-----Original Message-----
From: Doug <doug(a)blinkenlights.com>
> points 1,2,3,4,5,6... <snip>
Beyond all of that this just logically dosent make sense if the intent is to
make sure (just) that a computer gets a good home/is saved from the trash.
If there is already an existing bid on an item, then the computer has
been... *ahem* saved. And publishing an auction just because the current
bidder is a non-member of this list seems a form of discrimination that says
*we* know better.
A service I would more appreciate Marvin, would be something like: Hey,
someone *tried* to sell a system here and couldn't, here's an e-url...
- Wheez: dogas(a)leading.net
OK.. I guess I'll have to appologize for starting this flame war.
Of the lists that I subscribe to, this one has always impressed me by how
cooperative and sharing the members are. Every single day I see members
donating their time, effort, knowledge, and hardware to promote the hobby
of collecting computers. Unfortunately, It's threads like this that kill
the spirit of the group.
In my own defense, I'd like to say: I am not a "conniving, sniviling, wheez
who would probably step on my own mother to get at a cool computer". I
don't think most of the other members would either. I hope anyone that
does, gets exactly what they want!
Secondly, I'm not just the guy with the bull horn. Just check the bidding
history on the SOL and see who the first bidder was! I posted it in the
group because, someone here might want it more than me. If they do, then so
be it...
If you check any of those listings you'll see they have really obscure
terms like "computer" in the description. Now, if that's hidden in a dark
corner where it'll get overlooked, then I'll eat my hat.
Thirdly, there have been a number of times that I have intentionally
skipped a bid when I knew that a member of this group was bidding on an
item. IE: The "Ohio Scientific" thingy that Andrew Davies was looking at a
couple of weeks ago. Sure I'd like to have it but, I wouldn't bid against
someone that REALLY appreciates it.
Fourthly, I for one am willing to share my good fortune with the other
members. I'd much rather see something from my collection go to someone in
this group that anywhere else. When I decide to get rid of something,
you'll (group) be the first to know.
Also, I don't think this set any kinda precedent. I've seen plenty of
similar messages.
Finally, I really do appologize. If I had realized that it would be taken
so personally, I would have never posted it.
Steve Robertson - <steverob(a)hotoffice.com>
-----Original Message-----
From: Doug [SMTP:doug@blinkenlights.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 1999 3:34 PM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: Re: Ebay notices, was re: PDP-8 on e-bay
On Wed, 20 Jan 1999, Marvin wrote:
> I understand there is more than a little competition for that stuff at
some
> of the bay area swap meets and perhaps that is where your philosophy
comes
> from. I've missed some spectacular bargains at similar swap meets, but I
> also know the stuff went to good homes. When I first started collecting,
I
> might have had the same philosophy, but time has taught me that the real
> bargains come through my contacts, not ebay. Most people who know me
> realize I am not in this thing for money but rather attempting to keep as
> much as I can from hitting that great dumpster in the sky. A side
benefit
> is helping other collectors.
That's what makes your actions even more ludicrous to those of us who do
buy stuff on ebay -- the guy at the swap meet with the bull horn is not
there to buy or sell, he just came to advertise using his bull horn!
Ebay advertises their service nationally, and they have a $10 billion
market cap to draw from. I don't think they need your help. If your only
concern is that every orphaned computer find a home, then I think the only
right thing for you to do is to make sure that every one of the contacts
>from whom you get your old computers has the name and phone number of
everybody on this list just in case you're out of town when they call.
You expressed concern when you found that somebody was willing to pay a
higher price than a closing bid. Did you have that same concern when you
paid a few dollars for an Altair or an IBM 5100?
-- Doug
My email: trs80(a)plbm.com
Dual-floppy drive TRS-80 Model 4 microcomputer for sale CHEAP (only $10).
NOTE!!!! THIS IS -NOT- A MODERN COMPUTER! IF YOU NEED TO ASK IF IT IS AN
IBM COMPATIBLE, THIS IS *NOT* THE COMPUTER YOU WANT!!!
Please see "The Catch" below.
Picture available at http://www.plbm.com/trs80.jpg
I just powered it on and it works fine. I have two diskettes; one boots
to TRSDOS and I just ran CDRAG (Sea Dragon) off the second disk, so both
drives seem to work fine, although some files on the disks don't seem to
run.
Notes:
The little sticker on it says 16k RAM. I didn't verify this.
Spare parallel centronix printer cable.
Conformal dust cover included.
See picture at: http://www.plbm.com/trs80.jpg
THE CATCH
I absolutely do -not- have time to take this to the post office or Mail
Boxes Etc, and stand in line to ship it somewhere, even if you're offering
to reimburse.
Therefore, you need to come here and get it. I live in Costa Mesa,
California (in Orange County) and you can email me at trs80(a)plbm.com to
arrange a mutually-convenient pickup if you're interested.
If nobody is interested, it goes to the dumpster in a few more weeks.
DO *NOT* SEND EMAIL ASKING IF I CAN SHIP IT TO YOU. I WILL NOT SHIP THIS
COMPUTER! I WILL DELETE ALL SUCH EMAILS WITHOUT RESPONDING!!
lwalker(a)interlog.com
> Here's an analogy for you:
>
> Linux = DOS
> FreeBSD = CP/M
>
> Therefore, Linux will come to dominate the world. So don't worry.
I'm sorry, but I don't know the vital distinction between the two, and
would like to find out. As I understand, Linux is somewhat less secure and
less stable; but what else? And why is Linux less secure/stable?
For anyone that cares, I just got this from IBM .
>
>Joe,
>I talked to one of the Field Engineers tonight who know what your THING is.
>Believe it or not it is a piece of test equipment that is used to diagnose
>several different types of IBM equip. AND it is still used today. In fact
>he said I was sitting next to 2 of them this morning when I was in the CE
>office!! They are used to test devices like 3380, 3480, 3490 Disk drives.
>These drives are the humongo mainframe drives ( they stand over 6' tall)
>although they are very old technology. He also said that the device is used
>to diagnose communication problems between remote controllers and the main
>system. He also said that as a stand alone device it is pretty much
>worthless....unless you want to copy diskettes...but I don't know of too
>many people who need 8" diskettes copied!. He was surprised that you
>"found" one. He said that it could have been left behind at a clients
>location by a repair person and forgotten about.....or the CE's use to keep
>them in the trunks of their cars and it could have been taken from one. I
>asked him what you might be able to do with it...he said (jokingly) that one
>option would be to sell it to a competitive maintenance company (like bell
>Atlantic) who would want them so that they could service IBM hardware.??
>>
>> I powered up the THING today. It says it's a Stand Alone Terminal
>>Exorciser, PN 08309930, date 01/84. It passes the self test and brings up a
>>menu that lets you select 327X Tutorial, 327X BSC, SDLC/SNA or R-LOOP.
>>Selecting the R-LOOP option brings up another menu for 8775 Device or 3276
>>Device. That's as far as I can get in the menu, after that it asks for a CU
>>address or will autoscan for it but of course there's nothing connected so
>>it doesn't find what ever it's looking for. Do you think you can find any
>>more about it?
>>
>>
>> Joe
>>
At 12:34 AM 1/18/99 +0000, you wrote:
>What harm is gravity going to do, unless the machine falls off a shelf or
>something?
I read once that all solids are actually just very slow moving liquids.
Apparently the floor of Ft. Knox (where a lot of gold is supposedly stored)
has a tiny but significant amount of gold in it that has seeped in from the
bars sitting on it.
I would think that 100 years could be long enough for the drive platters to
warp slightly (but enough!) or whatever else.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- O-
Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad
roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know."
Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates
San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/
http://www.haggle.com/cgi/getitem.cgi?id=201894731
shows some induhvidual selling some IBM family one machine, most likely a 5150
pc with a minimum bid of $500. Gee, i wonder if he'd buy my 'rare' 5140 for
that price... lol.
I don't remember if I asked for information on this computer before.
I'm looking for any documentation or history of this Sherwood Medical
computer. 'A Brunswick Company' is proudly proclaimed on the front
panel adjacent to where it reads Sherwood Medical S-Twelve (which
oem'd this MITS Altair for blood gas analysis).
The Sherwood S-Twelve has eighteen slots, a heavy duty power supply
and the following boards, all made but MITS:
8800 CPU BD REV 0
4K STATIC BOARD REV-2 X4
88-2 SIO REV 0
8K PROM BD REV 0- X2
INVERTER BD 88-IS SH REV 1
88 (SIOB) SERIAL TTL REV 1
MITS MODEM BD
88-MUX REV 1
MITS A/D CONVERTER REV 0
If you have any information about MITS 8800s sold to industry as in
this case, please let me know.
Thanks,
Marty
marty@itgonline
From: Marvin <marvin(a)rain.org>
>The reasons for collecting have been already discussed on this list a
number
>of times, but it is worthwhile trying to remember that for most of us, this
>is a HOBBY done because we enjoy it.
I don't know how you infered from my rant that this isn't a hobby of mine
that I enjoy. I do enjoy this and have for several years *and* don't make
money in this way (I do dispose of quite a bit of it though) although my
intent is not to disparage the speculators out there.
For some, ebay opens access to machines not otherwise available. I dont
think Jacksonville Florida and *many* other locals know what a swap meet is
nor do we have the likes of some of those bay area thrifts to so offhandedly
dismiss ebay. And for collectors newer to the hobby ebay does provide a way
to quickly backfill missing euipment.
Don't get me wrong. The brainshare of this group is invaluable, there is
no other resource like it. I wans't trying to flame someone into submission,
just expressing my opinion. I guess if I already had an Altair or an 8,
I'd probably be a little more altruistic. Naaa ;)
Wheezer
Mike: dogas(a)leading.net
A few days ago someone posted a message about the February issue of a
magazine having an article about collecting and talked about one of the guys
on this list. Anyone remember the mag's name ? Thanks John
