> I don't think anyone can. I think it has to come from your account. Mail
to
> listserv(a)u.washington.edu
Oops. It's listproc(a)u.washington.edu
I think that is the first time I ever quoted my own message. :)
mhop(a)snip.net
> can someone please unsubscribe me? I'm on holliday and can't take the daily
> load of this list.
>
> Frank
I don't think anyone can. I think it has to come from your account. Mail to
listserv(a)u.washington.edu
> > Anyhind in today's list they had "'Why' behind the names"
> > The reason for certain names of companies/items.
> >
> > Apple - desire to be before "Atari" in the phone book.
>
<SNIP>
> apple and eating it. (all this up until this point is true) Then
> what I've heard is that Jobs wanted to name the company in memory of
> Turing's apple, which would explain the bite out of the apple.
>
I like that one. Good explanation for the bite.
>
> > Atari - to look like a Japanese company
>
> Atari is in fact a Japanese word. I forget what it means, but it's the
> equivalent of "checkmate" in the game of Go. Founder of Atari allegedly
> really liked Japanese culture and Go.
>
Pulled out the Japanese dictionary and the definition is close.
"a hit" or "on target".
For awhile I guess they were.
Marc
--
>> ANIME SENSHI <<
Marc D. Williams
marcw(a)lightside.com
marc.williams(a)mb.fidonet.org
IRC Nick: Senshi Channel: #dos
http://www.agate.net/~tvdog/internet.html -- DOS Internet Tools
In a message dated 97-04-29 00:50:04 EDT, Charles P. Hobbs writes:
<< As for the TI without any chrome at all . . .did it look painted, or . . .
>>
I didn't take a really close look but it didn't appear to be painted. It also
seemed to have a circle on the case above the keyboard.
Lou
I have an Osbourne Executive that is in fairly decent shape and for the
most part works fine. There's no burn-in on the CRT and both floppies work
great, but there seems to be a problem with the power supply or the video
system.
The system boots fine, but once it has booted, the image on the screen
begins to jump or shimmer, and you can hear the fan on the rear of the machine
appear to change speeds, as if there was a power fluctuation.
I would really like to find out what's wrong with this machine, and repair
it if possible, and am hesitant to run it the way it is. Any help would be
greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Jeff jeffh(a)eleventh.com
--
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sent from an Amiga 3000..the computer for the creative mind!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Collector of classic home computers:
Amiga 1000, Atari 800, 800XL, Mega-ST/2 and XE System, Commodore
C-128D, Plus/4 and VIC-20, IBM 5155, Kaypro 2X, Osbourne Executive
Radofin Aquarius, Sinclair ZX-81, TI-99/4A, Timex-Sinclair 1000,
TRS-80 Color Computer-3 and Model 4, plus Atari Superpong and
2600VCS game consoles.
>Magnetic-card programming of calculators was certainly around before
>then. My HP9100, for example, has a card reader/writer (though I've
>never used it - anybody have any cards compatible with this nearly
>3-decade-old classic?)
>
>Tim. (shoppa(a)triumf.ca)
I recently sold my HP9100b. It had several cards with it, and even a
program library book! Hang on to your 9100 what ever you do! I got $750
for mine, I'm sure an origional 9100 would go for a few more! It was the
first desktop calculator HP made, way back in 1967-69 (somewhere around
there)
Josh M. Nutzman
+----------------------------------------------+
|"Life is like a river, you go with the flow...|
| but in the end you usually end up dammed." |
| -The Red Green Show |
+----------------------------------------------+
Whilst in a self-induced trance, Steven J. Feinsmith happened to blather:
>Susan M Johnson wrote:
>> Currently, the H/Z-100 can run 8", 5 1/4" (40 & 96 tpi), and 3 1/2" (96
>> & 135 tpi) floppy disk drives; MFM hard drives (also RLL, although not
>> common), tape drives, and SCSI drives. CD-ROM drives are also possible.
>
>During days of H/Z-110 and 120... there are only two floppy disk drives,
>5.25" and 8". The 8" system was short lived. There was never using
>3.5"
>but some people successful attempted this way when H/Z-100 were no
>longer
>in market. They have to write a special software included BIOS to work
>with 3.5" drive. SCSI system on H/Z-110 or 120 was very rarely. Those
>days it was called SASI. There was never using tape drive or CD-ROM
>drives
>because H/Z-110 or 120 never use with IDE or EIDE. But it can use with
>SCSI based interfaced.
I have a few comments on what each of you said:
Steven: Notice that Susan wrote "Currently," at the beginning of the
sentance. That means that altho the 3.5" disk drives weren't available at
the time of the machine's introduction, you can easily get any machine that
uses the standard 34-pin floppy interface to use a 3.5" disk drive. I
currently use 3.5" drives on both my Atari 800 and my Tandy Color Computer
3, neither of which had 3.5" drives available at the time of their
introduction. Provided you were replacing an 80TkDSDD 5.25" (or lesser)
drive with an 80TkDSDD 3.5" drive, you would not need a new BIOS, as the
drives are electrically equivilant.
Steven: Also, SASI and SCSI are *different*, SASI being the precursor of
SCSI. Altho they are *somewhat* compatible IIRC, SCSI did have extra
features that could not be used with a SASI interface.
Susan: You're sentance above is slightly misleading, however, as there were
no 96tpi 3.5" drives that I've ever heard of (and I own some *weird* ones!)
Everything from the 200K SSSD Tandy Portable Disk Drive 2 (used for Tandy's
*early* non-MSDOS laptops) right on up to the 2.88Meg ED drives are 135TPI.
Hope this helps!
Roger "Merch" Merchberger
--
Roger Merchberger | If at first you don't succeed,
Programmer, NorthernWay | nuclear warhead disarmament should *not*
zmerch(a)northernway.net | be your first career choice.
> Hi, I saw the post on the old calculator so here's mine:
> A buddy of mine used to work at a Salvation Army so I got
> a lot of stuff that they threw out. One was an old TI
> calculator that had these strips you fed in one side and
> a motor pulled them through (almost like a credit card reader)
>
> What is it? How old is it?
>
> Probably a TI-59. I recall owning a TI-58c and TI-59 calculator back
> in high school. In fact, I think I still have the TI-59, books and
> cards for it buried somewhere. If anyone is interested, I don't have
> any desire to collect calculators.
In the movie _Sneakers_, Ben Kingsley plays an ex-hacker who is now the
financial data processing administrator for the Mob. He has a large
complex of systems including a very Cray-like central processor and all
sorts of fancy accessories. He's extolling the virtues of mob money to
Robert Redford's character, and to illustrate his point he turns on the
Cray's terminal... lo and behold, the Cray runs Microsoft Excel!
Since we were in a theater about 6 blocks from Microsoft corporate
campus, that scene was the biggest laugh of the film.
Kai
> ----------
> From: Brian L. Stuart[SMTP:stuart@colossus.mathcs.rhodes.edu]
> Reply To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
> Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 1997 3:32 PM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: Re: The List!
>
> Doug Spencer asks:
> >Actually, the III was visible for a second or so in Tron, wasn't it?
>
> I don't remember seeing an Apple III, but there was a glimps of
> a Cray 1. It wasn't in focus though )-:
>
> Brian L. Stuart
> Math/CS Dept, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN
> stuartb(a)acm.org
> http://www.mathcs.rhodes.edu/~stuart/
>
Due to massive amounts of caffeine & sleep deprivation, Mr. Self Destruct
said:
>Hi, I saw the post on the old calculator so here's mine:
>A buddy of mine used to work at a Salvation Army so I got
>a lot of stuff that they threw out. One was an old TI
>calculator that had these strips you fed in one side and
>a motor pulled them through (almost like a credit card reader)
>
>What is it? How old is it?
>
>Les
Sounds like you might be talking about the TI-59 (? did the TI-58 have this
capability also? I've never seen a 58). I used one in high school... really
neato once you got used to TI's programming practices. It also had a 32 or
40 column thermal printer that the calculator mounted to, and then the
printer served as the base.
The mag strip was mainly for data storage or user-created programs, as it
also had the capability to use pre-programmed ROM cartridges. They even had
a cartridge of games! ISTR a football game that printed out all the team
stats on the printer.
A very interesting piece of hardware. Hope this helps,
"Merch"
--
Roger Merchberger | If at first you don't succeed,
Programmer, NorthernWay | nuclear warhead disarmament should
zmerch(a)northernway.net | *not* be your first career choice.
Bill, it looks like I will have to unsubscribe then re-subscribe again.
I have not received any digest since May 1st.
Can you please reply with instructions?
Thanks!
Jeff R.
Hi Les,
In a message dated 97-05-08 07:54:21 EDT, you write:
<<
Hi, I saw the post on the old calculator so here's mine:
A buddy of mine used to work at a Salvation Army so I got
a lot of stuff that they threw out. One was an old TI
calculator that had these strips you fed in one side and
a motor pulled them through (almost like a credit card reader)
What is it? How old is it?
>>
It was either a SR-52 (1975) or TI-59 (1977). The first had a 100 step
memory, the latter a 960 step memory. You could store programs and data on
those tiny magnetic strips (guess they were like tiny floppies - except you
turned the card around to read the second track)!
Really great "micro-micro" computers. A terrific way to learn the thought
process of efficient programming (once wrote a Social Security retirement
program on the TI-59). What one could do when the bytes were few!
John Hamilton
hamijohn(a)aol.com
"Life would be much easier if I had the source code ..."
Hi, I saw the post on the old calculator so here's mine:
A buddy of mine used to work at a Salvation Army so I got
a lot of stuff that they threw out. One was an old TI
calculator that had these strips you fed in one side and
a motor pulled them through (almost like a credit card reader)
What is it? How old is it?
Les
Should be a simple one, but lets see... (and 'cause I can't get to that
section of my archives!)
Card from an Apple II, wondering if it might be the interface for a ProFile
HD.
Markings on card:
Xebec (now you know why I suspect a HD ctrlr)
FCC ID CF77KL103916APPLE
Assy 103916-04
Rev H-04
S/N 9-0733
What says the council?
-jim
---
jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com
The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw
Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174
> What about Popular Computing? I have a note that I want to find #38, and I
> don't even remember why.
You mean vol 3, number 8? June of 84?
(I have been cleaning up my apt and am find lots of old stuff)
mhop(a)snip.net
> I'm sorry but I can't recall a scene in any movie that resembles a real
> use of a computer. Face it computers on film are boring. That's why
> every movie computer has animated graphics and makes noises every time
> you do something.
What about the movie Outland? The Doc used a computer to analyze a dead man's
blood for drugs, and the graphics were reasonably occilloscopic-like to seem
realistic.
Don't forget "Mother" in Alien. No graphics, just reporting the facts.
mhop(a)snip.net
Since I am a real fan of computers in movies and books let me try to
clarify some of this stuff...
Doug Spencer:
>Actually, the (Apple) III was visible for a second or so in Tron, wasn't it?
That's the machine in Flynn's place, he was hacking into the Encomm
system with it. Later they show Flynn and Laura Sneaking through a data
processing center on their way to to a terminal in Laser Bay 2. I don't
know minis from mainframes, so I'll leave it at that.
From: "Starling" <starling(a)umr.edu>
> I recently found out that _Weird Science_ possibly has an Apple Lisa in
> it and that some chick is named Lisa because she was designed on the
> computer. Never seen the flick, but I think I might have to now...
When the computer created girl asked for a name, Gary suggested Lisa, a
girl he met in school who he had a crush on.
They show what looks like an IBM clone (modular Franklin unit?) at
Wyatt's house, (I like that RETURN key with the flashing lights,
probably even if you had it and instructed the user to press it they
still would press the wrong one.) Also shows a terminal and bank of
large reel-to-reel tape units in the 'military center' they hacked into.
From: "Scott Walde" <scott(a)saskatoon.com>
> And wasn't there an IMSAI in War Games? (It's been a long time, though.)
Yes, pretty blue and red switches, lights, with 8 inch drives.
From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)crl.com>
> I thought it was simply amazing how that blind guy could figure out what
> an electronic device did by simply rubbing his fingers over the
> components. THAT'S INCREDIBLE! But I digress.
First he ran his fingers over the box and then had the kid power it up
and interface it to his braille reader, then he scanned the output
through the reader. I thought that movie had good merit behind it's
ideas...
> I thought the most realistic computer scenes in terms of relevance to
> reality were in War Games.
I consider parts of it a documentary. Was a great boon for the BBS
community. War dialing was well explained (and also given that name) in
the film.
From: "Mr. Self Destruct" <more(a)camlaw.rutgers.edu>
> MST3k... that had a requisite mad scientist with his super
> computer which consisted of a giant steel box with a rectangular hole in
> the top of it from which peeked a VIC-20!
Well at least someone knows a 'Super' Computer when they see one. *grin*
From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)crl.com>
> This is almost the same as asking why the new alien species which they
> just came into contact with speaks english.
Ship's computer translates alien tongues via crew's communicators, Deep
Space Nine and Voyager have been clearing that up in recent episodes.
Sighting for you classic fans:
Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan: In Kirk's place, in front of the
window, an original PET computer (BASIC startup screen showing)
From: Tim Shoppa <shoppa(a)alph02.triumf.ca>
>> I thought the most realistic computer scenes in terms of relevance to
>> reality were in War Games.
> A voice-activated IMSAI?
The IMSAI wasn't voice activated, it had a voice sythesiser (must be a
standard issue, even the 'crystal palace' had them), which at times
failed to narrate all the text being displayed on the screen.
> The horrible corruption of the term "hacker"
> to mean "cracker", all due to the cluelessness of the screenplay
> writers? War Games is/was an incredible insult to the true
> switch-flipping hacker community.
I don't think the term 'hacker' was used.. They just said 'someone' or
'that kid' broke into the WOPR. No, "Hackers" was the bad press film,
yuck!
From: "Charles P. Hobbs" <transit(a)primenet.com>
> Speaking of computers in movies, anyone remember a late-1981(?) flick
> called "Evilspeak" where the nerdy kid uses his computer to cast
> Satanic spells (the commercial showed an Apple II with a pentagram on
> the screen!)
That Apple II was in the movie too. Coopersmith used it to translate
the evil texts.
From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)crl.com>
> Actually, one of the best (in terms of sillyness) was this movie called
> DemonSeed where this super-computer becomes sentient, kills its creator,
Nope, Proteus kills a technician who came by to see why the creator's
soon to be ex-wife's home automation system was malfunctioning.
> [Proteus] then creates a metallic penis (I am NOT making this up) that it uses to
> impregnant the creator's wife, whom he is holding captive.
Sorry, the egg is removed via robot (the hand on the wheelchair),
altered and then replaced.
> She has a 30 day (or so) gestation period and gives birth to the computer's child who
> grows up to around age 8 or so in about 3 days. I forget what happens
> after that.
Proteus is shut down and the incubator starts to fail, the creator helps
the then 'thing' out of it, (at that point the wife freaks, as she
thinks she has been majorly used by Proteous and wants to kill the
'thing'), they discover there is a shell covering the child (who has the
likeness of their recently deceased daughter) They wash and carress the
child as their own.
> I think the kid just babbles about some philosophical crap
"I live!" she says in Proteus' voice. (philosophical alright)
> and the movie ends. I recommend it.
So do I. "Demon Seed" along with "Colossus: the Forbin Project" and
"Tron", 3 movies about computers that aren't actaully as bad as they
were portrayed. All of them had noble goals in mind but the reluctance
of 'change for the betterment of all' and fear of their creators lead to
their eventual downfall.
If any of you are into reading books or watching movies where
computers play a key role (or character) check out the list I'm
compiling on my web site (address below.)
Larry Anderson
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Visit our web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare
Call our BBS (Silicon Realms BBS 300-2400 baud) at: (209) 754-1363
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(Patriot Games)
| Hardly. I don't know of an operating system that yanks the
file contents off
| of your screen when someone else on the network deletes them.
Windows?
(Ferris Bueller)
| Hardly. Unless he was using some sort of remote control
software (like
| PCAnywhere) or the principal was running a BBS, I don't know
of a program
| that shows someone editing database fields in realtime.
Well, the bit about seeing the cursor move was dramatic license, but
certainly there are numerous databases that will show dynamic updates in
real time.
| Actually I still think she's cute. I wish I had a cute chick
| interested in me when I was a total teenage computer geek
(yeah right).
Well... there was the english professor's daughter, Becka... but she
wasn't interested in my computer, she liked my... er... poetry.
Kai
| From: Larry Anderson & Diane
Hare[SMTP:foxnhare@goldrush.com]
| If any of you are into reading books or watching movies
where
| computers play a key role (or character) check out the list
I'm
| compiling on my web site (address below.)
Try this:
http://us.imdb.com/M/search_plots?for=computer
Kai
At 09:29 AM 5/7/97 -0700, Kai Kaltenbach wrote:
>_Ferris Bueller's Day Off_ has Ferris breaking into his school's system
>remotely and changing his grades ...
while that sounds like something Ferris Bueller would do, i think you're
thinking of the early part of War Games (before he started WW III) where he
logs into the school computer (password: pencil).
- glenn
| From: Greg
Mast[SMTP:gmast@polymail.cpunix.calpoly.edu]
| I'm sorry but I can't recall a scene in any movie that
resembles a real
| use of a computer.
There was a pretty good, rather realistic scene in _Patriot Games_ where
Harrison Ford has logged his nemesis' account and is grabbing files full
of evidence, while the other guy frantically tries to delete them.
_Ferris Bueller's Day Off_ has Ferris breaking into his school's system
remotely and changing his grades in a fairly realistic manner.
In _Under Siege 2: Dark Territory_, the hero wires into a broken pay
phone with a Newton and sends an emergency fax. I had a Newton at the
time, and loved this bit.
And _Wargames_ was actually pretty realistic; he had the IMSAI with
voice synth (probably a CompuTalker) and a demon dialer program, all of
which were acceptable realism for me. Plus, at the time, we all thought
Ally Sheedy was pretty cute.
Kai
Bill,
You should write a message to NEW-LIST(a)LISTSERV.NODAK.EDU announcing the
birth of CLASSICCMP. That way, you will reach most of the people who
maintain mailing list databases etc.
Bill wrote:
> I've been reasearching the possibility of putting old magazine articles
> up on the ClassicCmp web site.
What about Popular Computing? I have a note that I want to find #38, and I
don't even remember why.
Anyway, the idea is great!
/Fredrik
Good choice of subject, Sam! If you had just used "yo" again, I might have
missed this one. :-)
> One of the things I saw at the last swap meet I was at was a Victor PC.
If it said "Victor PC" and nothing else it was almost certainly a PC
clone. Victor was originally an American company (later moved to Sweden)
and started out making their own PCs (ie not IBM clones). Their most
successful early model must have been the Victor 9000, one of the biggest
wants for my collection. It was one of the first pure 16-bit PCs and
featured very nice monochrome graphics. The keyboard layout is similar to
a PC and it has 2 5.25" floppy drives, so this might have been what you
saw. It could run both CP/M and a ported version of MS-DOS. The 9000 was
marketed in Britain with the name Sirius ACT-1 or Apricot 1 or something
like that.
If I remember correctly the 9000 had a dark case and black keys.
Later, Victor started making IBM clones, which they continued doing until
AST bought them one or two years ago.
Anyway, even if what you saw was a 9000 it was probably not worth $40.
/Fredrik