- test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org - classiccmp.org

by jfoust＠threedee.com

Florida ballot Hollerith card chad is going for $20-40 +$3-7 S/H on eBay. In some cases, the *single* chad is behind glass in its own 8x10 frame. - John

25 years, 7 months

8
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no power to Toshiba T1200 laptop

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- Mark Price <markp(a)wccls.lib.or.us> wrote: > I picked up a Toshiba T1200 laptop at Goodwill yesterday. Of course, it > came with nothing, not so much as a power adapter, and nothing there to test > it with, but I couldn't resist. I picked a power adapter from Radio Shack > this morning, 12V, 1500mA, and plugged it in. IIRC, the T1200 wants 9VDC (there's a block of 4 NiCd cells inside that suggests to me that it's 6VDC internal and 9VDC to charge it) I just happened to see one about a week ago at our weekly Geek Lunch. I'm pretty sure the wart was 6VCD. Good luck, -ethan ===== Even though my old e-mail address is no longer going to vanish, please note my new public address: erd(a)iname.com The original webpage address is still going away. The permanent home is: http://penguincentral.com/ See http://ohio.voyager.net/ for details. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. http://shopping.yahoo.com/

25 years, 7 months

2
1
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Kansas City standard cassette recording

by donm＠cts.com

A tad over two years ago, there was some dialogue about the Kansas City standard for cassette recording of microcomputer files, and a chap named Heinz W. Wiggeshoff provided some information via alt.folklore.computers, and offered both images of programatic nature and circuit information on request. (See following.) If anyone obtained those images and circuit information, please respond to philpem(a)btinternet.com with Cc to me. Many thanks. - don ================================= >From ordeal.cts.com!newshub.cts.com!usc!howland.erols.net!torn!nott!cunews!freenet-news.carleton.ca!FreeNet.Carleton.CA!ab528 Tue Dec 9 12:52:46 1997 Path: ordeal.cts.com!newshub.cts.com!usc!howland.erols.net!torn!nott!cunews!freenet-news.carleton.ca!FreeNet.Carleton.CA!ab528 From: ab528(a)FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Heinz W. Wiggeshoff) Newsgroups: alt.folklore.computers Subject: Re: Kansas City cassette recording format Date: 9 Dec 1997 19:00:30 GMT Organization: The National Capital FreeNet Lines: 53 Message-ID: <66k4ge$2ae(a)freenet-news.carleton.ca> References: <ygeoh2q4txr.fsf(a)outoften.doc.ic.ac.uk> Reply-To: ab528(a)FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Heinz W. Wiggeshoff) NNTP-Posting-Host: freenet5.carleton.ca X-Given-Sender: ab528(a)freenet5.carleton.ca (Heinz W. Wiggeshoff) Xref: ordeal.cts.com alt.folklore.computers:176771 X-Cache: nntpcache 1.0.7.1 (see ftp://suburbia.net/pub/nntpcache) Stephen Crane (jsc(a)outoften.doc.ic.ac.uk) writes: > Anyone out there got any technical information about this? I have > some cassettes of varying age and quality whose information I'd like > to retrieve, preferably using my PC's audio card. Ideally, someone > will have written a program for Linux which does this but, given the > info, I'll have a bash at it over Xmas. From Microprocessor Interfacing Techniques by Austin Lesea and Rodnay Zaks (whatever happened to him?) c/r 1978 SYBEX Inc. ISBN 0-89588-003-2 p. 128 KANSAS CITY STANDARD In order to use these inexpensive recorders in the hobby market, a standard was proposed and adopted by hobbyists. Using frequency shift keying techniques, and frequency double frequency [sic] modem techniques, this standard is easy to use. The drawback is the data rate of 30 characters per second. The system takes standard serial RS-232C data ... and converts each bit to either 8 cycles of 2400 hertz (a "1") or 4 cycles of 1200 hertz (a "0"). To generate this, only a few flip-flips [sic] are required along with a quad NAND gate. Shown in Fig. 4-55 is the modulator. [Image sent on request] [Circuit function, ditto] The demodulator must detect whether 1200 hertz or 2400 hertz tones are present. There are many ways of doing this; however a common one is to detect zero crossings of the input signal. This will generate either 2400 or 4800 pulses per second. [Circuit details sent on request] The circuit for the demodulator appears in Fig. 4-56. The de- modulator timing appears in Fig. 4-57. Note how one gets back what one started with, along with the necessary clock information. If the tape speed varies, the data may still be recovered as the clock information will insure the UART receives the proper timing signal. No special software is needed as this interface makes the cassette look like a paper-tape, punch-reader combination to the computer. [Images sent on request] (This format is found between the KIM cassette interface, and the One Chip Digital Cassette controller using the NEC UPD371D.) (Surprisingly, the documentation for my Heathkit ETA-3400 only mentions the frequencies, not the details of the encoding.)

25 years, 7 months

5
7
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OT: telnetd for Win98

by vaxman＠uswest.net

Sorry for the OT, but y'all are the brightest computer savvy folks I know :) I'm looking for a telnet server (not client) for Windows 98 (Second edition)... Something that will let me log in, and give me the equivalent to a command window... I'm trying to set up a method of putting VHDL simulations on idle PCs at work :) clint

25 years, 7 months

4
3
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Osborne manuals

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

Here's the list of the Osborne Manuals and software that I could find. I'm planning on sending them to Josh for him to scan. Does anyone else have any other manuals? Joe Osborne computer books and original software disks. 1) Osborne “Approved Software” binder with original disks: Osborne Executive CP/M Plus ver 3.0 System disk Osborne Executive CP/M Plus ver 3.0 General Utilities disk Osborne Executive CP/M Plus ver 3.0 Advanced Utilities disk Osborne Executive CP/M Plus ver 5.21/2.38 MBASIC/CBASIC disk Osborne Executive CP/M Plus ver IV.12.B USCD P-System disk Osborne Executive CP/M Plus ver 1.12/1.00 Super Calc with SDI disk Osborne Executive CP/M Plus ver 3.30 WordStar/Mailmerge disk Osborne Executive CP/M Plus ver 2.00 WordStar Install disk Osborne Executive CP/M Plus ver 1.06 Personal Pearl (6 disks) 2) “Osborne Executive Guides” box with: Volume 1 Mastering the Osborne Executive (PB) Volume 2 Working with Text and Spreadsheets (PB) Volume 3 Managing Information with Personal Pearl (PB) Volume 4 Operating Systems (PB) 3) “Osborne Executive Reference Guide” box with: Volume 0 Beginner’s Guide (PB) Executive Reference Guide binder with: Executive Reference Guide (PB) and loose notes inside 4) “Osborne 1 User’s Reference Guide” book (PB) 5) Osborne “Approved Software” binder with: Personal Pearl Easy Tutorial User’s Guide (loose pages) Personal Pearl Advanced Tutorial User’s Guide (loose pages) Personal Pearl Reference Manual (loose pages) 6) “Osborne 1 Technical Manual” binder Osborne 1 Technical Manual (a BIG manual) (loose pages)

25 years, 7 months

2
2
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CD's as parabolic mirrors?

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> On December 8, Megan wrote: > > >I remeber reading that a hologram of a lens would refract light in the > > >same was as a real lens would. This concept has formed the basis for > > >the flight-of-fancy holodeck/holosuite concept from Star Trek. > > > > <ot> > > The holodeck supposedly uses both hologram projectors and transporter > > technology... I suspect it should also use shield technology, too... > > </ot> > > The Trek world's holodecks don't have anything at all to do with > holographic lens technology. They use a combination of holography > (for background scenes and "wall extension") and transporter-style > matter synthesis for "solid" objects. I wasn't talking about the explanation Giordi LaForge would give for how it worked, but how the writers were likely inspired to create the plot device. regards, -dq

25 years, 7 months

1
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Digital Correspondent, socal

by mikeford＠socal.rr.com

>> BTW I have a couple good sized boxes of ribbons, that I "hope" to soon >> spread out on something flat a take a couple pictures of, and get rid of. > >Remember the MacInker (or some name to that effect)? It seems to take care >of re-inking old ribbons quite nicely. Only problem though with ribbons is >that I have too many I have no idea what they go to :)! Hence my plan, spread them all out, take a decent picture, and put it on my web site and let people look for what they need and offer me vast sums of money for it.

25 years, 7 months

1
0
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World's Crappiest Drives (was Re: A&J Microdrive)

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Jerome Fine <jhfine(a)idirect.com> >I don't see what the problem is. I have been running the Hitachi DK515-78 >and the Hitachi DK516-15 drives now for a number of years. I admit that Those were good drives, I ran one for years and it was not new to start with. The complaint with some of the drives like ST225 was like many with ferrite coated platters the media migrates due to heat and that centrifical thing. I've found with mine if I let them get good and warm first then format them the problem is far less pronounced to uncommon. They dont like heat. Heat has always been the enemy of electronics and mechanicals, especially temperature cycles. Allison

25 years, 7 months

1
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World's Crappiest Drives (was Re: A&J Microdrive)

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: r. 'bear' stricklin <red(a)bears.org> >We won't talk about the TK50. TK50 is the only one that hasn't messed me up. Then again most of the TK50s found are dead or nearly so. HPT20 travan-5, burnt me so bad... Seems the _tape_ moves so fast it heats up... alot... then be come useless due to heat. >I will, however, nominate any hard disk Micropolis made which was in a >smaller form factor than 5.25" FH. Garbage. D540, best drive ever. >> Bulletproof drives: >> Seagate St225,251, and 4096 interface version notwithstanding ST225 is a good one, the 251 and 4096 were junk. The ST251 was far to hot running to survive unless cooled with great effort. Allison

25 years, 7 months

2
1
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Question: Disk Mirroring preceding RAID?

by ss＠allegro.com

Hi, Need help in settling argument...does disk mirroring (via hardware) predate RAID's mirroring capability? (I'm not interested in OS software implemented mirroring here.) Also, are there any hardware mirror methods that one could point to and say: this is not capable of being called any kind of RAID! (The argument in question is over the statement that "all hardware based mirroring is a form of RAID".) For example, is there any "stealth hardware mirroring" mechanism, where a drive watches the bus, and obeys writes, but nothing else? (This would be "drive-based" mirroring, as opposed to "controller- based mirroring") (Since RAID is controller-based, a drive-based mirroring mechanism would seem to be clearly not any kind of RAID.) thanks! Stan Stan Sieler sieler(a)allegro.com www.allegro.com/sieler/wanted/index.html www.allegro.com/sieler

25 years, 7 months

7
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World's Crappiest Drives (was Re: A&J Microdrive)

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: jeff.kaneko(a)juno.com <jeff.kaneko(a)juno.com> > >On Mon, 4 Dec 2000 22:38:33 EST Glenatacme(a)aol.com writes: >> In fact, these are absolutely the crappiest storage devices I have >> ever seen used on any computer. >> >> Any challengers for worst storage device? > >Yes-- The KALOK Octagon-20. The absolute worst >MFM drive (and perhaps the worst rotating memory of >*any* sort) ever manufactured. most any JTS drive and the ST251(in a warm box) followed by an old MFM Miniscribe 3.5" 21mb. These are exceeded by the infamous SA400 (or sa400L) drives. I also think the Zip drive (IOMEGA) might qualify. All time winner was the 300baud FSK modem used by MITS as a cassette interface. Allison

25 years, 7 months

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Question: Disk Mirroring preceding RAID?

by ajp166＠bellatlantic.net

From: Richard Erlacher <edick(a)idcomm.com> To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org> Date: Monday, December 04, 2000 8:48 PM Subject: Re: Question: Disk Mirroring preceding RAID? >Back in '90. I tried the Novell NETWARE approach to mirroring, but was >unable to make it work. That was due to the fact that the ADAPTEC >controller I was using didn't really work correctly at the alternate address >with the driver they provided for that purpose. I quickly abandoned it, in >favor of the software RAID offered by NT. I currently running NT4/server using Adaptec and two 9gb drives and it's very well behaved with only one caveat, it is a tad slower. The NT4 software RAID also work nearly as well and has behaved itself. The biggest fail point is many raid (scsi based) system use the same channel for both drives and the bus is then the weak point. However, my interest is data recovery on failure not 100% uptime. your design goals vay vary. ;) Allison

25 years, 7 months

1
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NEXTcube

by KenzieM＠sympatico.ca

I saw my first Cube today! It was in the back of a scarp yard. They had it running but I couldn't find the mouse pointer. The owner also said that the fan wasn't working. There was a laser printer, dot-matrix, 2 monitors, keyboard and mouse. Any warnings about these machines? What OS do they run? Is it worth $75 cdn?

25 years, 7 months

20
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no power to Toshiba T1200 laptop

by markp＠wccls.lib.or.us

I picked up a Toshiba T1200 laptop at Goodwill yesterday. Of course, it came with nothing, not so much as a power adapter, and nothing there to test it with, but I couldn't resist. I picked a power adapter from Radio Shack this morning, 12V, 1500mA, and plugged it in. There's a little red blinky starts blinking on the top of the case just above the on/off switch, but nothing else, no power-on, no boot, no bios screen, no nothin'. Any clue what's going on? Is the CMOS battery dead? Is the battery charging? Any experience, wisdom, and/or pages you'd have to share would be most appreciated. Thanks! ============================== Mark Price, Library Computer Specialist Washington County Cooperative Library Services e-mail: markp(a)wccls.lib.or.us voice: 503-846-3230 fax: 503-846-3220

25 years, 7 months

1
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FSOT: WANG WLTC "Transportable" laptop

by wkuiper＠wxs.nl

Hey Well, I haven't got a spare powerbrick for you because I;ve got only one. why I reply is that my Wang WLTC doesn't start up any more. I now need the WANG start tracks or bootdisks. So, if you have them and you would mail me them, I would be verry gratefull For so far, thanks, Evert Kuiper, The Netherlands

25 years, 7 months

1
0
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Scratched plastic screen

by fauradon＠mn.mediaone.net

Hi all, I have a Sega Gamegear with a badly scratched screen. THe scratches are sobad that they distord the display. Is there an easy way to polish it? A hard way? I tried baking soda and dremel all morning but it's still bad and I've done some damage to the case with the dremel (yeah I should be more carful with power tools) Thanks Francois

25 years, 7 months

4
4
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Apple I proto?

by jhellige＠earthlink.net

Speaking of eBay and it's often inflated prices, did anyone else see the listing for the supposed Apple I prototype? The seller has a '0' rating and it's been bid up to $14k! http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1200995556 Jeff -- Collector of Classic Microcomputers and Video Game Systems: Home of the TRS-80 Model 2000 FAQ File http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lakes/6757

25 years, 7 months

1
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Heathkit Fall 1978 catalog now on-line; H-8, H-11, H-9 and ET-3400.

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net> wrote: > Hi, > > I just finished scanning all of the computer related pages from my Fall > 1978 Heathkit catalag and posting them on the web... Thank you for these. I have been (slowly) restoring an H-11 I recovered >from the crawlspace of a former boss. We did custom DEC work about 12-14 years ago on his H-11 (KDF-11) and my 11/23 (the target system was an 11/73 w/4Mb RAM, Fuji Eagle, the works, running TSX-11 - I loved the fact that I could develop on a system I paid $300 for and deliver code to a machine that cost >$10K). I'm still on the lookout for the schematics for the Heathkit floppy interface. Mine siezes the bus such that on power-on, I never get an ODT prompt. If I put a gap in the Qbus, I can run the CPU, see the I/O registers on the floppy card, etc., but, of course, it doesn't boot up fully - it seems to read in the boot block, but as soon as RT-11 turns up interrupts, because of the break in the grant chain, they, of course, never come. I really just need to know what chips have their fingers in the interrupt handling and to probably just replace them. My board is socketed and I have checked all the TTL chips with an IC tester. I'm down to the Heath/DEC bus driver/receiver parts. Thanks, -ethan ===== Even though my old e-mail address is no longer going to vanish, please note my new public address: erd(a)iname.com The original webpage address is still going away. The permanent home is: http://penguincentral.com/ See http://ohio.voyager.net/ for details. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. http://shopping.yahoo.com/

25 years, 7 months

2
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GOOD scrounging day! More

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

I just finished posting some pictures and a short blurb about the Morrow Micro Decision computer and the Paratronics logic analyzer on my website. You can find links to both of them at "http://www.intellistar.net/~rigdonj/joespage.htm". BTW I left a few things off my list of yesterday's finds. Two Heathkit Hero-1 manuals and a HP Portable Plus and a 9114 disk drive. Joe

25 years, 7 months

1
0
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Scratched plastic screen

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 12/9/00 12:52:27 PM Eastern Standard Time, edick(a)idcomm.com writes: > There's a material, basically a buffing rouge, available at crafts shops and > some plastic retailers, that works better than the baking soda. The problem > with baking soda is that it's not aggressive enough and therefore requires a > lot of rubbing that works out badly for other plastic parts. The somewhat > more abrasive rouge, which is mixed with a lubricant of some sort, takes off > more of the plastic but doesn't require as much effort. That's the same > thing I use for cleaning CD's, so it seems to work OK. > > I'd advise you to avoid the Dremel tool, since it gets the plastic hot and > thereby risks permanently distoring the optical properties of the lens. > > Dick I have also heard of using toothpaste, but has anyone ever tried it? DB Young ICQ: 29427634 hurry, hurry, step right up! see the computers you used as a kid! http://www.nothingtodo.org

25 years, 7 months

2
1
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Dissecting a TZ30 drive

by yoda＠isr.ist.utl.pt

>>>>> "Chuck" == Chuck McManis <cmcmanis(a)mcmanis.com> writes: Chuck> I have on my desk a TZ30 (half height TK50 drive) and it Chuck> has a tape inside of it. Powering it up and pressing unload Chuck> starts a rewind and then it gives up (all lights Chuck> flash). I'm guessing the tape presense sensor is dirty or Chuck> otherwise disabled but to get to it I really would like to Chuck> remove the existing tape. Unfortuately I cannot find how to Chuck> manually "unlock" the drive. Clues anyone? I extracted a TZ30 from a "storage expansion" box that used to be connected to a alpha station. The drive is SCSI so that it was trivial to use it in my PC. The load system seems extremly unreliable to me: any small failure when loading/unloading the tape might easly require disassemble it. I performed a deep dust cleaning by disassembling it. I guess it is fairly easy to disassemble and re-assemble it. Cheers, -- *** Rodrigo Martins de Matos Ventura <yoda(a)isr.ist.utl.pt> *** Web page: http://www.isr.ist.utl.pt/~yoda *** Teaching Assistant and PhD Student at ISR: *** Instituto de Sistemas e Robotica, Polo de Lisboa *** Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisboa, PORTUGAL *** PGP fingerprint = 0119 AD13 9EEE 264A 3F10 31D3 89B3 C6C4 60C6 4585

25 years, 7 months

2
1
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MO question

by mark_k＠iname.com

Hi, On Fri, 8 Dec 2000 Douglas Quebbeman wrote in reply to a message by John Foust: > > In a nice freebie haul that included a 128M Quadra 950, a 660AV, > > a Syquest external, an HP ScanJet IIc, DeskWriter C, there was > > an Optima Concorde 600 meg magneto-optical drive. This is > > the Sony SMO-E501 mechanism. > > That's an odd-sized capacity... are these 5.25 inch carts, or > 3.25 inch carts? If the latter, are you sure they aren't 640MB > capacity? Not odd really. The first generation of (ISO standard) 5.25" MO drives can work with 600 and 650MB media. 650MB disks have a sector size of 1024 bytes, but some operating systems & software only work with 512-byte sectors. If the drive was marketed for use with a particular operating system or software package that required 512-byte sector media, that would explain the 600 designation on the case. With appropriate driver software, Macs can use 1024-byte sector media. If you want to use it in conjunction with a modern PC, both 600 and 650MB disks will work fine under Windows 9x, no drivers needed. The SMO-E501 is a first-generation MO drive, albeit not the first first- generation drive that Sony made (if that makes any sense). Circa 1992 I think. Let me know if you would like specs or jumper setting info for the MO drive. -- Mark

25 years, 7 months

2
1
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MO question

by jfoust＠threedee.com

In a nice freebie haul that included a 128M Quadra 950, a 660AV, a Syquest external, an HP ScanJet IIc, DeskWriter C, there was an Optima Concorde 600 meg magneto-optical drive. This is the Sony SMO-E501 mechanism. On the back of the external SCSI box, there was a DIN-5 connector, like a keyboard connector, that piqued my curiousity. Inside, I saw that it was simply an external connector for 5 volt power. What might have this been used for? - John

25 years, 7 months

6
6
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Compaticard

by donm＠cts.com

I will entertain offers for a 'new in the box' CompatiCard I with original manual and software disk. This unit will handle all 8" drives, both single and double density, 5.25" drives, same, and 3.5" drives of 720k and 1.44mb persuasion. It is not as convenient as the CompatiCard 4, but will cope with all but 2.88mb drives. I also have a used Compaticard II which will handle 3.5" and 5.25" drives, but will not handle 8" drives. It comes with the latest software and a photocopy of the manual. If interested, please reply by private email. If there is no interest or reasonable offers, I will put them up on one of the auction sites. - don

25 years, 7 months

1
0
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A Proposal for Y2K Patches for V5.03 of RT-11

by jhfine＠idirect.com

For a number of years, I have been producing Y2K patches for various versions of RT-11 for commercial purposes. At this time, I would like to produce a set for V5.03 of RT-11. This set will initially be for hobby users and will be made available free of charge to anyone who complies with the current hobby license agreements available for hobby users. Later, these same Y2K patches will be made available to all users in the RT-11 community. This proposal is being circulated so as to alert those interested parties as well as to allow for useful feedback that will allow the best choice to be made for the base year. I have been attempting for months now to decide what are the reasons for doing all of this, but I finally decided that anyone who understands will not care and anyone who does not will not realize why I bothered. So the following criteria were used: (a) One requirement will be that dates can be maintained by the RT-11 operating system and associated software for a considerable period into the future. In addition, there is at present a unique opportunity to extend the date range back into the past. The first will be done. The second is open to question. (b) Any method which is proposed MUST, in my opinion, be able to function with and be compatible with all current software which handles dates for the ranges for which those programs were designed and written - so long as the actual dates being represented by the date words (there must obviously now be more than one) are in the same range as the values for which the programs were designed. Thus, all programs designed to function only from 1973 to 1999 must be able to do so. For V5.07 of RT-11, as well as software written by others (myself included) for the dates from 1972 to 2099, the same criteria MUST apply. This means that all the different versions of all different software can function correctly and coexist between 1973 and 1999. From 2000 to 2099, only the Y2K versions can coexist with this new software and prior to 1972 and after 2099, only the Y10K versions will function correctly. (c) One additional word shall be reserved which holds the extra bits required to specify the year before 1972 and after 2099. A number of other technical details are also available, but until a decision is made on the base year, it is doubtful that they are important. I have a number of points to consider to help in choosing a base year, but until I see some feedback on the basic proposal, even just the Y2K patches for V5.03 of RT-11, I doubt that there is much point in presenting them. If the above proposal is satisfactory, then coding will continue for the Y10K modifications for V5.03 of RT-11. Feedback is requested, especially on the question of using extended dates prior to 1972. Sincerely yours, Jerome Fine

25 years, 7 months

1
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new finds and... Atari 810/1050 help

by dogas＠bellsouth.net

I was about to pass over an Apple IIgs at a local thrift store but didn't when I found a bunch of Sequential Systems cards in it. It's a rom 3 one thats got a RamFast/SCSI board, a VGA card!, a 7mhz(I think) ZipGSX board that displaces the gs's cpu by plugging into the cpu socket (and slotted too). There's also another card (in the first slot on the left) that has an eprom with a Sequential Systems label (SS, copyright 1993, rev QP290-BG) and a connector (like one interface from a drive II card) that I don't know anything about. It's nice using it with a VGA, and the zip makes a few of the ][ games I have on hand unplayably speedy. I've got a hd with gs/os that's momentarily unlocatable but I'm digging and hopeful. ;) Also. Does anyone have a service proceedure or any info on repairing atari disk drives. I have a 'stack' of em and many are having problems. Thanks - Mike: dogas(a)bellsouth.net

25 years, 7 months

22
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World's Crappiest Drives (was Re: A&J Microdrive)

by Glenatacme＠aol.com

Mike -- Thanks for the very helpful information about this drive. The "documentation" consists of a user's manual with no technical data. The connector on the TS2068 version is different than what you describe but otherwise it seems the same. There were actually two versions for the TS2068, each using a slightly different tape. Both types seem to be equally unreliable. The tapes self-destruct if you look at them the wrong way. In fact, these are absolutely the crappiest storage devices I have ever seen used on any computer. Any challengers for worst storage device? Glen Goodwin 0/0

25 years, 7 months

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Professors worry that engineering students don't tinker enoug h...

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> In most of the US, putting "engineer" near your name doesn't require that > you hold an engineering certification. For instance, my official title > at my day job is "senior software engineer" but I've never taken a single > software nor engineering course, much less certification exam, in my life. False. In most states of the U.S., if you represent yourself as an engineer of any kind, and you are not a licensed engineer, you are committing a crime, albeit a misdemeanor. Texas is leading the nation in trying to change this. -dq

25 years, 7 months

3
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q: old dial-up MUD-like commercial game?

by ryan＠hack.net

Just having a moment of nostalgia here.. Anyone remember having a multi-player D&D/MUD like game dial-up service in their city? I'm thinking around 1985 or earlier... it was some sort of a timeshare system with 8/16/24 ports that people could dial in to at an hourly rate and play. As I recall it was some sort of franchise and we had one here in Milwaukee (414 area code) that was quite popular- I believe it was called Sceptre, but I'm not sure if that was the name of the game/world/town, etc. Just wondering what kind of hardware & software was hosting this game; it was quite addictive (or perhaps I was mesmerized by trying to use an 80-column terminal on a C64). Thanks, -- ------------------------------------------------------- Ryan K. Brooks V: 414-908-9011 r(a)hack.net F: 707-885-4944 Chief Scientist / Time Warner Telecom N9YBX

25 years, 7 months

6
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dalnet #classic_computers IRC channel

by dwollmann＠puttybox.com

Just set up #classic_computers so a few of us from another channel could talk classics without getting kicked for being OT. Drop by if you'd like to join in. If there's enough interest, I'll keep the channel active for a while. dalnet, #classic_computers David Wollmann, aka 'converter' converter(a)dalnet-perl.org

25 years, 7 months

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ST82500N: Need jumpers/switches

by msg＠computerpro.com

Greetings: Anyone have operating and maintenance info for CDC/Seagate ST82500N 'Sabre' SCSI drive? This unit is a module about two feet long and has a hex keypad and display front panel and beaucoup dip switches and jumpers on various boards. It is also tagged 'PA8U1B'. The HDA uses 8in media (19 physical heads); the entire unit includes locking pins at the rear for a drive bay, and weighs about fifty pounds (includes integral power supply). The previous owner (a large firm) did not remember it's original application but instead used it as the only drive on a Sun 470 (and didn't remember how it was physically mounted). It works and we can extract data from it, but it is set to target 0 and we must change that; also the front panel controls allow for various reconfigurations and tests; we'd like to know those too. We'd like to know which computers included this drive as an option; certain VAXen for sure but what about CRAY, CDC, SGI, etc? Thanks, Michael Grigoni Cybertheque Museum

25 years, 7 months

9
15
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Data Archival

by jforbes＠primenet.com

The key ingredient here, is that the data are stored on several hard drives...as I replace hard drives, there is a folder in each called "archive", which collects the info from the previous hard drive...and this archive folder is also copied to other computers via the lan. I wound't trust anything to only one copy, be it on a hard drive, floppy, cd, tape cartridge, or even a book stored in the basement :) Jim Sellam Wrote: > On Thu, 7 Dec 2000, J Forbes wrote: > > > It seems to me that nowadays we buy new hard drives with a few > > times more capacity every year or two. We also have several > > computers, many networked (at home, this is). > > > > I think that we may just keep all the info on hard drives, with > > an occasional CD-R backup, and it will get duplicated so many > > times over the years that we would be hard pressed to lose any > > data. > > And then one day the box it's stored in gets bumped a little too hard, or > when you try to fire it up in ten years something on it blows, or...? > > I can think of worse ways to archive data, but I wouldn't want to trust > anything long term to a hard drive. Unless you kept the data "alive" > meaning you kept it stored on a computer that is constantly being > backed-up and in service. > > Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival

25 years, 7 months

1
0
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CD's as parabolic mirrors?

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On December 8, Megan wrote: > >I remeber reading that a hologram of a lens would refract light in the > >same was as a real lens would. This concept has formed the basis for > >the flight-of-fancy holodeck/holosuite concept from Star Trek. > > <ot> > The holodeck supposedly uses both hologram projectors and transporter > technology... I suspect it should also use shield technology, too... > </ot> The Trek world's holodecks don't have anything at all to do with holographic lens technology. They use a combination of holography (for background scenes and "wall extension") and transporter-style matter synthesis for "solid" objects. Yes, though, holographic lenses do work, are in widespread use, and have been around for quite some time. The most recent consumer application for them jumped out at me at a hamfest last summer. Some guy had dozens of cases of new, really cheap & cheesy handheld laser pointers. The more expensive ones (like $8 instead of $5) came with these little interchangeable "caps" that you could screw over the beam exit end. These different caps contained holographic lenses which would project different patterns or pictures or whatever on whatever you pointed it at. Yes, there are some of those things on the market that simply contain a piece of what looks like miniature slide film...but if you look around, you can find the ones with the holographic lenses. They kinda look like plastic diffraction gratings when viewd in normal light. -Dave McGuire

25 years, 7 months

1
0
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Order-of-magnitude (OT)

by mmcfadden＠cmh.edu

I believe the order-of-magnitude knowledge was very necessary if you used a slide rule. Since the slide rule allowed you to compute the significant digits the operator had to know the order of magnitude. I graduated from college before handheld/battery calculators. My physics/calculus class was more how to write the equation and derive an approximate answer than a specific answer. My grandfather gave be a slide rule when I was in 4th grade, 1962. Slide rule battery never runs down. Slide rule can be used to scrape ice off windshield. Slide rule doesn't mind hot and cold temperature. Slide rule also visible in direct sun light. My kids don't understand why approximations and knowing the order-of-magnitude are useful. Very useful for determining the expected cost of gas when filling up. Also useful for mowing, raking leaves, hauling dirt, sailing, flying and buying groceries. Of course I also worked for my grandfather in an orchard selling apples, no cash register just a cigar box and a coffee can for the tax, 3 cents on the dollar. If you couldn't figure the bill and the tax in your head you were useless. "Being comfortable with math is a way of life and an attitude" Mike McFadden mmcfadden(a)cmh.edu

25 years, 7 months

2
1
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Apple I on History Channel tonight at 7pm

by dogas＠bellsouth.net

History's Lost and Found show airing this evening... http://www.historychannel.com/ontv/ Cheers - Mike: dogas(a)bellsouth.net

25 years, 7 months

2
1
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Classic Cinemaware Games

by jeff.kaneko＠juno.com

On Tue, 5 Dec 2000 10:01:37 -0600 (CST) Dan Linder <dlinder(a)uiuc.edu> writes: > I think in "Youngster Lingo" (tm) "ROMs" = "Games" due to the > popularity > of NES, etc, emulators, people go looking for "ROMs" instead of > Games - > it's sort of like "warez". :) > > - Dan I always thought the sort that would go looking for 'warez' would be on the hunt for 'ROMz' . . . ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

25 years, 7 months

2
1
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World's Crappiest Drives (was Re: A&J Microdrive)

by Glenatacme＠aol.com

In a message dated 12/06/2000 4:47:39 PM Eastern Standard Time, ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk writes: > > Aw, come on Tony -- you mean your ZX81 doesn't have a printer? You can get > Yes, of course it does. Problem is, finding the metalised paper for it :-) Ah -- here in the states we use the Alphacom 32, which uses any white thermal (fax) paper which has the same width as the ZX81 printer. > > one at any car boot for a couple of pounds, you know ;>) Of course, you > > still have to type it back in, unless you splurge and buy a cassette > recorder > > . . . > > You mean that's more reliable and faster than writing down the program > and retyping it? That's news to me :-) :-) Well that just proves you can learn something new every day ;>) I went through four tape players before I found one which worked error-free with my home-built ZX81. It has been 95 percent reliable over a two-year period. Additionally I use a fast-data-transfer program (FASTLOADER) which increases the speed of SAVEs and LOADs by 16 times. What's cool about this software is that it merges with the program I'm working with, so I don't have to pre-load the FASTLOADER. I pretty much just SAVE and LOAD as usual. I don't know about your penmanship, but I can't write down 16 KB of BASIC instructions in 30 seconds ;>) Glen 0/0

25 years, 7 months

2
1
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Flourescents (was: What tools do you carry, always

by jfoust＠threedee.com

At 04:20 PM 12/7/00 -0800, you wrote: >Could somebody please explain to me how flourescent lamps work? >They put out a LOT of UV light. >So much so, that I thought that the name implied that they operated by a >coating that flouresced under UV. Yes, of course that's how flourescent lamps work. I think they even still have mercury vapor in them. However, I questioned whether the dinky little lamp in a scanner would zap a windowed (and presumably stickered) EEPROM. - John

25 years, 7 months

4
3
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CD's as parabolic mirrors?

by mbg＠world.std.com

>I remeber reading that a hologram of a lens would refract light in the >same was as a real lens would. This concept has formed the basis for >the flight-of-fancy holodeck/holosuite concept from Star Trek. <ot> The holodeck supposedly uses both hologram projectors and transporter technology... I suspect it should also use shield technology, too... </ot> Megan Gentry Former RT-11 Developer +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Megan Gentry, EMT/B, PP-ASEL | Internet (work): gentry!zk3.dec.com | | Unix Support Engineering Group | (home): mbg!world.std.com | | Compaq Computer Corporation | addresses need '@' in place of '!' | | 110 Spitbrook Rd. ZK03-2/T43 | URL: http://world.std.com/~mbg/ | | Nashua, NH 03062 | "pdp-11 programmer - some assembler | | (603) 884 1055 | required." - mbg KB1FCA | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ "Why yes, I do have a life...thanks for asking..." :-)

25 years, 7 months

1
0
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RML380Z and exploding sun psus [long and boring]

by kebabthesheep＠yahoo.com

--- Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> wrote: > > > > > > --- Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> wrote: > > > screw holding the lid on was made of purest cheesium alloy, and just > > Argh!!. > > For some odd reason many manufacturers use at least one tamperproof screw > in their PSU housings. You'll find a PCB held down by half a dozen normal > Phillips screws and _one_ tamperproof Torx, for example. That's one > reason for buying a set of tamperproof drivers... > I've never come across that - but i'm still always careful to make sure i've got the correct fitting screw-driver, and that i'm holding it correctly. Munching up screws, especially countersunk ones like these, is _really_ anoying. I learned my lesson the hard way - I bought a japanese motorcycle. The fasters, and in general all metal on it, are made of the softest of the soft crappy steel/alloy. You have to be so carefull with everything, or you bank manager will be laughing all the way to wherever he keeps his money ! Like I said - need to drill it out - then I can have a looksie, and figure out what failed. I'll get back to the list on that one. Dave. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. http://shopping.yahoo.com/

25 years, 7 months

2
1
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Why is it that ...

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

I think I still have the disks somewhere.... I just don't have an Apple-II to use to verify their readability. It wasn't bad, I rather enjoyed using it (my last semester in college, Spring '83). -dq > -----Original Message----- > From: healyzh(a)aracnet.com [mailto:healyzh@aracnet.com] > Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2000 11:50 PM > To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org > Subject: Re: Why is it that ... > > > > Yes the lack of JAVA, frames, no cookies and Activex stuff > does limits > > sites available and more every day. I'd think JAVA would > not be that > > bad on a smaller CPU tough it may be slow. After all it's > not that much > > different than running UCSD PASCAL (P-system) P-code on z80 or > > 6502! > > > > Allison > > One of these days I'd really like to play with a UCSD PASCAL > system, largely > to get a feel of how well it worked. From what I've heard > getting any kind > of Java running on a 68k based system is a problem (have we > got anyone still > active with Amiga's around, they'd have a better idea). That > tells me that > a 486 or lower won't really be able to cut it when it comes to JAVA. > > It does make you wonder what Sun's minimum requirements for > Java is on thier > machines. > > Wait a minute.... I think I had Java running on my PowerBook > 520c back in > '95 or '96, and it's a 68LC040 based system, so I guess at > least a 68040 or > 486 based system probably can do Java. At least on a > supported OS (which is > the real problem). > > Zane >

25 years, 7 months

9
12
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Professors worry that engineering students don't tinker enoug h...

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> Douglas Quebbeman wrote: > > > False. In most states of the U.S., if you represent yourself as an engineer > > of any kind, and you are not a licensed engineer, you are committing a crime, > > albeit a misdemeanor. > > Not in California, unless it's one of a handful of engineering disciplines > specifically identified by statute. You'd pretty much have to sign > "P.E." after your name to get in trouble here. > > This isn't to imply that California is particularly progressive in this > area (for some value of "progressive"), but rather that nobody has > bothered revising the statutes since being an "engineer" automatically > implied civil, geological or the sort that operates trains... Well, in contrast with how regressive other states are, I'd indeed call that progressive. -dq

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

CD's as parabolic mirrors?

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> I just noticed that sunlight reflecting off the top side of a CD focuses > somewhat, maybe with a focal length of about 20 feet. Off of the data side, it > spreads. I've tried it with several different types, and so far they all show > the same effect. Would anyone care to explain why? I remeber reading that a hologram of a lens would refract light in the same was as a real lens would. This concept has formed the basis for the flight-of-fancy holodeck/holosuite concept from Star Trek. My guess is that (unintentionally) the spiral pattern sets up the same interference pattern as a hologram of a parabolic mirror. Regards, -dq

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

MO question

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> >For a portable (i.e. 12-volt car accessory) power supply? In order > >to use it with a portable/notebook/laptop? > > The Quadra 950 must be the largest box Apple ever made, so > I don't think that was portable. :-) It hadn't occurred to > me that the power would be coming in - that's an interesting > possibility. What does a conventional power supply do when > it is off and power comes in the wrong way? I don't know the answer to your last question, but I wouldn't assume that just because it came with a pile of desktop equipment that it (the MO) was designed soley for use with desktop eq. regards, -dq

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

CDC Sabre information

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Dec 7, 12:51, John Honniball wrote: > Anybody know what the interface on the Cifer tape drive is? > The drive came with two huge, rubber-sleeved 50-way ribbon > cables. I think both cables are required for the > interface, so it doesn't look like SCSI... All the Cifers I've seen are Pertec interface, which consists of two 50-way cables. I have the pin assignment list somewhere, if that's any help. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Network Manager Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 7 months

2
1
0 0

MO question

by jfoust＠threedee.com

At 08:20 AM 12/8/00 -0500, Douglas Quebbeman wrote: >That's an odd-sized capacity... are these 5.25 inch carts, or >3.25 inch carts? If the latter, are you sure they aren't 640MB >capacity? The company's drive case label says 600 although I've seen similar units that claim 640. One 5 1/4 cart was included. >> On the back of the external SCSI box, there was a DIN-5 connector, >> like a keyboard connector, that piqued my curiousity. Inside, >> I saw that it was simply an external connector for 5 volt power. >> What might have this been used for? > >For a portable (i.e. 12-volt car accessory) power supply? In order >to use it with a portable/notebook/laptop? The Quadra 950 must be the largest box Apple ever made, so I don't think that was portable. :-) It hadn't occurred to me that the power would be coming in - that's an interesting possibility. What does a conventional power supply do when it is off and power comes in the wrong way? - John

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

MO question

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> In a nice freebie haul that included a 128M Quadra 950, a 660AV, > a Syquest external, an HP ScanJet IIc, DeskWriter C, there was > an Optima Concorde 600 meg magneto-optical drive. This is > the Sony SMO-E501 mechanism. That's an odd-sized capacity... are these 5.25 inch carts, or 3.25 inch carts? If the latter, are you sure they aren't 640MB capacity? > On the back of the external SCSI box, there was a DIN-5 connector, > like a keyboard connector, that piqued my curiousity. Inside, > I saw that it was simply an external connector for 5 volt power. > What might have this been used for? For a portable (i.e. 12-volt car accessory) power supply? In order to use it with a portable/notebook/laptop? -dq

25 years, 7 months

1
0
0 0

Data Archival

by jforbes＠primenet.com

With the talk of CD life, I was contemplating saving data (including all my old software, ie MS/IBM DOS 1.1 -> 6.22). Also, we've begun to digitize the family pictures. It seems to me that nowadays we buy new hard drives with a few times more capacity every year or two. We also have several computers, many networked (at home, this is). I think that we may just keep all the info on hard drives, with an occasional CD-R backup, and it will get duplicated so many times over the years that we would be hard pressed to lose any data. Music/Video may be another story... Jim

25 years, 7 months

3
2
0 0

Apple IIgs/65816/65802 reference/programming books for trade/donation

by claudew＠sprint.ca

Hi I recently got my hands on a Apple IIgs Woz from someone that obviously was doing, tried or wanted to devellop some serious stuff for this machine... Included all (?) orignal official Apple hardcover reference books for the IIgs! Some I never knew existed! All in excellent condition. Approx. 10 large books... Several non-Apple books. I do not have the space for all of these. I am willing to part with these - now... Programming the 65816 (Sybex 1986) 65816/65802 Assembly Language Programming (Osborne/McGraw-Hill 1986) Inside the Apple IIgs (Sybex 1987) Exploring the Apple IIgs (Addisson-Wesley 1987) Mastering the Apple IIgs Toolbox (Compute! Publications 1987) Apple IIgs Technical reference (Osborne/Mcgraw-Hill 1987) As usual for me : no money offers please. I will give away or I will accept a trade/donation in exchange. My interests are home micros (non ibm-pc arch) from 197x-198x early 1990's...I am still looking for : Atari 8 bit floppy drive, Atari 800, early TRS80 stuff, Apple III, CP/M machines. Shipping will be from Montreal, Canada. Thanks for reading Claude

25 years, 7 months

2
2
0 0

Tools without warranty...

by xds_sigma7＠hotmail.com

Well, I can say from experience that Xcelite does not warranty their tools for anything other than manufacturing defects, since I broke one of their torx bits recently.. Nor was my Stanley torx driver that I broke on the same stubborn torx warrenteed.. grr.. thats when I got out Ye Olde Drill. Of course, I must say that my tools comprise a weird combination of like 8 toolsets, mine, my dad's, both of my grandfather's, and around 4 or so misc. sets of tools that we have at work and bought at auction.. But not having to produce a reciept is good, I recently took a Craftsman tool that broke before I was alive to Sears and got it replaced, no sweat. Will J _____________________________________________________________________________________ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

25 years, 7 months

2
1
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