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

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Aaron Christopher Finney <af-list(a)wfi-inc.com> wrote: > To anyone who wants to pay the outrageous shipping (or pick up in > Southern California), a Sun 3/50. 12meg RAM, type 3 keyboard, mouse (I > think). It's the flat-style case, although I also have a non-working > 3/50 in a dimple case for anyone who wants that as well. I was using it > as an X terminal for a while, but it's been sitting under a pile of HP > stuff for 6 months... Y'know, sometimes that can be the solution to a problem. When I got a Micro GX 3000 (HP) a few years ago, I found it was kind of noisy due to the hard disk in its base. As I lived in a second-floor apartment this was a problem. So I got a Sun 3/60 as a cold spare for one I was running at the time, and put it under the 3000. Just the ticket -- it damped the vibes from the 3000, and I was able to hack late into the night without complaint. -Frank McConnell

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Apollo 400

by edick＠idcomm.com

You're right of course, but many people buy junked workstations just to get the high-resolution monitor, and then find that a video card completely suitable for the job costs more than a suitable monitor would have cost. I once tried this and found that the 15" (a BIG one by 1988 standards) APOLLO monitor I had was VERY well focused and VERY linear, but would work only at 1024x768 as a second monitor. Back then Windows wasn't available in a form that was of any use, but my CAE software had drivers which would exploit the higher resolution and allowed me to present 1:1 images of my drawings as sharp and clear images as opposed to the rather disappointing ones I got with the normal 640x400 images I was then used to. While these "retired" workstations are tempting, their sheer mass makes them forbidding, unless one considers the possibility of using the monitor as a high-res display for whatever purpose one desires. I found that a 1/8-watt resistor and a switch mounted on the backpanel bracket was not too much effort or expense to warrant such an application. Of course, back then, I had to pay over $1k for a NEC 4D, the equivalent of which costs about $200 these days. Nevertheless, this is a decent way to get some immediate benefit from the act of recycling an old workstation while you work on the problems associated with getting the workstation to work as a workstation once more. Dick -----Original Message----- From: John Amirault <amirault(a)epix.net> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Friday, March 19, 1999 10:33 AM Subject: Re: Apollo 400 >Dick, >I have an easier way to do it. Use the correct monitor. I got lost >reading your message. >Thanks for all the info even though I don't understand it. >John Amirault > >Richard Erlacher wrote: >> >> If you're thinking about the monitor as being useable with a PC, it depends >> on which type it is. The lower-resolution type (I once had one) will work >> at 1024x768 if you connect a resistor of about 500 ohms between the >> composite blanking signal on the "application connector" to the GREEN output >> from the card. This will impose the composite blanking beneath the GREEN >> video, and bias the GREEN up by about enough to make the composite blanking >> look like a composite sync, since it's of the right frequency. The GREEN >> input is usually AC coupled at the monitor, and terminated to ground through >> 75 ohms. This is worth a try, but may not work on all card-monitor >> combinations. >> >> It will of course not work at all until you load the 1kx768 driver, which >> will only happen when the hi-res GUI is loaded. >> >> Dick >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Merle K. Peirce <at258(a)osfn.org> >> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers >> <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> >> Date: Thursday, March 18, 1999 5:27 PM >> Subject: Re: Apollo 400 >> >> > >> >Ours stands about waist high and has to weigh over 100#. since it has >> >wheels, it is, of course, portabel...;) The monitor on ours appears to >> >be secured to the top. Ours was the main server on a token ring. >> > >> >On Thu, 18 Mar 1999, John Amirault wrote: >> > >> >> Merle, >> >> I would not call my HP Apollo 400 a portable by any means. It stands >> >> about 2' tall and weighs in @ about 70 pounds, which is the top end of >> >> what my doctors say I can lift and I find that trying to do this is very >> >> pain full, thank goodness for friends and hand trucks. Mine has no >> >> wheels. Mine also has a cable with three BNC connectors on each end to >> >> hook up the monitor. I have been told of a possible source for a monitor >> >> and I say thanks Sellam and I will check into it. >> >> >> >> JOhn Amirault >> >> >> >> "Merle K. Peirce" wrote: >> >> > >> >> > Perhaps I'm thinking of the 300 series? Is the 400 the very large >> >> > portable with its own wheels? >> >> > >> >> > On Wed, 17 Mar 1999, Merle K. Peirce wrote: >> >> > >> >> > > I think the 400 series have integral monitors, John. >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> > > On Wed, 17 Mar 1999, John Amirault wrote: >> >> > > >> >> > > > Mike, >> >> > > > Is this the HP Apollo 400? If yes,are there any monitors? >> >> > > > JOhn Amirault >> >> > > > >> >> > > > Mike Ford wrote: >> >> > > > > >> >> > > > > I had a pleasant afternoon poking around one of my favorite >> scrappers, and >> >> > > > > noticed on an incoming cart about two dozen Apollo 400 computers >> (says >> >> > > > > model 425 on the back). Hard drives are pulled, but otherwise >> they are >> >> > > > > supposed to be complete. Any interest? (he is in Santa Ana CA) >> >> > > > >> >> > > >> >> > > M. K. Peirce >> >> > > Rhode Island Computer Museum, Inc. >> >> > > 215 Shady Lea Road, >> >> > > North Kingstown, RI 02852 >> >> > > >> >> > > "Casta est qui nemo rogavit." >> >> > > >> >> > > - Ovid >> >> > > >> >> > > >> >> > >> >> > M. K. Peirce >> >> > Rhode Island Computer Museum, Inc. >> >> > 215 Shady Lea Road, >> >> > North Kingstown, RI 02852 >> >> > >> >> > "Casta est qui nemo rogavit." >> >> > >> >> > - Ovid >> >> >> > >> >M. K. Peirce >> >Rhode Island Computer Museum, Inc. >> >215 Shady Lea Road, >> >North Kingstown, RI 02852 >> > >> >"Casta est qui nemo rogavit." >> > >> > - Ovid >> >

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Another treasure for grabs

by af-list＠wfi-inc.com

(Seems like this is the month to dump extra junk on fellow list members!) No unreasonable offer refused... To anyone who wants to pay the outrageous shipping (or pick up in Southern California), a Sun 3/50. 12meg RAM, type 3 keyboard, mouse (I think). It's the flat-style case, although I also have a non-working 3/50 in a dimple case for anyone who wants that as well. I was using it as an X terminal for a while, but it's been sitting under a pile of HP stuff for 6 months... Aaron Please send any responses to A_Finney(a)wfi-inc.com

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Cromemco (was Re: S-100 bus specs) (fwd)

by dastar＠ncal.verio.com

Cromemco, a company that cares! Here's a reply I received from them this morning in reply to the message I sent yesterday questioning their history: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 12:35:55 +0100 To: 'Sellam Ismail' <dastar(a)ncal.verio.com> Subject: RE: Cromemco (was Re: S-100 bus specs) E-Mail From: Werner Salmen Cromemco GmbH Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Strasse 4 D-61350 Bad Homburg Germany Tel.: Int + 49 6172 967860 Fax: Int + 49 6172 304519 To: Sellam Ismail Attn.: Email: dastar(a)ncal.verio.com @ cc: Ref.: Your E-Mail of March 18 Date: March 19, 1999 Subj.: Cromemco Dear Sellam, thank you for visiting Cromemco's homepage and also for your input, which was very much appreciated. You know, marketing occassionally tends to express things in their own wording. We shall release a next version of our homepage in April. I think, obvious errors should then be corrected. However, it is always nice to talk to people who used ( some still do !) the Cromemco computers from the 80's. Many of them still like the stuff, although from nowadays point of view they look pretty antique. Believe it or not, we just worked on fixing the Y2K problem in Cromix, and it was a lot of fun. The company Cromemco itself did change, as you may have learned form our webpage. The new businesses are now mainly in Europe, and we do a lot in parallel and massively parallel computing, still comitted to Cromemco's mission: "Tomorrow's computers today". I wish you a nice weekend and remain with Best regards, Cromemco Werner Salmen -----Original Message----- From: Sellam Ismail [SMTP:dastar@ncal.verio.com] Sent: Thursday, March 18, 1999 11:36 PM To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers Cc: webmaster(a)cromemco.com Subject: Re: Cromemco (was Re: S-100 bus specs) On Thu, 18 Mar 1999, Sellam Ismail wrote: > On Thu, 18 Mar 1999, James Willing wrote: > > > > ...Cromemco actively manufactured S-100 systems > > > until they went out of business in around 1986 or so. > > > > as much as I absolutely hate to contradict... <BIG B^} > > > > > You may want to take a look at www.cromemco.com before you cast the > > previous thot in stone... > > You're kidding! > > Wow, you're not. But this is a far different company than us old tech > nerds know and love. Most of the business base seems to be European > these days. But hey, this is significant. A micro/mini-computer company > that's been around longer than Apple and is still alive and kicking. > That's more than you can say for any other computer comapnies that sprang > up around the same time, save for the obvious. Their history seems a bit revisionist, and in some cases downright fradulent. This is from the History section of their web site: 1975 First supplier of complete micro computer systems (based on Z-80) Call me stupid but the Z80 wasn't even invented yet: July 1976 The Apple I computer board is sold in kit form, and delivered to stores by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Price: US$666.66. [46] [218] [593.350] Paul Terrell orders 50 Apple computers from Steve Jobs, for his Byte Shop. [266.213] *****Zilog releases the 2.5-MHz Z80, an 8-bit microprocessor whose instruction set is a superset of the Intel 8080. [32] [202.168] (early 1975 [9]) (1975 [556.11]) (1975 December [346.257]) Micom Data Systems ships its first product, the Micom 2000 word processing computer. [615.99] Source: Chronology of Events in the History of Microcomputers http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/comphist/comp1971.htm And then there's: 1976 Development of the industrial standard S-100 Bus IEEE 696 First of all, I hope they don't intend to mean they invented the S-100 bus. That goes to Ed Roberts. And as far as I know, the IEEE696 standard wasn't ratified until 1982. December 1982 Pepsi-Cola president John Sculley first visits Apple Computer. [745.62] Tabor demonstrates a 3.25-inch floppy disk drive, the Model TC500 Drivette. Unformatted capacity is up to 500KB on a single side. [444.72] Amdek releases the Amdisk-3 Micro-Floppy-disk Cartridge system. It houses two 3-inch floppy drives designed by Hitachi/Matsushita/Maxell. Price is US$800, without a controller card. [444.70] Satellite Software International ships WordPerfect 2.0 for DOS, for US$500. [330.108] (v2.2 in October [502.49]) *****The IEEE Standards Board passes the IEEE 696/S-100 bus standard. [443.278] Digital Research announces CP/M+. [443.431] Atari issues a US$55 rebate on the Atari 400, dropping its retail price to under US$200. [713.268] Texas Instruments extends its US$100 rebate on the TI 99/4A to April 1983. [713.268] Apple Computer becomes the first personal computer company to reach US$1 billion in annual sales. [46] Source: Chronology of Events in the History of Microcomputers http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/comphist/comp1981.htm Then there's this: 1979 First multi-user operating system CROMIX (UNIX derivative) First multi-user operating system...what? On a micro? Maybe. Sheesh. These guys are as bad if not worse than Tandy and their self-aggrandizing history. (Is it obvious I have too much time on my hands these days? Oh well, someone's got to keep the record straight.) cc: webmaster(a)cromemco.com Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------ Don't rub the lamp if you don't want the genie to come out. Coming in 1999: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0 See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details! [Last web site update: 02/15/99]

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Security question (sort of)

by edick＠idcomm.com

If someone else got into your computer, it is because you let them in. Today's attitudes toward personal responsibility suggest that if someone steals your property, it is your fault for having it or at least for having let someone else see it. If someone trespasses on your property, it is your fault for not providing them an easier way to get where they want to go. If someone trespasses on your property to rob you or to vandalize your property, it is your fault for having the things they wish to steal or vandalize . . . get the picture? What I find mysterious is how someone could gain access to the computer in question in the first place. The most effective security measure is to disconnect the computer from the outside world when the owner is not using the connection to the outside world. A dialup server utility is just an invitation to vandals. If you must use a dialup server utility, then use it with a computer, the content of which is saved in a secure location not accessible to the outside world, e.g a complete backup made when the system was not accessible from outside. If you have security, e.g. passwording, user authentication, encryption, etc, do not share this security information with anyone under any circumstances, including life and death, no matter whose. If you value your data, you must never, Never, NEVER, put a floppy diskette in your computer which has been within 2 miles of a college campus since it was last formatted. In fact, you should never, Never, NEVER, put a floppy diskette which has been within 2 miles of a college campus (or high school, for that matter) inside a 50-meter radius of your computer even if it never goes into any computer at your site. You see? A few simple precautions will enable you to avoid damage from the outside if you rigorously adhere to them. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Marvin <marvin(a)rain.org> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Friday, March 19, 1999 9:22 AM Subject: Re: Security question (sort of) > > >Jason Willgruber wrote: >> >> I want a few people's opinions before I take any actions: >> >> My computer was recently hacked into, and a bunch of the software, and some >> of the hardware was messed up (I know who did it - no one on this list - >> someone from my school). >> >> What would be the best thing to do here (other than physically damage the >> person/and/or their computer)? Is there any security programs for Windoze >> '95 that can be downloaded? > >What was the attitude of the person who did it? If it was malicious, the >other suggestions given have a lot of merit. If not, then talk to the person >to let them know you didn't appreciate their "cleverness" and drop it.

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

sellers market

by steverob＠hotoffice.com

On Friday, March 19, 1999 10:04 AM, John Foust [SMTP:jfoust@threedee.com] wrote: > At 07:43 AM 3/19/99 EST, Jgzabol(a)aol.com wrote: > >>I suggest you call this new > >> site yaBe.com .... I'd suggest "NAUGHTY_BAY.COM"... That way you can sell porno banners and generate some revenue. Steve Robertson - <steverob(a)hotoffice.com>

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Computers in Parallel

by roblwill＠usaor.net

Earlier today, I was reading an article in a magazine that I get (Science News) that said Supercomputers were made faster by connecting them in parallel (and I think someone here was talking about doing it with a bunch of C64's). That got me thinking. - I have a bunch of old computers, some network cards, and a big table in my basement. Here's the computers that I was thinking of using: HP Vectra RS/25C (386/25), GW2K (486-66), generic P-133, generic Cyrix P200+, and either a PS/2 P70 (386-20) or a Toshiba 200CDS (P100) as the "workstation". My question is: How do I do this? Do I connect them using parallel ports, or by using network cards and a hub? If I would the parallel ports, I could also add an IBM 5170, and two Tandy 1000's into the mix, but I'd need a few parallel cards. Is there any software that I would use, or would I have to write my own program (BASIC?)? ThAnX, -- -Jason Willgruber (roblwill(a)usaor.net) ICQ#: 1730318 <http://members.tripod.com/general_1>

27 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

test?

by Philip.Belben＠pgen.com

> test. I can't see my posts. why? Possibly the list engine has your mail status as "noack" - not sending your posts to you. Send the list engine (listproc(a)u.washington.edu) a message with "set classiccmp mail ack" in it. Just a thought. Philip.

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

LSI-11 question

by jlwest＠tseinc.com

Chuck Wrote... >I would like to put together a simple PDP-11 system. I've got a M7270 card >(LSI 11 processor) and an M8044-DB card (32KW MOS memory). I've also got a >couple of PDP-11/03 and PDP-11/23 rack chassis that are both QBUS. I've >also got a pair of RX02 drives. Does the M7270 go into an 11/03 chassis? > >What other cards would I need to build a usable '11 ? No doubt a floppy >controller card of some sort (although I also recently got the DSD440 to go >with the funky RX02 emulator card) Some sort of serial port for a terminal >(M number?) What is the minimum RT-11 system? > >I also picked up the programmers panel for a PDP-11/10. I'd love to put >together a PDP-11/10 if I new what to look for. Hey Chuck - A while back I picked up a box with a pretty fair amount of LSI-11 stuff. AIR, it had some front panel cards, some processor cards, some memory cards, etc. etc. I really have no interest in the LSI-11 stuff, so you're welcome to have it. If I get a chance this weekend I'll come up with a list of what all's there LSI11 related... Jay West

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

infinity

by bluoval＠mindspring.com

What computer was in the movie 'Infinity' w/ Mathew Broderick? It was a big machine, with a typewriter interface and paper punch. What was it used for?

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Disks! 5.25" disks! I'm in *heaven*!

by netcafe＠pirie.mtx.net.au

-----Original Message----- From: Jerome Fine <jhfine(a)idirect.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Friday, 19 March 1999 17:29 Subject: Re: Disks! 5.25" disks! I'm in *heaven*! >>Cameron Kaiser wrote: > >> See >> >> http://store.imation.com/ >> >> and Diskette Products. DD 5.25" disks! Rapturous! They even have them >> for RX-50! *And* 8" disks! But be prepared to pay through the nose, of >> course ... If anyone in OZ wants/needs some 5.25" DSDD floppies, I have about 20 or so boxes of genuine Verbatim disks, still in the original shrinkwrap, complete with hard plastic flip top case. Email me off the list if you are interested, I'm in South Australia, about 140 road miles nnw of Adelaide. Cheers Geoff Roberts Computer Room Internet Cafe Port Pirie South Australia. netcafe(a)pirie.mtx.net.au

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

57 PST) - STAN VEIT'S HISTORY OF THE PC !! only $3 !! (http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-c

by fauradon＠pclink.com

For those of you who missed it the last time http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=79618079

27 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

Disks! 5.25" disks! I'm in *heaven*!

by ckaiser＠oa.ptloma.edu

A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text Size: 591 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/attachments/19990318/aecb2287/at…

27 years, 4 months

5
4
0 0

Cromemco (was Re: S-100 bus specs)

by mbg＠world.std.com

>By 1979 the LSI11 was available. And it's certainly possibly to justify >that machine as a micro. Now, the LSI11 didn't (AFAIK) run RSX, but I >think it could have run one of the standalone multi-user BASICs (which >included its own OS). The LSI-11/03 was available at least as early as 1975 (that's the date on the earliest 'lsi11 pdp-11/03 processor handbook' that I have). 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 | +--------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Security question (sort of)

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 3/18/99 10:39:42 PM US Eastern Standard Time, roblwill(a)usaor.net writes: > My computer was recently hacked into, and a bunch of the software, and some > of the hardware was messed up (I know who did it - no one on this list - > someone from my school). > > What would be the best thing to do here (other than physically damage the > person/and/or their computer)? Is there any security programs for Windoze > '95 that can be downloaded? uh, how about a power-on passwoid? I know some IBM machines have an unattended startup mode that locks the keyboard and mouse within the os until the passwoid is typed in. What about hardware locks? seems to be a simple and obvious answer to your problem. supr 'revenge is a delicious dish best served cold' dave

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Items available

by museum＠techniche.com

Where?? >A Heathkit -10 oscilloscope, it's one of the old-style ones. It works, I >guess, but I'm not familiar enough w/electronics to make sure of how well. >It's big and heavy, so the shipping will cost a lot, but otherwise free. > >Also, an IBM PC keyboard. Cost of shipping. > >--Max Eskin (max82(a)surfree.com) > >

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Weird PS/2!

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

Another strange find today, a PS-2 with a pull out hard drive. It's a Model 50 and has a steel box about 2.5" x 4" located bewteen the floppy drive and OFF/ON switch. There's a keylock below it and a chrome handle on the box. The box is about 7.5 deep and has a 50 pin SCSI type connector on the rear that mates with socket in the machine. On top of th ebox it's marked "Standard 5.0 software loaded 29 Jan 93". There is also a sticker on the front of the computer that says "IVT PS 50RD". Has anyone ever seen one of these before? Joe

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Sun 3/80?

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

I picked up a Sun 3/80 with some HP stuff today. Can anyone tell me about the 3/80? Joe

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Items available

by max82＠surfree.com

A Heathkit -10 oscilloscope, it's one of the old-style ones. It works, I guess, but I'm not familiar enough w/electronics to make sure of how well. It's big and heavy, so the shipping will cost a lot, but otherwise free. Also, an IBM PC keyboard. Cost of shipping. --Max Eskin (max82(a)surfree.com)

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

sellers market

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Mar 18, 21:37, Tony Duell wrote: > It has a redefinable character set (the bitmaps are in RAM). Only for the characters 128...255. The lower set is always in ROM. > It has a > real serial port, which is also used for the cassette system Mk.1 versions have a hardware bug which gives the RS232 transmit line incorrect polarity. All standard versions have a bug in the monitor routines, which cause the baud rate and serial/cassette switch to be rset every time the keyboard is scanned. (I have a fix for that). > (most of the > cassette I/O is done in hardware which couples to the UART chip). That was one of the nice things -- quite a good cassette system, with motor control. > It has > a parallel port (centronics printer or user I/O IIRC). The keyboard isn't > too bad. Except it's polled by a very inefficient routine, which makes it a bit slow. But it's good quality otherwise; it uses the same keyswitches as some DEC terminals, and has a full ASCII keyboard, with a numeric pad, and a few extra keys, so it's easy to generate all 256 character codes. It also had pretty comprehensive Technical and Software manuals. I still use mine. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

old versions of Irix

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Mar 18, 16:12, William Donzelli wrote: > Subject: Re: old versions of Irix > > I have a box of QIC tapes that claim to contain old versions of Irix, > > mostly circa version 4.0.x, with a few random Sun and IBM tapes from > > around the same era (late 1980s) thrown in. Does anyone want them? > > YES!!!! > > Irix can be a bear to get, as there seem to be lots of > self-proclaimed "SGI-cops" out there that uphold the rather unfriendly > license agreement. In response to those who try to prevent an SGI owner obtaining media for an OS his machine probably originally had, I'd point out that: all SGI machines that ran IRIX were shipped with the OS; the OS is/was licenced for the CPU, not the original owner; the license doesn't preclude the system owner making a copy for use on the same CPU. There was a discussion about this a few months ago on comp.sys.sgi.admin, in which the concensus from the SGI staff was that there was nothing wrong in obtaining a copy of the OS for a system, providing one wasn't upgrading to a version later than the one the system had been licensed for. You should be able to find the discussion on DejaNews. OK, so that won't help in getting a copy of 6.5. Judging from our experiences, you don't want it just yet, anyway ;-) -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

More finds

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

Picked up a IBM MagCard/A unit at a local thrift for 1.95 plus tax. It's a type 6620 and is in two parts the typewriter and mag unit itself hooked together by a long very thick cable. Have not tried to power it up yet. Today I got C16 in the box for free at an auction from a guy who won it a box of tv's he purchased. Other items I got do not meet the 10 year rule, when they do I will post them here.

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

GRiDPads

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

I've finally got the GRiDPad's I mentioned a while ago -- e-mail me if you're interested. (Basically, working GRiDPad 1910 with case, pen, PS, untested battery for $15 + shipping.) --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad roger(a)sinasohn.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.sinasohn.com/

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Medieval methods... (was Re: Got a question....PDP? VAX?)

by Philip.Belben＠pgen.com

Derek Peschel wrote: > There were some transition problems. The coins said "new" on them for a > while, as in "ONE NEW PENNY". People used old coins and units, whether they > were equivalent (1 shilling = 1/20 pound = 5 (new) pence, so old shilling > coins were useful for a while) or not (some low-value old coins were the > same size as higher-value new ones). [from recent alt.folklore.computers > posts] Basically correct. The old sixpence was used as 2.5 new pence for a few years. Shillings and florins (2 s. - see below) were used as 5p and 10p coins right up until the early 1990s. The 5p and 10p coins introduced in 1968 (yes, three years _before_ decimalisation) were the same weight as the shilling and florin of the time, so this made sense. In the early '90s - I'd have to look up the exact years - smaller 5p and 10p coins were introduced, and the shillings and florins finally withdrawn. Unfortunately the new 10p is only slightly larger than a shilling, which caused some confusion. FWIW the 1p coin is the same size, weight and until recently composition as the farthing, and the 2p coin the same as the (old) halfpenny. The new halfpenny (which endured until the early 1980s) was very small. > But those things aren't relevant to the average tourist or British citizen > of today. It does take a microscopic amount of effort to get used to the > differing terminology and a larger amount of effort to get used to the > actual sizes of the coins. > > On the other hand, the coins are grouped in sets. Each set (of 2-3 coins) > has a metal (i.e., copper, silverish, goldish, bi-metallic) and a shape > (i.e., smooth edges, rough edges, seven-sided, letters on the edge). Within > a set the coins start small and get big. The numerical value is printed on > each coin. So everyone (including blind people) has it easy. > > Don't blame me if some of those qualities (bi-metallic, seven-sided) don't > exist. I haven't been to England in a while. Besides, I get pound coins > and franc coins mixed up. Metals (slightly simplified). All the coins until recently were alloys of copper and nickel. The colour was varied by changing the copper content, from about 98% for "copper" coins to ?90% for "silver". The copper coins - 1/2p, 1p, 2p have smooth edges. Originally made out of an alloy mostly copper, recent ones are steel, copper plated. The old silver coins (shilling, florin) had rough edges. The new 5p and 10p have edges slightly less rough. The 20p and 50p coins have seven sides and slightly more copper than the 5p and 10p (still silvery but the difference is just visible); the sides are smooth and curved so that the coin has a constant diameter. In 1997 the original 50p went the way of the shilling and florin, and a smaller (but otherwise identical) coin replaced it. The L1 and L2 coins are yellow in colour, twice as thick as the others and have rough edges with a motto incised into it. Since 1997, when they were first minted for general circulation, L2 coins have been bimetallic but they are the same size as the comemorative L2 coins from before. Comemorative L5 coins exist, which are confusingly the same size and silver colour as the comemorative 25p coins of the 1970s (imitating the crown = 5 shilling piece). > IIRC the sets don't match the "natural" breakdown of the coins' values > (1p/2p/5p, 10p/20p/50p, L1/L2/L5) but the system is still very elegant. It > should be a lesson to the US Mint on how to avoid making mistakes. The L1 > coin also makes a really nice "plnk" sound on a counter and has a motto on > the edge. True, since there are only 2 coins to each of what you call sets. But yes, it is a lot easier than I found the US coinage, where nickels are bigger than dimes but apparently the same metal. Having 1,2 and 5 in each decade helps, too... > And before anyone argues, I know there's no L5 coin (maybe for special > occasions) but it would fit into the scheme perfectly. I said a few years ago that the L5 note is worth no more now than the 10 shilling note was when that was withdrawn (1969?). But no regular L5 coin is forthcoming. > Now if only British postage stamps were equally exciting. There used to be a system of sorts. But it seems to have been well messed up... Stamps are not my field, I'm afraid, so I sha'n't comment. > ObCC: PL/I had similar facilities to cope with pounds-sterling arithmetic. > Also, the Felt & Tarrant Company (producers of the Comptometer calculator) > made various models with odd "bases" (sterling, hours/minutes/seconds, > feet/inches/8ths, etc.) Too bad they never made all-octal or all-hex > machines. Fun! Also ObCC (almost): as I mentioned the 20p and 50p are curves of constant diameter. Our first multi-sided coin was a 3d piece, which took over slowly >from tiny silver ones in the 1930s and '40s. This had 12 sides, and was therefore not of a constant width. This meant some negotiations with slot machine (both vending and gambling) manufacturers. Some coins were minted a year early for test purposes. Then the King was forced to abdicate (over a sex scandal - plus ca change...) and a new king took the throne in the year before that printed on the coins alongside the old king's name! The coins were withdrawn and melted down, of course. A few 3d pieces bearing the name of Edward VIII still exist, however. The last one to be auctioned fetched L60 000. so I don't think that space in my collection will be filled at all soon. ***** Joe Rigdon wrote: > No wonder Leo wanted to computerize their payroll and accounting! The > math must have been a royal pain! I think it was. I was only 3 when decimalisation happened, so I never had to learn pre-decimal currency at school. I think in mediaeval times, when your total income was a couple of pounds a year, and you did all the calculation in your head, it wasn't too bad. But in the 20th century, with formal methods of decimal calculation on paper widely known, at routine calculations in hundreds of pounds, it was an anachronism. ***** M K Peirce wrote: > Any thoughts on how they handled guineas and florins? The guinea was still used as a unit for some transactions (=21 s.) but it had ceased to exist as a coin 100 years and more earlier. My guess is that for the sort of transactions that Lyons were interested in, the guinea was not used. The florin was introduced in the mid 19th century as Britain's first decimal coin - one tenth of a pound. But by the mid 20th century, florin coins all actually bore the legend "two shillings" (you Americans wouldn't be at all confused if your dimes said "ten cents", would you?), and "florin" was no more than the name of the coin. Philip.

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Seen on port-vax...

by kyrrin＠bluefeathertech.com

This came in on the NetBSD port-VAX mailing list. Anyone in the MA area want a VAX 8650? -=-=- <break> -=-=- Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 23:02:45 -0500 From: Matthew Hudson <mhudson(a)home.com> X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.06 [en] (X11; I; Linux 2.0.35 i586) To: port-vax(a)netbsd.org Subject: free 8650 Vax in MA Sender: port-vax-owner(a)netbsd.org Delivered-To: port-vax(a)netbsd.org Subject: GIVEAWAY: Vax 8650 in Medford, MA Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 14:23:50 -0500 From: Jason Scott <jason(a)snuh.com> Organization: The Information Access Center Newsgroups: misc.forsale.computers.workstation My company is decommissioning a VAX 8650 with Expansion Unit and while the current plan is to throw the thing into the dump, if there are souls out there who want one of these things for Nostalgia, Spare Parts, or to drop out of a plane, give me a holler at (781)-393-3283 and we'll talk. Or, mail to jason(a)snuh.com works just as well. If you think you can stop by with a Toyota and put this thing in the trunk, you don't want it. Vax 8650's are the size of large meat lockers and you'll need at least a truck to pick it up. The power needs are beyond imagining. The only real use for these things are spare parts or some sick project I can't think of, but I can't bear to not take at least a try at finding them a home. The VAXen are located in Medford, MA, just about 5 miles north of Boston, off Route 93. We're throwing the things out Thursday Night (March 18) so act fast. First call and show, first serve. Thanks! - Jason Scott Thought someone might be interested in this. -Matt -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies http://www.bluefeathertech.com Amateur Radio:(WD6EOS) E-mail: kyrrin(a)bluefeathertech.com SysOp: The Dragon's Cave (Fido 1:343/272, 253-639-9905) "Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Intel MCS-86

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

I just picked up an Intel MCS-86 Microcomputer System Prototype Kit today. It has a bunch of ICs in it and an Intel Product Description booklet. Does anyone know if there are any instructions for this or is the PD book all that came with them? Joe

27 years, 4 months

4
11
0 0

WTB: Kinetics EtherSC

by jruschme＠hiway1.exit109.com

Having gotten an older Powerbook, I have been looking at Ethernet options and have decided that I'd like to find a used Kinetics EtherSC (SCSI Ethernet adapter). Why such and old one, especially when I can pick up an Asante on eBay? Various reasons... mainly the fact that it appears to be one of the few which would be supported by the NetBSD 'se' driver. So, if you have one that you'd like to get rid of, let me know what it's worth to you. I'm open to cash or trades (depending on what you're looking for); I can even trade a DaynaPORT SCSI/Link-T (another SCSI Ethernet box, but somewhat newer). Thanks in advance... <<<John>>>

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

old versions of Irix

by eric＠fudge.uchicago.edu

I have a box of QIC tapes that claim to contain old versions of Irix, mostly circa version 4.0.x, with a few random Sun and IBM tapes from around the same era (late 1980s) thrown in. Does anyone want them? eric

27 years, 4 months

4
4
0 0

Cromemco (was Re: S-100 bus specs)

by edick＠idcomm.com

I alttended the Syscon/Buscon convention at LAX in 1986 and found that IEEE 696 board manufacturers were fairly well represented. Nevertheless, most of them conceded that (1) their new boards wouldn't work with their old ones, thereby quashing any hope one might have held of "upgrading" to reduce cost, and (2) their new boards generally varied in one respect or another from the standard, hence defeating features which had to be sacrificed in order to make others work, but ultimately defeating interoperability between vendors. I didn't attend the '696 standards committee meetings, but did attend SCSI and Optical Disk standards committee meetings, so I have a pretty good idea of the games which are typically played at these affairs. What happened with S-100 was that unlike the SCSI standards committee, which was ultimately beaten into submission by one major vendor of controllers and interface IC's, was that a standard was patterned around hardware already in the field. They could do this because of their position which was quite unyielding due to their already installed base. This same sort of thing caused '696 meeting attendees to conclude that, while there was a standard, there was no need to adhere to it because the goal of inter-vender interoperability was not likely to be attained, and the market window for 8 and 16 bit computers was closing due to the advent of the IBM PC and PC/AT. The Macintosh was not yet a force they felt had to be reckoned with, though it certainly developed into one. Their market was seriously eroded by the single-board boxes offered by many manufacturers late in the market cycle, because, like it or not, large-volume hardware is sold by the pound, and S-100 stuff always weighed a lot. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Sellam Ismail <dastar(a)ncal.verio.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, March 18, 1999 2:40 PM Subject: Re: Cromemco (was Re: S-100 bus specs) >On Thu, 18 Mar 1999, James Willing wrote: > >> > ...Cromemco actively manufactured S-100 systems >> > until they went out of business in around 1986 or so. >> >> as much as I absolutely hate to contradict... <BIG B^} > >> >> You may want to take a look at www.cromemco.com before you cast the >> previous thot in stone... > >You're kidding! > >Wow, you're not. But this is a far different company than us old tech >nerds know and love. Most of the business base seems to be European >these days. But hey, this is significant. A micro/mini-computer company >that's been around longer than Apple and is still alive and kicking. >That's more than you can say for any other computer comapnies that sprang >up around the same time, save for the obvious. > >I stand corrected (yet again :) > >Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- >Don't rub the lamp if you don't want the genie to come out. > > Coming in 1999: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0 > See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details! > [Last web site update: 02/15/99] >

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

S-100 bus specs

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Sellam Ismail <dastar(a)ncal.verio.com> wrote: > Godbout, Cromemco, etc. Cromemco actively manufactured S-100 systems > until they went out of business in around 1986 or so. Uh, Cromemco had an office with prominent sign at the corner of Bernardo and Central Expressway in Mountain View, CA 'til about 1992. I've wondered why I didn't see much of their detritus turn up on the surplus circuit, maybe it all went overseas to the new HQ. -Frank McConnell

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Transistor help

by danburrows＠mindspring.com

II have the Motorola book here and it is 4 pages with all the data and curves you could possibly want. I could do a quick scan and email it. What format is good for you. Dan -----Original Message----- From: Dwight Elvey <elvey(a)hal.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, March 18, 1999 3:44 PM Subject: Transistor help >Hi All > I have been looking for the specs of a transistor >that burned out on my Cromemco board. It seems to >be obsolete. I tried the NTE suggested replacement >but that didn't seem to have enough gain to work >correctly. None of the books I have show it. > It is a MPS6560. > >I'm looking for max current, Vcbo and hfe. >Thanks >Dwight >

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

S-100 bus specs

by steverob＠hotoffice.com

Anyone know of a good reference on the web for the S-100 bus (pin assignments ect..)? TIA, Steve Robertson <steverob(a)hotoffice.com>

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

sellers market

by edick＠idcomm.com

Please see imbedded comments below. Dick -----Original Message----- From: Lawrence LeMay <lemay(a)cs.umn.edu> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, March 18, 1999 11:43 AM Subject: sellers market >> Ward D. Griffiths III wrote: >> >> ePay seems to be a seller's market. There's nothing inherently wrong with >> that, but nevertheless I think it sucks. Of course, my opinion is very >> biased, since I'm generally on the buying end of the deal. >> > >So someone needs to create another web site that is the opposite >of what eBay provides. A site where you can advertise that you're >looking for an Exidy Sorcerer computer, and woould be willing to >pay about $15 plus $10 shipping. I suggest you call this new >site yaBe.com .... > I don't know about that name, but that might be an excellent idea. Selling your stuff comes down to finding someone who wants it more than you do, doesn't it? Likewise, doesn't buying someone's property come down to finding someone who wants what you're willing to pay more than he wants the property in question. The REAL trick, though, is ensuring that neither party disrupts the transaction before it is consumated. Ebay doesn't do that, nor does Haggle.com. They both put on a show, but neither service provides much to protect either party nor do they protect the integrity of the transaction >from which the money ostensibly is generated to support the service. These transactions are based on trusting someone whom you've never met, and whom nor not likely to meet, and therefore the transactions are VERY fragile. Ebay claims a 70% completion rate, and I expect that's inflated. I think a service which protects the buyer and the seller, by ensuring the funds and the merchandise as represented are there and by ensuring the parties complete the transaction to which they're supposedly committed, would be VERY valuable and would take a BIG bite out of Ebay's share. That's not an easy task, however. > >-Lawrence (yes I want an Exidy, who doesn't?) LeMay

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Leo Computers

by edick＠idcomm.com

I don't believe it's a seller's market. The seller has to pay Ebay regardless of whether a transaction is satisfactorily completed. They freely admit that their success rate is only about 70%. I'd be willing to bet that when a transaction falls through, it's the buyer who caused the transaction to fail, not the seller. Further, since we live in a capitalist society, it's the market that determines the value, not the utility. What I dislike about the Ebays of the world is that they take their cut from the seller in advance, and not from the transaction itself. In a real estate transaction, where you similarly have a bidding system for the right to purchase a house, and where you similarly involve one or more agents on behalf of the buyer or seller, the buyer has to put down "earnest money" indicating that he's really serious. On the web auctions, they don't generally do that. What they do, is collect a fee from the would-be seller. The real-estate guys take their money from the seller, since that's the one place where there's bound to be some money at the end of the day. In the antique computer parts market, there's no attempt to ascertain whether the purported buyer even has the funds he's bidding. They do have an escrow service which holds the buyer's money in case the seller fails to ship what was promised. Does any of this sound like an arrangement favoring the seller? Dick -----Original Message----- From: Eric Smith <eric(a)brouhaha.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, March 18, 1999 11:36 AM Subject: Re: Leo Computers >Ward D. Griffiths III wrote: >> Since E-slay buyers show no evidence >> of giving a damn about value rather than cost. > >John Foust <jfoust(a)threedee.com> replied: >> You'd think the average libertoonian would be ready to "defend the >> undefendable". > >Hey, just because us "libertoonians" defend people's right to do whatever >dumbass things they want to do in the privacy of their own home, doesn't >mean that we like or approve of their actions. :-) > >ePay seems to be a seller's market. There's nothing inherently wrong with >that, but nevertheless I think it sucks. Of course, my opinion is very >biased, since I'm generally on the buying end of the deal. >

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Dumping the Amiga 1000's boot ROM

by mark_k＠iname.com

Hi, You may remember that I posted a message about this a while ago. Well, it turns out the the boot ROM can be made to appear on any A1000. The A-Max Mac emulator has a special bootblock which does this, in order to allow the Kickstart memory to be used under Mac emulation. (When the boot ROM is visible, the Kickstart area is writeable.) I have written a tiny program to save out the boot ROM data, in conjunction with this special bootblock. The program dumps the A1000's boot ROM (in fact the region $F00000-$FBFFFF) to disk. The actual boot ROM appears to be 64K long, and appears at (at least) $F80000- $F8FFFF and $FA0000-$FAFFFF. There is seemingly garbage at $F90000-$F9FFFF and $FB0000-$FBFFFF. My program saves the 768K from $F00000-$FBFFFF, in order to investigate what is there; the boot ROM may also appear somewhere in the $F00000-$F7FFFF region. If you want to dump your A1000's boot ROM, get this file: http://home.freeuk.net/markk/A1000_Boot_ROM_Dumper.DMS (It is 3821 bytes long.) Unpack it to a floppy disk and boot your A1000 with it, after loading Kickstart. Leave the disk write-enabled; a 768K file will be saved to it. I would be interested to see whether there are different versions of the A1000 boot ROM. If you dump yours, it would be nice if you could compress it and upload to your web space (or if that isn't possible, mail it to me). I am working on disassembling the boot ROM, and if anyone is interested I can send them the current work-in-progress. -- Mark

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Speech Thing

by roblwill＠usaor.net

Hi! While sorting through a box of old stuff in my basement, I ran across this little box called a "SPEECH THING" It appears to have been manufactured by Covox, Inc., around 1991. It is a small tan box, about 1.5"x2"x1/2". It's got a male DB-25 connector on one end, and a female DB-25 on the other end. It's got a 3-foot length of wire (the type that's on Walkman headsets) coming out of the side. Only problem is whatever was on the other end of that wire was chopped off. Stripping the wires, the inner wire (they're coaxial) is red on one, and white on the other. The white wire is connected to "1" and "2" on the PCB. The red wire isn't connected to anything, although there is a "3" and "4" that it looks like it could be soldered to (but never was - there's no solder on the PCB contacts). Does anyone have any idea what this thing is, what it does, or what goes on the end of the wire (I have a feeling it's some sort of plug)? ThAnX, -- -Jason Willgruber (roblwill(a)usaor.net) ICQ#: 1730318 <http://members.tripod.com/general_1>

27 years, 4 months

4
3
0 0

Medieval methods... (was Re: Got a question....PDP? VAX?)

by steverob＠hotoffice.com

<SNIP><SNIP><HACK> > > IIRC the sets don't match the "natural" breakdown of the coins' values > > (1p/2p/5p, 10p/20p/50p, L1/L2/L5) but the system is still very elegant. It > > should be a lesson to the US Mint on how to avoid making mistakes. The L1 > > coin also makes a really nice "plnk" sound on a counter and has a motto on > > the edge. > </SNIP> Think I'll change my vacation plans from Great Britain to Mexico. At least I can count their money... and speak the language. ;-) Steve Robertson - <steverob(a)hotoffice.com>

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Votrax emulators???

by arfonrg＠texas.net

Anyone know of any software that will emulate a votrax speech synthesiser? ---------------------------------------- Tired of Micro$oft?? Move up to a REAL OS.... ######__ __ ____ __ __ _ __ # #####/ / / / / __ | / / / / | |/ /## ####/ / / / / / / / / / / / | /### ###/ /__ / / / / / / / /_/ / / |#### ##/____/ /_/ /_/ /_/ /_____/ /_/|_|#### # ###### ("LINUX" for those of you without proportional spaced fonts) ---------------------------------------- Be a Slacker! http://www.slackware.com

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Speech Thing

by rmeenaks＠olf.com

I have the speech thing! It's been a long time since I fired up that baby. I used for speech synthesis and voice recognization eons ago. This was before the Sound Blaster for PCs. Let me look around and see if I still have the software... Ram -----Original Message----- From: Jason Willgruber <roblwill(a)usaor.net> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, March 17, 1999 11:30 PM Subject: Re: Speech Thing >O.K. At least I know what it is. Anyone have any idea where to get >software for it?? > >ThAnX, >-- > -Jason Willgruber > (roblwill(a)usaor.net) > ICQ#: 1730318 ><http://members.tripod.com/general_1> > >-----Original Message----- >From: John Ruschmeyer <jruschme(a)exit109.com> >To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers ><classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> >Date: Wednesday, March 17, 1999 8:13 PM >Subject: Re: Speech Thing > > >> >>IIRC, the Speech Thing was what it sounds like, a speech synthasizer for >>the IBM PC. Basically, it plugged into the parallel port. The other end >>of the wire was probably a speaker (amplified, most likely). >> >>I seem to recall Covox being very big into speech recognizition and >>synthesis many years back. >> >><<<John>>> >> > >

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

looking for an Exidy

by dogas＠leading.net

-----Original Message----- >> > Will someone please sell me one? >> >> Or me? (I bid on it too!) :) >> Stan >> > From: Lance Lyon > Can I add a third bid ? Damn... Maybe I'll get lucky someday and be able to step in between one of Stan or Lance's attempted purchases and cost them *more* money.

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

KA620 ?

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

> I got a VAX CPU board and it is a KA620, what kind of VAX was that? I > haven't found it in the module list yet ... A KA620 is basically a KA630 without the full memory management logic. Useful for real-time embedded VAX applications, especially under VAXELN, but not supported by VMS. If you're really interested in this board, you can buy the _KA620-A CPU Module User Guide_ from DECDirect - part number EK-KA620-UG. You can still buy the VAXELN development tools from Compaq/Digital, which is the "supported" KA620 development suite, too. If you do, look forward to receiving about 600 lbs of printed manuals! -- Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/ 7328 Bradley Blvd Voice: 301-767-5917 Bethesda, MD, USA 20817 Fax: 301-767-5927

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

KA620 ?

by cmcmanis＠mcmanis.com

I got a VAX CPU board and it is a KA620, what kind of VAX was that? I haven't found it in the module list yet ... ==Chuck

27 years, 4 months

1
1
0 0

Speech Thing

by roblwill＠usaor.net

O.K. At least I know what it is. Anyone have any idea where to get software for it?? ThAnX, -- -Jason Willgruber (roblwill(a)usaor.net) ICQ#: 1730318 <http://members.tripod.com/general_1> -----Original Message----- From: John Ruschmeyer <jruschme(a)exit109.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, March 17, 1999 8:13 PM Subject: Re: Speech Thing > >IIRC, the Speech Thing was what it sounds like, a speech synthasizer for >the IBM PC. Basically, it plugged into the parallel port. The other end >of the wire was probably a speaker (amplified, most likely). > >I seem to recall Covox being very big into speech recognizition and >synthesis many years back. > ><<<John>>> >

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Eagles available

by donm＠cts.com

A chap in the San Diego area has a couple of Eagle II's in storage. One was working when placed there about two years ago, while the second was not. He could not remember whether they were II's or IIE's, but I will check and post that information. Items are available at no cost but shipping, which could mount up as they are large and heavy. If anyone is interested, please e-mail me and I will put you in contact with him. - don

27 years, 4 months

1
1
0 0

Medieval methods... (was Re: Got a question....PDP? VAX?)

by Philip.Belben＠pgen.com

> I gather the machine had some sort of support for doing arithmetic on > pre-decimalized currency, does anyone here know what that looked like? > It wasn't explained very well in the book. I don't know how the currency was handled on Leo, but as a reference for our American friends I shall say a few words on British currency prior to 1971. The basic unit was the pound. The symbol was the same as nowadays, viz. a scripty capital L with two horizontal bars through it (though often only one bar is written, for speed) On e-mail I generally use an ordinary L for pound (L stands for Livre (french = pound)) King Offa (?9th century) fixed the value of a penny at 1/240 of a pound. Later the shilling was fixed at 12 pence. (Pence is the plural of penny, in case you hadn't worked it out. "Pennies" is a word coined much more recently (pun intended)) So L1 = 20 s. (s stands for solidus (lat. = a silver coin of some sort) or sou (Fr. = a coin worth not a lot)) 1 s. = 12 d. (d stands for denarius (lat. = penny) or denier (fr. = penny)) Halfpence (pronounced ha'pence) were in use until 1969 (and re-introduced with decimalisation in 1971). Farthings (1/4 d) were in use at least until the mid 1940s, and may have been required for Leo. So to computerise the currency you probably need: A field for whole pounds A field for shillings (up to 19 with a carry at 20) A field for pence (up to 11 with a carry at 12) A field for farthings or ha'pence (up to the obvious numbers thereof) It would not likely be possible to ignore the fractions of pence, since even as late as the 1950s 1/2 d had a reasonable purchasing power, perhaps equivalent to one US dime today. Also, just as they do today, vendors loved prices ending ...nineteen shillings and elevenpence ha'penny. Philip.

27 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

Forwarded without comment ...

by cmcmanis＠mcmanis.com

27 years, 4 months

11
16
0 0

Forwarded without comment ...

by fauradon＠pclink.com

Oh I will celebrate a year early but I think I'll realise my mistake the day after and have to do it all over again the next year. Oh well life is tough. Francois >Suffice it to say, I am not going to change my usage of the work >'kilobyte' becase of some committee... Just as I am not celebrating the >millennium a year early either. >-tony >

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

looking for an Exidy

by dogas＠leading.net

Can someone please help me out... I just got my Exidy s-100 expansion box for the Sorcerer. Now, all I need is the Sorcerer. ;) Will someone please sell me one? Thanks - Mike: dogas(a)leading.net

27 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

FW: Media free/FS

by kyrrin＠my-dejanews.com

Fellow in Stamford, CT's got some DEC'ish and generic media both free and for sale. Get in contact directly if you're interested. -=-=- <snip> -=-=- On Wed, 17 Mar 1999 10:44:55 -0500, in alt.sys.pdp11 you wrote: >>From: Kelvin Smith <74654.3313(a)CompuServe.COM> >>Subject: Media free/FS >>Organization: CompuServe, Inc. (1-800-689-0736) >>Message-ID: <eQnBc0Ic#GA.332(a)nih2naaf.prod2.compuserve.com> >>Newsgroups: vmsnet.pdp-11,alt.sys.pdp11 >>Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 10:44:55 -0500 >>Lines: 23 >>Path: news1.jps.net!news-west.eli.net!news-sea-20.sprintlink.net!news-west.sprint… >>Xref: news1.jps.net vmsnet.pdp-11:37 alt.sys.pdp11:179 >> >>The following media are available as we transition to new hardware. >>On all items, either you pick up or pay shipping from Stamford, CT. >> >>1) 7 RA60P disk packs - free. >> >>2) 5 RL02K-DC disk packs - free. >> >>3) 9-track tapes, used (offers on as many or as few as you want welcomed): >> >> 90 3600' 3M Black Watch 703 tapes, EZ-Load II cartridges, $5 or best offer. >> 100 2400' 3M Black Watch 700 tapes, EZ-Load II cartridges, $3 or B.O. >> 70 2400' tapes, various manufacturers, tape seals, $3 or B.O. >> 50 600' tapes, various manufacturers, tape seals, $1 or B.O. >> 6 600' tapes, new 3M Black Watch, tape seals, $4 or B.O. >> >>4) 2 120-tape 9-track tape racks (6 high, 20 wide): $25 each or B.O. >> Preference given to someone who also buys tapes. >> >>Kelvin Smith >>Financial Computer Systems, Inc. >>Stamford, CT >>(203) 357-0504 >>Fax: 357-8031 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Owner and head honcho, Blue Feather Technologies -- kyrrin (at) bluefeathertech [dot] com Web: http://www.bluefeathertech.com "...No matter how we may wish otherwise, our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own human terms. It cannot possibly define any of them..."

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

HP 85 & a bit more.

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<> Tu60 phillips digital cassette PDP-8, PDP-11 mostly <I've never seen this referred to officially as DECtape. It was called <DECcassette. Since this was not a block-addressable random access device, <it is substantially less like DECtape than the TU58, and couldn't be used <as a "system device" for OS/8 or RT11. True, though I've seen and heard it called dectape... Not a very good device compared to the TU55/56 or the TU58. <My arm could be twisted to make a tape available, but it sounds like you wa <a transport, and they are hard to come by. Yep! It doesn't have to be electronically complete or working but mechanically complete would be nice plus a few tapes. <I've partially completed a caching SCSI controller for the TU56 drive. I'd like to try working on a ECP parallel interface to one. It's mostly to realize what I'd done in the '70s with home grown tapes based on cassette transports trying to make something as good as DECtape! Allison

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

test-drb