I was watching this program on cable called the Computer Bowl or
something hosted by Ziff-Davis publishing where they had two teams of
nerds answering computer and computer industry related questions. One of
the questions was:
What was the serial number on the first Apple ][ computer?
Answer tomorrow.
Sam
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass
I'm fairly new to the list, so I'd like to introduce myself (and my
computers).
I am typing this message right now on an Apple IIGS. I've worked
with most of the older Apple II series computers also. I still
actively use my Apple IIGS for nearly every task that most people
think requires a "new" computer.
My first computer, on which I learned a *lot* about programming, was
the Mattel Aquarius, which I still own. I've been looking off and on
for information about it. The FAQ is nice, but I know of at least one
possible inaccuracy: the "Chess" game was released, I'm reasonably
sure, because I have it. The computer's not too bad of a player,
either, if I remember (it's been *years* since I've used the machine -
I'm living at college right now, and the Aquarius is at home).
I know now that a lot of people didn't like the Aquarius. I thought it
was a really neat machine. I probably learned more from it that from
any other single learning tool I've ever had, with the *possible*
exception of my IIGS.
I'm looking forward to hearing about anyone else's experiences with
the Aquarius (or even the IIGS, though info about that is still
plentiful on comp.sys.apple2).
--
Andy Brobston brobstona(a)wartburg.edu
http://www.wartburg.edu/personalPages/BrobstonA/home.html
My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Wartburg College
as a whole.
At 08:53 AM 6/6/97 -0700, you wrote:
>One of the things on my wish list is a digital camera so I can easily
>digitize photos of stuff like this.
I have been trying to decide the best way to get images into digital form.
Naturally, a digital camera is one way, but not the only. There's also the
photo/scanner method, camcorder/video capture, and probably others. As I
see it, the pros/cons are:
DigCam: + Easy to use, convenient
- Expensive to buy, somewhat limited capacity,
no hard copy of images (except printer output)
Photo/Scanner: + Hard Copy, can be used for other stuff too
- Film and Developing can be expensive, takes time
Camcorder: + Easy to use, Allows for selecting the right image
from several views
- Video capture hardware/software isn't cheap
So, does anyone have thoughts on which is best? I'd like a scanner for
other things, but they're expensive too. There's also the question of 35mm
vs. polaroid and type of scanner. (Not to mention where the heck would I
put it!) I've got a camcorder and my girlfriend's mac supposedly can do
video capture as is, but I've got to find software and figure it out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
sinasohn(a)crl.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/
> There are also 'classic' CCD cameras. There was a thing made by
> 'Datacopy' that had a linear CCD that was mechanically scanned
> across the frame (motor + leadscrew). There was certainly a PERQ
> interface for this (made by GHS/Audre' in Canada), and I guess
> others as well.
>
> These solutions sound a lot more fun than a modern PC-based system.
Yes :-)
I remember the PCWs we used to have at school. They had small scanning
devices that replaced the print head on the printer. The computer
would make the printer scan the entire sheet of paper, line by line,
and in this way it built up the image...
Not the fastest of scanners, but fun to watch it go!
___ _ _ ___ _
_| (_)(\)(-) | (-)(-)(\)
Hello,
I'm Allison and I've been invloved with microcomputer since the introduction
of the MCS8 (8008) and computers in general since the PDP-8.
On site I have... they are all operational:
DEC made:
VT180 (cpm/zcpr)
PDP-11/23 (RT-11 os)
PDP-11/23+ (RT-11 os)
PDP11/73 (RSTS or RT-11 os)
PDT-11/130 (RT-11)
MicroVAX2000 (Currently VMS5.4 later netbsd)
MicrovaxII/gps (Currently VMS5.4 later netbsd)
CPM and S100 systems:
Northstar* s100 z80 (CP/M/zcpr, 40 meg hard disk)
S100 (vector chasis) computime z80 and misc s100 cards (cpm/zcpr)
SB180 (CPM2.2/zcpr 3.5" floppies and 20meg hard disk)
Ampro Little board (CP/m/ZCPR 3.5" floppies and 42meg hard disk)
Explorer85 8085 (NS*dos cpm1.4)
Epson PX8 geneva with 120k ramdisk and 64k ramdisk/300baud modem wedges
(runs cpm from rom)
Kaypro 4/84 (turborom and CPM)
MITS Altair 8800 (I built this one in late 74, one of the early units)
Misc Single board computers (demo boards)
Intersil 6960 mdemo board, 6100 chip 12bit PDP-8 on a chip
National Semi ISP8a500 low cost 8 bit cpu.
Technico Inc board using texas instruments TI9900 chip 16 bit
(also have a TI99/4A with w/expansion box and software)
Motorola 6800D2 board
National Semi Nibblebasic chip (CPU with rom basic on a chip)
Original cosmac elf. RCA1802
IMSI IMP48 8035 cpu
NEC TK80 8080 demo board.
PCs
Leading edge model D 8088 (dos)
(several other PCs far too new (less than 10 years).
Plus parts (8080s, 8085, 8088, peripheral chips, rams...)
CPU chips 8080, 8085, 8086, 8088, 80188, 80186, 808286, z80s,
6800s, 6502, 1802, 6100, 6120(pdp8), 8748, 8035,
8749, 8039, 8751, 8031, T11chip (pdp11 on a chip),
NECd78pg11, NEC d7800
Allison
In the interests of getting an old DEC PDP-11 running, I've got an STC
9-track tape drive here, a model 2921. This is, apparently, one of the rare
few that StorageTek (aka, STC/Telex) manufactured with a Pertec interface
vs. their own.
Based on conversations with a company that still maintains these old
beasts, it appears that the CPU card has gone bad. I'd like to at least try
and confirm this by swapping said card with a known-good one.
So... anyone own a 2921 that they don't mind it being used as a guinea
pig? ;-)
Thanks in advance.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fidonet 1:343/272)
(Hamateur: WD6EOS) (E-mail: kyrrin(a)wizards.net)
http://www.wizards.net/technoid
"Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own
human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."
At 08:47 PM 5/21/97 -0400, William Donzelli wrote:
>And of course, grab hold of every spare chip available off of donor machines.
>
>William Donzelli
>william(a)ans.net
>
I have found what seems to be a decent supply of eproms. I was looking at
an old 2400 baud fax modem for my pc, and noticed that it had what looked
like an eprom on it. I pulled the chip and peeled off the label, and it was
a 27256 eprom. I also bought a 2400 baud modem at a thrift store for $2.00
and it had a 27128 eprom in it. This was cheaper than buying the eprom by
itself. I paid $3.00 for a 2764, and didn't even price a 27128. I am going
to start picking up all of the old cheap, almost worthless modems and
grabbing the eproms out of them. You can probably pick up the modem for
less than the price of the eprom that it holds. If anyone else knows of a
cheap source of eproms or other chips, share it with us.
Isaac Davis
idavis(a)comland.com
indavis(a)juno.com
> > The module was a "upgrade product for those wating a 8088 and having onl
> > z80 cpu. By unplugging the z80 and putting in the card you could run 16
>
> Does this mean it would work in place of any 8080 CPU? Any idea what
> the 8 pin header on the component side of the board was used for? This
> is interesting since these past comments are the first I have heard
> about the module!
No. first it was not an 8080 replacement. Though it may have subbed for
8085 as they were very similar. Two the system had to be configured to run
8088 code(wich is not 8080 or z80 compatable.
I had done this to an 8085 system as the signals from the 8088 are the 8085
are very close.
The extra plug was likely the remaining 4 address lines (16 bit vs 20 bit
addressing).
If I had one I could trace it out and regenerate the schematic.
Allison
In a message dated 97-06-08 03:18:29 EDT, you write:
<< The 8080 is a 40-pin package. The Z-80 is a 48-pin package. If I
remember correctly (my life in computers started with the Z-80, really, >>
no. the z-80 is a 40-pin package. i got bunches.
Kelly