Allison: >>Seriously I've put may posts here anout the history and lineages
of many of the old machines. I collect, but I admit is has to make some sense
to
me as in useful or have some specific linkage to my place in this
>>history.
This is so true. In fact, this is how I started collecting. Admittedly, I
don't remember many of the early computers; I was too young to remember any of
it first-hand. When the Altair came out, I was 8; Bill Gates was 20. I only
got to "know" Gary Kildall and Ed Roberts through the books that I read as
background for my MBA business case on Microsoft and the computer software
industry. Back then, I used the Commodores. In high school, I used {shudder}
the Mac (and understood that better). In college, I used PCs, but didn't
understand the architecture.
I started collecting Commodores because this is the machine that I grew-up
on. Then, it snowballed. The Tandy Model 1; Model 100; Datamaster; Apple IIs.
Now, almost anything. Since I'm behind the knowledge power curve, I have a lot
of catching-up to do!
I love hearing about other people's hauls. It inspires me. It makes me want
to take back more room in the basement than what was alotted to me by "the
boss."
It's about the elegant simplicity of design; the basic, nuts-and-bolts
usefulness. It's about runnung an OS and an application in 4k of RAM. It's all
about preserving the early computer history, so that people like me, people on
the fringes of early computers, people who know nothing about where their P233
came from, can see what it was like in the stone-age of computing.
Just my $0.02.
-------------------------------------------------
Rich Cini/WUGNET
e-mail: rcini(a)msn.com
- ClubWin Charter Member (6)
- MCPS Windows 95/Netowrking
Message text written by INTERNET:classiccmp@u.washington.edu
>User support here was either through PLUG (Plus/4 Users Group), or Jim
Hehl in Anchorage. Plug provided a list of European distributors and
Jim was into program conversion (Such popular 64 programs like
Speedscript were converted).<
Has anybody heard from Jim Hehl recently? Last I heard, he was burned out
of his cabin by an Alaskan wildfire! That was probably 1-2 years ago now.
Does he still produce for Jack Vanderwhite's publication?
>The major bummer about European Plus/4 stuff is alot of it is compressed
and locked into PAL mode and thus unviewable on NTSC displays. (Jim &
Jack Vandewrwhite had converted some though, I think they are available
on funet.fi's FTP., I think the series is called 'ceepee4' something...)<
If this stuff is available somewhere, I'd be interested in a full address.
Gil Parrish
<
Message text written by INTERNET:classiccmp@u.washington.edu
>Remember, there are 400 of these HHCs available. Tell a friend!<
Sorry, I just got here. What the heck are you talking about?
OK OK I can't take it anymore...
Being partial to commodores, I can't help but DESIRE to own a C65!
Anyone got one? Or better yet, anyone got one they'd sell????
On a side note, I was re-reading a review of the Amiga 4000 and the
article mentioned a commodore palmtop that was based on a "PC/CHIP" cpu,
had 2 megs of memory and ran Microsoft Works or somehting like that (Oh
yeah, it had 2 PCMCIA slots too) I know this (probably) never made it to
production but I also know that many a freaky contraption was hauled from
the dumpsters when commodore went belly up... (C65's, 128 Laptops, etc.)
So, anyone got any oddball commie stuff?
LeS
more(a)crazy.rutgers.edu
PS I missed the supposed free-for-all that took place outside the
commodore building in West Chester when they folded. I was just there not
too long ago; apparently QVC has gutted the building.... :(
Enrico,
You're absolutely, terribly correct. In our benighted shortsightedness
we have been ignoring the core, the soul, nay, the very existentialism
of the historical man-machine interface and the personal hygiene of Gary
Kildall. These bits of metal and plastic have become a zen-like cyborg
interface which has allowed us to ignore the realities of our Jungian
existance. Those among us who have perused and then obviously ignored
the message of the volume of our times, Gibson & Sterling's _The
Difference Engine_, and shall surely rotate on the firey rotissery of
Dante's twenty-ninth buglia of the pit, which of course is reserved for
those who have committed the terrible sin of coveting thy neighbor's
Imsai. How can we claim to discuss the so-called 'collecting' of
so-called 'classic' computers when our hypocritical censorious
self-righteousness has made us purblind to the fact that 'collect' also
purtains to a short prayer comprising an invocation, petition, and
conclusion! And 'classic' from the Roman 'classicus' identifies us as
citizens of the first rank, who should know better! What this obviously
boils down to is the age old conflict of materiality and the health of
the soul cleaved by the sword of societal amiguity. In an awful orgy of
idolitry we have in a very real and illusive sense integrated these
actual bits of, as you put it, metal and plastic into our flesh itself,
becoming no more than Waldos while Charles Babbage's heart is ripped
>from his chest by ravens dark as toner, eight claws upon each talon.
Kai
> ----------
> From: e.tedeschi
> Reply To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
> Sent: Thursday, July 10, 1997 1:07 AM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: Re: farewell
>
> Bill Whitson wrote:
> >
> > Hi Jim.
> >
> > > I agreed with the new rules until the bit where nobody can say
> they disagree.
> > > That, and I really don't have time to read the volume coming from
> this list.
> > > Farewell all, then. If you have questions about apple2 GSs or
> Tiger Learning
> > > Computers, please feel free to e-mail me personally
> >
> > Sorry you feel this way. The point wasn't really to prevent you
> from
> > disagreeing - it was to prevent a flood of responses which might
> have
> > bogged down the list for days. The whole idea of the new rules was
> to
> > curb the absolute flood of unsubs that have resulted for the most
> part
> > due to the constant bickering. We dropped from over 220 members to
> 160
> > over the last month. I'm sorry to see you go.
> >
> > > Bill, please unsubscribe me.
> >
> > OK.
> >
> > Bill
>
> On the contrary, I think that people are unsubscribing because in this
>
> mailing list about collecting Classic icons there is NOT ENOUGH
> discussion about the history of the computing boom and the hows and
> whys
> that led to it. To just limit the discussion to the mere hardware is
> narrow minded and shows the kind of attitude which leads to consider
> "the other" (the one which begs to differ) as an enemy or at least as
> an
> intruder. The "dont' bother us as we know what we should be talking
> about" attitude might be legal and understandable but is it wise?
>
> As already said here several times, computers are bits of metal and
> plastic. They are important for the sentiments and the feelings they
> managed to raise in each and everybody (and soul) of us. You keep your
>
> hardware (and I will keep mine so that I can leave it to future
> generations) but I will keep my principles and if this will mean I
> will
> have to do without you, then (I will be sorry but) be it.
>
> enrico
> --
> ================================================================
> Enrico Tedeschi, 54, Easthill Drive, BRIGHTON BN41 2FD, U.K.
> tel/fax +(0)1273 701650 (24 hours) or 0850 104725 mobile
> website <http://www.ndirect.co.uk/~e.tedeschi>
> ================================================================
> visit Brighton: <http://www.brighton.co.uk/tourist/welcome.htm>
>
>
Thought this might be of some interest to list members...
- Doug
> ftp://ftp.digital.com/pub/DEC/sim/README
>
> This directory contains computer simulators developed by Bob Supnik
> (bob.supnik(a)ljo.dec.com).
>
> In ./sources
>
> sim_2.2d.tar.Z - the simulator sources and documentation
>
> In ./software
>
> os8swre.tar.Z - sample OS/8 software and a user license from
> DIGITAL
>
> rdosswre.tar.Z - sample RDOS software and a user license from Data
>
> General
>
> uv5swre.tar.Z - sample PDP-11 UNIX V5 software and a user license
> from
> SCO
>
> uv6swre.tar.Z - sample PDP-11 UNIX V6 software and a user license
> from
> SCO
>
> uv7swre.tar.Z - sample PDP-11 UNIX V7 software and a user license
> from
> SCO
>
I have a bunch of classic DOS software, manuals, and disks for sale. Many
are still in shrinkwrap. The list is too large to post to the list. Email
me for a complete list including prices and terms. A short selection is
below:
A04 Visicorp VisiCalc (198?)
manual, disks, CDEX training for VisiCalc, shrinkwrap
A10 Microsoft Multiplan (1982-3) (green packaging)
manual, disks, plastic case, shrinkwrap
G10 IBM Technical Reference (1981)
hardware reference manual for PC (includes BIOS source)
manual, 3 ring binder, slipcase
G11 IBM Hardware Maintenance and service Personal Computer - PCjr
manual, slipcase
C06 IBM Disk Operating System by Microsoft v1.10 (1982)
manual in 3 ring binder and slipcase, disk, quick reference card
D04 Ashton-Tate DBase III v1.1 (1984)
complete (silver cardboard cover slip case)
There are a good number of DOS packages, early Microsoft packages, office
productivity packages, a few development tools, and some junk. Nearly all
are classics.
--pec
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saved From The Dumpster Collection: http://www.crl.com/~pcoad/machines.html
I sure do! Used to own one! It is a laptop simmilar to tandy's 600,
except without a floppy. Uses microsoft "Works" integrated software. Nice
80X16 screen. Uses 10 AA batteries, yes TEN! Needs special cable to hook
to printer, but shouldn't be hard to make one. Nice to use for a remote
(very dumb) terminal. Has internal 300bps modem. Has a few softwares,
like the Model 100 does.
Hope it helps!
Josh M. Nutzman
+----------------------------------------------+
|"Life is like a river, you go with the flow...|
| but in the end you usually end up dammed." |
| -The Red Green Show |
+----------------------------------------------+
REPAIRING CAPACITIVE KEYBOARDS
v1.0 7/10/97 Kai Kaltenbach
---> What are capacitive keyboards?
The vast majority of capacitive keyboards were and are manufactured by
Keytronics of Spokane, Washington. The mechanism is really quite
simple. A keypress pushes a foil circle onto the surface of a printed
circuit board, thus completing the circuit and registering the keypress
to the computer. Capacitive keyboards are very reliable; however, they
will fail over time even if unused.
Each foil contact circle is backed by a cylinder of PVC foam. The foam
is subject to environmental deterioration. Once the foam loses its
elasticity or dissolves entirely, the keys will stop working because the
foil circles will no longer make good contact with the PC board.
Various classic computer systems, such as the Processor Technology Sol,
exhibit this problem after their 20+ year lifespan.
---> How do I tell if I have a capacitive keyboard?
Just remove a key cap -- if there is a separate spring under the key
cap, around the plunger, it's extremely likely that it's a capacitive
keyboard. They won't always say Keytronic on the outside of the
keyboard housing.
---> What do I need to start a repair job?
First you need a set of replacement foam pads. Each foam pad is a
cylinder about 1/4" in diameter and 3/16" long. There is a semi-rigid
clear plastic circle attached to one end of the pad, and a foil cylinder
attached to the other end.
The only toosl you'll need are a #1 Philips screwdriver and a very small
standard screwdriver such as those pen-clip types frequently included in
computer tool kits (plus whatever tools are necessary to remove the
keyboard from its enclosure).
---> Where do I get replacement pads?
If you're a perfectionist, you can order replacement pads from Keytronic
Corporation (http://www.keytronic.com/). However, it's much easier to
simply find a capacitive keyboard in your local computer junk/surplus
store and strip it for replacement pads (see above for info on
identifying such keyboards).
Note: If you're stranded on a desert island with only your computer and
a screwdriver, you can get the important keys working again by using
pads from the numeric keypad, which is usually in good shape because
it's not used very much.
---> OK, I've got all of the necessary items, what are the repair steps?
1. Remove the keyboard from its enclosure. Place on an open workspace.
Putting a pad of some type underneath may help avoid marring of the
keycaps, but in any case be careful to prevent static discharge if your
keyboard model has ICs on the PCB. A ground wrist strap is recommended.
Lock up the cats.
2. With the keyboard face-down, remove all of the screws on the back of
the PCB (there are a lot!) Don't worry, nothing is going to fall apart
when you remove the PCB.
3. Remove the PCB. Place to the side. If it shows any signs of dirt on
the contact side, you'll want to clean it with a non-residue,
non-lubricating contact cleaner.
4. Identify pads that need replacement. If you're replacing all of the
pads, you can skip this step. First, look for any foil circles that are
damaged. Then, while looking down the length of the keyboard on the
back side, press each row of keys and make sure that each foam pad
protrudes sufficiently and cleanly out the back of each key plunger.
The most-typed keys are the first to go (return, space, A, E, etc.)
When in doubt, replace a pad -- that's a lot of screws to remove to do
this over again! Replace pads one at a time.
5. Carefully remove the keycap and spring. There are actually keycap
removal tools available, but whatever you use, just make sure to pry
>from both sides at once, not just one side. Don't bend the key
sideways.
6. Holding the keyboard perpendicular to the table, place the Philips
screwdriver into the back of the key plunger and push gently to pop the
plunger out the other side.
7. Pick up the plunger. Remove the foam cylinder by inserting a
fingernail under the foam cylinder's clear plastic circle. A tiny bit
of leverage and it'll pop out.
8. Put the replacement foam cylinder in place. Gingerly use the very
small standard screwdriver to pop the clear plastic circle into the
plunger by pressing around its outside edge. Be careful not to damage
the foam or the foil circle.
9. Replace the plunger in the keyboard chassis.
10. Replace the spring and keycap. Use the very small standard
screwdriver to press on the edge of the bottom of the plunger to firmly
seat the key cap.
11. Repeat as necessary.
Note: If you're skilled at delicate work and have various sized tools
available, you can probably replace the foam pads from the back without
removing the keycaps, but this is not recommended for beginners.
