test-drb October 2010

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

175 participants
274 discussions

OT: definition, Dazzled (was Tony and museums)

by mtapley＠swri.edu

At 19:58 -0500 10/17/10, Fred wrote: >I remember when the dimmer switch was a button for the left foot. Me too, from last week when I drove my (1968 Plymouth) station wagon. "Dazzled" here in the US has a slight connotation of being befuddled by something wonderful, as opposed to something merely bright. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dazzled illustrates this; although the first (and presumably most common) definition has to do with excessive light, the second definition uses synonyms like "astonish" and "impress" and all three of the example sentences for the verbs have the traditional associations with pretty things (women, gems, splendor). -- - Mark 210-379-4635 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Large Asteroids headed toward planets inhabited by beings that don't have technology adequate to stop them: Think of it as Evolution in Fast-Forward.

13 years, 8 months

CompuPro CPU-Z with IMSAI and Front Panel issues

by js＠cimmeri.com

Well, I know it works, 'cause I've done it myself, but it's been awhile. It doesn't work 100% like an original or a Cromemco ZPU, though. After making all the mods to the CPUZ, you have to bring the CPA itself through all its updates if it hasn't been already, then you have to check the buss lines structure between the two boards to ensure are signals are what they should be... especially the ground lines. This last step is because the CPUZ is S-100 IEEE-696 compliant, whereas the CPA was not... John Singleton Subject: CompuPro CPU-Z with IMSAI and Front Panel issues From: Nick Allen <nick.allen at comcast.net> Date: Sun, 17 Oct 2010 00:34:56 -0500 To: cctech at classiccmp.org Anyone have any experience getting the front panel of an IMSAI computer to work with a CompuPro CPU-Z S100 board? I read the documentation (http://maben.homeip.net/static/S100/compupro/cards/CompuPro%20CPU-Z.pdf), and there seems some configuration required, I obviously am missing something as it is not working properly even after I attempt the config in the documentation. If you currently have a board working and can share a photo, or can provide any technical assistance, I would be extremely grateful! Nick

13 years, 8 months

AT&T 3B1 Boot PROM and system software images?

by classiccmp＠philpem.me.uk

Hi guys, Does anyone have images of the Boot PROM and system software for an AT&T 3B1? I've been skimming the 3B1 tech-ref which Steven Hirsch scanned, and it looks to me like an emulator wouldn't be too difficult a prospect. Take the UAE 68k emulator core, bolt on an emulation of the disc controllers, and write something to emulate the display controller. Link against SDL, add salt and pepper to taste. Problem is, the Boot ROM doesn't seem to have been imaged, and the same applies to the software discs. I've had a quick look on my 'usual haunts' (Bitsavers, the Bluefeathertech archive, and Google) but haven't managed to find anything useful... Have any of these items been imaged? Thanks, -- Phil. classiccmp at philpem.me.uk http://www.philpem.me.uk/

13 years, 8 months

AT&T 3B1 Boot PROM and system software images

by djg＠pdp8online.com

> Problem is, the Boot ROM doesn't seem to have been imaged, and the same > applies to the software discs. I've had a quick look on my 'usual > haunts' (Bitsavers, the Bluefeathertech archive, and Google) but haven't > managed to find anything useful. > Disk images here http://www.bitsavers.org/bits/ATT/unixPC/

13 years, 8 months

Oldest original proper computer (stored program etc)

by roger.holmes＠microspot.co.uk

> From: Jochen Kunz <jkunz at unixag-kl.fh-kl.de> > >> I'm not counting the Zuse in Germany as its not a stored program >> machine, and anyway I'm not sure if it is a replica or the original. > What Zuse you are refering to? There are "many". > > The Z22 at the ZKM sholud be complete and and operable. (If the people > at the ZKM have not ruined the machine meanwhile.) It is tube based and > was build 1958. It is a stored program machine for sure. Main memory is > a drum with 8192 words. It is original and has been kept in working > condition most if its lifetime. I was referring to a wartime machine, I think it was Z4 with external tape program. As far I recall it can't do loops and uses relay logic. More of a programmable calculator than a computer. Any idea how often Z22 is actually powered up and run? I must read up on it. Thanks for replying. Roger Holmes.

13 years, 8 months

W. Donzelli on Babbage & Machining

by c.murray.mccullough＠gmail.com

A top-notch machinist even of that time probably could make Babbage's machine. The question I have is - What would he use it for? Computing! Murray

13 years, 8 months

CompuPro CPU-Z with IMSAI and Front Panel issues

by dgari＠msn.com

I may be able to help. I've worked for Morrow Designs (Thinker Toys), Wordstar (MicroPro) and Stoneware (DBMaster). Yes, I am older than Godbout. I have pwned two Altairs and an IMSAI. I took a tour of the giant (empty) Cromemco facility back in the day. Sooo much promise. So sad. If you send me full specs, a case of Seagram's 7, and a detailed symptom of the problem, I will try to help. dgari at msn dot com > Date: Sun, 17 Oct 2010 08:09:22 -0700 (PDT) > From: Scott LaBombard <labomb_s at yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: CompuPro CPU-Z with IMSAI and Front Panel issues > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Message-ID: <828014.33056.qm at web110803.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > ----- Original Message ---- > > > From: Nick Allen <nick.allen at comcast.net> > > > > Anyone have any experience getting the front panel of an IMSAI computer to work > >with a CompuPro CPU-Z S100 board? > > I read the documentation > >(http://maben.homeip.net/static/S100/compupro/cards/CompuPro%20CPU-Z.pdf), and > >there > > seems some configuration required, I obviously am missing something as it is > >not working properly even after I attempt > > the config in the documentation. > > > > Hi Nick, > > Assuming that you followed the 'Imsai Front Panel Usage' section in the > referenced document, I would also take a look > at S100 bus pins 54 and 20. I haven't touched any of my Imsai's in several > years, but I do recall struggling to get a > CompuPro motherboard working with the front panel. If memory serves, at a > minimum I had to cut the trace leading to > pin 54 (External/Slave Clear) on the front panel PCB itself. I noticed in the > CPU-Z schematic that it is indeed driving > pin 54 on the bus, so that may well be the issue. > > As for pin 20, it is GROUND in the IEEE 696 spec. I can't tell if the CPU-Z is > driving that pin on the bus or not... if it > is, you may want to cut the trace leading to it on the front panel board as > well. > > I have additional notes re. another potential additional change that may be > required (somewhere) ...I'll attempt to find > them. In the mean time, I would try the pin 54 mod first, and then add the pin > 20 mod if necessary. > > > Scott

13 years, 8 months

The MERT Operating System and the 3B20D

by spedraja＠gmail.com

A comment from MrBill about the *Bell System Technical Journal online*website make me review the last issues of this magazine in PDF available there. The volume 62 issue 1 talks about the MERT Operating System. What's about this OS and platform (3B20D) ? Something availble ? Emulation/Emulators in project or even possible to do ? Sergio 2010/10/18 Bill Bradford <mrbill at mrbill.net> > The telecom nerd in me just exploded. > > Bell System Technical Journal, 1922-1983. > > http://bstj.bell-labs.com/ > > -- > Bill Bradford > Houston, Texas > _______________________________________________ > GEEKS: http://www.sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/geeks >

13 years, 8 months

Oldest original proper computer (stored program etc)

by roger.holmes＠microspot.co.uk

My ICT 1301 restoration is now officially a working group of the Computer Conservation Society. The Science Museum's Ferranti Pegasus and Elliott 401 have been shut down for over 18 months and the Harwell Witch project has not returned the machine to a working state yet. Though I don't believe its true, I was told my machine is currently the oldest original working computer. Not counting replicas or machines which don't have stored programs. My machine was installed in 1962 (and designed in the late 1950s). I'm sure some of you know of earlier machines which can still run programs, even if the peripherals don't all work. I would like to establish if mine is the oldest in the UK, in Europe or whatever and where it stands in the world rankings, like is it in the top ten? It looks like the IBM 1620 in the states is probably older but when was that particular machine (rather than the type) first installed? The 1401 of course is another candidate but I think the particular one being restored was first installed in 1964. Are there other? I'm not counting the Zuse in Germany as its not a stored program machine, and anyway I'm not sure if it is a replica or the original. It is surprising if it survived the extensive bombing by the USAF and RAF during WW2 unless it was stored in a bunker/cave/mine. There is an older machine in Australia which was working but apparently it too is currently has not run for some time. Many museums seem to be either afraid of damaging their machine by powering them up or unwilling to pay the operating expenses (electricity, paper, paper tape, punched cards etc). There are machines like the ICT1200/HEC in museums here in the UK but no plans to restore them, and the very early machines were broken up years ago and the CCS has been building replicas of several, including the Manchester Baby. Can anyone on the list help with details of working machine of the first and second generation?

13 years, 8 months

another alto on ebay

by aek＠bitsavers.org

110599066440 Pretty lame listing. No useful pictures. He CLAIMS it is an Alto I, but you can't tell anything from the listing picture

13 years, 8 months

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test-drb October 2010