<This notion of cooking up or breathing new life into an old 8-bit model to
<run *NIX is probably a mite more than has been considered for one reason.
<*NIX tends to want to use virtual memory, without which many systems would
<quickly choke. The old CPM-capables don't support VM. A good reason for
<this is probably the lack of performance.
Unix didn't always have the idea of virtual memory. See Minix for an
example of that also V4 and maybe V5 unix didn't either.
Also It's been done! UZI uses the total swaping model, IE: processes are
swaped out of core to make room for others.
Allison
<Has it ever been tried on a TRS-80 Model 4? The hardware meets the above
<requirements...
Unknown. Porting uzi is a bit of a task as the user has to supply the
low level drivers for their system.
Allison
On Thu, 21 Jan 1999 Tony Duell wrote:
>Ouch!. 8" disks are difficult to find, 5.25" disks are difficult to find
>(what about 1.2 Mbyte ones - are they still available?), 3" disks are
>impossible to find. I'd better start hoarding them...
You can still buy 8", 5.25" HD and 3" disks. Trouble is, they may be *Really*
expensive; I noticed on the Imation web site a couple of months ago that (from
memory) a box of 8" disks was over US$100.
3" disks are still available new from at least one place in the UK, though they
are over 2 pounds each.
-- Mark
I'm am trying to perserve history and keep people informed by building this
registry. It is completely voluntary. I'm sorry you are so bitter.
davidfreibrun(a)home.com
http://altaircomputers.org
-----Original Message-----
From: John Lawson <jpl15(a)netcom.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Sunday, January 24, 1999 1:29 AM
Subject: Re: Altair Collectors Registry
>
> So... let me get this straight... you want every one to
>*register* their Altairs with .....you??? For what, so you can get
>a "hit list" together for a little second story work? So you can
>spam-barrage members with Auction Solicitations?
>
> Aren't you the same individual trying to start the "Altair Owner's
>Club" on one of those idiotic Yahoo 'conferences' or whatever they
>call them.... and trying to get the List Admin to give you access
>to the Archive so you can harvest names...???
>
> OTOH, maybe my Curmudgeon Index is a little high today..
>
> And, oh yes... thanks once again for shovelling a shit-load of
>HTML crap into a plain-text based mailing list.
>
>
>
> Cheerz
>
>John
Altair Collectors Registry
http://altaircomputers.org/registrymodel.html
Model: 680
Registered: 1
-------------------------------------
Model: 8800 Assembled
Registered: 4
-------------------------------------
Model: 8800 Kit
Registered: 12
-------------------------------------
Model: 8800b
Registered: 5
-------------------------------------
Model: 8800b(sm)
Registered: 1
-------------------------------------
Model: 8800b(t)
Registered: 4
-------------------------------------
Model: Attache
Registered: None
If your model is not on the registry, let me know so I can update the list. Of course your privacy will be respected if you don't want your name published.
Altair Computer Collectors
davidfreibrun(a)home.com
http://altaircomputers.org
I personally feel the 10 year "rule" is useful as a guide, however, I also
consider that there are several machines that rightly qualify as "Classic
Computers" that are less than 10 years old. There is a particular "grey"
area in that a particular machine might span the period. I suppose
logically, we should look at when a particular box was FIRST made.
I have 2 Vax 6000's here (which I propose to the list are a "Classic"
regardless of age") one is 89 manufacture and therefore (just) 10 years old.
The other is a 1990 build. Microvaxen have been around for a fair while
now, but I am given to understand they are still orderable, new, from
Digital. IMHO, I would also class ANY Microvax as a "Classic" regardless of
age.
In fairness to all, it's unlikely that we want to see extensive discussions
of the vagaries of Pentium II's discussed here (for some years at least!)
but I am confident that the 10 year rule is meant to guide us, not shackle
us to a time frame. i.e. IF you have a machine that is less than that age,
or you wish to discuss it on the list, and IF you consider it to be a
classic in it's own right, then I suggest it be put to the list. IF the
consensus of list members is that it should be classed as a classic, then so
be it.
Just my 2c worth. Your opinions and/or mileage may vary.
Cheers
Geoff Roberts
Computer Room Internet Cafe
Port Pirie
South Australia.
netcafe(a)pirie.mtx.net.au
Date sent: Sat, 23 Jan 1999 15:24:49 -0800
Subject: Re: ebay: Timex Sinclair Computers
From: healyzh(a)aracnet.com
To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
Send reply to: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
> Jeez, even with 5 computers he probably got them for about that NEW back in
> about '82! I wonder if that one place is still selling unmade kits?
Yes...I bought two in December, for about $25 to $35 each (forgot
exact amount).
SS
SW1 closed = CSR 17774440 default
SW1 open= CSR 17774460
SW2 reserved
SW3 mode *
SW4 option *
SW5 reserved
Default = all closed
*remote boot and sanity timer - call me for these as my right hand is
healing and typing is difficult.
Dan
-----Original Message-----
From: Zane H. Healy <healyzh(a)aracnet.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Saturday, January 23, 1999 12:05 AM
Subject: DELQA Switch Settings
>OK, I'm almost ready to downgrade my PDP-11/73 to a DEQNA since I've got
>plenty of Doc's for it :^)
>
>Does anyone have the switch settings for DELQA ethernet card such as they
are?
>
>BTW, for a PDP-11 is there any real difference in the two cards?
>
> Zane
>| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
>| healyzh(a)aracnet.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast |
>| healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector |
>+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
>| Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
>| and Zane's Computer Museum. |
>| http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ |
>
I've been thinking about trying to use my Microtech 8" drive unit, which is
attached to a fairly standard FDC, to read IBM 3740-format (Sys/23, Sys/36,
Displaywriter, etc.) diskettes from Linux. I did some reading on 'fdutils' and
found one brief mention of 8" diskettes, but nothing really useful, for obvious
reasons I guess. Has anyone tried this or anything like it on Linux?
A lot of the 8" diskettes I'm getting from customers these days are in poor
shape and the Microtech drivers don't handle hard errors very well. I'm hoping
the Linux driver is a little more persistent and will allow me to recover more
data with less hassle. If only I could read all the bad diskettes on the
Displaywriter--that thing will grind away on a diskette all day if it has to
and rarely fails on a hard error.
I wouldn't normally bother the list with this, but getting Linux installed on
this box is going to be a major project and if it won't work I don't want to
invest the time and money.
--
David Wollmann
DST / DST Data Conversion
http://www.ibmhelp.com/
ICQ: 10742063
AIM: FathomS36
Given that Classic Computer(s) list members can agree on a standard for the
application of the term "classic" with regard to collected computing (and
other)
hardware, is that as far as it goes? Perhaps there is more to value in the
discussion.
The act in which we all participate, the collection, repair and restoration,
and
operation of collectable computers and software has become vogue. Hence,
given our collective expertise on this matter, it is our opportunity to
effect the
language and propriety of our activity. I am sure that many would benefit
from
a formal presentation of the collective view of the propriety of applying
the term
"classic" to a computer, etc.
To do so would not be different from the same activity as applied to
antiques,
numismatics, philately, etc. It is exactly in this way that these, and
other, standards
of collectability (a measure of "value" not necessarily economically
justifiable)
are derived, becoming manifest. I think that we would be doing ourselves
and
our activity justice.
What say you?
William R. Buckley