM 12/9/97 -0500, you wrote: >Try Global. They have _everything_. Global what? Please don't make me do a search on "Global"!!!! :) - John Higginbotham - limbo.netpath.net

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Unix on Zenith Supersport SX

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<>I'd not heard of Elks, as I no longer stay on the "Bleeding Edge" of Linux ELKS is Embedded Linux Kernal System. It's a very small memory model of linux to fit on say an 8086/8 (xt) system. It's earlier unix cousin for z80 was UZI... <Or... dare I say it... linux on a TRS-80 Model 100/102/200??? :) No way, UZI is fairly tight and minimal V7 and want 32k for itself and 32k for apps and a disk (hard disk) to implement total swapping of the swapable sections of the app or UZI. UNIX and varients are a relatively large system OS and doesn't fit well on most 8bit cpus especially if written in C due to code inefficentcy >from a lack of a full indexed/indirect addressing modes that C expects. (common on PDP11 and other minis). The 8086 is a bit better but the segmentation makes it messy again. Allison

28 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

Serial Networks

by higginbo＠netpath.net

At 06:13 PM 12/8/97 EST, you wrote: >I don't have access to network cards (except maybe ARCNet, which I couldn't >run on my P*****), and I was wondering if there is a way to have a transparent >null modem-based network. IE, could I connect two computers with a null modem, >and then change to the other computer's drive by typing x: (or mount >/dev/hdxxx, or whatever). I've seen our ISP's linux guru do this before... It can be done, I just don't know how. - John Higginbotham - limbo.netpath.net

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Epson Equity III+

by ds_spenc＠alcor.concordia.ca

Hi there, Does anyone know what an Epson Equity III+ is? Is it just a PC clone, or is there something special about this machine? I saw one in the window of a pawn shop last week. The case design was pretty cool, but if I had to guess, it looked like it might have been a Hercules monitor sitting on top of it. Doug Spence ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Serial Networks

by Zeus334＠aol.com

I don't have access to network cards (except maybe ARCNet, which I couldn't run on my P*****), and I was wondering if there is a way to have a transparent null modem-based network. IE, could I connect two computers with a null modem, and then change to the other computer's drive by typing x: (or mount /dev/hdxxx, or whatever).

28 years, 4 months

4
5
0 0

Finds in Ann Arbor, MI

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Tony Duell <ard(a)odin.phy.bris.ac.uk> wrote: > > HP 79xx and 91yx (for y>1) are usually storage of some sort. (9111 is > > a graphics tablet.) > > But the 9114 was a disk drive, wasn't it? (the HP-IL drive for the > 71/75/etc). And the 9100 was a calculator (HP's first desktop calculator, > released in 1968, and rather nice). Yep. Which just goes to show one point I had in the back of my mind at the time: HP's model numbering scheme comes maddeningly close to making sense. -Frank McConnell

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Serial Networks

by kroma＠worldnet.att.net

There's a program called TCP to Serial that might be what you're looking for. Check out the web sit at http://www.aball.de/~gotti/tcptoser.html -- Kirk

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Breach in subject

by manney＠nwohio.com

> A parting question: I'm not exactly sure if the HP 7450a 2-pen plotter falls > within the 10-year limit but... Does anyone know where I can get new pens > for this unit? Try Global. They have _everything_. P Manney Wizened elder.

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Finds in Ann Arbor, MI

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Neil McNeight <mcneight(a)umich.edu> wrote: > CPT 8510 (Terminal with 8" floppy, no other information) I think I have one of these in storage, with a daisywheel printer. Haven't tried doing anything with it yet. Mine was used as a dedicated word processor (which was CPT's main business IIRC). There was no documentation with it; the company that bought them probably had it but had a staff member train the users, and the user I got mine from had it installed in her home. > HP > 7914 (looked like a computer... maybe...) There is probably a microprocessor inside, but it was sold as a disc drive, maybe with a cartridge tape drive that uses the block-formatted HCD tapes (like 9144s). I think the disc drive has about 130MB capacity. Good for old HP 9000s and maybe 3000s; in fact it would look very nice next to a 9000 series 540. HP 79xx and 91yx (for y>1) are usually storage of some sort. (9111 is a graphics tablet.) > Sun > 3/50 (1 regular and 1 with a scooped out case top for a matching > monitor) That's called a "dimple-top". -Frank McConnell

28 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

Portable Collection

by Zeus334＠aol.com

What is it? Is it a Compaq Portable-style contraption? What processor? What OS? What apps? In a message dated 97-12-09 01:13:38 EST, you write: << I have a Grid Compass 1100. It works, sort of, anyone want it for the price of shipping? (It's a bit on the heavy side) _______________ Barry Peterson bmpete(a)swbell.net Husband to Diane, Father to Doug, >>

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Serial Networks

by Zeus334＠aol.com

Very simply, I have a two year old wintel desktop, which does indeed have ISA slots, and runs Win95. I tried to install an ARCNet card, and I couldn't correctly configure all of the stuff (IRQ, RAM, DMA, etc.), though I had the dip switch information. What I have is a half-length CMD card. Since I couldn't configure it, I gave up. But, if anyone has any hints.... In a message dated 97-12-08 23:35:01 EST, you write: << Captain Napalm wrote: > > It was thus said that the Great Zeus334 once stated: > > > > I don't have access to network cards (except maybe ARCNet, which I couldn't > > run on my P*****), and I was wondering if there is a way to have a transparent > > null modem-based network. IE, could I connect two computers with a null modem, > > and then change to the other computer's drive by typing x: (or mount > > /dev/hdxxx, or whatever). > > > Why can't you run ARCNet cards? Linux has drivers for them (although that > is assuming the ARCNet card is for a ISA bus). > > It is possible to use a serial connection by running PPP as a transport, > which supports IP (and thus you can use NFS to mount drives). > > -spc (I suppose since ARCNet is over 10 years, and TCP/IP is over 10 > years this counts 8-) The first coax network I ever installed was Tandy ARCnet, Model IIs as server and workstations. Unfortunately, those never had any way to hook up to network operating systems that the PC stuff dealt with, and there were never drivers for those boards for Tandy Xenix, though a shitload of R&D money got spent in Fort Worth trying to make it so. Since most non-laptop "P******" machines still have ISA slots, there's no reason an ARCnet card wouldn't work. It's faster than serial PPP and more machines can connect conveniently. -- Ward Griffiths >>

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Unix on Zenith Supersport SX

by roger＠sinasohn.com

At 09:26 PM 12/8/97 -0500, you wrote: >Or... dare I say it... linux on a TRS-80 Model 100/102/200??? :) Rick <something-or-other-my-mind-is-gone> of Club 100 mentioned once that there is a company that uses m100's with a version of Unix running on them. Unfortunately (and yes, I asked) he said they won't release it to the public. But, at least that means it's doable! P.S., the m100 is 8085-based, so 6502-linux wouldn't help much. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Talk Of Building A Computer...

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

>elisa? that program that asks you the same open ended question? i may have a >similar program if there really is an interest. Yep, that one. It is a BIG interest. It's probably classic content as the older versions go back to Turing's Law. I've found a Java applet that simulates the Turing machine. Thanks, Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Unix on Zenith Supersport SX

by higginbo＠netpath.net

At 02:31 PM 12/8/97 -0800, you wrote: >Looking ahead in my e-mail queue I see there is a flurry of responses to >this question, and I can guess what everyone else' response is as well. > >But I have two syllables for you: Linux. With only 640k? I think I've settled on the xt/286 version of minix. I don't want a big investment, and I'm no hard core linux user myself. I know my way around, but I like experimenting with new things on these old things (computers, that is.) - John Higginbotham - limbo.netpath.net

28 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

Finds in Ann Arbor, MI

by mcneight＠umich.edu

Greetings. Seems like everybody reports in when they get a big haul. Well, I don't have the money or the room for my own personal big haul, so I'll report on what is available for sale here at the University of Michigan Property Disposal. All sales are final. You have the opportunity to test machines in the warehouse, but they don't have 220v available. This list probably isn't complete, and it's sometimes hard to find information (manuals, model numbers, telling the difference between a HP scientific instrument and a HP minicomputer, etc.). So here goes: Apollo Domain Series 10000 (@ of these at $250 each) CPT 8510 (Terminal with 8" floppy, no other information) Digital MicroVAX 3900 w/RA82 \ TU81 Plus and RA82 >- Apparently all from one pull Constant Voltage Conditioner / Disembodied RA81 VAXstation II/GPX (2 of these) PDP-11 FORTRAN manual Some VAXstation 3100 stuff GE I have no idea. It's about 3-3 1/2 feet tall, 1 1/2 feet wide. Has two 8" drives on the front. Priced at $150. HP 7914 (looked like a computer... maybe...) IBM Model 5551 (Says "Hard Disk Model" on the front. Also has a floppy disk slot.) Prime Computer Inc. Model # 2250P ($100) SGI Power Series Iris 4D/210GTX ($1500 w/monitor) Power Series Iris 4D/GTX ($1500: no monitor) IRIS 3130 Stardent ($100. No other information) Sun 3/50 (1 regular and 1 with a scooped out case top for a matching monitor) -Neil ---------------------------------------------------+------------------- "There is more to life than increasing its speed." | Neil McNeight -Mahatma Gandhi | mcneight(a)umich.edu ---------------------------------------------------+-------------------

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

FW: From Usenet: Stuff for sale? Trade?

by kyrrin2＠wizards.net

If you're interested in any of this stuff, please reply directly to the ORIGINAL author, NOT me! I don't have any of this, but am only forwarding the message in the hopes that this stuff can find good homes. Attachment follows. -=-=- <snip> -=-=- Path: Supernews70!Supernews60!supernews.com!news.maxwell.syr.edu!Cabal.CESspool!bofh.vszbr.cz!newscore.univie.ac.at!newsfeed.skynet.be!poster.skynet.be!not-for-mail From: "ghandy" <ghandy007(a)hotmail.com> Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec Subject: Microvax 3100 VALUE ? Date: 8 Dec 1997 23:39:26 GMT Organization: Mc Andy Lines: 13 Message-ID: <01bd0432$554b0e20$5c0b0dc3@superbabe> NNTP-Posting-Host: brus2-28.brussel.skynet.be X-Trace: news1.skynet.be 881624366 29578 (None) 195.13.11.92 X-Complaints-To: usenet(a)news1.skynet.be X-Newsreader: Microsoft Internet News 4.70.1161 Xref: Supernews70 comp.sys.dec:58062 What is the current value of this stuff? I'd like to sell it, but have no clue of a normal price... 1 x DIGITAL Microvax 3100 (without harddisk) 1 x DIGITAL Dec Server 200/MC (with kables) 4 x DIGITAL keyboard and terminal screen (VT 320) 2 x LINK 125 terminal screen and keyboard 1 x NEC Pinwriter P7 2 x DIGITAL LA75 Companion Printer 2 x MOTOROLA Codex 6015 modem for leased lines (speed: 9600) These appliances are in excellent state. 20kg of books, manuals, etc. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, SysOp, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fido 1:343/272) kyrrin2 {at} wiz<ards> d[o]t n=e=t "...No matter how hard we may wish otherwise, our science can only describe an object, event, or living creature, in our own human terms. It cannot possibly define any of them!..."

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Breach in subject

by higginbo＠netpath.net

I know this may be a little off topic, but... (How many times have we read this?!?) I am suprised at the number of wisened elders in my presence, People that actually used the machines I dreamed about using in my teenaged years. I was glad to find out all of these old systems that I wanted so bad back then actually sport price tags today that I can afford. I have recently sold off the large majority of my collection of late 80's computers (my wife calls it the pile, collectively), but have learned that the real joy in using these systems is the memories it gives me, something about each individual system that stands out to me. I also find that using computers from another era tends to bring me back down to earth. Most people today think these machines are a bunch of hulking dinosnores that can't be useful except as boat anchors in todays PC world. I know otherwise. Up until recently I had been using a Model 100 for taking notes and doing addresses, etc. Just as good at text entry as any P****** system is today. My boss still scoffs at me for toting around my venerable GRiDCASE 3 (running windows 1.x) that has seen regular use since I got it, or running Windows 3 on the old Zenith Supersport, the topic of a quite active thread for the past day or so in this very list. Hey, I'm not rich. If I was, I'd buy the fastest notebook/desktop system around. But alas, I am not. The boss stops scoffing when I tell him how much I paid for my computers and show him what they can still run. :) Well, that's it for the monologue. I'm sitting here listening to an instrumental christmas cd, waiting for IE 4.01 to download, and contemplating what will be considered old news 10 years from now. BTW, I didn't mean anything with the "wisened elder" comment. I consider myself an oldtimer at the young age of 27, with all these little high school know-it-alls that memorize man pages and can recite every IP address and who it belongs to on their ISP. I can remember the days before GUI. I was there. Couldn't afford more than a C-64 or CoCo back then, but I remember them as some of the best days in computer history. A parting question: I'm not exactly sure if the HP 7450a 2-pen plotter falls within the 10-year limit but... Does anyone know where I can get new pens for this unit? - John Higginbotham - limbo.netpath.net

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Unix on Zenith Supersport SX

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Maybe with a Disk/Video interface. There's got to be a swap device <_somewhere_. (Well, there _was_ that wedge thingie that would add up <to 512k RAM that a firm in Glendale CA was advertising, but they never Ram disks are fairly easy to do and banked ram as well. The PX-8 did it to 120k. I'd heard there was a 512k wedge design out there too. I'd love to see how that was done. Allison

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Portable Collection

by roger＠sinasohn.com

I want to thank everyone for their comments on my collection. There are still quite a few machines that I don't have, but at least now I think I have a pretty complete wanted list! 8^) The suggestions from the list: Convergent Workslate Gavilan HP 110 (Portable) HP Portable Plus HP Integral PC Osborne 3 Osborne 4 (Vixen) Apple //c Apple Newton 100 Kaypro 2 Kaypro 2000 Radio Shack PC-1 Tandy/AST/Casio Zoomer Visual Commuter Apricot portable Commodore SX-64 TRS-80 Model 4P Tandy 600 And some more of my own: Dynalogic Hyperion Sinclair QL Atari STacy Atari ST Book Atari STPad TRS-80 Model 102 TRS-80 Model 200 Kaypro (All Models) Amstrad Notepad (NC-100) Otrona Attache STM Systems Baby! 1 Teleram T-3000 Teleram Model 4000 Teleram Model 5000 Olivetti M10 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

Unix on Zenith Supersport SX

by higginbo＠netpath.net

At 06:21 PM 12/8/97 -0800, you wrote: >I'd not heard of Elks, as I no longer stay on the "Bleeding Edge" of Linux. >I'm in the process of checking it out at this moment. It looks >interesting. Now if that 6502 support they mention as a posibility down >the road would include the ability to run on a Apple II, or C-64, now that >would be cool! Or... dare I say it... linux on a TRS-80 Model 100/102/200??? :) - John Higginbotham - limbo.netpath.net

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Serial Networks

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<I don't have access to network cards (except maybe ARCNet, which I couldn' <run on my P*****), and I was wondering if there is a way to have a transpar <null modem-based network. IE, could I connect two computers with a null mod <and then change to the other computer's drive by typing x: (or mount </dev/hdxxx, or whatever). for dos PCs we have, laplink, norton commander, carboncopy, cosession and that is only a few. For linux you can have slip, ppp and a few other methods. Allison

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Unix on Zenith Supersport SX

by higginbo＠netpath.net

This will mainly be used as a dial-up machine to my service provider for checking mail, etc. I know I can do it much easier in DOS (with this machine), but I'm looking for a challenge. :) At 10:15 PM 12/7/97 -0800, you wrote: >pretty good, don't know if such a thing still exists. One thing you don't >want to do with a 386SX/16 is any programming, it takes forever to compile! >Although small scripts are doable. > >On an not so interesting note, the 40Mb HD now functions as a CP/M disk for >my Pentium, and the Laptop is now a general purpose terminal. The 486, >well it's the Server that ties my various platforms together, running Linux >of course. - John Higginbotham - limbo.netpath.net

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Importance of "original" parts

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-12-08 10:27:04 EST, you write: << > > How important is it to obtain computers in their "original" state? Is it > > worth it to save a computer that is known to have been hacked together? >> I myself prefer both configurations. i have a stock platinum //e which i plan to keep that way, but then again, I have a ][+ with something called a videx enhancer ][ which was a new keyboard encoder card which let me have type ahead and macros and lowercase. even better than a //e keyboard! also, an old IBMer gave me a majorly hacked timex sinclair (or one of the similar models) that was built into a wooden case, complete with power supply, monitor and even a full sized keyboard hacked in, mounted on a piece of scrap plexiglass! to me, that gives character, and helps to preserve the technology of the time. david

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

tandy 102 question

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

i was playing around with my new tandy 102 and there is a door on the bottom which has some ROMs underneath. two are labled sony, and the other one has some pull tabs on it, and it's labeled SUPER ROM <C> 1986. its not original equipment, is it? it looks like it can be removed fairly easily, so i was wondering if it had preloaded apps, like my grid laptop does. also, does anyone have a source of basic programs for this machine? the keyboard is rather good for typing, but i'd like to run some things on it. david

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Unix on Zenith Supersport SX

by higginbo＠netpath.net

At 02:54 PM 12/8/97 -0800, you wrote: >Sorry, I wasn't paying attention to the RAM you had. But somebody just >mentioned the ELKS version of Linux. Don't know what that is but it'd >probably be owrth looking into. I was looking at the too, but I have one install of minix already under my belt. I think I'll give it a try first. I'm pretty sure it'll run okay, since the version I'm shooting for is optimized for xt/286 machines. (It'll run under 512k, but likes 640k) - John Higginbotham - limbo.netpath.net

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Unix on Zenith Supersport SX

by higginbo＠netpath.net

Anyone know of a minimum unix or unix-like OS that will run on the following config: Zenith Supersport SX 386sx-16 640k 110mb HD VGA mono I know about minix, but am looking for something a little more robust, since I have heard TCP/IP and other such apps don't run well or not at all under minix. If someone can tell me otherwise, I'll use it. - John Higginbotham - limbo.netpath.net

28 years, 4 months

5
4
0 0

Heathkit analog computer

by mtaylor＠hach.com

I understand that you may have a heathkit analog computer for sale. I am trying to obtain copies of the manuals (assembly & experiments). I would be be interested in purchasing the unit if it still is available. Please reply with price, condition, manuals. Thanks // mt (mtaylor(a)hach.com)

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Importance of "original" parts

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<And even more true in the S-100 world. Anybody who bought a system made <solely of parts from IMSAI or MITS and didn't use third-party memory or dis <controllers/systems was a total fool and completely ignorant of <the blossoming S-100 industry. Big time! The early versions *under sn ~2000 or so* had at lest a couple of pages of mods from MITS alone. Of the mods that were common for the 8800: *heavier PS *better backplane, theirs was the worst. *CPU clock mod to use the 8224 instead of ttl and oneshots. *MANY mods to 88mcd or 88s4k memory to make them work with some disk controllers. IMSAIs being about 6months later had fewer basic problems and a lesser need for mods just to work. Most S100 systems prior to ~1980 needed mods to allow for variations between bus interpretations. The altair being first needed the most mods for the newest boards. Allison

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Linux on old PCs

by jfoust＠threedee.com

There's an interesting 16-bit Linux for old PCs call ELKS at http://www.linux.org.uk/ELKS-Home/index.html . Minimal CPU and RAM requirements. - John www.threedee.com/jcm

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Importance of "original" parts

by mcneight＠umich.edu

Greetings. I have recently developed an interest in collecting classic computers and after (mostly) lurking on this list, I have a question that you all might be able to answer. How important is it to obtain computers in their "original" state? Is it worth it to save a computer that is known to have been hacked together? For example: I have an original Mac 128k. However, I believe that the motherboard has been upgraded to the 512k "Fat" Mac. I purchased it at the University of Michigan's Property Disposal warehouse, which means I was lucky to find a matching keyboard and mouse and I have no hope of finding the original manuals or shipping boxes for it. Should I even bother to restore this machine to it's original state by purchasing an original (but not _the_ original) motherboard, assuming I can even find one, or should I just use the machine as is and forget about any attempts at historical accuracy? At what point do I wind up with Washington's Hatchet, or does it even matter? Thanks for any input. -Neil ---------------------------------------------------+------------------- "There is more to life than increasing its speed." | Neil McNeight -Mahatma Gandhi | mcneight(a)umich.edu ---------------------------------------------------+-------------------

28 years, 4 months

4
3
0 0

Importance of "original" parts

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<> 99 times out of a 100, I'd prefer to have the "hacked" computer rather <> than the "original". At least in the minicomputer world, just about ever <> modificiation is there for a very important purpose - it either fixes <> a bug in the hardware or adds an actual enhancement. If the modificatio More true in the micro would where standards were evolving faster that the the hardware could be made. <> was absolutely useful at the time it was made - and is something that <> every sane original owner did - then it's part of the culture of the <> machine! The last line is where history resides. Hacks were part of the culture and remain a legacy. Allison

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Importance of "original" parts

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

For me; at least; the interest is not for profit. It is for my own personal enjoyment; and for history. If every Apple ][ is thrown away; once very-common items become very rare. -----Original Message----- From: Olminkhof <jolminkh(a)c2.telstra-mm.net.au> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, December 08, 1997 1:13 PM Subject: Re: Importance of "original" parts >>How important is it to obtain computers in their "original" state? Is it >>worth it to save a computer that is known to have been hacked together? >> > >I think it's worth saving anything that might eventually fill in part of a >jigsaw. > >>For example: I have an original Mac 128k. However, I believe that the >>motherboard has been upgraded to the 512k "Fat" Mac. I purchased it at the >>University of Michigan's Property Disposal warehouse, which means I was >>lucky to find a matching keyboard and mouse and I have no hope of finding >>the original manuals or shipping boxes for it. >. >. >>Should I even bother to restore this machine to it's original state by >>purchasing an original (but not _the_ original) motherboard, assuming I >>can even find one, or should I just use the machine as is and forget about >>any attempts at historical accuracy? At what point do I wind up with >>Washington's Hatchet, or does it even matter? > >Mostly, you will be very lucky to pick up the bits you want. I think >eventually a swap culture will arrive but you need to have something to swap >with. We are in a rescue-from-the-garbage phase at the moment, so I believe >in hoarding everything I find ..... that I can find space for that is! > >Hans >

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Importance of "original" parts

by jolminkh＠c2.telstra-mm.net.au

>How important is it to obtain computers in their "original" state? Is it >worth it to save a computer that is known to have been hacked together? > I think it's worth saving anything that might eventually fill in part of a jigsaw. >For example: I have an original Mac 128k. However, I believe that the >motherboard has been upgraded to the 512k "Fat" Mac. I purchased it at the >University of Michigan's Property Disposal warehouse, which means I was >lucky to find a matching keyboard and mouse and I have no hope of finding >the original manuals or shipping boxes for it. . . >Should I even bother to restore this machine to it's original state by >purchasing an original (but not _the_ original) motherboard, assuming I >can even find one, or should I just use the machine as is and forget about >any attempts at historical accuracy? At what point do I wind up with >Washington's Hatchet, or does it even matter? Mostly, you will be very lucky to pick up the bits you want. I think eventually a swap culture will arrive but you need to have something to swap with. We are in a rescue-from-the-garbage phase at the moment, so I believe in hoarding everything I find ..... that I can find space for that is! Hans

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Unix on Zenith Supersport SX

by higginbo＠netpath.net

At 11:51 PM 12/7/97 +0000, you wrote: >Please dig up more memory at least 4-8mb and plug in and you will be >happy, the hd is tad tight but doable, but you could swap the hd out >for bigger ones. I think this one uses standard IDE 3.5" or 2.5" hd. Sure does. I just pulled the 40mb out and put this 104mb HD in (not 110mb like I said earlier). No problems whatsoever. The SS sx doesn't have a user defined drive type, so the largest drive in BIOS is 220mb, but the 104mb was the only thing laying around. he SS sx will support up to 8mb, but the memory upgrades cost $58 each from what I could find on the internet. If my budget allowed, I'd get it, but would like to find something cheaper. - John Higginbotham - limbo.netpath.net

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Portable Collection

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 12:14 AM 12/6/97 -0500, you wrote: >The military once procured a bunch of XT-like machines that were portable >and keyboardless. Everything was done thru a touchscreen, including a >virtual keyboard. About five years ago, there were a bunch floating around >the hamfests in the Chicago area. The GridPad 1910 that I have has a 'virtual' keyboard. Nice machine; I just wish I could find some GPS/Mapping software that would run on it so I could mount it in my Land Rover... (Or a 486/pentium version?) >> How about a portable UNIX workstation with a ~21" gas plasma display? I've >> actually seen such a beast. > >Yes, portable Unix machines do exist! The SPARCstation Voyager is somewhat >like what you describe. It is a luggable monster, and was replaced by the >SPARCbooks some time ago. The problem with the Sun notebooks (which I'd *love* to have if anyone wants to get rid of one) is that they're darned expensive and I'm poor. 8^) I suspect a unix workstation with a 21" gas plasma display ain't gonna be cheap either! --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

Portable Collection

by H.Davies＠latrobe.edu.au

At 12:14 AM 12/6/97 -0500, William Donzelli wrote: >Yes, portable Unix machines do exist! The SPARCstation Voyager is somewhat >like what you describe. It is a luggable monster, and was replaced by the >SPARCbooks some time ago. There was a neat Sony? MIPS based Unix portable that I played with about 7 years ago. Large B&W LCD display, 500Mb disk in a box not much bigger than a Toshiba 5200. Really neat and really expensive. I had one on evaluation for a week or so and it was cool running X at home (of course, these days X is just run of the mill). 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 | "My Alfas keep me poor in a monetary Melbourne Australia 3083 | sense, but rich in so many other ways"

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Interest In Unix

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<everybody expects to figure everything out from little hieroglyphs. <That don't work for me -- I read and use a command line. Intuitive? <Intuition is for illiterate women (NOT ALLISON -- don't hit me!) That is sexist.... ;-) I prefer "pets and small children" in place of women in that sentence. As to hitting you, never. I've trained old dogs and I don't hit them either. ;) <Intuition is for illiterate pets and small children. Here's a historical quote.... "Unix is snake oil" Tee shirt seen at the mill: owner remains: Front: The NO circle with the word unix in lower case. the digital logo (the "keys") "Unix the unsystem, never had it never will". Allison

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

10 years and change/use it or lose it

by mtapley＠swri.edu

Off-topic part of post, please ignore. Here's the way I remember these things: BeeGee = 70's pop music group memeber GeeBee = 30's racing aircraft Meantime, back to the computers; 1) I vote strongly in favor of keeping the 10-year rule. It's simple, it's hard to start an argument over, and it has worked wonderfully so far. It is a "moving window", but that's appropriate. Time is moving on... 2) On whether to mothball or use a system: if it's your second one, mothball. If it's your first one of that type, follow Tony's good suggestions regarding PS testing and then *use it*. Keep the packing material, keep the manuals pristine, but get some time on it. Why? Nobody is going to get passionate about a box in the closet. Five years from now when the rest of your family needs more room in the closet, that box will hit the streets or the dumpster if it's just a box. ("But you *never use it!*") Worse, 5 years from now Tony may have been hit by a truck (er... lorry. and no offense intended, Tony!) and no one will be able to help you debug the power supply if you decide to fire it up and it fails its test. On the other hand, if it's the system you spend your nights hacking on to try to port Mosaic or bring up a Mandelbrot-set displayer on, it's *safe*. Your family will hit the streets instead :-). And if it's got an infant-mortality problem, better to flush it out while this group is around to help you. Just my humble opnion. I play Tetris on my Rainbow and am planning to (real soon now (TM) ) write a Mandelbrot set program on it. I use my Mac Plus for the family finances and all sorts of games (it's getting flaky though. needs work.). My NeXT is at my office and web-surfs and runs Mathematica analyses for my job, in exchange for its IP address. (urk! wasn't I just advocating the 10-year rule? Sorry. We'll be there soon!) - Mark

28 years, 4 months

4
3
0 0

Interest In Unix

by pvhp＠forte.com

classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu, photze(a)batelco.com.bh Subj: Re: Interest In Unix Tim D. Hotze wrote: >------=_NextPart_000_0006_01BD01A6.0C8FEE00 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="iso-8859-1" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > >Season's greetings! I have just gotten interested in Linux, (so, it's = >not truly classic content, but it's implementations are); and I was = >wondering if anyone here has experience with this kind of thing.... any = >Linux experience at all. (Sorry for the decipful headline) > And I know that it makes me look like an idiot; but possilby if = >someone could transmit some good newsgroups. People have said time and = >time again that there are betternewsgroups where we can put all of our = >"modern" questions. Possibly, that could be included in the FAQ. (Or = >NAQ) > Thanks, > > Tim D. Hotze > I was under the impression that Linus started with the minix code - early versions of which are certainly approaching the 10 year classical limit. Here is some other help: % newsgroups | grep linux comp.os.linux.admin comp.os.linux.advocacy comp.os.linux.announce comp.os.linux.answers comp.os.linux.development comp.os.linux.development.apps comp.os.linux.development.system comp.os.linux.hardware comp.os.linux.help comp.os.linux.m68k comp.os.linux.misc comp.os.linux.networking comp.os.linux.setup comp.os.linux.x have fun. Peter Prymmer

28 years, 4 months

3
3
0 0

Portable Collection

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 01:41 PM 12/4/97 -0500, you wrote: >Th PX-8 can wake up, do something and go to sleep automajikally. I noticed that in the docs t'other day too. Which brings me to the changed subject... With the receipt of a PX-8 (with matching P-80 Portable printer!) I kinda feel like I've got a pretty decent collection of portable computers going. What I've got so far is: Altima 2 Amstrad PPC640 Amstrad PDA 600 "PenPad" Apple Macintosh Portable Atari Portfolio Bondwell B310plus. Casio FA-10 Docking Station Compaq Portable 386 Data General One Epson HX-20 Laptop Epson PX-8 Laptop Grid GridCase3 Grid GridPad 1910 Hewlett-Packard 75D Hewlett-Packard Vectra LS/12 Hewlett-Packard Portable Vectra CS Iasis Computer in a Book IBM PC Radio IBM PS/2 Model 70 Lunchbox Interactive Network NEC MultiSpeed NEC PC8201A NEC PC8401A "Starlet" Osborne 01 Osborne Executive Outbound Laptop Panasonic HHC (HandHeld Computer) Radio Shack Model 100. Sharp PC-7000 with printer Sharp PC-7100 Seequa Chameleon Sharp PC-4 Texas Instruments Compact Computer 40, Type-O-Graph Zenith ZP-150 Zenith ZF-161 Zenith Z-170 Zenith Supersport 286 Not all of these are working 100% (yet), and a couple are still enroute (Outbound & Portfolio). So anyway, I sorta feel like I could not add another machine and still have a collection of portables that covers the important ones, plus a bunch that were kinda weird or personally significant. But, I'm certainly no expert, so there may very well be some that I'm missing that are important. I know I'd like to get a Z88 and a Poquet PC, an Original Compaq (I've got a Compac [sic] but that's not the same thing). Can anyone else think of some I should be looking for? Thanks! (And sorry for the longness(? Length)!) --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

10
10
0 0

Epson PX-8 finally dead with no hope?

by Bryn＠bwc.org

Over the last couple of years my PX-8 has suffered a slow degredation of its quality of life. Firstly the old batteries gave out, but when these were replaced with a set from Tauber Electronics of 4901 Morena Blvd, San Diego, Ca., the replacement set took a looooong time to charge up, and in the process burnt out a transistor - GRB - R6 in the attached Multi-unit (64) board. Nothing would work. So I detached the multi unit and limped on with the original 12kb of memory. However, the tape drive also stopped writing correctly. If I wrote to it I could no longer access any thing from it. But still we limped along for over 2 years, by downloading through the serial port via a VT200 cable to the Unix system at work using the Term program, each time we'd written four pages of text. But finaly the it is also not powering up, and all the advise I read in the archives of this list - particularly: To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Epson PX-8, no power up From: Paul E Coad <pcoad(a)crl.com> Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 00:16:23 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: <33DB9664.7DF771DF(a)rain.org> AND To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Epson PX-8, no power up From: Marvin <marvin(a)rain.org> Date: Sun, 27 Jul 1997 11:41:40 -0700 References: <Pine.SUN.3.91.970727103047.2032L-100000(a)crl3.crl.com> Etc. has been to no avail. All the ROMS are in, the batteries are connected, the Power units work etc. etc... Is it time to turn the unit into a boat anchor? It has served us so well for so long it seems there should be a more fitting way of saying goodbye. I'd be willing to mail it anyhere, but it was repairable when it left Israel, I doubt it would be by the time it got to where it is going. Now I'm left with an orphaned P-80X printer - I guess I may as will ditch it as well. Pity... regards, Bryn Deamer -------------------------------------------------------------------- Email: bryn(a)bwc.org : Bryn and Sherna Deamer URL : www.poboxes.com/bryn : P.O. Box 155, 31001 Ph: 972-4-8358457 fx: 8358591 : Haifa, Israel ---------------------------------END--------------------------------

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Old Systems Available

by jimw＠agora.rdrop.com

A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 2394 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/attachments/19971207/9beadc55/at…

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

new additions (long)

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

this weekend brought me several interesting items. someone from south carolina noticed my name was on the classic computer mailing list and emailed me about some machines he wanted to give me so i met him halfway and picked up a truckload of items. i got: 2 xycom cpm workstations which are big old one piece units, complete with 8 inch floppy drives. an external 10 meg hard drive unit. add on floppy unit for a total of 3 drives a giant and extremely heavy box full of original documentation and cpm 1.1 system disks/wordstar/spellstar/business software. ~200 disks total, and some are still blank and never used! also got a decwriter on casters and all the cables to hook everything up. i have not powered up the machines yet, as i'm letting them acclimate for 24 hours since they had to ride in the back of the truck in 20 degree weather. at a radio rally the same day i got: mac se fdhd ibm basic primer handbook still in shrinkwrap. mca modem <?> card apple //c power supply in original plastic wrap. ( i didnt know it was supposed to be so white!) some C= 64 stuff, including some manuals, a print interface and a modem in the original box with a price tag of over $100. i even got the quantumlink software in a never opened box. and my best find, a tandy 102! complete with owner's guide, ps, and matching battery operated cassette recorder. the guy wanted $30 for it, but my girlfriend's smile got the computer for $20 lol. david

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

: Re: Hot Dog! I got my 11/34 today!

by rcini＠email.msn.com

On Sat, 6 Dec 1997 11:34:40 +0000 (GMT), Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> wrote: >>Well done!!! Thanks! This has been a long time in coming (since October). Unfortunately, I have to go down there again because the guy there e-mailed me and said that he "found the right-hand panel for the rack." Dooooh! >>If you ever need to change the heads on an RK05 you need to get an >>alignment disk. I'm rather too far away to pop round with mine. Is there a way to make a copy of that disk pack, or is it a factory-made item> >>Have you clamped the RK05 heads (remove the top covers and there's a 'L' >>shaped clamp on top of the positioner. Use that to hold the voice coil in >>the rearmost position)? If not, do it now. There's a battery pack (4 off >>1/2AA NiCds) on top of the RK05 PSU that's supposed to keep the heads >>retracted (and to retract them if there's a power failure with a pack >>mounted), but it's probably decayed by now. I don't recall seeing a battery pack when I opened the RK05's, but yes, I did lock the servos before moving the computer. I also, looked at the specs for the computer -- I definitely have to drop a new electrical service to my shop. Start-up current on the two RK05's alone is 20a at 125v. >>I'd advise you to take all the units out of the rack to move it. With 2 >>people helping, you can carry an RK05 or PDP11/34 CPU box fully >>assembled, but I'd not want to carry more than 1 at a time. You should be >>able to move the rack with all the slide rails still in place, I think The PDP is in my garage right now. What a trip it was trying to tilt it up while getting it out of the van. It took 3 people to make sure that no one got crushed! >>Enjoy your new toy - it's a great machine I can't wait to get it up and running. Thanks for the tips! Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com> (remove nospam_ to use) ClubWin! Charter Member (6) MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking ============================================

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Donation - old mainframe Unix system

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<A 68040 -based machine is not that old, maybe a bit under 10 years. What I <was wondering is whether or not there is any objective advantage of old <machines to new ones. F.E. one could get an old IBM mini (System/3X) for <little or no money, but is there anything doable on it that is impossible t <do on a W****** 95 machine? It would be rare to say that a late W95 box isn't more capable. The only thing it cant do is support more than one user! Though I've seen PDP-8s that can. Now a late model PC running something other than w95 like linux can support multiple users, not that common though. Most older machines that was an expectation. After all they were expensive. ;-) There is something that is possible on older machine that is close to impossible on a win95 box. I can completely document my entire s100 machine right down to sources for CP/M, a significant number of applications and the circuits for all the cards, backplane and power supply. Some of my PDP-11 stuff I can do near as well. In other words I have all the resources to understand it and even copy it or improve it, something I have done. Allison

28 years, 4 months

8
9
0 0

Portable Collection

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

>The military once procured a bunch of XT-like machines that were portable >and keyboardless. Everything was done thru a touchscreen, including a >virtual keyboard. About five years ago, there were a bunch floating around >the hamfests in the Chicago area. That would be _so_ cool to see.... can anyone tell me what they looked like?

28 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

Help, Dyna Micro

by francois.auradon＠worldnet.att.net

Hi, I found today a Dyna Micro. This is all I know about the thingy. It is apparently a learning system or a prototping system. Unfortunately the board was completely nude (only sockets). Does anybody have any info on it, is it worth salvaging? It has a 4x4 keypad on the bottom right corner and a vero style prototyping area on the left side, the circuitry is above there is a row of 24 LEDs room for a processor (whaterver it might be) and a couple ROMS the rest might be RAM and glue. On the brighter side I also found two Osbone I in perfect condition with one set of disks for $7 :) :) ------------------------------------------------------------ Francois Auradon Visit the Sanctuary at: http://home.att.net/~francois.auradon

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Portable Collection

by adam＠merlin.net.au

>But, I'm certainly no expert, so there may very well be some that I'm >missing that are important. I know I'd like to get a Z88 and a Poquet PC, >an Original Compaq (I've got a Compac [sic] but that's not the same thing). >Can anyone else think of some I should be looking for I forgot one more - the Cambridge Z88. It's not significant because of what it was (being very similar to the Amstrad Notepad, although I am not sure just how similar as I failed to pick up the only one I have seen), but for who made it. Cambridge Computers, I believe, was the computer company set up by Sir Clive Sinclair after the collapse (and sale to Amstrad) of Sinclair. Adam.

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Portable Collection

by adam＠merlin.net.au

>But, I'm certainly no expert, so there may very well be some that I'm >missing that are important. I know I'd like to get a Z88 and a Poquet PC, >an Original Compaq (I've got a Compac [sic] but that's not the same thing). >Can anyone else think of some I should be looking for I would have to suggest the Commodore SX-64 (I have one, and they are pretty good) and the TRS-80 Model 4P (also one I have, and certainly worth having). Also, although extremely unlikly to be found, there was a C64 laptop made that didn't go into production - I doubt there were many prototypes, but I know they existed. Someone else mentioned the Apricot Portable _ I am desperatly after one myself, and figure it would be a wonderful find. Not a great computer, mind you, but nevertheless a wonderful find. Very stylish. Adam.

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

One collector down temporarily.

by jbeolett＠ssi.net

Unfortunatly, my good friend Daniel Seagraves (dseagrav) a frequent contributer to this list is temporarily out of service due to the death of his grandmother last night. He is expected back Tuesday. I feel sorry for him being he is one of my closest friends. I don't reguraly post to this list and this doesn't really fit in to classic computing other than the fact that he's a collector and he's out of service for a few days.

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

This weeks finds

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

Slow begining but a few finds Friday and Saturday. My biggest find was a Wang laptop with carrying case (black), 14.5 lbs, 512k ram, NICAD battery (dead), 10mb HD, full size keyboard, full size supertwist LCD screen, RS-232 port, SCSI port for external floppy drives, MS-DOS 3.2 and DOS reloaded, builtin modem, uses NEC V30 CPU, 8 Mhz clock rate. It's missing the ext drives 3.5 and 5 1/4 and 18V power supply. This unit has a builtin printer also. Other finds - Socrates infra-red keyboard do not have a base unit here to test it with; 2 Mac Plus keyboards; Apple Personal LaserWriter NT $5 not tested yet; Hitachi external CD-ROM drive (free) not tested yet; Laser128 with power brick not tested yet; a Amiga 500 with mouse, ext 3.5 FD, and power brick not tested yet cost was .80 cents for all of it; HP Thinkjet model 2225C not tested yet; a Zenith luggable model ZFA-138-42 not tested yet $5; about 30 different manuals for many different products like Kennedy model 1600 tape unit;VTech video painter; and last a Apple personal modem model A9M0334. Well that's it for the week, will take a day off Sunday. Still trying to setup the warehouse deal for BIG load of systems. - John Keep computing !!

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

GRiDCASE 3 info

by higginbo＠netpath.net

Hello. First post to this list: I am looking for any and all info for the GRiD GRiDCASE 3 laptop. I know all the specs, but I need info for the GRiD-OS and any software and it's availability for the GRiD-OS. As it stands now, I have MS-DOS 2.11 ROM installed, GRiD-OS ROM internal daughter card with various apps installed, and an optional ROM that includes a VT100 terminal. I would really like to find out how to format a disk under GRiD-OS, and any other system commands I can use besides the built-in menu. I have no external (floppy) software for the GRiD-OS, but if anyone has it, I'd pay for copies. Also, if anyone is looking for specs and info for GRiD laptops, please checkout this page I am slowly putting together: http://limbo.netpath.net/hw/GRiD - John Higginbotham - limbo.netpath.net

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Portable Collection

by Zeus334＠aol.com

--Original So anyway, I sorta feel like I could not add another machine and still have a collection of portables that covers the important ones, plus a bunch that were kinda weird or personally significant. --- Well, an interesting one was the Apricot portable, which I have no experience with. I heard it had voice command, and ran off an 8088.

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Seeking classics for collection

by agammuto＠cybersoft.com

Greetings- I'm new to this list. Anybody willing to sell or know a source for: IMSAI 8080, OSI Challenger, or KIM?

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Hot Dog! I got my 11/34 today!

by rcini＠email.msn.com

Today, my father and I drove to Philadelphia to pick-up an 11/34 system. It has been used by the Univ. of Pennsylvania psychology department since its original installation date. It was only decommissioned two months ago because its "user" retired. I haven't taken a complete inventory yet, but here's the haul: 11/34 processor, expansion box and two RK05s in a 6' rack (It's even configured as shown on the cover of the 11/34 hardware book), engineering diagrams, manuals, programming books, 4 disk packs, replacement drive heads, air filters, one spare RK05, and loads of spare boards. I'll start inventorying this week. Also, I have to tear the rack down in order to move it to the basement (it's in my garage now). At 450 lbs., it was too heavy to move downstairs. I'll probably remove the RK05s to move it. Then, I have to drop a 120v/30a line into the shop. More to come... Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com> (remove nospam_ to use) ClubWin! Charter Member (6) MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking ============================================

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

???

by higginbo＠netpath.net

Is this a list? Hoping this won't show up to a bunch of subscribers... Want to see if I can join the list, and all I have is this obscure e-mail address reference... Didn't mean to piss anyone off if I did by posting this message through the "wrong" channels... Prease Excuse. - John Higginbotham - limbo.netpath.net

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Advice wanted for cleaning edge connectors, IC sockets, etc.

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<"tuner wash" would be bad for the connectors, PC board, plastic IC <sockets, silk screening, solder mask, etc. I considered rubbing <alcohol, but I don't know what the effect of that would be either. I <checked the FAQs that I know of, and about all I came up with was <someone's technique of "giving the circuit board a good scrubbing" <with dish soap and swinging it on the end of a string to dry it. As <this technique strikes me as possibly dangerous, to myself, the Remove the front panel circuit board. Insure any dress items like the front pannel overlay are not on it and put it in the dish washer with the usual cleaner (any dishes too). This will do a very good job and is not caustic. It dry it well, if it come out with water in the switches don't panic. Put it in an oven set real low (you want 140 degrees) and bake it dry. Lubricate the switches with a contact leaner that has some low residue lubricant in it. Drying is a no rush thing. FYI soap with plenty of clean water rinse is the least damaging thing you can use. I've done this many, many times (whole production runs!) using this approach. Any switches once dries that are failed/flaky can be replaced easily as they are common parts. Allison

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Portable Collection

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 02:36 PM 12/5/97 -0800, you wrote: >Hmm. Just thinking about portables in my own collection.... > >Convergent Workslate Yep, definitely very cool. Gotta add it to my wish list. (Hey, christmas is coming! 8^) >Gavilan I know the name, but little else. I'd love to hear more when you get through all the docs & such. >HP 110 (Portable) >HP Portable Plus Y'know, I donated a couple of these to CHAC back when I thought I could get away without actually collecting computers myself... But I'm an HP lover too, so these go on the wish list... (P.S., do you know about the 918DX offer?) >HP Integral PC > - Unix in ROM Oh yeah. Saw yours at the VCF. <drool, drool, lust, lust> I *definitely* want one of these. >Osborne 3 > - Somebody please tell me I don't have the *only* one in the world! >Osborne 4 (Vixen) > - Hey, if you're interested in collecting the whole set.... I wouldn't mind having the whole set at all. 8^) 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Spoiled by geezers

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 04:36 PM 12/5/97 EST, you wrote: >What exactly is a PX-8? BTW, I have a Mac Portable, which I got because it The PX-8 is a small laptop, kinda similar to the HX-20 or the m100/NEC/m10 crowd, but more in the same class as the NEC Starlet. It's a CP/M machine with an 8(?) line flip-up display and built-in micro-cassette drive. >wasn't working. After connecting the battery directly to the AC power for a >few seconds, it worked. The battery is dead now, though. I use another AC The Mac Portable is an odd critter. It seems it runs off the battery, and the power supply is only there to charge the battery. I'm learning a lot about them right now, in fact. My current idea is to make a doohickey that will feed power in from an external power source to the battery contacts so you don't need the regular power supply at all. Basically, if you don't have a working battery (or something to fool the mac portable into thinking you do) then it won't work. The battery is a 6v lead-acid battery. >adapter for the battery, as well as the normal one. That thing eats power! Why >your battery is alive and mine died, god only knows. The PX-8 runs (iirc -- I only got mine on Wednesday and spent yesterday at a funeral so I haven't played with it much) on AA batteries. It has no floppy or hard drive, and the small LCD screen probably doesn't use much juice. Hence, all you need power for is the RAM and CPU/electronics. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Panasonic HHC

by ddales＠cts.com

I have an HHC in perfect working order and was just wondering what it might be worth to a collector. Just curious, Dave Dales Ddales(a)cts.com San Diego, CA

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Spoiled by geezers

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<From: Zeus334 <Zeus334(a)aol.com> <What exactly is a PX-8? BTW, I have a Mac Portable, which I got because it PX-8 aka geneva is a z80 based CP/M portable circa 1984. <few seconds, it worked. The battery is dead now, though. I use another AC <adapter for the battery, as well as the normal one. That thing eats power! <your battery is alive and mine died, god only knows. Well I've had to replace the cells due to age based failure. The CPU is a CMOS z80 and uses very little power, combine that with no backight LCD, no hard drive (uses ramdisk or microcassette) the power consumption is extremely light. FYI the two week limit was not for lack of battery but the fact that nicads self discharge and would be dead within 30 days if not charged. The nicads used for PX-8 are real cheap I got a set of 4 cells for $10 new. Allison

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

FREE! Trash-80 Model 4's

by manney＠nwohio.com

Another person asked first. He asked about "the TRS-80s", which indicates he wants all of them. I e-mailed, mentioning someone else (you) wanted some, and will wait for his e-mail. manney(a)nwohio.com ---------- > From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > To: Manney > Subject: Re: FREE! Trash-80 Model 4's > Date: Friday, December 05, 1997 3:08 PM > > I'm interested in the TRS-80s you mentioned. How much will it cost? I'm in > PA 17347. > > Thanks, > Tom

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

RED ALERT!! BIG LOAD OF FREEBIES!!

by Anthony.Eros＠digital.com

I stopped in there today and they're not kidding. Piles of PDP-11s: 11/04, 11/23, 11/34, 11/44. VAX, MicroVAX, VAXstation (I picked up a Tempest-shielded VAXstation cabinet), disk and tape drives, terminals (tons of VT100s,) monitors, documentation, you name it. I didn't see any PDP-8s, though the guy said he thought there might be some 8/a stuff squirreled away. The DECsystem 2020 is in a single cab. They're anxious to empty the building and stop paying rent, so at some point, the unclaimed items will be tossed. I snagged a small pile of stuff and put dibs on a couple others that I'll be picking up early next week. -- Tony ---------- From: kyrrin2@wizards.net[SMTP:kyrrin2@wizards.net] Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 1997 3:30 PM To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Subject: RED ALERT!! BIG LOAD OF FREEBIES!! ATTN: Classic Computer Rescue Crewmembers in the Dover, Delaware area! Take note of this missive I found on Usenet. If I were ANYwhere near the east coast, I'd already have visited the place. This is a terrific opportunity for those of you who want to get your hands dirty on DEC hardware to do it. And, if anyone goes down there and finds an M7552 module (RRD50 controller), please snare it for me! ;-) Attachment follows. -=-=- <snip> -=-=- OK. The powers that be no longer want to store this stuff, so the time has come to make it go away. We have around 5000 square feet of Vax and PDP equipment that needs to find new homes. It's mostly older Qbus and Unibus stuff, so don't expect to find state of the art stuff in here. There is way too much stuff to list, but in a nutshell, there are vaxen from 11/730 up to 8820, with many microvaxen in ba23's and ba123's. There are many unibus pdp-11's, and some pdp-8 stuff. There is also a DEC-system 2020. Many peripherals. TONS of books, manuals, and printsets. Miles of tape, zillions of disk packs, many 8" floppies, etc. If someone is looking for something in particular, let me know and I can see if it is there. Your best bet, however, is to come walk around and see what you can use. Equipment is free for the taking and is located in Dover, Delaware. Don't respond if you are only interested in scrap. We want to get rid of it, but don't want to see the stuff junked. Hell, we can junk the stuff ourselves if that is what we wanted to do. We thought there should be people out there that can use this equipment. take one piece, or take everything. First come, first served. You haul. Unfortunately, we do not have time to package things for shipping, although if the item is small enough, and you make a good enough case, exceptions may be possible. :-) We are interested in moving this stuff quickly, so please respond if interested. Email address has been purposely munged to prevent spam. Re-assemble the address below to respond. Thanks, Jim Bender jbender at corpamerica dot com

28 years, 4 months

4
4
0 0

Spoiled by geezers

by Zeus334＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-12-05 05:03:13 EST, you write: << Yes but the PX-8 is now 13 years old and the nicads in it could sustain continous computing for 12-16 hours. I've tried one for logging data and it ran for two weeks at 1-2 minutes per hour without trouble. The time and autostart/shutdown was built in, no extras needed. Most laptops would be hard pressed to run the total uptime without killing the battery. Allison >> What exactly is a PX-8? BTW, I have a Mac Portable, which I got because it wasn't working. After connecting the battery directly to the AC power for a few seconds, it worked. The battery is dead now, though. I use another AC adapter for the battery, as well as the normal one. That thing eats power! Why your battery is alive and mine died, god only knows.

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Panasonic HHC

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 07:01 PM 12/3/97 -0800, you wrote: >I have an HHC in perfect working order and was just wondering what it might be worth to a collector. I recently got mine for $15.50. See <http://komodo.ebay2.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1585402> for details. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Forward: Atari STacy FS

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 01:23 PM 12/5/97 EST, you wrote: >Atari STacy portable computer. 4MB RAM. 40 MB hard disk. Built-in >screen, MIDI, and trackball. Can also use external mouse and monitor if These still sell for several hundred dollars, mostly because they are just about the ideal MIDI solution for traveling musicians (except maybe for the never-produced ST-Book). I'd love to have one, but since I don't get to use my various ST's & Falcons as it is... --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

FREE! Trash-80 Model 4's

by TOwad＠aol.com

I'm interested in the TRS-80s you mentioned. How much will it cost? I'm in PA 17347. Thanks, Tom

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Interest In Unix

by mark＠cyberlightstudios.com

Hi, Yes, I've got experience with Linux. Email me at mark(a)cyberlightstudios.com Mark -----Original Message----- From: Hotze [SMTP:photze@batelco.com.bh] Sent: Friday, December 05, 1997 9:49 AM To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Subject: Interest In Unix << File: ATT00000.htm >> Season's greetings! I have just gotten interested in Linux, (so, it's not truly classic content, but it's implementations are); and I was wondering if anyone here has experience with this kind of thing.... any Linux experience at all. (Sorry for the decipful headline) And I know that it makes me look like an idiot; but possilby if someone could transmit some good newsgroups. People have said time and time again that there are betternewsgroups where we can put all of our "modern" questions. Possibly, that could be included in the FAQ. (Or NAQ) Thanks, Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Advice wanted for cleaning edge connectors, IC sockets, etc.

by bill_r＠inetnebr.com

I recently started the process of bringing my old IMSAI back to the land of the living; it's been packed away for about 10 years, and while it is still functional, the front panel (which never was too stable to begin with) is showing some signs of dirty connections, such as LEDs that flicker if the panel is bumped, unpredictable response to some address switches, etc. I would like to give it a good cleaning, and was wondering what I should use. I didn't know if something like "tuner wash" would be bad for the connectors, PC board, plastic IC sockets, silk screening, solder mask, etc. I considered rubbing alcohol, but I don't know what the effect of that would be either. I checked the FAQs that I know of, and about all I came up with was someone's technique of "giving the circuit board a good scrubbing" with dish soap and swinging it on the end of a string to dry it. As this technique strikes me as possibly dangerous, to myself, the boards, and passers-by, I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. :^) -Bill Richman bill_r(a)inetnebr.com http://incolor.inetnebr.com/bill_r ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "When they took the fourth amendment, I was quiet because I didn't deal drugs. When they took the sixth amendment, I was quiet because I was innocent. When they took the second amendment, I was quiet because I didn't own a gun. Now they've taken the first amendment, and I can say nothing about it." -www.paranoia.com

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Forward: Atari STacy FS

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

found on dc.forsale.computers, so it's located somewhere in northern va. email the seller, not me! For Sale: Atari STacy portable computer. 4MB RAM. 40 MB hard disk. Built-in screen, MIDI, and trackball. Can also use external mouse and monitor if desired. STacy is perfect for serving as the MIDI heartbeat of an art installation or for live gigs. To this day, the Atari has the most accurate MIDI clocking ever produced on a computer. No other full-computer package provides the perfect MIDI portablility of the STacy - one piece grab and go! Though the memory and disk seems small by modern standards, the software written for this machine (and there is lots of it) was written small and fast. Thus, MIDI-wise, STacy can do it all, and do it well, besting many modern boxes running modern un-tuned code. (No digital audio though...) Also, if you want to exercise the score-printing capabilities, I can provide an Atari laser printer with it. Though old, this is still a special box. I'm not "blowing it out", but all reasonable offers will be considered. Please respond via email. Subject: FS: Atari STacy portable MIDI computer Path: lobby01.news.aol.com!newstf02.news.aol.com!portc02.blue.aol.com!pitt.edu!dsinc !news.voicenet.com!netnews.com!howland.erols.net!feed2.news.erols.com!winter.n ews.erols.com!progster From: progster(a)erols.com (Progster)

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

DECmate II

by scott＠saskatoon.com

Yesterday I picked up a DECmate II. Unfortunately, there were no disks with it. I have a few questions... 1. How would I recognize an APU or XPU board? 2. Where can I get a boot disk for it? 3. What software was(is) available for it? (I guess I can now say I have a PDP-8.) ttfn srw

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Interest In Unix

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Season's greetings! I have just gotten interested in Linux, (so, it's not truly classic content, but it's implementations are); and I was wondering if anyone here has experience with this kind of thing.... any Linux experience at all. (Sorry for the decipful headline) And I know that it makes me look like an idiot; but possilby if someone could transmit some good newsgroups. People have said time and time again that there are betternewsgroups where we can put all of our "modern" questions. Possibly, that could be included in the FAQ. (Or NAQ) Thanks, Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

RED ALERT!! BIG LOAD OF FREEBIES!!

by H.Davies＠latrobe.edu.au

At 04:59 PM 12/3/97 -0500, William Donzelli wrote: >> > There is also a DEC-system 2020. >> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >> >> Holy &*^%&*%! (Spits out soda) That's a DEC-10! > >Wipe that up! > >Well, it is a 36 bitter, thus deserving a spot in any collection, but I am >sure some of the PDP-10 old timers (hmmmm, who could they be?) will be >quick to tell you that the 2020s are the little runts of the family. They >were slow and not really elegant. I think of myself as a young DECsystem-10 old timer :-) Whilst it's true to say that the horrible orange 2020s are runts, not real -10s (they're the wrong colour and size to start with), they are the only practical DEC 36 bit system for the home user.... It's no bigger than a VAX-11/780 and there are quite a few people with systems that size at home. The biggest regret I have is that I was offered one about 5 years ago and didn't have the space or money at the time to get it - it was later scrapped.... 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 | "My Alfas keep me poor in a monetary Melbourne Australia 3083 | sense, but rich in so many other ways"

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

oldies but goodies

by mwhybark＠halcyon.com

Seattle area: Zenith Z-180 portable, circa 1983 lotsa SW manuals battery unvouched for display spotty please bid, not looking for a gold mine, u-haul! FREE: Katpro 2, manuals, some SW + Jukiwriter 6100, cables (hey, it got me through school about 10 years ago!)

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Spoiled by geezers

by allisonp＠world.std.com

> <> Th PX-8 can wake up, do something and go to sleep automajikally. <> <Well, I agree that these systems are better; recently, wintel machines als <have certain accessories which can schedule the PC to turn on. Yes but the PX-8 is now 13 years old and the nicads in it could sustain continous computing for 12-16 hours. I've tried one for logging data and it ran for two weeks at 1-2 minutes per hour without trouble. The time and autostart/shutdown was built in, no extras needed. Most laptops would be hard pressed to run the total uptime without killing the battery. Allison

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

weekend finds

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 10:12 AM 12/2/97 -0600, you wrote: >>I am amazed that there isn't a standard for remotes -- 01 for on/off, 02 for > >Hmm. I've got seven remotes and devices here on my desk, and I'm glad >they don't speak the same symbols. I wish they had fewer standards >and more configurable uniqueness, so I could run two of the same >devices each with their own remote. :-) Okay, good point. So what we need is channels, like MIDI gear (and maybe Device ID's, like SCSI.) Hmmm... But then we're getting too complicated for the average bozo (comment about flashing 12:00 omitted.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

apple rgb monitor problems

by BROBSTONA＠wartburg.edu

>i need some help with an applecolor rgb monitor if anyone can. >does anyone know any way of testing this monitor? i have one in the >silver-gray colour that matches my mac IIcx yet, i cannot seem to get any >video on it. This really sounds like the monitor for an Apple IIgs. I have three such monitors. (One isn't in very good shape and the other two are in use.) I think there are some Macs that can use this monitor, but I'm not positive. Make sure you are using analog RGB, not digital. What pinout is on the end of the cable? (I think it's supposed to be DB-25, if I have the number right, but I'm using the monitor to type this message and thus can't check right now. :)) -- Andy Brobston brobstona(a)wartburg.edu ***NEW URL BELOW*** http://www.wartburg.edu/people/docs/personalPages/BrobstonA/home.html My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wartburg College as a whole.

28 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

Spoiled by geezers

by Zeus334＠aol.com

><< <> I hate to continue the waste [well, maybe not], but in my original post ><> said "on _and_ off..." These machines cannot turn on by themselves > <> unattended by setting an internal wake-up time. > <> > <Well, actually, they can. > > Th PX-8 can wake up, do something and go to sleep automajikally. > Well, I agree that these systems are better; recently, wintel machines also have certain accessories which can schedule the PC to turn on.

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

FREE! Trash-80 Model 4's

by manney＠nwohio.com

Two TRS-80 Model 4's are available for free in northern Ohio. I can stall the owner for a couple of days, but if I don't get a reply, they get trashed. Some software, too, (don't know what, will find out) and a wide carriage daisy wheel printer. I'll pack if you pay for shipping. manney(a)nwohio.com ---------- > From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > To: Manney > Subject: Re: Franklin Ace500 ??? > Date: Wednesday, December 03, 1997 9:19 PM > > Probably the same as the IIc and Laser 128: > > Input: AC120v 60Hz 36VA > Output: DC17V 1.8A > > Polarity: > > NC(1) > +VE(2,3) > GNd (4,5,6) > NC(7) > > Pin 1 is at 1:00. Pin 7 at 11:00. > > Hope that helps. > > Tom > > >I just got a Franklin Ace 500 copy of Apple ][C, no documentation or power > >supply. Would anyone have the pin outs and voltages of the seven pin DIN > >power connector?

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

MicroVAX II and NetBSD

by pjoules＠enterprise.net

I have got some more bits to add to my MicroVAX II - 2 extra RA81s and an RA82 in their own rack unit. This makes RA drives in all now but I can't connect more than 2 at a time as I didn't get any cables with the 3 'new' ones :-(. The RA82 has NetBSD on it but the person who gave them to me said he wasn't sure whether it would work on my machine. When I try to boot off that drive I get the following: 2..1..0.. howto 0x0, bdev 0x11 booting... 10556+552+33996 start 0x0 Nboot :/netbsd 610304+2696+61260 start 0x8c17c ?06 HLT INST PC=00000003 >>> Am I right in thinking that this means I am not going to be able to boot >from this drive. As it is a Unix filesystem I tried to mount it from Ultrix running on the other drive and failed. Is it possible tat I may be able to boot >from the drive, or failing that, is there any other way that I can have a 'nose around' in the drive or should I just incorporate it into my Ultrix filesystem and forget about NetBSD. Eventually I hope to assist in the VAX-Linux port and then use this machine as a server. If anyone knows of any VAX architecture and/or assembly language tutorials on the web I would welcome the URL, and if anyone in the UK has any books or documentation going spare... ;-) I tried buying books but at about 50UKP each, I have no chance. Regards Pete

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Info on RQDX3

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<> Initially, pulled the RQDX1 from the last slot, and installed RQDX3 into <> empty dual wide position (slot 3, right, seemed odd that it was empty. <> And yes, the system ran prior to this) next to tape controller. Later <> reversed process. < <I assume this is a BA23? "Slot 3, right" is empty for a good reason - <it's a special "CD bus" slot, and isn't connected to the rest of the <Q-bus. Nothing works there unless it was specially designed to work there depending on what in the slot order only the first 3 quad slots are CD and the remaining are dual width Q/Q. So if the RQDX1 was was in quad slot 4 or lower you could have a bus grant problem if rqdx3 was plussged into the wrong one of the two now vacant dual with slots! You would definatly get an error if that was the case. Micro11 ba23 from the rear. The numbers are the bus grant order. ----+---- 1 CPU (q/cd) ----+---- 2 memory (q/cd) ----+---- 3 memory (q/cd) Devices get Q off left slot ----+---- 4/5 device (q/q) ----+---- 7/6 device (q/q) ----+---- 8/9 device (q/q) ----+---- 11/10 device (q/q) ----+---- 12/13 device (q/q) I forgot the message but error 14 or 15 is a drive or controller error. kdj11b error 11 not bootable, 12 no disk, 14 no controller, 15 nonexistant drive, 16 invalid unit selected. kdf11b error 12 no controller, 13 drive not ready, 14 drive error, 15 controller error, 16 not bootable Allison

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Info on RQDX3

by jimw＠agora.rdrop.com

New day, new aggrivations... I've been trying to get an ST-212 drive formatted up as an RD51 so I can install a copy of Micro-RSTS onto one of my systems. Got the parameters to format the drive on my VS2000, and that seemed to go OK. Put the drive into the system (a MicroPDP 11/23), and it looked OK until I told the RSTS installer to prepare the drive, at which point it started complaining about various things, and claimed that the drive was an RD52?!? Back to the notes... Find a note that drives formatted on a VS2000 are not compatable with an RQDX1 controller... Whats in the 11/23? Yank the back off... Figures... An RQDX1! FOO!! Off to the board box... Locate an RQDX3, looks promising... Install it in the system... Now the system completes its self test and immediately complains about a "DU0 - ERR 15 Controller Error". WTH is this? Off to the book shelf... NUTZ! Latest book I've got only gets up to the RQDX1! Decide to bag it for the night... Put the RQDX1 back in... Same error??? AARGH!!! So to the questions: What is "DU0 - ERR 15 Controller Error" ? Did the RQDX1 perhaps munge the format on the drive during the install attempt? Anyone have a list of the jumpers on the RQDX3 that might be of use ? Can a RQDX3 be subbed straight across for an RQDX1 ? If not, does anyone have a formatter disk (or whatever) for the RQDX1 ? Why am I now getting the same error from the RQDX1 and the RQDX3 ? Anyone got a spare copy of a manual that covers the various RQDX? ? Foo! -jim --- jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174

28 years, 4 months

3
4
0 0

Spoiled by geezers

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<> I hate to continue the waste [well, maybe not], but in my original post <> said "on _and_ off..." These machines cannot turn on by themselves <> unattended by setting an internal wake-up time. <> <Well, actually, they can. Th PX-8 can wake up, do something and go to sleep automajikally. Allison

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Spoiled by geezers

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

> -----Original Message----- > From: Roger Merchberger [SMTP:zmerch@northernway.net] > Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 1997 1:41 PM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: Spoiled by geezers > > ; > I hate to continue the waste [well, maybe not], but in my original post I > said "on _and_ off..." These machines cannot turn on by themselves > unattended by setting an internal wake-up time. > Well, actually, they can. Kai

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Donation - old mainframe Unix system

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<>Funny... My CoCo can support multiple users, and it wasn't expensive at <>all... $xxx for the machine, $yyy for the floppy drive, $zzz for OS-9 = And the point was... I made a subtle point that the older and often smaller machines were not short on capability and also didn't lack for understandability. The later is significant. Far to many of the wintel boxen are undocumented kluges running a million or more lines of incomprehensable code that sometimes works. After that programming something like PDP-8 with it's smaller memory and very small instruction set suggest getting to the concise solution was essential. Same so for the early micros were 64k of ram and an instruction set that could be remembered. Often the only difference was speed. Allison

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Zenith TurbosProt 386

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Does anyone know of a good newsgroup/anywhere else where I can get one of those? They seem very interesting.... Thanks, Tim

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Franklin Ace500 ???

by TOwad＠aol.com

Probably the same as the IIc and Laser 128: Input: AC120v 60Hz 36VA Output: DC17V 1.8A Polarity: NC(1) +VE(2,3) GNd (4,5,6) NC(7) Pin 1 is at 1:00. Pin 7 at 11:00. Hope that helps. Tom >I just got a Franklin Ace 500 copy of Apple ][C, no documentation or power >supply. Would anyone have the pin outs and voltages of the seven pin DIN >power connector?

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Franklin Ace500 ???

by foxvideo＠wincom.net

I just got a Franklin Ace 500 copy of Apple ][C, no documentation or power supply. Would anyone have the pin outs and voltages of the seven pin DIN power connector? Thanks Charlie Fox

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Yippee!

by yakowenk＠cs.unc.edu

Thanks to all who gave me pointers a while back. I now have my SwTPC S/09 booting UniFLEX from 8" floppys. There were a handful of broken solder-joints in the floppies' power supply, and a dead NOR gate on one of the Qume's controller boards. Next up, the winnies... Bill. PS. I'm still having daydreams of getting an old SwTPC 6800 machine, and maybe a CT-64/CT-VM to go with it. Does anyone have any idea how many of these things were actually produced, and where most of them went to, geographically speaking? Should I expect San Antonio to be a virtual tar pit of old SwTPC stuff?

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Found in comp.sys.pdp11

by rcini＠email.msn.com

For those interested...see paste below. 5msf of DEC equipment in Dover, DE. Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com> (remove nospam_ to use) ClubWin! Charter Member (6) MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking ============================================ OK. The powers that be no longer want to store this stuff, so the time has come to make it go away. We have around 5000 square feet of Vax and PDP equipment that needs to find new homes. It's mostly older Qbus and Unibus stuff, so don't expect to find state of the art stuff in here. There is way too much stuff to list, but in a nutshell, there are vaxen from 11/730 up to 8820, with many microvaxen in ba23's and ba123's. There are many unibus pdp-11's, and some pdp-8 stuff. There is also a DEC-system 2020. Many peripherals. TONS of books, manuals, and printsets. Miles of tape, zillions of disk packs, many 8" floppies, etc. If someone is looking for something in particular, let me know and I can see if it is there. Your best bet, however, is to come walk around and see what you can use. Equipment is free for the taking and is located in Dover, Delaware. Don't respond if you are only interested in scrap. We want to get rid of it, but don't want to see the stuff junked. Hell, we can junk the stuff ourselves if that is what we wanted to do. We thought there should be people out there that can use this equipment. take one piece, or take everything. First come, first served. You haul. Unfortunately, we do not have time to package things for shipping, although if the item is small enough, and you make a good enough case, exceptions may be possible. :-) We are interested in moving this stuff quickly, so please respond if interested. Email address has been purposely munged to prevent spam. Re-assemble the address below to respond. Thanks, Jim Bender jbender at corpamerica dot com

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Fwd: Free to good home, tons of DEC equip

by Mzthompson＠aol.com

Found the following on comp.sys.dec, anybody close to Dover, Delaware? Mike ===================================================== Subject: Free to good home -- tons of DEC equipment From: MegaGodzilla(a)Tokyo.com (Mega Godzilla) Date: Wed, Dec 3, 1997 00:26 EST Message-id: <3484e8a4.184368394(a)news.bdsnet.com> OK. The powers that be no longer want to store this stuff, so the time has come to make it go away. We have around 5000 square feet of Vax and PDP equipment that needs to find new homes. It's mostly older Qbus and Unibus stuff, so don't expect to find state of the art stuff in here. There is way too much stuff to list, but in a nutshell, there are vaxen from 11/730 up to 8820, with many microvaxen in ba23's and ba123's. There are many unibus pdp-11's, and some pdp-8 stuff. There is also a DEC-system 2020. Many peripherals. TONS of books, manuals, and printsets. Miles of tape, zillions of disk packs, many 8" floppies, etc. If someone is looking for something in particular, let me know and I can see if it is there. Your best bet, however, is to come walk around and see what you can use. Equipment is free for the taking and is located in Dover, Delaware. Don't respond if you are only interested in scrap. We want to get rid of it, but don't want to see the stuff junked. Hell, we can junk the stuff ourselves if that is what we wanted to do. We thought there should be people out there that can use this equipment. take one piece, or take everything. First come, first served. You haul. Unfortunately, we do not have time to package things for shipping, although if the item is small enough, and you make a good enough case, exceptions may be possible. :-) We are interested in moving this stuff quickly, so please respond if interested. Email address has been purposely munged to prevent spam. Re-assemble the address below to respond. Thanks, Jim Bender jbender at corpamerica dot com =====================================================

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Apple Power BookModem

by manney＠nwohio.com

I have what seems to me a 2400 baud Apple Powerbook modem with book, drivers, cable and pretty corregated cardboard box. I'll send it for the price of shipping. Please get it out of my hair! manney(a)nwohio.com

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Weekend addition- Atari

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 12:27 PM 12/2/97 -0500, you wrote: >It's 800xl compatible _if_ you expand the memory, which IIRC was 64K >standard in the 65xe but 128K (or bigger...) in the 800xl. However, you I'm pretty sure the 800XL was 64K. The original 800 was 16K standard, expandable to 48K. The 400 was 16K I think. The 600XL was 16K and not expandable unless you had the expansion box (saw one once). The 1200XL might be 128K, but I'm not sure. P.S., this doesn't include 3rd party stuff. I've seen 1200XL's with the 6502-compatible 16-bit processors with internal hard drives hooked up to a Pentium being used as a CD-ROM drive. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Weekend addition- Atari

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 11:49 AM 12/2/97 -0500, you wrote: >While doing my usual thrift store rounds, i bought an atari 65XE, xmm801 The Atari 65XE is part of the same generation of 8-bit Atari computers as the 130XE someone mention the other day. Compatible with the 400/800, 600XL/800XL/1200XL, and 130XE/130XEG. IIRC, the 130XE has 128K ram, the 65XE had 64K? I'm not sure, but the 65XE may be a bit of a rarity; I don't remember them being sold much. Check with some of the atari sites on the web. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Weekend addition- Atari

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

While doing my usual thrift store rounds, i bought an atari 65XE, xmm801 printer, two disk drives, and joysticks, all for five bucks! a little surface cleaning, and it will look like brand new. anyone know compatibility on this? it uses the 1050 disk drives, which makes me think it's more or less compatible with an 800xl, since it can run dos 2-3. i'm also missing the main computer power supply, although i did get two for the drives. if anyone has a copy of atari dos 2, 2.5 or 3, i'd need a copy mailed to me since i'd have no other way of acquiring it. david

28 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

Transferring files. 11/23+ and the PC.

by dseagrav＠bsdserver.tek-star.net

I have a working harddisk, the Fuzzball source, and RT-11SJ. Now to combine them. I am trying to transfer KSERVE to the PDP so I can use it. But it won't take an ASCII transfer, I overrun the buffer. VTCOM and KERMIT don't work, they need an XM monitor. Is there a way to tell RT11 to increase the buffer size?

28 years, 4 months

2
3
0 0

Making hard sectored disks

by dcoward＠pressstart.com

Here is the instructions for making the disks. Keep in mind as you read this that one of my personal mottos is that if I could write I'd be a writer. Some of the directions are clearer if you are actually doing it as you read them. .............. CUT HERE ................................. PROCEDURE FOR CREATING HARD SECTORED FLOPPY DISKS FROM SOFT SECTORED FLOPPY DISKS by Doug Coward For some time now I've thought about the possiblity of creating my own hard sectored mini-floppies so that I would not have to rely on being able to find disks at surplus and thrift shops as they became more and more scarce. It seem to me that the only difference between a hard sectored disk and a soft sectored disk should be the number of index holes. So I tried making 3 disks and they worked. So far this technique has only been used to create double density 10 sector hard sector disks but there is no reason I can think of that would keep this same technique from working to create single density or 16 sector disks. Currently, I don't own a Wang or any other computer that would use a hard sectored 8" diskette, so I will not be able to test this procedure on the larger diskettes. When I have more time, I plan to try and use the pieces of an old floppy disk drive to build a "punching gig" to make the process of punching the index holes easier. MATERIALS NEEDED 1 1/8" round hand operated paper punch 1 Soft sectored 5 1/4" floppy disk 1 Hard sectored 5 1/4" floppy disk to use as a template. 1 Plain piece of white paper 2 Pieces of 1/2" wide x 1/2" long clear adhesive tape. The normal index holes from my measurements appear to be between 3/32" and 4/32". So I decided to use a 1/8" punch which will make the holes oversize by about 1/64" but should not make any great difference. Most paper punches are 1/4" so you will need to go to a large office supply store to find this punch (like Office Max). The punch I purchased had a plastic piece over the "female" jaw of the punch to catch the material punched out. This I removed so that I could see through the "female" jaw of the punch to center the punch on the index hole. PROCEDURE The difficult part of punching the disk is guaranteeing the placement of the holes. That is why I use a hard sectored disk as a template. 1. With the two pieces of tape ready, take and rotate each diskette in its jacket until an index hole is visible in the center of the index hole aperture in the jacket. 2. Place the hard sectored disk on top of the soft sectored disk so that the two visible index holes line up. 3. While holding the diskettes together, insert 3 finger tips of one hand through the hub opening applying a slight outward pressure to align the hubs of the two disks. If the index holes are not aligned go back to step 1. If they are slightly out of alignment use the point of a pin or any object that can be inserted through the two index holes and wiggled to realign the index holes. 4. With the hubs and the index holes aligned, firmly pinch together the two diskettes with your other hand, at the hub. Remove your 3 fingers out of the hub. 5. While still pinching the diskettes together, apply 1 piece of tape to the diskettes at the hub so that the tape wraps around through the hub opening and sticks to both diskettes BUT NOT THEIR JACKETS. Apply the other piece of tape across the hub opening from the first piece of tape in the same manner. 6. At this point the two diskettes should have their hub openings and one index hole perfectly aligned. Also they should be securely taped together but still be able to rotate in their jackets. It's important that the jackets be more or less aligned with each other while punching the holes or you can finish with some extra holes in the "new" diskette's jacket. You can, if you need to, use a small piece of tape across the edge of the two jackets in one corner to keep them aligned. 7. Now you're ready to punch some holes. Holding the two diskette jackets in one corner with one hand, insert 2 fingers of the other hand into the hub opening and rotate the diskettes until an index hole in the top diskette (the hard sector template disk) appears in the center of the index hole aperture of the jacket. Hold the diskettes "template disk up" so that the index hole aperture is on the other side of the hub opening from you (away from you). 8. Insert the piece of plain white paper between the diskettes from the side closest to the index aperture until you can see the paper through the index hole in the diskette. This is to make the index hole more visible. 9. Now with the jackets aligned, and the index hole (with the paper visible) in the center of the index aperture, insert the paper punch through the hub opening so that the "female" jaw is positioned above the index hole and the "male" jaw positioned below the index hole. You will have to bend the diskettes slightly to get a clean punch. As you slowly close the jaws of the paper punch you will be able to sight through the "female" part of the punch and line up the punch exactly to the existing index hole. This is where the plain white paper really helps to see that index hole. PUNCH THE HOLE. 10. Repeat steps 7,8,9 until you have punched all of the holes. Remember to keep rotating the diskettes in the same direction after punching each hole. Reposition the paper before punching each hole. When done, peel the tape off carefully, most diskettes today don't have a hub reinforcement ring and the hub opening can be stretched or distorted. If you are careful the template disk over and over again. .............. CUT HERE ................................. ========================================= Doug Coward dcoward(a)pressstart.com Senior Software Engineer Press Start Inc. Sunnyvale,CA Curator Museum of Personal Computing Machinery http://www.best.com/~dcoward/museum =========================================

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Is anything wrong with the server?

by coslor＠pscosf.peru.edu

ate: Wed, 3 Dec 1997 09:43:51 -0600 (CST) From: Cord Coslor <coslor(a)pscosf.peru.edu> To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu Subject: Is anything wrong with the server? This is basically a test to see if I am still subscribed, or if there are other problems with the list. I haven't received any messages for a couple of days, and was curious. How can I contact the list 'grunt' to see if I am still on, to find out the subscriber list, etc., etc. Thanks, CORD //*=====================================================================++ || Cord G. Coslor P.O. Box 308 - 1300 3rd St. Apt "M1" -- Peru, NE || || (402) 872- 3272 coslor(a)bobcat.peru.edu 68421-0308 || || Classic computer software and hardware collector || || Autograph collector || ++=====================================================================*//

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Is anything wrong with the server?

by coslor＠pscosf.peru.edu

This is basically a test to see if I am still subscribed, or if there are other problems with the list. I haven't received any messages for a couple of days, and was curious. How can I contact the list 'grunt' to see if I am still on, to find out the subscriber list, etc., etc. Thanks, CORD //*=====================================================================++ || Cord G. Coslor P.O. Box 308 - 1300 3rd St. Apt "M1" -- Peru, NE || || (402) 872- 3272 coslor(a)bobcat.peru.edu 68421-0308 || || Classic computer software and hardware collector || || Autograph collector || ++=====================================================================*//

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Hard sectored disks

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Small dia. hammered punches, called "arch punches" (try General Tool Co.) <might be good. Any competent machinist should be able to convert a That works as well. Small punches (I measured the hole at 0.096 +-.001) are easily gotten. But to do it correctly you have to position the hole reasonably accurately. For that you need an indexer, so that the index hole to sector 1 and the remaing nine fall at the correct places. An old drive mostly stripped would do for that with the flywheel marked using a known disk with the envelope removed. Perfect use for a dead 5.25" drive of any type though some may provide better mounting and access. The head, track00 sensor, index sendor, motor and logic can be removed s all that is needed is the spindle and door clamp assembly. The anvil for the punch can be mounted in the drive and the clamp closed such that index hole is at the anvil position in the index mark on the flywheel. With the door closed the flywheel can then be rotated to each position and the hole then punched. The correct position on the perimeter of the flywheel can be notched at the 11(for 10 sector, 17 for 16 sector) positions and a spring steel detent made. A precision of 1 degree is easy to achieve and would insure good operation. Once done, converting 360k soft sector media to 10 sector would be easy and fast. Allison

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Hard sectored disks

by manney＠nwohio.com

> So where the Hell do you find a 1/8" paper punch? The only ones I find > seem to be closer to 3/16" or 1/4". Like the ones I used back when I > thought it was practical to flip TRS-80 diskettes. (It wasn't. They > worked -- for a while, especially when diskettes were $20+ per ten.) Small dia. hammered punches, called "arch punches" (try General Tool Co.) might be good. Any competent machinist should be able to convert a astandard paper punch into a smaller one by turning down the punch and fitting a bushing into the die. manney(a)nwohio.com

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Donation - old mainframe Unix system

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 12:36 PM 12/2/97 -0500, you wrote: >Speaking of my T200, it can turn itself on and off... can a Wintel box do >that??? ;-) Sure, most computers can... All you need is a good X10 setup... 8^) (Actually, I'd love to be able to build a box that would switch on my voicemail system after X rings. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Found on comp.sys.intel

by rcini＠email.msn.com

Found the following: >>I have a (more than) complete Intel ISIS-II development system for sale. I got it from work. We used it to develope 8051 projects. I have a few emulators and EPROM programmers that go with it. Cost $100. You pay shipping costs. Please E-mail me at DSevy2(a)aol.com if you are interested.<< Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com> (remove nospam_ to use) ClubWin! Charter Member (6) MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking ============================================

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Hard sectored disks

by dcoward＠pressstart.com

Well I finally finished my project and I'm currently enjoying my month off, trying to get done all of the little things that I've been meaning to do for the last 2 years. ====> Warning - shameless plug inserted here By the way, if you own a Sega Saturn and are interested in NASCAR racing - check out NASCAR 98 published by Electronic Arts. The NTSC version should be in the stores any day now. And the English,French, and German PAL version should be in the stores by Christmas. ======== end plug ============ Any way, I have some PRELIMINARY results from my first little research project. For some time now I've been worried that when my last two boxes of 10 sector hard sector mini-floppies were gone, I would not be able to find any more. So, I started toying with the idea that I could make my own floppies. Last weekend, using a 1/8" paper punch, I changed 3 DSDD soft sectored floppies into 3 DSDD 10 sector hard sector floppies by punching 10 more holes in them! AND THEY WORKED! So far I've just tested them on an IMSAI and a North Star Horizon using CP/M 1.4 and NSDOS. NO PROBLEMS! (Format,copy disk,boot with new disk) North Star DOS has a DT (Disk Test) command that writes an incrementing pattern to the entire disk starting at track 0 (over and over until you press ctl-C). AGAIN NO PROBLEM! If there is any interest, I can write up a step by step procedure for the List. Also over the weekend I got my S-100 monitor card to working. It uses 74LS04s and LEDs to monitor just about every line on the bus. It also has LEDs for each of the 3 voltages and a timer circuit that flashes a set of LEDs to show if the clock is running. Now I can start checking out some those systems that have been sitting around waiting to be tested. On the lighter side- Here is a couple of the requests that I've received since my museum has been "discovered". "did coleco make a toy called a superstar guitar in 79 or 80? The spokesman for the toy was wolfman jack. Thanks. rz" "Mr. Coward I recently came into possesion of a hand held scanner Model: Realistic Pro-31/HiLo It seems i have no info that would tell me how to use, let alone find someone that knows..about this make of scanner.. do you know if radio shack has a web site,or mabey realistic.. thanks for your time..Ray Coupal." "Hi there Because of non serious Atari business in Norway ,We (my friends and I ) want to present Atari in Norway again .Could you please help us getting contacted with the right manufactor/producer or other responsible for Atari computing. Please reply (by e-mail )" "Dear Mr. Coward: Several years ago I purchased several Dr. Seuss stuffed toys, namely the Cat in the Hat, Little Cat in the Hat and the Grinch. The tag on the toys says manufactured by Coleco Industries. Do you have any idea if these are still available or where I might be able to purchase them? Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated." This last one, I was able to find one being auctioned off at EBAY. ========================================= Doug Coward dcoward(a)pressstart.com Senior Software Engineer Press Start Inc. Sunnyvale,CA Curator Museum of Personal Computing Machinery http://www.best.com/~dcoward/museum =========================================

28 years, 4 months

4
3
0 0

Donation - old mainframe Unix system

by Zeus334＠aol.com

Recent Wintel machines can turn themselves on and off, but anyway. I repeatedly become interested in the CoCo, and then lose interest again. What I wonder is this: I suppose I could find the package below for a relatively low price. But, I have two problems with those old home machines: they use composite monitors, and they are usually 320X240. solutions? Speaking of composites, I have an IBM CGA card that has a flicker whenever I type something. Solutions? In a message dated 97-12-02 13:11:37 EST, you write: << Funny... My CoCo can support multiple users, and it wasn't expensive at all... $200 for the machine, $300 for the floppy drive, $129 for OS-9 and $50 for the 13" color TV I bought at a garage sale... still cheaper than an single-user IBM box at the time, even when you add the $50.00 RS-232 cart and the $139 multi-pak so I could connect at up to 19200 bps with my Tandy 200... Speaking of my T200, it can turn itself on and off... can a Wintel box do that??? ;-) >>

28 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

weekend finds

by jfoust＠threedee.com

Uncle Roger <sinasohn(a)ricochet.net> wrote: >I am amazed that there isn't a standard for remotes -- 01 for on/off, 02 for >VolUp, 03 for VolDn, etc. But of course, nobody listens to me. Hmm. I've got seven remotes and devices here on my desk, and I'm glad they don't speak the same symbols. I wish they had fewer standards and more configurable uniqueness, so I could run two of the same devices each with their own remote. :-) - John www.threedee.com/jcm

28 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Workings of a TTY

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Really? I agree that while the speed must be correct within a few <of percent, but none of the Teletypes that I ever owned (Model 28's and <Model 33's) had any adjustment for speed. The speed was determined TTYs could be run at different speeds using differnt gear sets. The differnt gear sets for both 50/60hz and 10cps and several other speeds such as those used for RTTY. I believe 25, 50, 60 and 75 were other speeds. <Now there are adjustments related to the data-bit-timing relative to the st <bit. Is this what you're talking about? That is the TD(transmitter distributor) adjustment, that only synchronzes the reader/keyboard transmit bit stream. There is another timing related adjustment which is the reciever(a solenoid) to escapment. position. Used to have one for over ten years did my own maintenance and at taht time had the manual set. Allison

28 years, 4 months

6
6
0 0

Workings of a TTY

by hansp＠columbia.digiweb.com

I have a query about the operation of a KSR 33 TTY when reading paper tape : does the TTY blindly send the characters read from the tape at 10 cps or is the tape advance and read triggered by a signal from whatever th TTY is connected to. Regards, -- Hans B. Pufal : <mailto:hansp@digiweb.com> Comprehensive Computer Catalogue : <http://www.digiweb.com/~hansp/ccc/> _-_-__-___--_-____-_--_-_-____--_---_-_---_--__--_--_--____---_--_--__--_

28 years, 4 months

5
5
0 0

Donation - old mainframe Unix system

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 05:26 PM 12/1/97 -0500, you wrote: >machines to new ones. F.E. one could get an old IBM mini (System/3X) for >little or no money, but is there anything doable on it that is impossible to >do on a W****** 95 machine? You can't heat your house with a Wintel box. 8^) But seriously, how about supporting multiple users? I dunno much about IBM's, but an HP3000 (like my Micro3000) can handle up to 8 users (Has 16 ports, iirc, but after 6-8 users, the system gets pretty slow.) I have yet to find a PC database and development environment that could match what's available (Image/KSAM, Cobol, Powerhouse, Qedit, MPEX, etc.) on the 3000. (Though, admittedly, I haven't looked all that hard.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

weekend finds

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

>As I recall, there was much criticism of the IR keyboard since if you were >far enough away to make it useful, you were too far away to read the screen. See what I mean, about the IR keyboards, they were a mistake. Possibly the downfall of the jr. I mean, new sub-$1000 PCs don't try to press new technologies, but use old ones; which is why they're staying around; and getting popular. Does anyone remember how much the IR keyboard cost? Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

test-drb