test-drb

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

101090 discussions

by scott＠saskatoon.com

> *** Preliminary Announcement *** > > First Annual Classic Computer Collector Conference Sounds like fun. > Classic Computer Pioneer - every year an > Nominees: Gary Kildall, creator of > CP/M; Steve Wozniak; ??? How about Chuck Peddle? ------------------------------------------------------------ Walde Techonology http://scott.cprompt.sk.ca Box 7284 finger: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca Saskatoon, SK S7K 4J2 email: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca CANADA email: walde(a)dlcwest.com -----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK----- Version: 3.1 GCS d- s:+>: a- C++++$ UL++++$ !P L++ E- W+++$ N+ o? K? w$ O- M-- V PS+ PE++ Y+ PGP->++ t+ 5 X+ !R tv- b+ DI++++ D+ G e* h r++ y- ------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------

28 years, 11 months

BBSes on old hardware and SuperVIC

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

| ---------- | From: Doug Spence[SMTP:ds_spenc@alcor.concordia.ca] | Actually, I also want to build a kind of "SuperVIC" machine. I want it to | ba a luggable like my TeleVideo or Kaypro II Um, isn't that a Commodore SX-64? Kai

28 years, 11 months

emulator board help

by zmerch＠northernway.net

Whilst in a self-induced trance, hellige happened to blather: >On 28-Apr-97, classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu wrote: > >>I seem to recall that Definicon made coprocessor boards (68000 series, and >>maybe 32016 series as well) for PC's. You rean special language compilers >>on the PC that converted your high-level source into machine code for the >>68000 or whatever, and ran it on the coprocessor board > > What would be the point in doing this though, if the board didn't emulate a >specific 68000 series computer? Jeff, It's way past my bedtime, but I just had to comment on this post... Believe it or not, the board doesn't have to emulate a specific 68K computer... it *is* a specific 68K computer! The board quite possibly was a system that would just use the PeeCee's hard/floppy/parallel/serial (etc.) ports and would run OS-9/68K or another viable 68K operating system of the day (Xenix?). This in itself is not new... shortly after the IBM-PC came out there was a 68000 board for it that ran OS-9. Remember, the 68K was first, and by then already had several super-powerful (compared to MS-Dog) OS's available for the platform. I have a review of one in an old copy of Byte laying around somewhere around here. BTW, put away the asbestos... it's not a flame! I'm just tired (& cranky) and don't have a bad case of run-on fingers like usual! See ya, "Merch" -- 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.

28 years, 11 months

Software database for you collector-types

by marcw＠lightside.com

Howdy, I just thought of something. Are any of you using a database to catalogue what software you use/have for these old machines? I've got a database that came on a Big Blue Disk back around '88 called Software Indexer. It's small and all but has some nice features including cascading menus with a lot of pre-defined categories. These can be edited/deleted/added to. There's not much data entry because of the menus/pick-lists. Once you type in the name of the program everything else is a matter of choosing what's there except for the comments field. Here's examples that may interest you (jeez I sound like I'm spamming a new product here). Example/sample of menu selections: System Macintosh MFS (Old format) HFS (Current format) Lisa Office System Apple II Series Apple ProDOS 8 Apple ProDOS 16 Apple DOS 3.3 Apple DOS 3.2 Apple CP/M Apple Pascal Apple GEOS Apple /// (SOS) CP/M CP/M-80 CP/M-86 CP/M-68K Orphan Machines Timex/Sinclair TI 99/4 TI Professional Osborne Exidy Sorcerer CompuColor 2 SOL-20 Ohio Scientific Altair Cromemco Mainframes DecSystem-10/PDP-10 DecSystem-20 RSTS Multics Minicomputers IBM System 34/36 DEC VAX (VMS) PDP-11 Video Game Systems Atari VCS (2600) Atari 5200 Atari 7800 ColecoVision Magnavox Odyssey 2 Sega Master System (more) Medium 5.25" floppy Double-density High-density Single-sided "Flippy" 8" floppy "Twiggy" (old Lisa) And all the other stuff. Atari's, Amiga's, Commodore's, Intel x86, etc. Other categories/menus are Distribution & Category. All customizable 'til you run out of menu space (easy to do). Anyhind, if anyone's interested I can zip it up and send it to whoever's interested. It is/was shareware. I used to get Big Blue Disk but don't remember if I got this from there or from a BBS way back when. Marc -- >> ANIME SENSHI << Marc D. Williams marcw(a)lightside.com (finger at: marcw(a)mail.lightside.com) marc.williams(a)mb.fidonet.org http://www.agate.net/~tvdog/internet.html

28 years, 11 months

Osborne 1 prices (was: On Generations of People and Computers )

by BigLouS＠aol.com

> A guy at my > work is supposed to give me his, which he says is a ][, but he's not > always all there, so it could just be a ][+. But I would say a ][ is > probably worth about $100 with some accessories, like a disk drive and > monitor and the language card. I just swapped a bare II/E for a Bare II. Going price for a bare IIE is about $20 on the Apple newsgroups. Apple II's don't seem to be valued very much in the Apple II newsgroup or for sale group. Lou

28 years, 11 months

Osborne 1 prices (was: On Generations of People and Computers )

by BigLouS＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-04-26 20:44:04 EDT, you write: > I also remember seeing Apple III's and Atari 800's on sale at Weinstock's. > There was a strange time for a while in the late 70's and early 80's when > many department stores had a "computer department". This was the case > in Sacramento, was it like that in other cities? > > --pec > Yes Macy's in New York had a computer section in its electronic's department. Lou

28 years, 11 months

Regular Posting: FAQ

by bill＠booster.bothell.washington.edu

ClassicCmp - The Classic Computers Discussion List FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) v1.0 1.1 What is ClassicCmp? 1.2 Why is ClassicCmp? 1.3 What's a Classic Computer? 1.4 Who runs this thing? 1.5 Don't you know you're duplicating what others have done? 2.1 What can I talk about? 2.2 Can I talk about PCs? 2.3 Can I talk about Mini/MainFrames? 2.4 Can I post advertisments? 2.5 Can I ask people to give me their computers? 2.6 Can I ask for help fixing item x? 2.7 Where should I look before posting a dumb question? 3.1 How many subscribers are there? 3.2 How many subscribers use machine x? 4.1 Does ClassicCmp have a Web Site? 4.2 How come the Web Site is so ugly? 5.1 Where can I find Classic Computers? 5.2 How much is machine x worth? 5.3 Will 1000's of innocent machines be scrapped if I don't save them? 1.1 What is ClassicCmp? It's a mailing list for the discussion of classic computers. Topics center on collection (just hoarding), restoration, and operation. It is also an appropriate place for stories and reminiscences of classic computers. 1.2 Why is ClassicCmp? Uh, why not? There are lots of people who love these old machines and it seems like a fun idea to get together and talk about them. 1.3 What is a Classic Computer? Any computer that has not been manufactured for 10 years is a classic. This definition is one I made up and it's entirely arbitrary. It seems to work OK, so I've kept it. 1.4 Who runs this thing? That would be me, Bill Whitson. I'm a network administrator at the University of Washington. This is one of my hobbies and I got tired of waiting for someone else to create a list like this. I can be reached at bcw(a)u.washington.edu. 1.5 Do you know you're just duplicating work other people have done. Damn straight. That's what the internet's all about. 2.1 What can I talk about? Anything related to classic computers as defined above. There are many people on this list that really know what they're talking about, so you might want to check facts before you start shooting off messages. 2.2 Can I talk about PCs? Yes. PCs which haven't been manufactured for 10 years. Even then be aware that in many cases you would get a better response posting to PC newsgroups. 2.3 Can I talk about Minis/MainFrames? Yep. Lots of bulky computer folks here. 2.4 Can I post advertisements? Sure. As long as they're related to _classic_ computers. And, of course, use your brain - don't post repeatedly. 2.5 Can I ask people to sell/give me their computers? Sure. But you're not likely to get a very nice response. Mine, for example, would be: Get your own f***ing computer! There are several people on usenet who will vouch for this. 2.6 Can I ask for help fixing item x. Yes. Be aware that it may be difficult to help you fix things if you don't have much knowledge of how computers work or of how to use basic electronics tools (DMM, soldering iron, EPROM burner, etc). 2.7 Where can I look before posting a dumb question? It might be a good idea to take a look at what's available in the Archive section of the ClassicCmp web site (see below). 3.1 How many subscribers are there? Around 200, fluxing daily. 3.2 How many subscribers use machine x? Don't bother asking me. If you really want to know go ahead and post to the list. I really don't know what having a number will do for you... 4.1 Does ClassicCmp have a web site? Yep. http://weber.u.washington.edu/~bcw/ccl.html 4.2 How come the web site is so ugly? How come a PET is so ugly? Who cares as long as it works? 5.1 Where can I find classic computers? The best places seem to be thrift stores and swap meets. These are closely followed by pawn shops and mom and pop computer stores. The holy grails are electronics scrap yards - but they tend to be wary of individual pick-and-choosers. Oh yeah - garage sales! 5.2 How much is machine x worth? Precisely as much as you'll pay for it. Oh, you're selling it? Then , precisely as much as I'll pay for it. 5.3 Will 1000's of innocent machines be scrapped if I don't save them? Yes. This is the impetus behind every collectors tireless and selfless effort. Each machine we fail to save has it's gold parts mercilessly hacked off and sold (just like rhino horns - and look at the rhinos). The remainder is then sent to China to be made into bicycle spokes. Save a computer! Act now! Remind you wife of the rhino and cuter, furrier animals. It might work.

28 years, 11 months

BBSes running on old computers...

by haleyk＠okstate.edu

The IEEE student group that I belong to here at Oklahoma State just ran across an old z-80 based machine called a paraDynamics PRONTO. It seems to be a CP/M machine (we have a box of floppies for the twin 8" drives, and some are marked CP/M 86 and Microsoft Basic, etc.) The guy who was gonna chunk it in the trash said it had a USRobotics 1200 Baud modem and a 20 Meg HD along with 64K or RAM. He threw in a VT and soon as we can jumper around the rusty keyswitch, we hope to get some type of neat program to run on it for the heck of it, we threw around the idea of a BBS (albeit a slow one) possibly written in the BASIC that came with the machine. Has anyone used such a machine? Lets definately keep up the thread on BBSes and if we write it in a 4gl language, maybe a second list can be set up for the distribution of source code. BTW: we also got an IBM 5130.... It boots on a READY prompt, but we have NO CLUE what to do with it! We think the printer could be used as a boat anchor. hasta scott

28 years, 11 months

PETS & Used Books

by foxnhare＠goldrush.com

> Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 07:38:21 -0400 (EDT) > From: Doug Spence <ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca> > There used to be a copy of Osborne's "PET/CBM Personal Computer Guide" > around here someplace, but I suspect my brother took it with him when he > moved out, even though he's a C64 man. (Darn!) I really need to find a > good shop with old computer books in it. All of the second-hand > bookstores I've been to specifically state that they don't keep computer > books or magazines older than 5 years (or so) old. :/ The Osborne is a good reference, but there are more indepth books, such as Programming the PET/CBM and PET Revealed. Pity about the stores, I too have noticed that, and if the owners of said store don't have any clue about computers they usually opt not to take any computer books (they probably got burned with a bunch of punch-card computer text books years back...) > Interesting. I performed the piggyback RAM hack on my Amiga 1000 (back > when it was worth real money) and that seems to still be holding up. No this was not an expansion job, this was a direct piggy back of chips, no bending out pins here, like I said it was a pretty stupid thing, that never stopped him. > BTW: Who here thinks I'm crazy for wanting to run an "old-time BBS" off a > VIC-20? Who here thinks it's impossible? :) Heck I have been and still am sysop a Commodore 64 BBS for ten years now. If you want some BASIC BBS programs to start with (written for 64, but I'm sure can be easily modified for VIC) I know I have some archived here...somewhere. > (music program)in BASIC, based on the Cursor #4 tape's cover program. I found copies of these > things in my brother's cassette collection (I was still in elementary > school at the time the PETs were in use). Hey brother, could you spare a copy for a friend in need? <wink wink, nudge, nugde> I'll even supply you with a tape-to-disk program for the 64 that will make the transfer a snap! > Too bad I couldn't find the cassette with the > professional music software on it (I forget what it's called) that lets > you compose the music on the staff on the screen, and that scrolls the > music as it plays. It's really impressive for an 8K machine! I remember an ad about one that AB computers was selling I can't remember it's name either. (maestro maybe?) > ...the old 8K here with the miniature multicoloured > keyboard (love that thing!) Sure is nice, I got mine (original PET) from a friend including ALOT of the original documentation, an extra tape drive (Commodore was butchering SANYO tape recorders to begin with), some newsletters (that later turned into popular magazines) and tapes, a splendid addition! I worry about it though, I'm not sure whether it has ROMs or EPROMS, whatever they are they are the original (you know those thin white DIP packages.) >It was, after all, an abused school machine, and the lid wasn't screwed down. (The > sockets in that particular machine are so bad there's no point in screwing > the lid down! Having to re-seat chips is a regular occurrence.) Most of mine are school machines, they sure take a lickin though, the ROM seating problem is common. I have read of people sugessting to replace them with quality drilled sockets. (maybe one of these years...) > So I guess Commodore stopped drilling holes in motherboards to prevent > upgrade? :) Nope, Finally got one with a hole drilled (never heard about it before that) I think it was later in the line that they started. I guess they wanted to make darn sure that if someone bought a 4016 at a discount that was only what they were gonna get. > Assuming all these chips are the same, this was a 16K RAM board. This'd > be nice to get running. I would have thought it to be more. :/ > (How would one test a capacitor to see if it's OK?) No idea from me, anyone? (on possibility of it being a Visible Memory Board) > Oooh... I wish. :) I didn't think you could even get such a thing for a > 2001, I thought graphics boards were the domain of the 8032 and like > systems. No idea why I'd think there'd be such limitations on one PET and > not on another, though. :) Actually one of my PETs has one (I used it in high school), the graphics could overlay the PET character screen too! Unfortunately the PET had a mother board replacement and the jumpers are now wrong, and I'm without docs, so it is not fully functional. Pitty I got a great Space War done like Star Trek game for it. From an ad I still do have, the MTU Visible Mmory Board was deveoped for the KIM-1 and then adapted for the PET, so it's been around for a while. Same for the sound board, it mentions Hal Chamberlin developing it for the KIM originally too (want a copy of the ad for collection sake?) > BTW, there's also another piece of bizarre PET expansion around the house > somewhere... Another 16K of expansion, actually. That's what those large > music files were created with. But the thing is HUGE and it consists of > exposed circuit boards, so I didn't particularly want to use it in its > current state. [clip] > > This strange contraption wouldn't be some kind of interface between the > PET and an S100 bus, would it? (THAT would be cool!) How would I know an > S100 bus if I saw one? :) You never know, there was alot of neat things out for the PET, color boards, Hi-Res, Disk Drive Multiplexers, UPS systems, Networking units, etc. ---------- > Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 11:04:08 -0500 (CDT) > From: "Starling" <starling(a)umr.edu> > I've found that one of the best sources for old computer books and > magazines is often overlooked... the LIBRARY. Most public libraries have > a nice collection of books on old personal computers from the 1st wave of > PC popularity (early 80s). I remember donating a Peoples Computer Company Games Book to them after a few years they discarded it (probably sold it at a book sale), gosh, I wish I had gotten it back. :/ Not all libraries keep their older computer books. *sigh* > However, if you're looking to own the books or magazines, this doesn't > help. But if you're just looking for info or wanting to get some kicks > by reading old stuff, your local public or university library is a great > place to start. University microfilm - http://www.umi.com/ has several older (70s-80s, yeah, and 90s too...) computer magazines in film still available, prices are too steep for me presently but I may someday purchase some sets. --------- > Date: Thu, 24 Apr 1997 13:43:29 -0400 > From: Glenn Roberts <groberts(a)mitre.org> > so stop in at your local library's book > sale booth and you might pick up a classic or two. > Unfortunately for the local library the good books are almost all gone. :( Thrift store bookshelves and flea markets have been really good to me lately though. ------------------------------ > Date: Sat, 19 Apr 1997 05:38:35 +0500 > From: hellige <jeffh(a)eleventh.com> > Subject: Re: PETS & the Silly Game > There are 4 BBS's locally running on the C-64 using the 'Color-64' BBS > program. Of course, they're mainly geared towards the Commodore crowd and the > C-64, but they are quite interesting. One of them is the official board of > the local Commodore 64/128 user group. Many of them (commodore BBSs) are networked now, my board (which runs Image BBS) belongs to a network of 60 or so boards. In just a couple years the BBS program it runs will be eligible for discussion! ------------------------ > From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)crl.com> > Subject: Re: PETS & the Silly Game > Don't worry. It just adds character to the machine. You can just say > some "unknown" hacker made the mod if anyone asks. And don't forget to > mention it adds character to the machine. I myself think you should take credit for the mod, since many of the 'card jockys' today don't know which end of a soldering iron is the business end. I've got a 64 with a second SID hack (not by me but paid by me), I am proud of that machine. Larry Anderson

28 years, 11 months

PETS & the Silly Game

by foxnhare＠goldrush.com

> Date: Sun, 20 Apr 1997 07:21:01 -0400 (EDT) > From: Doug Spence <ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca> > To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > Subject: PET stuff > Does anyone out there know much about the old PET 2001 machines? I know pretty much PET software & usage, and have a bunch of good books to help me on other aspects... ;) > I received a PET a couple of years ago, in which all of the 6550 SRAMs > were fried. I replaced them with the chips from another PET 2001 (one > with the miniature keyboard, from 1977) and the system worked fine. > Does anyone know how all of the memory chips could've been killed? > I tried them in various patterns in the sockets, and it does seem as if > all 16 of them are fried. Never heard of that, but I did have a friend who tried expanding PET memory by piggybacking RAM chips ; that fried his... (beware, he's still out there...) > Anyway, is it still possible to get 6550s anywhere? And if not, is there > a replacement that could be used? MOS technologies found out they wern't good RAM manufacturers, the comptible and available chip number you seek is 2114. Which I have found in a Jameco Catalog (415-592-8097) > Even better: Can I simply replace the 6550s with another type of chip and > get more RAM in the system? Most of my software works in 8K, but I do > have some music files that require more. (I have one of those external > music boards that plugs into the cassette2 and user ports, that delivers > four voices.) Wow! An MTU sound board! Got to hear a demonstration of it some 15 years ago, pretty nice sound! One of these days I might come across one of 'em for my own. Back to RAM, from the next paragraph I would say that you can add via that expansion board. But just in case I'm mistaken, here is something I found in Nick Hampshire's PET Revealed: ... The old 8K machines used 4K bit static RAMs, these were one of two types the 6550 and the 2114. Both these chips are functionally indentical in most respects since they are organised as 1K by 4 bits. The latest versions of the static RAM 8K machines used the 6550.... ... The new 32K and 16K dynamic RAM machines use the 4116 memory chip and the dynamic 8K the 4108. These two RAM chips are pin compatable, with the 4116 having 16K bits of memory and the 4108 8K bits. This is useful since it allows the same circuit board to be used for all sizes of machine. Memory on the 16 and 32K machines is organised as two banks each of 16K bytes, only one bank being implemented in the 16K.... > Now, another question. With that same PET, came an expansion board of > some kind. Its like a daughterboard, physically mounted on posts above > the motherboard, but connected via the memory expansion connector on the > side. > > It appears (yes) to be a memory board, with 16 RAM chips on it. At least, > they look like they could be RAM chips, judging by the traces on the > board. However, I've never seen RAM chips with gold contacts and gold > plates on their backs before, as six of these chips have, so I'm wondering > if this could be more than just a memory board. Sounds like an Expandamem or ExpandaPET to me, I have the docs for it, I think it has schematics and stuff. Mine have the same chips too, look like tiny ROMs or EPROMs.. > The board is dead, BTW. The PET won't operate with the board plugged in. > It just comes up with a screenful of garbage characters. [clip] > Both connectors on the cable that leads from the expansion board to the > motherboard are noticeably burnt. In both cases, the burn marks surround > the pin that connects to the black wire. OUCH!!!! That's gotta hurt... Hope you figure out what did that. > > The only identifying mark on the board is the text: > R 3014 > rev. > C > COPYRIGHT 1978 R.C.Factor My ExpandaPET book has (c) 1979 Computhink (yours could be an earlier version?), also my board has four breadboard (edgecard) sockets to add devices like disk drive controller cards and the like. > Does anyone have any better guesses than me as to its function? (Can the > edge connector on the side of the PET be used for anything other than RAM > expansion?) The only other thing I could think of it being (if it had a patch into the monitor connector) would be a Visible Memory (hi-res graphics) board. But I doubt that. Let me know If you want a copy of the documentation I have for my board to see if it will help. > Doug Spence > ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca > ------------------------------ > > On Thu, 17 Apr 1997, Sam Ismail wrote: > > > > > Hey, let's have a contest. Let's see who can score the best lot of > > > classic computers this weekend. We can score each other based on the > > > type and age of the computers/software/accessories we got, then tally up > > > the points and whoever has the highest score gets a pat on the back. > What I bought: Atari 1200 XL, 1050 Disk Drive, and Supra Atari 300 baud modem (all sans power supplies *sigh*) for $15 at a flea market (need power supplies to test them still), and a (working!) Apple ImageWriter II for $14.95 at a thrift shop. Software. What I passed up: 2 CoCo 3s (bare), one for $15 one unknown 1 CoCo dual 5.25" Disk Drive price unknown 1 black/silver TI 99/4a (bare) $10 1 Atari 800 (bare, but had BASIC cart inside) $10 Plus/4, C-64, an MPS 801, tons of IBM clones didn't bother pricing. Oh! Last week I happend upon a Panasonic MSX unit! Looked interesting, unfortunately the guy couldn't sell it cause 'they haven't decided how much to price it' (hence it would probably be expensive), sure looked neat, had alot of I/O and noted a switch to change tape baud rates. (they had the tape program/books already out on the floor just waiting for kids to tear them apart.) 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 -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

28 years, 11 months

PETS & the Silly Game

by jeffh＠eleventh.com

On 24-Apr-97, classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu wrote: >BTW: Who here thinks I'm crazy for wanting to run an "old-time BBS" off a >VIC-20? Who here thinks it's impossible? :) Doug, There are 4 BBS's locally running on the C-64 using the 'Color-64' BBS program. Of course, they're mainly geared towards the Commodore crowd and the C-64, but they are quite interesting. One of them is the official board of the local Commodore 64/128 user group. It still shows people are still running BBS's using the older hardware though! 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, and Mega-ST/2, Commodore C-128, C128D, 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.

28 years, 11 months

emulator board help

by KFergason＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-04-27 21:51:43 EDT, you write: << What would be the point in doing this though, if the board didn't emulate a specific 68000 series computer? >> It was designed for number crunching. It was much faster than Microsoft Fortran on an 8088, or the 80286. Kelly

28 years, 11 months

Atari prob, etc.

by foxnhare＠goldrush.com

Had a huge success at a local thrift store this saturday, much of it is components < 10 years old. But I did find a Power Supply for an Atari Computer (Ihave aquired an 800, 1200xk and 1050 all sans Power Supplies). Soooo.. today I hooked the buggers in one by one: The 800, powered up like a champ! Got the Atari FAQs up and determined I have an 800 with a GITA and the BASIC cartridge is Revision A. The 1200XL is a different matter, Powered up, got the logo, went to diagnostics, sound O.K., Memory looks good, but keyboard... I can get the top row (reset,start,select,option, & help) working but the other keys seem dead. The strange thing is I gboot up BASIC and I press a letter and the computer responds with it's 'click' sound but no key (maybe something in the decoding logic???) Any Atarians got a clue? Since I only have the one power supply I had to power up the 1050 as a standalone the head did a quick back-fourth motion and the activity light stopped so that seems to be a promising sign. Second request: When I get a second supply I gonna kinda need a disk to run on this thing, can anyone help set me up with some essential disks (DOS, utilities, maybe some common games, etc.) I can trade for some fine Commodore Programs and such. (=)) One yard sale find was a batch of Radio Electronics Magazines, dated back in the 80s... Will have to scan through those closely. At first I thought I'd just weed out the ones I wanted and pass on the rest, but I've made that mistake once before.... They will go into storage. Yet another yard sale purchase was a 64 system (I dare not count how many I have), so far so good, the C64 and power supply are fully functional and the keyboard is amazingly clean (i.e. all the keys work, even though It looks like someone tracked mud on the computer). I still have to test the monitor and 1541, but I feel confident they will function. -- >From: Paul E Coad <pcoad(a)crl.com> >Subject: weekend additions >I picked up some good stuff today. Here is the haul: >One nearly mint copy of "More BASIC Computer Games" by David Ahl. >One "The Best of Creative Computing V.3" by Ahl and Green. >One boxed copy of Adventure for HP 150 and HP 110. (yes, THAT >adventure). >One boxed Commodore Plus/4. >One Sun type 4 keyboard and mouse (not yet classic, but good none the >>less). >Total: $11.00 Good haul! I would've paid that much for that Creative Computing book. >I have a few questions: >Can the Plus/4 run C64 software? BASIC, pretty much so, except if there are POKEs and SYS commands in it it may need some converting, some BASIC may not be easy or possible mainly if there is sprite or sound usage as those chips are VERY different then on the 64. There are some good FTP sites for the Plus/4, just make sure when you download games and demos they are NTSC and not PAL, (PAL graphics are unviewable on an NTSC Plus/4), there are game conversions available (Jim Hehl is probably the most noted for converting programs 64 and Plus/4 european to the American Plus/4 platform). This reminds me I really need to get the adapter pinouts of the Joysticks and the Cassette port on my web page. (whisper.. "if you write it they will browse...") >In the user's manual there is a picture of a 1541 disk drive which looked >black. It was a black and white picture, but the 1541s that I have seen >all match the color scheme of the C64. Has anyone seen a black 1541? Not me, though you can tell Commodore was toying with the idea (on the Plus/4, C-16, MPS-803, DPS-1101, and the 1531 datasette for the Plus/4/16) It could have been the rare Commodore 1551 disk drive. Commodore's attempt at a fast parallel drive. It was to hook into the parallel port of the Plus/4 and delivered a great speed improvement over the 1541 (not too hard of a feat.) I hear it was released in Europe but not in the states. >I now have volumes 1 and 3 of "The Best of Creative Computing", how many >volumes where published? I think they stopped with volume 3, I remember they closed out a bunch of their inventory to schools (which included vols 1-3) at about $100 or so, that was sometime in 1982. Gosh I wish I had all that stuff today: posters, computer music record, books, etc. >Happy hunting, ------------ >From: hellige <jeffh(a)eleventh.com> >Subject: Re: weekend additions > Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but the Plus/4 (like the C-16) was >intended as an upgrade, and total break, from the C-64 and is incompatible in >both hardware and software to the C-64. I've seen it said that this was one >of the main reasons the machine never caught on. As for the color scheme of >the 1541 though, the later 1541's were the ones that matched the brown color >of the C-64. The earlier 1541's, labled VIC-1541, matched the lighter color >of the VIC-20. It is the VIC-1541 that I have in my collection. The 1541 is VERY compatible with the Plus/4 and Commodore 16 (thank goodness!) You can adapt a datasette to use on the Plus/4 but Commodore decided to change the pitches at which the data is recorded thus making it impossible to interchange data via tape between other Commodore 8-bits. The format and timing are the same from what I understand. 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 -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

28 years, 11 months

emulator board help

by KFergason＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-04-27 14:49:28 EDT, you write: << Markings: "DSI-780" on the front, and "Rev B Copyright 1986 Definicon" on the rear >> The Definicon coprocessor board for the PC. You could basically compile and run Fortran programs in the coprocessor. Not Mac related. sorta dated now, but cool at the time. Mine seems to have a bad Simm, and would fail periodically. I haven't used it in years. Kelly

28 years, 11 months

emulator board help

by jeffh＠eleventh.com

This is likely not really the right place to ask this, but nobody else in other groups has a clue about a 16bit ISA board I have. It is as follows: 16bit ISA board for IBM compatiblle 16mhz MC68020RC16B and MC68881RC16A processors 16 30 pin memory modules soldered directly to the circuit board each module contains 9 41256-120 RAM chips (NEC 8608E621) 1 DB-9 and 1 DB-25 connector (both male) on the rear cover plate Markings: "DSI-780" on the front, and "Rev B Copyright 1986 Definicon" on the rear There is also an empty socket, the same size as the 68020 socket. I aquired this board from a pile of misc. circuit boards that was being tossed out a couple of years ago, and have not been able to find out any information on it. Any info at all would be most helpful. To me, it appears to be some kind of hardware emulator for an Apple or Mac. I know in the late 80's there were a number of Apple II emulator boards for the PC running around, as I recall seeing them for sale in the Radio Shack catalogs of the period. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 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, and Mega-ST/2, 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.

28 years, 11 months

Alignment Disks

by bill＠booster.bothell.washington.edu

Hi all. Anyone know where alignment disks can be purchased these days? Bill ---------------------------------------------------- Bill Whitson - Classic Computers ListOp bill(a)booster.u.washinton.edu or bcw(a)u.washington.edu http://weber.u.washington.edu/~bcw

28 years, 11 months

Atari prob, etc.

by jeffh＠eleventh.com

On 28-Apr-97, classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu wrote: >Since I only have the one power supply I had to power up the 1050 as a One thing about Atari 8bit stuff is a lot of it tended to use it's own power rating on the power supply, and not really interchangeable between most of it, it seems. 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, and Mega-ST/2, 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.

28 years, 11 months

emulator board help

by jeffh＠eleventh.com

On 28-Apr-97, classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu wrote: >The Definicon coprocessor board for the PC. You could basically >compile and run Fortran programs in the coprocessor. Not Mac >related. sorta dated now, but cool at the time. That's interesting. It makes sense considering where I got it as well...lots of engineers and R&D work. Looks like he board had a bit more memory on it than the average PC of the time. >Mine seems to have a bad Simm, and would fail periodically. I haven't used >it in years. Would you still have the disks for it? Do you know if there was any type of diagnostic on the disk to determine if this board is functional or not? 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, and Mega-ST/2, 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.

28 years, 11 months

weekend additions

by jeffh＠eleventh.com

On 27-Apr-97, classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu wrote: >Can the Plus/4 run C64 software? >In the user's manual there is a picture of a 1541 disk drive which looked >black. It was a black and white picture, but the 1541s that I have seen >all match the color scheme of the C64. Has anyone seen a black 1541? Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but the Plus/4 (like the C-16) was intended as an upgrade, and total break, from the C-64 and is incompatible in both hardware and software to the C-64. I've seen it said that this was one of the main reasons the machine never caught on. As for the color scheme of the 1541 though, the later 1541's were the ones that matched the brown color of the C-64. The earlier 1541's, labled VIC-1541, matched the lighter color of the VIC-20. It is the VIC-1541 that I have in my collection. 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, and Mega-ST/2, 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.

28 years, 11 months

emulator board help

by jeffh＠eleventh.com

On 28-Apr-97, classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu wrote: >I seem to recall that Definicon made coprocessor boards (68000 series, and >maybe 32016 series as well) for PC's. You rean special language compilers >on the PC that converted your high-level source into machine code for the >68000 or whatever, and ran it on the coprocessor board What would be the point in doing this though, if the board didn't emulate a specific 68000 series computer? 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, and Mega-ST/2, 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.

28 years, 11 months

Freebie

by bm_pete＠ix.netcom.com

I have a printer which doesn't work and I don't know why. (And don't want to mess with it) Rather than junk it (saving parts) I'll offer it to anyone who'll pay shipping costs from zip code 73162. It's a Okidata 292 with a serial interface module (which might work) but minus the knob. The power led does come on but it does not self-test. You've got a week to rescue it. _______________ Barry Peterson bm_pete(a)ix.netcom.com Husband to Diane, Father to Doug, Grandfather to Zoe and Tegan.

28 years, 11 months

Computer Books

by gmast＠polymail.cpunix.calpoly.edu

I'll have to agree on the library as a good source of books. I recently was looking in our library here at school and couldn't find a newer book on PC's. There were quite a few old programming/hardware books from the 70's and a complete set of an old computer magazine from the 60's to the present. Great fun to look at the prices and advertising. And they do sell them. My friend found a book on Volkswagens from the early 60's....$2. Just ask at the circulation desk. They don't have to be in the book sale, just old enough to be of no general value in their eyes. Another good place to look is the Goodwill, thrift sores, etc. Most of us probably already do that but I thought Id mention it. At our local store, customers trash whatever comes neatly in any box. (sad, the disks get thrown around and power supplies disappear too) When they clean up they just pile the manuals on the shelf next to the Danielle Steel novels. I found a complete set of manuals for an Apple III a while back. Tons of Commodore programming guides. Software carts and disks end up in the cassette tape section for some reason. If interested, I could grab whatever I find and sell to interested parties here for cost + shipping. Usually .50 a book + postage. I really don't have the room (or the time) to stockpile books. I just buy what matches the systems I have at the time or what seems rare. Greg

28 years, 11 months

A Few More Items on Auctionweb

by gmast＠polymail.cpunix.calpoly.edu

I put a few more items on Auctionweb. My apologies to those who aren't interested but I did receive quite a few positive responses to my last post. There are pictures of most of the items posted also. Tandy 1000 HX system, 3.5 FD (photo) Current bid: $15.50 Auction ends on: 04/29/97, 17:19:16 PDT http://www.ebay.com/aw/item.cgi?item=ruc07286 Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer I (photo) Current bid: $5.00 Auction ends on: 04/30/97, 00:22:16 PDT http://www.ebay.com/aw/item.cgi?item=diy3257 Radio Shack TRS-80 5 MB Ext. Hard Drive (pic) Bidding starts at: $3.00 Auction ends on: 04/30/97, 00:34:36 PDT http://www.ebay.com/aw/item.cgi?item=qhp59201 Lot of 2 Commodore 1541 Drives (white) Bidding starts at: $3.00 Auction ends on: 04/30/97, 00:41:24 PDT http://www.ebay.com/aw/item.cgi?item=gcr4972 Orig. Mouse for Macintosh 128/512/Plus (pic) Current bid: $3.00 Auction ends on: 04/30/97, 00:54:21 PDT http://www.ebay.com/aw/item.cgi?item=fgt955

28 years, 11 months

Shopper Wanted for Trenton Computer Fest

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

Hi all, I'll pay a generous finder's fee & shipping for anyone who wants to keep an eye out at the TCF for the small list of machines I'm still looking for. If interested, please email for the list. thanks much, Kai

28 years, 11 months

Scrap Dealers (was Re: Collecting)

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

Here's a list of scrap dealers who buy obsolete computer equipment: Windfield Alloy, Inc. Lawrence, MA 800-626-1230/508-689-2470 Local ComService Enterprises, Brooklyn, NY 718-332-2300/718-332-4471 Fax Silicon Salvage Inc, Anaheim, CA 714-523-2425/714-523-2552 Fax Texas Recycling & Refining, Houston, TX 713-443-2070/713-443-3973 Fax Iowa Electronic Recovery, 800-232-2591/319-337-9548 Fax Metaltech, 800-435-8636/603-524-2873 Fax EnviRoSYS, 800-PRO-JUNK, surplus(a)crazybob.com Someone should organize contact with these folks so they don't get our whole list calling and bothering them. Kai

28 years, 11 months

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