test-drb

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

101090 discussions

Photo of Smithsonian microcomputer exhibit

by lisard＠zetnet.co.uk

tim shoppa: :But you can't just run an Apple I emulator on the Apple II. The :memory maps are completely different and the video chain of the :Apple I is radically different than any home micro designed since :the late 70's (i.e. it is *not* a memory-mapped video system; it's :closer to a dumb terminal bolted onto a 6502. Well, a really dumb :dumb terminal :-) ) hell, you can emulate anything on anything. it'd just mean you had to emulate a 6502 on a 6502 and trap the pesky screen-write instructions. then again, some things are better left undone... ;> for the benefit of the unenlightened (ie. communa), could you please decsribe the principles of the apple i's video system? thanks. (or point us in the direction of such a description.) -- Communa (together) we remember... we'll see you falling you know soft spoken changes nothing to sing within her... Net-Tamer V 1.08X - Test Drive

28 years, 1 month

Modern Minimalism (Was: Future Computing Trends)

by lisard＠zetnet.co.uk

jeff said :Oh man, now you're talking! I really wanted to Use Arachne as my :web browser, but I could never get the TCP/IP package to work :(either KLOS, or the other one whose name escapes me). we had good results with DOSPPP, the conversions of the linux daemons. they should be available on simtel. very good; haven't let us down yet (except when the machine we run gets confused about which com ports it has and hasn't got). and you can put pppd and comtool in your dos directory and build a dialling batch file without lots of little bitty files lying around :> arachne is a good browser, yes (someone mentioned webspyder - that's just arachne rebadged, isn't it?) but we got annoyed with the resources. now we use a combination of htget and kevin solway's vh if we're reading, or nettamer if we're searching. -- Communa (together) we remember... we'll see you falling you know soft spoken changes nothing to sing within her... Net-Tamer V 1.08X - Test Drive

28 years, 1 month

IMSAI 8080 <> TRS-80

by MPritchard＠EnsembleStudios.com

I noticed it all right.... only off by the make of computer and 5 years... *sigh* <gag> <choak> -Matt Pritchard Graphics Engine and Optimization Specialist > -----Original Message----- > From: bill_r(a)inetnebr.com [SMTP:bill_r@inetnebr.com] > Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 1998 8:36 AM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: IMSAI 8080 <> TRS-80 > > Did anyone besides me notice that, judging by their ad in the latest > issue of Computer Gaming World magazine, the software division of > Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM INTERACTIVE INC.), producer of the original > "Wargames" motion picture, doesn't know the difference between an > IMSAI 8080 and a TRS-80? Their ad goes something like "In 1983, a > teenage computer hacker almost destroyed the world with one of these: > [picture of TRS-80 Model 1, with caption reading 'TRS-80, 4K RAM, no > hard drive']". It goes on to talk about how much damage he could do > with today's computers (go figure), and introduces their new > "Wargames" computer game. Maybe the marketing department should jog > down to the film vault and watch the movie, because _it_ used an IMSAI > 8080 with a piece of paper stuck over the name for the young > "hacker's" computer. Sheesh. > > -Bill Richman > bill_r(a)inetnebr.com > http://incolor.inetnebr.com/bill_r > (Home of the COSMAC Elf Simulator!)

28 years, 1 month

Modern Minimalism (Was: Future Computing Trends)

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

What would be nice is an ELKS-like thing for DOS, so that one could stick in a floppy disk, and it would boot into any program that you choose, without Command.Com. This would be great for web browsers. But I really don't get this emphasis on making multimedia kiosks with weird software combos! Every other OS page is about this, and I would like to see something besides using DOS to sell clothes... >>QNX is a very small micro-kernel OS that has the look of Windows 95, has >>builtin TCP/IP networking, a notepad, a few other little doodads, and to >>top it off, a fully functional HTML 3.2 compliant web browser. Also > >Okay, QNX sounds pretty cool, but I hafta throw my vote in for Arachne. >Graphical DOS web browser runs on anything, I think, and works great. I >found it when I was looking for something to preview my web pages in (I do >'em in a DOS Editor). > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 1 month

FW: still want one??

by DFRITZKE＠ci.crystal.mn.us

---------- From: DAVID FRITZKE To: displaywriter Subject: still want one?? Date: Wednesday, February 25, 1998 1:22PM Hey, I have an IBM displaywriter system I am looking to unload. I thought I'd spend a second trying to find somebody who may want one, and I ran across your address. I've got the whole works, manuals, disks galore "toaster" floppy drive (what is up with the dual cables??) I was hoping to find a driver for the hammerhead printer so my Dad could use it with his "new" 486dx33 and Microsoft word. The printer has a standard serial connector, so I was hopin'...........??? dave PS I wish I still had my Zenith PC2, sigh.

28 years, 1 month

Weekend finds! (CPU's, Printers, Disk Drives, Software, etc.!!)

by archive＠navix.net

Hello: This weekend I was fortunate to have made some very good finds.... all in one place, all at one time! Anyway, below is a list of the truck-load I got. Along with many of the items is a question or two, and this is where I am hoping you could please help me out! At the very end is the total price I paid for everything as one lot. Let me know if you think it was a good buy or not. Maybe let me know some current values to you collectors? Also let me know if you're interested in any of the items... we may be able to work out a deal. Basically, all items can be considered FOR-SALE!! Remember, this is just what I acquired this last weekend. Feel free to check out the URL on my signature at the bottom to find our complete inventory (well, minus about 5000 items we are trying to get entered into the computer!!) Oh, and the site is quite new, so many links are broken yet, and the pages are far from complete!! Give me a few days :-) Oh, please forgive me, as I know some of you don't enjoy reading these "weekend additions." But, I figured this was the best place to post my questions as well. Thank you very much, and please let me know if you would like any of this stuff, or have more information on any of it! 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 | | |___________________________________________________| | \____________________________________________________\| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The list follows: Computers/CPU's ---------------------- *Epson HX-40! On the front of this little laptop, it says "MajicBox." Has a LCD, adjustable (tilt) display, full keyboard and is model #H401A. It runs off batteries or a rechargeable battery pack which is still with the machine. Has a "backup on/off" switch on the underside. Also on the underside is a bay for programmable ROM chips. Without the chip inserted, it boots to an A> prompt, but I don't know what I can do after that. Does anyone have a BASIC chip for it. With the chip inserted, it boots to a Pharmecy drug order program that is pretty slick. This computer has ports for cassette, seriel, RS-232C, and printer. Also has something labeled cartridge out, but I can't get it to do anything. It looks like it's been converted with something that looks like a audio jack, from the factory or factory add-on. There is also a small compartment on the right of the monitor -- unknown use. It looks very similar to the Epson HX-20 -- which is known as the first lap-top. Could some of you give me some more information on my particular unit? I could find no information searching the web! *Data General One laptop. This was made by Data General in the early 1980s.... it is said to be the first successful laptop. Full screen, and two 3.5" disk drives. Curious if it has a ahrd drive inside. I really need power supply information for this, does anyone have it?? What type of software does it run? This is in near mint condition and want to get it up and running. It is said to be working, but I really need that power supply!! *Visual -- I have no information on this one! Full keyboard.. missing the keypad Return key. Dual 5.25" drives. Has a phone jack i the front by the keyboard. It says the Model is a Visual 1083, and is made by Visual in Lowell, MA. Does anyone have more information on this??? *Hewlett Packard 9121. Does anyone have some info on this for me? It has dual 3.5" drives. No monitor, etc. with it. What kind of software does it run, etc., etc.? *Laser 386/SX-25 CPU. Has both 3.5" and 5.25" disk drives. Also has a VGA card, and a 100+ meg hard drive. Boots up great --- has 1.5 (??) meg of Ram.... need a keyboard for this guy. I thought my TRS-80 Model 2000 keyboard would work. The keyboard gets power, recognizes caps, etc., but still get a keyboard error --- anyone have any ideas? *Apple //c computer. Works perfectly *Apple //c computer. Works perfectly *Apple //c computer. Works perfectly *Apple //c computer. Works perfectly *3 empty Apple //e cases. Does have keyboard and keyboard circuitry. One case has a volume knob and a ear-phone jack added to it. *Apple //e computer. Long cable coming out of the back. *Franklin Ace 1000 computer.  Apple compatible... great condition. *TRS-80 Model 1 - keyboard only. Missing the #8 key from the keypad. Cat # 26-1006 *Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer 2 - cat# 26-3026 Serial # 0007201- a lot of yellowing. *Tandy Personal Computer keyboard for the Tandy 1000 series. * Tandy TRS-80 Personal Computer keyboard for the TRS-80 Model 2000 computer *Tandy TRS-80 Model 2000 #26-5103 - great condition. Dual 5.25" drives. What DOS does this run? *Commodore Vic-20 computer. Great shape, works excellent! *Commodore Plus/4 computer. Mint condition with original box, power supply, & cables. Also both factory manuals. *Commodore 128D computer. Mint condition CPU. No monitor, disk drives, cables, etc. What does it take... also what type of keyboard does it use? Monitors ---------- *Apple monochrome monitor. Aug. 1989 - Model #A2M6016 * Apple //c monochrome (?) monitor - Model #G090S -- has some screen shimmying going on. *Apple high-resolution monochrome monitor. Model # M0400 works great. *Tandy TRS-80 High Resultion Color Monitor CM-1 . Model #26-5112 with all cables. *Tandy RGB Color Monitor CM-5 *Three more Apple monitors -- info on them not handy right now. Oh, one is an Apple /// monitor? Disk drives, other storage ----------- *Three IBM disk drives (5.25") info. not available right now on them. *2 more Apple disk drives - specifics not handy right now. *FileSafe Tape Series 7150 by Mountain. I believe this is a type of tape storage system. I have no power supply, and am wanting more information on this. What computers used it? *Percomm Data 5.25" disk drive. No other writing on this silver case. Probably used with a TRS-80 Model 1 or similar computer. *Disk //c for the Apple //c. Model #A2M4050. Does this run off of the computer's power supply? It must. *5.25" disk drive. No information on it. It says it is by AE. External. Has built-in interface cable. *3 external Apple Unidisk drives. *Apple 3.5" disk drive for the macintosh. Model #M0130. *Super 5 5.25" disk drive. No info on this except it was made by EI-EN Enterprises in Tokyo. * 2 more Apple Disk // external drives. *Franklin Ace 10 disk drive for the Franklin Ace 1000. 5 1/4" disk drive.with built-in cable. *Apple UniDisk Model #A9M0104 -- newer style *Apple disk drive(?) No writing on the 5.25" drive -- colored like the Disk // units. *Tandy 10 Meg hard disk system. What computers was this made for? 1000 series?  #25-1025. Will it work with a Model 4 or CoCo 3?Underneath It says 3 head 303 Cylinder. Last repaired in 1988. *IBM 3.5" internal disk drive (??) Says TEC. *Need more info. on this one. Internal drive the size of a 5.25" drive. But, it looks like it takes small business-card sized wafers of some sort. Anyone heard of something like these for an IBM/compat? Printers ---------- *Imagewriter // printer for Apple *3 misc. printers - don't have their info right here now. *Radio Shack TRS-80 lineprinter VII *Radio Shack DMP 200 *Radio Shack Ink Jet Printer JP1000 *Commodore MPS 802 *Vic 1525 Graphic Printer *Apple image writer 2 *Hush 80 P portable printer. This is an odd bird? More info.?? It is by ergo systems. About a foot long by 4" wide. Looks like a thermal printer? Books/Manuals, etc ----------------------- Commodore 64 Programmer;s Reference Guide. 486 pages by Commodore. *Commodore 64 User's Guide - 170 pages or so --- by Commodore. *Commodore Wordstar Colt manual. From MicroPro. *Apple // UniDisk Owner's Manual *Apple //c Owner's Manual *Setting Up Your Apple //c *Apple // Model 300/1200 User's Manual -- still in shrink wrap. *leather Goddesses of Phobos cartoon maps by Infocom. Xerox's?? *Tandy DMP 203 User's Guide *Commodore 1802 Color Monitor User's Guide *ThinkTank: The First Idea Word Processor original manual and box for the Apple Mac. *A bunch of Apple books and manuals -- info. not handy right now. *Apple //c Scrube Printer User's Guide to the //c still in shrinkwrap. *Apple /// Imagewriter User's manual. *Apple // Disk Two Installation Manual. Miscellaneous ---------------- *Apple //c power supply *Apple //c power supply *Apple Scribe printer robbin cassette for use with Apple Scribe Printer. Unused. *Apple //c video accessories in original box. Comes with cable, TV switch box, and Modulator... any more info?? *Commodore 128 power supply. *Mustek Twain-Scan color handheld scanner. Still in box with installation software, PC card, & manuals! *10 Blank 5.25" diskettes - Memorex 2s/2d *Something called a BlackBox. It has a phone jack on one end and on the other it plugs into some type of port. Model #ME723B-M -- does anyone have some info on this? *KoalaPad. I think for the Commodore computer. Does anyone have some more info on this? Maybe some software? *Commodore Model 1200 Model #1670 *Joystick by IBM. Very small with a really odd connector on it (8 pin squares). *Concord Data System 224 - Is this a modem? It's a rectangualr box has has phone jacks on the back, and many labeled lights on the front. With power supply. *Apple roller (whatever they're called)... oh, track-ball type of deal. Model #Ap07055 *Three various Apple cables. TV/ Video cables, printer cables, and something else. Software ----------- *Samna word processor for IBM Dos 2.0, 2.1,  or 3.0 (3 disks) with manual and book holder. *The Hibbot for the Commodore 64 - with original box, manuals, maps, etc. Distributed by Addision-Wesley. *Radar Rat Race cartridge for the C-64 *MasterType cart for the C-64 *Below the Root (???) game copy on dissk for the Commodore 64. *Aztec game original box, manual, and game disk for the Apple/Commodore. *the Bard's Tale III Thief of Fate original box, manuals, code wheel, and disks (2) for C-64. *Aple //e original disk - An Introduction by Apple - written in Pascal. *Volcanoe orginal game disk by Softsmith for the Apple // - Franklin *OptionX " " " " *Little Speller " " " *SpaceWare Educational/Game software for the Apple series *Thunderclock basic software by Thunderware for the Apple (Dos 3.3) *Cosmos Screen Mixer utility software by Astar Co. for the Apple (?) original disk *The Assembler original disk by MicroSparc for the Apple *Certificate Maker original disks for the Apple // (2 disks) *The Newsroom for the Apple original disks by Springboard (2 disks) *VisiCalc for Apple by Personal Software, Inc. *VsiCalc progrma diskette for the Apple by VisiCorp. *The Professional Sign Maker original disk for Apple by Sunburst Software. *Apple //+, //e demo disk by Robot Corp *The Star Gazer's Guide for the APple original disk. *Xerox Desktop Publishing Series (10 disks) plus 4 disks of a patch. All original-- more info?? *Macrosoft for Apple *VAI II operating software for the Apple ][ and ][e *VAI II Exercises original disk for the Apple * Frogger for the Apple, distrib. by Main STreet Publishing *Space Shuttle, A Journey into Space by Activision - original disk *dig Dug for the Apple // family. Dist. by Thunder Mountain *Choplifter by Broderbund orginal game disk for the Apple (?) *Apple // orginal demo disk - dist. by Wichita Software * Vic-20 cartridges: Pin Ball, Omega Race, Jupiter Lander, Gorf, Radar Rat Race, Raid on Fort Knox, Avenger, Poker, Cosmic Cruncher, and Mole Attack In 8 cartridge storace holder. Was it all worth my $150. :-) ___________________________________________________ | 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, 1 month

Nec PC-8201a

by wraith＠prysm.net

Hello my name is Wraith and I am looking for a manual for the 8201a by NEC. If you have any information, please send it my way. I am a computer tech. and I also collect old computers. Thankyou for your time. Wraith

28 years, 1 month

Provenance and lineage

by Marty＠itgonline.com

I don't care for replicas. Instead of building a replica why not try to make your own design from scratch? At least it would be original. I don't have an Apple 1, doubt I'll ever luck into one at a reasonable cost and am happy with that (well... fatalistic anyway and have accepted the situation). At least the rest of what I'm preserving is real. No replicas/tributes/fakes for me. Marty Mintzell ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: Provenance and lineage Author: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu at internet Date: 2/25/98 12:57 PM At 09:41 2/25/98 -0500, Chuck wrote: >Scott Walde wrote: >> > >Thinking out loud: >> > >I wonder what the market would be for an Apple I replica? >Yeah, but!!! > >Can you picture the problems trying to document the lineage of a >'genuine' Altair, IMSAI, or Apple. That's called provenance, and antique dealers do it all the time -- and I've written provenance on an Apple One myself, which was easy, since the board was being bought from a retired Apple exec and he showed me all the right stuff. Car and airplane collectors have procedures in place to deal with these matters, and we will end up copying those. For example, there aren't many Bugattis around any more with ALL their original parts, but thanks to the infrastructure that's evolved, people simply know which parts are in what car. It only matters when they change hands, anyway. This is what's behind, for example, Chris Bachmann's attempt to establish an Apple One registry. Absent that, though, I think that any Apple One "replica" would currently be considered a forgery. __________________________________________ Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org http://www.chac.org/index.html Computer History Association of California ------ 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-1998Feb25.125728.1767.28732; Wed, 25 Feb 1998 12:57:28 -0500 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 JAA07558; Wed, 25 Feb 1998 09:49:36 -0800 Received: from mxu1.u.washington.edu (mxu1.u.washington.edu [140.142.32.8]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with ESMTP id JAA40054 for <classiccmp(a)lists.u.washington.edu>; Wed, 25 Feb 1998 09:49:20 -0800 Received: from relay.batnet.com (relay1.batnet.com [204.188.144.18]) by mxu1.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.09) with SMTP id JAA12177 for <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>; Wed, 25 Feb 1998 09:49:19 -0800 Received: from goldrush by relay.batnet.com (SMI-8.6/SMI-SVR4) id JAA12863; Wed, 25 Feb 1998 09:48:26 -0800 Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.19980225092735.011aa480(a)pop.batnet.com> Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 09:27:35 -0800 Reply-To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu Sender: CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu Precedence: bulk From: Kip Crosby <engine(a)chac.org> To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Provenance and lineage In-Reply-To: <34F42DB3.72E1(a)gamewood.net> References: <Pine.LNX.3.96.980225081924.1883A-100000(a)walde.cprompt.sk.ca> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" X-Sender: chac(a)pop.batnet.com X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN

28 years, 1 month

cold computing

by adavie＠mad.scientist.com

I feel so bloody silly. OK, so my eyes were blurry and I just woke up. And I wasn't wearing my glasses. Cold MEDICINE. Doh!! *sigh* -----Original Message----- From: Andrew Davie <adavie(a)mad.scientist.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, February 26, 1998 6:52 AM Subject: cold computing >Typing on a cold machine?!! Now THAT brings back memories. >I remember borrowing a friend's OSI Challenger 1P one winter. >With a metal case, and a fan that sucked air IN to the computer, and forced >it out the keyboard, that was one COLD cold cold way to program!! >A > >-----Original Message----- >From: George Rachor <george(a)racsys.rt.rain.com> >To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers ><classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> >Date: Thursday, February 26, 1998 6:39 AM >Subject: Re: Photo of Smithsonian microcomputer exhibit > > >>Oh no!.. not down that rat hole.... >>80% of the original Matchbox car! >> >> >> >>I shouldn't really type while on cold medicine. >> >>George Rachor >> >>========================================================= >>George L. Rachor george(a)racsys.rt.rain.com >>Beaverton, Oregon http://racsys.rt.rain.com >> >>On Wed, 25 Feb 1998, Tim Shoppa wrote: >> >>> > Maybe replicas should follow the example set by Matchbox (Diecast model >>> > cars). In their case all replicas were made at 80% of original size. >>> >>> A diecast car replica 80% of original size? That's a lot bigger than the >>> ones I used to play with as a kid! And isn't the lack of a motor a >>> dead give-away that it isn't the original? >>> >>> [ :=) for the humor-impaired ] >>> >>> Tim. >>> >> >> > >

28 years, 1 month

Photo of Smithsonian microcomputer exhibit

by higginbo＠netpath.net

At 06:54 PM 2/24/98 -0800, you wrote: >> A friend of mine was recently in D.C. and took this >> photo of the Microcomputer exhibit in the Smithsonian >> Museum. I recognize the Altair and the Sol but what >> is the Apple prototype sitting on the table? Here is the >> link to the photo... Thinking out loud: I wonder what the market would be for an Apple I replica?

28 years, 1 month

Punched tape reader being auctioned

by manney＠lrbcg.com

Description: 5'X5'X5',500#,GOES WITH CASE#7323S001. C.N.C. CONTROLLER FOR PRATT & WHITNEY MILLING MACHINE. It's at -- http://ltwebp.lerc.nasa.gov/980006detail.htm

28 years, 1 month

logic probe

by adavie＠mad.scientist.com

I asked my boss if he had a logic analyzer i could beg borrow or buy... his reply below. > Do you have a logic probe I can beg borrow or buy? I have quite a fancy 32-channel 100mhz unit, which I haven't used for many months. At around $8000 you would probably prefer to borrow rather than buy it... Mine is a 110v unit, so you'd want to remember to use a transformer... So, I'm assuming I'm set for a logic probe. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOw. Can it make tea and coffee too? At THAT price it better. Now for the Multimeter :) Cheers A -----Original Message----- From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, February 25, 1998 10:13 AM Subject: Re: a brain... my kingdom for a brain? >> >> Tony's comment, below... about the only equipment needed to repair... was >> helpful. >> So, as I have an Altair, a BBC, a KIM, a Sorcerer and various other beasties >> awaiting ressurection, and having little (well, OK... no) electronics >> experience, starting at square 1... >> a) What should I be looking for in a logic probe. Any recommended models >> (say, <$100) > >I did a lot of repairs using a very cheap Tandy/Radio Shack/Micronta >logic probe, which was officially a 10MHz unit (although it would do a >bit more than that). It only cost about $25, I think. Note that there's a >logic pulser (the equivalent of a signal injector) in the same range >which is a lot less useful than the probe, so if you go for this one make >sure you're buying the right unit. > >HP make some beautiful logic probes, but alas I've never seen one cheap >enough to be worth buying. They do turn up at radio rallies, though. > >It's 8 times your price range (!), but the HP LogicDart is excellent if >you are serious about repairs and doing new designs. Probably total >overkil for repairing micros, though. > >As regards specs, all you really need are TTL thresholds (you don't find >much else in micros - ECL is useful for some minis and workstations, but >few cheap logic probes have that), and pulse detection down to (say) >100ns or better. Just about any logic probe will do. > >> b) Ditto for multimeter. > >Again, you don't need too high a spec - high accuracy is not that useful >in most digital work. > >Analogue or Digital display is fine. I have both - the analogue meter is >better for looking at >What you need are : > >DC voltage ranges up to about 50V (you only need higher voltages if you >repair monitors, etc). A sensitivity of 20000 Ohms/volt (== 50uA fsd >current) for an analogue meter would be fine. Any digital meter would >have a low enough input current. >Ohms - especially a good continuity tester. A lot of faults are broken >wires, defective switches, etc. Make sure the continuity tester responds >quickly - you want to be able to clip on probe onto (say) a connector >pin at one end of a cable and run the probe down the pins at the other >end. If you have to stop for a few seconds on each pin you'll soon go mad. > >Again, that's a pretty low spec. AC voltage (up to mains) is useful for >checking transformers in linear supplies. Current ranges can be handy for >checking PSU load, etc. But I would estimate that 90%+ of all my >measurements are either DC voltage or resistance. > >If you can afford it, get a Fluke (a 77 or a 79 would be _very_ nice). >AVO is another good brand. And although I've never used one, there's a >meter from Tektronix which is probably good. > >If those are out of your price range, then just about _any_ digital meter >costing about $50.00 would be fine. It won't be as robust as the Fluke, >it won't be as accurate. But it'll be enough for most repairs. > >A recomendation. Get a cheap-ish meter like I've just recomended. When >you get more experience and want something better, get the Fluke. Put the >cheap one in the car for checking bulbs/battery/fuses/etc when you break >down. > > >> c) Where can I find a brain? :) > >I wish I knew :-). Mine needs upgrading :-) > >If you want a book recomendation, try 'The Art of Electronics' by Paul >Horrowitz and Winfield Hill. There's also a practical book 'The Student >Manual for the Art of Electronics' by (I think) T. Hayes and P. >Horrowitz. These books cover everything from resistors to >microprocessors, and have an intuitive rather than mathematical approach. >But you won't 'grow out' of them - there's a lot of good sound >information in there. > >> Actually, the Altair will be my first task. I'm thinking of #1 taking out >> all the boards. Good idea? > >Indeed. Pull the boards and clean all the edge connectors (and just about >any other metal-metal contact). > >-tony > >

28 years, 1 month

cold computing

by adavie＠mad.scientist.com

Typing on a cold machine?!! Now THAT brings back memories. I remember borrowing a friend's OSI Challenger 1P one winter. With a metal case, and a fan that sucked air IN to the computer, and forced it out the keyboard, that was one COLD cold cold way to program!! A -----Original Message----- From: George Rachor <george(a)racsys.rt.rain.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, February 26, 1998 6:39 AM Subject: Re: Photo of Smithsonian microcomputer exhibit >Oh no!.. not down that rat hole.... >80% of the original Matchbox car! > > > >I shouldn't really type while on cold medicine. > >George Rachor > >========================================================= >George L. Rachor george(a)racsys.rt.rain.com >Beaverton, Oregon http://racsys.rt.rain.com > >On Wed, 25 Feb 1998, Tim Shoppa wrote: > >> > Maybe replicas should follow the example set by Matchbox (Diecast model >> > cars). In their case all replicas were made at 80% of original size. >> >> A diecast car replica 80% of original size? That's a lot bigger than the >> ones I used to play with as a kid! And isn't the lack of a motor a >> dead give-away that it isn't the original? >> >> [ :=) for the humor-impaired ] >> >> Tim. >> > >

28 years, 1 month

front panels

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<b) The Intellec MCS8i panel can access not only the 64K address space of <the 8080 but also the 256 I/O ports. If you flip the right switch you can <use the top 8 switches to select a port and output data to it using the <bottom 8 switches. All this is done in hardware (the frontpanel simulates <an 8080 I/O cycle) without the use of the 8080. It was a neat hack too! Allison

28 years, 1 month

IBM 5250 emulator???

by foxvideo＠wincom.net

In one of our original PC's I found a board labeled "5250 emulator" with a 1 1/2" square chip and a fifteen pin connector on the back. Can anyone tell me anything about this? Thanks Charlie Fox

28 years, 1 month

BBC - something fell out

by adavie＠mad.scientist.com

Re: BBC repair Oh, forgot to mention I have this interesting gold thingy. It fell out of the BBC when i opened it. To be more precise, it was wedged between a couple of chips, which I guess were RAm. top right near the video connector. It's about half an inch long, looks like it wrapped around the end of a wire. Hollow, one end looks like it can be crimped (its split in half). THe other end shaped like the mouthpiece of a wooden flute/recorder. I have an image up. http://www.comcen.com.au/~adavie/bbc.jpg What is this and do I really really need it? A

28 years, 2 months

Modern Minimalism (Was: Future Computing Trends)

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

>QNX is a very small micro-kernel OS that has the look of Windows 95, has >builtin TCP/IP networking, a notepad, a few other little doodads, and to >top it off, a fully functional HTML 3.2 compliant web browser. Also Okay, QNX sounds pretty cool, but I hafta throw my vote in for Arachne. Graphical DOS web browser runs on anything, I think, and works great. I found it when I was looking for something to preview my web pages in (I do 'em in a DOS Editor). --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

DataNumerics DL8 more info...

by adavie＠mad.scientist.com

When I get it, I will :) >Has anyone actually opened up this Datanumericls DL8A to see if it has >a S-100 bus, power supply, etc?

28 years, 2 months

BBC Model B - video help

by adavie＠mad.scientist.com

>Firstly, does Mode 7 behave correctly? Not only does it have the simplest >mapping, it also uses different address buffers between the 6845 CRTC >chip and the RAM. On my diagram, IC10 and IC11 are used in Mode7. IC8 >and IC9 are used in all the other modes. So if _all_ modes, including >Mode7 are faulty, then it's unlikely to be a buffer problem. Mode 7 behaves as my earlier email. Basic repeat unit 64. Mode 0 behaves as if we had two mode 7 screens - and the repeat unit and behaviour unchanged. That would make it unlikely to be a buffer problem, by your reckoning. >Secondly, go into mode 0, and count the number of characters until it >repeats. Multiply that by 8 (to get the the number of bytes before it >repeats) and that'll tell you which address line to look at. Well, 64 characters. That would make it.... 256 bytes, no? Therefore, (guessing) um.... address line 8 (I start counting at 0). SO... uh.... where? Sorry I'm such an electronic idiot. A

28 years, 2 months

FW: Freebie Tape Drive in Milwaukee

by kyrrin2＠wizards.net

Anyone feel the urge to own a TU81 6250BPI tape drive that's in Milwaukee at the moment? Get in touch with this fellow... -=-=- <snip> -=-=- Path: Supernews70!Supernews73!supernews.com!sunqbc.risq.qc.ca!cpk-news-hub1.bbnplanet.com!news.bbnplanet.com!europa.clark.net!169.207.30.81!newsfeeds.sol.net!newsops.execpc.com!posts.execpc.com!daily-planet.newsops.execpc.com!usenet From: "Dan Reese" <danreese(a)execpc.com> Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec Subject: TU81E 9-track tape drive available Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 07:16:02 -0600 Organization: Exec-PC BBS Internet - Milwaukee, WI Lines: 15 Message-ID: <6cuh95$4md(a)newsops.execpc.com> NNTP-Posting-Host: bacrana-44.mdm.mke.execpc.com X-Trace: daily-planet.newsops.execpc.com 888326245 4813 (None) 169.207.82.172 X-Complaints-To: abuse(a)execpc.com X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.2106.4 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.2106.4 Xref: Supernews70 comp.sys.dec:60814 There is a TU81E 6250 BPS 9-track reel-to-reel tape drive available for the taking in Milwaukee, WI. Has been out of service for over a year, but was in good working order when last on-line. A KLESI adapter is also available for use in a Vax 4000 system. Connecting cables included, along with whatever manuals that can be found. You pick up, but will consider shipping if you absorb shipping costs. Contact: Dan Reese danreese(a)execpc.com -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, SysOp, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fido 1:343/272) kyrrin2 {at} wiz<ards> 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

front panels

by peacock＠simconv.com

The one thing you could do with a real front panel (not the debugger ROMs and a keyboard/LED display) is debug new card designs. Remember the Morrow S-100 extender card with the built-in logic probe? For those of us who wanted to build our own cards (remember wirewrap too?) but couldn't afford a home o-scope, much less a logic analyzer, the logic probe and single stepping front panel were invaluable. You could actually single step execute an I/O command and see the address and data bus decode on the peripheral card. And when you finished soldering that new 8KB static RAM board full of 2102s, you could see the bit change from 1 to 0 right before your eyes, no better way to find a bad chip or solder joint. The best thing IMSAI ever did was come out with a good front panel, not that wiring nightmare that MITS put on the Altair. I still have a running IMSAI with the front panel (circa 1977), plus an Ithaca Intersystems S-100 with the front panel, which was only a slight improvement over the IMSAI version. I also had one homebrew S-100 with the Wameco front panel, which used hex displays for address and data but otherwise was identical to the IMSAI front panel. Does anyone remember other front panel S-100 cards besides MITS, IMSAI, Ithaca, and Wameco? Wasn't there a Byte-8 sold by Olson Electronics for a while that also had a front panel?

28 years, 2 months

Vector Graghics

by francois.auradon＠worldnet.att.net

Well actually the Vector 4 (accoding to the doc) has both a Z80B and a 8088-2, they can be individually selected through the use of port 0cH and port 0dH. They are both clocked at 5.1 MHz. And yes the Floppies are hard sectored (16) for a total capacity of 630 KB. They can also be eqiped with a 5MB HD ------------------------------------------------------------- Fran?ois Visit the Sanctuary at: http://home.att.net/~francois.auradon >Yes it was. One of my s100 boxen is a Vector MX (s100 crate only none of >the original boards). The MX was z80 powered byt the Vector 4 may >have been 8088(cpm-86 V1). > >Allison >

28 years, 2 months

Photo of Smithsonian microcomputer exhibit

by altair8800＠hotmail.com

A friend of mine was recently in D.C. and took this photo of the Microcomputer exhibit in the Smithsonian Museum. I recognize the Altair and the Sol but what is the Apple prototype sitting on the table? Here is the link to the photo... http://home.att.net/~rwood54741/Museum50.jpg Bob Wood ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

North Star Horizon

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<I did some software work on a Horizon many years ago. As I recall, it ha <two full height 5.25" bays, a good sized power supply behind the bays (o <the right side) and a shorty S-100 card cage on the left, 8 card slots? <the NS motherboard also had some logic on the motherboard, at the rear. <believe there were one or two 8251 serial ports, a baud rate generator, <maybe a parallel port or interrupt controller (look for an Intel 8214 or <28-pin AMD IC)? Err no. The back plane will have two 8251 serial port and a parallel port and supporting ttl for same. It has a heartbeat timer for that can drive interrupts. The interrupt logic is on the CPU ZPB-A and it allows 1-of-8 RST locations to be used (z80 mode 0). there isn't a 8214 in the whole thing if it's a Horizon unless the board with it is not from NS*! BTW, 112 slots though a full 64k system could be configured in as few as three cards! The lineup would be CPU, 64k ram card, disk controller and the IO already built into the mother board(2 serial and 1 parallel). The power supply is responsable for 30% of the total weight and is electrically robust. It was easy to check, mine is sitting here cranking a z80 asm file. Allison

28 years, 2 months

North Star Horizon

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< I think it uses the S-100 bus. According to their manual, North Star <used the same disk controller in the Horizon that they sold for the S-10 <systems. I have a NS S-100 controller. They are the same electricaly and <software wise but maybe physically different. They are the same or close cousins and both S100. NS* prior to advantage was nothing but an S100 house. The first one sold (still have mine) was MDC-A a single density unit that cound address up to three single sided drives. The later MDS-A was a Double density controller for up to four twosided drives. Both were S100, the same form factor and had on board boot proms nominally at the same standard address. The latter DD version would read and write SD media as well. Now as to formats and non NS* controllers. NONE of the FDC chips can read the NS* format but a controller that could is easily built for most any bus or cpu capable of reading data at the required rate and doing the housework inbetween. Allison

28 years, 2 months

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