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

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> <Intel MCS8i 8080 development system. Well, it was late in the day, my <money was running out, so I could only buy one of them. MCS8i, if it was 1972 it could only be 8008 powered as the 8080 was a few years later. Actually the MCS handle was copyrighted with the 4004. The 8008 was late 1971 and the 8080 a bit over a year later. <I picked the Intellec. And I am not sorry. Sure it's not going to make me <rich, but it is _beautiful_ inside. It came with all the manuals <(schematics and monitor source code), and contains the 8080 CPU board <(copyright 1972, which must make it a pretty early 8080 design), a couple <of 4K RAM boards, an EPROM board (1702's, of course) containing the <monitor, an I/O card, and the programmer for the 1702. The backplane bus <uses 100 pin 0.125" edge connectors, but the card has a differnt form <factor (and pinout) to S100 cards if it was the 100 pin cards (one connector it's the MCS) where the MDS was multibus with the two backplane connectors. I believe your off on the date by about two years as the 4004 was 70/71 and the 8008 was first of the 8bitters in late '71 and labeled the MCS-8 and the 8080 was the MCS-80 and the 8085 followed using the MCS-85. My references are the SIM08/mcs-8 user manual March 1973. I also I did design work with the 8008 chip in early '73. The 8080 was not available yet but the intel rep was saying "soon". It would be nearly 74 before soon arrived. On the up side yes they were constructed like minis, that was the standard of the time. Big rugged boxes that had to earn their keep. The MDS I have is partially gutted as someone pulled the power supplies out but the rest is intact and last I powered it it ran. FYI the CPU was not even branded in mine it has some odd penciled ES19-1 on the cpu(8080). I even have the correct Power One supplies to complete it( same vintage). In time they could be worth more as they are scarce(low volume production). <As regards historical interest, well, it has an IOBYTE at address 3, <divided into 4 2-bit fields that define the console, punch, reader and <list device - long before CP/M. And there's plenty more things like that. The first incantation of CPM was on an MDS-800 box and the sources for a typical bios in the cpm 1.4 and 2 manuals reflect that. IOBYTE is supported, The docs say it's implemented using the intel standard. Allison

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Free: Vax 11/750 computer

by sinasohn＠ricochet.nospam.net

I've got place to put it and no way to get it there. Maybe someone else does? In ba.market.computers, Graham Freeman <graham(a)step.mother.com> wrote: > FREE - You pick up - VAX 11/750 monster computer. Three units - >two the size of a full-size home refrigerator and another the size of an >economy clothes washer. Call or e-mail if you're interested. Units are >located in Davis, California. >Graham Freeman graham(a)madre.com >(530)753-0650 - voice (530)759-4184 - pager ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad sinasohn(a)crl.com that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

apollo computers?

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

some guy i bought a mac video card from said he had something called an apollo workstation. he said it was a 68020/68030 with a 19 inch monitor, can run *nix, and would only want ~$50 for it. anyone heard of this machine or know anything about it? he said some local colleges used the machines for various duties but are obsolete now. david

28 years, 5 months

8
8
0 0

Amiga 1000 (was:My Recent find)

by ejames＠newwave.net

At 04:48 AM 11/1/97 -0500, you wrote: > > >On Fri, 31 Oct 1997, Bruce James wrote: > >> and my latest find a Amiga 1000 with 1080 moniter and 512k memory >> anyone have more information on expansion of this computer?? > >I used an Amiga 1000 as my primary computer for six years. Beautiful >machine. The darling of my collection. :) Hi thanks Doug for the reply I am mostly looking for ways of adding more memory and a hard drive.. picked up a second 3 1/2 external drive and rs1200 modem. I need a good terminal program and Word Processer.. Also can you give me a hint on what software will work like most stuff for the a-500 or a-2000?? > I can pull out >my old manuals and magazines and see what I can dig up. Hopefully I >haven't made any errors above. :) > >Doug Spence >ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca Again thanks Bruce James kb8kac tech plus ejames(a)newwave.net

28 years, 5 months

3
2
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Sure they would.... if the computer was better built then them, then it would break their head. If it was built worse than them, their head would only sustain minor damage!!! ---------- From: Kip Crosby <engine(a)chac.org> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Classic Computer Rescue Squad Date: Saturday, November 08, 1997 3:18 AM At 23:18 11/7/97 +0000, you wrote: >I am conviced that a lot of people (probably not on this list) wouldn't >know a well-designed or well-built computer if it was dropped on them... Naturally not, they'd be too busy limping around howling. ____________________________________________________________ Kip Crosby, honcho, mechanic and sole proprietor, Kip's Garage http://www.kipsgarage.com: rumors, tech tips and philosophy for the trenches Coming Spring '98: The Windows 98 Bible by Kip Crosby and Fred Davis!

28 years, 5 months

4
3
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Now.... just for fun, try to get a modern PC, drop it on your toe (A sacrifice for science) and then watch it break into DOZENS of piece. Chip out of socket, RAM out of socket, motherboard out of case, power supply out of case, HDD crashed, disk drive not in a working condition, CD-ROM drive's laser swears that there's no disk in. They don't make 'em like they used to!!! ---------- From: Jeff Beoletto <jbeolett(a)ssi.net> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Classic Computer Rescue Squad Date: Saturday, November 08, 1997 6:28 PM On Sat, 8 Nov 1997, Daniel A. Seagraves wrote: > On Sat, 8 Nov 1997, Hotze wrote: > > > At 23:18 11/7/97 +0000, you wrote: > > >I am conviced that a lot of people (probably not on this list) wouldn't > > >know a well-designed or well-built computer if it was dropped on them... > > > > Naturally not, they'd be too busy limping around howling. > > > > I DID THAT! I DID THAT! I successfully managed to crush Jeff Beoletto's > (One of my friends) toes with > a PDP-11/44. We were trying to move it sideways. BTW, his foot healed up > quite well. And he wasn't limping around, he was curled up in a little > ball on the floor, cussing a blue streak :) A week ago we were moving the > RA81, and I almost did it again... > > > Seeing how it was me that Dan managed to drop it I can agree to the limping, and ironically enough it's the same foot that I had broken 3 times in the month before he crushed it. And just yesterday hauling a pc down to our storagge office on the 5th floor I tripped and fell down the steps and have just re-broken that very same ankle. Computers are hazerdous to your health. =+)

28 years, 5 months

3
2
0 0

8-bit Atari's

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-11-01 22:50:14 EST, Zane Healy put forth: > I had a good day scrounging the junk stores, first chance I've had in about > two months to do any serious looking. Among the things I came up with > today were an Atari 400 and a Atari 800. No Power Supply for either > though, but then I'm used to that problem. The question is, what on earth > does it use for a PS? Can I just break out the old Atari 2600 and use it's > PS? on my ps for my atari 400 it says the output is 9v ac but im not sure if the plug is center positive or not. anyone have tapes for the 400? i have the "program recorder" but nothing to use in it. david

28 years, 5 months

3
2
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<> IE: altair was importnat because it was relatively cheap. < <And it spawned a bus architecture that begat the micro-computer <revolution. There is something to that but on closer inspection the SWTP, SouthWest Technical Products SS50 bus was far cheaper and much easier to interface to. The 100 pin connector was expensive and the redundant signals were/are a pain. It would take several years to sort out things like bus noise and compatability. No S100 was a bandwagon and the technology was not at issue as there were better busses and even at the current time of the altair. When IMSAI also did it nearly the same people sayw that as important enough that there were two systems with a similar bus that wasn't too bad to connect to. Now that is historically significant. When two companies compete using similar hardware or software that is when it takes significance as it just became an industry. As to spawning a revolution, no. That started when the machines became small enough and cheap enough to be attainable. I still remember in 1970 hanging out in highschool with the guys debating processor wordlength and actually developing on paper a possible sequencer for one. I could have had a CIM2000 in '72 (bout the size and performance of an 8e) for $2000! That was the price of a new ford pickup then! It was there I was in it. What it did was give us early computer hackers and engineers something useful without some of the teething cycles of homebrewery. It was also the industry cranking out components that had potential at attainable prices. I built my first logic design using a RAM (1101, 256x1) in late '71 and it was at $23 each. In a year the 2102 (1kx1) would be $16. Imagine a 1kx8 memory for $128!!! By 1974 that would be 4kx8 for under $100. This along with TTL prices dropping to pennies for a 7400 gate made assembling a pdp-8 or somesuch within reach, then the 8008 chip at $180 (over a weeks take home pay in 1972) made it come a bit closer. A year before the DEC 1974 Popular Electronics Altair article were the Radio Electronics articles for the Mark-8 a 8008 machine. So it wasn't a single event is as much the cumulations of many small events. We would get out of the basement/garage and started on the next level. Better said we stopped trying to build a machine and started doing things with it. It was an accelerator. There were many of accelerators. There would be many more, the z80 would be the next one. I also think the 16bit battles that started soon after would push the envelope some more, as did the 32bit systems. In the middle of the 8/16 battle graphics started to be seen and that pushed the CPUs harder and demanded more memory and left a huge vacuum for software. Allison

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Ehehe... We should build a computer from discrete components, just to <operate one. And connect it to the Internet. Of course, we'd never <finish in out lifetimes, and it would fill a room, but it would be awful <cool! It's been done and it didn't take lifetime or fill rooms. The machines were called LINC and they were built in 1964 time frame. Granted the internet part would take a bit longer. Over the years many home made machine not microprocessor based have been built. It is an undertaking but it's not anywhere near impossible. In reality using moden methods and current discrete parts a better and smaller machine could be built. Allison

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

This is great!

by dseagrav＠bsdserver.tek-star.net

NS if this is true or not, but it's funny! The system programmer group writing TOPS-10 use to love fancy TECO programs and had a weekly contest for them. One guru working on FORTRAN compilers would read them carefully but never enter one. They thought he was just concentrating on compilers. Then one week he submitted a macro that did FORTRAN compilation, complete with optimization. The TECO program took days to run, but it worked. Apparently he had written a PDP-10 instruction set eumlator in TECO and fed the compiler into it!

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

VAXstation II tapes

by healyzh＠ix.netcom.com

Hi, I seem to have a problem. I just got a VAXstation II, and it came with a whole box of TK50-K tapes. I've a bad feeling that these are blank tapes though, double bad since I'm suspecting that the system needs to be reloaded. I'll give a detailed writeup of the problems I'm having later on (I forgot to make notes when I had it powered up). The only identificaton on any of the tapes is a small white label with numbers on it. Some of the numbers on each tape are printed, others hand written. I've a bad feeling that these are simply backup tapes, in which case I don't know if they'll do me any good or not. The other possibility is that they are for something called "RS/1". If anyone can tell me what these are I'd appreciate it. Printed Hand Written ------- ------------------ 525810 5-0-0 41 525865 6-0-0 (a crossed out 96 with 117 under it) 525869 19-0-1 21 525871 10-1-0 23 525952 9-0-0 81 525959 1-0-0 70 525993 9-0-1 75 526044 23-2-0 57 Since I assume these aren't the VMS distribution tapes, does anyone know how I can get them? I'm aware of the Hobbiest License for OpenVMS, but I think it's to new of a version to run on my VAXstation II/RC. There is also the problem with the Hobbiest version of it comes on CD-ROM. All the OS manuals that I've got are for MicroVMS/VMS 4.4 Zane | Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator | | healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast | | healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector | +----------------------------------+----------------------------+ | For Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, | | see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ | | For the collecting of Classic Computers with info on them. | | see http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/museum.html |

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

BA23 termination.

by dseagrav＠bsdserver.tek-star.net

Does the BA23 have a bus terminator in it or something? I just noticed that neither of these (11/73 or 11/83) have Qbus terminators.

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

DEC Rainbow

by foxvideo＠wincom.net

I just bought a DEC Rainbow, does anyone have any idea where I can get a boot disk for it? Thanks Charlie Fox

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Auction - Apple Service Parts and a Modem

by gmast＠polymail.cpunix.calpoly.edu

Hello, This is the last of the Apple service parts I have. They're on the auction at eBay so please bid there. Apple IIc Floppy Drive (New in Box!) Bidding starts at: $1.00 Auction ends on: 11/13/97, 15:08:00 PST http://komodo.ebay2.com/aw-cgi/ItemISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1751182 Macintosh SE Main Logic Board (New in Box!) Bidding starts at: $1.00 Auction ends on: 11/13/97, 15:12:56 PST http://komodo.ebay2.com/aw-cgi/ItemISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1751290 Apple Imagewriter II CPU Board (Orig Box!) Current bid: $1.00 Auction ends on: 11/13/97, 15:16:50 PST http://komodo.ebay2.com/aw-cgi/ItemISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1751366 Mac II Power Supply (Orig Box!) Current bid: $5.50 Auction ends on: 11/13/97, 15:19:27 PST http://komodo.ebay2.com/aw-cgi/ItemISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1751413 Laserwriter II DC Power Supply (Orig Box!) Bidding starts at: $1.00 Auction ends on: 11/13/97, 15:21:57 PST http://komodo.ebay2.com/aw-cgi/ItemISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1751470 Apple Modem 1200 (1982, Original Box) Pic Bidding starts at: $3.00 Auction ends on: 11/14/97, 18:08:07 PST http://komodo.ebay2.com/aw-cgi/ItemISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1787149

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

PC/AT reference

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 06:33 PM 11/6/97 -0500, you wrote: >I wonder how many non - PC compatibles have used Intel 8088 or 8086 chips. I >have heard of a machine called an "ACT Apricot", which is said to have had >voice recognition and a GUI. Could someone tell me about it and others? My >reasoning is that there are lots of neat things that could be done on an >8088, but not with a DOS system. One of the first computer jobs I had was running* a CompuPro 8/16 under MP/M-16(?). It was an S-100 box with 5 or so terminals. I forget what it originally had as a processor but we upgraded shortly after I arrived to a 80286/8085 dual processor CPU board. *Note: this system was so rock solid and self-sustaining that I'm grossly exagerating here. I wrote some programs, did some data entry, and turned it on/shut it down. Piece of cake. P.S., I stumbled across a site that might offer insight into this question. It's at <http://www.mygale.org/08/samurai/> and offers a listing of computers by microprocessor (as well as other ways). Only problem is it's in french. 8^) --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad sinasohn(a)ricochet.net that none but madmen know." Roger Louis Sinasohn & Associates San Francisco, California http://www.crl.com/~sinasohn/

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Here's the QD21 Manual

by mcquiggi＠sfu.ca

Hi Daniel: Attached is the QD21 manual in a gzipped tar archive format. If you need ASCII I'll resend it. Kevin At 10:52 AM 97/11/08 -0600, you wrote: >On Sat, 8 Nov 1997, Kevin McQuiggin wrote: > >> Yep, you need one. You can use a standard PC cable and ignore the twisted >> connector, or simply cut and resolder the twisted portion. This works for me. > >I already have a straight-through. > >> >> Here's the plan. Get the drive specs from the IBM web site (this will be >> tough, their sites are, in my experience, very hard to navigate), and grab >> a copy of the QD21 manual that explains each of the required parameters. >> There are copies available online, I can email it to you if necessary. >> > >Email would be good, I've tried looking for the manual but had no luck >finding it. > >> Boot your machine to the chevron prompt, then start up the QD21 firmware. >> Hopefully you'll have the "newer" menu driven version, if not then you'll >> have to set up some tables in memory as described in the manual. >> > >I do have the menus. I can get that far. > >> The QD21 has a "read disk parameters from device" setting, I'd try that >> first to see if it works for your drive. I've have mixed success with >> non-DEC drives on this one. If it works then you're away to the races, just >> format from the QD21 menus and then INIT DUxx from VMS or whatever's on >> your VAX. > >VAX? The QD21 is in a PDP-11/23+. > >> >> If not then you'll have to enter a bunch of parameters from the drive >> specs, plus some that you can calculate from the specs as stated in the >> manual. >> > >OK > >> The drive select jumper on the drive must generally be set to "drive select >> 2". If you're getting no response this may be the problem. The cable must >> not be of the twisted variety. Make sure your cable polarity is right, etc. >> etc. >> >> I have had success with IBM ESDI drives and the QD21, just keep fiddling >> and you'll get it going! > >That's the usual plan... > >> I hope this helps, > >If you really have the manual, it will! > > > >

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Huh?!

by kyrrin2＠wizards.net

At 00:02 08-11-97 PST, Tim Shoppa intoned (in response to Dan Seagraves): >I'm going to make a guess that you're talking about DEC RX33 (5.25" >half-height drives) or DEC RX50 drives (two 5.25" drives in a full-height >5.25" form factor) hooked to a RQDX3 controller. If you can specify >that you're talking about one or the other, you'll get more specific >answers :-) <snip> >A RQDX3 is incapable of formatting RX50 floppies, but it is capable <snip> Excuse me, but this does not make sense to me. I have an RX50 and RQDX3 in my MicroVAX II, and it is perfectly happy formatting RX50 floppies. How do you think I got that wonderful tape copying program onto the hard drive? ;-) For my part, Tim, I'd be very disappointed if you unsubscribed from the list. I value your insights very much. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bruce Lane, Sysop, The Dragon's Cave BBS (Fidonet 1:343/272) (Hamateur: WD6EOS) (E-mail: kyrrin2(a)wizards.net) http://www.wizards.net/technoid "Our science can only describe an object, event, or living thing in our own human terms. It cannot, in any way, define any of them..."

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<> Ok, first of all I'm pretty amazed at the 3rd grade level of <> mentality being demonstrated by the whiners complaining about my <> "foul" language. Sam, it's not a big thing but there are a few women and I for one really don't like it. I'm no prude and there are time I can turn the air blue but I try to avoid it unless there is pain associated with it. < There's more to a machine that makes it historically important <than how many were sold or produced. Was the STRETCH important (a <half dozen or so)? How about the PDP-10 (under a thousand)? Mass <marketing is not the gauge of importance, especially in a social <context. Remember - the individuals who designed the machines that <_were_ mass marketed were brought up knowing about computers, and <those machines most certainly weren't mass-market devices. I for one see the imporant machine as those that influenced the direction of computing. This could be by putting computers where they werent before or by introducing/solidifying a concept. IE: altair was importnat because it was relatively cheap. IE: the PC was impostant be cause IBMs entry in to the market that was dominated by TRS-80, APPLE and friends somehow ligitemized destop sized computer to the masses. < Whether Novas are "wanted" is immaterial to the argument. Folks are <now virtually unaware of a piece of history, and an important one at <that. It's also a piece of history that's fast disappearing, which is <a rotten shame. That is the point! < Do multi-thousand dollar speculative prices on Altairs make them <more "historic" or "valuable" than a PDP-5 (predecessor of the -8)? <There's more to be calculated into a "value" than the current market <price, which all too frequently is out of line with reality. People miss the Mark-8 (8008 based) that preceeded it by nearly a year. < Nope. Nobody did. That's one of the reasons I have respect for <the man. He knows machines worth saving, and is willing to take the <time and (not incosiderable) effort to do so. Right! To make a point there are few machines with much value other than history. Those that collect are like archiologists, few will discover the missing link but the rest will flesh out history surrounding it. It's that history, the society, hackers, scientists that are important. <> If the majority of kids in America had a picture of a Nova tacked to <> their wall, the newspapers might have run a story on one. < < Do you know who I'm speaking of? Hint: he designed one of the early <mass-market computers that you prize so highly. What's missed is many Novas were used in places like malls to make T-shirts with pictures on them (at least in the northeast). They were there on the bottom shelf doing it. This was at a time when altair, Imsai and apples were the thing. The altair... I have one. My opinion of the design is simple, it can serve well as an example of how not to do it. Allison

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Hard drive jumper settings required.

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

I'm not sure about the actual jumper settings, but if you have web access, I would check out http://www.computercraft.com for more info. They have everything from benchmarks to how to upgrade a 486. Ciao, Tim D. Hotze ---------- From: Daniel A. Seagraves <dseagrav(a)bsdserver.tek-star.net> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Hard drive jumper settings required. Date: Monday, November 03, 1997 4:44 PM I'm going to attach this to the QD21, so I need to reset the jumpers. IBM 115MB ESDI drive, type 0669, sequence # 104040108 There are 6 DIP switched behind the drive terminator. I'm told I have to use a straight-through cable, so I went and got one. The drive does nothing. With a crossover cable (Where the pins are crossed, a normal PC cable) it went click-clunk, click-clunk, and did nothing. The drive is known good. (I pulled it from a PS/2 which we upgraded to a SCSI drive) If anyone works at Advanced Technology Services, the drive came from Cat origionally and has the ATS sticker "ATS-444862" Another barcode on top of the drive by the air inlet says "B1AF3092241"

28 years, 5 months

3
2
0 0

Intergraph 250... KILLED!

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< I was at an auction last Saturday, and immediatly started to drool over <this beautiful piece of equipment. It was an Intergraph 250 (No, I have <never seen one before) and it look to be in excellent shape. It was about <top 7 feet wide, by about 3 feet deep, and 5 feet high, with a beautiful <blue and white finish. On one side, behind a large black panel, was four Sounds like a Intergraph/DEC 8650 or in that realm that was from the mid '80s. Intergraph would take DEC machines and add their stuff to it to make hopped up machines for their business applications. The drives were SMD and the controller was of Intergraph design. Nice machine and there are a bunch around in use. Allison

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

M8190 Console SLU

by dseagrav＠bsdserver.tek-star.net

Is there a way to disable the M8190 console SLU so as to use another serial in it's place? The bulkhead adapter for the SLU has been cannabalized to fix another machine, and I want to get this one running. I have the DLV-11J that was in my 11/23, I plan to use it. Any ideas?

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<> <Ever read, say, _Soul of a New Machine_? <> <> Good read, still have my copy! <> <Me too. But I've also got a hard-cover now! I was given mine when it was first releassed and is hard cover. <<This prompted me to dig up a Nov 81 copy of a mag called Datamation <whose feature article was a history of the Route 128 companies and a <companion piece "Rte128's new Wave Startups" which included Apollo, <Stratus, SOLV-vation, and the 'revamped"Charles River Data Systems.. <The push was on to 32bit and Data General was offering it"s <"brand-new" medium-priced supermini,the MV 6000 whose price was on Therein lies a peice of the story. From 79 to recent I and friends worked for companies involved in the 128 race. It's amazing how few are left and how different some are. < Another "cute" blurb, "CP/M-86 is the 16 bit version of the de facto <industry standard microcomputer operating system, CPM. Once a user <slips the 8-inch floppy containing CPM-86 into a (IBM) Displaywriter, <an entirely new world of data processing will open up on the typist's <desk." Sounds almost pornographic. ; ^ )) Call that a snapshot in time before the PC explosion. What I miss is hearing about Honeywell, RCA, Univac, Borroughs and Sperry to name a few here in the USA where it started. There are machines that were unique than and by standards now made by these companies. A example is the RCA machines from what little I know were patterned after the TX series of mit. I'd love to hear more. Allison

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Intergraph 250... KILLED!

by carl.friend＠stoneweb.com

On Sat, 08 Nov 1997 02:38:31 -0300, Mr. Richards made the following statements: > I have to tell you all about the sad fate of a beautiful machine. > [...] It was an Intergraph 250 [...] > I want to add to my misery by finding out exactly what it was, what > it's speed was, what it was comparable to. The brains of the machine were a MicroVAX II (KA630-AA). Disks were primarily Fujitsu 8" Winchester drives controlled by an Inter- graph proprietary controller called an "InterBus File Processor". A SCSI tape drive was standard on the 250, also of Fujitsu manufacture if I recall correctly. A nice enough little box, but hobbled for the hobbyist community by the proprietary controller for which no schematics of firmware listings will _ever_ be available from Intergraph. ______________________________________________________________________ | | | | Carl Richard Friend (UNIX Sysadmin) | West Boylston | | Minicomputer Collector / Enthusiast | Massachusetts, USA | | mailto:carl.friend@stoneweb.com | | | http://www.ultranet.com/~engelbrt/carl/museum | ICBM: N42:22 W71:47 | |________________________________________________|_____________________|

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

CP/M for Osborne-1

by Anthony.Eros＠digital.com

I picked up an Osborne-1 last night, but no software. Is anyone willing to cut me a copy of some 5 1/4" CP/M operating system and utility disks? I'd gladly replace the disks supplied... Thanks in advance, -- Tony Eros Internet Consultant - Financial/Pharma Services Practice Digital Equipment Corporation

28 years, 5 months

4
4
0 0

Space problems and Laser 128ex

by alanr＠morgan.ucs.mun.ca

I wondering if anyone had any info on the Laser 128ex. I lugged an EGA monitor to a friend of mine this week with the intentions of trading it for a couple of hard drives, as I really need to clear some space (two bedroom apartment, and I'm sleeping on a loveseat in the living room). Anyway, when I got down there, I noticed the Laser on a shelf. I have never heard of this machione before, so of course I had to have it right then and there :) It resembles an Apple//c in layout; CPU, keyboard and 5 1/4" floppy in one unit. As a bonus, the power supply I got with it also fits, my Apple//c. I also noticed that on the bottom, there is a switch for LCD screen. The similarities between this and the Apple makes me wonder if this wasn't some sort of copy. Does anyone have any ideas about this machine, specificaly I would like to know how to break into the BASIC. On the Apple, I press CRTL and reset, but this doesn't work on the Laser. I would appreciate any help. Thanks in advance... ---------------------------------------------------------------- ______________________________________________Live from the GLRS The Man From D.A.D ----------------------------------------------------------------

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Computer collecting humor.

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

Tim Hotze wrote: > Also, 88 (8088), 87 (487, 8087, etc.) and many other numbers. With macs, > there's a whole slew of numbers that I don't want to get into. Riccardo quoted Tony Duel as having written: > >Which reminds me. Which word lengths have been used by (binary) computers? > >Off the top of my head : > > > >4 (Intel 4004, etc) > >8 (Far too many to list) > >12 (PDP8, PDP12, etc) > ..omissis... > >What others? > > 9 (Texas 99/4, 990/10, TMS 9900) > 86 (Intel Docet again) I think some of you have misinterpreted Tony's question. He was asking about word lengths. I do not believe that the Texas 99 series had a word length of 9 bits (16 wasn't it?) The Intel 8088 was 8 bits, the 8086 16; the 80x87, as I recall, are 80 bits internally (another one for your list, Tony, if coprocessors count!) I believe that there are some CPU chips now with 64-bit internal buses. Any advance on 64? At the other end, do the processors in the AMT DAP count as 1-bit machines? Or are they bit-slices of a 32 bit machine? Or a 1024 bit machine? Philip.

28 years, 5 months

4
3
0 0

Intergraph 250... KILLED!

by alanr＠morgan.ucs.mun.ca

I have to tell you all about the sad fate of a beautiful machine. I was at an auction last Saturday, and immediatly started to drool over this beautiful piece of equipment. It was an Intergraph 250 (No, I have never seen one before) and it look to be in excellent shape. It was about 6 top 7 feet wide, by about 3 feet deep, and 5 feet high, with a beautiful blue and white finish. On one side, behind a large black panel, was four large, rack mounted drives; 2 were 557mb, and the other 2 were 337mb. I believe the drives were old SCSI drives. On the other side, was a large reel tape backup system, and below that, the guts of the machine behind another black panel. Everything look to be there, and in working order. Now for the sad part. It went for $2.50 (Converted to US, that is like -$0.45 :) The person who bought it... some low, greasy guy with the name of his autobody shop on his greasy ball cap (no, I didn't bid on it, I have no place to put it) my friend asked him what he was going to do with it, and you could tell by looking at the guy that he couldn't wait to try out a new cutting saw on the thing, according to my friend (I was busy banging my head agianst the wall :< It is dead by now, and now I want to add to my misery by finding out exactly what it was, what it's speed was, what it was comparable to. Anybody out there know? ---------------------------------------------------------------- ______________________________________________Live from the GLRS The Man From D.A.D ----------------------------------------------------------------

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

STuff

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

I'm interested in the 386's. ---------- From: Zeus334(a)aol.com To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: STuff Date: Saturday, November 08, 1997 4:36 AM >have a bunch of wyse 60 terminals, a couple of 386's, an old printer >and various boards etc. Anyone interested. >"Janet Paganelli" <info(a)msnyc.org> What's a wyse 60? What kind of boards do you have? Is it a dot matrix printer?

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Old stuff

by Zeus334＠aol.com

In a certain supply room, there are in storage some computers of interest to me. There used to be some XTs and PCs, but they were given to a school. The stuff that's still there: A ton of printers, generally IBM dot-matrix A ton of manuals and books, including manuals to Quattro-Pro, the manuals to some of the IBM printers, etc. Also, books on C and pascal A few cartons of floppies, with the original disks to DOS 3.3, and a bunch of programs I have never heard of. About 15 IBM network cards. I can't tell what they are, but they are brown full- length eight bit things with round connectors on the back. An IBM System/74, with three terminals. I believe that the administration will part with all of these without much difficulty. I could personally use the first 4 items. The System/74 is about the size of a closet, and I doubt I would find much use for it (If only I had room...) I know nothing about it, and I would appreciate if you people would tell me what the heck a System/74 is. It has a big floppy drive (14" or 8") built in to the front panel, mounted on its side.....

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Computer collecting humor.

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

>> I have at home a memory bank from a CDC Cyber two-hundred-and-something >> (?) which is 18 bits wide. I had always assumed that this was 16 bits >> plus two parity but it doesn't fit into 60 bits either way. (Memory >> bank is huge quantities of 40ns and 45ns 64k x 1 static RAMs surface >> mounted on both sides of numerous daughter boards. Each daughter board >> is 64k x 18 and they stack four deep all over the "mother board" of the >> bank.) I always meant to use this in something, but somehow I never got >> around to it... > > That is perhaps from one of the Cyber 203/205/215 supercomputers. These > were HUGE vector machines, from the same period (and a rival of) the later > Cray-1s. They were 60 bit machines, so I am confused about the x18 > organization. Perhaps error checking was involved. This one was thrown out by the Technical University of {better not say where} in 1993. Not very old - date code on some of the memory chips is 1992. My friend, a student there, whom I visited in August of that year, had eight of these memory banks, eight megabytes each (64k x 2 bytes x four boards deep x sixteen stacks per bank). I swapped him a Keithley 417k electrometer (a very sensitive multimeter) for mine. He also threw in a card from the CPU, which I think I've mentioned here before. The technology is 100k series ECL so should have been faster than Cray 1. (The Cray 1 in the {museum of same town} was 10k series.)

28 years, 5 months

3
2
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Absolutely true. I do hope that the "classiccmp" mailing list doesn't <go in the direction that Sam suggests, i.e. limiting discussion to <computers considered "collectible" in the popular press. Yes there are many machines that are quite interesting but aren't sexy by the LA times standard. I will not argue that altair, Imsai, Apple, tandy and IBM to name a few weren't povital. I may add that most of those names do not attract my attention as I know some of the backroads and alleys where I did application engineering and design work. Maybe that's why I have an intel Intellect MDS 8080 development system that is circa 1976 manufacture and of vastly superior construction than the altair. <That reminds me, Allison, I've got a couple of Motorola 6800 Exorcisor <boards that I promised to try to sneak in through US Customs for you... When they arrive I will be thankful. Allison

28 years, 5 months

4
4
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by carl.friend＠stoneweb.com

On Thu, 6 Nov 1997 14:03:12 -0800 (PST), we heard Mr. Ismail utter: > The Nova will never be featured in the newspapers because it is not a > socially significant computer. Two words, one of which is not printable, but the lead-in is "Bull". The Nova was one of the early minicomputers which came to be used by schools in the early '70s. The other one, and slightly earlier in origin, was the PDP-8. The pdp11 post-dates these by some time. The Nova was a seminal machine even if it was a "widened/en- hanced" PDP-8. One of the founders of Apple, who lots of those here hold in very high esteem, was captivated enough by the Nova to keep a picture of one tacked to his bedroom wall. (Kids, sheesh! :-) ) > In the great scheme of things, it is but one of many. So are lots of things, including many of the machines manu- factured in the last two decades. Like the TRS-80, the Apple II, the Commodore <whatever>, the ubiquitous PeeCee, and, yes, even the revered IMSAI. > Drop the rant already. Yes. Please do. There's more to life than microprocessors and tiny boxes. Of course, I may have been trolled here, but if that's the case I'll learn to deal with it. ______________________________________________________________________ | | | | Carl Richard Friend (UNIX Sysadmin) | West Boylston | | Minicomputer Collector / Enthusiast | Massachusetts, USA | | mailto:carl.friend@stoneweb.com | | | http://www.ultranet.com/~engelbrt/carl/museum/ | ICBM: N42:21 W71:46 | |________________________________________________|_____________________|

28 years, 5 months

5
4
0 0

STuff

by Zeus334＠aol.com

>have a bunch of wyse 60 terminals, a couple of 386's, an old printer >and various boards etc. Anyone interested. >"Janet Paganelli" <info(a)msnyc.org> What's a wyse 60? What kind of boards do you have? Is it a dot matrix printer?

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by engine＠chac.org

At 23:18 11/7/97 +0000, you wrote: >I am conviced that a lot of people (probably not on this list) wouldn't >know a well-designed or well-built computer if it was dropped on them... Naturally not, they'd be too busy limping around howling. ____________________________________________________________ Kip Crosby, honcho, mechanic and sole proprietor, Kip's Garage http://www.kipsgarage.com: rumors, tech tips and philosophy for the trenches Coming Spring '98: The Windows 98 Bible by Kip Crosby and Fred Davis!

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by engine＠chac.org

At 23:13 11/7/97 +0000, you wrote: >A true story.... I was at a radio rally (hamfest) about 7 years ago, and >there was an Altair on sale, and alongside it....there was an >Intel MCS8i 8080 development system. Well, it was late in the day, my >money was running out, so I could only buy one of them. > >I picked the Intellec. And I am not sorry. Sure it's not going to make me >rich, but it is _beautiful_ inside. Damn, Tony, I always knew you had taste! __________________________________________ Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org http://www.chac.org/index.html Computer History Association of California

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

imagewriter I available.

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

Ive got a non working imagewriter model I available for cost of shipping from NC if anyone wants it. i've the original box to ship it in, although the packing material is missing. printer is complete except for plastic top cover, and it gets power, but wont print. i think it's probably some logic component inside which has failed. i have a wide carriage model to keep anyway. interested? david

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by engine＠chac.org

At 21:00 11/6/97 -0500, you wrote: >Maybe that's why I have an intel Intellec MDS 8080 development system >that is circa 1976 manufacture and of vastly superior construction than >the Altair. Damn right, pop a case on an Intellec and you'll just sigh. They're like little minis inside. You know what else is just as nice the same way? The Tektronix boxes built around the LSI-11.... It's like having a '56 or '57 Mercedes. The whole world knows how sexy and pricey a 300SL is, be it the Gullwing or the roadster; but it takes a _real_ connoisseur to appreciate, even to recognize! the same year's 300SC. __________________________________________ Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org http://www.chac.org/index.html Computer History Association of California

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

RDWhatever floppies.

by dseagrav＠bsdserver.tek-star.net

WHat kind of floppies does an RD-53 (? Is that it?) expect? I've dropped in 360s and 1.2Ms, but all it does when I tell it format is pull the head in and out, in and out, like bad sector error. It this like RX02s where they need some wierd format before they work? BTW, I tried imaging the harddisk already, but my XT doesn't like the drive for some reason. These are just standard MFM drives, right?

28 years, 5 months

2
6
0 0

Help Identifying RAM Chips

by carl.friend＠stoneweb.com

On Thu, 6 Nov 1997 19:10:21 -0500 (EST), Mr. Donzelli was heard to say: > [...] military electronics has always been way ahead of what the > industry [...] like spread spectrum communications (incidently, > invented by the most unlikely of people) [...] Thank you! My faith has been restored. How many can name the individual in question? Hint: The name appeared in a fairly recent "Invention & Technology" issue. ______________________________________________________________________ | | | | Carl Richard Friend (UNIX Sysadmin) | West Boylston | | Minicomputer Collector / Enthusiast | Massachusetts, USA | | mailto:carl.friend@stoneweb.com | | | http://www.ultranet.com/~engelbrt/carl/museum/ | ICBM: N42:21 W71:46 | |________________________________________________|_____________________|

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Hard Drive Bible

by manney＠nwohio.com

I 'd like to commend and thank Matt Pritchard for shipping the Hard Drive Bibles. I know he went to a lot of trouble to purchase, pack and ship several heavy volumes...and asked no profit for himself. If he ever needs a favor, I hope everyone will bend over backwards to help him! Thanks, Mr. Pritchard, manney(a)nwohio.com

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Sam, that was very uncalled for. Any problems that you have could have been solved in a gentlemanly manner, ceretainly witout resulting to this level of language! ---------- From: Roger Merchberger <zmerch(a)northernway.net> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Classic Computer Rescue Squad Date: Friday, November 07, 1997 6:48 PM ;-) Due to massive amounts of caffeine & sleep deprivation, Sam Ismail said: >Now, when the f**k did I say that? [snip] >Otherwise, pull your head from out of your a**, Tim. [snip] Geez, Sam! Take a [Choose One] (Valium / Prozac), wouldya??? Tho Tim may have talked out of turn (I'm not judging either way), does it really warrant talk of this nature? And if it does, could you keep the _extreme_ profanity to private e-mail? I'm no saint myself, but others may become highly offended with this type of abusive crap... Just MHO, Roger "Merch" Merchberger -- Roger Merchberger | Why does Hershey's put nutritional Programmer, NorthernWay | information on their candy bar wrappers zmerch(a)northernway.net | when there's no nutritional value within?

28 years, 5 months

2
2
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by jfoust＠threedee.com

On Thu, 6 Nov 1997, Tim Shoppa wrote: > Of course, because DG Novae haven't been featured in the _LA Times_ > or the _Chicago Tribune_, nobody wants them. The instant they are > featured, all sorts of lusers will start crawling out and insisting > they *need* a Nova, price is no object, just like happened with my > Altair's, IMSAI's, and Apple I's. Oh, and Tim will be very sad on that day indeed, and in his generous nature will open up the warehouse to all those who've spotted his old post on this mailing list, and will not raise the price from "take them away" to $10,000 each. :-) - John

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Software for Heathkit H-11/11a?

by jimw＠agora.rdrop.com

I had an Heathkit H-11a computer drop into my lap (somewhat literally) last night, and it got me to thinking... It's probably time to try to get one of these things running in its original configuration (vs. the Dec cards in the Heath chassis config.), so it looks like I need to track down some copies of the original Heath (mutated Dec) software for the thing... (i.e. HT-11, etc...) I've got most of the paper tapes for the H-11 so I think I'm ok there, and I've got a H-27 disk sub-system for the thing, so now I seek the software on disk. Anyone out there have spares or a functional unit that can replicate??? And... Does anyone remember the specific differences between the H-11 and H11a? (if any aside from the obvious addition of a third switch on the front panel?) (still seeking that elusive H-10 tho...) Thanks! -jim --- jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by engine＠chac.org

At 15:02 11/7/97 +0300, you wrote: >Yeah, I'm mostly interested in collecting micros, but I forget how big >minis are.... They vary. There are rack-mount minis, like an HP 2115 or some of the smaller DG's, that you can pick up singlehanded, although you won't love yourself for it. On the other end, our SDS 930 -- 14 racks, 5.5 tons probably counting spares and docs -- is just the size that some people, including me, call it a small mainframe, and some call it a mini. A PDP-1, to take another example, is absolutely a mini, but if you add a Fastrand (drum) and a goodly squad of tape drives, you have a fairly imposing computer. __________________________________________ Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org http://www.chac.org/index.html Computer History Association of California

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<I'd like a Nova, but I've so far not been courageous enough to think <seriously about moving one from Vancouver to Montreal. :) I'm embarressed to say that I live about 8 miles from DG and have had little contact with any of their machines. You don't see them here around fleas much either. Allison

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

PC/AT reference

by manney＠nwohio.com

I think I have one, but without the disks. Is this OK? -----Original Message----- From: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> To: Manney <Manney> Date: Wednesday, November 05, 1997 7:22 AM Subject: PC/AT reference > Not yet a classic, but does anyone have a {spare} copy of the "Technical >Reference Personal Computer AT"? This is the tech ref guide for the original >IBM PC/AT, published by IBM (I'm guessing in a gray fabric binder). > > TIA! > >Rich Cini/WUGNET ><rcini(a)msn.com> > Charter ClubWin! Member > MCP Windows 95/Windows Networking > > > > > >

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Help Identifying RAM Chips

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Yes, I suppose, but it also shows that the computers were not the real <cutting edge, The programming however was! The MMC had the disk completely wiped and even the timing tracks were gone. <like crypto and countermeasures gear. If it were the <absolute best, cutting edge technology, it would have been shredded <(literally - I have seen the end results). That's the point. The crypto and contermeasures stuff it was not the parts but the general designs that had to be hid. After all we didn't want it known how to encode or decode a cypher or jam a particular radar as everyone could do it. Often it was not so much the hardware but the underlying concepts. With computers the real advances were being made in the commercial and university spaces as that's the users that pushed for it or were experimenting with different approaches. If anything the military was the winner as they got to use it after the fact incorperating it into their systems. Generally the loss is that we didn't get to see how Purple or Enigma worked. But I do have a great article from the late 50s about how The radar display system was linked to the Sage system. Allison

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Yeah, I'm mostly interested in collecting micros, but I forget how big minis are. But if anyone has anything, that would be great. And how much does a Nova weigh? A DG? The whole package? TIA, Tim D. Hotze ---------- From: Doug Spence <ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Classic Computer Rescue Squad Date: Friday, November 07, 1997 1:26 PM On Thu, 6 Nov 1997, Tim Shoppa wrote: > Not a problem. I can get you a Nova 4 CPU+chassis, a DG terminal, a > 6045 14" disk drive, controller, and pack, and a 9-track tape drive, > all hooked together and running DG RDOS. How much space would a system like this take, and what kind of power is required to feed it? :) > Of course, because DG Novae haven't been featured in the _LA Times_ > or the _Chicago Tribune_, nobody wants them. The instant they are > featured, all sorts of lusers will start crawling out and insisting > they *need* a Nova, price is no object, just like happened with my > Altair's, IMSAI's, and Apple I's. I'd like a Nova, but I've so far not been courageous enough to think seriously about moving one from Vancouver to Montreal. :) I know nothing about minis. My entire collection consists of (generally very common) micros, and I'd almost be afraid to let a mini in the house in case something goes wrong. (My conscience does not handle damaging classic computer equipment well.) > Tim. (shoppa(a)triumf.ca) Doug Spence ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Help Identifying RAM Chips

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<The Minuteman missle computers were not the cutting edge and not very <secret. After all, they did end up on the surplus market without requiring <demil In 1971 is was nothing new but it's design was in the early 60s where is was state of the art. The fact that it declassified and sold as junk ten years later shows how fast things moved in that ten year span. As we moved forward in ten year spans we see different amount of technolical hops. Comparing the MMC to the PDP-8I shows that. The -8 was easily 1/4 the size and power and easily 10x faster. As to the use of computes for nav, that's likely the oldest use. The use I refer to was the targeting and tracking computer which relied on the navigation. Allison

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<>Maybe that's why I have an intel Intellec MDS 8080 development system What's significant is it was one of several used by the terminals and printers engineering at DEC to develope the VT100! <little minis inside. You know what else is just as nice the same way? Th <Tektronix boxes built around the LSI-11.... I've seen a few of them but the LSI-11 itself wasn't built poorly either. I have a few Q-bus PDP-11s. That was the point of the multibus design used in the MDS. They defined and created a distinct bus that was robust. The MDS box was the start of that that line (multibus cards) as well. <It's like having a '56 or '57 Mercedes. The whole world knows how sexy an <pricey a 300SL is, be it the Gullwing or the roadster; but it takes a It may be but when it's a particular one with a known history then there is more to it. Allison

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

test-drb