> <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
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
> 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!
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.
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
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--- 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
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The original webpage address is still going away. The
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--- 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.
__________________________________________________
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Get Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere!
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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
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