test-drb

test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

101090 discussions

by sales＠elecplus.com

Does anybody know anything about this machine? Not even a keyboard or monitor port on it! Pics are here: https://plus.google.com/photos/106111250846948401252/albums/5864544551344799 681?banner=pwa _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3272 / Virus Database: 3162/6232 - Release Date: 04/08/13

12 years, 11 months

OT: 1000 year DVD storage

by cclist＠sydex.com

The M-Disc claims 1,000 year permanency. http://www.mdisc.com/ Anyone have experience with these? --Chuck (wondering if we'll be able to find a 1,000 year old DVD player)

12 years, 11 months

Qbus PDP-11s (was Re: 11/53, was Re: Hardware vs Simh)

by ethan.dicks＠gmail.com

On Sun, Apr 14, 2013 at 5:07 PM, Cory Smelosky <b4 at gewt.net> wrote: > Now I want to start a discussion on the timeline of when memory became?"onboard"/integrated for some reason?I'm curious as to who tried it first. ;) The KD11-F (M7264) had memory and the CPU on one board, in 1975, IIRC. -ethan

12 years, 11 months

Available S-100 PCBs

by LYNCHAJ＠YAHOO.COM

Hi, sorry had to update the quantities with accurate numbers Good news! There are several new and reordered S-100 PCBs available! The S-100 68K CPU boards finally came in so there are about 17 available. There are 35 of the S-100 IDE V2 reorder PCBs and about 19 of the new S-100 bus terminator/prototyping board PCBs. There are seven (7) of the S-100 LAVA PCBs available and two (2) of the S-100 regular prototyping board PCBs available. http://s100computers.com/My%20System%20Pages/68000%20Board/68K%20CPU%20Board .htm http://s100computers.com/My%20System%20Pages/IDE%20Board/My%20IDE%20Card.htm http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/browse/#view=ViewFolder&param=S-100%20bus%20t erminator http://s100computers.com/My%20System%20Pages/Lava-10%20Board/LAVA-10%20Board .htm http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/browse/#view=ViewFolder&param=S-100%20regular %20prototyping%20board The S-100 PCBs cost the same as before ($20 each). However due to unforeseen extreme price increases in shipping by USPS I am forced to change shipping costs. Shipping in the US will be $3 for a single PCB and $2 for each additional PCB. Shipping internationally will be $10 for a single PCB and $3 for each additional PCB. This is for the bare basics USPS first class postage with no tracking or insurance. The builder assumes all risk of delivery as per usual arrangement. I apologize for the large price increase on shipping but this is out of my hands. The USPS is in dire financial trouble and is raising prices on shipping. It affects us all and is most unfortunate. These boards are provided "at cost" so there is no margin to absorb any shipping price increases. I have to pass them along. If you would like one or more S-100 PCBs please send a PayPal to LYNCHAJ at YAHOO.COM Thanks and have a nice day! Andrew Lynch PS, if you would like to help out this all-volunteer project please get one or more of the S-100 LAVA PCBs. Also the S-100 regular prototyping board PCBs. These PCBs are the oldest ones and them sitting around on a shelf does no one any good. I'd like these to go to a hobbyist who would get some enjoyment from these fun to build and use boards. Thanks in advance.

12 years, 11 months

PDP 8 components file for spice

by tshoppa＠wmata.com

At the flip chip level it would include definitions for DEC3639B (aka 2N3639), D662 (aka 1N645) and D664 (aka 1N3606). Pretty standard stuff to read the datasheets and make SPICE models. A real design (or redesign) would pay extensive attention to margining just like the original designers did. SPICE can help verify to an extent, but all the details you actually need for design of RTL/DTL/flip-flop are in the 60's TI transistor design books.

12 years, 11 months

Available S-100 PCBs

by LYNCHAJ＠YAHOO.COM

Hi Good news! There are several new and reordered S-100 PCBs available! The S-100 68K CPU boards finally came in so there are about 27 available. There are 40 of the S-100 IDE V2 reorder PCBs and about 30 of the new S-100 bus terminator/prototyping board PCBs. There are seven (7) of the S-100 LAVA PCBs available and two (2) of the S-100 regular prototyping board PCBs available. http://s100computers.com/My%20System%20Pages/68000%20Board/68K%20CPU%20Board .htm http://s100computers.com/My%20System%20Pages/IDE%20Board/My%20IDE%20Card.htm http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/browse/#view=ViewFolder&param=S-100%20bus%20t erminator http://s100computers.com/My%20System%20Pages/Lava-10%20Board/LAVA-10%20Board .htm http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/browse/#view=ViewFolder&param=S-100%20regular %20prototyping%20board The S-100 PCBs cost the same as before ($20 each). However due to unforeseen extreme price increases in shipping by USPS I am forced to change shipping costs. Shipping in the US will be $3 for a single PCB and $2 for each additional PCB. Shipping internationally will be $10 for a single PCB and $3 for each additional PCB. This is for the bare basics USPS first class postage with no tracking or insurance. The builder assumes all risk of delivery as per usual arrangement. I apologize for the large price increase on shipping but this is out of my hands. The USPS is in dire financial trouble and is raising prices on shipping. It affects us all and is most unfortunate. These boards are provided "at cost" so there is no margin to absorb any shipping price increases. I have to pass them along. If you would like one or more S-100 PCBs please send a PayPal to LYNCHAJ at YAHOO.COM Thanks and have a nice day! Andrew Lynch PS, if you would like to help out this all-volunteer project please get one or more of the S-100 LAVA PCBs. Also the S-100 regular prototyping board PCBs. These PCBs are the oldest ones and them sitting around on a shelf does no one any good. I'd like these to go to a hobbyist who would get some enjoyment from these fun to build and use boards. Thanks in advance.

12 years, 11 months

OMNI Collection in Archive.org

by spedraja＠ono.com

For all those interested in Science Fiction and Science, this little gift: https://archive.org/details/omni-magazine Regards SPc.

12 years, 11 months

Houston Computer Museum

by sales＠elecplus.com

http://www.houstoncomputermuseum.org/index.html This one is kind of strange, worded oddly for American company, no address or phone number. Is anyone familiar with this museum? Cindy Croxton _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3272 / Virus Database: 3162/6237 - Release Date: 04/10/13

12 years, 11 months

Selling my PDP8/e

by mardy＠pernetics.com

Please pardon the self serving post, but I thought that it would be of interest to this group. I've decided to sell my PDP8/e. I just don't have the time to devote to restoring it. The eBay listing is here: DEC PDP8/e Minicomputer If anybody has any questions about it, let me know. Thanks, -Mardy

12 years, 11 months

Thin floppy replacement for DEC Multia

by mark.kahrs＠gmail.com

I'm trying to get my Multia (did you know that's pronounced "Mull-tea-uh"?*) to netboot. Unfortunately, this means I have to update my SRM firmware. Unfortunately, this means I need my floppy. Unfortunately, my floppy makes a nasty noise. This is an unconventionally thin drive with a very thin ribbon cable. Does anyone have a spare they'd like to dispose of in my direction? * So says the audio_test routine in the SRM.

12 years, 11 months

pdp-11/23 config

by Arno_1983＠gmx.de

Jerome H. Fine <jhfinedp3k at compsys.to> wrote: > Please be aware that most (maybe now almost all) RD53 > drives have failed with the head stuck problem. (...) > I would agree to use an RD53 as a scratch drive for > temporary storage, but not for saving files after the > drive is powered down. Which conveniently also is an application for which their capacity is reasonable. One could however hope for the best and use one e.g. as a boot drive, provided I have the contents backed up elsewhere just in case it decides to croak. > I have a number of Micropolis ESDI and Hitachi ESDI > drives which seem to be quite reliable. > (...) since I doubt that using > the internal power supply from the BA123 is helpful. Hmm, as the enclosure supports no less than four full height 5,25" devices, shouldn't the PSU be able to power them as well, or is the 11/83 setup stretching the limits on its own already? > >3x 5MB 14" RL01, > >1x 10MB 14" RL02, > > VERY reasonable for a small RT-11 system And PERIOD at least. > but prone > to hardware problems (especially filters) in the long run. A thorough cleanup and check-out will of course be performed before power is applied. > >(2x 80MB 14" SMD) (I just have a lead on those yet) > > > The ESDI drives are more reliable and faster. ESDI controllers > were also less expensive and more available. Not a problem, I do have a (DILOG IIRC) QBUS SMD controller (but not a SCSI one yet). And I _want_ to run rackmount drives, not microcomputer stuff, with a rackmount system. Not to mention that the CMD Phoenix drives have one removable platter (16MB) in a cartridge, so unlimited offline storage (in case I can manage to get more of those landmines). allison <ajp166 at verizon.net> wrote: > On 04/10/2013 02:25 AM, Arno Kletzander wrote: > > ok, then TU58 emulation is, as I had hoped, going to float the > > boat for me, at least until either more machines or media to > > be read crop up here. > The novelty weill wear off fast as a drive is only 256K, and > its serial line speed and hence sloowwwwwwww... Nevertheless it's a start; it's not like I'm running a production system. I can still upgrade once my patience has been exhausted. > >> Thats plenty of space for PDP-11 OSs. > > Unfortunately I have no sound way to (mechanically) > > _mount_ and power those tiny little 5,25" disks in > > the '11 rack, that's why they're staying in the BA123. > I got a rack shelf and gutted a few PCs for the disk cage. Perhaps not pretty, but a pragmatic solution anyway... I do even have a general purpose rackmount case and PSU for two full-height 5,25" devices after all. (I had not considered it as such, as it is currently occupied by a drive bay mountable SCSI RAID controller and I had originally not realized that they were separate parts.) So this is basically an option to use the RD53s with my RQDX3 on 11/23 as well. How about the STxxx (unshielded) ribbon cables going from one rack drawer to the other, won't those be a problem in terms of length/signal quality)? > >> Likely the bad one has the stuck head problem > >> (...) > > I'd not want to try my luck, I'll work on that one > > once I've got an aquarium type glove box set up. > Suit yourself. I've done them on the kitchen table. > I must ahve done at least 8 of them. > The only failures were not media related (controller > dies on write and blows the track servo). > > Keep in mind they have a filter and the spin-up is > to clear the platters and the dust that lands into > the filter. Good to know they're not that fragile, but every head crash is one too many in my book. They don't make 'em any more, after all. [large drives] > Anything I can lift with one hand is small. > > 1(2)x RD53 5,25" MFM > > 1x 300MB 5,25" ESDI, > Physical large drive: any that want a lift or > two people to install in the rack. > > 3x 5MB 14" RL01, > > 1x 10MB 14" RL02, > > (2x 80MB 14" SMD) (just a lead on those yet) > RL02 was far more reliable and more common. Despite the higher track density in an otherwise pretty much unchanged design? (I got the (common) user's guide with the drives.) What's the story about the "brush cycle" that was later on removed by an ECO anyway? At least one of my drives still has the brush arm installed. > > ?? BBU?? Unless you mean BBS7 (Io tends to use that). > > Battery backup. Feeding it from an alternate 5V source > > to keep RAM content intact when mains power is off. > > Oh, It's been a while, I never use it. No need. If I > need the data preserved I have it on disk and the system > on UPS. Nowadays, of course. Back then UPS usually meant a large noisy expensive MG set with a heavy flywheel accompanied by an air-started diesel genset in the basement (and you probably had chosen a MINIcomputer to avoid all that), so BBU was the next best thing to core to have, when power was not as reliable as your service needed to be. [heat issues] > > A hard "CPU dead" damage without any warning? > (...) > Mine ran usually for months at a time, if the building > AC hadn't failed the cpu baord would still be in there > (it is actually and repaired returned to my spares box). So out of interest, what component(s) actually got fried in the incident? [old-time networking] > PDP-11s were networked before NICs using DDCMP and sync > lines. (...) Of course Unix had UUCP via serial lines > and modems. > After NICS Ether pipe. RT11 does little with it and > its mostly useless for that RSTS and RSX in the later > versions were full fledged nodes (DECnet Phase III). So my idea of it was pretty much correct, by and large. >> (2x 80MB 14" SMD) (I just have a lead on those yet) >> >> > The ESDI drives are more reliable and faster. ESDI controllers > were also less expensive and more available. > [TK50 tape subsystem] > I just can't say enough nice things about TK50. > (set user/mode:sarcasm=off) > > But they were the common transfer media and big for its time. > that and I have a small bin full of Compact Tape I media with > stuff on it. Tk70 was the one to have. jkunz and I had a bunch of (negative) fun with CompacTapes last VCFe, when we tried reading some on a VAXstation IIRC. We had a bunch in which the binder had degraded; they started shedding oxide and/or sticking to the heads, sometimes in a way that even broke the tape. > There is also TLZ04 tape. DAT, usually regarded as a "Write once/read never" medium if I'm not mistaken? David Riley <fraveydank at gmail.com> wrote: > If you manage to find a QBUS SCSI card (...) you can use a Zip drive > for removable storage (...) It's not exactly "classic", > but they are plentiful and cheap and fairly reliable if you stick > with the 100 MB versions. They're also BIG (in storage size) compared > to an RL02, and they're much better about being dropped. :-) Three problems: 1. no free QBUS SCSI cards (as opposed to MFM, ESDI, RL0x and SMD), 2. bad personal track record with ZIP drives (click of death), 3. going more for a period system than for ease of use. > You could always run your -11 from the BA123. It's a bit of > overkill, but you can fit all the disks you want in there and > pretty much never worry about running out of slots for boards. > > Of course, if you're actively using the MVII, don't do that. (shakes head) Totally wrong approach, I'm basically building the 11/23 "just" to populate an empty BA-11S shell that has that designation on it... The VSII is a very nice system all by itself which I got in a period configuration (CPU, 16MB RAM, VCB02 board set, RQDX3) and rounded out accordingly (8-port SLU, DELQA), and as it fits all together so nicely and works (even has the correct "VAXstation II/GPX" case sign too), I'm not changing that. (Neither of those systems is going to see much use anytime soon, much to my own regret...) [system monitoring board] > That's a fun idea. When I'm running my 11/23 in an open backplane, > I make sure I have a decently powerful fan blowing through it and > over the top. Those boards tend to dissipate between 10 and 20 > watts each, which is nothing to sneeze at, and the CPUs can get > quite locally hot. So I probably need two fan airflow sensors (I've seen that done with components that look like glass case small signal diodes - these work by dissipating a small amount of power and measuring the temperature increase from that, so they should detect when either the air flow fails or the ambient air is too hot to begin with, and a few stick-on probes (NTC?) for neuralgic components. Adjustable levels for forewarning and protective cutout; monitoring the DC rails for overvoltage and excessive ripple could be added for completeness. Just needs a breaker contact in line with the front panel switch. > The QBUS LAN cards definitely have more of a "meant for VAX" feel > to their documentation, IMO, but they do work fine in an -11. > > If you can, I'd recommend getting a DELQA instead of a DEQNA. > The DELQA is backwards-compatible with the DEQNA and is a lot > more reliable (mostly due to lower power dissipation). I'm > given to understand it takes a lot of load off the CPU as well. > The DELQA can use the DEQNA cable kit, so no need to worry > about that. Not standard for an '11, so not really of great interest for a start. Allison <ajp166 at verizon.net> wrote: > The DEQNA has the mop boot for PDP11. seems that is a PDP11 thing. > The DELQA deleted that. > > The CPU load this was added around V5.* VMS as they discovered > a DEQNA bug that could corrupt packets in a uVAX system so the > packet has a secondary CRC16 added and does the reverse on > the other side to check the data and thats all in software (real pita). So basically DEQNA (if anything) for an '11, DELQA for a (?)VAX. > The CMD SCSI card is the way to go. Nah...SCSI is for Microcomputers, ain't it? ;^) > Get another... ;) If anything, I'd go for the radiator style (BA23) microPDP now, that's the package I don't have yet. Damn, you made me want one... Arno

12 years, 11 months

Computer ASCII Text Art from the 1970's

by mcquiggi＠sfu.ca

I still have a S/360 load module card deck for the 6-foot "Moon" ASCII art picture. I saw it in my basement a few years ago. I have a gothic letters banner producer card deck too. I have Hercules running, so the module could be resurrected. Anyone have a card reader? I have been looking for a CR11 or CM11 for over 10 years now. Kevin Message: 8 Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:49:56 -0400 From: David Gesswein <djg at pdp8online.com> To: cctech at classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Computer ASCII Text Art from the 1970's Message-ID: <20130412124956.GA22671 at hugin2.pdp8online.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 at 8:52 AM, John Foust <jfoust at threedee.com> wrote: > >> I'd love to find the original data behind the Mona Lisa that >> was produced by CDC that was exhibited at VCF 2.0. >> >> <http://www.threedee.com/jcm/aaa/images/monaCHC.jpg> >> http://www.threedee.com/jcm/aaa/images/monaCHC.jpg >> I have a monalisa in these ascii art files. Its a two printout wide overstrike. No idea if it is the same one.

12 years, 11 months

10 worst computers of all time

by jecel＠merlintec.com

To complement the thread "The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register", we have > http://www.chassis-plans.com/blog/2013/04/04/the-worst-computers-of-all-tim… Any such list is necessarily very subjective, but I can think of lots of machines that were worse than the ones indicated here. And not all of them would be consumer computers either - just because you paid a lot for something didn't mean it would be good. Still, I liked the presentation. -- Jecel

12 years, 11 months

DEC serial Number identification

by abacos_98＠yahoo.com

Would like so help identifying the serial number on the VAX 11/780 I just acquired. The Model is 11780-FE not sure what the FE means. The serial is FX03307. I am assuming the FX would mean Foxboro MA ? 0 would be 1980. 33 would be august and 07 would be the 7th one made that year? Went with the logic tube manufacturers used to use.

12 years, 11 months

LCIII Recap - Apple design fault -47uF reversed!

by charles＠uniwho.com

Hey can anyone shed some light on this topic? LCIII Recap - Apple design fault -47uF reversed! http://68kmla.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=20936 On Apr 11, 2013, at 10:34 AM, cctalk-request at classiccmp.org wrote: > Send cctalk mailing list submissions to > cctalk at classiccmp.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://www.classiccmp.org/mailman/listinfo/cctalk > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > cctalk-request at classiccmp.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > cctalk-owner at classiccmp.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of cctalk digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: 10 worst computers of all time (Tony Duell) > 2. Re: What is the correct material to use.. (Tony Duell) > 3. Re: pdp-11/23 config (allison) > 4. Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > (Ethan Dicks) > 5. Re: What is the correct material to use.. (Tothwolf) > 6. Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register (ben) > 7. Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > (Cory Smelosky) > 8. Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > (Dave McGuire) > 9. Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > (Cory Smelosky) > 10. Re: H780 power supply (Mouse) > 11. Re: Huge Lot of Vintage Computers- Local Pick up preferred in > Flushing Michigan (David Riley) > 12. Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > (Ian King) > 13. Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > (Ian King) > 14. Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > (Ian King) > 15. Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > (Ian King) > 16. Re: Huge Lot of Vintage Computers- Local Pick up preferred in > Flushing Michigan (Matthew D Stock) > 17. Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > (Cory Smelosky) > 18. Re: H780 power supply (David Riley) > 19. Re: Huge Lot of Vintage Computers- Local Pick up preferred in > Flushing Michigan (Toby Thain) > 20. Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > (Liam Proven) > 21. Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > (David Griffith) > 22. Re: looking for Daisy Wheel Printer (Tom Sparks) > 23. Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > (Cory Smelosky) > 24. Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > (David Griffith) > 25. Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > (Cory Smelosky) > 26. Re: Re: Tech is the biggest problem facing archiving (John Foust) > 27. Re: What is the correct material to use.. (Geoffrey Oltmans) > 28. Re: Computer ASCII Text Art from the 1970's (John Foust) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:15:05 +0100 (BST) > From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: 10 worst computers of all time > Message-ID: <m1UQ2MJ-000J4fC at p850ug1> > Content-Type: text/plain > >>> TI 99/4a. Cliff Click gave up in disgust trying to program this >>> thing. nuf said. >> >> You do have a point. Interesting architecture & so on, but... >> registers in external DRAM? Really? > > IIRC, the worst feature wa that (in the base configuration) there was > almsot no RAM (if any at all) on the processor bus. Yor BASIC program ws > stored in spare locations of the video RAM. This meant that (a) readign > the BASIC program to execute it was ridiculously slow and (b) you > couldn't program it in machine code (since the RAM was not on the > processor bus). ARGH! > > > I think I Would put the VAX 11/730 on the list of 'daftest hardware > designs'. even though I like the machine overall. The processor microcode > is stored in DRAM. No I am not joking. This means that the procesosr has > to be haled every few ms while the control store RAM is refreshed. Every > other machine I've see with a writeable control store (that is, the > microcode is in RAM not ROM) has ued static RAM for this, for obvious > reasons. > > -tony > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 23:04:47 +0100 (BST) > From: ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: What is the correct material to use.. > Message-ID: <m1UQ38P-000J4kC at p850ug1> > Content-Type: text/plain > >> >> I'm in the process of restoring some original Macs (a 128 and 512) with a >> friend and we have come across an issue with a floppy drive that is >> strictly mechanical, and am wondering what others have done. >> >> On the original 400K floppies there is a pin on the side that moves up and >> down as the floppy goes in, and is ejected which in some sense locks the >> floppy in either position. On one of these drives, the pivot point where >> this pin connects to the rest of the mechanism isn't as "free" as it should >> be, and initially caused the drive to be either stuck in the open or closed >> position. We've cleaned around the pin (Q-tips and isopropyl alcohol) and >> then lubricated it with some WD-40 (using Q-tip as well) as a start. This > > N omatter waht is says o nthe can, Wanton Destruciton 40 is nto a > usitable lubricant for small mechanisms. In fact this might be what is > gummign things up > > On similar SOny drive,s I take them apart as far as possible and creally > clean the parts with propan-2-ol. Keep on workign them back and forth to > get the gunged-up grease out. > > Normally they will work properly with no lubricant at all. And wear on > osemthing like an eject mechansim should be minimal. > > -tony > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:42:40 -0400 > From: allison <ajp166 at verizon.net> > To: General Discussion: On-Topic Posts Only <cctech at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: pdp-11/23 config > Message-ID: <5165EAE0.4000005 at verizon.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > On 04/10/2013 11:42 AM, Jerome H. Fine wrote: >>> Arno Kletzander wrote: >> >>> OK, seems we mixed up logically and physically large drives here. >>> I have about none of the first, but several of the latter category >>> amongst those in question for the machines we're discussing here: >>> 1(2)x RD53 5,25" MFM >>> >>> >> Please be aware that most (maybe now almost all) RD53 >> drives have failed with the head stuck problem. If you have >> an RD53 which can still be read, it is strongly suggested that >> you copy the contents to a more reliable drive. It is possible >> to open and remove the sticky mess without a clean room, >> but read the notes over the past 5 or 10 years which describe >> how it should be done. I would agree to use an RD53 as a >> scratch drive for temporary storage, but not for saving files >> after the drive is powered down. If anyone has any MTBF >> stats after the sticky mess has been removed in terms of >> how many hours of actually using the drive, that would be >> helpful. >> > I have one I did that on back in the late 80s and it still runs. > I's gotten at least three years solid power on time in a PC > and after retirement there Its in a current PDP11 and still > runs at least 30 hours a year. > > I have a bunch I've done that to. A few have failed due to > controller board issues (saved as media spares) and one > the media is physically good but the controller borked > and wrote all over the servo tracks. No reformat possible > for the servo information. > > It was a very good drive save for the gummy rubber bumper > in the head assembly. > >>> 1x 300MB 5,25" ESDI, >>> >>> >> I have a number of Micropolis ESDI and Hitachi ESDI >> drives which seem to be quite reliable. Most are the >> Hitachi DK-515 ESDI 5 1/4" 600 MB drives. They >> are used with a PDP-11/83 system with their own >> PC type power supply and fan since I doubt that using >> the internal power supply from the BA123 is helpful. >> > The Hitachi were among the best. > > The Quantum D540s were also near bullet proof. > > >> Those Hitachi drives arrived 4 in a box with that PC >> type power supply in the first place which emulated >> one of the VAX type of drives which DEC supported. >> Since the ESDI drives were exactly what I wanted for >> the PDP-11/83 and the DEC reseller had no demand >> for these drives from VAX users, the price and usage >> was perfect for the PDP-11/83 with an MSCP EDSI >> controller. Normally, I used 3 * 600 MB drives which >> were usually all identical with drive 0 being the production >> drive and drives 1 and 2 being backups. >> > Most of the VAXEN (qbus) wanted drive larger than 300mb > as VMS V5 barely fits in 150mb and with users and added > software even 300mb is getting thin. > >>> 3x 5MB 14" RL01, >>> 1x 10MB 14" RL02, >>> >>> >> VERY reasonable for a small RT-11 system, but prone >> to hardware problems (especially filters) in the long run. >> > RL02 was far more reliable and more common. 10MB happens to > be a handy size for PDP11. > >>> (2x 80MB 14" SMD) (I just have a lead on those yet) >>> >>> >> The ESDI drives are more reliable and faster. ESDI controllers >> were also less expensive and more available. >> >>> [TK50 tape subsystem] >>> >> From my point of view, one of the worst backups that >> DEC ever produced. While making a simple copy of >> a large file is reasonable, the lack of a reasonable >> streaming capability makes use of small files or a verify >> of a large file extremely difficult. On the other hand, >> the TK70 is a good, fast, reliable drive which I used >> for many years as my primary backup until I found >> some Sony SMO S-501 magneto optical drives. >> > ;) > I just can't say enough nice things about TK50. > (set user/mode:sarcasm=off) > > But they were the common transfer media and big for its time. > that and I have a small bin full of Compact Tape I media with > stuff on it. Tk70 was the one to have. > > There is also TLZ04 tape. > > > Allison > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:51:46 -0400 > From: Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > Message-ID: > <CAALmimnHsy2-NKY8Ue5VMTgc8HUY10BjG1fdyX=bEYxGKoGrHQ at mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 6:26 PM, Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com> wrote: >>> What kind of warped pervert wants to have sex with a computer? > > Tasha Yar and Data? > > -ethan > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:09:27 -0500 (CDT) > From: Tothwolf <tothwolf at concentric.net> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: What is the correct material to use.. > Message-ID: > <alpine.DEB.2.00.1304101754230.2498 at brioche.invalid.domain> > Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed > > On Wed, 10 Apr 2013, Geoffrey Oltmans wrote: >> On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 4:17 PM, Geoffrey Oltmans <oltmansg at gmail.com>wrote: >>> On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 3:41 PM, Tothwolf <tothwolf at concentric.net> wrote: >>> >>>> As others have pointed out, WD40 isn't a replacement for grease or >>>> oil. It works great as a water displacement, such as for driving the >>>> water out of parts that have been rinsed in water after cleaning with >>>> a detergent based degreaser. A large percentage of WD40's ingredients >>>> is a light solvent, and the small amount of oil it contains tend to >>>> gum up later if not removed/supplemented by a better oil. OTOH, I do >>>> not recommend the use of "3-in-1" oil for anything other than possibly >>>> a door hinge. Because it is vegetable based and not petroleum based, >>>> it too will gum up later. >>> >>> Ah, good to know on the 3-in-1 stuff. Like I said before, I tend to use >>> that or the lithium grease depending on which is more readily available >>> at the moment. >> >> Wait... I take that back... according to the MSDS, 3-in-1 is petroleum >> based. >> >> http://www.lakeland.edu/AboutUs/MSDS/PDFs/445/3-in-1%20Oil%20%28Doyle%20Mid… > > Interesting. I wonder if they've changed the formula over the years? I was > taught that it was vegetable based, however the high percentage of Heavy > Naphthenic Oil /does/ help explain why it tends to gum up, since the > lighter hydrocarbons are going to evaporate, leaving the heavier stuff > (paraffin) behind. > > I think I'll stick with something like Boeshield T-9 if I need something > with a high paraffin content though. > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:35:01 -0600 > From: ben <bfranchuk at jetnet.ab.ca> > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > Message-ID: <5165F725.3040804 at jetnet.ab.ca> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > On 4/10/2013 4:51 PM, Ethan Dicks wrote: >> On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 6:26 PM, Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com> wrote: >>>> What kind of warped pervert wants to have sex with a computer? >> >> Tasha Yar and Data? >> >> -ethan >> >> > > Give Data a break, Tasha Yar was the most computer like one. > Ben. > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 23:36:33 -0000 > From: "Cory Smelosky" <b4 at gewt.net> > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > Message-ID: <5165F781.8090203 at gewt.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > > On 04/10/2013 06:51 PM, Ethan Dicks wrote: >> >> On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 6:26 PM, Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com> wrote: >>>> What kind of warped pervert wants to have sex with a computer? >> >> Tasha Yar and Data? >> >> -ethan >> > > Well...at least it's not the Borg queen... > > -- > Cory Smelosky > http://gewt.net Personal stuff > http://gimme-sympathy.org Experiments > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 8 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:37:07 -0400 > From: Dave McGuire <mcguire at neurotica.com> > To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > Message-ID: <5165F7A3.90401 at neurotica.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > On 04/10/2013 06:51 PM, Ethan Dicks wrote: >>>> What kind of warped pervert wants to have sex with a computer? >> >> Tasha Yar and Data? > > [cue 1970s porn music] > > "...programmed in multiple techniques..." > > -- > Dave McGuire, AK4HZ > New Kensington, PA > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 9 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 23:52:50 -0000 > From: "Cory Smelosky" <b4 at gewt.net> > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > Message-ID: <5165FB52.3090805 at gewt.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > > On 04/10/2013 07:35 PM, ben wrote: >> >> On 4/10/2013 4:51 PM, Ethan Dicks wrote: >>> On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 6:26 PM, Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com> wrote: >>>>> What kind of warped pervert wants to have sex with a computer? >>> >>> Tasha Yar and Data? >>> >>> -ethan >>> >>> >> >> Give Data a break, Tasha Yar was the most computer like one. > > She was even more computer like than actual computers! > >> Ben. >> > > > -- > Cory Smelosky > http://gewt.net Personal stuff > http://gimme-sympathy.org Experiments > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 10 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:21:32 -0400 (EDT) > From: Mouse <mouse at Rodents-Montreal.ORG> > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: H780 power supply > Message-ID: <201304110021.UAA22211 at Sparkle.Rodents-Montreal.ORG> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > >> Probably not that particualr PSU, but I know that some of the smaller >> DEC pSUs used on Qbus systems do not work correctly unloaded. > > It wasn't a DEC PSU, but I once fried a PSU by running it with too > little load. (It was a Sun SPARCstation SLC or ELC, I forget which, > and I was using the PSU without the monitor load it was designed to > always drive - http://www.sunhelp.org/~mouse is a page I wrote up for > sunhelp.org which, among other things, mentions the experience.) > > /~\ The ASCII Mouse > \ / Ribbon Campaign > X Against HTML mouse at rodents-montreal.org > / \ Email! 7D C8 61 52 5D E7 2D 39 4E F1 31 3E E8 B3 27 4B > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 11 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:21:49 -0400 > From: David Riley <fraveydank at gmail.com> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: Huge Lot of Vintage Computers- Local Pick up preferred in > Flushing Michigan > Message-ID: <C2FDB6FE-EDC8-49E6-8163-1A3E9F5C4F90 at gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > On Apr 10, 2013, at 6:18 PM, Matthew D Stock <stock at csgeeks.org> wrote: > >> Folks, >> >> Beware of this guy - he scammed me out of some money recently when I offered to buy some stuff from him and he didn't ship. His ex-girlfriend (it's her paypal account, it wasn't hacked) ended up refunding me the money out of her pocket. >> >> But don't believe me, just do a web search and you'll see has has quite a history on the Apple mailing lists going back years. If you still choose to buy from him, do it in person and know what you're buying. > > How recently was that? List members have reported recent transactions > with him that went just fine, and he's offering local, in-person > pickup (preferred, even). As always, caveat emptor, but people can > change. > > > - Dave > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 12 > Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:35:44 +0000 > From: Ian King <IanK at vulcan.com> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org>, "General Discussion: On-Topic Posts Only" > <cctech at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > Message-ID: > <2F25BE3D5F64F342B56139F31854C9B998D8E71B at 505MBX2.corp.vnw.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > On 4/9/13 6:33 PM, "Andrew Hoerter" <amh at POBOX.COM> wrote: > >> On Tue, Apr 9, 2013 at 3:10 PM, Zane H. Healy <healyzh at aracnet.com> wrote: >> >>> Honestly, I'm really surprised by the list. I was surprised first by >>> the >>> C-128, and even more surprised by the time I got to #10. I didn't take >>> time >>> to see if they listed criteria for the choices, but I find the machines >>> selected to be odd. I for one would have put a BeBox in the list (and >>> I've >>> never even seen one). I'd have likely also included the G5 PowerMac >>> (and >>> current Mac Pro's) for their case. >> >> Surely the Connection Machine warrants a spot on that list, as well. >> >> -Andy >> >> > > Yes, the Connection Machine just stirs the primal geek instincts - which > journalists do not have. I really see no rationale to their choices. > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 13 > Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:37:06 +0000 > From: Ian King <IanK at vulcan.com> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > Message-ID: > <2F25BE3D5F64F342B56139F31854C9B998D8E737 at 505MBX2.corp.vnw.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > On 4/9/13 8:14 PM, "mc68010" <mc68010 at gmail.com> wrote: > >> On 4/9/2013 6:04 PM, Liam Proven wrote: >>> On 10 April 2013 01:33, Chuck Guzis <cclist at sydex.com> wrote: >>>> Other than the obvious triteness of the the question--- >>>> >>>> What kind of warped pervert wants to have sex with a computer? >>> Joke, N entirely SFW: >>> http://www.welookdoyou.com/fufme/ >>> >>> Real: >>> http://www.gizmag.com/lovepalz-iphone-teledildonics-app/24254/ >>> >>> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/12/sxsw_teledildonics/ >>> >>> >>> >> >> There is of course always this too http://public.enemy.org/zt_pdp11.jpg >> >> > > A photo too far.... > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 14 > Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:40:27 +0000 > From: Ian King <IanK at vulcan.com> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > Message-ID: > <2F25BE3D5F64F342B56139F31854C9B998D8E767 at 505MBX2.corp.vnw.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > On 4/10/13 4:35 PM, "ben" <bfranchuk at jetnet.ab.ca> wrote: > >> On 4/10/2013 4:51 PM, Ethan Dicks wrote: >>> On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 6:26 PM, Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com> wrote: >>>>> What kind of warped pervert wants to have sex with a computer? >>> >>> Tasha Yar and Data? >>> >>> -ethan >>> >>> >> >> Give Data a break, Tasha Yar was the most computer like one. >> Ben. >> >> >> > > You're being unkind to every computer that was ever built. Every one. No > insult to the actress, she was just following the thread of execution. > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 15 > Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 00:44:25 +0000 > From: Ian King <IanK at vulcan.com> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > Message-ID: > <2F25BE3D5F64F342B56139F31854C9B998D8E78C at 505MBX2.corp.vnw.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > On 4/10/13 4:37 PM, "Dave McGuire" <mcguire at neurotica.com> wrote: > >> On 04/10/2013 06:51 PM, Ethan Dicks wrote: >>>>> What kind of warped pervert wants to have sex with a computer? >>> >>> Tasha Yar and Data? >> >> [cue 1970s porn music] >> >> "...programmed in multiple techniques..." >> >> -- >> Dave McGuire, AK4HZ >> New Kensington, PA >> >> > > I always wondered: who would create a *synthetic* life form and programs > it to engage in what is arguably the most fundamentally biological of > interactions? What could be the motivation... eww, I wish I hadn't gone > there. > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 16 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:00:05 -0400 > From: Matthew D Stock <stock at csgeeks.org> > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: Huge Lot of Vintage Computers- Local Pick up preferred in > Flushing Michigan > Message-ID: <51660B15.1070009 at csgeeks.org> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > On 4/10/2013 8:21 PM, David Riley wrote: >> How recently was that? List members have reported recent transactions >> with him that went just fine, and he's offering local, in-person >> pickup (preferred, even). As always, caveat emptor, but people can >> change. - Dave > > As of last month. Fast correspondence arranging the payment, and USPS > ship code almost immediately. Said he'd drop off the package the next > day. Follow up the following week, said that he missed the shipping > window, and he'd be sending something in a couple of days. Another week > and a half and another followup, and he says he can't ship the > equipment, and then I'll get a refund in the next day or so. Another > few days and another followup, and he says he doesn't have the money in > paypal and will pay me as soon as he sells some other stuff. > > I give the guy up until the limit of the paypal dispute window to > resolve the issue, repeated contacts, and nothing. If others want to > roll the dice with him that's their business, but it looks like he's got > a history of being hit and miss. > -Matt > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 17 > Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 01:02:07 -0000 > From: "Cory Smelosky" <b4 at gewt.net> > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > Message-ID: <51660B8F.9060603 at gewt.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > > On 04/10/2013 08:44 PM, Ian King wrote: >> >> On 4/10/13 4:37 PM, "Dave McGuire" <mcguire at neurotica.com> wrote: >> >>> On 04/10/2013 06:51 PM, Ethan Dicks wrote: >>>>>> What kind of warped pervert wants to have sex with a computer? >>>> >>>> Tasha Yar and Data? >>> >>> [cue 1970s porn music] >>> >>> "...programmed in multiple techniques..." >>> >>> -- >>> Dave McGuire, AK4HZ >>> New Kensington, PA >>> >>> >> >> I always wondered: who would create a *synthetic* life form and programs >> it to engage in what is arguably the most fundamentally biological of >> interactions? What could be the motivation... eww, I wish I hadn't gone >> there. > > Either to make things...easier, or to prove a point. ;) > >> >> > > > -- > Cory Smelosky > http://gewt.net Personal stuff > http://gimme-sympathy.org Experiments > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 18 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:27:20 -0400 > From: David Riley <fraveydank at gmail.com> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: H780 power supply > Message-ID: <C69A01F3-C67A-4854-8E32-DD288CE6A246 at gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > On Apr 10, 2013, at 8:21 PM, Mouse <mouse at rodents-montreal.org> wrote: > >>> Probably not that particualr PSU, but I know that some of the smaller >>> DEC pSUs used on Qbus systems do not work correctly unloaded. >> >> It wasn't a DEC PSU, but I once fried a PSU by running it with too >> little load. (It was a Sun SPARCstation SLC or ELC, I forget which, >> and I was using the PSU without the monitor load it was designed to >> always drive - http://www.sunhelp.org/~mouse is a page I wrote up for >> sunhelp.org which, among other things, mentions the experience.) > > Yeah, if you run some of the less intelligent ones with two low a > load, the duty cycle on the switcher shrinks to near zero, which > means lots of sharp pulses up/down next to each other on an > inductor. The end result is not nice. The smarter systems will > just hold off for a period if they detect an insufficient load; > the even smarter ones will switch in a dummy load automatically. > > > - Dave > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 19 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:34:58 -0400 > From: Toby Thain <toby at telegraphics.com.au> > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: Huge Lot of Vintage Computers- Local Pick up preferred in > Flushing Michigan > Message-ID: <51662152.7040304 at telegraphics.com.au> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > On 10/04/13 8:21 PM, David Riley wrote: >> On Apr 10, 2013, at 6:18 PM, Matthew D Stock<stock at csgeeks.org> wrote: >> >>> Folks, >>> >>> Beware of this guy - he scammed me out of some money recently when I offered to buy some stuff from him and he didn't ship. His ex-girlfriend (it's her paypal account, it wasn't hacked) ended up refunding me the money out of her pocket. >>> >>> But don't believe me, just do a web search and you'll see has has quite a history on the Apple mailing lists going back years. If you still choose to buy from him, do it in person and know what you're buying. >> >> How recently was that? List members have reported recent transactions > > I've bought from Steve before with no issues and I would buy from him again. > > > >> with him that went just fine, and he's offering local, in-person >> pickup (preferred, even). > > Exactly. About as straight a deal as it gets. > > --Toby > >> As always, caveat emptor, but people can >> change. >> >> >> - Dave >> > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 20 > Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 04:15:02 +0100 > From: Liam Proven <lproven at gmail.com> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic Posts Only" <cctech at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > Message-ID: > <CAMTenCEapoDsiPpPfemPOpOG35svtq2HxE9c=ANjjbCU6Tx-pQ at mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 > > On 10 April 2013 23:26, Fred Cisin <cisin at xenosoft.com> wrote: >>> What kind of warped pervert wants to have sex with a computer? >> >> Barbarella and the Excessive machine? > > Barbarella and Diktor: > > http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jCh6DqlHTB4/Rkk4QFPvwXI/AAAAAAAAALA/eF7psh7vO14/s… > > -- > Liam Proven ? Profile: http://lproven.livejournal.com/profile > Email: lproven at cix.co.uk ? GMail/G+/Twitter/Flickr/Facebook: lproven > MSN: lproven at hotmail.com ? Skype/AIM/Yahoo/LinkedIn: liamproven > Tel: +44 20-8685-0498 ? Cell: +44 7939-087884 > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 21 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:03:39 -0700 (PDT) > From: David Griffith <dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > Message-ID: > <alpine.DEB.2.00.1304102203100.24199 at sleipnir.cs.csubak.edu> > Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed > > On Tue, 9 Apr 2013, Chuck Guzis wrote: > >> Other than the obvious triteness of the the question--- >> >> What kind of warped pervert wants to have sex with a computer? > > This guy: > > http://www.schlabonski.de/zwiebeltuete.html > ftp://ftp.franken.de/pub/people/m/pix/comp > > -- > David Griffith > dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu > > A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text. > Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing? > A: Top-posting. > Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail? > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 22 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:04:43 -0700 (PDT) > From: Tom Sparks <tom_a_sparks at yahoo.com.au> > To: "cctalk at classiccmp.org" <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: looking for Daisy Wheel Printer > Message-ID: > <1365656683.98307.YahooMailNeo at web142503.mail.bf1.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > > >>>> ? I am looking for a daisy wheel printer to buy >>>> >>>> An odd thing to desire.... >>> not really, >> >> Wel, OK, I regater old computer periphearls as being interesting, but far >> too many people think that the CPU is the only bit worth colelcting. >> >>> I already have two pen plotters (Desktop and cutter) >>> I've ordered a dot-matrix printer >> >> s an? aside, I regard injet and laser printers as being dot-matrix... >> > yea, but they are not impact based > > One of those 4-colour pritner/ploters using the Alps mechanism. Everybody >> and his dog sold them at some poitn -- Tandy CGP115, Commodore 1520, >> there was an Atari oen, a Sharp one, theOric printer, etc. >> > my Roland plotter has 8 pens slots (DXY-1300) > the other plotter is a papercraft cutter > > > -tony >> tom > PS:? I am using them for art projects > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 23 > Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 05:10:18 -0000 > From: "Cory Smelosky" <b4 at gewt.net> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > Message-ID: <B4DC6C45-CD43-4FA5-BE39-2E9B7A59FFC4 at gewt.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 > > > > On 11 Apr 2013, at 01:03, "David Griffith" <dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu> wrote: > >> >> On Tue, 9 Apr 2013, Chuck Guzis wrote: >> >>> Other than the obvious triteness of the the question--- >>> >>> What kind of warped pervert wants to have sex with a computer? >> >> This guy: >> >> http://www.schlabonski.de/zwiebeltuete.html >> ftp://ftp.franken.de/pub/people/m/pix/comp > > ?Do I WANT to click any of those? I highly doubt I do. > >> >> -- >> David Griffith >> dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu >> >> A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text. >> Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing? >> A: Top-posting. >> Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail? > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 24 > Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:43:54 -0700 (PDT) > From: David Griffith <dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > Message-ID: > <alpine.DEB.2.00.1304102243180.21085 at sleipnir.cs.csubak.edu> > Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed > > On Thu, 11 Apr 2013, Cory Smelosky wrote: > >> On 11 Apr 2013, at 01:03, "David Griffith" <dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu> wrote: >> >>> On Tue, 9 Apr 2013, Chuck Guzis wrote: >>> >>>> Other than the obvious triteness of the the question--- >>>> What kind of warped pervert wants to have sex with a computer? >>> >>> This guy: >>> >>> http://www.schlabonski.de/zwiebeltuete.html >>> ftp://ftp.franken.de/pub/people/m/pix/comp >> >> ?Do I WANT to click any of those? I highly doubt I do. > > That depends... Are you a heterosexual female or a homosexual male? > > -- > David Griffith > dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu > > A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text. > Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing? > A: Top-posting. > Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail? > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 25 > Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 05:50:56 -0000 > From: "Cory Smelosky" <b4 at gewt.net> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME * The Register > Message-ID: <471357C8-8BF8-4F71-AE4D-9982EA63F352 at gewt.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > > > On 11 Apr 2013, at 01:43, "David Griffith" <dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu> wrote: > >> >> On Thu, 11 Apr 2013, Cory Smelosky wrote: >> >>> On 11 Apr 2013, at 01:03, "David Griffith" <dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu> wrote: >>> >>>> On Tue, 9 Apr 2013, Chuck Guzis wrote: >>>> >>>>> Other than the obvious triteness of the the question--- >>>>> What kind of warped pervert wants to have sex with a computer? >>>> >>>> This guy: >>>> >>>> http://www.schlabonski.de/zwiebeltuete.html >>>> ftp://ftp.franken.de/pub/people/m/pix/comp >>> >>> ?Do I WANT to click any of those? I highly doubt I do. >> >> That depends... Are you a heterosexual female or a homosexual male? > > Neither. So i'll take that as a no. > >> >> -- >> David Griffith >> dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu >> >> A: Because it fouls the order in which people normally read text. >> Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing? >> A: Top-posting. >> Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail? > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 26 > Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:04:19 -0500 > From: John Foust <jfoust at threedee.com> > To: cctalk at classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: Re: Tech is the biggest problem facing archiving > Message-ID: <201304111311.r3BDBlCO048989 at mx1.ezwind.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > At 07:58 PM 4/7/2013, Mouse wrote: >>>> By providing virtualisation, VMware is doing for Intel platforms >>>> what VM/370 did onmainframes in the 1970?s. >> >> Is it? How easy is it to run VM-in-VM with VMware? (That's a serious >> question; I have never even looked at it myself. Work has never >> required it, and, like all closed-source software, it's simply not >> under consideration for my home use. Someday I want to learn enough of >> the x86 hypervisor hardware facilities to build a hypervisor of my own, >> but so far opportunity and inclination have not coincided for that.) > > > Yes, you can run VMware within VMware within VMware. People do it > for lab testing to see how a network of VMware hosts will interact > with each other. There's a performance hit, of course, but it works. > > Don't forget to add the complication (a.k.a. feature) that each of > those VMware can have their own virtual networks and virtual switches > within. And what you do within the virtual machines within each layer > is your own business; run whatever emulators within emulators that > you like. > > Also keep in mind that Windows 7 Pro gives you a free downloadable > Virtual PC and a license to a Windows XP Mode, and Windows 8 Pro gives > you Hyper-V. Virtualization is at the fingertips of desktop users. > Functionality that once required a complicated install on its own > PC is now distributed as a several-gig virtual machine that includes > its own operating system. > > To me, this is the way that emulators should be distributed for > learning purposes. I've seen so many emulators that need all sorts > of hand-tweaking of the emulator's configuration that requires > foreknowledge of the typical configurations of the emulated system > in question. The newbie doesn't know two layers of that. Give 'em > a ready-to-go typical experience in an easy download that drops into > VMware Player or Hyper-V. > > ... Now back to your regularly scheduled programming of the latest episode > of "Those Who Do Not Wish To Learn Because They Know It All, Not Being > Taught By Those Who Do Not Wish To Learn How to Teach The Unteachable." > > - John > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 27 > Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:32:10 -0500 > From: Geoffrey Oltmans <oltmansg at gmail.com> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: What is the correct material to use.. > Message-ID: > <CABVr2PvUa7wxhJJ+uy7yePB-=MjxwqANkSesoCfX+sKga+AGYA at mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 6:09 PM, Tothwolf <tothwolf at concentric.net> wrote: > >> >> Interesting. I wonder if they've changed the formula over the years? I was >> taught that it was vegetable based, however the high percentage of Heavy >> Naphthenic Oil /does/ help explain why it tends to gum up, since the >> lighter hydrocarbons are going to evaporate, leaving the heavier stuff >> (paraffin) behind. >> >> I think I'll stick with something like Boeshield T-9 if I need something >> with a high paraffin content though. >> > > I guess we should bear in mind that the lithium grease that they used on > the drives originally dries out and/or gets contaminated with dust, etc. > and gets gummy over time anyway. :) > > Just so people don't have the wrong impression: I was NOT advocating the > use of WD-40 as a replacement lubricant, but rather an aid in cleaning the > drive. Also as Tony just said, the drives eject mechs will work fine > without it since they will see little wear and most of the greased parts > are just guides rather than bearing surfaces (although they serve that > purpose to a minor degree). > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 28 > Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:52:02 -0500 > From: John Foust <jfoust at threedee.com> > To: <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Re: Computer ASCII Text Art from the 1970's > Message-ID: <201304111355.r3BDt1lF053674 at mx1.ezwind.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > At 01:24 PM 4/7/2013, craig at solomonson.net wrote: >> I ran across some old computer art from the 1970's while sorting through >> some old boxes in storage. It seems like nearly every computer lab and room >> had a few posters hanging on the wall. > > > I'd love to find the original data behind the Mona Lisa that > was produced by CDC that was exhibited at VCF 2.0. > > <http://www.threedee.com/jcm/aaa/images/monaCHC.jpg>http://www.threedee.com/jcm/aaa/images/monaCHC.jpg > > - John > > > > End of cctalk Digest, Vol 116, Issue 32 > ***************************************

12 years, 11 months

Houston Computer Museum (fwd)

by jws＠jwsss.com

On 4/12/2013 11:49 AM, Al Kossow wrote: > > also offlist.. > > He's flaked on Jim Stephens, who was storing a bunch of SDS computer > equipment for him in Kansas City as well. > > That reminds me, I should ask to take them off of the list of groups > we forward unwanted donation offers to. I would put in a word on John. He came and got his stuff, at my request because I was possibly going to have to move out of space I was storing his and my stuff in. He is obviously one who is heavy on assets and very short on planning and sustainability. Just a hoarder like me probably with somewhat less in income, since I had to help him with a big Storage Tech pile he got to. He did flake in that we never got access to tapes we wished to digitize before they went down the rabbithole, and he is extremely hard to get in touch with from time to time. However I think he means well. Again my main problem was that I was in a situation where I stored someone elses stuff and if I got run out of the space didn't want to have to move things (about 50 sq ft and heavy) that I didn't own. I do have phone numbers from a year ago and if you persist you may be able to contact him. But I don't have evidence there is a real museum, but rather more likely a bunch of storage units. thanks Jim

12 years, 11 months

ISO Dynabyte CP/M 2.2

by aek＠bitsavers.org

I picked up a 5505 a while ago, and as I've been going through the docs from San Diego there were a few Dynabyte manuals, which I'm currently uploading to bitsavers. The one thing I haven't found is any media. These seem to be difficult to find, and the 5" ones are going to be tough to image since they are 100tpi. Anyone have any Dynabyte media left?

12 years, 11 months

What is the correct material to use..

by earl＠baugh.org

I'm in the process of restoring some original Macs (a 128 and 512) with a friend and we have come across an issue with a floppy drive that is strictly mechanical, and am wondering what others have done. On the original 400K floppies there is a pin on the side that moves up and down as the floppy goes in, and is ejected which in some sense locks the floppy in either position. On one of these drives, the pivot point where this pin connects to the rest of the mechanism isn't as "free" as it should be, and initially caused the drive to be either stuck in the open or closed position. We've cleaned around the pin (Q-tips and isopropyl alcohol) and then lubricated it with some WD-40 (using Q-tip as well) as a start. This approach did free it up enough that it moves from "open" without the floppy, but when the motor goes to eject it, the mechanism is still a bit slow to move (which prevents the disk from ejecting by motor alone). Using the good ol' paper-clip shows that that mechanism works fine, though is just a little slow... which tells us that it's still not as free as it should be. We're trying to figure what type of lubricant would have been on this before (or what would be the proper modern replacement) Any thoughts? Thanks. Earl

12 years, 11 months

Designing a replacement Alps Plotter drive gear (was Re: looking for Daisy Wheel Printer)

by bobvines00＠gmail.com

> Message: 26 > Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:49:25 -0400 > From: Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > <cctalk at classiccmp.org> > Subject: Designing a replacement Alps Plotter drive gear (was Re: > looking for Daisy Wheel Printer) > Message-ID: > <CAALmimn-amKc8rMuGmaua4hqmR527STr8B30qx_TJMPKSzr_Qg at mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > [snip] > > Mention of the Alps plotter reminds me that we've had various discussions > about all the plotter mechs with broken gears but we've never worked out > the details on fabricating replacement gears. I've learned a lot about > fabrication over the past couple of years, so I wanted to take another stab > at the discussion to fill in the parts I don't (yet) understand... > > So I was looking at this gear generator... > > http://woodgears.ca/gear_cutting/template.html > > ... thinking that you can't fabricate a good replacement until you > have the data on what you are replacing. I'd like to try to make > either a flat (DXF) design file or a 3D (STL) design file of a > gear replacement candidate. It's possible that with so few > leaves (teeth) and such a small size (1/8" / 3mm across the > face, 1/20" / 1.27mm shaft) that there will be fiddling for > undercut, etc., but I wanted to at least make *something* > that could be tried for good fit. > > So that web-based tool can make a bitmap image of a > gear given the right data, but my own 2D CAD skills aren't > honed enough to draft up a DXF of a gear. Is there anyone > on the list here who is good with 2D CAD and has time > to make an image of a gear? I'm fine with turning that into > 3D and seeing how things would all turn out. I still have > several broken plotters and would like to get them working > again. > > Cheers, > > -ethan Ethan, I may be able to draw up a gear like this, but like the "gear generator," I'd have to have the correct gear data to know what to draw. I'm willing to try. What specs should I try to draw a gear to? I have access to both 2D & 3D drafting/modeling software (AutoCAD & SolidWorks). Do you intend to use a 3D printer to try to manufacture the gear? I suppose these gears are spur gears with involute gear teeth. What is the pressure angle? What is the total number of teeth? What is the pitch diameter? You said the face width is 1/8-inch and the shaft hole fits a 1.27mm diameter shaft. Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear) has all this info and more -- I'm pretty sure that you are interested in only spur gears right now, so you can skim over the other gear-type information on that page. Knowing the gear specs may even allow someone to go to the "small gear" catalogs and maybe even be able to select an "off-the-shelf" gear for each needed gear. It's possible. Let me know, Bob

12 years, 11 months

Computer ASCII Text Art from the 1970's

by jfoust＠threedee.com

At 09:35 AM 4/12/2013, John Foust wrote: >The Rostenbach site says the original digitized material was at >12 bits of gray, but that he worked with an 8 bit version. I'm sorry - Rostenbach says the original was 9 bits, and that he had a tape with those nine bits stored in twelve bits. - John

12 years, 11 months

Designing a replacement Alps Plotter drive gear

by bobvines00＠gmail.com

On Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:29:30 -0400, Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks at gmail.com> wrote: >>> Mention of the Alps plotter reminds me that we've had various discussions >>> about all the plotter mechs with broken gears but we've never worked out >>> the details... > >> I may be able to draw up a gear like this, but like the "gear >> generator," I'd have to have the correct gear data to know what to >> draw. > > Understandable. If I had more numbers up front, I would have given them. > >> What specs should I try to draw a gear to? I have access to both 2D & >> 3D drafting/modeling software (AutoCAD & SolidWorks). >> Do you intend to use a 3D printer to try to manufacture the gear? > > I do not. I was contemplating trying to laser-cut some out of Delrin sheet, > something I did not have access to the last time this conversation made > its rounds. As before, FDM printers do not have the resolution for such > a tiny part, and other technologies (sintered powder or UV-cured resin) > are likely to be too brittle, especially with such fine features. > I didn't really think so (for the same reasons), but I haven't kept up-to-date with today's additive manufacturing capabilities. >> I suppose these gears are spur gears with involute gear teeth. > > As far as I know that is true. > >> What is the pressure angle? > > I do not know. > >> What is the total number of teeth? >> What is the pitch diameter? > > I do not know without digging out a printer to check. I used to have > 4MP close-up pictures (taken with my gear in 2003 back when > Electronic Goldmine was surplusing the bare Alps printer mechs > for a few dollars) but I don't know exactly where those photos > are at the moment. My best approach right now would be to > drop one on a high-res flatbed scanner (1200 dpi) to get a > reasonable "to scale" picture, but I don't have a gear in front > of me at the moment (I do have them in town). > If you find the photos or make the scans, please send them. If possible, scan the gear next to something with a known scale such as a 6-inch machinist's scale or equal. >> You said the face width is 1/8-inch and the shaft hole fits a 1.27mm >> diameter shaft. > > That's what I've scraped from previous conversations about this > gear. I now own a micrometer so with a gear in hand, I have > a chance of confirming that to better accuracy. > >> Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear) has all this info and >> more -- I'm pretty sure that you are interested in only spur gears >> right now, so you can skim over the other gear-type information on >> that page. > > *nods* > >> Knowing the gear specs may even allow someone to go to the "small >> gear" catalogs and maybe even be able to select an "off-the-shelf" >> gear for each needed gear. It's possible. > > I think we (the cctalk community at the time) looked into that and nobody > had such tiny gears with so few large teeth in their catalog. Sounds like a "non-standard" gear. I can see why you (cctalk) couldn't find one in a catalog. > There were > calls to remove a gear and make castings (most gears are already broken > making that difficult) or using a lathe to make a fresh brass gear, etc. > Someone apparently did take a stab at a homemade brass gear but > declared it too expensive to warrant starting up a small run. Perhaps > hobby CNC has evolved to the point now where one could do a gear > with less labor and make an individually cut gear easily enough to > justify selling it for around $5. Or not. The hobby CNC world seems to have drastically increased in popularity in the last few years. A lot of the (mostly) guys are retired now and *may* be willing to make a small run for a reasonable cost just for the challenge. We'd still have to be able to give them full specs so they can program their machines. I recommend we wait on approaching the hobby CNC community until the gear specs can be determined and you have a go at the prototype with the laser. > > If I have a DXF or EPS of the face of the gear, I can see if the laser > cutter can make an approximation out of Delrin for nearly free (I just > spend a few minutes when I'm already working on a run and as long > as I don't work past the quarter-hour billing tick on the tool, the time > is already paid for by the other job). I'm not positive that this will > work, but the cost is so low that it's worth a stab. Just need the > silhouette to scale and I'm good to go. > > -ethan Go ahead and measure what you can and send me the dimensions & photos/scans. I'll see what I can put into DXF or EPS format for you. Bob

12 years, 11 months

Computer ASCII Text Art from the 1970's

by jfoust＠threedee.com

At 06:06 PM 4/11/2013, Mike Loewen wrote: > Internet sources state that the "Mona by the Numbers" image was done on a plotter. There is some info and a few links at the bottom of this page: >http://rostenbach.com/mona/mona.htm Yes, that's the one. I hadn't seen digitalmonalisa.com before. It is owned by a Andrew Patros. Does anyone recognize his name and know why he made it? At first I thought he was selling prints. It says "Mona by the Numbers" was reproduced on a "diazo printing machine." In the PDF on the site, it also says "Peterson used his EYE [a flying spot scanner] to scan a 35mm slide of the Mona Lisa, and then, using a specially designed character set, played the scan back onto a 30 inch Cal Comp plotter. The 30 inch monochrome playback sparked a mini collecting frenzy all over the country." The Rostenbach site says the original digitized material was at 12 bits of gray, but that he worked with an 8 bit version. Nelson's "Computer Lib" says each spot was 100 levels, which makes me wonder if he wasn't misconstruing "percents" as levels. So as I understand it, diazo was a copying technology that made copies of the original plotter print. Does that account for the faded orange color of the surviving prints? <http://www.vintchip.com/DOCUMENTS/monanumbers/mona.html>http://www.vintchip.com/DOCUMENTS/monanumbers/mona.html has a nice closeup of the bottom of an original. That site is kept by a Greg Barber. I'd love to get an original. Does anyone recall them ever coming up for sale? Barring that, I'm tempted to recreate it in Illustrator so vector reproductions could be made. - John

12 years, 11 months

Computer ASCII Text Art from the 1970's

by craig＠solomonson.net

I ran across some old computer art from the 1970's while sorting through some old boxes in storage. It seems like nearly every computer lab and room had a few posters hanging on the wall. As I recall, Snoopy was probably the most popular subject along with "space stuff." I just had to piece these old posters together and see what I had printed back in 1981. It turns out that at least 2 of them were from the Princeton University Computer Center Clinic and done by Samuel P. Harbison in 1973. The third one of the Golden Gate Bridge is huge (8 ft. wide and 6.5 ft. tall) and no credits were given. Here are some photos of them for those that are interested: Golden Gate Bridge (with a PAA airplane) - 96" x 78": http://www.solomonson.net/computers/GoldenGate.jpg One Giant Leap (man on the moon) - 40" x 33": http://www.solomonson.net/computers/GiantLeap.jpg The Moon - 59" x 55": http://www.solomonson.net/computers/Moon.jpg

12 years, 11 months

Designing a replacement Alps Plotter drive gear (was Re: looking for Daisy Wheel Printer)

by ethan.dicks＠gmail.com

On Thu, Apr 11, 2013 at 4:20 PM, Tony Duell <ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk> wrote: >> One of those 4-colour pritner/ploters using the Alps mechanism. Everybody >> >and his dog sold them at some poitn -- Tandy CGP115, Commodore 1520, >> >there was an Atari oen, a Sharp one, theOric printer, etc. > > But that little Alps unit is somewhat odd, and IMHO deserves a place i na > colleciton of hard copy peripherals. Mention of the Alps plotter reminds me that we've had various discussions about all the plotter mechs with broken gears but we've never worked out the details on fabricating replacement gears. I've learned a lot about fabrication over the past couple of years, so I wanted to take another stab at the discussion to fill in the parts I don't (yet) understand... So I was looking at this gear generator... http://woodgears.ca/gear_cutting/template.html ... thinking that you can't fabricate a good replacement until you have the data on what you are replacing. I'd like to try to make either a flat (DXF) design file or a 3D (STL) design file of a gear replacement candidate. It's possible that with so few leaves (teeth) and such a small size (1/8" / 3mm across the face, 1/20" / 1.27mm shaft) that there will be fiddling for undercut, etc., but I wanted to at least make *something* that could be tried for good fit. So that web-based tool can make a bitmap image of a gear given the right data, but my own 2D CAD skills aren't honed enough to draft up a DXF of a gear. Is there anyone on the list here who is good with 2D CAD and has time to make an image of a gear? I'm fine with turning that into 3D and seeing how things would all turn out. I still have several broken plotters and would like to get them working again. Cheers, -ethan

12 years, 11 months

New Flip Chip PCBs

by dm561＠torfree.net

A couple of folks on the VCForum talking about making new flip chip boards: http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showthread.php?36190-New-flip-chip-…

12 years, 11 months

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