- test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org - classiccmp.org

by dastar＠crl.com

Oh yeah, it's at http://www.tardis.ed.ac.uk/~alexios/MACHINE-ROOM Go there now! Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

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Alexios' MACHINE ROOM

by dastar＠crl.com

I just visited Alexios Chouchoulas' MACHINE ROOM web page and it is downright cool. There is a lot of good information there, and the database is pretty complete as far as micro's go. Check it out. Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

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Moving my Collection?

by starling＠umr.edu

I'm going to be moving my collection a couple hundred miles from Austin, TX to Tyler, TX. I'm wondering if anyone has any packing or moving suggestions (packing material, special treatment of media, etc). The stuff is going to be moved by a moving company (Atlas probably) but I'm doing much of the packing ahead of time. I'm seriously considering moving the oddball monitors and magnetic media myself. I don't trust them with these easily harmed things and if they're damaged, they have little or no reimbursement value, but are difficult to find again. Anyone have any magical tips on packing and moving? chris

28 years, 9 months

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Tiger Learning Computer

by jim＠calico.litterbox.com

Okay, let's see if I can include the file this time. Sheesh. :) Ok, this isn't exactly a classic computer. It's more the rebirth of a classic in a slick new case (looks like a laptop, but isn't) with a slick new desktop. If you don't think it's appropriate here, I won't be upset if you hit delete. :) I got my Tiger Learning Computer (hereafter TLC) from Pennys today. The outside box was smashed beyond all recognition, but the inner box, which only touched the outer one in two spots, was intact, and the computer undamaged. Inside the inner box was the actual retail box, with the pictures on it, the "Apple Technology" symbol on it and so on. It's an eerie feeling opening a brand new computer in retail packaging like that. I haven't done it since I got my Commodore 64, after weeks of waiting for it on backorder at LaBells (aka Best, now extinct) we picked one up at KMart. You C=64 collectors probably experience this all the time, opening a box to find *a computer* inside, ready to plug into the TV and compute. For me, it'd been 13 years. So what does $179 bucks plus shipping (box smashing was, presumably, free) get in 1997? Well, you get a solid feeling little computer that feels remarkably like an early power-book in your hands. You get the "wall wart" power supply. You get 6 cartridges, one of which is your battery-ram "disk", another of which has appleworks 4.3 on it. The rest each have a switch and two applications. They plug (upside down) into slots on either side of the machine. But I'm ahead of myself here. Hookup. Pretty much plug and play, although I did get a chuckle when I noticed that this computer has no RF modulator. Now that everyone owns a VCR with video IN jacks, it's not necessary anymore. So, white wire to audio in, yellow wire to video in, power, flip the VCR input to line in, hit the switch. And smile to myself as it boots up in prodos. Just for a second before the desktop and sound effects load. First annoying thing: The voice that says "Please select an activity" every time you boot. I'm finding I boot a lot. I can tell this is going to irritate me in the long term. I'm not enough of an Apple 2 wizard to know what video mode it came up in. It looks like about 16 colors, and about the resolution of CGA. Not as fine as my old '64 was capable of, but much faster. Using the thing. Ok, I've owned it for about 4 hours now and I have a horrible crick in my neck >from lying on the living room floor looking up at the TV, so I haven't even tried all the apps yet. If anyone's interested, let me know, I'll follow up. Loading programs is almost exactly like running them off a floppy, except that you can never boot from the program disk. You have to go to the disk icon on the desktop and tell the tiger to run the program. Not very intuitive, but I'm sure kids will figure it out as fast or faster than I did. Especially if they read the instructions. :) I just expected them to load automatically. My bet is in the next ROM version of the tiger they will. Appleworks 4.3 looks remarkably like it did on my friend's 2E all those years ago, except of course that it's not as sharp on my TV as it was on his apple monitor. I suspect a newer TV directly connected instead of through the VCR would perform better. That failing an old Commodore 1782 monitor should be something to see. Wish I hadn't given mine away. My nostalgia for Apple2 is limited here, like I said, I was a commodore 64 geek. WE didn't have to have disks to boot. (In fact, for the first 3 months I had my 64, I had no storage device at all, so my first programs were short, enjoyed to the point of boredom, and then utterly lost when the computer was powered off.) On the other hand, the odds of the '64 making a comeback like this are slim and none. They never had the educational following. So all in all, it's been a weird experience for me with this little computer. Objectively, it's not a bad little machine at all. The keyboard bites - although it may get better as it gets used/my hands adapt back from Microsoft wave keyboard. The sound is first class - even better than my '64s old SID chip. Graphics are about as good as can be expected on an 8 bit apple 2, except in color. Software is still a little weird - nothing beyond what it came with. Of course, if I can get my hands on a copy of "Kermit, a file transfer protocol" and type in the 83 line basic Kermit so I can communicate with the rest of my systems, I hopefully will be able to run all kinds of a2 software on it. The weird part isn't objective though. Part of me is rejoicing at the idea of this little throwback to the early 80s. I got a little piece of the excitement I had unpacking my 64 the first time unpacking the Tiger. And seeing it abuse my TV into pretending to be a computer monitor, even though it is a little fuzzy, made me smile. This, for me is how computing was. Part of me sits and scoffs at the tiger - and my '64 for that matter - when in the next room I have a lan full of reasonably modern PCs with orders of magnitude more power. Even my quasi-classic GS is head and shoulders above the tiger as a computer. But the tiger has something none of my other machines do. I'm not sure what, to be honest, maybe just nostalgia, maybe not. Anyway, I'm keeping it. Even if I do keep expecting the flip top to have a screen in it. (at least it comes off. :) -Jim -- Jim Strickland jim(a)calico.litterbox.com -- "...It tells me that goose stepping morons like yourself should try reading books instead of burning them." -Dr. Henry Jones Sr. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade -- Jim Strickland jim(a)calico.litterbox.com -- "...It tells me that goose stepping morons like yourself should try reading books instead of burning them." -Dr. Henry Jones Sr. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

28 years, 9 months

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Tiger Learning Computer

by jim＠calico.litterbox.com

-- Jim Strickland jim(a)calico.litterbox.com -- "...It tells me that goose stepping morons like yourself should try reading books instead of burning them." -Dr. Henry Jones Sr. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

28 years, 9 months

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Great weekend for old computers!

by BigLouS＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-06-02 13:26:32 EDT, kaikal(a)MICROSOFT.com (Kai Kaltenbach) writes: > First off, I got two Apple ///+ machines in a thrift store! Anyone have > a copy of SOS for these suckers? If no one has a copy try http://www.allelec.com. They have it with II emulation for $7.95. However their minimum order is $25.00. Lots of Apple and mac stuff available though. Lou

28 years, 9 months

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capturing legacy documentation

by groberts＠mitre.org

At 12:10 AM 6/3/97 -0400, Mr. Self Destruct wrote: > OK, lately, I have been placed in a sort of dilemna... I have literally > been deluged with e-mails/posts from people asking for MY MANUALS ... > I will grudgingly go to my nearest copying center and make > copies .. perhaps it is time for this group to stand up and begin to truly capture the history and documentation of classic computing - and to do it on line. for starters this means capturing manuals which are all too often lost first. next (and more challenging legally) is software. we could use some solid legal advice on what can and can't be posted but i find it hard to believe that anyone could object to putting scanned-in versions of most older manuals on the internet since: 1) many of these companies are no longer in the business, and 2) even if they were they would probably themselves make such a service available or welcome a third party to do it. i think all we really would have to do is make sure the original copyright notification was preserved in the on-line version. i realize system software is a tougher issue but perhaps we could start with the manuals. so we would need a home location (Bill Whitson: how about the "Archives" section of the classic computer web page you've set up? http://weber.u.washington.edu/~bcw/ccl.html) and some folks with scanners who can get things into HTML format (and others? .doc? .pdf?) and upload. comments on this proposal? are there already similar archives out there? - (i know of some Commodore ones), if so we should point to them. I'm not aware of any one location to go to find classic computer documentation, and judging from the traffic on this list it's sorely needed. - glenn +=========================================================+ | Glenn F. Roberts, Falls Church, VA | Comments are my own and not the opinion of my employer | groberts(a)mitre.org

28 years, 9 months

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Apple II bits (North-West UK)

by jonathan＠holly.ninja.ml.org

Hi! I have a small collection of Apple II bits that I'd like to get rid of. From memory, I have 3 cases (2 with keyboards inside, and one with a motherboard as well), one original cardboard box (with a lovely picture of somebody's hand pointing at the machine!), and 3 or 4 (non-original :-) cardboard boxes full of hardware and software. The hardware mainly consists of unidentified expansion cards and cables, from what I remember. If anybody who is vaguely local to Manchester, UK, wants any of this, they're welcome to it - I am by no means an Apple expert, and this stuff is just taking up space. In most cases I've not even powered it up - it was rescued from the Robotics lab at my old school, when they decided they would throw it all away! I will happily go down and look through the boxes if anybody wants me to have a go at identifying the bits contained therein. Let me know if you are vaguely interested! ___ _ _ ___ _ _| (_)(\)(-) | (-)(-)(\)

28 years, 9 months

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Some more finds

by george.lin＠documentum.com

I have begun to open up the boxes that I got this Saturday and found some more interesting stuff. Boy, this is like Christmas and only better (People don't send me junk as Christmas presents). There is a mint-condition Epson HX-20 stashed in the bottom of a box. It comes complete with the hard case, PS, serial cable, and a set of manuals. The system works but it seems that the battery won't hold a charge. I will probably need to swap out the internal NiCads before it can be a real portable. I found another handheld device named "Trans Term." It's about the size of a HP-71 but thicker. It has a membrane QWERTY keyboard. The LCD can probably display only a few lines at most. It has a DB25 port (probably for a modem) and a power-in jack. There is no other identification or marking. I have not tried to power it up since I don't have the PS. Does anyone know something about it? For many years, I thought Microsoft released Flight Simulator as their only game. I was wrong. I found a game that Microsoft released for TRS-80 Level 1 BASIC named Microsoft Olympic Decathlon. The game is on tape. The manual is copyright 1980. It has the old Microsoft logo on it. George -- ______________________________ ______________________________ / /\ / /\ / George Lin _/ /\ / Opinions expressed in this _/ /\ / Antique Computer Collector / \/ / message do not necessarily / \/ / http://museum.home.ml.org /\ / reflect my employer's. /\ /_____________________________/ / /_____________________________/ / \_____________________________\/ \_____________________________\/ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ Apple IIe, IIc, Mac 512K, Atari 800, 800XL, 1040ST, Falcon030, VCS, 5200, ColecoVision VGS, Commodore 64, 64C, 128, plus/4, Compaq suitcase PC, Eagle II, Epson HX-20, KayPro II, 4, Nintendo NES, Osborne Executive, TI 99/4A, Timex Sinclair 1000, 1500, TriGem SLT-100, TRS-80 Model I, III, 100, Color Computer 2.

28 years, 9 months

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capturing legacy documentation

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

Agreed... I have a scanner w/OCR and I'm perfectly willing to scan critical pages such as DIP switch/jumper settings, etc. but 500 pages of general usage instructions is a bit much. Kai > ---------- > From: Mr. Self Destruct[SMTP:more@camlaw.rutgers.edu] > Reply To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 1997 10:44 AM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: Re: capturing legacy documentation > > > I would agree with this as well, but it WILL be hard to find someone > who > has the space/time to scan a 500+ page manual... > > Les > >

28 years, 9 months

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3B1 free to good home (fwd)

by pcoad＠crl.com

Found this in comp.sys.3b1. This is a nice machine, and the price is right if you are in the Los Angeles area. --pec -------------------------------------------------------------------------- AT&T UNIX PC (3B1) 1MB RAM 40MB Hard drive Manuals OS, GNU development tools Good condition. Free to good home. You pick up (Los Angeles area) or pay for shipping. Send e-mail to jim(a)lutefisk.jetcafe.org. Jim -- Jim Larson jim(a)lutefisk.jetcafe.org -- end of forwarded message --

28 years, 9 months

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Trackstar 128 (RE: Name those cards game)

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

| Yes, sir! That's the card. If you'd like more info, I *think* these are | detailed in my 1989 Tandy Computer Catalog I have at home... Yep! Page 25, "Now you can run Apple IIc educational and game software on your Tandy 1000...with the TRACKSTAR 128 adapter. Imagine having the best of both worlds in one computer...Supports the use of Apple joysticks or game port devices such as Muppet Learning Keys. [???]" $399.95 Kai

28 years, 9 months

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Current want list

by jeffh＠unix.aardvarkol.com

Here is a current want-list in case anyone happens aross any of it or has any of the stuff still stashed away and would like to part with it: 1) Mini-expander for Mattel Aquarius, as well as the data cable for the datasette and any software. 2) Commodore 1531 datasette drive for the C-16 or Plus/4 3) Speech Editor cartridge for the TI-99/4a 4) floppy controller, with or without drive, for a CoCo-3. If anyone knows the pinouts for the data cable for the Aquarius datasette, that'd also be a huge help. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Jeff jeffh(a)unix.aardvarkol.com -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Sent from an Amiga 3000..the computer for the creative mind! --------------------------------------------------------------------- Collector of classic home computers: Amiga 1000, Apple II+, Atari 800, 800XL, Mega-ST/2 and XE System, Commodore 128D, 16, Plus/4 and VIC-20, IBM 5155, Kaypro 2X, Mattel Aquarius, Osborne Executive, Radofin Aquarius, Sinclair ZX-81, TI-99/4A, Timex-Sinclair 1000, TRS-80 Color Computer-3 and Model 4, plus Atari Superpong and 2600VCS game consoles.

28 years, 9 months

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Epson HX20 Manuals...

by more＠camlaw.rutgers.edu

OK, lately, I have been placed in a sort of dilemna... Since my post on a IIe that I had aquired (where I mentioned also getting HX20 manuals and tapes) I have literally been deluged with e-mails/posts >from people asking for MY MANUALS ;) I contacted my aunt (the donater of said items) and learned that she still had the HX20 lying in the basement. ("You want THAT one too?") Since I now have a use for these manuals, here is my best solution to all you manual-less HX owners out there. For the greater good of the horribly addicted old and crappy computer collectors, I will grudgingly go to my nearest copying center and make copies (bound if desired) of my HX manuals available to you for cost. I know this is not the best/cheapest solution but I am trying not to play favorites here; this way everyone can be happy (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) and I can keep my manuals :) Anyone who is interested, feel free to contact me. A NOTE!!! Each manual (there are 2, parts 1 and 2 of course) weighs in at about 250+ pages each so that is something you might want to consider before agreeing to a copy; please don't waste my time, or yours... LeS more(a)crazy.rutgers.edu

28 years, 9 months

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Great weekend for old computers!

by zmerch＠northernway.net

Due to massive amounts of caffeine & sleep deprivation, a bunch of people on this list said: >First off, I got two Apple ///+ machines in a thrift store!... yadda, yadda, yadda... [[ Editor's Note: I put this in the beginning so people wouldn't read the first half of the posting and flame the HEdoublehockeysticks out of me... Please read this with the tounge-in-cheek, winkie's throughout attitude with which it was written... tho unforch, it's sadly true....... ;-) ]] You people make me sick! Mr. I got 42 classic systems from one guy this, and Ms. I saw 18 fully loaded computers at the thrift shop that!!! I've had it up to here (imagine a hand held up above the head) with you weasels! Do any of you send your good fortune / good luck my way? NooOOooOOooOOoo! All I've seen the last three weekends of garage saleing is this: A non-functional Atari 5200 game system and 5 games for $5 USD. System worked but neither controller did... until a quick visit with Intern Victorinox to clean the connections... A follow-up visit with Dr. Dremel is in the works, but I've not had time. Altho, the system did come with the trackball controller, and as the SN# of the controller is 000786, I'm wondering if this item is relatively rare... My 7-year-old loves it (as does Dad...) and I feel it will stay in my collection for some time to come... Back to my rant, I finally got up the nerve/time to go visit the Salvation Army Thrift store on my lunch hour (the only T.S. in my town, AFAIK) and guess what the sum total of computer-stuffs I saw there: an HP (I think... no markings) LaserJet drum/toner cartridge. With no price, so they prolly wanted $8million 'cause they didn't know what it was. And I'm sure it wouldn't fit in my HPLJ5L (which BTW I paid full price for 'cause it was the first non-business-owned 5L in town). So, for all you "I get 77 like-new classic systems for a penny every weekend" I have but one thing to say: :-PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP At least the 3rd weekend in June, we'll be travelling 250 miles closer to civilization, and may be able to find some interesting buys there. I'll keep you posted. Also, see my next post. I think almost *everyone* will be happy with me when you read it. See ya, "Merch" -- Roger Merchberger | If at first you don't succeed, Programmer, NorthernWay | nuclear warhead disarmament should zmerch(a)northernway.net | *not* be your first career choice.

28 years, 9 months

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Wanted: Amiga 500 internal floppy

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

This is a bit new for most of this group, but anyone have an internal floppy drive for an Amiga 500? And/or a dead Amiga 500 from which a floppy drive can be scavenged? thanks Kai

28 years, 9 months

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Some more finds

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

| From: George Lin[SMTP:george.lin@documentum.com] | For many years, I thought Microsoft released Flight Simulator as their only | game. I was wrong. I found a game that Microsoft released for TRS-80 | Level 1 BASIC named Microsoft Olympic Decathlon. The game is on tape. | The manual is copyright 1980. It has the old Microsoft logo on it. Don't forget Microsoft Adventure, circa 1979, which was coded by Gordon "HPFS" Letwin himself. I still have the poster. Kai

28 years, 9 months

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Eproms... you want 'em, he's got 'em!

by idavis＠comland.com

At 02:23 PM 6/2/97 -0400, Roger Merchberger wrote: >Mel Howard >M. C. Howard Electronics, Inc. >www.mchoward.com >E-mail: mchoward(a)prismnet.com >1-800-490-6896 >512-837-2525 >FAX512-837-3246 >I would recommend doing business with him, and I would be interested to >learn what other "artifacts" he has available... as you don't find many >folks with 1702's in stock, it would seem. > >Anyway, I hope this gets a few more classic machines working again... > >Thanks, >"Merch" >-- >Roger Merchberger | If at first you don't succeed, >Programmer, NorthernWay | nuclear warhead disarmament should >zmerch(a)northernway.net | *not* be your first career choice. > I went to the web page, and signed the guestbook. As a total coincidence, I got directions to the place. As it turns out, it is about 2 blocks from where I work. I will go visit the place, and see if he has any kind of "list of stuff", specifically old stuff. After I go visit, I will post a message and let you know what he's got that might be of interest. We know he has eproms, but I'll head over there and see what kind of supply he has. Isaac Davis idavis(a)comland.com indavis(a)juno.com

28 years, 9 months

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another weekend tale: northstar, hp, cadr 6 & 7, et al

by frank＠5points.com

This is my first posting to the list. Reading about everyone else's exploits saving old systems, I have to add what I got myself into this past weekend. After responding to a usenet posting about an old computer, I discovered that the poster (who turned out to be a fellow MIT alum three states away, a fact at least tangentially relevant to some of what follows) was about to toss into the local landfill some old stuff he had stored in his basement. A nice guy, he had offered this stuff to everyone he knew, but (incredible as it may seem to this list) he found no takers. Some scheduled home reconstruction required he have the basement empty by June 1. I volunteered to drive the 3 hours one way and pick it up. So, for nothing but my time and the cost of gas, here's what I saved: 1) A Northstar Horizon. Nice condition. With 64k memory and compupro z80 boards. Plus system software (cpm and northstar dos), hard sector 5.25 floppies, and a cardboard box full of docs, including the system manuals, misc s-100 books, and even the documentation for Microsoft's Fortran-80 in its original funky rust colored vinyl binder. If anyone has any s-100 boards they can spare, and would be willing to sell, that could help expand this system beyond the cpu-memory-floppy controller basics it has now, I'd love to hear from them. 2) Two HP-86B's, with cp/m, modem et al cartridges, software for waveform and circuit analysis, plus another box full of docs. Unfortunately, no original external disk drives, so here's another thing I'm looking for, if anyone has them to spare. 3) TRS-80 Model II disk drive system. Has three 8" drives in a single enclosure. Haven't checked it out yet to see if it works. 4) The guts from both the CADR 6 and CADR 7 MIT Lisp Machines from the late '70s. These were the basis for the machines later from Symbolics. Actually, my new found friend decided to keep the steel racks for an as yet to be determined project <G>. This may have been just as well because I had no room to haul the two 6 foot tall cases back to my house. So I had to leave them behind, power supplies still attached. But I got all the internal boards, fans, cables et al from the lisp machines, including the two 5 foot tall back planes and a couple dozen boards measuring about 12" x 18" each. I'm going to try to get the cases too, but I'm not sure I'll be able to. The machines weren't running at the time he got them from someone at MIT. Steel racks or not, I may have just acquired myself a lifelong mission to search for someone who can make these work, since I'm out of my league here. Since this is a list devoted to classic computers, I don't need to go into details about the couple of 386's, monitors, and one or two hardware mutants (would you believe a Tandy-DEC hybrid?) that also got tossed into my Toyota. Altogether an interesting bunch of stuff. Frank Frank Peseckis frank(a)5points.com http://www.5points.com/

28 years, 9 months

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Switch settings for Seattle Computer Products RAM card?

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

Anybody have the switch settings for the Seattle Computer Products 16K Plus (SCP-16K) S-100 bus RAM card? thanks! Kai

28 years, 9 months

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Great weekend for old computers!

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

I had a lot of great accomplishments this weekend on the classic computer front! First off, I got two Apple ///+ machines in a thrift store! Anyone have a copy of SOS for these suckers? Regarding my problems with the Apple II+ booting, I found another II+ for $20 and figured it would be easier to replace the whole system unit rather than the RAM (24 x $0.79 for 4116's) at that price. It works! So it wasn't the drives or controller cards causing the problem. I received my two North Star Horizons via UPS (a trade for a couple of TRS-80 Mod 100's and a C128), along with 50-60 diskettes and documentation. Got one of them up and running late last night, but need to find some RAM card docs (see separate mail on that). A friend at work gave me an Amiga 500, I set that up this weekend and played around a bit, that's a fun machine. Kai

28 years, 9 months

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Tiger Learning Computer

by jim＠calico.litterbox.com

And now, in the "the more things change, the more they stay the same" category, By now most of you have probably heard of the Tiger Learning Computer. It's an apple 2E clone that plugs into your tv and has rom carts for its programs. Let's see. Color, plugs into a tv, can be cartrige driven, less than 200 bucks US. *sigh* I think Commodore died too soon. The 64 was all this and more. Now if I could just find one of the little beasties... (the TLC, not the C=64 - it wouldn't be the same as the one that was MINE.) -- Jim Strickland jim(a)calico.litterbox.com -- "...It tells me that goose stepping morons like yourself should try reading books instead of burning them." -Dr. Henry Jones Sr. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

28 years, 9 months

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A question...

by kevan＠motiv.co.uk

I've been given a challenge... and need some help.... Question: Which 80's home computer had an A-Z keyboard layout, and not QWERTY -- Kevan Old Computer Collector: http://staff.motiv.co.uk/~kevan/

28 years, 9 months

3
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free stuff

by dastar＠crl.com

Hope someone can take advantage of some of this: ---#1--- I would like to see my Apple II+ system go to someone who would appreciate it. II+, 64K RAM, keyboard shift mod, 300 baud modem, 1 floppy drive, Taxan amber monochrome monitor, UCSD Pascal, various game software, Softline and SoftTalk magazines. Location: Ventura County, CA Merleen Gholdston -- ---#2--- A friend of mine forwarded this to me, unfortunately I have no cash. :( ------------------------------------------------------------------- * Alan Cruikshank * * HYPERWARE CONSULTING * * e-mail: <cshank(a)freenet.edmonton.ab.ca> * * http://freenet.edmonton.ab.ca/~cshank * ------------------------------------------------------------------- *** This special offer is from: David M. Dantowitz, <david(a)dantowitz.com> If anyone wants a bunch of Apple II computers for Free (shipping from New Jersey) let me know. There's a bunch of II, IIc, and IIe computers, mono chrome and color monitors, extra drives, cables, printer boards, software and other stuff. They're about to be dumped into a dumpster, so if anyone has a desire for the machines and grade school software, let me know. ----------------- End Forwarded Message ----------------- ---#3--- I have about 30-35 servicable Apple IIes that need a home. My school district no longer needs them and I need to get rid of them quickly. If you are interested in more infomation email me or call me at 414-788-7600. John Bestul, Little Chute Area School District. Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

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stuff to pass along

by dastar＠crl.com

Auction Web is a crappy place to get old computer junk from, but there is a guy auctioning off an HP9000/300 and another guy with a Radio Shack Model 1 and Model 4 (TRS-80 I believe). The 9000 is going for (I forget how much) but the TRS-80s are at $26 but nobody has bid yet (the guy started it at $26 which is too much). If it doesn't sell someone can go in and make the guy an offer after the auction is over. You can get to auction web by going to http://www.ebay.com/aw Once you're there, search on item pzp53335 for the HP9000/300 and item zyl71421 for the TRS-80s. Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

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HELP!!! Apple IIe - doesn't work!

by more＠camlaw.rutgers.edu

This past weekend, my aunt cleaned out her basement and presented me with all the old computer stuff she had stored there. Not much but I did get an old XT and a pretty complete IIe system. First, here's what I got: About 5 feet of disks (apple II) of which about 25 or so were CP/M (?) About 10 feet of books including (and I don't know why) users manuals and tape software for an "Epson HX20 Notebook Computer" (didn't get the computer tho :( looks neat no the cover) Since I am new to Apple's and really don't know what I'm talking about I will "attempt" to describe the system I got. Whomever had it before my aunt really did a number on it; all the punch-out plates in the back are gone and numerous ribbon cables are coming out every little crevice! First the basics: It came with 2 Disk II Disk Drives which I am still not sure even work. OPening the iie up I find: CPU has been replaced (?) with a ZIPCHIP 4 (?) In slots: AUX: This is probabl;y the most interesting board. It says Ramworks II on it and has a piggyback board attached to it that I think is supposed to be a RGB board. 1: is empty 2: has a Grappler + Parallel Printer INterface 3: Empty 4: Mouse Interface 5: Empty 6: Disk II Interface 7: (This one stumps me) Its a pretty long board and attaches by way of a wire to a panel on the back that says "VIDEX" The panel has a toggle switch and two RCA ports that say "M" and "A" Is this another Video board? OK, here's the problem! When I turn it on......nothing happens! The enhanced light comes on (?) and all I get on the screen is a sqaure pattern of reversed @ sysmbols and such. What is this? Other than that, the computer beeps once before this appears and the drives just blink their lights real quick (no motor spins, etc.) What's wrong here guys? Thanks, Les

28 years, 9 months

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Don't laugh - simple ][e questions

by nickc＠ladyland.demon.co.uk

Hi chaps... I just picked up an Apple ][e complete with DuoDisk box and orange monitor. Great thing is it also has also the DOS 3.3 manuals and disks and bits and pieces in their original packaging! All i paid for was the petrol (yeah, i'm in England!) to go over and pick it up. Opening up the case reveals that it has a number of cards plugged in including a memory expansion card - does anyone know what size RAM this gives me? how can i check (forgive me for i have not RTFM yet!). It seems to work fine, so my big question is can i use any old 5 1/4" disks in it? is it capable of formatting any old 5 1/4" disks? I ask for two reasons: 1) so i can make back-up copies of the DOS 3.3 disks and 2) so i can save stuff. TIA...Nick. -- Nick Challoner nickc(a)ladyland.demon.co.uk Aviation photographs at: http://www.ladyland.demon.co.uk "Bother" said Pooh, as he deleted his root directory.

28 years, 9 months

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HELP with Apple II+ booting!

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

This seems to be the weekend for Apple II series boot problems! My Apple II+ will boot a diskette called the "Zardax Utilities" but it won't boot anything else. When I boot with the Zardax Utilities diskette, I get "APPLE II" on the screen, some disk activity, then the Zardax menu comes up. When I put in a different bootable diskette, I get "APPLE II" on the screen, and then after a moment's pause, a bunch of garbage characters are added. This happens with various bootable diskettes, including some brand-new shrinkwrapped Atarisoft games (whose docs say they are bootable). With the garbage on the screen, if I hit Shift/Break or Ctrl/Break or whatever, I can get to the ] BASIC prompt. I've switched out the Drive 1 and the diskette adapter card. Any idea what's wrong? thanks Kai

28 years, 9 months

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TRS-80 Model 4P

by bm_pete＠ix.netcom.com

Greetings, I'm hoping for a little advice here: While scanning an auction web page (http://www2.ebay.com/aw/itemfast.cgi?item=hok055925) I found an item I have in the garage. which sold there for $76.50. This brings two questions to my mind: 1: Is it worth $76.50? 2: Would be unethical to email the non-winning bidders with an offer to sell my computer to them? _______________ Barry Peterson bm_pete(a)ix.netcom.com Husband to Diane, Father to Doug, Grandfather to Zoe and Tegan.

28 years, 9 months

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Tandy TRS-80 Model 4's for UK collectors...

by kevan＠motiv.co.uk

Hi, I recieved the following email through my web site. I really don't have the room for these so if anybody is interested then feel free to contact him. (He does know I have forwarded this email.) Kevan ------- Forwarded Message

28 years, 9 months

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Kaypro

by jeffh＠unix.aardvarkol.com

Here's an Email I recieved today, just in case any of you are interested. >To: JeffH >From: dasarno(a)aol.com >Date: 28 May 97 21:20:02 -0500 >Subject: Kaypro > > >Jeff - >I came across your name by reference the keyword Kaypro. I have a >mint condition Kaypro 10, all manuals, back-up disks. It looks like >it just came out of the box and works great. But, have absolutely no >use for it. Do you have any ideas? Is there an aftermarket or should >I donate it to some school computer lab. Thanks > >Don S. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Collector of Classic Computers: Amiga 1000, Atari 800, 800XL, MegaST-2, Commodore C-128D, Plus/4, VIC-20, Kaypro 2X, Mattel Aquarius, Osbourne Executive, Radofin Aquarius, Timex-Sinclair 1000, TRS-80 Color Computer 3, and Model IV. Also Atari SuperPong and Atari 2600VCS game consoles

28 years, 9 months

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PS/2

by groberts＠mitre.org

At 07:59 AM 5/30/97 -0400, Roger Merchberger wrote: >> especially when the PS/2's came out. The PS/2's had *no* way to hook an >> internal 5.25" floppy > >Does the PS/2 not have any 5.25" drive bays? Weird. :) remember that at the time the PS/2 came out IBM was trying to re-assert their lead in the industry (they largely failed). they decided to move to a completely new architecture which they hoped would set a new standard (e.g. 3.5" floppy; Microchannel; VGA graphics). the microchannel failed because they tried to license the technology, but people found ways to breathe life into the old ISA bus instead. the small floppy and VGA were obviously successes, but IBM underestimated the need for backward compatibility to the larger floppies (obvious in hindsight). - glenn

28 years, 9 months

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HELP with Apple II+ booting!

by BigLouS＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-05-29 21:36:06 EDT, shoppa(a)alph02.triumf.ca (Tim Shoppa) writes: > The chips aren't hard to find or replace, it's just that I've seen > neophytes smoke a half-dozen drives in a matter of minutes while > swapping cables around. (Yes, i've smoked a couple myself.) I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one frying Disk II's although I only seem to fry the 74LS125's on the drive. Lou

28 years, 9 months

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monitors for use with old computers.

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

The Commodore 1084 is a versatile, inexpensive monitor on the used market. It has composite, Y/C, analog and digital RGB inputs with front-panel switching, as well as built-in audio (the 1084S is stereo). The Commodore 1702 is an older model that should be even cheaper. It has composite and Y/C connections switchable only on the rear panel, and monaural built-in audio. I'm sure both of the above were available in PAL versions, probably with the same features. Many older systems can be wired to use Y/C connections (e.g. Atari 8bit, C64) by using a custom cable on the video DIN connector instead of the Ch3/4 TV output. Y/C connections (also known as S-video) will yield a _much_ higher quality picture. The Commodore monitors use dual RCA connectors instead of the mini-DIN4 connector more commonly associated with S-video, but electrically it's the same. If you had a newer system with S-video output (e.g. PlayStation/Saturn) it would be simple to make a mini-DIN4-to-dual-RCA adapter cable. I use a Commodore 1084S for my Amiga, Atari ST and IBM CGA/EGA applications; a (ultra cool) Samsung GXTV (http://sosimple.com/gxtv.htm) for various systems, including those that have only Ch3/4 output (e.g. Mattel Aquarius, Timex-Sinclair ZX) and for watching TV in the computer room :), and a Sony PVM-2030 broadcast stacking monitor for the modern video game systems. I'd like to find a Sony GVM-1311Q, which is a 13" monitor that accepts composite, Y/C, digital and analog RGB, the latter at up to 1024x768. That covers just about everything except Hercules Mono. Kai > ---------- > From: Pete Robinson[SMTP:Pete@madhippy.demon.co.uk] > Reply To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > Sent: Thursday, May 29, 1997 12:15 PM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: monitors for use with old computers. > > I'm fairly new to the collecting scene and I'm looking for a monitor I > can use with some of my systems. I'm mainly interested in the 8bit > home > computers, spectrum, c64, atari, dragon, bbc etc > > I'd like to know if there is a particular type of monitor that can be > used on the above machines. I'd like to buy, say one, I can use with > all > of the above. > > I know there seems to have been a few different methods used in > producing the video signals and, from reading newsgroups, I get the > impression that it is sometimes possible to select video > outputs/monitor > inputs such that, even if the monitor is not directly compatible, a > reasonable result can be obtained. > > Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. > -- > Pete Robinson > pete(a)madhippy.demon.co.uk > http://www.madhippy.demon.co.uk - faqs, emulators, links, web > utilities. >

28 years, 9 months

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FS on Ebay: HP 86, Apple IIe, IIc

by gmast＠polymail.cpunix.calpoly.edu

I'm cleaning out my closet due to financial need. (and lack of time and space). I put 3 computers on the auction yesterday: ? HP 86 Computer, Drives, Modules ? http://www2.ebay.com/aw/itemfast.cgi?item=otr9161 ? Apple IIe Computer, Duo Drive, 64K ? http://www2.ebay.com/aw/itemfast.cgi?item=cjt6509 ? Apple IIC Computer ? http://www2.ebay.com/aw/itemfast.cgi?item=znb774144 Much more to come. I'm seriously cleaning house over the next few weeks.

28 years, 9 months

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Recent Finds & RE: laser discs...

by foxnhare＠goldrush.com

Recent finds... Been adding to the Atari collection, last weekend snagged a 410 tape recorder for 99 cents, noticed a bit of rattling and discovered a plastic part had fallen off the rewind key mechanism (it triggers a reed switch, probably to mute the signal when rewinding.) glue or tape should fix it. Now all I have to do is find those games I have... I think I have a Telengard tape that has atari on it, I wonder how it will compare to the 64 version... And I also have an Automated Simulations game somewhere (the science fiction one like apshai?), it could have an Atari version on it as well... I might have a possible candidate for a power supply for the growing Atari collection (from a thrift store with a table full of various PSs, and mention of boxes more in the back, gotta check there more often!), it is a 9V AC 1.6 amp supply... so, how much difference is there between 1.6 and 1.7 amps? The least rated supply (listed in the Atari FAQ) to run on an 800/1200XL is a 1.7 amp, can the 1.6 cause problems? (I have yet to try this as the plug is the too small and I will have to solder on a more suitable one for it to work.) Also got an 810 drive, did a power test tonite, the disk went through a 'seek' of some sort (still one PS and no disks, so it's best I can do for now) Now I have disk drives that match the 1200XL and 800! Speaking of the 1200XL I mentioned earlier the keyboard was not functional, a fellow user on the comp.sys.atari.8bit newsgroup suggested checking the keyboard connector, and by-jimminy, it was loose! (Now who would open a perfectly good computer...well..ok, who wouldn't open a perfectly good computer. *grin*.) Books,tapes,disks are nowhere to be found for the Atari (at thrift shops/book stores/flea markets), so far (since a month or two ago) not a one spotted, and I thought Commodore books were hard to find. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Monochrome monitors are pretty cheap out there, picked up a basic Zenith green screen for someone for $2.95, saw a few more similarly priced. -=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- My best find of the week: one thrift store had a 128D unit sans keboard (a 128D is a Commodore C128 computer with built-in 1571 disk drive, latest ROMs, and 64k video RAM) for $7.00. I figured it would be a great 'parts source' for my flat C128 (which has only 16k VRAM and old ROMs), I assumed the 128D was DOA, only to discover it is functional, the drive seems ok too! (booted a CP/M system disk and Renegade, two disks with 128 boot sectors I knew of). Now I'm gonna have to scrounge/hack up a 128D keyboard. (dang it all!) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- RE: Laser Discs >From: bm_pete(a)ix.netcom.com (Barry Peterson) >Subject: Re: More p-code (was: Re: Another weekend haul story > On Tue, 27 May 1997 20:06:29 -0700 (PDT), someone said: >>Also, anyone remembers TI's videodisc controller card? I remember some of >>the ads and catalogs saying something to the effect of "The Videodisc=20 >>controller is for industrial use only, it is not for use in the home" >It's PHP 2300 "Video Controller", and listed in 1982 for $699.95! (I >didn't buy one) I got a couple LDs from thrift shops the first ($20) was the great grandaddy Magnavox 8000, still has major tracking problems but it can't interface to anything anyway. The second ($9.95!) is a Poineer 6010? Anyway, it is an 'industrial grade' LD player (had an Armstrong Flooring disc in it). I have some articles for LD interfacing: one for the VIC-20 in a 1982 COMPUTE! and one I think for RS-232 in a 1983 BYTE; but this LD player already has an RS-232 inteface built-in so that point is moot... I am waiting to bail it out of repairs (very minor ones fortunately). Anyone got a Dragon's Lair LD lying around??? Larry Anderson -- -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Visit our web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/ Call our BBS (Silicon Realms BBS 300-2400 baud) at: (209) 754-1363 -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

28 years, 9 months

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HELP with Apple II+ booting!

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

Still no joy on the Apple II+ boot problem. The machine appears to definitely have 48K RAM; at least the NEC chips have "416" on them. Any way I can tell in BASIC? I have 3 disk controllers and 3 drives. The disk controllers have 2 different ROM versions; one is half copyrighted 1979 and half 1981, while the other is all 1981. The card model is 650-X104. There's another ID number, one is 820-0006-02 and the other card is 820-0006-D. Help!!!! Kai > ---------- > From: Eric Fischer[SMTP:eric@fudge.uchicago.edu] > Reply To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 1997 10:02 AM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: Re: HELP with Apple II+ booting! > > kaikal(a)MICROSOFT.com says, > > > My Apple II+ will boot a diskette called the "Zardax Utilities" but > it > > won't boot anything else. > ... > > When I put in a different bootable diskette, I get "APPLE II" on the > > screen, and then after a moment's pause, a bunch of garbage > characters > > are added. > > My best guess is that maybe you have a 13-sector (DOS 3.2) disk > controller and one 13-sector disk (the one that works), and the > rest of your disks are 16-sector so the 13-sector controller > doesn't know what to do with them. Unfortunately I can't remember > where to peek to find out the DOS or controller version number, > so I don't know how you could verify this. > > The other alternative is that if your Apple II+ has less than 48k > of memory, the other disks may be expecting a 48k system and loading > DOS into a part of memory that doesn't exist on your computer. The > Zardax Utilities disk may be one with a relocatable DOS image on it > (a "master" disk) created with "MASTER CREATE" and the rest are just > plain fixed-address disks. This would certainly explain why random > junk was getting loaded into video memory instead of where it belongs. > > eric >

28 years, 9 months

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monitors for use with old computers.

by Pete＠madhippy.demon.co.uk

I'm fairly new to the collecting scene and I'm looking for a monitor I can use with some of my systems. I'm mainly interested in the 8bit home computers, spectrum, c64, atari, dragon, bbc etc I'd like to know if there is a particular type of monitor that can be used on the above machines. I'd like to buy, say one, I can use with all of the above. I know there seems to have been a few different methods used in producing the video signals and, from reading newsgroups, I get the impression that it is sometimes possible to select video outputs/monitor inputs such that, even if the monitor is not directly compatible, a reasonable result can be obtained. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. -- Pete Robinson pete(a)madhippy.demon.co.uk http://www.madhippy.demon.co.uk - faqs, emulators, links, web utilities.

28 years, 9 months

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Seen on web: ads of interest to this list

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

Found these ads on the web, they might be of interest to some! ANTIQUE DATA GENERAL LAPTOP FOR SALE Data General MODEL NO. 2217A. I have a Data General One laptop (Model No. 2217A) with full size Expansion Chassis, and several original manuals and programs -- Lotus 1-2-3 Rel. 1A, Microsoft Multiplan, DGBlast (communications), GW-Basic, Programmers Manual, Flight Simulator II, and Ashton-Tate Framework. Laptop has 512 mg memory, dual 720 floppies (max available on machine at time; no internal hard drives in this generation). Expansion chassis has 4 available slots and a bay for a full-size hard drive. Purchased new in 1986. This is clearly an antique, and might be of interest to DG freaks (if there are any) or computer museums; this was one of first clam shell laptops. Interested? Please reply directly to Al J. Daniel, Jr.by e-mail.mailto:adnyc@ix.netcom.com SEAGATE 8 INCH HDD FOR SALE Used SEAGATE 8 inch HDD -- condition unknown. Any interest.E-mail. ice8(a)eosinc.com

28 years, 9 months

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Another weekend haul story

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

Well, thanks to a mobile GPS, I managed to visit 30 thrifts in one day this weekend, and ended up with: - Atari 400 - IBM Portable PC 5155 - Two more Osborne 1's (for trade) - An Indus GT floppy drive for Atari 8bit (this is the best Atari 8bit drive ever made!) - Apple Disk II new in box - Another TRS-80 Model I (system unit only) - Atari 1040ST and SC124 mono monitor (floppy wasn't working but I fixed it--I think) - Another Mac 128 (with bad floppy, I have the parts to fix) - Pile of diskettes for the TRS-80 Model 4/4P, including original TRSDOS, SCRIPSIT, ZORK I, etc. - Manuals for my TRS-80 Model 4P - Some shrink wrapped games for the Apple II, Atari 8bit, and C64 - TI 99/4A "P-Code Module", whatever the heck that is (goes in the expansion bay) - Atari 65XE game computer - Atari 7800 ProSystem with PS, RF adapter and 3 joysticks - Colecovision driving expansion module Kai

28 years, 9 months

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Current for trade/wanted list

by josh＠netins.net

I am intrested in the macs, the 128 & 512. How much? I do have a few dos 3.3 master disks for the II series (the origional apple disks!). Intrested? I'll try to dig them out! 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 | +----------------------------------------------+

28 years, 9 months

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Forgot one more! UK folks pls comment (RE: Another weekend

by jonathan＠holly.ninja.ml.org

> Date: Tue, 27 May 1997 10:04:36 -0700 > From: Kai Kaltenbach <kaikal(a)MICROSOFT.com> > Almost forgot - I also picked up an Apricot F2. For those in the > US, this is one bizarre machine. It's only about 7" wide, 4" tall [...] > > Any additional information -- and pointers to a boot disk -- > appreciated! If you (or anybody else) want, I can copy your message into the Fidonet "APRICOT" support echo. There aren't all that many messages in there at the moment, but I am sure that there are still folk with working Apricot machines, that would be glad to help. Let me know, and I'll post your messages in there for you, and forward replies either to this list, or back to you personally. Best wishes, ___ _ _ ___ _ _| (_)(\)(-) | (-)(-)(\)

28 years, 9 months

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HELP!!! Apple IIe - doesn't work!

by BigLouS＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-05-27 23:56:45 EDT, you write: > Should I take one of the video cards out? Are they supposed to BOTH be in > there? If when you boot the machine it comes up with Apple IIe then you have an enhanced IIE. If it says Apple II then you have an unenhanced IIe. Part of the enhancement upgrade involved replacing roms on the motherboard so perhaps the upgrade was done improperly (unlikely). Pulling cards is the best way to isolate the problem. First pull the videx card. If that doesn't solve the problem then pull the AE card, the mouse card and finally the printer card. If your still having problems then you may want to replace the Zip chip with a stock 65C02 (an enhanced IIe uses a 65C02 rather than a 6502). If you still have problems then you may want to try a different controller card or just throw the thing out the window. :-) Lou

28 years, 9 months

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Terak's (was: Re: Another weekend haul story

by zmerch＠northernway.net

Whilst in a self-induced trance, Charles P. Hobbs happened to blather: >Hey, DOS *is* CP/M as far as I'm concerned (look how long it took to >kick that 8.3 filename habit! :-) It is not easy to calculate how long it took for them to kick the habit, as the habit has not yet been kicked... think of it as still being on the nicotine patch. The long filenames of Win95 are only a *bunch* of 8.3 filename placeholders conveniently disguised to the end user. Wanna waste a whole weekend over nothing? Run MS-DOS 6.22's scandisk/defrag on a Win95 volume and see how long it takes you to straighten that mess out... it's easier to reformat and reinstall. HTH, "Merch" -- Roger Merchberger | If at first you don't succeed, Programmer, NorthernWay | nuclear warhead disarmament should *not* zmerch(a)northernway.net | be your first career choice.

28 years, 9 months

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Atari 800 XL (fwd)

by bill＠booster.bothell.washington.edu

If you're looking for an Atari you might want to talk to this guy. Bill ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sun, 25 May 1997 18:29:18 -0700 From: Steve <stevemr2(a)televar.com> To: bill(a)booster.bothell.washington.edu Subject: Atari 800 XL Hi Bill I have an Atari 800 XL along with several cartridges, tapes with programs and the 1010 player. This machine is like new as I take care of my equipment. I haven't used it for several years and have been thinking about selling everything. Even back then I saw how computers were advancing and I decided not to try to keep up. Last year I finally decided to buy a new computer. Quantex with P133, 2.1 gig HD, etc. I was into the computer thing in the late 50's early 60's when still a kid. If you know of anyone who would be interested in this equipment, which is in cherry condition and all power supplies, cables etc come with it along with several programs on tape (Zaxxon, Chess, Slot Machine, Sky Chart, E-Factor and LOTS more), several carts (Missile Command, Donkey Kong, Defenders...and more). Thanks....................Steve From: Steve Hagensicker <---<----->---> stevemr2(a)televar.com Homepage: Netsurfer Central <-----> http://www.televar.com/~stevemr2/

28 years, 9 months

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Forgot one more! UK folks pls comment (RE: Another weekend haul story)

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

Almost forgot - I also picked up an Apricot F2. For those in the US, this is one bizarre machine. It's only about 7" wide, 4" tall and 16" deep. It has a wireless infrared keyboard and wireless hand-held trackball! I never knew these were sold in the United States. It's marked 60Hz so it's not an import. About all I know about it is from a couple of web references -- 1985, 8086 CPU, 512K RAM, dual 720K drives, ran a modified OEM version of MS-DOS. Any additional information -- and pointers to a boot disk -- appreciated! thanks Kai > ---------- > From: Kai Kaltenbach > Reply To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 1997 9:40 AM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: Another weekend haul story > > Well, thanks to a mobile GPS, I managed to visit 30 thrifts in one day > this weekend, and ended up with: > > - Atari 400 > - IBM Portable PC 5155 > - Two more Osborne 1's (for trade) > - An Indus GT floppy drive for Atari 8bit (this is the best Atari 8bit > drive ever made!) > - Apple Disk II new in box > - Another TRS-80 Model I (system unit only) > - Atari 1040ST and SC124 mono monitor (floppy wasn't working but I > fixed > it--I think) > - Another Mac 128 (with bad floppy, I have the parts to fix) > - Pile of diskettes for the TRS-80 Model 4/4P, including original > TRSDOS, SCRIPSIT, ZORK I, etc. > - Manuals for my TRS-80 Model 4P > - Some shrink wrapped games for the Apple II, Atari 8bit, and C64 > - TI 99/4A "P-Code Module", whatever the heck that is (goes in the > expansion bay) > - Atari 65XE game computer > - Atari 7800 ProSystem with PS, RF adapter and 3 joysticks > - Colecovision driving expansion module > > Kai >

28 years, 9 months

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bringing heath 120 back to life

by groberts＠mitre.org

i'm trying to fire up the old Heath H-120. it seems to have "forgotten" how to see the floppy disk controller, i get: DEVAULT DEVICE CONTROLLER ERROR i've checked quite a few things (e.g. reseat card and chips, look for cold solder joits, etc. - see my more extensive posting on comp.sys.zenith.z100). it seems like maybe getting hold of another H207 card (floppy controller) would be worth trying - or maybe even a whole Z100 system for swapping parts. are these still showing up at auctions? (DOD was of course a big Z100 customer). How do i find out about these auctions? anyone know of a source for spares or help with this sort of thing? thanks. - glenn +=========================================================+ | Glenn F. Roberts, Falls Church, VA | Comments are my own and not the opinion of my employer | groberts(a)mitre.org

28 years, 9 months

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New Finds...

by foxnhare＠goldrush.com

Saturday my wife had chanced upon a Commodore 64 system (computer, 1541 drive, cables, power supply) whith some books & magazines. Since the flea market was closing there was a final offer of $10.00. Needless to say I bought it (for $8.36, all the change I had left), mainly because it was worth $10.00 for the stuff and the disks, books, and magazines caught my attention. Besides the system I got a users guide for the computer and drive, a programmer's reference guide, and a couple software manuals. Many of the disks seem to be copies of stuff, I'll have to scan them to see if there are any lost treasures... The Magazines included 6 Commander magazines from 1983/84 (this is the first time I've had the opportunity to flip though this publication.), Commodore Power/Play June/July 84, a Popular Computing and a Personal Computing magazine (the latter two have very little Commodore coverage and were talking about the Apple II and IBM as on even playing fields.) Also a Scholastic K-Power Collection of computer programs, "10 awsome/original/unusual/super/fantastic/computer puzzles and games" The computer seems to be dead ('m glad he didn't sell it to someone for the $50 he was asking for it), the drive is in great shape (as it helped copy many disks for me today) and the magazines are facinating. In the Magazines: I finally saw an ad for the OSCAR bar code reader, looked good to me, one argument they had in the ad was the unreliability of tapes, heck, I have tapes older than that ad that still work, but it would be cool to have a bar code reader for my computer(s). The issue of Popular Computing had a review on the Jupiter Ace 4000 (looks kinda like a Sinclair ZX80, but has FORTH as it's built-in language) Pretty in-depth too, 5 pages long with a screen shot and an overview of the differences of ACE FORTH to other FORTH standards. The K-power is kinda a rosetta stone of BASICs with similar programs for Adam, Apple, Atari, Commodore 64, IBM PC, TI-99/4A, TRS-80 Color Computer/Model III/4, and VIC-20. Some programs deal with at least low-res graphics and another with music. Later on I fondled a Compupro 10 at a thrift shop, like like it was a multi-user machine with 4 console ports, 3 printer ports, a SCSI/SASI port and an 8" drive port (to compliment it's two 5.25" drives bays it already has. Will have to browse the web and see if I can see what it was about. Larry Anderson -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Visit our web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare Call our BBS (Silicon Realms BBS 300-2400 baud) at: (209) 754-1363 -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

28 years, 9 months

2
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'Uniform' from Micro Solutions, 1986

by jeffh＠unix.aardvarkol.com

I pulled out a disk I had sitting here which I totally forgot I had. It's the program 'Uniform', version 2.02, from Micro Solutions and is copywrited 1986. This is the PC version, and I hadn't tried it before because it's been quite a long time since I had a PC with the 5-1/4" drives. Well, I installed it onto the MS-DOS 2.11 boot disk copy I keep with the IBM 5155 and began trying different CP/M formats with it, including Kaypro 4 and Osbourne Executive formats. It read both formats flawlessly, though I've not tried formatting an Osbourne or Kaypro disk on the PC and then reading it on the real machine since Uniform does that as well. The leaflet which comes with the disk says that on an XT, the program supports 110 different CP/M formats, while on an AT it supports 160 (I'm assuming with a HD disk drive). I knew that I could read a number of different CP/M formats using CP/M 3.0 on the C-128, but hadn't given this program much attention before. Is there anyone out there who still uses this program for data exchange? Jeff jeffh(a)unix.aardvarkol.com <--- new address ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Collector of Classic Computers: Amiga 1000, Amiga 3000, Atari 800, Atari 800XL, Atari MegaST-2, Commodore C-128, Commodore Plus/4, Commodore VIC-20, Kaypro 2X, Mattel Aquarius, Osbourne Executive, Timex-Sinclair 1000, TRS-80 Color Computer 3, TRS-80 Model IV Plus Atari SuperPong and Atari 2600VCS game consoles

28 years, 9 months

2
1
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TRS-80 Model 4P

by gmast＠polymail.cpunix.calpoly.edu

> On Mon, 26 May 1997, Barry Peterson wrote: > Gee, it's started already 8-( No, it started a long time ago. > No, it worth about $0.50. Of course, you have all the documentation, and > the disks that go with it. That might make it worth $1.50. It's worth what someone will pay for it. Nobody is forcing anyone to pay "too much" for anything. It's called supply and demand. > It's much better to get rid of it locally - $25 and it yours. Come pick it > up! Better for you, better for it. Nice if you can find someone locally to take it off your hands. Why do you think there are so many computers at the thrift stores with garage sale price tags on them. The general public doesn't want them. > > 2: Would be unethical to email the non-winning bidders with an offer > > to sell my computer to them? > > Only to those of us who want to preserve the beasts - rather than sell > them off for a profit. I don't think there's any harm in trying to get a fair price for anything. We're not talking about selling food to starving people at ridiculous prices and this stuff is selling way below it's original cost. As more of this stuff is trashed and recycled, it's just the way it works. Best thing to do is get your stuff while it's still cheap. Then someday, if you ever get rid of it you can donate it to a needy collector and feel really good about it. I'd really like to pick up a 1964 mustang convertible for $500 but those greedy bastards want more than they cost new! Can you imagine? All I want to do is preserve it.

28 years, 9 months

2
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new acquisition

by dzander＠solaria.sol.net

A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text Size: 1256 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/attachments/19970524/e8743f11/at…

28 years, 9 months

1
0
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Spare Chips

by chemif＠mbox.queen.it

At 10:12 22/05/97 +0100, you wrote: >In article <Pine.LNX.3.91.970522045703.16495A- >100000(a)vennea.demon.co.uk>, Alexios Chouchoulas >> >> While we're talking about EPROMs, anyone care to suggest a cheap burner? >>Preferably one I can buy in the UK, but any ideas would be lovely. I've >>looked at some, but they're all in the UKP250+ price range. I'm seriously >>considering building my own... >> > > >Alexios > Maplin do two under 200UKP - the EPP1-F at 162.99 and the EPP-2 >199.99 (both prices inclusive of VAT). I bought a EPP1-F a long time ago >at one company I worked at and it seemed OK for small EPROMS/EEPROMS (up >to 128k x 8. Comes with a DOS-based editor and utilities but claims to >work on any computer with an RS232 and terminal software. > >>From the catalogue, the EPP-2 is the same but goes up to 512k / 8Mbit >PROMS. I fully agree: I own a HI-LO (the company name producing the EPP and ALL family) EPP-01A eprom programmer since three years, and never had problems. Features: NMOS/CMOS EPROM : from 2716 to 27512 and 1 Mbit EEPROM: 2816, 2816A, 2817A, 2864A, 28256A Page Mode EPROM : 27513,27011 Quick program time: 20 secs for a 27256 Easy to install Easy to use software Its price here in Italy was abt. 160 UKP (incl. VAT) > But if price doesn't matter and you're looking for performances, take a look at this jewel ><http://www.mwmedia.com/tpvs/hi-lo/pld/all07.htm> > >Hope it helps. > >-- >Riccardo Romagnoli, Forli' - Italy > >

28 years, 9 months

1
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Heath

by tomph＠ix.netcom.com

Hi Ward, Would you let me know if you still want this Heath. It's been sitting in a box in my van for over a week now. If you don't want it I'll give it to someone else. If you do want it, can we make some arrangement for the transfer. I have to move it out of here by Wednesday, next week so, if I don't hear from you by Sat. I'll assume your not interested. Thanks Tom

28 years, 9 months

2
1
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Sinclair ZX80

by MicroAge97＠aol.com

i found a page that has the plans to build your own zx80. www.babytalk.demon.co.uk/zx80/zx80.html dave

28 years, 9 months

1
0
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Teaco floppy drive excerciser

by bill＠booster.bothell.washington.edu

Hi. I recently picked up a Teaco floppy disk tester/excerciser for commodore and apple II disk drives (probably any GCR drive I'm guessing). Unfortunately I got no documentation or interface cables for it. Anybody know anything about it? It looks like it will be a fun gadget and I'd love to get it working. Bill ---------------------------------------------------- Bill Whitson - Classic Computers ListOp bill(a)booster.u.washinton.edu or bcw(a)u.washington.edu http://weber.u.washington.edu/~bcw

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Sinclair ZX80

by pcoad＠crl.com

On Thu, 22 May 1997, Stephen D. Jensen wrote: > I was wondering if anyone has a Sinclair ZX80 that they would like to sell. > I bought the kit and built one when they first came out. It was my first > home computer! A few years later somebody stole it from our house after my > Wife and I had seperated. Why they would steal that I don't know! I have a > ZX81 but it's just not the same. Of course, it won't be the same not having > the one I built myself but I'd still like to have one for my collection. > I don't have a ZX80 to sell. (I'd like one too.) I can address part of the problem. There is a place which has instructions, part lists, ROM images, schematics, etc. for building a ZX80. Below is the article posted to alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt last December. --pec -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Path: nexp.crl.com!nntp.crl.com!howland.erols.net!surfnet.nl!tudelft.nl!elektron.et.tudelft.nl!not-for-mail From: grant(a)babytalk.demon.co.uk (Grant Searle) Newsgroups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt Subject: Build your own ZX80 Date: 23 Dec 1996 12:42:13 +0100 Organization: Home Lines: 32 Sender: achhbot(a)morra.et.tudelft.nl Message-ID: <achhbot_19866(a)elektron.et.tudelft.nl> NNTP-Posting-Host: morra.et.tudelft.nl X-NNTP-Posting-Host: babytalk.demon.co.uk X-Newsreader: Forte Free Agent 1.0.82 X-ACHHBot: Processed. If you are interested in the internal workings of the ZX80 or ZX81 and would like to build a ZX80 yourself using readilly available components then please check out the following site: www.babytalk.demon.co.uk/zx80/zx80.html The later ZX81 is very similar to the ZX80 except a lot of the ICs in the 80 has been merged into one chip. As a result, you can learn a lot about the workings of the ZX81 by referring to the ZX80 circuit. I have several computers from the start of the 80's but have always liked the Sinclair ZX80 for the following reasons: 1. It was so tacky :) 2. It did not have a single dedicated IC in sight. It is because of the second reason this page has come into existance. Here I show you how to build your own piece of history. ALL parts for the ZX80 are available from most of the larger electronic companies. I hope it is of interest/use. BTW. As you will see from my site I am a very keen ZX80er. However, I don't have one (anymore). If you have one (working, dead or in bits) then please contact me on grant(a)babytalk.demon.co.uk as I am sure we can work something out. The above site is continually under construction as I will add further details when I have time. All suggestions will be considered. Grant.

28 years, 9 months

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TRS-80s looking for a good home

by dastar＠crl.com

I hope this makes it to the list. My posts haven't been showing up lately. Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Newgroups: comp.sys.tandy Subject: (fwd) FREE: Two TRS-80s Hello all, While cleaning my closet, I've rediscovered two Tandy TRS-80 Color Computer machines and a bunch of accessories. I'd like to give these things away to somebody with an interest in the thing rather than toss them into the dumpster. If you are interested, please respond to devolder(a)oakhill.sps.mot.com. Here's the contents of the box of stuff I want you to have... TRS-80 w/16K RAM TRS-80 w/32K or 64K RAM (I forget which) Tandy Cassette drive and cable 2 joysticks 2 game cartridges, Polaris and Football 1 EDTASM+ cartridge and manual TRS-80 Programming manuals (they cover BASIC and some ASM) Another book on specifically programming the TRS-80 in ASM, very good. Some magazines circa 1985 with articles on the Coco. Other literature which provide programming examples for the TRS-80. While I don't want any money for these, I will ask to be reimbursed for shipping. Please respond ASAP because I'm in the process of packing up to move. Thanks, Eric -- Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

1
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A Tragedy Averted

by gram＠cnct.com

Here in New Jersey, many towns have periodic "cleanout" garbage collections in which the residents are allowed to throw away just about anything their hearts no longer desire. Furniture, appliances, you name it -- they'll pick it up and cart it to a landfill. There are usually lots of pickup trucks and vans roaming the streets the night before, since much can be salvaged -- and there are some severely depressed areas not far away, such as Newark. Last night my fiancee spotted a serviceable couch two blocks from our house and dragged me over to help her lug it home -- we just finished a room in the attic and it needs furnishing. Two houses away from the couch someone had placed a TRS-80 Model II, its disk expansion bay, and a Line Printer VI by the curb. I could not allow this to be buried in Pennsylvania. There were also a couple of Wyse 50 terminals which will work fine on my various *nix boxen. While I was loading these treasures into the car, the perpetrator carried out sundry other (non-computer-related) items to the curb, and I asked him about the system. Seems that while it still works, he's out of space and hadn't used the system since he moved his body shop's bookkeeping systems to newer hardware. He said that he had a bunch of software in the attic, so call him in about a week. Then he brought out and presented me with a Kaypro 10. So it looks like at least part of the weekend is spoken for, while I clean these machines and check their functionality. Eight bits forever! -- Ward Griffiths "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards." --Claire Wolfe

28 years, 9 months

4
4
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Regular Posting: FAQ

by bill＠booster.bothell.washington.edu

============================================================================ ClassicCmp - The Classic Computers Discussion List FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) v1.3 Last Update: 5/2/97 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This FAQ is written with the primary purpose of making readily available answers to the more common questions appearing on ClassicCmp. It is Maintained by Bill Whitson <bill(a)booster.u.washington.edu>. The infor- mation in this document has been gathered from a variety of sources but, in general, the members of ClassicCmp should be credited for all contain- ed herein. I have, of course, endeavored to be as accurate as is possible and often failed ;). If you have questions, comments, or corrections (always welcome) please contact me at the address above. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Updates: New section 2.8 New section 3.3 New section 4.3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- About ClassicCmp ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. About the List ----------------- 1.1 What is ClassicCmp? 1.2 Why is ClassicCmp? 1.3 What's a Classic Computer? 1.4 Who runs this thing? 1.5 Don't you know you're duplicating what others have done? 2. Protocol and Etiquette ------------------------- 2.1 What can I talk about? 2.2 Can I talk about PCs? 2.3 Can I talk about Mini/MainFrames? 2.4 Can I post advertisements? 2.5 Can I ask people to give me their computers? 2.6 Can I ask for help fixing item x? 2.7 Where should I look before posting a dumb question? 2.8 Can I type obscenities about Microsoft in ALL CAPS?!? 3. Misc List Information ------------------------ 3.1 How many subscribers are there? 3.2 How many subscribers use machine x? 3.3 Is this list archived? 4. ClassicCmp Resources on the Net ---------------------------------- 4.1 Does ClassicCmp have a Web Site? 4.2 How come the Web Site is so ugly? 4.3 Does ClassicCmp have an FTP Site? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Collecting ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.1 Where can I find Classic Computers? 5.2 How much is machine x worth? 5.3 Will thousands of innocent machines be scrapped if I don't save them? 5.4 I just picked up a new machine. What should I do? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hardware and Media ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6.1 What's the best way to clean these dingy tan boxes? 7. Media -------- 7.1 What's a hard sector disk? What's a soft sector disk? 7.2 What's SS/SD, DS/DD, DS/QD, DS/HD, etc. 7.3 Can these formats be interchanged? 7.4 What disk sizes are there? 7.5 How do I take care of old media? 8. Component Failure Issues --------------------------- 8.1 Do EPROM's go bad? 8.2 How about ROM's, other chips? 8.3 How about capacitors? 8.4 Anything else? 8.5 So how do I backup all this stuff like you suggest? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Software ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9.1 Where can I get a system disk for platform X? 9.2 What's the best way to back up my software? ============================================================================ 1.1 What is ClassicCmp? It's a mailing list for the discussion of classic computers. Topics center on collection, restoration, and operation. It is also an appropriate place for stories and reminiscences of classic computers. 1.2 Why is ClassicCmp? Uh, why not? There are lots of people who love these old machines and it seems like a fun idea to get together and talk about them. 1.3 What is a Classic Computer? Any computer that has not been manufactured for 10 years is a classic. This definition is one I made up and it's entirely arbitrary. It seems to work OK, so I've kept it. 1.4 Who runs this thing? That would be me, Bill Whitson - email bcw(a)u.washington.edu. 1.5 Do you know you're just duplicating work other people have done. I get a "reinventing the wheel" e-mail at least once a week. If you show me another group of computer collectors that claims a membership as large as this one I'll show you a group that must be very hard to find. Obviously there are other groups of collectors and I'm cheering them on - I don't see a problem with duplicating and reduplicating lore that's quickly disappearing anyway. [][][][][][][][][] 2.1 What can I talk about? Anything related to classic computers as defined above. There are many people on this list that really know what they're talking about, so you might want to check facts before you start shooting off messages. 2.2 Can I talk about PCs? Yes. PCs which haven't been manufactured for 10 years. Even then, be aware that in many cases you would get a better response posting to PC newsgroups. 2.3 Can I talk about Minis/MainFrames? There has apparently been some misconception that this is a list for micros only. You'll note I said "misconception". 2.4 Can I post advertisements? Sure. As long as they're related to _classic_ computers. And, of course, use your brain - don't spam. 2.5 Can I ask people to sell/give me their computers? Sure. But you're not likely to get a very nice response. Mine, for example, would be: Get your own f***ing computer! There are several people on usenet who will vouch for this. When someone posts about one of their machines without offering to sell it - it's really a pretty good bet that they're not secretly trolling for offers. See section 5 for info on how to find yourself a computer. 2.6 Can I ask for help fixing item x. Yes. Be aware that it may be difficult to help you fix things if you don't have much knowledge of how computers work or of how to use basic electronics tools (DMM, soldering iron, EPROM burner, etc). I'm no whiz with this stuff and the little knowledge I have has come from asking questions and then buying books to find out what "Simple... Just check the voltage on the caps in the PS to make sure one of them isn't flaking out!" exactly means. 2.7 Where can I look before posting a dumb question? It might be a good idea to take a look at what's available in the Archive section of the ClassicCmp web site (see below). 2.8 Can I type obscenities about Microsoft in ALL CAPS!?! Check your anti-MS baggage at the door, please. We all have our opinions about MS and their products but it's best to stick to discussing them in reference to _Classic_ computers. MS bashing is not only off-topic but potentially insulting to those members of the list who work for them. [][][][][][][][][][] 3.1 How many subscribers are there? Around 230, fluxing daily. 3.2 How many subscribers use machine x? Check the web site (see below). The Classic Computer Encyclopedia shows the number of machines registered by subscribers. 3.3 Is this list archived? Yes. The archives are available on the FTP site (see below) in the directory /pub/classiccmp/archive. The file name format indicates the month/year of the archive. Keep in mind that they are quite large. [][][][][][][][][][] 4.1 Does ClassicCmp have a web site? Yep. http://weber.u.washington.edu/bcw/ccl.html 4.2 How come the web site is so ugly? How come a PET is so ugly? Who cares as long as it works? 4.3 Does ClassicCmp have an FTP site? Yes. Anonymous FTP at 140.142.225.27. Look in /pub/classiccmp. There's not much there that's not available on the web site. I'm starting to load old drivers and system disks on occasion. There is an incoming directory which subscribers may use for ClassicCmp-related file transfers if needed. [][][][][][][][][][] 5.1 Where can I find classic computers? The best places seem to be thrift stores and swap meets. These are closely followed by pawn shops and mom and pop computer stores. The holy grails are electronics scrap yards - but they tend to be wary of individual pick-and-choosers. Oh yeah - garage sales! 5.2 How much is machine x worth? Precisely as much as you'll pay for it. Oh, you're selling it? Then, precisely as much as I'll pay for it. Seriously, no one prices these any more. I have an old Computer Blue Book that lists many classic computers but the prices are just ridiculous. Some machines (Apple Lisa's, old old Mini's, and unreleased prototypes) are starting down the road toward their original selling prices but it's unlikely that most will ever be worth more than the cost of their components. 5.3 Will 1000's of innocent machines be scrapped if I don't save them? Yes. This is the impetus behind every collector's tireless and selfless effort. Each machine we fail to save has it's gold parts mercilessly hacked off and sold (just like rhino horns - and look at the rhinos). The remainder is then sent to China to be made into bicycle spokes (you probably think I'm joking). Save a computer! Act now! Remind your wife of the rhino and cuter, fuzzier animals. It might work. In all seriousness - there are a large (and growing) number of so called "computer and electronics 'recyclers'" who take usable computers and recycle them into "reusable scrap". Small amounts of gold, silver, and platinum are extracted and the remainder of the material is generally just marketed to less wasteful countries. 5.4 I just picked up a new machine. What should I do? Don't power it up yet! All of the following should probably be done before that power switch gets flipped. Open the case - clean and visually inspect components. You're looking for traces of smoke, water, corrosion, loose screws, blown caps and resistors, etc. You can avoid a number of problems just by taking a peek inside. If you have the tools (and the machine is sufficiently rare) pull and dump backups of all EPROMs, ROMs, and PALs. Disconnect the power supply from the rest of the computer and start it up on a "dummy load". A six volt headlight bulb has been recommended as a convenient load. These should be available >from any decent Volkswagen shop. Hopefully this will prevent frying the rest of the machine with a flaky power supply. You may want to check the voltage output before you do this as it could be no where near the 5V average in micros. Even if you don't want to connect a load it's still probably a good idea to power it up separately from the computer for the first time. If you have a really rare beast it may be worth powering up some of the key capacitors out of circuit just to get them warmed up. Now you can power it up. Assuming it works, take a blank disk, format it, write some data to it, and read it back before using your precious software with it, as a bad disk drive could really ruin your day. [][][][][][][][][][] 6.1 What's the best way to clean these dingy tan boxes? Cases: It seems best to start gently with such old equipment. Try soaking in a little water and dish soap and then scrubbing. This takes care of most jobs. For removing stickers try mineral oil or Goo-Gone (available at most hardware stores - in the US at least). If those don't work, acetone can be good but, if overused, can do more harm. For removing marker, almost any solvent is good (alcohol, naptha, etc) but will definitely discolor or dissolve plastic if not carefully applied. Lava soap is also good for removing marker but can smooth off textured plastic. For removing sun or tobacco discoloring a product called Purple Stuff available from auto parts stores (again, in the US at least) seems to do the job almost effortlessly. Connectors: For edge connectors a plain pink eraser seems good for removing corrosion. Apparently other colors of eraser indicate a different texture - which may be damaging. Make sure to wipe the connectors with a clean cloth after erasing on them. There are a large number chemicals on the market that "magically" remove corrosion from components but as I don't know how safe they are, I'm not anxious to promote any of them. For pin style connectors a toothbrush and some softscrub or other mildly abrasive cleaner do wonders. Keyboards: I find a cycle through the dishwasher does a really nice job on keyboards. Just be sure they're completely dry before you put any power to them. [][][][][][][][][][] 7.1 What's a hard sectored disk? What's a soft sectored disk? We'll start with soft-sector since they're simpler to explain. On a soft-sector floppy disk the information that marks where a sector begins and ends is written to the disk by the computer (part of the formatting process). This means that various computers can use the same floppy disk types because the format of the disk is control- led by the operating system. Hard sector disks use a system of perforations in the media to mark the beginnings and ends of sectors. This means that computers which used hard sectored disks required the exact disk type they specified rather than a generic soft-sector floppy. A number of differently sectored disks were available - at least 10, 13, and 16 sector formats. 8 inch and 5.25 inch disks commonly used hard sectoring. To my knowledge it was never used with 3.5 inch disks. 7.2 What's SS/SD, DS/DD, DS/QD, DS/HD, etc. These all refer to the number of useable sides on a disk and it's density (how "efficiently" the magnetic bits are pushed together). SS/SD is a Single Sided - Single Density disk, the earliest available type I believe. The storage afforded by a single density disk was very small compared to today's standards. Single Sided disks were popular because they were cheaper than DS and could be easily modified with a hole punch into double sided disks. SD was followed by Double Density which, amazingly, doubled the amount of storage space. Double Density was followed by the extremely short-lived Quad Density which doubled a DD disk. QD was short lived because High Density was right on it's heels and nearly doubled disk capacity again. DS/HD was as sophisticated as 5.25" disks became. 3.5" disks have progressed as far as DS/EHD double-sided / extra-high density. 7.3 Can these formats be interchanged? Well, that may depend on what computer you are using, but in general the following substitutions may be made: Desired Format Substitute --------------------------------------------------- Single Density Double Density Double Density none reliably Quad Density High Density High Density none Other substitutions may be made, but due to physical differences in how the disks are made they are generally unreliable. It can almost be guaranteed that data written to a proper density disk of poor quality will last longer than data written to a good quality disk of the wrong density. 7.4 What disk sizes are there? Physically? There are 8 inch, 5.25 inch, and 3.5 inch as "standard" disks. There are also some unique and/or short-lived sizes such as 3 inch disks used by Amstrad and 2 inch disks which were pioneered for use in laptops and then quickly forgotten. 7.5 How do I take care of old media? Step one is Back It Up! After that, make sure it's kept in a clean, dry, temperature-controlled environment (I keep mine in a broken freezer). With disks it seems important to keep them standing on end rather than lying flat - the same goes for cassette tapes. I like to exercise disks and tapes at least once every six months although I have no real evidence that this has any positive effect. I have modified an old C64 floppy drive to simply spin when a disk is inserted and send large stacks of disks through it on a regular basis just to make sure they're not starting to stick up internally. An exciting and somewhat recent development is that availability of classic computer emulators that can make disk images of old media on PC's and Macs. This seems to be a very good way to backup disks since they will eventually go bad no matter how well we take care of them. The official line seems to be that floppy disks have a shelf-life of approximately 10 years. With proper care many are lasting a lot longer. [][][][][][][][][][] 8.1 Do EPROM's go bad? Definitely. They apparently are considered to reliably contain data for (on the outside edge) 15 years. This amount can be considerably reduced if, for example, the sticker over the window has dried out and fallen off. Luckily EPROMs were not used too extensively but they're out there. An EPROM writer/reader is a relatively cheap investment and an easy fix. Even if an EPROM has "forgotten" it's data it is still fine for being "re-educated". 8.2 How about ROMs and other chips? Things wear out. It's likely that even components which have not been fried by catastrophic failure will simply start to die someday. ROMs can be dumped to a file and re-written if they die. Other custom chips which are all too common in micros will be far more difficult to replace. The best advice is to stockpile these chips when you can - but someday even unused chips will probably start to turn up bad. In this case the best defense is to stockpile information in the hope of being able to modify an existing component to meet your needs. 8.3 How about capacitors? This seems to be another large concern, but rather than being an unreplaceable component a capacitor will take your unreplaceable components with it when it goes. It's a good idea to check out all the caps in a system if you haven't fired it up in a while. Caps go bad with time (even tantalum caps, apparently - although they are more reliable) and should be replaced if they are suspect. It's unlikely that it will be impossible to find a replacement capacitor as they are much more standard electronic components. 8.4 Anything else? Documentation: If there's anything which is entirely unreplaceable its the docs for uncommon equipment. Once they're gone, they're gone. I regularly pick up docs I find for equipment I don't have just because I may someday. Paper will, of course. go bad over time but it will be obvious and they will be easily duplicated. Hard Disks: ST-251s, ST-502s, MFM, RLL... old hard disks are going to go bad. Then they'll be gone. Theoretically, I suppose it's possible to crack a hard drive and replace a dead bearing, realign, relaminate, etc... but I've never heard of anyone doing these things in their base- ment. Perhaps in another 5 or 10 years many of us will be experts at this. 8.5 So, how do I back up all this stuff like you suggest? This answer will undoubtedly get longer as I learn more. The best ways seem to be to dump the particular ROM (or whatever) using the approp- riate equipment to a floppy disk (which most of this equipment allows).

28 years, 9 months

7
11
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Spare Chips

by MPritchard＠ensemble.net

> > I have found what seems to be a decent supply of eproms. I was > looking at > > an old 2400 baud fax modem for my pc, and noticed that it had what > looked > > like an eprom on it. I pulled the chip and peeled off the label, > and it was > > a 27256 eprom. I also bought a 2400 baud modem at a thrift store > for $2.00 > > and it had a 27128 eprom in it. This was cheaper than buying the > eprom by > > itself. I paid $3.00 for a 2764, and didn't even price a 27128. I > am going > > to start picking up all of the old cheap, almost worthless modems > and > > grabbing the eproms out of them. You can probably pick up the modem > for > > less than the price of the eprom that it holds. If anyone else > knows of a > > cheap source of eproms or other chips, share it with us. > > >This is a great suggestion, worthy of the FAQ. Beware that you don't > > >cannabalize what could be considered a classic peripheral though. > > We pretty much cleaned out the Dallas 1st Saturday sale a few months > ago of cheap boards that had eproms. Gobs of 2764's for $0.25, plenty > o 27128's, but very few bigger chips. One notable exception. Some > strange board in a tiny pizzal style box. for $10 we got 4x 1-meg > 80-ns 30-pin simms, a 27128, and *8* 27010's and a few other useful > chips. > > -Mp >

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

CA 'Naked Mini'

by ard12＠eng.cam.ac.uk

Does anyone on this list know anything about a machine I've just rescued? It claims to be a 'Computer Automation' Naked Mini, and mine appears (alas) to be incomplete I have the 4U rack case, the backplane, frontpanel (which seems to use membrane switches and LEDs), CPU board (At least I assume that's what it is - it's got some 74x181 ALU chips on it) and 2 core memory boards. The PSU is missing, but even so I think it was worth saving. I guess I can hack something together. I have no docs on this at all, so any info would be welcome. I don't fancy working it all out my own. Talking of docs, does anyone have a copy of the I/O reference manual (or whatever the title is) for the HP9100 calculator? This manual was written for people who wanted to interface non-HP peripherals to the HP9100 (HP's first ever calculator), and contains hardware info on the connector on the back of that machine - info that's not in the operation/programming manual. I'd be interested in any info on that I/O port - I want to try a few things. -- -tony ard12(a)eng.cam.ac.uk The gates in my computer are AND,OR and NOT, not Bill

28 years, 9 months

3
4
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FS: Radio Shack 5 MB Ext Hard Drive (Ebay)

by gmast＠polymail.cpunix.calpoly.edu

I have a RS TRS-80 5 Meg external hard drive on the auction at Ebay. It's in good physical condition but I don't know the working condition. Someone pulled one of the interface cables out. There is a picture and a little more info in the listing. Only going for $20 so far. Auction ends Thursday 1:15 PM. http://www2.ebay.com/aw/itemfast.cgi?item=inz25894 Thanks, Greg

28 years, 9 months

1
0
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Any good thrift shops in the LA area?

by george.lin＠documentum.com

Hello, I will visit Los Angeles over the Memorial Day weekend. Are there any good thrift shops in the area? Thanks. George -- ______________________________ ______________________________ / /\ / /\ / George Lin _/ /\ / Opinions expressed in this _/ /\ / Antique Computer Collector / \/ / message do not necessarily / \/ / http://museum.home.ml.org /\ / reflect my employer's. /\ /_____________________________/ / /_____________________________/ / \_____________________________\/ \_____________________________\/ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ Apple IIe, IIc, Mac 512K, Atari 800, 800XL, VCS, 5200, ColecoVision VGS, Commodore 64, plus/4, Compaq, Eagle II, KayPro II, Nintendo NES, Osborne 1 TI 99/4A, Timex Sinclair 1000, 1500, TriGem SLT-100, TRS-80 Model I, III, 100, Color Computer 2.

28 years, 9 months

3
2
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Any good thrift shops in the LA area?

by idavis＠comland.com

At 11:49 PM 5/20/97 -0800, you Tim wrote: >Also some excellent military electronic surplus. I once found almost all the >components needed to build a Sidewinder missile there. Gyros, >radar domes, infrared sensors, the works. > >Tim. (shoppa(a)triumf.ca) > A true hacker. Why go waste all that money on a pre-assembled Sidewinder missile when you can just go get all of the parts and put it together yourself. Plus, the pride you will feel when your baby takes off and blows something up. There's nothing like it. Isaac Davis idavis(a)comland.com indavis(a)juno.com

28 years, 9 months

1
0
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Regular Posting: Mail Basics

by bill＠booster.bothell.washington.edu

ClassicCmp Regular Posting Mailing Lists and How to Talk to the List Robot Last Rev: 5/2/97 This message is posted with frequency proportional to subscription rate (or monthly). Point of contact: Bill Whitson (bcw(a)u.washington.edu) Mailing List Basics A mailing list is a simple device which takes an e-mail and redistributes it to a group of people. People can add and remove themselves from the distribution list by Subscribing and Unsubscribing. When you send a message to the list, it is first examined by the robot for key words that tell it to process an automatic funtion (like help, subscribe, unsubscribe, etc). If the message does not contain a keyword it is sent to the distribution list. How to Talk to the Robot There are a few List Processor commands that you might want to use. To send a command to the list processor, write a message to listproc(a)u.washington.edu (Do NOT send the message to classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu). In the body of the message (not the subject line, that is) write one of the following commands, then send the message. SET CLASSICCMP MAIL ACK Tells the robot to send you a copy of messages you write to the list. This is the default. SET CLASSICCMP MAIL NOACK Tells the robot NOT to send you a copy of messages you write to the list. I don't recommend this. SET CLASSICCMP MAIL DIGEST Tells the robot to send you a digest of messages rather than each as it is posted. With this option you will get a weekly bundle of messages and keep a nice, tidy in-box. SUBSCRIBE CLASSICCMP Your.Address Subscribes you to the list. UNSUBSCRIBE CLASSICCMP Your.Address Removes you from the list. That's the basics. If you need to know more just drop me a line at bcw(a)u.washington.edu. Some requests may take a couple days as I just don't know that much about the list processor ;).

28 years, 9 months

1
0
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stuff for trade

by marcw＠lightside.com

> > It's an IBM 370 mainframe emulator. Here's what I've heard: > > There should be a "P" card that should have two Motorola 68000s, both > modified in varying ways and produced under license by IBM on it, plus a > 8087. It should attach to the M card that has 512K of ram on it. And > then there's a PC3277-EM card that is just a 3270 terminal emulator that > should attach to the mainframe. > > I don't know much more about this, since I'm just getting all this > information second hand. It's allegedly in a book called _Upgrading and > Repairing PCs_, but I don't know the author. > I have that book. It's by Scott Mueller and the one I have is 1988. Here's what it says (to add to your info): "...All this hardware is run by a program called the 3270 PC Control Program. This combination can support up to seven concurrent activities: one local PC DOS session, four remote mainfram sessions, and two local electronic notepads. With the assistance of the 3270 PC Control Program, information can be copied between windows, except that a PC DOS window may not receive information. " The cards used are: 3270 System Adapter (communication 'tween the 3270 PC & 3274) Display Adapter (replaces PC's mono/cga card. No graphics unless...) Extended Graphics Adapter - XGA (required to get graphics) Programmed Symbols adapter (provides graphics with 3278/3279 stations) IBM also had an XT 370 that used the PC 370-P, PC 370-M, and PC 3277-EM cards. The P card emulates the 370 instruction set. This card has the Motorola 68K cpu's. It also has the 8087. The M card is the 512K mentioned above. And the 3277 card hooks up to the S/370 mainframe. So I reckon you have the XT 370. The price of the 370 attachments was $3,000 over the price of the XT this stuff had to go into. Jeez! Marc -- >> ANIME SENSHI << Marc D. Williams marcw(a)lightside.com marc.williams(a)mb.fidonet.org IRC Nick: Senshi Channel: #dos http://www.agate.net/~tvdog/internet.html -- DOS Internet Tools

28 years, 9 months

5
4
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Gas plasma displays

by ds_spenc＠alcor.concordia.ca

Greetings. Recently I picked up a manual for a machine called the "Laser Concept 286/16 Laptop" for the sole reason that it has a couple of good photos of the machine's red gas plasma display. I remember seeing some other systems with this kind of display in magazines. (The GRiD Compass comes to mind?) Anyway, I'm wondering why this technology was so little used. What were the major disadvantages? And do these displays still survive today? (Does anyone have one?) I think gas plasma displays look extremely cool, but I've never actually seen one in real life. They could be a real pain in the eyes to use for extended periods? Doug Spence ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca

28 years, 9 months

19
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Kaypro 4

by David_A._Vandenbroucke＠hud.gov

>Anyone ever heard of a Kaypro 4? I know what the Kaypro is, but this >specific model? When was it released and what does it run? What type of >CPU does it have? Gee. One I can answer. I'm not a collector like you folks, but I did use Kaypros and other CP/M machines for about a decade. The Kaypro 4 is your basic Kaypro transportable with a Z80 CPU (probably 4 MHz) and 64K RAM. It has two DSDD floppies which give 390K each in Kaypro's format, which is where the "4" comes from. At some point in 1984 or later, Kaypro switched from using Roman to Arabic numerals. Thus the 4, as opposed to the IV, is a later machine. Some of the later machines had a built in 300 bps modem, but if memory serves those all had "X" suffixes, as in Kaypro 2X (which paradoxically also had DSDD floppies, not the SSDDs of the Kaypro II). --Dav david_a._vandenbroucke(a)hud.gov

28 years, 9 months

1
0
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Informations about Wang and Nixdorf

by kunz＠germany.cerf.net

Hi, I have a few old computers at home up and running, but without documentation. Does someone has information about the following systems or can point me to a source of information (servers, books, software) ? Vendor: System: Operating System: Wang OIS 140/III OIS 9.9 Nixdorf 8870 Niros DEC uVAX II netBSD Epson HX-20 Basic Hitachi 6805 developing system The uVAX is common, but Informations about the Wang and Nixdorf are hard to find. Thanks for any help, -- Karlheinz

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Kaypro 4

by dastar＠crl.com

Anyone ever heard of a Kaypro 4? I know what the Kaypro is, but this specific model? When was it released and what does it run? What type of CPU does it have? Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

1
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Preserve the other stuff as well Was: Re: yo

by jeffh＠eleventh.com

On 07-May-97, classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu wrote: >So what's the point? Preserving the machines is good, but it is only >part of the picture. What is the good of preserving a machine if all >of "culture" that surrounds the machine is lost? Agreed, which is why my more common systems, such as the Atari 800 and Vic-20 are fairly filled out with peripherals and such. Take for example my VIC-20..it has the following: VIC-20 boxed, VIC-1541 floppy, VIC-Modem, VIC-1525 printer, C2N Datasette, manuals for the VIC-Modem anad 1541, as well as 9 cartidges and about 6 original cassette tapes of programs, including one tape still in it's packaging. This to me is quite a well rounded system, much like one would find someone using on a daily basis. Unfortunately, for some of my systems, such as the Aquarius, it's not so easy to find the software and such for it. But I definately pay at least as much attention to searching out the add-ons as I do the systems themselves. In fact, at this point, my attention is likely to turn mostly to the add-ons and such, as I've aquired the more common systems I've sought and likely won't be aquring them as a whole as often. >Save those manuals, flyers, ads, boxes, packing foam, and twist-ties. >Save them even if you don't have a machine to go with them. One thing I always noticed about people into antique and classic cars is that a lot of them also search out the advertisements and such for thier favorite marque. It'd certainly be interesting to do such a thing for the computers as well. Too bad I tossed out all of my older magazines years ago. Jeff jeffh(a)eleventh.com -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Sent from an Amiga 3000..the computer for the creative mind! --------------------------------------------------------------------- Collector of classic home computers: Amiga 1000, Atari 800, 800XL, Mega-ST/2 and XE System, Commodore C-128D, Plus/4 and VIC-20, IBM 5155, Kaypro 2X, Osbourne Executive Radofin Aquarius, Sinclair ZX-81, TI-99/4A, Timex-Sinclair 1000, TRS-80 Color Computer-3 and Model 4, plus Atari Superpong and 2600VCS game consoles.

28 years, 9 months

4
3
0 0

ADDS Multivision

by jonathan＠holly.ninja.ml.org

Hi! I have in my basement a genuine ADDS Multivision machine. It's runs a multitasking version of CP/M, called MUON, and used to run brilliantly until I accidentally ran the SYSGEN utility which, I found out later, overwrote the config information. It now refuses to boot, saying "Stack error" or something equally useful :-( Has anybody heard of this machine before - or, even better, does anybody have boot disks for MUON v2.3 ?? I would phone up ADDS, but they're in America and I don't particularly fancy all the international phone calls from the UK! I don't have their address or fax number or anything - and that's not even mentioning the fact that quite probably, nobody there will know a thing about this machine! :-( If any of you can help in any way, it would be much appreciated!! Thanks, ___ _ _ ___ _ _| (_)(\)(-) | (-)(-)(\)

28 years, 9 months

3
2
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stuff for trade

by dastar＠crl.com

Well, I had a good weekend, acquiring lots of stuff too numerous to list. I got a genuine IBM PC (this time for sure), an Atari 1040ST, a Visual Computer Inc. Commuter "lap-top" (circa 1983 with a small flip-up LCD display, runs DOS), a Tandy TRS-80 Model 2000, TI Silent 700 Portable Data Terminal, Atari 800XL... I also picked up some extras for trading. Currently I have a couple original IBM PCs and PC XTs and a couple TI Silent 700 protable data terminals (with acoustic couplers). One of the IBM PCs is an oddity: it is actually labelled the IBM 3270 Personal Computer and inside it has three cards connected together to form the video card. It has one 9-pin male 'D' connector on the back (like a standard monochrome monitor adaptor). I was told this was for an enhanced graphics monitor. It also had a card in the slot next to the CPU. The card has a CPU on it, and has a ribbon cable going from the card to the socket on the motherboard where the CPU used to be. Any ideas what this is? I don't know if I want to trade this just yet. But if anyone is interested in a genuine IBM PC for trade, I can get more. Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

2
1
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Byte Jan 87 retrospective.

by jimw＠agora.rdrop.com

At 01:09 PM 5/18/97 -0700, you wrote: > >On the line of interesting storage devices - does anyone remember the >"scanner" that read strips of encoded data. I don't remember what it >was called, but for a little while they printed some of these strips in >Nibble. I think it was an Apple II only thing. I guess you could read >and print these strips and they generated programs when you scanned >them. It's called a Causin 'Strip Reader'. Cable and software kits were available for both PC compatable and Apple II series computers. I have one in my collection, but with no software at present. (have not got a picture on the web page yet either - foo!) Have been trying to track down the software for either system... >Also, some personal bad news - my van was broken into on Friday night >and a large load of classic equipment was stolen (I'm preparing to move >and the it was the easiest place to store it). Aw heck! ('course, I do the same...) -jim --- jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174

28 years, 9 months

1
0
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Magazine retrospectives

by BigLouS＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-05-18 01:02:33 EDT, Sam writes: > Exactly. The Apple ][e bootstrap does a lot of work to read the boot > sector off the disk. It creates the 6&2 encoding table, looks for the > boot sector and reads it, decodes it and then jumps to it, all in less > than 256 bytes. Impressive as all hell. Woz is a god damn GOD. AMEN brother. Jobs who? Lou

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Digital RX-02 dual 8" drive unit

by dastar＠crl.com

Hmmm, I don't know if it was caused by last night's drunken stupor, but the e-mail from the person interested in the RX-02 got lost somehow. If you were the person interetsed, could you pleae e-mail me again? Sorry about that. Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

strange storage devices

by dastar＠crl.com

On Sun, 18 May 1997, Jim Willing wrote: > On the line of interesting storage devices - does anyone remember the > "scanner" that read strips of encoded data. I don't remember what it > was called, but for a little while they printed some of these strips in > Nibble. I think it was an Apple II only thing. I guess you could read > and print these strips and they generated programs when you scanned > them. Yes, I very much remember these and very much remember it always being on my wish list of things to add to my Apple. I never did get one. I posted a WTB ad on an Apple newsgroup a while back for one and some guy responded but he gave me this bullshit "tell me what you're willing to pay" line for it and so I told him $25 and he never replied. Anyway, if anyone's got one and wants it to go to a good home, let me know. > Also, some personal bad news - my van was broken into on Friday night > and a large load of classic equipment was stolen (I'm preparing to move > and the it was the easiest place to store it). So, if you live in the > greater Seattle area and you see a good amount of the following show > up when you're poking around, please let me know (I'm not as much > concerned about the equipment as I am about my addressbook, insurance > folder, and vehicle registration.). > > Stolen: IBM 6360 disk drive, Macintosh, Mac 512, Box of CompuPro s-100 > boards, Box of misc. manuals, Commodore DPS-1101 printer, TI99/4a > expansion box, Turbo C64 disk drive, CBM 8050 dual disk drive, Atari > 520ST, 2 commodore vic-1541 disk drives, 1 blue chip disk drive. Now this is some seriously fucked up shit. > I'm sure the thieves thought they really scored but I'm guessing it > will soon turn up at a thrift store or pawn shop when they can't > move it. Some of the equipment may be blood-stained. I have mounted > razor blades across the bottom of my car stereo and they found them > when trying to rip it out ;). The dash was very bloody - quite > gratifying. HAHAHHA! That's great. Well, I hope you get your stuff back, but at least you made the assholes suffer. Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Digital RX-02 dual 8" drive unit

by dastar＠crl.com

I picked up a Digital RX-02 dual 8" drive unit today that I have absolutely no use for but figured someone in this discussion group would want. Please contact me personally if you are interested in taking it off my hands (dastar(a)crl.com). Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

1
0
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Magazine retrospectives

by MPritchard＠ensemble.net

Sam, That's not entirely true. ;-) I'm being paid to write optimized assembly code for an upcoming game from (of all people) Microsoft. 12,000 lines of hand tuned assembly, with some truely wonderful gems of small, efficient code in it. I must admit though that we had an editor >from one of the gaming magazines come by the other day and mention that the only other gam company still writing serious assembly was NovaLogic... It does seems like a dying art. But I'm off topic. What I wanted to bring up was Creative Computing Magazine , pre 1981. I was only 10 - 14 years old during that time period, but I remember the content as being fantastic. There were fewer rules and a much more hardcore audience then. Does anyone remeber "Computer Myths Explained" and the great line drawings of robots and wierd machines that took on a life of their own. I'd love to get a collection of those drawings... -Matt Pritchard mpritchard(a)ensemble.net > -----Original Message----- > From: Sam Ismail [SMTP:dastar@crl.com] > Sent: Saturday, May 17, 1997 2:41 AM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: Re: Magazine retrospectives > > On Fri, 16 May 1997, Captain Napalm wrote: > > The Apple disk conrtoller ROM which read the boot sector off of a disk > > was 256 bytes! Amazing piece of code. You won't find anything > comparable today, at least in any mainstream software (ie. windows). > > Sam >

28 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Osborne computer (fwd)

by scott＠walde.cprompt.sk.ca

I don't think I have to add anything to this email I recieved today... Can anyone out there save it? ttfn srw ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 17 May 1997 19:09:49 +0100 From: Mike O'Neill <mikeon(a)globalnet.co.uk> To: walde(a)dlcwest.com Subject: Osborne computer Hi and I wonder if you can help. I have and Osborne computer (I'm not sure which one but it is an 80 col display with 2 x 185k drives and EProms fitted to hot it up and allow burning in of favourite software such as Wordstar and dBaseII). I don't want to trash the machine and am trying to find out a contact in UK who might be interested in giving it a home as a piece of computing history. The machine still works and is in good order although I havn'e fired it up for some time. Any help you can give would be appreciated. I can be reached at mikeon(a)globalnet.co.uk. Hope you can help and thanks in anticipation. Best wishes Mike O'Neill

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

DD vs QD (Was: Re: FAQ updates/changes)

by jeffh＠eleventh.com

>On Wed, 21 May 1997, Scott Walde wrote: > I've actually had very little problem using _good_quality_ 360k (DSDD) > disks in my Tandy 2000, which has a 720k drive (DSQD). I believe the > magnetic material was the same from the DD to QD, just packed > tighter/finer(?). Am I wrong? I do know that some later T2k's preferred the usage of HD diskettes vice DD ones. This could possibly be a change in the drive mech that Mitsubishi used for the basis of the M4853-1. Mine used to use DD disks just fine, which is what I used since the QD ones were difficult to find and were expensive. Other people I talked to had no luck with the reliability of DD diskettes though and found that the HD ones would work just fine. Jeff jeffh(a)eleventh.com -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Sent from an Amiga 3000..the computer for the creative mind! --------------------------------------------------------------------- Collector of classic home computers: Amiga 1000, Atari 800, 800XL, Mega-ST/2 and XE System, Commodore C-128D, Plus/4 and VIC-20, IBM 5155, Kaypro 2X, Osbourne Executive Radofin Aquarius, Sinclair ZX-81, TI-99/4A, Timex-Sinclair 1000, TRS-80 Color Computer-3 and Model 4, plus Atari Superpong and 2600VCS game consoles.

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

IBM 6151

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

I dont know if this machine qualifies for discussion, but i know nothing about this model, and perhaps someone does. Its an IBM, and the model number is 6151 and appears to be in a slightly modified IBM AT case. it has an led display and a 5.25 drive and non standard connectors inthe back. i get nothing but a blinking cursor on powerup and some incrementing numbers on the led display. i think it might have sort of unix on it, as a piece of paper has the root passwoid taped to it. anyone know what this is? what is worth $20? david

28 years, 9 months

1
0
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Call for Help: Retrieve files from 14" DEC platters

by MPritchard＠ensemble.net

I'll post the results to this news group. I've been out of touch for the last couple days, so I don't know what plans have been made so far. As I said before: the response from this list has been fantastic. Another piece of classic computing history will be rescued from oblivion and made available for users everywhere (via the emulator project). -Matt P > > You can help preserve a bit of history. > [...] > > I don't have a VAX handy, so I can't help, but would you please > notify > this list if you succeed in reading the data? Things like this don't > happen > every day. :-) > > Alexios > >

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

arcade game advertisements

by dastar＠crl.com

The other day I was looking at an ad on the back of a comic book. It was for a nintendo or sega game or whatnot. I then remembered how when I was a boy how Atari and other such companies used to advertise their games on the backs of comic books. Anyway, my point is that looking at the backs of old 80s comic books is a neat way to look back at the games that were available back then. It gives a nice historical perspective. Speaking of historical perspective (or something) I just got Pitfall for the Atari 2600 today (a game I had way back when I had my first 2600) and I must say even by today's standard it is a bitchen game. As far as creativity and just the sheer fun of playing it, it beats a lot of the dreck out today. I can't wait until my Pitfall II comes in. Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Lists

by bill＠booster.bothell.washington.edu

Just a quick note - I've uploaded the remainder of the lists I'm working on (PCs and clones, peripherals, and operating systems) to the web site. The PC/clones list is nearly complete and the others are still very much "in progress". I don't know how useful they'll really be right now, but if you're bored you can send me additions and corrections. Bill ---------------------------------------------------- Bill Whitson - Classic Computers ListOp bill(a)booster.u.washinton.edu or bcw(a)u.washington.edu http://weber.u.washington.edu/~bcw

28 years, 9 months

2
1
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Gas plasma displays

by jeffh＠eleventh.com

At 06:39 PM 5/15/97 -0500, you wrote: >I remember seeing some other systems with this kind of display in >magazines. (The GRiD Compass comes to mind?) If I remember correctly, we had a Compaq 'lunchbox' portable machine that had a gas-plasma display on it. It was a '386 machine and the display pivoted outward and could be adjusted for the best viewing angle. I've seen a couple other systems with these displays as well, but don't recall which ones or if I had any problems with them. It seems to me that the gas-plasma was fairly easy on the eyes. Jeff jeffh(a)eleventh.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Collector of Classic Computers: Amiga 1000, Amiga 3000, Atari 800, Atari 800XL, Atari MegaST-2, Commodore C-128, Commodore Plus/4, Commodore VIC-20, Kaypro 2X, Mattel Aquarius, Osbourne Executive, Timex-Sinclair 1000, TRS-80 Color Computer 3, TRS-80 Model IV Plus Atari SuperPong and Atari 2600VCS game consoles

28 years, 9 months

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Whoops...

by bill＠booster.bothell.washington.edu

BTW - they're at http://weber.u.washington.edu/~bcw/misc.html Bill ---------------------------------------------------- Bill Whitson - Classic Computers ListOp bill(a)booster.u.washinton.edu or bcw(a)u.washington.edu http://weber.u.washington.edu/~bcw

28 years, 9 months

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Equipment available

by gram＠cnct.com

Unfortunately, I can't take advantage of this due to being on the wrong edge of the continent. But if anyone else is interested, go for it. The TRS-80 Model II IMAO was always one of the most rugged and reliable systems I ever used. Ward Griffiths "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards." --Claire Wolfe ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 15 May 1997 08:43:21 -0700 (PDT) From: Andy K. in San Francisco <scooter(a)california.com> To: gram <gram(a)cnct.com> Subject: Re: Model 2000 Xenix Hi There: I saw the posting that you placed on comp.sys.tandy that proclaimed yourself as a 16/6000 specialist/expert. I still have one that I don't use...it is taking up too much of valuable desk space...any suggestions on how to sell (for very little of course) this computer system. It is 1 MB, 20 MB primary, 12 MB secondary...2 8" double density disk drives... I also have two tandy 12s and 2 Model IIs and a VT-52 in the basement wrapped up in plastic. Software, manual, etc. etc. etc. While I was working for Toni Kelly of Bay Area (now in Dallas), we shipped a model II and it was a nightmare, so I would rather not ship it. Suggestions welcome...the owner of club-100 suggested I could ask $50 for the Model 2s, $75 for the Tandy 12 and maybe $150 for the 16/6000. Yes I know people have gotten them free or from garage sales/thrift stores...I would rather not have to dump these "boat anchors." Thanks, take care, andy k. in San Francisco scooter(a)california.com

28 years, 9 months

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Some stuff I found on the NG today...

by gmast＠polymail.cpunix.calpoly.edu

Hello, I saw a post on the misc.forsale.computers.mac-specific.misc newsgroup tonight that had a bunch of vintage computer stuff in it. Including some mac software, lisa books & software, Lisa keyboard, Apple II stuff and some non-Apple stuff too. I didn't want to quote the thing here because it's a long list so go to the newsgroup or Dejanews and search this title: Apple items for sale Posted by: jmorand(a)tiac.net (Doug M.) By the way I don't even know this guy, I just thought the prices looked reasonable and you folks might need something he has. Greg

28 years, 9 months

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Odyssey

by dastar＠crl.com

Been pretty slow around here of late. I went to a thrift store and ended up finding a copy of John Scully's _Odyssey_. Although I hate this man and hold him solely responsible for the demise of Apple and especially the Apple ][ (please don't start a holy war over this, its just my stupid opinion) I found the book to contain tons of great history on Apple during the 80s and decided it would make an excellent read and historical reference. Even though it was in crummy condition, it was only $2.95. Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

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Call for Help: Retrieve files from 14" DEC platters

by MPritchard＠ensemble.net

I just wanted to say this: Already several people have offered to help out by getting the files off the RLO2 disk packs. Right now, Jim Willing seems to be the guy to do it (he also seems to be closest to the disks, which I think are in central CA). I've put him in touch with keith Robinson who is heading up the Intellivsion emulator effort. Let me just say that I am overwhelmed by the favorable response that has come from the people on this list. The sense of community and people that value computer history has left me with a lump in my throat. Thanks to all, -Matt Pritchard > -----Original Message----- > From: A.R. Duell [SMTP:ard12@eng.cam.ac.uk] > Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 1997 4:50 AM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: RE: Call for Help: Retrieve files from 14" DEC platters > > > > > > > This news just in: > > > > According to Ray Roux, who maintained the VAX systems, we were > running > > Unix, BSD 4.1. The platters are 14", with the label: Data Cartridge > > RL02K-DC. > > In that case, they're RL02 packs, with a capacity of 10.4 Mbytes. > There > are plenty of working RL02's about - I have a couple myself on a > PDP11, > although it's non-trivial to ship the packs to me. I am sure you'll > find > somebody in the States who can help. > > > -- > -tony > ard12(a)eng.cam.ac.uk > The gates in my computer are AND,OR and NOT, not Bill

28 years, 9 months

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Call for Help: Retrieve files from 14" DEC platters

by MPritchard＠ensemble.net

This news just in: According to Ray Roux, who maintained the VAX systems, we were running Unix, BSD 4.1. The platters are 14", with the label: Data Cartridge RL02K-DC. --------------------------- Any help in finding a system that can read it, and someone willing to help out is massively appreciated! -Matt Pritchard > -----Original Message----- > From: A.R. Duell [SMTP:ard12@eng.cam.ac.uk] > Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 1997 12:43 PM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: Re: Call for Help: Retrieve files from 14" DEC platters > > > In addition to all the games that people know about, the Blus Sky > > Rangers have some 14" DEC platters taken from 2 VAX systems that > were > > used for development. These files on these platters include source > > code, screen shots and data from *UNRELEASED* Intellivision games. > Some > > of these probably were announced titles that never shipped, others > were > > never even announced. > > 14" platters could be almost anything (off the top of my head, RK04, > RK05, > RL01, RL02, RK06, RK07, RM02, RM03, RP04, RP05, RP06, Several CDC > drives, > etc). And a drive that capable of reading one will not read any of the > others (even if they will physically fit into it). > > If you can find out what they were written on, there's a good chance > that > somebody will still have at least one working drive... > > > -- > -tony > ard12(a)eng.cam.ac.uk > The gates in my computer are AND,OR and NOT, not Bill

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Call for Help: Retrieve files from 14" DEC platters

by MPritchard＠ensemble.net

I know there was mention on this group a few weeks back about disk platters. Here's the situation: You can help preserve a bit of history. There is a project underway in the classic gaming community to release the entire *entire* Mattel Intellivsion library on an Emulator for the PC and Macintosh. This project is being spearheaded by the Blue Sky Rangers - a group of original Mattel Intellivision programmers. In addition to all the games that people know about, the Blus Sky Rangers have some 14" DEC platters taken from 2 VAX systems that were used for development. These files on these platters include source code, screen shots and data from *UNRELEASED* Intellivision games. Some of these probably were announced titles that never shipped, others were never even announced. If anyone has working equipment that can read these platters, and extract the files to some other medium, and is willing to get involved to preserve these games before they are lost forever, please contect me at mpritchard(a)ensemble.net or matthep(a)netcom.com I thank everyone in advance, -Matt Pritchard

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movie computers

by davidv＠cs.mun.ca

hey, does anyone know the name of the computer/portable in the movie "Single White Female". I know it looks like a "lunchbox" type machine, but that's about it. thanks, Dave ------------------------------------------------------------------------- David Vincent davidv(a)ganymede.cs.mun.ca -------------------------------------------------------------------------

28 years, 9 months

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movie computers

by more＠camlaw.rutgers.edu

I hope this isn't repeating a post as I accidently lost a few of the threads to this subject... ANYWAYS... I just re-watched "Electric Dreams." In it, the computer (Edgar) cmoes to life blah blah blah... Anyone know what kind of computer he/it was? The credits list Kaypro as a contributor... Les

28 years, 9 months

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Call for Help: Retrieve files from 14" DEC platters

by MPritchard＠ensemble.net

> 14" platters could be almost anything (off the top of my head, RK04, > RK05, > RL01, RL02, RK06, RK07, RM02, RM03, RP04, RP05, RP06, Several CDC > drives, > etc). And a drive that capable of reading one will not read any of the > others (even if they will physically fit into it). > > If you can find out what they were written on, there's a good chance > that > somebody will still have at least one working drive... > > Thanks, Tony! > I'm checking on what type of platters they are right now, and will > post my findings to this list.

28 years, 9 months

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magazine collection and heath-kit 89

by dastar＠crl.com

When I was at my parents' house, I also went to visit my old-timer neighbor. My parents told me he wanted to talk to me about getting a new computer. He has one of the first 1000 HeathKit H89 systems to come off the assembly line. I remember going to his house back in 1988 a couple times to trade programming tips with him and playing with it. He built it himself. It's in cherry condition, with the original Heathkit covers for both the computer and the heathkit printer. I gave him advice on buying a new system and offered to buy his Heathkit from him, but I don't think he's ready to sell it yet. Before I left I emphasized that when he's ready to part with it to call me. I'm looking through this old issue of Popular Computing (I also found a good run of this magazine). This issue is September 1983. These things are awesome. Let's take a look at this one... The cover story is "Demystifying Computer Languages" and has a column each for APL, BASIC, C, COBOL, FORTH, FORTRAN, LISP, Modula-2, Pascal, PROLOG and Smalltalk. You see, that's another thing that was great about the 80s...not only did you have diversity of systems, but you had a viable diversity of languages. Sure you could argue that today, but let's face it, this is a C dominated world. Hmm, cool, there's a hacking article, "Profile of a Computer Abuser". And some way cool Do-itYourself article on how to build a $4 printer stand. Let's see, there's the standard Elephant Memory Systems disk ad (remember those? Always with a yellow backdrop, a lot of times on the back of the mag). Anyway, here's an ad for a Percom Data disk drive for the T-99/4a for $499. So whoever found that TI-99/4a disk in the thrift shop, keep looking for the Percom Data disk drive. Here's the basic IBM ad with the lame Charlie Chaplan impersonator. Ok cool, a big price page for a company called computer mail order (how generic). Timex Sinclair 1000, $39.95; Commodore 64, $239; Pet 64, $569; Sanyo MBC-555, $795; Eagle IIE-1, $1,369; and on the CMO top 100, we have Choplifter at #1 for the Apple, WordPro64 for the C64 and Donkey Kong for the Atari. Moving on, we have an add for Fontrix (a cool Apple ][ page designing program), an ad for Commodore 64 that compares its under $600 price to the $1395 Apple, the $999 TRS-80 III and the $1355 IBM PC. Wow. A 2-page ad spread for the Apple ///. Dum de dum, hey an ad for the HP-86 personal computer. I don't think I've ever seen one of these...its like an Apple in design, with the keyboard and CPU all one unit. I never knew HP made such a beast. I'll have to find me one of those. (are we bored yet?) Oh, here's a good one: an ad for a C64 that says "More power than Apple ][ at half the price" (what a joke) and for the VIC-20 that says "a real computer at the price of a toy" (they got the toy part right). I betray my thinly veiled Apple ][ bias. Moving on, here's a funky user definable keyboard called the keywiz VIP (and in parenthesis it says Very Intelligent Peripheral) made by a company called Creative Computer Peripherals. I guess you can assign a keyword to each key and it was compatible with the Apple and TRS-80. Then an ad for the TI Compact Computer. It shows a typically preppy 80s type dude sitting at a desk (presumably in a library) with a typically preppy 80s type chick sitting on the other side and the ad copy says "20 pages of notes, a thesis, algebraic forumlas. Can you make a date at eight?" The guy in the ad has one finger on a key on the computer which has a disk drive attached, and one holding a pen as he writes down notes on a yellow legal pad. Brilliant. I'll take two. Ok, here's an add from Wisconsin Discount Sales, showing a Panasonic 32K for $249, an Atari 800XL with, instead of a price, the word "NEW" in a blast bubble. Here's something funny. In caption from the article on Prolog, it says "Japanese researchers have chosen PROLOG as the standard language for their fifth-generation computer project. If the project succeeds, it's very likely that we'll all be programming in PROLOG by 1995!" I guess we all know the outcome of that particular project. Anyway, then there's a review of the Radio Shack PC-4 "programmable calculator" and the Casio FX-700P pocket computer. Hey, a ComputerLand ad. They are now back in business as Vanguard by the way. Blah, blah, blah. More ads. Blah. And that's pretty much it. I hope you enjoyed this tour of the September 1983 issue of Popular Computing. Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

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What a weekend...

by bill＠booster.bothell.washington.edu

Wow. I didn't intend to buy any computer equipment this weekend but ended up passing a church swap meet with a big sign that list "compters" <sic> on it. Later in the day I spotted a pawn shop that had a sign up that said "Collectable PCs - get them while you still can!" Just how much temptation can one resist? Anyway I'll divide this into two groups - stuff I know things about already and stuff I don't have a clue about. Stuff I know about TI/99 Expansion box with disk/memory/rs232 Atari 520ST Commodore 128 (spare) Commodore Cassette (original) Macintosh (M0001) DEC Rainbow 100 Documentation in box DEC Rainbow OS disks Samda Word Processor for DEC Rainbow 25 RX50 disks labelled MICRO/RSTS - I don't knwo what they are but I'm guessing they're not for the Rainbow. I really needed some RX50 disks though. 34 C64/128 disks with programs 18 Apple II disks with programs FORTRAN on disk for the TI99/4A (the first disks I've ever seen for the TI) EagleWriter II for the Eagle Computer 12 Assorted CP/M disks 17 8" TRS-80 Model II disks Set of OS disks for Heath/Zenith Z-100 VisiCalc and a couple other Atari 800 disks Various old PC disks Some power supplies and RF modulators Hardware Maint manual for Novell Netware/68 (includes info and schematics for almost all early novell hardware!) Stuff I don't know about IBM 6360 dual 8" floppy system (for what?) TRS-80 TRP-100 printer TRS-80 Color Graphics Printer Commodore DPS-1101 Printer Alphacom VP-42 Printer (for VIC-20 only it says) NEC PC8801A (no keybd, disk drives) Excelerator Plus Disk Drive (looks like for commodore serial bus) MicroSci Disk Drive (Disk II clone, right?) Timex-Sinclair 1000 with plug-in box on the back (RAM module?) (I never realized from pictures how small these were!) TRS-80 RAM module (looks like the T-S RAM module) It was a fun weekend (glad I drive a van!) Bill ---------------------------------------------------- Bill Whitson - Classic Computers ListOp bill(a)booster.u.washinton.edu or bcw(a)u.washington.edu http://weber.u.washington.edu/~bcw

28 years, 9 months

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re-found magazines

by dastar＠crl.com

Well, I was too busy with other stuff and unfortunately couldn't attend a real good swap meet this weekend, but I did re-discover a cache of magazines in my parents' barn. I found out I had an entire run of Creative Computing, I have almost the complete run of A+ (including the first issue...this is an Apple ][ mag), a (I think) complete run of Incider (another Apple ][ rag), a few issues of byte from 1981 (the SmallTalk issue) and 1984, a couple issues of Family Computing from 1984, an issue of SoftTalk, and some other miscellany. This stuff is as good as gold! Creative Computing is a total blast going through all the ads. The main thing that struck me is the diversity of computer systems that were available in the early 80s. Contrast that with what you got today (Wintel crap/Macincrap). That diveristy is what we are discovering today. I think in 10 years there probably will be no memorable classic computers worth collecting from the 90s. MAYBE the Mac portable, and I can't think of anything else right off hand. There is just going to be this hideous montage of various IBM PC clones by different manufacturers or just run-of-the-mill computer shop PCs. Bleah! Long live the thriving micro-computer revolution of the 70s and 80s! Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

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What a weekend...

by jeffh＠eleventh.com

On 12-May-97, classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu wrote: Bill, That's quite a haul you made this weekend. I've never been lucky enough to come across so much at once. Normally it's a couple of items at the most. >Macintosh (M0001) Lucky you! >FORTRAN on disk for the TI99/4A (the first disks I've ever seen for > the TI) I've got a bunch of disks for the TI that I was sent, though they tend to be GROMs saved to disk. >Timex-Sinclair 1000 with plug-in box on the back (RAM module?) > (I never realized from pictures how small these were!) Normally, the 16k RAM pack says what it is on it, though I guess a RAM module from a third party might not. The T/S-1000 RAM pack was about 3" wide x 3" high x 1-1/2" deep. I've seen third party RAM packs up to 64k, but they tended to be the full width of the computer. Jeff jeffh(a)eleventh.com -- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Sent from an Amiga 3000..the computer for the creative mind! --------------------------------------------------------------------- Collector of classic home computers: Amiga 1000, Atari 800, 800XL, Mega-ST/2 and XE System, Commodore C-128D, Plus/4 and VIC-20, IBM 5155, Kaypro 2X, Osbourne Executive Radofin Aquarius, Sinclair ZX-81, TI-99/4A, Timex-Sinclair 1000, TRS-80 Color Computer-3 and Model 4, plus Atari Superpong and 2600VCS game consoles.

28 years, 9 months

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