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

by dseagrav＠bsdserver.tek-star.net

I got both. The 73 runs, but I have no idea what to do with RSX11M. Can anyone help me out? It may not be a full RSX system. It's version 4.1

28 years, 5 months

3
4
0 0

Help Identifying RAM Chips

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Are you saying that, 10 years ago, the military had machines that could car <out calculations with the speed of a Pentium II -300? (I hesitate to mentio <the Alpha 5-433, because I think the alpha project was originally funded b <the military) No! the military had the best available technology of the time and only for applications that needed it. However P-II or alpha level perfomance was hard to come by ten years ago as that was your BIG cray and CDC type machines. Actually much of military technology was super rugged and not always the most modern. The computer(s) for F16 fly by wire are not very exotic save for they are absolutely fault tolerent, after all an error there can kill the pilot and destroy the aircraft at the maximum or cause a mission abort at the minimum. I say this as in the 71-72 time frame I had a friend that was a computer hacker and was able to get the then surplus Minuteman missle computers. Compared to the PDP-8I we both knew it was terrible! All transistor, no core (it used a 65kw disk for all storage). It was a major programming challenge to make it do anything even though it was in pristine condition. My understanding is a similar computer was used in the Intruder fighter/bomber which was then the current military inventory. Allison Alpha was not funded by military or even military business which formed only a small part of total DIGITAL bisiness. Alpha was DEC trying to figure what they could do to out VAX their VAX. The basic design had to address three problems, bigger numbers, super huge memories and indexes than might fit in 32bits and a need for more speed than even the most scaled and piplined vax could deliver.

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Franklin ACE

by dcoward＠pressstart.com

If anyone lives in the northern N.J. area and can help this person out, please contact him and copy me. > >I have a number of 5.25 disks that were created on a Franklin. They > >contain the memoirs of my late Uncle. The computer is no longer > >available. How can I access the information on these disks? >>I live in Wyckoff, NJ (Bergen County -about 15 miles from NY). I have >>not a clue what type of software was used. Can they be converted to >>Word, Wordperfect, or Prowrite? The subject of his message was ACE 2200. I have a working ACE 2200, and ACE Writer software, but I prefer not to have him risk his disks in the mail ("the truth and the first Altair are still out there"). This is one of the reasons I collect computers. Again if you can help him copy me too. The address is David Merdler <saxon12(a)bellatlantic.net> ========================================= Doug Coward dcoward(a)pressstart.com Senior Software Engineer Press Start Inc. Sunnyvale,CA Curator Museum of Personal Computing Machinery http://www.best.com/~dcoward/museum Attend the First Annual Vintage Computer Festival See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details! =========================================

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

PC/AT reference

by Zeus334＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-11-05 11:54:09 EST, you write: << Speaking of reference manuals, does anyone have any information / insights into a Visual Technologies Commuter? Manf in 1984, it uses two Intel chips (8086 and 8088) with a plethora of RAM chips not to mention at least four program subroutines. The manufacturer seems to have disowned this particular unit since two people in their tech department have not heard of it. Thanks in advance Sam >> 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.

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

RSX-11M and a PDP-11/73

by dseagrav＠bsdserver.tek-star.net

I got both, but I have no idea of what to do with RSX11M. Anyone care to help?

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

classic computer manuals

by Zeus334＠aol.com

I have the Commodore 64C manuals, and some disks. I also have the Commodore 64 Programmers' guide. I could probably get some manuals and disks for an Apple II, as well. I am not in the habit of shipping, though. __________________________________________________________ Original Message: Hi, I am a collector and classic enthusiast. I'm looking for copies of the original operating manuals for the following computers: Amiga 1000 Apple ][ plus Apple //e Apple //e Platinum Commodore 64 Apple DuoDisk Apple Disk II I also need original boot and os disks for these computers. If you have such materials, and they are in good-excellent condition, please email me at: mark(a)cyberlightstudios.com, and we can work out a price. I'd be very anxious to obtain these documents, particularly the Apple specific manuals. Thanks again, Mark

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by engine＠chac.org

At 12:40 11/6/97 -0800, you wrote: >....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. Apple I's, like, _plural_?? __________________________________________ Kip Crosby engine(a)chac.org http://www.chac.org/index.html Computer History Association of California

28 years, 5 months

2
1
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Classic Computer Rescue Squad

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Does anyone have any systems that they could sell me? Anything... all I've got is an XT that dosn't work. ---------- From: Tim Shoppa <shoppa(a)alph02.triumf.ca> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Classic Computer Rescue Squad Date: Thursday, November 06, 1997 8:45 PM > > After signing up for the Classic Computer Rescue Squad, I started > > thinking, if a big old machine actually needed a rescue, what > > would we do? I mean, maybe we should collect info on how big > > these old things are, in terms of floor-space, tonnage, time to > > dismantle, and so on. My recommendation is to get a truck with a lift-gate, especially if you don't have real loading docks at each end of the journey. A substantial amount of time and effort is saved if you can simply move entire racks onto the truck rather than having to unwire all the boxes and remove them from each rack. A liftgate that can handle the two- or three-bay racks is even better. I've made many rescues without liftgates, and usually I regret it! Moving 5000+ lbs of stuff with only a heavy-duty applicance dolly and a ramp wears you out quite quickly! Tim. (shoppa(a)triumf.ca)

28 years, 5 months

2
1
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Classic Computer Rescue Squad <delurk>

by prp＠hf.intel.com

> From: Bill Yakowenko <yakowenk(a)cs.unc.edu> >... > After signing up for the Classic Computer Rescue Squad, I started > thinking, if a big old machine actually needed a rescue, what > would we do? I mean, maybe we should collect info on how big > these old things are, in terms of floor-space, tonnage, time to > dismantle, and so on. Then, when a rescue call comes in, we > could maybe decide if we can feasibly deal with it, and if anyone > actually wants the thing. If only three guys show up to dismantle > 200 tons of vacuum tubes, it isn't gonna happen on-schedule. And > it's one thing to keep a mini in a corner, but not all of us can > arrange space for, say, a 360. So there are legitimate (if sad) > reasons that we might have to pass up a find. There are a small number of serious collectors and at least one museum who will make space for a big machine, depending on what it is. Any vacuum tube machine and most discrete transistor machines are a no-brainer, someone will want them. They are extremely rare and will in essentially all cases have been dismantled already. More recent machines may or may not be worth saving. In all cases with a big installation make sure there will be a home for it before carrying through with a rescue. Except for a few enormous installations like SAGE or Harvest, all gone now, a large mainframe will consist of (or can be taken apart into) no more than 10 large units each of which should fit in a medium size freight elevator. (Cray's are an exception, the CPU won't come apart.) There will also be a larger number of smaller peripherals such as disk drives, tape drives, console, printer, maybe card machines. One or two people can disassemble and pack a modern (e.g. IBM 370 series) air cooled mainframe in one (long) day. Other cases could take longer but generally not more than a week. More people is not necessarily a good thing. Some machines will benefit from specialized help from the manufacturer or a rigger or specialty moving crew. Always save all the documentation and software you can get. Paul

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

by engine＠chac.org

At 17:44 11/5/97 -0800, you wrote: >Bill Yakowenko wrote: >> Hey all. I think its about time I de-lurk and introduce myself. >>.... >> We had a couple SwTPC 6800 systems in my high school way back when, >> and I'd love to see one again (or own one!). > >Hi Bill, welcome to the list! BTW, what is SSB stuff? I think of SSB as >Single-Side Band.... Smoke Signal Broadcasting, SS50-bus micros -- SS50 was like oversize Molex. I also wanted to say that, Bill, that was very elegant of you; I can't remember having seen a properly executed <delurk> in years. The Net today has no time for the little graces. __________________________________________ 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

Hit the jackpot

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

Hello to all Had a pretty slow week last week only a few finds will later in week. Today I got a box load of SYM-1's somewere betweeen 15 and 20 of them. I still have not unpacked all the goodies I got today. After I count them and look them over I will offer them for trade or sale. I also got something called a IVS TRUMPCARD 500 by Interactive Video System and have no idea what it is, any help out there ? A copy of Disk Manager MAC in the box with manuals for .07. Apple Writer II model M6000 for $5.35. Also a Shimndru RPR-G1 GC Processor whatever that is, anyone ?? A HP model 2D-2 & 2D-3 Series X-Y recorder service & operating manual. Over at the goodwill a Apple Scanner flatbed model A9M0337 for $45. A Zenith Supersports 286 laptop for $5 and a AMIGA 520 for .25. Well that's all for now have tons of things to test out and will list later. Oh yes found a Next Cube today but the guy pulled it, he had two of them with KB, Mono monitors and mice complete units were $20. I will be going back next week to see if he will let them go. John Keep Computing !!!

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Sorry, I need to get this to PG Manney, there was

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

---------- From: Zane H. Healy <healyzh(a)ix.netcom.com> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Sorry, I need to get this to PG Manney, there was Date: Sunday, November 02, 1997 7:56 AM >> I'm new at collecting classics. What is a VIC-20? > >The VIC-20 was Commodore's first computer...2K of RAM (I think), did sounds >and color TV screen stuff. >The VIC-20 was my only >computer from '82-'86 unfortunatly I gave it away in '90, and I finally got >one to replace it today! Congradulations on getting your VIC-20, and I would like to know about it's specs. >I believe TV's in Bahrain are PAL instead of NTSC, or maybe I'm thinking of the United Arab Emirates. Yes, here in Bahrain they are PAL, but I'm an American, born and bred, and I'm only living here for a few years, so it's a multisystem, so it can do NTSC, PAL or any other major standard. They're PAL pretty much everywhere >from the UK to China, then in Japan, it goes back to NTSC. Thanks, Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 5 months

3
3
0 0

pong

by karmes＠kiva.net

I came across your email address when I was trying to find some information on pong. I was actually looking for what a current price maybe if you wanted to sell an Atari Pong home game. If you know where I may be able to find this informatin or you know it yourself, I would be very appreciative if you could share it with me. Thanks Kristi

28 years, 5 months

2
1
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Classic Computer Manuals

by mark＠cyberlightstudios.com

Hi, I am a collector and classic enthusiast. I'm looking for copies of the original operating manuals for the following computers: Amiga 1000 Apple ][ plus Apple //e Apple //e Platinum Commodore 64 Apple DuoDisk Apple Disk II I also need original boot and os disks for these computers. If you have such materials, and they are in good-excellent condition, please email me at: mark(a)cyberlightstudios.com, and we can work out a price. I'd be very anxious to obtain these documents, particularly the Apple specific manuals. Thanks again, Mark ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first---Invent the Universe ---Dr. Carl E. Sagan

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

apollo computers?

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 03:25 PM 11/5/97 -0500, SUPRDAVE(a)aol.com wrote: >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 Apollo made workstations similar to (in the eyes of an HP3000 guy) Sun workstations. They were bought by HP. They run X-windows, an adequate terminal emulator, and Mosaic. (I used one briefly during a stint at HP.) They might have Unix underneath, but I couldn't figure out how to do anything except connect to the 3000 and run Mosaic. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

Help Identifying RAM Chips

by Zeus334＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-11-05 00:04:30 EST, you write: << Oh yeah??? Military electronics has ALWAYS been about ten years ahead of what we see. That stuff is generally demilitarized (shredded) when it is taken out of service. The really high end stuff - crypto and countermeasures - always is destroyed beyond recognition. True, the computers in the F-16s and such may be a few years behind, but then they do not need such power. Things that need to do signal analysis on incoming radar pulses on the fly, or decrypting very high speed bursts of data do. >> Are you saying that, 10 years ago, the military had machines that could carry out calculations with the speed of a Pentium II -300? (I hesitate to mention the Alpha 5-433, because I think the alpha project was originally funded by the military)

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Core Memory

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Seeing how it's advertised as a 16 Meg module, it probably isn't <a particularly pretty example of core. In my opinion, the older <core styles - where the individual beads and wires are actually I'd be surprized, as that is huge for a core system. It's far to big for one plane. My guess is it's a 16k. Way back however EMC did corestore systems of disk sizes for rapid store/recall to replace things like swapping drums and rotating media systems. It would be fun to get something like that and have it working! Allison

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Computer collecting humor.

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

> > I have been told that the CDC Cyber 70/170-series used a 60-bit wordlength. > > Well, I am currently in a room full of 64 bitters (Alphas). Cray machines > as well... > > Many (all?) CDC machines are 60 bit machines. 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... Philip.

28 years, 5 months

4
3
0 0

Computer collecting humor.

by prp＠hf.intel.com

Strange word sizes were used in very early machines and special purpose machines, especially early military computers. If you look hard enough you can probably find any size, especially in the range 8-40. Here are some examples off the top of my head, but I probably have some of them wrong: > 4 (Intel 4004, etc) > 8 (Far too many to list) > 12 (PDP8, PDP12, etc) > 16 (Again far too many to list) > 18 (PDP1, etc) 19 Bendix G15, depending how you count > 20 (PERQ 1, PERQ 2) 22 Packard Bell 250, depending how you count (otherwise 23-24) > 24 (PERQ 4) <- Also Datacraft/Harris > 32 (Yep, a lot of those) > 36 (PDP10, etc) <- including IBM 701 series, Univac 1100 series 40 IAS, SWAC <- Here's the justification for the joke! 48 Burroughs 5500 etc. 60 CDC 6600, Cyber series 64, 128 IBM Stretch You get even more if you include decimal machines. (Is it fair to list the 4004 above?) > -tony Paul

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Two Items Found

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Hello. My computer was broken, and I have the day off, so I spent it mostly calling company after company after company about classic computers. I've found the following: A Sharp "M-80" (Or some letter -80) with a built in display. Probably has an 8088 processor. Nothing except tape drive. Requested price: about $80 USD (In the local currency, so it's a little off) And also a Olvetti Pr-something, like Prosignia, or Pro something PC-1. Monitior looks like it's a 13 inch or so mono. Keyboard and CPU built in, with two 3.5" FDDs. I'm not sure if they're DS DD or DS HD. Does anyone have info on these? How much do you think that they'd go for? Thanks, Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

PC/AT reference

by engine＠chac.org

At 08:06 11/5/97 -0500, you wrote: > 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). Actually, mine was maroon, although the slipcase was gray; and as for "Not yet a classic," the pub. date was of course 1984. You'd be welcome to mine if I still had it, but I don't....think.... I do. __________________________________________ 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

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Stupidity Strikes Again!

by dseagrav＠bsdserver.tek-star.net

While moving the 11/34 to a more lighted area, I broke the power switch off the back. Now it doesn't power on. I need a WHOLE NEW POWER SUPPLY! Damn! I hate myself sometimes! That was a Stupid, Stupid, Stupid Mistake!

28 years, 5 months

3
3
0 0

Computer collecting humor.

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<usually "a month late". Intel might have just bought it to stamp it out, <but my guess is they're aiming to do something with the RISC market, they <could be attempting to lower the Alpha's power down to H/PC levels and the What the hell. I used to work for DEC and DEC didn't sell ALPHA they sold the fab unit that does alpha. It's cheaper to have some other silicon foundry make the part to your spec. WD, intersil, AMD and Harris have over then years made parts for DEC that were designed by or for DEC. DEC plans to keep cranking the Alpha for bet your business systems than PCs have fallen short for. In the mean time I'm running a few old VAXen to remind me how much better an OS VMS (OK, OpenVMS) is. Allison

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Needed: rom for Model 100

by transit＠primenet.com

Hi folks. I picked up a Tandy Model 100 laptop computer from a local thrift store a few days ago, for about $9. So far so good, but it doesn't have any ROM's in it (both sockets on the bottom of the machine are empty) When I switch it on, then off , the "Low Battery" light flickers, but that's all (the LCD stays blank) So, are these ROMS (which I think I need) something I can still order from Tandy (without paying an arm and a leg)? Thanks in advance (Oh, and I saw, but didn't buy, an Amiga Joyboard . . .) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charles P. Hobbs __ __ ____ ___ ___ ____ transit(a)primenet.com /__)/__) / / / / /_ /\ / /_ / / / \ / / / / /__ / \/ /___ / -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

28 years, 5 months

4
9
0 0

Change History

by Chwolka＠nt-gmbh.de

http://cdl.uta.edu/cpm/changes.html -- Greetings from Fritz Chwolka / collecting old computers just for fun supporting the Unofficial CP/M Web Page look at http://cdl.uta.edu/cpm/ and my little collection at http://www.ac.cybercity.de/user/00136/ *-------------------------------------------------------* ! Internet: Chwolka(a)nt-gmbh.de ! ! fritz.chwolka(a)ac.cybercity.de ! ! ! ! some times Chwolka(a)t-online.de ! *=======================================================* ! ! ! If you have an old CP/M System don't throw it away. ! ! Try to find someone who give the system a new home. ! ! ! *-------------------------------------------------------*

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Temple Univ. haul

by william＠ans.net

> I just passed on the optical mouse and some keyboards for the Sun's. Passing on the optical mice or keyboards (type 3 or 4) is no great shakes. However... Passing on Sun optical mouse pads for type 3 or 4 mice is a crime punishable by death. They are unique _two_ color pads (the horizontal stripes are a different color from the verticle ones) that Sun does not make anymore (contrary to Sun Direct's sales people, the pads they sell are for the normal type 5 mice). In short, the things are getting quite rare. > I will > be going back next Saturday to pick up some other things I will see if they > still have them. You will need a shoebox (has the HD) to really do anything > other then run the build in diagnostic. I get back to you You can boot the thing off a network - no local disk required. William Donzelli william(a)ans.net

28 years, 5 months

2
2
0 0

Computer collecting humor.

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

I remember when I wouldn't take a 286. I needed POWER. Like a SERVER. How 'bout a 486??? THAT WOULD LAST UNTIL THE 21st CENTURTY TOO!!! IT COULD RUN WINDOWS 3.1 with NO RAM ERRORS!!! And then when upgrading to Windows 95, I remember the guy there specifaclly falling down laughing, resulting in purchasing 16MB of RAM (Then at $10 a MB), to add to the 12 I had, along with a 486 DX/2 processor. I doubt that the 432 would actually take it. But I think that Intel aimed it at the wrong market. The Digital Alpha (Recently aquired by Intel, with it's RISC... yes, RISC technology) has had some success, with 600 MHz of power in a single chip and x86 "translation software" written by Digital. Also, there is a version of Windows NT 4.0 made ONLY for Alpha's, so the translation software is not used there. Microsoft writes programs like Internet Explorer for Alphas, but they're usually "a month late". Intel might have just bought it to stamp it out, but my guess is they're aiming to do something with the RISC market, they could be attempting to lower the Alpha's power down to H/PC levels and then WINDOWS CE. Maybe they'll take the 300 MHz version, that was avaible in 1995. If Apple can get 150 Mhz into a handheld, why can't Intel? But back to classics. Would the 432 be capible today if it were given a second chance? One last thing. I remember something about a huge warehouse filled with classics. Has anyone heard since? Ciao, Tim D. Hotze

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Help Identifying RAM Chips

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<Wrong. For a while (in the early 90's) I subscribed to a magazine called <Defense Electronics. The military had things like 50ns RAM available then <They are way ahead in many areas; they can afford to (or used to be able to <anyway) throw money at things, and they often got first dibs. fast parts... keep this in mind: Good, fast, cheap, pick any two. In 1982 NEC and Intel sold 1kx4 (2149), 4kx1(2147) and 16kx1(2167) these were static mos parts that were anywhere from 35ns to a slow 70ns. They were widely available and about 7-9x the cost of the 4116 16kx1 dram. The problem was that '83 brought 64kx1 parts that were as cheap as the 4116, faster than the 4116 but were about 270ns-Tcy/200ns-Tcas. When your building a system the 4164 (8 of them) used roughly 240ma. the same memory using the super fast 2167 (32of them) would eat a whopping 2.16 Amps! Speed costs! It would also produce more heat. In late '83 I built a system using a 8088/8mhz with 256k of 2167s besides being amazingly fast. However 128 of those 2167s tended to heat up the place and their cost was $768 compared to $128 for the fairly new 4164 and the $96 for the very new 41256. Also using the newest 256k part would fit 4mb of ram where 256k of static parts fit and still use less than half the power. By 1990 32kx8 static rams were in the sub 30ns region. Drams were fairly fast for page mode but their requirement to have the address stuffed in in two pieces will add time to the ability to access in exchange for power savings, pins and packing density. Dram was never as fast but usually their density was the win. For the current generation of 200mhz and faster systems cache is barely able to keep up. look at the cost of 16mb of dram compared to 512k of fast cache ram. Allison

28 years, 5 months

1
0
0 0

Query

by Aperiodic＠aol.com

Anybody have any information pertaining to a Visual Technologies unit # Visual 1083? I think its also called a "Commuter". Thanks in advance. Sam Uncler

28 years, 5 months

2
1
0 0

Beginners Need Help

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 05:55 PM 11/3/97 +0300, you wrote: >more. But I need a basic list of systems that are 1. Easy To Find 2. >Important enough to draw attention. 1. Depends greatly on where you are. (TI & Tandy common as dirt in Texas, less common in, say, Bahrain.) 2. Depends greatly on the audience. (Common bloke: Apple I, Osborne 01, Altair, a couple others. Me: Atari Portfolio, Model 100, NEC Starlet, Outbound Laptop, etc.) I would seriously recommend checking around on the web for the various virtual museums out there. If you don't know where to start, try <http://www.chac.org/> and check out the list of links. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

Computer collecting humor.

by carl.friend＠stoneweb.com

On Sat, 1 Nov 1997 12:43:58 -0500 (EST), kstumpf(a)unusual.on.ca remarked: > How many computer collectors does it take to change a light bulb? > Forty. ^^^^^ Shouldn't that really be a power of two, or maybe some bizarre permutation of 12, 16, 18, or 36? And, of course, the punch line: > One to change the light bulb and thirty-nine to chat about how good > the old one was. ______________________________________________________________________ | | | | 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
5
0 0

Help Identifying RAM Chips

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

I wouldn't be so sure about the military part... their MIS seems to either have gone to school and got a degree in dentistry or learned on the Eniac.... corporate will always be faster than military. There is no "secret operations" that deal with these areas of computers. But maybe a company like Microsoft or maybe IBM had someone design something faster..... we'll be at 15ns soon enough anyway. We've gone from 70ns in late 94 to only 45ns today, and SRAM has become so darn fast.... by the way, does anyone know about overclocking an 8088 (the 8mhz variety), by NEC, not Intel? Hope that this input helps, Tim D. Hotze ---------- From: jpero(a)cgo.wave.ca To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Help Identifying RAM Chips Date: Monday, November 03, 1997 3:26 AM > I disagree with both of you. 300ns is more like the 70's to me. Even the > 1982 IBM PC XT had 200ns RAM. A year later adding a third to that figure > makes no since. But 300ns might be right; as I would KILL for 30ns RAM in > a Pentium 233!!!! Even the fastest EDO RAM (Slightly outdated, but still > recent) is at 50ns; so 30ns makes ZERO sense. > Correct, the number 1 is 64k and I bet that is for video use i think because: I have old machines like this designs usually uses big 24 dip static memory or dynamic 64k in 4 bits form maybe. 300 Could be static memory more likely than dynamic type which might be 8k x 8bit in a 24 or 26 pin fat package and mostly likely found in video section. Oh yeah, I'm very sure that was normal configuration for that CGA video type for that time in 1983's, that should have 2 of them to make 16k. Other last 3 chips, they're all 256k x 1bit at 150ns. Note! Change all 9 chips in a bank to keep reliablity which you might have experienced having problems suppose if you had just did one chip... 150ns could be 8mhz because 4.77mhz takes exactly 210ns per instruction in 8088 so IBM used 200ns chips. Oh, Tim, I would be surprised if military accidently released 15ns in early 1980's Oh no! :) NOT! The fastest current drams of any kind was 45ns and mostly used in video cards for no reason where 60ns would do well...static chips did not hit 30ns mark for nearly 7 years later, I think. Troll the hardware guy. > ---------- > From: Tim Shoppa <shoppa(a)alph02.triumf.ca> > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> > Subject: Re: Help Identifying RAM Chips > Date: Monday, November 03, 1997 5:35 AM > > > Your chip #1 is a 64k chip speed of 30ns, chips 2&3 are 256k at 150ns > speed. > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Big nip to save bandwidth... Yes right, Tim.

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Computer collecting humor.

by chemif＠mbox.queen.it

At 10.36 04/11/97 +0000, you wrote: >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) Riccardo

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Help Identifying RAM Chips

by sinasohn＠ricochet.net

At 06:13 PM 11/3/97 +0300, you wrote: >I wouldn't be so sure about the military part... their MIS seems to either >have gone to school and got a degree in dentistry or learned on the >Eniac.... corporate will always be faster than military. There is no >"secret operations" that deal with these areas of computers. But maybe a Wrong. For a while (in the early 90's) I subscribed to a magazine called Defense Electronics. The military had things like 50ns RAM available then. They are way ahead in many areas; they can afford to (or used to be able to, anyway) throw money at things, and they often got first dibs. I mean, if you had developed a spiffy new toilet seat, and were going to sell it for $50 each, but the military guys showed up and said "we'll buy 10,000 of them for $10,000 each, but you can't tell anyone about them", what would you do? --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/

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Spectrum case colour

by pjoules＠enterprise.net

e.tedeschi wrote: >Yes, the darker colour +2 is really a +2a which Amstrad decided to make >incompatible with the other Spectrum extensions. Is his why some (but not all) of my old spectrum 48k software will not load on this one? Regards Pete #include <std_disclaimer>

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Darnit! UDA50 problem.

by Philip.Belben＠powertech.co.uk

> > > Absolutely. The wire in question is between pins CA1 and CB1 on the _same_ > > > slot - the slot the control cart of the UDA50 is in. It's a little loop of > > > wire, and is quite difficult to find the first time. > > > > Okay... I'll give it a shot! But if I foul up, I'm stuck - I don't have > > a wirewrap tool. > > You can always solder a jumper back in place. Oh, come on, Tony, _please!_ Individual socket pins from various types of connector (including D I think) fit quite well over these backplane pins. Crimp or solder a short length of wire to two of these and hey presto! A removable NPG jumper. NB take care that these don't stick out so far as to foul on the case... Philip.

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Darnit! UDA50 problem.

by dseagrav＠bsdserver.tek-star.net

I got the 34, and I just located a UDA50 for it, known working. Cost me $30. I plugged it in, and connected the RA81. It's cabled like this: +----+ +-----+ |1134| | RA81| +----+ +----|+ 1 /-----3/ | | |----**** | | +2+ Cable 1 is the cable from the UDA50. Cable 2 is a normal SDI cable Cable 3 is attached to the RA81 **** is a 4-port SDI bulkhead plug. I have the UDA going in port 1, the patch going from port 1 to port 3, and the RA on port 3. I boot RT11SJ from a RX02 (Because I don't have a DU bootstrap) and tell it "boot du0:" The machine sits there. If I look, 2 led's come on the 2nd (terminator side) uda board, the first 2 closest to the PS. They strobe normally when the machine starts. They stay that way. If I halt the CPU, the BUS ERR light comes on. Did I foul up the cabling, or is the UDA or drive toast, or what?

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Computer collecting humor.

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<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 Generally there are several parameters instruction word size, largest data word size, internal bus size and external bus size. Some are archtectually decided. The 8088 was 16 bit. What you have is instruction size (8bit!), register size(16bit) and databus size(8 or 16). the 8088 and 8086 are the identical processor save for the data bus is 8bits on the 8088 as small systems economy vs speed measure. The processor assembles the bytes as needed internally. Advanatage of an 8bit bus is cost and the expense of some speed. Motorola did that with the 6800x, it was internally 32bit, but available as 8/16 bit bus and sold as a 16 bit processor. <I believe that there are some CPU chips now with 64-bit internal buses. <Any advance on 64? Alpha early was external 64bit and later external 128bit but the register structure is 64bit. <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? Unknown here. Allison

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Computer collecting humor.

by allisonp＠world.std.com

< 9 (Texas 99/4, 990/10, TMS 9900) the ti machines were all 16bit. < 86 (Intel Docet again) ???? Intel has done 2(bitslice), 4, 8, 16, and 32. 1bit Moto 14500 (actually 1bit data and 4 bit control word) 4bit ti1000, NEC uCOM4, NEC 75xx series, 4004, 4040 all had 4 bit data paths but the instruction words were 8bit! 22bit Perkin Elmur 60bit CDC 64bit DEC Alpha Allison

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Apple _did_ release rights to 2nd party!

by coslor＠pscosf.peru.edu

In the past I have seen a _little_ discussion here about how some companies, such as Tandy (with their CoCo), and other companies should re-release their old 8-bit computers targeted towards the current kids community... similar to what v-tech does with their kids computers. I also heard a comment recently that said there is no way Apple computers would ever license someone else to produce their computers... I beleive the discussion was regarding the black case Apples. Anyway, I recently saw in Christmas Catalog that Tiger Computing is selling a computer, that takes cartridges only, for about $200. You hook it to your tv, and most of the available software is original Apple titles by MECC, a popular Apple educational software developer. It even says in the description that this little lap-top size unit is licensed from Apple, and based on Apple //e technology! Even more, you can buy a cheap 14.4 modem cartridge that allows internet access. Does anyone have one of these Tigers? Just curious. Also, still looking for a Laser 50 (Sam Ismail? Bill? etc., etc., and am curious for more information on my Laser 310 I just picked up. Maybe a trade straight across? Well, my $.02 worth, CORD //*=====================================================================++ || Cord G. Coslor P.O. Box 308 - 1300 3rd St. Apt "M1" -- Peru, NE || || (402) 872- 3272 coslor(a)bobcat.peru.edu 68421-0308 || || Classic computer software and hardware collector || || Autograph collector || ++=====================================================================*//

28 years, 5 months

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Computer collecting humor.

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

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. Tim D. Hotze ---------- From: Riccardo Romagnoli <chemif(a)mbox.queen.it> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Computer collecting humor. Date: Tuesday, November 04, 1997 4:49 PM At 10.36 04/11/97 +0000, you wrote: >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) Riccardo

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Help Identifying RAM Chips

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

I disagree with both of you. 300ns is more like the 70's to me. Even the 1982 IBM PC XT had 200ns RAM. A year later adding a third to that figure makes no since. But 300ns might be right; as I would KILL for 30ns RAM in a Pentium 233!!!! Even the fastest EDO RAM (Slightly outdated, but still recent) is at 50ns; so 30ns makes ZERO sense. ---------- From: Tim Shoppa <shoppa(a)alph02.triumf.ca> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Help Identifying RAM Chips Date: Monday, November 03, 1997 5:35 AM > Your chip #1 is a 64k chip speed of 30ns, chips 2&3 are 256k at 150ns speed. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I disagree with the 30ns figure; why the heck would a Compaq Portable from 1983 have 30ns RAM in it? 300ns seems far more likely, and is perfectly consistent with the numbering >from manufacturers of that era. > The last set of tell the the size and speed (64-3 and 256-15). John > >I have two original Compaq Portables, both of which are giving POST > >errors when they boot which indicate bad RAM. I have gone through a few > >... > >Chip #1: > >Hitachi > >1818-3006 > >Japan 8332U > >HM4864P-3 Tim. (shoppa(a)triumf.ca)

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Items for trade or sale

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

the following are for trade or sale by a guy here in St. Paul MN. PLEASE e-mail him directly at sloan003(a)maroon.tc.umn.edu Apples - IIc with case, monitor, power supply Platinum IIe with Duo drive, platinum monitor IIplus with amber monitor, 2 drives IIe with monitor, one drive KB's - 2 MAC Plus type, 2 MAC II type, 1 MAC 128 type Mice - 2 old type early MAC's MAC Plus computer Apple Imagewriter II printer 2 Conner 40meg HD 10 MAC SE manuals new in package Tons of new manuals for MAC's Apple II's and other Apple products(ask for list) Appletalk card new Mac II network card

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Beginners Need Help

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

>Date: Mon, 03 Nov 1997 19:34:29 -0600 >To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu >From: "John R. Keys Jr." <jrkeys(a)concentric.net> >Subject: Re: Beginners Need Help > >Pickup a copy of A Collector's Guide to Personal Computers and Pocket Calculators by Dr. Thomas F. Haddock. It's a great book. John >At 05:55 PM 11/3/97 +0300, you wrote: >>Hello. I'm not so much a classic specialist as a computer specialist, as I >>love both old and new computers. I'm not a proffesional, but do know >>BASIC, DOS and all other kinds of stuff which the fast-moving stream of >>technology has left behind, unfortunately. But anyway, I didn't know jack >>about computers in the early 80's, other than what the average Joe knew: >>Keyboard, commands, annoying. But since '92, I've been learning more and >>more. But I need a basic list of systems that are 1. Easy To Find 2. >>Important enough to draw attention. >> Thanks, >> >> Tim D. Hotze >> >> >

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Sorry, I need to get this to PG Manney, there was an error when I sent it direct....

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Sorry it took so long. I tried mailing you, but there was an error. ---------- From: PG Manney <manney(a)nwohio.com> To: photze(a)batelco.com.bh Subject: Re: The link you sent Date: Thursday, October 30, 1997 6:01 PM >It's really comforting to know that some people have consionace. >Thanks. I'm trying to raise my children with consciences, too. We're >Christians, and we feel that treating people *right* is very important Those people will be the future leaders of our world. >I hope >that you're not in a hurry: A friend's giving me a new board, and they say >that it could take some time to get it, but as soon as I get it, they new >board will get shipped to you. Don't worry, I won't give it to anyone >else. I always need motherboards and drives (got any old IDE drives around?), because I buy and sell computers. We're out here in the wilds of Ohio (USA), where many people have older systems...I even sold a Commodore the other day! I have an old IDE drive, it's a Segate 41 MB. It says ST-251, then on a seperate sticker it says -1 right next to the first one. Serial number is 25534738. It's the large kind, like they had back in the early 80's. If you repair computers, I have a additional 486/SX 33 that I could throw in. >remember the XT being the first IBM, but I might be wrong. The IBM PC (model 5150, IIRC was the first PC...you can tell that one from the TX sinc the PC had a small funny keyboard (very small, oddly placed "Enter" key), 5 slots (the XT had 8) and a Cassette plug next to the keyboard one. Also, the case said "IBM Personal Computer" instead of "IBM Personal Computer XT". The motherboard was redesigned in the XT (the PC, for example, had 2 banks of DIP switches on the motherboard, instead of one). The XT counted out memory when it booted up, the PC just gave you a flashing cursor to stare at. Actually, the IBM 5100 was the first desktop computer. It had 8" drives, a dedicated printer and all that...it bombed, and IBM didn't try again until the PC. >Lessee...I have several Commodores, a couple of VIC-20's (one in original >box with original packaging, used once.), a couple of Apples... two or three >PC's and an XT (I think). It would be better to send *anything* but the >IBM's, because everything else is plastic-cased, and therefore lighter. >Still, you're the customer! I'm new at collecting classics. What is a VIC-20? And what model of Comodore, and Apple? I have a TV screen, I even have one in the guest bedroom that's used once in a blue moon. Didn't the older Apples up to the IIGS have attached monitors? (I remember a few Macs that had one later than that...) >The Post Office tells me that 44 lbs will cost $89 US to send to you. If you >have a TV screen, you can save on the cost of shipping a monitor for an >Apple/Commodore/anything else. (The IBM will work a TV screen with the right >card, but colors are funny). Thanks, Tim D. Hotze

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Help Identifying RAM Chips

by jrkeys＠concentric.net

You are right it was a typo on my part. At 06:35 PM 11/2/97 -0800, you wrote: >> Your chip #1 is a 64k chip speed of 30ns, chips 2&3 are 256k at 150ns speed. > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > >I disagree with the 30ns figure; why the heck would a Compaq >Portable from 1983 have 30ns RAM in it? 300ns seems >far more likely, and is perfectly consistent with the numbering >from manufacturers of that era. > >> The last set of tell the the size and speed (64-3 and 256-15). John >> >I have two original Compaq Portables, both of which are giving POST >> >errors when they boot which indicate bad RAM. I have gone through a few >> >... >> >Chip #1: >> >Hitachi >> >1818-3006 >> >Japan 8332U >> >HM4864P-3 > >Tim. (shoppa(a)triumf.ca) > >

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C-64

by Zeus334＠aol.com

Would anyone be interested in C-64 stuff and a bunch of tapes? I have a 1541 drive, and okidata printer, a bunch of famous programs (space rogue, LOGO, bank street writer, GEOS, F-14 Tomcat,etc.), a few joysticks, a Koala pad with software. 300 bps modem. No actual C-64.I don't want to ship this stuff, but I'll give it for free to anyone who picks it up in Boston, MA, USA. Also, I have some reel to reel tapes, some labelled ADES, NOVA controller, and other things. Most are dated 1980's, 1990's. I'll give them away too.

28 years, 5 months

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Space problems in the UK and US

by sinasohn＠crl.com

At 05:44 AM 10/26/97 +0300, you wrote: >I have a similiar problem: Due to the large size of the XT style >motherboards, my desk devoted to classic computers isn't big enough. I can >fit the computer on, the monitor on the computer, and the keyboard on the >floor. When you try to type, it's not fun. (Type a command. Stop. Before Look into the monitor arms that let attach to your desk and support your monitor above the desk/computer. Many of them have a simple wire rack that pulls out in front to hold a keyboard. (Basically, it's just a square U of metal that slides in and out.) There are other advantages to this as well. If you're working on several computers that use the same type of monitor, you don't need to move the monitor to swap CPU's. Also, it lets you use the monitor-over-CPU set up for machines that aren't flat boxes (like a C64, atari 800 or SOL-20.) You can also swing it out of the way if you want to work on the computer. >PS- How do you post an origional message? Do you just send one to9 >classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu , or somewhere else? Yep. --------------------------------------------------------------------- O- 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

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Need Jumper Settings...

by photze＠batelco.com.bh

Okay, thanks, but I need to know jumper settings. There is a set of four jumpers accessable in the back when the graphics board is installed. Thanks, Tim D. Hotze ---------- From: jpero(a)cgo.wave.ca To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: Re: Need Jumper Settings... Date: Monday, November 03, 1997 2:27 PM "CHIPS" is Chip & Technologies. Well, Sounds like you gotten a great chipset type: it can emulate EGA driving any monitor TTL, CGA while in EGA. Very good. I think C&T first chipset was this kind that allowed low cost computers to happen. Then C&T did in 286 and 386 chipsets including cached types as well. Not too bad chipset for 286 but tends to be bit slower in 386 especially at higher mhz. Now C&T is focusing only on video chipsets for portable applications only mainly driving flat panels. Troll

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Help Identifying RAM Chips

by allisonp＠world.std.com

<company like Microsoft or maybe IBM had someone design something <faster..... we'll be at 15ns soon enough anyway. We've gone from 70ns in <late 94 to only 45ns today, and SRAM has become so darn fast.... by the I've been in the technology for 20 years and 15 NS up until the 90s was bipolar or ECL territory and those technologies were not dense enough to yeild large memories or cheap. There were static mos/cmos parts that were fast but in the mid 80s 70ns was still very quick and 45ns was at the corner of the technology. <way, does anyone know about overclocking an 8088 (the 8mhz variety), by <NEC, not Intel? By how much? 10% is generally doable and depending on the mask and age of the part it may have been faster than marked. The problem is everything around the 8088 has to run faster and the eproms/rams are likely unable to keep up as 10mhz was state of the art for the time and even then wait states had to be inserted to keep things in sync. I'd recommend not trying as the amount to could get is not significant enough and you may cause other problems in the process. If sped is a must find an AT or 386. Even a 386sx/16 is at least 3-5x faster! Allison

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