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

by aek＠bitsavers.org

> A scrap of paper upon which is written: REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY bad idea. The paper WILL be lost. While I don't agree with the complexity Sellam has come up with whatever you do needs to have that level of metadata in the file itself. The specific nasty example of this are the hundreds of Whirlwind paper tapes the Computer Museum has. They are indexed with a part number. They don't appear to have the index for these numbers.

21 years, 3 months

2
1
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Wanted: Rubber drive wheel for HP 9144 tape drive

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Wanted: Rubber drive wheel for HP 9144 tape drive > From: Bill Richman <bill at timeguy.com> > Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 09:08:21 -0500 > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > >I'm trying to help a friend locate a replacement tape drive wheel for an HP 9144 tape drive. He says that there's a hard roller inside the tape cartridge, and there's a softer (rubber?) roller in the drive that pushes against it, pulling the tape along. Apparently the softer rollers tend to turn to "goo" after many years. He's been working to recover some archived files from the beginnings of the company he works for, mostly for historical interest, and his last tape drive recently succumbed to the "goo" problem. Anyone have any replacement rollers that would be in any better shape, or any suggestions for alternatives? Thanks! > Line Breaks! I just scrape off the goo and use some suitably sized tygon (Vinyl) tubing to make a replacement roller. Allison

21 years, 3 months

2
1
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Don Maslin's archive

by aek＠bitsavers.org

Also, many tapes (depending on make and age) can actually be so brittle that during the read the material seperates from the transport, not a pretty sight. -- What appears to happen is the adhesion to the previous layer of tape is greater than to the original, and it strips the oxide and binder to clear mylar (not a pretty sight or sound). I have become VERY cautious when working with old floppies and tapes and assume that I will only get one pass at recovering the data. For discs, you want to keep the heads moving. I've crashed a LOT of disc packs by staying on a single track too long.

21 years, 3 months

1
0
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Disk archival

by mbbrutman＠brutman.com

So, what is the latest version of Teledisk that one can find? And what version is preferred? I have found versions 2.11, 2.12, 2.15, and 2.16. None of them seemed reliable though .. some disks worked, some didn't. Like Jim, I standardized on the Central Point Option Board. (Wish I had spares though .. they are pricey as of late.) For non-protected diskettes I use ditu, Linux dd, or any other sector copier that creates a raw diskette dump. For copy protected diskettes I use the Option Board, and Teledisk if I have the patience. All of my cataloged diskettes have the labels scanned too. Mike

21 years, 3 months

1
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Tandy T100 info

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Tandy T100 info > From: John Hogerhuis <jhoger at gmail.com> > Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 17:58:44 -0700 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >On 5/16/05, Allison <ajp166 at bellatlantic.net> wrote: >> I'll have to look more at all this. However, step one is to >> get the M100 I have up to 32k ram. Then I'll look at how secondary >> rom socket space is used. I'd like a configuration that also has >> ram at 0000h and maybe a OS in it. I've considered getting > >That has been done... I believe what you do is put a RAM in the Option >ROM socket and bring out the necessary signals (/WE I think). Also the >NEC 8201A and NEC 8300 are able to switch to all RAM mode with a short >program. I'd be surprized if it weren't already done. Way too easy. The switch for M100 is also trivial piece of code. The real trick is to keep the rom socket available. So the magic is to make the all ram option a third one and software selectable. >There was at some point in time a device called a PIC Disk that >allowed you to run CP/M on the Model 100. It connected to the bus >expansion port underneath the M100. Tandy also had one that added a vidio and disk to the M100 that used the bus connector. I have part of the manual for it. Allison

21 years, 3 months

2
1
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Don Maslin's archive

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "Barry Watzman" <Watzman at neo.rr.com> > >Re: "But gathering together a large number of rare, desirable items >(however subjective) into one place without a will or letter of >intent is not "archiving". In fact it's the opposite -- items were >taken out of circulation probably permanently." > >A point here that might be worth making to Don's widow is that since the >materials in question are software archives, they can both be made available >to the world while she still retains the physical items and library herself. >It's not like collecting motorcycles. These items can be duplicated without >any destruction of the originals. Hi I don't believe this is her issue. I suspect it is a combination of grief, anger and ignorance. I think the main thing to do is to let her know that she shouldn't just dump the stuff. Beyond that, I'd guess just back off and leave her alone. Dwight

21 years, 3 months

1
0
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HP-IB Census

by steerex＠mindspring.com

Hey guys, I am compiling some information for a HP-IB KnowledgeBase article / FAQ and need some input. In order to focus my efforts and get the maximum value from the KB, I need to know what specific information should be included in the KB/FAQ. Some of the topics I am considering are: * Introduction / Tutorial - Basic overview of the protocol * Protocols - HP-IB, GPIB, SICL, IEEE-488, etc... * Characteristics - Electrical and physical characteristics * Instruments - Talking to instruments * Bus Analyzers - IE HP59401A * CS-80 disks - The CS-80 / SS-80 protocols * Programming - Linux, HP-UX, C, assembler, other So... I'd like to hear from anyone that is interested in HP-IB as to what they would like to see in the KB. Please reply to the cctech list or directly to me at steerex[at]mindspring[dot]com. See ya, SteveRob

21 years, 3 months

5
5
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'goto" gone from computer languages or is it!

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

>print_ary (ary, DIM (ary)); > >void print_ary (int *aryp, int n) >{ > > goto skip_comma; > for (;n;aryp++, n--) > { > printf (", "); > >skip_comma: > printf ("%u", *aryp); > } > printf ("\n"); > >} >> I'd skip both the GOTO and the conditional and do it: >> >> void print_ary(int *aryp,size_t n) >> { >> size_t i; >> char *sep; >> >> assert(aryp != NULL); /* sorry, gotta check */ >> assert(n > 0); >> >> for (i = 0 , sep = "" ; i < n ; aryp++ , i++) >> { >> printf("%s%u",sep,&aryp); >> sep = ","; >> } >> putchar('\n'); >> } >Clever. I don't like the conditional either, but you are also >unnecessarily reinitializing sep every time through the loop. With the >goto I avoid both the conditional and the reinit. Given that the original example assumes n > 0 (the test is skipped on first entry to the loop), you can accomplish this function with neither an extra conditional, superfluous assignment, extra variables or use of 'goto' void print_arg(int *aryp, unsigned n) { int i; for(i=0; ;) { printf("%u", aryp[i]); if(++i >= n) break; fputs(", ", stdout); } putc('\n', stdout); } -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 3 months

6
7
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2 UPS/Alarm batteries available

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: 2 UPS/Alarm batteries available > From: John Foust <jfoust at threedee.com> > Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 07:43:37 -0500 > To: <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >And due to my own packrat tendencies, I have a large pile of dead UPSes >of various sizes, along with an item on my very long to-do list >that says "buy replacement lead-acid batteries." Any recommendations >for a supplier in the USA? > >- John There are any number of battery suppliers. APC also supplies them but at 80$(shipping included plus return reciept for the dead ones) for two 7AH batts they arent cheap. I expect to pay less than 26$US for 12V at 7AH new at the local suppliers, cheaper is out there. Allison

21 years, 3 months

2
1
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Don Maslin's archive

by Watzman＠neo.rr.com

Re: "But gathering together a large number of rare, desirable items (however subjective) into one place without a will or letter of intent is not "archiving". In fact it's the opposite -- items were taken out of circulation probably permanently." A point here that might be worth making to Don's widow is that since the materials in question are software archives, they can both be made available to the world while she still retains the physical items and library herself. It's not like collecting motorcycles. These items can be duplicated without any destruction of the originals.

21 years, 3 months

1
0
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Doing some house keeping and need to find a home for a few items

by g-wright＠worldnet.att.net

Hi, all Need to find homes for a few items. These are in Kent Washington south of Seattle. These are mostly very large items or hard to ship. So pick up here only or arrange for your own shipping. 1- Vax 6000 320 very good condition no real damage to the enclosure missing the hard drives. I believe there where RA-72's drives. Looks complete and very clean inside. Very Large, Very heavy. 100.00 1- TI 990 A13 This does not turn on and has a bad power supply at minimum. Has 2 hard drives with Cartridge tape drives Model WD 800, 3 terminals, 3 or 4 boxes of manuals and tapes. No hardware manuals, just software. Missing the side covers for the rack. and has some damage to one of the front grilles. 400.00 1- TI printing terminal (like a DEC writer). 50.00 1- NEC APC color Computer in the original Box. Has most of the Manuals and software. 8" floppy. Needs a Keyboard. 50.00 1- external hard drive of a NEC APC. APC H-26 unknown condition 50.00 2- HP 7970B Mag tape drives. Both turn on, but have not been tested. both have 1 panel on the front door that has come loose and needs to be reglued. 75.00 ea. 1- Dec writer 3 in very good working condition 75.00 1- Fluke 1775B Printer. New, this is a Tally 1602 with HBIB interface Dot matrix 35.00 1- HP 2601a printer. this is a diablo 630 (serial) Daisy wheel 25.00 1- DEC Micro Vax 2 with M7620 AA (Micro Vax 3), M7621a, Non Dec memory, M7546 Tk50 board, M7555 MFM and Floppy board. Has no Hard drives. Does have TK 50 tape. all of the ext. panels are there. 100.00 1- Cipher 100-860 Mag tape Unknown condition 50.00 1- Tek 4105 terminal, no keyboard. 20.00 1- OutPut Tech. laser printer. Looks looks like a Laser jet 2 But prints on Tractor feed 8 1/2 x 11" paper. Works has new Drum kit. 35.00 1- Barco 400 RGB projector Does XGA with manual. has not been used in a couple of years. Large, heavy and Free 1- Northern Telcom SS400 Disk drive. This is a Small roll around 8" SCSI drive with a Exabyte 2.5 gig tape drive. unknown condition. 25.00 1- Wang PC. This is not a standard PC. Is about 24" deep takes a special monitor. Not included. Has hard drive, and 5 1/4 floppy. I believe I have software Disks. Model PC-002 with Keyboard 35.00 1- Lexmark Optra S2455, laser Printer. high page count but looks like new and works fine. Has second paper bin. prints 24 PPM has P-port and ether net 10/100 75.00 1- NCR 1202 pc ?? this is a all in one Unit with 2 floppy dirves. Lots of add on modules, software and manuals. No Keyboard. 45.00 1- Toshiba Computer. I believe these where CPM systems. Has CPU and Keyboard all in one. with external Floppy drive. No software 25.00 - offers welcome - please don't leave Posts here. email me at g-wright at att.net or call. Day time Phone 800-292-6370 or 253-854-9601 9-6 PST M-F Thanks, Jerry Jerry wright JLC

21 years, 3 months

1
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[ZS1] RE: text-messaging versus morse code - Jay Leno show

by GOOI＠oce.nl

Ok, to stay OT (sorry, could not resist) it is a uhmm "special" to take a keyboard with you, but you would certainly force respect if you took an ASR33 along :~) - Henk, PA8PDP. > -----Original Message----- > From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org > [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Nico de Jong > Sent: dinsdag 17 mei 2005 15:58 > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts > Subject: Re: [ZS1] RE: text-messaging versus morse code - Jay > Leno show > > > From: "James Fogg" <James at jdfogg.com> > > > > if you want to see the show fragment, here is a URL (8,4 Mb) > > > > > > http://n6tv.kkn.net/Text_vs_Morse_Leno_2005_05_13.wmv > > > > > > 73, > > > - Henk, PA8PDP. > > > > Thanks for the link - it's great to see the juxtaposition of > > technologies. It makes me wish I hadn't missed my > expiration of my ham > > license (N1QCO). > > > Great fragment. > I recently saw a new product : a full size PC keyboard where you could > attach a cell phone, obviously aimed at the text message marked... > Hm, why not build a cell phone into an ASR33, where the modem > usually was > located ? > That would allow for hardcopying txts... > > 73, Nico (OZ1BMC) > >

21 years, 3 months

1
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text-messaging versus morse code - Jay Leno show

by James＠jdfogg.com

> Hi all, > if you want to see the show fragment, here is a URL (8,4 Mb) > > http://n6tv.kkn.net/Text_vs_Morse_Leno_2005_05_13.wmv > > 73, > - Henk, PA8PDP. Thanks for the link - it's great to see the juxtaposition of technologies. It makes me wish I hadn't missed my expiration of my ham license (N1QCO).

21 years, 3 months

2
1
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2 UPS/Alarm batteries available

by tpeters＠mixcom.com

> At 02:50 AM 5/17/2005, Rob O'Donnell wrote: >>Is there any way of rejuvenating sealed lead-acid batteries or is it a >> case of once they fail to hold a charge, they are useless? (And if so, >> does anybody know a very cheap UK supplier of them?) If they haven't been treated well, IE charged by a cheap, non-smart charger or allowed to sit uncharged for long periods or othewise abused, or if they're just plain worn out, there's really no hope for them. Sorry. Stories abound about using capacitor banks discharged through them to rejuvinate them, but that's all pretty much folklore with relatively little basis in fact, except for an extremely limited range of circumstances. ***Dispose of them properly*** they contain lead, a toxic metal. In the US, drag them over to Batteries Plus and just drop them off, free of charge, no questions asked, and they will be recycled properly. In the UK...??? > And due to my own packrat tendencies, I have a large pile of dead UPSes > of various sizes, along with an item on my very long to-do list > that says "buy replacement lead-acid batteries." Any recommendations > for a supplier in the USA? There's a variety of sources, but the best deal so far is a corporate account at Batteries plus. I pay a few bucks more for some types, much less for more popular 12v UPS batteries, and save overall. That's my .015 euro. de N9QQB

21 years, 3 months

1
0
0 0

2 UPS/Alarm batteries available

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: 2 UPS/Alarm batteries available > From: "Rob O'Donnell" <classiccmp.org at irrelevant.fsnet.co.uk> > Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 08:50:43 +0100 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >Is there any way of rejuvenating sealed lead-acid batteries or is it a case >of once they fail to hold a charge, they are useless? (And if so, does >anybody know a very cheap UK supplier of them?) > > >Rob > For the first question, NO. The second I can not help with the UK though here they are cheap. (USA) One hint, I've used APC UPS's and their software self tests way to often and kills battteries very fast, to the point of excess. Allison

21 years, 3 months

1
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mini versus micro?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: mini versus micro? > From: Saquinn624 at aol.com > Date: Tue, 17 May 2005 01:48:51 -0400 (EDT) > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > >One thing that I have been wondering for a while is what the current >definition of minicomputer is. >It used to be contrasted with microcomputers, the telling difference being a >multichip processor implementation versus a single-chip microprocessor [if so, >are the POWER1 and POWER2 processors >minicomputer processors?] but now, with microprocessors being used in >mainframes (and even on-topic mainframes) is this distinction meaningless [i.e. >should the designation "microcomputer" in its size/power context be replaced with >something else?] and, if so, does the [whatever micro becomes]/mini/mainframe >become a question of mass (>700 lbs mainframe, >100 lbs mini, <100 lbs [???]), >or history (the HP3000 started life as a mini, therefore the spectrum models >continue as minis . . .), or does the venerable minicomputer cease to exist? >any other ideas? > >Scott Quinn Minicomputer in my lexicon is any computer that DID NOT start as a microcomputer chip. Examples: Nova, PDP-8, PDP-11 even VAX. Those wer picked as in every case there is a Microcomputer implmentation that came later. In most cases the Micro version is as capable or more so as a result of developmental maturity. Second part of that is it stops being a MINICOMPUTER when it's small enough that a rack is not the standard mounting platform. So age, type and mass are determining factors. The term mini came from the '60s when computers started from filling rooms to fitting in office corners. The concurrent event is skirts got way shorter too, hence the name. Allison

21 years, 3 months

1
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Cool and simple ideas needed!

by bpettit＠ix.netcom.com

Any interesting suggestions? Best wishes, Philipp :-) I used to set up a conversion of typewriter input to visible punches in the paper tape. For example, a kid would type his name, the punch would put out his name in 5x7 dot characters. Or a 6x8. They could tear it off and take it with them. I used a standard character generator pattern I found in a data book. Another fun one is to use a mortgage program and have someone give the inputs from their mortgage payments. Then have them increase the payment by $20 a month and see the impact. (The extra money goes against principle so it shortens the pay off time by years.) Assembly for the visible character, Fortran for the mortgage. Have fun. Billy

21 years, 3 months

2
1
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homes needed for SGI Indigo2 R4k/250 Solid

by Saquinn624＠aol.com

I have several Silicon Graphics Indigo2 IMPACT workstations (free) with the following specs R4400/250SC (2 MB cache) 64-128 MB RAM (I think) Solid IMPACT graphics (one is dual-head with Extreme) No disks, but an OS can be made available. Also have an Indy R5000SC/150 XL-8 (Newport) graphics at least 32 MB RAM Sony PS. same as above re. disks Good Dallas units in them when I checked. Forward to anyone who would be interested In the Seattle area, but I can be persuaded to ship I also have a Imperial Hemibuttload of keyboards for them. -Scott Quinn

21 years, 3 months

3
2
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HP 1161 Logic Analyzer

by bpettit＠ix.netcom.com

Anyone have a schematic for this unit? It is the Z80 version. I'm scrapping it out but would like to see if I can use the power supply. I'll pay for a copy of the schematics. Parts are available if anyone wants them. Just pay postage. All I want is the chassis and power supply. All the PCBs are 100 pin and look similiar to S-100. Anyone have more knowledge of this? Billy

21 years, 3 months

1
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Request to meet fellow collectors

by KParker＠workcover.com

Later this year (depart 8 Nov 2005) my wife and I will be doing an around the world trip ex South Australia (we'll be away 71 nights). Whilst travelling I'd be interested in catching up with any interested fellow collectors, particularly collectors of TRS80 and genuine IBM stuff (but I'm not going to discriminate :-) Our major stops will be Auckland NZ, Recife (its on the east coast of Brazil), Miami, Memphis, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Ohio (little place called Lewisburg which I'm told is not to far from Cleveland), New York, London, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Berlin (and Rostock), Japan (numerous places) and Hong Kong. Please contact me off list if you can help. ++++++++++ Kevin Parker Web Services Consultant WorkCover Corporation p: 08 8233 2548 m: 0418 806 166 e: kparker at workcover.com w: www.workcover.com ++++++++++ ************************************************************************ This e-mail is intended for the use of the addressee only. It may contain information that is protected by legislated confidentiality and/or is legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient you are prohibited from disseminating, distributing or copying this e-mail. Any opinion expressed in this e-mail may not necessarily be that of the WorkCover Corporation of South Australia. Although precautions have been taken, the sender cannot warrant that this e-mail or any files transmitted with it are free of viruses or any other defect. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail and destroy the original e-mail and any copies. ************************************************************************

21 years, 3 months

1
0
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Moore's Law/Byte magazine

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Moore's Law/Byte magazine > From: Patrick Finnegan <pat at computer-refuge.org> > Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 11:14:54 -0500 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >I've found my copies of Jan - Mar 1988 that have the article. I could >potentially let someone "borrow" a copy of the article. > I'd like to see a copy of that article myself. Allison

21 years, 3 months

2
1
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Don's archive

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "jim stephens" <jwstephens at msm.umr.edu> > ---snip--- > >Without any information about the specifics of Don's situation, let me say >that my wife and heirs know what my pile is, and who to call when and if >I predecease her. If you do not or cannot take this step, your pile will face >uncertain or sad prospects when you go. > Hi I think part of the problem is that it is hard to explain to another family member what it is that we do. I've tried to explain to my sister inlaw once but soon gave up. It was like trying to explain things in a foriegn language that she didn't know. My guess is that Don may have tried to relate to his wife what it was he was doing but for something like this, there wasn't enough common ground to communicate. Even for a husband and wife, there are things that never get fully communicated. Each eventually learns to just not push the issue if it doesn't need immediate action. The phase " Yes, Dear " comes to mind. Even if he did explain it to her, she may never have understood what it was he was doing and how important it was to him. Without the common ground to discuss such things, it just doesn't work. Putting things in a will is just about the best way to try to deal with such things. Not only that one wishes things properly handled but it is best to find a trusted friend that you can put their name in the will so that the family, through greed or ignorence, can't block your wishes. Dwight

21 years, 3 months

2
1
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'goto" gone from computer languages or is it!

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

> Hmmm ... > > void print_arg(int *aryp,size_t n) > { > printf("%u",*aryp++); > while(--n) > { > printf(",%u",*aryp++); > } > putchar('\n'); > } But has two calls to printf, with different format strings. More than doubles the static string space. Plus two complete printf call frames (bigger code)... one being used only once. All in the name of keeping a "structured" image. I'm guessing this is NOT how you would code this algorithm if you were programming in assembly language... gotos and other such structures are not evil - lack of understanding of when such constructs are appropriate (and not appropriate) is the real problem. "Banning" the constructs just serves to emphasize that this is not obvious to some people. Hmmm... we seem to be sailing away from the topics again! Regards, -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 3 months

3
2
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Tandy T100 info

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Tandy T100 info > From: John Hogerhuis <jhoger at gmail.com> > Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 14:25:13 -0700 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >On 5/16/05, Allison <ajp166 at bellatlantic.net> wrote: >> >> Ok, the usual MMU only fairly fine grained. Does any apps make use of >> that kind of MMU and space? >> > >Not yet, this is a new thing, and there's no software to take >advantage of the full potential yet. Not surprized as even in the S100 Z80 world where MMU and banking has been around for a long time it was rarely used for anything but pseudodisk space. I've gone as far as do a memory allocation recovery systems for to get an approach to a virtual OS. Not all the way but close. In that case the MMU is being used for a scatter/gather execution space allocator. >> >Each block in the map can be marked read-only so that if you are >> >emulating ROM with RAM or flash you get a perfect emulation, i.e. any >> >writes against ROM don't get applied. >> >> Handy! >> > >Handy and required... some vintage ROMs do some funny stuff writing >against ROM for efficiency believe that it won't have any effect. But >writing against RAM has an effect, and against flash can lock up the >flash since it can trigger its state machine. ;) thats a bad thing! I know. :-P >> Now I understand what it is and the basic logic inside. Like many MMU >> based 8bitters the addition of large ram is usually to emulate disk. >> I'm curious to see if any actually do swaping or overlay so the app >> can access a larger space or larger data. The reason for that is >> most cases that is rare or not even done. >> > >Well the M100 uses a RAM based file system. Our MMU is a new thing, so >any use made of it beyond emulating multiple M100 fast-switch maps >will be by new software. In particular I'm planning a management Not surprized for reasons stated. >program that can set up maps and burn new ROMs to flash or set them up >in RAM. But the spec will be freely available so user programs can get >direct access to extended RAM. All you need to do is CLEAR enough >space to get a 1K window and a BASIC program can start PEEKing and >POKEing extended RAM without too much trouble. That's why we have such >a fine-grain MMU block size. I'm still getting used to the M100s applications and space usage. It's a bit foreign to a CP/M, OS/8, RT-11, VMS user like myself. I'e sone real time stuff and systems stuff for myself that used mapped ram and rom to get around the latency of disks (even IDE). I'll have to look more at all this. However, step one is to get the M100 I have up to 32k ram. Then I'll look at how secondary rom socket space is used. I'd like a configuration that also has ram at 0000h and maybe a OS in it. I've considered getting some larger F-Rams too. All in time. Allison

21 years, 3 months

2
1
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WAY WAY WAY WAY OT Re: 'goto" gone from computer languages or is it!

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

>There's one extra local variable (char *t) which is a pointer: hardly >expensive by any metric. If you prefer, move the i initializer inside the >for loop construct. Same difference. >The loop uses the same number of conditionals as any other example so far >(including yours, which doesn't work ;) I guess you missed my original solution - look back a few messages, it uses only one conditional, and only one local variable, has no superflous assignments, nor goto's. The "clever" one in my last message was an illustation, not my solution. >> - In the last iteration of the loop you are stuffing the address >> value of the constant string "%u" into the for conditional >> (granted in any reasonable implementation this will be non-zero >> and will evaluate to TRUE, however it seems a bit odd and not >> completely necessary to the logic of the program). > >Your analysis somewhat (misses the point|is non-sequitur). The unary >construct is the entire reason this works. It still stuffs an address into a conditional - it works, but it's not pretty, nowhere near the goal of "structured" (remember structured ... this is a song about structured) and not something I would ever consider using in production code. >> - You are reading only the first element of the array, although >> you are adding an increasing offset to it for each iteration of >> the loop. > >Perhaps this is an issue of precedence and compiler implementation, but >the way it works (at least under gcc) is as I suspected, which is that >counter i gets incremented after first being added to aryp. So it in fact >iterates the entire array from start to end. * is higher precedence than '+' (K&R page 49 - I know this from memory - scary). If your compiler does the '+' first, it's broken. >You had card punches? We had to cut holes into ours with exacto knives. Actually, when I last visited the Your university museum, the Curator showed me some "manual" card punches - little steel blocks with holes and a pin punch! Regards, Dave -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 3 months

2
1
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Free racks in Livermore, you pick up

by vcf＠siconic.com

I have two very nice racks available for immediate hauling. I can only keep them for about a week to ten days until I must take them to the scrapyard. One is a DEC SF-200, in nice shape, both doors, with a 230V line power converter thingy (sorry, forgot the proper name at the moment). The other is a nice 7' tall DELL rack. It's very glamourous looking (all black, nice shiny DELL emblem on the front) however it's missing it's sides :( Otherwise, a very nice, solid, durable rack, though not quite deep enough for DEC equipment. Both of these are at my office in Livermore, California, sitting outside exposed for a current lack of space indoors. They've been rained on several times, but both are in fine shape, cleanable, no rust, etc. It's still raining over in my neck of the woods (it shouldn't be but it is) and there's more forecast in the coming days. However, it is also hot, and the rain spells are short, so they dry out quickly. Bottom line, that's not the limiting factor here, but my patience to leave them outside with the rest of the crap that needs hauling to the scrapyard is. Preference to local pickups. Will ship, but you'd better be prepared to handle ALL shipping details and pay me for my time to put it on a pallet and wrap it in cardboard (cardboard and pallet are free, my time is not, and I'm not cheap). Off-list enquiries please (on-list will be expunged with prejudice). ;) -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org [ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ] [ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]

21 years, 3 months

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TI 990 Handbook; anyone want it?

by dm561＠torfree.net

I've got a TI 990 Computer Family Systems Handbook here, paperback, 3rd edition, TI-439-25M-5/76, good condition. Anybody want it for $5 & S? mike

21 years, 3 months

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WAY WAY WAY WAY OT Re: 'goto" gone from computer languages or is it!

by leeedavison＠yahoo.co.uk

>> When I was a gaffer, we had to carry our card decks >> uphill both ways to the card punch! > You had card punches? We had to cut holes into ours > with exacto knives. Exacto knives? We could only dream of having knives, we had to chew the holes in ours. Monty. . ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Messenger - want a free and easy way to contact your friends online? http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

21 years, 3 months

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'goto" gone from computer languages or is it!

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

>> for(i=0; i < n; ++i) >> printf("%u%s", aryp[i], ","+(i >= n)); > >Um, you're right, but yours does ;) > >(Can you spot the error? ;) Yup - should be ((i+1) >= n) I told you this was getting silly! Cheers, -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 3 months

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LCD woes...

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

>>I finally got around to replacing the batteries on my TRS-80 PC-1 and >>noticed that the intervening years have not been kind to the LCD >>screen. It appears that there is liquid crystal leaking out under the >>polarizing screen, creating what looks like black smudges on the >>display. > I don't think there's anything you can do about them. I noticed that all >the PC-1s that I saw were developing that problem and that was probably >over ten years ago. Radio Shack Quality! Both of my PC-1's have it - but they still work! -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 3 months

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'goto" gone from computer languages or is it!

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

>I trump thee collectively: > >void print_arg(int *aryp, size_t n) >{ > > char *t="%u,"; > int i=0; > > for (;(i==n-1 ? t="%u" : i<n);) printf(t, *aryp + i++); > > putchar('\n'); > >} > >A little ugly (the compiler complains about the type mismatch in the unary >expression) but otherwise it works without caveats (that I know of ;) > >I suspect someone might bum it down further...no more precious time to >expend on this useless pursuit ;) I'm a little confused about the definition of "trump" when used in this case: - You have returned to an excess of local variables, and the extra assignment - although you have used a (more expensive) conditional to defer it until the last iteration. - You have returned to TWO conditionals, although you have creatively moved them both into the for statement. - In the last iteration of the loop you are stuffing the address value of the constant string "%u" into the for conditional (granted in any reasonable implementation this will be non-zero and will evaluate to TRUE, however it seems a bit odd and not completely necessary to the logic of the program). - You are reading only the first element of the array, although you are adding an increasing offset to it for each iteration of the loop. This really is getting silly. So... Seen any good old computers lately? How about them Altairs - ain't they something? When I was a gaffer, we had to carry our card decks uphill both ways to the card punch! Regards, Dave -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 3 months

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'goto" gone from computer languages or is it!

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

>> You could of course do something "clever" to make the >> extra conditional harder to see like: >> >> for(i=0; i < n; ++i) >> printf("%u%s", aryp[i], ","+(i >= n)); > >This is why I really don't like C much :-) (Although I do insist on >using it a lot of late...) I'm guessing your not a big APL fan? Regards, -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 3 months

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HP64000

by birs23＠zeelandnet.nl

I just came across an original HP box which says HP64000 release 3203. It contains some manuals/docs and 2 tapes. Does anyone know what this is or what it is for ? If anybody wants it, its available, just make me an offer of some sort. Ow its from 1992 btw. Stefan. ------------------------------------------------------- http://www.oldcomputercollection.com

21 years, 3 months

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'goto" gone from computer languages or is it!

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

Various messages compined into one - quotes are not all from the same person(s). >Straighten up and get serious. You used twice as much printf as >everybody else. Have you ever seen the setup for a printf call in >assembler? >I wonder if even the compiler can save you from this shameless bit of excess. Unlikely - as there are two different format strings. >... the wrong answer being to dump out each array element followed by a >comma, then output ^H as the final step in the function ;-) Works poorly on hardcopy devices :-) >Real Programmers would presumably use putc exclusively in favour of the >more computationally expensive printf... Naw, printf() is a simple and versatile tool, and since the code is only linked once it's usually worth it as it's handy "all over" - besides, printf() doesn't have to be huge - here is my CSTATS output for my integer- only printf format routine (which is a single function that does not call ANY other functions - all tests and conversions are internal): Characters: in file(s) : 2263 in comments : 733 whitespace : 620 significant : 910 Lines: in file(s) : 97 blank/comment: 23 significant : 74 Cism's: '{'s : 13 '}'s : 13 ';'s : 47 comments : 20 74 lines and 47 statements (including variable declarations) in 13 blocks. This is an integer-only printf() formatter (real programmers don't use FP) written in pure C which supports the following free form types: %c (character) %s (string) %d (signed decimal) %u (unsigned decimal) %x (hexidecimal) %o (octal) %b (binary) %% (single '%') And formatting of any of the above types in the form: %5x <= 5 character, right justify, space fill %05x <= 5 character, right justify, zero fill %-5x <= 5 character, left justify, space fill %-05x <= 5 character, left justify, zero fill (kinds useless :-) [and yes, other format widths besides 5 are supported!] - Codesize compiled from C for the 8086 (my Micro-C) is 688 bytes. - Code size of comparable routine hand crafted in assembly language for my 8051 compiler library is 437 bytes (although this adds a new %i for strings in internal memory). - Code size for the C-FLEA (a virtual processor I developed which is an optimized C target) is 335 bytes. Just because winbloat leads us to expect multi-megabyte executables and massive libraries - it duzn't has to be so! >> void print_ary (int *aryp, int n) >> { >> int i; >> for (i=0; i<n; aryp++, i++) >> { >> if (i>0) >> printf (", "); >> printf ("%u", *aryp); >> } >> printf ("\n"); >> } > >Um, if you're anal like me, you don't want to print a comma after the last >value, so: > >... > printf ("%u", *aryp); > if (i<n) printf (", "); Um, the original code won't print a comma after the last value. You could of course do something "clever" to make the extra conditional harder to see like: for(i=0; i < n; ++i) printf("%u%s", aryp[i], ","+(i >= n)); This is getting silly! Regards, -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 3 months

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LCD woes...

by korpela＠gmail.com

I finally got around to replacing the batteries on my TRS-80 PC-1 and noticed that the intervening years have not been kind to the LCD screen. It appears that there is liquid crystal leaking out under the polarizing screen, creating what looks like black smudges on the display. I dug my less scratched up version out of storage and found the same thing, only worse. I doubt these LCD panels are still in production. Anyone have any ideas that might be able to alleviate the problem? Eric

21 years, 3 months

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HP-IB Census

by peterbrown10＠hotmail.com

Hi Steve, GPIB / HPIB FAQ sounds like a good idea .. >* Bus Analyzers - IE HP59401A If you're going to include HPIB bus analyzers in your FAQ it would be worth looking at the National Instruments PCI-GPIB+ card. This card can be configured as a bus analyser that captures all HPIB messages (control, data and status) onto a controller PC with the size of the log-file limited only by available disk space. I've found it to be a lot more useful than the more commonly available HP 59401A analyser. If you need any further info on this card for your FAQ then please feel free to drop me an e-mail. Cheers Peter

21 years, 3 months

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The Don Maslin Software Archive

by aek＠bitsavers.org

> Since I don't beleive in using > old systems for the recovery of old data, Why? (I feel the opposite, as what better system to get the data than the system it was designed for? I'd like to hear your opinion.) -- Almost all of the data that I recover is done at the physical media level. This is done either with analog to digital converters or modern digital data separators which have better recovery characteristics than the originals. The main reason for wanting to do this is to preserve all of the original bit streams and error checking information. In the case of magentic tape, it is possible to recover data from very old tapes using modern magnetorestrictive head technology that would be impossible to recover using the original heads, since MR heads require MUCH less contact pressure and are much more sensitive than the originals. While it may be practical to maintain microcomputers for this purpose for newer media, the types of data I have been trying to recover (mainframes and older minis) is impractical, either because the machines no longer exist, cannot be kept running given the tradeoff of machine ontime vs the time needed to keep it running, or that the reliablity of the data from older controllers is worse than can be obtained from direct low-level data aquisition. There is also the problem of file transation and transfer even if you can get the bits read on the original system. The problem with using these techniques is it requires detailed knowledge of how the data was written and information on things like file formats. This is why there is a strong bias towards this sort of information on bitsavers (in addition to the fact that I've discovered this information is REALLY hard to find for pre-minicomputer systems). This is also information that is VERY useful to people trying to write simulators.

21 years, 3 months

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'goto' - the debate between 'human' vs 'machine' programming

by cmurray＠eagle.ca

Scott wrote in response to: "I absolutely concur with John's conclusion: Academia, the elites or otherwise, saw the 'horrors' of goto and declared it an evil that was to be expunged from any language. The toolbox was diminished by this action in my humble opinion. Yet for us QBasic guys we still employ it. Boy does it get one out of a jam. Mimics real life doesn't it?" "I regard 'goto as the programming equivalent of the adjustable spanner. There are often better tools to use, using it wrongly can get you into real trouble, but it's rare to find a hacker who's not used it (just as mo hardware guy will use an adjustable spanner when there are better tools available, but I don't know of a serious hardware hacker who doesn't have one in the toolbox...) -tony " Heck, I even have an adjustable box-end wrench. *ducks* The folks who deplore GOTO are the 'Structured Programming' folks. Who have a lot of flavors and attempts at 'structured programming' behind them now, and keep chugging along. It's about sociable coding, as opposed to asocial 'solitary' coding. Which is important. But as an over-experienced Assembly Language programmer, I got into trouble in my 'Intro to C' course because I was in the habit of writing my own functions instead of using The Standard Library. -scott I'm not sure whether programming is done to benefit people or to make machines work better. Since computers are seldom user-friendly, they were'nt but now are easier to use thanks to GUIs, we have to ask then was is programming for? I remember programming in a few-line BASICs, well even further back - soldering a kit and program in strict machine-coding - and I wanted the computer to do certain tasks. I'm not sure these tasks were of any particular benefit done on an expensive early computer and they were that! I could do the same thing with pen & paper or a calculator, not spend time writing a few lines of code and hope I didn't make a mistake!!! The calculator was programmed to work efficiently and little or no programming was needed by me to make it work. Social coding here is effective in the sense it solves a problem for me. The machine works in an excellent fashion as a solitary instrument. In this case it benefits me. Is this the true value of programming and using a 'goto' to get out of a jam so to speak can be very effective. Works in real life, particularly useful around Belgian horses. Can this be wrong? Computing forever! Murray

21 years, 3 months

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The Don Maslin Software Archive

by aek＠bitsavers.org

> Ok Al, about where do you rate yourself. Tough question.. I have WAAAAAY too much stuff right now. I made the decision about five years ago to get rid of all of my paper by scanning it and donating it to the CHM. The first part mostly happened, but getting rid of the paper didn't and now I have 10x the paper that I did five years ago. I have decided to dispose of a LOT of what I currently have. There is one meta project, the preservation of documentation and software that has to guide what I keep and what I get rid of. Since I don't beleive in using old systems for the recovery of old data, many of the machines I have could go. The physical mechanisms that are necessary (like disc and tape drives) will stay, interfaced to more modern harware.

21 years, 3 months

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Tandy T100 info

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Tandy T100 info > From: John Hogerhuis <jhoger at gmail.com> > Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 13:59:50 -0700 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >The basic idea is that Remem implements in CPLD a memory management >unit dividing the 64K address space into 64 1K blocks (actually more >than that since the option ROM is emulated). So you can map any 1K >block from anywhere in RAM or flash into the 64K address space any way >you like. Ok, the usual MMU only fairly fine grained. Does any apps make use of that kind of MMU and space? >For compatibility it also emulates a 256K "Rampac" which is a vintage >external device that hooks to the I/O bus port on a T102. unfamiliar. >There are multiple MMU maps selectable via an I/O instruction for >fast-switching of virtual Model 100 environments. So for example you >can have one map with a native Forth-in-ROM, and a couple of maps with >the standard ROM but distinct RAM portions (the latter much like the >"banks" in a T200 or NEC 8300 laptop) Ok, I've done this on other systems and S100. >Each block in the map can be marked read-only so that if you are >emulating ROM with RAM or flash you get a perfect emulation, i.e. any >writes against ROM don't get applied. Handy! Now I understand what it is and the basic logic inside. Like many MMU based 8bitters the addition of large ram is usually to emulate disk. I'm curious to see if any actually do swaping or overlay so the app can access a larger space or larger data. The reason for that is most cases that is rare or not even done. Allison

21 years, 3 months

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Tandy T100 info

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Tandy T100 info > From: John Hogerhuis <jhoger at gmail.com> > Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 12:54:39 -0700 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >On 5/16/05, Allison <ajp166 at bellatlantic.net> wrote: > >> >To see "the next level" of Model 100 mod, check this out: >> > >> >http://bitchin100.com/remem_project.htm >> > >> >2 Meg RAM and 4 Megs Flash ROM.... >> > >> >> That is a pretty site, shame behind all the pretty pictures it's a >> grand set of 404s. None of the tech docs are there. >> > >I run Bitchin100.com. I've been pushing Steve to get me a new set of >documents, he moved everything around on his site that I had linked >to. thats understandable, just make the links "under construction" then as we then know something is happening rather than the site appearing abandoned. >Right now he's deep into testing the board, so the stale data sheet >links are indicative of nothing more than priority on getting working >prototypes to the software developers (including me). > >Maybe tonight I'll get rid of the dead links. thanks. >In any event the important specs are summarized there on the left hand column. I read them bit there are some ???? as to how it integrates and is applied. Allison

21 years, 3 months

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Making Frontpanel Labels

by gkicomputers＠yahoo.com

I think the places that make custom die cut decals http://www.decaljunky.com/ may also be a good place to make frontpanel labels, they peel off with no background (looks like they were painted on). __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

21 years, 3 months

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Tandy T100 info

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Tandy T100 info > From: Roger Merchberger <zmerch at 30below.com> > Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 13:45:31 -0400 > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >Rumor has it that Allison may have mentioned these words: > >>I just aquired a Tandy T100, really fun little machine. >>one of the first steps is to exten the ram (24k more is possible) > >Zip on over to my Model 100 listserve - you don't have to be subbed to post >(but please note in your post if you're not subbed, so folks know to cc: >you privately) - there's almost 200 subscribers there... ;-) That may be handy. >To see "the next level" of Model 100 mod, check this out: > >http://bitchin100.com/remem_project.htm > >2 Meg RAM and 4 Megs Flash ROM.... > That is a pretty site, shame behind all the pretty pictures it's a grand set of 404s. None of the tech docs are there. >I only have the schematic for the 200 in paper form, and it's "buried" yet >-- but the manuals are available in PDF form here: > >http://www.club100.org/library/libdoc.html This location I'd not looked at yet. The manual from there is readable and printable (and HUGE!). >If you need parts, I or someone else on the list can get you parts... >;-) I have plenty of 8kx8 and 256kx8s, nice fast CMOS from old 386 and 486 cache memories. those will be the base of the first upgrade (24k more ram for full 32k). The second will be a overlay ram for the lower 32k (for those times when I want a full ram system). Thanks! Allison

21 years, 3 months

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wanted: VAXstation 4000/60 16MB memory modules - MS44-CA / MS44-DA

by tgarcia＠hivemind.org

Hello, This is my first post on the list -- greetings! I have filled a VAXstation 4000/60 with four megabyte simms, that I am running vms on as a hobbyist home server... unfortunately this limits me to 32 meg, and about to add Pathworks will certainly tip her over the edge. I was wondering if anyone had any of the 16 megabyte sticks lying around-- part number printed on the board I think is 54-19103-CA , sold in packs of one or two as MS44-CA / MS44-DA respectively. Various other models of the series I believe use them, though not the /96. I would be happy to pay for shipping from anywhere; I am in (old) England. Swap for some four megabyte modules is also possible, if someone needs them instead! Alternatively, any pointers as to where would be good to look would be gratefully received. Cheers, -- Tom Garcia | tgarcia at hivemind.org

21 years, 3 months

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Making Frontpanel Labels

by bpettit＠ix.netcom.com

> From: Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> > Subject: Today's garage sale findings > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > Speaking of > which, does anyone know if they manufacture an adhesive-backed > _plastic_ sheet that's meant to go through printers? I know I can > pick up an 8.5"x11" paper label from any office supply place. I am > 3M used to make a product that was a thin alunimum with a photo emulsion on it. It worked like a blue print. Make your master on vellim, print it using a blue print machine and develop it with ammonia. I made many very professional looking front panels with this technique. The 3M salesman would sell it by the sheet fairly cheap ( about $1/square foot). It was mounted by peeling off the back to reveal a contact glue. You never got it off again once it was stuck on metal. What I liked about this method was that you could cover up misdrilled holes. The alunimum was think enough that it could cover up unused holes with no denting. Great for covering up sloppy work. Billy

21 years, 3 months

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Anybody know what's happened to Jim Kearney?

by rigdonj＠cfl.rr.com

I've been e-mailing Jim for a couple of months and haven't gotten a reply. I found a phone number for him and tried it and found that now it belongs to someone else. The last message that I could find from him was in May 2003. Anybody know what's happened to him? Joe

21 years, 3 months

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DEC KW11-P Manual

by jdrcpeterson＠graceba.net

I've an original (excellent condition) DEC KW11-P Programmable Real-time Clock manual. The cover is intact. The doc is print-sized. Anyone interested? Make me an offer. Regards, Darren Peterson

21 years, 3 months

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tk70? what's normal?

by msokolov＠ivan.Harhan.ORG

Brad Parker <brad at heeltoe.com> wrote: > When the cable is in properly (I presume), the green led is on and the > 'in use' just keeps flashing. It is not supposed to keep flashing, when the drive is idle with no tape in (like after successful power-up) the green LED should be the only one on. It should also make a beep. > Occationally it makes little scraping > noises like it's trying to load the tape. > [...] > Is this drive dead/broken perhaps? I would say so. MS

21 years, 3 months

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Tandy T100 info

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

I just aquired a Tandy T100, really fun little machine. one of the first steps is to exten the ram (24k more is possible) However.. The manual I have the schematic is nth generation and not very readable. I'm looking for a copy of the T100 (26-3801) Schematic as the text of the manual I ahve is readable. Allison

21 years, 3 months

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tk70? what's normal?

by brad＠heeltoe.com

I have little/no experience with tk50/tk70 and I transplanted a tk70 into a mv4000 and I'm curious about 'normal operation' When it powers up the 3 leds all come on and then the write prot goes out, the "in use" starts flashing and the 'handle' led (green) stays on. I notice that if the i/o connector is in backward all 3 leds will flash and the handle led will never come on. When the cable is in properly (I presume), the green led is on and the 'in use' just keeps flashing. Occationally it makes little scraping noises like it's trying to load the tape. I did try and load a tape and found it sucked the tape in but refused to unload it. The in-use light just flashed and flashed. I found I had to angle the tape it a bit to get the interlock to release so I could insert the cart. Is this drive dead/broken perhaps? -brad

21 years, 3 months

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Don's archive

by marvin＠rain.org

Something that might be considered is to start the "Don Maslin Bootdisk Software Archive" since this might be a way of addressing the needs of everyone. Perhaps Winnie also needs to understand that *many* people have contributed to the archive and it is *very* unlikely that Don would have wanted "his" archive to become unavailble to the community he supported. > > However, that all being said I am of the opinion after carefully reading all > the posts on this topic that I've seen... that Winnie has no intention > whatsoever to let go of the documentation and/or software. One could imagine > she needs to hold on to it as something tangible of Don. One could imagine > that based on the way some things were phrased, that she is under the > (false) impression it is worth a kings ransom in real dollars and is holding > off disposition because she's frantically searching for an appraiser to tell > her what she wants to hear. I'm not making judgements here, just pondering > the technical possibilities. > > Kind regards, > > Jay West > >

21 years, 3 months

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The Don Maslin Software Archive

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "Al Kossow" <aek at spies.com> > > > A collector collects. A packrat accumulates. > > > >Collect and accumulate are synonyms. > >-- > >"Collect" in this context implies some order and method to the aquisition. > >Being a packrat is to gather things randomly, then to hoard what has >been gathered. > Ok Al, about where do you rate yourself. I'm about 60% packrat and 40% collector. Dwight

21 years, 3 months

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VCF/Midwest 1.0 date change

by pat＠computer-refuge.org

Just a quick note that the VCF/Midwest 1.0 date is getting pushed back to Saturday, July 30th. It'll start with speakers at 10am, and have exhibits open from 12pm until 5pm. As a reminder, the location is at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. More details are up at: http://computer-refuge.org/vcfmw If you're interested in attending, being a speaker, or exhibiting, please drop me an email at vcfmw at computer-refuge.org Pat -- Purdue University Research Computing --- http://www.rcac.purdue.edu/ The Computer Refuge --- http://computer-refuge.org

21 years, 3 months

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Moore's Law/Byte magazine

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

>>September and October 1985 > >Nope that is the SB180 I have those. I'm also looking for the BCC180 >info and the BCC is not the SB. I found a couple of references via Google that suggest that the BCC180 was covered by several articals in 1988 - unfortunately I have very little 1988 byte - but this info may help someone else find it. Regards, Dave -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 3 months

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Don's archive

by jwest＠classiccmp.org

I reviewed the email thread about this yesterday, but wanted to give it a little thought before replying. First, I'd be happy to contact Winnie - possibly to try and give her a 3rd person view of the situation so that she understands that Don's software & docs - while not "valuable", is "valuable". As an option, I could pursue trying to make arrangements to obtain it - perhaps there's some personality issue between her and Vince (this is NOT a slam against Vince at all - sometimes personalities just don't mesh, prior perceptions change, etc.). However, that all being said I am of the opinion after carefully reading all the posts on this topic that I've seen... that Winnie has no intention whatsoever to let go of the documentation and/or software. One could imagine she needs to hold on to it as something tangible of Don. One could imagine that based on the way some things were phrased, that she is under the (false) impression it is worth a kings ransom in real dollars and is holding off disposition because she's frantically searching for an appraiser to tell her what she wants to hear. I'm not making judgements here, just pondering the technical possibilities. I've seen the posts talking about having a museum get in contact with her. Perhaps this would be a good thing, but again my own impression is that if a museum calls, most people are likely to smell $$$. So if Vince would like me to contact her, I'd be happy to - I'm pretty good at that kind of discussion actually. My own opinion so far though is that Vince is the best person to still pursue this, and getting another person(s) directly involved with Winnie will only hurt, not help. Not to mention I suspect she won't let it go anyway, at least until she hears from several appraisers. Perhaps I could draft a letter (from ClassicCMP) explaining some things she should consider, get the letter to Vince, and have him deliver it. That way he's still in front, but perhaps some additional thoughts to her may help Vince as "ammunition" or at the least give Winnie reason to thing that Vince's ideas/comments aren't "just his", and a lot of people feel the same way. With regards to starting an S100/CPM repository... well... someone should really look at all the Heathkit stuff I got. There's a room full of CPM stuff, including several cases (case being about 1.5 foot by 3 foot) of 8" floppies, cases of 5.25 hard sector floppies, and pretty much every piece of software and newsletter ever released for the heathkit CPM boxes. I do not have time to do that. But, I strongly suspect what I have would be a good start on a CPM archive. And of course, the ClassicCmp server exists not only to run the mailing list, but to house documentation and software for vintage systems. There's quite a few vintage software repositories on the ClassicCmp server (the newest one is the TRS-80 archives) including the swtpc archives, retroarchive, rainbow archives, bygone, and of course, a full mirror of the #1 classic site - bitsavers.org. I believe there's about 70gb free on the server archive drives (and enough money in the kitty still from donations to add more disk if need be), so if a CPM/S100 repository is started, feel free to host it there. The ClassicCmp server is well connected and well cared for so it's a safe spot. Simply put, I'm offering to host a CPM/S100 archive "Don's, or a new one", at no charge, forever. Kind regards, Jay West

21 years, 3 months

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Don's archive

by jfoust＠threedee.com

At 10:57 PM 5/15/2005, Randy McLaughlin wrote: >One group I am a member of are dealing with the Regents of UCSD, because of these talks UCSD is now posting on one of their sites the source code to some of the psystem. I am unsure if it is OK to post on other websites but the general consensus is that it was developed with public funds in a public school. Right now I have most of I.4 and I.5 sources and I am waiting for one member to send me printouts of version II source to scan and post. I have binaries for a variety of computers. Which group is this? Which web site? Ten years ago or so, I tried to talk to the Regents about licensing or releasing the license, but got nowhere. - John

21 years, 3 months

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Evan's PDA history page -- it's alive

by news＠computercollector.com

Hi, ClassicCMP'rs -- I included the list in a "BCC" email but that didn't seem to go through -- so I'm resending the message below... -- Evan (just ignore if you get two copies... Sorry about that...) ================================================ Hello friends, colleagues, collectors, and people I've interviewed... After about four years of work, I've finally completed the vast majority of my PDA history research. So if you're getting this email, it means we've communicated at some point in the recent past. Or else I just thought you're someone who might find this research interesting. It's all online at http://www.snarc.net/pda/pda-treatise.htm -- it is approximately 10,000 words of nerdiness. There will be changes. Inevitably some of you will find typos and suggest corrections, which is the whole reason I'm posting this now at all. FYI to the collecting community -- the majority of this draft was already read over by Bruce Damer, Sellam Ismail, Erik Klein, and Michael Nadeau. Hopefully they caught any blatant mistakes of mine... All of the photographs are used with permission and all are linked back to the original sources. The link to the story "Thank you, Beep" is used with HP's permission. The one thing not yet included is the massive bibliography. I'm working on it as fast as I can. Rest assured, the research isn't just from reading a bunch of random, unproven web pages. There is a reason this took four years: every fact is double- or triple-sourced. The majority of the facts here came from personal interviews that I conducted with the first-person sources, as well as from books, news articles, patent research, etc. Please forward to anyone and everyone. Please do NOT go copying stuff without asking. :) Finally, whatever I wrote here (with the exception of typos, etc.) overrules anything I said or wrote before. :) ----------------------------------------- Evan Koblentz's personal homepage: http://www.snarc.net Also see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/midatlanticretro/ *** Tell your friends about the (free!) Computer Collector Newsletter - 700 readers and no spam / Publishes every Monday / Write for us! - Mainframes to videogames, hardware and software, we cover it all - W: http://news.computercollector.com E: news at computercollector.com

21 years, 3 months

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Moore's Law/Byte magazine

by James＠jdfogg.com

Does anyone know if the Intel cash offer for a copy of the Byte magazine discussing Moore's Law is still good? In talking with friends here I found out that I know many of the editors and journalists who worked for the early computer magazines, including Byte. I'm told I can find about any edition I desire from this crowd if I ask. I'm not going to try and rip off friends, but they were interested when I mentioned it. I also found out I know the staff of Wayne Green's magazine empire (mostly Ham Radio stuff).

21 years, 3 months

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Honeywell DPS6 Clarification

by jpl15＠panix.com

If someone can just make a comittment on this, arrangements can then be made - it's the complete lack of any interest that's driving it's disposition currently. So if someone in interested, at all, in this system - write me please and let's figure it out... I don't want to scrap the old girl any more than you guys do. If we know that it's got a home, then the 'time element' can be adjusted to fit your schedules. All somebody has to say is "Yes, I want the DPS-6." and then we can contrive wild schemes to get it transported - as long as that is the case, then the 'execution' can be stayed. Cheers John

21 years, 3 months

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NEC PC-8201A Technical Manual

by jhoger＠pobox.com

Well me and a few other folks recently "rescued" a technical manual for the PC-8201A from Ebay. It has lots of details useful to a programmer writing information for this machine. 257 pages. Chapter 15 is dedicated to hardware information. Howver, it starts with the sentence "Refer to another technical manual about the detail specion of PC-8201A's hardware. That manual has already been by NECHE, Chicago. Please contact with them. In this r, only most important data is listed up." Does anyone have a copy of the hardware tech ref? It would be useful to us in the remem project http://bitchin100.com/remem_project.html Also any such manuals about the 8300, 8500, and Starlet would be interesting to me as well. I've tried to talk to NEC directly in the past, but they say clearly that they "have no information on these antiques." Nice sense of history... Thanks! -- John.

21 years, 3 months

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Evan's PDA history page -- it's alive

by news＠computercollector.com

Hello friends, colleagues, collectors, and people I've interviewed... After about four years of work, I've finally completed the vast majority of my PDA history research. So if you're getting this email, it means we've communicated at some point in the recent past. Or else I just thought you're someone who might find this research interesting. It's all online at http://www.snarc.net/pda/pda-treatise.htm -- it is approximately 10,000 words of nerdiness. There will be changes. Inevitably some of you will find typos and suggest corrections, which is the whole reason I'm posting this now at all. FYI to the collecting community -- the majority of this draft was already read over by Bruce Damer, Sellam Ismail, Erik Klein, and Michael Nadeau. Hopefully they caught any blatant mistakes of mine... All of the photographs are used with permission and all are linked back to the original sources. The link to the story "Thank you, Beep" is used with HP's permission. The one thing not yet included is the massive bibliography. I'm working on it as fast as I can. Rest assured, the research isn't just from reading a bunch of random, unproven web pages. There is a reason this took four years: every fact is double- or triple-sourced. The majority of the facts here came from personal interviews that I conducted with the first-person sources, as well as from books, news articles, patent research, etc. Please forward to anyone and everyone. Please do NOT go copying stuff without asking. :) Finally, whatever I wrote here (with the exception of typos, etc.) overrules anything I said or wrote before. :) ----------------------------------------- Evan Koblentz's personal homepage: http://www.snarc.net Also see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/midatlanticretro/ *** Tell your friends about the (free!) Computer Collector Newsletter - 700 readers and no spam / Publishes every Monday / Write for us! - Mainframes to videogames, hardware and software, we cover it all - W: http://news.computercollector.com E: news at computercollector.com

21 years, 3 months

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The Don Maslin Software Archive (fwd)

by tomj＠wps.com

Someone wrote me: > Do you really know what you're saying about Don? > I mean, had you been to his house? YIPES! TERRIBLE EDIT! MY FAULT! CRINGING APOLOGY! I was made to realize I implied that somehow Don's collection fell on him ("This is essentially what Don did...") A terrible edit on my part. What I meant to say was Don apparently carefully collected a huge amount of stuff, and when he died, essentially arranged to have it disposed of poorly, ala the train guy. Looking at my original posting, it's a botch job edit. My sincere apologies to anyone hurt by it. tomj

21 years, 3 months

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The Don Maslin Software Archive

by aek＠spies.com

> A collector collects. A packrat accumulates. > Collect and accumulate are synonyms. -- "Collect" in this context implies some order and method to the aquisition. Being a packrat is to gather things randomly, then to hoard what has been gathered.

21 years, 3 months

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Tandy T100 info

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Tandy T100 info > From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) > Date: Sun, 15 May 2005 22:11:43 +0100 (BST) > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > >> >> >> I just aquired a Tandy T100, really fun little machine. >> one of the first steps is to exten the ram (24k more is possible) > >>From what I remember, the original RAM consisted of little ceramic >substrates with 4 off 2K*8 static RAMs soldered to them. There were >separate chip select pins for each RAM, all the address decoding was on >the mainboard. Yep and the ceramic carried 4x 5118 2kx8 parts. >These modules were 0.7" (I think) wide. But it's possible, with a bit of >careful bending, to get a normal 0.6" wide IC into the socket. You can >put a nromal 8K*8 static RAM into the top 12 pins of each side of the >socket (wiith pins 1,2,27,28 of the RAM haning off the end) and most of >the signals match up. I did this in my Model 100. I then did some >cut-n-jumper mods to get A11 and A12 straight off the address bus, to >modify the address decoder appropriately (while still keeping the >original 8K module in the lowest address possition), and to handle the >power-down memory protection. You can but it's ugly. I need a clean schematic that I can read to manage my hack. I have 8kx8s and 256kx8s aplenty. >I should still have notes on this, but I was working on a UK model, which >doesn't have the intenral modem, and where different sections of ICs are >used in some positions (what I mean here, is that if the US schematic >shows, say, U6a as a '00 NAND gate in some position in the circuit, then >the UK version still uses a '00 NAND gate, but it might well be U21c (the >component references are totally ficticious here!)). Thats why I need a clean schematic. The one I have you can't read part or pin numbers on. Signal names are just blobs. A better schematic and it's easy as pie. Allison

21 years, 3 months

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Today's garage sale findings

by djg＠drs-c4i.com

>Speaking of which, does anyone know if they manufacture an adhesive-backed >_plastic_ sheet that's meant to go through printers? > What I did when I needed to make some durable signs was use transparency plastic, print a reverse image on them, and then used spray adhesive to glue them down. The reverse printing lets you glue them printed side down so the plastic protects the printing.

21 years, 3 months

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HP 9000/300

by marvin＠rain.org

I picked up an HP 9000/300 w/cabinet this week that I was told works, but know nothing (yet) about it. The 9000/300 has four modules in it; 98625B, 98550A, HPIB/RS-232/HP-HIL/Audio/other connectors, and an unmarked module. Included in the cabinet are the HP9144, 9122C, and 92628 w/two 152 MB HDs. I wasn't able to find the RGB monitor but will pick it up at some point. It also included the keyboard and I do have the root password. Since I dont' really know much about HP equipment, is this a worthwhile system to play with?

21 years, 3 months

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SAGE pluggable unit on eBay

by wmaddox＠pacbell.net

This appears to be a SAGE pluggable unit, though it looks like it has been partially stripped. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5196683042 eBay item 5196683042 (Ends May-15-05 11:21:43 PDT) - 1950's Vacuum Tube Computer

21 years, 3 months

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Fw: Looking for Grant Writer

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

Sending it to both ----- Original Message ----- From: "Keys" <jrkeys at concentric.net> To: "cctalk at classiccmp" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2005 1:38 PM Subject: Looking for Grant Writer > Anyone on the list a professional grant writer or have written successful > grants for operating expenses? I need help big time to keep the museum > going with some grant funds. If you could share a copy of a successful > grant for operating funds it would be of great help. Thanks Reply off > list. John

21 years, 3 months

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Looking for Grant Writer

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

Anyone on the list a professional grant writer or have written successful grants for operating expenses? I need help big time to keep the museum going with some grant funds. If you could share a copy of a successful grant for operating funds it would be of great help. Thanks Reply off list. John

21 years, 3 months

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[VCF-OZ] Monash Museum of Computing History (fwd)

by vcf＠siconic.com

FYI... ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sun, 15 May 2005 17:38:05 +1000 From: Michael Borthwick <holden at netspace.net.au> Reply-To: VCF-OZ at yahoogroups.com To: VCF-OZ at yahoogroups.com Subject: [VCF-OZ] Monash Museum of Computing History This new museum opened last Wednesday at Monash Caulfield. It's in Building B and consists of several large display cases showing a timeline of computing history including displays of minicomputers and personal computers. A feature of the museum is the Ferranti Sirius which was Monash's first computer and the only one for some time. A crane was required to lift up to the level the museum is on. The museum would be an ideal location to organise a retro computing get together later in year, possibly making use of the lecture theatres. I worked on the project creating a multimedia system in the Ferranti exhibit which incorporates an LCD TV showing a great internal promotion film made about the computer by one of its UK purchasers. Cheers, Mike

21 years, 3 months

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Free: Grinnell GMR270 Image Processing System for PDP-11

by hardware＠ees1s0.engr.ccny.cuny.edu

Dear Community, Free to a good home (knowledgeable collector): Grinnell GMR270 Image Processing System with documentation Location: Manhattan I took some pictures of the Grinnell GMR270 and put them here: http://134.74.16.64/wwwa/web/hardware/grinnell/ It comes with documentation and the card to interface with a PDP-11 Qbus. It also comes with an RGB monitor. -kurt

21 years, 3 months

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Moore's Law/Byte magazine

by leeedavison＠yahoo.co.uk

> Nope that is the SB180 I have those. I'm also looking > for the BCC180 info and the BCC is not the SB. Ok, try January-March 1988. Lee. . ___________________________________________________________ How much free photo storage do you get? Store your holiday snaps for FREE with Yahoo! Photos http://uk.photos.yahoo.com

21 years, 3 months

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Moore's Law/Byte magazine

by dave04a＠dunfield.com

>Wow, if you're that well-connected and can gain access to Byte issues, >what I need are the Steve Ciarcia articles where he discusses the Z-180 >bases BCC180. I aquired one recently and can order the docs >(supposedly) from Micromint, but thus far have been too cheap to do so. > >(anybody else with info on this single board machine feel free to chime >in) Do you know which issues the BCC180 articals are in? I have a fairly complete collection of early byte from issue#1 (Sep75) to late 83 and a few issues after that... Regards, Dave -- dave04a (at) Dave Dunfield dunfield (dot) Firmware development services & tools: www.dunfield.com com Collector of vintage computing equipment: http://www.parse.com/~ddunfield/museum/index.html

21 years, 3 months

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Looking for eBAY Bidder

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

Is "energydynamics" on this list? I had the bid on the "IBM 1401 Data Processing System Operator's Guide from the IBM Systems Reference Library. It is dated March 1965 (major revision) with 151 pages" that ends today and do not want to get into a bidding war with a list member. Contact me off-list please.

21 years, 3 months

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Anyone playing with the 8x300

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Anyone playing with the 8x300 > From: Tom Jennings <tomj at wps.com> > Date: Sat, 14 May 2005 18:07:06 -0700 (PDT) > To: > Cc: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >On Fri, 13 May 2005, Dwight K. Elvey wrote: > >> I'm looking at an application of the 8X300 by >> Signetics. This is for a hard disk controller. >> Is anyone fiddling with simmulators for this processor. >> It seems like someone was a while back. >> My current application is on an Olivetti M20 not >> a TRS80. > >Having written code for it (long, long ago though) its a rather >bizarre and hard to work with chip. > >In the real (physical) world it was extremely expensive to write >code for -- code was in bipolar PROMs. Maybe there were PROM >simulators but we didn't have one, so it was burn PROM, debug with >scope. Ouch. Yuck. Even with a rom emulator it's nasty. I played with one I have for a while just because. It's whole concept must have originated to solve a particular problem and was then vended out. It's not suited at all to general computational use. For those interested in microprogramming and building their own computers from the instruction set up... http://www.homebrewcpu.com/ Follow links around for many differnt CPUs. http://www.pjrc.com/tech/8051/ide/wesley.html This is an interesting link as it describes how to hang a IDE disk off a 8255 PPI, worth looking at. Allison Allison

21 years, 3 months

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Making Fontpanel Labels

by swtpc6800＠comcast.net

Ethan Dicks asked about label sheets for front panels. In the past you could get brushed aluminum material with a black coating that was etched away with printed circuit board chemicals. (Kepro made it but they are going out of business.) The front panels of SWTPC equipment used this material. I have not found anyone who does this in small quantizes (One or two units.) There is a fellow selling Altair front panel labels on eBay, so someone must do it. There is a mail order company here is Seattle, Rippedsheets.com, that sells satin finished aluminum sheet you can run through a inkjet printer. They sell a bunch of different types of material for inkjet and laser printers. http://www.rippedsheets.com/inkjet/alumi.html http://www.rippedsheets.com/inkjet/whitepoly.html I have not used it because it works with Epson printers (they keep the stock flat.) I used FrontPanelExpress to make the back panel of my TV Typewriter. http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/CT_1024/Restore/BackPanel.htm Back in the 1960s and 1970s I would hand ink my panels with a Leroy Lettering Set and spray clear Krylon on them. A lot of work but they looked nice. Michael Holley www.swtpc.com/mholley > From: Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> > Subject: Today's garage sale findings > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > Speaking of > which, does anyone know if they manufacture an adhesive-backed > _plastic_ sheet that's meant to go through printers? I know I can > pick up an 8.5"x11" paper label from any office supply place. I am >

21 years, 3 months

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Moore's Law/Byte magazine

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Moore's Law/Byte magazine > From: lee davison <leeedavison at yahoo.co.uk> > Date: Sun, 15 May 2005 13:52:02 +0100 (BST) > To: cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > >> Do you know which issues the BCC180 articals are in? > >September and October 1985 Nope that is the SB180 I have those. I'm also looking for the BCC180 info and the BCC is not the SB. Allison

21 years, 3 months

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Moore's Law/Byte magazine

by leeedavison＠yahoo.co.uk

> Do you know which issues the BCC180 articals are in? September and October 1985 Lee. . ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Messenger - want a free and easy way to contact your friends online? http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

21 years, 3 months

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ebay encryption?

by brad＠heeltoe.com

I hate to ask an ebay question *here*, but I know some people here use ebay. Two different browsers in the past 24 hours have complained about ebay's server and being unable to match the security protocol (I'm guessing the SSL negotiation failed to converge) Has anyone else seen this? Just curious. Any idea what it is? -brad

21 years, 3 months

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stamps!

by tomj＠wps.com

Way OT! So sue me. Apparently the U.S.P.S. has issued some nerd stamps; von Neumann, Feynman and McClintock (biology) maybe more. Released 4 May I think.

21 years, 3 months

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Making Fontpanel Labels

by leeedavison＠yahoo.co.uk

> There is a mail order company here is Seattle, Rippedsheets.com, > that sells satin finished aluminum sheet you can run through an > inkjet printer. Another method is to print the artwork for the panel out using a laser printer, not inkjet, and then iron it on. You don't even need to cover the finished artwork with a clear coat afterwards as it is quite a tough finish by itself. See this page .. http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg/gooteepc.htm .. about half way down, the component layout for a board has been done using this method. I've used draughting film, like tracing paper but heavier, as that doesn't leave fibers embedded in the toner. It's an easy method to try out if you have a laser printer and an iron, best bit is if you do screw it up you can clean it off and try again, though without solvent cleaning it off can be hard work. Lee. . ___________________________________________________________ How much free photo storage do you get? Store your holiday snaps for FREE with Yahoo! Photos http://uk.photos.yahoo.com

21 years, 3 months

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Grinnell GMR270 Image Processing System

by hardware＠ees1s0.engr.ccny.cuny.edu

I took some pictures of the Grinnell GMR270 and put them here: http://134.74.16.64/wwwa/web/hardware/grinnell/ It comes with documentation and the card to interface with a PDP-11 Qbus. It also comes with an RGB monitor. -kurt

21 years, 3 months

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Slightly OT - looking for power adapter info for Palm III GPS

by ethan.dicks＠gmail.com

The Palm isn't quite 10 years old yet, but at least this is cool hand-held tech... I have this Rand McNally Navman/Streetfinder GPS that wraps around a Palm III, and I have lost track of which wall wart charges it up. There is, of course, no power information molded into the case, and as of yet, I have been unable to google any specs. Does anyone on the list happen to have one of these, or even just know what the input voltage is? I suspect it might be 12V, so that a simple lead can charge it in the car, but even an examination of the innards hasn't been revealing. I did run across a variable voltage car adapter with the right tip set to 9V. Since I don't have many devices with that particular tip (it's the smallest female coax connector in the standard Radio Shack kit), I have reason to suspect that I may have rigged this up some years ago, but I have no direct proof. I realize I should have scrawled the power info on the back with a Sharpie, something I will now do, once I put this thing back in service. Thanks for any tips, -ethan

21 years, 3 months

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Drill Press Project (was: Today's garage sale findings)

by technobug＠comcast.net

On Sat, 14 May 2005 17:11:52 -0400, Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> wrote: [...] > The first project on the drill press is entirely on-topic - > manufacturing an ABS front panel for my Elf2K > (http://www.sparetimegizmos.com/Hardware/Elf2K.htm). Speaking of > which, does anyone know if they manufacture an adhesive-backed > _plastic_ sheet that's meant to go through printers? I know I can > pick up an 8.5"x11" paper label from any office supply place. I am > hoping to find something that will resist water and abrasion (from > raspy palms) better than paper. I'm also hoping to print some new > keytops for the switches from an MSI 88/e keyboard (square, flush > pushbuttons, with a lip and stick-on key labels). I am constructing a > hex keypad for my Micro/Elf, and potentially for the Elf2K, and I > don't have A-F to pick from. > > Thanks, > > -ethan For prototypes I've had good luck printing on label paper and then using plastic laminate over the label. You can buy the laminate at any stationary store. The drawback, in my mind, is the glossy finish which detracts esthetically. For a more professional job I've begged and scrounged laminate from the local graphics companies. It comes in various levels of matte and is quite a bit thicker than the stationary store product. Good luck, CRC

21 years, 3 months

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Anyone playing with the 8x300

by dwight.elvey＠AMD.com

Hi I'm looking at an application of the 8X300 by Signetics. This is for a hard disk controller. Is anyone fiddling with simmulators for this processor. It seems like someone was a while back. My current application is on an Olivetti M20 not a TRS80. Dwight

21 years, 3 months

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Altair 8800 for sale

by classiccmp＠vintage-computer.com

I've been contacted by someone who is looking to sell an Altair 8800. >From the pictures the machine looks pretty nice with a very clean front panel and no major dings on the chassis. The seller was able to power it up, deposit values into memory and recover (examine) those same values back. The machine comes with the processor card, a RAM card and what appears to be an IO card installed in what looks like a MITS 18 slot motherboard. Pictures are available at http://www.vintage-computer.com/KGAltair.shtml Nothing else is being offered with the computer. He is asking for "market value" for the machine. It will be shipped from Memphis TN. Contact me (webmaster at vintage-NOSPAMcomputer.com - removing the obvious) for his email address, etc. This is not my machine, I am only passing on the word for the seller. The usual disclaimers apply. -- Erik Klein www.vintage-computer.com www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum The Vintage Computer Forum

21 years, 3 months

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Vax 4000/90

by williams.dan＠gmail.com

I had a good buy on ebay. Friday night when I came home from the pub I must of been looking through ebay and bid ?25 on a 4000/90. I only remembered doing it when I got an email today to say I'd won. Should do that more often. Dan

21 years, 3 months

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VCF Gazette Volume 3 Issue 1

by vcf＠siconic.com

VCF Gazette Volume 3, Issue 1 A Newsletter for the Vintage Computer Festival May 12, 2005 Wow! The VCF Gazette marks a milestone as it rolls in to its 3rd year. And boy are we late. Later than usual. Very late. In fact, I'm positive we're later than we've ever been. But my we're busy here at VCF central. Busier than usual. Very busy. In fact, I'm positive we're busier than we've ever been. So there you have it. Anyway, on with the news! In This Issue: VCF 7.0 Wrap Up VCF 7.0 Exhibit Awards and Photo Gallery VCF Midwest "Lite" VCF Inaugurates Long-Term Data Archiving Standard: FutureKeep New VCF Website Features VCF 7.0 Wrap Up --------------- The 7th annual Vintage Computer Festival was held on November 6-7 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California. It's pretty much cliche at this point to say it was the best event yet, but it really was! Just ask the 450+ people who attended. The main feature of the VCF this last time around was the Maze War Retrospective hosted by Bruce Damer of the DigiBarn. The authors of Maze War, which is the original "first person shooter" videogame, discussed the development of the game in the early 1970s. The Maze War server was ported to the PC by Ken Harrenstien and a Maze War network of three PCs plus an Imlac PDS-1D (heroically provided by Tom Uban) was installed at the VCF, allowing attendees to experience the original thrill of Maze War. The DigiBarn has created a terrific web page on the DigiBarn website to commemorate this event: http://www.digibarn.com/history/04-VCF7-MazeWar/index.html VCF 7.0 also featured the debut screening of BBS: The Documentary, a multi-part documentary series by Jason Scott of textfiles.com fame. This documentary traces the history of the computer bulletin board system, or BBS, from its origins through to its decline brought on by the rise of the modern Internet. BBS: The Documentary is now available for order and is highly recommended by the VCF: http://www.bbsdocumentary.com/ The exhibits at VCF 7.0 continued their evolution towards ever more elaborate displays, with great skill and creativity being demonstrated by the exhibitors. The next section contains more information about the exhibits and a link to the VCF 7.0 Photo Gallery. We're now looking forward to VCF 8.0 to be held November 5-6. See you there! VCF 7.0 Exhibit Awards and Photo Gallery ---------------------------------------- The VCF 7.0 Exhibition featured another stunning set of exhibits. The creativity of the exhibitors and their dedication to producing displays that brilliantly showcase their prized computers while presenting historical and educational background is simply amazing. For all the hard work that it takes to produce the VCF, the exhibits alone make it worth the effort. And so, we are pleased to present the results of the exhibit awards. Class Awards First, Second and Third Place ribbons are awarded in each of five classes that represent major areas of effort in computer collecting and preservation. Judging is based on a set of criteria including: appearance, condition, originality, authenticity, completeness, and functionality. Additional judging takes into account the breadth of the exhibit by assessing the inclusion of documentation and software. Note that the exhibit categories were re-worked for VCF 7.0 to reflect the evolution in subject matter and presentations that has occured over the past few years. The classes and class winners of each class respectively are as follows: Class A: Microcomputer 1st Place: Bryan Blackburn - Digital Group Computers 2nd Place: Erik Klein - Altair 30th Anniversary 3rd Place: Cameron Kaiser - Secret Weapons of Commodore Live! Class B: Mini, Multi-User, or Larger Computer 1st Place: Pavl Zachary - PDP 11/40 Running Ancient Unix 2nd Place: Bob Fowler - Alpha Microsystems AM-1000 3rd Place: Stephen Jones - SDF Public Access Unix System Class C: PDA, Handheld Computer, or Calculator 1st Place: Fritz Schneider - Curta Calculator 2nd Place: Boris Debic - Handheld Math 3rd Place: Hans Franke - Calculators of Mass Destruction Class D: Home-brew, Kit, or Educational Computer 1st Place: Michael Holley - SWTPC TV Typewriter 2nd Place: Wayne Smith - Tiger Learning Computer 3rd Place: Larry Pezzolo - OSI Superboard Class E: Re-creation, Emulation, or Contemporary Enhancement 1st Place: Tim Robinson - Differential Analyzer 2nd Place: Tim Robbinson - Computing by Steam 3rd Place: Eric Rothfus - Semi-Virtual Diskette Class F: Open/Other 1st Place: Wayne Smith - Bandai Pippin 2nd Place: Michael Holley - Southwest Technical Products Corp. 3rd Place: Larry Anderson - Commodore Gold Special Awards Special Awards are given to exhibits based on various practical and esthetic criteria. These accolades are intended to award exhibits that advance the state of computer collecting and preservation. Best Presentation: Research Bryan Blackburn - Digital Group Computers Best Presentation: Completeness Erik Klein - Altair 30th Anniversary Best Presentation: Display Bryan Blackburn - Digital Group Computers Best Presentation: Originality Pavl Zachary - PDP 11/40 Running Ancient Unix Best Preservation: Restoration Bryan Blackburn - Digital Group Computers Best Preservation: Obscurity Wayne Smith - Bandai Pippin Best Technology: Analog Tim Robinson - Differential Analyzer Best Technology: Non-Electronic Tim Robinson - Computing by Steam Best of Show The Best of Show award determines, based on the best overall score achieved, which exhibit deserves to be singled out for extra special recognition. The VCF 7.0 Best of Show award went to Bryan Blackburn for his Digital Group Computers. Bryan walked away once again with 5 separate awards this year, matching his performance from last year. Congratulations, Bryan! People's Choice Award Finally, the People's Choice Award taps into the pulse of the VCF crowd. Attendees are encouraged to submit a ballot naming their favorite exhibit of the show. The exhibit that attracted the most votes this year was Tim Robinson's Differential Analyzer, a functional differential analyzer modeled after designs by early computing pioneer Vannevar Bush and built entirely out of Meccano parts. I would like to thank and congratulate all VCF 7.0 exhibitors for contributing to yet another excellent exhibition. We've put together a photo gallery of the exhibits to showcase the talents and creativity of the VCF exhibitors: http://www.vintage.org/gallery.php?grouptag=VCF70 We're already looking forward to this year's exhibits. You might want to consider joining in the fun! VCF Midwest "Lite" ------------------ The VCF is introducing the new concept of the VCF "Lite" event. VCF Lite events feature all of the elements of a traditional VCF event (including speakers, exhibitors and vendors) but the event is held on a single day instead of across two days. VCF Midwest 1.0 will be held on Saturday, July 30th at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Doors will open at 9:30am, with speakers beginning at 10:00am and exhibits starting at 12:00pm. The event ends at 5:00pm. Admission is $5 per person. Exhibitors and vendors are wanted, so if you want to show off part of your collection or want to sell some of it, register now at the VCF Midwest website at: http://www.vintage.org/2005/midwest/ Additional VCF Midwest 1.0 information will be posted to the VCF Midwest website in the coming weeks, so get yourself onto the VCF mailing list to be informed of updates as they are announced. You can add yourself to the VCF mailing list here: http://www.vintage.org/maillist.php A separate announcement for VCF Midwest 1.0 with more information about the event will be distributed in the coming days so be on the look-out for that. If you'd like to organize a VCF Lite in your area, please contact Sellam Ismail at <sellam at vintage.org>. VCF Inaugurates Long-Term Data Archiving Standard: FutureKeep ------------------------------------------------------------- The VCF has lauched a project to create a file format standard for imaging and archiving software from virtually any data media ever devised, from punched cards to DVD-ROM and beyond. In a nutshell, the intent of the standard is to allow for software stored on any type of media to be digitally imaged in a manner that would allow the original media to be reconstructed from the image at which time it might be necessary to do so. The main purpose of this standard is to provide a universally recognized standard for preserving software. Media such as floppy disks and magnetic tape has a limited lifetime. The physical medium will fail over time resulting in data loss. While more durable, software stored on paper-based media such as punched cards and paper tape is also at risk. Even ROM chips are not forever: the bits contained within the silicon will dissipate over time, leaving behind an empty shell. In the absence of a durable, long-term (as in aeons), failure-proof digital storage medium, steps must be taken now to preserve the existing base of software and to ensure it will be available for the benefit of future generations. This standard is being designed to provide a uniform methodology for storing imaged media to facilitate the storage and maintenance of large archives of software. Other uses of the standard will be to provide a singular uniform file format for computer emulators to use as virtual storage devices. The design of the format is still in its initial stages, so if you're interested in being part of this historic development, you can join the committee responsible for devising the standard. Draft outline notes for the standard are available on the project website: http://www.futurekeep.org A mailing list has been created to provide a forum for discussing the development of the standard. For instructions on how to join the mailing list, e-mail project coordinator Sellam Ismail at <sellam at vintage.org>. New VCF Website Features ------------------------ The VCF is always striving to add useful features to the VCF website. The latest enhancements include a computer history reference library index, a photo gallery, a VCF Gazette browsing library, and an RSS feed. The VCF Library is a new feature which lists hundreds of computer history resources available on books, video and computer media. The list is organized into relevant categories and each entry includes a link to where that resource can be purchased on the web. Most link to Amazon product listings, and any purchase made through links from the VCF Library earns a commission for the VCF, so it's a great way to support the Vintage Computer Festival! The list is constantly being added to as new resources are identified, and we appreciate suggestions for additional resources to add. The library is available on the VCF website at: http://www.vintage.org/library.php The VCF Gazette now has its own page featuring a link to the current issue as well as links providing easy access to all past issues. The VCF Gazette home page is here: http://www.vintage.org/gazette.php The VCF periodically produces photo galleries of VCF events or items and activities the VCF is involved with. All the VCF photo galleries can now be viewed from one convenient location by jumping to the Photo Gallery index: http://www.vintage.org/gallery.php We've also installed an RSS News feed. RSS is a mechanism based on XML used for sharing and syndicating news or stories from sites that generate content. The VCF's RSS feed allows VCF fans to syndicate our news. The VCF RSS feed is provided at: http://www.vintage.org/rss.php Our first RSS subscriber is Kevin Savetz's Retro Roundup page, which aggregates classic computer and retro video game news from around the web: http://www.retroroundup.com/ Look for more excellent features to be added to the VCF Website in the near-term future. That wraps it up for this issue of the VCF Gazette! Until next time... Best regards, Sellam Ismail Producer Vintage Computer Festival http://www.vintage.org/ This issue of the VCF Gazette can be found online at: http://www.vintage.org/content.php?id=g31 The Vintage Computer Festival is a celebration of computers and their history. The VCF Gazette goes out to anyone who subscribed to the VCF mailing list, and is intended to keep those interested in the VCF informed of the latest VCF events and happenings. The VCF Gazette is guaranteed to be published in a somewhat irregular manner, though we will try to maintain a quarterly schedule. If you would like to be removed from the VCF mailing list, and therefore not receive any more issues of the VCF Gazette, visit the following web page: http://www.vintage.org/remove.php P[RE|ER]SE[R]VE[RE] ;)

21 years, 3 months

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The Don Maslin Software Archive

by cb＠mythtech.net

>I AM NOT SUGGESTING ACTION AT THIS POINT. I AM >SUGGESTING A DISCUSSION WITHIN THIS GROUP (WHERE DON >SPENT MOST OF HIS ONLINE TIME), FOLLOWED BY A GROUP >DECISION TO BE IMPLEMENTED. (For that purpose, I will >be turning on individual messages instead of the >digest >form in which I read this group.) My guess would be, she is still mourning the loss of her husband. The archive is all she has left of him. She may not understand it, but as long as it is in her garage, she still has something to hold onto. Death is a funny thing and makes people do equally funny things. She doesn't want to complete the transaction, because she isn't mentally ready to let the items go. But I also believe you are correct, eventually she will be ready, and if someone isn't standing at the door, she will just hire some local kid to haul it all to the trash. I think the best course of action is to discuss the matter with someone OTHER than Winnie, but who is going to be close enough all the time to keep a careful eye on the items. The Debbie person may be the best contact. Someone other than Winnie will not be in a mental state that keeps them from wanting to let the items go. So you will have a better chance of really pointing out the historical value of the items, and stress the importance that they not be thrown out. That person can then keep a careful passive eye on the items, and will know when the time is right to press for giving them to the classic computer community where they can be saved. -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

21 years, 3 months

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AT&T 6300 for rescue

by classiccmp＠vintage-computer.com

I was contacted by someone from the Washington DC area who has an AT&T PC 6300 that they need to get rid of. "I have an old, old AT&T PC6300 ("IBM clone") from about 1983. It has a monitor and keyboard and all necessary cables, plus lots of vintage software such as Quicken and PrintShop." They also indicated that they have tutorials for a lot of the software but that there are some intermittent display issues on an otherwise functional machine. Email Chad_LorenzNOSPAM at msn.com for details and to arrange pickup or transport. (Adjust the email for spam prevention) The usual disclaimers apply. -- Erik Klein www.vintage-computer.com www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum The Vintage Computer Forum

21 years, 3 months

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Today's garage sale findings

by ethan.dicks＠gmail.com

Not much to report except a $25 table-top multispeed drill press (belts and pulleys, just like the big boys), and a free Atari 800 (CPU only, no PSU, disk...) with three broken keys from the same house. The first project on the drill press is entirely on-topic - manufacturing an ABS front panel for my Elf2K (http://www.sparetimegizmos.com/Hardware/Elf2K.htm). Speaking of which, does anyone know if they manufacture an adhesive-backed _plastic_ sheet that's meant to go through printers? I know I can pick up an 8.5"x11" paper label from any office supply place. I am hoping to find something that will resist water and abrasion (from raspy palms) better than paper. I'm also hoping to print some new keytops for the switches from an MSI 88/e keyboard (square, flush pushbuttons, with a lip and stick-on key labels). I am constructing a hex keypad for my Micro/Elf, and potentially for the Elf2K, and I don't have A-F to pick from. Thanks, -ethan

21 years, 3 months

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Anyone playing with the 8x300

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: Re: Anyone playing with the 8x300 > From: "Dwight K. Elvey" <dwight.elvey at amd.com> > Date: Sat, 14 May 2005 12:14:26 -0700 (PDT) > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > >Hi Allison > It is interesting that this application didn't use >that method of I/O addressing. All I/O devices are typical >bus type devices. It has a ROM connected to the instruction >addresses that selects the I/O based on the address being >executed. They don't seem to be taking advantage of the >read modify write I/O, either. The ports are all wired as >unidirectional ports. >Dwight > There were many ways to address IO on that beastie. The basic machine was very unlike most micros and there was no concept of addressing for ram in the data path. IO was almost an after thought in many ways. But, it was fast and being very microcoded it was useful for datain/process/dataout things that didn't require much or any intermediate storage. There were whole clases of appications it was useful for but often designers rather than and deal with it's peculiar implmentation just grew their own from the ground up like the RX02 and SMS disks. It's lifespan in the market was short due to parts like the 29116 and other faster and more commonplace micros. Allison

21 years, 3 months

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UNIVAC drum printer available in Czech Republic

by vcf＠siconic.com

A fellow called me from Australia to tell me he has a UNIVAC drum printer that he needs to let go of. He said it's sentimentally important to him because apparently he acquired it and modified it so he could use it (on what machine he did not say). He was interested in getting some money for it if he could. I don't know the model or age. The printer is available in the Czech Republic, where this man is I believe moving back to. He asked that anyone interested contact his son in the Czech Republic, whose cell phone number is +420 606 75 0654. Please let me know if someone decides to rescue this. Perhaps one of the more formal computer museums in the EU? -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org [ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ] [ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]

21 years, 3 months

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Honywell DPS-6 Rescued

by jpl15＠panix.com

It loos like a Listmember has arranged to keep the DPS-6 safe from the Hammer and Blowtorch - I'll keep y'all informed on the progress of said rescue. Thanks to all who responded on this. Looks like it'll be safe and loved, now. Cheers John

21 years, 3 months

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Anybody know what this front panel is for?

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "Joe R." <rigdonj at cfl.rr.com> > > I found this today <http://www.classiccmp.org/hp/panels/all.jpg>. >Anybody know what it's for? It's obviously for some kind of computer or >computer based systems since it talks about ROM Address and the like. But >it has some terms that I don't recognize, TU Status, Romar/Bromar, etc. >This thing is almost three foot wide so I had to take three pictures in >order to get closeups of the legends. See ><http://www.classiccmp.org/hp/panels/> for more pictures. BTW this is all >of the system that I found and this is exactly the way that I found the >panel except for wiping some dust and dirt off of it. > > The HP 700i isn't part of it, it's picture just happened to be on the >same disk. > > Joe Hi Joe I'm not much help but it is a great looking panel. Dwight

21 years, 3 months

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Anyone playing with the 8x300

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: "Allison" <ajp166 at bellatlantic.net> > >> >>Subject: Re: Anyone playing with the 8x300 >> From: "Dwight K. Elvey" <dwight.elvey at amd.com> >> Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 14:57:09 -0700 (PDT) >> To: cctalk at classiccmp.org >> >>> >>>Ah the classic first of the fast microcontrollers. >>>I'd have to dig but I vaguely remember the 8x300 >>>as a disk controller apnote. Nasty beast to program. >>> >>>Allison >>> >> >>Hi >> Don't know why you'd say this, it only has 8 instructions! >>I've got the spec posted to Al's site. >> This controller application is a little interesting in that >>who ever designed this board, also must have done a bitslice >>designs at one time or another. To save a machine cycle, all >>I/O addresses are selected by a ROM tied to the instruction >>addressing. Normally it would take two cycles, one to write >>the I/O address and one to transfer the data. With the >>ROM, the address is understood by the program's execution >>address location. >>Dwight > >It's more of a sequencer or state machine with a crude ALU. >As to those 8 instructions, looks at what the fields are >for each one. I've done horizontal microcode and that is >similar. Due to it's very harvard design it's not one you >will do constans in rom much. Also the IO devices are >really IO specific as in the address of each is coded >into the part. Hi Allison It is interesting that this application didn't use that method of I/O addressing. All I/O devices are typical bus type devices. It has a ROM connected to the instruction addresses that selects the I/O based on the address being executed. They don't seem to be taking advantage of the read modify write I/O, either. The ports are all wired as unidirectional ports. Dwight > >One use for it was an 8bit wide DSP. I have a real one here >of the later 8x305 I2L that was a bit faster. > >Allison > >

21 years, 3 months

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Anyone playing with the 8x300

by dwight.elvey＠amd.com

>From: shoppa_classiccmp at trailing-edge.com > >> also must have done a bitslice designs at one time or another > >I always thought of the 8x300 as a near-bitslice processor... bipolar, >data port, etc. While it doesn't chain together to make bigger >wordsizes like AMD2901/Intel 3002, it really was a programmable >sequencer very much like those bitslice parts. > >Tim. > Hi With the way it had rotates and masking through th I/O bus, I could see how one could sequentially chain several processors with only a cycle per processor delay. Dwight

21 years, 3 months

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'goto" gone from computer languages or is it!

by dwight.elvey＠AMD.com

>From: "Jim Battle" <frustum at pacbell.net> > >Dwight K. Elvey wrote: >... >> Hi >> The last place I worked, the processor was designed to >> be able to optimize by doing out of order execution ( HaL >> computer system, first Sparc64 ). They soon discovered the >> problem when dealing with I/O. They, luckily, had a >> sequential mode that they could switch to during I/O >> operations that made the order predictable. You'd have >> thought that someone in the design team might have realized >> the problem. >> Dwight > >Dwight, I'm more than a little sceptical that the architects at Hal >didn't understand that reordering memory accesses would cause problems >with programmed I/O. I'm sure that they put in instruction >serialization and memory barrier instructions for precisely those >reasons. It wasn't a matter of "luckily" at all. The sequential mode was for boot ( and I/O ). I suspect that the original architects understood the need but a hole team of software fellows had no idea what was wrong. Trust me on this, I was there and went to the debug meetings. > >Even before OOO (out of order) execution at the instruction level was >practical in the 90s, there were designs that performed memory access >reordering since the 60s, leading to some of the same issues. > >As a side note, I believe the first company to attempt (thought they >didn't execute) real out of order instruction execution was Metaflow. >Some have said that Metaflow's architectects (Bruce Lightner primarily) >were ahead of their time, but the hallmark of good engineering is having >the judgement to specifify something that can be built within >constraints of practicality, not just specifying something with all the >cool ideas you can come up with. It would look ahead to see if it could execute anything that wasn't dependent on something that needed a current pending calculation or something that wasn't already in cache. Because it is a memory mapped I/O, it didn't treat the I/O and different then data. Dwight

21 years, 3 months

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Honeywell DSP-6 Last Call

by dhbarr＠gmail.com

Hrmm... I think maybe, =MAYBE= I can schedule a =TEMPORARY= intervention on this. I have kin in Reno, NV, which is only about 40 minutes off. What are the dimensions on a thing like this? Approximate weight? -dhbarr. On 5/14/05, Zane H. Healy <healyzh at aracnet.com> wrote: > At 10:06 AM +0200 5/14/05, Jochen Kunz wrote: > >On Fri, 13 May 2005 23:23:53 -0400 (EDT) > >John Lawson <jpl15 at panix.com> wrote: > > > >> There is a fee DPS-6 in Carson City, Nevada, that is going to have to > >> be reduced to scrap, unless someone can step up to the plate > >Isn't a DPS-6 capable of running Multics? > > No, that would be select DPS-8 models. The DPS-6 is basically a > Minicomputer. It runs GCOS-6 and maybe other OS's. > > Someone *really* needs to save this system. It can't be me for > multiple reasons. These systems are *VERY, VERY* rare to find in > Hobbyist hands. Since this is the system that Sellam had, I think > there is only one, maybe two, other systems in Hobbyist hands. > > Zane > -- > -- > | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator | > | healyzh at aracnet.com (primary) | OpenVMS Enthusiast | > | | Classic Computer Collector | > +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ > | Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, | > | PDP-10 Emulation and Zane's Computer Museum. | > | http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ | >

21 years, 3 months

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Honeywell DSP-6 Last Call

by jpl15＠panix.com

In the next two weeks, we must dispose of the Honeywell DPS-6 mainframe - somehow. So far two possiblities have fallen through. Therefore, be it Known to All by these Presentments: There is a fee DPS-6 in Carson City, Nevada, that is going to have to be reduced to scrap, unless someone can step up to the plate, as they say, and speak those rare words: "I'll take that..." System will fit in a std-sized pick-up truck, forklift and loading assistance is provided. Sombody adopt this machine before we are forced to KILL it. Cheers (Hopefully Not The Grim Computer Reaper) John

21 years, 3 months

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