test-drb March 2016

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

189 participants
229 discussions

Mobile Web Site Technology to Revive Old Browers

by billdegnan＠gmail.com

I noticed today that web sites that are screen width responsive and device independent are also "responsive" to really old browsers like Netscape 2.0 running on a Windows 3.11 box. The whole push to make web sites mobile friendly has had the unintended consequence of making Windows 3.11 web browsing a little more practical than before. The only issue I found is with javascript, one has best results if turned off entirely. Sites load pretty quick as a lot of the overhead if not transmitted by the server, perceiving the download is to a mobile or limited device. If you get the chance and run an older browser on an older OS my site is a pretty good example of a modern site design that works in Windows 3.11 / Netscape or Alpha / Mosaic etc. Bill -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg> Youtube: @billdeg <https://www.youtube.com/user/billdeg> Unauthorized Bio <http://www.vintagecomputer.net/readme.cfm>

8 years, 8 months

Pdp-10 emulation

by tmv713＠cryptolab.net

Hi people? I've installed SIMH on my computer and I want to get around with the emulator for the pdp-10; it was a beautiful machine and the ancestor of the GNU project, so is quite charming. I have no idea on how to begin using it. Is the first time in my life that I get in touch with something related to old computing. I want to know where I can get software, TECO and adventure to mess around (because of the importance of both); and, very importantly, how to get this software running in the emulator. I've been searching about the software and it's quite easy to get. Hope my question doesn't bother people, thanks :) Tedd Vazquez. -- -----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK----- Version: 3.1 GC/CS/CM/CC/E/ED/FA/H/IT/LS/L/MC/M/MU/PA/P/S/SS/TW/AT d--(-)@ s: a? C++++>$ UBLC(++++)>$ P+>+$ L++++>$ E+++>$ W+++>$ N+ !o K+++++ w---() !O !M !V PS++(+++) PE+++ Y+(++) PGP+(++) t+(++) !5 X+(++) R tv+ b++++>$ DI++(+++) D+ G++ e* h* !r z? ------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------

8 years, 8 months

1950s TV computers

by cclist＠sydex.com

I've been having fun looking at TV programs that I watched when the family had a 17" monochrome RCA set. At any rate, here's one such about a guy who gets shocked by a computer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-pfWhehSB4 Note that, about 3:20 in, the guy doing the troubleshooting on the system pulls a faulty tube and gives it to his companion for replacement. "12AY7" is what he says, but hands the other guy an octal tube--the 12AY7 is a 9-pin sub-miniature. (TV had goofs even then). Other than the IBM Model B electric typewriters, there doesn't seem to be much to see. From 1955. Here's another one from 1956: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33OFJEWUgQE This involves a mechanical translating machine that's been adapted to diagnose and prescribe treatment for diseases. There, you can see the same IBM typewriters, as well a couple of keypunches (IBM 024/6?) and bunches of tape drives that I don't recognize. "Memory coils", anyone? The strange thing is that years later, I met up with a fellow who had worked with Gerald Salton on the nascent SMART system that, I believe, eventually morphed into MEDLARS. Stuff from a time when men wore hats and women wore dresses. --Chuck

8 years, 8 months

Random VGA question: 160x200 "high color" mode?

by r_a_feldman＠hotmail.com

>Message: 12 >Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 19:30:27 -0800 >From: Josh Dersch <derschjo at gmail.com> >Subject: Random VGA question: 160x200 "high color" mode? > >Awhile back a "pre-alpha" version of the PC classic "DOOM" was unearthed >(dated Feb 28, 1993), and it claims to support a "high color" VGA mode. >From the README.TXT: > > "Use High-color DAC (160 x200, but great color!) > (Only newer VGA cards have this-if it looks OK, ya got it) > (This may--okay, will--REALLY screw up the playscreen's > graphics. Just look at the neat colors and don't worry.)" > >I've tried it on a number of machines (from the 386 era to a modern PC) >and they all just end up showing garbage when this mode is enabled. I >cannot for the life of me find a reference to this mode existing >anywhere, but I assume it must have worked on *some* SVGA chipset of the >era since ID programmed in support for it. I'm guessing it was cut >because nothing else supported it (and because 160x200 must have looked >awful, even with lots of colors...) > >Does this odd video mode ring any bells with anyone out there? Any idea >what hardware to look for that might support it? At this point I'm more >curious about the actual hardware than getting this pre-alpha to run >with it... > >- Josh Try sending a message to Jim Leonard (trixter at oldskool.org). He has done a lot of work with old PC graphics modes and might know about this mode. Bob

8 years, 8 months

Unix System V rel 1 on pdp-11?

by ed＠groenenberg.net

Hi. When looking for Unix distro's for rhe PDP-11, I did find information of how to make a System II using a Unix version 7 as it's base. I also came across some hits about the existence of System 5 Release 1 for the PDP-11 (basically intended to be only for the 45 & 70). On www.archive.org I did find both the System II and System 5 user manuals, and the S5 manuals does mention the 11/70. So, did it indeed exists and if so, is there someone who can help me maybe with an image to run under SIMH? Regards, Ed -- Ik email, dus ik besta.

8 years, 8 months

Front Panels - PDP8 and PDP 11

by rodsmallwood52＠btinternet.com

Hi Guys Having got 8/e (A & B) plus 8/f and 8/m into production its time I made a few comments. The aim has always been to reproduce the original panels using the process DEC used all those years ago. Needless to say we had to go through the learning curve with only photographs, scans and one 8/m original panel to go on. In the interests of origiality I have kept what we used call 'features' as found in the documentation and the sample we had. I'm trying to reproduce the original, not produce an improved or fixed version. The only process deviations I have allowed myself are as follows: 1. The original versions would have been drawn twice full size by hand on matt paper in indian ink. One sheet per colo(u)r would have been requred. They would then have used a process camera to reduce to one to one positive masters on clear acetate film. The cameras (they were huge) and the darkend rooms they worked in no longer exist. I used to do just that in the early '70's but whats weird is where I worked is less than 50 yards from the silk screen studio doing the work now. Now I use Inkscape and its layers to do the same thing. The screeners have an Epson printer the size of a piano to print my layers in black onto clear film. After that the process is the same as it was. They take a fine meshed cloth streched onto a frame. Its coated (by hand) with a photo sensitive emulsion, when dry it gets exposed through the master using a UV light source. The the parts proteced by black on the master are water soluable and get washed out and hence let the ink through. So one screen per layer is required 2. DEC would have printed the images first and routed or milled the holes using some kind jig later. As long as the hole stayed inside the white line that was deemed to be OK. We drill (laser cut) first and screen afterwards. Regards Rod

8 years, 8 months

Building up the 8E system, questions - advice - partsRequest

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

I restored my 8E cpu to running condition years ago, but never got around to the rest of the rack. Mainly to reclaim floor space, I'm getting the peripherals I always meant to go with that system into the dual rack and wanted to ask a few questions... Dual bay H967, items to go in are PDP-8E, PC04, TU56, RK05, and possibly an RX01/02. Pictures at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/131070638 at N02/25079374039 and https://www.flickr.com/photos/131070638 at N02/25152416940 But the rack has two nice looking doors, example: https://www.flickr.com/photos/131070638 at N02/22605790200 (the TU10 and TM11 is being traded off, so the left rack in that picture is an empty one now but I still have both "doors"). I'd like to keep the two doors, but will not be able to fit all the devices above in. May just hook up an "external" RX02 (I have one in a DEC roll-around cart), or perhaps one would fit behind one of those mustard colored doors, I dunno. Hate covering a nice peripheral up behind a door. Might put everything in the left rack, get rid of the bottom door, and just use standard filler panels. Current plan is cpu in right bay, pc04 underneath. Left bay would be TU56 & RK05 (and RX02 if I lose the door). What would you all do for something that is as period-correct as possible? I looked closely at the sloped panels at the top of each cabinet. It looks like the yellow trim/logo is actually a plate that slides into the bezel. The one on the right is just yellow, but has a white border screened on it. The one on the left has no plate, so it's just "white". What is the chance that anyone has one of those yellow plates, perhaps one that actually says "DEC" on it? I'd be highly interested. Failing that, at least one that matches the other (yellow with a white border). Anyone have one laying around? I'd have never thought I could run out of official DEC slides, but it appears that I have (at least for older DEC items). I need to rack the RK05 and the TU56. On the RK05 - does anyone have a spare set of slides or can I definitely just use RL02 slides (which I have lots of)? I have the wide grey inner slides on the RK05 but no outers and I noticed just one of the inner slides has a gold L-catch release on it so I'm wondering if there's anything special about RK05 slides. Thanks in advance! J

8 years, 8 months

PDP-8/e - Front panel switch reproductions and front panel PCB?

by anders.k.nelson＠gmail.com

Hi all, I found switch levers and a mounting frame design ( http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:360853) that I would like to have casted with molded-in color, close to the originals as reasonable. Has anyone already done this that I can simply buy from? If any injection molds have been built I'd love to put those to work. Would it be better to just paint a 3D print of these? Also has anyone created the front panel PCB design? I use EAGLE and would love to at least have a CAD outline from which to start as I build my emulated PDP-8/e. Pretty much like the SBC6120 but emulated on a 32-bit micro as opposed to the HD6120. I await your thoughts! -- Anders Nelson +1 (517) 775-6129 www.erogear.com

8 years, 8 months

PDP-10 programming [was RE: Dumb Terminal games (was Re: Looking for a small fast VAX development machine)]

by RichA＠LivingComputerMuseum.org

From: David Griffith Sent: Friday, February 26, 2016 4:05 PM > One of my ongoing wish projects is to learn to program a pdp-10 so I can > port Frotz to it. The canonical textbook is Ralph Gorin's _Introduction to DECSYSTEM-20 Assembly Language Programming_ (Digital Press, 1981). Lots of examples, well thought out presentation. It's a shame that Ralph's book has become so rare. (Seriously, who does the seller asking $1,441.25 for a copy think he's talking to???) Probably remaindered in the 1990s at any library that had a copy. If you were near Seattle, I'd say make an appointment and I'd give you an afternoon's worth of overview. Rich Rich Alderson Vintage Computing Sr. Systems Engineer Living Computer Museum 2245 1st Avenue S Seattle, WA 98134 mailto:RichA at LivingComputerMuseum.org http://www.LivingComputerMuseum.org/

8 years, 8 months

Techno-savvy...

by c.murray.mccullough＠gmail.com

What is a techno-savvy student? Can classic computers possibly give an answer? I used early microcomputers in my electronics classroom I taught in the 70?s. Computers back then were rather primitive, not much better than calculators, but did mimic human learning ? well maybe not advanced enough to deal with calculus! But they did help with the tedious tasks of generating random #s to start a particular process - a game for instance. Maybe not intellectually challenging nonetheless doing a required job leading today to sophisticated games that do more than entertain. Back then students were put in groups to build a work station employing a Commodore 64 or Apple II or Heathkit H8. Fund-raising bought these computers at the school board was reluctant to spend money and or political capital that only benefited the few though we did install a workstation in the library ? what wonder that created as it was small in comparison to the PDP-8. So what is a techno-savvy student now: Conversant in using a technological gadget to enhance his/her life? Or being able to build a computing workstation in high school? Or for simply possessing a basic understanding of how electronic/computing technology makes life more bearable, less boring? I don?t have the answers though being 64 I?ve lived through the evolution of computing technology and seeing how it?s affected my life good or otherwise! Looking forward to using my old computers, Coleco ADAM and Haethkit H8, if I can keep them going by procuring parts, as my dear friend who has them works tirelessly and I contribute when I get up to the big city in keeping them functioning. Such are the joys of classic computing. :)

8 years, 8 months

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test-drb March 2016