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

by mallison＠konnections.com

Hey folks... I have this SX 64 layng around that I really can't use. I don't need YET ANOTHER DIFFERENT SYSTEM (YADS). It has all the kit including the keyboard cord and a copy of GEOS. I can't do much with it except boot GEOS. Seems to be okay. (I only say that because I don't rightly know, since I have no other software). Only physical problem is a loose, but not broken, handle attachment. I know it's "worth" between $1 and $300 depending on how badly your perceived need. I'll be glad to let it go for $75 + shipping, unless someone wants a tax writeoff and wants to spend $300.00 (please talk to your accountant first). I'm sure it's probably Y2K compatible just incase you want to run some critical monitoring system on it. Email me off line if you want to play. mallison(a)konnections.com If you're in Northern Utah, Wendover (UT, NV) or Evanston WY I'll deliver the bad boy for free.... -Mike

27 years, 4 months

2
2
0 0

GIVEAWAY: Vax 8650|DECcie nostalgia digression..

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<For reference, when I get it going, my 3100's name will be Tabby. As in <tabby.litterbox.com. It's sort of a running joke that all my servers have <cat names. :) My vax was off the ROYALT cluster as a end node then later routing as VIDSYS::, I still have it and it's still VIDSYS::. the other nodes are PIPER, BEECH, CESSNA, MOONEY, AIRPT and AIRPLN::. Did I mention I'm a pilot? ;) Allison

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

HP 85 & a bit more.

by allisonp＠world.std.com

As a user of TU58, the tapes are better than most. I have at least three operational on PDP-11s. At 256k/drive/tape they are small but the serial interface is easy to use(with anything). DECTAPE is a generic DECism for small tapes. Tu55/56 the 3/4" tape on reels Most PDP-n before 1973ish Tu60 phillips digital cassette PDP-8, PDP-11 mostly TU58 DC100 cartridge, DEC unique format. PDP-11, VAX730, VAX750 I'd love to have a TU55/56 Dectape (the open reel style). Allison

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

HP 85 & a bit more.

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Mar 16, 15:10, James Willing wrote: > On 16 Mar 1999, Eric Smith wrote: > > For the uninitiated, DECtapes are six-inch reels of 3/4 inch (?) tape. > > Ummm... almost... four inch reels of 1 inch tape... I can play this game too :-) Nope, DECtape is 3/4" tape, and if I were really nitpicky I'd say they were a little under 4" diameter. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

27 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

MiniScribe 3438 --- HELLLP!!!!

by roblwill＠usaor.net

O.K. I found that. There's still the conflict of wether it is RLL or MFM, though. I guess I'll try it with the RLL controller that I have... -- -Jason Willgruber (roblwill(a)usaor.net) ICQ#: 1730318 <http://members.tripod.com/general_1> -----Original Message----- From: Don Maslin <donm(a)cts.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Tuesday, March 16, 1999 3:44 PM Subject: Re: MiniScribe 3438 --- HELLLP!!!! >On Tue, 16 Mar 1999, Jason Willgruber wrote: > >> Does anyone on this vast earth know the jumper settings for a MiniScribe >> 3438 hard drive??? > >______O/_________ > O\ > >This should answer your questions. > - don > > ************************************************************ > Miniscribe Disk Drive Specifications > For > Model: 3438 > ************************************************************ > > FORM FACTOR 5.25 inch HH > INTERFACE ST412/ST506 > DATA ENCODING METHOD 2,7 RLL > DATA TRANSFER RATE (Mbit/Sec) 7.5 > > DISK DRIVE CHARACTERISTICS > HEADS 4 > CYLINDERS 615 > SECTORS/TRACK (512 Byte Sectors) 26 > WRITE PRECOMPENSATION CYLINDER 128 > REDUCED WRITE CURRENT CYLINDER 615 > MINIMUM STEP PULSE RATE (micro-Seconds) 2 > UNFORMATTED BYTES/TRACK 15,625 > RADIAL TRACK DENSITY (TPI) 588 > ROTATIONAL SPEED (RPM) 3,600 > UNFORMATTED CAPACITY (Millions of Bytes) 38.4 > FORMATTED CAPACITY (Millions of Bytes) 32.7 > FORMATTED CAPACITY (MB = 1,048,576 Bytes) 31.2 > > ACCESS TIMES (mSec)* > SINGLE TRACK 15 > ONE-THIRD STROKE** 85 > MAXIMUM 190 > *(BASED ON A 2 MICRO-SECOND STEP RATE) > *(INCLUDES SETTLING) > **(APPROXIMATION OF AVERAGE) > > POWER REQUIREMENTS > DISSIPATION (Watts) > TYPICAL 14.5 > MAXIMUM 17.4 > CURRENT (Amps) > +5 V DC (+ or - 5%) 0.5 > +12 V DC (+ or - 5%) 1.0 > MAXIMUM STARTUP CURRENT 3.5 > > PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS > HEIGHT (in) 1.625 > WIDTH (in) 5.75 > DEPTH (in) 8 > WEIGHT (lbs) 2.2 > > OPERATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITS > MINIMUM TEMPERATURE (Centigrade) 4 > MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE (Centigrade) 50 > THERMAL GRADIENT (Degrees C/Hour) 10 > > RELIABILITY > MTBF (Hours) 20,000 > MTTR (Minutes) 30 > COMPONENT DESIGN LIFE (Years) 5 > > ************************************************** > > 3212 3412 3425/3438 > ------ ------ ----------- > >PIN 1 PIN 1 PIN 1 >ON/OFF CLOSED / NU 1 CLOSED / NU 1 ON / NU >OFF CLOSED / TEST 2 CLOSED / TEST 2 ON / TEST >OFF CLOSED / TEST 3 CLOSED / TEST 3 ON / TEST >OFF CLOSED / TEST 4 CLOSED / TEST 4 ON / TEST >ON OPEN / DS 4 5 OPEN / DS 4 5 OFF / DS 4 >ON OPEN / DS 3 6 OPEN / DS 3 6 OFF / DS 3 >ON OPEN / DS 2 7 OPEN / DS 2 * 7 OFF / DS 2 >OFF CLOSED / DS 1 8 CLOSED / DS 1 * 8 ON / DS 1 > SHUNT SHUNT SWITCH >* NOTE: If twisted cable or second drive,7 & 8 are switched;7 on-8 off. > > > >

27 years, 4 months

4
3
0 0

Tomy Tutor emulator v0.2 released

by ckaiser＠oa.ptloma.edu

A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text Size: 917 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/attachments/19990317/f0c21265/at…

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Forwarded without comment ...

by cfandt＠netsync.net

Upon the date 09:53 AM 3/17/99 -0600, Larry Groebe said something like: >> Bruce Lane wrote: >> >>> That has got to be the DUMBest idea I've seen come along in years! >>> >> >> Let us know what you find out. I hope that "kilobyte" won't become one of >> those words that instantly marks their users as classic-computer freaks. >> I know jargon changes, but I don't want it to change in this case. >> >> -- Derek > >Here's one (slightly outdated) reference - but no question, it's not a joke. > >http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html Okay, upon closely reading the above referenced doc it doesn't seem such a pain in the neck after all. The sense that I get from the last sentence of the first paragraph is that both nomenclatures will be used. The familiar kilobyte, et al can still be used by us as we talk about our old stuff. The justification is rather clear as the article presents it. (IMO!) Regards, Chris -- -- Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net Member of Antique Wireless Association URL: http://www.ggw.org/awa

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

HP21MX lurkers - question

by jlwest＠tseinc.com

My 7970E just came in with a 13183 controller - offline checks work great! Yahoo! Plus the 7970E came with another 21MX E series (my fourth :) ). Here's the question... all my 2113B's and 2113E's have TWO ribbon cables going to the front panel (operator panel). My 2108A and 2109B only have one cable to the front panel. Most of my 21MX docs are for the M series and they only talk about one cable going from the system PCA to the front panel. Anyone know what the reason is for the second cable (what it does), and more importantly under what circumstances is a second cable needed? I'm hazarding a guess that it's anytime there's memory feature addons (M.E.M., Parity, Fault control, etc.). Ideas? Thanks! Jay West

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Forwarded without comment ...

by geoffrob＠stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au

-----Original Message----- From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis(a)mcmanis.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, 17 March 1999 6:57 Subject: Forwarded without comment ... >>From Edupage: > >COMING TO TERMS WITH BYTES (Much deleted) PLEASE tell me this is an early April Fool's day joke...... Aghast...... Geoff Roberts Computer Systems Manager Saint Mark's College Port Pirie, South Australia. Email: geoffrob(a)stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au ICQ #: 1970476 Phone: 61-8-8633-8834 Mobile: 61-411-623-978 Fax: 61-8-8633-0104

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

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

by jim＠calico.litterbox.com

So... for those of us who haven't traveled in the UK (yet), how does it work post-1971? -----Original Message----- From: Philip.Belben(a)pgen.com <Philip.Belben(a)pgen.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, March 17, 1999 8:04 AM Subject: Re: Medieval methods... (was Re: Got a question....PDP? VAX?) > > >> 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

2
1
0 0

IBM PC 5150 with no drives?

by dastar＠ncal.verio.com

I saw an IBM 5150 today in a thrift store. The odd thing about it was that it had no disk drives! It only had two black covers over the disk drive bays. It seems like it came from the factory this way. It is the first revision of motherboard with the cassette jack, so its conceivable that it was used with a cassette recorder and was always like this. Does anyone wish to concur on this? I'm debating if I should get it, but not for the $20 they have it tagged for. 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

12
23
0 0

XT RAM Expansion Boards

by tim＠thereviewguide.com

Hi. I've had the XT for a while... it was in perfect condition. I even got all the origional boxes and manuals that came with it. A ProPrinter with demo pages, etc. were included. A whole heapin' helpin' of software, as well as several disks were included. The thing had all IBM componets, and I even have a recipt(!). I personally was shocked that you had to buy all the individual componets (well, not all, but they didn't have a complete system setup.) Anyway, it also came with a RAM Expansion board, which was installed, and a 20MB HardCard (I even have a Hard Drives of America catalog from the same time.) As anyone with a hard card knows, they have a metal board to support the hard drive on and the PCB to go into the expansion slot. It's an easy upgrade, and it really looks like it was a good idea. But anyway, because of the size of the thing, my options are extremely limited as to what slot it can go into. I ended up having to take the RAM expansion board out. So can a RAM expanion board for an XT go into any slot, or is the XT picky like an Apple II as to what can go where? Thanks, Tim ******************************************** *Tim D. Hotze - Co-Founder, The ReviewGuide* *tim(a)thereviewguide.com * *http://www.thereviewguide.com * ********************************************

27 years, 4 months

5
7
0 0

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

by lundo＠interport.net

James Willing wrote: > On Tue, 16 Mar 1999, John Foust wrote: > > At 01:52 PM 3/14/99 -0500, Max Eskin wrote: > > > > > >Hey! Who you callin' a newbie :) In the timeline of data entry so far, > > >paper tape and toggle switches are most certainly medeival. [sic] > > > > Hey, there's a roll of paper tape for sale on eBay, current bid $17... :-) > > GORT?!? Looks like its time to start offering paper tape in the 'Computer > Garage' store... Rolls? After a coupla years handling rolls of that oily stuff that the ASR-33's used to feed/eat, I was glad to get hold of the fan-folded stuff for the rack-mounted readers. My best system used a Plessey R/P which could read 300 cps. Used a rubber roller, no sprockets, detecting holes optically. I've got a bunch of plastic trays with fan-folded tapes stashed away somewhere in storage. Now if only I'd saved all those holes for a lower Broadway parade! -- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + Robert Lund | Out here on the perimeter there are no stars + + lundo(a)interport.net | Out here we is stoned - Immaculate + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Apollo 400

by emu＠ecubics.com

Hi, ---------- > From: Mike Ford <mikeford(a)netwiz.net> > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> > Subject: Apollo 400 > Date: Tuesday, March 16, 1999 6:12 PM > > 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) Are this the same as a HP300 Model 425 ? thanks emanuel

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Forwarded without comment ...

by JRichardson＠softwright.co.uk

>> Well, here's a simple solution: anything suffixed with "byte", ie. >> kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, terrabyte...is automatically a base-2 value. well I thought that was the accepted standard anyway?? :) has all of this not come about because of hard disk manufacturers deciding at some point along the line to quote disk sizes in decimal megabytes rather than actual megabytes in order to make their disks seem to have a greater capacity compared to those of their rivals?? (ie. 200Mb = 209715200 bytes = 210 "decimal" megabytes) cheers Jules

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

[OT] NT, software reliability, and the lack thereof.

by jfoust＠threedee.com

At 07:45 PM 3/15/99 -0800, Sellam Ismail wrote: >> >> Well, Micros~1 assures us that they have a stable server operating > ^^^^^^^^ > >Didn't anyone else realize how clever that was? :) Well, actually it should be "MICROS~1". - John

27 years, 4 months

6
9
0 0

Forwarded without comment ...

by lgroebe＠insidermarketing.com

> Bruce Lane wrote: > >> That has got to be the DUMBest idea I've seen come along in years! >> > > Let us know what you find out. I hope that "kilobyte" won't become one of > those words that instantly marks their users as classic-computer freaks. > I know jargon changes, but I don't want it to change in this case. > > -- Derek Here's one (slightly outdated) reference - but no question, it's not a joke. http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

HDC controller documentation

by edick＠idcomm.com

A couple of days ago I published a list of mass storage controllers I've got available. It turns out I have documents to go with the following. MSC (later called XEBEC) 9305 GPIB-ST506 HDC for 1 drive. MSC (later called XEBEC) 9391 S-100-ST506 HDC for 2 drives on double height S-100 board XCOMP S-100 HDC for 8" (SA1000-Series) drives. Two board set called "STS" INTEL iSBC 215 "Universal" Fixed Disk Controller with on-board 8089 intelligent I/O controller the remainder are still without documents.

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

looking for an Exidy

by dogas＠leading.net

-----Original Message----- From: Jon <museum(a)techniche.com> >How come you're not play with your ***2*** brand new >Sym-1's instead ??? Who said I wasn't? ;)

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

VMS architects

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<together. A group known as =93The Blue Ribbon Committee=94 included three <hardware engineers -- Bill Strecker, Richie Lary, and Steve Rothman -- <and three software engineers -- Dave Cutler, Dick Hustvedt, and Peter < Lipman. They simplified early designs and created a plan that would be < possible to execute. The fifth design evolution was perfected and accepted <in April of 1976, exactly one year after the design work began."= < <So I guess Dave Cutler was there from the beginning of VMS development. Never said he wan't there... His pride and joy was RSX-11, which was the foundation for the VMS filesystem. Wats forgotten is the VMS was originally loaded with 16bit code mostly for the utilities but some in the core. this was part of the roll out as the VAX-11/780 could execute PDP-11 code directly. The blue ribbon committe was comprized of chief and principle engineers and while they spec'ed the whole project and planned a great deal they didn't "write all the code". It was a far larger organization that did that. Same was true for hardware. By the early '80s the design of the VAX and VMS was reduced to a DEC STD... n All vaxen were based off that as was VMS. Allison

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Forwarded without comment ...

by hhacker＠home.com

"Thus, the Commission will use kibi, mebi, gibi, tebi, pebi and exbi ..." Sam: Commission members should be "beaten" with a crowbar! Jim: If it ISN'T a joke, GOD save us all! Geoff: It seems more like the joke which the late Frank Zappa played upon his childred, by naming them Dwezel, Moon, and Ahmet. Given the propensity of "commissions" to fowl all things up, I would not be surprised to find that this is for real, as in some kind of suggestion, to be hashed-out by means of the common Request For Comments (or RFC). We are all certain to agree that the real problem with using kilo, etc. is the ignorance of the public, especially those in the US. For instance, only the physics and chemistry communities in the US understand the SI (the metric system), and so, only they can intelligently translate from base ten to base two arithmetic. This is not to suggest that all such persons actually do such translations: only that they alone in the US are so capable. Second is the tendency for manufacturers to do such translations for the purposes of marketing. That is why so many hard disk drives are touted as having 10.8GB of available storage, instead of 10.0GB. That is, 10.8GB base ten as opposed to 10.0GB base two. It makes the disk drive look larger than it really is, at least to the purchasing public. You see, this was not always the case. In the past, all such references were base two. However, if you translate to base ten, while your competition remained base two, then your products appeared to provide a bigger store for the buck. Clearly, it should be possible for the "commission" to find better, more distictive, and easier to pronounce alternatives. Chuck: Is it possible for you to provide more information as to the identities of the "commission" members? William R. Buckley

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

MiniScribe 3438 --- HELLLP!!!!

by scott＠isd.canberra.edu.au

Hello All, At 08:06 PM 3/16/99 -0800, Jason Willgruber <roblwill(a)usaor.net> wrote: >O.K. I found that. There's still the conflict of wether it is RLL or MFM, >though. I guess I'll try it with the RLL controller that I have... I thought there was no such thing as a MFM or RLL *drive*. I thought that you only had MFM or RLL *controllers*. The important thing on the hard drive was the *interface* (in the case of the MiniScribe 3438, a ST412/ST506 interface). I seem to have a dim memory of RLL controllers being sold as a way to increase (double?) your disk space. As I remember, RLL controllers were much more fussy about cable length and media quality than MFM controllers, which meant that they didn't work all that well with cheap hard drives. Of course, I could be completely wrong... Regards, | Scott McLauchlan |"Sometimes the need to mess with their heads | | Client Services Division| outweighs the millstone of humiliation." | | University of Canberra |___________Fox_Mulder_"The_X-Files:_Squeeze"_| |scott(a)cts.canberra.edu.au| http://www.canberra.edu.au/~scott/home.html |

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

HP 85 & a bit more.

by black＠gco.apana.org.au

Well, I finally picked up that HP 85 today, it's in remarkably good nick, the problem everyone here has mentioned about the rubber roller - no problem, it's in perfect order (probably got something to do with Tassie's frigid weather). Came with two cartridges plugged into the back: 82903A 16k memory module 82936A rom drawer - on this, two "drawers" occupied - 0085-15004 MATRIX & 0085-15-005 ADVANCED PGRM Unfortunately, no tapes or manuals.... will see what I can find manual-wise on the World Wide wait. But can someone tell me what sort of tape the thing uses ? And secondly, to ease my withdrawal symptoms having bought no Commodore stuff for at least two weeks <grin> A Commodore PC5 (my first PC was one of these), yet another 128D & three MPS 803 printers..... got my Commie fix for the week, so I should be able to make it through until next payday :-) cheers, Lance

27 years, 4 months

7
9
0 0

PAGING: Marvin

by g＠kurico.com

Hey Marvin, drop me a line. If my normal email isn't working, try gcurrie(a)acuity.com. George

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

MiniScribe 3438 --- HELLLP!!!!

by roblwill＠usaor.net

I don't have a date on it. The only thing that I really know about it is that it was pulled from a "TURBO-XT", manufactured by Wibles Computer Corporation. The drive has a sticker on it that says COMPUTRS, INC. (not a typo) 201-492-1229 2736 (this is stamped on) REMOVAL VOIDS WARRANTY The XT was probably from around 85-89. It is identical to an IBM XT (even has an IBM branded floppy), other than the badge saying "IBM" on the front, it says "WIBLES". -- -Jason Willgruber (roblwill(a)usaor.net) ICQ#: 1730318 <http://members.tripod.com/general_1> -----Original Message----- From: cdrmool(a)interlog.com <cdrmool(a)interlog.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Tuesday, March 16, 1999 3:15 PM Subject: Re: MiniScribe 3438 --- HELLLP!!!! > >Jason, the only thing I can find off hand states that the 3438 was a) a >32.7mg drive. 615 cyls, 4 heads, 26 sectors, b)that it is a 32mg ST-506 >RLL and that it was 612 cyls(!!!). The former was from Mueller's >"Upgrading and Repairing PC's" and the latter was from Minasi's "PC Upgrade >and Maintenance Guide". >Nothing on jumper settings. Do you have a date on the drive? That might >help me dig through my pile O' stuff. > >Colan > > >At 05:36 PM 3/16/99 -0800, Jason Willgruber wrote: >> Does anyone on this vast earth know the jumper settings for a MiniScribe >>3438 hard drive??? >> >>I've searched EVERYWHERE, and found the following: >> >>- It is either MFM or RLL >>- It is either 32 or 22 MB >>- It is either 5.25 HH or 3.5" FH. >> >>Of the sites I've found, one says that it's RLL, another says it's MFM. >>Another site says it's both. Between the sites, one said it was 22 MB, the >>other two said 32. One of the sites said that it was a 5.25" HH drive, and >>the last said that it was a FH 3.5" (is there even such a thing?). >> >>Other than the fact that it's 5.25" HH, I know NOTHING (useful) about this >>drive. The jumper settings seem to have vanished, along with the physical >>drive specs. >> >>Help!.... >>-- >> -Jason Willgruber >> (roblwill(a)usaor.net) >> ICQ#: 1730318 >><http://members.tripod.com/general_1> >> >> >> >

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

[OT] NT, software reliability, and the lack thereof.

by fauradon＠pclink.com

>> >> Well, Micros~1 assures us that they have a stable server operating > ^^^^^^^^ > >Didn't anyone else realize how clever that was? :) > >Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com I did and it's going to be featured on a sweatshirt right below TUX and above "just say no!" no later than thursday. Francois

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

GIVEAWAY: Vax 8650|DECcie nostalgia digression..

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Damn! I wish I had the space for it!! From my DEC days, I remember the <8650 as <a member of the first VAXcluster we had in the datacenter.. IIRC, <the cluster was named (for you ex & current DECcies) the PATS cluster <(the system <manager was a football fan), and each node got named after a current or <former <player on the New England Patriots... Nodenames being Morgan, Grogan, <and Fryar.. Key comments cluster... some of the notable clusters in DEC fame was the VIDEO cluster and the Royalt (all six chars max) (REX, pauper, pawn) and of course Millrat(millrat, millstn, millrot) and the DEC-10 cluster MARKET (this was a FTP site too). Allison

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

Intel MCS-86

by dogas＠leading.net

-----Original Message----- From: Joe <rigdonj(a)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? Hi Joe, I just got one myself... it came with four pieces of documentation: 1. SDK-86 MCS-86 System Design Kit User's Guide 2. SDK-86 MCS-86 System Design Kit Monitor Listings 3. SDK-86 MCD-86 System Design Kit Assembly Manual 4. 9 pages of schematics - Mike: dogas(a)leading.net

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

looking for an Exidy

by museum＠techniche.com

So Mike, You're not getting real attached to this thing are you? I was gonna try and trade you for it !! How come you're not play with your ***2*** brand new Sym-1's instead ??? I'm scheduled to pick up my MMD's on Sunday. Jon ................................................................................ >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

1
0
0 0

HP 85 & a bit more.

by danburrows＠mindspring.com

I saved some of the HP tapes from the scrapper. Looking at them I found an HP Part number you may want to check out. 98200A (5 cartridges) If you were in the US I would send you a bunch for the shipping. If anyone else needs some let me know. I know some have varios utilities and who knows what else on them. I just grabbed a couple to get part # from and compare to the DECTAPE II cart. and yes they look the same. Dan >Well, I finally picked up that HP 85 today, it's in remarkably good >nick, the problem everyone here has mentioned about the rubber roller - >no problem, it's in perfect order (probably got something to do with >Tassie's frigid weather). Came with two cartridges plugged into the >back: > >82903A 16k memory module >82936A rom drawer - on this, two "drawers" occupied - 0085-15004 MATRIX >& 0085-15-005 ADVANCED PGRM > >Unfortunately, no tapes or manuals.... will see what I can find >manual-wise on the World Wide wait. > >But can someone tell me what sort of tape the thing uses ? > > >And secondly, to ease my withdrawal symptoms having bought no Commodore >stuff for at least two weeks <grin> A Commodore PC5 (my first PC was >one of these), yet another 128D & three MPS 803 printers..... got my >Commie fix for the week, so I should be able to make it through until >next payday :-) > >cheers, > > Lance > >

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

HP 85 & a bit more.

by mbg＠world.std.com

>(I have a lot of them... and the drives... and the computers they run >on...) B^} Same here... (well, as of this saturday I will -- the machines, I mean). 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

1
0
0 0

GIVEAWAY: Vax 8650 in Medford, MA by Mar. 18 (fwd)

by jpl15＠netcom.com

Yo, cats: Hedz Up! ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Subject: (fwd) GIVEAWAY: Vax 8650 in Medford, MA by Mar. 18 From: Jason Scott <jason(a)snuh.com> Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec Subject: GIVEAWAY: Vax 8650 in Medford, MA by Mar. 18 Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 14:11:56 -0500 Organization: The Information Access Center Lines: 18 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

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

DC-100 tapes Re: HP 85 & a bit more.

by fauradon＠pclink.com

They are actally in the same casing as the DC2000 and DC2080 and if you can find the TPI you could probably find a compatible media. Occular inspection showed that the DC Tapes are wider than the HP tape. This is about the only info I can provide at this point since the HP 85 manual doesn't give any physical caracteristics. Francois >>> >But can someone tell me what sort of tape the thing uses ?

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Commodore m/board switches & connectors ?

by black＠gco.apana.org.au

Hi peoples, This Commodore PC 5 that I picked up has a problem ---- me.... it's been so many years since I used one, that I cannot remember the switch settings & the connectors on the motherboard. Does anyone out ther have the manual for the PC 5 or 10 that they can look up for me ? cheers, Lance

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Tiny Basic again

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) wrote: <> >So? A decent paper tape reader will do 700 cps. < <Hi < I don't recall the read speed but it was something <on the order of 15-20 mins to load. 700 cps sounds <a little high to me. As I recall, the holes are about <1/8th inch apart, making that ~7.3 feet per second, <I don't remember anything with paper tape going that <fast. Mylar tape maybe? Are you sure it wasn't 700 cpm? The fasest I know of whas the remex optical reader I had and that did 300CPS. I used an oliver audio (optical, pull through) and it could easily do over 1000 CPS. The limit was the drive in most cases. Oh, 300cps is like running a terminal at 3000 baud or faster. In those days that was not shabby as typical programs were only a few k and a monster was 12k Basic. Allison

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

VMS architects

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<>So I guess Dave Cutler was there from the beginning of VMS development. < <However, it's my understanding he left somewhere shortly after Version 1.0 Yep! Cutler was long gone from active product design DEC before the advent of NT. DECwest was the research facility. Allison

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

MiniScribe 3438 --- HELLLP!!!!

by roblwill＠usaor.net

Does anyone on this vast earth know the jumper settings for a MiniScribe 3438 hard drive??? I've searched EVERYWHERE, and found the following: - It is either MFM or RLL - It is either 32 or 22 MB - It is either 5.25 HH or 3.5" FH. Of the sites I've found, one says that it's RLL, another says it's MFM. Another site says it's both. Between the sites, one said it was 22 MB, the other two said 32. One of the sites said that it was a 5.25" HH drive, and the last said that it was a FH 3.5" (is there even such a thing?). Other than the fact that it's 5.25" HH, I know NOTHING (useful) about this drive. The jumper settings seem to have vanished, along with the physical drive specs. Help!.... -- -Jason Willgruber (roblwill(a)usaor.net) ICQ#: 1730318 <http://members.tripod.com/general_1>

27 years, 4 months

3
2
0 0

[OT] NT, software reliability, and the lack thereof.

by drbilling＠ucdavis.edu

Eric - At 11:46 PM 3/15/99 -0000, you wrote: >Because it *isn't* based on Mach. Roger. >Which part of that is hard to understand? >The historical record of this is fairly well documented. I stand corrected. I guess the early hype I heard about NT was entirely falacious and a complete figment of my imagination. >There are some "UNIX servers" that can be run on top of Mach, but >Mach is not UNIX. I don't think I ever stated ... "Mach is UNIX". I will be more careful in the future to distinguish that UNIX might be layered on a Mach kernel, then again, it might not. >IIRC, the NT kernel *has* a built-in distributed lock manager. If not, it >would be easy to add it. The NT kernel is actually small, simple, and >almost elegant. ... If it was as trivial as you indicate, then there would be NT clusters as far as the eye could see. It took Digital several versions of VMS to support clusters. >Certainly you *can* run applications on your file server. And on a good OS, >it will work OK. But that doesn't prove that it is the best way to do >things. It is the only way to do things if that is what you can afford. It appears that I have been much less fortunate than you in my selection of employers. -- Dean =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dean Billing Phone: 530-752-5956 UC Davis FAX: 530-752-6363 IT-CR EMAIL: drbilling(a)ucdavis.edu One Shields Way Davis, CA 95616

27 years, 4 months

6
6
0 0

wanted: muMath and/or muLisp for Apple II or CP/M

by eric＠brouhaha.com

I seem to have misplaced my copies of muMath and muLisp for the Apple II. If anyone would like to sell their old ones to me, please let me know. The CP/M version would also be of interest. If all else fails, I could live with the PC-DOS version, but I don't want Derive (the product that replaced muMath). Thanks! Eric

27 years, 4 months

4
4
0 0

[GIVEAWAY: Vax 8650 in Medford, MA by Mar. 18] (fwd)

by jimw＠agora.rdrop.com

ALERT! Large VAX in danger of hitting the dumpster! Contact information follows. (please do not reply to the list) -jim --- jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 14:11:56 -0500 From: Jason Scott <jason(a)snuh.com> Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec Subject: GIVEAWAY: Vax 8650 in Medford, MA by Mar. 18 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

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

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

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Philip.Belben(a)pgen.com wrote: > I think Leo Computers may be regarded as the world's first > commercial computer manufacturer. But I don't think they existed as > early as the '40s. I think the original LEO project was early '50s, > and Leo Computers (as a manufacturer) mid '50s and later. But I'm > not sure... > Anyone care to add to the above? Correct my mistakes? Etc.? There's a recent book: LEO: The Incredible Story of the World's First Business Computer by David Caminer (ed.), John Aris, Peter Hermon, Frank Land published by McGraw-Hill, December 1997 ISBN 0-07-009501-9 Basically, yes, they realized that automation of their data processing was a desirable thing, and a survey of the market for such machines in 1949 or so forced them to conclude that if they wanted it done in any reasonable time they would have to do it themselves. So they did, and they ended up with a computer that was pretty good at doing what Lyons needed done. BTW, the people who wrote and edited this book are the people who designed and built LEO: it's really a collection of their writings about their work. Reading it I had the impression that Caminer went around and darn near forcibly extracted a chapter from everyone he could. 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. -Frank McConnell

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

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

by Jgzabol＠aol.com

Further from The Dream Machine, after many pages about IBM: "The British computer industry, started by Lyons in the late 1940s [by sending two people to the EDVAC team] never had a chance. In 1963, after selling only [!] 100 computers, Lyons sold their computer division to the English Electric Company. ..... After several mergers the English Electric Company would be absorbed into ICL, ... in 1990 Fujitsu bought 80 % of ICL." John G. Zabolitzky

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

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

by Jgzabol＠aol.com

Concerning the LEO:

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

classic operating systems

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<There is a lot more, of course (variables, loops, conditionals, accessing <memory, even defining words used to make new definitions (you could <define a word like : which is then used to define a new type of object)), <but that will do to start with. And if you have a postscript printer (or running Ghostscript) you can do that and print the results too.! Allison

27 years, 4 months

2
1
0 0

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

by Philip.Belben＠pgen.com

>> I guess it is time to auction off some punch cards now ... one at a time >> :). Actually, I am toying around with putting one punch card on ebay just >> to see what would happen. It is a bit unusual though in that it is imprinted >> with "Leo Computers", and just to keep it a set, perhaps putting one sheet >> of original Leo Computers stationary. Anyone here remember Leo Computers >> (late 40's, early 50's)? > > You mean Lyons, the people who produced the LEO? I think it was the first > commercially sold computer; it was a cleaned-up version of one of the > British research machines (Manchester Mark I? EDSAC?). The story as it is usually told here in the UK: Lyons had a large chain of tea shops across the UK. They had a system that worked well for ordering stock for the shops and dispatching it, but it was data-processing-intensive and they knew they needed to streamline in order to survive. What do you do if you have a system that's DP-intensive and needs streamlining? Obvious! You computerise it! (All Lyons' DP was being done by hand at that time) Right. Who sells computers for business? Well, a few DP machines (tabulators etc.) exist, and can probably be bought, but nobody sells computers at all! Lyons had the far-sightedness to push ahead with their plans to computerise, and sent two (?) technicians to Cambridge to work on the EDSAC project (a rare example of collaborative research actually working!) The technicians duly went and worked on EDSAC, and came back to Lyons well knowledgeable about computers. Lyons then set out to design their own computer, which they called LEO. They soon discovered that other companies, seeing the benefit that computerising the business had had for Lyons, wanted business computers too. And thus Leo Computers was born - a subsidiary of Lyons, who made and sold business computers. I think there's about one each of their later (solid state) and original (hollow state) machines still around... I think Leo Computers may be regarded as the world's first commercial computer manufacturer. But I don't think they existed as early as the '40s. I think the original LEO project was early '50s, and Leo Computers (as a manufacturer) mid '50s and later. But I'm not sure... Anyone care to add to the above? Correct my mistakes? Etc.? Philip. PS Let us know how the Leo Computers punched card sells! Should fetch a lot!

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

Yesterday's hamfest & manual FT

by Philip.Belben＠pgen.com

> I got two copies of "IBM Maintenance Library - 3278 Display Station > Models 1,2,3,and 4 Maintenance Information". Anybody want the second one > ($5 shipped), or wish to trade for it (intersted in books on interfacing > the Apple II)? Tom - I take it this is just a board swapper's guide (from what I remember of the 3278 it's not likely to be any more than that). If nobody else wants it, I might take it for old times' sake. How much is shipping to the UK? Philip.

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

FW: Wanted: PDP/11 PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

by kyrrin＠my-dejanews.com

Fellow in the UK's looking for a PDP-11, and it doesn't sound like he's picky about what or where. Reply directly if you can help. Thanks. -=-=- <break> -=-=- On Tue, 16 Mar 1999 12:13:04 -0000, in vmsnet.pdp-11 you wrote: >>From: "James" <jdm1(a)ukc.ac.uk> >>Newsgroups: vmsnet.pdp-11 >>Subject: Wanted: PDP/11 PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE >>Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 12:13:04 -0000 >>Organization: University of Kent at Canterbury >>Lines: 9 >>Message-ID: <7clhra$2vo$1(a)spruce.ukc.ac.uk> >>NNTP-Posting-Host: stue24e.ukc.ac.uk >>X-Trace: spruce.ukc.ac.uk 921586346 3064 129.12.226.78 (16 Mar 1999 12:12:26 GMT) >>X-Complaints-To: news(a)ukc.ac.uk >>NNTP-Posting-Date: 16 Mar 1999 12:12:26 GMT >>X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3110.1 >>X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3 >>Path: news1.jps.net!news-west.eli.net!news.sisna.com!pants.skycache.com!howland.erols.net!newsfeed1.swip.net!swipnet!news-feed.inet.tele.dk!bofh.vszbr.cz!news-lond.gip.net!news.gsl.net!gip.net!baron.netcom.net.uk!netcom.net.uk!server3.netnews.ja.net!ukc!not-for-mail >>Xref: news1.jps.net vmsnet.pdp-11:14 >> >>Hi, >>I am a student in the UK who loves ye olde computers, and really want to get >>my hands on a PDP/11, I'm sure there must be loads of people out there who >>have a PDP/11 stashed away somewhere that there never really going to use >>again, well hows about you give it to me!!!! Please? >> >>James. >> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 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

Cleaning My Room

by jfoust＠threedee.com

>At 08:32 PM 5/15/99 -0700, you wrote: >>Dang! I wish I liven in WI. :) > >I'm diving for it... I'm not far away, and my mother-in-law is a >prof there... Got it! He's unloading a PDP 11/23 of some kind, presently disk-less, a VS 2000, and a disassembled but probably still functional VS 3500. Maybe I'll pick them up tomorrow. It sounds like he was into net-booting BSD. - John

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

MPT-05 videogame system from ITMC - help!

by oboissea＠club-internet.fr

Hello there ! I've found a new system this week-end, the MPT-05 from ITMC. A quite rare and strange system. By talking with a friend, we have put a very small list of known carts for this system: MT06 Morpion Electronique MT11 Tir de chasse MT14 Jeux de Cirque MT16 Reversi MT19 Musique et M?moire Then by looking at the Voltmace Database cart list made by Teflon, I've found that some of them are very similar to our list: 8 Shooting Gallery = MT11 12 Circus = MT14 14 Four in a Row = MT06 21 Musical Memory = MT19 and ??? =MT16 Reversi I think the MPT-05 is a Voltmace Database clone which wouldn't be surprising since I have a Hanimex MPT-02 which is a RCA Studio 2 clone and a MPT-03 which is an Arcadia 2001 clone ! Or maybe the MPT-05 is a clone of the Acetronic MPU-1000. Could someone tell me more/give me info/or whatever related to the Voltmace System/Acetronic MPU-1000 or even ITMC MPT-05 ? Cheers, -- BOISSEAU Olivier E-mail: oboissea(a)club-internet.fr ICQ#: 8733445 8-Bits Rendez-Vous: http://perso.club-internet.fr/oboissea/ Le Club 8-bit : http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/club8bit/ Patrimoine Gironde: http://www.multimania.com/gironde/

27 years, 4 months

1
0
0 0

HP 85 & a bit more.

by fauradon＠pclink.com

I have the BASIC Summary posted at: www.pclink.com/fauradon in the tech info section the tapes are: HP part number 98200A The only marking on the tape are: HP 200 and series 9800 Hope this helps I'll dig up my HP stuff to see if I have anything on the ROMs Francois >Unfortunately, no tapes or manuals.... will see what I can find >manual-wise on the World Wide wait. > >But can someone tell me what sort of tape the thing uses ? >

27 years, 4 months

1
0
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