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101090 discussions

by dhquebbeman＠theestopinalgroup.com

> <extreme jealousy> > > Ok. Let's start a fun thread for a change. Who among us didn't > spend some time with paper and crayon as a child designing the ideal > "fort"? What kind of computer shop would you build given sufficient > time/money/space? My erstwhile "partner" in embedded systems projects during the early 90s had rented space from an electrical repair firm; the building was a former post office. He had about a room of about 500 sq. ft., with 3-phase power and a raised floor. This would be my ideal; most ideal about it is that it would be somewhere other than inside my home. -dq

25 years, 11 months

the other side of the equation - your SO/spouse

by pete＠dunnington.u-net.com

On Jun 28, 21:52, Bill Bradford wrote: > How does your significant other/spouse deal with your hobby, if > you have one (a SO, not a hobby), and what "concessions" do you > make to stay in their good graces? Concessions? She took the rest of the garage and all of the extension :-) We have a deal: I don't ask her to mend my computers, and she doesn't ask me to help in the garden or the allotment she recently took on :-) Well that was the original deal, but occasionally I do help -- if there are paving slabs to move, or wood to be sawn. Liz is into gardening and computers rather like I'm into computers and gardening, so the utility room is also a garden store. I like to sit in the garden and she likes the convenience of email. So apart from the SGI Indigo on her desk, computers are restricted to the computer room (garage) and my office, and the network (especially Internet access for the web and email), printers and tech support will be available whenever required. -- Pete Peter Turnbull Dept. of Computer Science University of York

25 years, 11 months

Paul Allen's TOAD (was: Re: MicroPDP-11/73 Goes to Evil Lurke r)

by phil＠ultimate.com

> Commands Manual (this is the heavier paper version, not the "phone > book" styled pub) Let me know when you put it up for auction. I've always wanted one!

25 years, 11 months

MORE dec stuff available!

by mrbill＠mrbill.net

I'm lucky enough to be the recipient of a large collection of PDP-11 and VAX stuff from an awesome guy in Houston, and I just finished unloading Haul #1 (with at least four more to go) from my truck, where its been for a week due to being busy with other things. Some of this is available to good homes (on a trade-for-other-stuff basis), but first, I have to brag, and everyone loves pictures: VMS 4.x "Orange Wall": ---------------------- http://www.pdp11.org/pics/orange-wall.jpg PDP 11/02 in BA11-VA chassis: ----------------------------- http://www.pdp11.org/pics/pdp-front.jpg http://www.pdp11.org/pics/pdp-front-logo-closeup.jpg http://www.pdp11.org/pics/pdp-back.jpg http://www.pdp11.org/pics/pdp-back-closeup-1.jpg http://www.pdp11.org/pics/pdp-back-closeup-2.jpg Dual Zenith RX-01 compatible 8" floppy drives (attached to PDP-11): ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.pdp11.org/pics/eight-inch-floppys-front.jpg http://www.pdp11.org/pics/eight-inch-floppys-switches.jpg Now, the stuff that I need to ID and is available for trade for other PDP/DEC/VAX stuff: A power supply and card cage/backplane: --------------------------------------- http://www.pdp11.org/pics/backplane-and-powersupply.jpg (labels on the power supply:) http://www.pdp11.org/pics/ps-label-1.jpg http://www.pdp11.org/pics/ps-label-2.jpg http://www.pdp11.org/pics/ps-label-3.jpg http://www.pdp11.org/pics/ps-plate.jpg A really big-ass ventilation fan, and DEC box it came in: --------------------------------------------------------- http://www.pdp11.org/pics/spareparts-fan.jpg A front panel/bulkhead/key switch of some kind; I dunno if this goes with the 11/02 above: --------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.pdp11.org/pics/frontpanel-switches.jpg http://www.pdp11.org/pics/frontpanel-switches-pcb.jpg Finally, a box of five TU-58 DECtape IIs: ----------------------------------------- http://www.pdp11.org/pics/spareparts-dectapes.jpg Two of the DECtapes are labeled: BE-t493F-DE 000MUB2580 HSC50 OFFLINE TAPE V390 copr(C) 1983,89 DIGITAL EQUIP. CORP. The other three are still new in shrinkwrap. If anybody has a use for the card cage, power supply, backplane, fan, front switchpanel, or DECtapes, please let me know. Since I was given this stuff, I dont want to sell it - but I would like to trade it for other DEC stuff. Bill -- +-------------------\ /-----------------+ | Bill Bradford | www.sunhelp.org | | mrbill(a)mrbill.net | www.decvax.org | | Austin, Texas USA | www.pdp11.org | +-------------------/ \-----------------+

25 years, 11 months

Archives of OS/360-ish public domain software?

by CLASSICCMP＠trailing-edge.com

William Doznelli wrote: >Tim Shoppa wrote: >> Are there any on-line archives of OS/360 software in the >> public domain? I'm thinking not only of operating system >> software distributions (which are rumored to be in the public >> domain), but also of user-group collections of software for >> these beasts. I'm also interested in software for previous >> generations of old iron, like IBM 1401's, etc. >I might think could be out of luck. It seems that most IBM software >(except for S/34, 36, and 38 stuff) goes away very quickly. I have a >feeling IBM itself has something to do with this. There must've been an (or several) IBM "Big Iron" users groups at one point. Didn't they have a library of public-domain software they shared? I *do* realize that the entire IBM "Big Iron" philosophy is very different than, say, the DEC minicomputer or CP/M microcomputer philosophies, but still it's hard for me to imagine that there were *Zero* user group software libraries. >If RCS/RI ever come across any, we will let you know. Wasn't there supposed to be a RCS/RI trip to rescue a lot of old "big iron" stuff from a former IBM field service type? Did he have any OS distributions or field-service diagnostics among that stuff? Tim.

25 years, 11 months

Is it time for an International Vintage Computer Association? Was: Yo

by jeff.kaneko＠juno.com

On Tue, 27 Jun 2000 00:31:48 -0400 "Bill Dawson" <whdawson(a)mlynk.com> writes: > Perhaps I should have used the word "pattern"? Yes, similar things > occur with most collectibles and their followers. Clubs, newsletters, > meets, conventions, suppliers, etc. I think though that as far as > logistics go, we have much more in common with the antique radio > collectors than with collectors of Beanie Babies. Yeah, Beanie Baby prices are actually starting to go *down*. :^/ > The point I am trying to make is that all we have to do is observe > where the Antique Radio Collector field is today and how it got there. > We are following the same path. God forbid. I'm glad I have little or no interest in 'Vintage' radio-- I'd never be able to afford it. > We can take shortcuts and avoid pitfalls. Vintage computer collecting is > not a fad, No quite, but damn near > Sellam and many others on this list have put forth great effort to put > on the VCF's, which I hope to be able to attend someday soon. I don't know about you, but I'll bet alot of guys here can't even afford the air fare. I know I can't. > However, an IVCA, with elected officers, bylaws, dues, and > non-profit status would be a great boost to this collecting field. Yeah, it's gonna give prices a real boost, alright. Tell me how you think any kind of 'boost' is going to help, huh? I can see it now: I'm at a local surplus place, and I pick out Widget (or a part for one, more likely), and ask for a price. The guys says "Uhhh, well, those are *collectable* now, you know. $50.". Never mind the fact that I got one like it the year before for $10. > I know there are those that dread this hobby or whatever you want to > call it heading in an organized direction, with the attendant increase of > publicity and collectors. Why do I think this way? I see two types of > vintage computer collectors, the true historical preservationists and > the collectors. Isn't it odd, how "True historical preservationists" always seem to have the *deepest* pockets? > Collectors see organization and all that comes with it as a threat to > their ability to find those rare pieces (find it first) and increased > competition (pay as little as possible for it). Oh, okay, so I'm a 'collector' because I don't have thousands of dollars to throw at this. I see. I don't know about you, but I got into this because, at long last, I found a truly interesting hobby I could actually *afford*. You're damned f'ing right I want to pay 'as little as possible'. That's the only way I'm going to be able to stay in this . . . . I was priced out of stamp collecting in the 70's. I was priced out of numismatics in the early 80's. I'll be goddamned if I'm going to stand idly by, to watch this happen again. > Why else all the complaining about eBay and the prices? Because alot of us won't be able to participate if the prices get too high, or are you so wealthy that this is too difficult for you to comprehend?!?! > Our goal, if I understand it correctly, is the preservation of our > computer technology for posterity. Yes. Preservation. Restoring and owning a truly historic computer is a worthwhile and uplifting endeavour. Unfortunately, the way things are going, it will soon be an endeavour for the privledged few. > If an organized association greatly furthers this cause than I > believe we should be focusing in that direction. And I'm not > limiting "we" to mean just those on this list, but also those on > the many other vintage/classic hardware and software lists as well. > This can only help but further our cause of historical preservation. And I'm saying, all you will be doing is raising the cost of admission. There's nothing anyone can do to stop you, of course. If Classic Computing becomes a 'legitimate' hobby with a 'legitimate' organization, then I guess there won't be room for amateurs like myself. You professional 'true historical preservationists' can have it. This hobby is about people, as much as it is about technology (old and new). If you're going to squeeze out a group of its people, you may as well forget the group of technology that will get squeezed out with them, for the ones who are in charge won't care. Jeff ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

25 years, 11 months

Available: RL02K-DC disk pack

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- Bill Bradford <mrbill(a)mrbill.net> wrote: > Anybody have a use for an RL02K-DC disk pack? In original box, even. > > I had intended to make it into a clock, but the shock meter isnt red > yet, and it would be a sin to destory a still-usable piece of > no-longer-made media... What's on it? I have enough blanks, but sometimes you can find interesting things on used packs, especially if it was a former distribution pack (I have at least one RSX-11 pack set) -ethan ===== Even though my old e-mail address is no longer going to vanish, please note my new public address: erd(a)iname.com The original webpage address is still going away. The permanent home is: http://penguincentral.com/ See http://ohio.voyager.net/ for details. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/

25 years, 11 months

Getting into VAXing

by ethan_dicks＠yahoo.com

--- healyzh(a)aracnet.com wrote: > > Zane. You wimp. An 8350 is a fairly friendly BIbus system. > > Yep, in this case feel free to call me a wimp. I've seen pieces of a 8350, > I really don't want to mess with something that big, and slow unless it's > a 11/780. The 8350 CPU is 10.5" tall, 3' deep and fits in a standard 19" rack. You typically see them in a 42" rack because the bottom is filled with room for cables and I/O bulkheads. I have an 8300 - same thing but with slower CPUs. Yes... CPUs... the 8200/8250 is a single CPU box (slow/fast), the 8300/8350s are slow and fast dual boxes. You can expand an 82x0 to an 83x0 as long as the firmware/microcode is the same on both CPU boards. This can be done in the field (which is how my 8200 was bumped up to an 8300) Fun little box. My employer paid $12,000 for mine in 1989. I got to haul it away for free five years later (w/RA-81, etc.) At the moment it has an MBA ESDI<->SDI box on it with 2.4Gb of 5.25" disks in a tray that's half the size and 1/8th the weight of the RA-81. -ethan ===== Even though my old e-mail address is no longer going to vanish, please note my new public address: erd(a)iname.com The original webpage address is still going away. The permanent home is: http://penguincentral.com/ See http://ohio.voyager.net/ for details. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/

25 years, 11 months

Your dream computer exhibit [Was: Re: Your dream computer room]

by mgregory＠vantageresearch.com

I've always envisioned at least four rooms for my museum: 1) a static display hall, with a variety of shelves extending out from the walls, holding a variety of micros with monitors/TVs. The computers would be running random demos (e.g. the Juggler or the Boing ball, for Amigaphiles) or programs. The aim is to provoke a "Wow!" reaction at the sheer variety of shapes, sizes, and colours of cases, monitors, and graphics. 2) A "period" gallery, where examples of important computers are shown in their natural habitat. e.g. a TI-99/4A with cassette recorder and wired remote controllers would be connected to a TV in a recreation of an early 80s rec. room, complete with red carpet, photoprinted wood panelling, Farrah Fawcett poster, and battered 60's Formica and steel furniture. 3) A "hands-on" arcade or exhibit, where relatively "expendable" common computers (e.g. C-64, TI-99/4A, Atari 800XL) are set up with a variety of games carts and business software (complete with tape drives, disk drives, dot matrix printers, etc) so people can experience what it was like to actually use these machines. 4) A restoration gallery, where people can see old computers on the workbench, and restoration/repair techniques. Displays on the walls could show exploded or cutaway views of disk drives, joysticks, printers, etc. and explain the technology thay was used in these machines. Then, there would be the vault, with retina and handprint scanner, that only lets me in to play with my favourite machines. If there's anyone in Western Canada who would like to collaborate on building such a museum (or just dream about it) please contact me off-list. I'd like to get a ClassicComp club for Western Canada off the ground, and maybe even plan for VCF North in ? 2002 ?. Cheers, Mark

25 years, 11 months

Getting into VAXing

by mcguire＠neurotica.com

On June 28, healyzh(a)aracnet.com wrote: > Yep, in this case feel free to call me a wimp. I've seen pieces of a 8350, > I really don't want to mess with something that big, and slow unless it's > a 11/780. 11/780s definitely have personality. > Um... I saw this on eBay yesterday, and as I read it, it's basically just > the CPU. I'm sorry, I do not consider this a good first system. I > maintain that the best first system is either a 3100 or 4000 series system. Call me adventurous... ;) > BTW, what's the power and cooling requirements for one of these puppies? Not too bad, actually, as long as you don't try to run RA-series disks on it. > You really need to consider that, and the fact it's apparently in a 40" > Rack! Remember shipping was one of his concerns <shudder>. True...But the 8350 is a 10.5" chassis that can be re-racked to coexist with other hardware. I really like the BA32 chassis. :-) -Dave McGuire

25 years, 11 months

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