Since the subject has gained so much discussion, I shall take the suggestion
and
produce the guide. Such an endeavor takes time, so don't expect a release
too
soon. Nevertheless, I am now open to taking first orders. :) :)
:)
As for the rule itself, I agree that ten years after last manufacture
implies classic
status - that is, the item is an antique. However, that requirement of time
is not
necessarily the most prudent for some items. In some cases, classic status
might
be applied to an item available only two or three years ago. Such cases
might be
rare but, justified by the circumstances.
I suggest also that classic status might be conferred upon a measure of the
relative
throughput of the computing instrument at hand. That is, when the device
performs
at a rate of two percent or less than the performance of minimal systems
sold in
the marketplace (at the time of the comparison), then such a system can be
termed
a classic.
William R. Buckley
Anyone want a nice 8000 series VAXen? Looks like these folks are
getting rid of one. Between the list and Dan Burrows, I figure this one
could find a good home.
-=-=- <snip> -=-=-
From: denihawk(a)aol.com (DENIHAWK)
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Subject: Vax Mainframe
Lines: 9
NNTP-Posting-Host: ladder03.news.aol.com
X-Admin: news(a)aol.com
Date: 25 Jan 1999 21:39:26 GMT
Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
Message-ID: <19990125163926.17953.00002954(a)ng29.aol.com>
Path:
news1.jps.net!news.pbi.net!165.87.194.248!newsm.ibm.net!ibm.net!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!newsfeed.cwix.com!152.163.199.19!portc03.blue.aol.com!audrey03.news.aol.com!not-for-mail
Xref: news1.jps.net comp.os.vms:17946
Does anybody have a need for a Vax 8530/ 52mb memory and console , 2-
HSC's, 2
- TA81's, 8 - 456mb Hard Drives. Several VT320 terminals and La75
printers.
MicroVax II, Star Coupler, Power Conditioner. I am not having any luck
with
selling, donating, disposing any of these Items. Any suggestions would be
appreciated. E-mail or serious inquiries may call me at (205)444-4507.
Denise Hawkins
Systems Manager
Goldome Credit Corporation
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho,
Blue Feather Technologies -- kyrrin (at) bluefeathertech [dot] com
Web: http://www.bluefeathertech.com
"...No matter how we may wish otherwise, our science can only describe an object,
event, or living thing in our own human terms. It cannot possibly define any of them..."
From: Andrew Davie <adavie(a)mad.scientist.com>
>An interesting quote from my ALTAIR BASIC manual...
>"The Software Department is at Ext. 3; and the joint authors of the ALTAIR
>BASIC Interpreter, Bill Gates, Paul Allen and Monte Davidoff, will be glad
>to assist you."
>So, where is Monte these days? I haven't heard of him before.
>A
Fred,
Thank you.
John Amirault
107 2nd Ave.
Susquehanna, Pa. 18847
-----Original Message-----
From: Fred Cisin (XenoSoft) <cisin(a)xenosoft.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Monday, January 25, 1999 3:38 PM
Subject: Re: IBM PC-JX (was: Reiability of wrong media)
>On Mon, 25 Jan 1999, John Amirault wrote:
>> Hi,
>> I may be interested in one of the CPU's with a keyboard. If you have any
>> manuals I would appreciate a copy. I think that this is the same as an
IBM
>> PCJR. If I am incorrect please let me know.
>
>The PC-JX is NOT PC-Jr.
>Although there are a few superficial similarities, and many of the same
>letters in the name, it is a different machine. Among other things, the
>JX uses a 720K 5.25" drive.
>
>
>--
>Fred Cisin cisin(a)xenosoft.com
>XenoSoft http://www.xenosoft.com
>2210 Sixth St. (510) 644-9366
>Berkeley, CA 94710-2219
>
>
Today I came across a 1982 dated 24-page booklet titled "The Radio Shack
Computer Demonstrator" developed by Fred C. Matt.
Section 1 was labelled "Storage Unit" and showed a series of instructions:
00 LODA,05
01 ADDA,06
02 STRA,07
.....
and further headings described registers and a comparing unit. I thought at
first "Was this some sort of SBC with a monitor/assembler?"
But reading on, it became obvious that this device was made out of
_cardboard_ with sliding tabs for a line counter, and registers which were
written to with a pencil!
Has anybody managed to find/keep one of these things? Sounds a neat little
souvenir from the period. And if anyone followed through the steps, they
would indeed have had a good introduction to programming a microprocessor in
assembly language. Would be great for kids even today - except I can't see
many having the patience or interest unfortunately.
Phil
Brisbane, Australia
I was at a local thrift store yesterday and spotted a couple of oddly
shaped boxes with a designation indicating them to be ALTOS boxes. One has
a tape drive of some sort and the other has a floppy disk drive. Does this
mean anything to anyone? IF someone wants them, I could snag them and
ship. I doubt they will cost much more than $10 each.
Dick
----------
> From: Doug <doug(a)blinkenlights.com>
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
> Subject: Alto II (was Re: PDP-8 prices
> Date: Sunday, January 24, 1999 8:36 PM
>
> On Sun, 24 Jan 1999, Marvin wrote:
>
> > I don't know if you noticed or not, but the email address of the seller
is
> > at spies.com. For those of you who might not be aware, spies.com is
one of
> > the largest repositories of arcade game related materials. The guy who
runs
> > it seems to be very well regarded in the collector circles.
>
> That's the guy. He's also well regarded by Alto collectors:
> http://www.spies.com/aek/xerox.html
>
> So, don't worry, if you don't pay him $5K, it'll still have a good home.
> $5K seems like a reasonable price, BTW (assuming he doesn't have a $20K
> reserve). Only 1000 or so were made. It's historic. It would be easy to
> justify. Who's gonna do it?!
>
> Not me! I have absolutely no desire to spend $5K on the thing. And this
> confuses me a little. It's near the top of my wanted list, and I can
> afford it, but the prospect doesn't interest me even a little bit. For
> some reason, I find the idea somewhat offensive.
>
> I guess it's because I think of an acquisition sort of like an
"adoption".
> I'm willing to house the thing, and spend a good chunk of time trying to
> get it working, keep it working, and make it accessible to others. Why
> should I have to pay $5K on top of that?
>
> $500 seems to be my limit for what I consider a reasonable acquisition
> fee. Maybe that will go up as this crazy price spiral continues, but to
> pay more than that, I think you really have to be in the speculative
> investment mindset, and I'm not.
>
> -- Doug
>
>
I have one with no operating system. Don't know anything about it though.
-----Original Message-----
From: Dwight Elvey <elvey(a)hal.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Tuesday, 26 January 1999 11:21
Subject: Olivetti M20 information
>Hi
> Making a call for anyone with info on the
>Olivetti M20. It was a Z8000 machine.
>Dwight
>
<>Humm. This one is tough. We talk about VAXen and the MicroVAX is only
<>about 14-15 years old and some models do persist but they are uniquly
<>new compared to others. Example, we wouldn't be talking about 6xxx series
<>as the oldest ones are early 90s.
<
<Ahem, I've got one here that is stamped 89. I understood they went into
<production in 88.
<I have another that is stamped JAN 1990. I suggest that these are "classic
We talking about MicroVAX, MicroVAX-6000 or MV3100 series?
Many of those models were introduced in the late 80s were still in
production years later(or a version/flavor was).
<machines in their own right anyway, age notwithstanding. However I would
<accept the consensus of the list members on the legitimacy of this. How
<say you?
For me they are.
Allison
David Greelish, the publisher of Historically Brewed has just recently
relocated for a new job to North Carolina (I think) and is probably taking
some time to get his feet planted again....
I'll give him a buzz and see what the status of HB is.
Mike:dogas@leading.net
-----Original Message-----
From: John R. Keys Jr. <jrkeys(a)concentric.net>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Monday, January 25, 1999 7:48 PM
Subject: RE: The Computer Journal
>Historically Brewed was to have started back up late last year but I have
>yet receive one issue from them and no response to e-mails for a refund.
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu
>> [mailto:CLASSICCMP-owner@u.washington.edu]On Behalf Of Sam Ismail
>> Sent: Monday, January 25, 1999 11:38 AM
>> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
>> Subject: Re:The Computer Journal
>>
>>
>> On Mon, 25 Jan 1999, Dave Dameron wrote:
>>
>> > Is The Computer Journal still in business? Their web site is
>> still up, but I
>> > cannot tell when it was last updated. I subscribed last July and
haven't
>> > yet received any issues. (In October they were working on the next one,
>> > #82...) That is about my threshold for non delivery, I
>> > wrote and sent email asking for a refund and have gotten no response.
>>
>> They've been busy. I subscribed over a year ago and have gotten only a
>> few issues of my subscription. Since I know they're good guys and would
>> never intentionally screw anyone I am not bitching about it, but I
>> certainly do understand your plight. Keep trying, they are definitely
>> still around, just not responding.
>>
>> > Speaking of classic computer magazines, does anyone get
>> Historically Brewed?
>>
>> As far as I know this wasn't being published anymore(?)
>>
>> Sellam Alternate e-mail:
>> dastar(a)siconic.com
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ------------
>> Always being hassled by the man.
>>
>> Coming in 1999: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0
>> See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details!
>> [Last web site update: 01/15/99]
>>
>>
>
>
-----Original Message-----
From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
>Computer collecting was a lot more fun when you could grab a random
>machine for a few pounds/dollars, take it home and enjoy it.
I agree. That's why I hate the commercialization now occuring in this
hobby. I't just about gaurantees that there will be few newcomers into the
hobby that can amass the bit piles many of us own and love to explore.
Mike: dogas(a)leading.net
