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

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

This one is light and small enough to be shipped. It's a 'Gigastore' drive from Digi-Data Corp. Best of all, it includes the operation/maintenance manual(!). The 'Gigastore' is a weird device. What Digi-Data did is take a regular VHS VCR, make some modifications to the transport assembly, and added their own electronics to provide a Pertec interface. The result was a tape backup system that used regular VHS tapes, could store up to 2.5 gigabytes of data, and could interface to any Pertec controller. This one's cheap: $25.00 or best offer, plus shipping. Also, FYI: The HP 9-track drive I mentioned earlier would include the manual. Thanks much. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner & Head Hardware Heavy, Blue Feather Technologies -- http://www.bluefeathertech.com ARS KC7GR (Formerly WD6EOS) since 12-77 -- kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com "I'll get a life when someone demonstrates that it would be superior to what I have now..." (Taki Kogoma, aka Gym Z. Quirk)

24 years

1
0
0 0

HP 3000 No More

by fmc＠reanimators.org

"Stan Sieler" <sieler(a)allegro.com> wrote: > Re: > > See my earlier post about how they started back in '73; > > 1972, but the actual "start" date is hard to pin down. Was it first > introduction, or the re-introduction (after it was pulled off the market)? Development of Alpha started in 1968 and ran concurrently (if somewhat on a back burner, because everybody thought the 32-bit Omega was a more exciting project) w/r/t Omega until Omega's cancellation in 1970. November 1972 is when the first systems (called HP 3000) were shipped to customers. The re-release (which was somewhat improved hardware and software and also called HP 3000 initially, but later came to be called the Series I) was in October 1973. (Reference for the above: Christopher Edler's "The Strongest Castle" paper) > The 16-bit HP 3000 was never multi-CPU. The HP 3000 Series III, introduced > in 1978, *did* have one instruction that was intended to support > having a second CPU, but nothing was ever done with it. The multiple-CPU > support came with the PA-RISC system, with release MPE XL 3.0 Somebody had ideas about it being a dual-CPU shared-memory system early on. Looking at the HP3000 Computer System Reference Manual from September 1973, I see that locations %10-%13 were reserved for the second processor's current PCB pointer, QI, ZI, and interrupt count. The Series II added two instructions: LOCK and UNLK, which were used to provide a sort of in-memory semaphore. I'm not sure they were present in the Series III. The Machine Instruction Set manuals I have handy have them footnoted with "Series II computer systems only". What I don't know is whether MPE ever had dual-CPU support. If it didn't, I wonder how they worked out that having an in-memory semaphore would be a good idea. -Frank McConnell

24 years

2
1
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HP 3000 No More (legacy)

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On November 17, Stan Sieler wrote: > PA-RISC is dead/dying ... HP has said so. IA-64 killed it. [knee-jerk reaction to a pet peeve follows] Well, as long as "dead" can be defined as "salespeople don't want to sell you a new one". For me, it can't. I can pick up the phone and buy PDP8 equipment from a commercial vendor. How long ago was THAT architecture discontinued? For me, something is "dead" (or "obsolete" or whatever you want to call it) when it can no longer do its job adequately and cost-effectively. When Ford or Chevrolet discontinue a model of a car, does every owner of that model of car go throw them away and buy brand new cars? This industry is absurd, and its practices and philosophies are repulsive at best. I wish I didn't like computers so much. *grumble* > (Indeed, PA-RISC was originally scheduled to be dead by now, but it had to > be extended due to the lateness of IA-64.) > > Do I like this? Nope. But, it's as much "legacy" as Z80, 68000, and > (probably) all x86 chips. ...all of which can be bought new today, and are being built into systems (though not mainstream suits-doing-powerpoint-presentations type of systems, but is that really what this crowd cares about?) every day. "something new came out" != "this is now useless". Now, Stan...I apologize if it seems as if I'm jumping down your throat with this, and believe me I do get the impression that I'm precahing to the choir. But I also believe that the vast majority of the folks here understand that computers don't stop processing data when the manufacturer no longer wants to sell new ones of the same type. This group is likely the most enlightened of any on this subject. So why go along with it? Respectfully, -Dave McGuire -- Dave McGuire St. Petersburg, FL

24 years

2
1
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HP 3000 No More

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> According to the press release, they want you to migrate to 9000's or > their PC servers products. > > As for MPE on other platforms.. tempting. They should open source the > whole damn thing. That would be an *interesting* read. fat chance. A group tried to liberate Domain/OS, which they didn't even write, to no avail... I think Bob Supnik had the same response >from them regarding the HP2000/2100 software. Suits. Can't live with 'em, probably couldn't live without 'em. -dq

24 years

5
4
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HP 3000 No More

by dlinder＠uiuc.edu

hey list- Just announced on /., the venerable HP3000 line will join HP calculators in HP's new "we don't want to do cool stuff anymore" business model. Well, maybe that's harsh. But it is still another sad day for computing. - Dan -- Dan Linder / dlinder @ uiuc.edu Graduate Student, College of Engineering, Dept. of Computer Science - Dept. of Computer Science Teaching Assistant - DRES Computer Accessibility Researcher

24 years

17
21
0 0

Cable and connector source

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Nov 15, 10:57, Ethan Dicks wrote: > > --- Pete Turnbull <pete(a)dunnington.u-net.com> wrote: > > There's a trick to soldering them. Stick the plug in a socket (or, btter > > still, a potato) to solder it. It stops things getting too hot and > > melting. > > I've done the socket thing, but I've never done a potato... wouldn't you > get lots of residual starch on the pins? Not a lot. And it's not corrosive. Don't use an apple :-) -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

24 years

13
21
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AVAILABLE: 9-track SCSI-SE tri-density tape drives

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

(Cross-posted to: classiccmp, and the port-sparc and port-vax lists at NetBSD.org) NOTE: LOCAL PICKUP ONLY EXCEPT BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT: I'm sorry, but these are too big and bulky for me to easily ship unless you want to pay $150 for a special box plus the freight charges. Pickup location is Kent, Washington (southeast of Seattle). -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Hi, folks, Due to shifting interests, and a massive cleanup, I'm getting rid of two 9-track SCSI interface tape drives. Both are multi-density, both are standard single-ended SCSI interface, no oddball connectors, and I'd like to ask for $100 OR BEST OFFER on each one. Here's the specific details. HP 88780: Handles 800, 1600, and 6250 density tapes. Front-loading/autoloading, rackmount, and in pretty darn good shape. Originally badged as a Sun drive, and I seem to recall that it ID's as a Sun device. However, it worked just fine with standard SCSI hardware. Includes rack slides, functional when last turned on a few months back. M4 Data Model 9914R (rackmount). Handles all four known densities: 800, 1600, 3200, and 6250. Also front-load/autoload, also in great shape. I can probably come up with a set of rack slides for it as well. Somewhat lighter than the HP in physical terms, and it can be easily converted to a Pertec interface by removing the SCSI interface board and changing one parameter in the NVRAM setup. Thanks much for putting up with my blatant ad. ;-) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner & Head Hardware Heavy, Blue Feather Technologies -- http://www.bluefeathertech.com ARS KC7GR (Formerly WD6EOS) since 12-77 -- kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com "I'll get a life when someone demonstrates that it would be superior to what I have now..." (Taki Kogoma, aka Gym Z. Quirk)

24 years

1
0
0 0

History of Computing CD

by MTPro＠aol.com

Hello, I have one copy of this CD left, it's new and the most current version. Anyone like to buy it? The "History of Computing: An Encyclopedia of the People and Machines that Made Computer History," a CD ROM based reference containing over 1,000 PHOTOS of early machines and technologies. (Win 95/98/NT & Win 2000, and above, compatible) Sells for $19.95 at amazon.com, see: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0944601782/qid=1002987031/sr=8-2/ref… _8_7_2/002-0016231-5469635 Only $10 plus shipping! Best, David David Greelish Classic Computing www.classiccomputing.com "classiccomputing" on eBay

24 years

1
0
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OT: paging MAC expert(s) --- What's a Performa?

by mythtech＠Mac.com

>The documentation that came with this machine implies it's already >equipped with >the DX2/66. Is there some sort of utility in the system that would make >it easy >to see what the thing perceives itself as having? If you boot it, you will probably find a copy of Apple System Profiler in the Apple menu. That will tell you what you have installed. The stock 630 series is actually a fairly useful machine. It used 72pin SIMMS (FPM, but EDO work just fine), there is only one RAM slot, so it will max out the machine at 36mb (32mb chip + 4 on board). The VRAM is non upgradable. As a stock machine, they are good workstations (pending you use non PPC only software, since it is a 33mhz LC040.. the LC040 is a 68040 without the FPU built into the chip). I have a 630 running right now as a mail server, keeps up with everything I give it no problems (runs Mac OS 8.1, with Stalker Internet Mail Server... hosts a few domains and a few thousand emails a day, with a few hundred accounts... never even hiccups). The HD is IDE, which makes it cheap and easy to upgrade. Other things of interest. It may have an ethernet card, but if you said it came with a modem, I doubt it has ethernet (was the modem internal? You could get an internal 14.4 geoport fax/modem in the Comm Slot... the GeoPort modem is similar to those WinModems that use the processor to handle all the modem functions, and the modem acts pretty much as an AD/DA converter. HOWEVER, you may have one of the modems that was made by global village... THOSE modems are real modems, and VERY VERY good, with supurb fax software). If the modem is external, then you might have an ethernet card in the Comm slot (look at the back for an RJ45 connector). If you have a Global Village external modem (common performa modem), the bronze (probably the one you have) is 2400 fax. It is a VERY good fax modem, with excellent software... not so good of a regular modem (some extension conflicts with the modem control software). There is also a Gold version that was 28.8 fax... much better regular modem (newer software, cured most of the extension conflicts) Also, your docs indicate that it has the DOS card installed. However, the 630 didn't ship with a dos card... that was the 640 (upgraded version of the 630, the 640 came stock with a DOS card... IIRC it was available for the 630 as a 3rd party add in by Reply, so it may have been added). The quickest way to tell if a dos card is installed is look at the back of the machine. You will see an expansion slot. If there is a fairly densely pinned DB connector in the expansion slot, you have a DOS card. There should be a dongle cable for it that will connect between the DOS card, and the Mac's video out. The cable will then provide a RGB connector, and a Midi/Joystick connector. If you don't have that cable, the DOS card is useless... good luck finding a replacement cable. Finally, the 630 supports Video In/Out and a TV Tuner. Again, look at the back of the machine, if you see RCA connectors for video, left and right audio (Yellow, Red and White, RCAs), you have the video In/Out card. If you ALSO see a RF Coax screw on connector, you have the TV Tuner... if you have these... contact me, I would be interested in possibly buying/trading them with you (I have a need for the TV Tuner card, but will take them as a pair). If you have the TV Tuner card, you should also have a remote control. It will either be a skinny black remote, or a little credit card sized remote. Failure to have the remote will not prevent the card from working, it just means you have to do all the controls on the computer. (The Video Player software supports all the remote functions directly, the remote was just a nicity). What else... If the DOS card is not present, then the 630 has an LC PDS slot, there are a few cards available for it (network, video, accelerators, odds and ends). I think that is pretty much it. The 630 series is a very good 040 machine, and can still be used for a number of things. -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

24 years

8
13
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OT: paging MAC expert(s) --- What's a Performa?

by mythtech＠Mac.com

> Even the ADB symbol predates USB by a goodly margin. It was >introduced with the SE in 1987. Actually, IIRC, it first appeared in the Apple IIgs shortly before appearing in the Mac II, THEN in the SE... but I could be wrong -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

24 years

4
3
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Surplus Legal Issues, was Re: Fw: Control Data Cyber 960

by mhstein＠usa.net

----------Original Message------------ <snip> I was working for a small place many years ago that had recieved, by Government contractor error, a 'classified' piece of radio gear stuck in a truckload of other RF junk we bought. The Feds came storming in one afternoon with the swat team (I am *not* making this up!!) <snip> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Speaking of classified equipment among the junk, that reminds me of a story at: http://www.cultdeadcow.com/cDc_files/cDc-363/ Novel twist on the car-in-the-side-of-the-mountain urban legend; a little long, but I enjoyed it. mike

24 years

1
0
0 0

Control Data Cyber 960 rescue interest?

by mhstein＠usa.net

Speaking of CDC, among the junk I'm cleaning out of my basement there's a partial backplane out of an old CDC something-or-other, connected to a panel with 2 AC outlets (Monitor & Data Set), a fuse and a DB25 for the Data Set. There's also an acoustic delay line and a large resistor/diode matrix board which I think came from the same piece. Maybe a 60's era terminal??? 3 rows of cards; the two top rows A & B have 25 slots for 4 1/2x6", double sided 31 edge connectors cards, some with 10 test points along the edge and each populated with one or two dozen gold 10 pin TO5 cans marked M (as in Motorola) 115, 116, 117, 118 with what I assume are date codes like 6624, 6644, and 6636. The bottom row, C, 32 slots, contains a few smaller cards with pin connectors that appear to be some kind of programming cards, just containing jumper wires. Anybody recognize these and maybe even have a use for a card or two, or can I throw them out without feeling guilty? mike

24 years

1
0
0 0

TRS-80 Model IV

by csmith＠amdocs.com

If they do, I'm not aware of it. This may be the case, though. Christopher Smith, Perl Developer Amdocs - Champaign, IL /usr/bin/perl -e ' print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n"); ' > -----Original Message----- > From: Lawrence LeMay [mailto:lemay@cs.umn.edu] > Sent: Friday, November 16, 2001 1:23 PM > To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: TRS-80 Model IV > > > I thought that they required a PAL in addition to extra ram chips, in > order to install a memory upgrade.

24 years

2
1
0 0

TRS-80 Model IV

by csmith＠amdocs.com

> -----Original Message----- > From: Richard Erlacher [mailto:edick@idcomm.com] > Maxing out the RAM is probably not a bad idea, but I'd > suggest you attempt to > figure out why the non-working ones don't work, and, if > that's the only problem > you can't solve, I'll happily send you the necessary DRAMs > for the cost of > postage. I _think_ there are video problems with both units. They seem to attempt to boot up, while leaving the monitor in a relatively empty state. Regards, Chris Christopher Smith, Perl Developer Amdocs - Champaign, IL /usr/bin/perl -e ' print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n"); '

24 years

3
2
0 0

TRS-80 Model IV

by csmith＠amdocs.com

Hi again. :) I just thought of another question. I have in my possession four TRS-80 model IVs. Two portables, (one working, one not), and two desktops (one working, one not). The desktop will run in Model III emulation mode. The portable will turn on and ask for a disk. Anybody know where I can find some operating system(s) for them? I'm also thinking about taking the ram from the non-working machines, and using it to max out the memory in the working ones. Good idea, bad idea? Regards, Chris Christopher Smith, Perl Developer Amdocs - Champaign, IL /usr/bin/perl -e ' print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n"); '

24 years

6
7
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Hello, and please help with RSX-11M/PDP parts

by dburrows＠netpath.net

In most cases you can type <ctrl>Z when it asks for the date and time. Unless they were clever in the startup routines) The you are logged in as [200,200] SET /DEF [1,54] the "normal" system account. Then your able to totally corrupt anything you want. Suggestion: DO NOT do anything but read files in [0,0] They are the equivalent of the MFT. You should find in [1,2] plain text help files for almost anything you should happen to want to do. I could help more if you had posted the version of RSX and whether it is M+ plain M or 11S. I doubt it is 11S as there it is uncommon. When it comes to the older core memory UNIBUS systems - good luck. I lost a couple in the fire and the hobby market has gone crazy for them over the last couple years. I do know of a few still in commercial use that may eventually be replaced but they are dual processor shared memory and peripheral configurations that really complicates their replacement. Dan - Going back to check on the RSX11M+ SYSGEN I started for a customer when I started to catch up on the list. -----Original Message----- From: Christopher Smith <csmith(a)amdocs.com> To: Classiccmp (E-mail) <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Date: Friday, November 16, 2001 11:30 AM Subject: Hello, and please help with RSX-11M/PDP parts > >This will be a lot to cram into one mail, but here we go... > >First off, Hi everybody. I'm newly subscribed to this list. > >Next, I was wondering whether anyone here can help my with my newly acquired >(IE rescued from the crusher) PDP-11/73. > >Straight to the point, I can get it to boot up RSX-11M, which is installed >on the fixed drive, and do *stuff*. (please correct me if I'm wrong on any >of this, by the way) > >I've figured out that the previous owner has disabled logins from the >console port, perhaps to defeat the "forgotten password" procedure that I >can't get to work ;) I can hit ^C and get an "MCR>" prompt, but nothing >else. > >There is another port which has user [10,10] logged in automatically when >the machine finishes booting, so I've been able to experiment with it some. >I've managed to figure out that INS and REM are MCR commands to insert and >remove images from the system. RUN seems to automatically insert, execute, >and perhaps afterwards remove an image. HEL will log you in (but not >without a password!), and BYE will log you out. > >What I'm missing here are basically any file-management commands! :) Does >anyone have a short reference? I could also use suggestions on a recovery >procedure to get access to the 0,0 account. > >Here are my thoughts: > >Put the drive in a MicroVAX-II (write-protected!), in place of the >MicroVAX's system disk. MOPboot the VAX from another, larger VAX, and ><edit?/move/do-something-to> either the UAF or the startup files to change >the 0,0 password, or change the boot procedure so that the "forgotten >password" process will work. > >(Anyone know if this is possible, or whether there's an easier way?) > >My understanding of this "forgotten password" process is that you hit ^C >early in the boot procedure to get the "MCR>" prompt, and run the command >REM ...AT. to de-install the command-file processor so that the system can't >fully bring itself up. This somehow should cause the system to give you >privileged CLI access. > >This system is a MicroPDP-11/73, with an "MFM" type fixed drive of unknown >size, two 4-port serial boards, and an RX50 (I think that's the strange >2-in-1 floppy drive?). It tells me on bootup that it's got 512k of RAM >"mapped." I've been assuming that this is the full amount of built-in RAM. >Please correct me if I'm wrong there. I'll get the CPU revision/OS >version/etc if needed, but I don't have the system handy right now. > >Once I get the machine up and running, I'll need to make a good backup of >the drive, in some kind of bootable form, since it's the only copy of RSX >I've got. I hear there's a stand-alone BRU. Is that the way to go? It's >likely I'll backup to floppy, and image the floppies to CD. I may also >remove a tk50 and controller from a MicroVAX II, so that I can backup to >tape, and dump the tape into a file using one of my VAXen. > >Given all of the above, any suggestions? > >If I've kept your attention this far, let me also ask another, more >open-ended question. > >I'd like to get an older, unibus based PDP-11 eventually. Ideally, here is >what I'd like: > >Core memory >Programming switches on the front-panel >Reel-to-reel tape >Small package (meaning half-size to 2/3 size a normal rack. I've seen >pictures of things like this. >Some kind of disk storage >Multi-port serial > >Any advice on collecting parts, or finding old parts/systems? I've already >been given, and taken the ebay advice. No luck there yet. > >Regards, > >Chris > >Christopher Smith, Perl Developer >Amdocs - Champaign, IL > >/usr/bin/perl -e ' >print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n"); >' >

24 years

1
0
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OT: paging MAC expert(s) --- What's a Performa?

by mythtech＠Mac.com

>There's a connector on the back, which I'm sure is >"stock," that has an indicator on the back of the box suggesting it's a >network >connector of some sort. It's a 4-pin mini-DIN. Little 3 pronged thingy icon... thats ADB... plug the keyboard in there, chain the mouse thru the keyboard (you'll find the same connector on the keyboard) 4 pin mini din should only be ADB on a Mac... at least in terms of "stock" connectors. -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

24 years

3
2
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OT: paging MAC expert(s) --- What's a Performa?

by mythtech＠Mac.com

>I've really never seen >anything involving hardware that could be done cheaply AND easily on a MAC. >Most things seem to be both insanely difficult and excruciatingly costly. I'll give you the expensive part (up until the latest machines with their USB, most mac hardware has been up to twice as much as the same thing on the PC). But EVERYTHING about Mac hardware is easy. Things just work. >IIRC, I once ordered a simple router of some sort, a PC/AT + "fancy" >monitor + >HP LaserJet printer + extra LJ memory + software for MUCH (nearly half) less >than it cost to attach the half-dozen MAC's in our office to an Apple laser >printer. Most of the cost for the Apple solution was for the Apple >printer, of >course, but it still left quite a margin! The fact that the Apple printer >used >postscript probably contributed mightily to its cost as opposed to the >LJII, but >it probably didn't cost that much. I could have used a postscript >cartridge, I >guess, but the software managed that problem. The postscript card probably would have been much cheaper. I don't recall if the HPLJII had provisions for adding localtalk or ethertalk, but there were boxes available back then that could provide it (plugged in to the parallel port). The two combined probably would have been cheaper than your PC + monitor. Which, of course, I won't argue was probably a cheaper solution than buying some of the Apple branded printers. >I can see why the MAC users of the mid '90's liked the MAC. It shuts down >right >away, as opposed to making you wait around to shut off the computer. Of >course, >I don't know how it behaves on a network. I've read that the reason the PC >under Windows shuts down slowly is because it takes time to dismiss the >various >connections, logical and physical on the LAN. I'm not convinced, however, >but >that's one excuse that's been published. Well, that is the advantage of using a GOOD OS (strictly speaking in comparison to Windows of the era, so compared to Win up to and including win95). Oh, and it behaves just fine with network connections (regardless of protocol)... far better than one would expect if you use Appletalk (once again... it just works... chatty, but works). -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

24 years

1
0
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Ultrix WS Software manual F4COS

by zaft＠azstarnet.com

That's an Ultrix Workstation Software manual, free for cost of shipping. Spine says: System Management Volume 1 Advanced Installation Guide Capacity Upgrade Instructions Intro to System and Network Management System Environment Setup Email me offlist if you wanted, first come first served... G

24 years

1
0
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OT: paging MAC expert(s) --- What's a Performa?

by mythtech＠Mac.com

>Actually my Performa 631CD has a DOS card from a Performa 640 and it >doesn't need the three headed cable that the DOS card in my Powermac >6100 does. The 631's DOS card uses the Mac video output and you use a >command enter keysequence to switch between full screen DOS to Full >screen Mac. The back panel on the DOS card only has a D-15 joystick >connector that connects to the tiny Sound Blaster Vibra 16 card mounted >on the DOS card. I've never finished setting up the 6100's DOS card to >know how the video works on it. Interesting. I have used the DOS card on the 610 (both the Apple "houdini" card, and the Reply marketed card), the 6100, and the 4400/7200. ALL needed the DOS card cable. And although I haven't used the 7 or 12" PC cards apple sold for other PCI PowerMacs, I have seen them, and they all use the dongle cable too. That means, the 640's dos card was the ONLY one sold by apple that didn't need the cable. Very interesting indeed. -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

24 years

1
0
0 0

TRS-80 Model IV

by geoffr＠zipcon.net

there were 2 basic mod 4's IIRC, a unit that required a PAL upgrade for more ram and a Non-pal unit... I don't remember how to tell the difference anymore though :( At 02:08 PM 11/16/01 -0600, you wrote: >If they do, I'm not aware of it. This may be the case, though. > >Christopher Smith, Perl Developer >Amdocs - Champaign, IL > >/usr/bin/perl -e ' >print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n"); >' > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Lawrence LeMay [mailto:lemay@cs.umn.edu] > > Sent: Friday, November 16, 2001 1:23 PM > > To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org > > Subject: Re: TRS-80 Model IV > > > > > > I thought that they required a PAL in addition to extra ram chips, in > > order to install a memory upgrade.

24 years

1
0
0 0

QBUS FDDI (DEFQA)

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Nov 16, 8:36, Ethan Dicks wrote: > > --- Eric Dittman <dittman(a)dittman.net> wrote: > > > > I'm in the process of converting most of my systems to FDDI... > > > > According to what I've read, the card is FDDI and not CDDI (which is how > > I refer to FDDI over copper, since there's not any F in CDDI). > > Is that like the joke with the line "there's no F in Chocolate"? LOL! I thought that too, but there's only an 'F' in FDDI on my net :-) -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

24 years

1
0
0 0

QBUS FDDI (DEFQA)

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On November 15, Eric Dittman wrote: > > Yup, they made 'em. Scarce as hen's teeth. I finally got one > > (purely by chance, actually!) after a *lot* of searching. > > You wouldn't happen to want to sell yours, would you? Nope, sorry man. -Dave -- Dave McGuire St. Petersburg, FL

24 years

2
1
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TRS-80 Model IV

by csmith＠amdocs.com

Again, there is one desktop, and one portable. I was relatively sure to keep all the cables in the proper spot. On the other hand, I can't say I checked well for corrosion/loose connections/etc. Chris Christopher Smith, Perl Developer Amdocs - Champaign, IL /usr/bin/perl -e ' print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n"); ' > -----Original Message----- > From: Michael Nadeau [mailto:menadeau@mediaone.net] > If you're not talking about the portables, I'd check the > obvious first. Open > up the case and reseat the video cables. Check for tarnished/corroded > connectors. I haven't opened a Model 4 in years, but as I recall it's > relatively easy to pull and twist the video cables in the > process, affecting > the connection.

24 years

1
0
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OT: Fear and helpfulness on classiccmp

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On November 16, Jeffrey S. Sharp wrote: > There is no honor in being pounded in the ass by someone called Bubba. I > recommend that we do only legal things regarding this CDC 960. Jeff, if I can't remove all of this Dr. Pepper from this keyboard, I will hold YOU responsible! ;) -Dave -- Dave McGuire St. Petersburg, FL

24 years

1
0
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Hello, and please help with RSX-11M/PDP parts

by csmith＠amdocs.com

> -----Original Message----- > From: Jerome Fine [mailto:jhfine@idirect.com] > Without the name of the actual hard drive (RD53,RD54?, etc.?) it is > difficult to help. PLUS, I don't have any idea of what RSX-11 > consists of internally. I *think* it's an RD53. I have never seen one before, but that's what I believe it to be. It's not an RD54... smaller than that. > However, what you suggest can easily be done with the current hardware > if you just use RT-11 and boot from a floppy on the RX50 > drive!!!!!!!!! That would be my first thought, except that I have nothing that will boot any PDP except for that disk. :) Of course, if anyone can supply media for RSX-11, RT-11, RSTS/E or something else, that would be an option. It is my understanding that RSX (except possibly RSX-11S) uses FILES-11/ODS1, to which I have recently acquired the specification. > If that is OK, I can tell you exactly what to do if you tell > me exactly > what bits you want to change - which block on which hard > drive and to what. > The latter will require someone who knows RSX-11. I have no clue at > all about what you need to change. But it might be as simple > as a start-up > command file and changing the text - if you know where to find it or > what the name is. That is my thought. Either a startup command file, or a UAF file. > Suggestion! If you do this, start by placing the hard drives in WRITE > PROTECT mode if that is possible! It is, and I've made a habit of switching the write-protect button every time I try something strange. Don't want to loose my only copy of the system software. Regards, Chris Christopher Smith, Perl Developer Amdocs - Champaign, IL /usr/bin/perl -e ' print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n"); '

24 years

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RC25s for parts+misc

by oliv555＠arrl.net

About to trash 2 doa rc-25s unless someone local (Houston area) wants them for parts. Also /ot/ for pickup only, about a 10 - 12 year collection of QST, Lowdown, NRC Journal plus a couple cartons of older PC related docs and misc radio/ham mags. All free, pickup only ... contact me off-list .. -nick o.

24 years

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QBUS FDDI (DEFQA)

by dittman＠dittman.net

I'm in the process of converting most of my systems to FDDI, but a QBUS FDDI adapter is holding me up. Does anyone have a DEFQA they want to sell or trade? -- Eric Dittman dittman(a)dittman.net Check out the DEC Enthusiasts Club at http://www.dittman.net/

24 years

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Hello, and please help with RSX-11M/PDP parts

by csmith＠amdocs.com

This will be a lot to cram into one mail, but here we go... First off, Hi everybody. I'm newly subscribed to this list. Next, I was wondering whether anyone here can help my with my newly acquired (IE rescued from the crusher) PDP-11/73. Straight to the point, I can get it to boot up RSX-11M, which is installed on the fixed drive, and do *stuff*. (please correct me if I'm wrong on any of this, by the way) I've figured out that the previous owner has disabled logins from the console port, perhaps to defeat the "forgotten password" procedure that I can't get to work ;) I can hit ^C and get an "MCR>" prompt, but nothing else. There is another port which has user [10,10] logged in automatically when the machine finishes booting, so I've been able to experiment with it some. I've managed to figure out that INS and REM are MCR commands to insert and remove images from the system. RUN seems to automatically insert, execute, and perhaps afterwards remove an image. HEL will log you in (but not without a password!), and BYE will log you out. What I'm missing here are basically any file-management commands! :) Does anyone have a short reference? I could also use suggestions on a recovery procedure to get access to the 0,0 account. Here are my thoughts: Put the drive in a MicroVAX-II (write-protected!), in place of the MicroVAX's system disk. MOPboot the VAX from another, larger VAX, and <edit?/move/do-something-to> either the UAF or the startup files to change the 0,0 password, or change the boot procedure so that the "forgotten password" process will work. (Anyone know if this is possible, or whether there's an easier way?) My understanding of this "forgotten password" process is that you hit ^C early in the boot procedure to get the "MCR>" prompt, and run the command REM ...AT. to de-install the command-file processor so that the system can't fully bring itself up. This somehow should cause the system to give you privileged CLI access. This system is a MicroPDP-11/73, with an "MFM" type fixed drive of unknown size, two 4-port serial boards, and an RX50 (I think that's the strange 2-in-1 floppy drive?). It tells me on bootup that it's got 512k of RAM "mapped." I've been assuming that this is the full amount of built-in RAM. Please correct me if I'm wrong there. I'll get the CPU revision/OS version/etc if needed, but I don't have the system handy right now. Once I get the machine up and running, I'll need to make a good backup of the drive, in some kind of bootable form, since it's the only copy of RSX I've got. I hear there's a stand-alone BRU. Is that the way to go? It's likely I'll backup to floppy, and image the floppies to CD. I may also remove a tk50 and controller from a MicroVAX II, so that I can backup to tape, and dump the tape into a file using one of my VAXen. Given all of the above, any suggestions? If I've kept your attention this far, let me also ask another, more open-ended question. I'd like to get an older, unibus based PDP-11 eventually. Ideally, here is what I'd like: Core memory Programming switches on the front-panel Reel-to-reel tape Small package (meaning half-size to 2/3 size a normal rack. I've seen pictures of things like this. Some kind of disk storage Multi-port serial Any advice on collecting parts, or finding old parts/systems? I've already been given, and taken the ebay advice. No luck there yet. Regards, Chris Christopher Smith, Perl Developer Amdocs - Champaign, IL /usr/bin/perl -e ' print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n"); '

24 years

2
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single-board Z80 add-on for Apple][ types

by fmc＠reanimators.org

"Richard Erlacher" <edick(a)idcomm.com> wrote: > Anothr thing I found among the Apple stuff in this last haul is a Z80 card with > the required extra 16K DRAM on board that's apparently made by Franklin > Computer. It's labelled ACE 80. That's the first one I've seen with the extra > DRAM block on board. IIRC it's a badge-engineered PCPI Applicard. Should have 8 64KB DRAMs on the board. And yes, those are the Z80's RAM. -Frank McConnell

24 years

1
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Apple ][-series sound board??

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

>S-100 sound card. I believe Solid State Music started out as a company >that made S-100 sound cards. Indeed. It was not the first but certainly one of the better. >And then wasn't there also a sound card for the PDP-11 circa the early >1970s? Gigilo, I have one. Also based on two AY-mumble sound chips with stereo outputs. Allison

24 years

1
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Datapro Reports on MiniComputers ???

by ip500＠home.com

Any one familiar with a wonderful series of loose leaf binders from DataPro ... "Reports on Minicomputers" circa 1978-80 or so? I just saw a set and would love to find a set for sale! More info than I've ever dreamed of ... all in one place .. and covering just about everything you ever wanted to know about many mini systems. ie: they had a really full writeup on InterData systems w/info I had never been able to find [maybe 30 pages of stuff .. all stamped "Not to be Reproduced"] anyone know if they are still in bix and would object to reproduction? Thanks, Craig Smith

24 years

4
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Cable and connector source

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> If you want to know why I did this, think about : > > 1) Who do you associate with apples (the fruit, not the computer) Johhn Appleseed. Wait, he's an American, you most like wouldn't be referring to him. Must be Adam. No wait... Ok, Leibnitz! No wait, it's that guy that copied Leibniz, what's his name, they even named a chair after him.... Newton? > 2) When was he born Before me... > 3) Some of us celebrate his birthday rather than another event (possibly > birthday-related) on the same date :-). Must be Guy Fawkes' Day... no, that's in July, aint it? Columbus Day? All kidding aside, your galvanic battery is a great experiment; I think we did potato batteries in either Cub Scouts or school. I wish we'd had extremely low- power devices to hook up to it; we just used a voltmeter to demonstrate the output. -dq

24 years

1
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Problem with the Video display

by ezhila＠igcar.ernet.in

Dear sir, I have a DEC PDP11/53 computer with Graftek Single Board Display Adapter Board. I dont get any display out from the card. The self test on the display board flashes LED 5 times indicating that possibly the DMA interface is problem. How do I go ahead in troubleshooting the board.Pl. send me enough information Thanking You Mrs.T.EZHILARASI Sceintific Officer/Engineer Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research Department of Atomic Energy Kalpakkam India phone : 91 4114 80306 fax: 91 4114 80081

24 years

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In need of external SCSI enclosure...

by john_boffemmyer_iv＠boff-net.dhs.org

Anyone out there have a HD50, 4 bay external SCSI enclosure they are willing to part with (trade/money/etc.)? I've noticed that I've accumulated a small pile of old IDC50 1gig SCSI drives and I have decided to actually use them instead of allow them to keep my computer room door propped open. I've verified that they work, etc, but my little case cannot fit more than 2 drives (yes, a sucky mid-tower) and logically, an external would suit my needs. Finding them on ebay is like looking to pay porshe prices for a yugo. I last saw one (actually a 2 bay HD50) go for about $130 US, USED without power supply! Is there anyone out there willing to help spare my sanity for my SCSI obscession? Maybe it will give me room to play with my 2X SCSI CD-ROM drive and 250Meg Tape Drive... -John Boff. ---------------------------------------- Founder, Lead Writer, Tech Analyst and Web Designer Boff-Net Technologies http://boff-net.dhs.org/index.html ---------------------------------------

24 years

8
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Cromemco + DIAB

by mhstein＠usa.net

-----------Original Message---------- Date: 15 Nov 2001 8:57:4 +0100 From: "Iggy Drougge" <optimus(a)canit.se> Subject: Cromemco + DIAB There's been some talk about Cromemco recently, and in one single Usenet post, I read something about a Cromemco UNIX box actually being a DIAB design. Presumably, this would be a 680[23]0 design. Do you have any ideas? ------------------------------------- Don't know if DIAB had anything to do with the design, but FWIW, Cromemco's Unix systems were S-100 based, first using a 10 MHz 68010 (XPU card), and later a 16.7 MHz 68020 with a 12.5 or 25 MHz 68881 (XXU card); don't know if anything came after that, maybe Cromemco in Europe might have more info. mike

24 years

1
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QBUS FDDI (DEFQA)

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On November 15, Ethan Dicks wrote: > > I'm in the process of converting most of my systems to FDDI, but > > a QBUS FDDI adapter is holding me up. Does anyone have a DEFQA > > they want to sell or trade? > > I didn't know they ever made one. Is it _real_ FDDI or FDDI over UTP > (CDDI, sometimes called)? I recently passed up a small box of EISA CDDI > cards. Too much other schtuff in the car and it was a pay-per-trip to > scavenge stuff. Got a dual P-150, though. Make a nice Linux box. Yup, they made 'em. Scarce as hen's teeth. I finally got one (purely by chance, actually!) after a *lot* of searching. -Dave -- Dave McGuire St. Petersburg, FL

24 years

2
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MV3100 Memory

by geoffrob＠stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au

An acquaintance (freeware developer of VMS web/proxy server package) is looking to source some memory for a Microvax 3100 that some organisation in Macedonia (not sure which Macedonia, but probably the FYR) wish to use for a Web server. (seriously!) Anyone have anything in that line they would be prepared to part with cheap? I've offered a complete (minus drives) MV3400 and/or a 6000 but the freight would be nasty even on the 3400, so they really just want some ram. Sources in Oz or Europe preferred, but if the price is right, wherever.... OTOH, if someone in Europe has a complete VMS/Vax system that might be suitable and can arrange it to get there, that would be good too. Cheers Geoff Roberts Computer Systems Manager Saint Mark's College Port Pirie, South Australia geoffrob(a)stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au ICQ 1970476

24 years

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Neat computer cluster available for hauling in East Sussex, UK

by vcf＠vintage.org

If anyone is interested, go for it. Please reply directly to original sender. Reply-to: iain.barr(a)stbedesschool.org ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 16:36:12 +0000 From: "Mr Iain Barr (Director of IT)" <iain.barr(a)stbedesschool.org> Subject: Computer Donation We have recently de-commissioned a network of: 1 x RM LM Server (OS2) - hard disk failure 12 x RM Nimbus diskless workstations (286/386 M-Series PCs) + 14" VGA monitors plus some BNC cabling and a repeater (or two) We would prefer to donate rather than bin! We are an independent school in East Sussex. Are you interested? Please reply asap xxxxx xx xx x i b x j |-- Mr Iain J Barr Director of IT St Bede's School ---------------------------- http://www.stbedesschool.org ---------------------------- STANDARD DISCLAIMER: This message is confidential. You should not copy it or disclose its contents to anyone. You may use and apply the information only for the intended purpose. Internet communications are not secure and therefore St Bede's School does not accept legal responsibility for the contents of this message. Any views or opinions presented are only those of the author and not those of St Bede's School. If this email has come to you in error please delete it and any attachments. -- Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org * Old computing resources for business and academia at www.VintageTech.com *

24 years

1
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Xebec Sider for Apple II

by geoffr＠zipcon.net

At 11:27 AM 11/15/01 -0800, you wrote: >There were at least 2 versions of Sider drives/Cards... > >One was a straight ribbon cable... The other looked like a standard SCSI >cable but I don't remember if it was a real scsi interface or not... > >George Rachor Someone should try one of the old Tandy 8MB 8" HD chassis on one of those, they used a SASI interface also.. it might work :)

24 years

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Xebec Sider for Apple II

by r_beaudry＠hotmail.com

Hello all, I recently received a Xebec Sider drive (external hard drive for the Apple II) -- Thanks RE! It did not, however, come with the card that goes in the Apple II, nor did it come with the cable. Judging by their going price on eBay, I know this is a futile attempt, but does anybody have a spare card/cable that they'd be willing to part with (or could be pried out of their hands by $)? I'd rather not pay eBay prices, so perhaps a trade?? Anyway, let me know, and try not to laugh too hard.... Thanks! Rich B. "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin

24 years

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VAX (Was: Cromemco landmarks)

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On November 15, Ethan Dicks wrote: > Speaking of the 8200, does anyone have any 8250 CPUs lying around? I > would love to take my 8300 up to an 8350. I'd rather trade than buy > at this point - it's a very low-priority upgrade. I may have a couple. I will keep my eye out for them as I unpack my stuff post-move. If you don't find some in a few weeks, ping me. -Dave -- Dave McGuire St. Petersburg, FL

24 years

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Xebec Sider for Apple II

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Nov 15, 8:33, Ernest wrote: > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: owner-classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org > > [mailto:owner-classiccmp@classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Pete Turnbull > > > What would it look like? I assume it would have a ribbon > > connector between > > the Apple card and the Sider. Do you know how many pins? I don't think > > the card I have is what you want, but you never know... > > It has a Xebec label on the card, and a wide rainbow ribbon cable comming > directly off the tail end of the card. Yeah, but how wide is "wide"? The card I have seems not to be what's required. It's intended to connect to a Xebec card all right, but the connector is only 26-way. Thanks to Dick Erlacher who mailed me with the details, I know the Sider needs rather more wires (all 50, probably). My card was made by HAL Computers Ltd in 1983, labelled "APPLE 2/3 XEBEC INTERFACE REV 1", and the only strings I can find in the EPROM are "(C) HAL COMPUTERS LTD 1983 A/XHAL SHARED RESOURCE WINCHESTER SYSTEM", "NOT CONNECTED", and "SRS ERROR". If anybody knows any more about this, I'd be interested to hear about it, otherwise it will languish in my box of odd cards for a day when I'm particularly bored and decide to try it out (yes, I have a spare Xebec controller and ST412 drives). -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

24 years

3
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Cable and connector source

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Nov 8, 21:54, Don McClure wrote: > > [ plain text > Encoded with "quoted-printable" ] : Yes, I am learning to hate them too. I ruined two mini-DINs when trying to > solder them up. I'm going to try again using crimp connectors instead, when > I locate some. I've never seen any crimp miniDINs, so don't wait too long ;-) There's a trick to soldering them. Stick the plug in a socket (or, btter still, a potato) to solder it. It stops things getting too hot and melting. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

24 years

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Cromemco landmarks

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On November 9, Iggy Drougge wrote: > Isn't this rather odd? The MicroVAX II is supposed to be 0,5 VUP, right? So > what have the DEC engineers done to make it just as fast in the Dhrystone and > even faster than the 11/780 in the Whetstone benchmarks? 0.9 VUP, not 0.5. -Dave -- Dave McGuire St. Petersburg, FL

24 years

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AI and mythology - and let's stop the spirituality flaming (was: OT again Re: food)

by rdd＠smart.net

In some previous message, Marvin Johston wrote: > Subject: OT again Re: food It never ceases to amaze me how messages that start out pertaining to classic computers can become transformed into messages about food and then into messages pertaining to philosophy, mythology and religion. :-) To help steer things back on-topic, is anyone here familiar with AI programs pertaining to mythology used on classic computers? > I can't believe there is anybody who doesn't believe in God. I could reply with: Hey, why'd you leave out the other half, the Goddess that some of us also believe in? :-) ...although perhaps some of us don't believe in a God and Goddess literally, but as balanced manifestations of the divine. However... Let's please not have religious warfare on this list; the world has seen more than enough of that. Some of us believe in some form, or forms, of deity literally; some of us take an approach similar to that of Albert Einstein, an agnostic approach, and just consider it all to be a mystery that we don't have definite knowledge of, but feel that some form of deity and afterlife exist and still value spirituality, etc. Are these not all just different paths to the same thing, with more similarites than differences once the dogma is stripped away? There's n benefit to arguing or fighting over the differences... different spiritual beliefs work for, and are helpful to, different people. Then, there are the atheiests who don't believe in the spiritual at all - but it's not for me to censure them for their disbelief, just as it's not right for them to censure anyone else for their beliefs. -- Copyright (C) 2001 R. D. Davis The difference between humans & other animals: All Rights Reserved an unnatural belief that we're above Nature & rdd(a)rddavis.net 410-744-4900 her other creatures, using dogma to justify such http://www.rddavis.net beliefs and to justify much human cruelty.

24 years

2
1
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hard-sector 5 1/4 disk

by jdonogh1＠prodigy.net

Anybody ever see anything that uses hard sector 5 1/4 disks? I've only ever seen one in my lifetime - just curious if they were ever used anywhere else (the one I saw was used to load microcode into a mainframe CPU)

24 years

40
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Xebec Sider for Apple II

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Nov 14, 14:32, Rich Beaudry wrote: > I recently received a Xebec Sider drive (external hard drive for the Apple > II) -- Thanks RE! > > It did not, however, come with the card that goes in the Apple II, nor did > it come with the cable. What would it look like? I assume it would have a ribbon connector between the Apple card and the Sider. Do you know how many pins? I don't think the card I have is what you want, but you never know... -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

24 years

2
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food

by rdd＠smart.net

Skip to the the end part of this message to learn what typical American meals truly consisted of in the pre-vegetarian times. Hint: ...it wasn't fast food or hamburgers. :-) On Fri, 9 Nov 2001, Chad Fernandez wrote: > You forgor the 80's..... hamburger chains WITH salad bars! Wendys was > the longest running, well into the 90s, but Burger King had one for a > short while too, maybe even McDonalds too... I don't recall. The first fast-food chain that I recall having a salad bar, and that was back around the late 1970's, was White Coffee Pot Jr... not sure if they were just a Baltimore area phenomena or if they existed elsewhere. They were not the typical fast food chain, as, in addition to the salad bar, one could get fried shrimp, carrot cake, crab soup, and towards the end, cheese steak subs. The french fries were delicious as they were cooked in chicken fat (that was back in my pre-semi-vegetarian days); trying to remember if they sold fried chicken as well - I think they did, but can't swear to it. Next, Gino's hamburger chain had a salad bar - that was back in the late 1970's as well. It was an "all you can eat" salad bar, and, if one purchased a hamburger, one could use any toppings one wanted from the salad bar on it - the styrofoam packaging used back then made it very convenient to fit lots of salad toppings in with a hamburger to go. > Mike Ford wrote: > > > Different foods have there times, around the 60s it was "chili bowl" > > joints, 70s salad bars, 80s hamburger chains (that failed to go away). > > Whats an orthodox diner meal, lettuce salad, meat and potatoes with gravy, > > some kind of veggie, and a slice of pie. How about a guess on the top ten > > favorite foods in USA (by meals eaten)? Ok, to help the rest of the world understand the truth about American food, here's what typical American meals really consisted of in the pre-vegeterian times: When I was growing up, we always had a wide variety of vegetables - and they were fresh, not frozen/canned, when in season (corn, peas, string beans, lima beans, peas, sweet potatoes, broccoli, brussel sprouts, lettuce, tomatoes, etc...) with meals; potatoes were often mashed and served with gravy - sometimes they were baked and topped with salt, pepper and butter or margarine. Meats consisted of roasts, steaks, pork chops, ham, chicken, lean ground beef, shrimp, and occasional Cornish game hens. In the summer we also had fried chicken, crab cakes, hamburgers outside on the grill, fried tomatoes, corn on the cob, fried eggplant, fresh salads (definitely not limited to lettuce, by the way), watermellon, etc. There was always fresh fruit to go along with lunches, such as apples, peackes, nectarines, pears, oranges, etc. ...then meals with a turkey to be sliced on Thanksgiving and Christmas. ...and for breakfast, one or more of: cereal with milk, toast, scrambled eggs, waffles, french toast, grapefruit, bacon or Taylor's pork roll, and orange juice to drink. -- Copyright (C) 2001 R. D. Davis The difference between humans & other animals: All Rights Reserved an unnatural belief that we're above Nature & rdd(a)rddavis.net 410-744-4900 her other creatures, using dogma to justify such http://www.rddavis.net beliefs and to justify much human cruelty.

24 years

1
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classiccmp-digest V1 #777

by CHoaglin＠aol.com

Mike Ford wrote: >Maybe I am being simple, but putting in the top bid seems like the sure >route to acquiring this unit. >Anybody have a CLUE as to its value as scrap? If somebody can give me an idea of how many boards there are in such a machine, ideally a picture of some boards, or at least an estimate as to the dimensions of said boards and what sort of package chips they used, plastic, ceramic, gold capped or gold pins etc, I'll try to come up with a ballpark figure, and might ask some other people I know in the business for input. I scrap/dispose of/remarket gear for a living, so I've dealt with a lot of scrap, though nothing really mainframe related. Gold processors like Pentium 60's have around $50 a pound worth of gold in them, never pentiums maybe only $35 to $40(that's what's in them, the scrapyards will pay around half that) The presence of other things like platinum, palladium, rhodium or other more exotic metals can complicate these calculations, and old processors most likely have more precious metals content than the old pentiums. If they use anything like the TCM modules in IBM mainframes (the HUGE PGA package chips maybe 4 inches on a side, and use them in any quantity, there may be some real scrap value, since those things have around $75 worth of metals apiece in them by current prices. Standard PC motherboards go for around 65 cents a pound, daughtercards go for almost $1/lb, card edges $25/lb. Aluminum drives go for around 10 cents/lb or so, more like 15 when the Al market is decent. The racks are pretty much worthless if they're steel. I've heard figures as high as $3/lb on old Q-bus boards, though I'm not sure if the place was buying them for scrap or resale as Q-bus boards. If anybody can get me any further information I'll do my best to come up with a figure. -Chris

24 years

1
0
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H7140 PDP 11/24 Power Supply Advice

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On November 15, Jeffrey S. Sharp wrote: > > > I strongly recommend doing so if you plan on working on pre-PC era > > > machines. They do break. But repairing them can actually be quite > > > > I strongly recomend you learn electronics no matter what sort of > > machine you work on. > > Well, that does it. I'm going to stay an extra few years at college and > get a second degree: Electrical & Computer Engineering. Now, look what > you've done, you bastards! :-) Of course that won't necessarily mean you'll come out knowing anything about electrical & computer engineering. Oh wait, you didn't say "computer science". Nevermind. -Dave -- Dave McGuire St. Petersburg, FL

24 years

1
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HP 3000 No More

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On November 15, Iggy Drougge wrote: > >Just announced on /., the venerable HP3000 line will join HP calculators > >in HP's new "we don't want to do cool stuff anymore" business model. > > You're forgetting that PA-RISC is also in the same position. It's called > "legacy", isn't it? Of course. Anything non-Intel non-Windows is automatically "legacy", remember? -Dave -- Dave McGuire St. Petersburg, FL

24 years

1
0
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Cromemco + DIAB

by optimus＠canit.se

There's been some talk about Cromemco recently, and in one single Usenet post, I read something about a Cromemco UNIX box actually being a DIAB design. Presumably, this would be a 680[23]0 design. Do you have any ideas? -- En ligne avec Thor 2.6a. SCSI is *NOT* magic. There are *fundamental technical reasons* why it is necessary to sacrifice a young goat to your SCSI chain now and then. -- John Woods

24 years, 1 month

1
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New acquisitions: Suns, room

by jss＠subatomix.com

I just acquired my first two Sun workstations. One is a 3/50, which came >from a list member (thanks, and don't feel so bad about destroying my cell phone :-) :-) ), and the other is a 3/60, which came from elsewhere. A few monitors, keyboards, and drives made it in there somewhere, also. I still have a Sparcserver 490 in my, um, "storage facility" (read: parents' garage) that was a stowaway from a trip earlier this year. The Sun collection has started. Another list member graciously donated two RX01 units, which will eventually make their way into some sort of PDP-11. So far, I'm met 4 list members IRL. I hope to see more of you soon. The biggest news is that I'm getting some more room. A LOT more room. Of course, another way of looking at it is that my wife has decided she's a lesbian, wants a divorce, and is moving in with her new girlfriend. Either way you see it, I'm going to be making some changes around my house. First, all of the traditional living space and sleeping space will be compressed into one room. The bathroom, kitchen, and utility room will retain their functions. The rest of the house will become my retrocomputing playpen. The detached garage, now devoid of her car, will make a great storage area for stuff I'm not actively playing with. I don't have a large house, but all in all, I estimate I'm getting about 500 to 750 additional square feet to do stuff in. -- Jeffrey S. Sharp jss(a)subatomix.com

24 years, 1 month

7
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In need of external SCSI enclosure...

by mythtech＠Mac.com

>Anyone out there have a HD50, 4 bay external SCSI enclosure they are >willing to part with (trade/money/etc.)? I've noticed that I've accumulated >a small pile of old IDC50 1gig SCSI drives and I have decided to actually >use them instead of allow them to keep my computer room door propped open. >I've verified that they work, etc, but my little case cannot fit more than >2 drives (yes, a sucky mid-tower) and logically, an external would suit my >needs. Finding them on ebay is like looking to pay porshe prices for a >yugo. I last saw one (actually a 2 bay HD50) go for about $130 US, USED >without power supply! Is there anyone out there willing to help spare my >sanity for my SCSI obscession? Maybe it will give me room to play with my >2X SCSI CD-ROM drive and 250Meg Tape Drive... I "built" one of these a while back. I bought a cable from MCM Electronics (Cent on each end, and 4 IDC in the middle). I think the cable was about $40. I then stuck my drives (a CD burner and an HD, with 2 spaces to spare), into a spare PC computer case (I paid $20 on the case with a 250 watt PS included). The case gave me access to 4 5.25 1/2 height bays, and 2 3.5 bays (all bays are external, no additional internal, however, since there was no logic board, I could mount things on their side using that space if I had wanted to). For heat venting, I placed an extra case fan (I used one of those slot mount ones since I had it on hand). I also scrounged up some old slot plates that fit the centronics connectors on the back (don't remember where I got them, but I had them from something... I think you can buy them for a buck or two). It worked very well for about a year, then I needed the case for a PC, and I had upgraded my internal HD so I no longer needed the extra SCSI drive. Now the CD burner sits on top of an old external Jasmine HD case so I can use the PS and IDC to Cent cable from it (since the Jasmine drive is LONG since dead anyway). -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>

24 years, 1 month

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(fwd) Ataris @ The Alternative Party

by optimus＠canit.se

-- forwarded message -- Path: dos.canit.se!newsfeed1.swip.net!swipnet!newsfeed.mathworks.com!news.maxwell.syr.edu!news.algonet.se!algonet!newsfeed1.uni2.dk!sunsite.dk!sonofon.dk!neo.defero.net!news.defero.net!news.bbnetworks.net!not-for-mail From: Kristoffer Lawson <setok(a)fishpool.com> Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st Subject: Ataris @ The Alternative Party Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 18:08:49 +0000 (UTC) Organization: Fishpool Creations Ltd Lines: 27 Sender: Kristoffer Lawson <setok(a)oksidi.fishpool.fi> Message-ID: <9subvh$1jhg$1(a)news.bbnetworks.net> NNTP-Posting-Host: oksidi.fishpool.fi Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Trace: news.bbnetworks.net 1005761329 52784 212.16.100.71 (14 Nov 2001 18:08:49 GMT) X-Complaints-To: usenet(a)news.bbnetworks.net NNTP-Posting-Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2001 18:08:49 +0000 (UTC) User-Agent: tin/pre-1.4-971106 (UNIX) (IRIX/6.3 (IP32)) Xref: dos.canit.se comp.sys.atari.st:117781 Just a quick note about the rather neat computer party we're organising: The Alternative Party is basically about collecting a wide variety of alternative demo platforms together into an event for people who love machines with personality, and who are trying to create demos with them. Previously we've seen Falcons, Amigas, C64s, a Vectrex, a Commodore PET, a Telmac, Spectrums, UNIX workstations etc. etc. We are also combining all of this with experimental and alternative art. Some artists who will be playing live at the 3-day event: Pnmf!, Tero M?yr?nen (plays live music with synths and a C64), Telamurska, Happo, Analogia, No I Aint. It will take place in Helsinki, Finland from the 11th of January to the 13th. For more information contact me or visit the website, http://www.altparty.org/ (check the archive for an invitro from Wildfire for the Falcon!). In addition, we've set up an area for collecting together information about cool machines and interesting art, or the "Alternative Wiki". Absolutely anybody can contribute information to it by clicking "Edit Text" at the bottom of any page, and add new pages freely. If there are people here who would like to contribute, please do! The Alternative Wiki can be found at http://www.altparty.org/wiki/. Hope to see some of you there. -- Kristoffer Lawson | Setok / Aggression | Main Alternative Party organiser -- end of forwarded message -- -- Vi m?ste vara r?dda om varandra - det ?r det enda reciproka pronomen vi har.

24 years, 1 month

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8" Diskettes

by jhingber＠ix.netcom.com

There was a thread awhile back inquiring about vendors of 8" diskettes. It seems IBM still carries some 8" disks: http://www.storage.ibm.com/media/products.html Number Description 2305830 8"SS/SD- 26 sector 128 byte/sector (246/272 byte capacity) - 10pk box 2736700 8" SS/SD - DP- 10pk box 1669959 8" 1 -OS/6, (260.000 characters)- 10pk box 1669045 8" DS/DD - 8 sector, 1024 byte/sector (1212/416 byte capacity) -10pk box 1669044 8" DS/DD - 15 sector, 512 byte/sector (1136/640 byte capacity) - 10pk box 1766872 8" DS/DD - 26 sector, 256 byte/sector (985/008 byte capacity) - 10pk box Jeffrey H. Ingber (jhingber _at_ ix.netcom.com)

24 years, 1 month

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Xenix ?

by mhstein＠usa.net

-----------Original Message---------- Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2001 20:45:49 -0700 From: Ben Franchuk <bfranchuk(a)jetnet.ab.ca> Subject: Re: Xenix ? Don Maslin wrote: > Somehow, I am inclined to question if there was a Z-80 version of Xenix > and, if not, then there was none for the Model II. The only OS that came close to Unix for 8 bit micros was OS/9 for the 6809 and <snip> ---------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget Z80 Cromix... mike

24 years, 1 month

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More Finds for the musuem

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

Over the last few weeks I have found a few items, slim pickings right now. - IBM 3174 1L controller with 2 terminals and keyboards - Tandy color computer ext floppy disk drive model FD501 - 20+ cartridges for Atari 2600, Jaguar, and Game Gear - A Nintendo R. O. B. just the robot missing battery cover. It was $2 so I got it as a spare. - a Microline model 701-A 5V power supply, not sure what it goes with - 20+ mousepads - New in the box 2 TI joysticks for the TI99/4A - Apple III diskware program System Demonstration - digital VT100-AA terminal - Several books and manuals were also added to the collection The rest of the items are not old enough to list.

24 years, 1 month

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Fw: Control Data Cyber 960 rescue interest?

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> > > > > http://www.siconic.com/crap/John%20Zabolitzky%20Demonstraing%2 > > > > > 0Cyber%20960%204.jpg > > > > > > > > Sellam, you're the most prominent fixture in the picture! > > > > > > Actually, that's John Zabolitzky at the console. My hair is > > > not nearly that gray (yet, in spite of it all ;) > > > > But aren't you the guy on the left? I was talking in terms > > of the photo's area... > > If that was me on the left, that would have been some pretty slick picture > taking, since I'm the one who shot it. heh... hey, I've heard that they have cameras like that out in California... -dq

24 years, 1 month

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Fw: Control Data Cyber 960 rescue interest?

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> On November 14, Douglas Quebbeman wrote: > > > > From what era is the Cyber 960 from? 1960's? > > > > > > Early 1980s. > > > > > > > Is it considered a supercomputer (in it's day)? > > > > > > No. Just a mainframe. > > > > Yup. Though, it's great-grampa was a supercomputer. The > > first, in fact. > > I assume you mean the 6600. *sigh* *drool* A friend has a core stack from the one we used to have in Bloomington, IN... as well as a platter from one of the Bryant drives. I have a roll of black, blank, oiled (pretty dry now) paper tape from the CDC's high-speed punch/reader. And my manuals, still... and the emulator, under construction, *slowly* under construction... Oh, I found an *EOI* (end-of-information) card the other day, that was a 6/7/8/9 punch in column 1... -dq

24 years, 1 month

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Altair 8K BASIC configuration

by RCini＠congressfinancial.com

While trying to get the 8K BASIC to work with the Altair emulator, I've figured-out that there must be some way for the user to define, using the sense switches, which I/O ports could be used for the console. Does anyone have the manual for 8K BASIC or handwritten notes on the topic? I need to find the definition of the switches at startup because I'm losing console input on the emulator when using 8K BASIC. Thanks. ========================== Richard A. Cini, Jr. Congress Financial Corporation 1133 Avenue of the Americas 30th Floor New York, NY 10036 (212) 545-4402 (212) 840-6259 (facsimile)

24 years, 1 month

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Altair 8K BASIC configuration

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

Rich- I'll check the manual tonight. -dq > -----Original Message----- > From: Cini, Richard [mailto:RCini@congressfinancial.com] > Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2001 1:31 PM > To: 'ClassCompList' > Subject: Altair 8K BASIC configuration > > > While trying to get the 8K BASIC to work with the Altair > emulator, I've > figured-out that there must be some way for the user to > define, using the > sense switches, which I/O ports could be used for the console. > > Does anyone have the manual for 8K BASIC or handwritten notes > on the topic? > I need to find the definition of the switches at startup > because I'm losing > console input on the emulator when using 8K BASIC. > > Thanks. > > ========================== > Richard A. Cini, Jr. > Congress Financial Corporation > 1133 Avenue of the Americas > 30th Floor > New York, NY 10036 > (212) 545-4402 > (212) 840-6259 (facsimile) >

24 years, 1 month

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Fw: Control Data Cyber 960 rescue interest?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On November 14, Douglas Quebbeman wrote: > > > From what era is the Cyber 960 from? 1960's? > > > > Early 1980s. > > > > > Is it considered a supercomputer (in it's day)? > > > > No. Just a mainframe. > > Yup. Though, it's great-grampa was a supercomputer. The > first, in fact. I assume you mean the 6600. *sigh* *drool* -Dave -- Dave McGuire St. Petersburg, FL

24 years, 1 month

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Fw: Control Data Cyber 960 rescue interest?

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> > > http://www.siconic.com/crap/John%20Zabolitzky%20Demonstraing%2 > > > 0Cyber%20960%204.jpg > > > > Sellam, you're the most prominent fixture in the picture! > > Actually, that's John Zabolitzky at the console. My hair is > not nearly that gray (yet, in spite of it all ;) But aren't you the guy on the left? I was talking in terms of the photo's area... > I would consider it historical if just because it's not manufactured > anymore, and I'm sure they would too. At any rate, ten years from now it > will be sorely missed if no one takes the initiative to rescue it now. Agreed! -dq

24 years, 1 month

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Fw: Control Data Cyber 960 rescue interest?

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> > From what era is the Cyber 960 from? 1960's? > > Early 1980s. > > > Is it considered a supercomputer (in it's day)? > > No. Just a mainframe. Yup. Though, it's great-grampa was a supercomputer. The first, in fact. -dq

24 years, 1 month

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Fw: Control Data Cyber 960 rescue interest?

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> > Anyone have any architectural or performance info for this machine? > > Good info at: > > http://www.tno.nl/instit/fel/museum/computer/en/cdcsystE.html > > > I assume it's a memory-to-memory vector machine like the earlier Cybers? > > I do not think the 180s were vector machines. They may have had some > vector capabilities, but they were never number crunchers. I have heard > some people say (may be in jest) that the 180s I/O processors were faster > than the main processor. The Cyber 960 was not in the same model line as the Cyber 205, which was the successor (or one of the successors) to the CDC STAR, the vector-processor line to which you refer. Regards, -dq

24 years, 1 month

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Fw: Control Data Cyber 960 rescue interest?

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> From what era is the Cyber 960 from? 1960's? > Is it considered a supercomputer (in it's day)? Its primary architecture dates from the early 1960s. That was the 60-bit architecture designed by Seymour Cray. But this model also implements a virtual-mode in which the CPU operates in 64-bit mode. The 960 was a machine of mid-1980s manufacture; they were being sold through the early 1990s. Tidbit: "The Cyber 960 and all its peripherals took up approximately 1,800 square feet of space and required over 20 tons of air conditioning to keep cool." -http://www.csustan.edu/oit/banner/cyber.html The Georgia machine: http://www.usg.edu/oiit/pubs/update/spring2000/article5.html GIT was still running PLATO as recently as 1990, but was considering migration to NovaNET.

24 years, 1 month

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blinkenlights for everybody - status update (2)

by GOOI＠oce.nl

Hi all. Things are progressing nicely. The core board is tested and works. I get the monitor prompt on the VT220 terminal connected to the RS-232 interface. That means there is also software for it. Go to the updated page http://home.hetnet.nl/~tshaj/pdpsite/homebrew/startframe.html Next steps are: 1) adjust monitor software so it runs without the RAM 5565 chip 2) build the I/O ports interface board 3) write the "low-level" in- and output routines 4) write the "stand-alone" pattern SW (the Cylon-eye on the DATA LEDs) 5) the real work: interface with Ersatz-11 (..John?) The monitor software (e11-6802.zip) already contains some SW but that has not yet ran; it just assembles without errors ... - Henk.

24 years, 1 month

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Altair 8K BASIC configuration

by kapteynr＠cboe.com

I have the manual somewhere that explains this. I add a patch that makes the console output appear on the VDM-1. Other choices are teletype, etc. Unfortunately, I have temporarily misplaced this all. I have no idea when I will find it. If anyone else can help, please do so. -Rob -----Original Message----- From: Cini, Richard [SMTP:RCini@congressfinancial.com] Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2001 12:31 PM To: 'ClassCompList' Subject: Altair 8K BASIC configuration While trying to get the 8K BASIC to work with the Altair emulator, I've figured-out that there must be some way for the user to define, using the sense switches, which I/O ports could be used for the console. Does anyone have the manual for 8K BASIC or handwritten notes on the topic? I need to find the definition of the switches at startup because I'm losing console input on the emulator when using 8K BASIC. Thanks. ========================== Richard A. Cini, Jr. Congress Financial Corporation 1133 Avenue of the Americas 30th Floor New York, NY 10036 (212) 545-4402 (212) 840-6259 (facsimile)

24 years, 1 month

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The TECO manuals

by mrbill＠mrbill.net

Finally dug again and found the TECO manuals I talked about a few weeks ago. Two books: The bigger one: (1/2" thick or so) --------------- cover: "decsystem10 TECO" first page: document number: DEC-10-ETEE-D "decsystem 10 TECO TEXT EDITOR AND CORRECTOR PROGRAM PROGRAMMER'S REFERENCE MANUAL This manual reflects the software as of version 23 of TECO" copyright: 1968,69,70,71,72 The smaller one: (1/8" thick or so) --------------- cover: "decsystem 10 INTRODUCTION TO TECO (TEXT EDITOR AND CORRECTOR) first page: document number: DEC-10-UTECA-A-D "This document reflects the software as of version 23 of TECO" copyright: 1971,72,73,74,75 (third printing, june 1975) If there's enough interest, and nobody else has already put these online somewhere, I'll get these scanned to JPG, TIF, or PDF this weekend. Bill -- Bill Bradford mrbill(a)mrbill.net Austin, TX

24 years, 1 month

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Fw: Control Data Cyber 960 rescue interest?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On November 14, Chandra Bajpai wrote: > >From what era is the Cyber 960 from? 1960's? > Is it considered a supercomputer (in it's day)? This would be a mid-80's system I believe. -Dave -- Dave McGuire St. Petersburg, FL

24 years, 1 month

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Fw: Control Data Cyber 960 rescue interest?

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

Forwarded from COMP.SYS.CDC; please direct replies to the original poster... -doug q "James B. DiGriz" <jbdigriz(a)dragonsweb.org> wrote in message news:<9spg2t$qia$1(a)ns2.i16.net>... > A source tells me the current plan is to sell the UGA Cyber 960 being > decommissioned in Athens, for scrap. Anybody here interested in trying to > save it? Hate to see it scrapped. There can't be that many of them left. > > The University System doesn't dispose of surplus property itself in the > State of Georgia. This is handled by the Department of Administrative > Services. Normally, if no qualifying org. or local govt. puts in for it, > it goes to periodic auctions in Atlanta, Albany ( I think), and > Swainsboro. The last is about an hour's drive from me. > > A non-profit museum, educational org, or research inst. stands the only > realistic chance of getting hold of this kind of stuff before it's > dismembered, manuals and software lost, and scattered out to scrap > auctions. It's highly doubtful it'd be sold as a complete system, but I > could be wrong, so I'm looking into the possibility of setting something > up, or finding an existing party which qualifies, preferably in the state, > or at least the Southeast. Let me know if you're interested in putting > heads together on this. > > Thanks, > jbdigriz

24 years, 1 month

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Fw: Control Data Cyber 960 rescue interest?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On November 13, Douglas Quebbeman wrote: > http://members.iglou.com/dougq/cdc/cyber960.jpg Anyone have any architectural or performance info for this machine? I assume it's a memory-to-memory vector machine like the earlier Cybers? -Dave -- Dave McGuire St. Petersburg, FL

24 years, 1 month

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Corvus Floppy Drive?

by fmc＠reanimators.org

"Curt Vendel" <curt(a)atari-history.com> wrote: > Thanks for the info. If you happen by a Corvus floppy in the future, > keep me in mind, I'd be interested in it. Now if I can find some spec's > on the 4 bus slots it would be fun to try and build a controller. I did a Did you get any disks? The bus slots are similar to Apple ][ slots. In fact I think the Concept hard disk controller is really the Apple ][ Corvus parallel-interface hard disk controller. You probably want to webulate to <http://www.spies.com/~aek/pdf/corvus/> where you will find several scanned manuals including: ConceptHWRef.pdf - the Concept Hardware Reference ConceptServiceMan.pdf - the Concept service manual Somewhere I have a (photocopied) schematic of the 8" floppy disk controller too. I'll see if I can dig that out and scan it. -Frank McConnell

24 years, 1 month

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IRC channel?

by jss＠subatomix.com

Is there an IRC channel frequented by retrocomputing types? -- Jeffrey S. Sharp jss(a)subatomix.com

24 years, 1 month

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SMD Hard Disks

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Nov 13, 15:12, Jochen Kunz wrote: > You need a 60 pin flat ribbon cable that goes to the drives in a bus topology > with the last dive terminated. (Much like SCSI) Then you need a separate > 24 (26?) pin flat ribbon cable per drive from the controller to each drive. > Should be easy to get the components and crimp the cables. You might get away with ordinary ribbon cable, which usually has a characteristic impedance around 100-120 ohms, for short distances, but the A cable is really supposed to be 30 twisted pair ribbon cable (one trade name is Twist-n-Flat), characteristic impedance 100 ohms. It's wired pin 1 to pin 1 ... pin 60 to pin 60. The B cable is supposed to be 26-pin flat shielded cable, with a drain wire, characteristic impedance 130 ohms. It's also wired pin-to-pin. The lengths don't matter, as long as they're within the limits: 35 feet for the A cable and 50 feet for the B cables. How useful it is to have the daisy-chain cable shorter than the radial cables, I don't know :-) -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager University of York

24 years, 1 month

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Cromemco (was: Xenix ?)

by mhstein＠usa.net

Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 14:42:05 -0800 (PST) From: Don Maslin <donm(a)cts.com> Subject: Re: Xenix ? On Tue, 13 Nov 2001, M H Stein wrote: > -----------Original Message---------- --------------Original Message------------------ > Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2001 20:45:49 -0700 > From: Ben Franchuk <bfranchuk(a)jetnet.ab.ca> > Subject: Re: Xenix ? > > Don Maslin wrote: > > Somehow, I am inclined to question if there was a Z-80 version of Xenix > > and, if not, then there was none for the Model II. > > The only OS that came close to Unix for 8 bit micros was OS/9 for the > 6809 and > <snip> > ---------------------------------------------------------- > Don't forget Z80 Cromix... > > mike And Minix, but none of them are really Xenix. - don -------------------------------------------------------- I was just responding to the "only OS... was OS/9" (not suggesting it was Xenix (or Unix)), since a lot of misinformation on the 'Net erroneously states that Cromix was for the 68000 (for which it was indeed later adapted). Some pictures and background info on Cromemco & Cromix at http://www-db.stanford.edu/pub/voy/museum/pictures/display/3-5-CROMEMCO.html And a list of Unix derivatives: http://www.csee.wvu.edu/~jdm/classes/cs258/OScat/unix.html And how to become an author: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/show-interview/s-m-obellarkg/104-6433823-… mike

24 years, 1 month

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Fw: Control Data Cyber 960 rescue interest?

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> On Tue, 13 Nov 2001, Sellam Ismail wrote: > > > Here's a picture of John at the console demonstrating the machine to a > > group of us at the last VCF Europa: > > How big is it in total? This photo might yield up a clue: http://members.iglou.com/dougq/cdc/cyber960.jpg -dq

24 years, 1 month

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Eight-inch

by optimus＠canit.se

I visited a shop in "Siberia" which I hadn't visited in a long time today. they had redecorated, and in the inner-most room, they had a "50% off" shelf. They had several sealed packs of eight-inch floppies, BASF-made. Their price? Five crowns! And then fifty percent off that, that's 2,50, or 25 US cents. I got two to begin with (I only had some change, and wans't aware that the discount was referring to the 5 kr merchandise. I also got some Token Ring NICs, a TR cable and a sealed case of 5?" DD floppies at the same price. Some things I did't get: A lot of WANG things; several ISA cards with BNC and TNC connectors, printer adaptors (boxes with BNC and Centronics connectors), baluns. Original Novell NE2000 cards. Bad cards, but nice to some collectors, I suppose, and useful for programmers. Odd PhoneNet concentrators. -- En ligne avec Thor 2.6a. IRAQ, 10984 GHz, V Getting TV from Iraq at all is kinda cool - you can get propaganda in English at 1900 BST, and see the guy with the moustache almost any time. When they show anime it's even cooler... Geoff Cowie

24 years, 1 month

2
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Pyramid 90x

by KenzieM＠sympatico.ca

I received an offer of this machine I no longer have space. If someone is interested in picking this up in Ottawa let me know. If you're making a trip I may even throw in a PDP 11/34 ! > >I have an old Pyramid 90x (about equivalent to a VAX 11-780 and the size >of two refrigerators) gathering dust in my garage. It might never run >again and the OS tapes, etc. as well as a few cables are long gone. But >if you're interested you're welcome to it. > Collector of Vintage Computers (www.ncf.ca/~ba600)

24 years, 1 month

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Fw: Control Data Cyber 960 rescue interest?

by tony.eros＠machm.org

Hmm... Any chance that it runs PLATO? I'd be happy to help with a coordinated rescue. I live in Delaware, but have been doing some weekly travel to Atlanta to work on a project. - Tony At 09:49 AM 11/13/2001 -0500, you wrote: >Forwarded from COMP.SYS.CDC; please direct replies to the >original poster... -doug q > >"James B. DiGriz" <jbdigriz(a)dragonsweb.org> wrote in message >news:<9spg2t$qia$1(a)ns2.i16.net>... > > A source tells me the current plan is to sell the UGA Cyber 960 being > > decommissioned in Athens, for scrap. Anybody here interested in trying to > > save it? Hate to see it scrapped. There can't be that many of them left. > > > > The University System doesn't dispose of surplus property itself in the > > State of Georgia. This is handled by the Department of Administrative > > Services. Normally, if no qualifying org. or local govt. puts in for it, > > it goes to periodic auctions in Atlanta, Albany ( I think), and > > Swainsboro. The last is about an hour's drive from me. > > > > A non-profit museum, educational org, or research inst. stands the only > > realistic chance of getting hold of this kind of stuff before it's > > dismembered, manuals and software lost, and scattered out to scrap > > auctions. It's highly doubtful it'd be sold as a complete system, but I > > could be wrong, so I'm looking into the possibility of setting something > > up, or finding an existing party which qualifies, preferably in the state, > > or at least the Southeast. Let me know if you're interested in putting > > heads together on this. > > > > Thanks, > > jbdigriz

24 years, 1 month

2
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Corvus Floppy Drive?

by fmc＠reanimators.org

"Curt Vendel" <curt(a)atari-history.com> wrote: > My quest for the elusive Corvus Concept finally ended as I was able to > obtain one of the beastie's in excellent shape. There is mention of a disk > drive for the system, I'm wondering if there are any other Concept owners > out there who have explored the inner workings of the unit. Congratulations! Corvus made 8" and 5.25" floppy drives for the Concept, and matching controller(s) that fit in one of the Concept's slots. The controller(s) are based on the WD1793 FDC. The 8" disk drive is a Tandon half-height 8" (848?) in a box with power supply. Nothing special except it says "Corvus Systems" on the box. The 5.25" disk drive...well, I can't remember: (a) whether it used the same controller as the 8" (b) if so, what they did to get from the 50-pin connector on the controller to the 34-pin connector on the drive Most Concept floppies that I've seen have been 8", and I've only seen one of the 5.25" drives. -Frank McConnell

24 years, 1 month

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yet another NeXT question

by mtapley＠swri.edu

>I've never used my OD. ... >....Since it would be useless when I get a >33mhz motherboard, why bother? Well, you *could* make it useful. Do the hack to install your old 25 MHz mainboard in one of the alternate slots. Put the new 33 MHz mainboard in the traditional slot. Connect both to your ethernetwork. Have the 25 MHz net-boot from the 33 MHz, or boot it off its own optical (but I'd have it net-boot, so you can use the optical for backups or whatever). I dunno what your power supply would think of all this, particularly if that's the same system you have the Dimension in, so I recommend some caution, but if it works it'll be pretty cool. You'd still be able to access the OD, via the 25 MHz board (which you could also set up as a print server), but all your console programs would get the benefit of the 33 MHz board. - Mark

24 years, 1 month

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Lifting stuff into racks

by beesley＠mandrake.demon.co.uk

Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 12:18:06 -0800 (PST) From: Sellam Ismail <foo(a)siconic.com> Subject: Re: Lifting stuff into racks On Mon, 12 Nov 2001 Sellam Ismail wrote: > I think we could learn a lot from the Egyptians in this matter. Too bad > they didn't leave behind a reference guide. Allegedly, they left a guide but it's in an unreadable format. The archaeologists are still arguing whether to blame Sellam's drives or Dick's disks ;-) Phil ----- Mac OS X: It's Unix, Jim, but not as we know it...

24 years, 1 month

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9-Track Tapes available

by mtapley＠swri.edu

All, My division of SwRI is getting rid of a large pile (appx. 1000) 9-track tapes. They are 8 inch and 10 inch sized reels, 1600 to 6250 bpi, Scotch Black Watch 777 brand (for the most part). I'm going to collect all the ones headed for the trash, stack them in my office, and either put them in the right hands or transfer them to the dumpster a few at a time if no-one is interested. Please contact me off-line (mtapley(a)swri.edu) if you are willing to pay shipping in order to have some of these show up at your door. I'm in San Antonio, Texas, USA, zip code 78238, for purposes of calculating postage. Data on the tapes is probably NASA satellite data; it need not and will not be erased, so you can peruse it or erase the tape at your convenience. - Mark

24 years, 1 month

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Fw: Control Data Cyber 960 rescue interest?

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> On Tue, 13 Nov 2001, Douglas Quebbeman wrote: > > > Forwarded from COMP.SYS.CDC; please direct replies to the > > original poster... -doug q > > The only person I know who might truly be interested in acquiring this > beast is John Zabolitzky in Munich, Germany. But he already has one > complete system, UP AND RUNNING even. > > Here's a picture of John at the console demonstrating the machine to a > group of us at the last VCF Europa: > > http://www.siconic.com/crap/John%20Zabolitzky%20Demonstraing%2 > 0Cyber%20960%204.jpg Sellam, you're the most prominent fixture in the picture! > Other than he, the only organization that I know would be capable of > retrieving and storing this machine is the Computer History Museum here in > the Sillycon Valley. They might not consider the 180/960 worth having, it's not a historical machine, well, yes, "last of the line" would be considered historical... at least I *think* this was the last model (in the line that trails back to the 6600).

24 years, 1 month

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Fw: Control Data Cyber 960 rescue interest?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On November 13, Douglas Quebbeman wrote: > > > Here's a picture of John at the console demonstrating the machine to a > > > group of us at the last VCF Europa: > > > > How big is it in total? > > This photo might yield up a clue: > > http://members.iglou.com/dougq/cdc/cyber960.jpg Ooooohhhh what a beautiful machine! The Dell box in the foreground really offends my sensibilities, though. I wonder what it would take for me (someone with NO spending money right now) to get that machine... -Dave -- Dave McGuire St. Petersburg, FL

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Xenix ?

by pechter＠ureach.com

---- On Tue, 13 Nov 2001, Eric J. Korpela (korpela(a)ssl.berkeley.edu) wrote: > > Actually Xenix was never a Microsoft branded product. > > Maybe true, but it was certainly plastered with Microsoft copyrights. > All the > scripts and headers in the Tandy 16/6000 version were copyright > Microsoft. > > > Then again Xenix was the clear proof that M$ can not even compy a > great OS > > correctly. I remember using a version of Xenix that only allowed 8.3 > > naming of files (like M$-DOS)! Typical M$ "innovation"... pheb! > > I doubt it. I think early versions of Xenix had the v7 filename > limits. > I've never seen one that recognized extensions as anything special. > > Eric > > > I've never seen the 8.3 in Xenix... IIRC Microsoft had the SysV standard 13 character file names in Xenix like SysIII (and IIRC v7). It was BSD which did symbolic links and IIRC 255 character file names in the 4.2 BSD Fast File System... SysV got this in SVR4 (about 1989 or so)... Research had this in Edition 10... Bill

24 years, 1 month

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microvax 3 info: ka650-ba is single user?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On November 13, Eric Dittman wrote: > > Looking to upgrade one of my Mv2's and came across > > an auction item with a ka650-ba with 2 16 meg mem > > cards. The price is right - but it goes on to explain that > > the -ba is a single user cpu - which seems silly to me. > > Is there some special thing about this cpu that will only let > > it run single license VMs or Ultrix? I can't see how they > > limit that. Is the this bullsh*t? I can't find any google refs > > that will support the single user claim.. > > The -BA was the VAXserver model, which has a different license > from the -AA. The only difference is the ROMs. Hmm...I think I have a KA650-AA; if the difference is just the ROMs I'd be happy to burn a set for you, Heinz... -Dave -- Dave McGuire St. Petersburg, FL

24 years, 1 month

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microvax 3 info: ka650-ba is single user?

by h.wolter＠sympatico.ca

Looking to upgrade one of my Mv2's and came across an auction item with a ka650-ba with 2 16 meg mem cards. The price is right - but it goes on to explain that the -ba is a single user cpu - which seems silly to me. Is there some special thing about this cpu that will only let it run single license VMs or Ultrix? I can't see how they limit that. Is the this bullsh*t? I can't find any google refs that will support the single user claim.. regards, Heinz

24 years, 1 month

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Fw: Control Data Cyber 960 rescue interest?

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> Hmm... Any chance that it runs PLATO? I'd be happy to help with a > coordinated rescue. I live in Delaware, but have been doing some weekly > travel to Atlanta to work on a project. ISTR that they were a PLATO site, but I've no idea whether this system was running it or not. Yes, it should run, given the proper peripheral equipment (again ISTR PLATO had unique site hardware requirements). Bear in mind that PLATO is a commercial product still marketed as NovaNET (I believe it's getting yet another name at this moment), so you'd be hard pressed to get legal permission to run it. I suppose you've seen my gallery of PLATO (NovaNET) screen shots; I need to get them moved to the site Jay West said he'd make available so I can add the second gallery. -dq

24 years, 1 month

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Xenix ?

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> Douglas Quebbeman wrote: > > > > > While it is true the 8086/8088 is really only a 8 bit cpu, > > > > No, the 8086 is a 16-bit cpu with a 16-bit data path; the 8088 > > otoh is a 16-bit CPU with an 8-bit datapath (or a 16-bit multiplexed > > data path, if you prefer). > > You have not tried to program it have you? There are too many limitations that > catch you off guard. The 6809 is a better 16 bit processor than the intel product. > Just what a 16 bit cpu is a gray area other than 8080,6502,1802 are 8 bits and the > PDP-11 is 16 bit cpu. I'm not gonna get in a snow-marking match on hours spent under the hood... however you are correct in that it's not a very orthogonal processor, and non-orthanogoanl machines are indeed full of "gotcha"s. Having started with orthogonal machines like the CDC-6600 and IBM 370/158, I found even the 8-bit 8080 a pain to work with, and wrote macros to do all the really important work. I carried that forward to my 8086/8 days, and thus didn't have much in the way of difficulty. I had arithmetic macros for 8, 16, and 32-bit operations, and macros to do conversions between them. I worked briefly with the 6800, and more recently, the 6802, and they are certainly a bit more orthogonal, but still too primitive for my tastes. A Coco running OS/9 might be in my future but I wouldn't spend anything for one, it'd have to be free. As to the distinction, I bow to Allison's better wording. Regards, -dq

24 years, 1 month

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Xenix ?

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> While it is true the 8086/8088 is really only a 8 bit cpu, No, the 8086 is a 16-bit cpu with a 16-bit data path; the 8088 otoh is a 16-bit CPU with an 8-bit datapath (or a 16-bit multiplexed data path, if you prefer). Regards, -dq

24 years, 1 month

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Xenix ?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Douglas Quebbeman <dhquebbeman(a)theestopinalgroup.com> >> While it is true the 8086/8088 is really only a 8 bit cpu, > >No, the 8086 is a 16-bit cpu with a 16-bit data path; the 8088 >otoh is a 16-bit CPU with an 8-bit datapath (or a 16-bit multiplexed >data path, if you prefer). I'd rephrase the latter as: The 8088 has the same 16-bit core CPU as 8086 with an 8-bit wide _external_ datapath. Whats important about the 8088 is it was the first(or one of the first) to seperate the CPU core (control, alu and registers) from the bus interface. Then again you have Z280, an 8bit cpu with an 16bit wide external data path. Hows that for a switch? Allison

24 years, 1 month

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FORTH for TRS Model 100

by zmerch＠30below.com

Rumor has it that Paul R. Santa-Maria may have mentioned these words: >I have AMPI (Amerifcan Micro Products, Inc.) FORTH with plastic case, >manual, and cassette tape (condition unknown) for the TRS Model 100. >Can anyone use this? > >Paul R. Santa-Maria >Monroe, Michigan USA Do you have any way of making a copy of this - for archival purposes? Rick Hanson of Club 100 might be intersted in archiving this for history's sake - he's been in the business of selling/supporting/refurbishing Model 100/102/200's since 1983. He can be contacted at rick(a)the-dock.com, and his website is: http://www.the-dock.com/club100.html -- and coming soon: http://www.club100.org/ Thanks! Roger "Merch" Merchberger

24 years, 1 month

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Xenix ?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On November 11, Richard.Sandwell(a)roebry.co.uk wrote: > I have an Apricot Xen 'mainframe' which is a 286 based msdos generic from > 1986. Its not ibm compatible. Comically, it does have a copy of Windows V1 > on its disk which runs, well, like all versions of windows ;-) > Its role was a fileserver for an ms-net network, hence the awful > 'mainframe' name. I've always been intrigued that there was a port of > xenix available for this machine - anyone know anything about that, or > about xenix on a 286 based system in general? I ran SCO Xenix 286 on a few 286 systems back in 1988 or so. It was abyssmal. I don't remember much about it...I think I blocked it out. :) -Dave -- Dave McGuire St. Petersburg, FL

24 years, 1 month

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la120 (decwriter iii) spares (uk)

by james＠cs.york.ac.uk

we've recently decommisioned a couple of la120's at work. unfortunately, the drive mechanics and motors have been pinched for a robotics project, but the rest is sitting in a corridor waiting for a skip to pass. does anyone have any use for the remaining bits? both units were in working order, so the power supplies and logic boards should be fine. -- J.F.Carter http://www.jfc.org.uk/

24 years, 1 month

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Money order for the SE/30?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On November 13, John Lawson wrote: > > Did you ever receive my money order for the Macintosh SE/30? > > No, and I really could use that $5,000.00 right now... holidays coming > up, y'know. > > Remember that I'll throw in the original CRT *and* the actual HD out of > it, all for just another $3,500.00. > > E-mail me off-list and I'll give you my bank info for wire transfer. > > You still interested in the Lisa manual for $800??? > > Lemme know. You're a bad, bad man. ;) -Dave -- Dave McGuire St. Petersburg, FL

24 years, 1 month

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For Sale/Trade... 68K Macs...

by DAW＠yalepress3.unipress.yale.edu

Well, all the Macs are spoken for, just have to nail down some details... ...except the LC-II. Any takers on that? --- David A Woyciesjes --- C & IS Support Specialist --- Yale University Press --- mailto:david.woyciesjes@yale.edu --- (203) 432-0953 --- ICQ # - 905818 ! -----Original Message----- ! From: David Woyciesjes [mailto:DAW@yalepress3.unipress.yale.edu] ! Sent: Monday, November 05, 2001 10:43 AM ! To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org (E-mail) ! Subject: For Sale/Trade... 68K Macs... ! ! ! Pardon my Off Topic post, I know this isn't quite the ! right forum, ! but I'd like these to go to someone who'll appreciate them... ! ! - Mac LCII 6 MB RAM, 80 MB HDD, OS 7.6, missing battery (1/2 ! AA, 3.6 volt ! Lithium) ! - Mac SE/30, 8 MB RAM, 70 MB HDD, OS 7.1, Radius 64 KHz Full ! Page Display ! - Mac SE FDHD - Doesn't boot (yet) ! - Mac Classic II, 4 MB RAM, 140 MB HDD, OS 7.5 ! ! - No mice, keyboard or monitors... ! ! I can update the software some, and might have some other Apple ! software to go with them, from the Apple Service Source CD Set... ! Everything must go, ASAP. Moving from apartment to house soon... ! Make reasonable offer. ! ! --- David A Woyciesjes ! --- C & IS Support Specialist ! --- Yale University Press ! --- mailto:david.woyciesjes@yale.edu ! --- (203) 432-0953 ! --- ICQ # - 905818 !

24 years, 1 month

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