On Fri, 30 May 2003, Tony Duell wrote:
How would you
categorize and describe classic computer items? Is there
an accepted descriptive benchmark in the collectors discipline?
I think I'd it at the 'option' level. For example :
PDP-9 processor with xxx DECtape controller and TU56 DECtape, xxxx serial
interface, ...
I'd give the version of any options where it really makes a big
difference (such as the fact that the PDP11/45 processor had many changes
and S/N 2000)
I would be more inclined to separately identify each major component of
the overall system. So with the above, I'd have:
PDP-9 processor -> Hardware:Computer/Processor:Mainframe
DECtape controller -> Hardware:Board:Adapter Card/Logic Module:Other*
TU56 DECtape -> Hardware:Peripheral:I/O:Drive:Tape Drive:Reel-to-Reel
* I don't have a special category for PDP-9 modules
Now, if all of these came in as one artifact, they would all be grouped
together under a "parent" entry in the database, linking to each
sub-record.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger
http://www.vintage.org
* Old computing resources for business and academia at
www.VintageTech.com *