test-drb October 2007

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

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Looking for a VME chassis

by ian_primus＠yahoo.com

Looking for a rackmount VME chassis to rebuild a Sun 3 system. Anyone got anything collecting dust bunnies? -Ian

17 years, 2 months

That poor system/36

by ballsandy＠msn.com

>> I really want something bigger and something that just screams "I'm >> dimming your lights!". A crimson running off a serial terminal does >> not seem to cut it for me. > >IBM is a different mindset at the mini/mainframe levels than UNIX-type >systems, and hobbyists suffer from the fact that IBM does not court the >hobbyist market. Notice that I did not say it was a worse mindset, just >different, nor did I imply that any company must bend over backwards >for the hobbyist. > >IBM minis are optimized for database, accounting and semi-mainframe >type tasks, too, and there are many pitfalls and booby traps in place >to prevent horrible and unscrupulous people from buying them secondhand >without giving IBM their cut, at least on the AS/400 level. You might >want to look at one of the heftier VAXen or Alphas running VMS- >different from UNIX and bulletproof, but still from within the same >"interactive terminal" mindset. The OpenVMS Hobbyist program and the >availability of free/low cost documentation and help is a big plus >there, too. >A VAX 7000 or AlphaServer 4k series will dim the lights on a branch >circuit, definitely, and if that doesn't cut it you can plug in a >couple of LaserJet IIISIs. Note that dim lights = low voltage = bad >news for extended operation of SMPSUs, though :). > >Be patient: RealityEngines happen. I have always known that IBM never wanted these systems to go to people like us who run them in their basement and yes I do know that the majority of the IBM mainframes were leased out which makes them even harder to find But once in a blue moon a leased system enters the hands of a hobbyist. Yes I also know that mainframes were usually designed for databases and the likes but they can still be fun to play with and you gotta admit it's fun showing off those massive IBM hard drives and then telling your friends how much that massive drive can actually store (20-80 megs if more). There is no way I will look into a DEC. I have absolutely no knowledge on any of their good old systems (I have never even seen one) and I have always loved IBM systems (yes, criticize me). BTW: My Crimson is equipped with a Reality Engine.:) Yes, an S/390 would be really nice (hey, you can even go with linux if you really wanted to) but they seem a a tad too small for me. It also looks too modern IMO. _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself with free Messenger emoticons. Get them today! http://www.freemessengeremoticons.ca/?icid=EMENCA122

17 years, 2 months

Tax Advice for kit hobby?

by grant＠stockly.com

Is there anyone in here who is qualified to give advice on taxes? I've made a few computer kits and am still deep into the hole. No money made, so no profit. I want to know what to expect I have to do for the tax man. A lot of money has changed hands with no gains for me. I hope I don't owe anyone anything. I've got a few more computer kits on the back burner, but its not worth it to me to continue if there are tax implications. Not trying to get free services, just free advice. : ) Respond off list if you want to help a fellow vintage computer guy. Grant

17 years, 2 months

That poor system/36

by compoobah＠valleyimplants.com

> Yes, an S/390 would be really nice (hey, you can even go with linux if > you really wanted to) but they seem a > a tad too small for me. It also looks too modern IMO. But Linux on a S/390 would be like Linux on a SGI (unless it was in a single LPAR) - it's lacking something. Anyone know what they're using for the front-end laptop or whatever you call it on the zSeries now that OS/2 is gone? Also, anyone know if there's a mirror of the DriverPak Online setup (when IBM says end-of-support they mean it) - I'm trying to get a not-on-topic Compaq Armada PII laptop running with something marginally interesting.

17 years, 2 months

That poor system/36

by ballsandy＠msn.com

>> -I'm 17 and have a wicked case of OCD >> -I like old electronics >> -I use a 5 1/4" floppy drive on a normal basis >> -I like things that have blinkenlites and make cool whirring noises >> -I have passed notes written in hex to a friend in class ("what are >> you doing at lunch?") > >Whoo, will *you* ever fit in here! Well, okay, possibly except for >your age; my feeling is that you're near the young end of our age >distribution. But my feeling is also that nobody will hold that >against you. :) But really, OCD, old electronics, non-3?" floppies, >blinkenlights, knows ASCII in hex...yup, you're home! It's great to know I joined the right mailing list. I wanna spread my knowledge of the good old days of computing on to my children...like a virus. :) >> all that's needed is for someone to contact him and come with a cube van > >> -I'm 17 and have a wicked case of OCD > >Y'know, an old van is going to be fairly cheap for a 17-year-old to insure, >cheaper than most cars... > >Less stuff to go wrong, too. Easier for those of a geeky disposition to fix >when it expires due to hauling around minicomputers. I think you didn't get me. The size of this system will require a Budget/Uhaul truck. People around here call those "Cube vans". You must of thought I meant those commercial minivans that are used by cable companies...and people who make shaggin' wagons. >I have not viewed the lot in a while, but are not the tapes 8809s? >They were the standards on the smaller, cheaper systems, like the >midranges. Not nearly as cool as 3420s. according to this site, the unit is being given away with two IBM 8809 drives. http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/rochester/rochester_4018.html yeah they are not 3420's but nothing's perfect. _________________________________________________________________ R U Ready for Windows Live Messenger Beta 8.5? Try it today! http://entertainment.sympatico.msn.ca/WindowsLiveMessenger

17 years, 2 months

That poor system/36

by ballsandy＠msn.com

I have been looking at this poor machine for almost two years now and I'm furious that there is no way for me to rescue it. http://www.vintagecomputermarketplace.com/view.cfm?ad=2372 Only one other person openly admits they own one: that guy who runs the corestore, and he never responds to my emails. http://www.corestore.org/36.htm Grrrr, if shipping was not so expensive and if I didn't live on the other side of the country and above the 49th parallel. >:( It would cost thousands to get that thing back to the safety of the garage and chances are that there are nothing like that over here in Kamloops BC or close to my relative location. I really want something bigger and something that just screams "I'm dimming your lights!". A crimson running off a serial terminal does not seem to cut it for me. _________________________________________________________________ R U Ready for Windows Live Messenger Beta 8.5? Try it today! http://entertainment.sympatico.msn.ca/WindowsLiveMessenger

17 years, 2 months

VAXen at home

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: VAXen at home > From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) > Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 23:21:05 +0100 (BST) > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > >> > So you want me to start off with a VAX? >> >> Lots of folks on this list have lots of nice things to say about the 11/750. > >Personally, I theink the 11/750 is not the best machine to try to keep >running. The reason is that the CPU is made up of a large-ish number of >custom gate array chips. Even when they were available as spares from DEC >they were very expensive, now they're unobtainanle other than by raiding >other 750s. It's not that bad, lots of spares out there this side of the pond. It's a nice system as it's fast enough to be useful and while a big VAX it's not a huge vax like 780 or 8650. That and there were a fair number of machines kept in service that were supported. >If you have the space (and it's large), try to get am 11/780. I've never >been inside one, but I've read the printset (schematics) and it seems to >be all standard chips. The air handlers and the power will get you. It's a very nice well ordered machine in many ways. >If you don't have the spave, and can stand the lack of speed, consider an >11/730. It's small (1 10.5" high rackmount unit), you can fit the >processor, disk and tape drives into a half-height rack (this was a >standard configuration). It's almost all standard chips, 2901 ALUs, TTL, >non-protected PALs, etc. The only thing is a 730 is hard to expand to run fairly current VMS and it's slow. For that performance you can get a lot of other VAXen. It's up side is for one rack it's small and power consumption is within the realm of a 20A at 120V circuit with some of the smaller single cab version down near 12-13A at 120V. Allison

17 years, 2 months

question about overseas shipping

by chrism3667＠yahoo.com

If something were to be shipped by a countries native po, how would it be handled once it got here? Is there reason to suspect that some independent (private) carrier would handle it once it got to our shores? ____________________________________________________________________________________ Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/

17 years, 2 months

Recommended Books to Keep

by marvin＠west.net

I am starting to pare down my book collection (there will be a bunch at VCF!), and am curious what people here think are the best books to keep. Things I don't normally get rid of include original hardware/software manuals, computer history books, etc. unless there are duplicates.

17 years, 2 months

Fwd: [roys-tech-chat] Fwd: [TekScopes2] Nortex Electronis, Fort Worth, TX is closing.

by rtellason＠verizon.net

Anybody here in Texas? Looks like tons of stuff I could probably use, too, but there's just no way I can do that trip at this point in time... ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- Subject: [roys-tech-chat] Fwd: [TekScopes2] Nortex Electronis, Fort Worth, TX is closing. Date: Sunday 14 October 2007 21:29 From: "Roy J. Tellason" <rtellason at verizon.net> To: roys-tech-chat at yahoogroups.com Oh man... Just lookin' at those pictures! I could have a blast with some of this stuff!!! ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- Subject: [TekScopes2] Nortex Electronis, Fort Worth, TX is closing. Date: Sunday 14 October 2007 20:01 From: J Forster <jfor at quik.com> To: TekScopes2 at yahoogroups.com >From the HP List: -John ******************* Subject: [hp_agilent_equipment] Nortex Electronis, Fort Worth, TX is closing. Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2007 22:49:58 -0000 From: "eidophor1" <adamours at aol.com> Reply-To: hp_agilent_equipment at yahoogroups.com To: hp_agilent_equipment at yahoogroups.com Hello to the group. I felt the group would like to know that Nortex Electronics in Fort Worth, TX is closing for good. Lewis E. Cearly, the proprietor, passed away on Oct 5th, 2007. Nortex will be open Oct 15th through the 20th so customers can make final purchases. They will be having a final "garage" sale to clear stuff out Thursday through Saturday of that week. There's lots of older test equipment, and plenty of older units for parts. There's a fair amount of older HP and Tektronix gear too. What's left after the sale will be recycled. Here's a link with more information, and the address: http://www.bunkerofdoom.com/nortex/index.html Nortex will be missed. There's nothing else like it in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. Yahoo! Groups Links ------------------------------------------------------- -- Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and ablest -- form of life in this section of space, ?a critter that can be killed but can't be tamed. ?--Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters" - Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James M Dakin Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/roys-tech-chat/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/roys-tech-chat/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:roys-tech-chat-digest at yahoogroups.com mailto:roys-tech-chat-fullfeatured at yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: roys-tech-chat-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ------------------------------------------------------- -- Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and ablest -- form of life in this section of space, ?a critter that can be killed but can't be tamed. ?--Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters" - Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James M Dakin

17 years, 2 months

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test-drb October 2007