test-drb March 2000

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

150 participants
515 discussions

Bogosort (was: old threaded languages, was Re: Symbolics)

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

> If anyone out there doesn't think sorting 1000 signed integers >in 6.8 millisecs isn't fast, code it up on your PC and >see how fast it is. It depends a lot on the algorithm you use in the sort, of course :-). I believe it's in _Numerical Recipes_ that possibly the worst sort algorithm of all is disucssued: "Bogosort": 1. Take the list of numbers you want to sort. 2. Randomly reorganize them. 3. Check to see if they're sorted. If not, go back to step 2. This is a Order(n*factorial(n)) algorithm. I've tried, but I've been unable to come up with anything worse. For your example of 1000 numbers, it'd take (assuming that each operation takes a microsecond) about 10^2554 years to complete. I think the only reason they discuss Bogosort is to emphasize that just because Bubble Sort is the example used in lots of introductory classes, that doesn't mean that you should ever actually use it for anything :-). (Pre-RT-11 5.7 DIR/SORT notwithstanding, of course!) -- 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

25 years, 1 month

decayed capstan in Archive QIC

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

At 18:55 01-03-2000 -0500, Bear Stricklin wrote: <snip> >The drive is an Archive 5945L-2. What is the significance of this; how >similar is it to other, older Archive QIC units, what interface did they >use (it and a similar Archive QIC unit in one of my Convergent NGEN <snip> The 5945L series is, if I recall, QIC-02 interface. The local used PC place near me has a couple of the old 'L' series with intact rollers. If you'd like, I can see if I can snarf them (probably). They'd be yours for shipping, pretty much. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies http://www.bluefeathertech.com // E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com Amateur Radio: WD6EOS since Dec. '77 "Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."

25 years, 1 month

VAX 6000 in Brazil...

by mbg＠world.std.com

In case there is anyone interested in such a machine, I just got mail from someone who told me that he has seen a VAX6000 which is otherwise going to be dismantled and discarded... but it is in Brazil. If anyone wants it, can afford to ship it, or lives closer to where it is... contact the I&T people at 55212776000 (that's all I have). I've asked the person who send me the info to send me anything further info he can find out... Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry!zk3.dec.com | | Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg!world.std.com | | Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of '!' | | 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

25 years, 1 month

decayed capstan in Archive QIC

by red＠bears.org

Howdy; Last night I discovered with no small amount of chagrin that the rubber capstan in the Symbolics' QIC drive had turned to proverbial goo. Fortunately the Genera distribution tape I used to discover this is only superficially damaged, since it's my only copy. That'll teach me. (: Anyway, I hoped to take the capstan out of a newer Archive QIC and just replace the whole assembly, but they are mechanically dissimilar just enough so this won't work. Enough of the original rubber is gone that I have no indication of what the original diameter of the capstan is. The drive is an Archive 5945L-2. What is the significance of this; how similar is it to other, older Archive QIC units, what interface did they use (it and a similar Archive QIC unit in one of my Convergent NGEN machines both use the same, 50-ish conductor IDC edge-connectors), and how likely is it that this is a common drive? I need to find out what the thickness of rubber in the capstan (and/or its full outside diameter) is so I can begin considering how to repair this. Thoughts, comments, musings? Tony, I think this might be just up your alley. (: ok r.

25 years, 1 month

[OT] Re: DSL Coming -- I may need help!

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<he provider, but they use AT&T for content and Sprint for the backbone. Wh <I first got it, it was like having my own T1 for $40 per month. As they add <more and more people, they began throttling the rates to fit more slots, an <now limit uploads to 128K. I've heard similar in this area. Also to get the bargan rate they want it all and I'm not comforablt with them being the broker for phone, cable and internet and they own little if any of the wire. <You can't put a server on the line, several have tried and they've been kic <off. They also forbid you to tunnel, although I occasionally do. Instead o <tunneling through the $40 cable, they want you to buy @work, which is Of course thats exactly what I'd want (or a IP masqurading router) and also to hang my whole net here on it (vaxen, PCs and whatnot). Allison

25 years, 1 month

IBM TP730T and Win95

by rcini＠msn.com

Hello, all: I got one of these a few weeks ago, and I'm desperately trying to get the pen working with Windows 95. I want to use it for an Ethernet- tethered data sheet display terminal. I can call-up PDF-based data sheets at my work bench, in stead of trying to locate my paper files. Anyway, I have Windows 95 running; acceptably, too. But no matter what I do, I can't get Windows to recognize the TP digitizer. I've downloaded various files from http://www.penwin.com/ but it's still a no-go. Has anyone done this before? I also understand that there are two sister IBM ThinkPads, the 360C/CS/P/PE and the 750/755C/755CS. What I need is a working machine to compare my installation to. So close, but yet, so far... Thanks. Rich [ Rich Cini [ ClubWin!/CW1 [ MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking [ Collector of "classic" computers [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/ <================ reply separator =================>

25 years, 1 month

Core memory on a chip.

by go＠ao.com

I'm sure some of you have seen this already... http://www.ramtrom.com Ramtron is a producer of "ferroelectric ram" devices. Two weeks ago they announced a 256k bit part. To keep on topic: this is exactly what I need for my single-board Scenix-based PDP-8 emulator! No damn battery backup needed and you don't have to reload RIM every time you boot. -Gary

25 years, 1 month

[OT] Re: DSL Coming -- I may need help! : My ranting :)

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<To add insult to injury, here in Pac*Hell land both PB and Covad consider <DSL to be a "best effort" service; if they can't get it to work they can <just walk away from the deal. Or here 25mi west of Boston where I can nearly see the CO and BellAtlantic says "soon" which translates to, your small fry, we can't bother. In the meantime I have RCN ringing the doorbell every week for cable, broadband and phone... I hold little interest in cable modem as I can see that loading up and getting bogged down. Allison

25 years, 1 month

old threaded languages, was Re: Symbolics

by IVIE＠cc.usu.edu

>Now, I vaguely remember a series of articles in Kilobaud, Dr Dobbs or >maybe Byte on constructing your own forth like language in the early 80s. >Anyone remember these? Are there copies? There was an issue of BYTE dedicated to threaded languages; it's been a while since I read it, but IIRC it was pretty much devoted to FORTH. There was also a book which somehow was related to the articles that went through the process of building your own FORTH. Unfortuantely, I don't have a copy of that. Roger Ivie ivie(a)cc.usu.edu

25 years, 1 month

Vax 11/785 in N. California

by mtapley＠swri.edu

All, I suspect you've seen this, but if not, here it is. I can't get the machine from San Bruno, but for anybody that can, looks pretty neat. - Mark ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Tuesday, February 29, 2000 Thanks for your inquiry about the VAX 11/785 we have available. We are located in San Bruno, California, about 15 miles south of San Francisco. Here are the specs: DEC VAX 11/785 2MB memory CPU (4) 622MB fixed disk drives/qbus ([3] SI RA90's, [1] DEC RA82 system disk) UDA50 controller Exabyte 8200 8mb cartridge tape drive CIPHER streaming tape drive BASIC license VMS 5.3 license Topaz line conditioner (220 volt line) We also have quite a few Dec manuals and books related to VMS 5.3 and you're welcome to them as well if you are interested. Last time I checked, everything worked, but if you take it, it is as-is condition. We are retiring this big boy and want to move it out of our server room. We will take the highest bidder under the following conditions: 1) Bidder must arrange and pay for all shipping and freight costs. 2) All equipment must be off our premises by March 17, 2000. 3) Payment must be cash or certified check. We're not looking for a lot of money, just moving this guy off our premises soon as possible! Let me know if you're interested ASAP at the email address below. Joyce Wright MIS Manager Joyce_Wright(a)sclay.com vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

25 years, 1 month

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test-drb March 2000