test-drb May 2000

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

172 participants
541 discussions

by allisonp＠world.std.com

>i960, or i860? I wasn't aware that any i960 Unix boxes had been shipped. > >The i960 family was the stripped-down commercial version of the ill-fated >Gemini (P7) 33-bit (not a typo!) processor, a collaboration between Intel >and Siemens. The two companies created a workstation company called BiiN >to sell the workstations, and although they shipped some prerelease >machines, AFAIK they never offered any for sale. It also grew from the 8089 (20 bit) and the 8751(8bit) for embedded processing tasks like engine controls. Allison

23 years, 9 months

languages

by edick＠idcomm.com

English is my second language, though I've been using it as my primary language since I was 6. Because I learned it as my second language, I've developed into one who's somewhat stilted in his usage of the language, and also one who's very much aware of the application of grammar, syntax, and orthography. I am, therefore, thoroughly convinced that American English, if it follows the current trend, will degenerate into a sequence of monosyllabic grunts and whines by the time another couple or three generations have passed. Just look at the more recent additions to the Webster International Lexicon of the English language: words like "duuhh" ... Dick -----Original Message----- From: Gary Hildebrand <ghldbrd(a)ccp.com> To: classiccmp <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Date: Wednesday, March 08, 2000 9:37 PM Subject: languages >Interesting dialog on languages . . . . > >I myself have barely mastered English, american style. Somewhere along the >way I took three years of French in High School, the result being that my >English grades shot through the roof. Seems learning a foreign language >helps one master English grammar. Maybe the problem is that one can't >speak correct English in the first place. > >As for the Morse code, I've talked to many people who's answer was "I don't >think I can learn the code." It isn't a matter of skill -- five year old >kids have learned Morse code. I call it a case of 'wanna'. If you wanna >you can learn anything. But since the FCC deregulated the Amateur licencing >structure, getting 5 wpm is fairly easy, if you wanna. > >Gary Hildebrand WA7KKP >

23 years, 9 months

Fwd: Line Printer Art

by jfoust＠threedee.com

I received this piece of fan mail from someone who had visited my Ancient Alphabetic Art page at http://www.threedee.com/jcm/aaa/ . It sounds like he's making an interesting video. I'm sure he'd appreciate any insights from list members. I haven't checked my archives to see if I have this American Gothic image. If I don't, I might beg someone to help him recover the files from his tape... - John >Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 16:47:48 -0500 >From: Douglas Harms <dharms(a)DEPAUW.EDU> >Subject: Line Printer Art >To: jfoust(a)threedee.com > >John: > >Hi! I'm on the faculty at DePauw University in Greencastle Indiana. One >of the projects two of my students and I are currently working on is a >video of an old PDP-11/10 I have. In the video several people go back in >time to the 1970's to see the PDP-11 in action. (I know, it's pretty >corny, but what can I say?) I'd like to create a 1970's era computer >center environment for this portion of the video. One of the things I >remember from my college days (in the 70's) is line printer art; I came >upon your page at the Jefferson Computer Museum during my search and was >quite impressed with the number of images you have in your collection. > >I'd like to print some images on our line printer and was wondering if any >of your files are available for download. > >Any help or suggestions you could give me would be appreicated. > >Thanks! > >--Doug > >p.s. I actually have a mag tape I made 22 years ago on a PDP-11/45 running >RSTS that contains 10 overstrike pictures. Unfortunately, I don't seem to >be able to read this tape anymore :-( Most of these pictures are probably >duplicates of yours (playboy-type pictures, if I recall correctly), but one >is a large image of American Gothic, which I didn't see in your list. If I >am ever successful at reading these files I'd be happy to send them to you >if you'd like. >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >Douglas Harms, Associate Professor of Computer Science >Department of Computer Science >DePauw University >Greencastle, IN 46135 --------------------------------------- > | Hofstadter's Law: >email: dharms(a)depauw.edu | Everything takes longer than >voice: 765.658.4727 | expected, even when Hofstadter's >fax: 765.658.4732 | Law is taken into account. >----------------------------------------------------------------------

23 years, 10 months

Defining Disk Image Dump Standard

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>> This is a good start. The header should include a byte that contains a >> flag indicating the status of the sector (good, bad, etc). >Other things that are 'missing' from that header are whether the sector >is single or double density, what sort of Data Marker came before it >(some TRS-80 disks use strange data markers, and just about all TRS-80 >M1/M3/M4 OSes use deleted data markers on the directory track). Then there are some *real* oddballs, such as disks with 18 or 12 or 9 bits per byte. It's very, very common for double-density CP/M disks to have the boot sector - and in some cases the first few tracks - in single density. For these odd formats, I just record the waveform from the head for each track for a couple of revolutions, just to make real sure that I'm not missing anything :-). Tim.

23 years, 10 months

Defining Disk Image Dump Standard

by allisonp＠world.std.com

>I also like the inductive matrix ROM used in the HP9100. It works by the >coupling between 512 address tracks and 64 data loops in a 14 layer (?) >PCB. The PCB is about 4" square and stores 512 words, each one 64 bits >long. It is _very_ reliable -- 9100s are now about 30 years old, and >while I've had to replace transistors and diodes in them, I've never >heard of the ROM failing. I Gotta get me one of those, they are so likeable. Allison

23 years, 10 months

Finds

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On May 31, Zane H. Healy wrote: > Of course since I have a 60Mhz RS/6000 on my desk at work and refuse to > give it up for a state of the art single or dual processor PC my opinions > of acceptable speed might be a little outside the norm :^) > > Remember for most things stability is more important that speed. While I agree 100%, it would seem that the unfortunate proliferation of PeeCees have all but killed that mindset. I suspect that most of us fight very hard to keep it alive. But...on the term "acceptable speed"...isn't that completely subjective? I mean, what's acceptable to you might be too slow for Joe Blow, or uselessly fast for Jane Doe...Intel would have us believe that we all do the exact same thing with our computers, and that the only possible thing that we should find acceptable is *their* brand of high-performance...i.e. blindingly fast until you try to do more than one thing at a time, then it goes into the toilet. Man, if your RS/6000 does the job, and you like it, then keep it, and more power to you! -Dave McGuire

23 years, 10 months

OT: Archiving data (LONG)

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

>> >Yes, but how long can we expect the film to last? >> >> Decades, if processed sloppily, or centuries, if processed archivally. > >Sounds great, but how readily available is the process of film archiving >to hobbyists, how easy is it to master, and how much does it cost? This isn't rocket science; archival-quality film processing has been studied for most of a century already. Anyone capable of following the Kodak (or Ilford, or Agfa) directions and who has a kitchen sink, about $25 for hardware, and about $10 for photo chemicals can do it. No, it isn't the point-and-click interface you're used to, but some of us actually enjoy mixing chemicals and processing film and paper by hand. -- 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

23 years, 10 months

VAX-11? and some C64 stuff

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On May 31, Kenn Humborg wrote: > > Also, you'll need the special > > DEC monitor that goes with whatever station you are buying, you > > can't use a > > chincy PC compatable monitor with a VAXStation. > > However, a good quality multi-sync (i.e. modern) PC monitor > with BNC inputs will probably work fine. I'm using an > Iiyama Visionmaster 17 with a VAXstation 3500 (VCB02 video > adapter) with no trouble. > > (And I have my PC plugged into the VGA input, so I can switch > between VAX and PC using the monitor's front panel buttons.) The good thing, though, about using "original" DEC monitors on machines like those is that you can get a wonderfully HUGE tube with a deliriously tight dot pitch and fabulous video quality for next to nothing because they're fixed-frequency. The PeeCee world's inability to develop video systems that don't require changing sync rates every time the wind blows has afforded the Real Workstation world a wonderful advantage...a plethora of gorgeous, huge monitors that can be had for a song. :-) -Dave McGuire

23 years, 10 months

Fw: VMS media availability for VAX 8530

by geoffrob＠stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au

Following post from comp.sys.dec reposted to classic computers at request of originator. Anyone on the list that can help him? I have the Pro380 console and 5.25" media for an 8530 console, (and an 8530 - minus the console to vax cables) even VMS on 9 track, but I'm a bit far away... I initially thought this place was in Europe somewhere, but it seems it's actually in New York USA. I've mentioned the room heater effects of ECL based systems. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Derek Konigsberg" <konigd(a)rpi.edu> Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec Sent: Sunday, May 28, 2000 1:31 AM Subject: VMS media availability for VAX 8530 > Hello, > In the Electronics Club at RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), > we've come across a number of old DEC machines. It all started with a > PDP-11/45, then we got a VAX 8530 that was being dumped. We also have > a VAXstation 4 (doesn't exist, but we have one, and it looks like a II > by the case design) and a VAXstation 3100. Anyways, the main problem > is the 8530. Our main RA82 hard drive doesn't spin up, and we can't > find the problem. We have other functional hard drives, but no means > of installing VMS on them. Basically, we need the tape for our TU81+ > tape drive (6250bpi, I think), and the 5-1/4" floppy disk to put in > the console to bootstrap the machine. Yes, for anyone who didn't > know, this machine requires a special "VAX Console" (no, it's not a > terminal) to tell the machine to power up and to download the > microcode. Anyways, right now the machine is an impressive metal > obstruction in the room until we get it operational. So, does anyone > have or know where we can find the right VMS media for this beast? > > P.S. Just wondering, but anyone know what thing thing sold for back in > '87 when it was new? > > Thanks, > Derek Konigsberg > RPI Electronics Club, President > konigd(a)rpi.edu > >

23 years, 10 months

Defining Disk Image Dump Standard

by allisonp＠world.std.com

>> The way you separate the operating system from the executables is by never, >> Never, NEVER, mixing them on the same medium, particularly if it's intended >> for dissemination. If the platforms are disparate, you certainly don't need > >Ok, Mr. Wizard. Build a time machine, travel back in time, and urge all >the various computer manufacturers to never, NEVER mix their OS with the >rest of the program space on the disk. Fortunately, we are not trying to >revise the reality of our world, but are merely trying to deal with what >it has become, which is a much simpler procedure. Done! the OS was never mixed with data on CPM disks until CPM3 and CPM86. the system booted off OS specific tracks and DATA was never stored there and SYSTEM was never stored on DATA tracks. This applies to CP/M {1.3, 1.4, 2.0, 2.2} explicitly and many others as well. It makes little difference though. as then only reason is to make the boot easier as the booter then doesn't have to know the file system to read and launch the system which for cpm wasn't defined until boot completed (as the system tables were part of the boot image). Allison

23 years, 10 months

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test-drb May 2000