On Mar 6, 9:22, Larry Groebe wrote:
> It occurs to me that one candidate would be the first batch of digital
> cameras.
> So made the first consumer-level digital camera? Kodak had a hi-end
> modified Nikon about 7 years ago, but I'm thinking the Apple QuickTake
> 100 is the earliest digital camera I can think of.
The earliest I can think of is the Canon Ion camera, about 1989, I think.
It used cute little 2.5" disks made by TDK and Sony. They looked like
3.5" microfloppies that had shrunk in the wash :-)
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Dept. of Computer Science
University of York
In einer eMail vom 07.03.99 04:20:03 MEZ, schreiben Sie:
<<
Visiting a surplus shop today, I found a small herd of Tek Oscilliscopes.
Some
of them looked pretty old to me. They want real money for them too.
Details:
Model Mod 1 Mod 2 Cart
----- ----- ----- -----
564 3C66 2B67 1968 3C66 _NOT_ general purpose !!!
564 3A74 2B67 Y 1968 2 MHz four-channel storage
504 Y 1971 450 kHz single channel
561A 3A72 2B67 1961 650 kHz dual channel
5111 5A20N 5B10N too new for my docs
515A Y 1971 15 MHz single channel
549 1a1 Y 1973 30 MHz dual trace storage
D11 5A14N 5B10N Y too new
504 see above
564B 3A9 3B4 1968 unknown amplifier
Prices were originally $200 for most of them, except the 549, which was $400.
Some of them had been marked down to $100. They have some kind of automatic
decrease in price based on how long things stay in the store (1% per day?),
but most of them have been there only since late February. And I don't know
how that effects the ones that were "manually" marked down.
I suspect these prices are outlandish. The same place wants $25 for 2400
baud modems. :-) Anyway, the age-based discount may eventually make the
prices more reasonable. At least for the scopes, if not the modems.
The ones marked "Y" under "Cart" had a "Scope-Mobile" cart with them. But I
didn't think to get model numbers from those.
Oh, and I can't guarantee that these work. I didn't ask if they would allow
me to test them, and at present I don't know enough to be able to test them
anyway. I also can't guarantee that they'll still be there when I next
visit.
Questions:
0. How old are these guys? --- see above
1. Are any of these potentially useful for computer work? Can they handle
the
frequencies used in old machines, say, up to a few MHz? (Judging from
their
apparent age, I wouldn't hope for much more than that.)
2. Anybody want one? Be aware that in addition to the price tag, I wouldn't
expect these guys to be easy or cheap to ship. (At least one time in the
past I have had to back out of a deal because I couldn't arrange shipping
within cost & safety constraints.) And the carts are probably too big to
go through UPS or USPS. Given all that, if you want one, let me know.
Cheers,
Bill.
>>
1. There is a book about old Tek scopes available at
www.tubesandmore.com
Above info is from that book.
2. Today, you can still borrow microfiche from Tek of ANYTHING they ever
produced !! I did so for my 549 which is my main scope.
3. Here in the Munich area you find these things in the fleamarket
newspapers and web pages; typically they sell in the DM 150.-
to 450.- range. Right now there is a pretty nice 551 for sale since
several weeks, 27 MHz, TRUE dual trace (i.e., two electron guns),
you could probably get it for between DM 100,- and DM 200,-,
but shipping of course would be PROHIBITIVELY expensive.
If I did not already have three Teks, I would get it. These prices
INCLUDE checking it out before you buy !!
Regards
John G. Zabolitzky
Sorry to repeat this, but I forgot to change the subject and didn't want to
have start some thread of confusion (which it will I am sure anyway, but
sorry).
Once about every three weeks a place in Huntington Beach Ca has an auction
of computers, its not what it once was, but it still is entertaining. Main
course today was 1150 old 486 computers along with 500 other lots. I didn't
buy any of the 486's (just 10 macs), but I did see and buy some interesting
items.
Epson HX-20, circa 1983 portable computer with a microcassette for storage
and a builtin printer. This one has a expansion unit bolted to the side,
and a nice slim plastic case the whole thing fits into. It must have some
internal NiCads, but I haven't opened it up, and it didn't come with a AC
adapter (but 6 vdc isn't too tough). Looks extremely clean, including all
the rubber parts, like it spent much of the last 16 years in its case.
Skiwriter word processing software is builtin, so is basic, but the only
manual is for the former. Display is LCD 120x32, or 20 characters and 4
lines. Printer I suspect matches that. Almost forgot, one of its main
features are the ports, serial and full RS232 via 1/2 inch diameter round
connectors on the back.
Texas Instruments silent 700 terminal. Looks like a typewriter, with a
thermal printer and a acoustic coupler on the back. I toted one of these
around for a couple years in the earlier 80s with a pager, and I remember a
plastic suitcase, but this one is open.
A&J Micro Drive, date on the back is 12/6/85, this is some sort of tape
drive. The unit is small 1.5 x 3 x 5, runs on 4 internal AA batteries, and
has a cable with a DB25 shell and 6 pins in it. Tape sticks in the front,
slightly narrower than a audio cassette, and a lot thinner. Front reads
SYSTEM 100, A:, and a active/low battery light.
Things I didn't buy (and if somebodys wants requires quick action)
A pair of Digital LN03 laser printers
Xerox (I think) 645 S Memorywriter
Three boxes of circa 1988 full and half height drives, most with some sort
of card edge connection, others look very much SCSI.
The HX-20 looks too neat to part with, but if someone wants the 700 or
weird little drive I am open to it. The latter three big heavy items I am
willing to facilitate, but not get in the middle of.
To be down around $125, they've got to be in really sorry shape. I've seen
junkers sold for that. The 465B might be lower in price than its older
cousin the 465(A) because it's reputed to trigger less accurately than the
(A) as a result of the compromises made in that model update. I've never
seen proof of this, however. The 465's I've seen seem to sell around $400.
If they're in need of work, which would make them go cheaper, they don't
sell . . .
Dick
----------
> From: Marvin <marvin(a)rain.org>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: OT? Tek Scopes
> Date: Saturday, March 06, 1999 10:36 PM
>
> Zane H. Healy wrote:
> >
> > I don't suppose there were any books for a "Tek 465B" scope? I picked
one
> > up a few months ago at the last CP/M swap meet, but don't have any
doc's.
>
> What are working 465s going for now? I have heard prices anywhere from
$125
> to $400 without probes.
-----Original Message-----
From: Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net>
> I have a bunch of HP 150 stuff. Do you have a copy of the Sydex program
>that lets you read and write HP 150 disks on the PC? If so, I can E-mail
>you the DOS and some other programs
Cool Joe, I am sans Sydex.... shoot it over!
- Mike: dogas(a)leading.net
Bill: FWIW The only to get them to come up with a realistic price is wait
until after 90 days but before 120 days. Then talk to Van and make him an
offer. I have dealt with them for several years. He has learned that my
offers are realistic and 95% of the time takes them. He has dumpstered a
lot that I had made offers on and could not get back in before 120 days.
The magic # there is 120 days (the last week or the beginning of the first
week of the month) That is when the dumpster gets very full. At the old
location Van used to let me dumpster dive. I have not asked since they
moved.
Dan
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Yakowenko <yakowenk(a)cs.unc.edu>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Saturday, March 06, 1999 10:25 PM
Subject: OT? Tek Scopes
>Visiting a surplus shop today, I found a small herd of Tek Oscilliscopes.
Some
>of them looked pretty old to me. They want real money for them too.
Details:
>
> Model Mod 1 Mod 2 Cart
> ----- ----- ----- -----
> 564 3C66 2B67
> 564 3A74 2B67 Y
> 504 Y
> 561A 3A72 2B67
> 5111 5A20N 5B10N
> 515A Y
> 549 1a1 Y
> D11 5A14N 5B10N Y
> 504
> 564B 3A9 3B4
>
>Prices were originally $200 for most of them, except the 549, which was
$400.
>Some of them had been marked down to $100. They have some kind of
automatic
>decrease in price based on how long things stay in the store (1% per day?),
>but most of them have been there only since late February. And I don't
know
>how that effects the ones that were "manually" marked down.
>
>I suspect these prices are outlandish. The same place wants $25 for 2400
>baud modems. :-) Anyway, the age-based discount may eventually make the
>prices more reasonable. At least for the scopes, if not the modems.
>
>The ones marked "Y" under "Cart" had a "Scope-Mobile" cart with them. But
I
>didn't think to get model numbers from those.
>
>Oh, and I can't guarantee that these work. I didn't ask if they would
allow
>me to test them, and at present I don't know enough to be able to test them
>anyway. I also can't guarantee that they'll still be there when I next
visit.
>
>Questions:
>
>0. How old are these guys?
>
>1. Are any of these potentially useful for computer work? Can they handle
the
> frequencies used in old machines, say, up to a few MHz? (Judging from
their
> apparent age, I wouldn't hope for much more than that.)
>
>2. Anybody want one? Be aware that in addition to the price tag, I
wouldn't
> expect these guys to be easy or cheap to ship. (At least one time in
the
> past I have had to back out of a deal because I couldn't arrange
shipping
> within cost & safety constraints.) And the carts are probably too big
to
> go through UPS or USPS. Given all that, if you want one, let me know.
>
> Cheers,
> Bill.
>
I normally pass by printer ribbons, but these are strange, so I nabbed 'em.
The ribbons are 1" wide, on spools with an inside diameter of 1.75" and an
outside diameter of 4" (all approximate). I have about ten of them. Anybody
have any idea what they might belong to? Anybody want them?
Cheers,
Bill.
I just picked up a nice little HP 150 (series 100) and the 9121 diskdrive
and the 82906A printer. I dont have any software for this machine. Can
someone help me out. That someone can have the right of first refusal on
the 82906A printer. If there passed, anyone can have it for the cost of
shipping.
And... Anyone enjoy *old* mechanical adding machines? I've got a Felt &
Tarrant Mfg. Comptometer (20's ??) that looks and works great t (well, the
10th column has some problems) that I would consider putting on the trading
block.
- Mike: dogas(a)leading.net
The Atari Transputer Workstation (ATW) is an example of a computer that doesn't
use a host. It is build upon a T800 transputer processor and runs the Helios Operating
System. Another example is XTM from Cogent Research (does anyone have a picture
and/or docs for this machine) which ran Linda and NeWS-based X-Windows system. It
was also powered by a transputer without a host. The transputer only uses the host
for I/O and for downloading the initial program. As Tony said, you can also boot from ROM
and use different types of TRAMS to handle I/O without a host. For info on the ATW, I suggest
you check out http://columbia.digiweb.com/kiffer/ATW/. For general info on transputers, you
can see my webpage at http://skyscraper.fortunecity.com/ppp/533/.
Cheers,
Ram
If you need datasheets and info on transputers, then check out my webpage.
I love transputers and I devote my entire webpage to it. I maintain a huge collection
of programs, documents, specs, and links on transputers. The URL is http://skyscraper.fortunecity.com/ppp/533/
Ram
-----Original Message-----
From: Derek Peschel [SMTP:dpeschel@u.washington.edu]
Sent: Saturday, March 06, 1999 8:49 PM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: Re: The TI 34010
Tony Duell wrote:
[transputers generally rely on a host]
> (1) is not so much of a problem. The reason most transputer systems have
> a 'host' is that you can boot a transputer over one of its links without
> having any user-written boot code on the transputer. This means it's easy
> to develop for (no possibility of your (firmware) bootstrap having bugs
> in it), etc. But you can equally boot a transputer from external ROM in
> its own memory space if you want to. And hook a terminal up over an RS232
> port (the transputer's bus is similar to just about every other bus
> you're likely to see, so you can have RS232 chips and SCSI chips, and
> whatever, mapped into the transputer's address space).
So graphics chips are a good possibility. *drool* RS232 is fine but it's
not very flashy. :)
> In fact one of the first INMOS transputer boards - the B001 - had a
> transputer + RAM + RS232 port + ROM on it. It didn't expect a transputer
> link to the host.
This may be a good time to ask if there's an exhaustive list of part numbers
and specifications for the various INMOS chips? I've seen lists (in a
couple of mass-market books about the transputer) but I suspect they're not
complete. I've never seen the actual data books.
> Problem (3) is more serious - the fact that most (all?) of the transputer
> chips are no longer in production.
I guess that IS a problem. Do they show up on the surplus market?
> > them; Sketchpad relied on them and Evans & Sutherland continued the trend.
> > (I'd love to play with some of their machines!)
>
> Does anyone know anything about the PS/390 display from E&S?
Not me. There's some sort of E&S display at the Computer Museum History
Center but I don't know the model number.
-- Derek
