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

by thedm＠sunflower.com

I have a pretty good inventory of these types of things, let me know exactly what you need, and I'll see if I have one. I may not have original IBM, but I can get you up. ---------- > From: Tim Shoppa <shoppa(a)alph02.triumf.ca> > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> > Subject: Re: IBM XT Parts > Date: Sunday, July 06, 1997 12:45 AM > > > Does anyone know of a good second hand supplier of parts for XT's? > > I need a replacement keyboard, and would prefer to get an original > > replacement. Would also like to know where to get things like controller > > cards, full height IBM 360K floppy drives, and low capacity MFM and RLL > > harddrives. > > Stuff like you want isn't usually carried by the mainstream > merchandisers. (Though I'd expect you could find XT keyboards > without too much difficulty; I remember buying some keyboards at Fry's just > last year that were switchable between XT and AT via a little slide > switch on the bottom.) You're best bet is to hit the electronic > surplus stores in your area and dig through their bins. Here > in Vancouver, there's a place called "Computer Warehouse" which > has an excellent supply of XT- and AT-era hardware, including > floppies, controller cards, and MFM drives. When I lived in LA, > All Electronics (especially their big store on Oxnard in Van Nuys) > was a good source of this stuff. University and school surplus > auctions are also a good place to find this sort of stuff. > Tell us where you are and someone > local to you may be able to point you in the right direction. > > Tim.

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

pieces of metal and plastic

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

In message <199707031310.GAA04318(a)mx5.u.washington.edu> classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu writes: > I got more into the guts of the HP-71, which was a 20-bit, nybble-oriented. > It had a Saturn chip (I think), on which I programmed in FORTH. A FORTH > chip was talked about for the HP-41 (never heard it called a coco, though) > but I don't know if it jelled. 'Coconut' was certainly the code-name for the HP41 I also like the HP71B. They're very easy to find in the UK at the moment, and tend to sell for about \pounds 20.00. Forth/assembler ROMs are a lot rarer, though, but the built-in Basic is quite nice. I was very lucky - I managed to obtain all the technical docs on the HP71B, including a commented source of the ROMs. It's a very interesting machine internally. The Saturn (which is used in a lot of later HP handhelds, including the HP48 family) is a strange chip. I'd not call it 20 bit, though. Addresses (nybble addresses!) are 20 bits, most registers are 64 bits, and the ALU is (I think) 4 bits. Call it whatever size you like. > -tony >

28 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

'Home' computer: Definition

by allisonp＠world.std.com

> From: ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell) > 4) Education. This includes 'writing programs for fun', understanding h > computers (hardware and software) works, etc. This is IMHO the main use > classic computers to the average person these days, and the way we'll a > more people into the hobby. I've said before that you can learn more ab > processor operation by spending a couple of days with a minicomputer CP > schematics for it and a 'scope than by sitting through most lecture cou > the subject. This I consider a big item. Some of the classic machines are significant in their simplicity or usful in that you can point to identifiable elements (ram, ALU, CONTROL). I frequently use the PDP-8 design for this as it's very simple and the instruction set is about as minimal as can be and still be useful. The same can be asid for some of the 8bitters as well. Allison

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Question about Sanyo Lunchbox

by manney＠nwohio.com

> Robert Kirk Scott wrote: > > > > Has anyone got any ifo on a Sanyo lunchbox, model number MBC-675? > > It brings up a screen that says: > > > > 1701 > > 0 Hard Disks Installed > > ROM Bios v2.33 > > 640kb memory/ CPU clock 4.77MHz > > > > Then it just hangs. A boot disk will not work either. Does the floppy drive LED light up during startup? It should, whether or not the HDD works, and you should be able to boot from a floppy, even with a dead HDD. Therefore if a boot disk doesn't work, either your floppy system is defunct or it's in the motherboard. An easy fix -- which doesn't always work -- is to disconnect and replace all cables. It's fairly easy -- pull cables one end at a time *only*, so you don't forget where they went. Each device has 2 things going into it...a flat (usually, grey, sometimes blue) ribbon cable, for the data; and a power cable. Both are keyed, so you can't put them in backwards. Trace the data cable from the floppy(ies) back to the controller card, and pull & replace. Those are usually pins, and *can* be replaced backwards, so take care. You can swap the controller card into another slot -- any slot should work. If all slots are filled, exchange two cards. Chips work their way out of their sockets ("chip creep"); push every socketed chip back in. I have boxes of cables, controller cards and drives if you need any; e-mail me. If the floppy disk does its thing, are you sure the floppy itself is OK? It must be low density (you can tell by the hub ring) and have the proper files; try booting another machine with it. Not all DOS's will work on all machines -- I've even seen some older machines that won 't boot under DOS 6.x

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Building User Communities (long)

by sinasohn＠crl.com

At 02:04 PM 7/3/97 -0700, you wrote: >of the fun is sharing it with other TI users. And part of the fun of >having this old computer is that there are other people bucking the >trend along with me. In other words, we have a TI computer user >community, and that is a very hefty reason for sticking with the TI [...] >exciting new "modern applications" or attracting new people to adopt a >simple machine that can perform "common everyday household computing >tasks" that they DON'T need a Pentium to do. [...] >hoping to create a dialog for HOW to do this, particularly strategies to >attract people to join the community, and to share technology of "modern >applications" that one community may have successfully achieved and I am facing a similar situation in the Atari community. I have to admit that I gave away my 600XL in favor of the ST long before the thought of collecting computers ever hit me. Similarly, my ST's and Falcons are pretty much dedicated to studio stuff (and I don't get to "play" with that much these days) and I use my windows laptop almost exclusively (6-16hrs/day). Nonetheless, I am president of ABACUS, the Atari Bay Area Computer Users Society, and probably will continue to be for a long time. Atarians are somewhat lucky in that there is a reasonably strong vendor market, good user groups, and wonderful emulation options. Still, ABACUS has been experiencing a seriously declining membership recently as people traded in their ST's for PC's. We talked about it, and decided that what even the PC people didn't want to lose was the "family" we had built up in the club. There are lots of PC user groups, but none with the character of ABACUS. (How many clubs have a Land Rover owner, a waffle collector, and a 76 year old newsletter editor?) So we changed a bit to meet the new focus of the club members. We now have a "PC SIG" and demo PC software and hardware at the meetings, along with ST stuff. We feature general interest (computer) articles in the newsletter (such as my never-ending part 2<x> of my 3 part series on building web pages) as well as humour and general commentary. We continue to support the ST/Falcon folks as we expand to service the new interests of members. This lets members move on to newer things (graphical web browsers (yes, we know about STiK/CAB, but it's not netscape), CD-ROM's, etc.) while still keeping the ST alive. But, we've not done much about getting new members (either PC or ST). Your message has gotten me thinking, though. Every now and then I get a call >from someone who's got an ST for sale, and I have to tell them there's just not much market for them here. Perhaps we could set something up to get those machines into the hands of someone who could use them and is otherwise unable to afford them. (Goodness knows we've got enough kids with no $ around here!) The biggest hurdle facing the general public in putting older computers to work is the lack of support. (P.S., Cliff Stoll is an idiot sometimes.) They can buy a PC at Circuit City and half their neighbors will be able to set it up for them or answer questions. (Etc.) Not so with machines not quite so mainstream. But if user groups made the effort to become known and to support these computers, they could do a lot of good. Maybe even working with teachers or youth programs to make the computers available, and the kids *WILL* use them. I've seen it happen and I know it makes a difference. (My living room is loaded with older Macs -- until school starts again.) Anyway, sorry to blather on so long, but I think that "obsolete" computers are still useable, valuable, and beneficial. So lets talk about turning people on to them! --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 9 months

4
3
0 0

'Home' computer: Definition

by sinasohn＠crl.com

At 10:36 PM 7/3/97 -0700, you wrote: >people to follow suit. Most people would rather use the latest and greatest. A lot of people would rather use the latest and greatest, but a lot more can only afford a pinto. >Not likely. There's no money in it. Why spend all your time and energy >writing non-saleable TI apps when you can be writing million dollar >peecee games? But there are already TI (or other) apps out there that make the TI a very useable machine. From the user side of things, those million dollar peecee games still cost $39.95, as much as a complete TI and software sometimes. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Building User Communities (clipped)

by idavis＠comland.com

At 10:54 AM 7/4/97 -0700, Uncle Roger wrote: >But, we've not done much about getting new members (either PC or ST). Your >message has gotten me thinking, though. Every now and then I get a call >from someone who's got an ST for sale, and I have to tell them there's just >not much market for them here. Perhaps we could set something up to get >those machines into the hands of someone who could use them and is otherwise >unable to afford them. (Goodness knows we've got enough kids with no $ >around here!) > Due to an accident(broken arm) with my then 5 week old daughter, about a month ago, I spent two days in the local childrens hospital. She is fine now, but at the time, my two sons ages 6 and 3 were bored to tears. On my way back to the room, I noticed a room with an old apple, and some other non computer items. I asked a nurse, and she mentioned that they would love to have some more computers for the kids to use. There were kids in there that were really sick, and I'm sure that there are times where they are bored to tears as well. My point to this whole rant, is that old "obsolete" computers with some fun software would make some happy kids who are in a really bad situation. Any spare computers I run across will be making the trip to the local childrens hospital. I would encourage anyone else who gets calls and doesn't know what to do with these extras to check out their local scene. Who knows, these kids might be able to turn out some really good software. Isaac Davis | Don't throw away that old computer, check out the idavis(a)comland.com | Classic Computer Rescue List indavis(a)juno.com | http://www.comland.com/~idavis/classic/classic.html

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Laser 50 computer

by coslor＠pscosf.peru.edu

I posted a message a day or two ago, and I wanted to thank Sam Ismail for responding. I am wondering if anyone else might have one of these Laser 50 computers available (Sam wasn't able to part with any :-( ?? Some more information on this computer. It was manufactured by V-Tech (Video technology Ltd.) in the mid 1980s. It was a small, white, lap-top size computer. It had a single line LCD display and was marketed as a childrens education or beginner's computer. You could expand this 1.5k system by buying cassette recorder, two different printers, and a memory expansion cartridge. OH, yes... you could save up to 9 different programs internally on the computer. Now I also remember it ran on batteries though you could hook up a DC converter to plug into the wall. Had a full-feature BASIC programming language built in, including sound commands... although it didn't have any graphics capabilities (that I know of) it was a fun little computer. Anyway, what I am asking is if anyone out there has one of these or knows where I might be able to find one.... PLEASE let me know. I used to have one (lost it YEARS ago) and I would like my children to be able to use it a bit... plus it's kind of a piece of my computing history that I would like to bring back to my collection! Thanks a lot, and I hope someone has an inkling obout this machine. P.S. This isn't an Apple or IBM close. Best Wishes, CORD COSLOR //*=====================================================================++ || 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, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Building User Communities (long)

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

> I am facing a similar situation in the Atari community. I have to admit The HP calculator community (just about the only main-ish-stream one that I am involved with) has much the same problem. People tend not to join user groups, alas, any more. They expect to buy pre-packaged solutions, and if they don't work they expect the manufacturer to fix it. The idea of experimenting, of going a little further, seems to have died out. [...] > had built up in the club. There are lots of PC user groups, but none with > the character of ABACUS. (How many clubs have a Land Rover owner, a waffle > collector, and a 76 year old newsletter editor?) Why on earth do you need to edit a 76 year old newsletter? What's it stored on - Wheatstone Telegraph Tape? (Sorry, couldn't resist). And I guess the answer to your question is 'About as many as calculator clubs with a PERQ fanatic and a classic car enthusiast as members, and a Polish chairman' :-) > But, we've not done much about getting new members (either PC or ST). Your > message has gotten me thinking, though. Every now and then I get a call > from someone who's got an ST for sale, and I have to tell them there's just > not much market for them here. Perhaps we could set something up to get > those machines into the hands of someone who could use them and is otherwise > unable to afford them. (Goodness knows we've got enough kids with no $ > around here!) An idea. Sell them the machines cheaply, and then allow them to attend your club meetings for (say) one year free of charge. Having been involved with many user clubs, I realise that the membership money does go to good use, and that it costs a lot of money to produce and print the newsletter. But a lot of people don't see it that way. It costs nothing extra to have a few extra people at meetings, and (a) they will get support for their new toy (thus keeping it running) and (b) may find how useful the club is and will thus join. > The biggest hurdle facing the general public in putting older computers to > work is the lack of support. (P.S., Cliff Stoll is an idiot sometimes.) Absolutely. And for that reason, expecting a new user to start on a classic computer is (IMHO) totally unrealistic. > Uncle Roger "There is pleasure pure in being mad -tony

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

'Home' computer: Definition

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

[...] > As a broad collector it is difficult to use all of your machines. Just > collecting a wide range of machines sucks up huge amounts of time. Some > people are a little more focused and actually collect partly to use > the machines. I collect machines for a lot of different reasons : a) I want to use them (for whatever purpose). The PDP's, PERQ, and some of the CP/M machines come in here. They have interesting features, and are plain fun to program (elegant instruction set, nice bus for homebrew hardware, etc). b) I got them because they're historically important. I may not care for the Apple ][ hardware design, but it is an extremely important computer historically. I don't tend to use this class of machine too much. c) I got them because if I hadn't they'd have been lost for ever. Either "We're throwing out this <whatever>, do you want it" or buying a machine that would otherwise have gone as scrap metal. These machines get restored, and (often) then end up in group (a)! > Not everything everyone does is to make money. Some of us do things > because they are fun, help others, kill time, impress women (or men), etc. Quite a lot of people need something to occupy their mind in their spare time. Some people do crossword puzzles. I prefer to figure out how some strange machine really operates. It's probably about as useful :-) (NO FLAMES!). Seriously, while solving crossword puzzles must improve your vocabulary, battling through a schematic or ROM source does improve your computer and electronics knowledge - something that is useful to me. And it's fun :-) > --pec

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

'Home' computer: Definition

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

[...] > I guess I should have started out with my ulterior motives. Aha... That makes a lot more sense, and I hope I can make some useful comments. > > For a computer to survive as anything more than a relic, it has to have > a user community. Now, I suppose I could use my TI for "typical home > computing tasks" with the software I already have whether there was > anyone else in the world using a TI or not. And I suppose I would, too. > But for other jobs I wanted done that my computer COULD do (even if > being a Web browser is NOT one of them), I would either have to program > it myself, or find someone else to do it. And if I did it myself, most > of the fun is sharing it with other TI users. And part of the fun of > having this old computer is that there are other people bucking the > trend along with me. In other words, we have a TI computer user > community, and that is a very hefty reason for sticking with the TI > computer. > > In fact, the TI community is shrinking, and as the members of the > community observe it shrinking, some are inclined to bail out ("rats > abandoning a sinking ship"). Given that trend, the community will > waste away to a few hardcores unless there is new life added, either in > exciting new "modern applications" or attracting new people to adopt a > simple machine that can perform "common everyday household computing > tasks" that they DON'T need a Pentium to do. I hate to say this here, but I would _not_ recomend a classic computer (any classic computer) as the only system for a non-computer-literate user. IMHO such a user will quickly become disapointed when they find that the things that _they_ can do with the machine are somewhat limited, and that nothing from the local computer store will be of any use to them. I can have advanced video on one of my older machines because I am prepared to write drivers, solder up interfaces, read technical manuals, patch existing programs, etc. OK, I enjoy it. But to suggest that a PERQ 2 driving an I2S image processor and a homebrew GPIB -SCSI interface would be a good machine for the average home user to view his photo-CDs on would be nothing short of insane. Yes, it _could_ be done, but for such a user, a normal, boring, PC-clone would be much more suitable. Even I don't use a classic machine (or at least, what _I_ consider classic) all the time. Earlier this week I needed to write some letters. I could have used a classic-PERQ and printed the results on a Versatec V80. I could have used the paper tape editor on my PDP8/e to punch a tape containing the correct postscript commands and then printed it to my laserprinter using a serial-interfaces paper tape reader. In fact I used something non-classic - a much hacked PC/AT running Linux. I used LaTeX to format the text, and then printed it on said (fairly modern) laserprinter. There are plenty of other things that would have been just as good, but that's the one I chose. The people who (IMHO) we should be trying to attract to classic computers -- and in fact the ones I've had some success in attracting -- are those who are already computer literate to some extent. People who already can write simple programs and want to understand exactly how a system operates. I think it's a lot easier to understand many classic computers (minis and micros) than modern PCs, and the educational value of such machines should not be overlooked. There are (IMHO) at least 4 different types of tasks that can be done with computers : 1) A standard application for which software (commercial, GPL'd, freeware, shareware, whatever) already exists. In which case you pick whatever machine the software runs on. If it runs on more than one system, you choose between them using whatever criteria matter _to you_ (hence me picking a classic computer for its better documentation over a modern PC since both can carry out the tasks I want to do) 2) An existing embedded system. Although it's possible (and sometimes common) to 'modernise', say, a control system based on a minicomputer, there are still a lot of PDP8's and PDP11's running machinery, etc. Provided the old machine works reliably and support/spares are available, it's fine to keep on using it. 3) A new 'embedded' system. Although my example of the I2C chip tester was, I agree, slightly contrived, I was simply pointing out that if you are making a single-purpose machine _for youself (so you can maintain it)_ there's no reason not to use a classic. There's probably no reason not to use something modern either. 4) Education. This includes 'writing programs for fun', understanding how computers (hardware and software) works, etc. This is IMHO the main use of classic computers to the average person these days, and the way we'll attract more people into the hobby. I've said before that you can learn more about processor operation by spending a couple of days with a minicomputer CPU, the schematics for it and a 'scope than by sitting through most lecture courses on the subject. And, I can fully understand the joy that comes from getting a computer to do something that is widely claimed to be 'impossible'. When the CoCo was current, it was normally claimed that you couldn't have PMODE 4 graphics and Semigraphics 4 blocks on the screen at once. I did it, and totally amazed the staff in the local Tandy store. Since it's easy to do most things on a fast PC (you don't really have to save every last cycle, etc), it's more of a challenge to do them on an old home micro. Again, we may be able to attract people because of that. It may be worth looking at how (say) classic car clubs keep their membership. They may well have similar problems - why would you drive (say) a pre-war car when you could have a modern one. Rationally it probably makes very little sense... > My previous remarks about mainframes, which were interpreted as saying > that they are not "home computers", were made from the point of view > (and perhaps in ignorance) that, while C64s, Atari 8-bitters, TIs, > CoCos, and other "home computers" that were sold FOR THAT PURPOSE in > K-Mart and other department stores DO (or at least did) have a user > community, sharing programs, encouraging other users, forming User > Groups, publishing Newsletters, etc., other machines (such as the > PDP class of mains, minis, etc. and maybe Altairs and S-100 bus > computers) do NOT have this aspect to their existence. I guess I I will have to disagree with you there. The larger machines that I am involved with have very active user comunities who offer a lot of help and support to newcomers. To give a couple of examples : PERQ : When I was trying to add a printer to my PERQ, I had a few questions. The result was that other owners dismantled their own machines, 'buzzed out' cables, e-mailed me wirelists, and talked me through the whole thing. That's not an isolated incident - a person who was having monitor problems got other owners to pull the covers off their monitors and measure voltages, etc. This is just about the only machine where this level of support still occurs over 10 years after the entire line was discontinued. PDP11. The user community here is split (IMHO) into the professional users who need to keep the machine running, and who can afford DEC diagnostics, replacement boards, etc, and the home hackers who debug everything with a logic probe and printset, rebuild modules and even repair dead fans. I am certainly in the latter category here. But again, questions get answered. People will dig out manuals for obscure hardware and look up pinouts and jumper settings. Newcomers will get answers to introductory questions. BTW, I'm not flaming the support that other user communities give. I'm sure it's excellent, but I've never experienced it, since I don't (in the main) use those machines. > do know about DECUS; don't know if something like that existed for > PDP-11 owners or not, or even if professionally-oriented thing like > DECUS would be applicable here. I certainly did not mean to imply that The UK chapter of DECUS is pretty useless for home hackers. I am told that other chapters are a lot better in this respect. > * David Ormand *** Southwest 99ers * -tony

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

IBM part numbers

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

In a message dated 97-07-03 05:38:55 EDT, you write: << Does anyone know of any listing or directory of IBM top level part numbers? Every so often I come across a whatzit from IBM that only has a little aluminum square with "IBM" and a four digit number. A listing would be very handy. >> I have access to all IBM FRU numbers, which will always tell you what you have; NNLNNNN where n=number and l=letter but that four digit number means nothing AFAIK. david

28 years, 9 months

2
2
0 0

[Fwd: Re: Filling in the holes...]

by enrico＠Brighton-UK.com

-- ================================================================ Enrico Tedeschi, 54, Easthill Drive, BRIGHTON BN41 2FD, U.K. tel/fax +(0)1273 701650 (24 hours) or 0850 104725 mobile website <http://www.ndirect.co.uk/~e.tedeschi> ================================================================ visit Brighton: <http://www.brighton.co.uk/tourist/welcome.htm>

28 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

'Home' computer: Definition

by cerebral＠michianatoday.com

>Why spend all of your time and energy collecting old computers when you can >be writing million dollar peecee games. I know you can get some classic stuff for free, but unfortunatly, as with every hobby we love, it costs money. and here is an interesting idea- to beat microsnuff, write as many competeing programs that work BETTER than billy's ( not hard to do), and sell them. and with that cash, you can get more machines! <G> and remember, billy also writes MAC software, that for some reason are worse than you can get for IBM... so we support IBM and MAC, as well as your favorite classic, the more platforms supported, the better it is for everyone! :)

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

'Home' computer: Definition

by dlormand＠aztec.asu.edu

Somehow, a discussion I started of actually USING "home computers" (versus merely collecting them) degenerated into a fight about what a "home computer" is. And a sister discussion I attempted to start about putting "modern" applications on classic machines yielded discouraging words, too. I guess I should have started out with my ulterior motives. For a computer to survive as anything more than a relic, it has to have a user community. Now, I suppose I could use my TI for "typical home computing tasks" with the software I already have whether there was anyone else in the world using a TI or not. And I suppose I would, too. But for other jobs I wanted done that my computer COULD do (even if being a Web browser is NOT one of them), I would either have to program it myself, or find someone else to do it. And if I did it myself, most of the fun is sharing it with other TI users. And part of the fun of having this old computer is that there are other people bucking the trend along with me. In other words, we have a TI computer user community, and that is a very hefty reason for sticking with the TI computer. In fact, the TI community is shrinking, and as the members of the community observe it shrinking, some are inclined to bail out ("rats abandoning a sinking ship"). Given that trend, the community will waste away to a few hardcores unless there is new life added, either in exciting new "modern applications" or attracting new people to adopt a simple machine that can perform "common everyday household computing tasks" that they DON'T need a Pentium to do. Of course, while my main loyalties are to the TI-99/4A, I recognize all the other "home computers" suffer from the same conditions, and I was hoping to create a dialog for HOW to do this, particularly strategies to attract people to join the community, and to share technology of "modern applications" that one community may have successfully achieved and another could use. So what I was fishing for was the thoughts of those people who read this List and understand the dilemma. In a Wintel-dominated world, is it even FEASIBLE to try to attract other people to choose from the abundance of small computer systems, otherwise destined for the landfill or recyclers? My previous remarks about mainframes, which were interpreted as saying that they are not "home computers", were made from the point of view (and perhaps in ignorance) that, while C64s, Atari 8-bitters, TIs, CoCos, and other "home computers" that were sold FOR THAT PURPOSE in K-Mart and other department stores DO (or at least did) have a user community, sharing programs, encouraging other users, forming User Groups, publishing Newsletters, etc., other machines (such as the PDP class of mains, minis, etc. and maybe Altairs and S-100 bus computers) do NOT have this aspect to their existence. I guess I do know about DECUS; don't know if something like that existed for PDP-11 owners or not, or even if professionally-oriented thing like DECUS would be applicable here. I certainly did not mean to imply that these machines are not useful for "household computing jobs", and by no means did I intend that this mailing list is only for the classic "home computers" with user communities, or to exclude anyone else from participating. -- ********************************************** * David Ormand *** Southwest 99ers * * dlormand(a)aztec.asu.edu *** Tucson, Arizona * **************************** TMS9900 Lives! *

28 years, 9 months

5
5
0 0

CLASSICCMP digest 101

by ursa＠idir.net

*** On Wed, 2 Jul 1997 classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu wrote: CLASSICCMP Digest 101 *:Date: Tue, 1 Jul 1997 14:27:36 +0000 *:From: jpero(a)mail.cgo.wave.ca *:To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu *:Subject: Re: Strange Tandy 1000HX *:Message-ID: <199707011827.OAA28789(a)mail.cgocable.net> *:MIME-Version: 1.0 *:Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII *:Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT *: *:Jeff, *: *:> I don't see much point in this though since the HX's controller won't *:> handle the 1.44 meg drive anyway. Plus, it'd be easy enough to add a floppy *:> drive to it, but supposedly neither knock-out plate has been punched out *:> behind either of the drive bays! This is what prompted my original post. *:Why not check out the external 5.25" internals? Point is, can use *:those easier to obtain 1.44mb drives and use them as 720k in old XT's *:in place of harder to find 720k drives. I did that just like that *:in one of those IBM XT using its original controller and a brand new *:20 bux 1.44 in PC that allowed me to fire it up with my 720k Dos 5.0 *:and install it to hd also allows user to interchange data with newer *:pcs easily. 360k was 40 tracks by 9 sectors, 720k used 80 tracks but *:the older controller controlled this drives no problem therefore *:any newer 1.44 will work as a 720k duty. In fact, 1.44 and 720k *:drives only differs in minor ways: higher frequency heads, extra *:sensor put in to support the 18 sectors. *: *:BIG snap! *: *:> Actually, it's an 8088 running at like 7.16mhz I *:> believe. One needs the *:> PLUS Memory board to add the memory above 256k, the DMA functions, and the two *:> additional PLUS connectors for the additional cards. That's a neat idea about *:> the SCSI though...heck, it'd be a cinch fitting one of the newer drives into *:> one of the 1" x 3-1/2" drive bays. The only problem would be power to the *:> drive, since as you've already mentioned, Tandy likes to send the power *:> through the ribbon cable. *:Thanks for correction and oddball mHz? Most clones uses 8mHz. *:If you could look in external drive, it might have adapter wirings *:that will allow you to make new cables adapters for that "1.44" as *:720k drives to put in your HX machine. *:--- *: *:Date: Tue, 1 Jul 1997 21:23:38 -0700 (PDT) *:From: Bill Whitson <bill(a)booster.bothell.washington.edu> *:To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu *:Subject: FAQ Bonanza *:Message-ID: <Pine.ULT.3.91a.970701212249.14727D-100000(a)booster.bothell.washington.edu> *:Mime-Version: 1.0 *:Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII *: *:============================================================================= *: DO NOT DISPOSE OF THIS PART OF THE FAQ. THIS IS THE PART THAT EXPLAINS HOW *: YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE AND UNSUBSCRIBE. IT WILL TAKE ME MORE TIME TO DO THESE *: THINGS FOR YOU THAN IT WILL TAKE FOR YOU TO DO THEM YOURSELF *:============================================================================= *:ClassicCmp - The Classic Computers Discussion List *:Part 1 in the ClassicCmp FAQ Trilogy *:Mail/Internet Basics FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) v1.2 *:Last Update: 7/01/97 *:----------------------------------------------------------------------------- *:This FAQ is written with the primary purpose of making readily available *:answers to the more common questions appearing on ClassicCmp. It is *:Maintained by Bill Whitson <bill(a)booster.u.washington.edu>. The infor- *:mation in this document has been gathered from a variety of sources but, *:in general, the members of ClassicCmp should be credited for all contain- *:ed herein. I have, of course, endeavored to be as accurate as is possible *:and often failed ;). *: *:This FAQ is Part 1 of the ClassicCmp FAQ Trilogy. The information presented *:deals with the use of mailing lists and internet-specific tools. *: *:If you have questions, comments, or corrections (always welcome) please *:contact me at the address above. *: *:A current copy of this FAQ is available on the web at http://weber.u. *:washington.edu/~bcw/ccl.html or via anonymous FTP at 140.142.225.27 in the *:directory /pub/classiccmp/faqs as classiccmp.faq. *:---------------------------------------------------------------------------- *:Updates: New Sections: 2.1, 3.1 *:----------------------------------------------------------------------------- *:1. Mailing Lists *:---------------- *:1.1 Mailing List Basics *:1.2 How to Talk to the Robot *: How to set to Digest *: How to Subscribe *: How to Unsubscribe *: *:2. FTP *:------ *:2.1 FTP Basics *: *:3. World Wide Web *:----------------- *:3.1 WWW Basics *: *:============================================================================= *:1.1 Mailing List Basics *: *:A mailing list is a simple device which takes an e-mail and redistributes it *:to a group of people. People can add and remove themselves from the *:distribution list by Subscribing and Unsubscribing. When you send a message *:to the list, it is first examined by the robot for key words that tell it *:to process an automatic funtion (like help, subscribe, unsubscribe, etc). *:If the message does not contain a keyword it is sent to the distribution *:list. *: *:1.2 How to Talk to the Robot *: *:There are a few List Processor commands that you might want to use. To *:send a command to the list processor, write a message to *: listproc(a)u.washington.edu *:(Do NOT send the message to classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu). In the body of *:the message (not the subject line, that is) write one of the following *:commands, then send the message. *: *:SET CLASSICCMP MAIL ACK *: *: Tells the robot to send you a copy of messages you *: write to the list. This is the default. *: *:SET CLASSICCMP MAIL NOACK *: *: Tells the robot NOT to send you a copy of messages *: you write to the list. I don't recommend this. *: *:SET CLASSICCMP MAIL DIGEST *: *: Tells the robot to send you a digest of messages *: rather than each as it is posted. With this option *: you will get a weekly bundle of messages and keep *: a nice, tidy in-box. *: *:SUBSCRIBE CLASSICCMP Your.Address *: *: Subscribes you to the list. *: *:UNSUBSCRIBE CLASSICCMP Your.Address *: *: Removes you from the list. *: *:[][][][][][][][][][] *: *:2.1 FTP Basics *: *:FTP is a protocol by which files can be transferred over the internet. *:You can use FTP to connect to a remote site and retrieve files. The *:commands you use with FTP depend on the software you use. In general *:you must make sure that you are in BINARY mode before transferring a *:program file or compressed files. The process of downloading a file *:is usually termed GET and the process of uploading a file is usually *:termed PUT. *: *:Your FTP program will require an address to connect to. For the *:ClassicCmp site that address is 140.142.225.27. *: *:You then may be asked to log in (unless your program assumes an *:anonymous login). When asked for a name, use anonymous. When asked *:for a password enter your internet e-mail address. *: *:[][][][][][][][][][] *: *:3.1 WWW Basics *: *:The only complicated thing with the WWW is knowing what bells *:and whistles your web browser supports. You don't really need to *:know much other than the address for ClassicCmp. The web site is *:all text which means just about any web browser from the oldest *:Lynx to the newest Netscape or Microsoft browser should support it. *: *:The ClassicCmp site is http://weber.u.washington.edu/~bcw/ccl.html. *:--- *:Date: Wed, 02 Jul 1997 00:36:55 -0500 *:From: Allen Underdown <wbrco(a)valuenet.net> *:To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu *:Subject: Re: Flex for 6809/6800 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= *:Message-ID: <33B9E8F7.7C5A(a)valuenet.net> *:MIME-Version: 1.0 *:Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii *:Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit *: *:Benedict Chong wrote: *:> Does anyone know if one can still get Flex for the 6809 or 6800? *:> There're people archiving and using CP/M stuff but it seems a waste to *:> let a very simple and neat OS like Flex go the way of the dinosaur. *:> *:> Ben *: *:Don't worry, I have several copys... *:-- *:| Allen Underdown - wbrco(a)valuenet.net | *:| Amateur Radio Operator - N0GOM, computer geek, | *:| homebrewer and outdoor enthusiast! | *:| http://lakers.cybercon.com/wurmborn | *: *:---

28 years, 9 months

3
3
0 0

1980s Laser 50 computer???

by coslor＠pscosf.peru.edu

Greetings: I am wondering if any of you out there could help me out. I am looking to acquire an old educational computer that I had years ago called the Laser 50 personal computer. What it was is an old educational computer (for kids basically) produced by V-Tech, or Video Technologies, Ltd. around the mid 1980s. This machine was the size of a regular laptop computer and allowed small BASIC programs to be saved internally, and also had built in educational software, calculator, etc. The manual I still have for it says an additional cassette recorder could be purchased to save programs on, as well as printers, and a 16k expansion unit. Please let me know if you might have any information on this computer.... I would really like to find one for my kids. I am also looking to find the address for the manufacturer. I know V Tech still makes computer-like educational machines for youngsters today. I would appreciate your help. Thanks in advance, CORD COSLOR PO Box 308 Peru, NE 68421-0308 (402) 872- 3272 coslor(a)bobcat.peru.edu

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Archive

by bw＠booster.bothell.washington.edu

Hi all. OK - here's the scoop so far on the Archival of classic computer stuff. Please give your input so that we can get the standards settled. The UW has graciously given me permission to attach a personal server to the network full time for ClassicCmp, so the underwork for the project is pretty well taken care of. I have a system that I'm working on setting up for the job - it will be a 486/66 with 32 MB of RAM and 3 GB of disk space. I am currently planning to set it up with linux. As you all know I am terribly slow about getting things done so it will probably be a couple weeks before it goes online. In the meantime we will continue to use the current FTP site which has plenty of space available. The particulars for how things will be stored are listed below for your review. Remember that the primary purpose of the archive is to store these items so that _someone_ can access them and make them available. It's probably not possible to always find a format that everyone can use, but if the data is here you can be pretty sure that you will be able to get it one way or another. System Software System software will be stored in a variety of formats. The preferred format will be disk images for those machines for which the means to create such an image has been developed. Examples are the Apple II/III (.dsk, .do, .po files) and C64 (.dsk files). The alternate format will be disk images created with a Central Point Option Board [1] which will read almost any 5.25" or 3.5" diskette. Those with such a board will be able to simply download and use the images. Those without will need to arrange to get a copy through regular mail. It's not a perfect solution but I can't come up with anything better. This will not cover 8" disks and I don't know how to deal with them as yet. General Software Non-booting software will be stored in the preferred compressed archival format for each machine (GZip where available). Firmware (ROMS, PROMS, PALS(?), etc...) I still don't know what a standard format for this should be. Anything which can be dumped to a file I'm willing to go with. My (limited) gizmo calls the format that it dumps to my PC "RAW". I assume that this is just the contents bit-for-bit. If anyone can read/write in raw format I'd recommend going with that. Documentation/Books/Magazines Text: Text should be presented in plain text, RTF, or PostScript. I will convernt submis- sions to conform to all three formats. Line Drawings: Should be formatted in either TIFF or PostScript format. Images: Should be formatted as either JPEG or PNG (Portable Network Graphic). I will convert PNG to JPEG on submission. Tag Files Each item will require a tag file to cover it's identification. This file is currently DS-form.txt located in the docs directory on the FTP site. It is probably not yet specific enough on the technical details - I will need recommendations on what to add. It does cover all the legal issues I wanted to address. Retrieving Files These files will be made available by FTP. Most will be easily downloadable by anyone. Some (Firmware, System Software) will be more difficult and will require physical assistance. I will generally be willing to create and mail disks for those who need them and can provide the media. I am poorly equipped to take care of firmware. Those without the neccesary gizmos will need to rely on the kindness of the group. [1] The Central Point Option Board is a device for an ISA bus PC that will read almost any standard floppy. They are still fairly commonly available for $20 or so. Bill Whitson

28 years, 9 months

5
7
0 0

Archiving

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

I have a couple for sale/trade, but I'm afraid my valuation would be somewhat higher than that :( I'd buy several more for $20 apiece if they could be found. If you want to spend a lot of hours sifting through vendors' junk-board boxes, you can find one without software or cable for maybe $1-5, and get the software off the 'net, but I price mine in original box with software & cable at more like $50 or trade. I'd trade one for a properly constructed/tested 34-50pin CompatiCard-to-8"-drive cable, OR a CompatiCard IV to replace my CC II. Kai > ---------- > From: Richard A. Cini, Jr. > Reply To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu > Sent: Thursday, July 03, 1997 8:09 AM > To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers > Subject: Archiving > > >>[1] The Central Point Option Board is a > device for an ISA bus PC that will read > almost any standard floppy. They are still > fairly commonly available for $20 or so.>> > > I remember having one of these many years ago, but I can't find it > anymore. > You mention that they are commonly available, but where do you > recommend that > I start looking?? > > ------------------------------------------------- > Rich Cini/WUGNET > - ClubWin Charter Member (6) > - MCPS Windows 95/Netowrking >

28 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Crappadore 64

by dastar＠crl.com

I have to get this off my chest. Commodore 64s have to be the god damn shittiest made computers ever. I had to test these 1571 drives that I sold someone and brought out 2 C64s I have in my garage and 2 power supplies because I know how notorious each part is for not working. I plug each in and niether work. I try the other p/s...same thing. I get ANOTHER p/s...both dead. I get yet ANOTHER power supply and 3 more C64 consoles I have. Of those 3, 2 worked! Is this a shittily engineered system or what? What bad weed were these idiots who designed this smoking? I've never had such bad luck with any other system. Out of all the systems I've ever acquired, the commodores and their stupid prone-to-burning-out power supplies have been the most likely to not work. I've gotten systems out of the rain that have been sitting in the elements for probably YEARS that have worked. But a C64? Hell no! Piece of crap! There must be some well-known fix for these idiotic things. I turn them on and get just a pure black screen. This is what happened to the first C64 I ever got from a friend 9 years ago. It just up and died on me all of a sudden one time when I was using it. Screen went black. There's got to be an easy way to fix these stupid things. Either that or there must be a well known joke passed around in commodore circles about how unreliable these junk heaps are. What a depressing hunk of crap. Aye. Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

4
5
0 0

'Home' computer: Definition

by allisonp＠world.std.com

> In fact, the TI community is shrinking, and as the members of the > community observe it shrinking, some are inclined to bail out ("rats > abandoning a sinking ship"). Given that trend, the community will The attrition may be due to limited software or simple the machines failing. Likely the users have found other platforms (older cheaper PCs) or even new ones. Also it may be more difficult to use older machine >from the point and click mindset. Don't forget peer pressure "Your still using that?". > Of course, while my main loyalties are to the TI-99/4A, I recognize al > the other "home computers" suffer from the same conditions, and I was > hoping to create a dialog for HOW to do this, particularly strategies t True but some suffer deeper. The more useful and more common software is the more likely it is to be still in use. Hence the commodors/trs80s/cpm machines. A quick survey of archive sites will show the common machines based on software available. > So what I was fishing for was the thoughts of those people who read thi > List and understand the dilemma. In a Wintel-dominated world, is it > even FEASIBLE to try to attract other people to choose from the > abundance of small computer systems, otherwise destined for the landfil > or recyclers? Depends on their needs and how important compatability is to them. I have a PC becuase I have to not because it's all that great. Some or a lot of the world is PC based and I have to be compatable with them. > My previous remarks about mainframes, which were interpreted as saying > that they are not "home computers", were made from the point of view > (and perhaps in ignorance) that, while C64s, Atari 8-bitters, TIs, > CoCos, and other "home computers" that were sold FOR THAT PURPOSE in > K-Mart and other department stores DO (or at least did) have a user > community, sharing programs, encouraging other users, forming User > Groups, publishing Newsletters, etc., > other machines (such as the > PDP class of mains, minis, etc. and maybe Altairs and S-100 bus > computers) do NOT have this aspect to their existence. Excuse me? not so! Many of the s100 systems had very active user groupd though they were more often segmented by OS rather than bus. > I guess I > do know about DECUS; don't know if something like that existed for > PDP-11 owners or not, or even if professionally-oriented thing like > DECUS would be applicable here. I certainly did not mean to imply tha There are several groups for the PDP-8/10/11/vax other than decus but decus goes back to day one. What you forget is the intersil 6100 chip (pdp8! and the desktop version the DECMATE) and closed PDP-11 systems (PDT11/150 and PRO350) were sold in the same space and had very seperate communities outside of DECUS. It's not as cut and dried as your words picture it. Personal computing as adjunct to commercial computing was and is largely driven by cost, capability and software. Many amazingly poor machines did well not for the hardware but an abundance of software. Food for thought, The ti9900 chip is nearly as old as the 8080 and it was a 16bit design based on the TI990 minicomputer. Wouldn't you want that machine? FYI it was not that large (comparable to a PDP-11/20.). Yet the ti99/4a was year later...why? No support from TI, they figured you get the mini and devlope applications using the chip so support was limited. FYI, the ti9900 chip is a fairly high performance CCPU compared to the 8080! Allison

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Extra stuff to go

by jeffh＠unix.aardvarkol.com

I have the following extra stuff taking up space if anyone would like any of it: 1) TRS-80 Model 4, desktop model with dual floppies and 64k RAM. works perfectly, and will include an original copy of TRSDOS 6. Asking $20 + shipping. 2) Sears SR2000 printer...dual interface IBM/Commodore 8bit. Seems to work fine though needs a new ribbon. $4 + shipping 3) Commodore Plus4/C-16 joysticks..a pair with the 8pin minidin connector. loose. unable to test. $5 + shipping 4) Atari SC1224 monitor...color monitor for the Atari-ST's. works great, though has some magic marker on the case. asking $10 + shipping I'm selling off these to make room for additional aquisitions, so if interested, please email me! Thanks. Jeff jeffh(a)unix.aardvarkol.com -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amiga enthusiast and collector of early, classic microcomputers http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lakes/6757

28 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Strange Tandy 1000HX

by marcw＠lightside.com

> I had a 1000HX (still have, I think -- it's out on loan) with internal 5 > 1/4, external 3 1/2 > If it has a 5 1/4" internal (on the right side?) then it is a 1000EX and not HX. They're similar but I forgot what the main difference was other than the drives. I don't think the EX has a setup program like the HX's SETUPHX is one. Wonder if it's possible to change settings on the EX like the HX (EEPROM). Marc

28 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Archiving

by rcini＠msn.com

>>[1] The Central Point Option Board is a device for an ISA bus PC that will read almost any standard floppy. They are still fairly commonly available for $20 or so.>> I remember having one of these many years ago, but I can't find it anymore. You mention that they are commonly available, but where do you recommend that I start looking?? ------------------------------------------------- Rich Cini/WUGNET - ClubWin Charter Member (6) - MCPS Windows 95/Netowrking

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

'Home' computer: Definition

by allisonp＠world.std.com

> > >Speaking of names, the best (most descriptive) program name I ever r > > >across was the CP/M debugger, DDT. > > > > Indeed! In fact, IIRC, it was advertised as, "DDT - kills bugs dead" > > > > Bob > > I remember using a debugger called DDT under TOPS-10 on the DEC PDP-10 > before there was anything called CP/M. I've used DDT on PDP-8s (OS8), PDP-10s and 11s before CP/m existed. However, Kildall was largely inspired by DEC OSs, hence DDT, PIP, dir, REName, TYPE to name a few. Allison

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

'Home' computer: Definition

by bwit＠pobox.com

>Speaking of names, the best (most descriptive) program name I ever ran >across was the CP/M debugger, DDT. Indeed! In fact, IIRC, it was advertised as, "DDT - kills bugs dead". Bob

28 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Sony CP/M machine?

by sinasohn＠crl.com

At 10:45 AM 7/3/97 +1000, you wrote: >Take one "Classic" Mac case. Make another slot for a second floppy drive. >Insert 64K of memory and an 8085 (could be a Z80). Sell lots (or, as I I think I might have a picture of one around somewhere (probably on my girlfriend's Mac); if I can find it, I'll put it somewhere accessible if anyone's interested in seeing it. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Crappadore 64

by cerebral＠michianatoday.com

At 10:31 PM 7/2/97 -0700, you wrote: > >I have to get this off my chest. > >Commodore 64s have to be the god damn shittiest made computers ever. I >had to test these 1571 drives that I sold someone and brought out 2 C64s >I have in my garage and 2 power supplies because I know how notorious >each part is for not working. I plug each in and niether work. I try >the other p/s...same thing. I get ANOTHER p/s...both dead. I get yet >ANOTHER power supply and 3 more C64 consoles I have. Of those 3, 2 >worked! Is this a shittily engineered system or what? What bad weed >were these idiots who designed this smoking? I've never had such bad >luck with any other system. Out of all the systems I've ever acquired, >the commodores and their stupid prone-to-burning-out power supplies have >been the most likely to not work. I've gotten systems out of the rain >that have been sitting in the elements for probably YEARS that have >worked. But a C64? Hell no! Piece of crap! > >There must be some well-known fix for these idiotic things. I turn them >on and get just a pure black screen. This is what happened to the first >C64 I ever got from a friend 9 years ago. It just up and died on me all >of a sudden one time when I was using it. Screen went black. There's >got to be an easy way to fix these stupid things. Either that or there >must be a well known joke passed around in commodore circles about how >unreliable these junk heaps are. What a depressing hunk of crap. > >Aye. > >Sam >------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass As you sig says, you are a JAckass, but calling you a jackass is not fair to the jackass. seeing that this is flamebait, I have to say that I NEVER had a Commodore 64 that did not work. Now if you want to talk about shitty commodore stuff, that would have to be the C=128 keyboard. the electronics in it are fine, but the keyboard is crap. all in all however, Commodores still rule over Apples anyday, sure the wonderful apple disk was faster, but a fast disk alone dont make a machine. That is just like having a 454 supercharged big block in your garage, with nothing to put it in.....

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

northstar advantage/cordata

by SUPRDAVE＠aol.com

i posted a note locally about ti99 goodies and someone emailed me back with an offer for a northstar advantage and a cordata. i need info on what these are and if they're worth getting. david

28 years, 9 months

3
2
0 0

Panasonic Handhelds

by dastar＠crl.com

I am posting this again to hopefully get more response. Right now we are collectively committed for 46 units of the Panasonic Hand Held Computers. I am hoping to at least double this figure. The more we want, the merrier for all. I'll include a little more information about these units. To those of you who have already submitted requests or have read this message, you can skip the rest of the message after my signature as you've seen it before. These units are a Panasonic HandHeld Computer circa 1984. They have a FORTH-like language in ROM called "SNAP". They have a built-in thermal printer. They have 8K of RAM running off a 6502 CPU. The custom-designed memory expansion tray which each comes with allows up to 10 additional 8K EPROMS along with the 3 that the HHC itself allows for. It has a 26 character by 1 line display, and its dimensions are 9" by 3.5". It has a full "qwerty" keyboard. Now please read the rest of the message for instructions on how to reserve 1, 2, 3 or more of these babies for yourself at a maximum price of $10 each. Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 28 Jun 1997 10:52:11 -0700 (PDT) From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)crl4.crl.com> To: Classic Computer Discussion <classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu> Subject: RE: Panasonic Handhelds PANASONIC HANDHELD UPDATE: This is the latest message from Mike who has the hundreds of Panasonic HandHeld computers. In case its not obvious what's going on, I put in an offer of $10 each for 50, $9 each for 100, $8 each for 150, etc. I don't have $2000 lying around with which to buy them all up. I have a plan, but first read what Mike had to say: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 28 Jun 1997 10:39:01 -0400 (EDT) From: Mikeooo1(a)aol.com To: dastar(a)crl.com Subject: Re: EPROM Burners re: Classic Computers Dear Sam, I believe the total number of HHC's available will be about 400.Based on your offer I assume that for 150 of the units you would be willing to pay at the rate of $10 for the first 50,$9 for the next 50, $8 for the next 50 and $7 for the next 50 whcih would come to $1700 for 200 units.Would you be interested in 300 units for $2000 even?To make the offer even sweeter I'll throw in the memory expander trays with each unit.The cost for each tray alone was well over $100 when they were purchased,as well as a quantity of the MCM 68674 8K eprom chips that the programs were written on. As always Best Regards, Mike ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ END FORWARD So here's my plan...anyone and everyone who is interested, reply to ME (do not reply to classiccmp! People will hate you and want to drown your pets!) telling me how many you want. Do this soon. I will save all of your e-mails and then at the end of say, 10 days I will tally up the total and make Mike an offer. So again... Reply to ME only (dastar(a)crl.com) Tell me HOW MANY of the Panasonic HandHeld Computers you want. Do it SOON. You have about 10 days. Price will be NO MORE THAN $10 EACH. I'll get back to everyone in 10 days or so. Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Video Brain

by ccm＠sentex.net

Yep, you're absolutely correct. I messed up, again. Sorry. Thanks for the gentle correction. Kevin >> From: ccm(a)sentex.net (COMMPUTERSEUM/Kevin Stumpf) >> This is a case of two computers and one name. >> >> The Video Brain is also a desktop, CP/M microcomputer built in the earl >> 1980's. It physically resembles an Applied Digital Data Systems ADDS 7 >> intelligent terminal with dual 5 1/4" floppies mounted beside the monit >> >> Now you must investigate further and tell us which one it is. > >Sure you not confusing the Superbrain, a CP/M machine with the Video >Brain a F8 based game? > >Allison > > >

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Old Tandys

by manney＠nwohio.com

Tandy has an 800 number -- (800) THE-SHACK (You musk key in the final "K"...it won't work without it). The technicians are knowledgeable about the older machines and *very* helpful. btw, I have some trash-80 software (if bitrot hasn't got to it)

28 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Sony CP/M machine?

by dastar＠crl.com

I mentioned previously a discussion I had over dinner of some classic systems. One of the systems mentioned was a Sony CP/M machine from the very early 80s. Anyone know anything about this system? Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

3
2
0 0

'Home' computer: Definition

by allisonp＠world.std.com

> From: Tony Duell <ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk> > The origianl statement stands. I can't think of a single computer syste > by me or not) that can't be used for useful work in 1997. The fact that > old has nothing to do with it. Tony, Everyone, I'd be loath to point out that one of the more common houseflys in computer terms is the PDP-8. While not large or fast they are common still running CNC machines that were built over 20 years ago. I come >from a time when home computerists lusted for one of these. Granted the 80xx was still TBD! ;-) Allison

28 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Video Brain

by allisonp＠world.std.com

> From: ccm(a)sentex.net (COMMPUTERSEUM/Kevin Stumpf) > This is a case of two computers and one name. > > The Video Brain is also a desktop, CP/M microcomputer built in the earl > 1980's. It physically resembles an Applied Digital Data Systems ADDS 7 > intelligent terminal with dual 5 1/4" floppies mounted beside the monit > > Now you must investigate further and tell us which one it is. Sure you not confusing the Superbrain, a CP/M machine with the Video Brain a F8 based game? Allison

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Today's Wall Street Journal Article

by rcini＠msn.com

All: For your enjoyment... ------------------------ Rich Cini/WUGNET - ClubWin Charter Member (6) - MCPS Windows 95/Networking Why We Can't Part With Those Vintage PCs By G. PASCAL ZACHARY Staff Reporter of TIIE WALL STREET JOURNAI. When it comes to her husband's habit of clut-tering their Redmond, Wash., home with broken and outmoded computer gear, Pam Vavra knows where to draw the line. The kitchen. Last month, Brad, her husband, stuffed a Mason jar with dozens of old memory chips and put it on a shelf next to similar jars that held fruit. Brad thought "it looked cool," he says, but she disagreed. "The kitchen is mine," she told him. "Your chips don't go with the decor." It would be an exaggeration to say that in kitchens all over America, people are filling their shelves with old computer gear. But as computers become nearly as common as toasters, the space devoted to computer junk expands, too. To be sure, some people have always had a hard time throwing things away. Didn't everyone's grandmother save string? Like the savers of old, today's digital packrats can't help themselves. "The reason you can't throw it away like an old shoe box is pre-cisely because you've established a prior relationship with it," says Brigitte Jordan, an anthropologist at Xerox Corp. who studies the relationship between people and things. As computers become more sophisticated, Ms. Jordan says, human interactions with them become more in-tense, intimate and memorable, making it harder for owners to part with their gear. For instance, Jim Kelnhofer, a programmer at Microsoft Corp., keeps his first computer in plain view in his bedroom. "I turn it on once or twice a year," he says. Hanging onto old computer stuff isn't just sentimen-tal, though. Some people paid so much for their outmoded machines that they can't bear to part with them for a song. And with computers changing so rapidly-obsoles-cence typically occurs in three years-many owners com-bat the disorientation of rapid change by keeping their old stuff nearby. "My theory is that these folks are so giddy with the pace of change that they keep this junk around as a trail of intellectual breadcrumbs, leading them back to their computing origins," says Paul Saffo, director of the Institute for the Future in Menlo Park, Calif. That's certainly true of Mr. Vavra, a software programmer who keeps the first computer he ever owned (a Franklin Ace) in his garage. A year ago, he donated to Microsoft's museum his Apple Lisa, a precursor to the Macintosh, but he can't part with an original Apple II, a computer on which he wrote some of his first programs in the 1970s. It is even more common for people to surround themselves with old gear at work. Alan Cooper, a computer consultant in Palo Alto, Calif., keeps a line of old chips on his desktop computer monitor and a few hundred computer punchcards -- not used since the 1970s -- in his desk drawer. "That's a lifetime supply now," says Mr. Cooper, who uses them as bookmarks. Mr. Cooper occasionally tosses out gear, but not easily. He is still sorry about his decision five years ago to give away an original Macintosh to a public school. Whenever he considers tossing out, say, the Hewlett-Packard calculator he bought in college 25 years ago, he thinks about how much he misses the Mac. "I don't want to make that mistake again," he says. While vintage computers provide psychological ballast against the shock of the new, there are sound economic reasons for retaining obsolete machines: Many are im-possible to sell or give away. In California alone, an esti-mated two million PCs are abandoned each year. Many sit in closets or warehouses or under desks. Others are sold at yard sales, left on the street, or cannibalized by recyclers for valuable metals. Most charities, for instance, have firm standards on which computers they will accept as donations. “We don’t want your junk,” says Helga Luce, a spokeswoman for Goodwill Industries. Even perfectly good computers often can't be given away. The Detwiler Foundation, which donates to schools computers rescued from oblivion, doesn't take machines that are powered by anything less than Intel's nine-year-old 386 chip. "We're not doing a school a favor by giving them a 286," says Diane Detwiler, the foundation's executive director, referring to Intel's 15-year-old microprocessor. Some charities have even tougher standards. Gifts in Kind, an Alexandria, Va., nonprofit that distributes donated computers, will accept only those machines whose parts, manuals and maintenance are readily available. The charity won't accept, for instance, the Macintosh Classic, a venerable computer that sold in the millions. Thwarted in their efforts to give away their most ancient machines, some computer owners try to make the best of a bad situation. Cliff Stoll, a computer-security expert in Oakland, Calif., came up with a novel answer to the question, "What do you do with a used computer?" Mr. Stoll, who is a commentator on the cable channel MSNBC and an author, has turned a one-piece Macintosh Plus into an aquarium, hollowing out the electronics and filling the case with water and fish. As if the aquarium weren't enough, Mr. Stoll turned an old IBM PC into a litter box for his cat. While the cat became enamored of the box, "I realized that really isn't a good second life for a computer," he says. For some fanatics, giving their computers decent storage space is more fitting. "My reasoning is really very simple," says Marc Weiser, a computer scientist at Xerox's Palo Alto, Calif., research lab. "Old computers are worthless to everybody else, so even if they have a dime of value to you its a dime you wouldn't have otherwise." Mr. Weiser keeps three old computers in his garage, including one he built in 1975. "Maybe I'll show it to my kids someday. You know, like an heirloom." Other digital packrats harbor similar delusions. Kimball Brown, a market researcher in San Jose, Calif., thinks his motley collection of modems, compact-disk drives, memory chips and entire computers could be worth something someday. Even if he's wrong, he insists, he can't lose. "I have a dream that someday I'll open a computer museum," he says. But there already are computer museums, and they are pretty choosy, too. Curators want collectible computers to be in pristine condition and perhaps bear some unique mark, such as a designer's signature. "What turns out to be valuable, you can't really know," says Gwen Bell, co-founder of the Computer Museum in Boston. But "if it's not shiny and polished and isn't part of a big story, it probably isn't worth keeping."

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Exidy Sorcerer Info

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

Somebody (I forget who) was asking for information on the Exidy Sorcerer. I've found the manuals, and will give a little useful info below. Memory Map : 0-1FFF 8K RAM (standard) - 1F50-1F90 Monitor stack, 1F91-1FFF Monitor workspace. [Or 0-3FFF 16K RAM, 0-7FFF 32K RAM, with the monitor stuff at the top of that] C000-DFFF 8K ROM cartridge [Or D000-DFFF 4K ROM cartridge, A000-DFFF 16K ROM cartridge] E000-EFFF Monitor ROM F000-F07F Video Scratchpad F080-F7FF Video (Screen) RAM F800-FBFF Ascii PROMs FC00-FDFF Standard graphics FE00-FFFF User Graphics Monitor Commands : DU <a1> <a2> DUmp memory from <a1> to <a2> EN <a> ENter hex data to memory starting at <a>. Type / <cr> to get out of this command TE <a1> <a2> TEst RAM from <a1> to <a2>. TE <a1> <a2> C TEst RAM continously. MO <a1> <a2> <a3> MOve block <a1> - <a2> to address <a3> MO <a1> <a2> S <count> MOve <count> bytes from <a1> to <a2> SA <name> <a1> <a2> <unit> SAve block <a1> - <a2> onto cassette <unit> with file<name> FI <unit> List FIles on cassette <unit> LO <name> <unit> <address> LOad file<name> from cassette <unit> at address <address>. The last 2 arguments are optional LOG <name> <unit> <address> LOad and Go file<name> as above GO <a> GO at address (run program) PP <parameter> Run Program Pack (ROM cartridge). If no paramenter given, do a warm start, otherwise cold SE <a>=<b> SEt monitor parameters : S=XX display delay to XX T=X Tape rate (0=1200 baud, 1 = 300 baud) F=XX set file type. D8 == non-auto-execute. Bx = Basic programs X=XXXX set execution address in tape file header O=V set output to video =P Parallel output =L Centronics Printer =S Tape output =XXXX send to address I=K set input to keyboard =P Parallel input =S Tape input =XXXX read from address CR CReate Batch file on tape unit 1 LI LIst Batch file BA run BAtch file OV End (OVer) of batch file. Returns control to the keyboard Memory : There are 2 rows of DRAM chips on the main PCB. Supported configurations are ; 2 rows of 4K chips (8K total) Front row (only) 16K chips (16K) 2 rows of 16K chips (32K) There are 2 jumpers at the front edge of the board (column 11). The front jumper is fitted if there are 2 rows of RAMs in the system. The rear one is fitted for 16K rams, removed for 4K rams. Pinouts: Serial interface (RH 25 pin connector) 1 : Shield 1 2 RS232 out 3 RS232 in 4 Ground 5 Aux level output to cassette 1 6,7,8 Ground 9 +12V 10 N/C 11 RS232 in 12 Motor control #1 + 12 Motor control #2 + 14 Shield 2 15 Microphone level output to cassette 1 16 microphone #2 17 Ground 18 Aux 2 19 Ground 20 Earphone input from cassette #1 21 Ear 2 22 N/C 23 RS223 out 24 Motor Control #1 - 25 Motor Control #2 - Parallel interface (LH 25 pin connector) 1 Ground 2 Output data Accepted 3 Output data Available 4 Output D7 5 Output D6 6 Output D5 7 Output D4 8 Ground 9 Input Data Available 10 Input D0 11 Input D2 12 Input D4 13 Input D6 14 N/C 15 +5V 16 Output D0 17 Output D1 18 Output D2 19 Output D3 20 +5V 21 Input data accepted 22 Input D1 23 Input D3 24 Input D5 25 Input D7 System bus (50 pin edge connector) 1 Reset out 2 Int* 3 wait* 4 Data bus enable (into sorcerer) 5 Busrq* 6 NMI* 7 Buskack* 8 Data Bus Direction (into sorcerer) 9 ROM Enable* 10 Phi1 (clock?) 11 ROM PRE 12 Reset Ack 13 Phi2 (clock out) 14 Up8K 15 Mreq* 16 M1* 17 Rd* 18 iorq* 19 rfsh* 20 wr* 21 A8 22 halt* 23 A10 24 A9 25 A15 26 A11 27 A13 28 A14 29 A0 30 A12 31 A2 32 A1 33 A4 34 A3 35 A6 36 A5 37 D0 38 A7 39 D2 40 D1 41 D4 42 D3 43 D6 44 D5 45 Reset input 46 D7 47 N/C 48 I/O 49 Ground 50 Ground ROMpack slot 1 A7 2 A6 3 A5 4 A4 5 A3 6 A2 7 A1 8 A0 9 A9 10 A8 11 D0 12 D1 13 D2 14 D3 15 D4 16 D5 17 D6 18 D7 19 A11 20 A10 21 RomDIS 22 A14 23 ROMPRE 24 A12 25 A13 26 +12V 27 -5V 28 N/C 29 +5V 30 Gnd Centronics printer cable Sorcerer Printer Signal 1 19-30 Ground 2 10 Ack 4 1 Stb 5 8 D6 6 7 D5 7 6 D4 8 19-30 Ground 16 2 D0 17 3 D1 18 4 D2 19 5 D3 25 11 Busy 9 D7 (Unused - maybe tie to ground - ARD) Serial cable : This was a 'hydra' cable with a DB25 to fit the sorcerer, 8 jack/phone plugs for the cassette recorders and a DB25 serial connector. I'll try to give the wirelist Sorcerer Device RS232 port 2 DB25/2 (TxD) 7 DB25/7 (Ground) 3 DB25/3 (RxD) 8 DB25/8 (Ground) Tape 1 : (Mic, Aux, Ear 3.5mm (mini) phone plugs, Remote 2.5mm (submini) phone plug) 15 Mic plug tip 1 Mic plug sleeve 5 Aux plug tip 4 Aux plug sleeve 20 Ear plug tip 19 Ear plug sleeve 24 Remote plug tip 12 Remote plug sleeve The remote connections are swapped for some recorders Tape 2 (Notes as above) 16 Mic plug tip 14 Mic plug sleeve 18 Aux plug tip 17 Aux plug sleeve 21 Ear plug tip 6 Ear plug sleeve 25 Remote plug tip 13 Remote plug sleeve I seem to remeber that something was asked about the PSU. According to my manual, the PSU was mostly on the main board, and used 3 off 3-terminal regulators for the +5V, +12V and -5V lines. If these are present, then the external (to the PCB) part of the PSU is simply a mains transformer giving 16V C/T and (probably) 16V). But if you don't have these regulators, let me know, and I'll try to figure out what is going on. -tony

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Early Computer History (RE: who's on first? )

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

> ---------- > From: Nick Challoner > On 1 Jul 97 at 22:45, e.tedeschi wrote: > > > I would be most interested in hearing peoples' views on where the > > > Bletchley Park computer (i can't remember its name) > > > > Colossus I ? > Yes! that was it. Thanks Enrico. > It was just called Colossus at the time (they ended up building 10 of them). They're rebuilding one at Bletchley Park. > Now back to the main question in my > post: where does this fit in to the timeline of early computers? > The following are arguable.... Colossus (1944) was probably the first electronic computer. ENIAC (1946) was probably the first general-purpose electronic computer, while Colossus was built strictly to break a German cipher. Manchester/Harvard Mark 1 (1948) was probably first electronic stored-program computer. (ENIAC, though built in '46, was made stored-program in 1948, complicating matters somewhat) EDSAC (1949) is sometimes called the first full-scale operational stored-program computer. UNIVAC 1 (1952) was probably the first commercial computer. I haven't been able to find any citations of the first all-solid-state computer. Kai

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

who's on first?

by zmerch＠northernway.net

Whilst in a self-induced trance, Ward Griffiths and/or Lisa Rogers happened to blather: >On Sun, 29 Jun 1997, Brett wrote: >That was me. Yes, it might have been _possible_ to build a machine in >1930, but at that time nobody had made the connection between Babbage's >ideas and electronics. IIRC, it was John von Neuman who took that fatal >step, then published it. And then all Hell broke loose, and there is no >sign of the rift closing within our lifetimes. I _love_ it. With >respect to the old Chinese curse, we live in interesting times. And we >have done so since the Harvard Mark I. (Well, there _is_ that rumoured >German predecessor, but it was never advertised.) Uh, actually, try October 1939... with the ABC. That's the Atanasoff - Berry Computer, which is now recognized as the first functional electronic computer. I posted 2 or 3 URL's for more info on the web, if there's a searchable archive of this list, check there for my post. If not, I'll look it up in mine if I still have it. BTW, you're timeline is still a bit off... IIRC John von Neumann invented the stored-program concept, didn't he? It was Markus & someone who designed the first UNIVAC mostly with concepts hijacked from the ABC... methinks it was in 1972 or so when the U.S. Patent office yanked the patent away from them and gave it back to Atanasoff & Berry. Anywho, have fun, y'all! "Merch" -- Roger Merchberger | If at first you don't succeed, Programmer, NorthernWay | nuclear warhead disarmament should *not* zmerch(a)northernway.net | be your first career choice.

28 years, 9 months

4
4
0 0

8088 ROM image (fwd)

by more＠camlaw.rutgers.edu

If anyone can help this guy out, please e-mail him (he does not subscribe AFAIK to the mailimg list.) Thanks, Les ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 01 Jul 1997 18:57:12 -0700 From: michael neufeld <mneufeld(a)awinc.com> To: more(a)camlaw.Rutgers.EDU Subject: 8088 ROM image Hello, Would you happen to have the BIOS for an 8088 IBM PC, XT or compatible? I would like to build a DOS compatible single board computer, however I need a BIOS and/or information on it. Any help you could give me would be appreciated! Thanks, Michael Neufeld mneufeld(a)awinc.com

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Tandy 100

by jrice＠texoma.net

Does anyone out there have a Tandy Model 100, that is non functioning? My LCD display died and RS Parts want $225.00 for a new one. Thanks, James

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Sony CP/M machine?

by foxvideo＠mail.wincom.net

At 12:06 PM 7/2/97 -0500, you wrote: >On Wed, 2 Jul 1997, Ken Marshall wrote: > >> I was just given a Sony SMC-70 last weekend by a friend of my son's that is >> moving. The machine has 3.5" single-sided floppy disks, both black & white >> and RGB video outputs, an RS-232 interface, parallel interface, and a DB-25 >> connector labeled "external drives". It also has a "supercharger" unit > >I have an SMC-70 as well; unfortunately, I have neither an OS nor the >floppy drives for mine. The few pieces of information that I have found >about this machine are that it was (supposedly) the first mass-produced >computer to use 3.5 inch floppy disks and that it was used as a part of a >video editing controller that Sony produced in the early '80s. The >floppy disk claim does make some sense, since the 3.5 inch format was >developed by Sony. > >A few more interesting things about this machine: > >- The power supply is located in the rear portion of the case, which is >mounted on tracks and movable. Moving the power supply away from the main >portion of the case reveals a ribbon cable with several 50-pin socket >connectors. This ribbon cable terminates at the 50-pin Centronics >connector on the back of the unit. Does anyone have a description of this >bus? I'm assuming that there were options available that fit into this >area and extend the length of the unit, somewhat like the options that can >be connected to the IBM PC Convertible. > >- There is a switch on the side of the unit that selects the startup >device, which can be either ROM or disk. I'm assuming that the boot ROM >was an optional product. In any case, mine doesn't have a boot ROM. > >Does anyone know if the SMC-70 floppy drives are the same as (or >compatible with) any of the other drives that are made by Sony, such as >the 400k SSDD drives used in the Macintosh 128k/512k? > >If anyone is interested, I can snap a few pictures of the SMC-70 tonight, >put them on the Web, and post the URL. > >-- >Scott Ware s-ware(a)nwu.edu > The Sony part numbers listed for the manuals are as follows: SML7000Z Operating instruction binder. SML7001Z Sony basic introductory manual& basic user guide. SML7002Z Basic reference manual SML7003Z System monitor manual SMC70. SML7004Z Hardware manual, technical description, SMC70. I suggest not ordering them retail from Sony as they are listing at about $ 50.00 ea.in 1986 Cheers Charlie Fox

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

Sony CP/M machine?

by foxvideo＠mail.wincom.net

At 12:34 AM 7/2/97 -0700, you wrote: > >I mentioned previously a discussion I had over dinner of some classic >systems. One of the systems mentioned was a Sony CP/M machine from the >very early 80s. Anyone know anything about this system? > > >Sam >------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass > > Hi, Sam: In 1983 Sony Video Products Catalog listed a SMC70 microcomputer, and again in 1986 Japan Video Centre (Toronto) listed a SMC70G "Genlocker" which was supposed to make a good character generator for video production. I remember going to see one, but didn't bite because they wanted about six grand for it, and that is a bit much, even in Canada. Regards Charlie Fox

28 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

RT-11 and OS/8 floppy interleave algorithms?

by dbetz＠xlisper.mv.com

Does anyone know the RX01 floppy sector interleave algorithms for RT-11 and OS/8? Thanks in advance, David Betz -- David Betz dbetz(a)xlisper.mv.com DavidBetz(a)aol.com (603) 472-2389

28 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

yo

by dastar＠crl.com

I had a business meal tonight and after some discussion I found out that one of our guests is sort of into collecting old computers (basically he never got rid of any of the systems he's bought over time). One of the systems he mentioned he had was a Video Brain. Apparently this is a video game system. I *think* I vaguely remember hearing about this system. At any rate I'm curious about it and was wondering if anybody knew what it was as we both had too much tequila for him to describe and for me to comprehend it. I told him of my plans for the First Annual Vintage Computer Festival (which, by the way, is still on...I'm still in the planning phases) and he mentioned that he had close contacts with a show called The Computer Guys on the Discovery Channel and would arrange for me to meet with them to discuss possible coverage of the show. Very nice! Sam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass

28 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

CLASSICCMP digest 99

by ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk

In message <3.0.1.32.19970701060900.00f809f0(a)mail.wizards.net> classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu writes: > >> I've seen a couple of posts in here that declare, in very firm terms > >> indeed, that machines like the MicroVAX and PDP's are not "home" computers. > > > > My PDP is a home computer. All it takes up is a table (I don't have a > > rack yet. It's coming...) Besides, my XT is bigger than the PDP at the > > moment (condidering keyboard, monitor, printer, and disks) At one time I had a PDP8/e and a PDP11/44 _on my desk_. They were thus desktop computers :-). The 11/44 is now elsewhere, since I now have the 8/e's peripherals on my desk....

28 years, 9 months

4
3
0 0

Help with Apple Lisa 2

by kaikal＠MICROSOFT.com

Hi all, I just acquired a Lisa 2/10 and I'm trying to figure things out. The system starts to boot from the hard drive and comes up with a MacWorks/Sun Remarketing logo, then asks for a diskette. Looks like it's running MacWorks XL, is that correct? The system still has regular Lisa H/88 ROMs so it's not messed with hardware-wise. How come it wants a diskette and won't boot from the HD? I tried putting in a System 1 diskette from my Mac 128 and it gave me the "Welcome to Macintosh" splash and then died with a Sad Mac FE0002. Do I need a special Mac System version diskette to boot this sucker? Any info appreciated!! (anyone have a spare keyboard? I need a few keys) thanks Kai

28 years, 9 months

3
2
0 0

Flex for 6809/6800

by bluesky6＠ix.netcom.com

Does anyone know if one can still get Flex for the 6809 or 6800? There're people archiving and using CP/M stuff but it seems a waste to let a very simple and neat OS like Flex go the way of the dinosaur. Ben

28 years, 9 months

2
1
0 0

Auction: Odds and Ends, Power Supplies, etc.

by gmast＠polymail.cpunix.calpoly.edu

I am still sorting through my stuff and have a few odd items up on the eBay auction. These type of things go pretty cheap (a buck for 3 power supplies and 4 RF adapters? Cheaper than the Goodwill!) but are sometimes hard to find (especially when you need one...power supplies?). Anyway, all you have to do is go to the link listed and check the price. Remember to figure shipping into what you want to pay. I'm in CA. Lot of Power supplies & RF Adapters (TI99/4A) Current bid: $1.00 Auction ends on: 07/03/97, 13:38:45 PDT http://www2.ebay.com/aw/itemfast.cgi?item=fpl6975 Indus GT Black Drive for Commodore 64 (photo) Current bid: $14.50 Auction ends on: 07/03/97, 13:50:38 PDT http://www2.ebay.com/aw/itemfast.cgi?item=mtr1454 Lot of 3 Joysticks (photo) Bidding starts at: $1.00 Auction ends on: 07/03/97, 13:57:24 PDT http://www2.ebay.com/aw/itemfast.cgi?item=hpq2180 Atari 800XL and Power Supply (No Workee?) Current bid: $1.00 Auction ends on: 07/05/97, 13:10:40 PDT http://www2.ebay.com/aw/itemfast.cgi?item=ntp8872 Thanks for reading, Greg

28 years, 9 months

1
0
0 0

collection value

by lynn＠ferberts.com

Are old (classic) computer magazines worth more now than the issues price? Example: original first issue of BYTE magazine? Or can I tell my husband to throw them out and give away the tin shed? Lynn Lynn Perez-Hewitt lynn(a)ferberts.com P.O. Box 1630 Oracle, AZ 85623 520.896.9316

28 years, 9 months

4
4
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