test-drb November 1998

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

185 participants
940 discussions

Daybreak hard drives (was Re: Collectibles for the futu

by franke＠sbs.de

>> The basic concept would be to simply sample the MFM (or RLL) channel >> code at somewhere around 50 MHz as it is being written, and store the >> data on the ATA drive. The interface would keep one track buffered in >> RAM. Whenever the host requests a head change or seek, the buffer would >> be written to the ATA drive (if it is dirty), and reloaded with the data >> for the new track. >> This would require a much larger ATA drive than the original drive it is >> emulating, 102K bytes per track. To emulate a Maxtor 2190, this requires a 2G >> ATA drive. You could even emulate drives larger than that by emulating more >> cylinders. > This is an intriguing concept. But would it be any more difficult to > decode the data being written by the MFM controller and written digitally > on the IDE drive to improve efficiency? Would this make reading the data > back difficult? No, anything you need is just imense CPU power. Recalculate the bytes from the MFM stream and store it on a different drive (that must be local, not visible to the Host). And backwards generate the MFM data from the ATA data. Timing bit arsh if you want to do it in real time, but since a local CPU is already usefull for disk (ATA) controll and conferting (can also be done by hardware) there could also be some 256 Meg of mem for building/editing the MFM stream and transmit it later (when ready). And since w hafe the room of a full or half height drive available, it could be put in replacement for the original drive. Gruss hans -- Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut HRK

25 years, 8 months

Another resource for older systems

by franke＠sbs.de

>> I stumbled on this site a while back and a few on the list may be >> interested. Postings of want to buy and sell of "classic" type systems. >> I have not had any response from the post I put there several months back - >> Looking for DEC equipment but others may have better luck. >> http://www.xs4all.nl/~rimmer/guest.htm > Were you aware of the fact that the listed site is in the Netherlands? Just > curious as unless you specify US shipping only you may be greeted by replies > from former Soviet block countries as I have on other Euro sales sites. Same on eBay or anywhere else - the net doesn't end at the borders of states (maybe but China and North Korea). If you insit on special rules, like only cash, no sale to white men, or only within a special county, you have to post it. > Seems Czechs, Romanians, East Germans East Germans ? Geee - did you miss some years ? They have nowadays the newer PCs :) > and all the like are just anxious as can be to > get US technology, old or new and in many cases without regard for shipping > costs. This time is gone since years - when it comes to PC tech, Taiwan ships as fast as they get payed - no matter who is ordering. > I'm not sure enough myself of customs laws of present day to go through > all of that but I know at one time there were heavy restrictions on exports of > hardware and software. There are sill a lot of US enforced restrictions about computer parts (And the US government still tryes to pressure other countries to maintain similar rules), but in fact they never have been a hurdle at all. They just liftet the price (like any other law that tries to forbid people to get what they want). As a matter of fact, all this regulations just hit the US economy more than any other. As long as it is about the EU, there are no more import taxes or special rules regarding computer parts. They droped all EU taxes and most of the regional import taxes on computers - So if something contains electronic parts - just try to find some way to declare it as computer parts. Gruss Hans -- Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut HRK

25 years, 8 months

Unknown Apple // card images ref

by geoffrob＠stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au

-----Original Message----- From: David Williams <dlw(a)neosoft.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, 12 November 1998 16:36 Subject: Re: Unknown Apple // card images ref Haven't tried that. I don't expect it to do much of anything but I'll give it a shot and let you know what happens. I still think it is a modem but I can't imagine why it would have so many components. Is there an AM7910 or 7911 chip on there? That would peg it as a 300/1200-75 modem. (V21/V23) That was one of the common chips used. Geoff Roberts Computer Systems Manager Saint Marks College Port Pirie South Australia. My ICQ# is 1970476 Ph. 61-411-623-978 (Mobile) 61-8-8633-0619 (Home) 61-8-8633-8834 (Work-Direct) 61-8-8633-0104 (Fax)

25 years, 8 months

Collectable PCs

by Innfogra＠aol.com

Earlier there was a discussion of what PC stuff might be collectable and valuable. The other day I ran across an original Columbia PC. This one is a good collectable. It was as it came from the factory with the original Floppy and Hard drive. It also had the original keyboard with it. It was very clean and had not been abused. It worked. In my 1983 Bytes they were asking $5000 for it. I paid $6 at goodwill with the intention of putting it on ebay just to see what it will bring. I am retireing from collecting but if I were going top sit on a piece of equipment this would be a good example. My reasons in order of priority: 1) first popular clone, 2) all the original -parts (including screws), 3) Clean with no scratches, the type on the keyboard showed no wear, 4) Works (not essential - i bought it without testing it - $6 is not a great gamble), 5) Rareity - Most of these go directly to scrap and have for years. However it will be many more years before it is truly valuable, but I bet it will be! Paxton

25 years, 8 months

AcerStation

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

I ran into a computer at a thrift store today called an AcerStation. It was a thin machine, clearly designed to be a network client. I think it's AT-class. The interesting thing is that when I booted it, the empty floppy drive whirred as usual, then it said something along the lines of its not being connected to a network and press any key to reboot. Is this thing network bootable? I've never heard of a PC that could do this. Also: Could someone tell me the model number of the original NEC Multisync? NEC's site has nothing about it, and I want to know if that's it at the thrift store. Could someone also confirm that it can do VGA modes? ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

25 years, 8 months

This is totally off topic

by altair8800＠hotmail.com

Yes it is totally off topic but I would be remiss if I did not say THANK YOU to whoever it was who posted. Three weeks ago a post came across this list which which stated that someone was wanting to sell thirteen old arcade machines. The poster further stated that he was posting this message only because he thought these might be computer games. Only because of his post to this list and with only an email address to go on I was able to make contact with the owner of these macines. I learned that these were all priceless turn of the century era penny arcade machines that had been used at Disneyland in Anaheim and later at Disney World in Orlando. I further learned that they were going to be sold in an obscure auction in Florida (I am in Florida) three days later. To make a long story short, I was able to purchase seven of the thirteen machines at a fraction of their value. The surfacing of these thirteen pieces is one of the most significant finds of this type item in the last ten years. I have been collecting coin operated antiques for twenty five years. This is the first time in all those years that I have ever had an opportunity to buy even one example of this type item. Because someone posted the message to this list I now am proudly in possesson of seven of them. THANKYOU, whoever you were. Bob Wood ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

25 years, 8 months

Vintage Apple Computer

by starider＠mindspring.com

Hello To whom this may concern, I was referred to your e-mail. The reason I'm writing is because over the last year when different people have found out that I had an old "Apple II C" computer that had all original components such as, keyboard(model# A254101), Unidisk 3.5 drive(model# A2M2053) , monitor(model# G-090S) and even has an old Image Writer II printer and all the components of the system were clean and in excellent working order. They asked excitedly if I was interested in selling it and even made unsolicited offers (some a helluva lot higher than others). Offers that caused me enough surprise to exclaim " You gotta be joking !". I'm curious about the true value of this Apple II system now because I have a new system . I would truly appreciate any and all information that you could provide. Thank you for your time and consideration and I'll be looking forward to your response. With Best Regards Christopher J. Perron

25 years, 8 months

NEC Multisync (was Re: AcerStation)

by dburrows＠netpath.net

>On Wed, 11 Nov 1998, Max Eskin wrote: > >> Also: Could someone tell me the model number of the original NEC >> Multisync? NEC's site has nothing about it, and I want to know if that's >> it at the thrift store. Could someone also confirm that it can do VGA >> modes? > >Depends on what you mean by NEC Multisync. A number of models have been >mentioned in response to your original request. I believe Dan Burrow's >summary corresponds to the NEC Multisync II. Not the 2A or other members >of the "2" series or 3's or higher. Note the Roman numeral. Says >"Multisync II" right on the front. I was quoting from the manual for the JC1401P3A for what it is worth. It also has all the pin outs for both analog and digital along with other related stuff. My scanner is down right now but I could FAX it if someone wants. Dan >This is the one with the 9-pin D-sub and is the only one I am aware of >that will sync 15.5KHz analog which is sub VGA video for Atari ST, Amiga >and Apple IIgs. > >The model number is JC 1402 HMA. It will do 640x480 VGA interlaced or >non-interlaced. It can step to 800x600 but someone mentioned it was >pretty poor and I believe part of the reason is it is interlace only. > >It also, as Dan points out, has TTL capabilities. I haven't made use of >that aspect. I have used it on built-in Macintosh video and some Nubus >cards that are theoretically VGA friendly but produce sync on green >(green screen?) and just otherwise don't work with normal VGA. If it is >indeed a "II" model, I'd say jump at the opportunity. The dot pitch isn't >great at .31 but it is sharp enough. The key though is the fact that it >is the Rosetta stone of monitors and it is worth having in your toolbox. > >For monitor reference you might try the following: > >http://www.telalink.net/~griffin/mondata.html > >which is a straight 120K or so listing of every model. > >Or use: > >http://www.telalink.net/~griffin/monitor.html > >for a search engine. > >I believe the above addresses are currently correct. I think any >reference to nashville.net is an older location. At the current moment, I >believe nashville will correctly alias to telalink. > >The information is sparse. Changes are made from time to time, so I guess >they are trying to maintain it with limited staff time. The database is >always worth a look when dealing with an unknown monitor, but no promises. > > > > -- Stephen Dauphin >

25 years, 8 months

Daybreak hard drives (was Re: Collectibles for the future)

by roblwill＠usaor.net

I've been thinking about designing an interface card to replace ST-506 >interface drives with ATA (IDE) drives. It's getting hard to find >Maxtor 2190s at a decent price, and I'm not sure how many more years it >will be possible to keep them running at all. > >The basic concept would be to simply sample the MFM (or RLL) channel >code at somewhere around 50 MHz as it is being written, and store the >data on the ATA drive. The interface would keep one track buffered in >RAM. Whenever the host requests a head change or seek, the buffer would >be written to the ATA drive (if it is dirty), and reloaded with the data >for the new track. > >This would require a much larger ATA drive than the original drive it is >emulating, 102K bytes per track. To emulate a Maxtor 2190, this requires a 2G >ATA drive. You could even emulate drives larger than that by emulating more >cylinders. > >The tricky part is that it might be necessary for the simulated drive >to mimic the effect that write precompensation in the host's controller >is intended to circumvent. > > > Such a card already exists- I saw someone selling one on the Obsolete Computer Helpline. -- -Jason Willgruber (roblwill(a)usaor.net) ICQ#: 1730318 <http://members.tripod.com/general_1>

25 years, 8 months

Saved Altair 4K BASIC

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< I could've sworn you spoke rather higher of it about a year < ago...anyway, I guess I can now understand why it is chosen as the best < example of Bill Gates' work :) but why is it always discussed (on Trimph < of the Nerds, for example) in terms of early personal software? Is it < that this was the best program for the Altair? The later versions were fairly stable and useful. Keep in mind at that time software was scarce (prior to 1977) so I tended to live with some things. It was landmark code in and one of its founders is a billionair now so it's remarkable. Keep inmind Triumph of the nerds was retrorevisonist history. Looking back is not the same as remembering the frustration of having actually used it. Allison

25 years, 8 months

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test-drb November 1998