test-drb November 2012

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

173 participants
212 discussions

by marcogb＠xs4all.nl

Two Digital (Equipment Corp.) Personal WorkStation 500au systems, each with a stock 500 MHz EV56 CPU (socketed), 1? Gbytes memory, on-board DE500 Fast Ethernet NIC, on-board SCSI, on-board (MMOV- compatible) Ensoniq ES1888 audio, additional DE450 NIC, PowerStorm 3D30, an additional QLogic SCSI controller (same type as on-board). One of the two may have a weak battery, but it's fortunately a regular button cell type battery. I have various options to offer. In any event, please contact me for more information, offers or potential trades (I'm in particular looking for SGI parts). I can also show pictures and arrange a 'test drive' or 'tour' via SSH or Telnet. The systems are located in the Netherlands and I'm willing to ship (internationally). - MG

11 years, 3 months

CP/M clones & compatible OSes

by lproven＠gmail.com

On 25 August 2012 15:29, Jules Richardson <jules.richardson99 at gmail.com> wrote: > On 08/23/2012 04:02 PM, Tony Duell wrote: > >> Does a non-CP/M box count? The Tatung Einstein? It runs soemthing called >> XtalDOS which is very CP/M-like (I think most of the calls are the same). > > I think that was true of Torch CP/N too, wasn't it? Which makes me wonder > how common "almost CP/M" variants were... That's a really interesting question, actually, I would say. [Does a bit of Googling] There were, it seems, various Torch Z80 addons for the BBC Micro. The only one I saw or used was a Disk Pack: http://acorn.chriswhy.co.uk/docs/Torch/Torch_Z80DiscPack.pdf There was a time, when I was about 13 or 14, when I thought that this was about *the* most powerful and desirable computer setup I'd ever seen or heard of. ;?) What I had not appreciated until now was that Torch's version of CP/M was a special one, which ran from ROM. That is apparently why they called it CPN instead. There was also a standalone 2nd processor, no disk drives: http://acorn.chriswhy.co.uk/8bit_Upgrades/Torch_Z802ndproc.html There's a user manual for a CPN system here: http://acorn.chriswhy.co.uk/docs/Torch/Torch_ZDPUG.pdf It contains a little non-technical info: ? the TORCH CPN operating system, (a 16K ROM containing a CP/M compatible "look alike") ? ? INTRODUCTION The TORCH CPN operating system which is a CP/M "look alike" has much more flexibility than conventional CP/M. It has more "built in" commands and is easier to use. The most significant advantage of the TORCH CPN operating system, is that it is stored in ROM (Read Only Memory) rather than on disc. This means that on "power up" the TORCH disc pack and BBC micro are automatically ready to accept instructions typed in at the keyboard. ? Another CP/M compatible OS I was aware of was Pro-DOS for the MGT SAM Coup?: http://www.samcoupe-pro-dos.co.uk/whatisprodos.html ? What is Pro-DOS? Pro-DOS could be thought of as a Disk Operating System (DOS), However, it is more than this, it is a full Operating System that Provides compatibility with CP/M 2.2. In simple terms this means that a whole world of software that was designed to run under CP/M 2.2. will now run on the SAM Coup?. Pro-DOS uses the same Disk format as the Amstrad PCW 8256 and, as a result, it can read disks from this machine direct, this also Means that there is a vast range of software already available from sources such as Public Domain libraries. ? I hadn't realised it was by virus writer Chris "The Black Baron" Pile, who was imprisoned for writing Queeg, SMEG and Pathogen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Pile_(programmer) It is an admitted reverse-engineered effort as you can find from this interesting review, complete with an account of nostalgia-destroying 8-bit compatibility problems: http://www.samcoupe-pro-dos.co.uk/pdreview.html As for the Tatung, I've found very little info on XTal DOS, apart from something calling it " a compatible but beefed-up version of CP/M called Xtal DOS." http://www.tuicool.com/articles/myEBvq Anyone got more? Any more CP/M-compatible Z80 OSs? -- Liam Proven ? Profile: http://lproven.livejournal.com/profile Email: lproven at cix.co.uk ? GMail/G+/Twitter/Flickr/Facebook: lproven MSN: lproven at hotmail.com ? Skype/AIM/Yahoo/LinkedIn: liamproven Tel: +44 20-8685-0498 ? Cell: +44 7939-087884

11 years, 4 months

Kerrville, TX warehouse pics

by sales＠elecplus.com

For those who want to see pics of the warehouse in Kerrville, TX, please see https://picasaweb.google.com/106111250846948401252/November212012 If you can't come on Dec 1, email me what you are interested in. Cindy Croxton Electronics Plus 1613 Water Street Kerrville, TX 78028 (830)792-3400 phone (830)792-3404 fax AOL IM elcpls _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2793 / Virus Database: 2629/5908 - Release Date: 11/20/12

11 years, 4 months

strange remark about your collection?

by tom_a_sparks＠yahoo.com.au

What strange remark have you had about your collection? here is mine: I had my amiga A500 and amiga A1200 setup with disk/CDs, books, magazines around them a front cover of a box standing up behind the A1200 that the A1200 came in the remake from my relative was "you collect keyboards?" --- tom_a_sparks "It's a nerdy thing I like to do" Please use ISO approved file formats excluding Office Open XML - http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html Ubuntu wiki page https://wiki.ubuntu.com/tomsparks 3 x (x)Ubuntu 10.04, Amiga A1200 WB 3.1, UAE AF 2006 Premium Edition, AF 2012 Plus Edition, Sam440 AOS 4.1.2, Roland DXY-1300 pen plotter, Cutok DC330 cutter/pen plotter Wanted: RiscOS system, GEOS system (C64/C128), Atari ST, Apple Macintosh (6502/68k/PPC only)?

11 years, 4 months

Seeking information on some Qbus disk/tape controllers: Dilog DQ37, Emulex QT131 and UC07

by ethan.dicks＠gmail.com

Hi, All, I was going through a box of "interesting" cards last night and I came across three cards that I'm looking forward to using: o Dialog DQ37 - an S-box-handle Qbus SCSI controller o Emulex QT131 - a Qbus Pertec tape controller? o Emulex UC07 - a Qbus SCSI controller I found the UC07 manual on Bitsavers, so I'm good there for setup and configuration, but I was curious if anyone knows about different firmware revisions I should be aware of or seek to put on the card (I've owned plenty of Emulex communications controllers, and done plenty of firmware swaps on those, and since they put firmware (ROM chip) upgrade instructions in the manual, it makes me practically expect to have to do something to it). I could not find more than a couple of comments about the QT131, but I'm reasonably certain whatever jumper settings are on there are a) the defaults, and b) just fine. If anyone here has any experience with the QT131 or even better, a manual, that would be appreciated. As for the Dilog DQ37, I can find nothing except 3rd-party resellers offering to sell me one if I click the "give me a quote" button. The ones I have (2) appear to have the single-ended SCSI portion of the board populated and have a large bare patch that, from the component values on the silkscreen, seems to me to be for High Voltage Differential. No biggie. I don't have any HVD drives anyway. I don't own any S-box hardware, so "just plug it in an see what it looks like" is not the preferred method - I'd like to know more before I go further. I'm especially wondering if this is a TMSCP-only controller or if it will do MSCP and/or TMSCP, and if there are any firmware variations I should know about. So... anyone here know about these cards or where to find docs (besides the UC07 docs on Bitsavers)? Thanks, -ethan

11 years, 4 months

eBay Symbolics 3640

by glen.slick＠gmail.com

No connection with this listing. Looks like an interesting item. Symbolics 3640 Artificial Intelligence Work Station Complete and Functional http://www.ebay.com/itm/221152106364 End time: Nov 17, 2012 7:03:55 PM

11 years, 4 months

IBM 5151 green phosphor monitors for sale

by sellam＠vintagetech.com

I have a limited number of IBM 5151 monitors for sale. This is the classic green screen monitor that shipped with the basic IBM PC 5150. Condition is adequate. They are dirty but I will clean them up before shipping out. Will test for basic functionality. No burn-in or other problems, but no warranty either. The price is $30 each plus shipping. First come, first served. Please contact me directly via e-mail. Thanks! -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org [ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ] [ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]

11 years, 4 months

S-100 LAVA PCB order pending, please

by LYNCHAJ＠YAHOO.COM

Hi! John Monahan and I have been working on an SVGA display compatible S-100 board and it is almost ready to go. While it is not SVGA register compatible it does allow for an economical SVGA compatible display for your S-100 system. http://s100computers.com/My%20System%20Pages/Lava-10%20Board/LAVA-10%20Board .htm http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/browse/#view=ViewFolder&param=S-100%20LAVA Some additional discussion here on the vintage-computer.com forum http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showthread.php?30687 A viable PCB manufacturing order is at least 20 orders just to pay for the boards, tooling, shipping, etc. There are approximately 12 "firm" PCB requests and as soon as this project is viable I will make the manufacturing order. Thanks and have a happy holidays! Andrew Lynch PS, if cash and/or paypal is an issue, we can make trades for certain computer parts, electronic components, tools, metals, coins, unused gift cards, shipping materials, scrap, etc. Please let's discuss!

11 years, 4 months

Opus ISA SparcCard

by paulyandy＠yahoo.com

Bernd, Greetings! I have a mysterious ISA card and after researching, I found an old post from 2007 which contained a conversation you were having regarding an Opus ISA SparcCard.? I'm curious if this is what I currently have. Do you happen to know of any online information about getting this working?? I was going to recycle it but it seems a shame if it is a bit of history and of unique functionality. Any help is most appreciated and thank you! Paul Anderson

11 years, 4 months

discrete transistor computer

by ed.spittles＠gmail.com

On 18 November 2012 19:14, Ed Spittles <ed.spittles at gmail.com> wrote: > On 16/11/2012 08:13, ben wrote: >> On 11/16/2012 12:50 AM, Ed Spittles wrote: >>>> [conversation about Wireless World articles - a digital computer >>>> built from reject germanium transistors] >>> >>> Aha: here's an online version of a pamphlet reprinting that article >>> series, which gives credit to Brian Crank: >>> http://www.smrcc.org.uk/members/g4ugm/Manuals/wirelessworldcomputer.pdf >>> >> How come this was never posted when you still could get germanium >> transistors. :) >> Ben. >> > There was a dire shortage of the very rare round tuits during that > period of my life, plus no access to a decent scanner. I actually wrote > my first program when I was 17 or 18 years old ( so 1971/2) on a > germanium transistor computer that had been built by my school derived > from the wireless world design. I was taught by the school Music > Teacher Hector Parr (http://www.hectorparr.freeuk.com/) who learnt to > program so he could calculate tables of Organ Pipe lengths to assist in > re-building the School pipe organ. > > Dave Wade G4UGM Fantastic! I got in touch with Hector Parr, and he directed me to a memoir he's written, and I now have a story: One Alan Wilkinson wrote the book 'Computer Models' (a copy is now on its way to me) which is most likely inspired by Brian Crank's article series. Alan was teaching at Spennymoor Grammar School, and Hector was teaching at the nearby Darlington Grammar School. Hector read Alan's book and proceeded to get the Maths department and pupils to finance and build a machine called DENICE, designed from scratch but with inspiration >from the book. Alan moved on to Teesside Polytechnic where he looked after an IBM 1620, which was made available to schoolchildren. Hector later taught at Barnard Castle School, where he was photographed in 1978 with a different computer: http://ww2.durham.gov.uk/dre/pgDre.aspx?ID=DRE10345&PIC=Y His memoir can be bought at http://www.lulu.com/shop/hector-c-parr/music-maths-and-machines/paperback/p… - there's a copy of this too on its way to me. I now discover that Alan's book has been referenced at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transistor_computer#cite_note-15 since Nov 2010. (As for the reported cost of ?50 in the late 60's, I'm told a weekly shop for a couple would be ?2 and a pint of rough cider would be 1/9d (that is, 21 old pence, which were 240 to the pound.) According to http://safalra.com/other/historical-uk-inflation-price-conversion/, the project would cost ?750 today, although those anecdotal prices suggest rather more.) I wrote up some notes on the WW machine here: http://forum.6502.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2333 Cheers Ed

11 years, 4 months

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test-drb November 2012