test-drb April 2005

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

269 participants
730 discussions

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

I need to replace the battery in an item I have. It's the quartersized/style one. The way it is attached to the board, is via a clip arrangement that you'd swear makes the battery removable. However, it is in fact soldered or spot welded into the clip somehow. As a result, I'd rather not just cut the clip arms to replace the battery as I'd have trouble getting the new one in. The only possibility I see is unsoldering the clip from the battery, but it strikes me as a rather bad idea to put a soldering iron to a battery. Suggestions? Jay West

20 years, 1 month

Definition of a Computer

by brian.russell＠iclway.co.uk

> Megan wrote: > > Years ago, someone (I don't remember who) gave the definition of a > > computer as a "device which inputs some stuff, does some stuff to > > it, and outputs some other stuff". > > Eric Smith wrote: > Which is presumably not actually very useful as a definition of a computer, > since a cow would qualify. I was always under the belief that a 'computer' was originally a man (yes, almost always a man) who performed computations using slide-rule, log tables, pencil and paper. When I look up my Chambers Dictionary this evening, I get the definitions: "Compute: to calculate, especially with a computer; to estimate. Computer: a calculator; a person who computes; a machine or apparatus, mechanical, electric or electronic, for carrying out (especially complex) calculations, dealing with numerical data or with stored items of other information, also used for ..." Which seems to me to be only one step removed from the apocryphal definition in the mythical dictionary of computer terms: "Recursion: see recursion." Whatever definition you prefer, "always remember that the computer is out to get you; the proof of this can be seen every time it does exactly what you told it to do!" Regards, Brian M. Russell.

20 years, 1 month

SGI Indy keyboard

by Saquinn624＠aol.com

I'm not sure what Greg means about missing features- I have both SGI and PC PS/2 keyboards, and I can't see much of a difference (the older SGI keyboards are quite nice keyboards, though). In fact, a number of Indy-era keyboards (newer granite) were made under contract by NMB, and, since they are "NetWare approved" I don't think they made many changes from their PC keyboards. -Scott Quinn Attribution Error: Lyle replied about the 4D parts, Patrick was the one who answered the RS/6000 question.

20 years, 1 month

IBM Thinkpad 730T pen wanted

by aw288＠osfn.org

I obtained an IBM FS tool today at a hamfest - I do not know what it was for. It contains an IBM 730T Thinkpad and a little printer. The Thinkpad is a pen based machine, but GUESS WHAT IS MISSING. So, if anyone has an IBM pen, I would like to talk to you. William Donzelli aw288 at osfn.org

20 years, 1 month

rx01 w/o controller board

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

>Subject: Re: rx01 w/o controller board > From: Patrick Finnegan <pat at computer-refuge.org> >On Wednesday 06 April 2005 03:50, Gooijen H wrote: >> Hi Brad, >> >> the connection from the controller board (UNIBUS or QBUS) is a >> straight cable AFAIK. The RX01 and RX02 exist as a table top box and >> uses a DB25 connector to the controller. > >Not all RX01's have a DB25 to connect to the controller, on the ones I >recovered with an 11/23 system (rackmount drives), there's just a >ribbon cable connecting the two berg connectors on the controller and >drive together. The ones with DB25 were used with Decmate-1 all others only had a ribbon cable exiting the box at a bracket to support the cable. the DECmate-1 version FYI still has the same baords and cable hookup internally so it is usable with any system (after setting internal dipswitch). Allison

20 years, 1 month

Switch Handle Pictures

by v.slyngstad＠verizon.net

I put up some pictures of the switch handles I have cast so far. (It will be clear why I think they're not ready for prime time.) http://so-much-stuff.com/pdp8/sw-handles.html Vince

20 years, 1 month

Toshiba PA8312U (2 MB memory card) question

by ss＠allegro.com

I just picked up a couple of Toshiba PA8312U 2 MB memory cards, and was wondering if they're useful in anything other than an early Toshiba laptop? At first I hoped they were some kind of Fujitsu-like pre-PCMCIA card ... but they've got only one row of about 44 sockets, unlike a PCMCIA card with 2 rows of fewer sockets (holes) per row. Also, if anyone wants one (or more), I may be able to get more of them. thanks, Stan

20 years, 1 month

SunOS, LaserWriters, Resolution Enhancement

by Saquinn624＠aol.com

For a while, I saw www.sun3arc.org had downloads of SunOS for Sun3 machines. They don't seem to be up now, but still have a DNS so I'm not sure what's up there. At introduction, LaserWriters had the interesting distinction of being more powerful than the Mac that drove them. I dimly remember this explanation of Resolution Enhancement (don't know if it's marketer-speak or not): The printer only prints 300 (600, whatever) DPI, but along the edges of curves those dots can be made smaller even though there aren't any more of them. The result is smoother looking curves

20 years, 1 month

cctalk Digest, Vol 20, Issue 30

by Saquinn624＠aol.com

20 years, 1 month

Must-have PDP-11 accessory on eBay -- VINTAGE BUS GRANTOSAURUS REX

by James＠jdfogg.com

> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1247&it em=5181545036&rd=1 Odd - even the board artwork reads Bus Grantosaurus Rex. It looks like someone made some custom PC Bus Grant boards and needed a laugh. Making such a board at home would be a simple project.

20 years, 1 month

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test-drb April 2005