test-drb

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

101090 discussions

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<A question occurred to me today : Can you have an embedded analogue <computer, and if so, how many op-amps are needed to have one? Yes, and that's very common. None, a low pass filter(RC) performs a function and can be considered analogue. <I was looking at the service manual for my Micropolis 1203 hard disk, and <I read the circuit description of the servo electronics. It's a fairly <complicated array of op-amps, which combine integral and differential <forms of the position error, positioner current, etc. I would claim that <is an embedded analogue computer. Valid claim, also a good example of a fairly complex function. <On the other hand, I think it would be stretching the definition to call <a simple op-amp wired as a voltage follower an analogue computer. Correct. However often the buffer is between some function or follows one so it's part of the analog system. Other analog systems common to computers: cassette IO (low pass filter on output) and complex filter/differentiator edge/peak detectors for input. Some of the acients used PLLs for clock recovery (KANSAS City is one). Analog to digital conversion (quantification). Digtial to analog conversion (filtering) Disk/tape systems have several layers of analog function for data and control. Allison

28 years

Compaq laptop dock FS/Trade

by rhblake＠bbtel.com

Ok Compaq laptop owners (you know who you are). I have a near new unit to sell or trade as follows: Compaq 2815 Desktop Expansion Base. Looks a lot like the Prolinea line of desktops with a special lid to slide your laptop machine into a "bay". It has no drives (blanking plates) but has an internal contrller for floppy or hard disk and the empty bays. Has a token ring card now in one of the two ISA slots. Includes ports for VGA, LPT, COM, KB and mouse. Has an A/B switch on the rear that I really have no idea of it's use. This is like brand new but has no manuals. Looking for $100 cash or will consider trades of items such as memory, cdroms, sound cards (especially MCA PS/2 types), etc or a complete Snappy 3/3 Deluxe setup. I will also consider equal value electronics test equipment in trade especially function generators, signal generators, frequency counters, Fluke DMMs, etc. Email me direct please. -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 UIN #1714857 AOL Instant Messenger "RHBLAKEMAN" * Parts/Service/Upgrades and more for MOST Computers* --------------------------------------------------------------------

28 years

Artistic Computers (was: Re: Lost Treasures (was: Cray-1))

by cfandt＠servtech.com

Okay, first, where do we stop with the 'was:' things as an interesting thread evolves!? There may be a limit to number of nested parentheses in a subject line! ;-) At 16:52 30-04-98 -0500, Doug Yowza <yowza(a)yowza.com> wrote: >On Thu, 30 Apr 1998, Christian Fandt wrote: > >> Thankfully, the metal/plastic boxes our old computers were made with have >> virtually no value as 'interior decorations' (yet). However, there could be >> exceptions for maybe a couple of models. I recall some list members here >> had commented upon some as being rather attractive in appearance. I haven't >> come across those yet. > >Hmm, a list of computers that look good enough to display as art? Here's >mine (most are laptops): > >IMSAI 8080 >GRiD Compass >Ampere WS1 >MINDSET PC (good enough for MOMA, anyway) >NeXT Cube >eMate 300 > >-- Doug Anybody know of a URL or printed reference to a photo of an Ampere, MINDSET or eMate machine? Heard of them and I would like to see what they're like. I have somewhere in my archives old Popular Electronics and Byte mags which I'm sure show the others on Doug's list. Those NeXT machines were indeed pleasing to look at. I wish I could find one nearby here to see up close or/and purchase. --Chris -- -- Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian Jamestown, NY USA Member of Antique Wireless Association URL: http://www.ggw.org/freenet/a/awa/

28 years

Artistic Computers (was: Re: Lost Treasures (was: Cray-1))

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

>I'm actually keen on the contemporary Compaq designs and the cool Acer >designs with the neon colors and artistically drilled venting holes in the >dense pattern. Yep, those are cool. Also, I also kind of like the Toshiba's, the ones with those cool monitor/TV/speakers, and the box is awsome, too. And that new Toshiba model... the one in PC Week... the one that has that "30 second motherboard change", is finally a smart design, if not artistically pleasing. >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: 04/25/98] -Tim D. Hotze

28 years

Soviet Computer on the web

by dastar＠wco.com

I was going to post this when it was still relevant within the context of the thread but anyway.... Here's a web page with some pictures and information about a pretty fascinating Soviet mainframe: http://www.mailcom.com/besm6 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: 04/25/98]

28 years

Artistic Computers (was: Re: Lost Treasures (was: Cray-1))

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

What about the Monorail PC's (http://www.monorail.com)? Tim D. Hotze -----Original Message----- From: R. Stricklin (kjaeros) <red(a)bears.org> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Saturday, May 02, 1998 7:58 AM Subject: Re: Artistic Computers (was: Re: Lost Treasures (was: Cray-1)) >On Fri, 1 May 1998, William Donzelli wrote: > >> Speaking of which, what are the ugliest machines? > >Apollo DOMAIN computers and every last intel based PC manufactured since >1993 and _especially_ since 1995. Except the new IBM GL machines which are >actually kind of nice. > >ok >r. >

28 years

Suicidal HDD (OT mystery)

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

Well, the speakers are probably 6". We are playing instrumental music, nothing too heavy. Both drives were Micropolis, IDE-based, like most newer Macs. Nothing much bangs on the table, except the speaker vibrations. Could it be the Yamaha keyboard or amplifier (just regular black box) >> > >> > >> > >> > The speakers MIGHT be the problem. There is a pair of them, each >> > twice the size of an IMSAI, right beneath the macintosh >> >> I see... Now, while a lot of older drives locked the pack to the spindle >> using a fairly powerful magnet (and 3.5" floppy drives still do), I'd >> still not want to run a hard disk near speakers of that size. Can you >> rearange the layout of the room a little? >> >> -tony >> >Guys! I know of several deaf and impaired hearing people who likes >music at full blast thru regular quality 60W with subwoofer and their >hard drives cared nothing a whit about vibration level. I think >something is funny: (Thobbing of music...boom boom bop...) > >1. Did someone disconnect/connect scsi stuff often? >2. Did something bang the table where Mac sits often? >3. Specific brands is no better than some and why didn't Max give us >what kind of both toasted hds was? >4. Termination issues sometimes cooks the hd especially selection of >termination power used. >5. Sharp resonanent sounds sometimes can make the pc chassis >resosate thus killing hd life early. That does means to some >machines with plastic chassis and some that will resnsonate, shaking >the hd long and often. Push and pull on that hard drive bay to see >how much it can shift or "pluck" it to see if it does vibrate. > >Magnetic field have nearly no effect on hd's inside that steel boxes >unless Apple used plastic shell with thin tin sheets which that >requires you to remove either speakers or the pc to different >location at least 6" to 3 feet away. >Magnetic field strength falls away at logithmic rate with increaseing >distrance from the source. > >Jaosn D. > >> > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

kaypro<->IBM?

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

ive been in communication with a lady that has an old kaypro with a lot of text files on disk she wants to transfer to an IBM for further editing and safekeeping. i presume i need to cable their serial ports up and transfer that way, but exactly how? i need some sort of program to send the files on the kaypro i guess, but have nothing to do it with. if i can do this file transfer, i'll get two working kaypros, a TI word processor from 1985 and some NLQ dot matrix printer shipped to me free. david

28 years

Introduction

by rax＠warbaby.com

Hi All - Just joined the list - looks like a great resource for information. I've been collecting vintage micros for a couple of years now and only recently discovered there were other fools with the same bad habit. Currently I've got about 50 assorted Commodores, half-dozen Apple ]['s, two Kaypros, an Osborne Executive, a TRS-80, a couple of TI-99's, a bunch of Atari, Coleco and other game machines, and the rest of the garage is filled with boxes of tape drives, modems, printers and other peripheral stuff. I'm always interested in trading, so if there's something you need, let me know. I'll go back to lurking now. R. BTW - I've been compiling a chronological list of every computer ever made for a book that I'm working on - big stuff as well as micros. It's a pretty big file, but I'll post it (as a MS Word attachment?) if anyone is interested. -- Robert Arnold Managing Editor The MonkeyPool WebSite Content Development http://www.monkeypool.com Creator and Eminence Grise Warbaby: The WebSite. The Domain. The Empire. muahahahahaaaaa http://www.warbaby.com Dreadlocks on white boys give me the willies.

28 years

For you TI 99/4 collectors out there

by bill_r＠inetnebr.com

For you TI 99/4 collectors out there: >"Bill Frandsen" <bfrandse(a)rrnet.com> >I have the following package for auction on the eBay auction web site. It >ends in less than 24 hours. The current bid is $1.00, but it does have a >reserve price that has not been met. A picture is included at the following >link where you can also place your bid. > >http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=11843202 > >Set of 3 Different TI 99/4A Computers >One each of the major shell + keyboard revisions > >Includes 3 shell types: 1 Cream colored and 2 Black + Silver colored. >1 black + silver unit has a "Solid State Software" emblem under the cart >slot. >The other black + silver unit has different keyboard lettering and help >bezel. >Also includes 3 slightly different styles of working power supplies. >Will include 4 NON-WORKING RF Video Modulators (may be fixable?). >Also includes keyboard help reference strips and some blank strips. >All units have been cleaned and tested and work fine, however, >you will need a working RF Video Modulator or video cable to use them. > > >Thanks for your interest! > -Bill Richman bill_r(a)inetnebr.com http://incolor.inetnebr.com/bill_r (Home of the COSMAC Elf Simulator!)

28 years

Suicidal HDD (OT mystery)

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

Well, I guess I got my answer, so, if I may inquire, why is it that older hard drives did not need a clean room? Were they sufficiently rought that you could just pull them apart? >> distance? Is there a way to block their effects, using metal, for > >Well, mu-metal would be a reasonable screen, but it's not cheap and can't >be bent to shape after annealing. A larger room might well be cheaper! > >> example? Can I fix the broken drives? > >If it's magnetic damage to the servo information, then it's almost >impossible to repair. You'd need a clean room and the rig used to write >the information at the factory. I don't think many hobbyists have that >sort of setup. > >The other suggestion was mechanical damage from vibration. This might be >more likely, actually. Repairing that (which would be similar to a minor >headcrash) is going to be impossible as well. > >In general even _I_ class modern hard drives as being impossible to >repair. I'll do electronic repairs on the older winchesters (but modern >drives are all custom chips, so that's impossible now), and I'll repair >demountables with no problems at all. But I don't have a clean room to >dismantle the HDA (yet!) > >-tony > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

Suicidal HDD (OT mystery)

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

This room is about the size of a porta-potty. What would be a safe distance? Is there a way to block their effects, using metal, for example? Can I fix the broken drives? >> The speakers MIGHT be the problem. There is a pair of them, each >> twice the size of an IMSAI, right beneath the macintosh > >I see... Now, while a lot of older drives locked the pack to the spindle >using a fairly powerful magnet (and 3.5" floppy drives still do), I'd >still not want to run a hard disk near speakers of that size. Can you >rearange the layout of the room a little? > >-tony > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

Lost Treasures (was: Cray-1)

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

Well, Lisas are essentially the same case... > > ><Actually, the VT100 does have a rather nice look to it. If you insist ><that only computers go on the above list, I'll list it as a VT103. > >If it has to be a computer bow about a VT180 (CP/M) or PDT-11/130? > >Allison > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years

This sucks.

by DSEAGRAV＠toad.xkl.com

Well, the KS-10 deal went over like a lead baloon... It seems the HARDWARE to the system has already been packed off to Caterpillar Spares. But the SYSTEM (disk) is still there. THAT is what they were melting down. Not the whole rack, just the RP06 packs that had their data. When I was told the SYSTEM was intact and may be rescueable, we assumed the HARDWARE. When I asked about config, he assumed I meant "What's the monitor built for?" And they don't wanna give me those disks anyway. Basically, I went in and made a fool of myself... Oh well. Live and learn... -------

28 years

Introduction

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

Tony Duell wrote: >> Heck, I'd like to see a good computer taxonomy (you know, kingdom=digital, >> phylum=silicon, class=portable, order=laptop, family=grid, >> genus=1500-series, species=1535-EXP). > > On the grounds that all laptops are portables, I think I'd rather see > something like > > kingdom = {analogue, digital, quantum} > Phylum = {silicon, GaAs, Germanium (?), hollow-state, mechanical} > Class = {Mainframe, Mini, Workstation, Micro} > Order = {Rackmount, deskside, desktop, luggable, laptop, notebook, palmtop} > > (I know of at least one luggable mini, and I think a Sparcbook could > reasonably be called a laptop workstation) Ummm. Given the number of hybrids around (as we have seen from more recent posts), your system might be better. But AFAIK in the taxonomy used by biologists etc. the list of available classes is different for each phylum, the list of available orders different for each class, etc. But I have a computer that is hybrid analogue/digital (an EAI-1000, I think it's called, which is an analogue computer with a microprocessor doing an embedded control type job to run the system)... Philip. PS Luggable Mini = P850?

28 years

Anyone know where to find a Setup disk for Epson Equity II+?

by lfb107＠psu.edu

At 07:15 AM 5/1/98 -0700, Daniel A. Seagraves wrote: >One of ours lost it's CMOS. >------- Here's a zip of one. At one time it was available off of the Epson web page but I'm not sure if it still is. Anyway, it works for both II+ and III model Epsons. Enjoy! Les

28 years

Anyone know where to find a Setup disk for Epson Equity II+?

by DSEAGRAV＠toad.xkl.com

One of ours lost it's CMOS. -------

28 years

XT Power Supply help... (More Info)

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

OK... by some act of God, when I try to plug in the HDD alone, it spins up, along with the PSU. Now, when I take EVERYTHING out, that includes drives, cards, etc. and just give the motherboard power, it doesn't spin up at all. Yes, the black pins are in the middle, I know I've got a good connection... could this be the "No power" line thingy? Should a real-XT case work with a clone-XT motherboard? Thanks, Tim D. Hotze -----Original Message----- From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Friday, May 01, 1998 3:13 AM Subject: Re: XT Power Supply help... >> I've gone as far as epoxying a screw upside down onto the odd "security" screws >> way back when they started coming out and used a pliers/visegrips to turn the > >Or filing a nail to make a tool to fit some of the more obscure screws. > >If it has a head that stands proud of the surface, and if you don't care >about mangling the screw, then use a hacksaw to cut a slot in it. I got a >pile of AT bits at a radio rally, and that's what had been done to the >screws in the PSU. > >> > not to put a nail in the fuseholder, or put unsafe components in the >> > chopper circuit, or whatever. >> >> Uh, penny under the blown screw in fuse, cigarette pack foil around the blown AGC >> fuse. Let's do this right now. > >It's a well-known fact that to the UK public all fuses are 13A (the >standard/maximum one used in our mains plugs). I've seen said fuses in >all sorts of places that they don't belong. > >I've also seen the fuse wrapped in foil - where on earth does that >dangerous trick come from. I can't believe these lusers work it out for >themselves. > >-tony >

28 years

Computer Taxonomy

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<However, some of the very simple controllers in, e.g., lawn sprinkler <timers, etc. could possibly be classified as just programmable logic <elements -not really "computers". I can imagine a simple Epson or whateve <clock chip and a small programmable array logic (PAL) chip of some low co <type being setup with very simple I/O to act as the "programmable" contro <in those types of equipment. Or, rather, an application specific <integrated circuit or ASIC could be specially designed and fabricated to <replace all of this if production quantities are in the many thousands. <Still, no microprocessor chip though. This is not true, many VCRs have version of the NEC ucom75 chips, cmos single chip microprocessor(512b-2kb rom, 128nybbles of ram(max) lots of IO for various purposes). The TI1000 series were used in games and Microwave ovens. Most of the things like lawn spriklers controllers are chips like 8048/9, PIC, or other cheap in volume mask rom single chips micros. The list can go on but true ASICs are expensive to develope and limited in scope. There are an abundance of small very low cost single chip micros that can do tasks like those described. FYI what does seperate most of these from the general taxonomic classes is that the "program" is inaccessable on most of these so altering it is unlikely to impossible. Allison

28 years

Computer Taxonomy

by peacock＠simconv.com

> It would be tough (but valuable) to provide a truly comprehensive list. kingdom = {analogue, digital, quantum} Phylum = {silicon, GaAs, Germanium (?), hollow-state, mechanical} Class = {Mainframe, Mini, Workstation, Micro} Order = {Rackmount, deskside, desktop, luggable, laptop, notebook, palmtop} You are leaving out whole categories of computers. Where do VCR and microwave oven controllers fit in? How do you fit in user programmable and non-user programmable? What about digital storage scopes, logic analyzers? What about lawn sprinkler timers, aren't they "programmable"? Jack Peacock

28 years

Lost Treasures (was: Cray-1)

by Marty＠itgonline.com

Funny you should mention the Macquarium. Yesterday on my way home I stopped at a used computer store and found a Mac Plus Macquarium with the original documentation dated 1992 (a mere $60.00 for a butchered Mac... I wouldn't buy one because I don't think it's cute and don't want to encourage this practice). The top of the case had been quite roughly gouged out, a glass tank fitted inside the case. I'd seen this on the web before but thought it was a joke..... Marty ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: Lost Treasures (was: Cray-1) Author: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu at internet Date: 4/30/98 6:45 PM On Thu, 30 Apr 1998, Doug Yowza wrote: > > Thankfully, the metal/plastic boxes our old computers were made with have > > virtually no value as 'interior decorations' (yet). However, there could be > > exceptions for maybe a couple of models. I recall some list members here > > had commented upon some as being rather attractive in appearance. I haven't > > come across those yet. > > Hmm, a list of computers that look good enough to display as art? Here's > mine (most are laptops): > > IMSAI 8080 > GRiD Compass > Ampere WS1 > MINDSET PC (good enough for MOMA, anyway) > NeXT Cube > eMate 300 Of course you guys have heard of converting a Mac into a fish tnak? 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: 04/25/98] ------ Message Header Follows ------ Received: from lists3.u.washington.edu by smtp.itgonline.com (PostalUnion/SMTP(tm) v2.1.9i(b5) for Windows NT(tm)) id AA-1998Apr30.184519.1767.39626; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 18:45:19 -0400 Received: from host (lists.u.washington.edu [140.142.56.13]) by lists3.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with SMTP id PAA27000; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 15:38:26 -0700 Received: from mxu3.u.washington.edu (mxu3.u.washington.edu [140.142.33.7]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with ESMTP id PAA81022 for <classiccmp(a)lists.u.washington.edu>; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 15:38:21 -0700 Received: from shell.wco.com (shell.wco.com [199.4.94.16]) by mxu3.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.09) with ESMTP id PAA26284 for <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 15:38:05 -0700 Received: from shell (dastar@shell [199.4.94.16]) by shell.wco.com (8.8.5/8.8.5/WCO-18jul97) with SMTP id PAA00153 for <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>; Thu, 30 Apr 1998 15:38:15 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: <Pine.GSO.3.96.980430153749.24738C-100000@shell> Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 15:38:10 -0700 (PDT) Reply-To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu Sender: CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu Precedence: bulk From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)wco.com> To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Lost Treasures (was: Cray-1) In-Reply-To: <Pine.LNX.3.95.980430164313.14283A-100000(a)behemoth.host4u.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII X-To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> X-Sender: dastar@shell X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN

28 years

XT Power Supply help... (More Info)

by JRichardson＠softwright.co.uk

Hmm, must be too early... I suddenly remembered a situation like this I had with a motherboard a few years back... check the ISA slots; make sure nobody's stuck a card in there and mangled a few of the pins. This board I was given had the same trouble, and a couple of the pins were shorting out and the system was shutting it down. Nice three-second fix once I'd found the problem!! :) good luck, Jules >

28 years

Introduction

by fauradon＠pclink.com

Off Topic posts are the worst, second comes discussions about computers less than ten years old (which eventually fall in the off topic category) Try to locate the List FAQ to find out more (it doesn't list the flame war starters but if you can stick to the guidelines you'll be OK). Then again I'm not in charge of this list either. As a general rule this is a list for the discussion of more than ten year old computer equipment. Use plain text to send messages. Be nice and have fun. >Thanks for the tip. Let me know if there are any other no-no's or flame bait. > Francois ------------------------------------------------------------- Visit the Sanctuary at: http://www.pclink.com/fauradon

28 years

Tony Cole's Cray-1

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

Doug: > Is the reason those old radio/phonograph boxes are not being thrown > away is that noone notice the cover and thinks it's just a pretty > dresser w/o drawers :)? Also hideaway sewing machines. :-) I doubt it... The real crime is those who buy sewing machines with pedestals and treadles, throw away the sewing machine and turn the pedestal into an olde worlde iron framed coffee table. I am told by a friend in the trade that this is v. common. > Of course, the System/36 (I think, maybe not) was built into a desk. There was a system/36 that was the size of a desk pedestal but I never saw that particular variant. The system/32 (and possibly the s/38?) had a desk built into _it_... > And then there were the teletypes (are the ones that are mostly used > as examples of teletypes ASR-33?), printers, etc. Yes. Philip.

28 years

Tony Cole's Cray-1

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<VU = Valve, Rectifying (don't ask me to explain that one). Unidirectional...diode for dummies. Allison

28 years

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