If memory serves:
EBCDIC = Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code
IBM mainframes (360, 370, etc) are the only machines I've seen that used it.
bw
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From: Sam Ismail
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 1997 2:41 AM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: EBCDIC
DOes anyone have a computer which uses the EBCDIC character set, rather
than ASCII (did I get the acronym right? what does it stand for anyway)?
Just curious.
Sam
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass
The Victor 9000 sounds like a machine sold in Australia and perhaps Europe
as the ACT Sirius and coexisted for a time with the IBM PC because of a
shortage of the latter. Chuck Peddle (spelling?) was the originator of the
Sirius.
The ACT company I think was British and later changed it's name to Apricot.
Or am I completely on the wrong track?
----------
> From: Uncle Roger <sinasohn(a)crl.com>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Re: Victor 9000
> Date: Tuesday, June 17, 1997 10:45 AM
>
> At 11:50 PM 6/15/97 -0400, you wrote:
> >So what exactly is a Victor 9000???
> >Just another PC clone?
>
> Not a clone, but similar. Max RAM was 768K, came with a Floppy Drive as
> standard (IIRC). Was the first computer to use variable speed disk
drives
> (as the early Mac's did as well.) Ran an early version of MS-DOS, I
think.
>
> Pong is not the first video game. Nolan Bushnell, who later founded
> Atari, did Pong. Several years before Pong, Nolan created a more
> sophisticated game called Computer Space, built by Nutting and
> Associates.
>
> Computer Space was the first arcade video game.
> Atari home Pong was the first home video game.
> Magnavox Odyssey1 was the first home video game system.
>
> Trust me, I own all of them.
>
> Kai
>
I just pulled out the Pong and manual. I suppose I don't have the
original pong anyway.
Super Pong, Model No. C-140 (1976). It has four different pong games
(labelled differently in the manual and on the box).
So when did the original Pong make its appearance.
Marc
Okay, enough hardware, it's time for a software trade list!
Software wanted:
- Apple DOS 3.3
- Apricot F2 DOS
- Cromemco CP/M on 8" for System 3
- Microsoft Adventure (floppy for TRS-80, Apple II or PC)
- Ithaca InterSystems CP/M, any format
- TI 99/4a Disk Manager II cartridge
- Apple /// Apple II Emulator Diskette
- /// EZ Pieces
- Anything for Spectravideo SV-3x8
Software for trade (all freely distributable to the best of my
knowledge; let me know if you know otherwise):
- Atari DOS 2.0a on 5.25"
- Atari DOS 2.5 on 5.25"
- Kaypro II CP/M, WordStar, FileStar, SpellStar on 5.25"
- Kaypro 10 CP/M (can make diskette from HD if needed)
- North Star NSDOS 2.0 on 5.25"
- Jade CP/M 2.2 on 8"
- Computer Chef on 8"
- Infocom "Suspended" and "Starcrossed" on 8" (these work on an 8080
just fine)
- Osborne CP/M on 5.25"
- Macintosh System 1.0 (yes, Apple has posted this)
- TRS-80 Model 100 floppy drive support diskette
Also, while we're talking diskettes, does anyone have a MicroSolutions
CompatiCard or a Copy II Option Board they'd be willing to sell?
thanks
Kai
Meant to mention this earlier, but over the weekend I also picked up an
Exidy (Sorcerer) dual disk drive chassis (no drives, just the power
supply circuitry) for a dollar. I was amazed to find it. I know little
to nothing about this system, although thanks to Larry Anderson I have
one that is totally hacked up with a funky power-supply that replaced the
original (sticking about 2 inches out the back with wierd cords I have no
idea how to connect) and some interesting mods inside which seem an
attempt to double its memory. Any insights on this system? It's fairly
obscure.
I was told Exidy used standard PC-type full-height 5.25 drives. Anyone
know more about this? Or perhaps know where I can get an interface card
for the beast?
Sam
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass
RE: Marvin <marvin(a)rain.org>
>Subject: Re: Printers and Finds of the Week
>I am not familiar with the "SuperPET"; where does it fit in with the
>rest of the Commodore line? It sounds like you also had a pretty good
>"haul" this weekend!
The SuperPET was developed by Waterloo University in Ontario, Canada and
was released by Commodore sometime around 1980/81. I read a press
release where the CBM 8096 (a close pre-cursor to the SuperPET) and
VIC-20 were being introduced. It was also referred to as the Commodore
SP9000 and Micro-Mainframe.
The SuperPET was (I'm pretty sure) the last of the PET/CBM series.
After that, in 1982, almost the entire Commodore line was re-vamped
with: the Ultimax, C-64, B-128 series, and P-128/P-500 models.
What the "PET Personal Computer Guide" Says about the SuperPET:
It was designed around the CBM 8032 but boasted a 64k bank-switched RAM
expansion and a 6809 co-processor which could emulate a 16 bit
computer. In order to be truly compatible with IBM the OS had been
retooled to use standard ASCII throughout, it also has a true RS-232
port.
It has a 'Highly flexible terminal mode,' 'highly advanced text editor,'
and 'run time monitor.' Among its more remarkable features is its
ability to trace and repair most errors without losing the current
program or its variables. Another virtue is its ability to send any
program or data to another computer at any time in any language. The
standard languages are IBM-compatible APL (including a complete APL
character set), Waterloo BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN, and Pascal. All
languages are stored on disk (which I don't have any of *sigh*) until
used. And at the printing of the book the languages worked as
interpreters. Waterloo planned to have compiled versions available for
the SuperPET in the future. Another language is included is 6809
assembly language. SuperPET comes with an assembler, linker, and
loader.
--------------------------------
Many of the features of the SuperPET can be seen in later Commodore
units such as the B-128 and C-128 series (bank switched memory
co-processors, etc.)
Browsing the Web I have found some mentions of them, but many were no
more than that. So far it seems one or two may have more than just the
unit. I hope to get email soon from one person I wrote for info to.
DOes anyone have a computer which uses the EBCDIC character set, rather
than ASCII (did I get the acronym right? what does it stand for anyway)?
Just curious.
Sam
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass
> Not a clone, but similar. Max RAM was 768K, came with a Floppy Drive as
> standard (IIRC). Was the first computer to use variable speed disk drive
> (as the early Mac's did as well.) Ran an early version of MS-DOS, I think
>
> And, IIRC, it pre-dated the IBM PC.
Ok, some herstory. There were many machines that ran CP/M-86 before in IBM
PC, one in particular was the Seattle Computer co, running Q-dos which after
a deal with MS would be come MSDOS-1.0 aka PCdos to run on the first PC.
I was running a 8086 system in 1980 that clearly blow the doors off a PC.
It was 8086 not 8088 at 5.0mhz and 16bit wide memory using standard
multibuss cards. By late 81 that machine was 8mhz, and 82 brought a copy of
PC dos to it. Early MSdos could be configured like CP/M. The PC was slow,
clunky, closed and expensive! By time the XT arrived still slow, clunky and
expensive there are several S100 and other systems that were very fast
6/8/10 mhz 8088 or 8086 systems.
At 03:49 PM 6/15/97 -0700, you wrote:
>1979? The Victor 9000 came out in 1985/86 according to previous
>discussions. Indeed it would have been the "technological cutting edge"
>in 1979, and for quite some time as it would have pre-dated the computer
>it was supposed to be semi-compatible with.
My (admittedly faulty) memory puts the Victor 9000 pre-IBM. I remember my
parents considering purchasing one, and being horrified at the specs on the
IBM PC when it came out. I couldn't understand why anyone would buy one
when they could have the Victor 9000 instead.
Maybe I should check some of the docs I've got and see what they say.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
sinasohn(a)crl.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/
