-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Thursday, 7 January 1999 13:13
Subject: Re: Message formats
>The license for a colour TV is something like 4 times the cost of one
>for a black and white TV. And the extra 'entertainment' might not be worth
>that much.
They STILL do that? Heck, we tossed it out in the early 70's.
The compliance rate was very low, and the Radio Inspectors
got so tired of the door to door checking and subsequent abuse
(sometimes physical - some Aussies are less than polite when dealing
with bureaucratic bull....) that they were glad to see the
government call it a day.
Cheers
Geoff Roberts
Computer Room Internet Cafe
Port Pirie
South Australia.
netcafe(a)pirie.mtx.net.au
-----Original Message-----
From: David Wollmann <dwollmann(a)ibmhelp.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Sunday, December 27, 1998 2:49 PM
Subject: Re: OT, but info needed: RAM uprade
>On Sun, 27 Dec 1998, Jason Willgruber wrote:
>
>
>When IBM ELS were designing the original 5150, 16-bit cards would have
driven
>the cost out of their US$4,000.00 retail target range, so they went with
the
>crippled 8088. A decision that, in hindsight, makes about as much sense as
>including a cassette drive and (what was it???) 16K RAM on the first model.
>
>
The tape drive was actually a useful idea, which should have been continued
all the way throughout the PS/2 line. It allowed whoever was using the
computer to actually make use of the ROM BASIC. The floppies aren't
available in ROM BASIC, and once a program is typed in, there's no way to
save it. The cassette drive worked in the same way that the cassette drive
in TRS-80's did. It acted as the storage device in ROM BASIC. In fact, I
don't even think the PC came with a cable to connect it to a tape deck. You
had to run down to RadioShack and pick up a TRS-80 cassette cable.
I think I actually have an entire 60-minute tape full of PC-BASIC programs
(somewhere). I think one of the not-so-smart things that IBM did was to
remove the cassette interface and to keep the now-useless ROM-BASIC in
there.
--
-Jason Willgruber
(roblwill(a)usaor.net)
ICQ#: 1730318
<http://members.tripod.com/general_1>
I picked up an SE 4/20 for $5, but not getting any power at all. fan and hard
drive wont spin, no image, nothing at all. i can verify that machine gets ac
power, but nothing else. what else can i check? unfortunately, i dont have any
electrical ability to test anything except for obvious problems.
david
Er, Ah, is based on your experience Pete or is the result of years of
testing?
Joe :-)
At 09:28 PM 1/6/99 -0000, you wrote:
>I think this is relevant to most classic machines :)
>
>
> Proper Diskette Usage and Care
>
>
>(1) Never leave diskettes in the drive, as the data can leak
> out of the disk and corrode the inner mechanics of the
> drive. Diskettes should be rolled up and stored in
> pencil holders.
>
>(2) Diskettes should be cleaned and waxed once a week.
> Microscopic metal particles may be removed by waving a
> powerful magnet over the surface of the disk. Any
> stubborn metal shavings can be removed with scouring
> powder and steel wool. When waxing a diskette, make sure
> the surface is even. This will allow the diskette to
> spin faster, resulting in better access time.
>
>(3) Do not fold diskettes unless they do not fit into the
> drive. "Big" Diskettes may be folded and used in
> "Little" drives.
>
>(4) Never insert a diskette into the drive upside down. The
> data can fall off the surface of the disk and jam the
> intricate mechanics of the drive.
>
>(5) Diskettes cannot be backed up by running them through a
> photo copy machine. If your data is going to need to be
> backed up, simply insert TWO diskettes into your drive.
> Whenever you update a document, the data will be written
> onto both disks. A handy tip for more legible backup
> copies: Keep a container of iron filings at your desk. When
> you need to make two copies, sprinkle iron filings
> liberally between the diskettes before inserting them into
> the drive.
>
>(6) Diskettes should not be removed or inserted from the
> drive while the red light is on or flashing. Doing so
> could result in smeared or possibly unreadable text.
> Occasionally, the red light remains flashing in what is
> known as a "hung" or "hooked" state. If your system is
> hooking, you will probably need to insert a few coins
> before being allowed to access the slot.
>
>(7) If your diskette is full and needs more storage space,
> remove the disk from the drive and shake vigorously for
> two minutes. This will pack the data enough (data
> compression) to allow for more storage. Be sure to cover
> all openings with scotch tape to prevent loss of data.
>
>(8) Data access time may be greatly improved by cutting more
> holes in the diskette jacket. This will provide more
> simultaneous access points to the disk.
>
>(9) Periodically spray diskettes with insecticide to prevent
> system bugs from spreading.....
>
>Regards
>Pete
>
>Regards
>Pete
>
> Well, it is better than seeing the thing go to scrap! Most of us on this
Well said! Hear, Hear!
> list can say they are microcomputer collectors, maybe a third can say
they
> are mini or workstation collectors, a few of us can say we are mainframe
> collectors, but I do not think anyone can claim to be a supercomputer
> collector yet!
AFAIK, Tony Duell has that honour, though his supercomputer (a DAP from
1989) is somewhat smaller - a largish desk-side IIRC.
Tony, now your DAP is 10 years old, how about telling the list some more
about it.
Philip.
PS In the UK, you need an LGV (light goods vehicle) driving licence for
anything above 3.5 tons unladen, and an HGV driving licence for anything
above 7.5 tons. Anyone know what you could put in a 3 ton truck? My own
truck, 0.9 tons unladen, can carry 0.5 tons payload, but I imagine the
ratio has improved since the 1940s... On the other hand, I know someone
who is an HGV driving instructor so if these opportunities are going to
come up, perhaps I should ask him for a few lessons...
P.
I am NOT sending in HTML format, but it is MIME encoded. Sorry, but I use my E-Mail client (Windows messaging) for more than just this discussion group, and I need the ability to send and receive formatted text for some of them, including my employer. I'm not going to change formats on a message-by-message basis just to eliminate the equals signs at the ends of the lines.
> I'm not sure I'd call it a supercomputer. A parallel machine, certainly.
> A SIMD machine, certainly.
What does SIMD stand for? What can this thing do? Does it have any
permanent storage devices? How fast is it?
I think this is relevant to most classic machines :)
Proper Diskette Usage and Care
(1) Never leave diskettes in the drive, as the data can leak
out of the disk and corrode the inner mechanics of the
drive. Diskettes should be rolled up and stored in
pencil holders.
(2) Diskettes should be cleaned and waxed once a week.
Microscopic metal particles may be removed by waving a
powerful magnet over the surface of the disk. Any
stubborn metal shavings can be removed with scouring
powder and steel wool. When waxing a diskette, make sure
the surface is even. This will allow the diskette to
spin faster, resulting in better access time.
(3) Do not fold diskettes unless they do not fit into the
drive. "Big" Diskettes may be folded and used in
"Little" drives.
(4) Never insert a diskette into the drive upside down. The
data can fall off the surface of the disk and jam the
intricate mechanics of the drive.
(5) Diskettes cannot be backed up by running them through a
photo copy machine. If your data is going to need to be
backed up, simply insert TWO diskettes into your drive.
Whenever you update a document, the data will be written
onto both disks. A handy tip for more legible backup
copies: Keep a container of iron filings at your desk. When
you need to make two copies, sprinkle iron filings
liberally between the diskettes before inserting them into
the drive.
(6) Diskettes should not be removed or inserted from the
drive while the red light is on or flashing. Doing so
could result in smeared or possibly unreadable text.
Occasionally, the red light remains flashing in what is
known as a "hung" or "hooked" state. If your system is
hooking, you will probably need to insert a few coins
before being allowed to access the slot.
(7) If your diskette is full and needs more storage space,
remove the disk from the drive and shake vigorously for
two minutes. This will pack the data enough (data
compression) to allow for more storage. Be sure to cover
all openings with scotch tape to prevent loss of data.
(8) Data access time may be greatly improved by cutting more
holes in the diskette jacket. This will provide more
simultaneous access points to the disk.
(9) Periodically spray diskettes with insecticide to prevent
system bugs from spreading.....
Regards
Pete
Regards
Pete
In case no one saw this in the paper this morning:
"The Hayes Corporation, a company that once dominated the
personal-computer modem business, is shutting down after failing to find a
buyer. About 250 employees were laid off on Monday, leaving only a handful.
The company sought protection from creditors in October, in its second trip
to bankruptcy court in the 1990's, and attempted a reorganization under
Chapter 11 on the United States Bankruptcy Code as it talked to potential
buyers. But its primary lender notified the company that it would not
continue efforts to keep Hayes alive. Hayes owes some $42 million ot
creditors that includes NationsCredit, Lucent Technologies, and Rockwell
Semiconductor Systems."
Another one "bytes" the dust...
-------------------------------------------------
Rich Cini/WUGNET
<nospam_rcini(a)msn.com> (remove nospam_ to use)
- ClubWin Charter Member (6)
- MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking
Hi,
If anyone is interested in cards for the early PA-RISC machines:
9000/850 9000/860 (HP-UX)
3000/950 3000/960 (MPE/iX)
let me know via email to: sieler(a)allegro.com
The cards are HP-IB, HP-FL, and 802.3 interface cards.
A friend has some, and I'll pass your name/email on to her.
--
Stan Sieler sieler(a)allegro.com
http://www.allegro.com/sieler.html
