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

by Philip.Belben＠pgen.com

>>I've also been told by some credit card company call center reps that they >>couldn't do something or other for me because the "computer wouldn't let >>them". > > Don't you know a brush-off when you hear it? Employees LOVE to blame > things on the computer! Reminds me of an event a couple of years ago. As those of you who have met me will know, I am something of an eccentric. A few years ago, I had a medical examination and the doctor, sorry, physician (I doubt he has a doctor's degree) who examined me said I needed glasses, go and see an optician. I went to see the optician and had an eye test. I then tried to order a monocle. There are (apparently) two standard monocle frames available, and (complete with lens) the price was L42. Easy? No. Nothing we could do or say could convince the order processing software that one could order a frame with only one lens. Eventually we got the price down to L45 - L42 for frame and one lens, and L3 for fitting an existing lens to the other side. The girl taking the order then had to go and find her superior, who used special authority to give me a 3 pound discount. So don't dismiss it too soon if someone says the computer won't let them do it. Philip.

27 years, 6 months

2
1
0 0

DECstation 5000/125

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Okay, okay, so a DECstation 5000/125 isn't very "vintage". But I did manag <to save one from certain death from my grad school (Carnegie Mellon), and i <has a nice big 21" monitor, two big 5 1/4" SCSI drives (each around 1/2 a <GB)... and no bootable OS. < <It used to run Mach (I was on the Mach project at CMU), but I'd really lik <to run VMS on the thing. < <Does anyone know how/where/if I can get VMS loaded onto this guy? No you can't. It's not a VAX or Alpha, it's a MIPS processor so the choices other than MACH is UNIX or some flavor of unix. Allison

27 years, 6 months

1
0
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KIM-1 serial nos, etc.

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<:: Perhaps this will help others out there in dating KIMs.... I tried <::slicing into the card to count the rings, but the results were <::inconclusive. < <I can definitely say, without even getting mine out of the closet, that I <probably have one of the youngest. Mine is a Revision D KIM-1, and it's <a Commodore board, not a MOS Technology one. The one I have is a 1977 (date codes on chips) with REV-B etch and the only number on it is a crude 5404 white stamp on the back. It works! Allison

27 years, 6 months

1
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new to the list

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<SC/MP, and Intersil 6100 (the pdp8-compatible one) respectively. I'd also <like to hear from anyone who has or is familiar with any of these machines I have working examples of both, interesting machines. Allison

27 years, 6 months

1
0
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Y2K stuff

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 08:29 PM 1/4/99 -0500, you wrote: >> Is it? My current credit card has an expiry date after the end of this >> year and I've never had any problems with it. I've got a credit card that expires in '00 and it doesn't work!!! Oh wait, it's at the limit. Never mind. 8^) >I think that 'maintenance errors' could potentially occur in power plants, >and what is more likely, some will be shut down just in case. Sure, and since I might crash into a building, I'll drive my car into one, just in case. There are a lot of people out there looking at what will happen on 1/1/00 (and, btw, 1/1/99, 2/29/00, 1/1/27, etc.) myself included. As a related anecdote, I recently found (and fixed) a M12 bug -- the system I wrote to manage events and generate web pages and e-mails for the Free List (http://www.sinasohn.com/freelist/) crashed and burned at the beginning of December because I had screwed up the date computations. A few frantic hours later and the Free List went out, better late than never. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 6 months

1
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altaircomputers.org update...

by David.Freibrun＠mvo.cendant.com

What's new? * Altair related auction archives from Ebay for 11/98, 12/98 now online * classiccmp archives w/Altair keyword available in easily searchable format * Steve Shepard inventory of Altair documentation now online * Altair owner registry is better organized and growing * New links always being added! > David Freibrun > http://altaircomputers.org > david.freibrun(a)mvo.cendant.com > (949)367-3881 >

27 years, 6 months

1
0
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Sociology and Message formatting

by netcafe＠pirie.mtx.net.au

-----Original Message----- From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)ncal.verio.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Saturday, 9 January 1999 5:44 Subject: Re: Sociology and Message formatting >On Fri, 8 Jan 1999, Hans Franke wrote: > >> Shure, today they are no longer produced with typewriters and >> Spiritusumdrucker (sorry missing word - a copyingdevice using >> special sheets and spirit for duplication), but rather on PCs >> or high class DTP stations, but thats just the tool. > >Spiritusumdrucker! What a fantastic word! I think that would be a >mimeograph? Quite probably. Spiritusumdrucker means "printer using spirits"? I think. Well, we just called it a Spirit Duplicator. We used to use them when I was still in Air Traffic Services to run off Pre Flight Information Bulletins for Pilots, (a list of NOTAMS, WX etc for their flight). Prior to that, we used to prepare them by means of a local teleprinter, with a perf tape that had the current stuff on it. Took a while though. (75 baud) By the time I left, we had caught up and were using a conventional photocopier. Cheers Geoff Roberts. Computer Room Internet Cafe Port Pirie South Australia. netcafe(a)pirie.mtx.net.au

27 years, 6 months

1
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potholes

by roblwill＠usaor.net

I think there's a few in PA that could take at least a mainframe. Maybe two... -----Original Message----- From: Charles E. Fox <foxvideo(a)wincom.net> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, April 08, 1999 2:17 AM Subject: potholes > > Did anyone catch the bit on ABC news last night about the use of old >computers to fill potholes? > I think some of our Windsor potholes would require at least a mini. > > Regards > > Charlie Fox > > > Charles E. Fox > Chas E. Fox Video Productions > 793 Argyle Rd. Windsor N8Y 3J8 Ont. Canada > email foxvideo(a)wincom.net Homepage http://www.wincom.net/foxvideo > >

27 years, 6 months

1
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"Non-manufacturers"

by cfandt＠netsync.net

At 12:53 01/08/99 -0800, Sellam wrote: >On Fri, 8 Jan 1999, Christian Fandt wrote: > >> Were there many computer companies, if any, who were not manufacturers but, >> like RCA from around 1921 to 1928, sales-only outfits? I'm thinking of >> pre-PC compatible days, '82 and earlier, because as you know, any major or >> fly-by-night outfit could put their name on a PC nowadays. Also, strictly >> non-PC computer companies are included even up to ten years ago (to keep it >> on classics). Keep it on-topic and change your Subject line if you reply on >> some other on-topic subject. > >Sure, plenty! I can't think of a whole lot of good examples right now, >but for starters there was Bell & Howell with their "RARE!" black Apple II >models. Were those black models part of the equipment one got with the Bell & Howell mail order computer electronics school? If so, I had not thought of that type of "non-manufacturer". --Chris -- -- Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net Member of Antique Wireless Association URL: http://www.ggw.org/freenet/a/awa/

27 years, 6 months

1
0
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Y2K stuff

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 05:33 PM 1/4/99 -0700, you wrote: >those credit card pumps may not be ok, even if the credit card is. Do I An unrelated but similar (and ironically timed) issue is that of the new US 20 dollar bills. I have seen a lot of vending machines/gas pumps/etc. that indicate they cannot handle the new bills. The problem is, bills typically last 18 months at most. I expect that by summer, we won't see any more old-style $20's in circulation. A real problem if they haven't updated the machines yet. (Hmmm... Maybe I'll start hoarding old 20's... 8^) --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 6 months

1
0
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y2k stuff

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 05:25 PM 1/4/99 -0700, you wrote: >What boggles the mind is that this is a problem at all. It seems hard to >believe (in retrospect) that people really did deliberately build software >with only 2 digit years. I know it saved a few bytes, and yes, I remember 1,000,000 records (a small sample) x 2 bytes x 3 dates (birthdate, initial trx, most recent trx) = 6,000,000 bytes. That was a lot 20 years ago. Keep in mind, also, that reading in a record required enough workspace to hold the record, and this may have been a limiting factor as well. Not to mention bandwidth issues -- we may not think much of downloading a 6MB file now, but imagine doing that 20 years ago with a 300bps modem. >when a byte of memory was a significant amount, but still. How did standard >programming practice come to be so short sighted as to assume that software >infrastructure would be thrown out and replaced on a regular basis? Today it is. We keep hoping that one of these days Microbloat will get it right... 8^) But seriously, 20+ years ago, it wasn't so much that it was expected that it would be replaced as it was the idea that if they can get the software out the door now, they may still be around to fix the problem later, whereas if they hold off, they may not be around. It was also a self-perpetuating problem. No point in building a 4-digit date if your source data (internal or external) is 2-digits. In fact, a 4-digit program might fail if given 2-digit data. There are lots of reasons, many of them valid (at the time). --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 6 months

1
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Osborne 01 for only $5000.00 - new Scam???

by Innfogra＠aol.com

> > I wonder if it was a mistyped $50.00.... > -- Somehow I doubt it. I looked at this listing extensively because it has links to his web site. He has very interesting comments about ebay. He states he makes a living off ebay but I notice he is a stockbroker. Looking at his current auctions he specializes in collectable ceramics and coins at normal realistic prices. He has some Transoceanic tube radios that have not met their reserves. The Osborne is a nice collectable with lots of SW and Documentation. These are the type of items that bring high prices. However his asking price is ridiculous. I think this is a classic case of speculation by someone who is not knowledgeable in the field but has a nice find. What is interesting is that he does know how to sell on ebay. This, the recent Kaypro and other high priced asking prices have lead me to wonder if there is a new scam being played on ebay. With all the hits it is a great source of advertising. List something at a high asking price or reserve. You pay $2. People who are really interested I think would contact the seller after the sale to try to find out what happened. The seller could then negotiate a sale independently, without paying the commission to ebay. The commission on a high-priced item, while not a lot, is considerably more than the $2. The gentleman :) with the Osborne has some very interesting comments about selling on ebay. His site is http://www.freewarehof.org/ It is obvious that he is a speculator. It is also interesting to notice that his site link (rey2) to his current sales on ebay has been delisted by them. His current sales are under a very similar but different name (rey). I communicated with the $1000 Kaypro seller. He wrote me that he pulled the ad after he realized that it was priced to high. He also left me an opening to make an offer. Since I am not buying I didn't reply but I haven't seen it relisted. Marvin, have You seen it again? I don't follow ebay all that well. Paxton

27 years, 6 months

6
5
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That does not compute

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 03:24 PM 1/1/99 -0800, you wrote: >BBSes are, IMHO, a dying breed. However, they do still fulfill a niche >that the 'net does not. There are significant numbers of people who are Another niche is in local groups that want to provide a forum for their members, but cannot afford to provide net access for all its members. My local Atari club is one such group. Not all atari users in this area are on the net, so a 'net-only solution is not acceptable, and we can't afford to connect the BBS to the 'net. Mind you, it doesn't get used a lot... --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 6 months

1
0
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Message formats

by kurtkilgor＠bigfoot.com

> The same is not true of html. It's not the waste of bandwidth - it's the > fact that it's darn difficult to read. And it doesn't convey any extra > meaning Actually, I wouldn't even mind simple html, like <HTML><BODY>message text</BODY></HTML>. But most of those programs make crazy html documents that would make its original authors cringe, no doubt. 20 lines of code, mostly weird numbers and font commands and style sheets and so on. Now _that_ is unreadable, and I don't consider it real html, either. > OK, I'll do {\bf bold face} like that. Documented standard, you know... Of course, doing it *with asterisks* is a lot easier to type and understand. > What about the waste in _my_ resources - the carbon-based computer I am > using to compose this message - in trying to decode the real information > from a pile of useless html tags ? Indeed. Some people think they are doing me and others a great service by sending messages with no value whatsoever, and they think they ought to send it in what format is convenient to _them_. Nah. > Well, there's be a good reason for doing that in the UK. The license for > a colour TV is something like 4 times the cost of one for a black and > white TV. And the extra 'entertainment' might not be worth that much. TVs require licenses in the UK? What about if you buy a CRT and make your own?

27 years, 6 months

6
5
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OT! Re: Message formats

by Marty＠itgonline.com

At the risk of turning off our new list member I'll throw my USD $0.02 into the fray. Commercial vs non-commercial broadcasting was a hot topic back in the early 1920's when broadcasting first began on a large scale in the U.S. Many people were opposed to crass commercials for toothpaste, etc flooding the airwaves and wanted an alternative which would have took the form of a use tax as in England. Interesting but true, one of the first if not the first radio stations that was supported by commercials was WEAF in New York city, one of several commercial stations owned by Ma Bell (AT&T). The chain of stations owned by AT&T were sold to RCA to become NBC in 1926 following anti-trust suit threats and corporate fighting. AT&T and RCA basically had come to a 'gentleman's agreement.' Marty ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: OT! Re: Message formats Author: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu at internet Date: 1/8/99 2:53 AM On Thu, 7 Jan 1999, Tony Duell wrote: > The license is for something like 'installing and operating a TV > receiver'. The money from it is used to fund the BBC. One license covers > all the TVs (and VCRs, etc) in use at one 'household'. A colour license > allows you to operate B/W TVs as well (but not vice versa of course). Yes > there are other terms, conditions and exceptions but that will do for now. I'm sorry, but I just gotta say, requiring a license to watch TV is something I would overthrow the government over. I've never heard of a more cockamamy tax. The way we fund public TV and radio in the U.S. is annoying (pledge drives) but they only last for a couple weeks until the necessary funds are accumulated and they only happen but once or twice a year (and I'm proud to say I pay my "membership" dues dutifully...public radio in the US is top notch). ObCC: Can't think of anything so screw it. Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Always being hassled by the man. Coming in 1999: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0 See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details! [Last web site update: 12/27/98] ------ Message Header Follows ------ Received: from lists5.u.washington.edu by smtp.itgonline.com (PostalUnion/SMTP(tm) v2.1.9i(b5) for Windows NT(tm)) id AA-1999Jan08.025325.1767.90243; Fri, 08 Jan 1999 02:53:26 -0500 Received: from host (lists.u.washington.edu [140.142.56.13]) by lists5.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW98.06) with SMTP id XAA12233; Thu, 7 Jan 1999 23:51:21 -0800 Received: from mxu3.u.washington.edu (mxu3.u.washington.edu [140.142.33.7]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.9.1+UW98.09/8.9.1+UW98.09) with ESMTP id XAA2 1758 for <classiccmp(a)lists.u.washington.edu>; Thu, 7 Jan 1999 23:51:09 -0800 Received: from mailhub2.ncal.verio.com (mailhub2.ncal.verio.com [204.247.247.54]) by mxu3.u.washington.edu (8.9.1+UW98.09/8.9.1+UW98.09) with ESMTP id XAA20 405 for <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>; Thu, 7 Jan 1999 23:51:09 -0800 Received: from shell1-n1 (dastar(a)shell1.ncal.verio.com [204.247.248.254]) by mailhub2.ncal.verio.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) with ESMTP id XAA06285 for <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>; Thu, 7 Jan 1999 23:51:08 -0800 (PST) Message-Id: <Pine.GSO.4.05.9901072346200.17756-100000(a)shell1.ncal.verio.com> Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 23:51:08 -0800 (PST) Reply-To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu Sender: CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu Precedence: bulk From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)ncal.verio.com> To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: OT! Re: Message formats In-Reply-To: <m0zyKVc-000IyJC@p850ug1> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII X-To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN

27 years, 6 months

2
1
0 0

KIM-1 serial nos, etc.

by jpl15＠netcom.com

My first KIM-1 (from Computer Components, L.A., CA, in 1977) is marked much the same as Marvin describes: It is a MOS KIM, the component side has etched Rev. A, and beneath the KIM-1 logo is etched EC - 715. Beneath that is what looks like a round QC inspection stamp, ?CC 201 ECI in the circle. The earliest chip is a NatSemi LM565CN (7340). The 6102s are all '76, as are the 6502, and both 6530s. The solder side has that 'rubber stamp' looking number between the edge connectors: 3879 [*not* the date] in whitish ink, and to the right is a partially obscured stamp in black, ending in 15. Near the top right is another 'QC' stamp, a circle enclosing ACC, 201, ????. Below this is a partial sqaure stamp, barely readable, with the letters 'est' visible. Below *that* is a partial triangle stamp, not legible at all. Perhaps this will help others out there in dating KIMs.... I tried slicing into the card to count the rings, but the results were inconclusive. Cheers John

27 years, 6 months

2
1
0 0

Americans (was: Re: Message formats)

by Philip.Belben＠PowerTech.co.uk

Zane Healy wrote: > Again, how typically American! I'm starting to hate American's to the > point I'm looking for another country to move to, since I'm embarrased to > say that I'm an American myself. Anyone know any good countries that I can > move to, and not be embarassed to be associated with? The Internet is not > an American only thing! I'd recommend Britain, except that we hate Americans too, and you might not be too welcome ;-) Canada might be worth a try, though. Philip.

27 years, 6 months

2
1
0 0

DEC boards

by rexstout＠uswest.net

Picked up some more goodies, got a Plus+ Hardcard 40 hard drive(SMS OMTI chipset for the controller side! Maybe I can plug it into my Apollos...), and two DEC boards. The first one seems to be a CPU card,, it's part number is L0111. The second one looks like I/O or a drive controller, it's an L0101. I have no idea what they go into, but a glance at my PDP-11 card list has another Lxxxx on it, and it's a Vax card. So maybe I have some VAX cards? I don't know. Anyone know exactly what they are? I really doubt they'll plug into my PDP-11/84, but it might be a good idea to stop me before I try... :-) -------------------------------------------------------------- | http://members.tripod.com/~jrollins/index.html - Computers | | http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Lair/1681/ - Star Trek | | orham(a)qth.net list admin KD7BCY | | ham-mac(a)qth.net Portland, OR | --------------------------------------------------------------

27 years, 6 months

3
4
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Old bank accounts

by Watzman＠ibm.net

Banks do close inactive accounts. The process is called "Escheatment" (I think I've got that right), and the laws, which are vary specific, vary by state in the US and by whatever government entity elsewhere. The banks do not get to keep the money, however, it is (usually, anyway, again the laws vary) normally turned over to the state, where it remains available on some basis should it be claimed (which is fairly rare).

27 years, 6 months

3
3
0 0

Intecolor/Compucolor

by meo＠netads.com

I'd really like to get hold of a functioning (or close) Compucolor or Intecolor from the early 80s. The ones we used at Georgia Tech were all in one unit (I think), a big color monitor console sort of thing, like God's own ADM3a, in technicolor. (I could be wrong, but that's what I seem to remember.) I'd prefer one with a disk drive. I think this was the coolest thing ever for learning graphics stuff. Anyone have one a mere mortal can afford? -Miles

27 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

Kim-1 Computer

by dogas＠leading.net

I think it's a bit niave to think that a KIM-1 is only going to bring 150-250 $ these days on eBay.... My guess would be over 500. Alas - Mike: dogas(a)leading.net

27 years, 6 months

7
14
0 0

KIM-1 Computer

by rcini＠msn.com

I just checked my two KIMs for dates. Here's what I have: Board#1: Labeled "Rev. A", oldest chip date 5276 (Dec 76); white numbers on back "2788". The 6502 is a white ceramic DIP with a "3776" date code. Board#2: Labeled "Rev. B", oldest chip date 4276 (Oct 76); white numbers on back "5895". The 6502 is a white ceramic DIP with a "3776" date code. Small tag says that the 6502 has been replaced. [ Rich Cini/WUGNET [ ClubWin!/CW7 [ MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking [ Collector of "classic" computers [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/ [ http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/pdp11/ <================ reply separator =================>

27 years, 6 months

2
1
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Banks

by gareth.knight2＠which.net

Philip.Belben(a)PowerTech.co.uk >AFAIK there is nothing in any contract I take out with a bank that says >that if I deposit money and leave it there for over 2 years they are >entitled to it. I come back 10 or 20 years later expecting to retrieve my >savings. Yes, I did this with my German bank account in 1995 having not >touched it since (I think) 1985. It was still there and I could still draw >money out when on holiday in Germany. When I was about 3 months old my parents opened an account with Barclays in my name with about ?2 in it. When I turned 12 the bank began to send me letters saying that, because of the interest gained I now had ?7. When I turned 16 the bank suddenly lost all information about me, resulting in the loss of that money. I'm not saying it's a great deal and it's not as if I spend sleepless nights worrying about it but I'd like to know where my money went and why did the account disappear. This type of thing does happen and the blame is usually placed on "computer error." The Y2k problem is just a convenient way of "accidentally" losing some of the information regarding many of the accounts that are considered non-active. -- Gareth Knight Amiga Interactive Guide | ICQ No. 24185856 http://welcome.to/aig | "Shine on your star"

27 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

Boot Disk Needed

by roblwill＠usaor.net

Hi! Does anyone have a boot disk for an NEC APC III? I found that my error when I try to boot is because of the "Stoned" Virus. One other question: Is there any way to replace the 720k 5.25" (That's what I was told it had) with either a 360k floppy, or a 720k 3.5" drive? ThAnX, -- -Jason Willgruber (roblwill(a)usaor.net) ICQ#: 1730318 <http://members.tripod.com/general_1>

27 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

Altair kits??

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<QUESTION - to any of the folks out there who <put these kits together originally... <Is this the way you received them from MITS? <With the front panel and/or the power supply <pre-wired and assembled? Altairs were available two ways Assembled and Tested and pure kit. the pure kit ones ALL the board had to be populated and the FP was one of the worst with all the leds. Allison

27 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

TV Licenses was Re: Message formats

by netcafe＠pirie.mtx.net.au

-----Original Message----- From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Friday, 8 January 1999 8:43 Subject: Re: Message formats >Needless to say they didn't know. Nor do they know what license (if any) >is needed to receive amateur television... Can't help with the other examples, but IIRC, in days of old, when we had such things as TV licenses, it was still legal for an amateur (or non-amateur) to use amateur tv without a broadcast listeners license. The test was whether the tv transmission was on a normal broadcast channel and could be received on an unmodified tv. If it needed a separate rx then you didn't need a license. The PMG had just about lost interest in the whole concept of receiver licensing by this stage anyway, though they made a last attempt to get people to comply with a massive (for those times) tv and radio adverstising campaign which didn't really net too many more licenses. Shortly thereafter, they dropped the whole system. The only receivers that require a license these days are certain satellite systems (under some special circumstances). Otherwise you are free to look/listen to anything you like. (Except mobile phones - in theory) Cheers Geoff Roberts Computer Room Internet Cafe Port Pirie South Australia. netcafe(a)pirie.mtx.net.au

27 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

Mathiputer

by yowza＠yowza.com

Don't tell Andrew Davie, but I'm trying to compete with him in the realm of weird computing machines. I just took delivery of a Cybernetic Systems Mathiputer. It's a stupid odd-shaped math toy that quizes you on arithmetic. It looks like somebody took a steel globe, split it in half, and put the two halves back together inside out and sideways (hey, Chuck, I need a diagram here). It had LED's, incadescent lights, and three rotary switches for input. Weird enough? It appears to be from around 1974, and it's got several ceramic and gold Fairchild parts. Some are 3XXXDC series, such as 3807DC. Does this ring a bell for anybody? Was there a CPU or calc chip in that series? -- Doug

27 years, 6 months

1
0
0 0

The Apostrophic War

by meo＠netads.com

Philip.Belben(a)pgen.com said... | |So don't dismiss it too soon if someone says the computer won't let them do |it. Years ago my dad got fed up with the fact that he had a couple dozen gas, credit and other cards with our name spelled without an apostrophe. He called, wrote letters, and generally waged a one man war. People were calling back begging him to please keep the cards, the computers did it, there was no way. Dad eventually cut most of them up and sent them back. He even had a VP or two call him! Dad had an ace in the hole. He knew a COBOL programmer, who explained that it was just basically stupidity, laziness, or being overly clever that led to these problems, and reminded him that our bank used computers and COBOL, and that everything related to us at the bank had apostrophes in our name. Dad eventually did manage to talk to MIS people at a couple of the companies, and after a bit of argument they agreed that this would be resolved within a year. Dad was amazed that it would take this long, but when they talked about budgets and politics he calmed down (since he was head of a college chemistry department and acting dean). Eventually they came through. I've always wondered just how much Dad's private war had to do with the fact that today, the commercial computer program that won't take apostrophes in a name (at least in the USA 8^) is rare. Now if the programmers would just program searches to try it with and without the apostrophe when one is entered (since people still leave them out on occasion...) -Miles

27 years, 6 months

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Message formats

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Jan 6, 18:33, Barry A. Watzman wrote: > Subject: Message formats > > [ plain text > Encoded with "quoted-printable" ] : I am NOT sending in HTML format, but it is MIME encoded. Sorry, but I use my E-Mail client (Windows messaging) for more than just this discussion group, and I need the ability to send and receive formatted text for some of them, including my employer. I'm not going to change formats on a message-by-message basis just to eliminate the equals signs at the ends of the lines. No, it's not just MIME-encoded. We're not complaining about equals signs at the ends of lines (which, incidentally, arise because Microsoft don't understand MIME). Apart from this message, all the ones I've seen from you have been encoded as "multipart/alternative". The few I've bothered to read (because it IS a bother) have contained a copy in some other format as well as the plain text. And as you can see from the way my mailer has quoted your message, the lines aren't split except at paragraph breaks. You need to get a mailer that works :-) "Windows messaging"? Do you mean Microsoft Mail? Or something like Outlook? I can assure you that it is possible to configure Microsoft mailers to send formatted HTML (which IMHO should not be allowed at all) or RTF in such a way that normal mailers simply see a plain text plus an attachment. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

27 years, 6 months

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That does not compute

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 01:37 PM 1/1/99 +1100, you wrote: >somewhere, the words "that does not compute" in a silly monotonic >computer-like voice. Annoyed the hell out of me! Was it just me this Remember how hilarious it was back then when Scotty picked up the mouse and said "com-PUT-er..."? --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 6 months

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A new Altair record price

by bill＠chipware.com

Marvin wrote: > Doug Yowza wrote: > > > > So, now we know how much an unassembled Altair kit will go for, and we > > know that most people can't tell the difference between an assembled kit > > and an unassembled one. > > Or partially assembled one! I saw the photos and was kind of > wondering what > the story is. Perhaps I missed something in my quick glance, but I didn't > see any boards mentioned, and just some photos of what looked like an > assembled box, and a bunch of parts. I kind of enjoyed the "I've never powered it up" disclaimer at the bottom. Should be sort of obvious for an unassembled kit?

27 years, 6 months

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Altair kits??

by altair8800＠hotmail.com

I notice from the pictures of the Altair 8800 kit on eBay that the front panel and power supply have been wired and assembled. The kit I found also has the front panel and power supply wired and assembled. QUESTION - to any of the folks out there who put these kits together originally... Is this the way you received them from MITS? With the front panel and/or the power supply pre-wired and assembled? Thanks, Bob Wood ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

27 years, 6 months

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Altair kits??

by cswiger＠wilma.widomaker.com

>QUESTION - to any of the folks out there who >put these kits together originally... >Is this the way you received them from MITS? >With the front panel and/or the power supply >pre-wired and assembled? No. At least not mine on the 'kit a month' plan. The way MITS was it wouldn't suprise me if they did ship out some partially built to fill demand for kit orders, but it wasn't in my case. More trivia: The last 'kit-a-month' installment of $60 got you the CPU chip. By that time generic 8080's were less than that so I just bought an NEC chip elsewhere to save a few $$. Chuck cswiger(a)widomaker.com

27 years, 6 months

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A new Altair record price

by altair8800＠hotmail.com

Mark Metzler wrote: >I knew you should have held onto all those Altairs longer, >Bob! Actually I have managed to hold on to more than I have sold, Mark. I had decided to stop listing my Altair stuff on eBay for now because there seemed to be a glut of Altair items going on there. But this is the first whole original 8800 that has been listed since earlier last year when the two were on simultaneously. It will be interesting to see if this selling price causes more to be listed. Bob > >At 10:29 PM 1/6/99 PST, you wrote: >>$6710.00 Wow! >> >>http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5282 >2778 >> >> >>______________________________________________________ >>Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com >> >> > >--- Mark Metzler > > VON NEUMANN MACHINES >Online Computer History Bookstore/Museum >http://home.pacbell.net/mmetzler/vnm.html > >______________________________________________________ >Get your free web-based email at http://www.xoom.com >SPECIAL OFFER: 250 Web Site Templates, Only $29.95! - >http://orders.xoom.com/email > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

27 years, 6 months

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Computer History

by chrish＠knet.kootenay.net

here is a pdp6 pricelist in .pdf format http://www.vortex.com/comphist.html Chris

27 years, 6 months

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A new Altair record price

by mark_metzler＠xoommail.com

I knew you should have held onto all those Altairs longer, Bob! At 10:29 PM 1/6/99 PST, you wrote: >$6710.00 Wow! > >http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5282 2778 > > >______________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > > --- Mark Metzler VON NEUMANN MACHINES Online Computer History Bookstore/Museum http://home.pacbell.net/mmetzler/vnm.html ______________________________________________________ Get your free web-based email at http://www.xoom.com SPECIAL OFFER: 250 Web Site Templates, Only $29.95! - http://orders.xoom.com/email

27 years, 6 months

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A new Altair record price

by gregorym＠cadvision.com

I know the Altair was historically significant, and it's very collectible, but give me a break! I paid less than that for my car. I'm hoping the fix was somehow in on this auction, in an attempt to drive collectible prices up - otherwise, I'll have to give up all hope of ever owning any pre-1980 computers that I don't already have. If this is truly where the market is going, most people on this list might be able to retire on the Riviera after all! :v) Mark. At 10:29 PM 1/6/99 PST, you wrote: >$6710.00 Wow! > >http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=52822778 > > >______________________________________________________ >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > >

27 years, 6 months

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Year End Clearance

by Mzthompson＠aol.com

I have decided it is time to clean out some of the computer stuff. Following is a list of computers and components that are available. Basically, except for the last group of DEC uVax cards & where noted elsewhere, everything is free to those who come and pick up the items. I basically don't want to get involved with the shipping of any large items, such as the CPU boxes or monitors. If you just have to have some component that I can ship in a moderate sized box, then all I ask is a little something to cover my time and shipping. I live just south of Terre Haute, IN, USA. If your interested in anything, send me an email. I would like to apologize for the length of this list. I did not realize how much stuff there was 'til I put it in a list. I decided for now to hold off on the Intel/PC related stuff. Mike Thompson ---------------------------------------- Convergent Technologies Model CR-5100-A31 Some kind of Unix box Contains: 68000 CPU board with 64K of 8Kx8 and parallel port Memory expansion board with 2M of 256Kx1 20 channnel RS232 board with 20 9 pin D connectors Micropolis 1325 70mb MFM hard drive Also have a spare 10 channnel RS232 board with 10 9 pin D connectors I am told that this is a working machine and was being used as a print server. ---------------------------------------- Wang components The following are from a Wang machine, model is unknown PM007 - PC Color Emulator board, has 15 pin D connector labeled 'Input' and 9 pin D connector labeled 'Analog RGB'. Board measures 8x12. PM009 - Medium Resolution Color Graphics board, has 8 pin DIN connector labeled 'Analog RGB' & 6 pin modular connect labeled 'Local Keyboard' Board measures 8X12 Micropolis 1325 70mb MFM hard drive. Condition of these items is unknown. ---------------------------------------- Motorola Model VME/10 System Contains: 1 ea MVME400 board 1 ea MVME201 boards Micropolis 1304 43mb hard drive, may be bad. Also have a monitor, but no video cable. Believe the keyboard is around here somewhere. Also have the following loose VME bus cards: VME Module 01-W3471, circa 1987 contains: 68020, 68851, 4mb of 1Mx1; front panel has leds for Fail, Halt, Run, Scon, push switches for Abort & Reset, and a 25 pin D connector. Have 2 of these. MVME147SC-1. circa 1990 CPU with around 8mb of RAM MVME931-1 This is a wire wrap prototyping board The next card is for the VME bus but is labeled Jupiter Technologies. I suspect it came from a UGC box. It contains a 68000 and around 2mb of RAM, it is marked as being an 'IOP' card. The last 2 cards were custom made by a local company and are probably of no use to anybody. Listed here to more or less keep track. Condition of all this is unknown. ---------------------------------------- IBM Model 5182 Personal Computer Color Printer Parallel Interface, dot matrix 132 column This works, but needs a new ribbon ---------------------------------------- Hewlett Packard Model 2631G 132 column dot matrix printer This has a 24 pin connector similar to the 36 pin Centronics connector. Does anybody know the interface on this one? ---------------------------------------- Micropolis Model 1325 70mb hard drive This is a loose one, and condition is unknown ---------------------------------------- DEC MicroVax 2000 I have the case, boards and power supply. The RD54 was snatched up by a subscriber just recently. Also have a spare MS400 2mb board and this is unused still in original box. ---------------------------------------- DEC DS200 Terminal Server - 4ea DELNI - at least 6 ea ---------------------------------------- Apple Macintosh II I have 4 machines, 3 are working, one is dead. Of the working: 2 have 1 floppy drive, 1 has 2 floppy drives they all have 40mb hard drives. 2 have Viking video cards with a Viking Monoterm monitor (are a little dim) 1 has an Apple video card with a Apple color monitor Have keyboards and mice for all three. Have complete (I think) manuals and disks for each machine. One machine has Interleaf loaded on it. I have a couple spare video cards & an external 20mb drive. I have 1 set of Interleaf manuals and 2 sets of disks. I believe the loaded with version 6 of the OS. I would like to get a little something for these. I might be convinced to ship components, but do not want to ship anything big, especially the monitors. ---------------------------------------- IBM RT Model 135, Type 6150. It has a 5 1/4 floppy, and two hard drives (100MB & 300MB), plus the usual video and a network card. The monitor is a Model/Type 5081-19, 19" color with RGB inputs. I have a fairly complete set of manuals and disks for the machine. The machine was working and is loaded with AIX 2.x. I say was, as it was sitting in the garage when a tree was blown over and crashed through the garage roof almost exactly where the machine was. The only damage was from water, mostly running down through the monitor. The CPU had some stuff on top of it and I doubt that much if any water got into it. I have not tested it since then and the insurance company has settled on it. If you want to come pick it up, fine. I am willing to pull components out of this and ship them. I hate to see things like the network card go to waste. All I ask is a little something for my time and trouble. ---------------------------------------- DEC The following cards were pulled from uVax II's and all machines were working at the time they were removed from service. Since I am asking a little for any card, I will guarantee them in that I will replace (where possbile) or refund. If your interested in multiple cards, let me know, I can probably work out a deal. KA630-AA / M7606 - CPU Module, MicroVax II, 4 ea $15 MS630-BB / M7608 - 4 MB Memory Module, 1 ea $10 KDA50-Q / M7164 & M7165 - SDI Disk Interface, 1 set $20 DQ256 (Dilog) - SDI Interface, 1 ea $10 TSV05 / M7196 - Tape Controller, 1 ea $10 TQK70-SA / M7559 - TK70 Tape Controller, 1 ea $10 DELNA / M7513 - Expander Module, connects ext. RD50/RX50 to controller, 3 ea $5 TQK50 / M7546 - TK50 Tape Interface, 2 ea $10 DHV11 / M3104 - 8 Line Async Multiplexer (quad height card), 1 ea $10 DZQ11 / M3106 - 4 Line Async Multiplexer (dual height card), 2 ea $10 M9404 / M9505 - Cable Connector, 3 sets of cards plus some cables, $5 END OF LIST --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------

27 years, 6 months

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T1200 Laptop network card - was Re: 53rd state was Re: Y2K

by netcafe＠pirie.mtx.net.au

-----Original Message----- From: Joe <rigdonj(a)intellistar.net> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, 7 January 1999 12:30 Subject: 53rd state was Re: Y2K > Naw, you're not even close to being the 53rd state! We're going after >Puerto Rico right now, the ten Canadian provinces are next, then Mexico. >You guys are way down the list. It must be sad to realize that you follow >even Mexico! > > Sorry, couldn't resist! :-) There's a line there, ah what the heck. Sad is not the word, relieved perhaps! :^) I couldn't resist either. Mind you, looking at TV here, or driving around any medium sized city, and seeing the Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonalds and Hungry Jacks (=Burger King) outlets, and seeing all the kids roaming around in those silly baggy shorts with their baseball caps on backwards, it's getting hard to tell the difference. At least we still speak real English, despite the school systems apparent inability to teach kids to write and spell in it......... Ahem, to get back on topic, I have a Circa 1989 Toshiba T1200 laptop that has a Puredata 8023 (assume Ethernet) card in the expansion slot. There is nothing for this on the Puredata website, and my email to their support on 30/12/98 has not been responded too (yet). The card has an etch that reads PDT8023 [R] [C] 1989 Pure Data Made in Canada 0060012002 The T in the ident suggests a special (Toshiba?) build. The card has a single BNC socket and a switch marked 0 and 1, which is probably a power on/off function. There are three jumpers marked E1 E2 and E3. E2 has a shorting bridge on it. There is a bar coded sticker on the component side. The sticker is damaged, looks like 002x1945 (digit marked by x is unreadable, possibly a 6 or an 8) Several of the chips on the board have a date and a hex number on a paper sticker on them. Listed below. March 1990 800020000 March 1991 800019100 March 1991 800019702 March 1991 800019801 March 1991 800019900 I'm after some Netware drivers for it. (This is an XT laptop) I've tried the NE1000 drivers to no avail. I'm assuming it uses the IRQ (3) that is reserved for the internal modem. Any help appreciated. Cheers Geoff Roberts Computer Room Internet Cafe Port Pirie South Australia. netcafe(a)pirie.mtx.net.au

27 years, 6 months

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FW: 11/73 available

by kyrrin＠my-dejanews.com

Found on Usenet. Anyone near the U. of Iowa want to talk to this guy? It sounds kind of beat up, but might make a good parts box. -=-=- <snip> -=-=- On Wed, 6 Jan 1999 15:17:30 -0600, in vmsnet.pdp-11 you wrote: >>From: Brian Deitte <bdeitte(a)blue.weeg.uiowa.edu> >>Newsgroups: vmsnet.pdp-11 >>Subject: Clueless questions about a for sale PDP 11/73 >>Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 15:17:30 -0600 >>Organization: The University of Iowa >>Lines: 18 >>Message-ID: <Pine.A41.3.95.990106150728.112902A-100000(a)black.weeg.uiowa.edu> >>NNTP-Posting-Host: black.weeg.uiowa.edu >>Mime-Version: 1.0 >>Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII >>X-Sender: bdeitte(a)black.weeg.uiowa.edu >>Path: news1.jps.net!news.pbi.net!151.164.30.35!cyclone.swbell.net!newsfeed.berkeley.edu!netnews.com!news-feed.fnsi.net!cyclone.i1.net!uunet!in1.uu.net!news.uiowa.edu!black.weeg.uiowa.edu!bdeitte >>Xref: news1.jps.net vmsnet.pdp-11:803 >> >>Hello. I've been given a PDP 11/73 that was going to be thrown away. >>I've searched for quite a few hours on the Web for resellers, and all I >>could find was agora and auction-it.net. Any advice on a price range or >>where to look for someone who wants one is appreciated. >> >>If you've read this far, I assume you're interested in some way, so here's >>some extra information: >>According to a a picture I saw somewhere, its a BA23 standing tower. >>I found the following cards: M3106(2), M8017AA, M7546, M7555. >>The front has a TK50 and a Micropolis "Disk Memory Unit" with a S/N >>7074231037. >>Some of pins on back are broken, and the power cord has been snipped, but >>supposedly it worked at its former residence, although I don't even know >>how to test it. >> >>Feel free to send by email if you feel this is irrelevant to this >>newsgroup. Thanks, Brian. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 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, 6 months

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Help (SMS Q-Bus systems)

by dogas＠leading.net

From: Zane H. Healy <healyzh(a)aracnet.com> <snippity> Thanks Zane. Looks like I may get my first taste of rt-11. My boat's come in. - Mike: dogas(a)leading.net

27 years, 6 months

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Message formats

by netcafe＠pirie.mtx.net.au

-----Original Message----- From: Zane H. Healy <healyzh(a)aracnet.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, 7 January 1999 14:43 Subject: Re: Message formats >Again, how typically American! I'm starting to hate American's to the >point I'm looking for another country to move to, since I'm embarrased to >say that I'm an American myself. Anyone know any good countries that I can >move to, and not be embarassed to be associated with? Come on down (under). >The Internet is not an American only thing! No it isn't. I accept that the original concept and the early development work took place in the US. The growth of the net has made it a global phenomenon, though the spam is nearly all American in origin! > >I'd like to point out a few things, my reaction to a message that was about >%30 HTML caused this thread to spring into being. I'm using a e-mail >client that can handle it without any problem, I've also got a dedicated >384k line, so bandwidth isn't a problem for me Lucky boy. That sort of bandwidth is way out of reach of most people in this country. A typical home user would probably have a 28.8 or 33.6k modem, with a few 56k's thrown in. 56k doesn't always work well, heck I'm using a 56k USR modem, but it won't connect to my ISP faster than 33.6k, even though the ISP supports it. Phone line quality most likely. ISDN is available, but it's timed by the second, and frightfully expensive to install, so most ISP's won't allow a dial on demand, they will only do ISDN for a permanent connection. Change ISP's did I hear you say? There are only 2 here. We are in the country ~100 miles from Adelaide, plenty more there, but it's 50c a minute for a long distance call during the day, and it's not a lot different there Since a permanent 33.6k modem line (like this one) costs around $290 a month, and a commercial 64k ISDN permanent is around $1000 a month, you don't see a lot of users on it yet..... Oh yes, our local phone calls are not timed (yet - they keep threatening - mostly because of net users) but the backlash from consumers is keeping them on the back foot - for now. They are not, however, free, it's 30c a call, though a local call in Australia can cover a sizeable area depending what area code you are in. The 08 area code covers the entire state of SA, which is roughly 5 or 6 times the area of the UK. Local calls are roughly a 50 mile radius of the place you call from. Cheers Geoff Roberts Computer Room Internet Cafe Port Pirie South Australia. netcafe(a)pirie.mtx.net.au

27 years, 6 months

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Help (SMS Q-Bus systems)

by dogas＠leading.net

From: Zane H. Healy <healyzh(a)aracnet.com> <snip> Thanks Zane... Being pdp experience deficient, I appreciate the info. I have a 11/93 that I haven't been able to get working yet... I'm looking forward to my first rt-11 experience. - Mike: dogas(a)leading.net

27 years, 6 months

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Message formats

by netcafe＠pirie.mtx.net.au

-----Original Message----- From: Miles O'Neal <meo(a)netads.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, 7 January 1999 14:08 Subject: Re: Message formats >Max Eskin said... >| >|TVs require licenses in the UK? What about if you buy a CRT and make your >|own? > >It's illegal, of course. > >Ifthey don't catch you, there's no license fee. > >If they catch you, you're sent to Australia. > >Talk about a win-win situation! For who? We quit taking POME years ago. We still get pom immigrants though......;^) Cheeers Geoff Computer Room Internet Cafe Port Pirie South Australia. netcafe(a)pirie.mtx.net.au

27 years, 6 months

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y2k stuff

by rigdonj＠intellistar.net

At 05:02 PM 1/6/99 -0800, Sam wrote: >I've also been told by some credit card company call center reps that they >couldn't do something or other for me because the "computer wouldn't let >them". Don't you know a brush-off when you hear it? Employees LOVE to blame things on the computer! Joe

27 years, 6 months

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Y2K

by netcafe＠pirie.mtx.net.au

-----Original Message----- From: Barry A. Watzman <Watzman(a)ibm.net> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Wednesday, 6 January 1999 14:42 Subject: Y2K >The problem arises simply because people (programmers included) normally write dates in the format >"mm/dd/yy", as in 12/31/99. Not just in computer programs, but in normal, day-to-day lives. It's that simple, >and that is all that there is to it. Only if you live in America. Much of the world (like here, or the UK, New Zealand etc) use dd/mm/yy in their "normal, day-to-day lives." I have personally had numerous headaches with software written (mostly) in the USA where this unwarranted assumption on date useage is hard coded into the damn software. Accounting packages are prime offenders. So is a well known DOS based Fax program. This usually results in users moving to a package that does not make silly assumptions about date useage outside America. I know there are 250+ million of you, but we're not the 53rd state. (Yet anyway) We "ain't gonna" change the way WE do things here. It would make our lives a lot easier if such things were an option, some authors get it right, and allow it to be a config option, sadly, lots don't. Oh, and our financial year is from 1 July to 30 June, not 1 January to 31 December. Had that trouble as well. Grrrr. Cheers Geoff Roberts Computer Room Internet Cafe Port Pirie South Australia. netcafe(a)pirie.mtx.net.au

27 years, 6 months

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y2k stuff

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 1/6/99 8:26:02 PM US Eastern Standard Time, rigdonj(a)intellistar.net writes: > >I've also been told by some credit card company call center reps that they > >couldn't do something or other for me because the "computer wouldn't let > >them". > > Don't you know a brush-off when you hear it? Employees LOVE to blame > things on the computer! it's not a brush off, really. in my helpdesk job, computer applications we use wont do certain things unless required info is present or in right format. sure, there are stupid operators, but the computer sometimes is at fault too.

27 years, 6 months

1
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Help

by dogas＠leading.net

Hi folks, I have a chance to pick up some SMS Q-bus systems that were being used as a security entry system. I dont know anything about them and assume (because of the Q-bus moniker) these to be uPDP equivilents. The apparently two computers are in a 19' rack system. I haven't and won't see them until Saturday so that's all the info so far... Please help, anybody know these systems? Thanks - Mike: dogas(a)leading.net

27 years, 6 months

2
1
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Message formats

by netcafe＠pirie.mtx.net.au

-----Original Message----- From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Thursday, 7 January 1999 13:13 Subject: Re: Message formats >The license for a colour TV is something like 4 times the cost of one >for a black and white TV. And the extra 'entertainment' might not be worth >that much. They STILL do that? Heck, we tossed it out in the early 70's. The compliance rate was very low, and the Radio Inspectors got so tired of the door to door checking and subsequent abuse (sometimes physical - some Aussies are less than polite when dealing with bureaucratic bull....) that they were glad to see the government call it a day. Cheers Geoff Roberts Computer Room Internet Cafe Port Pirie South Australia. netcafe(a)pirie.mtx.net.au

27 years, 6 months

1
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OT, but info needed: RAM uprade

by roblwill＠usaor.net

-----Original Message----- From: David Wollmann <dwollmann(a)ibmhelp.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Date: Sunday, December 27, 1998 2:49 PM Subject: Re: OT, but info needed: RAM uprade >On Sun, 27 Dec 1998, Jason Willgruber wrote: > > >When IBM ELS were designing the original 5150, 16-bit cards would have driven >the cost out of their US$4,000.00 retail target range, so they went with the >crippled 8088. A decision that, in hindsight, makes about as much sense as >including a cassette drive and (what was it???) 16K RAM on the first model. > > The tape drive was actually a useful idea, which should have been continued all the way throughout the PS/2 line. It allowed whoever was using the computer to actually make use of the ROM BASIC. The floppies aren't available in ROM BASIC, and once a program is typed in, there's no way to save it. The cassette drive worked in the same way that the cassette drive in TRS-80's did. It acted as the storage device in ROM BASIC. In fact, I don't even think the PC came with a cable to connect it to a tape deck. You had to run down to RadioShack and pick up a TRS-80 cassette cable. I think I actually have an entire 60-minute tape full of PC-BASIC programs (somewhere). I think one of the not-so-smart things that IBM did was to remove the cassette interface and to keep the now-useless ROM-BASIC in there. -- -Jason Willgruber (roblwill(a)usaor.net) ICQ#: 1730318 <http://members.tripod.com/general_1>

27 years, 6 months

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