test-drb January 2020

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

125 participants
81 discussions

FS : IBM Magnetic cards for IBM selectric "compocarte" (?)

by gerardcjat＠free.fr

A guy, in Europ, sells a box of IBM magnetic cards, used on IBM "Compcarte" ( sorry, french "name" ) They seems in medium state, at least,? but I think these are pretty rare. So, if somebody is interested ..... https://www.ebay.fr/itm/gro%C3%9Frechner-wechseldatentr%C3%A4ger-magnetkart…

4 years, 6 months

Corvus Concept

by curt＠atarimuseum.com

Hi everyone, Happy New Years... Got into a convo with a local friend regarding Concepts. I sold mine nearly 15 years ago to Al Kossow and regretted it ever since. (Nothing to do with Al, he?s a great guy... just regret selling it) Anyone on the list have one that they might consider selling/trading for? Thanks, Curt

4 years, 6 months

One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes

by t.gardner＠computer.org

Palo Alto Fry?s closing <https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Bay-Area-locations-Frys-Electronics-…> . Sad, but not the end of an era ? apparently the loss of lease I remember visiting an early Fry?s (first?) in Sunnyvale (541 Lakeside Dr?, near Oakmead and around the corner from Shugart Associates where I then worked). I marveled at the selection of steaks, diet cokes, resistors, capacitors, ICs, etc. They had partially converted a supermarket into an electronics store but I heard they at first kept the food to keep some cash flow. I think I bought steaks J The engineers and technicians at Shugart more than once ran over there to get breadboard parts.

4 years, 6 months

VCF PNW 2020: Exhibitors, volunteers and speakers needed!

by mbbrutman＠brutman.com

What: Vintage Computer Festival Pacific Northwest 2020 When: Saturday March 21st and Sunday March 22nd Where: Living Computers:Museum+Labs in Seattle, Washington. Web site: http://vcfed.org/vcf-pnw Why ? So you can share your favorite old computers and projects in person with like-minded others for two full days at a great venue. This is one of the many ways we celebrate computing history while reaching out to a larger audience, and hopefully inspiring others. As of this writing we have seven exhibitors, three speakers, and a handful of volunteers signed up. We are looking for 20 to 25 exhibitors in total, another speaker or two, and a few more volunteers. While returning exhibits are welcome, we want to encourage first-timers to step up and try it out. (It is fun and rewarding!) If you know that you can bring an exhibit please look at http://vcfed.org/vcf-pnw/exhibitor-registration and then fill in the registration form. (Potential volunteers and speakers - send me an email instead, as there is no form.) If you are ?on the fence? or just have questions please send me an email and I will get things sorted out for you. The registration deadline is January 31st but if you know you can commit now it will make project planning easier. A description of the event can be found at http://vcfed.org/vcf-pnw . General information for exhibitors including links to pictures from last year, a link to the registration form, and a FAQ can be found at http://vcfed.org/vcf-pnw/exhibitor-registration . Feel free to email me with questions. Thanks, Mike mbbrutman at brutman.com or michael at vcfed.org PS: Not exhibiting at the event but interested in unloading some tonnage? We're doing a consignment area again and that is open to everybody. Now is a good time to start cleaning and testing things that you might want to sell. You bring your treasures and we?ll bring the buyers. Check http://vcfed.org/vcf-pnw/consignment/ for details.

4 years, 6 months

First Internet message

by c.murray.mccullough＠gmail.com

I?m not familiar with U.S. law but didn?t Xerox ?own? the patent(s) to GUI technology? Again to my knowledge Microsoft and Apple both ?appropriated? and/or ?misapproriated?, depending on your point-of-view, this exact technology! Does commercial-use, read profit, subsume legal rights eventually in the U.S. and I suppose elsewhere in the capitalist world? Given what has happened in the past 45 yrs. or so, and the almost equal value of Microsoft and Apple(determined by the stock exchange), has the marketplace prevailed? Have we the consumer benefited the most or more accurately the 2 richest high-tech, transnational corporations? Happy computing - and best wishes for a prosperous New Year for all. Murray ?

4 years, 6 months

Large Batch of Macintosh (SE/II to iMac) RAM for Sale

by sellam.ismail＠gmail.com

Hello Fellow Vintage Computing Aficionados. I have a large batch of RAM specific to the Macintosh (from Mac II/SE series up through iMac). Please inquire about any of the listings below. I apologize if I did not provide enough information, please contact me for additional specifications. These modules have been carefully stored away in anti-static bags, and some are still sealed/old-new stock. Pricing is for single (1), double (2), or quadruple (2) sets of modules, plus shipping. Shipping can be included with orders of multiple sets. Added up the asking price for everything in this listing is $400. I'll take $300 for the entire batch and will give such a sale priority over individual sales. A more readable listing (in spreadsheet format) can be found here ==> https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1I53wxarLHlNmlPVf_HJ5oMKuab4zrApI_hi… Cubig 16MB 72-pin SIMM Sealed in anti-static bag. $6.00 Cubig 16MB 72-pin SIMM (2) 4X362S $12.00 Cubig 16MB 72-pin SIMM 4Mx36 $6.00 Fairchild 1MB 30-pin SIMM (2) 1Mx8 70ns $15.00 Hyundai 16MB 168-pin DIMM (2) HYM564224 AXG-60 $14.00 Hyundai 128MB PC-66 SDRAM HYM7V641601 TFG-10 $5.00 Kingston 128MB PC-100 SDRAM (2) KTA-G3100/128-CE $10.00 LG Semicon 4MB 72-pin SIMM (2) E71042 LG1; GMM7322000BN $10.00 Lifetime Memory 8MB 72-pin SIMM 10155A $5.00 Micron 128MB PC-100 SDRAM IH61959; PC100-222-620 $5.00 Mitsubishi 256K 72-pin SIMM (VRAM) 256Kx8; VRAM for Quadra 840av $12.00 Mitsubishi 4MB 30-pin SIMM (2) 4Mx8 $20.00 Mitsubishi 8MB 72-pin SIMM (2) 2MX32; MH12816AJ-8 $12.00 Mitsubishi 16MB 168-pin DIMM (2) 2Mx64 MH2M64CZPJ-6; MSAI AP168N9B-C $14.00 Motorola 1MB 72-pin SIMM MCM32256AS70, 256Kx32; for Macintosh LC 575 $6.00 Motorola 8MB 72-pin SIMM MCM32230SH60; 2MBx32 $6.00 NEC 8MB 168-pin DIMM (2) MC-421000AA64FB-70; 604 class $12.00 Panasonic 16MB 30-pin SIMM KJY-0364; 16X8-60; new in sealed anti-static pouch $10.00 RMR 16MB 72-pin SIMM (2) 4X32-60; sealed in anti-static bag $18.00 RMR 16MB 72-pin DIMM (2) HY5117400B 4Mx4 $15.00 RMR 32MB 168-pin DIMM 105174B; 604 class $7.00 SEC 32MB 168-pin DIMM KMM364E410BK-6; 604 class $5.00 Samsung 4MB 72-pin SIMM KMM5322000BV-6; for Quadra 840AV $6.00 Southland 32MB 72-pin SIMM (2) SGE 8X32T6 non-parity 60ns; in sealed anti-static bags in Southland container $20.00 Spectrum Engineering DT77 16MB 30-pin SIMM (4) 16MB modules for Macintosh II series $30.00 Spectrum Engineering DT77 16MB 30-pin SIMM (2) 16MB modules for Macintosh II series $18.00 Spectrum Engineering DT77 16MB 30-pin SIMM (1) 16MB modules for Macintosh II series $10.00 Spectrum DT220 4MB 30-pin SIMM (4) 4MB SIMM modules for Macintosh IIsi or IIc $30.00 Spectrum DT220 4MB 30-pin SIMM (2) 4MB SIMM modules for Macintosh IIsi or IIc $17.00 Spectrum DT220 4MB 30-pin SIMM (1) 4MB SIMM modules for Macintosh IIsi or IIc $9.00 TechWorks 4MB 30-pin SIMM (2) 4Mx8, 70ns; sealed in anti-static bags $15.00 TechWorks 16MB 72-pin SIMM 4x32-60 $6.00 Texas Instruments 4MB 72-pin SIMM (2) 1MX32 TM124BBK32U-70 $10.00 ZTECH 128MB PC-100 SDRAM KO-9013 KM44S16030CT-GL $5.00 Please contact me by e-mail to inquire. Thanks! Sellam

4 years, 6 months

Portlock Storage Manager?

by BHuntsman＠mail2.cu-portland.edu

Anyone on here remember NetWare? :P There used to (fairly recently) be a company called Portlock that made a utility called Portlock Storage manager, which was really excellent, for dealing with storage volumes. Their website was portlock.com. But they seem to be gone now. Does anyone know what happened to them? They used to publish license keys that would expire after about 6 months on their page, but I really hope they didn't go out of business. Thanks!

4 years, 6 months

cctalk Digest, Vol 64, Issue 1

by mark＠markesystems.com

>>> I ordered two from Mouser this week. >> >> And paid in much in S&H (if not more) to buy the two from Mouser then it >> would have cost to get 50 from China... ;) > > And what would I do with 50 when I need 2? I often order from DigiKey or Mouser, but I build ("manufacture") some electronic products in small batches, and I can often piggy-back some personal items onto one of those orders to save shipping. I also frequently order items will-call from Jameco, which is located about two miles from my house. They certainly don't have the huge stock or up-to-date parts that DigiKey and Mouser do, and their web site is atrocious, but I certainly can't beat the convenience. They have a far larger variety of stock than Fry's or Radio Shack ever did, and they're generally a lot cheaper than a retail store, or even DK or M. Surprisingly, there's still an old-school electronics store in the area, too: Sam Mateo Electronics. They even have an old-style drug store tube tester, although they don't stock tubes any more (I think). When I'm buying parts, or almost anything except for tools, I usually order more than I need. Over the (many, many) years, this has resulted in me having a range of parts and other material "in stock" that I would have totally envied in my younger years. I've now reached the point where I'm trying to adapt my designs to make do with the parts I have in stock, rather than having to order new ones. Unlike in earlier years, this isn't due to cost, but rather to try to use up all of the *stuff* I've accumulated over the years... ~~ Mark Moulding

4 years, 6 months

Replacing Electrolytic Capacitors on VAXmate Video Board

by robert.jarratt＠ntlworld.com

I have my VAXmate in pieces at the moment because the PSU has failed. I am still working on finding the fault there, although it seems to be the crowbar circuit that is shutting it down. To work out the problem I am going to buy a DSO (Rigol DS1054Z) as my regular scope is analog and not much use in detecting one-off events. It is an odd fault because there was a definite bad smell after the failure, but I can't find any blown components. Whatever blew up has presumably taken something on the PSU board with it, but I don't know what yet. The PSU shuts down even with none of the other VAXmate boards attached (and using a scratch HDD as a load). Anyway, while I have the machine open, I thought I would look at the video board capacitors too. Before the PSU failed, I noticed a bit of an occasional wobble in the screen image and a narrowing of the image at the top of the screen. I have measured ESR on all the electrolytics. All the larger capacitors seem to have a low ESR compared to the table printed on my ESR meter, some of the small ones (15uF/16V sort of size) have an ESR closer to the values printed on my ESR meter. I don't really want to replace everything if I don't have to, but equally I don't want any kind of failure to ruin an irreplaceable component like the transformer. Should I just re-cap the lot, or just the physically smaller capacitors? Thanks Rob

4 years, 6 months

cctech Digest, Vol 64, Issue 1

by athornton＠gmail.com

I remember chatting a bit with John Fry who saw the sales margins in electronics and compared them to food sales his family's supermarket chain. He figured that the marketing that worked so well in the grocery business would be a winner in electronics sales. Because of his family's connections, he could also offer popular food items. High volume and low margins. That answers my question about why Fry's the supermarket chain (acquired by Kroger's a few years ago) has a logo like the electronics store. The Fry's down near NASA in Houston was also a creepy ghost town a month or so ago. Micro Center in Houston seemed to be doing fine. On Wed, Jan 1, 2020 at 11:00 AM <cctech-request at classiccmp.org> wrote: > Send cctech mailing list submissions to > cctech at classiccmp.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/listinfo/cctech > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > cctech-request at classiccmp.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > cctech-owner at classiccmp.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of cctech digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes > (Tom Gardner) > 2. Re: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes > (Chuck Guzis) > 3. Re: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes > (Fred Cisin) > 4. Re: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes (Ali) > 5. RE: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes (Ali) > 6. Re: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes > (jim stephens) > 7. Re: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes > (Fred Cisin) > 8. Re: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes > (John Herron) > 9. New Member Introduction (Mike Begley) > 10. RE: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes > (Mike Begley) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2019 10:34:27 -0800 > From: "Tom Gardner" <t.gardner at computer.org> > To: <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes > Message-ID: <002301d5c008$ef5ba650$ce12f2f0$(a)computer.org> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Palo Alto Fry?s closing < > https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Bay-Area-locations-Frys-Electronics-…> > . Sad, but not the end of an era ? apparently the loss of lease > > > > I remember visiting an early Fry?s (first?) in Sunnyvale (541 Lakeside > Dr?, near Oakmead and around the corner from Shugart Associates where I > then worked). I marveled at the selection of steaks, diet cokes, > resistors, capacitors, ICs, etc. They had partially converted a > supermarket into an electronics store but I heard they at first kept the > food to keep some cash flow. I think I bought steaks J The engineers and > technicians at Shugart more than once ran over there to get breadboard > parts. > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2019 11:24:27 -0800 > From: Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes > Message-ID: <fa07b790-23ac-5492-48f6-631358c69d0a at sydex.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > On 12/31/19 10:34 AM, Tom Gardner via cctalk wrote: > > Palo Alto Fry?s closing > > < > https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Bay-Area-locations-Frys-Electronics-… > > > > . Sad, but not the end of an era ? apparently the loss of lease > > > > > > I remember visiting an early Fry?s (first?) in Sunnyvale (541 > > Lakeside Dr?, near Oakmead and around the corner from Shugart > > Associates where I then worked). I marveled at the selection of > > steaks, diet cokes, resistors, capacitors, ICs, etc. They had > > partially converted a supermarket into an electronics store but I > > heard they at first kept the food to keep some cash flow. I think I > > bought steaks J The engineers and technicians at Shugart more than > > once ran over there to get breadboard parts. > > I was at the grand opening of the Sunnyvale Fry's. A great place to > purchase Canfield's Diet Chocolate Fudge soda, which was all the rage > back then. A friend purchased it by the caselot. > > I remember chatting a bit with John Fry who saw the sales margins in > electronics and compared them to food sales his family's supermarket > chain. He figured that the marketing that worked so well in the grocery > business would be a winner in electronics sales. Because of his > family's connections, he could also offer popular food items. High > volume and low margins. > > Sigh. It was a time when factory reps would come and give live > presentations of their good stuff. And rows and rows of pegboard with > plastic bags of components with red-and-white labels. At some point > they got some sort of deal with Everex (which was in Fremont) and they > had piles of that stuff cheap for sale. In that department, however, > their tech support was close to non-existent. ("Doesn't work? Here's > another one to try" approach). > > But then, the area had lots of surplus electronics places back then, > probably because things were actually manufactured in the Santa Clara > valley. > > The Palo Alto store was after my time. > > --Chuck > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2019 13:08:54 -0800 (PST) > From: Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes > Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.64.1912311301460.24943 at shell.lmi.net> > Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=X-UNKNOWN; FORMAT=flowed > > Fry's says that they are doing fine. > BUT, that they are moving to a "consignment" model - they now plan to pay > their suppliers only AFTER the merchandise sells. > > Or at least that is what they are telling their creditors. > > They could revitalize the stores, if they would add Jolt Cola, Canfield's > Diet Chocolate Fudge soda, potato chips, cookies, toothpaste, rosin-core > lead solder, and electronic components. Maybe even collaborate with > Fat-Brain to open a computer literacy bookstore. > > -- > Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin at xenosoft.com > > >> Palo Alto Fry???s closing < > https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Bay-Area-locations-Frys-Electronics-…> > . Sad, but not the end of an era ??? apparently the loss of lease > > > > When I last visited a couple months ago, the one in Wilsonville, Oregon > hadn???t done any restocking to speak of (except a couple video games) for > months. The shelves were largely bare, and all the places they used to > store excess stock were empty. I might be down that way in a few weeks, if > so I???ll try to check on the status of the store. I know in October there > was a news article or two claiming they were in the process of restocking, > but based on my last visit, they seem dead. > > > > Zane > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2019 13:28:16 -0800 > From: Ali <cctalk at ibm51xx.net> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes > Message-ID: <1MfprR-1jNMVN4Btx-00gIGd at mrelay.perfora.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > > -------- Original message --------From: Fred Cisin?Fry's says that they > are doing fine.BUT, that they are moving to a "consignment" model - they > now plan to pay their suppliers only AFTER the merchandise sells.Or at > least that is what they are telling their creditors.They could revitalize > the stores, if they would add Jolt Cola, Canfield's Diet Chocolate Fudge > soda, potato chips, cookies, toothpaste, rosin-core lead solder, and > electronic components.? Maybe even collaborate with Fat-Brain to open a > computer literacy bookstore.--No. They are closing: > http://www.tonetoatl.com/2019/12/Frys-Electronics-Closed-Duluth-Gwinnett-Pl… > really can't see any manufacturers lining up behind the Fry's BS. They just > don't have the foot traffic for it.?Now as Fred says if they went back to > filling a niche that is very empty (i.e. an electronics part retailer with > stock of hard to get goods on hand) that may work. I hate having to order > 50 capacitors from China everytime I need one....? > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2019 13:32:42 -0800 > From: "Ali" <cctalk at ibm51xx.net> > To: "'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts'" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: RE: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes > Message-ID: <016901d5c021$d6407560$82c16020$@net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > Re-sending for legibility... > > >Fry's says that they > > are doing fine.BUT, that they are moving to a "consignment" model - > > they now plan to pay their suppliers only AFTER the merchandise > > sells.Or at least that is what they are telling their creditors.They > > could revitalize the stores, if they would add Jolt Cola, Canfield's > > Diet Chocolate Fudge soda, potato chips, cookies, toothpaste, rosin- > > core lead solder, and electronic components. Maybe even collaborate > > with Fat-Brain to open a computer literacy bookstore.-- > > > No. They are closing: > http://www.tonetoatl.com/2019/12/Frys-Electronics-Closed-Duluth-Gwinnett-Pl… > > > I really can't see any manufacturers lining up behind the Fry's BS. They > just don't have the foot traffic for it. Now as Fred says if they went back > to filling a niche that is very empty (i.e. an electronics part retailer > with stock of hard to get goods on hand) that may work. I hate having to > order 50 capacitors from China every time I need one.... > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2019 13:53:16 -0800 > From: jim stephens <jwsmail at jwsss.com> > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes > Message-ID: <e4b87d92-ab2b-de42-6975-33888b5cc384 at jwsss.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed > > > > On 12/31/2019 1:32 PM, Ali via cctalk wrote: > > Re-sending for legibility... > > > >> Fry's says that they > >> are doing fine.BUT, that they are moving to a "consignment" model - > >> they now plan to pay their suppliers only AFTER the merchandise > >> sells.Or at least that is what they are telling their creditors.They > >> could revitalize the stores, if they would add Jolt Cola, Canfield's > >> Diet Chocolate Fudge soda, potato chips, cookies, toothpaste, rosin- > >> core lead solder, and electronic components. Maybe even collaborate > >> with Fat-Brain to open a computer literacy bookstore.-- > > > > No. They are closing: > http://www.tonetoatl.com/2019/12/Frys-Electronics-Closed-Duluth-Gwinnett-Pl… > > > > > > I really can't see any manufacturers lining up behind the Fry's BS. They > just don't have the foot traffic for it. Now as Fred says if they went back > to filling a niche that is very empty (i.e. an electronics part retailer > with stock of hard to get goods on hand) that may work. I hate having to > order 50 capacitors from China every time I need one.... > They actually were changing to a way of flooring the merchandise closer > to the food industry.? Many things on the shelf in larger supermarkets > are actually managed and stocked at the expense of the people who have > the shelfspace.? So that becomes critical. > > Years ago a drug chain called Zody's used the same method, but for > entire areas of stock, not by item. > > A friend had a pitabread business and went into Ralphs (Krogers in > Southern ,CA).? The buyin for about 2' of space was about $500,000 then > you had to supply the stock.? Payback came to you when you shipped more > to them than they returned or discarded stale (or put in markdown). > > Frito-Lay as well as some of the alcohol aisle actually send in > personnel twice a day to do the stocking.? The store staff doesn't touch > it. > > Anyway it doesn't seem to be happening, i heard the story Fred has 3 > months ago, and it doesn't take this long to do the deal if it's going > to work. > > Years ago when they expanded a friend who had a similar electronics > business said that the electronics side of Fry's was done with large > amounts of debt.? My friend's store was well positioned to expand, but > they wouldn't do the debt model Fry's did. > > That said, either Fry's is profitable, or they've paid down their debt > to where they can withstand what is going on.? If it were a business > with a large debt load the banks wouldn't let them take a week, must > less 3 months and counting to do what is going on. > > And those 100,000sf store rent keeps on ticking full or empty. > > thanks > Jim > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2019 14:02:13 -0800 (PST) > From: Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes > Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.64.1912311359300.24943 at shell.lmi.net> > Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed > > Who else, but Fry's, has had the impact that third parties have posted > Fry's employment applications? > > jhttp://homepage.smc.edu/engfer_mark/frys.htm > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 8 > Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2019 16:28:34 -0600 > From: John Herron <barythrin at gmail.com> > To: Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com>, "General Discussion: On-Topic > and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes > Message-ID: > < > CAEOGs+hu+qFbb--rJKLdA8PK7Lk8jfFzOCPXQE5krx76Ber+JQ at mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > Two brilliant minds on this list drinking Canfield's Diet Chocolate Fudge > soda? Guess I need to hop on this mystery band wagon. > > Our Fry's in Austin has also suffered over months of almost nothing on > shelves. Definitely doesn't have the feeling of a company doing well. > They've lost several sales from friends and myself that would have bought > an item if we could see it in person and had it "now". > > Ashame they (and online shopping?) knocked out almost all the other > retailers and competition from town. > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 9 > Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2020 04:24:03 +0000 > From: Mike Begley <spam at hell.org> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: New Member Introduction > Message-ID: > < > MWHPR1801MB1870FFAA07F9ED7D333F4A96AC210 at MWHPR1801MB1870.namprd18.prod.outlook.com > > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Hello! New member to cctalk here. I am located in Seattle, and in the > past have worked for a couple largish companies in the Seattle area you've > heard of. > > Through the 80s and 90s I had accumulated a fairly sizable collection of > classic (and not yet classic) computers. Mostly this was along two > branches of machines - Atari 8 bit computers and 80s-era minicomputers & > workstations, including a couple smaller VAXen, a PDP-8 and a large stack > of HP9000/300 machines. Also I had a couple of no-name S-100 machines and > a pretty nice one from California Computer Systems. > > When I moved from the Midwest following college I had to abandon much of > that collection. In the last several years I have started to reconstitute > that collection, at least in the basics. I'm still looking for a genuine > VT100 (or stretch goal - VT278), and in 2020 I'm planning to finally bring > up a simulated VAX cluster using Raspberry Pis and SIMH, since original > hardware is pretty much impossible to find anymore (and fragile when you > can find it). It's frustrating to be hunting for things I had three or > four of at one point... > > Happy to be here, > -mike begley > spam at hell.org > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 10 > Date: Wed, 1 Jan 2020 04:38:35 +0000 > From: Mike Begley <spam at hell.org> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: RE: One of Bay Area's last Fry's Electronics stores closes > Message-ID: > < > MWHPR1801MB1870BB1A1A2E01BB2D6ECC06AC210 at MWHPR1801MB1870.namprd18.prod.outlook.com > > > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > >> > >> Palo Alto Fry?s closing < > https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Bay-Area-locations-Frys-Electronics-… > >> . Sad, but not the end of an era ? apparently the loss of lease > > > > When I last visited a couple months ago, the one in Wilsonville, Oregon > hadn?t done any restocking to speak of > > (except a couple video games) for months. The shelves were largely > bare, and all the places they used to store > > excess stock were empty. I might be down that way in a few weeks, if so > I?ll try to check on the status of the > > store. I know in October there was a news article or two claiming they > were in the process of restocking, > > but based on my last visit, they seem dead. > > I went to the one outside Seattle a few months ago, and the shelves were > perhaps 15-20% full, at best. It was kinda creepy and kinda sad. We > chatted with one of the stockers, and they said that they just didn't have > the traffic to bring in inventory, so it's the chicken & the egg problem. > They're were also allocating part of the store to do online fulfillment, > and just trying to ramp up their online presence. > > I doubt they'll last until spring. There's no way they can afford the > rent, inventory and payroll on the amount of customers they have these days. > > -mike > spam at hell.org > > > > > End of cctech Digest, Vol 64, Issue 1 > ************************************* >

4 years, 6 months

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test-drb January 2020