Now wait a second that is a picture of my garage.. <Grin>
My Commodore Pet also has a Blue screen plate, not sure if the face is blue,
I think it is black.. I'll look and check the serial number, perhaps this is
an
earlier model..
Phil...
-----Original Message-----
From: Marvin <marvin(a)rain.org>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 11:50 AM
Subject: Re: imaging silliness: can *YOU* id everything?
>
>
>Mike haas wrote:
>>
>> Hi all.
>>
>> I saw this pile at a garage sale, should I not have passed on it for $5?
>>
>> http://users.leading.net/~dogas/COMPOSITE.jpg
>
>Just curious, the Pet shows a blue label and CRT cover. Where does this one
>fall in the scheme of when the Pets were released? All of mine have black
>labels and CRT covers.
With all the talk of Kaypro around here of late, here is your chance
to pick one up. This person contacted me looking for a home for
their Kaypro II. Contact the person below directly.
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From: Sporgp(a)aol.com
Date sent: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 11:26:56 EDT
Subject: Kaypro
Hi,
I have a Kaypro II with all software in perfect working condition that I
would like to sell/donate/find a useful resting place for. Are you
interested, or who might be? You can email me at
lyons(a)alpha.fdu.edu.
Thanks,
Lisa
-----
David Williams - Computer Packrat
dlw(a)trailingedge.com
http://www.trailingedge.com
At 10:32 PM 9/28/99 -0700, Fred asked:
>Without going on e-bay, how much can I get for an NLS model 215 scope with
>dead batteries?
I bought mine with the leather case, charger, probes and a working
battery for $80. I've seen others for lots more money but they were
dreaming IMO.
Joe
Oh DAMN!!! Is this the SAME Kay Pro as in Kay Pro computers from the 80s?!
Im going to buy one!!
Todd
-----Original Message-----
From: Hans B Pufal [mailto:hansp@digiweb.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 1999 5:40 AM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: Re: Kaypro Computer History
I haven't seen any mention of Kay Computers yet. see
<html:www.kaycomputers.com/about.html>. Seems like Andy Kay is still in
business. I presume his history page is definitive!
Regards
_---_--__-_-_----__-_----_-__-__-_-___--_-__--___-__----__--_--__-___-
Hans B Pufal Comprehensive Computer Catalogue
<mailto:hansp@digiweb.com> <http://digiweb.com/~hansp/ccc>
I have several Jpegs of all the different Kay Pro machines made... i'll send
em to you as soon as I can get it off my old Bulletin Board System... which
by the way, I still run..
The Starflight BBS
954-792-7323
though my roomate and I didn't pay our phone bill on time, (as usual) and it
will be down till the 30th when I get paid.
Todd
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim [mailto:DD950@prodigy.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 1999 2:43 AM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: Re: HI! Im new to the list. Kaypro '99..
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Maslin <donm(a)cts.com>
>
>Perhaps the attached 'history' will help.
>
It helps much. Thanks for taking the time to find that history and post it.
I am convinced to start my KayPro Web page now. There are plenty of free
Web servers out there.
I have a real soft spot for the KayPro and I sense there are a few others
that do also here. Time somebody starts a dedicated Web site to honor these
hard working machines. Besides, you never forget your first one! :-)
If anybody has any scanned photos or can scan some sales brochures etc. ,
please send them to DD950(a)prodigy.net . I have nothing KayPro left here
except a leather cover for the 2X-84. I paid $75 for it in 1984 and used it
only to take the machine home LOL. Sure seemed like a good purchase at the
time!
More of the history is needed and very welcome. I think Kaypro started as a
test instrument company under another name and that is were the standard
"portable" cases came from for the CP/M machines. ?? Also the history of
MicroPo and the rise and fall of WordStar should be included here if anybody
will or has written something up. I think it is also an interesting story.
This will be a group effort and perhaps we can make the Web site a bit of
the home page for this mailing list with pictures of the contributors etc.
Regards,
??? <-- KayPro graphics, remember them?
~
Jim Rossbach
"640K ought to be enough for anybody."
( Bill Gates, 1981 )
Oh my God! KayPro made a 386 Machine?! I HAVE TO HAVE IT!!!!!
Todd
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Maslin [mailto:donm@cts.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 1999 1:53 AM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: Re: HI! Im new to the list...
On Tue, 28 Sep 1999 Glenatacme(a)aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 09/27/1999 7:58:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> DD950(a)prodigy.net writes:
>
> > Welcome to the list. I and the other three people here besides myself
that
> > are interested in KayPro welcome you.
>
> Make that four! I bought a Kaypro 10 recently (after seeking advice from
> people on this list) and I like it!
________O/_______
O\
> > I have thought of trying to collect some information on KayPro and make
a
> > dedicated Web page. Problem is I do not have any material or knowledge
of
> > the company and can't find any here in the boonies.
>
> Don't feel bad -- I'm in the giant megalopolis of Orlando Florida and
there's
> no abundance of information here, either.
Perhaps the attached 'history' will help.
> there was very little third-party hardware sold for the Kaypro, and they
were
> not exactly designed to be modified (people on the list, please correct me
if
> I'm wrong ;>)
There were a variety of third-party add-ons produced for the Kaypros,
but few sold in great quantity. Likely amongst the most common was the
Co-Power 88 board set which added an 8088 processor and memory to a
Kaypro. The set could be used as a RAM disk (512k) or could run 'pure'
MSDOS programs. It was definitely not PC compatible!
- don
'History' follows:
Following up on Don Maslin's reply, I've attached a message I
posted last September when someone else asked a similar question about
Kaypro models. If things ever calm down, I can try and write up
something similar about the IBM compatible machines, ranging from the
16, 16/2, 286, 2000, 2000+, PC (many many versions, not all really
made by Kaypro), PC/XL, PC-286, 386, etc.
Gregory Watson
gjw(a)access.digex.net
Here's a rough list of the differences between the different
machines. I may have missed one or two machines, I don't have my old
Kaypro brochures with me (in storage), so this is all from memory. I
used to work in a computer store which sold a lot of Kaypros. (I'm
also limiting this to the Kaypro CP/M machines.)
There were various ROM upgrades throughout this.
In the beginning there was the Kaypro II (aka II'83 later).
It came with 2 SS/DD full-height floppies, a 2.5 MHz Z-80, one serial
port, and bundled software from Perfect Software. Introduced late 82.
Next was the original Kaypro 10. It came with 1 DS/DD floppy
drive, a 10 meg HD, a 4.0 MHz Z-80A, two serial ports, light pen port,
rudimentary graphics, a real time clock, and software from Perfect
Software and dBase II. Introduced mid-83.
Then there was a Kaypro IV (aka IV'83 later). It was a II,
but with DS/DD full-height floppy drives. Wordstar started being
included in addition to the Perfect Software suite. Introduced in
mid-83. (Same goes for the II'83, late versions included Wordstar
also.)
1984 rolls around, and some changes made.
The 4 (aka 4'84) is introduced. It now has two DS/DD
half-height floppy drives, a Z-80A at 4.0 MHz, 2 serial ports,
internal 300 baud modem, a real-time clock, rudimentary graphics.
Software is from Micropro (Wordstar, Calcstar, etc.) Early 1984.
The 2 (aka 2'83) is introduced. It has two SS/DD half-height
floppy drives, a Z-80A at 4.0 MHz, 2 serial ports, rudimentary
graphics. Software is from Micropro. Slightly later in 84.
The 2X is introduced. This is closer to an old IV, or a 2
with DS/DD half-height drives. Again a Z-80A running at 4.0 MHz, 2
serial ports, rudimentary graphics, software from Micropro. Early 84.
The Kaypro Robie is introduced. This is the first
non-portable machine, a black desktop. This has 2 2.6 Megabyte (not a
typo) floppy drives. Motherboard is basically the same as a 4, with
the 300 baud modem, rough graphics, etc. (late 84?)
1985 arrives. Kaypro upgrades most of the machines to the
"Universal ROM", so a boot disk for one can be used in another.
The 4'84 is renamed the 2X (sometimes known as 2X MTC). Old
2X, 2'84, 4'84 are all dropped.
The "New 2" is introduced. This is basically an old 2X
motherboard, but with just one DS/DD floppy drive. It comes with just
CP/M and Wordstar for software. (early 85?)
Kaypro starts producing the II'83 again, with Perfect software
as opposed to Micropro software. (early 85).
The Kaypro 4X is announced. It's a Robie but in the standard
portable case. I also have seen reference to the 12X, which was going
to be a Kaypro 10 but with a Robie floppy drive. (I've never actually
seen a 4X or a 12X. The store where I worked might have sold only one
or two Robies, so it wasn't a big seller.)
1986 or so arrives.
The Kaypro 1 (yes one) is introduced. It's equivalent to the
old 2X, with 2 DS/DD floppies, 4.0 MHz Z-80A, 2 serial ports, etc.
The floppies are vertical as opposed to horizontal. It comes with
CP/M and Perfect Writer for software.
At this point, Kaypro is producing just the 1, 2X MTC, 10 and
Robie basically. This continued until they got out of the CP/M
machines.
There were also a few variations on some of these machines,
such as the 4+88, which had a SWP (?) co-processor board with an 8088,
256K of memory (which could be a ramdisk under CP/M), and could run
some MS/Dos software.
But that's the basic list. Anyone know if I've missed
anything?
Gregory Watson
gjw(a)access.digex.net
(My parents are still holding onto our 2 II'83s, and one Kaypro 1.)
My roommate has like 5 Timex Sinclairs, he has more classic computers than I
do. Im the Kay Pro enthusiast though. I think the real reason why I became
interested in KayPros was because of the 8088 that we bought. It was in the
Summer of 1984. I was 6 years old. I can even specifically remember the old
Kay Pro advertisement. They showed three models they were selling. We ended
up buying the medium one. I also remember that they bragged about having an
internal clock that memorizes the time after you shut it off. The one we got
was the PC/10 I THINK....
NEC-V20 13Mhz Processor
Herchulese Monochrome KayPro Monitor with CGA card.
Huge case
20mb ST-225 RLL Hard Drive
2 Teac 360k 5.25" floppy drives
AT Compatible keyboard
640k base memory 128k "Extra" memory that to this day I haven't figured out
how to use.
man that computer was awsome! I remember the very first REAL game that I
bought for that system. My parents got it for me for christmass, it was
StarFlight. A mid 80s space flight game. Next was Sentinel Worlds, and then
I got all the old AD&D Gold Box Series games. We ended up getting a SVGA
monitor shortly after Starflight. Guess what brand it was..??? LOGITECH!!!
Thats right, my monitor was a Logitech, the mouse company!! It was a .49
pitch monitor, 14", and it weighed around 20 pounds or so. My parents paid
like 1,500 bucks for the darn monitor.
Todd
-----Original Message-----
From: Glenatacme(a)aol.com [mailto:Glenatacme@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 1999 12:30 AM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: Re: HI! Im new to the list...
In a message dated 09/27/1999 7:58:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
DD950(a)prodigy.net writes:
> Welcome to the list. I and the other three people here besides myself
that
> are interested in KayPro welcome you.
Make that four! I bought a Kaypro 10 recently (after seeking advice from
people on this list) and I like it!
> I threw my 2X-84 away in 1995. Wish
> I would have kept it. They are selling on eBay now for $35-40. :-)
Shame, shame!
> I have thought of trying to collect some information on KayPro and make a
> dedicated Web page. Problem is I do not have any material or knowledge
of
> the company and can't find any here in the boonies.
Don't feel bad -- I'm in the giant megalopolis of Orlando Florida and
there's
no abundance of information here, either.
> A short time ago I remarked how the Coleco Adam still had venders, User
> Groups, and many Web pages while the KayPro has almost disappeared.
Likewise with the Sinclair and Timex/Sinclair machines I collect -- there
are
many active user groups around the world who share software, as well as
hardware groups who have made available devices such as disk drive
interfaces, data transfer to/from IBM-type pcs, etc. But nothing for the
Kaypro.
Perhaps this is because the Kaypro computers weren't "hobbyist" computers --
they were designed and marketed as "business" machines. As far as I can
tell
there was very little third-party hardware sold for the Kaypro, and they
were
not exactly designed to be modified (people on the list, please correct me
if
I'm wrong ;>)
Glen Goodwin
0/0
Greetings!
We've acquired a SparcServer 470 sans CPU; we're seeking either a
501-1381 or preferrably a 501-1899 CPU board. More memory is useful
too, especially 501-1721 (128MB) boards.
Thanks much.
Michael Grigoni
Cybertheque Museum
In a message dated 09/28/1999 10:52:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
zmerch(a)30below.com writes:
> This is then stored on the disk so I might have
> >one 5.25 DSDD disk with 40 TPI, and another with 50. The maker of the
> system
> >says that it will support drives up to 255 tracks per side, "if the
drives
> >themselves ever do."
>
> Now, do you mean Tracks, or Tracks per Inch?
I beg your pardon -- I meant tracks per side.
Glen
0/0
In a message dated 09/28/1999 5:56:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk writes:
> Well, what if the NVRAM is one of those Dallas devices with the battery,
> clock/NVRAM chip and crystal encapsulated in the same package. No easy
> way to pull a jumper and clear those.
This may be true in some cases, but just as a friendly FYI, I recently
encountered a motherboard with the "all-in-one" device which you describe.
After a lot of eyeballing and headscratching I located a "null jumper" near
the Dallas device -- that is, a plastic jumper which did _not_ short the
pins. Momentarily replacing this with a standard jumper did in fact
discharge the CMOS.
Regards,
Glen Goodwin
0/0
