Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2007 17:40:25 -0500
From: Dave McGuire <mcguire at neurotica.com>
Subject: Re: modern serial terminal
On Nov 4, 2007, at 4:59 PM, Tony Duell wrote:
>>> I don't understand why someone would want to spend 10x more
>>> tima and money on a one-purpose device, when they can get
>>> everything they want and more off a cheap PC.
>
>> Probably for the saem reason that some of us run classic computers in
>> preference to PCs...
> For me, the reason is simple. Terminal emulators are too damn
>much trouble...emulation problems, key mapping, etc. I've used
>pretty much all of them over the years, I think...the best one I've
>used was SmarTerm 240, and even that is far from perfect. Sometimes
>what one really needs is an APPLIANCE...not an emulation of said
>appliance built upon an unstable and problematic platform.
----
Well, since this thread is (was) about building your own terminal box,
that's not really relevant; if the emulation isn't true that'd be your
responsibility. If you're going to program that box correctly you
could program the emulator just as well, probably much more
easily, and then you could share it with the rest of us who wouldn't
have your custom box but do have a "computer."
I've certainly written emulators, and it looks like I'm
about to write another, for an obscure terminal. What's the
difference between programming an EEPROM for your box
and a Flash card or USB stick for a box that says IBM or Dell
on it?
In case you hadn't noticed, computers have been APPLIANCEs
for a few years now; to keep thinking of them as 'computers' tends
to restrict your vision. To me, the laptop that connects my Cromemco
to the Internet, the one that logs phone calls and voice-announces the
Caller-Id and the one that monitors the furnace and sends RS-232
data to my desktop are just protocol converters; fun of building aside,
none of those applications justified my building dedicated hardware -
I just wanted something to do the job quickly and reliably without
getting sidetracked with yet another "project."
===
> Further...A VT320 terminal pulls less than half an ampere at 120V,
>and is available for use within about fifteen seconds of
>powerup...can anyone say either of those things for a PC running
>terminal emulation software?
-----
Yes.
But to each his (or her) own...
m
Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2007 21:59:11 +0000 (GMT)
From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell)
Subject: Re: modern serial terminal
>
>> Dave McGuire wrote:
>> >
>> > I really cannot fathom why people keep suggesting a computer when
>> > the OP wanted a *terminal*.
>> 4. Ease of Repair. If the hardware dies, worst case you just need
>> another run to the local thrift store. With a specialized solution,
>> you need to spend several hours repairing it, wait for several
>> days for repair parts to be shipped to you, ...
>However, if you built it yourself, you presumably know how it works, and
>you managed to get all the bits once, so you have a good chance of
>gettign them again.
>I know which _I'd_ rather repair..
-----------
So do we all ;-)
Thanks, Tony; I knew that was coming and I wouldn't have been able to
sleep tonight without it.
And to return the favour with some grist for _your_ mill, I'd just *replace* it!
<ducks>
;-)
m
not very expensive at the moment, and has a few
problems, but at least well worth it at the current
bid (sorry, forgot to copy the item #):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ZENITH-data-systems-computor_
W0QQitemZ110186173215QQihZ001QQcategoryZ1247QQss
PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
__________________________________________________
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Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2007 12:55:10 -0500
From: Dave McGuire <mcguire at neurotica.com>
Subject: Re: modern serial terminal
On Nov 4, 2007, at 12:39 PM, woodelf wrote:
>>> I really cannot fathom why people keep suggesting a computer when
>>> the OP wanted a *terminal*.
>> A 6809 terminal sounds easy. :)
> And fun!
-----------------
A moot distinction; what's the difference? If you must have a terminal box
instead of just running your vintage hardware from the computer on your
desk, just take an old laptop, remove the (perhaps broken) display, stick a
USB or Flash disk in it to boot and run emulation S/W from, plug in your
keyboard, display and RS-232 cable and how's that different in any real
sense from a fancy terminal? CPU, EEPROM, RAM and I/O; sounds the
same to me, and probably free...
Except of course for the added features of programmability, extra memory,
up/download and text capture capability, network access, RS-232<>Internet
bridge capability, printer & USB ports, alternate keyboard, modem, etc.
I've got a dozen terminals here gathering dust; my small 486 Compaq laptop
is portable and way more convenient. The only terminal I have kept on my desk
is a Cromemco C-5 to run one particular HD diagnostic program because AFAIK
there isn't an emulator for Cromemco 3101-style terminals, but a couple of
us are working on it so I hope to be able to retire that one as well soon.
I have to admit that using an XT doesn't make much sense to me either though;
why would anyone... (oh, oh, starting to sound like Tony...)
If you insist, I have a couple of 6502-based Linger 65/9028VT terminal
boards (abt 6"x4", Heath/Televideo/Hazeltine/ANSI etc.) and also a bunch of
8631/8563-based Crestline CT-128 colour terminals in enclosures
(abt 8"x5"x2", Intecolor, VGA/composite); the only catch is that there's no
source available for the EPROMs AFAIK (although there _might_ be).
mike
Hey folks...I don't know if there are any Atari hackers around
here; I may be alone...but I wanted to let any interested parties
know that I've located a source for the proprietary connectors that
Atari used for their "SIO" bus, which is used to connect nearly all
of their peripherals in a daisy-chain configuration.
http://www.connectworld.net/cgi-bin/iec/fullpic?AZndUfrS;AT13F;6
I've purchased a connector from the page referenced above, and it
is indeed the right thing.
-Dave
--
Dave McGuire
Port Charlotte, FL
Farewell Ophelia, 9/22/1991 - 7/25/2007
I used to work on similar Mullard core stores.
They where part of the memory units in 4100 mainframes.
The ones I knew where definatly 4K (4096).
They were mounted in the centre of a card rack with read/ write boards
on either.
OC81 and OC71 transistors in great profusion.
Some had to be gain matched. You started with a box of 500 OC81's, a
pile of paper cups
and a transistor tester set to measure hfe.
Rod Smallwood
-----Original Message-----
From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Roger Holmes
Sent: 01 November 2007 00:38
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: Info about a Mullard Core
Hi,
> From: "Gavin Melville" <gavin.melville at acclipse.co.nz>
> Subject: Info about a Mullard Core
> Hi,
>
> I have had for many years a large core, and while I don't really want
> to part with it, I also see what little pieces of core sell for on
> ebay....
>
> I was told when given this about 15 years ago that it was from a
> Burroughs mainframe which was installed at the Cadburys head office in
> New Zealand and that they had paid GBP 20,000 for it in 1960.
20,000 for the core or for the mainframe?
How sure are you about it being Burroughs? Wouldn't they be using U.S.
components rather than British?
I know Cadburys bought an ICT 1300 series machine around 1963/4, and its
now in a museum in NZ. It was a 48 bit machine, but I think it had a
much smaller store of 1200 or 2000 words and would have cost around
100,000 GBP. I have read there was an option to replace all the 'barn
door' core stores with a single store of 4,000 words of 48 bits, though
I've never seen one, nor the logic diagrams. I have always wondered
whether it used a full binary decode (using 16384 words to provide 4000
words of usable memory) of the 14 bits rather than a BCD decode. The
1300s use lots of Mullard components.
Just a small piece of a jigsaw puzzle, maybe not even the right puzzle!
Roger Holmes.
Owner of the last working ICT 1301.
> I have
> been unable to find out if this was correct however. Does anyone on
> the list know anything about it ?
>
> pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/8788341 at N05/?saved=1
>
> There are 921600 cores in the array, which is made up of 48x48 cores,
> 4 to a layer and 100 layers.
>
> _________________________________
>
> Regards,
> Gavin Melville
> Senior Engineer
> Acclipse Electronic Ltd
>
Hi list,
I have here a card bearing no ID except the stickers on the EPROMs,
which say "(C) 1991 DataCare International Co.".
It's EISA, and has two IDE connectors (marked "TO FIRST IDE DRIVE" and
"TO SECOND IDE DRIVE", a floppy connector, and 4 30-pin SIMM sockets
(all are populated). I don't know anything more than this about it.
If anyone would like this, pay shipping from Yorkshire, UK for it and
it's yours.
Ed.
Hello,
Since this has mostly been gathering dust lately, I have the following
Clipper system for trade/sale/???:
Intergraph 2000 system with 64MB RAM (maximum)
extra 3x 16MB RAM (new)
20" monitor (with metal housing :) )
keyboard and mouse
Clix installation media (floppies + cd's) and a set of documentation
Last time I tried this system was working great, but it has been at
least two years since I last tried it. There was a CAD package
installed, IIRC microstation. All reasonable offers considered, located
in The Netherlands. Shipping would be possible, but probably without the
20" monitor.
greetings,
Michiel
Hi,
>> Memotech
>>
>> Originally a maker of add-ons for the ZX-81, RAM packs etc.
>>Great machines IMHO.
>
> I was given one recently. The mechancial design in beautiful....
One of the best designed home micros IMHO (mechanically).
> Is the manaul for these machines on the web anywhere?
Dunno about on the web, but I probably still have my copy lying around
somewhere....I don't recall seeing any PAL equations in it though.
TTFN - Pete.
