5 Aug
2011
5 Aug
'11
10:28 a.m.
[PCs as terminals]
> The big advantage over a conventional terminal
> was the capability of
> capturing output to a file or sending a file
Part of me still craves dedicated terminals
since they're just so reliable, and you can just swap
in another when it breaks. No (or few) stored settings.
Even "smart terminals" such as the BLIT
and "thin clients" are a pleasure to use
when in a properly supported environment.
But I'll admit that PROCOMM is still a wonderful program,
emulating all sorts of terminals
with screen capture, session capture and file transfer.
Not long ago, I used a DOS laptop with PROCOMM
for an embedded processor lab
so I was up and running instantly and consistently.
Incidentally, the first PC I owned was a genuine 5160
PC/XT
(It still runs, it's in front of me now).
Nice! There's been a resurgence in appreciation
of the "classics".
MARCH: the NJ Vintage Computer Museum
has a 5100 and 5150 on display!
Reminds me of the tremrinal emiulator ROM for th
HP9830,
Sweet! Google found this for pix and desc:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_9800_series_desktop_computers
My high school started everyone with programming BASIC
on the HP 9820A:
http://www.hpmuseum.org/hp9820.htm
http://www.oldcalculatormuseum.com/hp9820a.html
Somewhere I have 2 of the 'extra capacity' cards
(HP Part #9162-0045): 10 1/2" inches long,
storing 90 memory registers per side.
I traded it away long ago, but I had a HP terminal
that was extremely "smart"
- the lid opened up to add cards for RAM or peripherals
- I think it allowed 1-2 tape drives to store/xmt files
- the CRT was a 2:1 aspect ratio: twice as wide as high.
- external keyboard that was too thick and heavy
to ever put on your lap!
-- jeffj