It just looked odd. It was like a regular PC case but smaller. It was
two shallow plastic tubs. At front, all there was was two 1/2 height
5.25" drives. The whole thing was about as tall as 1 full height. In the
back, it had the standard MB connectors (RS-232, Parallel), composite
RF, and a 9-pin video (I don't recall what type). It had one horizontal
expansion slot with the little cover missing. I peeked inside but
couldn't see the ISA connector.
>Could you elaborate on "peculiar" (and what is a Heathkit kit XT?). I
>have a peculiar-looking plastic computer from Heathkit called the
ET-3400,
>but it couldn't possibly be confused with an XT.
>
>-- Doug
>
>
>
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Ethan,
The z80 believe it or not is still in production and has to be one of the
most common 8 bitters along with the 6502. It also has one of the bigger
resources for tools, code, and knowledge around.
< I gave away a couple of 68K S100 boxes to a friend a couple of years ago.
< Since then, I've gotten that Z80 Starter Kit with the S100 connectors. Wh
< sorts of boards might I be able to find for which there is Z80 code? Coul
Unlike PCs the z80 world doesn't really revolve so closely around boards
or one vendors word of how the OS is implemented.
So... it sorta makes the question open ended.
< I find/build a floppy controller and get some sort of CP/M BIOS ROM and
< turn it into a CP/M machine? I guess I'd need a serial port for a console
Getting a bios rom would be near impossible, as most cpm systems did not
do rom bios like PCs do! The bios was loaded at boot time. the loader was
a minimal chunk of code (as small or smller than 128 bytes) that loaded
the bios which then loaded the rest of the OS. That made the bios very
changable as the users discression. Writing your own bios and putting it
an eprom(or EEprom) is very doable. The book you need (or the chapter in)
is the CP/M alteration guide. that can be found at the site listed.
Finding more boards (assuming S100) is also not that hard. there are people
here that can help right here on classiccmp.
One development platform is to get MYZ80(it's on the web at the SIMTEL site)
a z80 and CP/M emulator that runs on 386 or higher dos(or win 3.x, maybe
w95) platforms. With that on your PC you can surf the web for tools and
apps needed to run languages, assemblers, debuggers and what have you to
develop code.
< at least a 5.25" controller, and BIOS source (with a cross assembler).
Any disk size/format you may want is doable from old single density 8" to
IDE or SCSI. You might find hardware for any or all, but 5.25/8" was
common. FYI: if your writing the code, most 8" double density controllers
with 765 or the more commonly used in that time frame WD179x can also do
3.5" formats.
< Anything else? Is 32K reasonable for CP/M, or should I go for 48K? The
For CP/M 32 is the minimum to do useful work even though you can run the
assembler and debuggers in 20k. A good system is 48 or better 56k with
some setup to switch out the eprom to get access to all 64k.
< only copy I happen to have, BTW, is an original CP/M distribution disk
< for the Commodore 128. Will that be adequate, or should I dig for somethi
< more generic?
The C128 is furthest from generic IMHO, but if you have a c128 it's a good
place to start as a development platform. FYI with notable exceptions CPM
(primary componenets are CCP, BDOS and BIOS) is generic for all 8080/8085
and z80 system and only the bios code is different as that's where all the
IO work is done for terminals and disks.
There is a CP/M website on the net where you can get binaries or even
sources as well as manuals.
I'd look here if I were you:
Visit the "Unofficial" CP/M Web site.
MAIN SITE AT : http://cdl.uta.edu/cpm
MIRROR AT : http://www.mathcs.emory.edu/~cfs/cpm
Applications, look at the FTP site at OAKLAND.EDU and SIMTEL, I'd guess
there are 20-30,000 programs out there and most with sources.
Good luck,
Allison
$>Set mode/device=tongue/position=incheek
< I'm desperately searching for an IMSAI 8080. I know you have all
< probably heard this before but does anyone know where I should start.
< I'm going to the MIT Swapfest this month and hoping to get lucky but
Desperate? I know people desperate for heart transplants or hardware
to keep their old maching going because it runs their business but,
really! ;-)
Done forget there are loads of other S100 hardware looing for homes and
also noteworthy!
Allison
Today, I saw a peculiar-looking all-plastic computer that was labelled
"Heath Computer Systems". Is this the Heathkit kit XT?
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> 3. Odd DEC single-board computer. 10" x 7" labeled DEC 54-16489, Has two
> 84-pin PLCC chips
> with the LSI LIA 0433 and 0434 marks. Has a DB25, DB15, and DB9.
> Recognizable chips
> include 8051, FD1796, CDP 6402 (RCA), and D7201C (NEC) Can anyone
> identify this?
Offhand, it sounds like a DECmate, probably a III.
Roger Ivie
ivie(a)cc.usu.edu
What are the chances of getting one of the sets of 11/34 docs? I got one
of these and a set of docs would just rock!
Thanks
Tony
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Richard A. Cini, Jr. [mailto:rcini@email.msn.com]
> Sent: Friday, July 10, 1998 1:21 PM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: Oh, boy. What a haul!
>
>
> Hello, all:
>
> I made another trip to Temple University yesterday to
> rummage through
> their storehouse of old computers and documentation. I hate
> to post a list,
> but I don't have a working web site yet, and I want everyone
> to know what I
> have in case someone needs something.
>
> Here it goes...
>
> 1. Mac Portable (no HD, bad batteries)
> 2. Many Unibus and Q-Bus boards
> 3. Odd DEC single-board computer. 10" x 7" labeled DEC
> 54-16489, Has two
> 84-pin PLCC chips
> with the LSI LIA 0433 and 0434 marks. Has a DB25,
> DB15, and DB9.
> Recognizable chips
> include 8051, FD1796, CDP 6402 (RCA), and D7201C
> (NEC) Can anyone
> identify this?
> 4. Three Motorola 68K educational computers. Has 32k RAM,
> 68K, 6850,
> 14411 chips and a
> proto area. Also has two EPROMs. Any guess?
> 5. Three KIM-1s!! (There are one or two more left, too). Two are
> MOS-labeled, one is *brand new* from
> Conversational Voice Terminal Corp. of Chicago. Need
> data on this
> one. The MOS-labeled ones
> have 1976-dated ceramic chips.
> 6. A S-100 backplane from Forethought Products. Has 8
> slots, some glue
> and regulator chips.
> 7. Lots of documentation. A sampling...
> -- Intel: MCS80/85 User Guide (1983), Memory Handbook
> (83), Embedded
> Controller Book (88), Component Data Book (80; looks to be
> full-line), OEM
> Boards (87), 8080/85 Assembly Language Programming Manual,
> Applications
> Note --implementing a floppy system (1981).
> -- DEC: Logic handbook (77), Microcomputer
> Microprocessors (78)
> -- Motorola: MC68020 User Man., MEK6800 Guide, 6809 Assembly
> Language, 6800 Pgmr. Ref. Manual.
> -- Full documentation set for the Rockwell AIM-65
> computer (user
> guide, BASIC language, Programmers Manual, Hardware Manual,
> Monitor Program
> Listing).
> -- Textbooks on microprocessors by Tocci & Laskowski,
> and Camp, Smay
> & Triska
> 8. Old magazines. The guy who ran the CS department before
> the guy I know
> saved everything. Byte's going back to 1978 (too many to get
> this trip),
> Datamation, others that I never heard of. But, the jewel is
> that I came
> *this* close to getting the Altair issue of Popular Electronics.
> Unfortulately, this guy only had as far back as 1/76.
> Articles include:
> Cosmal Elf construction articles, SOL construction, build a Scientific
> Calculator, music with the 8080, TV Typewriter, SpeechLab,
> Computer Club
> listings, a personal microwave communications system, various
> Classic-relevant product reviews and buyer's guides.
> 9. DEC paper tapes: PDP-11 power fail, LPS11 tests,
> General Test Program,
> RK05 dynamic test, RK11 utilities, exerciser, static tests.
> 10. Complete print sets for the following: PDP 11/34A (two copies,
> complete), FP11, H960 cabinet, KSI-11, DLV-11, DL-11, H9720,
> ET-LSI-11,
> LSI-11 power supply, MS11, PC11, LPS11, MR11, M873, KD11F,
> RK05 (regular, F,
> and J).
>
> My plan is to scan the articles, and have an on-line
> database hanging
> off of a web site. I also want to implement a bar code system for my
> goodies. That'll take a while, though.
>
> Anyway, thanks for the bandwidth.
>
> Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com>
> - ClubWin! Charter Member
> - MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking
> - Preserver of "classic" computers
> <<<< ========== reply separator ========== >>>>>
>
>
>
> The question is, what was VM/SP? I know it was IBMs, and it ran on large
> mainframes. Where can I find information about it?
The only info I can find is in a couple of glossy brochures from IBM.
One is about the 9370, the other about the 3090 series. Respectively,
IBM Virtual Machine/System Product (VM/SP)
This is a multi-user, multi-processing operating system for
interactive processing. It provides productivity tools for
commercial and engineering/scientific environments, decision
support and program development. With its connectivity
enhancements, this system is particularly suited for remote sites
that have little or no programming staff.
and
Simple end-user interaction with VM
The VM/XA Systems Facility and the VM/SP High Performance Option
both provide a virtual machine environment. Together with the
Conversational Monitor System (CMS), they permit each end-user to
access the IBM 3090 system independently, with the perception that
he or she is the sole user. Communicating with the IBM 3090 via
VM/CMS, Vector Vacility users can develop, test and execute
vectorised applications online, using a comprehensive range of IBM
Assembler and FORTRAN compilers, libraries and productivity tools.
VM also provides guest System Control Program (SCP) support, not
only for other IBM SCPs but also for IX/370, IBM's implementation
of UNIX.
Sorry I can't be of further help.
Philip.
Oh, I'd really love to get my hands on some old Cromemco and Northstar
equipment too but the IMSAI is like a labor of love :)
Tony
> -----Original Message-----
> From: allisonp(a)world.std.com [mailto:allisonp@world.std.com]
> Sent: Friday, July 10, 1998 12:50 PM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: Re: Looking for...
>
>
>
> $>Set mode/device=tongue/position=incheek
>
> < I'm desperately searching for an IMSAI 8080. I know you have all
> < probably heard this before but does anyone know where I
> should start.
> < I'm going to the MIT Swapfest this month and hoping to get lucky but
>
> Desperate? I know people desperate for heart transplants or hardware
> to keep their old maching going because it runs their business but,
> really! ;-)
>
> Done forget there are loads of other S100 hardware looing for
> homes and
> also noteworthy!
>
>
> Allison
>
I'm desperately searching for an IMSAI 8080. I know you have all
probably heard this before but does anyone know where I should start.
I'm going to the MIT Swapfest this month and hoping to get lucky but
fear I will not.
Help!
Thanks,
Tony Dellett
anthony.dellett(a)staples.com
