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

by rcini＠email.msn.com

Sam: > 1 SB180 with SCSI adaptor and 20meg HD(also used frequently). I think that that is Steve Ciarcia's 64180-based SBC, which ran various forms of CP/M. It was featured in the Sept and Oct 1985 issues of Byte (which I just happen to have; I can fax you the article if you want). I'd love to get one of those...I even saw a message once in comp.os.cpm that one of the co-authors was trying to work a deal with Steve to unearth an old stock of those and offer them for sale. Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com> (remove nospam_ to use) ClubWin! Charter Member (6) MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking ============================================ Date: Sun, 1 Mar 1998 19:29:47 -0800 (PST) From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)wco.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Demography? Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.96.980301192615.1620D-100000@shell> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII On Sun, 1 Mar 1998, Allison J Parent wrote: > Far as I can tell one of the few active women in legacy(old machines are > us) computing. For me thse old system were the computer I couldn't afford > when I was playing with them new. Well, unless someone else pops up, you're probably the ONLY woman into this sort of thing. You're like the Grace Hopper of vintage computer enthusiasts :) > 1 SB180 with SCSI adaptor and 20meg HD(also used frequently) BTW, what's this? Someone is going to sell me one and all I know is that it runs CP/M. Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass Coming Soon...Vintage Computer Festival 2.0 See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!

28 years, 2 months

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Enrico: model I

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

whatever happened to going private with stuff like this?! this is more off topic than anything else. In a message dated 98-03-02 02:46:52 EST, somebody started flaming: << Enrico: I have many Model 1 computers... as a matter of fact, I sent one to you! So don't think you just made a great 'caught-me' remark. I do have many. I don't, however, have a damn 4k Model 1 without the keypad on the right. That is what you're looking for, isn't it? Oh, I suppose you changed your mind -- again!?! Gees, Enrico, you never stop do you? I am being completely honest with you, what is it that you think I am hiding anyway? Black and white: I have model 1 computers, many of them. I have 0 Model 1 computers that you are looking for!! Figure it out!! Not Black and white: Why you are a complete idiot!?! Leave me alone until I e-mail you and tell you I have a Model 1 computer, circa 1978, with 4k of memory, and no keypad, ok? Damn, Enrico, I was even doing you a favor and looking for one for you.... You really know how to spoil someone's day, CORD >>

28 years, 2 months

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by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

I did actually check this. It says 208. This is not awfully informative, AFAIK, because the voltage fluctuates +/- 5 or so anyway >Open the side opposite the CE panel, and look down by the 4 twinax connectors. >There shoud be a label saying what yours is wired for - Mine wants 204V AC. >------- > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

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More 34

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

Today was my first major interaction with the system/34, unfortunately on 1/2 hour long. Next monday, I can stay there 2-8 PM if I want to... I made the following discoveries: a)It's on casters b)It has a 65MB hard drive c)It's not all that dusty. By virtue of a, I moved it to reveal the CE panel, which had all of the floppies and a little error code booklet tucked inside. This booklet is fairly useless now that IBM doesn't support the 34, but it does list all of the parts and their names. There is a thing that I saw called the DC distribution panel. I was thinking that I might switch the power supply's outputs with the outputs for a normal PC AT PSU, of course not powering the drives. The booklet does imply that the PSU outputs -4, -5, 5,6,8.5,-12,12,-24, and 24 volts. Knowing this I ought to be able to get a couple of PC psus and run it. Next step: finding a room that has power to it - this one doesn't... ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

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by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

Yes, it is. That's the reason for all this trouble, that I don't know how to get it to run without a 220 volt outlet (it's in a storage room) Now, my question is a bit dumb, I suppose, but why is it that when Intel made the 8086 (which I heard was about as powerful as the 34), IBM made this huge half-ton box only to leave it mostly empty anyway? >Just curious, isn't the S/34 a 220v box? ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

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Thanks and TRS-80 Score (was Re: Wanted stuff (Was: Pretty good week))

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<> The first trap is that this monitor has a live (hot) chassis, or at lea <> the 115V models do. The video input is opto-isolated so that the TRS-80 <> itself can be grounded/floating. This means that you need to be more BIG TIME!!!! Take all the care in the world with this one. FYI the monitor is isolated from the trs80 via opto isolators so there is no DC or AC connection between the two. The optos are pressed real hard to run at video (luminance) rates so they can sometime be a cause of porr video. <> careful than usual when working inside this unit - mains on all the <> exposed metalwork is a good way to get killed! In fact, I'd say that yo <> shouldn't attempt to repair this unit unless (a) you have an isolation <> transformer and (b) you know why you should use one. Having worked on these at Tandy I can say first hand that is no lie! I've been wacked a few time over the years, it hurts...if your lucky! <I've done some simple work (replacing flybacks, logic boards, etc) on <VT100's previously - if I do decide to open this thing up, rather than Vt100s are line isolated and a bit safer save for the hi-volts on the CRT. Allison

28 years, 2 months

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Epson QX-10 / AT&T 3B1

by lisard＠zetnet.co.uk

[tony duell] :> yes. shame about VALDOCS really. it seems to have killed forth's :> reputation for all time. it was reputedly an integrated package :>written in forth - unfortunately, it seems, the people who wrote :I thought it was written in Stoic, which although a threaded :stack-based language like Forth, was somewhat different in the :details. not that different. we have a source listing for stoic on our hard drive at the moment (you want it? we'll mail it) and the major differences >from forth were (a) it used a file system with 6 letter names, (b) it compiled everything, even immediate stuff, into a temporary buffer then executed the buffer, (c) you pushed textual words using 'xxxx rather than forth's method of having "WORD" pick up the next word in the input stream. :Not forgetting HP's RPL language which is Forth done even better. :You can push _anything_ onto the stack - integers, reals, strings, :even programs :-) I think the HP28 is now 10 years old, so we can :mention it here. ah, yes... we finally got hold of the dos development suite for this. it's a lovely language, but it departs somewhat from the simplicity and directness we like in forth. on the other hand, it's great for its chosen application, and if you're a lisp fan too... (yes, we are. symbolics 3600 on offer, anyone...? ;> ) what we'd like to see, though, is a forth effectively incorporating the concepts in smalltalk (ie everything on the stack is an object, possibly with a tag bit to differentiate between integers and anything else). have to start hacking one... -- Communa (together) we remember... we'll see you falling you know soft spoken changes nothing to sing within her... Net-Tamer V 1.08X - Test Drive

28 years, 2 months

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Wanted stuff (Was: Pretty good week)

by adavie＠mad.scientist.com

To everyone: Some judicious snipping of quoted email replies would make it MUCH easier to read, and really is common net-etiquette these days. As far as want-list; Me, I'm open to trades - I have a spare Exidy Sorcerer and assorted oddities. I'd like some of the early single boards - such as sym, etc. Andrew

28 years, 2 months

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lurker bio

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<From: John Lawson <jpl15(a)netcom.com> <fantasy of running Music IV (or Csound) under Unix on the PDP 15 with <period DACs providing signals to the Moog.... a living early 70's <music research lab. Maybe the Minc-11.... naw, never mind. Forget unix or music from a -15 it was more suited to industrial control. I did do some serious hacking with music back some using the altair to drive a string of smal 8085 based boards(one per voice). <about two weeks away from getting a pilot's license, *if* the <examiner and the weather are co-incident and *if* I pass the damn <checkride... oops, off topic. sorry. Well if you don't pass the check ride the instructor should be shot for sending you unprepared. I have a license for 20 years and a Cessna150 to enjoy it in. Docs for systems, board and the like are a resource that is underestimated. There are so many s100 systems and boards that are mostly useless without docs as it's impossible to set them up or use them. Allison

28 years, 2 months

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Wanted stuff (Was: Pretty good week)

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

> >> >> >> >> ah, if we're going to get on to the "what do i wish for?" list... > >Well, I don't recomend killing me to get your hands on my little >collection... And I rarely sell machines. > >> a perq. any perq. please, PLEASE!!!... > >Keep looking... There are still some out there. No, my 4 (!) are not for >sale... What is a perq and why is it good? >> >> any system based on the 32xxx (a ceres would be nice, but we doubt >> they're available...) > >More practically, there are still a number of Whitechapel MG1's about. >Repairing one is not hard - the main problem is the NiCd battery used for >starting it. A Technical manual does exist... > >> >> an original archimedes, with the original arthur os and the gui in basic > >Hmm... I still have my Arthur programmer's reference manuals, but I doubt >I could find a set of the ROMs, alas... > >> >> a dg nova > >Again, keep looking. They were popular in embedded control systems at one >time. Mine came off an electron microscope.... Speaking of novas, I finished Soul of a New Machine. Great book! >> a linn rekursiv (wouldn't you? ;> ) > >Ooooh... Now that's a machine I don't have, and would like! Is the machine as weird as the name? >> >> one of the two machines we know about that ever used a z8000 (olivetti >> m20 or onyx..?) > >What about a Zilog 8000 ? It was/is (there's at least one still >operational) a Z8000-based unix box. Mine has an SMD disk controller and >a QIC tape drive. It's built in slices about 2' square - the bottom slice >is empty, the next contains just the RS223 port distribution panel, the >next contains the drives, and the top slice contains the cardcage. >There's the CPU card, a memory card (some machines had ECC memory, I >think), and assorted device controllers. > > >> >> a perq > >Does the fact that you've listed 'perq' about 4 times mean that you want >one from each series? > >> >> an original cp/m system or three (hm systems; the minstrel always >> appealed) > >What do you mean by 'original'? If you mean a machine designed to run >CP/M, then there must still be some RML 380Z's (very solid UK CP/M >machines used in schools) about. Ditto for DEC rainbows, Amstrads >(although I don't like those myself), BBC Z80 second processors, Epson >QX10's (IMHO one of the nicest CP/M machines ever built), etc. Was CP/M made for any specific machine originally, kind of like DOS was made for a PC (leaving Seattle Computers aside for a moment) >MDS800, then good luck in finding one. > >> >> any really weird 70s mini (small honeywell machine, perhaps? tony duell >> speaks highly of the philips p850...? maybe an icl thingy...?) - must be I believe the system/34 was a Mini. I think that's what those UPS tractor-trailers are for :) >of it, although as it was the machine that got me into computer >collecting, I do have a somewhat biased love of it. Mind you, with 2K >(max) of memory, 16 CPU registers, a strange instruction set, and a CPU >based on a hard-wired state machine rather than microcode, it must be >worth saving. Isn't microcode hard-wired anyway? >Philips P800 series machines are not at all common, alas... > >> nice to put forth on, though >> >> oh, did we mention that if someone would provide us with a perq at >> reasonable cost and proximity to bradford, we would be quite delighted >> and mount a one-person campaign to get him or her canonised? > >Which reminds me... I must Canon-ise my PERQ again - that is, repair the >Canon laser printer port. The crystal oscillator lost its legs, and while >I was trying to repair it, the local cat stepped on the device and the >quartz crystal plate is now in about 100 pieces... I must try to obtain a >29.8MHz xtal. > >Just out of curiousity, why aren't you looking for the following >machines? > >DEC PDP8, PDP11, Vax, any other PDP's? What does PDP mean, exactly? Is it something like the PC standard? >AMT DAP (Distributed Array Processor) Which is? >Anything transputer-based Which is? >The Xerox D-machines (somewhat PERQ-like in many ways) - Brian Rosen was >involved in the design of both AFAIK. The only problem with these is that >low level hardware/software docs seem to be next-to-impossible to obtain. >The PERQ has the advantage that there are some _very_ clueful enthusiasts >(not me, alas) who will help you with just about any problem. > >Torch XXX, quadX, etc I can just imagine "Sabrina's jungle dungeon - hosted on a Torch XXX" >Tiger. Now there's a strange machine.. A Z80 + 64K RAM, a 6809 + 8K RAM, >RS232, parallel, cassette ports, 1200/75 baud modem, 7220 graphics chip + >96K RAM, etc, etc, etc. It was going to be sold as a home computer... So, how much RAM total? > >-tony > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

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Demography?

by adavie＠mad.scientist.com

I have a canon SX320!! >I think the first 'computer' I programmed seriously was a Canon SX320 >calculator, which was a desktop machine with a full keyboard and 40? col >printer. I also did Fortran and Algol-W programming at highschool.

28 years, 2 months

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Zenith Luggable/DEC sw

by lwalker＠mail.interlog.com

On the weekend I picked up a mint Zenith (luggable). Nosing around the thrift I also found 4 10pack containers of DEC Formula One 5 1/4 RX50 floppies. 1 of which contained programs. As well there were 2 Decmate II Word Processor manuals (no disks) and a Decmate II Hardware Documentation manual with 2 disks. Sys. Overview and Sys.Test Diskette. The program disks were a 4part AT&T MSDOS v.3.3 rel 1.01 ; a clock patch and 2 Test Diag. marked PC 6300 and an HP labelled disk with Vectra msdos 3.1. $30 (Can.) A real score. The Zenith is similiar to the Kaypro and Compaq luggables with a cooler design. Along with the int. monitor it has a double pop-up A/B drives and 3 ports on the rear as well as an RCA looking jack. (for an external monitor ?). Best of all it booted with the AT&T disks. The Disks marked PC6300 did nothing and the Vectra gave me a no command.com present tho I was able to get a dir. listing which showed one. Anyone with info on this 'chine ? I imagine I was just lucky and the DEC disks came in to the shop separately, but a nagging idea of the Rainbows ability to boot msdos came to mind. I also finally found a DEC k-b for a long-dormant Rainbow which has a 5meg Seagate. When I get the 15-pin video cable I'll be able to check further. ciao larry lwalkerN0spaM(a)interlog.com

28 years, 2 months

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Telebit modems

by jmg＠iac.net

OK, so this is off topic for the list charter, but I have a friend with a Telebit V.34 28.8 modem (part number AP-8810SA-001) which doesn't have a power adapter. Does anyone know (just hoping - not really expecting) what this thing is looking for in terms of power, and if it takes a common transformer? Thanks! J. Maynard Gelinas

28 years, 2 months

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Pretty good week

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 98-02-26 22:08:24 EST, somebody wrote: << Geez, where do you guys keep all these computers??? >> well, with living single, and a 3bedroom house for me and my dawg, it's easy! =D david

28 years, 2 months

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Demography?

by lisard＠zetnet.co.uk

since everyone else is at it... the identity we received at birth is available to anyone who asks, but we adopted the collective name "communa" a few moths back, on realising that we're multiple. it's raised a few eyebrows since, but that's life. we're 23, and our first computer was a second-hand zx81 at the age of 9, followed with reasonable swiftness by a new zx81 and memotech rampack. the rampack died after a few years of non-use, and by then we had moved on and up, and weren't much interested in the zx81 any more (we maintain that attitude; it was a handy springboard, it was nice to have used one, but it was the first and only eminently *disposable* computer...) over the years we also acquired: * a commodore 16, complete with tally roll printer; * a memotech mtx512; * a sinclair ql with serial port - we are currently waiting for a friend at work to throw some more bits our way; * a trigem xt with 40Mb hard disk, hgc monitor and panasonic kxp1170 printer - faithful workhorse for 5 years; * an amstrad nc100 that we don't use anywhere near as much as we should; * an original zx spectrum 48; * a spectrum +2; * a 286 motherboard, then a 386sx motherboard, an old case someone left behind on doing a runner, a digital vga mono monitor and olivetti card, 4 1Mb simms, and a win95 keyboard, for use as a convenience system (and for internet surfing); * an ncr 286 computer that looks like a paving slab and came with ega colour monitor and lovely keyboard; * and there may well be a decstation 3100 going at work if we can arrange / wangle it. (plus a ridiculously heavy 300Mb scsi hard drive box that feels as if someone forgot to remove the lead casing...) a preponderance of home computers and odd pcs (with the exception of this 386, none are particularly standard inside), which we are not very happy about - hence our published wish list. for our living, we do things with webs and databases - sometimes in connection - with a little company based in sleepy gargrave (typical village - 3 shops, 3 pubs, about 200 houses, pathetic public transport) and have done for a year, during which time we have seen the depth of our overdraft *increase*. (hmm...) however, it does mean that now we have the money to pursue a dream, which is to acquire old and interesting hardware and write operating systems for them. and therein lies our interest in classic computers; less for the beasts themselves, more for the programming challenges and joys that they would present. hence we'll focus on specific architectures rather than specific machines. it's also something of a revolt against the trend in the modern computer market, especially with regard to software. before that, we studied computer science at bradford university, but lost interest once we realised that we already knew most of what we were being told, and didn't particularly want to know the rest. we nearly failed; we got a degree out of it, just. we'd prefer a job that tallied better with our interests; on the other hand, there's a novelist here trying to get out, and we suspect that this would represent our future career development. (but because of who we are, we don't want to write a book until we've written the word processor. :> ) and we'd also like to have more time to ourself and our interests. oh, and we're devoted to our three cats, firstborn, blackie and calliope - our babies. they come first in all considerations. -- Communa (together) we remember... we'll see you falling you know soft spoken changes nothing to sing within her... Net-Tamer V 1.08X - Test Drive

28 years, 2 months

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Wanted stuff (Was: Pretty good week)

by lisard＠zetnet.co.uk

ah, if we're going to get on to the "what do i wish for?" list... miracle qxl card. (but a friend at work has promised us a sack of ql pieces, so that shouldn't be a problem) a perq. any perq. please, PLEASE!!!... any system based on the 32xxx (a ceres would be nice, but we doubt they're available...) an original archimedes, with the original arthur os and the gui in basic a dg nova a perq a novix card for pc, or a metaforth board a linn rekursiv (wouldn't you? ;> ) one of the two machines we know about that ever used a z8000 (olivetti m20 or onyx..?) a perq an original cp/m system or three (hm systems; the minstrel always appealed) any really weird 70s mini (small honeywell machine, perhaps? tony duell speaks highly of the philips p850...? maybe an icl thingy...?) - must be nice to put forth on, though oh, did we mention that if someone would provide us with a perq at reasonable cost and proximity to bradford, we would be quite delighted and mount a one-person campaign to get him or her canonised? -- Communa (together) we remember... we'll see you falling you know soft spoken changes nothing to sing within her... Net-Tamer V 1.08X - Test Drive

28 years, 2 months

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not the Sys/34 again!!!

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

I will finally get to the thing Monday to see if I can modify the PSU for 110 volts. It's probably a bit late to ask, but does anyone have recommendations for what to look for, as well as what tools I should take? Is the PSU takeapartable with a screwdriver? ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

2
1
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gold recovery

by jfoust＠threedee.com

Let the seller beware when it comes to these recovery shops. Unless you bother to find an independent assessment of your metals, you have no idea whether they're basing their price on the actual gold content or not. They're just finding a price at which you'll surrender the goods. - John Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>

28 years, 2 months

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Wanted stuff (Was: Pretty good week)

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Hmmm, I like this, a wish list thread. Me too. A PDP-8E/F/M A PDP-8A DOCS for an IMSAI IMP48 Single board computers; Intel sdk85, moto 6800d1 or d3, AIM65, SYM65 Allison

28 years, 2 months

2
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Altair 8800 - Should I buy it?

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Does the upgrade significantly hurt the value <of it? Or are the Cromemeco boards equally <valuable? No and sorta. As a pure 8800 it's lower value as it's not complete. The comemeco are later boards but of some value especially if the manuals are with them. The backplane upgrade was common(nearly required!). <I have a pretty good idea of what the Altair <8800 is worth in it's original configuration <but I am in the dark when it has been upgraded. <Does anyone know where I might find an original <Altair 8800 CPU card and 8 slot motherboard. I <have a MITS ram card. The original backplane was 4 slots and real sloppy timing wise due to poor electrical construction. Faster z80s boards did not work reliably in them. The 8800 did not have an 8slot (it was two 4s), MITS never offered one that I know of. Likely the 8 slot was yet another aftermarket item. Allison

28 years, 2 months

1
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Demography?

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<My first calculator, a Sinclair Cambridge, did that as well. Perhaps <someone on the list could enlighten us as to whehter this was a common <weakness of early calculators, and possibly why those who wrote the code <them allowed it to happen ;-) many of them were hard logic and not "programmed micros". Logic errors are the responseable element and it was common for the same(literal) chip to appear in different branded calculators. later designs did however use the likes of the TMS1000, a 4bit data oriented, 8bit instruction word masked rom single chip micro. NEC, MOTO and a few others had parts in that market as they could be made cheap in volume with their masked roms. Allison

28 years, 2 months

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Altair 8800 - Should I buy it?

by altair8800＠hotmail.com

I found an Altair 8800 yesterday in a computer repair shop. It has been upgraded with a 16 slot motherboard and the MITS cards were replaced with a Cromemco CPU and Cromemco 64k ram card. Does the upgrade significantly hurt the value of it? Or are the Cromemeco boards equally valuable? The owner will sell it for $500 and will throw in some other non-MITS S-100 cards (Cromemco TUART, Cromemco Quadart, Godbout 32k ram card, etc. I have a pretty good idea of what the Altair 8800 is worth in it's original configuration but I am in the dark when it has been upgraded. Does anyone know where I might find an original Altair 8800 CPU card and 8 slot motherboard. I have a MITS ram card. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Bob ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

2
1
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Walnut Creek CP/M CDROM Discontinued

by jfoust＠threedee.com

Tim Shoppa <shoppa(a)alph02.triumf.ca> wrote: >And you also have to consider that at least 95% of the Walnut >Creek CD-ROM was simply assembled from materials lying around >the net and on various CP/M BBS's. I'm not sure how they >got permission for the remaining 5% (things such as the Ampro >Little Board BIOS sources, etc.) That's the big pitfall of publishing supposedly public domain CDs... even if you are absolutely careful and secure written permission >from everyone who claims to have made something on the disc, you can never be quite sure that someone wasn't telling the truth, especially if there's any sort of compensation involved. If you redistribute something that the creator doesn't want distributed, you could be in for trouble. And of course it takes a lot of effort to nicely assemble and categorize the thousands of files on a CD. That makes a good product, but not all CDs are as good as they could be. lisard(a)zetnet.co.uk wrote: >erm, isn't the walnut creek cd-rom predominantly stocked with the same >stuff that is on oak? which kind of implies that so long as you aren't >doing it for profit, it's just another kind of distribution. It can be tough to tell who really owns what, in terms of the "collection copyright." By means of analogy, a publisher who makes a book of poems retains the copyright of the way they assemble the poems, and they need to secure the right to redistribute each poem, but it doesn't mean they own the poems. It's possible that the people who organized the Oakland site never considered that they were sitting on a valuable property. In 1994 my company secured permission to press a CD of the popular 3D model ftp site called "Avalon" without any payment whatsoever. - John Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>

28 years, 2 months

2
1
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Demography?

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

I might as well jump on while everyone else does... I'm not too new, not too old to this list, starting in October/November. I'm 12 years old, and therefore, as far as I can tell, the youngest person in this list. (Although, I could, of course be wrong) I'm the sond of an American diplomat, and have lived in Bahrain for nearly 3 1/2 years. This July, I'm moving to Guyana, after going back to Witicha, Kansas and DC. As the age implies, I probably haven't been into computers too long. My main computer actually is my first, it WAS a Compaq Presario CDS 633, with a 486SX 33MHz processor, 4MB of RAM (immeidately upgraded to 12MB), and, after upgrading, now it's a 486DX/2 66, 28MB RAM, 2.1GB HDD, but still with the same video, sound and controller cards as before. It's role is getting slowly replaced with my new Cyrix 200 that I built in December. (The 31st, just before Midnight). Back in 1994, when I got my first computer, I was always interested in programming. I started with QBasic, and still use BASIC to do most work. Just today I've made my first (partially useable) C++ program. Let's see: I'm unemployed (except always bored as a 7th grade student), am not married (as you could guess, living in the Mid East's getting to me), have no children and do not live in New York. But, in my spare time I work with my friend Zack Boyd (we met on the Internet) on the web page, The Review Guide (at http://members.theglobe.com/ReviewGuide/index.html) We hope to be moving soon to a .com address, just after we get reviews up, etc. It's basically for fun, to try new products, and, for me, mostly to get credibility for college, etc. (yes, I'm already possed with it, and would like info that anyone has on this subject, right now, I'll do almost anything....) I started collecting with a PC XT, and still have it, it's still waiting for a controller and HDD. ;-) Lets see... I'm starting an online community, and am going to be asking in the next few days for people interested. I'm really unsatified with the learning going on in school, (you'll understand with the online community post) , and love learning, like classical music up through lots of different stuff that I don't know what category it goes under... use Windows, am getting familiar with Linux... and, that's it. Bye, Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 2 months

1
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Wanted stuff

by jfoust＠threedee.com

Bill Yakowenko <yakowenk(a)cs.unc.edu> wrote: >I've been dorking around with this idea for a while now, and >this seems a good lead-in. The basic problem was that the >classiccmp web page seems to be permanently dead. Very cool idea and implementation, although something inside me likes finding machines through chaos and luck, as opposed to having an well-organized team. :-) - John Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>

28 years, 2 months

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Fw: help: Apple][<==> PDP-8

by kroma＠worldnet.att.net

I saw this on comp.sys.apple2. Can anyone help? I don't think he is on the list. -- Kirk -----Original Message----- From: James <jmcp(a)pacbell.net> Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Date: Sunday, March 01, 1998 2:10 PM Subject: help: Apple][<==> PDP-8 >Hi. >I would like to replace my near dead teletype (paper tape works, but the >CR does not work properly) with either my //c or //e. >I figure I could just use a serial port, but the PDP-8 (compatible) uses >a teletype connector, and I don't know how to create a proper cable. >Also, how would I get the PDP-8 programs from the paper tape reader on >the teletype to the Apple ][? >Has any one done something like this before? I have heard that people >have done this with a PC. The PDP-8 news group appears dead, and I have >not been able to find any web resources on this subject. > >You may ask "Why?" >Well, I'm not really sure, but I sure do love watching all those pretty >LED's flickering on the PDP-8 front panel! I also have loads of paper >tape, and I want to know what it all does. > >Thanks for your help, >James >jmcp(a)pacbell.net > >

28 years, 2 months

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System 36

by dolar＠khi.compol.com

Ref your email send on 19-oct-1997 I have a system 36 model 5363 with 3 twin axil terminals. If you are interested please reply. Ikhlas Ahmad

28 years, 2 months

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HP 64100A

by adavie＠mad.scientist.com

MAINFRAME HEWLETT PACKARD Model:64100A THE 64100A IS THE FUNDAMENTAL UNIT OF THE 64000 DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM, CONSISTS OF CONSOLE WITH INTEGRAL 12" CRT, FULL ASCII KEYBOARD, RS-232 INTERFACE AND SPACE FOR 10 OPTION CARDS. UNIT HAS 64941A OPTION CARD CONTROLLING 2 X 5" FLOPPY DRIVES This is available for CAN$45 Is this rare/desirable? I'm thinking of passing it up anyway, but just curious. A

28 years, 2 months

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Demography?

by pjoules＠coleg-powys.ac.uk

>That particular unit (a CASIO) had a problem dividing by 0 - it >tried to!! The display patiently counted from 0 up to... well I never saw >it stop before the batteries gave out. I guess thats what started my prime >interest in computers - the quirky and unusual. > My first calculator, a Sinclair Cambridge, did that as well. Perhaps someone on the list could enlighten us as to whehter this was a common weakness of early calculators, and possibly why those who wrote the code for them allowed it to happen ;-) My condensed bio: I am 40 years old and live near Shrewsbury (UK), on the border between England and Wales. I have had an interest in computers since 1985 when I worked for the local council as a Meat Inspector. The Environmental Health Department got their first computer and I wrote some applications for it and then decided that I wanted to be a programmer for the rest of my life. I have been to University 1 day per week for the last 5 years and gained a BSc in Computer Studies last September. I am currently working (bored and underpaid ;-() as a MIS programmer for a college of further education producing reports in Access. Apart from collecting computers I enjoy motorcycling and rock climbing. My collection consists of: 1 MicroVAX II with a TK50, 4 RA81s and an RA82 3 Sun 386i, I working and 2 with dead/dying NVRAMs 1 Tulip PC Compact 2 - NEC V30, 40Mb hard disk 1 Sinclair Spectrum 48k 1 Sinclair Spectrum +2 1 Amstrad CPC464 with colour monitor (and off topic) 1 486DX2 PC running linux 24/7 except when I have to reluctantly reboot into Win95 1 Toshiba T3100SX portable with dead LCD display Wish list: The one I would really like is an ICL Quattro - The first machine I programmed and administered. It was an 8086 based machine with 10Mb hard drive and 1Mb RAM running CCP/M86 and capable of supporting 4 terminals each of which could support 4 virtual terminals giving a theoretical total of 16 users. Not bad for an 8086 :-). The later 'go faster' version had a 286 processor. Regards Pete

28 years, 2 months

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Demography?

by jolminkh＠nsw.bigpond.net.au

>I'm kind of curious as to the demography of the Classic Computer >Mailing List. What are people's backgrounds, what are they doing now, >and so forth. Hi, I'm Hans Olminkhof, mid 40's, a mechanical engineer living in Sydney Australia. Married, 3 kids. I don't have much to do with computers for a living, building the occasional Lotus Notes database being about it. I was originally exposed to computers as an undergraduate and remember writing my first program on punchcards in Forgo, a students version of Fortran2. It ran on an IBM 1620 or something at the University of Western Australia where we could see in the next room a PDP6 in all it's blue glory. Never got any closer to that though. The next year we were limited to remote teletypes linked to the new computer, a Cyber72 which I never saw. I had no contact with computers again until about 1986 when I finally found something useful to do on them, Finite Element Analysis. (engineer stuff). We bought a 286 for home about 1991 and spent $500 a year later get the 80Mb hard drive in it fixed. Not long afterwards I figured out how easy it was to do all that myself. One day in about 1993, I said to someone in a shop what a museum piece the IBM AT I was looking at was. Somehow the conversation got around to me never having even seen the original IBM PC. Then came a trip to the back room to see racks and racks of them. I walked away with one for $20, got to fiddling with it and a few weeks later owned another dozen or so. They would have been on their way to the tip otherwise. I got very interested in the idea of keeping them alive and in the whole idea of how quickly this technology was progressing and disappearing. Anyway, now I've got a whole heap of old computers, maybe half of them working, lots of old software to go with them, manuals etc. I spend a few hours a weekend looking around for more. The list includes: IBM PC's, XT's, AT's, Portable PC's, Convertibles, Displaywriters Compaq Portable's, Portable Plus's, Portable II's Kaypro II's, and IV's Various Apple II's and early Mac's Atari 400's and an 800 Various Apricots A heap of Sirius's (Victor 9000 in USA) Decmate III's Osborne 1's and Executives DOT's An original PET A CBM3032 and the wreck of an 8032 A Compupro box A Cromenco C10 Various BBC's HP 85's, 71B's and a 110 An MAI 4105 Various Microbees An NEC APC and a number of APC III's NEC 8201, 8401, Tandy Model 100 Olivetti M21 Panasonic 840 Sharp PC 5000, 2 X 7000's, MZ811 Sinclair ZX81 and Spectrum's Epson HX20 Canon A200's probably some I forgot, and some uniquely Australian machines, a "Porchester Executive", a "PortaPak" and a Dick Smith "Mini Scamp" (a 1977 kit) I've also got some PDP11 stuff coming when I organise a truck!

28 years, 2 months

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Enrico: model I

by archive＠navix.net

-- ___________________________________________________ | Cord G. Coslor : archive(a)navix.net |\ | Deanna S. Wynn : deannasue(a)navix.net | | |---------------------------------------------------| | | http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Vista/4395 | | |---------------------------------------------------| | | PO Box 308 - Peru, NE - 68421 - (402) 872- 3272 | | |___________________________________________________| | \____________________________________________________\|

28 years, 2 months

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Subscribe

by anders.sponton＠tellus.vallentuna.se

subscribe anders.sponton(a)tellus.vallentuna.se http://www.tellus.vallentuna.se/gymninfo/personal/anders/andersus.html

28 years, 2 months

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Demography?

by adavie＠mad.scientist.com

>> Far as I can tell one of the few active women in legacy(old machines are >> us) computing. For me thse old system were the computer I couldn't afford >> when I was playing with them new. > >Well, unless someone else pops up, you're probably the ONLY woman into >this sort of thing. You're like the Grace Hopper of vintage computer >enthusiasts :) What's a woman? Can you program it? Does it have a nice chassis? Is there somewhere to rest your beer while you're working on it? :) A

28 years, 2 months

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One more thing...

by dastar＠wco.com

I forgot to mention one last thing I picked up today. The CE-125 Printer and Microcassette Interface for a Sharp Pocket Computer PC-1250. This basically adds a 20 column printer and micro-cassette to the Sharp Pocket Computer. Basically makes the equivalent of a small Epson HX-20 (almost). The Sharp would slide into this unit and you could then carry the whole contraption around in a carrying case which came with the interface. Very cool. Now all I need to find is a Sharp PC-1250. In the box with all accessories and manuals, $15. Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass Coming Soon...Vintage Computer Festival 2.0 See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!

28 years, 2 months

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386 SBC available (was Re: Demography?)

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<> Correction it's the BIG blue box. Mine is circa '76 or earlier and was <> used by the DEC VT100(and others) development team. < <Hmm, the one I'm thinking of may be a later vintage. But if BIG means <a cube about 3' on a side, then it may be the same. The MDS800 was about 13" tall, 28" deep and 19" wide box and the 8" disk box was another 8" or so tall. Nice multibus system. Most of the MDS systems were nominal rack width. My favorite was the series 225 with the integrated crt and seperate keyboard, did a lot of development time on those. I wouldn't mind finding one. <You've caught me with my hardware pants down. To my software eyes, they <look like VME cards, but I know Intel doesn't do much VME stuff. They'r <386-16 boards from circa 1987 (just slipped under the 10-year barrier). Two bus edge connectors 12"wx6.5"? If so it's Multibus. Myself I'd find a 80/10 or 80/20 or BLC80/204 for multibus more appealing as I can use them. Allison

28 years, 2 months

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Demography?

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<> 1 SB180 with SCSI adaptor and 20meg HD(also used frequently) < <BTW, what's this? Someone is going to sell me one and all I know is tha <it runs CP/M. SB180 Micromint (in CT), circa 1985 and featured in both BYTE September and october 1985 (byte back issues is still available). The SB180 is a 64180 (z180) with 32k Eprom, 256k of dram and floppy controller for 8/5.35/3.5" drives on a really small card. Very low power and runs CPM. There was a piggyback board that added a 300baud modem and NCR 5380 scsi chip, mine only has the SCSI. Most were clocked at a cpu speed of 6mhz but 9mhz was possible with a fast chip. Good little board. I have mine stuffed into a old PS2/25 case using the 3.5" floppies (780k) and a Xybec scsi controller that's twice the size of the sb180 card! Allison

28 years, 2 months

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Demography?

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<I might as well get the ball rolling with an introduction of sorts. Oh why not. I'm older at 45 so, that means I have hands on time with new PDP-8Is and KA/I/L-10s. I was in EEschool when the 8008 hit and I was already working (to pay for school) with it soon after it was available at work. I've done design with everything from DC to 1ghz RF analog and even a fair amount of digital from transistors to asics. Likely one of the few that's designed with tubes, transistors and ICs. Former companies I've worked for Automated processes(maglink SMPTE timecodes), Tandy(trs80), NEC(chips), Hazeltine(terminals), DEC(printing systems) and a few more inbetween. Far as I can tell one of the few active women in legacy(old machines are us) computing. For me thse old system were the computer I couldn't afford when I was playing with them new. My collections includes: 4 operational s100 machines Vector MX (vector box computime boards) Northstar* horizon (actively used has HD) Explorer-85 S-S100 (my design z80 supersystem) (active and archive system, big HD) 3 Vt180s (in use) 1 kaypro (in use) 1 Epson PX-8 with 120k wedge (my laptop) 1 amproLB+ with 45mb scsi drive (used often) 1 SB180 with SCSI adaptor and 20meg HD(also used frequently) 1 DECMATE-III runs OS/278 VAXEN: All operational ant netted via decnet/eithernet 1 MV-II ba23 1 MV-II ba123 3 VS2000 2 vms and one ultrix 1 Vaxstation3100-m76 VMS PDP-11 systems: all operatonal 1 ba11n 11/23b (rx50) 1 ba11n 11/73 (rx33, rd52, RX02, RL02, TK50) 2 BA11va 11/23 (shoebox system with tu58 tape) 1 PDT11/130 1 Pro350 with venix Misc SBCs: operational IMSAI IMP-48 (8035 based SBC) COSMAC ELF (base design) national SC/MP Demo board National TBX tinybasic chip on a board Technico superstarter sytem (TI9900) Misc 8085 boards used for random uses. NEC TK-80 8080 system DEC ADVICE microvax-II chip based sbc/ice Intersil 6960 demo kit (pdp-8 cmos chip (6100) to make a minimal system) Misc machines: INTEL MDS-800 multibus 8080 TI99/4a with PEB, disk, mem exp, voice, disk software and 20+ carts. Altair (retired) PCs: Leading Edge mod D (XT class) running dos DTC turboXT slated for minix (running dos) 386dx/33 running linux 486dx2/50 running dos (this system) My wish list includes: more SBCs (mostly because they are fun and small) PDP-8/e/f/m series (always wanted one since '69) any pdp-10 ( I can wish!) Intersil/harris 6100/6120 based systems Allison

28 years, 2 months

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386 SBC available (was Re: Demography?)

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<From: Doug Yowza <yowza(a)yowza.com> <> Misc machines: <> INTEL MDS-800 multibus 8080 < <Is this a blue box? I had a chance to get one once.... Correction it's the BIG blue box. Mine is circa '76 or earlier and was used by the DEC VT100(and others) development team. <That reminds me. I have two piSBC 386/116's that I have no plans to do <anything with (I don't have a card cage for them). They are available a <trading fodder for just about anything smaller than a breadbox. What are they? Most of the SBCs I'm interested in are of the mid '70s through mid 80s designs. Allison

28 years, 2 months

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Demography?

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 98-03-01 17:25:56 EST, you write: << It was thus said that the Great Seth J. Morabito once stated: > > I'm kind of curious as to the demography of the Classic Computer > Mailing List. What are people's backgrounds, what are they doing now, > and so forth. >> My name's david, and i'm based in north carolina. I do level 2 technical support for IBM's consumer line. I only started really collecting computers about 3 years ago and am up to ~75 or so. It all started way back in 1984 in high skool when i discovered the apple //e. I flunked computer science, but it eventually worked out pretty well. I never did get my own computer until 1987 when i bought a second hand apple ][+ with no disk drive for $200. ( i still have it) I've got quite a varied collection which includes apple // series, 68k compact macs, IBM, a microvax, xycom business cpm machine, osi, atari, TI, heathkit,kaypro, tandy, and some others i cannot think of right now including spare parts for the apples and xt era pc machines. most machines will be on a website soon once i can get my mind back into it. my primary interest is early pc era stuff from big blue, naturally, such as ps2 models, pcrt, and pcjr types. i also have an extensive collection of nibble and compute! magazines >from the 80s as well. It would be nice to find some old working minicomputer, but for right now, it's just 80s micros, since that's what I grew up with. david

28 years, 2 months

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Where's a list of lists?

by rhblake＠bbtel.com

Ok, it sounded stupid...I'm basically asking where there's a list of these type message areas, such as the one we're reading right now. I know about the Heath area and the Classic Computer area by word of mouth, but is there a place to get an overall listing of all that a person could subcribe to? Newsgroups are easy as they show with the newsgroup reader in your browser. Appreciate the time in responding to this or any of my messages. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Russ Blakeman RB Custom Services / Rt. 1 Box 62E / Harned, KY USA 40144 Phone: (502) 756-1749 / Data/Fax:(502) 756-6991 Email: rhblake(a)bbtel.com or rhblake(a)bigfoot.com Website: http://members.tripod.com/~RHBLAKE/ * Parts/Service/Upgrades and more for MOST Computers* --------------------------------------------------------------------

28 years, 2 months

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Recover gold from old computers

by adavie＠mad.scientist.com

I wish this guy didn't exist http://www.tiac.net/users/quiksand/goldtek.htm A

28 years, 2 months

2
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Northstar Horizon

by jrbrady＠mindspring.com

Hi Marty, I have one of the double-density models and can provide you with copies of docs and some software. I have a bunch of application software but it's in quad-density format for the Advantage and I haven't bothered to transfer any of it to the Horizon. The Horizon is a terrific, solid machine. The first serial port is for the console and the second port is available for a printer, etc. Both are easily reconfigured via the USER.ASM code (at least my Lifeboat CP/M version). Two parallel ports are also available on the motherboard. I'm not sure if the Horizon bus is fully IEEE-696 compliant. Tim or Allison? BTW, California Digital (www.cadigital.com) sells hard-sectored disks for around $10/box. They also have 8" SSDD floppies (ran out of double-sided, unfortunately). Regards, Jason Brady jrbrady(a)mindspring.com Seattle, WA

28 years, 2 months

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PC to System 34/36/38 setup FS

by rhblake＠bbtel.com

I have a new, in the box, AST-5251/11 setup that allows a PC to communicate with an IBM 34/36/38 mainframe (?). It includes a thick manual, 5.25" and 8" floppies, twinaxial to adapter card cable w/tee, and the adapter card for an ISA slot. Still with the original overbox that shows all the features of this beauty. The box states that the card is an 8 bit, DMA selectable for PC/XT/AT, selectable interupt channel, on board high speed 8X305 processor, 5251-11/5291 or 5291-1 display terminal emulation, host addressable 5256 printer support on the PC's printer, concurrent host and PC sessions with hot key assist, bidirectional file transfers, and more. This is the enhanced version. I have no use for this and many of you are into connection to mainframes and minis, so make me an offer, whether it be cash or trade for PC compatible items. Email a reply direct to me, please. Russ Blakeman rhblake(a)bbtel.com

28 years, 2 months

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Wanted stuff (Was: Pretty good week)

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

> Looser Attitude Readjustment Tool. LART. Usually a big stick, but can be >anything handy that can inflict pain and suffering upon loosers who don't >know a calculator from a computer and think Bill Gates is Good. I would say the optimal is a PC clone case with Windows 95 cds glued on. Anyway, what IS the difference between a computer and a calculator (yeowch!)? I know the one between a Cray and TI-10 (4-function calc.), but what about a 68k based TI-92 graphics, which a friend of mine is now making a multitasking OS for? It has a full keyboard (half the area). ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

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Wish List!

by allisonp＠world.std.com

from: sethm(a)loomcom.com <I'd really love to find a MicroPDP 11/23+, or possibly even just <a regular PDP 11/23, with disks and an OS to play with. I do <miss playing with octal! They are common enough keep looking. Typically they will have RD52->54 disks (30-159mb), rx50 floppy and plenty of serial io. Boards are common enough and generally free to cheap. if your real lucky you may find a copy of RT-11 on the disk or with the machine. Docs are always handy. <for nostalgia reasons having to do with school: I'd love to find a <DECStation 5000/200 with Ultrix 4.3a. Those were are main campus UNIX You might find a DECstation 3100 with ultix easier. Or a VS2000 or Microvax-II with ultrix. <Actually, I think that's about it for the "realistic" wishlist at the <moment. Of course, I'd adore having a PDP8, 8/E, 8/I, or 8/M to play <with, but space and power restrictions kind of prevent it at the moment. <Ah, perhaps later. Find a DECmate-II or III it's mostly PDP-8 and real small. Allison

28 years, 2 months

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Vector 3 info needed

by rhblake＠bbtel.com

I just obtained a machine that has the same all-in-one look as a TRS-80 model 3 or 4 but the drives are located in an external box and has the name Vector 3 on the front and the label on back states that it's made by Vector Graphics, Inc. The external box has a 5.25" floppy and a 5.25" hard drive in it and it has a monitor and keyboard in the main unit. I haven't even powered it up yet so I don't even know if it works. Anyone know of a museum/collection site with info on this, or have info on it themselves? I'd like to see what it is before I decide to gut it for the drives or keep ot for my oddities collection. Any information of this machine is greatly appreciated. Russ Blakeman Harned, KY USA

28 years, 2 months

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Demography?

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

I debated if I shouldn't just send this directly to you, seth, but I decided that knowing where old computer providers and users are is good for the whole list. I am a high school student in Boston, MA (If anyone is familiar with the Boston Latin School, that's it). I had a C-64, but fried it two years ago. I now have a Mac Portable, Apple //c, 386 Clone, P*****m clone, which is what I usually use. I am interested in classic computers because they are cheap and easy to understand. They usually have less bugs, and, most importantly, they were made in an era when money wasn't all that counted as far as computers went (everything else was long past that point). I am also working on System/34 in my school's supply room. I will start monday. C'est tout. >Club, formed to prevent people from trashing all the PDP11's that were >How about other folks? What kind of backgrounds and current experiences >do you all have? I'd love to hear about it. > >-Seth Morabito > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

1
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Wish List!

by sethm＠loomcom.com

A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text Size: 1187 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/attachments/19980301/f98fa9ad/at…

28 years, 2 months

1
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Apple Basic

by red＠bears.org

Eh, heh. So how do I get a modulus in Apple basic? The answer is not 'MOD' or '%'. ok r.

28 years, 2 months

3
3
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Dragon 64 pinouts

by hansp＠columbia.digiweb.com

I acquired a Dragon 64 base unit today. Can anyone post the pinouts for the power and video connectors? -- Hans B. Pufal : <mailto:hansp@digiweb.com> Comprehensive Computer Catalogue : <http://www.digiweb.com/~hansp/ccc/> _-_-__-___--_-____-_--_-_-____--_---_-_---_--__--_--_--____---_--_--__--_

28 years, 2 months

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