Kevan wrote:
> I think the Microbee also originates from Australia.
Correct. The Microbee is Australian. I'd love to have one of these. Is
there anyone on this list who has one or used to have one? Or who knows if
there are still any user groups or similar in Australia?
/Fredrik
Ok,
I have an old Anita 1000 calculator which I think dates from around
1967. It is all discrete components mounted on a number of seperate
boards. One board has a funny spidery type component on it and I don't
know what it is. You can see a picture here:
http://staff.motiv.co.uk/~kevan/card.jpg
I have a second Anita that has three of these things on it so I really
would like to know what they are.
Thanks
--
Kevan
Old Computer Collector: http://staff.motiv.co.uk/~kevan/
Forwarded from comp.os.cpm:-
From: schach(a)garnet.berkeley.edu (Linda B)
Subject: Xerox 860's -- anyone interested
Date: 6 May 1997 17 : 59 : 43 GMT
Organization: University of California at Berkeley
Have several Xerox 860 8080 CP/M computers as well as Diablo 630 printers
modified to work specifically with them. They are located in Berkeley,
nyone interested in them?
Linda B
One of the things I saw at the last swap meet I was at was a Victor PC.
I am pretty darn sure this is some PC clone because it had the requisite
function keys and 2 5.25" floppy drives. The drives and monitor and CPU
were all one unit (the monitor may have been detachable or just sitting
on the CPU). It was labelled "Victor" and the "o" was like a multi-band
colored sun (or something). Um, don't know what else to say about it.
Does anyone know what this is? I was tempted to pick it up but it was
priced at (I think) $40 and wasn't even going to bother haggling (this
was the same guy trying to sell two VIC-20s at $25 a piece).
Sam
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass
Well, here's this weekend's take:
Among several computer's, I also brought in quite a few books. Here are
the titles in case anyone's counting:
PET Personal Computer Guide (1982)
TRS-80 Color Computer and MC-10 Programs (1983)
CP/M Handbook with MP/M (1980)
How to Get Started with CP/M (1981)
Mastering CP/M (1983)
Using CP/M (1980)
Color Computer Basic09 Programming Language Reference (with software)
Osborne CP/M User's Guide [not Osbourne computer] (1981)
The Elementary Commodore 64 (1983)
Programming Techniques for Level II Basic (1980)
Color Computer Playground (1983)
Sams ToolKit Series VIC20 Edition (1984)
Graphics Guide to the Commodore 64 (1984)
TRS-80 Color Computer Programs (1982)
I also got these manuals/software:
TRS-80 Model II Operations Manual
TRS-80 Scripsit Manual
TRS-80 Videotex
Commodore 64 Bonus Cassette Pack (this is 5 cassettes still in the
original shrinkwrap of all things)
I'm finding that I am more interested now in the accessories, like
cables, manuals, modems, datasettes, etc. than in the computers I find
now because I pretty much have all the common systems. What I really
need to get a lot of my systems running are power supplies or, in most
cases, the original video cable. A lot of these lame-o manufacturers of
yester year (namely Commodore) used cables with ridiculous pin-outs for
the video.
Now onto the hardware...first some accessories:
TRS-80 Modem I (very cool)
(2) C64 1541 drives
VIC 1541 drive
Commodore 1531 Datasette
And these systems:
Commodore Plus4
Commodore 64 (for parts to fix my broken one)
Atari 5200 (have 5 of these but none with the funky video/power
adapter...this one had one so I bought it).
Odyssey 3000 [!] (stand-alone unit with 4 built-in games...Pong-type
games...by Magnavox)
Laser 50 PC [!] (cool little "portable computer"...has a one-line 20
character LCD display with built-in BASIC...it is about half the width
and thickness of a typical laptop...it is not a serious computer, more
like a toy; manufactured by Vtech, which is the company that makes all
those kids computer toys; circa 1985)
Between the Odyssey 3000 and the Laser 50, I can't decide what I should
choose as my catch of the weekend. Both are systems I had never even
heard of or seen, so its always a nice surprise to pick up something like
these out of the blue.
Last but not least, I got this luggable that I need some help identifying.
It is a portable that looks very much like an Osbourne (which is what I
thought it was at first but realized it wasn't). It has a built in 7"
screen and two 5.25" floppies. It has one knob on the front for contrast,
and next to that is an RJ-14 (6-conductor) jack for the keyboard. There
is no identifying mark on it anywhere. The front cover pops off revealing
the screen/floppies and contains the keyboard. When it boots up, it just
shows a flashing "K" with an underscore beneath it located at the upper
left-hand corner of the screen. It doesn't do anything beyond that, which
is making the identification process all the more difficult. The back has
two DB25's, one male labelled SERIAL and the other female labelled
PARALLEL. There are also some peripheral card openings. Cracking it opens
reveals that it has what looks to be an XT bus with 4 slots. There are 2
cards and a hard drive inside. One card is labelled "Hyper CLOCK" and is
obviously a clock card. The other is a Racal-Vadic modem. Then the 3rd &
4th slots are taken up by a hard-card (hard drive on a card) which plugs
into one slot. It is manufactured by Tandon. The only chip of
significance inside is a Motorola labelled MC6845P. I'm speculating that
this is the CPU. There is a label on the motherboard (which is huge,
measuring almost 2 feet square) which says "Corona Data Systems" and then
"200290-512" which I am guessing means it has 512K. There are 4 rows of
16 each RAM chips...half are soldered in and half are plugged into
sockets. Lastly, a label on the back of the outside say "Model M18P-2"
and the keyboard is made by Keytronics. I didn't write it down but I
believe I saw a date somewhere of 1981. Any help figuring this behemoth
out would be appreciated. After figuring it wasn't an osbourne 1, I was
going to pass on it but I offered $5 and for the hell of it and got it.
Maybe it'll turn out be something cool.
Oh yeah, total bill was $44.00.
Sam
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass
> Hi All,
>
> Right on. The Victor 9000 was quite a system. Monochrome hi res
> video. Way ahead of its time IMHO. If I remember right, it was an
> 8086 based PC that was designed by the same fellow who designed the
> 6502 chip. Unfortunatly, his name escapes me.
Chuck Peddle.
On Tue, 6 May 1997, Roger Merchberger wrote:
>
> And the 64,000 byte question: If Scotty had *never* seen a QWERTY keyboard
> before in his life... how the *he!!* can he type so fast!?!
>
> Inquiring minds want to know!
>
Not to mention that he was able to quickly sketch out the formula for
"transparent aluminum" using ghod knows what software.
--Dav
david_a._vandenbroucke(a)hud.gov
>I have read many letters here and I hope this is NOT what we are going
>to continually hear - Microsoft reps patting themselves on the back
>because they and the company can NEVER BE WRONG. Let's keep company
>reps out if they only want to glorify the company (that basically has
>the computer world in turmoil with poor quality non-innovative
>software).
I don't work for Microsoft, but I have had a similar run-in with Dr.
Pournelle. I am a professional economist (a "Dr." too, as it happens), and
in some discussion forum or other on GEnie I once quoted Milton Friedman's
well-known (among economists) remark that "we're all Keynesians now." If you
know the way that macroeconomic theory has converged over the past few
decades, the remark makes perfect sense and doesn't detract from Friedman's
status as the leader of the believers in the unfettered market. However,
Pournelle was on me like a ton of bricks. He clearly _didn't_ understand
what Keynesian theory was all about and thought that it just stood for
government policies that he didn't like. He didn't care about references,
because he "knew" that Friedman just _couldn't_ have said that, sort of like
those guys who didn't bother to look into Galileo's telescope because they
_knew_ the sun couldn't have spots. Eventually I just gave up on the
conversation, and I suppose Pournelle thinks that he won the argument.
--Dav
david_a._vandenbroucke(a)hud.gov
Hi Again,
<snip>
> I remember playing around with some Victors at the neighborhood computer
> store in 1981 or so. . .did they run CP/M?
The original lot we used ran CPM/86. As the IBM continued to grow in
market share a version of MS/DOS modified specifically for the Victor
was released.
> I also remember reading that they had a wierd disk format, and Victor
> wanted to control all of the software available for the machine.
The wierd disk format came from the multi speed floppy drive and the
zones. 600K on one side of a 5-1/4" disk. Not bad for it's time.
> The
> article said "You couldn't even get a copy of Dbase II unless you got it
> through Victor". Any truth to that?
Yep, due mainly to the disk format. Can't remember if there were
problems with the video driver portion also. The system had a very
high resolution. I once saw video being played on the screen. Looked
every bit as good as a black and white TV except it was green and
black. In any event, you just couldn't bring programs straight over.
As far as applications went, they had Victor versions of Lotus,
Supercalc, MultiPlan, Multimate, dBase II, Crosstalk, Wordstar and
others. It even had a 3D spreadsheet called Victor Calc.
There was talk of Victor releasing a disk drive that would read and
write IBM format and an emulation board that would allow it to run
IBM software. As I remember it, this board was giving them all kinds
of headaches. Never really got it to work bug free or at least free
enough so that users wouldn't complain. Shortly after this the
company went belly up. Seems that they were will established over seas
and had a good share of the market. In an attempt to migrate the
system to this side of the pond they overextended themselves in the
marketing department and opened up too many sales locations all over
the country but the sales didn't materialze. I remember them
shutting down location after location. That's about all I can
remember.
Hope that helps.
Tom
I'm sorry but I can't recall a scene in any movie that resembles a real
use of a computer. Face it computers on film are boring. That's why
every movie computer has animated graphics and makes noises every time
you do something.
I worked with a guy in 3-D modeling. He learned how to spin a shaded
object on the screen. Every time a (computer clueless) manager came by
he'd start spinning. They were really impressed! Then after they left,
he'd ask me how to make it do something else.
What I really enjoy is the blank screen where you type in "find Bob
Smith" and it comes back with everything about the guy including
pictures, tax returns, blueprints of his house, and always that little
piece of information that ties him to the crime. Where can I get one of
those?
I remember trying out a little accessory for my mac that caused the
thing to beep every time you hit a key. just like in the movies! Drove
me crazy after about 30 seconds.
Hi All,
I've been lurking for one day but had to reply to this one so I hope
I'm not breaking any rules.
<snip>
> That was an ACT Victor 9000, aka Sirius 9000 in Europe. It's a brilliant
> machine (by coincidence I saw a Sirius keyboard for sale last Sunday).
> 8088-based, but not PC compatible. Will run the usual OSs and the usual
> software. I can't remember specs of the top of my head. After the
> Victor/Sirius, ACT went on to design the Apricot series, with which you may
> be more familiar. If you need the full specs, I'll be happy to have a look
> for you!
Right on. The Victor 9000 was quite a system. Monochrome hi res
video. Way ahead of its time IMHO. If I remember right, it was an
8086 based PC that was designed by the same fellow who designed the
6502 chip. Unfortunatly, his name escapes me. It was not IBM
compatible in any way which is what really killed it. I had a
classroom with 12 of those systems in it. Very reliable. Also had a
variable speed 5-1/4 drive that stored more data on the outer tracks
by slowing the drive down. Had about 5 different speed zones on the
disk so it store 600k per disk. Quite a feat when IBM was still at
the 360K density.
On another note. The reason I'm here is that someone recommended I
drop a line to let you all know I have a Heath Z150 PC that I built
back in 1984. I also have all the manuals and schematics and two
binders of Remark mag. I no longer have room for it and would like to
find a good home for it. Aside from shipping charges, it's free for
the taking. I'm located on Long Island in New York. Anyone
interested. I'd hate to have to deep six it.
Let me know
Tom
> You can't forget about the PDP-8/E with DECTape drives that
> appeared in "Three Days of the Condor".
And wasn't there an IMSAI in War Games? (It's been a long time,
though.)
ttfn
srw
------------------------------------------------------------
Walde Techonology http://scott.cprompt.sk.ca
Box 7284 finger: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca
Saskatoon, SK S7K 4J2 email: scott(a)saskatoon.com
CANADA email: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca
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Two of my favorites:
ISTR (tho I haven't seen it since it came out) that the original Terminator
was programmed in:
1: Basic (Applesoft Basic, wasn't it?)
2: 8-bit Assembly (methinks 6800/6809, but it could have been 6502...
memory fuzzy)
3: Get this: COBOL!!!!! ;-O
There may have been others... but those are three I distinctly remember
>from the movie.
The other one (of course):
Scotty talking to a mouse on an original Macintosh (which, of course) had
the computational capabilities of a Cray it would seem...
And the 64,000 byte question: If Scotty had *never* seen a QWERTY keyboard
before in his life... how the *he!!* can he type so fast!?!
Inquiring minds want to know!
Prost,
"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.
> And the 64,000 byte question: If Scotty had *never* seen a QWERTY keyboard
> before in his life... how the *he!!* can he type so fast!?!
Shouldn't that actually be the 65,536 byte question?
ttfn
srw
------------------------------------------------------------
Walde Techonology http://scott.cprompt.sk.ca
Box 7284 finger: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca
Saskatoon, SK S7K 4J2 email: scott(a)saskatoon.com
CANADA email: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca
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> Two of my favorites:
>
> ISTR (tho I haven't seen it since it came out) that the original Terminator
> was programmed in:
>
> 1: Basic (Applesoft Basic, wasn't it?)
> 2: 8-bit Assembly (methinks 6800/6809, but it could have been 6502...
> memory fuzzy)
That reminds me... was it Inner Space where the guys working on the
computers were simply going through pages of monitor dumps on Apple
][+ or //es?
ttfn
srw
------------------------------------------------------------
Walde Techonology http://scott.cprompt.sk.ca
Box 7284 finger: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca
Saskatoon, SK S7K 4J2 email: scott(a)saskatoon.com
CANADA email: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca
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About 9 years ago when I was in our end user support organization, I had
occasion to speak to Jerry. He was threatening to give QuickBasic a
scathing review because he couldn't get it to compile Mrs. Pournelle's
Reading Program (what else?) under Windows 386. He called up our
QuickBasic group manager and just about carved him a new orifice. I, as
the Windows support lead, was asked to call him on this very urgent,
sky-is-falling problem and help him out, since as you may have noticed
>from years of columns, he never, ever calls support himself. The
conversation went something like this:
Me: "Hi Mr. Pournelle, this is Kai with Microsoft Product Support..."
Jerry: "What the HELL are you DOING calling during my DINNER TIME?!?"
Me: "I'm sorry sir, I understood you had a very urgent issue, and I had
no way of knowing..."
Jerry: "YOU PEOPLE are MORONS! <blah blah blah blah>"
And things went downhill from there. Later on we finally got to the
problem, which as I recall was related to a bizarre SCSI adapter in that
silly Cheetah 386 he had, the one into which he would put any piece of
hardware any manufacturer ever sent to him for free.
Not a great experience. I spoke to him again a few months later on a
different issue, and he was no more lucid or logical on that occasion.
Kai
> ----------
> From: Ward Griffiths and/or Lisa Rogers[SMTP:gram@cnct.com]
> Reply To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
> Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 1997 2:01 PM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: The decline and fall of Byte
>
> On Tue, 6 May 1997, Captain Napalm wrote:
>
> > My own collection of Byte starts with August of 85 (Amiga 1000 is
> the
> > cover story) and ends somewhere in late 89 or early 90. The library
> at the
> > university I attended had issues starting from Jan '77 (which I read
> 8-).
> > The dates given here are approximate, looking at a Byte from 1980,
> then 1985
> > then 1990 will show almost three different magazines.
> >
> > -spc (It started sliding when Robert Tinney stopped doing magazine
> covers,
> > (~87) then it nose dived once Steve Ciarcia stopped writing
> hardware
> > articles, (~88 or 89) although there are some that think it
> started
> > way back in '77 when Pournelle started his column)
>
> Well, most of my older Byte magazines were destroyed by water several
> moves ago, and I wouldn't mind acquiring most of them again. I had
> mostly
> given up on Byte in the mid-eighties, but in recent years I've wound
> up
> with a subscription (recently finally expired) due to McGraw-Hill
> ceasing
> publication of more useful magazines. Ciarcia's articles were always
> excellent (and I know that most of them were released in book form
> awhile
> back), and his current magazine, "Circuit Cellar Ink" is pretty good,
> especially if you're a serious hardware hacker as I no longer am.
> Actually, nowadays, Pournelle's column is about the only thing I read
> in
> the magazine, and now that it's available on the web (with extra
> text), I
> really don't care to subscribe. Opinions vary concerning Jerry
> Pournelle.
> I've known him for over twenty years due to our mutual interest in
> science
> fiction and membership in the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society (I'm
> still a member despite living in New Jersey -- Death Shall Not Release
> You!). Over the years we've had a lot of conversations and arguments,
> about politics (he's in favor of having a government, I'm opposed),
> about
> space development (we're both in favor) and computers (I was a
> Shacker,
> and while I was living elsewhere on the continent he had bad
> experiences
> with a very early TRS-80 and the company rather hurt themselves by
> being
> uncooperative and ignorant of the power of the press -- which is why
> after
> I showed him one of the first Model 100s, he went out and got a NEC
> equivalent). He's a man of strong opinions who's always trying to
> learn
> something new and so am I. Really, he should be a member of this
> mailing
> list -- he's experienced directly more of the history of computers
> than
> most of us who've worked and played with them. That plus having the
> clout
> to get information from the movers and shakers.
> --
> Ward Griffiths
> "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within
> the system, but too early to shoot the bastards." --Claire Wolfe
>
>
> > Apple III 6502 128K SOS MICRO 83
>
> The Apple III is definitely earlier than 1983. I have a booklet entitled
> "Apple In Depth" from 1981 and it has the Apple III in it. Also, I found
> a review of the III in the December, 1980 issue of Popular Science
> (p.113).
Strictly from my memory but, I'm _positive_ the A/// was released in
fall of 1980. It actually beat the IBM PC to market, but had 100%
hardware malfunction in the first run, and didn't have the bugs fixed
until after the PC was out. (No longer strictly from memory. I just
checked it out, It _Was_ Sept. 1980, and the ][+ was June 1979.)
Apple has a great 'History' at:
http://product.info.apple.com/pr/background/pr.background.timeline.html
(Of course, it doesn't really mention any of the major failures.)
ttfn
srw
------------------------------------------------------------
Walde Techonology http://scott.cprompt.sk.ca
Box 7284 finger: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca
Saskatoon, SK S7K 4J2 email: scott(a)saskatoon.com
CANADA email: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca
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DATE SENT: 6-MAY-1997 16:59:36
>
>I recently found out that _Weird Science_ possibly has an Apple Lisa in
>it and that some chick is named Lisa because she was designed on the
>computer. Never seen the flick, but I think I might have to now...
>
I think it may have been an Atari (1200xl?). It's been years since I last saw
the movie, so I might be wrong.
---
####### "Hey...how'd I get in here?"
| o o | Loren Dickey
( ^ ) ldickey(a)west.cscwc.pima.edu
\ o / ldickey(a)aztec.asu.edu
I agree completely Bill. Here are some reasons I can think of off the
top of my head for starting the newsgroup:
- If we look at The List that has been circulating, only about 1% of
those manufacturers have a comp.os.* group associated.
- Someone who has a classic computer in their closet doesn't want to
join a mailing list just to post a targeted for sale ad.
- We don't want posts from commercial vendors of classic
systems/software/parts filling up our mailboxes, but I'd like to
encourage them to post to the newsgroup.
- alt.folklore.computers is for discussions about folklore (did Gary
Kildall really refuse to sign that IBM nondisclosure, thus dooming
CP/M?) not buy/sell/trade activity.
- A mailing list is an inappropriate place to hold an auction
- Usenet is automatically archived and searchable via DejaNews
Kai
> ----------
> From: Bill Whitson[SMTP:bill@booster.bothell.washington.edu]
> Reply To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
> Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 1997 2:52 PM
> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
> Subject: Re: Wanted: Co-Proponent for RFD
> rec.collecting.computers.classic
>
> > Keeping it to ourselves is counter productive. The point is to
> share the
> > knowledge to get more people interested to preserve more computers.
> The
> > point is we do this because we have passion for the systems. Every
> hobby
> > is going to be prostituted some time or another. As long as your
> passion
> > remains, its all good.
>
> Let me clarify, just in case. Anyone with interest can join this
> list.
> If you guys wish to spread the word or post about it in appropriate
> places be my guest.
>
> I don't stand one way or the other on the newsgroup idea but I think
> it's agood idea to take a look at groups like comp.sys.ti where the
> bulk of the info comes from the mailing list reposts and almost
> everything else is spam. That is the reason why I decided to go with
> a
> mailing list rather than a newsgroup. It seems silly to argue about
> the
> group if the process has already been started - if it gets created it
> will
> either get used or not. If it passes I'll be one of the people
> reading
> it as I'm sure most of you will.
>
> Bill
>
> ----------------------------------------------------
> Bill Whitson - Classic Computers ListOp
> bill(a)booster.u.washinton.edu or bcw(a)u.washington.edu
> http://weber.u.washington.edu/~bcw
>
>
> Well how about a "Computer Journal" all our own?
>
> Just an idea... and it really wouldn't take that much effort!
I like this idea. Maybe it could be a group collaborative effort.
(Another mailling list?) Besides articles relating to collecting, I
think it would be really cool to try to obtain the rights to reprint
some classic magazine articles that some of us never got to see, or
were to shortsighted at the time to keep. (Construction type articles.
Maybe some reviews.)
(Are we talking about 'ink and paper' here or electronic? I was
thinking 'ink and paper', but [html,pdf,whatever] wouldn't be bad either.)
> Les
ttfn
srw
------------------------------------------------------------
Walde Techonology http://scott.cprompt.sk.ca
Box 7284 finger: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca
Saskatoon, SK S7K 4J2 email: scott(a)saskatoon.com
CANADA email: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca
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Hi all,
Due to the shocking absence of a computer collecting newsgroup
(alt.folklore.computers is used a bit, but doesn't really apply), I'm
submitting an RFD for rec.collecting.computers.classic. If anyone would
like to be listed as a co-proponent, let me know. This may entail some
work in assisting/monitoring the RFD process.
The RFD will be cross-posted to classiccmp when complete.
thanks
Kai
From: hellige <jeffh(a)eleventh.com>
To: classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Atari prob, etc.
> One thing about Atari 8bit stuff is a lot of it tended to use it's own
> power rating on the power supply, and not really interchangeable
> between most of it, it seems.
I'll check the ratings on the 1200 xl in the FAQ maybe that was the
problem... :/
---------
From: Sam Ismail <dastar(a)crl.com>
Subject: yo
>First Annual Classic Computer Collector Conference
>Why?
BECAUSE! Does any hacker need a reason (well maybe the tried and true,
"Because they say it's impossible.")
> Next question...
> Where?
> Livermore, California (tentative...actual venue TBD)
I could handle that. Hey that's were alot of the companies started.
> When?
> Late Summer 1997 (possibly August)
> Who?
> Organizer: Sam Ismail
> Sponsors: Pending (targeted sponsors will be
> Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories and
> other computer manufacturers in the local area
> and Silicon Valley).
Apple could use a little more good P.R... (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)
> What?
> The Classic Computer Collector Convention is
> slated to be the premier computer faire to
> attend to meet with fellow classic computer
> collector geeks, buy/sell/trade classic computer
> stuff, exchange classic computer software and
> classic computer hints and tips, attend
> workshops on classic computer preservation and
> restoration, and of course see classic
> computers.
> Some show features:
> Classic Computer Spotlight - every year a
> legendary system is chosen to be heralded as the
> classic computer of the year (nominees for the
> first show are Altair 8800; Apple ][; Commodore
> PET; ???).
Hey how about a demo contest too? Have you ever seen those european
groups' parties, (search the web there are some good pages about them)
looks pretty cool to me. Kinda like a hackerfest.
> Classic Computer Pioneer - every year an
> individual from the annals of computer lore will
> be chosen as the Classic Computer Pioneer of the
> year. This would be someone who had a lasting
> legacy or made a historical impact on the
> computer industry, but is not necessarily active
> anymore (ie. this precludes Bill Gates from
> qualifying). Nominees: Gary Kildall, creator of
> CP/M; Steve Wozniak; ???
As I said Apple could use the P.R. (maybe get the Steves...)
Unfortunately Gary Kildall (creator of CP/M) died a couple years back
(but would be a kick to honor him), Chuck Peddle was the creator of the
6502 microprocessor and Commodore PET among other things.
> Classic Computer Museum - A classic museum will
> be set-up on-site to allow interested public to
> see what classic computers are all about.
> Attendees will be encouraged to submit their
> favorite classics for display during the show.
Better have tight security there if we bring our 'babies' to sow off.
> The success of the show will depend on
> attendance. Admission will be enough to cover
> the costs of running the show (including lease
> of the venue, advertising, etc). Although there
> won't be much of a vending atmosphere (unless
> people want to haul their stuff from all over
> the country) space will be sold for such
> purposes.
That sounds reasonable.
> More details as I come up with them. I would
> really appreciate feedback from the patrons of
> this discussion group. Any ideas, comments,
> suggestions are welcome (please suggest a better
> name!)
The only computer show I attended was the World of Commodore in San
Francisco in 1987, since then most of the shows have been feeding
frenzies for developers and not at all interested in the computer
classics. I would attend and I'm sure I could get others in the area
interested.
----------
From: Doug Spence <ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca>
Subject: Re: Old Computer Books (was Re: Pets & Silly Game)
> ...But the only PET books this library has are things like
> collections of type-in programs for the PET, and books on using the PET in
> an educational environment. Nothing good and technical.
The technical ones are some of the hardest to locate, some of mine
came from a Commodore Group weeding out their library, I bought them via
mail. The most PET books I've come across are old college and school
textbooks (anyone see "Hands-On BASIC with the Commodore PET?" yuk.)
---
Subject: BBSes on old hardware and SuperVIC
> (re: VIC-20) I'd put at least 32K in it, with a memory
> protection toggle on the RAM so that it could run images of cartridges
> from disk.
There is a file I think on funet.fi's FTP that describes and internal
mod that does just that. :)
---
Subject: PETs etc.
> If only I could find such things. I suspect that if I took a trip to
> Toronto I'd have much better luck in all of my searches for old computer
> hardware, software, and books, but the chances of finding PET stuff in
> particular would go up a hundred fold. (What with TPUG, the Toronto PET
> Users Group, etc.)
True, that was a very good Commodore region.
> I have a feeling that computer ownership wasn't nearly as common in
> Montreal in the early days as it was in most other major North American
> cities...
I would believe that, I think it depnds on what stores, groups were in
the area as well as what computers were first brought in. (Keeping up
with the Jones')
> (re-piggybacking chips)
> Uh... was he looking for data redundancy or something? ;)
No he had some dead RAMS and got tired of swapping chips, and figured if
he piggybacked two he would at least get one good one out of it. :/
> I intend to write the software on my own, but fast serial routines might
> come in handy. I want to at least get 2400bps out of the thing.
Most of the BASIC boards I have is up to 1200 baud, I know for 2400 you
probably have to tweak the timing registers, cause the computer does not
provide decent numbers.
> I don't think that'll be a problem for the VIC-20, as it's faster at I/O than the
> 64. I'll probably have to put in a lot of RAM, though, to act as buffers
> for the slow disk drives. :)
There have been a bunch of articles for adding 256k to 1 meg internally
to the 64 and bank-switching, not sure if that's possible on the VIC
though, they may be adaptable.
> Do you mean the music teacher's programs, or the Cursor tapes? :)
YES! YES!
> I think I have copies of tapes #1 to #8, plus a couple of games from later tapes.
> I wish I had the originals... but these were copies made from the high
> school music teacher's subscription. :)
Mine are also from High School and I can say I have programs from 13 to
into the 20s I think. No originals here either *sniff*
> Ouranos! is an awesome game, BTW. I had the PET print up the listing and I
> intended to port it to the Amiga, but I never got around to it. I don't
> think it'd be the same, though, on anything but another PET with glaring
> white screen.
Weather War II for the Commodore-64 is a re-write of Ouranos! nifty
little character graphic castles, SID sound, sprites were used to add
some foliage (just for looks)
> What's the serial number on that machine?
Gotta go to storage and read it... Not in the 'original documentation'
envelope.
> I have a feeling it's a lot older than this PET. Both of my PETs have quite
> ordinary-looking ROMs.
> (The one with the mini keyboard has the 1.0 BASIC ROMs, with the '***
> COMMODORE BASIC ***' message and the other one has upgrade ROMs.)
My 'calculator keyboard' PET has 1.0 too. I have the schematics and
diagnostics for it too... Has been modified with a reset switch has
ability to use a skyles add-on keyboard (you have to load and run a
program first), and of course, expandamem.
> Um... hold it... how are the 4116's arranged? You probably said, but of
> course I can't go back into my mailbox to read that while I'm replying to
> this one (I knew there was a reason I should my system to do this
> locally!). If they're 16K by 4, then that certainly WOULD be more than
> 8K. :)
I think those are only 8kx1. I did look at my expandamem board and the
chips with the plates on them had (c)Mostek written.
> (RE: Visible Memory Board deveoped for KIM-1 first.)
> Wow, that's incredible. Not only did I not think that PETs that old could
> do high-res graphics in any way, but to learn that one could do so on the
> KIM-1! I'm flabberghasted. ;)
> The KIM is something I'd really like to find somewhere.
So would I.
> I have this terrible fear, though, of coming across one in some electronic surplus
> shop and not recognizing it. :)
I had nightmares about coming across an incredible Commodore stash in
some store and not having any money. *gasp!*
> (re: MTU visible memory ad)
> BTW, I'd love a copy of that ad. Send it to:
> Doug Spence
> 85 Devon Road
> Baie d'Urfe, Que.
> H9X 2X3
> CANADA
Heck I'll toss in some disks full of other goodies too. But don't hold
your breath I tend to froget doing things (like mailing stuff) for a
spell.
----------
From: "Mr. Self Destruct" <more(a)camlaw.rutgers.edu>
Subject: Re: weekend additions
> The plus/4 could run *some* very simple basic programs from 64/vic-20 land
> but even that was a chore if I remember correctly because of the different
> ways the computers "tokenized" basic.
I think the main difference was between the 128 and the Plus/4s extended
BASIC, but was compatible with the 64.
> There was also a "parallel" drive for this
> computer (well I think there was) called an SFX-1??? something or other.
The parallel one was the 1551; the SFX 1001 was a 1 meg floppy drive the
the PET using an IEEE-488 interface (esentally an 8250 with only one
disk drive.)
----------
From: "Mr. Self Destruct" <more(a)camlaw.rutgers.edu>
Subject: Funky looking mouse and other TCF stuff...
>1 CBM 8032 $5
> (this things got some kind of memory board that plugs into the CPU
> socket and a parallel interface)
Wait a minute here, are you sure it's not a RS-232 interface?
It could be an 8032 upgraded to a SuperPET. If it is a SuperPET there
would be a 6809 processor as well as the 6502 in there and you have 96k
of RAM accessible (via bank switching). Keyboard my have some odd
characters on it too (to support the languages it could run such as APL,
Fortran, COBOL, etc.) Of course to run the languages you would need the
disks and a drive. (I don't have them)
Otherwise the daughterboard could be memory to bring it up to 96k (via
bank switching) or as I mentioned a visible memory board - the
indication for it is that the monitor will plug into the daughter board
and then the daughterboard plugs into the motherboard's video output
connector. - :) BTW REALLY GOOD PRICE!
Larry Anderson
P.S. I think I'm gonna start writing a FAQ about the Commodore PET.
Will let you guys now when I get it on-line.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Visit our web page at: http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare
Call our BBS (Silicon Realms BBS 300-2400 baud) at: (209) 754-1363
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
In a message dated 97-04-29 11:22:24 EDT, you write:
<< Yes, I realized that. The PDP-8 and PDP-11 are definitely worthy of
mention, but did they really make the impact and have significance equal
to the Altair and the others? I'm sure you could argue to that effect.
Care to? >>
someone can correct me if necessary, but weren't the first PDP's pretty
"important" in that respect? Suddenly, universities could have their own
systems. or maybe I am dreaming, mixing stories from various books.
Kelly
On 29-Apr-97, classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu wrote:
>I'll second his nomination, and with great trepidation add Jay Miner to
>the list. :)
I think Jay Miner is definately worthy of inclusion since he did much of
the design of the Atari 8bit machines, such as the 400/800, and he is
generally considered the father of the Amiga line.
Out of curiosity, is anyone willing to nominate Jack Tremiel? <sp?>
Jeff jeffh(a)eleventh.com
--
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sent from an Amiga 3000..the computer for the creative mind!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Collector of classic home computers:
Amiga 1000, Atari 800, 800XL, and Mega-ST/2, Commodore C-128D,
Plus/4 and VIC-20, IBM 5155, Kaypro 2X, Osbourne Executive
Radofin Aquarius, Sinclair ZX-81, TI-99/4A, Timex-Sinclair 1000,
TRS-80 Color Computer-3 and Model 4, plus Atari Superpong and
2600VCS game consoles.
>generate printed copies of the mag from it. PLus HTML is "free" wheras
>printed copies would need a modest fee, means for collecting this, places
>to print, etc.
I agree with Les, start with an electronic form, then maybe move to print.
I am on a limited computer budget to begin with, I would hate to reduce it
any further, I might miss that big find I have been looking for.
I would like to see some program listings for various machines and various
languages included. I learned more from magazine program listings than I
did from anywhere else. I still use program listings to divine tips and
tricks. Besides, it is interesting to see program listings for other
machines, and see if anything applies to a machine I am using. I am sure
all of us have some programs for our machines that we could clean up and
submit for inclusion, and no worries about copyright violations if we wrote
them, not to mention just having some valuable information available for the
taking. Plus as we add to our collections, finding program listings will
give us a place to start with a new unknown machine. I actually tell people
that we used to get programs in magazines, and typed them in sometimes for
days at a time, and they laugh and me and think I am pulling their leg.
Just be sure and include program listings.
Isaac Davis
idavis(a)comland.com
indavis(a)juno.com
Hi,
In mid June I will be travelling to Australia and while I am there it
would be nice to pick up some classic computers. So my question is, are
there any home computers that were mainly found in Australia? I know of
the System-80, which I know as a Video Genie (a TRS-80 clone), and I
think the Microbee also originates from Australia.
All information will be gratefully recieved.
--
Kevan
Old Computer Collector: http://staff.motiv.co.uk/~kevan/
PS. I may be able to squeeze in some small UK items to trade so let me
know if you are interested and are in Brisbane or Sydney.
I went on a little shopping spree this weekend, and actually managed to find
some stuff this weekend. It seems every garage sale in the north Austin
area is nothing but junk, but I finally managed to find a little place with
some of everything. I asked the guy if they had any atari stuff, joysticks
or games, and he told me to follow him to the back. He had a box full of
joysticks, and other assorted junk. I picked up the box and some other
carts for my 2600 for $40. When I got home, I dug every thing out, and this
is what I found.
1) Odessey2 with joysticks attached. But no power supply. Anyone know the
voltage and polarity for this old thing? Of course no cartridges either,
but maybe next time.
2) Mattel Aquarius with box, manual, and cassette cables and software.
3) About 20 atari 2600 carts, most of them were ones I had been looking for
like air/sea battle. I don't really want to collect rare carts, just the
ones I had when I was a kid.
4) Coleco Gemini Video Game System. It plays atari 2600 cartridges, and it
turns on, but the screen stays black. No clue, and I don't really have the
electronic equipment or knowledge to fix it. I might let my dad check it
out. He's a radar technician with a lot of equipment. Maybe I should get
him to teach me.
5) An 8-track tape - Spotlight the greatest hits of Gene Pitney, Del
Shannon, and Tommy Roe. I'm debating whether or not to dig out the 8-track
player.
6) Assorted pile of power supplies. They look like they are for assorted
answering machines.
7) An Atari 1010 cassette recorder.
8) A piece of telephone testing equipment I think. Has a switch (tone, off,
pulse), a telephone plug, and two wires with alligator clips. I think it's
for tracing telephone wires.
9) A pile of Atari joysticks, a coleco joystick, and a couple of various
cartridges for assorted systems, none of which I own. Maybe that's the
incentive I need. "I've got a cartridge honey, I could really use this old
obsolete computer to make sure it works. You don't want to see this
cartridge go to waste do you dear??"
All in all it was a decent haul for me. This place is only open for 6 hours
on the first saturday of the month, so I was lucky to even get in the place.
I saw a ti-99/4a, but already spending $40 was pushing it for me. Maybe
next month I will get to the back again and dig for more treasure.
Isaac Davis
idavis(a)comland.com
indavis(a)juno.com
Well... after a bit of searching, I've found a solution on
www.flippers.com, a pinball homepage. The guy there says to remove all
corrosion and then neutralize the alkali with a 50/50 solution of white
vinegar and distilled water, scrub with toothbrush, rinse in distilled
water, and then dry with a hairbrush.
This sound feasible or is it a bad idea?
thanks!
Last weekend I aquired an Apple Lisa 2/5 (finally!!), however the NiCad
batteries that backed up the system clock have corroded and leaked all
over the IO board and the backplane/motherboard (system uses a nifty
CPU-on-card design like the OLD computers).
Does anyone have any magic solutions to removing the green gunk from the
printed circuit boards and components? I'm wanting to remove the stuff
and preserve the system from further corrosion. (and yes, I am taking
out those damn things)
The green gunk has messed up one of the card slots so the IO card doesn't
go. I plan to clean that out using one of those Nintendo cartridge slot
cleaners (little card/pad thingy that you put stuff on and insert into slot).
That'll get her running again for a while... but I really need all the
gunk off and the corrosion STOPPED.
any ideas that help save my Lisa would be greatly appreciated!
chris starling
I am looking for a 3.5 Disk & the odd DIN-5 modem or printer
(Imagewriter I) cable for my newly aquired IIC. Would be willing to set
up a trade...have an old tandy Portable Disk Drive 2.
If anybody has those, or knows a place on the net' that doesn't charge
+$50 for an old drive, please let me know!
If there is a better place to post this, please let me know!
Josh M. Nutzman
+----------------------------------------------+
|"Life is like a river, you go with the flow...|
| but in the end you usually end up dammed." |
| -The Red Green Show |
+----------------------------------------------+
>I think the DIN-5 cables for your modem and printer are the same ones still
>used for the Mac. As for the floppy drive, I'd try looking at
>comp.sys.apple2.marketplace.
>
>That failing, let me know and I'll dredge up the Altech address (it's not
>www.alltech.com) - they sell refurbished a2 equipment
Well, I have a mac and it uses a ? Mini-DIN 8? Thanks for the suggestion
of Altech. I'll look them up!
Josh M. Nutzman
+----------------------------------------------+
|"Life is like a river, you go with the flow...|
| but in the end you usually end up dammed." |
| -The Red Green Show |
+----------------------------------------------+
Hi all...
I picked up a CGL M5 and original rubber-keyed 48K Spectrum
(complete with V23 modem!) a couple months back for a fiver.
The M5 is in very good condition and complete with three cartridges
and numerous original manuals all in perfect condition. It also came
with a tape which i had a little play with today but i can't get
anything but the first program (a screen colour test) to load :-(
Looking at the tape it seems like its been through a dodgy tape deck
at some stage as the tape itself has a couple of deep grooves in it.
So, has anyone got a good tape they could copy for me? For
information it's a grey cassette housing with a purple, green and
white striped label marked "GAME" at the top and "Baseball, ZAC
BANIC" at the bottom on both sides. I'm located in the UK and would
happily send you a cheque to cover the cost of a blank tape and
postage.
TIA...Nick.
--
Nick Challoner nickc(a)ladyland.demon.co.uk
Aviation photographs at: http://www.ladyland.demon.co.uk
"Bother" said Pooh, as he deleted his root directory.
OK, here's what I came up with this weekend:
- Atari 800 in *perfect* condition with AC adapter and RF modulator (the
latter two in their original boxes), with a full complement of RAM & ROM
cards installed, and the original BASIC cartridge. Got this on my first
stop! After that it was all gravy.
- Three (3) Mattel Aquarius machines (these are quite rare, at least
around here--got 3 in one place!! Weird!) with captive power supplies
- Timex-Sinclair ZX1000 with RAM expansion pack
- Spectravideo SV-328 in original color display box, with data cassette
drive, also in original box (I've never actually seen one of these "in
the flesh" before)
- TI 99/4A original black/silver version, mint, in original color
display box, with PS, RF modulator, manuals, etc. replacing my existing
TI 99/4A that was all banged up
- TI 99/4A original black/silver version with 2 perfect joysticks, voice
synthesizer, PS, RF modulator (didn't need the machine itself,
obviously, but the whole box worth was only $6)
- TI 99/4A *expansion bay* (another rare piece) with flex cable card,
RS232 card, 32K RAM card, and disk controller card, with one 5 1/4"
floppy drive. Geez, this sucker weighs as much as an S100 bus machine!
- TRS-80 Color Computer 1 in mint condition, replacing my existing CoCo1
that had significant wear
- Rare Donkey Kong and Moon Patrol Atarisoft carts for the TI 99/4A
- Non computer related: Raiders of the Lost Ark on RCA Selectavision CED
Videodisc, mint
Nothing like another thrift store weekend in the obscure corners of the
Seattle/Tacoma/Everett metroplex!
Kai
------- Current collection -------
("for trade" items are, of course, available for trade!)
(Want List follows)
Computers
Altair 8800 with original Altair boards
Altair 8800b with original Altair boards, dual 8" drives
Altair 8800b (under restoration)
Apple II+ with two floppy drives, monitor arch, MS Softcard
Apple Macintosh 128 with manuals, carrying case, System 1
Apple Macintosh 512K in original box (for trade)
Apple Macintosh 512K (for trade, needs floppy drive)
Apple Macintosh Plus (for trade)
Atari 800
Atari 800XL with 1010 tape drive and 1050 floppy drive (for trade)
Atari 1200XL (for trade)
Coleco ADAM with manuals, printer
Coleco ADAM Upgrade for Colecovision ("exp unit 3")
Commodore PET 2001, original 'chiclet' keyboard version
Commodore PET 2001, full size 'graphics' keyboard (for trade)
Commodore VIC-20 (original version) in original box
Commodore VIC-20 (later version) in original box (for trade)
Commodore 64 in original box with 1541 drive in original box
Commodore 64 in original box (for trade)
Commodore 64 in original box (for trade)
Commodore 128 in original box (for trade)
Compaq Compaq
Cromemco System 3 (rack mount version) with dual 8"
IMSAI 8080 with IMSAI CPU, 64K SRAM, CompuPro dual 8"
Ithaca InterSystems DPS-1
Kaypro 10 with internal 10MB HD, CP/M, apps
Kaypro II
Kaypro II (for trade)
Mattel Aquarius
Mattel Aquarius (for trade)
Mattel Aquarius (for trade)
Osborne 1
Spectravideo SV-328
Tandy TRS-80 Model 100 w/floppy drive, printer, manuals, case
Tandy TRS-80 Model 100 (for trade)
Tandy TRS-80 Model 100 (under restoration, for trade)
Tandy TRS-80 Color Computer I with floppy drive
Tandy TRS-80 Color Computer I (for trade)
Tandy TRS-80 Model I with exp interface, 2 floppy drives
Tandy TRS-80 Model III with 2 floppy drives
Texas Instruments 99/4A in original box, with expansion bay
Texas Instruments 99/4A (for trade)
Texas Instruments 99/4A (for trade)
Timex Sinclair ZX1000 with 4K RAM Expansion
Timex Sinclair ZX1000 (for trade)
Game Systems
Atari 2600 w/2 joysticks, 2 paddles, original manual
Atari 5200 w/2 controllers, PS
Atari 5200 w/2 controllers, PS (for trade)
Atari 5200 w/2 controllers, PS (for trade)
Atari Super Pong
Coleco Telstar Classic in original box
Coleco Telstar Colortron in original box
Colecovision w/2 controllers, PS
Colecovision w/2 controllers, PS (for trade)
Colecovision w/2 controllers, PS (for trade)
Fairchild Channel F in original box
GCE/Milton Bradley Vectrex with Multicart
GCE/Milton Bradley Vectrex (for trade)
Mattel Intellivision with Intellivoice module
Mattel Intellivision II with Intellivoice module
Mattel Intellivision (for trade)
Milton-Bradley Microvision
Nintendo NES
Magnavox Odyssey2 in original box with Multicart
Magnavox Odyssey2 in original box (for trade)
Magnavox Odyssey2 in original box (for trade)
Radio Shack Color TV Scoreboard in original box
------- Want List -------
Apple I
Apple II
Apple ///
Apple Lisa
Commodore Amiga 1000 in original box
Compucolor II or 8051
Exidy Sorcerer
IBM 5100 Portable
KIM-1
Processor Tech SOL
RCA COSMAC (ELF/VIP)
The following in original boxes only:
Atari 7800
Colecovision
Emerson Arcadia 2001
Magnavox Odyssey (not Odyssey2)
Mattel Intellivision
RCA Studio II
Sega Master System
Please, Sam. Would you stop using the title "yo" for all your messages? It
makes life very difficult for those of us who get the digest version and
only read some selected messages. Put something nice and descriptive
instead.
On a similar note, when someone replies to a digest, don't use the name of
the digest as the subject.
/Fredrik
I do not have anything to trade, but are you willing to sell?
Mike
----------
From: Paul E Coad
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: Trade Sun for Atari ST?
Date: Friday, May 02, 1997 9:25PM
Someone in LA "Miscellaneous Lists" <lists(a)phx6.phxmedia.com> wanted to
trade a Sun 3 for my Atari ST. I have sent a few emails, but have
received no response. If you are still interested, contact me via
email.
If anyone else (in Northern/Central) California would like to trade
old Sun/Unix/interesting machines/equipment/software for an Atari ST,
let
me know. I would prefer not to ship this stuff since it is pretty heavy
and fills several cubic feet.
--pec
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Here is the list of stuff:
1 Atari 1040STF
3 SH204 Harddisks
1 SF314 Floppy drive
1 SF854 Floppy drive
1 SC1224 Monitor (color)
2 STM1 Mouse
1 Marconi RB2 Trackball
1 Standard Atari joystick
There are also a bunch of cables for connecting everything togther,
10 or so magazines, a BASIC manual, 10 or so floppy disks, and what
I believe are schematics for the monitor.
> Superexpander with 3K Ram cartridge **
>
> ** This does not look any different from the 8K cartridge. I'm not
> sure what the "Superexpander" part really means. It is not the expander
> which allows multiple carts to be plugged in at the same time.
This is a 3k ram expansion (obviously) plus a ROM with additional
BASIC commands to make graphics and sound a bit easier. It also
gives the ability to map commands to the function keys. I probably
have the manual in a box downstairs. If you really want a photocopy
I could get one to you.
ttfn
srw
------------------------------------------------------------
Walde Techonology http://scott.cprompt.sk.ca
Box 7284 finger: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca
Saskatoon, SK S7K 4J2 email: scott(a)saskatoon.com
CANADA email: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca
-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 3.1
GCS d- s:+>: a- C++++$ UL++++$ !P L++ E- W+++$ N+ o? K? w$ O- M-- V PS+
PE++ Y+ PGP->++ t+ 5 X+ !R tv- b+ DI++++ D+ G e* h r++ y-
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
>On Thu, 1 May 1997, Bill Whitson wrote:
> ==================================================================
> MANUFACTURER
> MODELCPU RAM OSTYPEYR
> ==================================================================
> Sinclair Research, Ltd.-------------------------------------------
> ZX81 Z80A 1K ?? MICRO 85
Actually, I believe the ZX-81 came out in 1981, as shown below. I bought
my Timex-Sinclair in late 1982, if I remember correctly. Also, the
documentation that was included with the ZX-81 I have has letters from
Sinclair Research dated March 10, 1982, as well as a review of the ZX-81 in
Englad dated August 1981. Two interesting things about this:
1) the ZX-81 I have was originally delivered in kit form and still has the
assembly diagrams and such;
2) The magazine review, taken from "Personal Computer World" and
re-published in "Creative Computing", November 1981, states that at the time,
the ZX-81 was available in England but not yet in the U.S.
Jeff jeffh(a)eleventh.com
--
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sent from an Amiga 3000..the computer for the creative mind!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Collector of classic home computers:
Amiga 1000, Atari 800, 800XL, Mega-ST/2 and XE System, Commodore
C-128D, Plus/4 and VIC-20, IBM 5155, Kaypro 2X, Osbourne Executive
Radofin Aquarius, Sinclair ZX-81, TI-99/4A, Timex-Sinclair 1000,
TRS-80 Color Computer-3 and Model 4, plus Atari Superpong and
2600VCS game consoles.
At 07:38 PM 5/4/97 -0500, you wrote:
>> There is a label on the motherboard (which is huge,
>> measuring almost 2 feet square) which says "Corona Data Systems" and then
>> "200290-512" which I am guessing means it has 512K.
>
>Corona Data Systems was an early IBM-PC clone manufacturer from
>1983 or so. I thought they went out of business when IBM sued
>them big time for infringing IBM's BIOS copyright.
Sam,
Just in case you're interested, I do have the original
Corona-specific versions of MS-DOS for their machines, both 1.25 and 2.11.
I would think you'd be able to boot it with just about any 5-1/4" boot disk
though, as I know of someone that got a new Pentium to boot with the Corona
2.11 disk, so there doesn't seem to be anything odd in the bios calls at
boot up. There do appear to be some Corona-specific utilities on them though.
Jeff jeffh(a)eleventh.com
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Collector of Classic Computers: Amiga 1000, Amiga 3000, Atari 800, Atari
800XL, Atari MegaST-2, Commodore C-128, Commodore Plus/4, Commodore VIC-20,
Kaypro 2X, Mattel Aquarius, Osbourne Executive, Timex-Sinclair 1000, TRS-80
Color Computer 3, TRS-80 Model IV
Plus Atari SuperPong and Atari 2600VCS game consoles
> On Tue, 29 Apr 1997, Sam Ismail wrote:
> Altair, Imsai and SWTPC? (Especially the last -- I
> prefer Motorola to Intel).
OOPS! I have a Motorola-based Altair... (Altair 680)
Maybe we can feature it? (Just kidding, but I thought
I should point out your slight error.)
ttfn
srw
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Walde Techonology http://scott.cprompt.sk.ca
Box 7284 finger: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca
Saskatoon, SK S7K 4J2 email: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca
CANADA email: walde(a)dlcwest.com
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Some other comments:
The Exormacs from Motorola never, as far as I knew, ever ran Unix.
It predated the Unix bit. I don't know that the VME/10 ever ran
Unix, either. The preferred OS on those machines was VERSAdos.
I like VERSAdos, still use it occasionally. Powerful enough to be
quite useful, and clunky enough to be interesting! Apparently,
there is enough legacy in VERSAdos that a 3rd party has "inherited"
the rights and still sells it as a Real-Time Operating System!
The CPU in a CC-40 was not a 9900, but rather a TMS7000. Still an
interesting processor from my favorite company, Texas Instruments!
There were several makes to the 990 mini line, but I'm not
familiar with it. Some used discrete logic, some used the 9900
processor chip for the CPU. The OS of choice was DX-10.
--
**********************************************
* David Ormand *** Southwest 99ers *
* dlormand(a)aztec.asu.edu *** Tucson, Arizona *
**************************** TMS9900 Lives! *
| > - Add: Apple/Tempest TPI 863T milspec Macintosh, 68000, 1986
| Which company actually manufactured it?
Apple shipped the internal components to Tempest, who put it in a
milspec housing.
| > - Add: Apple/Honeywell "Black Apple" custom manufactured
Apple II+
| Same as the Bell&Howell black apple or different?
Duh! Of course I meant Bell & Howell.
| > - Change: Atari Mega machines were the Mega ST (with 1, 2 or
4MB, 1987)
| > and the Mega STE (improved, 1991). I've never heard of a
"Mega 1" or
| > "Mega 2"
| This info came from a 1989 Atari price list - as you can
imagine I'm
| now slightly confused...
Did a quick bit of research - the numbers indicate amount of RAM only.
The two Megas are the Mega ST and Mega STe (lower case e).
| > - Add: Commodore Amiga 2000/3000/4000 (Too new?)
| Yeah - I pretty much stick with the 10 years or older
guideline.
The A2000 was introduced in March 1987 along with the A500, so I guess
they're under the wire :)
| > - Add: Data General MicroNOVA series, and Data General
portable
| Probably going to need a little more data...
The portable was called the Data General 1.
The original MicroNOVA was the MN601 (by PDP-8 designer Edson DeCastro,
who came to Data General from DEC).
Trivia: Did you know that AViiON is NOVA spelled backwards with an "ii"
(signifying 2) in the middle, as in NOVA II ?
| > - Add: Intecolor CompuColor II, 8080A, ~1979
| Are you sure that this is not actually one of the listed model
| numbers?
The CompuColor II was only referred to as such in any ads I ever saw.
It was a 13" color display system with a hard-sectored 5 1/4" drive to
the right of the monitor, and a keyboard with multicolored keys.
Trivia: CompuColor CP/M had no FORMAT, you had to buy formatted
diskettes from Intecolor.
| > - Change: "Kaypro Corp" should be Non-Linear Systems
| I think you're right (as that's what my Kaypros say) but I've
seen it also
| listed as Kaypro Corp... was there a name change?
Kaypro was founded in 1952 as Non-Linear Systems, the first manufacturer
of digital voltmeters. Somewhere along the line they changed to Kaypro
Corporation, but I don't think they did so until their Chapter 11 in
~1990. Certainly at the time of the Kaypro II, they were still known as
Non-Linear Systems.
Trivia: Arthur C. Clarke wrote 2010 on a Kaypro II.
By the way, now that I think about it, the KIM-1 was by MOS
Technologies, which hadn't yet changed their name to Commodore. I don't
know how you want to handle that.
| > - Add: NorthStar model with built-in monitor (forget the
model, Tim
| > Shoppa has one)
| And I'm sure he'll be popping up sooner or later...
North Star Advantage, as Bill kindly pointed out.
There was also a similar IMSAI with built-in monitor, I have a catalog
at home with the name.
Kai
> A ][+ running AppleWorks? You're a sadist.
Seems to work reasonably well. Think it's probably the RAM card that saves
it.
>
> What kind of voice recog. card do you have? I have one as well but I
> can't recall off-hand who the manufacturer is.
I'll check it out and get back to you.
-Ron Mitchell
> By the way, now that I think about it, the KIM-1 was by MOS
> Technologies, which hadn't yet changed their name to Commodore. I don't
> know how you want to handle that.
If I'm not mistaken, both names are on the board. I have a close-up
picture of that somewhere... I'll try to dig it out tommorrow.
ttfn
srw
------------------------------------------------------------
Walde Techonology http://scott.cprompt.sk.ca
Box 7284 finger: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca
Saskatoon, SK S7K 4J2 email: scott(a)saskatoon.com
CANADA email: scott(a)cprompt.sk.ca
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At 03:58 PM 5/1/97 -0700, you wrote:
>Great list! Some additions & changes:
...and yet some more...
>- Add: MITS Altair 680, 68000, 1976
Ummm... no. 6800 mpu (not 68000)
>- Add: NorthStar model with built-in monitor (forget the model, Tim
>Shoppa has one)
The NorthStar "Advantage" (I have one too)
>- Change: NorthStar Horizons primarily ran NSDOS
Interesting... Many I worked with ran OASIS. B^}
-jim
---
jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com
The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw
Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174
*** Preliminary Announcement ***
First Annual Classic Computer Collector Conference
Why?
Next question...
Where?
Livermore, California (tentative...actual venue TBD)
When?
Late Summer 1997 (possibly August)
Who?
Organizer: Sam Ismail
Sponsors: Pending (targeted sponsors will be
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories and
other computer manufacturers in the local area
and Silicon Valley).
What?
The Classic Computer Collector Convention is
slated to be the premier computer faire to
attend to meet with fellow classic computer
collector geeks, buy/sell/trade classic computer
stuff, exchange classic computer software and
classic computer hints and tips, attend
workshops on classic computer preservation and
restoration, and of course see classic
computers.
Some show features:
Classic Computer Spotlight - every year a
legendary system is chosen to be heralded as the
classic computer of the year (nominees for the
first show are Altair 8800; Apple ][; Commodore
PET; ???).
Classic Computer Pioneer - every year an
individual from the annals of computer lore will
be chosen as the Classic Computer Pioneer of the
year. This would be someone who had a lasting
legacy or made a historical impact on the
computer industry, but is not necessarily active
anymore (ie. this precludes Bill Gates from
qualifying). Nominees: Gary Kildall, creator of
CP/M; Steve Wozniak; ???
Classic Computer Museum - A classic museum will
be set-up on-site to allow interested public to
see what classic computers are all about.
Attendees will be encouraged to submit their
favorite classics for display during the show.
The success of the show will depend on
attendance. Admission will be enough to cover
the costs of running the show (including lease
of the venue, advertising, etc). Although there
won't be much of a vending atmosphere (unless
people want to haul their stuff from all over
the country) space will be sold for such
purposes.
More details as I come up with them. I would
really appreciate feedback from the patrons of
this discussion group. Any ideas, comments,
suggestions are welcome (please suggest a better
name!)
IMPORTANT: Please keep this information within
this discussion group until the details have
been finalized and the show is a go. I don't
want to announce to the general public until I
am sure this event will take place.
Sam
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Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass