>
> Silver? Are you sure this isn't the 1500? The TimexSinclair 1000 is
> black.
>
Yep. The top is silver, with a black keyboard, and the bart on the bottom
(looks like it should be part of the top, but isn't) is silver. The rest
of it is black (bottom). I'll try to get a picture of it up on my website
in the near future.
>
> Demonstrating the Apple //c would have been a lot easier software wise.
> Where are you going to get the TV to plug the TS into?
>
The school has a 25" TV that they're going to let me use. It may have been
a bit easier, as far as programming goes, but the Sinclair is a bit easier
to sarry around, and I won't really worry if it gets banged around (as long
as it's AFTER the presentation), since there's nothing mechanical on it
that'll break such as a disk drive). The shortcuts amy save a little time,
too, once I get the hang of them (and the tiny keyboard).
-Jason
***********************************************
* Jason Willgruber *
* (roblwill(a)usaor.net) *
* *
* http://members.tripod.com/general_1 *
* ICQ#-1730318 *
* /0\/0\ *
* > Long Live the 5170! *
* \___/ *
************************************************
Exactly. I like it because:
1) - it was only 50 cents
2) - it is kind of cute. Looks like a mini CoCo 1 (in the fact that it's
silver)
3) - it's small
4) - it's going to save me a bunch of trouble than taking my Apple //c and
disks to school for my presentation :-)
-Jason
***********************************************
* Jason Willgruber *
* (roblwill(a)usaor.net) *
* *
* http://members.tripod.com/general_1 *
* ICQ#-1730318 *
* /0\/0\ *
* > Long Live the 5170! *
* \___/ *
************************************************
>
> It's a cute machine but more known for its "oh, is *that* how that
works?"
> engineering than its elegance. Even when you expand it you still have a
cute,
> idiosyncratic machine.
>
> -- Derek
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Foust [mailto:jfoust@threedee.com]
> Sent: Monday, November 02, 1998 2:14 PM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: Classic != IBM AT
>
>
> At 07:04 PM 11/2/98 +0000, Tony Duell wrote:
> >
> >Yes, but fortunately the starting date doesn't move forwards as well. In
> >other words, OK, some 386 PCs with custom chips in them are now classics
> >on this list (I have a problem with saying that, BTW...).
>
> I tend to agree with you. Discussion of ten-year-old IBM PC clones
> isn't as interesting. Dare I cause a schism by suggesting that
> the ten-year-rule be changed to "computers first made before 19xx?"
> I'll leave the date open to debate. :-)
I think the significance of these later pieces depends on the fragmentation
of the market. There was only one IBM AT, it was the first 80286 IBM
machine, and created the 16-bit ISA bus that is still found in machines
today. That's pretty significant. At the 80386 introduction, there were
two firsts -- the Compaq Deskpro 386 and the IBM PS/2 80 (the Compaq was
first, as I recall). Those machines are borderline collectable, in my
opinion.
By the time the 80486 rolled around, there were no firsts, the industry had
evolved to a group of OEMs serviced by Intel, of which IBM was only a peer.
Had EISA taken off, perhaps the first EISA machine would have been
collectible, but personally, I don't think there is anything in the x86
desktop arena after the Deskpro 386-PS/2 80 that's collectible. Late '80s
to present, the only things of interest are pioneering units of other
architectures and/or form factors, such as the Newton OMP (Original
MessagePad), NeXt cube, etc.
Kai
> I'm not sure exactly what you mean. Solid? Translucent? Seems to me from
> the few Timex models I've seen in action, the video is not so hot. Can be
> tempermental depending what TV it is hooked to. Bad sync (not rock
> stable), noisy and rather unsharp. Cheap design and manufacture all
> around. At least it translated to a cheap price.
>
Well, there's a gray background, with black lettering. The bar(s) are
solid black, and are about 2" wide, and scroll from the top to the bottom.
It does this on every TV I connect it to.
>
> Bingo. Save your own programs or use commercial ones. There are a few
> programs of the "home accounting" ilk released by Timex Sinclair as
> cassettes.
>
Hmm.. Cheap design shows through here, too. There's not even a connector to
hook up the "motor remote" on the cassette. You have to turn it on and off
yourself (or have a VSR tape deck). All in all, even though bigger, the
CoCo is about 2k times better (bigger IS better...).
-Jason
***********************************************
* Jason Willgruber *
* (roblwill(a)usaor.net) *
* *
* http://members.tripod.com/general_1 *
* ICQ#-1730318 *
* /0\/0\ *
* > Long Live the 5170! *
* \___/ *
************************************************
O.K. At least Now I know how to program. Not to get that annoying bar out
of there.
Iven if it is sort of a pain to program, it's still a neat little computer.
Looks sort of like a mini CoCo 1.
Does anyone know what the "ear" and "mic" jacks are for (I know what
they're for, I just want to know WHY they're there). It's the only BASIC
machine I've seen with a MIC plug. Or is it to connect a tape deck to?
-Jason
***********************************************
* Jason Willgruber *
* (roblwill(a)usaor.net) *
* *
* http://members.tripod.com/general_1 *
* ICQ#-1730318 *
* /0\/0\ *
* > Long Live the 5170! *
* \___/ *
************************************************
----------
> From: Cameron Kaiser <ckaiser(a)oa.ptloma.edu>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: Help Needed With Sinclair 1000
> Date: Monday, November 02, 1998 5:45 PM
>
> As I remember, the editor automatically switches modes for you, i.e.,
> having entered PRINT, it goes to character mode. At least on the Spectrum
+
> (pulls up emulator), this is what happens. (Assume [X] represents a
cursor
> showing letter X.)
>
<<<<snip>>>>
> The keywords thing is maddening, one of the quirks that rapidly turned me
> off the Sinclairs. However, they are still fun little things to play
with,
> even if I get a lot more practical stuff done with my Commodore 128.
>
> --
> -------------------------- personal page:
http://calvin.ptloma.edu/~spectre/ --
> Cameron Kaiser Information Technology Services Database
Programmer
> Point Loma Nazarene University Fax: +1 619
849 2581
> ckaiser(a)ptloma.edu Phone: +1 619
849 2539
> -- Generating random numbers is too important to be left to chance.
-----------
Hi!
Anybody else see this one? I wonder what kind of documentation he has to
"support" that "The current value of an Apple I computer is $40,000+" Is
he referring to the one that was sold for a charity?
Bjorn Eng
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 2 Nov 1998 14:05:39 GMT
From: David Selinger <dave314x(a)sd.cts.com>
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers
Subject: Apple I Computer For Sale
Keywords: Apple 1 Apple I Wozniak Steve Jobs Computer
Subject: Apple 1 Computer For Sale - Historic Rare Museum Piece
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers
Organization: CTS Network Services (CTSNET), San Diego, CA
Summary: For Sale (FS) RARE Apple I (Apple 1) 1976 Computer System
Keywords: Apple I Apple 1 For Sale Antique Computer vintage computer
Wozniak Steve Jobs
I am offering for sale to the highest bidder an original 1976
Apple I (Apple 1) Computer System - museum quality (one is in the
Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. - see their web page.)
It includes:
Main processor board with original chips.
User Operations manual with schematic
BASIC programming User's manual which came with Apple I
Tape interface daughter board
BASIC cassette tape
Original one-sheet advertisement
What it doesn't include (because Apple Computer Co. did not
sell this equipment with the computer -- the user supplied it
himself): keyboard, and TV.
This computer is for display purposes only -- not for actual
use as a computer. Though I used it as a working computer in the
past, the ravages of time has likely make it inoperative.
Important Additional Information:
Only 200 were ever made (Steve Wozniak interview, Byte Magazine, December
1984, page A69).
Of those 200, many have likely been lost or destroyed, thereby
making the surviving computers worth much more because of their
increased scarcity.
Minimum price for starting the bidding is $25,000.00. The current value
of an Apple I computer is $40,000+. Documentation to support this fact will
be provided upon request. A color photo to interested parties will also be
provided upon request.
I am also offering a 10% finder's fee to any person who finds a legitimate
buyer with whom I actually consumate the sale. For example, finding a
buyer who agrees to buy the computer for $40,000.00 will mean a $4,000.00
finders fee to the person who finds the buyer. This offer of a finder's
fee however is valid for only two (2) months and expires on midnight Dec.
31, 1998.
Send email bids, or referrals to potential buyers to this
email address: dave314x(a)cts.com
I reserve the right to reject or accept any and all bids.
Dave.
Hello everyone.
I have an old Timex Sinclair 1000 computer that I recently got at Salvation
Army for $.50 (they thought it was an organizer!). I bought it to do a
presentation in my school on BASIC, but can't quite figure out how ot get
it to work. First of all, the display constantly has an (approxamately) 2"
wide (I'm using a 13" TV) black bar that rolls from the top to the bottom
-constantly. Would this be caused by using the wrong type of adapter? I'm
using a 9VDC 100mA adapter. Is this too little? Too much?
Secondly, I can't seem to get it out of shortcut mode. I try to type "10
CLS", and I get "10 CONT LET SAVE". I know that the Sinclair had shortcus
for the functions, but how do I get to the normal data-entry mode? I took
it apart, and the board in it has a Zilog Z80A, a Ferranti chip (same size
as Z80), a removable Sinclair Research chip, and a Toshiba chip. It says
SINCLAIR ZX81 1981 (c).
Anyone have info on this *tiny* computer?
TIA,
-Jason
***********************************************
* Jason Willgruber *
* (roblwill(a)usaor.net) *
* *
* http://members.tripod.com/general_1 *
* ICQ#-1730318 *
* /0\/0\ *
* > Long Live the 5170! *
* \___/ *
************************************************
______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
Subject: Re: CRT decay
Author: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu at internet
Date: 11/2/98 11:04 AM
At 05:59 PM 11/1/98 -0600, Doug Yowza wrote:
>
>No, I'm not sure. When I first saw it, I thought mold was growing along
>the edges, but closer examination showed that that "growth" was inside the
>glass, and the patterns were somewhat crystaline. I'll let you know if
>it spontaneously implodes.
Is it possible that you're seeing some element that's been vaporized
and is now being re-deposited as crystalline material? There is so
much going on inside a tube with high voltage, heaters, glowing wires,
etc. that something could be vaporizing and cooling.
>>Which reminds me of something I'd do as a kid: pop open vacuum tubes
>>and add water to the grey material tucked inside the rings, which
>>would then fizz. Maybe it was calcium carbide. I imagine it was
>>there to suck up water or gas after the tube had been sealed.
Sounds like you may be talking about a 'getter' which is used in the
production of vacuum tubes (valves for you gents across the pond) to
eliminate vapor and residual air the vacuum pump can't draw out or may
be in the metal components of the tube (plate, grid, filiment and
arbor). The getter is a compound (barium, magnesium, etc.) placed in
the tube which is ignited after the envelope is sealed. After the
getter ignites it sometimes leaves a silver coating inside the tube.
Marty
- John
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From: John Foust <jfoust(a)threedee.com>
To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers"
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Subject: Re: CRT decay
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>> I had one because it's not a personal computer. If you used a sedan
>> to haul around heavy things, would you call it a truck?
>
> If you mean 'sedan', then it is probably a "Sport Utility Vehicle" (SUV)
> and, yes, I do call that a truck!
I don't know about sedans (saloons, we call them over here), but
convertibles are very useful for carting heavy stuff around. I seldom used
the back seat of my Triumph Stag for anything else (yes it was mostly
classic computer stuff, so this is just on topic). Of course when the Stag
died (in honourable combat with a Volvo, FWIW) I decided to get an estate
car (station wagon) to replace it. I now have a pickup and a van...
Philip.
< I have to agree here. F connectors may be electrically nice (they offer
< much cleaner connection Z-wise), but for human factors, the things plai
< suck. They are way too easy to crossthread. BNCs are just about the
< easiest coax connector to install (except for the old WECo types, but th
< do not secure), and they work just fine at 10 Mbps.
BNC is a UHF constant impedence connector. They work very well at
several GHz! They just don't like high RF power (voltage).
< Also, I have never seen an F connector "T". BNC "T"s are quite common.
< Using existing parts is always better than inventing new ones.
When BNC started to be used for Eithernet, Ts were expensive and got cheap
due to volume. F connectors are common to cable industry and if they
needed Ts they would be cheap too.
Cat5 wire is cheaper though but I wouldn't use them around receivers or
transmitters!
Allison
