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

by amichael＠nortel.ca

In message "CLASSICCMP digest 375", John Rollins <rexstout(a)uswest.net> writes: >Third card is another one from Intel, labeled "iSBC 576", with another >8086, two connectors on the top, and an SBC576 daughtercard. I checked my Intel "OEM Boards and Systems Handbook (1988)" but cannot identify this card, although the book lists many other Multibus boards. Intel sold their Multibus interests to Radisys some time back; they're on the web and maybe they can help. Both National Semiconductor and NEC made Multibus board clones, often with similar part numbers, so you might get lucky finding info if you're persistent. >Fourth card is a PROSE 2000, with a 26-pin edge connector and another >connector, and a bunch of EPROMs marked "Speech Plus (c)1983", and yet >another 8086 chip. Looks like the company name is Speech Plus Inc. I guess >this is a speech synth. Strange coincidence! I recently rescued one of these from a scrapyard (it was literally waiting to be ground up into metallic dust). Yes, it's a text-to-speech board, but I haven't had any success finding application data. The company that made it, Telesensory Systems, does still exist and I did call them looking for information. They were cordial, but could not help because the board was just too ancient for their support staff to have any useful knowledge about it. Too bad; I thought it might be welcomed by one of my local charities. I don't have Telesensory's phone number here but try a web search. If you can't find them let me know and I'll see if I can retrieve the number. Please keep me in mind if you do manage to track down some information on it. -- Arlen Michaels Nortel Ottawa, Canada (613) 763-2568 amichael(a)nortel.ca

28 years, 2 months

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FW: Y2K

by peacock＠simconv.com

> -----Original Message----- > From: Hotze [mailto:photze@batelco.com.bh] > Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 1998 12:42 PM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: Re: FW: Y2K > > > It very well might be running today. Not doing the hardlabor > tasks that it was origiohnally made for, but possibly as someone's hobby. > Anyway, five years, and accelarating is a odd estimate. PC's nearly 3 or > 4 years old are used day to day, as primary computer systems. The > origionally cost around $2,000, and now can be effectively replaced for around > $500-$800, yet they haven't. Sure, high end servers are still being produced, and in some institutions (even if I can't name any) are updated monthly or so with their server technology. Being from the Big Iron era (Univac 1100s and CDC 6000s), I can assure you no one ever believed any of those machines would last for 30 years. We knew the "fourth generation" computers based on large scale integration were coming, although what was expected was the bit slice type logic, not integrated microprocessors. No one ever questioned using 2 digit dates, because the programs weren't going to be used for 30 years. After all, how many 30 year old computers were still running in 1975? Back then a "legacy" program was supporting Autocoder from the 60s. Ten years was ancient and obsolete. Even in the 80's I saw very few software applications that switched to 4 digit dates. Our company converted to all 4 digit year dates in 1987, primarily because we were revising our major packages, plus we wanted to be compatible with some applications we OEMed along with our own software. Even in 87 I didn't think our programs would still be in use in 2000, but suprise, they will be. Was it brilliant foresight we converted way back then? Not really, more like plain dumb luck. But disk and memory were getting much cheaper by then, we could afford to use the extra space. When we only had 5MB drives and 16KB partitions the savings on 2 digit dates was significant, but once we had 100MB+ drives and virtual memory that was no longer an issue. Jack Peacock

28 years, 2 months

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FW: Y2K

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

OK.. so, I admit, I wasn't even around then. I've never seen big iron in my life, and as far as I know, the school's still running on the Compaq PPro 200 that we got a while back. But here's my .02 on what would think in that same posisiton: >I know I was asking some of my friends what was going to happen as far >back as in the late 60' and early 70s when as high schools and college >students we were asking what happens if this machine should still be >running in the year 2000? Some of us considered that unlikely as the >pace for new machines at the time suggested it's life was maybe five >years and that pace was accelerating. It very well might be running today. Not doing the hardlabor tasks that it was origiohnally made for, but possibly as someone's hobby. Anyway, five years, and accelarating is a odd estimate. PC's nearly 3 or 4 years old are used day to day, as primary computer systems. The origionally cost around $2,000, and now can be effectively replaced for around $500-$800, yet they haven't. Sure, high end servers are still being produced, and in some institutions (even if I can't name any) are updated monthly or so with their server technology. What worries me is that around 2025, a system should last as long as you want it, as the speeds will probably be at the speed of light across the board, so there's no wait state. It's as fast as the software that you choose for it. The systems won't become obsolete. I personally belive that it's then that the speed of light will be broken, but I can't prove that, other than the belief that we will continue to grow and outcome obsticles. What then? Just my opinion, Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 2 months

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Sperry 286

by aaron＠wfi-inc.com

Well, I finally got around to looking at the terminal PC that came with the Cadnetix workstation. Turns out it's a pretty kick-ass Sperry 286 PC/IT, with some nifty stuff. A Genoa 4850 video card, which my info says can display 800x600, an SIIG FK3459 I/O board, a Rybs Electronics HicardAT memory board, a WDC 1002-WAH HD controller and 20meg HD, and a net card to boot. It also has 1 meg on the board and the math coprocessor installed as well. The little bit I could find on the video card claims that it uses a multisync monitor. It has the two rca jacks and a db-9; how do I wire an adapter for db-9 to hd-15? Thanks, Aaron BTW, I also got a couple hundred 5 1/4 floppies with it, including 2 complete sets of SCO OpenWindows 1.0.0.y; anyone want one?

28 years, 2 months

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NEC PC Engine HE System

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Hello. Ive recntly gotten a NEC PC Engine system, about 6"x6"x1" in size. It has a port that's around the size of a PS/2 port, but with different connections. The system uses a cool-looking card system, labeled as HuCARD, and I've got two games, PAC-LAND and a game that's entirely in Japanese labeled as THEthen lots in Japanese, I'll try to scan it in later, in a monocrome format. On the bottom, it says NEC PCEngine Japanese, then at the far right, it says PI-TG001 , then one line down, more Japanese writing, then at the far right, 4W writen. Then, another line down, it has Japanese, then at the far right, (PAD-105,PAD-106) Then there's an entire line of Japanese writing, then another line down, the words MADE IN JAPAN. Below that, in another indent, is the number that was pin-printed as 8Z14066H . At the right of the system, there's a port labeled ANT SWITCH, which I'm guessing I connect to a TV monitor. There's no port for sound. On the same location on the left, there's a thing labeled AC ADAPTER, which I don't currently have. Can I use a Nintendo adapter for this? A Sega? Any information would be appriciated. BTW, the controller seems to be a slightly-stylaziied version of an origional NES controller, with buttons labeled II and I, in the place of A and B, a select and Run button (Run in the place of Start) and a standard digital-arrow pad, as found on most gaming systems. Thanks, Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 2 months

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RESCUE NEEDED, EASTERN U.S., TIME-CRITICAL!

by kyrrin＠jps.net

This stuff is apparently going to get hauled away by the Garbage Gorillas on Wednesday of this week, so move quick and reply directly to the sender (john(a)egh.com, or call at (781-861-0670) if you want the stuff... -=-=- <snip> -=-=- From: jasantos(a)ultranet.com (John A Santos) Newsgroups: alt.sys.pdp11 Subject: Free Unibus hardware (act fast...) Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 06:14:36 -0400 Organization: UltraNet Communications, Inc. http://www.ultranet.com/ Lines: 70 Message-ID: <MPG.f93c680244458b898969f(a)news.ma.ultranet.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: d73.dial-1.cmb.ma.ultra.net X-Complaints-To: abuse(a)ultra.net X-Ultra-Time: 7 Apr 1998 10:17:29 GMT X-Newsreader: Anawave Gravity v2.00.753 Path: blushng.jps.net!news.eli.net!news.burgoyne.com!news.eecs.umich.edu!news-spur1.maxwell.syr.edu!news.maxwell.syr.edu!feed2.news.erols.com!erols!news.ultranet.com!not-for-mail My company is cleaning the basement, and there is a large collection of PDP-11 (mostly, some useful on VAXes) stuff that is going to be carted away on Wednesday (4/8) by the junk man. If anyone near Lexington Mass wants to grab any of it (or if you are willing to pay shipping, for the smaller items), please email me or call me at work. Unfortunately I just found out about it today, and it is going tomorrow, so there isn't much time to rescue this stuff from oblivion. Items include: Unibus backplanes (4 & 9 slot, a couple of each) 4 or 5 Unibus cables, varying lengths (at least one is brand new.) Lots of Unibus jumpers (M920 and some of the long ones (M9200?)) Thousands (well, dozens) of Grant jumpers (G727?) 2 DELUA's + cab kits 2 UDA-50's + cab kits (I think one has one bad board, the other works) 1 DH11 (and maybe some spare parts) 4 DZ11's (with CAB kits) 2 KMD11's (X.25 interface with a KMC11B and a line and modem board) 1 or two DV11's (synch multiplexor) 1 TMB-11 (TU10/TE10 controller) 1 RH11 (Unibus to massbus interface, has a stuck bit) 1 LP11 interface several DL11 boards, various vintages 2 Able (?) boards that each emulate 4 DL11's. 2 BA11 10 1/2 inch expansion boxes, one in pieces. 2 TE16 and one TE10 9-track tape drives, mostly disassembled 2 TM03 (maybe one is a TM02) Massbus tape formatters. Lots of H945? power regulators (I think they take 18V AC and output either +-5V DC or +-15V DC, depending on model) Anyway, these are the boxes about 4x6x8 inches that sit inside BA11's and PDP 11/40- vintage CPU cabs. There are also some print sets and manuals for some of this stuff. There might be a few Massbus cables, too. There might also be an old PDP-11/40 CPU board set. If you want any of this stuff, either email me (at work is better; I'll see it sooner) john(a)egh.com, or call me (781-861-0670). I can't guarantee that any particular items on this list won't be grabbed back by the powers that be, or that any particular item works, but hey! Many of the bits were working when last used, in October. This list is all from memory, so I could be wrong about quantities. It is mostly sitting in a big pile waiting for the trash-man, who rumor has will be coming on Wednesday, so this is both your first and last chance. If you want some particular item, but can't arrange shipping or to drop by, let me know and if it isn't too big, I can probably rescue it and save it for you. John Santos -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, SysOp, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fido 1:343/272) kyrrin {at} j<p>s d[o]t n=e=t "...No matter how hard we may wish otherwise, our science can only describe an object, event, or living creature, in our own human terms. It cannot possibly define any of them!..."

28 years, 2 months

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Rescue mission - Anyone else?

by kyrrin＠jps.net

Ha! Got my first "official" rescue coming up on the 18th. One of the local colleges (by 'local' I mean Washington state) is disposing of their old PDP-11/44 and all its peripherals. Here's the bad news. I don't have the space or the hauling capability to save the entire system. I'm taking the Fujitsu 'Eagle' they've got, its Unibus controller (an Emulex SC31 I'm told) plus some RSTS distribution tapes and a tape drive and -possibly- a rack. Last call: Is there anyone else in or near WA who would like to help save the rest of the system? If not, most of it will end up with the scrappers. Please get in touch with me directly as I will need to get my contact's OK (he's just expecting me at the moment). Thanks! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fidonet 1:343/272) (Hamateur: WD6EOS) (E-mail: kyrrin(a)jps.net) "Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."

28 years, 2 months

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DEC 11/70...

by jharper＠bs2000.com

Hello all... A couple of weeks ago, I put out an e-mail to the List that mentioned that a friend had given a DEC PDP-11/70 (or so he thought) to me that had been 'hardened' by Schlumberger for use in the oil patch. The machine supposedly works and weighs close to 200 lbs. The oldest board claims, I think, to have been built in late 1978. I know practically nothing about the PDP series and so don't have the foggiest as to what I really have. Finally, over the weekend, I was able to open the box (1/4" armored steel ugly thing) and take a look at the boards -- there are a total of ten as follows: (Keep in mind that I don't know what typical DEC parts numbers look like -- I think that a lot of the numbers that I wrote down are actually production lots etc): (1): Obviously a CPU board -- AH13Z-06. Also claims DEC P/N 1216988. Has a 15MHz crystal and is 15.5x8" in size. It has edge connectors (as do all of the boards). (2): 'Bootstrap Terminator' - DEC-81. 5013263C-P2. 8x5". (3): 'Flip Chip" 5008691 PCC-1Vo. 2.5x2". This is some sort of jumper board. (4): 4MB(?) DRAM. DEC P/N 1216988 (notice that this is the same p/n as the CPU board -- that is, I suppose?, the system part number), A88D30824 RA1-RA3: RM8-3.3Kx3 (probably a component label for a resistor pack but not sure); C:TD104/5DX92 AH12Z-12. 15.5x8". (5-9): H-236341 EXT BRD 10.5x8". These appear to be extendor boards that bring +15VDC and a few timing signals out to the edge of the cage -- why there are five, I cannot imagine... (10): "FLIP CHIP". FEB 78 SCO/R1L OPTION M7856 H236602 -01048. 10.5x8" This appears(?) to be possibly an I/O controller board of some sort... Does anyone have any idea of what these things came out of? They are free to a good home -- preferably someone that can actually use them and put them back to work (can you imagine how boring it would be to madly process seismographic data for 20-years -- I bet they would like to try something different for a change) (postage + packing costs). Regards Jack Harper (Friend to all things Symbolics) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Harper Bank Systems 2000, Inc. 303-277-1892 Golden, Colorado USA "21st Century Financial Applications" Optical Cards for Bank, EBT, and Medical Applications Visit our Web Page: http://www.bs2000.com/talos (Last Update: 970902) ---------------------------------------------------------------------

28 years, 2 months

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TRS-80 Model 4 (128k) for sale

by archive＠navix.net

Go to: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=10391784 to get in on the bidding for a 128k TRS-80 Model 4 computer. CORD -- ___________________________________________________ | Cord G. Coslor : archive(a)navix.net |\ | Deanna S. Wynn : deannasue(a)navix.net | | |---------------------------------------------------| | | http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Vista/4395 | | |---------------------------------------------------| | | PO Box 308 - Peru, NE - 68421 - (402) 872- 3272 | | |___________________________________________________| | \____________________________________________________\|

28 years, 2 months

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Older Toshiba Manuals

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

Saw a post on Usenet answering someone's request for info on a Toshiba T3100 with the comment that the user manuals are all online. Went to <http://www.toshiba.com/>, did a search on "t3200 manual" and sure enough, found this page: http://www.csd.toshiba.com/tais/csd/support/files/manuals.htm which has manuals for their laptops going bat to the T1000LE. I'll be busy downloading tonight... --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/

28 years, 2 months

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FW: Y2K

by allisonp＠world.std.com

Sent to massyr(a)washpost.com copied to classiccomp: My cut on a nook in computer history. It's mine as I was only of those nutty kids hacking a pdp-8 in highschool in 1969 wondering about 31 years lateer and how that would not fit into a 12 bit word used to express date. <i'm working on a piece here at the Washington Post about the Year <2000 bug, and <although there is plenty of info about what it is and how to combat <it, there is very little <history available. <specifically, i'm trying to find out 1) who were the co-authors of <the COBOL language <along with Grace Murray Hopper, Since she was military (LT at the time if memory serves) her fellows would be military members as well. That may help you. 2) who decided to use two digits for the year instead of four, Rather than answer that question directly as I cannot I'll supply resoning instead. Computers over the years have come down in price, up in speed and increased greatly in storage and memory. Those last two items are significant to the discussion. Starting in the early 50s a computer with 4000 words of memory and sorage of say several hundred thousand words of data were large and scarce. The technology for making memory and bulk storage were new. This would remian true for many years, through the 60s. Because of the cost for even a few bits of storage it was resonable to not store obvious data like the first two digits of the date, after all tht was known and the lifetime of the mache was like five years at best. So programming languages like Cobol and more importantly the operating systems that managed the machine would only keep the minimum amount of storage for the variable part of the date (month, day, year). Memory was a premium for many machines and costly way waste it on storing things that are assumed. This habit persisted will into the '80s as while memories got larger and machines smaller many would be expected to run the same or related programs from their older parents. the scene is now set. Another thing was the emergence of standard programming languages where certain aspect of the language were expected to behave the same on sometimes radically different machines. The rest is history as many programming languages like cobol were expected to be dead. However conservitive users like banking, government insisted on tried and proven programming tools and languages thus propagating abd prolonging the life of these burdend items. The burden was they had to behave like their ancestors right down to little things like the date! 3) who discovered the Y2K problem? It wasn't "discovered" nor was it a new problem. Some manchines and operating systems had the equivelent of the Y2k problem several times over and well before the year 2000. The example I know best is the Digital Equipment Corp PDP-8, in teh mid to late 60s this machine was introduced with the following attributes, small, low cost. It would persist well in to the 1980's in various smaller and more compact forms. The significance of the machine was it's the first "minicomputer" to be sold in volume. In it's time thousands was big volumes. Now, it was also a small machine in memory. The designeers for one of the popular operating systems for it (known as OS/8) knowing that memory was a precious commodity used the minimum needed to implment time and date. The year portion was accorded a platry three bits meaning it could only count from 0 through 7. Since this was introduced in roughly 1969 their Y2k problem would occur every 7 years!. This was not the only machine or company, just an example. I know I was asking some of my friends what was going to happen as far back as in the late 60' and early 70s when as high schools and college students we were asking what happens if this machine should still be running in the year 2000? Some of us considered that unlikely as the pace for new machines at the time suggested it's life was maybe five years and that pace was accelerating. Was was missed was the persistance of some applications programming languages. While the PDP-8 has been out of production for over 15 years many are still in use. While Cobol has dropped as a mainstream language for over 10 years the problems that are now tried and proven persist. This is true for several other languages and some operating systems as well. So no, the year 2000 problem wasn't discovered, save maybe for the media person to finally put into print what every programmer and systems person already knew. "We didn't use enough bits and were running out". Allison

28 years, 2 months

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AIX PS/2

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

In IBM's description of the PS/2 Model 70, the said that it ran DOS 3.3 and higher, OS/2 1.0x and higher, and AIX PS/2. Does anyone have possession/experience with the last item? I guess it's a form of UNIX. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

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mountain computer?

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

got a card labeled SUPERTALKER II by mountain computer. i've heard of the company, but not of the card. seems to be speech synthesis or similar. web search on the company and the card brought up nothing. anyone have more info? david

28 years, 2 months

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Old Data

by pjoules＠coleg-powys.ac.uk

It occurs to me that, whilst we have heard several opinions about what to do with old data, these posts are being achived! If someone who is thinking of disposing of a machine sees that some on the list appear to have less respect (IMHO) for the confidentiality of old data than others might this not put them off giving a machine away. FWIW I believe that we should make it clear on all 'collection associated' web sites that any old data, whatever its nature, will be treated in the strictest of confidence. Regards Pete (Dons asbestos suit and runs for cover ;-)

28 years, 2 months

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Sperry 286

by jolminkh＠nsw.bigpond.net.au

Sounds like it is meant to go with early multisync monitors like NEC Multisync I and II which have a 9 pin socket so in reality it is probably just an EGA card. -----Original Message----- From: Aaron Christopher Finney <aaron(a)wfi-inc.com> The little bit I could find on the video card claims that it uses a multisync monitor. It has the two rca jacks and a db-9; how do I wire an adapter for db-9 to hd-15?

28 years, 2 months

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TRS-80 Model 3 (ser. #0000510) on Ebay

by archive＠navix.net

The budding started tonight for a TRS-80 Model 3 network computer which has the serial # of 0000510!! Check out this URL to get in on it if you wish: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=10391298 Thanks, CORD COSLOR -- ___________________________________________________ | Cord G. Coslor : archive(a)navix.net |\ | Deanna S. Wynn : deannasue(a)navix.net | | |---------------------------------------------------| | | http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Vista/4395 | | |---------------------------------------------------| | | PO Box 308 - Peru, NE - 68421 - (402) 872- 3272 | | |___________________________________________________| | \____________________________________________________\|

28 years, 2 months

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More Toshiba Files

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

Toshiba also has files listing specs of older machines, and a file that lists prices of discontinued items. See: http://www.csd.toshiba.com/tais/csd/support/files/product.htm P.S., the other page wasn't 100% complete (had the T5200 but not the T5100) but still was pretty good. This one looks to have most (older) models. --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/

28 years, 2 months

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math coprocessors

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

[Autocad not requiring math coprocessor] Well, version 12 for Dos, which is what I have, seems to require it. It refuses to start up, quitting with "80x87 required, but not present". Whoever said it doesn't, maybe you have a lower version. If so, which and what's it like? I would certainly be interested in an older version, such a 7 or 8. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

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Old Data

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 11:47 PM 4/3/98 -0600, you wrote: >> >* I'll return or destroy any personal data I find on a machine I acquire. >> >> ...acquire, keeping it in the strictest confidence should I find it >> necessary to view it. > >More like...if the person(s) that ditched the computer in whatever form didn't >feel the need to safeguard the information prior to release of their >personal/corporate property, then it's of no reason to follow through with any >protection of data/software contained on the machine or disks. If you buy a Except, that people may feel it's easier (and/or safer) to just destroy the machine than it is to try and make sure no one can read their data. What if some one told you, "yeah, I had one of those imsai computers, but I had it smashed up to make sure no one could get at my old tax returns." Not a pleasant thought. I agree that people should be responsible for their own data, but I also feel that we, as collectors, need to hold ourselves to a higher standard, so that people will feel comfortable giving us their old machines. Similarly, would you tell your analyst/doctor/lawyer as much as you do, if you thought they might be telling everyone in the pub what you told them? >camcorder at a consignment or pawn shop and the last owners left a tape of >their after-hours playtime in the camcorder, is it my responsibility to erase, >safeguard or return it? I think not. I feel the same should apply to personal It's your responsibility to post it on the internet! 8^) Camcorders are reasonably well understood items; what if it were a digital camera? Someone might decide not to pass it on if they thought they might not have erased everything... Most of the people here probably know how to wipe a hard drive so it can't be read. (My best guess is a low-level format, then fill it with worthless data? Good thing I have nothing to hide!) But the average AOL user doesn't. When Grandpa passes on, you don't want the grandkids trashing all his old computers because they don't know how to make sure that no one will know about all the porno sites he visited on the web. >Roger: Very nice page of your collection. A few more pics of each item and it >should become a very informative source for those interested in the world of >the obsolete (the computers, not you). I tried to get pics of each side and any important features... You think even more pics would be appropriate? Or do you mean pics of more computers? P.S., for them what was interested, I'm still working (in my Copious Spare Time) on documenting the programs I use to generate the pages. I'll post when I get them finished and uploaded. --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/

28 years, 2 months

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Fwd: Franklin computer available

by Roger＠Sinasohn.com

Got this in the mail... Please respond to Ed at ed(a)estival.com... >X-Persona: <Roger(a)Sinasohn.Com> >X-Originating-IP: [32.100.144.158] >From: "Ed Schreiber" <edschreiber(a)hotmail.com> >To: roger(a)sinasohn.com >Subject: Franklin computer available >Date: Sun, 05 Apr 1998 20:34:11 PDT > >To computer museums and serious collectors: > >There is a Franklin 1000 computer available for donation (Apple II >clone). Monitor, two floppy drives, all cables, some software, still >works. > >If interested, please respond. > >Ed Schreiber >http://estival.com >ed(a)estival.com > >______________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/

28 years, 2 months

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Singleboard and peripherals for grabs (Northern CA)

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<It's a Netronix 8085 SBC from around 1979 (I thought the 8085 came out a <little later than that), with some sort of S-100 compatibility. He's <faxing me a spec sheet tonight. I may pick this up if nobody else wants <it, but I'll defer to somebody who's also interested in a (home made?) <terminal and a small thermal (Telepar?) printer. The 8085 is late '77 I built my Netronics8085 in mid '78. I used to call on netronics. Mine is still in use as a Eprom programmer. The system was motherboard based with bus expansion as S100. The CPU was a 3mhz 8085. There was also a simple serial IO (bitbash) and casette interface on the board along with an assortment of parallel IO. The base board could be configured to take up to 8k of 2716 eprom (or 2116 2kx8 ram) and 4k of 2114 ram. The Northstar disk and PT-VDM1 worked very well with it makes in very compact s100 system. Allison

28 years, 2 months

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ISA to PCI?

by kyrrin＠jps.net

Tim Hotze scribbled... >the old ISA cards I've collected, I just got an AWE 64, and my scanner and >PCMCIA cards are ISA-based. So, is it possible to make a device that will >make an ISA card fit into a PCI socket? Is anyone making them? No one that I know of. In fact, I question that such a device is even economically possible to the point that a company would want to try. The architecture differences between PCI and ISA are enormous. The only thing I can think of that -might- stand a chance of working is to construct some sort of sub-board that the ISA card would plug into. Said sub-board would contain the necessary circuitry to implement an ISA-to-PCI bridge. This means, at bare minimum, dealing with a 220-lead surface-mount PQFP chip and its supporting components. That means lots of skill in engineering such bridges, to say nothing of having access to schematic capture and PC board layout tools that can handle advanced boards... Well, you get the idea. I'm not going to say "it can't be done" because I think it can. It's just that I have neither the skill nor the desire to attempt it. ;-) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fidonet 1:343/272) (Hamateur: WD6EOS) (E-mail: kyrrin(a)jps.net) "Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."

28 years, 2 months

2
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Math coprocessors

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Seriously look for a Weitek Math Co processor, especially if you've got lots of RAM. They were 387-compatible FPU's that used some RAM to boost speed dramatically. As a matter of fact, a Weitek might even be faster than a FPU found on a Pentium or higher machine. -----Original Message----- From: Jack Peacock <peacock(a)simconv.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Monday, April 06, 1998 9:34 PM Subject: RE: Math coprocessors >Ward Donald Griffiths III wrote: >> Max Eskin wrote: >> > >> > I found a PS/2 Model 70 recently, which would normally have a 386, >> > but the previous owner installed a Cyrix 486 upgrade chip. Does >> > anyone know if I can use a 386 math coprocessor with this? I want >> > to run AutoCAD. >> >> The i486 has a coprocessor built in, I assume that the Cyrix does >> as well. Try the software. IIRC, AutoCAD doesn't _require_ a math >> coprocessor, but one does help performance by an order or two of >> magnitude on a 386. >> -- >No, the Cyrix 486DL (I assume it is a DL or DR2 if it's in a 386 >motherboard) is not the same as an Intel 486. The Cyrix 486DL was an >upgrade CPU for the 386 pinout, adding a 486 instruction set and 1K >internal cache. The 486DR2 version was clock doubled. These CPUs do >not have floating point. Generally an Intel 80387 did not work >reliably, but the Cyrix 487 co-processor did. ULSI (and I think IIT) >also made 487s. You can try the Intel 387, sometimes they ran ok, >mostly it depended on the speed range used. > Jack Peacock

28 years, 2 months

1
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Looking for help with Mac SE Radius board/monitor

by erd＠infinet.com

Having recently discovered this list, I might have a chance at getting some help for a long obsolete Radius product: the Radius Full Page Display for the Mac SE. My late mother bought this a while back, attached to a Mac, for her word processing/typesetting business. It has never worked, due to the fact that the previous owner of the Mac SE formatted the hard disk before handing it over to her. The drivers for the card _were_ on there, but she used the machine for weeks before asking her sons why the big screen initialized but never worked. The external monitor comes up, displays a half-tone pattern, then goes dark. I did manage to get _a_ driver for the card when Radius still had it on their ftp site, but, alas, the ROMs are too old to work with that version of the driver. At the time, my mother didn't want to spend $80 to get newer ROMs from Radius, and now, they aren't available. So... what I could use is either a) an old version of the FPD SE disks (c. 1987-1989) or b) FPD SE ROMs newer than version 4.1 (the ones that are installed there now). Besides the version number, the ROMs have a U number (U19 and U20) and a part number (297-132-D and 297-131-D) and a size (256K). The date on the ROM labels is 1989. The date on the PCB silkscreen is 1987. Thanks for any help. -ethan P.S. - I can burn my own ROMs from images. They're just plain-old 27C256's.

28 years, 2 months

1
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Singleboard and peripherals for grabs (Northern CA)

by engine＠chac.org

A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text/enriched Size: 701 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/attachments/19980406/636b258d/at…

28 years, 2 months

2
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Speaking of VoxBox...

by sethm＠loomcom.com

I have one here that I'd gladly part with. In the original box, with the original documentation and cassettes. The original box, it should be noted, has been written all over and used to mail the thing hither and yon, so it's not "pristine" to say the least. I don't want a lot of money for it, but I'll accept little offers to cover the hassle of mailing it, plus postage. The only reason I'm getting rid of it is because I'm frankly not that interested in RadioShack stuff :) So hopefully it will end up in a nice happy friendly collector's home being tinkered with instaed of sitting on my shelf collecting dust. -Seth Morabito Computer Historian, DEC Enthusiast, Weirdo Send comments, questions, and offers to sethm(a)loomcom.com

28 years, 2 months

1
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Recent Brother's Find, More PET info & 2.8mb floppy

by foxnhare＠goldrush.com

Last week my brother found me something (usually I am the one finding 'stuff' for him. An overhead projector LCD unit! (circa 1987 so it's on-topic). It's a monochrome unit that approximates colors via greys but bhe really cool thing about this display is it's inputs: RGB and Composite Video! So next time I drag one of my Commodore 8-bits for a demo I have a an overhead display unti that works with it! (tested it with a Commodore 128 -in 64 mode-, the screen just fits in the visible area.) (manufacturer Computer Accessories) 00100111101010010010010011100100100001110010111001001001 Andre Fachat, another Commodore PET enthusiast has just opened his 'PET Index'. Much of it is on his latest toy the CBM 8296 (the last of the PET line -I think even after the SuperPET-) includes links to other valuable PET information (such as my PET FAQ). A good place to bookmark if you have any interest in PET computers: http://www.tu-chemnitz.de/~fachat/8bit/petindex/petindex.html 00100111101010010010010011100100100001110010111001001001 As far as anyone ever seeing a 2.8 mb floppy drive, yes, a friend of mine has one, for the Commodore 8-bit! Creative Micro Designs (CMD) a thriving Commodore peripheral, expansion, and accererator manufacturer for the Commodore 64/128 had used them for the FD-4000 series disk drives. The drives use ED (extended density?) disks (the high density hole is farther down than on HD disks and there is an ED on the casing.) Unfortunately CMD had to drop the line a couple years back due to the drive manufacturer dropping the model as there was not a big enough demand for them. :/ -- -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Larry Anderson - Sysop of Silicon Realms BBS (300-2400bd) (209) 754-1363 Visit my Commodore 8-Bit web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/commodore.html -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

28 years, 2 months

1
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TRS-80 VOXBOX?

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<I acquired a TRS-80 VOXBOX last week. It is in the original box <with cable, interface box, mic, and three casette tapes. I remember <when RS was selling these. Has anyone ever used one? Did they actually <work? < <Any historical insight is appreciated. It speaks, classic mechanical sounding speech. Rather fun to play with. Allison

28 years, 2 months

3
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DEC 11/70...

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<The accompanying lab workbook for the _The Art of Electronics_ is <worth obtaining for getting the "Write-Only Memory" datasheet, too. <My favorite graph on the data sheet is "Number of pins remaining <vs. number of socket insertions". (Wasn't this originally published <in an April 1 issue of _Electronics_ in the 70's?) I got my copy of that data sheet as an official looking Signetics data sheet along with the data books circa 1972. It was the EIA/IEEE spec'd spigot in the lower right side of the device logical drawing. IT went well with the ISO bit bucket. ;) Allison

28 years, 2 months

1
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math coprocessors

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Apr 6, 17:15, Max Eskin wrote: > Subject: Re: math coprocessors > [Autocad not requiring math coprocessor] > Well, version 12 for Dos, which is what I have, seems to require it. > It refuses to start up, quitting with "80x87 required, but not > present". Whoever said it doesn't, maybe you have a lower version. > If so, which and what's it like? I would certainly be interested in > an older version, such a 7 or 8. Even fairly old versions require a maths copro. Some of my then-colleagues at Acorn Computers were involved in negotiations with Autodesk in 1987, to get it ported to the ARM architecture. AD ported Autosketch quite quickly, because it doesn't need a maths copro, but they refused to port AutoCad, because they insisted a maths coprocessor was essential (despite the fact that the software routines available outperformed some contemporary maths processors). -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

28 years, 2 months

1
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Looking for info on old SuperMac video board

by jruschme＠exit109.com

(This is a follow-up to an earlier posting, but with some corrections and further information.) I recently acquired an old Macintosh II. In it was an older SuperMac video board. Based on the pictures on Radius' web site, I have concluded that this is a Spectrum/8 (original), Part # STD9411, Assy # 1002689-0001. The label on the ROM reads: SUPERMAC TECH SPECTRUM D6 1002690-B 1986 According to Newer`s SlotInfo program, The card revision is 1.0B9 and has a part number of VGB-1. Per Radius' FAQ, I have tried holding down the OPTION key while booting, but never got the "round robin" video mode selection. I have also tried running SuperVideo 2.7.5 which tells me I must have ROM version 1.9 or later in order to select a monitor. Currently, the card seems to be "stuck" in what I assume is the default mode of 1016x768. So, does anyone have: 1) Info on how to get the card into other modes (pref 640x480 for now). 2) Setup software for this old a card. 3) Any info on support monitor resolutions and frequencies? Thanks in advance... <<<John>>>

28 years, 2 months

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DEC 11/70...

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

> > Generally for the old machines we talk about on this list, the chip type > > code is easy to differentiate from the date code, because of the > > prevalence of 7400-series TTL chips. Any 74xx or 54xx number will be the > > chip type, while the other number will be the date code. > > Until you get a machine built in 1974 :-). It's happened to me, it's > mentioned in 'The Art of Electronics', and it's doubtless happened to > others here. Too right. And they don't half misbehave when you mistake the date code for the logic function :-) I've got a large boxful of TTL with 74 date codes. Trouble is, I *still* can't tell which is which on one or two of them, just by looking. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

28 years, 2 months

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List problems ?

by lwalker＠mail.interlog.com

Has anyone noticed any problems with the list dropping msgs ? For example I posted some replies to the "Good find" thread and never saw them. I see there was also a "Hyperion" thread which from Jason Pero's reply I presume was posted by Doug Yowza (sp ?). I figured at first it was just a glitch in my upload, but the "hyperion" miss says something else. I'll have to check this with my ISP, if no one else is having this problem. thanks larry lwalker(a)interlog.com

28 years, 2 months

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Dick Smith System 80 S-100 Expansion Connections

by Guerney＠uq.net.au

re my own message: In a search of comp.sys.tandy I have found that the Dick Smith System 80 (TRS-80 Model 1 clone) was known as the PMC-80/81 in the US if that helps. Phil

28 years, 2 months

2
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from Cadnetix to IBM....

by aaron＠wfi-inc.com

Well, The prognosis is not good for the Cadnetix system. I have tracked down a couple of engineers from the original company (Which was bought by Daisy, bankrupted, and bought by Intergraph) working at various places and no one seems to be able to help. The two most common responses are first that I am some kind of lunatic for wanting to get a proprietary circuit-design workstation running, and second that any and all technical/engineering documents for all Cadnetix hardware is compost in a Colorado landfill. One of the binders that I grabbed with the system was the maintenance record, and tells a dismal tale of constant board replacements for various failures (no wonder they went broke), including a description for what is happening now. The final result that time? After replacing the drives, replacing all of the boards, and checking all jumpers and cabling, Cadnetix just shipped out a newer unit to replace it. Oh well. One interesting note is that this document has some monetary figures on it; this company was paying over $16K a year to lease a 68020 with 4megs of ram and 240megs of storage (2 80meg HD's and the 80meg Cipher), circa 1986. I was told by one legacy dealer that my Pertec-interface Cipher C880 is worth about $50 to scrap dealers. He then offered me a complete IBM System 36 with drives,tapes,interfaces, etc., that I'm going to pick up this week. BTW, does anyone have an extra pertec-to-scsi adapter laying around in the closet? ;) Aaron

28 years, 2 months

3
3
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RS 102

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 03:57 PM 4/2/98, you wrote: > Actually the machines are the same size. The PF keys are deeper on the Um, no... The 102 is thinner than the 100. That's one of the photos I took t'other day for my m102 page (getting 'em developed this week, then gotta scan them (gotta un-bury the scanner first), then get all the data files ready...) I'll post the pictures as soon as I get them scanned. (P.S., for more images than you can get to properly, check out <http://www.sinasohn.com/clascomp/images/> -- you'll see the directory listing of all the images I have so far.) > 7) A telephone cable to connect the MODEM in one of these to a standard >phone jack. It has a 8 pin DIN plus that fits the MODEM post and two phone >cords coming out of it. There is also what appears to be a dummy female >connector that fits over the male connector. The idea was to be able to leave it in place: Wall|=--------.----------=|phone | m100 If the m100 was connected, the phone was not. The dummy female connector simply shorted the appropriate wires so the phone would work again. > I will take $50 plus shipping on the computers ($40 for the one missing >the label) and best offer on the extra pieces. Or I will trade for HP Since I have 3 m100's, a m102, and 2 NEC 8201a's, I'll let other take advantage of this... 8^) --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/

28 years, 2 months

2
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RL02 problem #1 resolved.

by DSEAGRAV＠toad.xkl.com

About the fisrst RL02 spin problem: THere's a small rubber button that pushed the pack cover detector too see if you have the pack cover in. That button had become depressed over time by pressure. I fitted a washer around the rubber plug to stick it out more. Now the drive spins up normally and it doesn't need me to weight the lid. -------

28 years, 2 months

1
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Summasketch graphics tablet

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

> >> > Can I make one, >> > get one REALLY cheap, or operate the thing without one? Also, it >> >> Don't know. I bet it emits RF, and the tablet probably has a circuit board with >> traces running horizontally on one side an vertically on the other. My Dauphin >> detects the pen in this manner. > >The older sumagraphics tables like the Bit Pad 1, the ID series and the >Apple graphics tablet worked by sending a magnetic pulse along some wires >made of special alloy. I believe this pulse travelled at approximately >the speed of sound in the wires - there was a shock wave that travelled >along them caused by magnetostriction. Magnetostriction? >The puck was a simple sense coil. I had to rewind one of mine once, and I >seem to remember it was something like 11 turns of 30swg wire. That would >be a start anyway. > >Also I seem to remember that the buttons on the puck had 100k resistors >in series with them. The other side of the button was grounded. This is >also critical - otherwise noise breaks through into the sense coil amplifier. > > / 100k >Gnd----/ o---\/\/\---- Button input > Do you know the pinout for the plug? > >Certainly the Bit Pad 1 came in a serial version (and also a GPIB >version and a parallel version). > >There's another type of tablet that consists of an XY matrix of PCB >tracks - plain copper PCB tracks. They are individually driven by a set >of decoder/driver chips which are driven by a simple microcontroller. >Again the puck is a simple sense coil. > >Thing is, it has a much better resolution than the spacing between the >tracks. And there's no extra hardware, like high-speed-ish counters. I've >never figured out how that one works - any clues? > Well, I have this second one. My guess is that it uses capacitance, like touch-to-turn on lamps. >-tony > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

2
1
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Nice Find

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

I have a bunch of 80 MB mac hard drives. would an old PC SCSI card run them? > >HUH? Neither of these are an helped/hindered by the 386. SCSI is not >needed to run 1.44/1.2 FDDs. You can put scsi in there even when it was >an plain xt. To run the bigger floppies you need a controller that will, >most XT controllers will not. JDR and JAMCO sell a board that will do up >to 2.88 drives in a XT slot. Has anyone actually seen a 2.88 MB floppy drive? ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

2
1
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Math coprocessors

by peacock＠simconv.com

Ward Donald Griffiths III wrote: > Max Eskin wrote: > > > > I found a PS/2 Model 70 recently, which would normally have a 386, > > but the previous owner installed a Cyrix 486 upgrade chip. Does > > anyone know if I can use a 386 math coprocessor with this? I want > > to run AutoCAD. > > The i486 has a coprocessor built in, I assume that the Cyrix does > as well. Try the software. IIRC, AutoCAD doesn't _require_ a math > coprocessor, but one does help performance by an order or two of > magnitude on a 386. > -- No, the Cyrix 486DL (I assume it is a DL or DR2 if it's in a 386 motherboard) is not the same as an Intel 486. The Cyrix 486DL was an upgrade CPU for the 386 pinout, adding a 486 instruction set and 1K internal cache. The 486DR2 version was clock doubled. These CPUs do not have floating point. Generally an Intel 80387 did not work reliably, but the Cyrix 487 co-processor did. ULSI (and I think IIT) also made 487s. You can try the Intel 387, sometimes they ran ok, mostly it depended on the speed range used. Jack Peacock

28 years, 2 months

1
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DEC 11/70...

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

> Date codes are stamped on just about every IC, and some other parts too. > > They are generally a four digit number of the form YYWW, where YY is the > last two digits of the year in which the chip was munfactured and WW the > week number, from 01 through 52. > > Examples would be "7830" for the 30th week of 1978, and "8101" for the > first week of January 1981. > > Generally for the old machines we talk about on this list, the chip type > code is easy to differentiate from the date code, because of the > prevalence of 7400-series TTL chips. Any 74xx or 54xx number will be the > chip type, while the other number will be the date code. I learnt this one in a DEC PDP11-05. The chips are TTL - 74xx not 74LSxx or anything else - and almost every date code is in 1974. (i.e. also 74xx). The trick is that the chip no. usually has manufacturers name codes, package codes etc. embedded, e.g. SN7400N for one of the TI packages (I forget which!), while the date code in my experience never does. Be warned! I read somewhere (Horowitz and Hill?) that many distributors got this wrong in 1974 and shipped the wrong chips... Philip.

28 years, 2 months

1
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Old Data

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

> At 07:48 PM 4/2/98 -0600, you wrote: > >* I'll return or destroy any personal data I find on a machine I acquire. > > change to: > > ...acquire, keeping it in the strictest confidence should I find it > necessary to view it. > > or something like that. I would also substitute "personal or commercially sensitive data" in this rule. Philip.

28 years, 2 months

1
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Summasketch graphics tablet

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

A while ago, I found a SummaSketch Plus graphics tablet sans the little mouse thing, whatever the official name is. Can I make one, get one REALLY cheap, or operate the thing without one? Also, it hasthree connectors; a serial connector, an RJ-11 connector that I think is for the mouse, and some kind of weird square four-pin connector; what is that for? Do I need some kind of card? NOTE: I do have AutoCAD with the appropriate drivers. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

3
2
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IMSAI woes

by sethm＠loomcom.com

Hi all, Well, I've got some good news, and I've got some bad news. The good news is that I've finally had my IMSAI 8080 sent out to me >from Connecticut! It's in my "workshop" (a.k.a. the Garage) right now. The bad news is... my parents, god bless 'em -- They really didn't know any better, and it's partially my fault for not getting it shipped out to me sooner -- well, they had the poor thing stored, along with my BYTE and Dr. Dobbs collection, in an outdoor shed. Although largely protected >from the elements, this poor sad little IMSAI has endured two New England summers followed by two New England winters in a non-climate-controlled room. Great. The practical upshot of this is that it's not doing so well. I need help :) The power supply seems to be worst off of everything. The boards, although needing to be cleaned of some spots of mildew, seem mostly OK. Possibly a few tiny rust spots -- I'd say 100% of the chips are replacable by easily-found parts, either period pieces or newer pieces. But probably 99% of the chips won't need replacing. They seem to be doing very well. I have two Cromemco ZPU boards, so even if one has some bad parts, I should be able to take spares from the other. But that power supply... eek. The transformer is covered in a thick layer of rust, and the whole thing just looks dirty and mildewed. I think the best course of action now would be to desolder every component of the power supply and build a new one -- sadly, losing a bit of IMSAI authenticity in the process. Oh well... Say, does anyone know where I can get a pair of 95000uF 15VDC electrolytic capacitors? =) Oh, and a pair of 10000uF 25VDC -- mustn't forget those. The good news here is that I have the original IMSAI User Manual -- the one with complete system diagrams and assembly instructions, since this was a kit. Full parts list and photos from many angles. This will make rebuilding the power supply _so_ much easier. The S100 backplane is mildewed as well. How should I clean this? I know this is probably a FAQ question, but I still can't find the archives of this list, I'm afraid. I'll probably also need to replace the little screws that hold on the front panel plexiglass. It's really odd how some little components, like these, rusted over terribly, while 95% of the rest of the system just has mildew or mold spots, and no rust. Weird (but wow I'm glad. Of course, I think the chassis is aluminum, so it's no wonder it didn't rust =) Time for a Fry's run... If anyone would like to help me out with this little project, please drop me a line. I'm a bit out of my league here -- see, I'm mainly a software guy, and my hardware building/fixing experience is very slim. I can work a soldering iron alright, but that's about where my electronics skill ends :) I have, however, always wanted to learn. Suggestions welcome! Note, however, that it is not productive to point at me and go "HA ha!" :) -Seth

28 years, 2 months

9
10
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VT 131 FS

by rhblake＠bbtel.com

I have a newly acquired DEC VT 131 with keyboard to get rid of. In great physical shape, untested working condition. I'll know more about the electrical condition. Whether working or not I need $15 plus shipping for this unit. I need to weigh it as well but wanted to give everyone a chance to mull it over and have a chance to inquire while I check on the working condition and weight. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Russ Blakeman RB Custom Services / Rt. 1 Box 62E / Harned, KY USA 40144 Phone: (502) 756-1749 Data/Fax:(502) 756-6991 Email: rhblake(a)bbtel.com or rhblake(a)bigfoot.com Website: http://members.tripod.com/~RHBLAKE/ ICQ # 1714857 * Parts/Service/Upgrades and more for MOST Computers* --------------------------------------------------------------------

28 years, 2 months

1
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Stringy Floppy?

by wheagy＠erols.com

One other item I recently acquired that I thought I'd ask about. Ever hear of the Exatron Stringy Floppy mass storage system? The one I have was apparently used with a TRS-80 model 1. But it had a brochure that said it was available for S-100 and 6800 systems. It is a minature tape system...the tapes look like very small casette tapes. The tapes/waffers apparently come in different sizes with a 5 foot length holding about 4k. Anyone ever use one? Seems pretty interesting. Thanks...Win -- Win Heagy wheagy(a)erols.com

28 years, 2 months

3
2
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Computer Garage - Virtual Garage Sale

by jimw＠agora.rdrop.com

Well... I find myself on the virge of a major equipment aquisition and development project, and it has become painfully obvious (as I fall over things trying to map out space) that I need to free up some major space in both the Computer Garage and warehouse. So, I offer up the first Computer Garage 'Virtual Garage Sale'. (since it always grates me when I see a posting from someone about their latest Ebay auction rather than letting the group have a first shot) The Garage rules are fairly simple: (tho rambling) 1) The sale will run for one calendar week. After that any items not spoken for will most likely end up in an auction on Ebay. 2) All items are to be considered complete, but untested unless specified in its listing. 3) Documentation is not included. I have docs on many of the items (somewhere in the archives), but if I have to find them it will add $5.00 to the cost of the item. 4) Shipping is not included. Figure $5.00 for most (small) items such as S-100 boards and such. Larger (heavier) items will ship at prevailing UPS rates plus cost of packaging. If you are close enough (to Oregon) to pick things up, all the better (and cheaper) 5) To claim an item, respond by email. I must receive payment for the item (plus applicable shipping) within seven business days (weekends don't count) from the time I confirm your request or the item will be released for the next inquiry or to go into the auction. Orders paid by check will held for five business days, orders paid by bank or Postal Money Order will be shipped as soon as possible. 6) In the event that multiple people request the same item, the message that arrives first will get the first shot. 7) All descriptions reflect as much information as I have on the items at the moment, and usually reflect their manufacturer's designation or model number. If you don't know what it is, ASK! If possible/practical, I'll try to get more information/details. Once you have it, it is yours. If it is not what you thought it was, you had your chance. 8) Trade offers may be considered (see my web page for the wish list) but it would have to be a good one! (now, if you have contacts in the bowling equipment industry, send me an email and lets talk) 9) Prices on items are not (firmly) cast in concrete, but let's not get too ridiculous. Offers will be considered, remember I'm trying to make space as much as money, but Ebay lurks. Price are per item. There are multiples of some items. (and all price flames direct to /dev/null) If you want a bidding war, wait for the auction. 10) All sales are final. There will likely be more items to follow, but this is what I could get to/catalog this weekend... Now... On to the list! ============================================================================ ======= S-100 compatable items qty. 1 - CompuPro (Godbout) CPU 86/86 - $35.00 qty. 1 - CompuPro RAM 17 - $35.00 qty. 1 - CompuPro System Support 1 - $35.00 qty. 3 - CompuPro RAM 22 - $45.00 qty. 1 - CompuPro NET 100A - $50.00 qty. 2 - CompuPro Disk 1 - $30.00 qty. 1 - CompuPro disk 1A - $35.00 qty. 1 - CompuPro SPIO - #25.00 qty. 1 - CompuPro SP186 - $35.00 qty. 1 - CompuPro Interfacer 3+ - $30.00 qty. 1 - CompuPro Interfacer 4+ - $35.00 qty. 2 - CompuPro CPU 8085/88 - $35.00 qty. 4 - CompuPro 20 slot shielded/terminated S-100 motherboards (with all connectors) - $50.00 qty. 1 - Teletek SBC-1 (single board computer) - $25.00 qty. 1 - Teletek SBC-1 (socketed board, no components) - $5.00 qty. 2 - CCT Printerfacer 1 (printer interface/buffer) - $25.00 qty. 1 - Konan DCG100 hard drive controller - $35.00 qty. 1 - California Computer Corp. Modem 2501A 12 slot shielded S-100 motherboard (with all connectors) - $25.00 qty. 1 - S-100 rack mount chassis (mfgr. unknown) - $40.00 ============================================================================ ======= Computers qty. 1 - DEC VAXstation 3540 (badged as a 3520, but has 2nd CPU board.) memory, no drives, drive/console cabling missing, dress panel missing, tower cabinet - $150.00 qty. 2 - DEC DECstation 2100 - $45.00 qty. 2 - Altos Model 580 - $40.00 qty. 2 - Altos Model 586 - $45.00 qty. 1 - Bell & Howell (Black) Apple ][+ - $45.00 qty. 1 - Compaq Deskpro 386/20e - $20.00 qty. 1 - Compaq Deskpro 433i - $30.00 ============================================================================ ======= Disk Drives qty. 2 - DEC Storage Expantion Units (matching cabinets to the DECstations) with (I believe) two RZ24 drives in each - $40.00 qty. 2 - DEC Storage Expantion Units (VAXstation 2000 style cabinets) with one RZ55 drive in each) - $30.00 qty. 1 - NEC Disk Unit PC-8881 (single 8 inch drive in cabinet) - $15.00 qty. 1 - Fujitsu dual 5.25 inch drive unit Model MB27611 (appears to have some type of interface/controller board mounted in cabinet) - $15.00 ============================================================================ ======= Misc. qty. 1 - Black Box HPIB (IEEE-488) AB Switch - $10.00 qty. 1 - ICS Electronics Model 4880 Instrument Controller - $20.00 qty. 3 - Qume QVT101 Video Terminals - $20.00 qty. 1 - Tektronix Model 650 Studio Video Monitor - $50.00 qty. 1 - Compaq docking station (if there is any interest, I'll try to get the model number) - $10.00 qty. 1 - DEC VAX 11/750 backplane (with or without card cage) - $25.00 qty. 1 - DEC VAX 11/750 power supply (H7104-C) - $20.00 qty. 1 - DEC VAX 11/750 power supply (H7104-D) - $20.00 qty. 1 - DEC VAX 11/750 power controller (875A) - $20.00 qty. 1 - DEC LN03 Laser Printer - $20.00 qty. (lots) - 5.25 inch diskettes DD or HD, mixed soft sector/hard sector. (specify your needs, I'll see what I've got) - $0.10 ============================================================================ ======= Let the crazyness begin... -jim --- jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174

28 years, 2 months

3
2
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Nice Find

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

>The cached (486) and highly piplined (pentium and friends) are more >variable as the clock speed is only an indicator of performance and if >the code runs with a log of cache misses the speed can really drop to >nothing. I know as the external cache croaked on my 486/25 and I ran >for a bit with the internal cache turned off and the performance was >worse than a 286/12! With the internal cache running it was only about >10% off the performance of the 64k external cache. Just to give you and >idea. Are you saying that a 486 is only faster than a 286 because of the cache? ><That's one, but there are many others. You could recompile them to be ><optimized for a 386, though. > >Funny I have unix v7 running on a PDP11 with only 256kb of ram. it can be >done. Isn't v7 the latest UNIX distribution? ><><>Windows 3.1 does run on it with the 1meg. ><>Runs good and most software that will fit in 1meg runs ok. Swapping is ><>heavy though so a fast disk helps. I once had an old 386 with a 20MB MFM hard drive and 2MB RAM. Windows ran OK, but Word 2.0 ran very poorly. Strange that I've never seen 3.0. Is it rare? > >IF you mean running netscape, that monster wants a minimum of 8m just to >run and will still crash if pressed. Wordperfect for windows runs great, >as does Word3.0 in 1meg. There are a lot of older packages that run real >well in winders3.1 and 2meg or less. > Actually, Windows 3.0 came with a copy of MS-DOS executive, the precursor to the program manager, while 3.1 didn't. That's not bad, as well as the ability to run real mode programs. >Windoes 3.0 was not widely supported and it was upgraded to 3.1. ><already have. BTW, where can I get a lisence+docs, disks for Windows 2.x Well, someone from this list let me copy his. It's not bad, but needs DOS Version 3.3. You can use Setver for the same thing, but you will have to disable it for Windows 95, which needs at least 7.0. I have DOS 3.3, and it's a good DOS. If only it had MOVE...I can send anyone who wants them some copies. I THINK I have four more boxes. Five are already spoken for. It's too bad that Linux needs so much space and so little RAM. I would rather have somewhat of a greater balance... I installed red hat recently, and it's an awful pain, just like slackware. I wish I could install Mac System 1.0 on my PC without emulators... >Yes I did with help from a few people. The system it's on is a 386DX/33 >with 128k cache and a 420mb IDE and a CDrom. I'm not running X on it as it >only has 8megs and a low end VGA board currently. I'm not that >enthusastic over it as somea re. > > >Allison > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

3
2
0 0

TRS-80 Model 1 monitor?

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<I recently picked-up a couple TRS-80 model 1 keyboards, but there <was no monitor. Does anyone have info on using a B/W TV as <the monitor? I understand that the model 1 monitor was basically <a converted TV. Yes, you can take video from pin4 video and pin5 (ground) and drive a common NSTC monitor. Allison

28 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Math coprocessors

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

I found a PS/2 Model 70 recently, which would normally have a 386, but the previous owner installed a Cyrix 486 upgrade chip. Does anyone know if I can use a 386 math coprocessor with this? I want to run AutoCAD. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

2
1
0 0

SCSI Termination

by kyrrin＠jps.net

Zane Healy proclaimed... >Basically I've got a really stupid question, does the external SCSI bus >HAVE to be terminated? If so any idea's on how to go about doing that >without finding a DEC terminator? The only "stupid" question is the one you keep to yourself. ;-) To answer; yes, you must have termination at both physical ends of a SCSI bus for reliable operation. If the DEC terminator you mention is the one I'm thinking of, I've looked on the insides and have not been impressed. They're simple passive terminators, suitable for short runs and low speeds. What device is it you're seeking termination for? -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fidonet 1:343/272) (Hamateur: WD6EOS) (E-mail: kyrrin(a)jps.net) "Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."

28 years, 2 months

3
2
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Nice Find

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<megahertz (the Cyrix PR233's only 187.5) and actually benchmarking and <performing like an Intel at a higher speed? <>Besides it's checkes out on mine at 16 using norton, QAFE+ and a few <>others. <OK. If there's one thing that I've learned, what chip manufacturers put <chips means nearly NOTHING. It's the software, RAM, bus and how they wor <together that makes performance/lack thereof. What on the chip is the design maximum (which may be exceeded by over clocking at some risk), however the system design, wait states, bus interface and a host of other design factor can slow the cpu down. The cached (486) and highly piplined (pentium and friends) are more variable as the clock speed is only an indicator of performance and if the code runs with a log of cache misses the speed can really drop to nothing. I know as the external cache croaked on my 486/25 and I ran for a bit with the internal cache turned off and the performance was worse than a 286/12! With the internal cache running it was only about 10% off the performance of the 64k external cache. Just to give you and idea. <>Look up ELKS. <That's one, but there are many others. You could recompile them to be <optimized for a 386, though. Funny I have unix v7 running on a PDP11 with only 256kb of ram. it can be done. <><>Windows 3.1 does run on it with the 1meg. <>Runs good and most software that will fit in 1meg runs ok. Swapping is <>heavy though so a fast disk helps. <Yeah, but how much Windows 3.1 software fits on a meg? I'd say at least <I ran Windows 3.1 from 1993 to 1997, and I'd have to say that most progra <that I ran were fairly large, most in double-digit MB's. IF you mean running netscape, that monster wants a minimum of 8m just to run and will still crash if pressed. Wordperfect for windows runs great, as does Word3.0 in 1meg. There are a lot of older packages that run real well in winders3.1 and 2meg or less. <>3.0 is ok but it will not run some apps at all! <Yeah, and Windows 3.1 won't run a lot of apps. It really all depends on <owner, what they want to do, how they want to do it, and what SW they Windoes 3.0 was not widely supported and it was upgraded to 3.1. <already have. BTW, where can I get a lisence+docs, disks for Windows 2.x <I need one for the above computer... Why? For historical points but it was a dog and buggy as hell. <Really? 3.3? Yep! <BTW, did you ever get that Linux box working? I just started <w/Linux in Jan. and since then, I've installed, removed, reformated and r <7 or so distributions. If you want, I can help, although I doubt my <usefulnes past my own machines... Yes I did with help from a few people. The system it's on is a 386DX/33 with 128k cache and a 420mb IDE and a CDrom. I'm not running X on it as it only has 8megs and a low end VGA board currently. I'm not that enthusastic over it as somea re. Allison

28 years, 2 months

2
1
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TRS-80 VOXBOX?

by wheagy＠erols.com

I acquired a TRS-80 VOXBOX last week. It is in the original box with cable, interface box, mic, and three casette tapes. I remember when RS was selling these. Has anyone ever used one? Did they actually work? Any historical insight is appreciated. Thanks...Win -- Win Heagy wheagy(a)erols.com

28 years, 2 months

1
0
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TRS-80 Model 1 monitor?

by wheagy＠erols.com

Hi, I recently picked-up a couple TRS-80 model 1 keyboards, but there was no monitor. Does anyone have info on using a B/W TV as the monitor? I understand that the model 1 monitor was basically a converted TV. Thanks...Win -- Win Heagy wheagy(a)erols.com

28 years, 2 months

1
0
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Nice Find

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<>It's warped. It's a 386/16 and that's all. <Yeah, but with extra RAM, etc. it could very well benchmark as a higher o <lower MHz, even with today's Winbench's. Lower mhz yes faster never. Faster means a timer error or the program is broken. The 386 implmentation on that card is very vanilla and no cache. Besides it's checkes out on mine at 16 using norton, QAFE+ and a few others. <Linux won't run XF86 even in mono mode with less than 8MB RAM, which make <zero sense because any PC that shipped with 8MB RAM and a mono card was Whatever you do don't tell my 386sx/33 that! It might stop working. < There are several projects going on to have Linux run on 286 and lowe <machines, and, of course, lowering RAM consumption. There's an 8MB <distribution that only requires 512K (I believe) RAM, if you give it enou <swap space (in that case, it would be 3.5MB) Look up ELKS. <>Windows 3.1 does run on it with the 1meg. <It'll run, but in my experience, Windows 3.1 doesn't do to much with it. <friends 286 (they were still using it last summer when they moved, but i <was retrofit with MY 210MB HDD, and a SVGA monitor and graphics card) Yo <can't extract files, run most software that was designed for Windows 3.1 Runs good and most software that will fit in 1meg runs ok. Swapping is heavy though so a fast disk helps. 3.0 is ok but it will not run some apps at all! <I'd go with 3.0, if I had a choice. If I was you, I would just upgrade t <DOS 5.0 or so. It'll run loads of software, and is more consistent with I'm running 6.22 and LW had 5.x on his. <hardware that you have, minus the 386CPU. And, it's smaller, so you coul <actually have more software on it. Come to think of it, I believe that <Windows 3.1 is like 25MB, plus the DOS 5.0 that's required to run it, whi <fits on 5 720K floppies, I believe. Huh? I had 6.22, win3.1, procomm+, and a few other things and had about 4.5mb free on a 20mb drive. DO5.0 would reduce it some but not alot, 3.3 would be far smaller and still run w3.1. Allison

28 years, 2 months

3
2
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More Cadnetix notes

by aaron＠wfi-inc.com

Ok, I ripped it to pieces. The drives x2 are Micropolis 1325's, connected via an adaptec card: Adaptec Inc. 400041-00A (c) 1985 In the backplane, there are 6 vertical slots. From left to right: 1) 68020 processor board 2) "Graphics Memory" board, with chips that say: Intech 52467 VDAL 0405H vli 601s 01152 vl6845E-23PC syp6845EA 3) The display board? Main chip: LOGIC LMI16DC 0114A 8448 4) Empty 5) Memory 6) Empty I am afraid it may have been cannabalized, with the empty slots and all. The other side of the backplane has all three of these slots interconnected with ribbon cables, and the 6th has what looks like some kind of resistor-pack board on part of the pins. Any clues? An hour of searching on the internet only found resumes of engineers who used it for pcb design. TIA, Aaron

28 years, 2 months

1
0
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Nice Find

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 98-04-05 14:35:36 EDT, you write: << Has anyone actually seen a 2.88 MB floppy drive? >> certain 95xx ps2 models such as my 9577 and a few older thinkpadss had 2.88 drives. i think i saw some aftermarket 2.88 drives a few years ago, but nothing since. david

28 years, 2 months

2
1
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Cadnetix help needed

by aaron＠wfi-inc.com

Hi all, I picked up the "Sun" workstation that appeared for free here a couple of weeks back and was pleasantly surprised at the haul, and a little perplexed. What I got: Cadnetix box with big colour monitor Cipher C880 tape unit (Big sucker) CItoh 1550B DM printer A 286 workstation Optical mice/pads and keyboards All the thick-ethernet cabling and hardware for the PC nodes About 30 10" tapes containing schematics for their legacy products About 30 8" diskettes (Dysan!) with really neat 2-pack 3-ring holders About 100 5 1/4" diskettes with SCO stuff on them Since it was supposedly working when pulled, I plugged everything in and just fired it up (Well, I looked into the top of the case first to make sure there wasn't any sign of rust or water damage). So far, nothing. I finally figured out how to get the case apart (very tricky little latch that has to be pulled from the *inside*) and have examined it in more detail. I believe it's a 68020 machine, and the manual says it runs a "Cadnetix-modified" version of Berkley Unix 4.2. There are two large HD's which are extremely inaccessable, but I may have to pull them to look since they make a lot of noise. There is a 6-slot vertical backplane with 4 cards; what I believe is the memory board, the 68020 board, one marked "Graphic Ram J177 Rev C", and one that is attached to the last with ribbon cables. The keyboard plugs into the back of the display and the mouse into the keyboard. Oh yeah, and there are three 5" fans screaming away in there. BTW, it's been powered on for 20 minutes or so with no display. My Sun 3/50 with 12 megs of ram only takes 5. The display is just black, although on power on/off I can see signs of life (red/blue/white lines for an instant). Anyone have any technical info on this monster? I have the system users guide, but no technical data on it whatsoever. Thanks, Aaron PS - I think my wife was thinking divorce when I kept carrying boxes into the house; I don't want to eat my pride and find that I can't get this working....

28 years, 2 months

1
0
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new hamfest additions

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

for those of you that goto hamfests/radio rallies, here is a tip. if possible, see if you can get in the night before under the premise of "setting up" i actually did buy a table to sell some things, but me and another guy were able to get inthe night before and set up our table and get our tickets. we were also able to scope out other's tables and get the best stuff. unfortunately, i missed out on a table of small hard drives for $4 each, and was a minute late to get a home based robot called robie for $20. (grrrrrr) best thing to do is scan everyone else's things all the time and buy what you see. nobody refused to sell to us. i didnt sell much but here's what i bought: 4 mac adb keyboards, not tested $1 kaypro II with matching printer in great shape with original books and system disks $10 nec scsi card for ps2 $4 apple ][+ with enhanced encoder board, ssc, and videx videoterm with dual floppy drives. also got a box labeled applemouse, but it had 6 mouse cards in it, but no mouses! also got hayes micromodem and dos/pascal manuals. apple cd drive, two scsi cases, one with drive, one blank , $1 each ps2 xga card profile drive, no controller card, may have a lead on two lisas from the guy i got it from. also got some late model things cheap that arent worth mentioning. this may be old hat, but i've noticed that it's worth mentioning you are interested in old computers and are looking for X computer. that's how i got the lead on the lisas. david

28 years, 2 months

1
0
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Nice Find

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

><Yeah, but with extra RAM, etc. it could very well benchmark as a higher o ><lower MHz, even with today's Winbench's. > >Lower mhz yes faster never. Faster means a timer error or the program is >broken. The 386 implmentation on that card is very vanilla and no cache. Ok. Than what the heck is all this about AMD's and Cyrix's having LOWER megahertz (the Cyrix PR233's only 187.5) and actually benchmarking and performing like an Intel at a higher speed? >Besides it's checkes out on mine at 16 using norton, QAFE+ and a few >others. OK. If there's one thing that I've learned, what chip manufacturers put on chips means nearly NOTHING. It's the software, RAM, bus and how they work together that makes performance/lack thereof. ><Linux won't run XF86 even in mono mode with less than 8MB RAM, which make ><zero sense because any PC that shipped with 8MB RAM and a mono card was > >Whatever you do don't tell my 386sx/33 that! It might stop working. OK. At our school, we've got some NICE 386's. SVGA video cards w/2MB RAM, 16MB RAM each, and an interesting way to put a 3.5" drive in a 5" bay. Now, I really need a small IDE HDD or a 3.5" MFM HDD and controller for one... >< There are several projects going on to have Linux run on 286 and lowe ><machines, and, of course, lowering RAM consumption. There's an 8MB ><distribution that only requires 512K (I believe) RAM, if you give it enou ><swap space (in that case, it would be 3.5MB) > >Look up ELKS. That's one, but there are many others. You could recompile them to be optimized for a 386, though. ><>Windows 3.1 does run on it with the 1meg. ><It'll run, but in my experience, Windows 3.1 doesn't do to much with it. ><friends 286 (they were still using it last summer when they moved, but i ><was retrofit with MY 210MB HDD, and a SVGA monitor and graphics card) Yo ><can't extract files, run most software that was designed for Windows 3.1 > >Runs good and most software that will fit in 1meg runs ok. Swapping is >heavy though so a fast disk helps. Yeah, but how much Windows 3.1 software fits on a meg? I'd say at least 2. I ran Windows 3.1 from 1993 to 1997, and I'd have to say that most programs that I ran were fairly large, most in double-digit MB's. >3.0 is ok but it will not run some apps at all! Yeah, and Windows 3.1 won't run a lot of apps. It really all depends on the owner, what they want to do, how they want to do it, and what SW they already have. BTW, where can I get a lisence+docs, disks for Windows 2.x? I need one for the above computer... ><I'd go with 3.0, if I had a choice. If I was you, I would just upgrade t ><DOS 5.0 or so. It'll run loads of software, and is more consistent with > >I'm running 6.22 and LW had 5.x on his. I like DOS. It's a good OS. If it were kept more alive today... ><hardware that you have, minus the 386CPU. And, it's smaller, so you coul ><actually have more software on it. Come to think of it, I believe that ><Windows 3.1 is like 25MB, plus the DOS 5.0 that's required to run it, whi ><fits on 5 720K floppies, I believe. > >Huh? I had 6.22, win3.1, procomm+, and a few other things and had about >4.5mb free on a 20mb drive. DO5.0 would reduce it some but not alot, 3.3 >would be far smaller and still run w3.1. Really? 3.3? BTW, did you ever get that Linux box working? I just started w/Linux in Jan. and since then, I've installed, removed, reformated and ran 7 or so distributions. If you want, I can help, although I doubt my usefulnes past my own machines... If Linux/UNIX clones were really wnated, Minix is free for personal use... a older version, if it can be found, would probably work. Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 2 months

1
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Nice Find

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

>I have a bunch of 80 MB mac hard drives. would an old PC SCSI card >run them? Depends. If it was designed for a Mac specifically, then it won't work. But 9/10 SCSI devices will work indescriminately on a Mac, PC, or Unix machine, provided that drivers exist, if required. >>HUH? Neither of these are an helped/hindered by the 386. SCSI is not >>needed to run 1.44/1.2 FDDs. You can put scsi in there even when it >was >>an plain xt. To run the bigger floppies you need a controller that >will, >>most XT controllers will not. JDR and JAMCO sell a board that will do >up >>to 2.88 drives in a XT slot. >Has anyone actually seen a 2.88 MB floppy drive? I have. Almost got one. They were $7 new, black, from IBM. Actually, I don't really like 2.88MB drives: The meida STILL costs about $3-$4 a disk, and when you can just get 2 or 3 $0.25 or LESS 1.44MB disks, and then use a program to cut files down, you end up with better prices. So, unless you had a specific use, or REALLY wanted to cut down on total disk #'s, I can't say that I want one, especially not now, when Castle Wood's (http://www.castlewoodsystems.com) coming out with a $199 ORB drive, that can outperform Jaz drives, and hold 100MB more for $30 a piece on 2.1GB media. THAT'S innovation: New technology, low price, and a cool name. Ciao, Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 2 months

1
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Nice Find

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

> > ><up comes an Intel flashscreen >< Inboard 386 PC >< Vers 1.1 02/17/89 >< Intel Corporation > >Same beast I have in my Leading Edge XT. > ><recognize Very rudimentary Auto and Config usual but with inbrdpc.sys >< Of course I quickly pop it open No HD !!?? > >Don't lose those files! > ><Snooper tells me it has 2 ser ports and 2 paral. configured and bench-mar ><20mhz ( don't know how accurate Snoop's bench is but this sure beats an X > >It's warped. It's a 386/16 and that's all. How accurate are those diags anyway? Are they to be trusted? > >That's been going on for a while and there was a AT (286) version as well. > >< The possibilities are interesting. I'm wondering if I could beef up the ><Put in an Extended Graphics Adapter (not Array) and hook up my 3270 ><type IBM monitor (5272). There's an interesting section in Que's "Upgradi > >IF it's ISA-8 you likely can. > >< It would be neat if I could run Linux on it. >< Excuse my blathering but I'm like a kid with an amazing new toy. > Although this certainly is a cool toy (I'd love to have an XT I could do something wiht), you shouldn't be able to put Linux on it. For one thing, it seems to need drivers, and Linux doesn't have them. Also, the fact that it's an ISA card could reduce performance. Lastly, the thing may not run at full 32 bits,protected mode. > >Windows 3.1 does run on it with the 1meg. Yes, but no windows programs except the ones that came with it. > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

VAXstation 3100 M30

by emu＠ecubics.com

Hi, ---------- > From: Zane H. Healy <healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com> > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> > > Anyway, the result was I pulled my VT420 out of storage, hunted up a cable > for the terminal, and powered it on. It seems to be working just fine, and > much to my surprise and pleasure it has 16Mb of RAM. Of course it's only > running VMS 5.3 on a pair of RZ-23's, but hey it's faster, smaller and > quieter than my MV2! Now to get a better Hard Drive, and add a CD-ROM. & try NetBSD .... cheers, emanuel

28 years, 2 months

2
1
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Nice Find

by lwalker＠mail.interlog.com

Today I picked up from the garbage a 9pin Epson and what I first thought was a big old IBM XT figuring I could always off it to someone after I checked out it's peripherals. When I got home I found it was a 5150. I noticed it had a paste-on sticker "Intel Inboard 386" Someone's attempt at humor I thought since the 5150 was the first IBM PC IIRC and likely had only 256k RAM. It had the DIN plugs for kb and cassette and two full-ht. IBM fdds; couldn't see a Hdd. The 5 expansion slots seemed full tho and I was getting more interested. I hooked up a monitor and kb and fired it up without opening it up first (I know-risky). Started up fine, flashing cursor checked the drives and up comes an Intel flashscreen Inboard 386 PC Vers 1.1 02/17/89 Intel Corporation conv. mem. init. 640 k ext mem. 256 k Initial Op. Speed Very Fast system BIOS 32-bit RAM EGA BIOS ROM iNBRDPC Dev. Driver installed I hit a key and up comes a C:\ prompt.! Nothing too interesting on the HD , usual WP5.1 and Lotus a few others i don't recognize Very rudimentary Auto and Config usual but with inbrdpc.sys Of course I quickly pop it open No HD !!?? It turns out it has a 20 Meg "Plus Development" Hard Card . The Intel card is a 16mhz and it has an empty socket for a 387 The small serial port card has f - 15 pin and 25 pin sockets. Small Herc. type card video and prtr.ports The floppy controller card has a f-35 pin ext. socket ? Snooper tells me it has 2 ser ports and 2 paral. configured and bench-marks 20mhz ( don't know how accurate Snoop's bench is but this sure beats an XT) I was blown away I didn't think an XT much less a PC could be upgraded without replacing the MB. And the Hard Card was gravy The possibilities are interesting. I'm wondering if I could beef up the RAM Put in an Extended Graphics Adapter (not Array) and hook up my 3270 type IBM monitor (5272). There's an interesting section in Que's "Upgrading and Repairing PCs" on the 3270PC BTW. I wonder also what the cassette and 35 pin I/Os offer in the way of interfacing According to Snooper there's 16 Irq's.and I could free up a exp. socket by pulling the hard card if I could put in a bigger HD. Would a SCSI card be an option so I could put in 1.2 and /or 1.44 fdds ? It would be neat if I could run Linux on it. Excuse my blathering but I'm like a kid with an amazing new toy. ciao larry lwalker(a)interlog.com

28 years, 2 months

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Nice Find

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

><up comes an Intel flashscreen >< Inboard 386 PC >< Vers 1.1 02/17/89 >< Intel Corporation > >Same beast I have in my Leading Edge XT. That would be cool to have. ><Snooper tells me it has 2 ser ports and 2 paral. configured and bench-mar ><20mhz ( don't know how accurate Snoop's bench is but this sure beats an X > >It's warped. It's a 386/16 and that's all. Yeah, but with extra RAM, etc. it could very well benchmark as a higher or lower MHz, even with today's Winbench's. >< I was blown away I didn't think an XT much less a PC could be upgraded ><without replacing the MB. And the Hard Card was gravy > >That's been going on for a while and there was a AT (286) version as well. > >< The possibilities are interesting. I'm wondering if I could beef up the ><Put in an Extended Graphics Adapter (not Array) and hook up my 3270 ><type IBM monitor (5272). There's an interesting section in Que's "Upgradi > >IF it's ISA-8 you likely can. > >< It would be neat if I could run Linux on it. >< Excuse my blathering but I'm like a kid with an amazing new toy. > >No way! All the ram you have is the 1meg on the inboard and I think it >used the 256k (maximum) on the mother as expanded mem. If yu can find the >memory card that piggy backs to it you can add either a meg or maybe two >to it. Nomantter what linux in less than 4meg would be poor and >completely unrunable in under 2mb. Linux won't run XF86 even in mono mode with less than 8MB RAM, which makes zero sense because any PC that shipped with 8MB RAM and a mono card was either: 1) Something like a NeXT machine 2) A graphics machine, but was DEFINATELY NOT A GENERAL-USE PC! There are several projects going on to have Linux run on 286 and lower machines, and, of course, lowering RAM consumption. There's an 8MB distribution that only requires 512K (I believe) RAM, if you give it enough swap space (in that case, it would be 3.5MB) >Windows 3.1 does run on it with the 1meg. It'll run, but in my experience, Windows 3.1 doesn't do to much with it. My friends 286 (they were still using it last summer when they moved, but it was retrofit with MY 210MB HDD, and a SVGA monitor and graphics card) You can't extract files, run most software that was designed for Windows 3.1. I'd go with 3.0, if I had a choice. If I was you, I would just upgrade to DOS 5.0 or so. It'll run loads of software, and is more consistent with the hardware that you have, minus the 386CPU. And, it's smaller, so you could actually have more software on it. Come to think of it, I believe that Windows 3.1 is like 25MB, plus the DOS 5.0 that's required to run it, which fits on 5 720K floppies, I believe. Ciao, Tim D. Hotze >Allison >

28 years, 2 months

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Nice Find

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<up comes an Intel flashscreen < Inboard 386 PC < Vers 1.1 02/17/89 < Intel Corporation Same beast I have in my Leading Edge XT. <recognize Very rudimentary Auto and Config usual but with inbrdpc.sys < Of course I quickly pop it open No HD !!?? Don't lose those files! <Snooper tells me it has 2 ser ports and 2 paral. configured and bench-mar <20mhz ( don't know how accurate Snoop's bench is but this sure beats an X It's warped. It's a 386/16 and that's all. < I was blown away I didn't think an XT much less a PC could be upgraded <without replacing the MB. And the Hard Card was gravy That's been going on for a while and there was a AT (286) version as well. < The possibilities are interesting. I'm wondering if I could beef up the <Put in an Extended Graphics Adapter (not Array) and hook up my 3270 <type IBM monitor (5272). There's an interesting section in Que's "Upgradi IF it's ISA-8 you likely can. < It would be neat if I could run Linux on it. < Excuse my blathering but I'm like a kid with an amazing new toy. No way! All the ram you have is the 1meg on the inboard and I think it used the 256k (maximum) on the mother as expanded mem. If yu can find the memory card that piggy backs to it you can add either a meg or maybe two to it. Nomantter what linux in less than 4meg would be poor and completely unrunable in under 2mb. Windows 3.1 does run on it with the 1meg. Allison

28 years, 2 months

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Nice Find

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<> Would a SCSI card be an option so I could put in 1.2 and/or 1.44 fdds HUH? Neither of these are an helped/hindered by the 386. SCSI is not needed to run 1.44/1.2 FDDs. You can put scsi in there even when it was an plain xt. To run the bigger floppies you need a controller that will, most XT controllers will not. JDR and JAMCO sell a board that will do up to 2.88 drives in a XT slot. FYI I've hacked the leading edge (xt) I have to include most of what you mention including a 20meg WD hardcard. It's MONO/herc, 20meg hardcard, 1.44 floppy, multi-IO (two serial, two LPT, game). Runs dos6.22 and I've had windows3.1 to prove it runs. Allison

28 years, 2 months

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Nice Find

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Are you saying that a 486 is only faster than a 286 because of the <cache? No I'm saying without the cache is run as slow as a 286! The reson is it has to wait for ram data at the ram data rates. That's 70ns in my 486 and the faster 286s used 80ns ram so the end up running about the same speed. The cache is to allow near continious reading fo ram data even when the processor is not reading in in advance of need. By doing that and using fast page read mode data can be fed to the cpu to support the higher speed. <>Funny I have unix v7 running on a PDP11 with only 256kb of ram. it can <be done. <Isn't v7 the latest UNIX distribution? No. It's PDP-11 circa 1980ish. It was followed later by 2.9bsd and 2.11bsd. <I once had an old 386 with a 20MB MFM hard drive and 2MB RAM. Windows <ran OK, but Word 2.0 ran very poorly. Strange that I've never seen <3.0. Is it rare? Not so much rare as short lifetime between it'release and 3.1s release. <Actually, Windows 3.0 came with a copy of MS-DOS executive, the <precursor to the program manager, while 3.1 didn't. That's not Funny my copy of 3.0 has program manager. MSDOS executive is a different tool. It compete against Quarterdedk, and Norton commander. <have to disable it for Windows 95, which needs at least 7.0. I have <DOS 3.3, and it's a good DOS. If only it had MOVE...I can send anyone <who wants them some copies. I THINK I have four more boxes. Five are <already spoken for. I have 3.3, 5.0 and 6.22. Move from 5.0 runs under 3.3. Allison

28 years, 2 months

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More cool stuff

by dastar＠wco.com

Well, today's hunting turned up some good stuff. A Tandy 100 with manual for $15. A compact Monolithic Systems rack-mount computer. It's multi-bus based with a Z-80 CPU. It came with complete manuals, an extender card, a dual 8" drive unit, and a couple 2716/2764 (or was that 2704/2716?) EPROM programmer cards. I also got the Teletype ASR-33 that was used with this system. It had a stand, a current loop to RS-232 converter, and the complete manual set (including service manuals). The complete setup for $45. I then happened upon an AIM 65 authentically mounted to a piece of plywood. This was an amazing find in that I got the original box with all the manuals and sales literature (with technical specs). This unit also came with the optional BASIC ROMs. The manuals included were: BASIC Language Reference Manual 8K BASIC Reference Card R6500 Hardware Manual R6500 Programming Manual R6500 Users Guide AUM-65 Summary Card Also in the box was a fold-out schematic for the AIM-65 and the warranty card. Much thanks to Frank McConnell & Company for not engaging me in a bidding war over this as we discovered it at the same time. I got this for $40. The same guy also had a very rare Morrow portable I'd been searching out for a long time. A local surplus shop has one but refuses to sell it to me because they claim all their original records were stored on it. No attempt at begging or coercion would get them to sell it to me, so it was nice to finally find one. Its a portable made by Morrow which runs CP/M. I think the model is a C3P. It has two 5.25" HH floppies and a funky-looking wide screen. The guy also threw in a complete run of BAMDUA (Bay Area Micro Decision User's Group) which was a newsletter for the Morrow Micro-Decision here in the Bay Area. Also a complete run of "Morrow Owner's Review", which was a Morrow magazine for users of the Micro-Decision. Oddly enough the magazine ceased publication as late as December 1987 (I would've thought it would have ceased well before that). I also got a photo-copied service manual for the Micro-Decision which is cool since I have a flaky MD-2 that needs attention. Plus a bunch of 5.25" disks, some books (Best of Micro Vol. II & III, Ciarca's Circuit Cellar Vol. III) and some Morrow and Kaypro marketing literature. This was another $39. I also got the Sept. 83 issue of Byte from which I culled these interesting tibits: The editorial on page 4 covered the issue of FAA regulations banning the use of portables on airline flights. I wonder when this ban was overturned? Its interesting in that it mirrors the same concern over cellular phones interfering with air-to-ground communications, all of which is a bunch of hooey. Page 12 had a letter from a reader concerned about the proliferation of mice as a pointing device. "I am sorry to see Apple, Visicorp, and possibly Microsoft jump onto the Xerox bandwagon and introduce a mouse into their new integrated computing software," he writes. "The mouse is an inherently bad pointing device for at least three reasons: it consumes one to two square feet of flat desk space; it requires users to move their hands one to two feet from the keyboard in order to point at a screen object; and, because the mouse is not in a fixed place relative to the keyboard, users must look away from their work to find the mouse whenever it is to be used." He then goes on to espouse the virtues of a trackball. Needless to say I'm sure this guy died off with CP/M :) In an article on portables, an inline quote says, "Any computer can be transportable if you have a big enough truck." Ladies & Gentlemen, finally a definition of "portable". Lastly, there's an article for an S-100 PC, of all things. IBM compatibility in an S-100 bus. The funny thing is the article promises "with its S100 bus expansion capability, your system will never be outdated." How ironic :) A couple other things I got included a Voice Processing module for the strange Convergent Technologies system I have ($1) and an 8080/8085 emulator (circa 1984) in a hard-shelled carrying case ($20). I managed to find room in the garage to store the new stuff, but I don't know how much longer I can hold out. You'd think a 3-car garage would hold more. I guess the pool table will have to go soon. Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass Coming Soon...Vintage Computer Festival 2.0 See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!

28 years, 2 months

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ISA-PCI Conversion possible? (About MS's PC 98 Specs)

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

OK.. I've been thinking about this for a while. ISA's going to die, at least according to MS's PC '98 specs. Knowing how most designers comply to MS's hardware design, it looks like ISA's future is dim. Now, on top of all the old ISA cards I've collected, I just got an AWE 64, and my scanner and PCMCIA cards are ISA-based. So, is it possible to make a device that will make an ISA card fit into a PCI socket? Is anyone making them? Thanks, Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 2 months

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Good Finds

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

This week has been pretty good and I picked up over 40 items, what follows is just a short list of the items I think are worth mentioning. PC1512DD Amstrad system complete with monitor, kb, and manuals not tested yet; IBM PS/2 8580-121 tower not tested yet; digital PC278-A DecMate II with two system diskettes not tested yet; Compaq Portable II not tested yet; Apple Mono Monitor IIe Platinum new in box with all papers and cords; Prim LTS300 Terminal Server; The Designer Pencil cartridge; HP 9121 not test yet; Apple High resolution Mono works great; IBM terminal 8535150 I think is the number; AED Colorware 767 TT; digital monitor VR290-DA; PixelView II monitor by Mirror; Toshiba T1000XE with everything manual, extra new batteries, etc; Portac unit; Sharp CE-150 printer and cassette unit; Sharp CE-159 program module; Many other items that will go into the museum someday. Keep Computing !! John

28 years, 2 months

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what do I do with a Multibus?

by rexstout＠uswest.net

Just picked up an interesting unit at a hamfest, there was a box with a large power supply, a long tube with BNC connectors at each end(some sort of attenuator I suppose), and a large jumble of cards inside a backplane. Well, when I just got home now I dug through it, and found a few interesting things inside. The first card is from Intel, with an 8086 CPU and some other stuff. Attached to the CPU board are two daughterboards, one with a connector and an 8272 chip, and another with an 8203 and a bunch of EPROMs, as well as a lithium battery. There are a 50pin and 26pin edge connector on the top of the CPU board. The second board is a Netronix "Multibus PC Network Adapter" card, with an F-type connector. I don't know much about this type of network system except I don't have anything to hook into it. Third card is another one from Intel, labeled "iSBC 576", with another 8086, two connectors on the top, and an SBC576 daughtercard. Fourth card is a PROSE 2000, with a 26-pin edge connector and another connector, and a bunch of EPROMs marked "Speech Plus (c)1983", and yet another 8086 chip. Looks like the company name is Speech Plus Inc. I guess this is a speech synth. The last two cards appear to be memory expansion, made by Memtech, and have a large (50 pin) connector on the top, and "ISBC254S" silkscreened into the board. So, does anyone know what to do with this thing? How do I set it up? What kind of OS does it run? I'm thinking it may have been a repeater controller(I did find this at a hamfest...), which would make sense, with the speech synth being the automatic ID'er. Where do I find info on all this multibus stuff? Thanks -------------------------------------------------------------- | http://members.tripod.com/~jrollins/index.html - Computers | | http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Lair/1681/ - Star Trek | | orham(a)qth.net list admin KD7BCY | --------------------------------------------------------------

28 years, 2 months

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ISA-PCI Conversion possible? (About MS's PC 98 Specs)

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 98-04-04 03:45:54 EST, you write: << OK.. I've been thinking about this for a while. ISA's going to die, at least according to MS's PC '98 specs. Knowing how most designers comply to MS's hardware design, it looks like ISA's future is dim. Now, on top of all the old ISA cards I've collected, I just got an AWE 64, and my scanner and PCMCIA cards are ISA-based. So, is it possible to make a device that will make an ISA card fit into a PCI socket? Is anyone making them? >> this question seems to be similar to another problem; people want to use isa cards in a mca machine, and it's just not possible. best just to keep a legacy machine around since it seems there will always be isa cards around. gee, gotta love that pc97 criteria. silent posting and no memory count? harrrrumph, really good for problem determination! 8-\ david

28 years, 2 months

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PS/2 M30 available...

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<People are moving to Texas and don't wanna have to haul it. <IBM PS/3 model 30, VGA monitor, a whole box of software, <printer of some sort. Any takers? <They want about $50, but will take any reasonable offer. They are kidding. It's an 8mhz 8086, ISA8 two floppies and it may have a color monitor of the older coarse dot pitch. Not worth 50$, 10 or 15 maybe. It would cost too much ship it or I'd be interested in it for the monitor. (I'd keep the box as it's small and a robust design turbo XT) Allison

28 years, 2 months

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VAXstation 3100 M30

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

> Basically I've got a really stupid question, does the external SCSI bus > HAVE to be terminated? If so any idea's on how to go about doing that > without finding a DEC terminator? Yes, it needs termination, unless there's nothing connected *and the cable between the controller and the last socket* is extrememly short -- which it often isn't. This rule applies to SASI, SCSI (aka SCSI-1), SCSI-2, and SCSI-3. Otherwise, you'll get signal reflections, which, at best, will limit the speed the bus can run at. There should be a terminator at each end of the bus. There are two kinds of terminators: active and passive. In passive types, each signal has a 220 ohm resistor to +5V and a 330 ohm resistor to ground. They hold the voltage on an idle line at about 3 volts, and (assuming the power supply impedance is negligible) form an effective impedance of 132 ohms. The ideal impedance depends on the cable, but it's generally about 110 ohms. It's this terminating impedance that prevents reflections. Active terminators do the same job, but each signal line is connected via a 110 ohm resistor to a 2.85V supply. These are a somewhat better impedance match and often have a better high-speed response, so they're recommended for faster SCSI busses. Being exceedingly stingy, I built an active terminator using a pile of miniature resistors, a voltage regulator, a couple of capacitors, and a plug. Oh, and an LED for show. I don't believe any electronic device should be LED-less, and if it flashes, so much the better :-) I would recommend buying a terminator, though; building mine was quite fiddly and time-consuming. > I'd like to be able to run it without the terminater, since I don't have > one, but would like to know if it's possible before I go digging up the > rest of the stuff I need to see if it works. If your bus ends at a 68-pin socket (which is a DEC special, not part of the SCSI spec, unless it's Wide SCSI), it might be relatively hard to find a terminator plug. But most devices have provision for terminating resistors on the the device itself. All the RZ drives and CD ROM drives I've seen do. Usually these are in the form of three single-inline resistor packs, each with 8 pins, and containing six pairs of 220/330 ohm resistors. Toshiba CD-ROM drives use two 11-pin networks, though. They cost about 40 pence each from electronics suppliers in the UK; I expect they cost about the same in the States. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

28 years, 2 months

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PS/2 M30 available...

by DSEAGRAV＠toad.xkl.com

People are moving to Texas and don't wanna have to haul it. IBM PS/3 model 30, VGA monitor, a whole box of software, printer of some sort. Any takers? They want about $50, but will take any reasonable offer. If it doesn't get sold, it gets dumpstered. (I have no room for it...) -------

28 years, 2 months

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Epson HX-20

by TOwad＠aol.com

Hello, I bought an Epson HX-20 at a Hamfest a weekend or two ago. It's a very neat system. Somebody cut a piece of foam to fit in their suitcase, and then cut holes in it to fit the computer, modem, power supply, and cassettes. It looks like something you'd see on the old "Get Smart" TV show. :-) Unfortunately, it won't power on. The battery charges to 4.5v, but no farther. Is that what's needed? The printer will not turn on, either. I'm thinking its the battery, but want to get a second opinion before buying a new one. Anybody? Thanks, Tom P.S. Any offers? In addition to the above mentioned, I have a several of manuals, a bunch of printer ribbons and paper, and about 7 cassettes.

28 years, 2 months

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Old Data

by adavie＠mad.scientist.com

This struck a chord with me... >protection of data/software contained on the machine or disks. If you buy a >camcorder at a consignment or pawn shop and the last owners left a tape of >their after-hours playtime in the camcorder, is it my responsibility to erase, >safeguard or return it? I think not. I feel the same should apply to personal ABSOLUTELY it is your responsibility. We lost the first 3 months tape of our son's birth, homecoming and grandparents meeting, due to the theft of a camcorder with the tape still inside. The camcorder was stored at work, in a locked and alarmed office. It still got stolen. Probably it ended up in a pawn shop somewhere. I didn't care about the recorder, but the tape was priceless. You just never know about data, and in the above situation I think it is your primary responsibility to make SURE you don't have something you shouldn't. We were heartbroken at our data loss. Just because it's in a pawn shop, or consignment, or in the dumpster - doesn't invalidate copyright, or give you a right to do what you will with it. If you found a personal videotape or data and make no effort to determine if it is important to the original owner, then I think you are abrogating your responsibilities as a good citizen. Cheers A

28 years, 2 months

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MacCharlie info

by pb14＠leicester.ac.uk

Last year I acquired a 1985 Dayna MacCharlie w/o docs or software. The MacCharlie is a DOS box that hooks up to a compact Mac and aside from that I know virtually nothing about it. Can anyone advise on:- Locating software/docs ? Which Mac models does it work with (128, 512, Plus?) ? Anything? Phil ************************************************************** Phil Beesley -- Computer Officer -- Distributed Systems Suppport University of Leicester Tel (0)116 252-2231 E-Mail pb14(a)le.ac.uk

28 years, 2 months

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TI Silent 700

by PB14＠leicester.ac.uk

Somebody asked about pinouts for the 700 series. I have the manual for the International Model 745 sitting on my desk (I have the actual machine at home) so if anyone has any specific questions I'll try to help. Phil ************************************************************** Phil Beesley -- Computer Officer -- Distributed Systems Suppport University of Leicester Tel (0)116 252-2231 E-Mail pb14(a)le.ac.uk

28 years, 2 months

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big $$$ PAID for 8" floppy

by foxvideo＠wincom.net

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc, prb(a)students.cs.mu.oz.au (P. Bocchi) wrote: >I work for a company who needs to extract information from several >8 inch floppy disks and put the info onto 3.5 inch disks. >If anyone is able to do this, or is able to point me in the right >direction there could be some good financial rewards. >thanks.

28 years, 2 months

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Old Data

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

><< This struck a chord with me... > > >protection of data/software contained on the machine or disks. If you buy a > >camcorder at a consignment or pawn shop and the last owners left a tape of > >their after-hours playtime in the camcorder, is it my responsibility to > erase, > >safeguard or return it? I think not. I feel the same should apply to > personal OK, my father's car was stolen once, and when we got it back, we found a tape in it (apparently of a counseling session) that wasn't there before. Is it our responsibility to erase it? > > >i'd be willing to argue this somewhat. as an example, my brother gave me a >complete ps2 model 30 that was literally being thrown in the trash. the >company he worked for was upgrading their computers. when i finally got a hold >of it, i looked at all the data on the machine. i found some personal data >from someone who evidently used it such as resume, job history, etc in >addition to work specific to that company. there was also a few other programs >on it, such as xtree, wp51, lotus and procomm. as i deleted the data files >keeping the applications, i felt no responsibility to the previous user. it >may not be politically correct, but i will save any applications i find on the >computers i pick up. I save my programs too, at least to check what they are. Once I've checked, I generally wish never to see the program again (weird games that have no way to quit them, strange finance programs, etc.) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

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Old Data

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 98-04-04 06:46:33 EST, you write: << This struck a chord with me... >protection of data/software contained on the machine or disks. If you buy a >camcorder at a consignment or pawn shop and the last owners left a tape of >their after-hours playtime in the camcorder, is it my responsibility to erase, >safeguard or return it? I think not. I feel the same should apply to personal ABSOLUTELY it is your responsibility. >> i'd be willing to argue this somewhat. as an example, my brother gave me a complete ps2 model 30 that was literally being thrown in the trash. the company he worked for was upgrading their computers. when i finally got a hold of it, i looked at all the data on the machine. i found some personal data >from someone who evidently used it such as resume, job history, etc in addition to work specific to that company. there was also a few other programs on it, such as xtree, wp51, lotus and procomm. as i deleted the data files keeping the applications, i felt no responsibility to the previous user. it may not be politically correct, but i will save any applications i find on the computers i pick up. david

28 years, 2 months

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ISA-PCI Conversion possible? (About MS's PC 98 Specs)

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

>I definitely won't say it's impossible -- at my age I've given up >making judgements like that on technical matters. I will say that >it's a non-trivial problem and likely to produce underwhelming >performance compared to native PCI boards. My own preference is Yeah, but very few PCI boards are actually running at the full PCI specs. I've even seen some PCI versions of ISA boards that work at exactly the same speed as their ISA counterpart. >to keep at least one machine (like I would ever cut it down to >that!) to which the old equipment is native and network it to the >newer equipment as I acquire it. Then again, I don't pay a lot of >attention to MS's hardware specs, since the only times I run their >software is to play games or to figure out how to get something >running in DOSEMU or WABI under Linux -- most of my emulators of Well, as unimportant as they may seem to you, their hardware specs will influence your x86 Linux machines, unless a vendor's smart enough to make ISA/PCI/AGP boards. >old 8-bit equipment (Tandy, Apple, Atari, etc.) work just fine >that way, and I really _don't need_ the bells and whistles in the >latest Microsoft Office(tm) suite except when an employer insists >upon it at work, and eight times out of ten I manage to get >around it there as well. You're right, but still, like I said, you may be ISA-less. It's time that we killed the bus, I agree, but allowing a smooth migration would help alot. For instance, my AWE 64's been on my machine for under a week. Now, if I were to get an all-PCI system, I'd loose my *new* soundcard. ISA's outdated, my SB isn't. Ciao, Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 2 months

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Old Data

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 07:48 PM 4/2/98 -0600, you wrote: >* I'll return or destroy any personal data I find on a machine I acquire. change to: ...acquire, keeping it in the strictest confidence should I find it necessary to view it. or something like that. --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/

28 years, 2 months

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Old Data

by sethm＠loomcom.com

A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text Size: 2281 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/attachments/19980330/eec880cc/at…

28 years, 2 months

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Video capture

by rhblake＠bbtel.com

Anyone have an excess video capture card that they might want to sell or trade for? It doesn't matter if it's VLB, IS or MCA but I would like it to be a color capture, preferably in real time (so I could capture frames). It should also be as complete as possible (manuals, software, etc). I can get a "Snappy" pretty cheap but figured I'd find a good capture card if possible before I thought about going into all of this forst. It's a whim thing, not a definite need. I just figured it's time to expand the I/O that the machine is capable of, and maybe start capturing video clips to use in training videos/software. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Russ Blakeman RB Custom Services / Rt. 1 Box 62E / Harned, KY USA 40144 Phone: (502) 756-1749 Data/Fax:(502) 756-6991 Email: rhblake(a)bbtel.com or rhblake(a)bigfoot.com Website: http://members.tripod.com/~RHBLAKE/ ICQ # 1714857 * Parts/Service/Upgrades and more for MOST Computers* --------------------------------------------------------------------

28 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

To restore or not to restore...

by scott＠isd.canberra.edu.au

I collect home micros, and I recently acquired a Mac 128K. However, it's been quite heavily modified with contemporary third-party add-ons. It's been taken up to 1M RAM and it's had a SCSI interface installed. The memory has been taken up to 512K by removing the 64K x 1 bit RAM chips and replacing them with 256K x 1 bit chips, plus adding a few discrete components (not hard, considering the 128K and 512K Macs shared the same PC board). It has then been taken up to 1M by adding a third-party 512K RAM expansion board, which plugs into one of the RAM sockets (the chip it displaces being installed onto the expansion board), and is connected to the address decoding by several flying leads. The SCSI interface has been installed by removing the ROM chips, plugging a daughterboard into the empty ROM sockets, and plugging the ROM chips into the daughterboard. The SCSI socket replaces the cover over the battery in the back of the Mac. So, my question is, should I: 1) Leave it as it is; 2) Remove the SCSI interface (easy, just remove the daughter board, take the ROM chips out of it and put them back into the motherboard's ROM sockets); 3) Remove the SCSI interface *and* the 512K RAM daughter board (not *too* hard, desolder the flying leads (taking note of where they go to, just in case I want to reinstall the board), remove the board from the RAM chip's socket, remove the RAM chip from the daughterboard and put it back in the motherboard's now-empty RAM socket); 4) Take it back to original condition (quite difficult, as well as steps 1)and 2) it involves desoldering 16 256K x 1 bit RAM chips, (plus a few discrete components) and soldering in 16 64K x 1 bit RAM chips). What are people's opinions on this? Regards, | Scott McLauchlan |E-Mail: scott(a)cts.canberra.edu.au| |Administration IT User Support Team|Phone: +61 2 6201 5544 (Ext.5544)| | Client Services Division |Post: University of Canberra, | | University of Canberra, AUSTRALIA | ACT, 2601, AUSTRALIA. |

28 years, 2 months

9
9
0 0

Another RL02 question...

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Apr 3, 15:36, Bill/Carolyn Pechter wrote: > > <I may be wrong, but I thought the RL01/RL02 needed a seek to even switch > > <heads to guarantee the #0 and #1 head were on cyl when reading/writing.

28 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Another RL02 question...

by DSEAGRAV＠toad.xkl.com

Do I have to program a seek to switch heads? I notice there's a head bit that can be set during the SEEK command... Can I just specify the head during a WRITE command, or do I have to seek to switch the head? -------

28 years, 2 months

3
3
0 0

Zendex

by dastar＠wco.com

Well, I called over to Zendex today to inquire about the system I found and talked to a sales engineer. He's going to try to dig up some sales brochures and stuff for me. On an interesting note, he began drilling me on my knowledge of Multi-bus (of which I have none) and then explained to me that they still have a market for the old systems and boards and they are in need of someone technically competent with Multi-bus to hire on a consulting basis. What they need is someone who knows Multi-bus, CIM-bus and ISBX modules for testing and assembly. They need someone who knows enough to assemble the boards from schematics they still have lying around and to test the boards' functionality. They currently don't have anyone on staff who has expertise in this older technology, so they would like to find someone young, old or in between to hire on as a consultant to do this work (he recalled a radio program on NPR that we both heard recently about older technology workers having difficulty finding work as they are being superceded by younger, more "energetic" workers who work for less pay). I told him I'd put the word out for him as a favor (and also so that he'll feel obligated to give me stuff). The Company is Zendex Corporation in Dublin, California. Their phone number is (925) 828-3000 and you want to ask for Howard Czapla. I'd appreciate if you could also pass along to me the name of any prospects you refer. Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass Coming Soon...Vintage Computer Festival 2.0 See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!

28 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Network cards

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

I recently found a PS/2 MOdel 70. Does anyone have an Ethernet card for it, that has a coaxial cable connector and that could be sold to me for not-too-much? ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Neural Networks

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

I am talking about either. In truth, I am interested in AI, whose goal is to approach the functionings of the brain. So, whatever features each shares, or differes in is fine. But I suppose that "idealized" networks are what I mean, that is ones in a purely mathematical space. For one thing, how are the connections made if not randomly? I thought it was essentially based on the closest free neuron. What kind of summation is it if not linear? Do you mean that if the threshold is 5, 4 is more than to times closer than 2? What does that mean, if anything? >> a certain predetermined level, the neuron sends a pulse on the output, >> to trigger other neurons. >> Could someone please complicate the picture for me? > >Are you asking about wet and squishy neural nets or artificial neural >nets? There's nothing random about the connections of either in a >*functioning* net, but a learning net can have somewhat random >connections. The "summation" isn't linear in either type of net, and the >trigger can be a frequency threshold as well as an amplitude threshold. > >Of course, real neural nets are *much* more complicated and are affected >by food, sleep, and neuro-transmitter analogues like LSD. > >-- Doug > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Another RL02 question...

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<I may be wrong, but I thought the RL01/RL02 needed a seek to even switch <heads to guarantee the #0 and #1 head were on cyl when reading/writing. Head 0/1 are on opposite sides of the platter so they will always be on the same cylinder. So there are 512 cylinders of two heads, 40 sectors of 256 bytes per track (one head/side of a cylinder). There are a lot of ways to organize that physical layout. Allison

28 years, 2 months

2
1
0 0

Wanted: Apple ][ Card Info

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 98-03-20 23:14:29 EST, you write: << The list is, more or less, on topic, and I've taken this oppertuinity to ask a question: My Apple ][ has a Language card called a "Pocket Rocket". Now, what does this do? Does it let me write in such languages as Pascal, C, or, on my ][+, Integer BASIC? Also, is RAM expansion avaible to increase RAM to 128K (As I've heard that it could go to...) Thanks, >> pocket rocket is applied engineering's equivalent to apple's language card. it's very small, and doesnt require a cable to the motherboard like earlier models did. david

28 years, 2 months

4
9
0 0

To restore or not to restore...

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 06:25 PM 4/2/98 +1000, you wrote: >I collect home micros, and I recently acquired a Mac 128K. However, it's >been quite heavily modified with contemporary third-party add-ons. It's [...] >1) Leave it as it is; I'll vote for this. My logic is: a) it's an interesting specimen as is, displaying the ingenuity and constant striving for performance that the computer industry has had since day 1. b) you can always remove the extras later. a) has it's merits, but wouldn't be my main motivation. b) on the other hand, would be reason enough. If nothing is being harmed, don't do anything now that you could do later. --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/

28 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Zendex Computer

by dastar＠wco.com

I found a really neat computer the other day. Its made by a company called Zendex circa 1980. It's an 8085 multi-bus machine. Inside it has the processor board, a disk controller, an I/O board, and a parallel interface daughter-board bolted to the back, but which is connected to the system bus by way of a ribbon cable. The front panel consists of 8 interrupt and one reset switch. A very unique system, in that I've never seen one or even heard of the company before, but nothing special. However, the neat thing about this computer is that the company that makes it is still around and in fact is right around the corner from where I work! When I first examined the computer, it had a label with the company's address: 6680 Sierra Ct in Dublin, California. I went there a couple days ago and they are in almost the exact same spot (one address over now). The slogan embossed on their front window reads "International Manufacturer of Microcomputers Since 1979". I went inside, explained who I was and why I was there, and asked if there was anyone I could speak to about the system to get information (and hopefully documentation) on it. I was told to call back as everyone was in a meeting so I'll be bringing the system by today to bug them. I finally had a chance to open it up last night. One of the neater things is that the front panel circuit board has imprinted on it "Made in Dublin". Now, the reason this is quaint is because, although Dublin is part of the "Bay Area", its not by any means considered a part of the "Silicon Valley". So "Made in Dublin" I think is a cute little acknowledgement of the fact that the company was removed from the main hi-tech bustle of that era. This particular area where I'm at is not foreign to significant computer companies as Processor Technology (makers of the Sol-20) made their headquarters just a mile away in Pleasanton, California. It's nice discovering that makers of classic computers used to be right in your backyard. It's even nicer when they're still around so you can go bug them for information. Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass Coming Soon...Vintage Computer Festival 2.0 See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!

28 years, 2 months

2
1
0 0

Neural Networks

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

Oops! Apologies to those who weren't interested. Although neural nets go back a long way, they're not classic computers, and I thought this was being sent to Max, not the list. On Apr 3, 2:25, Pete Turnbull wrote: > Subject: Re: Neural Networks > On Apr 2, 17:33, Max Eskin wrote: > > Subject: Neural Networks -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

28 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

serial port buffers

by rexstout＠uswest.net

I guess this is a little off-topic, but I'm not exactly sure where to ask about this... Anyone know anything about the Intellicom Mega-Link four port buffer? Four buttons and six LED's on the front, a row of eight 256k RAM chips and three rows of sockets for more RAM, and the three DB-25 and a 36-pin centronics connector on the back. Any ideas on how to hook it up? I'm gessing there was either a special cable for it(centronics to serial port) or maybe it was designed to attach to a serial port card or something... -------------------------------------------------------------- | http://members.tripod.com/~jrollins/index.html - Computers | | http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Lair/1681/ - Star Trek | | orham(a)qth.net list admin KD7BCY | --------------------------------------------------------------

28 years, 2 months

2
1
0 0

To restore or not to restore... (fwd)

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 98-04-02 13:28:02 EST, you write: << > I collect home micros, and I recently acquired a Mac 128K. However, it's > been quite heavily modified with contemporary third-party add-ons. It's > been taken up to 1M RAM and it's had a SCSI interface installed. >> whenever i find a computer that's been modified, i leave it as is. for example, i have a mac512 with a internal hard disk called a hyperdrive. quite a clever setup and i also have an apple ][+ with an aftermarket encoder board which gave autorepeat, macros, type ahead, and all the characters that the //e could do. i also have a mac IIcx with a 68040 processor board. i keep all modifications as they themselves are worth as much as the computer itself and provide personality to the machine. david

28 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

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