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Looking for a VME chassis

by ian_primus＠yahoo.com

Looking for a rackmount VME chassis to rebuild a Sun 3 system. Anyone got anything collecting dust bunnies? -Ian

18 years, 6 months

That poor system/36

by ballsandy＠msn.com

>> I really want something bigger and something that just screams "I'm >> dimming your lights!". A crimson running off a serial terminal does >> not seem to cut it for me. > >IBM is a different mindset at the mini/mainframe levels than UNIX-type >systems, and hobbyists suffer from the fact that IBM does not court the >hobbyist market. Notice that I did not say it was a worse mindset, just >different, nor did I imply that any company must bend over backwards >for the hobbyist. > >IBM minis are optimized for database, accounting and semi-mainframe >type tasks, too, and there are many pitfalls and booby traps in place >to prevent horrible and unscrupulous people from buying them secondhand >without giving IBM their cut, at least on the AS/400 level. You might >want to look at one of the heftier VAXen or Alphas running VMS- >different from UNIX and bulletproof, but still from within the same >"interactive terminal" mindset. The OpenVMS Hobbyist program and the >availability of free/low cost documentation and help is a big plus >there, too. >A VAX 7000 or AlphaServer 4k series will dim the lights on a branch >circuit, definitely, and if that doesn't cut it you can plug in a >couple of LaserJet IIISIs. Note that dim lights = low voltage = bad >news for extended operation of SMPSUs, though :). > >Be patient: RealityEngines happen. I have always known that IBM never wanted these systems to go to people like us who run them in their basement and yes I do know that the majority of the IBM mainframes were leased out which makes them even harder to find But once in a blue moon a leased system enters the hands of a hobbyist. Yes I also know that mainframes were usually designed for databases and the likes but they can still be fun to play with and you gotta admit it's fun showing off those massive IBM hard drives and then telling your friends how much that massive drive can actually store (20-80 megs if more). There is no way I will look into a DEC. I have absolutely no knowledge on any of their good old systems (I have never even seen one) and I have always loved IBM systems (yes, criticize me). BTW: My Crimson is equipped with a Reality Engine.:) Yes, an S/390 would be really nice (hey, you can even go with linux if you really wanted to) but they seem a a tad too small for me. It also looks too modern IMO. _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself with free Messenger emoticons. Get them today! http://www.freemessengeremoticons.ca/?icid=EMENCA122

18 years, 6 months

Tax Advice for kit hobby?

by grant＠stockly.com

Is there anyone in here who is qualified to give advice on taxes? I've made a few computer kits and am still deep into the hole. No money made, so no profit. I want to know what to expect I have to do for the tax man. A lot of money has changed hands with no gains for me. I hope I don't owe anyone anything. I've got a few more computer kits on the back burner, but its not worth it to me to continue if there are tax implications. Not trying to get free services, just free advice. : ) Respond off list if you want to help a fellow vintage computer guy. Grant

18 years, 6 months

That poor system/36

by compoobah＠valleyimplants.com

> Yes, an S/390 would be really nice (hey, you can even go with linux if > you really wanted to) but they seem a > a tad too small for me. It also looks too modern IMO. But Linux on a S/390 would be like Linux on a SGI (unless it was in a single LPAR) - it's lacking something. Anyone know what they're using for the front-end laptop or whatever you call it on the zSeries now that OS/2 is gone? Also, anyone know if there's a mirror of the DriverPak Online setup (when IBM says end-of-support they mean it) - I'm trying to get a not-on-topic Compaq Armada PII laptop running with something marginally interesting.

18 years, 6 months

That poor system/36

by ballsandy＠msn.com

>> -I'm 17 and have a wicked case of OCD >> -I like old electronics >> -I use a 5 1/4" floppy drive on a normal basis >> -I like things that have blinkenlites and make cool whirring noises >> -I have passed notes written in hex to a friend in class ("what are >> you doing at lunch?") > >Whoo, will *you* ever fit in here! Well, okay, possibly except for >your age; my feeling is that you're near the young end of our age >distribution. But my feeling is also that nobody will hold that >against you. :) But really, OCD, old electronics, non-3?" floppies, >blinkenlights, knows ASCII in hex...yup, you're home! It's great to know I joined the right mailing list. I wanna spread my knowledge of the good old days of computing on to my children...like a virus. :) >> all that's needed is for someone to contact him and come with a cube van > >> -I'm 17 and have a wicked case of OCD > >Y'know, an old van is going to be fairly cheap for a 17-year-old to insure, >cheaper than most cars... > >Less stuff to go wrong, too. Easier for those of a geeky disposition to fix >when it expires due to hauling around minicomputers. I think you didn't get me. The size of this system will require a Budget/Uhaul truck. People around here call those "Cube vans". You must of thought I meant those commercial minivans that are used by cable companies...and people who make shaggin' wagons. >I have not viewed the lot in a while, but are not the tapes 8809s? >They were the standards on the smaller, cheaper systems, like the >midranges. Not nearly as cool as 3420s. according to this site, the unit is being given away with two IBM 8809 drives. http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/rochester/rochester_4018.html yeah they are not 3420's but nothing's perfect. _________________________________________________________________ R U Ready for Windows Live Messenger Beta 8.5? Try it today! http://entertainment.sympatico.msn.ca/WindowsLiveMessenger

18 years, 6 months

That poor system/36

by ballsandy＠msn.com

I have been looking at this poor machine for almost two years now and I'm furious that there is no way for me to rescue it. http://www.vintagecomputermarketplace.com/view.cfm?ad=2372 Only one other person openly admits they own one: that guy who runs the corestore, and he never responds to my emails. http://www.corestore.org/36.htm Grrrr, if shipping was not so expensive and if I didn't live on the other side of the country and above the 49th parallel. >:( It would cost thousands to get that thing back to the safety of the garage and chances are that there are nothing like that over here in Kamloops BC or close to my relative location. I really want something bigger and something that just screams "I'm dimming your lights!". A crimson running off a serial terminal does not seem to cut it for me. _________________________________________________________________ R U Ready for Windows Live Messenger Beta 8.5? Try it today! http://entertainment.sympatico.msn.ca/WindowsLiveMessenger

18 years, 6 months

VAXen at home

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

> >Subject: VAXen at home > From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) > Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 23:21:05 +0100 (BST) > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > >> > So you want me to start off with a VAX? >> >> Lots of folks on this list have lots of nice things to say about the 11/750. > >Personally, I theink the 11/750 is not the best machine to try to keep >running. The reason is that the CPU is made up of a large-ish number of >custom gate array chips. Even when they were available as spares from DEC >they were very expensive, now they're unobtainanle other than by raiding >other 750s. It's not that bad, lots of spares out there this side of the pond. It's a nice system as it's fast enough to be useful and while a big VAX it's not a huge vax like 780 or 8650. That and there were a fair number of machines kept in service that were supported. >If you have the space (and it's large), try to get am 11/780. I've never >been inside one, but I've read the printset (schematics) and it seems to >be all standard chips. The air handlers and the power will get you. It's a very nice well ordered machine in many ways. >If you don't have the spave, and can stand the lack of speed, consider an >11/730. It's small (1 10.5" high rackmount unit), you can fit the >processor, disk and tape drives into a half-height rack (this was a >standard configuration). It's almost all standard chips, 2901 ALUs, TTL, >non-protected PALs, etc. The only thing is a 730 is hard to expand to run fairly current VMS and it's slow. For that performance you can get a lot of other VAXen. It's up side is for one rack it's small and power consumption is within the realm of a 20A at 120V circuit with some of the smaller single cab version down near 12-13A at 120V. Allison

18 years, 6 months

question about overseas shipping

by chrism3667＠yahoo.com

If something were to be shipped by a countries native po, how would it be handled once it got here? Is there reason to suspect that some independent (private) carrier would handle it once it got to our shores? ____________________________________________________________________________________ Pinpoint customers who are looking for what you sell. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/

18 years, 6 months

Recommended Books to Keep

by marvin＠west.net

I am starting to pare down my book collection (there will be a bunch at VCF!), and am curious what people here think are the best books to keep. Things I don't normally get rid of include original hardware/software manuals, computer history books, etc. unless there are duplicates.

18 years, 6 months

Fwd: [roys-tech-chat] Fwd: [TekScopes2] Nortex Electronis, Fort Worth, TX is closing.

by rtellason＠verizon.net

Anybody here in Texas? Looks like tons of stuff I could probably use, too, but there's just no way I can do that trip at this point in time... ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- Subject: [roys-tech-chat] Fwd: [TekScopes2] Nortex Electronis, Fort Worth, TX is closing. Date: Sunday 14 October 2007 21:29 From: "Roy J. Tellason" <rtellason at verizon.net> To: roys-tech-chat at yahoogroups.com Oh man... Just lookin' at those pictures! I could have a blast with some of this stuff!!! ---------- Forwarded Message ---------- Subject: [TekScopes2] Nortex Electronis, Fort Worth, TX is closing. Date: Sunday 14 October 2007 20:01 From: J Forster <jfor at quik.com> To: TekScopes2 at yahoogroups.com >From the HP List: -John ******************* Subject: [hp_agilent_equipment] Nortex Electronis, Fort Worth, TX is closing. Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2007 22:49:58 -0000 From: "eidophor1" <adamours at aol.com> Reply-To: hp_agilent_equipment at yahoogroups.com To: hp_agilent_equipment at yahoogroups.com Hello to the group. I felt the group would like to know that Nortex Electronics in Fort Worth, TX is closing for good. Lewis E. Cearly, the proprietor, passed away on Oct 5th, 2007. Nortex will be open Oct 15th through the 20th so customers can make final purchases. They will be having a final "garage" sale to clear stuff out Thursday through Saturday of that week. There's lots of older test equipment, and plenty of older units for parts. There's a fair amount of older HP and Tektronix gear too. What's left after the sale will be recycled. Here's a link with more information, and the address: http://www.bunkerofdoom.com/nortex/index.html Nortex will be missed. There's nothing else like it in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. Yahoo! Groups Links ------------------------------------------------------- -- Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and ablest -- form of life in this section of space, ?a critter that can be killed but can't be tamed. ?--Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters" - Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James M Dakin Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/roys-tech-chat/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/roys-tech-chat/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:roys-tech-chat-digest at yahoogroups.com mailto:roys-tech-chat-fullfeatured at yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: roys-tech-chat-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ------------------------------------------------------- -- Member of the toughest, meanest, deadliest, most unrelenting -- and ablest -- form of life in this section of space, ?a critter that can be killed but can't be tamed. ?--Robert A. Heinlein, "The Puppet Masters" - Information is more dangerous than cannon to a society ruled by lies. --James M Dakin

18 years, 6 months

VAX 11/750 rescued, alas...

by oldcpu2＠rogerwilco.org

[Sorry for the double post...having trouble with my mailer line-wrapping] The gods smiled upon me, and I was chosen to rescue the DEC VAX 11/750 that Richard alerted us too about a month ago. Yesterday I went up to collect it. I think most of us, during a pickup, are mindful of just getting the load onboard and away, and it was the same way for me with this pickup. Besides, the unit was literally stuffed so tightly into the front corner of their storage that there was no way to examine the innards at that location. A few images can be found at: http://www.rogerwilco.org/VAX11-750 Once back on homebase, I finally got a chance to open up the unit. To my horror (it is October, after all), I find just a single board installed in the CPU backplane, and one loose q-bus board! The first is a System Industries 9700-6301 with the following significant chips: Signetics N8X60N, AMD AM9128 (x2), Motorola MCM93L422PC (x4), TI SN74S181N, and about a dozen TI 82S137s with little numbered stickers on each. Otherwise it's loaded with TTL logic chips. There are no headers or other connectors on board, just the backplane fingers. I have no idea what this board is. I openly admit that I'm a complete {non-uVAX | massbus | unibus} novice. The second board is an MCD MLSI PC-11, which I'm guessing may be some kind of dual parallel interface. I'll have to do a little scouting on Bitsavers and Manx to see if I can turn up anything useful. Anyway, sadly, this box is not much more than an empty carcass, without any brains. It clearly was sacrificed to keep other systems alive. Still, I would dearly love to populate the backplane(s) and light this baby up, but I guessing I'll be hard pressed to find anyone with a whole set of spares that I could somehow convince into letting them go. I don't want to lose an opportunity here, and I'm not saying that I have my eye on the local metal recycler just yet, but what am I going to do with an empty chassis?! Now, I should say that the donor was extremely nice, and offered to pass along anything related that eventually turns up as they dig deeper into their massive pile (12' x 15' x 20', literally boxes/cartons/PCs upon boxes/cartons/PCs), but I'm not sure I should hope for much. Am I foolish to ask? Anyone with a spare set of VAX 11/750 modules? - Jared

18 years, 6 months

Taken: AT 286 motherboard with mathco

by dm561＠torfree.net

>Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2007 08:53:06 -0600 >From: "e.stiebler" <emu at e-bbes.com> >Subject: Re: Taken: AT 286 motherboard with mathco >I think people worked/played more with the computer more back then. >Meaning wrote utilities, improved stuff, changed something, and were >proud if it. Really??? Have you browsed the Internet lately and seen the amount of software & mods out there, and the just wild and crazy things that people are doing with their PCs? Seems to me there are a heck of a lot *more* people writing utilities, improving stuff etc. today, and far more complex and sophisticated stuff at that (especially since there's so much more room for improvement ;-). Perhaps the *percentage* of computer owners who dug into the hard/software was higher then, but most of the time you *had to*, whereas today most of it is done for fun and enjoyment, as well as pride of accomplishment. And I think you're ignoring the business users of then and now; for them and probably for most people computers are after all just a tool to do some specific task(s). Although many of us like Tony are interested in and enjoy poking around in the innards of cameras, clocks, computers etc., most "normal" people just want to take pictures, know the time and send an e-mail or two. m

18 years, 6 months

VAX 11/750 rescued, alas...

by RodSmallwood＠mail.ediconsulting.co.uk

Hi Fear not all is not lost. There's tons of modules around but not that many cabs. In the picture of the Qbus board it appears to be sitting on the module config diagram. As it is pre printed and not filled in by hand its probably a standard system. That will give you a list of the boards. Note of caution do not try to turn it on. The power supplies will need some work. You need to reform/replace any electrolytics. The case will clean up well and you can start off by getting the PSU's working and getting the list of modules together. Disk drives would have been in another rack I think. Rod Smallwood The DECcollector -----Original Message----- From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of J Blaser Sent: 06 October 2007 02:10 To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: VAX 11/750 rescued, alas... [Sorry for the double post...having trouble with my mailer line-wrapping] The gods smiled upon me, and I was chosen to rescue the DEC VAX 11/750 that Richard alerted us too about a month ago. Yesterday I went up to collect it. I think most of us, during a pickup, are mindful of just getting the load onboard and away, and it was the same way for me with this pickup. Besides, the unit was literally stuffed so tightly into the front corner of their storage that there was no way to examine the innards at that location. A few images can be found at: http://www.rogerwilco.org/VAX11-750 Once back on homebase, I finally got a chance to open up the unit. To my horror (it is October, after all), I find just a single board installed in the CPU backplane, and one loose q-bus board! The first is a System Industries 9700-6301 with the following significant chips: Signetics N8X60N, AMD AM9128 (x2), Motorola MCM93L422PC (x4), TI SN74S181N, and about a dozen TI 82S137s with little numbered stickers on each. Otherwise it's loaded with TTL logic chips. There are no headers or other connectors on board, just the backplane fingers. I have no idea what this board is. I openly admit that I'm a complete {non-uVAX | massbus | unibus} novice. The second board is an MCD MLSI PC-11, which I'm guessing may be some kind of dual parallel interface. I'll have to do a little scouting on Bitsavers and Manx to see if I can turn up anything useful. Anyway, sadly, this box is not much more than an empty carcass, without any brains. It clearly was sacrificed to keep other systems alive. Still, I would dearly love to populate the backplane(s) and light this baby up, but I guessing I'll be hard pressed to find anyone with a whole set of spares that I could somehow convince into letting them go. I don't want to lose an opportunity here, and I'm not saying that I have my eye on the local metal recycler just yet, but what am I going to do with an empty chassis?! Now, I should say that the donor was extremely nice, and offered to pass along anything related that eventually turns up as they dig deeper into their massive pile (12' x 15' x 20', literally boxes/cartons/PCs upon boxes/cartons/PCs), but I'm not sure I should hope for much. Am I foolish to ask? Anyone with a spare set of VAX 11/750 modules? - Jared

18 years, 6 months

I've gone too far

by compoobah＠valleyimplants.com

Roy wrote: > On Saturday 13 October 2007 17:45, Tony Duell wrote: >>> This morning my wife complained to me that every time she opened a >>> door >>> to a cupboard something with qwerty written on it falls out !!! >>> oops >> >> Oh that's easy to solve. Change all your keyboards to the Dvorak >> (?spel) >> layout. > > I've seen assorted setups to change one's keyboard layout to that in > software, > but darn it, if I'm going there I want the keycaps too! Which I've > *never* > seen on anything... Get a Model M (or other decent keyboard), pop 'em off and reshuffle. The letter keys are generally interchangeable, the only problem would be a cheap keyboard that won't let them go gracefully.

18 years, 6 months

Cromemco (was Extracting CDOS and CP/M) files)

by dm561＠torfree.net

Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2007 21:00:18 -0400 From: "Roy J. Tellason" <rtellason at verizon.net> Subject: Re: Extracting CDOS and CP/M) files <much snippage> >That's more than I've got in there. It's a ZPU, 64KB ram card, I *think* >that 64FDC, and an I/O card, not real sure but I think maybe it's the >PRI... Your basic single-user CDOS system, although I suspect that's a 16FDC. I assume it's a System 3, or perhaps a Z-2? Either way, lots of room in there for expansion ;-) <snip> >No CDOS handy, I'm not even sure what I got for disks with that box, though >I did get some, the problem with the drive having done some physical damage >to the one that was in it. Somewhere around here I have a box of 8" >floppies, but that would include what came with this system and also what >came with the Imsai, at least, plus probably some stuff that folks have >sent my way over the years. Dave D has various images on his excellent site - also see below. If you're having trouble with the 8" drive(s) and haven't gotten around to making the cable for a 3 1/2" substitute, add a 7812 or use an old PC supply and temporarily hook up a 5 1/4" drive; the FDC handles both. >I'm not sure if I even have CP/M specific to that box. Several people have configured CP/M for the Cromemco configuration; Barry Watzman for one, if I'm not mistaken. >Mostly I was looking for what sort of hardware capabilities would be needed... You've got the basic hardware except for a 7812 or equivalent for the 5.25 (and 3.5" if 12V - see below) drives; the rest is software ;-) <snip> >> Any version of Cromix (Cromemco's early Z80 and 68000 pseudo-UNIX) can >> read/write any version of CDOS or Cromix disk (floppies, that is; hard >> disks are a different story). >I'd love to get some info on that software, particularly if I can ever get my >hands on a DPU card to stick in there. If/when you do, it's certainly out there. Several sites have extensive collections of Cromemco software and manuals; one of the most complete is Marcus' site: http://maben.homeip.net/static/S100/cromemco (Also see Herb Johnson's & Howard Harte's sites). To run Z80 Cromix, all you'd need is another 64K; to run 68K Cromix/+ you'd need at least a 68000 DPU and 256K would be nice. <snip> >Around the time I got that box I remember trying for some info and being told >that the company wasn't doing anything but making 68K boxes for some >specialized applications any more. In the last years they'd become part of Dynatech, who had been using Cromemco boxes for their TV weather systems and didn't seem particularly interested in the computer business beyond supporting their own applications (they apparently also owned Fuzz-Buster BTW). The European company that's still around today is Cromemco in name only, having moved into UNIX software long ago. >> Cromix+ and UNIX both read/write UNIX format disks; anything else that >> Cromix+ could handle was transferred to UNIX via a shared HD partition. >What's a "unix format disk"? Actually their name is "Uniform style floppy" and it's a format compatible with both Cromix and UNIX (and without the pesky SD first track or Disk ID). >> Anything else would indeed require some custom programming; the FDC >> controller cards were reasonably well documented. >That's mostly what I was looking for, if the common FDC chips back in those >days were likely to be sufficient to handle a wide variety of "stuff" out there. Well, hard sector disks might still be a problem... >> If the main CPU was a 680x0 instead of a Z80 then Z80 & CP/M software was >> run either on a dual (Z80/68000) DPU card or, if there was only a 680x0 CPU >> then it was run on the Z80 on an I/O card such as the IOP I/O processor or >> the Octart 8-port RS-232 card, if available. >I saw the sheet on the IOP in my book just now, but don't know about that >other one. Why would they stick a processor on an 8-port serial card? Not relevant or supported in single-user CDOS (which used ordinary TUART 4-port serial and PRI 2-port parallel cards), but running a multi-user sort-of-UNIX on a 4MHz Z80 wasn't exactly blindingly fast, especially on the slow hard disks of the day. If the main CPU also had to directly service all those UARTS it probably would grind to a halt so they handled serial I/O with coprocessors (IOP & Octart), which later could also run Z80 user software in between I/O requests when there wasn't a Z80 on the main processor board any longer. The IOP is only the I/O *processor* BTW; there can be up to 4 installed, and each can control up to 4 Quadart 4-port serial cards for a maximum of 16 ports; that'd keep a single Z80 so busy it wouldn't have much time to actually run those users' programs ;-). The Octart is a coprocessor and 8 ports combined, and a system could have up to 4 for a total of 32 ports; although in practice you wouldn't have that many users you could have I/O devices on all of those ports (I have in fact had Cromemco systems installed with more than 32 terminals, although they were not all unique "users"). >> Their first hard disks were 11MB 8" IMI drives using a WDI controller; they >> were superseded by 5 & 20 MB 5" IMI drives requiring a WDI-II. Then came >> MFM disks using an STDC controller and SMD drives & controller, and finally >> ESDI and SCSI drives using the ESDC controller. >Rigging up some sort of mounting hardware and finding 12V power for some of >the 3.5" HDs I have kicking around here should be an interesting >exercise. :-) You'd need it for 5.25 drives for sure, but many 3.5" drives actually only require 5V which you already have for the 8" drive. >I have nothing around for a controller, but given the choice I'd rather go >with SCSI if possible. SCSI wasn't supported until pretty late in the game and you'd need fairly late versions of cards & OS; definitely not an option with your setup. >> The floppy controller also supported the small tape drives while the larger >> tapes required the ESDC controller, and there was also a controller and OS >> support for 9-track mag tape. >Hmm. Indeed... Can't help any with the Bigboard, alas. Good luck! mike

18 years, 6 months

Underclock a Pentium/Overdrive/486

by grant＠stockly.com

I'm wondering about underclocking a pentium. I've read about running Windows XP on a Pentium Overdrive underclocked to 8MHz with 20MB RAM. I was curious if anyone in here knew enough about the design of an early pentium or 486 to say if its possible to go lower, like 2MHz. For a joke I thought it would be fun to have an intel machine running XP or Vista at an Altair paced clock speed. XP took 30 minutes to boot at 8MHz, so I imagine a bare bones Vista would take a few hours at 2MHz, that is if Vista would even run on a Pentium... To me this is kind of like the project where someone booted Mac OS X on a 25MHz Centris 650 using a PPC emulator. Except most likely faster. : ) Maybe I'm just looking for something to carry me through the Alaskan winter. : ) Any thoughts? My first one is to set the jumpers as low as they would go and then start changing the onboard crystals/oscillators. Chances are the BIOS would still report 8MHz to windows and the screen shot wouldn't look as cool? I have already overclocked the Kenbak-1 500%, and underclocked it 800%. Time to move on to bigger and better things. Grant

18 years, 6 months

Electronics Parts Stores near Seattle

by compoobah＠valleyimplants.com

> > One of the last part stores in the Seattle area, Alphatronics, has move > moved a few blocks to 1035 Andover Park East in Tukwila WA. > http://www.alphatronics-usa.com/ > > Glad to hear that- I was a bit in shock when I rolled up about a month ago and there was a trucking company where they used to be. For the mail-order set who doesn't have a parts store nearby, how do you work things out (reference-wise, other than the usual databooks?). Especially for test equipment and things like that (now that we're loosing Boeing, there I knew that the equipment was used but reasonably good quality).

18 years, 6 months

Infant mortality and longevity of DVD media?

by Watzman＠neo.rr.com

RE: " I doubt that I will use up the spindle at less than a dozen blanks a year before dual layer media and drives become standard " Become? Dual layer drives became standard about 2 years ago. I doubt you can buy a burner which is not dual layer. ALL readers have been dual layer since day 1, because most commercial DVDs (e.g. movies and TV shows) are dual layer (but factory pressed media rather than burned media). On the other hand, I doubt that dual layer DVD will ever outsell single layer DVD. It is FAR more expensive (almost 10x), it offers LESS THAN twice the capacity (8GB vs. 4.7GB) and it is very likely to be FAR less reliable. I use dual layer because I need to for some of my work, but I don't like it. I have never had a problem, but I know how it works and I don't trust it. I consider it to be a miracle that it works at all. The current standard for drives is "burn everything", all formats, both CD & DVD, + and -, single and dual layer, for about $40. I still believe that Pioneer makes the best drives, but Pioneer doesn't support "lightscribe" (the ability to "burn" a graphic label on the label side of the media), so I have two DVD burner drives in my machine, a Pioneer and a Samsung (which I think is the second best brand, and which does support Lightscribe). My next move, probably in about 2 years, will be to Blu-Ray, but right now it's still [WAY] too expensive.

18 years, 6 months

Purchase: DEC PDP11/93 (Whole Machine)

by spoon_813＠hotmail.com

Hello, I want to purchase DEC PDP11/93 (1). Can I get a quote from you? If it is in stock, please reply me. What does it include? I mean how is the configuration? Thank you very much Regard Beijing KSD Electron Technical Service Center _________________________________________________________________ ????? MSN ?????????? http://mobile.msn.com.cn/

18 years, 6 months

Latest find

by quapla＠xs4all.nl

The company I work for had some stuff to dump. I'ts from a Kent PLC system and I took the cpu & drive box. CPU box containd a KDJ11-A, an MXV11-A, a DILOG DQ614, a 8 port serial line interfaxe, and a M7549 DMA interface. The drive box contained a RD52 & an Ampex disk. The CPU box also contained 2 Tandon TM-828 slimline 8" floppy drives. Eventually there is more PDP stuff to come :) Ed

18 years, 6 months

Looking for DOMAIN kbd

by paco.linux＠gmail.com

Hi all: I have a HP Apollo 425e and I want to run DOMAIN in it, but for this I need this type of keyboard. Has somebody a spare keyboard? Thanks

18 years, 6 months

Electronics Parts Stores near Seattle

by swtpc6800＠comcast.net

One of the last part stores in the Seattle area, Alphatronics, has move moved a few blocks to 1035 Andover Park East in Tukwila WA. http://www.alphatronics-usa.com/ I when there today to buy parts for a replica of the first MITS product. A Model Rocket Tracking Light from 1969. They had all of the parts on the shelf. I hope to have this built for Vintage Computer Festival in November. I have a copy of the article on DigiBarn http://www.digibarn.com/collections/devices/MITS-Model-Rockets-Tracking-Lig… Thank to Marvin Johnston for giving me some G pattern Vectorbord. Alphatronics had some nice S-100 prototype boards on sale. There is a box of various prototype boards on the floor near the cash register. Michael Holley www.swtpc.com/mholley

18 years, 6 months

That poor system/36

by ballsandy＠msn.com

> > I have been looking at this poor machine for almost two years now and I'm furious that there is no way for me to rescue it. > > Big S/36s are not all that rare. Look, and you will find one on the > West Coast. Do not delay, as I can see them mostly drying up in a few > years. > > > Only one other person openly admits they own one: that guy who runs the corestore, and he never responds to my emails. > > I will admit to having one, but I am not overly proud of it. I think I > can honestly say it is the least liked machine in my collection. > > -- > Will Well it's great to hear of another person who owns one. Why is it the least liked? The design? Well if they are quite common, people out here really don't want to part with them or their first thought is scrap it and then look for people willing to take it. I have been putting out wanted calls for these older mainframe systems for years now and I have never had one reply to any of them. It really make you think your search is hopeless I have always had a strong determination. It took years for me to get my first deskside and I never gave up. _________________________________________________________________ Send a smile, make someone laugh, have some fun! Start now! http://www.freemessengeremoticons.ca/?icid=EMENCA122

18 years, 6 months

TEACO Floppy Drive Tester

by snhirsch＠gmail.com

I picked up this unit today at the NEAR-Fest swap meet in Deerfield, NH. Does anyone know anything about it? It has connectors for 5-1/4" and 8" drives and looks useful. It's a Model 4077, if that helps. Steve --

18 years, 6 months

firmware updates [WAS Vintage computer photogallery - Time Magazine]

by compoobah＠valleyimplants.com

Jules writes: > I suppose real computers have a separate service processor for this > kind of > thing, so it's easy to put things right even if something does go > wrong (plus > of course the update can *only* be done from the service processor - > not from > some rogue code running on the main CPU) Not a service processor, but Alpha has a built in "failsafe loader" that allows you to rewrite the console firmware if something happens. It also has hardware lockdown of the PROM. I don't think I'd consider a separate service processor always a good thing, though - I've just been looking at the docs for the Sun E10k and if you loose the SSP you're pretty much hosed unless you can get Sun to make a new one up that matches your machine. Aren't IBM mainframes and their ThinkPads in roughly the same boat? There, though, I think it's easier to recover if you have a backup - I got the feeling that the E10k's unit was somehow hardware-locked to that machine.

18 years, 6 months

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