Second try at sending this.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Keys" <jrkeys at concentric.net>
To: "cctalk at classiccmp" <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 3:53 PM
Subject: Deck of IBM PLAYING CARDS GOES FOR $325
> Check out item number 8735082362
OK, while playing with my 11/03, I noticed that it seems to have a Y2K
issue in the date? I'm instructed in the docs to enter the date with
a two digit year. So... does this mean that the data command is just
stupid or that the whole system has a Y2K issue?
I never paid attention to any Y2K discussions on PDP-11s since I
haven't used one since 1981 prior to this :-).
Thanks!
--
"The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline"-- code samples, sample chapter, FAQ:
<http://www.xmission.com/~legalize/book/>
Pilgrimage: Utah's annual demoparty
<http://pilgrimage.scene.org>
>From: "Jim Battle" <frustum at pacbell.net>
---snip---
>
>Redundancy in DRAM, row and column, has been in use for 20 years at least. At
>the ASIC level, largish SRAMs typically also have redundant rows and columns
>(largish meaning more than a few kbits).
>
---snip---
Hi
I don't want to bust anyones bubble but many low end computers
sold as desk tops have partially bad chips. The term used
is "down graded". It is still standard practice in the industry.
Many of you may have a down graded part in your machine and
not even know it.
Manufactures stop down grading when the yield is high enough
that it is no longer economical to deal with the down graded
parts. The extra handling cost money as well.
It is simple economics.
Dwight
>From: "der Mouse" <mouse at rodents.montreal.qc.ca>
---snip---
>
>Everybody keeps saying this as though it somehow makes it all OK.
>
---snip---
Hi
That is the point. It is OK for him to do what ever
he pleases with his code.
IMHO
Dwight
I dont own any. But according to a recent Circuit
Cellar article, early ics can be easy to implement in
a FPGA. Dont have the issue in front of me, but the
guy needed to mimic if you will a crt controller.
Therefore could the chips used in the early HPs (maybe
up to and including the 41 series?) be readily
emulated by an FPGA?
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Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2005 09:26:54 -0500
From: "Teo Zenios" <teoz at neo.rr.com>
Subject: Re: ImageDisk project is canceled
<snip>
>...it is easy for the developer to get a bruised ego because they take any criticism
>personally...>
<snip>
He didn't "take it personally," it _was_ personal; at least three messages mentioned
the words "lost respect for you." That's the real point, it's pretty childish to insult
someone like Dave, who's contributed a great deal, because he doesn't agree with
your idea of when and how FREE software should be released.
All that does is cause me and no doubt a few others to lose a little respect for the
people doing it, not because of their opinions and choices but because of their
character. Something they might think about; not only has the community
lost something as a result, but so have they personally (although I doubt that they
care).
As for Dave, I respect him for the work he's done and his offer to share it with the
rest of us. I also respect his choices, and he has my sympathy.
It's ironic that this sort of thing, like the attitude that anyone using Windows instead
of Linux is a "luzer" instead of a fellow computer enthusiast, is so prevalent in
this community which is made up for the most part of very creative people; one
would think we would be more open-minded.
>There are pitfalls to going public with a project, if being in the spotlight
>and everything associated with that is not your thing then think twice about
>going public in the first place.
And you think that's a good thing? Not that I have anything to contribute, but if
I ever do I won't even think once after this, and just share it quietly with people
who will appreciate it and whose criticism would actually be productive.
mike
First, I haven't used or tried ImageDisk. Second, it matters not since I
will almost always be on the side of supporting people who are *DOING*
as opposed to *TALKING*. I have a lot of Polymorphic and LOBO Drives 8"
and 5 1/4" floppy disks so I was watching the development of ImageDisk
with great interest. He has enough experience with software development
to know when a product/source code/etc. is ready for release but unless
Dave changes his mind, it is moot now and that is too bad.
BTW, I was most happy to see that Dave reconsidered his original request
when cancelling the project and will allow copies to exist on websites
using his format.
As one who has developed a classic-related program, I can say that I can
understand Dave's side. The Altair32 project generally receives mostly
positive feedback with a sprinkling of "wish list" items and a one-off rant.
I've also had only one person complain about the licensing (actually, the
lack thereof) which I largely ignored because after I investigated all of
the "open" licensing types and couldn't come up with one I liked and that
fit how the code has developed through outside contributions.
Feedback has even resulted in several contributors to the project, a few of
whom lurk on this list. I will say that the times I've received
well-intentioned criticism I do take it personally because I've poured so
much effort into the project. Then, I step back and say that it's not
personal, it's just comments on the product. Within the criticism there is a
different point of view and if it ultimately results in a better product,
then that's good. Do you think Bill Gates loses sleep at night because
people complain about Windows? No, but it drives Microsoft to at least
attempt to improve the product (even if they don't succeed).
The code I've written could be considered godawful ugly by an experienced
programmer, but it works. I felt that getting the program and the code out
there for people to use and modify was more important than how it looked.
Maybe that's a na?ve way to look at it; I don't know.
Rich
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of Teo Zenios
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 9:27 AM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: ImageDisk project is canceled
This thread is like a soap opera.
If you offer to program a utility for the "comunity" you should expect a
decent amount of email in reply that runs from praise to ridicule. People
will be bugging you to add features you probably dont have time for. Others
will want to see the sourcecode because they want to see how it is done, to
take the guts and modify the interface, just to have it, or maybe even to
modify and sell. You should think about what you are getting into before
going public. The reason there are not alot of multi platform disk archivers
is because the person doing the programming on their own gets bored with the
project, or quits in the middle of it when somebody gets on their nerves.
The tools I use for backing up and restoring disk images are platform
dependant and that is fine with me. I find groups of programmers for
specific platforms tend to finish their utilities because they need them for
their hobby, and if one person loses motivation another takes his place. I
am not criticising anybody for attempting to go it alone, but it is easy for
the developer to get a bruised ego because they take any criticism
personally while a team of developers (with a smaller platform specific
project) tend to ignore the chatter and turn out a project they are happy
with.
There are pitfalls to going public with a project, if being in the spotlight
and everything associated with that is not your thing then think twice about
going public in the first place.
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 17:53:26 -0800
From: "Chuck Guzis" <cclist at sydex.com>
Subject: Re: Oldest machine (was: Re: Good haul of old pc stuph)
>Does anyone still collect UR equipment? A 407 is darned near a computer.
Don't forget the 604, one of the few "electronic" UR machines; could heat a
fair sized room with its tubes.
I've still got the manual for the one I worked with back in those prehistoric days.
mike
Well, I've certainly learned a valuable lesson; now that I know that,
if I ever spend as much time as Dave has developing something
useful for the CC community, I will actually cause harm unless I
release the source code (whether I think it's ready for prime time or not),
I'll certainly keep it to myself.
By this "logic" every company or individual that releases a piece of
software without source code is causing harm by keeping someone
else from writing their own version. Perhaps it's time for a class-action
law suit or two...
Whoever was writing the other archiver was certainly free to use Dave's
well-documented format or, if he/she really had a better idea, implementing
it and presenting that to the community, with source of course.
Also, the person with that pile of "hard-to-find disks" is free to use any other
tool they like in whatever format they choose; if they choose not to because
they don't have Dave's source, that's hardly Dave's fault.
Then again, blaming someone else for your own choices seems to be pretty
popular these days.
It's unfortunate, but I don't blame Dave one bit. We do this sort of thing in order
to help other people and when we get more criticism (often unjustified)
than appreciation, it really isn't worth our while; I don't think he's B&Ming, he's
just saying hey, if you don't like it, by all means do it yourself; I don't need the
crap.
I've said it before: every time we discourage someone with the self-important
opinionating, criticism, sarcasm, OT rambling etc. that seems to be so common
on some computer lists, our community loses a potentially valuable resource.
I just hope there's some way without too much effort to salvage the archiving
that Jim (and others?) have done.
mike
<Shaking head & rolling eyes...>
----------------Original Message----------------
Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2005 23:43:39 -0500 (EST)
From: der Mouse <mouse at Rodents.Montreal.QC.CA>
Subject: Re: ImageDisk project is canceled
And not a word about how lovely and mature Dave is to take his marbles
and go home in a snit - reneging on his earlier statement (I'd even say
"commitment") that he'd make the source available when he was no longer
able or willing to maintain it himself, I might note - because someone
points out that he's _wrong_ in thinking that no harm is done by
ivory-tower "you'll get it when I think it's good and ready"
development?
I went back and reread the note that Dave is (apparently) reacting to:
< I am not sure you've done no harm by so doing... I know for a fact
< that at least one person was working on an open-source disk archiver,
< but has dropped that project, at least for the moment, because he
< doesn't want to create yet another incompatible file format, and
< would have wanted to see how you did things (not wasting time
< re-inventing the wheel and all that). We'd all better hope his pile
< of hard-to-find disks [...] remain[s] readable a little longer.
This hardly qualifies as bitching and moaning to me, with the
*possible* exception of the last sentence.
Of course, Dave's choice of reaction to this information is up to him.
But really, after rereading the full note I quoted from (there's a good
deal more to it, but I don't think the above is unrepresentative - I'd
call it all fair and polite criticism), and rereading Dave's reaction,
it's pretty clear to me which one is more "bitching and moaning".
Yes, I too hope Dave reconsiders. But I don't think stifling fair
criticism - and that's what I think it was - because its target reacts
badly to it is ever a good idea.
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