test-drb April 1997

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

60 participants
150 discussions

by zmerch＠northernway.net

Whilst in a self-induced trance, Sam Ismail happened to blather: >I think this would be a fun thing to do still. If anyone else is >interested, speak up, or write to me directly via e-mail. Then we don't >have to bother anyone else in the discussion with our silly little game. >We could pick a date (a weekend) and then assign some sparse rules and >then do it. It would be fun. Contact me if interested. Actually, I think this would be a fun "silly little game" except in my case the time frame needs to be improved *greatly*. Where I live, garage sales haven't even started yet! (Why, you may ask... for some reason, people don't want to set their "prized possesions" out in 2' of snow!) What would be fun for me is if the contest ran for a month, or even the whole summer... then those of use in the "boonies" might have a chance... 'cause for now, you win. Tough to enter a contest when they don't offer it in your area! Also, if it was over a month's span, then I might even be able to take a road trip to a larger (read: civilized) area to do some scrounging... and mebbe hit some thrift stores, as well. How's this sound, folks? "Merch" -- Roger Merchberger | If at first you don't succeed, Programmer, NorthernWay | nuclear warhead disarmament should *not* zmerch(a)northernway.net | be your first career choice.

27 years, 3 months

Collecting (was: On Generations of People and Computers)

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

> ---------- > From: Alexios Chouchoulas[SMTP:alexios@vennea.demon.co.uk] > Reply To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > Sent: Monday, April 21, 1997 5:44 AM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: Re: Collecting (was: On Generations of People and > Computers) > | If mainstream Microsoft | droids start collecting, we'll have to rescue old hardware >from THEIR | filthy claws as well. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > ---- > Attention: > [ ] Clueless Newbie [ ] Lamer [ ] AOLer > [ ] Me-too-er [ ] Pervert [ ] Geek > [ ] Spammer [ ] Grade School Dropout [ ] Nerd > [ ] Fed [ ] Freak [ ] > Scientologist > [ ] Fool [ ] Jesus Krispy [ ] Anonymous > Coward > [ ] Rush Limbecile [X] Paranoid MS-Hater [ ] Ex-AOLer > > You are being contacted because: > [ ] You said "me too" to something > [ ] You posted a phone-sex ad > [ ] You posted a local message in an international conference > [ ] You posted a "test" in a newsgroup other than alt.test > [ ] You started an off-topic thread > [ ] You posted a "YOU ALL SUCK" message > [ ] You brag about things that never happened > [X] You posted a "Microsoft is out to get us" message > [ ] Your sig/alias/server sucks > [ ] Your writing skills do not even meet the low standards of Usenet > [ ] You posted a jail-bait message > [ ] You asked a ridiculous question > [ ] You posted a con/scam/pyramid scheme message > [ ] Your lack of a quote made your response incoherent > [ ] You posted to more than four newsgroups > [ ] You were imposing your religious beliefs on others > [ ] You posted something really stupid/depraved > [ ] You tried to blame others for your stupidity > [X] You incorrectly assumed unwarranted moral or intellectual > superiority > > To Repent, You Must: > [ ] Invest in a dictionary/spell-checker > [ ] Learn to correctly use your software/provider/bulletin board > [ ] Give up your AOL account > [ ] Try faking an interesting personality > [ ] Pretend you are Trent Reznor > [ ] Actually post something relevant > [X] Shave your head > [ ] Read the docs/FAQ > [ ] Post your tests to alt.test > [X] Limit yourself to 2 hours of WWF Wrestling per day > [ ] Print your home phone number in your adverts > [ ] Become a Satanist, sell your kids to Michael Jackson > [ ] Send Bill Gates a love letter > > In Closing, I'd Like to Say: > [ ] You're an idiot > [ ] Bite me > [X] Get a life > [ ] Never post again > [ ] I pity your dog > [ ] Go to hell > [ ] Your mother's so fat/stupid/ugly that etc... > [ ] Learn to post or sod off > [ ] Do us all a favor and crawl into some industrial machinery > [ ] See how far your tongue will fit into the electric outlet > [ ] All of the above > > end flame. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >

27 years, 3 months

FAQ

by dcoward＠pressstart.com

I was just reading the FAQ and thought that I should add my two cents. 6.1 What's the best way to clean these dingy tan boxes? Paper items: About a year ago, I found an Osborne Starter Kit in a thrift store. This is a ring bound manual and some audio cassettes to get a new user started, packaged in a flat cardboard box, the kind with a glossy surface. Well the box had been wrapped many times with that inch and a half clear packaging tape to prevent it from being opened. I knew that if I tried to remove the tape that I would remove most of the surface of the box too. Then I had an idea. I removed the manual and the tapes from the box by cutting the tape around the edge of the box. And then I put the box in the freezer for a few hours until it was nice and cold. I still had to be careful removing the tape but the tape didn't stick to the box as well as it did when it was warm. And it didn't leave any glue behind. The one that I havn't licked yet is how to remove crayon price marking from a paper diskette label or a book page without it smearing or bleeding into the paper. 7.4 What disk sizes are there? A floppy diskette is 8" in width. A mini floppy diskette is 5.25" in width. A micro floppy diskette is 3.5" in width. And computers like the Amstrad CPC6128 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum+3 use a compact floppy diskette which is 3.15" or 8 cm in width. I also have diskettes made by Nintendo (the word Nintendo is embossed in the plastic) for the Nintendo Family Computer. I don't know what they're called and I haven't measured one yet, but as I remember they are just a little smaller than a micro floppy. ---------------------------------- My computer collection up on the web still needs a lot of work, but I'm looking for suggestions about: - the way it's laid out - are the pictures too big to download quickly - is there incorrect information If you can help me out, my collection is located at www.best.com/~dcoward/museum Thanks ---------------------------------- >>Is everyone else in their 20's and 30's? Anyone seriously outside of >>this range? I'm 210 years old in computer years. ======================================================= dcoward(a)pressstart.com Doug Coward Senior Software Engineer Press Start Inc. Sunnyvale CA =======================================================

27 years, 3 months

On Generations of People and Computers

by foxvideo＠mail.wincom.net

At 10:10 PM 4/18/97 -0700, you wrote: >>In a message dated 97-04-14 22:27:40 EDT, you write: >> >>> > >Is everyone else in their 20's and 30's? Anyone seriously outside of=20 >>> > >this range? >>> > >>I'm seriously outside of =20. more like =20 +25(next week). >> >>Lou > >Just a young man are you. > >Last week I turned 53. > > -Ron Mitchell > I turned seventy two about a month age! Charlie Fox

27 years, 3 months

PET stuff

by ds_spenc＠alcor.concordia.ca

Does anyone out there know much about the old PET 2001 machines? I received a PET a couple of years ago, in which all of the 6550 SRAMs were fried. I replaced them with the chips from another PET 2001 (one with the miniature keyboard, from 1977) and the system worked fine. Does anyone know how all of the memory chips could've been killed? I tried them in various patterns in the sockets, and it does seem as if all 16 of them are fried. Anyway, is it still possible to get 6550s anywhere? And if not, is there a replacement that could be used? Even better: Can I simply replace the 6550s with another type of chip and get more RAM in the system? Most of my software works in 8K, but I do have some music files that require more. (I have one of those external music boards that plugs into the cassette2 and user ports, that delivers four voices.) Now, another question. With that same PET, came an expansion board of some kind. Its like a daughterboard, physically mounted on posts above the motherboard, but connected via the memory expansion connector on the side. It appears (yes) to be a memory board, with 16 RAM chips on it. At least, they look like they could be RAM chips, judging by the traces on the board. However, I've never seen RAM chips with gold contacts and gold plates on their backs before, as six of these chips have, so I'm wondering if this could be more than just a memory board. The board is dead, BTW. The PET won't operate with the board plugged in. It just comes up with a screenful of garbage characters. The board plugs directly into the PETs power supply, and then a cable leads from it to the PET motherboard's power connector. There are three large 470uF capacitors and two things that I guess are voltage regulators (I don't know much about electronics :) ), so I'm guessing that this board has its own refresh circuitry on it and it uses DRAM, but that could be totally wrong. :) Both connectors on the cable that leads from the expansion board to the motherboard are noticeably burnt. In both cases, the burn marks surround the pin that connects to the black wire. The only identifying mark on the board is the text: R 3014 rev. C COPYRIGHT 1978 R.C.Factor Does anyone have any better guesses than me as to its function? (Can the edge connector on the side of the PET be used for anything other than RAM expansion?) Doug Spence ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca

27 years, 3 months

FAQ

by zmerch＠northernway.net

Whilst in a self-induced trance, dcoward happened to blather: > I was just reading the FAQ and thought that I should add my two cents. And I was just reading this post, and can add some wisdom as well... >7.4 What disk sizes are there? > > A floppy diskette is 8" in width. > A mini floppy diskette is 5.25" in width. > A micro floppy diskette is 3.5" in width. The *first* micro floppy was 3" in width. Yes, you heard me correctly. Amdek designed and built a SSDD 3" floppy drive around 1983-84 (or so... I'll have to look) that used it's own style of media (and it was flippy, unlike the 3.5" of today) and they interfaced it to and marketed it for two computers that I know of: The Radio Shack (Tandy) Color Computer, and The Atari 800. So far I've seen 2 Atari units for sale on the forsale newsgroups in the last 9 months or so, and altho I've never seen the CoCo version (on sale or anything) I have a color magazine ad advertising the system that I could scan in if I ever find the time... ================ Also, in the grand naming scheme above, just *what* would you call a 2" floppy? Yessireebob, a 2" floppy! I *own* one of these drives... they were used in the Zenith MiniSport 8088-based IBM/clone laptop. Cute little rascals... someday I'll take a pic or two and scan 'em in... Specs: 2" floppy, 80 Track, DSDD 720K formatted storage capacity. (I don't know the TPI or anything... may look into that if possible...) I hope this helps to enlighten folks just a little bit more... Have a Golfy Day! "Merch" -- Roger Merchberger | If at first you don't succeed, Programmer, NorthernWay | nuclear warhead disarmament should *not* zmerch(a)northernway.net | be your first career choice.

27 years, 3 months

Seeking.... (this week)

by jimw＠agora.rdrop.com

To fill a gap in the Heathkit section of my collection: Heath (H10?) Paper Tape Reader/Punch unit. Any out there??? -jim --- jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174

27 years, 3 months

Generations and Hard/Soft sectoring

by idavis＠comland.com

>WOW 1's and O's - you where lucky! I had to use l's and O's. >Of course I cheated and wrote out all my code long hand - that was when >I was back in Egypt. I am sure you've seen some of my code 8-) > You had 1's AND 0's? Back in my day, we only had 0's, and we liked it. I tried to get my parents to buy me some 1's, but they were just too much. Actually, I am 28, and learned to program in basic. I am just now taking the time to learn assembler on my atari 800. I have wanted to learn for the last 14 years, but I think that some of the latter experience that I have gotten has made it to where I think I can tackle assembly language. In the "old fart" category, I just helped my next door neighbor get his first computer, a classic of course, and he is in his early 60's. He's pretty excited, and so am I. While we are on the subject of disks, I got a bag of 5 1/4" disks from a friend, and they are mostly DSHD. I have been able to format most of them, but there are a select few that my Atari SSSD drive will not format. Do you think that I could format them with a different machine, or pass them under a magnet and get them to where my atari could format them? I hate to throw them away, and I'm not that technical when it comes to magnetic properties and such. Isaac Davis idavis(a)comland.com indavis(a)juno.com

27 years, 3 months

Aquisitions

by jeffh＠eleventh.com

Well, the weekend has just started, and I've made yet another haul of program tapes for the Timex-Sinclair, this time mostly business applications. This brings the total number of original T/S-1000 and ZX-81 tapes to 12, with a total of 20 original tapes of all types! Some of them will run on the 2k machine, while most require the 16k expansion. Jeff jeffh(a)eleventh.com -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Sent from an Amiga 3000..the computer for the creative mind! --------------------------------------------------------------------- Collector of classic home computers: Amiga 1000, Atari 800, 800XL, and Mega-ST/2, Commodore C-128, C128D, Plus/4 and VIC-20, IBM 5155, Kaypro 2X, Osbourne Executive Radofin Aquarius, Sinclair ZX-81, TI-99/4A, Timex-Sinclair 1000, TRS-80 Color Computer-3 and Model 4, plus Atari Superpong and 2600VCS game consoles.

27 years, 3 months

Hard/Soft sectoring

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

| What - you had an assembler? I have to toggle in ones and | zeroes. Before that we didn't even have zeroes and I had | to use the letter 'O'. Y'know, that's not far from the truth. I was looking at some of my old Teletype listings the other day and realized it had a line through the O instead of through the 0, therefore it really did look like we were using O's for zeroes! | Tim. (selling his last of seven IMSAI's to a museum next week...) Whew, I guess I just got under the wire there! See ya Sunday... Kai

27 years, 3 months

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test-drb April 1997