test-drb March 1999

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

191 participants
1003 discussions

Sorry list members for misdirected message.

by kstumpf＠unusual.on.ca

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- Kevin Stumpf * Unusual systems * www.unusual.on.ca +1.519.744.2900 * EST/EDT GMT - 5 Collector - Commercial Mainframes & Minicomputers from the 50s, 60s, & 70s and control panels and consoles. Author & Publisher - A Guide to Collecting Computers & Computer Collectibles * ISBN 0-9684244-0-6 .

25 years, 9 months

More spring cleaning...more books FS and giveaway.

by kstumpf＠unusual.on.ca

Hey dude. The following were claimed, but the rest are yours. I'll followup with postage estimate tomorrow. >> -Laboratory Automation with the IBM PC (hardcover) $0 >> -IBM PC in the Lab (hardcover) $3 >> -Interfacing to S-100/IEEE 696 Microcomputers (Osborne) $0 >> -Interfacing Lab Applications to Microcomputers for >> Instrumentation, Data Analysis, and Control $3 >> -Microcomputer Interfacing (hardcover) $3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- Kevin Stumpf * Unusual systems * www.unusual.on.ca +1.519.744.2900 * EST/EDT GMT - 5 Collector - Commercial Mainframes & Minicomputers from the 50s, 60s, & 70s and control panels and consoles. Author & Publisher - A Guide to Collecting Computers & Computer Collectibles * ISBN 0-9684244-0-6 .

25 years, 9 months

57 PST) - STAN VEIT'S HISTORY OF THE PC !! only $3 !! (http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-c

by fauradon＠pclink.com

I'm sorry. please don't hurt me. I...I don't know what happened, I guess I was under the influence of eBay. They sent subliminal messages instructing me to post on the list. It's not my fault I swear I didn't mean to... Oh WTF at $3 and a 1000 available it seemed like a good deal for all of us heck you can even get two if you want. Francois PS: :-) me too. >> For those of you who missed it the last time >> http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=79618079 > >How dare you post about eBay auctions here! There's a separate list for >that, you know! :-) > >(In case you're emoticon-challenged, I'm being sarcastic.) >

25 years, 9 months

57 PST) - STAN VEIT'S HISTORY OF THE PC !! only $3 !! (http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-c

by steverob＠hotoffice.com

> > Hmm. Actually, last time I looked, vintagecomputers and sassy-scottie were > in a bidding war for all 1000 copies. I think the price is up to $13.25 per > copy. And don't be surprised if imsai snipes all 1000 at $26 a copy at the > last second. > > - Joe > > OEE (obvious emoticon elided) > > > Now I feel guilty... I bid on a copy not realizing it was driving up the price for everyone else ;-) Steve Robertson - <steverob(a)hotoffice.com>

25 years, 9 months

More spring cleaning...more books FS and giveaway.

by kstumpf＠unusual.on.ca

All softcover, unless otherwise noted, in very good condition (were unused review copies), prices (if one) is in US$, and shipping is extra. First come, first served. This list includes books about micrcomputers, laboratory applications, microprocessors, Apple II stuff, UNIX, and X/Windows. -Animation, Games, and Sound C64, IBM PC, TI 99/4A $2 -Computer Graphics Toolbox C64, VIC 20 $2 -Computer Graphics Toolbox Timex 1000 and Sinclair ZX-81 $2 -Powering Programming Graphics and Sound for C64 $0 -Microcomputer Displays, Graphics, and Animation by Bruce Artwick - creator of Flight Simulator $5 -Applied Concepts in Microcomputer Graphics by Artwick (hardcover) $10 -AT&T PC6300 Made Easy (hardcover) $4 -Basics Reference Manual 2 vol covering: PC jr., DEC Rainbow, C64, TRS Model 100 portable, Atari, Apple, VIC-20, and IBM $8 -Mastering C64 $0 -Using and Programming the IBM PC/AT $0 -Comprehensive Guide to the IBM PC $3 -Applied BASIC for Microcomputers $0 -IBM PC Conversion Handbook of BASIC $0 -Programming in BASIC for the IBM PC (hardcover) $2 -IBM PC/XT BASIC $0 -BASIC Scientific Subroutines 2 vol (hardcover) $10 -Microsoft BASIC $0 -C64 BASIC Made Easy (hardcover) $5 -Assembler for the IBM PC (hardcover) $5 -dBase II for beginners (hardcover) $3 -Hard Disk Management w/ diskette $3 -Laboratory Automation with the IBM PC (hardcover) $0 -IBM PC in the Lab (hardcover) $3 -Interfacing to S-100/IEEE 696 Microcomputers (Osborne) $0 -Interfacing Lab Applications to Microcomputers for Instrumentation, Data Analysis, and Control $3 -16 bit Microprocessors 8086 and 68000 $3 -8086/8087/8088 Macro Assembler Reference Manual (published by Intel in 3 ring binder format) $5 -Microcomputer systems: architecture, programming, and design of the 8086/8088 Family (hardcover) $8 -Microcomputer experimentation with the Intel SDK-85 $5 -Z80 Assembler (Osborne) $3 -Z8000 Assembler (Osborne) $5 -Z8000 Microcomputer Design Handbook (hardcover) $5 -Z8000 User's Reference Manual (Zilog) $5 -MC68000 Microprocessor Handbook (Osborne) $5 -MC68000 16/32 bit Microprocessor Programmer's Reference Manual (Motorola) $5 -MC68881 and 2 Floating Point Coprocessor User's Manual $0 -Programming and Designing with the 68000 Family (hardcover) $5 -MC68000 Assembler (hardcover) $5 -MC68000 Microprocessor Family Assembler (hardcover) $5 -6502 Assembler (Osborne) $5 -MIPS RISC Architecture - R2000/2010 and R3000/3010 $0 -Realtime Personal Computing for Data Acquisition and Control (big) $5 -Microcomputer Interfacing (hardcover) $3 -Microprocessor-based design: a comprehensive guide (big) $5 -Complete Guide to RS-232 and Parallel Connections (big) $10 -RS-232 Made Easy $5 -IBM PC/XT - Making the Right Connections (outstanding - device level, data communications, and LAN with photographs and is hardcover) $10 -Microprocessor Hardware Operation and Troubleshooting with IBM PC Applications (hardcover) $10 -CP/M User Guide (Osborne) $3 -Apple PC for Beginners (Apple II) (hardcover) $5 -Apple IIe PC for Beginners $3 -Apple House (computerize your home) (hardcover) $5 -Apple IIe BASIC for technical applications $0 -Apple II/IIe Robotic Arm Projects (hardcover) $3 -Calculator Clout $3 -Scientific Analysis for Programmable Calculators $3 -Innovations in Electronic Mail '88 $5 UNIX System V 1987 by AT&T $20 for library: -Utilities Release Notes -Programmer's Guide -Programmer's Reference Manual -Streams Primer -Network Programmer's Guide -Streams Programmer's Guide -User's Guide (2nd edition) -User's Reference Manual UNIX System V/386 by AT&T $20 for library: -Release 4 Product Overview and Master Index '91 -Programmer's Reference Manual '88 - Streams Primer '88 -System Administrator's Reference Manual '88 -User's Guide (2nd edition) '88 -Programmer's Guide '88 -Streams Programmer's Guide '88 -Network Programmer's Guide '88 -System Administrator's Guide '88 other UNIX books by AT&T: -The UNIX System User's Manual '86, AT&T Info Systems $5 -The UNIX System User's Guide '86, AT&T Bell Labs (hardcover) $10 -UNIX System Readings and Applications 2 volumes '87 $10 -AT&T Computer Software Catalog UNIX System V Software '87 (thick) $5 -AT&T Computer Software Catalog Workstation Software '87 (thick) $5 other UNIX books: -The Design of the UNIX operating system '86 (hardcover) $10 -UNIX Administration Guide for System V $3 -The UNIX System V Environment $3 -X Window System Version 11, Release 4 complete reference to: Xlib, Protocol, ICCCM, and XLFD $3 -X Window System Toolkit $2 -Open Software Foundation, Application Environment Specification, (AES) User Environment Volume '91 (hardcover) $5 -OSF/Motif Style Guide '90 $0 -OSF/Motif User's Guide '90 $0 -OSF/Motif Programmer's Guide '90 $0 -OSF/Motif Reference Guide '90 $0 That's all folks. Happy collecting. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- Kevin Stumpf * Unusual systems * www.unusual.on.ca +1.519.744.2900 * EST/EDT GMT - 5 Collector - Commercial Mainframes & Minicomputers from the 50s, 60s, & 70s and control panels and consoles. Author & Publisher - A Guide to Collecting Computers & Computer Collectibles * ISBN 0-9684244-0-6 .

25 years, 9 months

Another treasure for grabs

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Aaron Christopher Finney <af-list(a)wfi-inc.com> wrote: > To anyone who wants to pay the outrageous shipping (or pick up in > Southern California), a Sun 3/50. 12meg RAM, type 3 keyboard, mouse (I > think). It's the flat-style case, although I also have a non-working > 3/50 in a dimple case for anyone who wants that as well. I was using it > as an X terminal for a while, but it's been sitting under a pile of HP > stuff for 6 months... Y'know, sometimes that can be the solution to a problem. When I got a Micro GX 3000 (HP) a few years ago, I found it was kind of noisy due to the hard disk in its base. As I lived in a second-floor apartment this was a problem. So I got a Sun 3/60 as a cold spare for one I was running at the time, and put it under the 3000. Just the ticket -- it damped the vibes from the 3000, and I was able to hack late into the night without complaint. -Frank McConnell

25 years, 9 months

Apollo 400

by edick＠idcomm.com

You're right of course, but many people buy junked workstations just to get the high-resolution monitor, and then find that a video card completely suitable for the job costs more than a suitable monitor would have cost. I once tried this and found that the 15" (a BIG one by 1988 standards) APOLLO monitor I had was VERY well focused and VERY linear, but would work only at 1024x768 as a second monitor. Back then Windows wasn't available in a form that was of any use, but my CAE software had drivers which would exploit the higher resolution and allowed me to present 1:1 images of my drawings as sharp and clear images as opposed to the rather disappointing ones I got with the normal 640x400 images I was then used to. While these "retired" workstations are tempting, their sheer mass makes them forbidding, unless one considers the possibility of using the monitor as a high-res display for whatever purpose one desires. I found that a 1/8-watt resistor and a switch mounted on the backpanel bracket was not too much effort or expense to warrant such an application. Of course, back then, I had to pay over $1k for a NEC 4D, the equivalent of which costs about $200 these days. Nevertheless, this is a decent way to get some immediate benefit from the act of recycling an old workstation while you work on the problems associated with getting the workstation to work as a workstation once more. Dick -----Original Message----- From: John Amirault <amirault(a)epix.net> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Friday, March 19, 1999 10:33 AM Subject: Re: Apollo 400 >Dick, >I have an easier way to do it. Use the correct monitor. I got lost >reading your message. >Thanks for all the info even though I don't understand it. >John Amirault > >Richard Erlacher wrote: >> >> If you're thinking about the monitor as being useable with a PC, it depends >> on which type it is. The lower-resolution type (I once had one) will work >> at 1024x768 if you connect a resistor of about 500 ohms between the >> composite blanking signal on the "application connector" to the GREEN output >> from the card. This will impose the composite blanking beneath the GREEN >> video, and bias the GREEN up by about enough to make the composite blanking >> look like a composite sync, since it's of the right frequency. The GREEN >> input is usually AC coupled at the monitor, and terminated to ground through >> 75 ohms. This is worth a try, but may not work on all card-monitor >> combinations. >> >> It will of course not work at all until you load the 1kx768 driver, which >> will only happen when the hi-res GUI is loaded. >> >> Dick >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Merle K. Peirce <at258(a)osfn.org> >> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers >> <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> >> Date: Thursday, March 18, 1999 5:27 PM >> Subject: Re: Apollo 400 >> >> > >> >Ours stands about waist high and has to weigh over 100#. since it has >> >wheels, it is, of course, portabel...;) The monitor on ours appears to >> >be secured to the top. Ours was the main server on a token ring. >> > >> >On Thu, 18 Mar 1999, John Amirault wrote: >> > >> >> Merle, >> >> I would not call my HP Apollo 400 a portable by any means. It stands >> >> about 2' tall and weighs in @ about 70 pounds, which is the top end of >> >> what my doctors say I can lift and I find that trying to do this is very >> >> pain full, thank goodness for friends and hand trucks. Mine has no >> >> wheels. Mine also has a cable with three BNC connectors on each end to >> >> hook up the monitor. I have been told of a possible source for a monitor >> >> and I say thanks Sellam and I will check into it. >> >> >> >> JOhn Amirault >> >> >> >> "Merle K. Peirce" wrote: >> >> > >> >> > Perhaps I'm thinking of the 300 series? Is the 400 the very large >> >> > portable with its own wheels? >> >> > >> >> > On Wed, 17 Mar 1999, Merle K. Peirce wrote: >> >> > >> >> > > I think the 400 series have integral monitors, John. >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> > > On Wed, 17 Mar 1999, John Amirault wrote: >> >> > > >> >> > > > Mike, >> >> > > > Is this the HP Apollo 400? If yes,are there any monitors? >> >> > > > JOhn Amirault >> >> > > > >> >> > > > Mike Ford wrote: >> >> > > > > >> >> > > > > I had a pleasant afternoon poking around one of my favorite >> scrappers, and >> >> > > > > noticed on an incoming cart about two dozen Apollo 400 computers >> (says >> >> > > > > model 425 on the back). Hard drives are pulled, but otherwise >> they are >> >> > > > > supposed to be complete. Any interest? (he is in Santa Ana CA) >> >> > > > >> >> > > >> >> > > M. K. Peirce >> >> > > Rhode Island Computer Museum, Inc. >> >> > > 215 Shady Lea Road, >> >> > > North Kingstown, RI 02852 >> >> > > >> >> > > "Casta est qui nemo rogavit." >> >> > > >> >> > > - Ovid >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> > >> >> > M. K. Peirce >> >> > Rhode Island Computer Museum, Inc. >> >> > 215 Shady Lea Road, >> >> > North Kingstown, RI 02852 >> >> > >> >> > "Casta est qui nemo rogavit." >> >> > >> >> > - Ovid >> >> >> > >> >M. K. Peirce >> >Rhode Island Computer Museum, Inc. >> >215 Shady Lea Road, >> >North Kingstown, RI 02852 >> > >> >"Casta est qui nemo rogavit." >> > >> > - Ovid >> >

25 years, 9 months

Another treasure for grabs

by af-list＠wfi-inc.com

(Seems like this is the month to dump extra junk on fellow list members!) No unreasonable offer refused... To anyone who wants to pay the outrageous shipping (or pick up in Southern California), a Sun 3/50. 12meg RAM, type 3 keyboard, mouse (I think). It's the flat-style case, although I also have a non-working 3/50 in a dimple case for anyone who wants that as well. I was using it as an X terminal for a while, but it's been sitting under a pile of HP stuff for 6 months... Aaron Please send any responses to A_Finney(a)wfi-inc.com

25 years, 9 months

Cromemco (was Re: S-100 bus specs) (fwd)

by dastar＠ncal.verio.com

Cromemco, a company that cares! Here's a reply I received from them this morning in reply to the message I sent yesterday questioning their history: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 12:35:55 +0100 To: 'Sellam Ismail' <dastar(a)ncal.verio.com> Subject: RE: Cromemco (was Re: S-100 bus specs) E-Mail From: Werner Salmen Cromemco GmbH Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Strasse 4 D-61350 Bad Homburg Germany Tel.: Int + 49 6172 967860 Fax: Int + 49 6172 304519 To: Sellam Ismail Attn.: Email: dastar(a)ncal.verio.com @ cc: Ref.: Your E-Mail of March 18 Date: March 19, 1999 Subj.: Cromemco Dear Sellam, thank you for visiting Cromemco's homepage and also for your input, which was very much appreciated. You know, marketing occassionally tends to express things in their own wording. We shall release a next version of our homepage in April. I think, obvious errors should then be corrected. However, it is always nice to talk to people who used ( some still do !) the Cromemco computers from the 80's. Many of them still like the stuff, although from nowadays point of view they look pretty antique. Believe it or not, we just worked on fixing the Y2K problem in Cromix, and it was a lot of fun. The company Cromemco itself did change, as you may have learned form our webpage. The new businesses are now mainly in Europe, and we do a lot in parallel and massively parallel computing, still comitted to Cromemco's mission: "Tomorrow's computers today". I wish you a nice weekend and remain with Best regards, Cromemco Werner Salmen -----Original Message----- From: Sellam Ismail [SMTP:dastar@ncal.verio.com] Sent: Thursday, March 18, 1999 11:36 PM To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Cc: webmaster(a)cromemco.com Subject: Re: Cromemco (was Re: S-100 bus specs) On Thu, 18 Mar 1999, Sellam Ismail wrote: > On Thu, 18 Mar 1999, James Willing wrote: > > > > ...Cromemco actively manufactured S-100 systems > > > until they went out of business in around 1986 or so. > > > > as much as I absolutely hate to contradict... <BIG B^} > > > > > You may want to take a look at www.cromemco.com before you cast the > > previous thot in stone... > > You're kidding! > > Wow, you're not. But this is a far different company than us old tech > nerds know and love. Most of the business base seems to be European > these days. But hey, this is significant. A micro/mini-computer company > that's been around longer than Apple and is still alive and kicking. > That's more than you can say for any other computer comapnies that sprang > up around the same time, save for the obvious. Their history seems a bit revisionist, and in some cases downright fradulent. This is from the History section of their web site: 1975 First supplier of complete micro computer systems (based on Z-80) Call me stupid but the Z80 wasn't even invented yet: July 1976 The Apple I computer board is sold in kit form, and delivered to stores by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Price: US$666.66. [46] [218] [593.350] Paul Terrell orders 50 Apple computers from Steve Jobs, for his Byte Shop. [266.213] *****Zilog releases the 2.5-MHz Z80, an 8-bit microprocessor whose instruction set is a superset of the Intel 8080. [32] [202.168] (early 1975 [9]) (1975 [556.11]) (1975 December [346.257]) Micom Data Systems ships its first product, the Micom 2000 word processing computer. [615.99] Source: Chronology of Events in the History of Microcomputers http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/comphist/comp1971.htm And then there's: 1976 Development of the industrial standard S-100 Bus IEEE 696 First of all, I hope they don't intend to mean they invented the S-100 bus. That goes to Ed Roberts. And as far as I know, the IEEE696 standard wasn't ratified until 1982. December 1982 Pepsi-Cola president John Sculley first visits Apple Computer. [745.62] Tabor demonstrates a 3.25-inch floppy disk drive, the Model TC500 Drivette. Unformatted capacity is up to 500KB on a single side. [444.72] Amdek releases the Amdisk-3 Micro-Floppy-disk Cartridge system. It houses two 3-inch floppy drives designed by Hitachi/Matsushita/Maxell. Price is US$800, without a controller card. [444.70] Satellite Software International ships WordPerfect 2.0 for DOS, for US$500. [330.108] (v2.2 in October [502.49]) *****The IEEE Standards Board passes the IEEE 696/S-100 bus standard. [443.278] Digital Research announces CP/M+. [443.431] Atari issues a US$55 rebate on the Atari 400, dropping its retail price to under US$200. [713.268] Texas Instruments extends its US$100 rebate on the TI 99/4A to April 1983. [713.268] Apple Computer becomes the first personal computer company to reach US$1 billion in annual sales. [46] Source: Chronology of Events in the History of Microcomputers http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/comphist/comp1981.htm Then there's this: 1979 First multi-user operating system CROMIX (UNIX derivative) First multi-user operating system...what? On a micro? Maybe. Sheesh. These guys are as bad if not worse than Tandy and their self-aggrandizing history. (Is it obvious I have too much time on my hands these days? Oh well, someone's got to keep the record straight.) cc: webmaster(a)cromemco.com Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------ Don't rub the lamp if you don't want the genie to come out. Coming in 1999: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0 See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details! [Last web site update: 02/15/99]

25 years, 9 months

Security question (sort of)

by edick＠idcomm.com

If someone else got into your computer, it is because you let them in. Today's attitudes toward personal responsibility suggest that if someone steals your property, it is your fault for having it or at least for having let someone else see it. If someone trespasses on your property, it is your fault for not providing them an easier way to get where they want to go. If someone trespasses on your property to rob you or to vandalize your property, it is your fault for having the things they wish to steal or vandalize . . . get the picture? What I find mysterious is how someone could gain access to the computer in question in the first place. The most effective security measure is to disconnect the computer from the outside world when the owner is not using the connection to the outside world. A dialup server utility is just an invitation to vandals. If you must use a dialup server utility, then use it with a computer, the content of which is saved in a secure location not accessible to the outside world, e.g a complete backup made when the system was not accessible from outside. If you have security, e.g. passwording, user authentication, encryption, etc, do not share this security information with anyone under any circumstances, including life and death, no matter whose. If you value your data, you must never, Never, NEVER, put a floppy diskette in your computer which has been within 2 miles of a college campus since it was last formatted. In fact, you should never, Never, NEVER, put a floppy diskette which has been within 2 miles of a college campus (or high school, for that matter) inside a 50-meter radius of your computer even if it never goes into any computer at your site. You see? A few simple precautions will enable you to avoid damage from the outside if you rigorously adhere to them. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Marvin <marvin(a)rain.org> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Friday, March 19, 1999 9:22 AM Subject: Re: Security question (sort of) > > >Jason Willgruber wrote: >> >> I want a few people's opinions before I take any actions: >> >> My computer was recently hacked into, and a bunch of the software, and some >> of the hardware was messed up (I know who did it - no one on this list - >> someone from my school). >> >> What would be the best thing to do here (other than physically damage the >> person/and/or their computer)? Is there any security programs for Windoze >> '95 that can be downloaded? > >What was the attitude of the person who did it? If it was malicious, the >other suggestions given have a lot of merit. If not, then talk to the person >to let them know you didn't appreciate their "cleverness" and drop it.

25 years, 9 months

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test-drb March 1999