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

by tiggerlasv＠aim.com

> Are there any documents for a DEC 872-A Power Controller floating around? > The 872-A is a 12A, 110V power distribution/control unit that I have in > the bottom of my "corporate rack". > Specifically I'm interested in what the signaling is on the two, 3-pin > Molex jacks labled "DEC Power Control Bus", which presumably is a means > to remotely control the power to the devices in the rack via this PDU. Bitsavers is always your first, best bet - http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/standards/EL-00123-00_B_DEC_STD_123_Power_… T

15 years, 5 months

2
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DEC and compatable items

by useddec＠gmail.com

I'm trying to make a pathway into a storage unit prior to emptying it. The following are a list of items that were in the way and I don't think I'll need. If you have any questions or interest, please feel free to contact me off list. BA11-NC box has 11/23 sticker on it. No black case or white front panel, but includes the switch panel. Was working, but selling as is. This it the box, backplane, H786 power supply and switch panel only. I have boards here, and can configure a set to your specs if requested. EECO INC 2001-4 paper tape reader, looks like a RS232 interface. No idea of the history or condiction. Rokke Data table top box containing ps and 2- Seagate 41650N drives. Can sell with or without CQD-220/TMS interface and cables. Was working, good condicition. Seagate 94196-766, condiction unk. HP94758E in sealed static bag from vendor, but sitting here for a few years. several Micropolis 1355 drives,pulled from working systems, but sitting for a while-possibly stuck now? Thanks, Paul

15 years, 5 months

3
6
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Anyone have a big iMac collection?

by bdamer＠digitalspace.com

Hi folks, does anyone in the Bay Area or California have a big "multi color" iMac G3 collection (from late 1990s-2001 or so)? A guy is asking the Digibarn about this but all we have is one Bondi Blue model. bruce

15 years, 5 months

1
0
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what is a CXY08-M good for?

by tiggerlasv＠aim.com

Hmmm. What is a CXY08-M good for? Unless you have an s-box enclosure, I'd say it's probably only good for target practice. ;-) Shamefully, I've never been curious enough to attempt to use one on a PDP-11. I jumped right from the DLV11-J's to the Emulex CS02 (quad 16-port w/DMA) and then to the DHQ11's when I moved into a BA123. > (My own is with older products on older machines, but except > for DZ11s and DLJ11Js, I think some of the older multi-serial > interfaces are less easy to find these days). There are folks out there that can't even give away their DHV11's. I always get a chuckle out of seeing folks listing DHV11-M's on e-pay for $50. . . . which reminds me, I should start digging through my inventory, and dumping the CS02's and DHQ's that I have, since all of my I/O is now via a lowly DELQA, and a hardware LAT <> TELNET bridge. T

15 years, 5 months

1
0
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Three phase and IBM

by CCTECH＠beyondthepale.ie

> >> Check the power plug or cable. If the equipment has a neutral (not >> ground!) lead, it needs wye. Otherwise it needs delta. >No. If you have a symetrical load like a motor you can wire it Y >without connecting neutral. So the presence of netral is no indication >of Y or D. Y or D depends on the voltage the equipment needs per "leg" >and the voltage the grid delivers. Remember voltage phase to phase is >sqrt(3) times voltage phase to neutral. > Without documentation indicating that the equipment presents a balanced load, it should not be assumed that it will. If the equipment power lead has a neutral then it is probably not a completely balanced load and the neutral will probably need to be connected. The consequences of not connecting the neutral could be excessive voltages getting applied to some parts and reduced voltages getting applied to other parts of the equipment. This is not good. If the equipment does always present a balanced load, it may allow the option of connecting it in wye (star) or delta format and the supply voltage required would be different in each case. To clarify the voltage specification, there are two different ways of specifying the voltage in a three phase system. The "phase voltage" is the voltage between any one of the three live conductors and the neutral conductor. The "line voltage" is the voltage between any two of the three live conductors. The line voltage is sqrt(3) times higher than the phase voltage. The line voltage provided by the supply should match the line voltage required by the equipment. The same applies to the phase voltage, although if one matches, the other will also. Phase voltage doesn't really have a lot of meaning for a system without a neutral and such a system should be specified by line voltage only. Regards, Peter Coghlan.

15 years, 5 months

1
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anyone familiar w/640kb 5 1/4" format?

by chrism3667＠yahoo.com

Every blank that I place in the Canon AS-100 reports an error. All of these disks are new-old-stock. I know they work in other units (Commodore 128 for instance). Even the Tandy 2000 can format a standard 360/400k disk to 720k. I've tried those and high density floppies w/no success. What haven't I done?

15 years, 5 months

3
2
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BA213 front door?

by IanK＠vulcan.com

Does anyone have a spare front door for a BA213 cabinet taking up space? PLEASE NOTE: this is for my private collection, not the Living Computer Museum. I have a MicroVAX II that's missing the door. It's not one of those things where I want to spend a lot of money, but if you have one just kicking around and would rather have a six-pack of good beer.... I'm in Seattle - shipping from e.g. Europe might be a bit excessive. Thanks - Ian Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until they speak. Ian S. King, Sr. Vintage Systems Engineer Living Computer Museum A project of Vulcan, Inc. http:/www.livingcomputermuseum.org

15 years, 5 months

1
0
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what is a CXY08-M good for?

by acxy1234＠hotmail.co.uk

Sent from my iPhone

15 years, 5 months

8
11
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neon lamps in spice?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

Hey folks. Does anyone know offhand if it's possible to model the hysteretic behavior of a neon lamp in ngspice or gnucap? Or, better yet, can anyone send me a working model or subcircuit? =) Thanks, -Dave -- Dave McGuire Port Charlotte, FL

15 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

AT&T Pixel Machine photos

by legalize＠xmission.com

I just added some photos of my AT&T Pixel Machine: <https://picasaweb.google.com/legalize.slc/ATTPixelMachine#> -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/> Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

15 years, 5 months

4
5
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Ok Anything With Shatner Does Has To Be Good Right ???

by fsmith＠ladylinux.com

What a time capsule. http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/15/william-shatner-explains-what-microproce… Interesting actually. And we dressed like that back then ?? Frannie

15 years, 5 months

6
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complete Sun NeWS kit available

by shawn.t.rutledge＠gmail.com

I was interested in playing with NeWS (a Postscript-based windowing system from Sun, predating X) and acquired this stuff from a member of this list. I never got around to doing anything with it. There are 3 SparcStations (2 IPCs and an IPX), a NeWSPrinter (laser printer which relies on the host to do the Postscript rendering), the NeWS 2.1 Programmer's Guide, some CDs that can be used to reinstall the OS if necessary, and a suitable external CD drive. Any reasonable offer plus shipping costs will be accepted, since we need to move soon, and I don't see the point anymore of hanging on to something I never found the time to explore properly.

15 years, 5 months

4
6
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FS: TRS-80 Model 16 & 6000

by david＠vhikits.com

Hi, sorry in advance for replying to the group. However, for some reason my e-mails to you regarding the Model 16 and 6000 collection have bounced with a "General Failure". I'm a collector in Seattle. Please get in touch if these items are still available. david at marmotking dot com.

15 years, 5 months

2
1
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AT & T UNIX PC f/s - 100$ + shippage

by chrism3667＠yahoo.com

boat load of docs. Working last time I turned it on (burps a little once in a while though). No software except what's on the h/d. I can provide more info and pictures after Friday (Punky need to go to the vet).

15 years, 5 months

1
0
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More Heathkit Emulation

by spedraja＠gmail.com

And even more (dsure I forgot something or someone) :-) The well-known of D.Dunfield... http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/sim/index.htm plus others... http://davidwallace2000.home.comcast.net/~davidwallace2000/h8/The_Heathkit_… http://sebhc.lesbird.com/ http://www.pilgrimworks.com/trainer.htm http://home.comcast.net/~davidwallace2000/h8/project8080_archive/index.html One H67 emulation (shown in one YouTube movie) http://groups.google.com/group/sebhc/browse_thread/thread/49ff67a81b68c8f7/… or directly here... http://wn.com/Heathkit_H8 And not exactly Heathkit, but... http://www.ccso.co.uk/djc725/java_project/ -- Saludos - Greetings - Freundliche Gr??e - Salutations Sergio ----- "No creas todo lo que ves, ni creas que estas viendolo todo"

15 years, 5 months

1
0
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Heathkit H89 emulator

by spedraja＠gmail.com

Interesting work (in development). http://heathkit.garlanger.com/emulator/ -- Saludos - Greetings - Freundliche Gr??e - Salutations Sergio ----- "No creas todo lo que ves, ni creas que estas viendolo todo"

15 years, 5 months

1
0
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HP 9000 series 200 emulator

by olivier.2.smet＠gmail.com

Hi, I have seen recently some 'request' for an hp 9000 serie 200 emulator .... here it is : http://sites.google.com/site/olivier2smet2/hp_projects/hp98x6 Olivier

15 years, 5 months

11
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Second hands-on workshop added for VCF East

by evan＠snarc.net

To everyone, re: VCF East 7.0 hands-on workshops: Dan Roganti's "Build Your Own Transistor-Logic" workshop is rescheduled to Saturday from 10am-12pm. It was originally Sunday in the same time slot. Replacing it on Sunday will be "Teletype 101" by Bill Degnan. Bill will teach the basics of evaluating, cleaning, repairing, and connecting the popular Teletype Model '33 series. At the end of the workshop, one randomly selected attendee will win a tested and working '33. The other attendees will have an opportunity to buy an as-is, untested unit for $75 pending availability. Both workshops cost $40 and are limited to 10 students. (Eight spots remain for Dan's). Registration is online at http://www.vintage.org/2011/east/workshop.php

15 years, 5 months

1
0
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Usb typewriter

by dm561＠torfree.net

----- Original Message ----- > Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:28:01 -0500 > From: Jules Richardson <jules.richardson99 at gmail.com> > Subject: Re: Usb typewriter > > Fred Cisin wrote: >> On Fri, 11 Mar 2011, SPC wrote: >>> I suppose this is well known for all of you, but I didn't hear about it. >>> http://www.usbtypewriter.com/ >> >> Nice. >> But, . . . >> It uses the typewriter for input only. As long as it's connecting to all >> of the mechanical key linkage, why not also have the solenoids needed to >> print using the typewriter? > > And anyway, I want an RS-232 version. > > ;-) ------ Reply: ----- Then I have a nice Olivetti typewriter with RO RS-232 interface for you! Also lots of the interface boards if you want to make your own, and even a book about interfacing Selectrics if you prefer that route... ;-) Yeah, I saw that USB manual TW conversion a year or so ago when it was just a Make blog/video; looks like he's turned it into a nice little business at those prices ;-) m

15 years, 5 months

1
0
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PDP-11 Operating Systems

by michael.99.thompson＠gmail.com

> From:?Johnny Billquist <bqt at softjar.se> > All I can add about operating systems related to the original question is that unless I remember wrong, CTS-300 and CTS-500 were based on RSTS/E (basically RSTS/E and hardware bundled together as a complete solution). I think that CTS-300 ran on RT-11, and CTS-500 ran on RSTS/E. You could not compile a Dibol program on CTS-300 without shutting down the main application. On CTS-500 it was easy to compile and debug online. -- Michael Thompson

15 years, 5 months

2
1
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Digital archiving tools

by michael.99.thompson＠gmail.com

> From:?Joachim Thiemann <joachim.thiemann at gmail.com> > By curious coincidence, one of my labmates just asked me for some > original data from my Master's thesis, and luckily I have that data > backed up on CD-R - from 1999 (Maxell gold-coloured CD-R74, if that > makes a difference). ?Tar.gz files, and still reads fine 12 years > later on a modern machine (Mac mini) without special hardware or > software. My wife's Master's thesis is on RX01 floppies made with WPS-8. Someday I will get the files converted to something more modern. -- Michael Thompson

15 years, 5 months

2
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OT: Can someone help me pick out a desktop machine?

by alhartman＠yahoo.com

A lot of you seem to be missing that he has a store credit with a particular store. He doesn't have the ability to buy a refurbed Leonovo or to build a system from scratch. He has to choose from within the store's available inventory. So, none of the suggestions that don't take into account what the store has in stock, isn't all that helpful it seems to me. Al

15 years, 5 months

1
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Help to format diskettes for At&t 3b1 or Altos systems in a PC

by billdeg＠degnanco.com

> Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2011 15:31:07 +0100 > Subject: Help to format diskettes for At&t 3b1 or Altos systems in a > PC > > I need and be happy to receive some help to format diskettes for At&t 3b1 or > Altos ACS/586/686 systems in a PC. I tried to do it in one 286 PC with one > TEAC HD unit with bad results. > > I've encountered some documents in the Net about the matter but nothing > definitive. > AT&T 3B1 - Use the Office program that hopefully will be installed in your system to format a disk. If you log in with the user "install" and blank password, it should put you in the office program. If it's not present, then you need to load the system disks onto the system. Altos - This is a CP/M and or MP/M system depending on your needs; Dave Dunfield's 22disk should work to make a boot disk. If you need more help, contact me directly and I will try to assist, I have both systems. Bill

15 years, 5 months

3
2
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USB typewriter

by tiggerlasv＠aim.com

On Friday, March 11th, at 13:04, SPC wrote: > I suppose this is well known for all of you, but I didn't hear about it. > http://www.usbtypewriter.com/ . . . but. . . where is the "Gold" key? ;-) T

15 years, 5 months

5
5
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Usb typewriter

by spedraja＠gmail.com

I suppose this is well known for all of you, but I didn't hear about it. http://www.usbtypewriter.com/ -- Saludos - Greetings - Freundliche Gr??e - Salutations Sergio ----- "No creas todo lo que ves, ni creas que estas viendolo todo"

15 years, 5 months

12
16
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Usb typewriter (RS-232)

by swtpc6800＠comcast.net

Someone was asking for a RS-232 typewriter. I had one in 1978. I recently found the negatives for photos of my SWTPC 6800 computer complete with an IBM 2741 style Selectric printing terminal. It was used for letter quality printing but it did have two way communication with my computer. I had to write I/O drivers that converted ASCII to IBM Correspondence Code. I could also use it over a 134.5 baud modem connection to a PDP11/70 timeshare system. I uploaded a picture to the Wikipedia Commons. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Holley_Computer_1978_NWCN.jpg Here is a write up I did for the Northwest Computer News in July 1978. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northwest_Computer_News_July_1978.jpg Michael Holley

15 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

SUN Ultra 5 NVRAM

by teoz＠neo.rr.com

I fired up my Sun Ultra 5 the other day to install a bigger SCSI HD and noticed its NVRAM is dead (FF for ethernet address, serial number changes each reboot). Anybody know a source of cheap replacement NVRAM chips (can they be reworked like a Dallas RTC chip?), and how do you reprogram them?

15 years, 5 months

4
4
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Digital archiving tools

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

> On 3/9/11 10:19 AM, Richard wrote: >> In article<4D77C151.90005 at bitsavers.org>, >> Al Kossow<aek at bitsavers.org> writes: >> >>> I made a decision a long time ago that the primary mode of storage would >>> either be media images or uncompressed archive files (tar, or uncompressed >>> zip, mostly). >> >> Just out of curiosity: why uncompressed? >> >> Is it so that localized corruption of the archives doesn't preclude >> extraction of the remaining contents? > exactly. OTOH I keep all of my images compressed, precisely because I want to know if any copy has been corrupted. (And I md5sum them as well out of FUD). If I find out that any storage media or storage bus is silently corrupting my data without error messages... I would rather know that sooner than later. Tim.

15 years, 5 months

12
25
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Strange Versatec Plotter question

by healyzh＠aracnet.com

A very long time ago, I used to support three Versatec plotters. We'd have to use a clear liquid to clean them up. It wasn't Isopropyl Alcohol. Does anyone happen to know what it might have been? Zane -- | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator | | healyzh at aracnet.com | OpenVMS Enthusiast | | | Photographer | +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ | My flickr Photostream | | http://www.flickr.com/photos/33848088 at N03/ |

15 years, 5 months

6
11
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OT: Can someone help me pick out a desktop machine?

by thomas.gardner＠sbcglobal.net

> Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2011 18:03:00 -0500 > From: Tom <a50mhzham at gmail.com> > Subject: Re: OT: Can someone help me pick out a desktop machine? > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Message-ID: <4d7d4ef1.65c2ec0a.6613.4ce3 at mx.google.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; format=flowed If price is your issue, as it seems to be: 1) You probably want an AMD chip 2) You should be looking at refurbished systems; I have had a lot of good luck with refurbished IBM/Lenovo systems purchased at http://outlet.lenovo.com/. You might also check Costco if u have one locally; they seem to have good deals on HP systems. Unless u are into serious video editing, large compilations, or any other CPU intensive activity, any current CPU should be sufficient for your needs. May I further suggest that what u really care about is the graphics card (not built in so you can upgrade if and when necessary), the monitor (large, LED backlit, fast) and the keyboard (feels good). If you are in this group u should have enuf talent to upgrade the memory and HDD to whatever u need. Tom

15 years, 5 months

2
1
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bitsavers RSS feed updated

by legalize＠xmission.com

- Corrected a bug where _'s in the directory name would mess up the directory links. This is most visible on the recent updates to the bits feed with the Walnut Creek CDROM folders. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/> Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

15 years, 5 months

1
0
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DECwhatzits

by wdonzelli＠gmail.com

http://www.oceanviewcom.com//misc/St_Js_TE_Outside.JPG Two modules look like they came from the DEC stable, but what are they? This rack may or may not be appearing on DRMS lists sometime in the next 20 years. That is all I know about it. -- Will

15 years, 5 months

6
19
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PDP-11 Operating Systems

by oe5ewl＠gmail.com

Hi everyone, You may have noticed in the pdp11 usenet groups that over some time I have collected a nice bunch of PPD-11 OSes in various versions (this takes less space, I have to deal with some kind of space restrictions at the moment). From time to time I tend to put online what I have found (please see 5ewl.blogspot.com if you want). There are some well known archives out there in the internet, but some OSes mentioned in the PDP-11 faq and other sources are kinda hiding >from me. Let's start here: As I was reading the Ersatz-11 documentation file I stumbled upon "Fox 2/30 OS". Does anyone now something about this OS? Did any copies of this system or documentation and software survive? The only reference I have found so far since I read the Ersatz-11 docs is here: http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/text/Foxboro/Foxboro.Fox... (can't look at this file at the moment as I am on a slooooow internet connection). All I found out is there's a strong focus on process control in this system as well at it should be some kind of OEM. Another OS I am currently looking for is CAPS-11. It is mentioned at some points, but I could find almost no documentation, definately no sources or tape images. Much of the other OSes I've got in my little list are missing the early versions. It would be a pleasure to see these showing up somewhere and making them available for the interested Enthusiasts. I saw discussions about licensing and property issues about some other OSes too (like DSM). They seem to be stucked at some point, hopefully these OSes don't get lost sometime. Here's a little sum-up about Systems I didn't came across so far: CAPS-11, CTS-300 and -500, DSM-11, DURESS, GAMMA-11, HT-11, MERTS, Micropower Pascal, MONECS, MTS, PC-11, RUST/XM, SPHERE, TRAX If you have any information about the Operating Systems mentioned in this message or can help out with disk images, disks, sources etc. I'd greatly appreciate if you'd drop a line. Have a good start into the weekend, Wolfgang -- Wolfgang Eichberger - OE5EWL Operating System Collector Blog: 5ewl.blogspot.com Homepage: www.eichberger.org

15 years, 5 months

16
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OT: Can someone help me pick out a desktop machine?

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

Phill writes: On 14/03/2011 14:14, Shoppa, Tim wrote: >> AMD stuff is available >> but doesn't promise the performance of a Sandy Bridge machine that >> you probably can't buy :). Again, just don't get sucked into the rat >> race. > > I keep hearing this "Intel make CPUs that wipe the floor AMDs" over and > over again, and whilst true this doesn't tell the whole story. I have > personally found, at the times I have felt the need to upgrade that AMD > processors offer the best trade off of price and performance (for me at > least). > > Yes there are faster Intels but they are also *MUCH* more expensive, > sometimes by several times :( Yeah, I tried to couch into my response that I'm comparing the price of Something you can't buy (Sandy Bridge) with something you can buy (AMD). Even when roughly equivalent stuff is available there are still substantial Differences between the two that make a apples-for-apples comparison difficult. Reminds me of the old story: A lady walks into a butcher shop and asks: "How much are the pork chops?" The butcher says: "$1.89 a pound." "$1.89?" The woman asks in shock. "I can get them down the street for $1.69." "So who sent for you?" the butcher asks. "Go down the street." "They don't have any pork chops." "If I didn't have any pork chops, I'd sell 'em to you for $1.49 a pound."

15 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

PDP-11 Operating Systems

by bqt＠softjar.se

On 2011-03-12 19:00, people wrote: [...] All I can add about operating systems related to the original question is that unless I remember wrong, CTS-300 and CTS-500 were based on RSTS/E (basically RSTS/E and hardware bundled together as a complete solution). TRAX-11 was a transaction based system. Mostly targeted at the 11/70, unless I remember wrong. However, I seem to remember that TRAX-11 was also somehow tied up with RSX-11M-PLUS, and also the 11/74, but my memory might be confusing me. MicroPower PASCAL was a standalone system I seem to remember. You built the software on something else, like RSX, and then you booted the created system on a bare machine. CAPS-11 is something really old. About the same timeframe as DOS-11. It was obsoleted around 1974 or something, I would suspect. Very short lifetime of some of the earliest systems for the PDP-11. Johnny -- Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus || on a psychedelic trip email: bqt at softjar.se || Reading murder books pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol

15 years, 5 months

2
1
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PDP-11 Operating Systems

by jgessling＠btmg.com

MUMPS has had (and continues to have) a niche market in financial systems also. TD Ameritrade uses it, not sure for what exact purpose. I ran into it while working for that bank with the stagecoach when conversion from a home grown Prime Computer based system was under consideration. I'm currently employed by a medical group that uses Intersystems Cache (MUMPS based) on VMS for production applications. Regards, Jim ________________________________________________________________ The information contained in this email is legally privileged and confidential information only for the use of the individual or Brown & Toland Medical Group. Any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this document is strictly prohibited. If you have received this in error, please immediately notify the sender by replying to this message, and then delete all copies of it from your system. Thank you.

15 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

OT: Can someone help me pick out a desktop machine?

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

IMHO: Don't get sucked up in the hi-end desktop rat race. If you need to buy a desktop machine with Windows, make it a low-end refurbed one (not sure Office Depot has any but other places do, starting at $100.) Use the Office Depot credit to buy other things (e.g. screen, printer, etc.). If you do want a best-for-$650-hardware Intel machine, the market is somewhere between "pause" and "tumultuous" as the industry deals with the Intel Sandy Bridge issues. 1366 mobos and CPU's are available but will likely put you above your price point. AMD stuff is available but doesn't promise the performance of a Sandy Bridge machine that you probably can't buy :). Again, just don't get sucked into the rat race.

15 years, 5 months

4
3
0 0

TI-99/4a display question

by evan＠snarc.net

Was the TI-99/4a marketed with a TI-branded monitor? Or did most people use a television?

15 years, 5 months

4
4
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OT: Can someone help me pick out a desktop machine?

by a50mhzham＠gmail.com

At 05:26 PM 3/13/2011, you wrote: >On Sun, Mar 13, 2011 at 4:46 PM, Dan Gahlinger <dgahling at hotmail.com> wrote: > > > > The only basic recommendation I can make is, make sure it has an AMD cpu. > > > > Now, before this gets into another CPU flame war, > > Intel has for a while decided that the users/owners rights don't matter, > > it's DRM (digital rights management) all the way for them, > > with even the ability to disable or remove > software "they" don't want you to run. > > oh, you paid for that program? that's too bad. > > > > no thanks, when I buy a machine, I buy it, not a license to use it. > > go ahead, get Intel, let them monitor everything you do. > >I didn't know that! Thanks! > > > but the usual fanboys will say - the faster > is better, more cores is better, more FSB is > better, larger cache is better. blah > >I found an HP machine there for around $850 that has a 6 core AMD chip >and 8 gigs of ram. The motherboard can take 16 gigs also. I think >that may be the winner. The box I just built from scratch has a AMD Phenom II X6 1090T "Black" CPU. I ran their overclocking utility and got 17% boost without even really trying hard. It's running at 3.7 mhz (3.2 mhz nominal cpu) though I suppose I could push it harder by upping the voltage a little. > > why a desktop anyhow? why not a decent > notebook? why not an ipad2 (its under your price requirement) ? > > the desktop days are numbered (yeah, just > like the year of the linux desktop is every year) Not a chance. The public buys notebooks and laptops and pads because they're cool, but in my job, repairability is crucial, and it's also a little harder to steal a desktop. Or lose it. >I really dislike notebooks. I think they have less power for the >money. They're also less expandable. I've also had a lot of problems >from a variety of notebook manufacturers. For gateway, the keys fell >off. For a few toshibas, the power bricks crapped out, then the power >connector in the machine broke so you can't charge. My daughter had >an asus or acer or something with flaky 802.11g. It would drop the >connection making her reconnect every 5 minutes, then went out >completely. Replaced it, then the new one did the same. I can't seem >to get one that just keeps working. I have amiga computers that still >work, why can't a notebook last more than 3 months? Preach it brother. I'm right with you. > > most companies aren't even making desktops > any more, or are cutting back, or ending soon. > 846 . One tentacle, one vote. NEW: a50mhzham at gmail.com ? N9QQB (amateur radio) "HEY YOU" (loud shouting) ? Second Tops (Set Dancing) ? FIND ME ON FACEBOOK 43? 7' 17.2" N by 88? 6' 28.9" W ? Elevation 815' ? Grid Square EN53wc LAN/Telecom Analyst ? Open-source Dude ? Musician ? Registered Linux User 385531

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OT: Can someone help me pick out a desktop machine?

by brianlanning＠gmail.com

I've not been paying attention to computer hardware for a while, and all of the marketing terms have gotten away from me. It has to come >from Office Depot. My wife was able to get roughly $650 for free, so I need to get it from there. I'd prefer to build my own, but money is short and this deal is too good. It looks like they have HP/Compaq (yuk), Acer, and Lenovo. I'm going to aim for a machine with quad cores and 8 gigs of ram. I can spend a little more than the $650, but not by much. My main problem with picking out a machine is that I don't understand the differences in processors beyond the number of cores. In the good old days, they'd list the processor speed and that was all you needed. Now even that's not a good measure. Can anyone suggest some must-have or must-avoid specs for these machines?

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OT: Can someone help me pick out a desktop machine?

by a50mhzham＠gmail.com

>short and this deal is too good. It looks like they have HP/Compaq >(yuk), Acer, and Lenovo. I'm going to aim for a machine with quad We use lots of HPaq machines at work, what's the matter with them? >cores and 8 gigs of ram. I can spend a little more than the $650, but >not by much. My main problem with picking out a machine is that I >don't understand the differences in processors beyond the number of >cores. In the good old days, they'd list the processor speed and that Link below: CPU comparison charts, ranked by PassMark score. Yes, I know, not everyone thinks the PassMark benchmark is completely valid; lots of people swear by them, others swear at them. But it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. Some of these charts were updated today. http://www.cpubenchmark.net/ There are (presently) four brackets of CPU charted - high-end, mid to high, low to mid, and low-end. They have prices listed for many of the chips that are still current. Since they keep some chips on there for historical comparison, and since computing capacity seems to mostly go up, most of the ones on the low-end chart have no prices and are no longer available new. The Intel Atom parts are the exceptions. Then there are 12 charts over in total. 204 . [Philosophy] "Cutting the space budget really restores my faith in humanity. It eliminates dreams, goals, and ideals and lets us get straight to the business of hate, debauchery, and self-annihilation." --Johnny Hart NEW: a50mhzham at gmail.com ? N9QQB (amateur radio) "HEY YOU" (loud shouting) ? Second Tops (Set Dancing) ? FIND ME ON FACEBOOK 43? 7' 17.2" N by 88? 6' 28.9" W ? Elevation 815' ? Grid Square EN53wc LAN/Telecom Analyst ? Open-source Dude ? Musician ? Registered Linux User 385531

15 years, 5 months

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DECwhatzits

by wdonzelli＠gmail.com

> The racks are what the US Navy uses on board ship. ?I have my suspicions, > I've sent the link to someone that might know something. My guess is the > thing with the TK50 is a VAX. Yes, and I notices the F/A-18something sticker on one of the pieces. Probably a test set. -- Will

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road trip score: AViiON, Microdata 1600

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

Yesterday my girlfriend and I returned from a hastily-scheduled road trip to Maryland; we went to see a friend who is gravely ill. While we were in town, we took the opportunity to visit a few other people. Another friend up there is preparing to move, and he dropped a few things in my lap since I was there with a mostly-empty car. The first was a Data General Aviion AV300 workstation. This is one of the few machines built around the Motorola 88K CPU. It came with its original keyboard, mouse, monitor, and a full set of DG-UX manuals. I don't yet know if it's functional, but according to my friend it was running a few years ago. The second is something I'm REALLY excited about. We went to his garage and he pointed me at two dusty card-cages full of boards, and told me that he picked them up from a college loading dock twenty years ago, and that he had no idea of what they were, but there were core memory boards in them. Oh, and there's this lights-and-switches front panel that goes with them. (!) Upon getting them home and digging around, it appears to be a nearly complete Microdata 1600 CPU. I have the two backplanes with card cages and boards, and the front panel, along with some cables. I lack the power supply, but I can build one of those...with that, I think I have enough to resurrect the basic CPU. Neat stuff! -Dave -- Dave McGuire Port Charlotte, FL

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Digital archiving tools

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

> Friends don't let friends store their archives on a media that requires physical contact > with a read/write head. As a data point: All of bitsavers fits on 27 DVD-R's. I'm told that Blu-Ray recordables store 25GB (single layer) or 50 GB (dual layer) but I'm not at the leading edge of media adoption. Only in the past year have I grudgingly admitted that DVD-R might be halfway decent for everyday use, but I still don't trust anything but Gold CD-R for longer term use. The mainframe people use cartridge-loaded WORM media which is 60 GB per cart. I think it's magneto-optical but who knows, maybe it's really closer to Blu-Ray type technology. For a while (back in the 600 Mbyte/cart era) I was a big fan of the 5.25" magneto optical carts but CD-R and DVD-R is so easy that I have a hard time going back.

15 years, 5 months

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FS: TRS-80 Model 16 & 6000

by derschjo＠mail.msu.edu

Hey all -- I'm attempting to clear out some space and fund a wildly-out-of-control car restoration project, so I'm looking at parting with some of my TRS-80 gear. This stuff is in Seattle. I have both a Model 16 and a Model 6000. Here's the stats (some of the details are from memory, if you want 100% confirmation, let me know and I can clarify). Model 16: - Technically a Model 6000 (has the 6000 CPU board installed) - 768K of RAM - 5.25" hard drive controller - 20MB hard disk (in 12MB enclosure) with Xenix 1.3 installed - Two half-height 8" drives - In great shape, everything is working great, monitor is crisp & clear. Model 6000: - I believe it has at least 512K of RAM - 5.25" hard drive controller - Two half-height 8" drives - Another 20MB hard disk, with Xenix 1.3 (never did find a complete set of 3.0 disks...) - In good shape, but missing the back panel covering the expansion slots - Keyboard is... very rough. Keys need to be refoamed and it's very beat up. In addition, I have a pile of manuals and software (somewhere around 100 8" floppies with all sorts of random stuff) and a couple extra external hard drive enclosures (without drives). I also have an external 8mb 8" hard drive (but it's a secondary drive, so you'll need another 8" drive with controller to run it). Anyone interested? Make me an offer. I'll consider shipping for really really good offers, but there's a *lot* of heavy stuff here so it's not going to be cheap -- obviously I'd much prefer local pickup. I'd be willing to drive a ways to meet someone halfway. Thanks, Josh

15 years, 5 months

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VCF East exhibitor registration -- fixed!

by evan＠snarc.net

Go forth and register! The VCF exhibit registration system is finally fixed. (But inform me ASAP if you encounter bugs.) - Evan

15 years, 5 months

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Osborne video cable pinout

by mloewen＠cpumagic.scol.pa.us

I have an Osborne external video monitor, with no cable: http://sturgeon.css.psu.edu/~mloewen/Oldtech/Osborne/OsborneMonitor-1L.jpg I need the pinout for the cable which connects this to the Osborne 1 system. A schematic for the monitor would be helpful, as well. Mike Loewen mloewen at cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://sturgeon.css.psu.edu/~mloewen/Oldtech/

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hardware multiply/divide functionality in CPUs (6809)

by julianskidmore＠yahoo.com

> > the bottom n bits. Thus the 6809's MUL instruction produces the correct > > answer to A = -20 * B = -3 as it will store -60 in the B register. > > -20*-3=-60 ? > (((-20) * (-3)) .EQ. (-60)) ? > > if (-20 * -3 == -60) printf("always knew there was something > fundamentally wrong with the universe"); Ooops! If A=-20 and B=-3, then MUL stores 60 in the B register (the full answer being 0xe93c) ;-) If A=-20 and B=3, then MUL stores -60 in B (the full answer being 0x2c4)! MUL does in fact perform 8-bit x 8-bit => 8-bit signed multiplication. However I don't always type correctly! -cheers from julz @P

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Foxboro systems/ was Re: PDP-11 Operating Systems

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

> I wonder what he means by 'cardboard' circuit boards though I think it was a dig at Sylvania's (indeed the industry-wide) standard PCB technology of the time. Today we are very used to etched PC boards with a fiberglass epoxy substrate and copper traces that were etched. But the original consumer-type PCB technology was more often formica or phenolic-type circuit boards with traces that were stamped from sheet foil and then glued to the phenolic. (There was also a mil-spec type of PCB that was a ceramic base with silvered traces essentially painted on - you see stuff like this in Tek scopes of the 50's and 60's.) Not surprising to see Sylvania mentioned in the same breath because of course Sylvania used the phenolic PCB technology across many of their consumer TV's and radios. The cheap 50's and 60's phenolic PC boards are indeed like plasticized chipboard/cardboard. I'm 99% sure that phenolic is still being widely used in consumer electronics (although it is a higher grade than that from Sylvania's 60 PCB's and you might not know it's really plasticized chipboard until you break it.). DEC modules from the 60's were most often a high grade (for the time) phenolic PCB. Glass Epoxy really took off in the 70's. I'm thinking the Foxboro 1 pictures are from the early 70's and represent a later implementation of the Sylvania architecture. Fingers on phenolic PCB's are far less durable than fingers on glass epoxy PCB's. I never used a Fox 1, my earliest exposure was the Fox 2/30. Tim.

15 years, 5 months

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Digital archiving tools

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

> Speaking of DVD and archives too large to fit on one media, does anyone > have a good solution for pointing at a large file system (such as > bitsavers top level directory) and specifying a size of the target media > and let it sort out the archiving problem? I would like not to use an > archiver, but rather have the individual files copied to the target such > that they are available individually as files, as well as an index > somewhere specifying which item of the backup the file landed on. For the past decade my solution has to been write a perl script :-). Previous splits to CD often worked hard on filling every nook and cranny of every CD but I don't try so hard anymore. (This was the original use of the "foundbymb" sort you see remnants of below.) To be super duper efficient required knowing things like rockridge/joliet extension names and the extra space they took up etc. This one splits up bitsavers into slightly-smaller-than-DVD-sized chunks (using soft links), and makes (to standard output) a index that can be copied to each DVD: #!/usr/bin/perl use strict; use File::Path qw(make_path); use File::Find; my $total; my $prefix = '/home/shoppa/www.bitsavers.org'; find(\&wanted, $prefix); my @foundbymb; my @foundbyalpha; my %files; sub wanted { my $name = $File::Find::name; my $size = -s $name; next if -d $name; $files{$name} = { "name" => $name, "size" => $size, "dir"=> $File::Find::dir } ; $total += $size; } my $cdn =1; my $maxbytes = 4400000000; my $thisbytes = 0; my %madedir; for (sort keys %files) { my $size = $files{$_}{"size"}; if ($thisbytes + $size > $maxbytes) { print "DVD $cdn finished with $thisbytes bytes\n"; $thisbytes = 0; $cdn++; } my $cdm = sprintf("%02d",$cdn); $thisbytes += $size; my $indir = $files{$_}{"dir"}; my $outdir = $indir; $outdir =~ s/$prefix/$cdm/; if (!exists $madedir{$outdir}) { make_path($outdir); # or die "didn't make $outdir\n"; $madedir{$outdir}++; } my $inf = $_; my $outf = $inf; $outf =~ s/$prefix/$cdm/; link($inf,$outf) or die "didn't ln $inf $outf"; print "$outf\n"; } print "DVD $cdn finished with $thisbytes bytes\n"; print "Total size is $total\n";

15 years, 5 months

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Help to format diskettes for At&t 3b1 or Altos systems in a PC

by spedraja＠gmail.com

I need and be happy to receive some help to format diskettes for At&t 3b1 or Altos ACS/586/686 systems in a PC. I tried to do it in one 286 PC with one TEAC HD unit with bad results. I've encountered some documents in the Net about the matter but nothing definitive. -- Saludos - Greetings - Freundliche Gr??e - Salutations Sergio ----- "No creas todo lo que ves, ni creas que estas viendolo todo"

15 years, 5 months

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Who will be the last HD maker down the road?

by vintagecoder＠aol.com

On Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:14:38 -0600 cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote: > From: Richard <legalize at xmission.com> > Subject: Re: Who will be the last HD maker down the road? > To: cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Message-ID: <E1Px1RU-000789-Ic at shell.xmission.com> > > > In article <4D75366B.21696.2604652 at cclist.sydex.com>, > "Chuck Guzis" <cclist at sydex.com> writes: > > > We may be using flash both for external storage and internal storage. > > Flash memory is problematic for secure data. Basically, its nearly > impossible to securely erase a file from flash based disks. I don't know how that can be true. I can understand deleting doesn't work but is it true a simple dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdx onto the flash card doesn't fill it with zeros? And even if it doesn't, how hard is a flash card to destroy? Hard disks are tough as nails but flash memory can be snapped in two with your hands or a pair of pliers and burned...

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hardware multiply/divide functionality in CPUs (6809)

by julianskidmore＠yahoo.com

Hi folks, > > At 23:56 -0600 3/7/11, Jules wrote: > >Yes, that seems to be the 'famous' one that gets mentioned everywhere. > > It > >seems it was of the shift-add variety. Anyone recall if it would work > > with > >signed integers? (I'm just trying to work out how the math works for > > signed multiplies at the moment) Mark Tapley wrote: > MUL is unsigned arithmetic only. Actually this isn't *quite* true. An n x n bit unsigned multiplier producing a 2n bit result also produces the correct signed results for the bottom n bits. Thus the 6809's MUL instruction produces the correct answer to A = -20 * B = -3 as it will store -60 in the B register. The reason is because with the n x n bit multiplier multiplying a * b, where b is -ve => a* ((2^n) - (-b) ) = a*(2^n) + a*b = a*b since a*(2^n) doesn't contribute to to the lower n bits. Consider a 2-bit multiplier dealing with the -ve * -ve and -ve * +ve cases: 01 * 10 = 0010, = -2 correct. 01 * 11 = 0011, = -1 correct. 10 * 10 = 0100, = 0 correct. 10 * 11 = 0110, = 2 (or -2) correct. 11 * 11 = 1001, = 1 correct. -cheers from julz

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A first for the VCF ..... epic technical poetry!

by evan＠snarc.net

On the Day #2 of the VCF East 7.0 (Sunday, May 15), there will be something new and different -- folk singer Mike Agranoff will perform his 1987 epic poem "The Ballad of Captain Crunch" and other technical-themed works. Really! VCF East site: http://www.vintage.org/2011/east VCF on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vcfeast7 (please 'like' us there)

15 years, 5 months

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40 pin DIP chip tubes?

by legalize＠xmission.com

Any idea where I can get some cheap? I'd like to store these 6805 chip pulls in something better than a plastic bag. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/> Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

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Heath H-1 analog computer

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

Hey folks! I'm giggling like a little girl here, so I just wanted to share. :) Recently I was lucky enough to acquire a Heath H-1 analog computer from a very cool guy named Norman in Maine. My lady and I drove up there to pick it up. It's...just plain awesome. I've just finished putting together a page about it here, with pictures: http://www.neurotica.com/wiki/Heath_H-1_Analog_Computer -Dave -- Dave McGuire Port Charlotte, FL

15 years, 5 months

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New year finds

by spedraja＠ono.com

Having in mind the recent mention in this list of one rare TRS-80 in eBay... I'm searching for ONE or a COUPLE of these items in this new year. * One Tandy 16 with Xenix * One unibus PDP-11 (35, 40, 45, 70...) to run early Unix family versions * One HP1000, 2000 or 3000 * One AT&T 3B2. I got one 3b1 and one 3b2/400, but this last in near to go down and need a replacement. * Xenix for the Altos 586, better in floppy format. I got one system but ist Xenix kernel is damaged. The rest is operative. * MP/M in 8" floppied for one Altos... 5-15 or 8000 ? I'm not sure about the model nor the terminal that it needs (VT-220 would be fine?) * One BA80 monitor for one compact (and funny) Nixdorf 8870. I got too one PDP-8/E needed of some boards to be operative, but it can wait by now. All in the most compact but operative versions available (not the monitor, of course). I have space available for them, but not in excess. All of them in the EU (European Union) area. Sergio

15 years, 5 months

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TRS-80 hiding?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

Hey folks. Check out eBay #310298743467. Is that a TRS-80 Model I hiding inside the bottom front of that scan controller? It sure looks like one to me. -Dave -- Dave McGuire Port Charlotte, FL

15 years, 5 months

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Heath H-1 analog computer

by dougcoward＠hotmail.com

Congratulations Dave. I have only seen one up close - one time. About 15 years ago I did get ahold of most ot the manuals from the heathkit manual replacement service, all except the es-600 function generator manual. I still have not found a reason it is called the HC-1. I just call it the Heath Electronic Analog Computer Model ES-400, because es-400 is the model for the cabinet kit. I have a magazine cover about the Heath Analog Computer at http://www.cowardstereoview.com/analog/readlist.htm I've envious, Good Luck with it. --Doug Coward Poulsbo, WA The new home of the Analog Museum and History Center is http://www.cowardstereoview.com/analog

15 years, 5 months

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IBM PC Convertible Speech Module.

by netsurfer_x1＠fastmailbox.net

Anyone here have the speech module for an IBM PC Convertible they want to get rid of? I just got one of these laptops & was hoping to score one. David M. Vohs Digital Archaeologist & Computer Historian Computer Collection: "Triumph": Commodore 64, 1802, 1541, Indus GT, FDD-1, GeoRAM 512, MPS-801. "Leela": Original Apple Macintosh, Imagewriter II. "Delorean": TI-99/4A, TI Speech Synthesizer. "Spectrum": Tandy Color Computer III. "Monolith": Apple Macintosh Portable. "Boombox": Sharp PC-7000. "Butterfly": Tandy 200, PDD-2. "Shapeshifter": Epson QX-10, Comrex HDD, Titan graphics/MS-DOS board. "Scout": Otrona Attache. (prospective) "Pioneer": Apple LISA II. "TMA-1": Atari Portfolio, Memory Expander + "Centaur": Commodore Amiga 2000. "Neon": Zenith Minisport.

15 years, 5 months

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BIOS/Clock battery replacement

by Hollandia＠ccountry.net

One of my computers is a 486SX. The soldered-in battery is apparently failing; after a period of power-off, the time is badly off at re-start. The date and BIOS are so far unaffected. The motherboard has provision for an off-board battery. I am thinking of using a socketed CR2032 battery which I believe is rated at 3 volts. The manual for the computer describes the off-board battery as 3.6 volts. Is it asking for trouble to use a 3v rather than a 3.6v battery? If so, where are the 3.6v batteries available? Thanks, Kurt

15 years, 5 months

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Who will be the last HD maker down the road?

by vintagecoder＠aol.com

> Date: Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:06:10 -0800 > From: Al Kossow <aek at bitsavers.org> > Subject: Re: Who will be the last HD maker down the road? > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Message-ID: <4D77DDB2.5030004 at bitsavers.org> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > On 3/9/11 11:46 AM, vintagecoder at aol.com wrote: > > > I don't know how that can be true. I can understand deleting doesn't > > work but is it true a simple dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdx onto the flash > > card doesn't fill it with zeros? > > From reading the papers, there are many redundant cells, and the > controller between you and the flash is free to remap and lie about what > it has really done, including continuing to erase cells that have been > marked for garbage collection long after writing has stopped. I understand that and it makes sense "deleting" data or trying to overwrite a filesystem record doesn't necessarily do what we think. But filling the drive to its capacity with a utility like dd using zeros or random data has to work because you can read the data back, so it's really there. > This invalidates assumptions of repeatability of data recovery assumed for > forensic evidence. Interesting and I'm not sure I got what you mean. > Concern from the data security folks is what is really still there > on the parts if you go directly to the chips and bypass the controller. Right, for data that was "deleted", but new data that was written has to end up on the chip somewhere...and this means it really does replace what was there before, unless there's extra capacity there...in which case some number of passes of filling it with random data has to work eventually, by definition. Otherwise it's a bit bucket and not a storage device ;) > I'm concerned about the optimizations they mention in the controller > firmware geared to proprietary file systems (NTFS). What if these are > accidentally performed on some file system that ISN'T and NTFS file > structure? I saw a good piece on this point to the issue that most of the cards are optimized towards FAT32. It explained it may be harmful performance wise to other file systems that are based on spinning media and write small blocks, since the flash works best with much larger fixed blocks depending on manufacturer. I guess we will see some interesting file system development as people address these issues both from hardware and software angles.

15 years, 5 months

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hardware multiply/divide functionality in CPUs

by jules.richardson99＠gmail.com

... or mid-late '70s and early '80s CPUs, to be more specific. Can anyone furnish me with a better knowledge as to which processors of that kind of time period had hardware multiplication and division support? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_multiplier mentions the 6809, but I'm curious as to which* others had such hardware features (and when they started moving from simple shift-add routines to more complex approaches which used more silicon - or did that not happen until much later in the 80s?) * mainframe, mini, micro; I'm not picky. I'm more interested in building up a picture of how widespread hardware support was, and the various approaches that designers used. cheers Jules

15 years, 5 months

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Digital archiving tools

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

> OTOH I keep all of my images compressed, precisely because I want to know if any copy has been corrupted. Specifically I prefer bzip2 (even though a lot of my imaging activities from the 1990's, before I knew about bzip2, are squirreled away in zip files and I have not necessarily moved them to bzip2). If for some reason the only copy of a bz2 file became partially corrupted I could know which parts were good and which parts were bad: RECOVERING DATA FROM DAMAGED FILES bzip2 compresses files in blocks, usually 900kbytes long. Each block is handled independently. If a media or transmission error causes a multi-block .bz2 file to become damaged, it may be possible to recover data from the undamaged blocks in the file. The compressed representation of each block is delimited by a 48-bit pattern, which makes it possible to find the block boundaries with reasonable certainty. Each block also carries its own 32-bit CRC, so damaged blocks can be distinguished from undamaged ones. bzip2recover is a simple program whose purpose is to search for blocks in .bz2 files, and write each block out into its own .bz2 file. You can then use bzip2 -t to test the integrity of the resulting files, and decompress those which are undamaged.

15 years, 5 months

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List issues

by a50mhzham＠gmail.com

Can someone please explain what the problem is with my posts? I mean technically, not in terms of relative value to the discussion. I am (I'm pretty sure) legitimately subscribed to the list. You can ask Al Kossow who I am. I believe I have been a subscriber since 2002, although I only have messages dating back to 2004 to prove it. I was formerly subscribed as tpeters at mixcom.com. That was email address from the late 1990's until it was lost when my ISP got out of the business. In December 2010 I re-subscribed as a50mhzham at gmail.com and this is the address cctalk is sending all posts to. Except mine. I have just logged in and checked my options. Apparently I'm set correctly (settings are all as I expect them to be) especially "Receive your own posts to the list? " which is set to "Yes." I find I can no longer post. I do not see my own posts. My last few messages about SA-801 floppy drives were accused of being spam, with some sort of trojan or virus attached. What's going on? Why, if I get the posts from everyone, do my own not appear? How is it that I can log into http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/options/cctalk with no problem, and yet be unable to post? Please help. -Tom Peters 150 . [Language] Then there's the apocryphal statement attributed to Alexander Haig: "There isn't a word in the English language that can't be verbed." NEW: a50mhzham at gmail.com ? N9QQB (amateur radio) "HEY YOU" (loud shouting) ? Second Tops (Set Dancing) ? FIND ME ON FACEBOOK 43? 7' 17.2" N by 88? 6' 28.9" W ? Elevation 815' ? Grid Square EN53wc LAN/Telecom Analyst ? Open-source Dude ? Musician ? Registered Linux User 385531

15 years, 5 months

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AlphaMicro 68000 system, eBay BIN $125, located in Turlock, CA

by wmaddox＠pacbell.net

I saw this on eBay. No connection with the seller. http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Alpha-Micro-S-100-68000-Server-AM-1072-VCR-i-o-…

15 years, 5 months

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Who will be the last HD maker down the road?

by vintagecoder＠aol.com

On Wed, 09 Mar 2011 15:30:30 -0600 cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote: > Message: 22 > Date: Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:46:24 -0800 > From: Eric Smith <eric at brouhaha.com> > Subject: Re: Who will be the last HD maker down the road? > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Message-ID: <4D77E720.3050100 at brouhaha.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Richard wrote: > > Flash memory is problematic for secure data. Basically, its nearly > > impossible to securely erase a file from flash based disks. > > vintagecoder at aol.com wrote: > > I don't know how that can be true. I can understand deleting doesn't > > work but is it true a simple dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdx onto the > > flash card doesn't fill it with zeros? > > That's *exactly* the problem. It doesn't. dd only fills the blocks > that are currently in use, but the card may have spared out marginal > blocks that still contain residual user data. Then I would think a few passes of filling it with random data should work. > This is true of modern hard drives as well. I like flash because you can snap them in pieces easily ;) All the theory comes to an end at my pair of vice grips! > > That's why the "secure erase" commands were added to the ATA command > set, and the drive is supposed to erase even the spared blocks. I don't trust that to work. But I do trust my vice grips.

15 years, 5 months

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Who will be the last HD maker down the road?

by vintagecoder＠aol.com

On Wed, 09 Mar 2011 23:37:13 -0600 cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote: > Message: 6 > Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2011 13:39:02 -0800 > From: Christian Kennedy <chris at mainecoon.com> > Subject: Re: Who will be the last HD maker down the road? > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic Posts Only" <cctech at classiccmp.org> > Message-ID: <77B95B40-4467-469B-B8EB-203C21DEAE3D at mainecoon.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > > On Mar 9, 2011, at 12:46 PM, Eric Smith wrote: > > > That's why the "secure erase" commands were added to the ATA command > > set, and the drive is supposed to erase even the spared blocks. > > Sandforce takes this one step further in that their SSD drives have AES > encryption turned on by default. If you issue a ATA secure delete to the > drive the key is wiped and regenerated, rendering all of the data in > flash, both primary and spare, into garbage. That's a good theory, but you have no way of knowing whether there's key escrow or not. The safest thing is to use your own encryption, then you know the key will not wind up on the drive somewhere. That's pretty easy to do on Windows or Linux these days.

15 years, 5 months

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Who will be the last HD maker down the road?

by teoz＠neo.rr.com

No Idea who invented the hard drive (IBM maybe?) but Hitachi is selling out its division to WD who will now be number one in the market beating out Seagate. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9213599/Western_Digital_to_buy_Hitac… My stock of HDs has plenty of names that no longer exist (Fujitsu, Maxtor, Connor, Micropolis, Quantum, and maybe a JPS drive). I am sure there are dozens of companies that died before my collecting interest. I wonder if WD will be the last company standing making spinning disks before SSD takes over all markets.

15 years, 5 months

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Who will be the last HD maker down the road?

by vintagecoder＠aol.com

On Wed, 09 Mar 2011 15:30:30 -0600 cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote: > > On Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:14:38 -0600 > > cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote: > > > > > From: Richard <legalize at xmission.com> > > > Subject: Re: Who will be the last HD maker down the road? > > > To: cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > > > Message-ID: <E1Px1RU-000789-Ic at shell.xmission.com> > > > > > > > > > In article <4D75366B.21696.2604652 at cclist.sydex.com>, > > > "Chuck Guzis" <cclist at sydex.com> writes: > > > > > > > We may be using flash both for external storage and internal > > > > storage. > > > > > > Flash memory is problematic for secure data. Basically, its nearly > > > impossible to securely erase a file from flash based disks. > > > > I don't know how that can be true. I can understand deleting doesn't > > work but is it true a simple dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdx onto the flash > > card doesn't fill it with zeros? > > You can't use dd to erase an individual file. You don't have to and that's not the point. The point is you can make a flash drive unrecoverable using dd. If you want individual files to be unrecoverable, just encrypt the whole flash device and never write anything to it in the clear. Easy to implement and a good general solution. > In addition, there are all the machinations that Al mentioned. The device > pretends to be a disk, but it isn't a disk. Doesn't matter as far as I can tell. It has to store the data you give it somewhere, or it wouldn't be useful. Therefore you can get it to overwrite whats already there, just not at the filesystem level.

15 years, 5 months

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Who will be the last HD maker down the road?

by vintagecoder＠aol.com

> Message: 17 > Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2011 15:05:30 -0500 > From: Joachim Thiemann <joachim.thiemann at gmail.com> > Subject: Re: Who will be the last HD maker down the road? > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Message-ID: > <AANLkTinuT62O+YRh=V9h3Ad9zEjGwN_W4z-kvTjSRj+B at mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > > Writing a '0' to a location of the flash that used to be '1' MIGHT > leave the internal analogue state at a higher level than if the bit > previously was '0'. If you then operate the flash in abnormal > conditions (messing with the supply voltages) you MAY be able to get > the memory into a state where the reading thresholds are "just right" > to get the old state. That only gets you so much. If I copy a stream from /dev/urandom to the card having an occasional bit recoverable isn't going to help because of all the bits that can't be recovered. From what I have read I am alot more confident flash can be safely erased with software than I am about a physical drive since magnetism is harder to clean out than flash. Seems to me the point is not relying on a filesystem delete operation but actually filling the drive with random data. And as I said destroying flash is alot easier than smashing a hard drive.

15 years, 5 months

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ZX-80 in good condition needed for MARCH museum

by evan＠snarc.net

Hello all, We're conspicuously in need of a Sinclair ZX-80, in good condition, for our computer museum here in New Jersey. Normally we only accept donations, but in this case we're willing to negotiate a trade / purchase, depending on individual needs vs. our surplus inventory. Please contact me OFF-LIST (thanks) if you have one to part with. Thank you. - Evan (evan at snarc.net)

15 years, 5 months

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hardware multiply/divide functionality in CPUs

by ken＠seefried.com

On 3/9/2011 1:00 PM, cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote: > Since the 9450 implemented the MIL-STD-1750A architecture I occasionally wonder why 1750a wasn't more widely adopted commercially, given a fairly open specification, relatively easy to implement, mature tools ecosystem and built in revenue opportunity from the military. Tangentially, I've got a complete Performance Semi P1750A chipset including MMU. I need to build something with it, if I could ever find enough doco to really understand it. KJ

15 years, 5 months

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cataloging metadata standards -- which are important?

by legalize＠xmission.com

Which metadata standards are important to computer collections? CollectiveAccess supports these out of the box: <http://wiki.collectiveaccess.org/index.php?title=Installation_Profiles_in_t…> - PBCore <http://www.pbcore.org/> - DublinCore <http://www.dublincore.org/> - SPECTRUM <http://www.collectionstrust.org.uk/index.cfm/collection-management/spectrum/> - VRACore <http://www.vraweb.org/projects/vracore4/> - CDWA/CCO <http://www.getty.edu/research/publications/electronic_publications/cdwa/> <http://www.vrafoundation.org/projects.htm> - Darwin Core <http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/index.htm> - DACS <http://www.archivists.org/governance/standards/dacs.asp> - ISAD(G) <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISAD(G)> - MARC <http://www.loc.gov/marc/> Are there metadata standards in use by CHM that would be important to support for exchange of catalog metadata? -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/> Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

15 years, 5 months

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2D barcode for program listings used in 80s magazines?

by legalize＠xmission.com

What was the name of that 2D barcode like print pattern that was used in the 80s in magazines to provide machine readable source listings? I remember these appearing in BYTE, at the very least, although I seem to recall them appearing in other magazines as well. The idea was that you would use a wand type scanner to read the 2D strips of data instead of entering the program listings by hand. It seemed to be mostly used for long BASIC source code listings, although I think I remember seeing it on some assembly hex dumps as well. -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/> Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

15 years, 5 months

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2" floppy disks (Zenith Minisport laptop)

by chrism3667＠yahoo.com

Hi, I've had 2 of these for a while. Took a gander at one of them last night, and lo and behold, there was a disk in 1. Depressing the button did nothing to free the disk, so I too pliers and yanked it out. It was a thing of beauty. Unfortunately though the platter was all mangled up. Ok. Took the thing apart and the substrate or whatever the h* measured maybe a hair over .001" using a cheap caliper (won't mention country of origin). Took apart a 3 1/2" disk and it's platter measured about .003". Became feverish and measured a video tape and it was oh .00075". I'm aware that the oxides used differs on different media. But, and I realize there's a discrepancy in the thickness, but are the platters used in a 3 1/2" disk compatible w/the 2" standard. These things are just so friggin cute, I'd like to see them running again. I doubt anyone is manufacturing 2" disks out there. And incidentally does anyone know what computers used the Fujitsu M2551a 5 1/4" floppy drive? Something tells me it may have been used in the AT & T 6300/Olivetti?/Xerox? units, but I'm not sure.

15 years, 5 months

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anyone using collectiveaccess for their collections?

by legalize＠xmission.com

<http://collectiveaccess.org/> Its open source (GPLv2) software for cataloging collections. Does anyone have any experience with it? -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/> Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

15 years, 5 months

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[rescue] Stuff to dispense with pt 1.

by robert.herget＠gmail.com

Hi, Im interested in your Onyx prototype machine. What all does it come with? Robert Herget

15 years, 5 months

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National Software Reference Library

by aek＠bitsavers.org

http://www.nsrl.nist.gov/Project_Overview.htm for an example of a large (about 18 million unique sums) database of file hashes It is interesting that they don't claim that they are all valid files, just that they have a hash and a file/path name from a known source

15 years, 5 months

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hardware multiply/divide functionality in CPUs

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

>> [HP PA-RISC in 9000 840 done in TTL] > That's a useful one to know about! Was it a microcoded design, or was the > instruction decoding more logic-based? (which might explain the PALs!) I'm not enough of a PA-RISC conniseur to claim that there's nothing like microcode In there but... PA-RISC was a very consciously RISC effort. Shift-and-add instructions are part of the PA-RISC instruction set. Deragatory remarks from CISCy folks complained that PA-RISC instructions were in fact microcode :-). Some block diagrams are in the CE handbook at http://bitsavers.org/pdf/hp/9000_800/ According to openpa.net, they did a lot of good stuff with just 150 chips. I contrast with other minis of the 70's and early 80's which did much less with many more chips. From openpa.net: The TS-1 was the first PA-RISC production processor, introduced in 1986. It integrated version 1.0 of PA-RISC on six boards (each 8.4?11.3?) of TTL. Details: PA-RISC version 1.0 32-bit Three-stage pipeline The CPU consists of six separate boards: I-unit: the Instruction Unit Register File Board, contains general and control registers E-unit: the Execution Unit TLB, the translation lookaside buffer with 4096 entries for 2?KB pages Cache controller with split instruction and data caches ? 64?KB for each I and D FPC, the floating-point coprocessor, handles FP operations parallel to the CPU/ALU (the ADD/MUL/DIV chip was taken over from the HP 9000/550 FOCUS system) 4096-entry TLB off-chip, direct-mapped Off-chip L1 cache of 128?KB (I/D) direct-mapped/one-way associative Physical address space of 27-bit (128?MB main memory could be addressed) 8?MHz clock speed Six (some sources say five) printed circuit boards, implemented in FAST TTL and (25ns and 35ns) SRAMs/PALs, which each about 150 ICs Tim.

15 years, 5 months

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hardware multiply/divide functionality in CPUs

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

> background: I'm revisiting a homebrew microcoded CPU that I started > thinking about a few years ago (with the intention of making it > predominantly from LS-TTL if I can get enough parts together). I hadn't > considered hardware multiply or divide before (the intention was just to > have library routines in software), but if it was relatively common on > systems between the mid-70s and early-80s then maybe I'll include > something. Simple shift-add multiply with unsigned integers is simple > enough, but I'm thinking that if I do it at all it'd be nice for it to work > with signed integers, too, so I've got some head-scratching to do :-) As to "common", if your CPU starts looking like a 68000 or 8086, then you'll probably have both signed and unsigned multiply and divide. (I think the original x86 had some instructions to assist with BCD multiply?) 68000 or 80x86 hardly seem like clever minimal instruction sets today... and for a long time those implementing CPU designs have tended towards RISC. e.g. PA-RISC was in production from 1986 through 2008, was a high performance micro, and had no hardware multiply. If you're looking for a good model for implementing in 74xx series logic, keep in mind that in 1986, HP was selling their new workstation, the HP 9000 840, which had its CPU largely implemented in 74F series logic (I think there were some PAL's etc. but my memory fades). IMHO unsigned multiply will usually be most appropriate for the bit twiddling a micro has to do. BUT... if you're gonna do Fortran benchmarks, you probably want signed multiply. (This is a sore point when it comes to implementing bit-twiddling multiplies in Fortran. Understandable because Fortran was designed around ones-complement processors.) Tim.

15 years, 5 months

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Digital archiving tools

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

What you want, for goals #1 through #3, are simply disk and tape images, as commonly used with all the major simulators/emulators and tools. #4 and #5 are not part of the disk and tape images themselves, but you layer on top with checksums (Aka md5sum's) and geographically diverse storage networks etc. It's important not to confuse the image, with the media on which the image may currently be residing. A well-thought out image container format will outlast many generations of media. (And indeed have; RT-11 Logical Disk containers have existed since the 70's, and DECUS TPC-style tape images for nearly that long). This is why #1-#3 have to be decoupled from #4 and #5.

15 years, 5 months

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hardware multiply/divide functionality in CPUs (6809)

by mtapley＠swri.edu

At 23:56 -0600 3/7/11, Jules wrote: >Yes, that seems to be the 'famous' one that gets mentioned everywhere. It >seems it was of the shift-add variety. Anyone recall if it would work with >signed integers? (I'm just trying to work out how the math works for signed >multiplies at the moment) I have a scanned .pdf of the 6809 programmer's manual here, happy to send out if anyone wants it, but it's 12.8 MBytes. (I got it >from the freescale website, since reorganized; it's online at http://www.maddes.net/m6809pm/ .) It says the MUL instruction A x B -> D (unsigned) takes 11 MPU cycles. ADD instructions take a minimum of 2 cycles, as do shift (roll, etc) instructions. So I think maybe there must have been some silicon (vs. microcode) involved in the multiply? I don't see how the shift-add sequence could be done in only 11 cycles. MUL is unsigned arithmetic only. -- - Mark 210-379-4635 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Large Asteroids headed toward planets inhabited by beings that don't have technology adequate to stop them: Think of it as Evolution in Fast-Forward.

15 years, 5 months

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need Radio Electronics from 1980

by chrism3667＠yahoo.com

not sure if the Unicorn-1 robot series went beyond 1980. I need all of them regardless.

15 years, 5 months

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Lorlin Impact Test System Disk...

by lbickley＠bickleywest.com

I recently picked up a RL02 pack from a recycler. After doing my usual tear-down and clean process, I tested the pack on my 11/34C. It was 100% error free - and was initialized for RT-11. It is the system pack for a "Lorlin Impact Test System", Software Version 1.0M. It contains the IMPACT drivers (IMPACT.SYS) and the IMPACT main program (IMPACT.SAV). I do not have any Lorlin Impact hardware - so I plan to wipe the pack clean and use it for other purposes. However, before doing so, I wanted to pass it by this list - in case someone has a PDP-11 based Lorlin Impact system - and doesn't have this software. If you need this pack (or a copy of just the Lorlin Software), please contact me off list. Regards, Lyle -- Lyle Bickley, AF6WS Bickley Consulting West Inc. http://bickleywest.com "Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"

15 years, 5 months

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New to the List -- Criteria for Being Salvageable? -- Query

by captainkirk359＠gmail.com

Hello fellow classic computer enthusiasts. I'm quite new to the list, but an avid fan of all things "retro" computerwise. Though, at present I don't have anything that could be described as a "classic" system beyond a KSR-33 teletype made by Leigh up here in Canada sometime during the 60s or 70s. Now, on to what the main thing I wanted to discuss... I'm a student at Brock University in southern Ontario, and I've noticed that the faculty of computer science has a small collection of quite vintage machines; from what I remember there's a "classic" PDP-8, a PDP-8/L and an HP2116 I think. They also have a nice ASR-33 teletype in the collection, as well as various other tidbits. So, my question is what would the criteria be to be able to make those systems capable of being run once more? From a cursory visual inspection, the PDP-8 appears to be complete, FLIP-CHIP wise, the PDP-8/L is enclosed but dusty, and I think the HP - which is open - has a pretty nice loadout of cards. So going by modules I would say all the hardware is there (save power supplies?), so what would be needed to bring up one of those systems? And more importantly, would any one be interested in signing (an online) petition to the BrockU CS Faculty to convince them to try and restore one of their minis and their terminal back into a functional state? And as a final query, I have no idea if this could be considered off topic or not, but are there any DEC enthusiasts in southern Ontario? (And any who are willing to part with a PDP-11 or OMNIBUS based PDP-8?) Cheers everyone, Christian Gauger-Cosgrove

15 years, 5 months

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I Never Knew That The VT100 Was A Computer :-)

by robert.jarratt＠ntlworld.com

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270716450383&ssPageName =ADME:B:SS:GB:1123 Regards Rob

15 years, 5 months

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"300 Baud" magazine shuts down

by eric＠brouhaha.com

Issue #3 is unfortunately the final issue. You can now get PDF files of issues 1 through 3 from their web site: http://www.300baudmagazine.com/

15 years, 5 months

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New to the List -- Criteria for Being Salvageable? -- Query

by dm561＠torfree.net

----- Original Message ----- > Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2011 21:33:09 -0500 > From: Christian Gauger-Cosgrove <captainkirk359 at gmail.com> > Subject: New to the List -- Criteria for Being Salvageable? -- Query > > ...And as a final query, I have no idea if this could be considered off > topic or not, but are there any DEC enthusiasts in southern Ontario? > (And any who are willing to part with a PDP-11 or OMNIBUS based > PDP-8?) > > Cheers everyone, > > Christian Gauger-Cosgrove ----- Reply: ----- Several on this list are in the GTA and Ottawa area that I know of, but I don't know what if anything they want to part with ;-)

15 years, 5 months

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hardware multiply/divide functionality in CPUs

by dm561＠torfree.net

----- Original Message ----- > Date: Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:41:43 -0800 > From: "Chuck Guzis" <cclist at sydex.com> > Subject: Re: hardware multiply/divide functionality in CPUs > > The 701 had multiply and divide instructions as did the 650. But > then, the IBM 603 could multiply and the 604 could multiply and > divide. > > --Chuck ----- Reply: ----- I suppose within the paradigm of the day you could consider the 603 and 604 "numeric co-processors", the only electronic (tubes of course) components in an otherwise electro-mechanical "system". The 603's claim to fame is that it's considered to be "the first mass-produced commercial electronic calculating device" and the 604 which came two years later in 1948 was an improved version which, as Chuck points out, added division capabilities. Having myself worked with the 604 (640 kilos/4 m3) I had to chuckle at its being called 'a miniature electronic calculator'; the word 'miniature' certainly had a different meaning in the context of the day: http://www.science.uva.nl/faculteit/museum/604.php Wish I'd kept my IBM manuals, including the 604; the person to whom I sent them years ago (you know who you are ;-) solemnly promised to make them available on the 'web, but I haven't found them so far... BTW, FWIW with a little fancy programming the 40x series of 'tabulating machines' could also be made to multiply, albeit *very* slowly... ;-) mike

15 years, 5 months

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hardware multiply/divide functionality in CPUs

by dm561＠torfree.net

----- Original Message ----- > > Date: Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:27:46 -0800 > From: "Chuck Guzis" <cclist at sydex.com> > Subject: Re: hardware multiply/divide functionality in CPUs > > There were math co-processor boards (AM9511, AM9512, for example) for > S100 systems. ISTR that there was even a TRW bipolar (16x16? Huge > chip that ran hot as a pistol) for the S100 bus. > > --Chuck ----- Reply: ----- Also Cromemco's Maximizer co-processor and the XXU 68020/68881 (and later 68040) processor boards.

15 years, 5 months

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hardware multiply/divide functionality in CPUs

by rickb＠bensene.com

Konrad Zuse's Z3 relay computer, built in 1941, had hard wired 22-bit floating point multiply, divide, and square root instructions. That is likely the first implementation of hardware multiply and divide in a computer. Multiply took up to 3 seconds.

15 years, 5 months

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hardware multiply/divide functionality in CPUs

by brian＠quarterbyte.com

The IBM 1130 had 16x16 multiply and divide in 1967. Shift and add. It was not a microcoded machine. On average, a multiply took 26 usec, and 11 of those were the overhead of fetching the instruction and operands.

15 years, 5 months

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I Never Knew That The VT100 Was A Computer :-)

by dm561＠torfree.net

----- Original Message ----- > > Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2011 15:02:57 -0800 (PST) > From: Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com> > Subject: Re: I Never Knew That The VT100 Was A Computer :-) > It had some damage; I had to retrieve it after the college dumpstered MY > collection (in spite of specific paperwork from the dean authorizing it!) > I'd like to drop it on a college administrator's head. > -- > Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin at xenosoft.com ----- Reply: ----- No wonder you're grumpy... m

15 years, 5 months

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hardware multiply/divide functionality in CPUs

by bqt＠softjar.se

On 03/07/11 23:57, allison<ajp166 at verizon.net> wrote: > EAE was PDP-8 Actually, Tony is totally correct. There was an EAE for the PDP-11 as well, and it is a Unibus device, with a few registers in floating space. You load some of them with the arguments, and then read out the result at another register a little later. It was produced before the EIS came about, and probably only sold with the 11/20 and 11/15. But it should work on any Unibus machine. > The PDP11 series had multiple implementations including the FPP (2901 based) > and the FIS for the 11/23cpu (F11). The 11/44 had a FPU that used a carload > of 2901s. FIS first came on the 11/40. The same opcode space was then reused for the FPP on the 11/45 and onwards. 11/23 never had FIS, but the 11/03 did. 11/23 had an optional FPP chip, however (and CIS). In fact, the only two machines to have FIS was the 11/40 and 11/03 (and I know the 11/35 as well, but that is just a derivative of the 11/40). Why the 11/03 got FIS is beyond me, but maybe they didn't have enough transistors to implement the FPP, but wanted something, and reused that design instead, since you at least have some software that supports it. I'm pretty sure the FIS for 11/03 was an option, though, and not included in every machine. The FIS for the 11/40 definitely was. As far as integer multiply/divide goes, the 11/40 had EIS as well, but it was optional. Just like FIS. Johnny

15 years, 5 months

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Pick-up: Cromemco System 3 - So Cal

by tosteve＠yahoo.com

Local folk, Item: Cromemco System 3 Quantity: 1 AKA: Giant monster. Please come and take it away. Orange County, CA 92656 Thanks- Steve.

15 years, 5 months

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"300 Baud" magazine shuts down

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

Eric writes: > Issue #3 is unfortunately the final issue. > You can now get PDF files of issues 1 through 3 from their web site: > http://www.300baudmagazine.com/ And I never knew it existed until now :-(. The enthusiastic attitude and WIDE pop-culture-artifact orientation reminds me a lot of CHAC newsletters (did they/Kip Crosby do anything past the mid-90's?) Tim.

15 years, 5 months

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Free: Stack of Victor or Sirius floppy disks

by tosteve＠yahoo.com

Yes, a whole stack of 5-1/4 inch floppy disks for your Victor computer. All copies, no originals. Are they any good? Who knows! Do you want them? Heck yeah! Pay shipping and we can make it so. No sniping allowed.

15 years, 5 months

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photos from the Living Computer Museum (Seattle, WA)

by legalize＠xmission.com

On a trip to Seattle last week, Rich Alderson was nice enough to show me around the Living Computer Museum's hardware collection. Here are captioned photos from my trip. <https://picasaweb.google.com/legalize.slc/LivingComputerMuseum#> -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/> Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>

15 years, 5 months

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"300 Baud" magazine shuts down

by david＠classiccomputing.com

> Eric writes: >> Issue #3 is unfortunately the final issue. >> You can now get PDF files of issues 1 through 3 from their web site: >> http://www.300baudmagazine.com/ > > And I never knew it existed until now :-(. > > The enthusiastic attitude and WIDE pop-culture-artifact orientation > reminds me a lot of CHAC newsletters (did they/Kip Crosby do anything > past the mid-90's?) > > Tim. Ahhhhh, it doesn't remind you of my little publication at all? http://www.classiccomputing.com/hb.html Kip's web page stopped updating around 1997 and I haven't spoken with him in detail about what happened. I'm trying to get an interview going with him. He went on to co-author a book about Windows 98 and I don't know after that - http://www.amazon.com/Windows-1998-Bible-Frederic-Davis/dp/0201696908/ref=s… Best, David Greelish, Computer Historian Classic Computing The Home of Computer History Nostalgia http://www.classiccomputing.com Classic Computing Blog Classic Computing Show video podcast "Stan Veit's History of the Personal Computer" audiobook podcast Retro Computing Roundtable podcast Historical Computer Society

15 years, 5 months

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