test-drb

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101090 discussions

by dcoward＠pressstart.com

>> reservation is the fact that it doesn't have a ground plug. I'm sure I >> can just pass the ground connection on from the computer to my wall outlet >> since the ground lead is attached directly to the computer case, no? >> Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> said: >Exactly. And when you do that, also ground the frame/core of the >transformer, just in case the insulation ever breaks down. Isn't this step-up transformer also acting as an isolation transformer, isolating the secondary from ground? I thought that meant that you didn't not need a ground because secondary of the transformer has no relationship to ground. I'd like to find out because I use one with my Mitsubishi MoveMaster robot. ========================================= Doug Coward dcoward(a)pressstart.com Senior Software Engineer Press Start Inc. Sunnyvale,CA Curator Museum of Personal Computing Machinery http://www.best.com/~dcoward/museum =========================================

28 years

HP Portable Plus

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Doug Yowza <yowza(a)yowza.com> writes: > Thanks, changing the jumper and hitting reset did the trick. I needed to > reformat the RAM disk after the reset, but I have a couple of "advanced > mail" apps in ROM that seem to expect files to be present on the RAM disk. > Is there some special way to setup the ROM apps, or do I manually create > directories and files as I get errors? That would be AdvanceMail. I vaguely remember that you do have to create something for it to make it not complain. Not that it's real useful -- I think you need to have something for it to connect to, and while I know there was some way to make it talk to HPDeskManager on the HP3000s I don't think it ever got updated to talk anything like POP3 or QWK packets or what have you. Nevertheless there seem to be a lot of Portable Pluses out there with the AdvanceMail software, and I can only guess that is because HP was using HPDeskManager for its internal e-mail network until two or three? years ago and found it useful to equip a lot of its internal-use Pluses with AdvanceMail. -Frank McConnell

28 years

HP Portable Plus

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Doug Yowza <yowza(a)yowza.com> wrote: > OK, I'm staring at my recently acquired HP Portable Plus with it's oddball > power plug. The FAQ tells me it wants 6V, but the only thing I have that > fits is an 8V supply from a 9114, which I'm sure will do the trick, but I > don't see two things: a polarity key and a power switch. Does the Plus > care about polarity? If not, how do I turn it on? If you took a close look at your 9114 supply you might find that its output is 8V*AC*. No polarity to worry about. First, try to turn it on with the return key. Just press it once, wait, try again (sometimes mine don't notice on the first press). If all is well that will get you to a PAM screen, and from there you can turn it off again with f8. If you open the battery door (center rear) you will find a jumper and a tiny switch. The switch is full-reset-zap-everything. The jumper is what connects the battery to the rest of the system, and may be set incorrectly if the unit is never-used or someone clueful stored it with the knowledge that it wouldn't be used for a while. Of course I can't remember which way is "correct" and my Pluses are being difficult w/r/t door removal this morning. Ah, there we go. The jumper fits over a three-pin header, and the pin to the right (assuming you're facing the back, so the one on the Ctrl-key side of the Plus) should be exposed for normal operation (the other two should be connected with the jumper). Shift-Stop is the two-fingered "reboot" salute. It's safer than the switch in back. Note the "AAAAAA" or "BBBBBB" line that it spits out during this exercise, that tells you what version of the base ROMs are installed. ... Hans Olminkhof asks what the Portable Plus is. Yes, it's the successor to the 110 aka Portable. More RAM, bigger screen, faster modem (1200 vs. 300 bps), "drawers" for RAM and ROM so more customizability -- users could buy different sizes of RAM drawers and buy additional applications in ROMs to install in the ROM drawer, rather than having to load up precious RAM. Also I think there was no built-in Terminal application, instead HP sold a ROM'd version of WRQ's Reflection 1. -Frank McConnell

28 years

Apple IIgs in Apple II case?

by engine＠chac.org

At 12:27 5/26/98 -0700, KaiKal wrote: >I just acquired an Apple IIgs that is in an Apple IIe style case! >It's not a conversion or anything, it's original from Apple. It looks >exactly like a IIe except for the model emblem and the back panel. What you have there, my friend, is the Apple IIGS UPGRADE, and a lucky man you are. It _is_ a conversion; some intrepid owner made it out of a //e and the Upgrade Kit, which was a new logic board and the case pieces. I've got one, but only one. If you fire it up, I'd be interested to know what revision your ROMs are. __________________________________________ Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org http://www.chac.org/index.html Computer History Association of California

28 years

Original IBM PC (was Re: Prices to pay for old

by desieh＠southcom.com.au

-----Original Message----- From: Uncle Roger <sinasohn(a)ricochet.net> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Tuesday, 26 May 1998 3:16 Subject: Re: Original IBM PC (was Re: Prices to pay for old >At 01:46 PM 5/22/98 -0700, you wrote: >>> Your hopes are dashed. The only pricey IBM PCs are the ones that had 16K >>> installed at the factory and weren't upgraded. The 64K ones are relatively >> >>That's absurd (bordering on perverse) -- what could you DO with a machine >>like that? (Yes, run BASIC and use cassettes... I know.) > >In my day, sonny, 16K was plenty of room. Back then, we knew how to >program. It was an art. Not like the kids today, with their megabytes and >Gooeys and write-once-read-many, magneto-optical, doohickies... (whups, >gotta go, time for maaaatttlooock!) > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ > I have one question , well I actually have two...... though, what software came on cassetes? and what is the most common fault in the IBM full height floppy drives that makes them die??? anyone??

28 years

Original IBM PC (was Re: Prices to pay for oldcomputers...)

by JRichardson＠softwright.co.uk

>>>I hope that "16K" means "16/64K model" as opposed to "actually equipped >>>with >>>16K of memory." >> >>Your hopes are dashed. The only pricey IBM PCs are the ones that had 16K >>installed at the factory and weren't upgraded. So they only had 16K on board, and no empty sockets for expansion to 64K? Or do you mean that they just came with 16K but you could add the rest of the chips yourself? Interestingly enough I seem to remember that there was an unofficial mod that you could make easily to the 256K system boards to take them out to 512K... I don't know if that applied to all the XT 256K boards or not... cheers >Jules

28 years

I need a VAX 785 bootdisk image... Anyone got one?

by DSEAGRAV＠toad.xkl.com

I need a diskimage for a VAX 785. Doesn't matter (yet) what boots are on it. If you have one, let me know, but DON'T mail it to the toad.xkl.com address, I'll give you another to mail to. (MM doesn't like attachments, and I doubt my terminal like binary files) -------

28 years

Nasty little Sanyo (was Re:Original IBM PC (was Re: Prices to pay for old computers))

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

I have some of those in an "Advanced Computer Products" catalog, 1985. $1299. Not much I can say about them. They look kinda like stereo systems and "Sanyo" means "crap" in russian. >Russ/Alice Blakeman wrote: >> >> So it's unanimous - all Sanyo MBC-55x machines, working or not, that >> are not a part of a Camry fender, are to be executed immediately to >> save our planet. > >Well, I have three and while they are not (IMHO) a significant part of >computer history, they do play a part in the scheme of things and thus >are worthwhile keeping. Hmmm, judging by all the comments on this list, >maybe they were a significant part of computer history :). > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

Tandy web page malarkey

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Actually, remember that they DIDN'T MAKE $599 per unit, because the cost <production was probably at least $250-350. Then they didn't directly sel <them to end users, but to resellers, for about a $100 max profit... it ad The stores had a margin of something like 35% in '78, it got better with time. Production cost was horrendous at ther start as yeild was less that 30% working systems due to bad design and test procedures. The -69A boards were slightly better than junk. The 69D board and revized assembly and test were still under 80% yeild. But even at that the production cost was in the $100-160 range for the 4k/L1 basic. Design weak points in the TRS-80 were data bus noise, poor memory timing, power and ground noise, no lowercase (all it needed was one ram), common keys missing of the keyboard and the parts count was too high. I had a simplifed design at that time that ran TRS80 l1/l2 basic that was functionally identical and used far fewer packages with better timing. No doubt all of that was the side effect of not understanding the original design. It all showed up big time with the EI! Also total sales for the first year of production were in excess of 250,000! Other than apple it was the most common machine out there and between the two they out numberd likely all other computers in existence to that date. Allison

28 years

Mountain Computers AD/DA Card

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Hi. I've got one of these in my Apple ][. Anyone got any info??? Ciao, Tim D. Hotze

28 years

HP Portable Plus

by jolminkh＠nsw.bigpond.net.au

-----Original Message----- From: Doug Yowza <yowza(a)yowza.com> >OK, I'm staring at my recently acquired HP Portable Plus with it's oddball >power plug. The FAQ tells me it wants 6V, but the only thing I have that >fits is an 8V supply from a 9114, which I'm sure will do the trick, but I >don't see two things: a polarity key and a power switch. Does the Plus >care about polarity? If not, how do I turn it on? What is the Portable Plus? Is it related to the HP110 ? Hans

28 years

More stuff acquired

by jolminkh＠nsw.bigpond.net.au

-----Original Message----- From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)wco.com> >I paid $120 for this lot, which was more than I wanted to. I guess I >didn't do too bad considering I talked the guy down from $200. Well, come >to think of it, with the completeness of the Yamaha, plus the fact that >MSX computers are so rare in the states, and the cool factor and scarcity >of the Integral PC, $120 isn't bad, but its still more than I wanted to >pay :) > I've been haggling with a guy for an Integral PC for a while. He wants $50. Maybe I should give in.

28 years

Original IBM PC (was Re: Prices to pay for old

by jolminkh＠nsw.bigpond.net.au

-----Original Message----- From: Desie Hay <desieh(a)southcom.com.au> >I have one question , well I actually have two...... >though, what software came on cassetes? >and what is the most common fault in the IBM full height floppy drives that >makes them die??? > >anyone?? > 1. I don't think any software would have come on cassette as it was meant to be used with the "Cassette Basic" in ROM. 2. I've noticed the little flat belt drives on the full height drives go slippery often and stops them working. Hans

28 years

HP Portable Plus

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

Doug, The FAQ are wrong! It's 8 VAC the same as the 9114. There's no polarity key since it's AC. Turn the PP on by pressing any key (except shift, control or extended char) for at least 1/4 second. Turn it off by pressing the F8 key when OFF is shown on the key labels for that key. If OFF isn't shown, try pressing the USER or MENU keys until OFF is shown. The half-moon looking key controls the screeen contrast. Joe At 01:57 AM 5/26/98 -0500, you wrote: >OK, I'm staring at my recently acquired HP Portable Plus with it's oddball >power plug. The FAQ tells me it wants 6V, but the only thing I have that >fits is an 8V supply from a 9114, which I'm sure will do the trick, but I >don't see two things: a polarity key and a power switch. Does the Plus >care about polarity? If not, how do I turn it on? > >-- Doug > >

28 years

Tandy web page malarkey

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

>Joe, > >Actually, I wasn't crying at all until I saw in "The Road Ahead" where the >marketing manager took complete credit for the entire concept and design. >Too bad the design was a prototype and not fully debugged. Guess he got >what he deserved. Besides we were only promised the first 2000 of production. > >Ray Holt Actually, remember that they DIDN'T MAKE $599 per unit, because the cost of production was probably at least $250-350. Then they didn't directly sell them to end users, but to resellers, for about a $100 max profit... it adds up. Unless you bought it directly from RS, where I guess you made their lying pockets bigger. Actually, if I were in your posistion, I'd be mad that I didn't put more bugs in!!! Just be glad that you eventually got some decent jobs, and credit for your work. I'm sure that bigger things have happened in world history, but I can't name any at the moment. Don't worry, I think that all of us give you credit for your work. (Mostly to Sam Ismail): Is there going to be a VCF Journal or something that we can buy? Unfortuanately, I'll be in Guyana in school at the time in question... kinda hard to go 4,000 away from class. Ciao, Tim D. Hotze

28 years

Tandy web page malarkey

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

>Ray will certainly have his day soon. Everyone has their 15 minutes of glory. His will be a lot longer than 15 minutes. >> (Mostly to Sam Ismail): Is there going to be a VCF Journal or something >> that we can buy? Unfortuanately, I'll be in Guyana in school at the time in >> question... kinda hard to go 4,000 away from class. > >Yes. I will definitely be producing a show album for VCF2, including the >talks on cassette. I'm still working on the VCF 1.0 "Lecture Series" >(should have had it done by now but work is sucking up all my time). Thanks. I'll have to see how that turns out. >Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- >Ever onward. > > September 26 & 27...Vintage Computer Festival 2 > See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details! > [Last web page update: 05/11/98] > Tim D. Hotze

28 years

WANTED: TRS-80 Model 1 schematics

by dastar＠wco.com

Does anyone know where I can secure a copy of the schematics for the TRS-80 Model 1? PS. I have schematics for the TI-99/4a if anyone is interested. Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't blame me...I voted for Satan. Coming in September...Vintage Computer Festival 2.0 See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details! [Last web page update: 05/05/98]

28 years

RETROCOMPUTING LIQUIDATION

by stephen.j.gabaly＠lmco.com

I offer $100 for the IMSAI CPU card and IMSAI documentation. steve -----Original Message----- From: Wirehead Prime [SMTP:wirehead@retrocomputing.com] Sent: Sunday, May 10, 1998 6:49 PM To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Subject: RETROCOMPUTING LIQUIDATION Over the next several weeks I will be liquidating my collection of antique computers. I won't go into the reasons why except to say that the reasons for doing so are not bad. In other words, I'm not being forced to do it by bad circumstances. I'll leave it at this: I need the space in my home to expand a business venture that has brought me a great deal of genuine happiness over the last few months. I will be liquidating the following: TRS-80 Model III with Software Northstar Horizon with spare CPU card and a spare grungy chassis 2 Commodore 128 computers and 1 1571 disk drive and some miscellaneous Commodore peripherals 2 Commodore 64 computers with no PSs in unknown condition Ohio Scientific Challenger in working condition with keyboard and monitor Computer Systems Associations Micro 68000 Development System TEI 22 slot S100 backplane 2 small boxes of S100 cards including an IMSAI cpu board, several static ram cards, a Disk Jockey II disk controller and several others An entire shelf of S100 and CPM documentation including manuals for the IMSAI (original) and the Altair (copies) Epson QX-10 working with all software including CP/M 2.2, no printer Xerox 820 system, with spare motherboards, 2 8" drives, monitors and spare keyboards PDP-11/34 with RK05f and RK05j and last but certainly NOT least 3 PDP-8i systems, one cpu only, one with a high speed paper tape reader punch and one with a DECtape drive, lots of spare parts, full documentation including schematic print sets, DEC OS/8 on paper tape and several boxes of home-grown software on paper tape...includes ASR-33 Teletype in good condition - all condition unknown, not recommended for the beginning retrocomputerist GNT Paper tape reader/punch that connects to RS-232 with manual and a roll of black paper tape Now for what I want out of this stuff... Of course, cash is acceptable. I'll also accept trades for pre-press equipment like Linotype-Hell imagesetting equipment, RIPs and/or media developers/processors, small sheet-fed presses, black and white flatbed scanners suitable for a Macintosh, Quark Xpress 3.x up for the Mac, binding equipment like sheet collators or edge staplers, CD-ROM drive (any speed) for Macintosh, Macintosh font collections, digital duplicators, photocopiers and/or laser printers etc. If you think it's useful for preparing or printing a newsletter/magazine, I may be interested in it. Bet you can't guess what kind of business I'm involved in... =-) In some cases, I'll donate the equipment to a good home if I think it's warranted. The only thing I can't donate is the PDP-8s as I have a significant investment in them and need to get $250-$300 each from them on average to recover my retrieval costs. Buyer/trader must either pay shipping costs from Des Moines, Iowa to your location or come to Des Moines to pick the items up. The PDPs will all have to be picked up as each is in a 6' tall rack about 24 inches wide and deep. All bids and trade offers should be made via private email as this is the only public posting I'll make. I'm not going to make up any complex rules about what bid I'll select or deadlines etc. But if I say you got it for a specific price/trade and a higher one comes in, well that's just too bad for me. So don't expect an IMMEDIATE answer on your bid. If you need more information/specifics on an item, send me private email and I'll give you all the info I can to help you make a decision. Let the frenzy begin!!! =-) Anthony Clifton - Wirehead PS: I'll be discontinuing the website at www.retrocomputing.com in a month or so I can focus all my resources on the new venture.

28 years

More stuff acquired

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

>(Why does everybody have an IPC but me? I want my IPC!) Not everyone... I'm still looking for mine. 8^( I swear, if Sam keeps posting all these neat finds, one of these days I'm gonna figure out where his garage is and pay him a visit (at about 3am)... 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

Tandy web page malarkey

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Sam Ismail <dastar(a)wco.com> writes: > Oh come on. The PET I can agree with, but the TRS-80 still required the > purchase of an external monitor, and one could just as easily (if not more Yes and no. You could buy a TRS-80 without the monitor, but Radio Shack advertisements featured it as a system including the monitor and cassette recorder, and the featured prices were for complete systems (not like the "monitor not included" you see in computer ads these days). And the pricing was set up so that if you bought the computer and the monitor you got the cassette recorder and manual "included free". Source: "Radio Shack TRS-80 Microcomputer System Products" catalog "New for 1978", and I'm thinkin' I got it in early 1978, certainly before I saw a Level II BASIC system -Frank McConnell

28 years

profile controller card needed.

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

if you have one that works, i need it so i can actually use a profile i have. i can either trade pc or apple // cards including apple mouse cards or buy it outright. message me privately, please. david

28 years

More stuff acquired

by dastar＠wco.com

Well, I picked up some more goodies today. An HP Integral PC. I didn't much pay attention to the one Frank M. brought to VCF 1.0 so it was all new to me when I actually started messing with this one. I couldn't get it to do anything useful though. How do I drop out of PAM and into a shell? This one has a 1Meg RAM Carrier and a Serial Interface. An HP75D in a little docking station which has a built-in modem. The computer itself has a Text Formatter ROM module and an 8K RAM module (its neat, it tucks away inside the battery compartment). It also has a magnetic program strip reader. A Yamaha Music Computer. This is one of those MSX jobbies. I got a fairly complete system: computer, printer, 3.5" disk drive, music keyboard, some carthridges & tapes, manuals. It's pretty neat. Here's a hoot from the _MSX BASIC Reference Manual_: "MSX is an open ended system standardized throughout its full range of manufacturers and models--the final step towards the dream of perfect compatibility." I paid $120 for this lot, which was more than I wanted to. I guess I didn't do too bad considering I talked the guy down from $200. Well, come to think of it, with the completeness of the Yamaha, plus the fact that MSX computers are so rare in the states, and the cool factor and scarcity of the Integral PC, $120 isn't bad, but its still more than I wanted to pay :) Oh yeah, somehow my 220v computer came up and the seller ended up lending me a 110/220 step up/down transformer. The only problem with using this on the 220 computer I have is that it has those funky European two-prong outlets on it, and no exposed wiring. Now I'll have to go find some funky Euro two-prong plugs. I appreciate all the responses I received regarding my query. I just haven't had time to go through them yet. But I'm hoping I can leave the original power supply intact inside the computer and not have to do any modifications to it by using this transformer. My only reservation is the fact that it doesn't have a ground plug. I'm sure I can just pass the ground connection on from the computer to my wall outlet since the ground lead is attached directly to the computer case, no? BTW, the computer in question is the California Technology International 1032-A Z80 machine (crica 1979) that I mentioned was among the rarer in my collection. It has a 1-line by 16 character 16-segment LED display, a built-in stringy floppy drive, and 32K RAM. The keyboard is a flat membrane. A very odd beast. I got it shipped from a guy in Denmark, which explains the 220v power supply. Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ever onward. September 26 & 27...Vintage Computer Festival 2 See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details! [Last web page update: 05/11/98]

28 years

Best way to read N* disks??

by rcini＠email.msn.com

Hello, all: What's the best way to read N* DSDD CPM disks on a PeeCee? I downloaded 22disk from Sydex, but the configuration file that lists the supported CPM types does not list Northstar. Maybe it's supported in the full version of 22disk. Anyone know? Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com> (remove nospam_ to use) ClubWin! Charter Member (6) MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking Collector of classic computers <<<========== Reply Separator ==========>>>

28 years

Prices to pay for old computers...

by rcini＠email.msn.com

On Fri, 22 May 1998 08:46:50 -0700, Kip Crosby <engine(a)chac.org> wrote At 11:20 5/22/98 -0400, Marty wrote: > What exactly is the distinction between the "Series 0" and "Series 1?" > To me a no floppy 5150 16KB-64KB would be missing a floppy controller > and floppy drives. >>I don't know and have never known. Unless I miss my guess, the tech ref >>was the same for all 16-64's, so there's probably no telling from docs >>unless someone has access to IBM internal memos. I thought that I remember reading somewhere that the difference was the ROM version. There were two versions, one in early August, 1981, and one in late-August (I have a FAQ on this somewhere, I just have to find it). The early-August machines are *very* rare from what I have read. Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com> (remove nospam_ to use) ClubWin! Charter Member (6) MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking Collector of classic computers <<<========== Reply Separator ==========>>>

28 years

Voltages on S/34 DC distribution panel

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

Thanks, but I've decided to give the thing to William Donzelli if he has the time to pick it up. If not, it's one less System/34 in the world (the administration cares not for computer history). > >The plate at the very top of this assembly is +5V distribution. >The smaller plate just below and left of it is the O/C Sense Plate. > >Pins on middle DC panel: >+5 VDC Feature PS B >+12VDC Feature PS A >+12VDC Feature PS A (Or regulator) >ditto >-4VDC base >-4vdc base >+6vdc base >-5vdc base >ditto >ditto >+8.5 vdc base >ditto >+24VDC base >ditto >-24VDC base > >The bottom panel is the Feature Distribution Assembly >Pins: >+5VDC Feature PS C >ditto >+8.5VDC >+12VDC >-5VDC >-12VDC >+5VDC Feature PS D >ditto > >There! > >This came from the IBM System/34 5340 System Unit Maintenance Manual. >(SY31-0457-5) >------- > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

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test-drb