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

by swebb＠tigerlabs.com

Just happened to come across an old post regarding the PCjr. Its interesting that people still occasionally talk about it. I designed the cartridge that you were talking about. It did reset the machine. This was done to insure that the CPU didnt go into the weeds because of the bus glitches. I (IBM got a patent on the little "L" reset tab on the card edge. There is also a mechanism where the cartridge actually replaced the on-board BIOS. ..gary

28 years, 2 months

1
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PC-jr adapter cable wirelists

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: text Size: 742 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.classiccmp.org/pipermail/cctalk/attachments/19980222/196d3143/at…

28 years, 2 months

1
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Switch broken, help?

by william＠ans.net

While packing up two minis in racks today, I noticed that one of the switches on my PDP-8/S is broken. It appears that the little bits of plastic on the handle that snaps into the metal (trunnions?) have snapped off. I think I can repair it, but in case I can not, does anyone have a white DEC switch, as found on PDP-8/Ss? It looks to be the same shape as those found on PDP-8/Es. The other mini, an Interdata 14, needs lots of the caps for the incandescants, but finding any of those would be pure fantasy. Anyway, thank you. William Donzelli william(a)ans.net

28 years, 2 months

1
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Future Computing Trends

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<95 run? I mean, could a C64 or VAX have modern computer features? Well, VAX is a modern computer! It was/is 32bits when intels biggest was still 8bits. So happens that the version I use happen to be over ten years old but new ones are still being built. Now what features would a modern computer have that a 1986 Microvax-II/GPX doesn't? Windows(is 1280x1024 color enough), multiuser, networking and maybe even speed. If anything I'm still waiting for the modern X86 powered boxen to aquire some of the attributes of the VAX (they do but only when running NT or LINUX). Could a C64 do that... YES and NO. The video graphics included in the C64 is far more limited and the 8bit CPU would certainly impact speed but every modern feature is doable(and likely was originally done on the likes of C64s, trs80s, compucolor, ti99/4 Etal). There are people running web browswers, Email and IP on 6500 based machines. The latter proves that the answer is yes in that to the performance limits of older machines there is much that can be done. <BTW, what do you use the Vaxen and so on for? Mostly editing files and pretty printing them. It doesn't eat much more power than a PC so why not. The OS(VMS) allows 36 character file names (18.18), versions and journaling and deep heirarchal directories. The versions is nice when editing as foo_file.text;1 when edited becomes foo_file.text;2 and the ;1 version is still around is needed. Great for coding. Allison

28 years, 2 months

1
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Future Computing Trends

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

What I wonder every so often is considering the examples set by classic computers, how quickly, efficiently, and stabley could Windows 95 run? I mean, could a C64 or VAX have modern computer features? BTW, what do you use the Vaxen and so on for? > >Hummmphf! > >I must be real retro then...486DX2/50, 8mb ram, 516mb disk, 1x cdrom, >33.5 modem and no sound capability. > >I run Gcadd6, PADS, WP5.0 and 6.0 dos, winders3.1. Almost a classic >and it does everything I need it to do and adaquately fast. > >BUT... My s100 z80 crate still sees several hours a day as do my PDP-11s >and the vaxen that always has one up full time. All provide useful >capability and often surprizing speed when compared to the new GUI. > >Allison > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

1
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Idling Kaypro II... here's what you do.

by ataridude＠hotmail.com

If I know the problem with your Kaypro II, the red light by the disk drives does not light up when it says "Please insert disk into Disk A". I don't know why it happens, but a couple swift bashes on the top of the computer will get the light on, and the drive will read the disk. Sometimes it take 8-10 hard pounds on the top, but the light should go on. I've been punching the top of my Kaypro II for over ten years, and have caused no other problems by doing so. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

Future Computing Trends

by allisonp＠world.std.com

Hummmphf! I must be real retro then...486DX2/50, 8mb ram, 516mb disk, 1x cdrom, 33.5 modem and no sound capability. I run Gcadd6, PADS, WP5.0 and 6.0 dos, winders3.1. Almost a classic and it does everything I need it to do and adaquately fast. BUT... My s100 z80 crate still sees several hours a day as do my PDP-11s and the vaxen that always has one up full time. All provide useful capability and often surprizing speed when compared to the new GUI. Allison

28 years, 2 months

1
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Well, since I opened my mouth...

by DSEAGRAV＠toad.xkl.com

I have FTP working... If you have interesting PDP-10 stuff, you can FTP it up to 209.174.127.164 in /pub/pdp10. I have about 1.2GB to burn. I'm still working my way up through DEC breauocracy to get permission to post my KA-10 docs. -------

28 years, 2 months

3
4
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NorthStar Advantage Question

by wheagy＠erols.com

I just bought a Northstar Advantage. I plugged it in and turned it on. It ran fine for about 5 minutes after which it locked up. I pressed the reset button, but nothing happened. So, I opened the case and found a length of wire coming off of the floppy drive rack. It appears to be grounded to the rack. A large resistor is in series with teh wire and the other end was floating free. Does anyone know where this wire might connect? It was sliding around on the motherboard, I hope it didn't short anything. Thanks...Win -- Win Heagy wheagy(a)erols.com

28 years, 2 months

3
3
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IBM PC Xenix

by djenner＠halcyon.com

I just got a copy of IBM PC Xenix (MS's Xenix as distributed by IBM). It is the Base Operating System V1.00 (1984), and it runs on the PC/AT. There are two additional products in the IBM distribution: Software Development System Text Formatting System If anyone has any of these two additional components and would like to discuss giving/selling/trading, I would greatly appreciate hearing. Thanks, Dave

28 years, 2 months

1
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Commodore Ramblings

by foxnhare＠goldrush.com

From: "Jeff Kaneko" <Jeff.Kaneko(a)ifrsys.com> Subject: RE: IEEE-488 and Commodore (was: GP-IB) >Pardon me if I ask a stupid question, but If they were going to >implement a high-speed serial bus for the C64/VIC/1541's, why would >they use a device that was primarily designed for PARALLEL >operation? For one thing Commodore OWNED MOS Technologies (one of Tramiels more shrewder decisions after getting burned in the pocket calculator wars by their then calculator chip supplier, Texas Instruments). So all of MOSs chips were dirt cheap to Commodore. The 6520/6522 played multiple roles in the PET/VIC/64 handling the keyboard, parallel port, etc. also the PET's parallel user port was very popular among the experimenters and having it on the VIC and 64 added to it's appeal (besides being cheap and in COLOR with SOUND!) >It seems that a 6850/6851 ACIA would have been much more appropriate, >and would have not been such a software mess. If that were the case it would be as easy to interface as an ATARI... yuk. I am glad, with those two CIAs you can hook just about anything to the computer (easily given the parallel port). If it didn't it may have fared worse than thier competition. 00100010100100100101110010010010010010010010010010010010010 From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)wco.com> Subject: RE: IEEE-488 and Commodore (was: GP-IB) >If computer holy war zealots knew the story behind this Commodore debacle >back in the 80's when the flames were at their highest temperatures, the >anti-C64 contingent would have had a field day. They did, ever hear the term "the lumbering hippo", that was a nickname many gave the 1541 disk drive... >Oh well, you gotta love it. >PS. So the Commodore did suck after all ;) You forget that the VIC and 64 had an advantage over the competition, performance for a very low price. (albiet slower than necessary). Also the 64 had other merits such as its graphics ability and incredible sound... Every one rips the Commodores, but you have to remwmber who was posting profits and who was going bankrupt in the 80s... the nineties are a different matter I'm afraid.. :( 00100010100100100101110010010010010010010010010010010010010 From: Cord Coslor <archive(a)navix.net> Subject: Weekend finds! (CPU's, Printers, Disk Drives, Software, etc.!!) >*Commodore 128D computer. Mint condition CPU. No monitor, disk drives, >cables, etc. What does it take... also what type of keyboard does it >use? Disk drive is built-in, uses either a composite or split-composite (Svideo) for the 40 column mode and a TTL RGBI for the 80 column mode. Can run in three modes, Commodore 64 Emulation (99.94% bug free...), expanded '128' mode some 64 likeness but offers better BASIC and speed as well as access to 80 column output, and last but not least, CP/M mode runs latter CP/M versions and the built-in drive can read a variety of forigen CP/M format disks... The keyboard is a non-ascii encoded keyboard that is used on the Commodore 128. The D version is the same but in a separate unit and a coiled cable. >*Imagewriter // printer for Apple Very fast, even for today, can do multi-part and does COLOR! Good utility printer, downside is that it uses a serial (RS-422) interface. Still supported on Macs. >*Commodore MPS 802 Decent text output (8-pin) but only 'one-character programmable graphics'. (there were programs that would do hi-res dumps by constantly redefining that character and reprinting it on the same line till it was complete, a hi-res page would take HOURS!!!) >*Vic 1525 Graphic Printer (note, 1525 uses THIN paper not 9 1/2" form feed, a misunderstanding in the design specs, they thought 8 1/2" wide WITH the carrier.) yawn... either for printing speed or 7-pin graphics printing matrix - or both... The 7-pin 1525 printhead design set back the printer industry for a couple years with cheap parallel versions like the Shiekosha and Gorilla Banana. >*KoalaPad. I think for the Commodore computer. Does anyone have some >more info on this? Maybe some software? Should work on the Commodore VIC-20/64/128 and Atari Computers. My favorite Koalapad program is Dancing Bear for the VIC-20 (64 version sucks) It's claim to fame though is Koala Paint which defined the multi-color graphics file format standard for the 64. >*Commodore Model 1200 Model #1670 Very nice 1200 baud direct connect modem can be used on the VIC, 64, 128, and Plus/4 (though on the +4 you have to flip one switch or cut a trace depending on the modem version) Uses Hayes type modem commands. >*MasterType cart for the C-64 I bought that recently, a pretty cool typing aid! >*Below the Root (???) game copy on disk for the Commodore 64. IMHO one of THE BEST 64 games made, a graphics adventure with a solid story that is non-violent, a wonderful game for the kids!!!! Based on the Below the Root book triligy by Zylpha Keatly Snyder. >*Aztec game original box, manual, and game disk for the Apple/Commodore. Another quality Graphics Adventure, keep it for your library. Follow in the footsteps of the missing Professor Forrester looking for Aztec treasures. >*Choplifter by Broderbund orginal game disk for the Apple (?) A computer-to-videogame classic on it's original platform. >* Vic-20 cartridges: Pin Ball, Omega Race, Jupiter Lander, Gorf, Radar >Rat Race, Raid on Fort Knox, Avenger, Poker, Cosmic Cruncher, and Mole >Attack In 8 cartridge storace holder. There are some great ones: Omega Race (THE BEST translation I've seen is the VIC-20 one), Radar Rat Race (like arcade Rally-X, the 64 version is just a lame port of this fine VIC version), Cosmic Cruncher (what can I say it's a Pac-Man variant with the Commodore logo as the main character! COOL!), Mole Attack (a fun one for the 'little kids' bonk the moles on the head, uses keyboard) The rest are pretty good too... >Was it all worth my $150. :-) VERY MUCH SO, take the stuff you don't want to VCF 2.0 and you will make your money back I'm sure... (even at reasonable prices) 00100010100100100101110010010010010010010010010010010010010 From: "kroma" <kroma(a)worldnet.att.net> Subject: Re: C64 Modem issue >I have a C-64c and a Commodore brand 1200 modem. Since I still haven't had >a chance to resolve the problem with my 1541 disk drive, I'd like to >explore using the modem a bit. Can it be done in BASIC? Meaning, can I >issue certain BASIC commands to init the modem and dial out? It's been a >while since I've messed with any Commie machine, and when I did, I couldn't >afford the "luxury" of a 1200 baud modem. This may be something simple, and >I'd appreciate any help, even a pointer to info on the internet. The Modem 1200 uses a standard Hayes command set fortunately. 10 open 2,2,3,chr$(8)+chr$(0) 20 get a$:ifa$="" goto40 30 print#2,a$; 40 get#2,a$:print a$;:goto 20 I THINK that will give you enough to use the modem at 1200baud-8/n/1... There was a program in an issue of BBS magazine that also supported X-Modem downloading (in BASIC!), I'll try to find it. 00100010100100100101110010010010010010010010010010010010010 Subject: Re: GP-IB (was Re: Atari 8-bit Find) At 12:09 AM 2/18/98 -0500, you wrote: >At 08:52 PM 2/17/98 -0600, you wrote: > >>It's used by: >> >>Commodore Pets << *** capitalize PET, it is an acronym! *** >>GRiD Compass >>HP 3000 >>HP 1000 (I think) > >On a side note, the GRiD 15xx series also had an add-in pod that supported >GPIB.... And for only a few hundred bucks you can buy a NEW IEEE-488 interface card for your IBM or compatible PC... It is used ALOT in scientific/electronic measuring devices, as well as plotters (HP mostly, no wonder...) -- -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- Visit our web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/ Call our Commodore 64 BBS (Silicon Realms 300-2400 baud) at: (209) 754-1363 -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

28 years, 2 months

9
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OOPs AT&Ts

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 98-02-20 01:35:57 EST, you write: << PS/2e doesn't have a standard floppy drive connector nor does it have any free non-PCMCIA slots (it has one slot that looks like MCA, and has what looks like a 16-bit ISA riser card plugged into it, which then has the 4-slot PCMCIA box plugged into it!). I don't think there's another machine quite like it. >> the 9533 has a standard 16bit isa slot, but the pcmcia adaptor fits there. you can remove the adaptor though.

28 years, 2 months

1
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OOPs AT&Ts

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 98-02-20 01:24:27 EST, Jason D put forth: << But the latest MCA based machine is currently in production are 700 series these days. Real reliable machine days in and out without >> IBM discontinued MCA ~2 years ago. it's all pci/isa now to comply with that pathetic pc97 specification. risc boxes still use MCA. someone at work gave me a bunch of old software and 5.25 disks including a book on MCA explaining why it was superior to the isa bus machines. david

28 years, 2 months

1
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New Hampshire Computer Flea Market

by nhdirect＠tiac.net

New Hampshire Computer Flea Market ?Bring your unwanted computer items to sell, and/or buy at bargain prices? Someone may be looking for the computer hardware and software that you no longer use. Sell those items at the Computer Flea Market on Sunday March 8 from 9 Am to 2 PM, at Daniels Hall, Rt 4, Nottingham, NH. This is an excellent opportunity to turn your unwanted computer hardware & software, MAC or PC, games, etc., into cash, or purchase at bargain prices. Also just come to swap ideas with other local computer users. Non-dealers - bring whatever you want to sell - no charge for display space. Dealers are also welcome ($20.00 table charge, electricity included). Admission for adults is $5.00. Free admission for children under 12. Members of local computer groups receive $1.00 off of admission. Join us at the flea market on the 2nd Sunday of each month starting March 8. Food & drink are available. Dealers should reserve display space by e-mailing nhdirect(a)tiac.net or calling 603 942-8525. Visit the Computer Flea Market web page at: http://www.tiac.net/users/nhdirect/flea.html Sponsored by S&D Associates

28 years, 2 months

1
0
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Future Computing Trends

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

What is QDSS? Wait, let me guess...Quick Display SchlutzeStaffen? Quantum Display Sub System? OK, I give up! What is it? > >[We don't need no steenking displays!] > >Ehehe... I expected a remark about QDSS or something here... >------- > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

2
1
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Modern Minimalism (Was: Future Computing Trends)

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

Well, I can't download anything right now, but another small thing like that is the NeoDesktop at www.newdealinc.com. It seems to descend from GEOS. It won't fit on a floppy, but is cool anyway. >To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> >Subject: Modern Minimalism (Was: Future Computing Trends) > >At 02:46 PM 2/20/98 PST, you wrote: > >>and ran it fine when it had 8MB. Visual Basic and IE4 (I don't use >>it regulary, Opera at www.operasoftware.com is much better: 1MB >>download!) > >If you think that's cool, you need to check out what they are doing with QNX: > >http://www.qnx.com/iat/createdemo.html > >QNX is a very small micro-kernel OS that has the look of Windows 95, has >builtin TCP/IP networking, a notepad, a few other little doodads, and to >top it off, a fully functional HTML 3.2 compliant web browser. Also >supports graphics modes up to 1024x768 in millions of colors. > >Okay, not amazing enough for you already? How about if I told you it all >ran off a 1.44mb floppy disk? Hmmmm? :) > >Everyone owes to themselves to go grab this FREE (yes, FREE) OS and try it >for themselves. > > >-John Higginbotham- >-limbo.netpath.net- > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

1
0
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Future Computing Trends

by dastar＠wco.com

Here's an interesting article from Byte magazine: http://www.byte.com/art/9802/sec5/art1.htm It talks about how computers are becoming obsolete the day you buy them due to all the crazy new technologies being released into the market. My observation is that anyone who chases technology and is always upgrading to the latest and greatest is always going to have an "obsolete" computer. The situation is not as bad as the article makes it out to be, not that the article is actually saying the speed of new technology introductions is a problem. But if people could be satisfied with what they have on their desk, this issue of obsolescense would not be an issue at all. In 1995 I bought a Pentium-90 system which I clocked up to 100Mhz. It came with Windows 3.1 but I quickly upgraded to Win95. It originally had 16MB RAM (which I've since upgraded to 32M) and a 1GB HD. It has a 5.25" and 3.5" floppy and a CD-ROM drive. I'll soon be adding another 540MB HD I have lying around spare, and then a 1.7GB SCSI HD as soon as I find a SCSI cable. It's slow by today's standard, but the damn thing works. I use an old version of Microsoft Works (3.0) for my word processing and spread sheeting; some people haven't even heard of Works! They only know Word. But Works loads instantly, whereas Word takes it seems forever to load which is why I don't use it. Plus its bloated and drags my system down. Which brings me to my point. The computers we collect are still so damn useful! And this is not a new argument, but even though these old machines don't have SVGA and EDO RAM and Ultra-SCSI and other new-fangled fanciness, they still work! They can still process words, and crunch numbers and hold information. And best of all, they play games MUCH more fun than the current cache of cathartic creations; DOOM was novel when I first played it, but every other incantation after it (DOOM II, QUAKE, DUKE NUKEM, ETC) is the same game with a different "scenario" and graphics, and that damn bobbing up and down makes me sick anyway! Give me Choplifter, Rescue Raiders or Dino Eggs any day! If you read the article carefully it gives a glimpse of the types of machines that may be collectible in ten years or so. The article proposes the dawn of the age of the "disposable" computer. This is totally ridiculous. I cannot even relate to that mode of thinking. But on the positive side, it means disgustingly cheap (and probably FREE) computers 10, 5, even 1(!) year(s) from now. More cheap PCs for us to run Linux on! (Imagine having your own DLA [Distributed Linux Array] consisting of 16 or more 300Mhz Pentium II PC, alls for just a song! You could break government encryption with something like that :) People these days with their 333Mhz Pentiums with 128MB RAM and 4GB harddrives should shut the hell up and be happy. Long live "obsolete" computers. 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

2
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Chesapeake Bay Area vintage computer hackers wanted

by Marty＠itgonline.com

Sam has inspired me to once again ask for anyone interested in the preservation and maintenance of old computer equipment and history of the same to contact me at email: marty(a)itgonline.com I appreciate the response I've received so far. Most responses have been from North Carolina and Pennsylvania, only two from the DC metro area. Hopefully we can get some activities going. Thanks- Marty Mintzell

28 years, 2 months

1
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Found a decent use for a PC...

by jfoust＠threedee.com

"Daniel A. Seagraves" <DSEAGRAV(a)toad.xkl.com> wrote: >Remeber when I said today was class pictures? I'll be the one in the >decsystem-10 shirt... :) Daniel, you're just so darn cute. I know what you're up to: you're trying to get these old greybeard DEC collectors to put you in their will - sheesh, toad.xkl.com - Paul Allen included! :-) - John Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>

28 years, 2 months

2
1
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Info on Datanumerics

by Marty＠itgonline.com

I've never heard of a Datanumerics DL8A but judging from the description would jump on it. Sounds intriquing to me. Ask the seller what price would make them happy. You might be pleasantly surprised. On several occasions when I have asked this question I've been given the equipment free or at a nominal cost. Anyway, it sounds too worthy to be passed up. If you don't want it I certainly do. Marty Mintzell ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Info on Datanumerics Author: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu at internet Date: 2/20/98 9:17 AM I've been offered the following Datanumerics DL8A. It is 8080 based, comes in a 19" rack mount case, has 4k 600ns ram, 1 current loop (I think) port, and obviously a full front panel. I'm curious if anyone can provide any more information about this machine. Obviously its an early one, but I couldn't find any mention of it on the 'web. Any suggestions as to scarcity and fair price would be welcome, too. Cheers Andrew ------ Message Header Follows ------ Received: from lists3.u.washington.edu by smtp.itgonline.com (PostalUnion/SMTP(tm) v2.1.9g for Windows NT(tm)) id AA-1998Feb20.091753.1767.27868; Fri, 20 Feb 1998 09:17:54 -0500 Received: from host (lists.u.washington.edu [140.142.56.13]) by lists3.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with SMTP id GAA25265; Fri, 20 Feb 1998 06:08:14 -0800 Received: from mxu3.u.washington.edu (mxu3.u.washington.edu [140.142.33.7]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with ESMTP id GAA21898 for <classiccmp(a)lists.u.washington.edu>; Fri, 20 Feb 1998 06:08:06 -0800 Received: from ren.globecomm.net (ren.globecomm.net [207.51.48.3]) by mxu3.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.09) with ESMTP id GAA09073 for <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>; Fri, 20 Feb 1998 06:08:03 -0800 Received: from nostromo (modem028.ts52.comcen.com.au [203.56.244.28]) by ren.globecomm.net (8.8.8/8.8.0) with SMTP id JAA02321 for <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>; Fri, 20 Feb 1998 09:08:01 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <001201bd3e08$d1aa47a0$1cf438cb@nostromo> Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 01:06:50 +1100 Reply-To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu Sender: CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu Precedence: bulk From: "Andrew Davie" <adavie(a)mad.scientist.com> To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Info on Datanumerics MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-To: <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.2106.4 X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN

28 years, 2 months

1
0
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Ahoy there all you Bay Area, CA locals

by dastar＠wco.com

This is to all Bay Area, Ca locals... I'd like to start a vintage computer hackers group that would cover all of the Bay Area. This will be open to anyone interested in our hobby. Please e-mail me so that I can add your address to the mailing list. Even if I already know you (ie. Frank, Doug, Paul, Roger, etc.) please send me an e-mail so that I have your most current address. I'll start filling you in with the details once I've collected everyone's address. Thanks! 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

1
0
0 0

Apple //gs boot problem

by rcini＠email.msn.com

On Thu, 19 Feb 1998 17:58:47 +0100 (BST), Phil Beesley <pb14(a)leicester.ac.uk> wrote: >I think that you need to do a low level format on the IIGS to remove >any hidden Macintosh partitioning data from the disk. You should be >able to use this using the utilities on the GS/OS 6.0.1 installation >disks. Formatting from the GS/OS Finder may not be sufficient. >Phil I finally got it working properly. I copied the GS disk utility to another floppy and booted from it. I then totally wiped the disk and started >from scratch. There must have been, as you said, some leftover info from the old Mac that was attached to it. Thanks everyone for your help. ------------------------------------------------- Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com> (remove nospam_ to use) - ClubWin Charter Member (6) - MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking

28 years, 2 months

1
0
0 0

OOPs AT&Ts

by jfoust＠threedee.com

Captain Napalm <spc(a)armigeron.com> wrote: > I attended an auction at Florida Atlantic University last year, hoping to >pick up some nice computer equipment. There were a stack of HPs (68k based >ones) for sale (that I had actually used years before at the university) in >one pallet, the monitors were in another, and the keyboards in yet a third >(my first complaint about the auction - the people running it didn't know >the first thing about anything they were selling). Sounds like the University of Wisconsin-Madison surplus sale, too. In their zeal to sell, they separate all the systems: main units over here, keyboards in that pile, monitors over there, software and docs to the wind. So stupid. It if looks like a PC, it must be a PC. And then the stuff they throw out because they don't understand it... one day I picked up several $1500 video printers in the dumpster, still working. A bunch of janitors promoted by the Peter Principle. And this is just the dregs! So much property simply disappears before it runs through the cloaca of UW-Surplus. My tax dollars at work. State and UW employees get in early, too. Gads. - John Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>

28 years, 2 months

1
0
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Info on Datanumerics

by adavie＠mad.scientist.com

I've been offered the following Datanumerics DL8A. It is 8080 based, comes in a 19" rack mount case, has 4k 600ns ram, 1 current loop (I think) port, and obviously a full front panel. I'm curious if anyone can provide any more information about this machine. Obviously its an early one, but I couldn't find any mention of it on the 'web. Any suggestions as to scarcity and fair price would be welcome, too. Cheers Andrew

28 years, 2 months

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SF BAY GUARDIAN : GUARDAIN GUIDES : SUPERLISTS

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

Check out this URL if you're in San Francisco; it's a list of thrift stores in the City. http://www.sfbayguardian.com/GuardianGuides/Superlists/SFthriftstores.html --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/

28 years, 2 months

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LCD life

by manney＠nwohio.com

Yes, I checked. It is a multispeed. One of these days, when I have some time (rofl) I'll take it apart and see if I can figure out what's wrong with the HDD, which reports a 1701. One hopes these used a standard HDD? > Is that Nec a MultiSpeed? I have an older model without the backlight > and no hard drive. > > Joe

28 years, 2 months

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Zenith Z-433+ Memory Problem

by plogan＠scsn.net

To whom it may concern: I have a Zenith Z-433+ and recently upgraded memory to 16MB. I am currently getting an error when I boot which says 'memory not configured correctly'. How do I get to CMOS (setup)? How do I correct error in CMOS? Thank-you in advance> Phil Logan plogan(a)scsn.net

28 years, 2 months

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QUESTION: can x86 Linux write ATARI TOS boot image?

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 2/19/98 9:23:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com writes: << I'm sure there must be some places doing mail order, however, it seems most places can't even get DD 3.5" disks, and a lot of the Amiga and Atari dealers are selling used ones. Now might be a good time to stock up on a supply of HD floppies, especially 5.25" ones! >> i think the overrated demise of 5.25 disks is way too premature. wally world (walmart) still sells 5.25 disks, in both high and low density and at work, i was looking through a catalog someone brought to work, and saw low density 5.25 disks for 19cents in lots of 100. i wouldnt worry about it yet. david

28 years, 2 months

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QUESTION: can x86 Linux write ATARI TOS boot image?

by jmg＠iac.net

I'm about to pick up an ATARI with 5 1/4" 1050 floppt drive, but it will lack an OS and software. Can I use a standard DD 5 1/4" drive (say an old shugart with the BIOS set to 360K) and use dd to write an ATARI boot image file to this drive? I don't see why not, but I'm not certain if the ATARI drives used some pecular hardware, like the old mac 400k/800k variable speed drive incompatabilities. If so, does anyone have a boot/OS image for this thing? And where do I find old DD floppies these days? Thanks! J. Maynard Gelinas

28 years, 2 months

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Apple //gs Boot sequence

by adept＠mcs.com

I just picked up a //gs on the cheap but never was much of an Apple guy. The machine appears to have some sort of problem (what is what I am trying to determine). When the machine is powered, it gives a tone sort of like a "tong", then it polls the floppy and repeats the tone when it is finished. No video appears on the screen at any time. Anybody have hints or foreknowledge? ;) Cheers, Dan

28 years, 2 months

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Zenith Z-433+ Memory problem

by plogan＠scsn.net

To whom it may concern: I have a Zenith Z-433+ and recently upgraded memory to 16MB. I am currently getting an error when I boot which says 'memory not configured correctly'. How do I get to CMOS (setup)? How do I correct error in CMOS? Thank-you in advance> Phil Logan plogan(a)scsn.net

28 years, 2 months

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OOPs AT&Ts

by Marty＠itgonline.com

If you decide to buy an old IBM PS/2 and need tech support you can get info from IBM's web site. I picked up a PS/2 Model 60 286 based pc last year (which I used as barter for a complete IBM 16-64K PC and Victor 9000 from a furniture dealer who wanted a word processor). The system wouldn't boot due to a spent cmos battery so after replacing the battery I found the reference (setup) diskette at IBM's web site, downloaded it to a 3 1/2" floppy and was done with it. Go to ibm.com/support and search under ps/2. Marty ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: OOPs AT&Ts Author: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu at internet Date: 2/19/98 3:15 PM > At 08:54 PM 2/18/98 +0000, you wrote: > >> At 11:11 PM 2/15/98 +0000, you wrote: > > > >> >Jason D. > >> > >> Still haven't been back to the place that had the pile of them. There > >> were bunches at the hamfest though. Most were $75 to $100 (asking price). > > > >Joe, > > > >Ouch! > > > >What was the usual PS/2 models with this inflated asking prices > >unless it has special reason for this? > > > >Let us know after thru these piles anyway. > > > >Thanks! > > > >Jason D. > > > > The owner is a typical surplus store owner. He buys the stuff for $30 > a pallet load (20 to 30 machines), but wants an arm and a leg for each one. > He'll scrap the stuff before selling it cheap. I went back down there > yesterday to look at some HP's and found out he had pulled ALL the boards > out of them and was still wanting $100 each for the empty boxes and power > supplys. The owner was acting like a jerk so I didn't even ask about the > PS-2s. I don't think they're anything special about the PS-2s but I'm not > very familar with them so I don't know for sure. Hee hee, I agree with you, that guy is jerk! :) Well, so good luck with alterative place anyway and see how things goes. What do you mean by what do you not familiar with PS-2s? I could help you to ID? Jason D. > > Joe > email: jpero(a)cgo.wave.ca Pero, Jason D. ------ Message Header Follows ------ Received: from lists3.u.washington.edu by smtp.itgonline.com (PostalUnion/SMTP(tm) v2.1.9g for Windows NT(tm)) id AA-1998Feb19.151548.1767.27718; Thu, 19 Feb 1998 15:15:49 -0500 Received: from host (lists.u.washington.edu [140.142.56.13]) by lists3.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with SMTP id KAA18771; Thu, 19 Feb 1998 10:57:32 -0800 Received: from mxu3.u.washington.edu (mxu3.u.washington.edu [140.142.33.7]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with ESMTP id KAA39528 for <classiccmp(a)lists.u.washington.edu>; Thu, 19 Feb 1998 10:57:26 -0800 Received: from mail.cgocable.net (mail.cgocable.net [24.226.1.11]) by mxu3.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.09) with ESMTP id KAA13992 for <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>; Thu, 19 Feb 1998 10:57:24 -0800 Received: from jpero.cgo.wave.ca (cgowave-33-17.cgocable.net [24.226.33.17]) by mail.cgocable.net (8.8.7/8.8.6) with SMTP id NAA27211 for <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>; Thu, 19 Feb 1998 13:57:25 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <199802191857.NAA27211(a)mail.cgocable.net> Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 14:03:56 +0000 Reply-To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu Sender: CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu Precedence: bulk From: jpero(a)cgo.wave.ca To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: OOPs AT&Ts In-Reply-To: <3.0.1.16.19980219072323.4837c97c(a)intellistar.net> References: <199802190148.UAA01293(a)mail.cgocable.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN

28 years, 2 months

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CPT 8525... what is it?

by rws＠ais.net

Hi everybody- I've gotten another oddball computing object that I have no information on. (like the Diablo 1340 hardcopy terminal I posted about last week.) I've found a CPT 8525 system (out in the rain, but it doesn't look too bad). It has an internal monitor, portrait orientation, and two half-height 8" floppy drives. The keyboard is huge, with a whole section of what appear to be word-processing-related keys. Opening the case (two quarter-turn screws) reveals a somewhat modular layout. There are 4 cards in a 5-slot cardcage: (1) 1771-based floppy controller, (2) 8080A-based CPU, (3) unknown, probably I/O, and (4) 128k x 9 RAM (in 4116's). The floppy drives are held in by thumbscrews. Two more bolts and the top comes off. From here the CRT is visible. The power supply is underneath the whole thing, and the keyboard connects through heavily shielded ribbon cable. Right now I'm waiting for it to dry out before I fire it up. If anybody knows anything about this thing (or has even heard of it), I'd appreciate the help. I also picked up a (wet) TI-99/4A expansion chassis and Panasonic KX-D4910 portable data terminal with acoustic coupler or direct-connect modem and thermal printer. Richard Schauer rws(a)ais.net

28 years, 2 months

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This is an RD54, right?

by DSEAGRAV＠toad.xkl.com

I have here a Maxtor XT-2190. That is an RD54, right? I have a uVAX 2000 I'd like to drop it in, but I can't get it to work, it doesn't want to acknowledge the controller. It thinks it's drive 1, and if I try to lowlevel format the drive at ID 1, it fails on the Mbb check. Ideas? The computer did have an RD53 in it, that failed (bad sectors). Failing that, can I put an ST251 or ST220 in there, hang a SCSI harddisk >from the SCSI port, and boot the ST and mount /usr on the SCSI device? I plan on running NetBSD on here. -------

28 years, 2 months

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kayrpo 10 computers

by david-fisc.king＠fmr.com

You mentioned in a new aritcle that you knew someone who wanted to git rid of some Kaypro 10 computers. Do you have any more information? Thanks.

28 years, 2 months

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Here's another 11/23+ question...

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<From: "Daniel A. Seagraves" <DSEAGRAV(a)toad.xkl.com> < <How do I enable the console halt-on-break? Is there a switch on the CPU <for that? It's the M8189 11/23+ CPU. <------- Remove the wire or jumper from J14. J14 is in the row of pins roughly on the centerline of the board and is the fourth up from the card edge fingers (the pin closest is J10). Allison

28 years, 2 months

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IEEE-488 and Commodore (was: GP-IB)

by jfoust＠threedee.com

From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)wco.com> wrote: >They did, ever hear the term "the lumbering hippo", that was a nickname >many gave the 1541 disk drive... Dumpster diving at the then-recently closed offices of Amiga Corp. in Los Gatos, I found several disassembled 1541s. Later I talked to the engineer who'd thrown them out, and he described the 1541 as the "best computer that CBM ever made." :-) I distinctly remember a 1541-to-1541 disk copy taking about 40 minutes when I first got my C-64, but later "fast loaders" reduced that. The inane serial-to-parallel-to-serial business was no doubt due to a desire to get things done quickly and with the least disruption of existing ROM code and known-working applications migrating from the PET to the VIC-20 and C-64. - John Jefferson Computer Museum <http://www.threedee.com/jcm>

28 years, 2 months

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Subject: Re: Apple //gs boot problem

by pb14＠leicester.ac.uk

On 18 Feb 98 at 18:24, Richard A. Cini wrote: > First, I know that this may sound silly, but where is the RESET key on the > GS? My system came with what looks to be a Mac ADB keyboard. Is the RESET > key the power key along the top, above the number keys? Lots but not all Apple ADB keyboards work with the IIGS; if a keyboard works, the Reset key will be the one somehwere at the top of the board with the left pointing arrow icon. Anyway, it's the same one that you'd use to start up a Mac with soft-power on. > Back to the drive. I initialized the drive from within the GS/OS Finder > (using the Disk | Initialize menu item). I did not specifically partition > the disk, though. If you use the Apple Disk utility (that's probably not the > exact name) that comes on the GS/OS disks, it shows no partitions, although > it identifies the drive as ProDos. > > How exactly should I take to get this to work properly? I'm obviously > missing a step somewhere. I think that you need to do a low level format on the IIGS to remove any hidden Macintosh partitioning data from the disk. You should be able to use this using the utilities on the GS/OS 6.0.1 installation disks. Formatting from the GS/OS Finder may not be sufficient. Phil ************************************************************** Phil Beesley -- Computer Officer -- Distributed Systems Suppport University of Leicester Tel (0)116 252-2231 E-Mail pb14(a)le.ac.uk

28 years, 2 months

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Commodore Ramblings

by maxeskin＠hotmail.com

>> They did, ever hear the term "the lumbering hippo", that was a nickname >> many gave the 1541 disk drive... I didn't think it was that slow >Well, I always knew the 1541 drive sucked egregiously, speed wise. I >mean, it was as bad as a cassette player...what was the point? Until fast >loaders came along. They made the 1541 as fast as any Apple drive with a >fast DOS. Then it was passable. > >But what was very cool about the 1541, I later learned, was that it had >its own processor, and that you could upload a program into two drives, >hook them to each other and have them copy disks automatically...very >cool. Then when my friend gave me the program that played Daisy on the >1541 (by this time I had my own C64) I was dazzled. I wrote a similar >program for the Apple Disk ][ but the farts and grunts it made were hardly >comparable to the violin-like sqeaks that emanated from the 1541. Very >cool. I can't stay up late with an Apple //c, because it makes that awful noise when trying to read a nonexistent disk! >> >> >PS. So the Commodore did suck after all ;) It did, but I like it sooo much more than the Apple II, which is just plain boring >> performance for a very low price. (albiet slower than necessary). Also >> the 64 had other merits such as its graphics ability and incredible >> sound... Every one rips the Commodores, but you have to remwmber who >> was posting profits and who was going bankrupt in the 80s... the >> nineties are a different matter I'm afraid.. :( Exactly >After I got over the computer-cock-war syndrome I did come to realize what >a cool machine the C64 was. I actually started to program on it and >started experimenting with the sound. It could make the wildest sounds. >I wanted to port the Apple ROM Monitor to the C64 so that I'd have a >decent Monitor with which to assemble machine code, but alas my C64 died >on the carpet in front of my TV (thus beginning the C64 curse I've fallen >victim to), I guess from static electricity. They just didn't make C64's >to last I'm afraid. Thus my C64 programming soire was cut short. I killed my C64 by trying to add a reset switch and attaching the wire to the wrong power terminal. BTW, what IS the command to get into Apple's monitor from DOS? I always forget... > >Ok, now that is just plain lame. Who the hell designs a printer and >forgets about the tractor feed bands? Don't forget some certain operating systems that are self incompatible ;-P > >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! > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

28 years, 2 months

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GP-IB (was Re: Atari 8-bit Find)

by higginbo＠netpath.net

At 08:52 PM 2/17/98 -0600, you wrote: >It's used by: > >Commodore Pets >GRiD Compass >HP 3000 >HP 1000 (I think) On a side note, the GRiD 15xx series also had an add-in pod that supported GPIB. Fits in the battery compartment, passthrough for external power. Speaking of which, anyone got any GRiD 15xx PODs they want to get rid of? Also am still looking for an external floppy for my GRiD 1535exp (ooh, I shouldn't have said that: It was made in 1989! Forget I said anything, I'll just bring it up next year!) -John Higginbotham- -limbo.netpath.net-

28 years, 2 months

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Searching for old HPs

by joel.vedrenne＠mail.dotcom.fr

Hello, for my personnal collection I'm searching for HP-16C, 33C, 34C, 67, and/or 71B or all others HPs. I have too a HP-41CX to swap for another machine. Please respond me by mail. Thx. Joel.

28 years, 2 months

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Found a decent use for a PC...

by DSEAGRAV＠toad.xkl.com

This is downright bad... :) Today is class pictures. A few days ago, my parents (Remeber that thread?) decided they wanted, of all things, a computer. My stepdad decided to see for himself what was available online, rather than just listen to the TV. (I think it's because he figured out he can automate a lot of his business [Running a motorcycle shop] on it...) Anyway, they got a nice Pentium, with a color printer and a scanner, and so they asked me to edit a few images for them. So, we scan in his 2 grandsons, and a volkswagen bug, and combined the 2 - they were dazzled. A few more interesting tricks - aged a picture of them in front of an old car, etc. Anyway, they like the picture of the volkswagen so much, they bought T-shirt transfer papers to print on. So, I did that... I also got some time to play with said paper myself last night... Remeber when I said today was class pictures? I'll be the one in the decsystem-10 shirt... :) I conjured up a T-shirt for myself! It has the decsystem-10 logo, stolen >from the front of a TOPS-10 user manual, and underneath that is says "If it's not 36 bits, you're not playing a full DEC." (I know there should be a with in there, but there was no room on the xfer sheet) -------

28 years, 2 months

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Subject: Re: I got an Apple ProFile hard drive.

by rcini＠email.msn.com

Filing the graphite slug on the ground worked like a charm. Thanks! Also looking at the drive, it seems that the drive has an Apple-custom logic board. There's probably no chance that the interface to the internal controller card is standard. Bummer. Rich Cini/WUGNET <nospam_rcini(a)msn.com> (remove nospam_ to use) ClubWin! Charter Member (6) MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking ============================================

28 years, 2 months

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Apple //gs boot problem

by kroma＠worldnet.att.net

> First, I know that this may sound silly, but where is the RESET key on the >GS? My system came with what looks to be a Mac ADB keyboard. Is the RESET >key the power key along the top, above the number keys? > That's the standard GS keyboard. I don't believe that true Mac keyboards include a Reset key. Yes, the key above the numbers is the Reset key. One other tidbit, the Option key can be used is also the solid-apple key. -- Kirk

28 years, 2 months

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Junk nite

by Marty＠itgonline.com

I used to service the AT&T 6300 which was an Olivetti machine. The keyboard used a DB-9 connector and the power supply was unconventional using spade lugs to secure the power cables. Does this sound like your machine? ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: Junk nite Author: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu at internet Date: 2/19/98 8:17 AM At 08:24 18/02/98 +1100, you wrote: >Just curious if I should really keep this rather well designed computer >Its an "Olivetti M24 Personal Computer". Yes, the design was "original" (=completely different) for a X86-flavour based machine;specially inside where the layout is spread on three boards:CPU, VIDEO, 8 bit ISA.(have you openened it yet?) Do you have the original keyboard also? > I'd never seen an Olivetti before, which is why I saved it from the scap heap. Now is >it scarce or nice enough to attempt to get running? It depends on what you are looking for? As "collectible" can be interesting because of its early solutions on monitor power supply (1 plug with signal and DC-PS toghether) and its design. Otherwise is another obsolete PC as many other of that age. Ciao §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ § Riccardo Romagnoli,collector of:CLASSIC COMPUTERS,TELETYPE UNITS,PHONE § § AND PHONECARDS I-47100 Forli'/Emilia-Romagna/Food Valley/ITALY § § Pager:DTMF PHONES=+39/16888(hear msg.and BEEP then 5130274*YOUR TEL.No.* § § where*=asterisk key | help visit http://www.tim.it/tldrin_eg/tlde03.html § § e-mail=chemif(a)mbox.queen.it § §§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§ ------ Message Header Follows ------ Received: from lists2.u.washington.edu by smtp.itgonline.com (PostalUnion/SMTP(tm) v2.1.9g for Windows NT(tm)) id AA-1998Feb19.081721.1767.27610; Thu, 19 Feb 1998 08:17:22 -0500 Received: from host (lists.u.washington.edu [140.142.56.13]) by lists2.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with SMTP id FAA08510; Thu, 19 Feb 1998 05:14:26 -0800 Received: from mxu1.u.washington.edu (mxu1.u.washington.edu [140.142.32.8]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.05) with ESMTP id FAA29306 for <classiccmp(a)lists.u.washington.edu>; Thu, 19 Feb 1998 05:13:47 -0800 Received: from mbox.queen.it (mbox.queen.it [195.223.140.7]) by mxu1.u.washington.edu (8.8.4+UW97.07/8.8.4+UW97.09) with ESMTP id FAA28895 for <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>; Thu, 19 Feb 1998 05:13:39 -0800 Received: from async23-fo.queen.it (async23-fo.queen.it [194.184.164.33]) by mbox.queen.it (8.8.7/8.8.4) with SMTP id OAA02799 for <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>; Thu, 19 Feb 1998 14:17:15 +0100 Message-Id: <199802191317.OAA02799(a)mbox.queen.it> Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 14:17:15 +0100 Reply-To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu Sender: CLASSICCMP-owner(a)u.washington.edu Precedence: bulk From: RICCARDO <chemif(a)mbox.queen.it> To: "Discussion re-collecting of classic computers" <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Junk nite Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-Sender: chemif(a)mbox.queen.it X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 beta -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN

28 years, 2 months

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Commodore tape and disk speed (was: Commodore Ramblings)

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

A friend and I wrote a game for 6502 machines. Versions exist for BBC B, Acorn Electron and C64. The load module in each case is 20k bytes. I haven't got a full list of time taken to load - must do that sometime! - but on the Commie 64 it was one minute on the 1541 and SEVEN minutes on the tape (same tape system as PET, BTW - among other things, saved everything twice.) The BBC disk system was much faster - but you only got 100K or so on a disk, and a file had to occupy a contiguous chain of blocks. Philip.

28 years, 2 months

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Junk nite

by chemif＠mbox.queen.it

At 08:24 18/02/98 +1100, you wrote: >Just curious if I should really keep this rather well designed computer >Its an "Olivetti M24 Personal Computer". Yes, the design was "original" (=completely different) for a X86-flavour based machine;specially inside where the layout is spread on three boards:CPU, VIDEO, 8 bit ISA.(have you openened it yet?) Do you have the original keyboard also? > I'd never seen an Olivetti before, which is why I saved it from the scap heap. Now is >it scarce or nice enough to attempt to get running? It depends on what you are looking for? As "collectible" can be interesting because of its early solutions on monitor power supply (1 plug with signal and DC-PS toghether) and its design. Otherwise is another obsolete PC as many other of that age. Ciao ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ? Riccardo Romagnoli,collector of:CLASSIC COMPUTERS,TELETYPE UNITS,PHONE ? ? AND PHONECARDS I-47100 Forli'/Emilia-Romagna/Food Valley/ITALY ? ? Pager:DTMF PHONES=+39/16888(hear msg.and BEEP then 5130274*YOUR TEL.No.* ? ? where*=asterisk key | help visit http://www.tim.it/tldrin_eg/tlde03.html ? ? e-mail=chemif(a)mbox.queen.it ? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

28 years, 2 months

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Commodore Ramblings

by fmc＠reanimators.org

Sam Ismail wrote (after Larry Anderson I think): > > (note, 1525 uses THIN paper not 9 1/2" form feed, a misunderstanding in > > the design specs, they thought 8 1/2" wide WITH the carrier.) > > Ok, now that is just plain lame. Who the hell designs a printer and > forgets about the tractor feed bands? Integral Data Systems, makers of the Prism and the Paper Tiger. The Paper Tiger was rev 2. Rev 1 was this...thing...called the BrighterWriter aka the IP-125 (text only) and IP-225 (with bit-mapped graphics). I used to have one. I can't remember what I did with it and don't think I want to be reminded. It was really underwhelming and without charm. Narrow paper path, lame tractors that didn't pull the paper worth a darn, dain-bread graphics support (send a ^C I think to enter graphics mode, then the characters you send go straight to the pins on the print head -- one bit per pin, send another ^C to get out, and no there was no way to escape ^C to send 0x03 to the pins). At least it took the same ribbons that went in a model 33 Teletype. -Frank McConnell

28 years, 2 months

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Here's another 11/23+ question...

by DSEAGRAV＠toad.xkl.com

How do I enable the console halt-on-break? Is there a switch on the CPU board for that? It's the M8189 11/23+ CPU. -------

28 years, 2 months

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Anyone want a Cray

by adam＠merlin.net.au

How often do these come up for sale? A Cray, about 6 or 7 years old, apparntly, is being sold in Australia. They're asking $100,000, which puts it a tad out of my range. :) However, if it isn't sold it will be scrapped - I wonder if they will accept a couple of cartons of beer over whatever the scrap offer is? Anyone want it? :) Adam.

28 years, 2 months

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