test-drb December 1999

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

186 participants
742 discussions

Famous & infamous computers of the 70's & 80's.

by netsurfer_x1＠hotmail.com

Here is a varied list of computers (and computer-related things) that were either famous or infamous for various reasons First, the infamous ones Computer with the worst built in hard drive: the ICT hard drive in the early models of the IBM-AT. Computer with the worst system architecture: TI-99/4A. (doubly interpreted BASIC? c'mon TI!) Computer with the worst keyboard: (tie) Sinclair ZX-81/Timex Sinclair 1000 & IBM PC Jr. Computer with the worst pitchman: Bill Cosby. (TI-99/4A) Computer with the most limitations: Timex Sinclair 1000/Sinclair ZX-81. Slowest computer: COM-X 35. Computer with the slowest disk drive: Commodore 64(C). Heaviest laptop computer: Apple Macintosh Portable. Most infamous computer by price: Apple Lisa. And now the famous ones Computer with the best keyboard: (tie) Commodore 64(C), & TRS-80 Model 12. Computer with the best speech synthesizer: TI-99/4A. Most famous "vaporware" computer: Xerox Alto. Computer with the best sound hardware: (tie) TI-99/4A & Commodore 64(C). Computer with the coolest pitchman: William Shatner. (VIC-20) Computer with the coolest case design: TI-99/4A. (The case reminds me of a Delorean. Remember those?) Computer with the best introductory commercial: Apple Macintosh. ("On January 24, Apple will introduce Macintosh. And you will see why 1984 won't be like "1984"".) This is all that I can think of. If you can add some more categories or correct some of the entries, please do so! After all, the above entries are only based on opinion (namely my own). ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

24 years, 5 months

Famous & infamous computers of the 70's & 80's.

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>>Computer with the best speech synthesizer: TI-99/4A. > Dunno 'bout that... how about the Digitalker as used on some S-100 systems? You'll note that his definition of "computer" didn't include S-100 systems (probably because they don't have integral video...). But if we have to talk about the "best" speech synthesizer of the day, I'd vote for the original DECtalk (often confused with a VT240 base!) These are still in continuing commercial use at the far end of those applications where you dial in to check your bank balance, etc. -- Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/ 7328 Bradley Blvd Voice: 301-767-5917 Bethesda, MD, USA 20817 Fax: 301-767-5927

24 years, 5 months

Famous & infamous computers of the 70's & 80's.

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>Here is a varied list of computers (and computer-related things) that were >either famous or infamous for various reasons (Bunch of IBM PC - TI-99/4 - Timex/Sinclair - Apple - Commodore - RS stuff deleted for brevity). Replace "computer" with "desktop microcomputer with keyboard and video display" and I'll agree that your list makes sense. (Though the Alto doesn't quite fit that category.) Unfortunately your list completely neglects the non-desktop micros, especially those without integral video, minis, and mainframes... Tim.

24 years, 5 months

RC 702

by rachael_＠gmx.net

Hi I have just got a old Danish build computer from 1979, it was build by Regne Centralen. I got it including a RC 722 keyboard and a RC 752 monitor. It`s based on a Z80a with 64 Kb and two fullsize 5 1/4" floppy drives build by YE in Japan. I did not get any discs with it and no one seems to remember it here in Denmark, so I was hoping that somehow some of this machines has made it outside Denmark, so if anyone knows something about this machine please step foreward. Regrads Jacob Dahl Pind

24 years, 5 months

Time is relative

by Innfogra＠aol.com

In a message dated 12/25/1999 1:25:27 PM Pacific Standard Time, foxvideo(a)wincom.net writes: > Now what I would like some of you scientific types to explain to me is how > folks living in the years 'BC' designated them. They couldn't say "this > year is 45 BC'" because they didn't know when it was going to happen. Time is relative. The Egyptians had their own calendar, it would be 5XXX now. I rather like the Mayan interlocking circles. Their calendar was more accurate than ours. It is also interesting that it had a start time that preceded their own culture. I suspect that for most of humanity that the stars and the night sky has held a far greater position in ones life than now. We used to live a lot closer to earth's cycles. The seasons and passing of years generate their own calendar. We, in Oregon, are going through a long term cycle of heavier rainfall, more than 18 years long. People seem to forget this is a 'cycle' in the dry years. I wonder what the native American cultures called "EL Nino"? I am sure it was a segment of their calendar. Mediterranean metalsmiths(in Rhodes, 86BC) built a differential geared calculator for calculating the positions of the sun and moon, with eclipses, multiple years and more. Here is a URL which may have appeared on this list before. http://www.math.utsa.edu/ecz/ak.html <A HREF="http://www.math.utsa.edu/ecz/ak.html">Gears from the Greeks</A> I hope this qualifies as "on topic" Many cultures instituted their own calendars. Western civilization has instituted the current calendar, mostly for commercial purposes. Since most people have adopted it, the current calendar would be hard to change. This is the same problem with the millennium change. I like the British Observatory's statement. The idea of a year of celebration sounds like a lot of fun, I hope to do my share. Paxton

24 years, 5 months

OT: Happy Holidays

by Glenatacme＠aol.com

In a message dated 12/24/1999 2:39:45 PM Eastern Standard Time, ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk writes: > The new millennium starts on 01/01/2001. Right on! Glen 0/0

24 years, 5 months

Help with CQD 220A/TM

by sms＠antinode.org

From: Jerome Fine <jhfine(a)idirect.com> > Does anyone have the files for the CQD 220/TM - the original > board? Also, the CQD 200/TM. I have no trouble getting to these things from the support page, "http://www.cmd.com/TechnicalSupport.cfm", although the links to the 220/223 seem to be lost "-200/223" is really "-200/203", and the "-220/223" choice is missing. (I'll send a complaint to CMD.) Try: http://www.cmd.com/Manuals/220223InstallGuide.pdf http://www.cmd.com/Manuals/220223JumperSettings.pdf http://www.cmd.com/Manuals/sw_cqd200.cfm http://www.cmd.com/Manuals/200203TechSpecs.pdf ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Steven M. Schweda (+1) 651-645-9249 (voice, home) 1630 Marshall Avenue #8 (+1) 612-754-2636 (voice, work) Saint Paul MN 55104-6225 (+1) 612-754-6302 (facsimile, work) sms(a)antinode.org sms(a)provis.com (work)

24 years, 5 months

Famous & infamous computers of the 70's & 80's.

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- "Zane H. Healy" <healyzh(a)aracnet.com> wrote: > Allison wrote: > >You left out the terminals: > > > > Vt100 set a standard. > > Vt220 advanced it. > > And the dual input VT420 perfected :^) What can I say, I love VT420's! > > Zane We had dual input with the CiTOH 101e in 1984 (plus a built-in clock on the setup screen with the model 101). My employer bought those in favor of DEC terminals because they were only $1700 in 1982-1983. I still have a cabinet of them (plus the manuals). Great clone terminals. -ethan ===== Infinet has been sold. The domain is going away in February. Please send all replies to erd(a)iname.com _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

24 years, 5 months

Famous & infamous computers of the 70's & 80's.

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<First, the infamous ones < <Computer with the worst keyboard: (tie) Sinclair ZX-81/Timex Sinclair 1000 <IBM PC Jr. You forgot the commodore pet... another really baaddd one. <Computer with the most limitations: Timex Sinclair 1000/Sinclair ZX-81. Only exceeded by the base cosmac elf, NSC SC/MP and a slew of other SBCs. <Computer with the best keyboard: (tie) Commodore 64(C), & TRS-80 Model 12. IBM PC XT, layout is not a favorite of mine but the feel was the best. <Most famous "vaporware" computer: Xerox Alto. Nope Check up on World Power Systems... read scam. You left out the terminals: Vt100 set a standard. Vt220 advanced it. Allison

24 years, 5 months

Famous & infamous computers of the 70's & 80's.

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- Allison J Parent <allisonp(a)world.std.com> wrote: > <First, the infamous ones > < > <Computer with the worst keyboard: (tie) Sinclair ZX-81/Timex Sinclair 1000 > <IBM PC Jr. > > You forgot the commodore pet... another really baaddd one. Only the original static PET with the built-in tape drive. Later PETs had adequate keyboards. > You left out the terminals: > > Vt100 set a standard. > Vt220 advanced it. Agreed. I've always love the original VT100 keyboard since I first used one in 1984. -ethan ===== Infinet has been sold. The domain is going away in February. Please send all replies to erd(a)iname.com _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

24 years, 5 months

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test-drb December 1999