31 Oct
2003
31 Oct
'03
8:45 a.m.
Anybody looking for these? I was at Computer Recycling & Refining in
North Branford, CT today. Not a bad place. About 2000 square feet. And a
bunch of stuff. Two interesting things I saw were a "Woz" signed IIgs
(?) and a Dynabyte computer. According to the guy there, it was the
first portable? Considering it's about the size of a couple mid-tower
PCs, it's not really that portable... Either way, both are for sale.
Give them a call, 203-488-0535.
If you looking for some other PC or Mac computers or parts (pallets),
maybe some HP switched hubs (at least 1 pallet), or even a couple large
Cisco Catalyst 5500 units; they may be able to help you out. They
welcome visitors, just call in advance...
--
---Dave Woyciesjes
---ICQ# 905818
2 Nov
2 Nov
1:07 a.m.
Anybody looking for these? I was at Computer Recycling &
Refining in North Branford, CT Friday. Not a bad place. About 2000
square feet. And a bunch of stuff. Two interesting things I saw were a
"Woz" signed IIgs (?) and a Dynabyte computer. According to the guy
there, it was the first portable? Considering it's about the size of a
couple mid-tower PCs, it's not really that portable... Either way, both
are for sale. Give them a call, 203-488-0535.
If you looking for some other PC or Mac computers or parts
(pallets), maybe some HP switched hubs (at least 1 pallet), or even a
couple large Cisco Catalyst 5500 units; they may be able to help you
out. They welcome visitors, just call in advance...
--
---Dave Woyciesjes
---ICQ# 905818
2:10 a.m.
Quothe David Woyciesjes, from writings of Sun, Nov 02, 2003 at
10:07:17AM -0500:
"Woz" signed IIgs (?) and a Dynabyte
computer. According to the guy
there, it was the first portable? Considering it's about the size of a
couple mid-tower PCs, it's not really that portable... Either way, both
are for sale. Give them a call, 203-488-0535.
If it's built like my Dynabyte 5100, then I wouldn't want to have to
carry it around. :-) Note: the 5100 is not what one would call a
portable computer... it has three separate stackable chasis, each
weighing somewhere around 50lbs. These cases are made of fairly heavy
weight steel and each has its own analog power supply. There's one
case for the CPU, S-100 bus and I/O ports (eight or nine of them,
IIRC), then a separate chasis for the very, very, loud Micropolis 10"
hard drive and another chasis containing two Shugart DSDD floppy
drives. Note that this system runs the MP/M-II operating system.
--
Copyright (C) 2003 R. D. Davis The difference between humans & other animals:
All Rights Reserved an unnatural belief that we're above Nature &
rdd(a)rddavis.org 410-744-4900 her other creatures, using dogma to justify such
http://www.rddavis.org beliefs and to justify much human cruelty.
3 Nov
3 Nov
12:55 a.m.
"R. D. Davis" wrote:
Quothe David Woyciesjes, from writings of Sun, Nov 02, 2003 at
10:07:17AM -0500:
Yep, that would be the right description... When the guy said
'portable', then I looked at it, he probably meant it as in 'movable'...
--
--- Dave Woyciesjes
--- ICQ# 905818
"Woz" signed IIgs (?) and a Dynabyte
computer. According to the guy
there, it was the first portable? Considering it's about the size of a
couple mid-tower PCs, it's not really that portable... Either way, both
are for sale. Give them a call, 203-488-0535.
If it's built like my Dynabyte 5100, then I wouldn't want to have to
carry it around. :-) Note: the 5100 is not what one would call a
portable computer... it has three separate stackable chasis, each
weighing somewhere around 50lbs. These cases are made of fairly heavy
weight steel and each has its own analog power supply. There's one
case for the CPU, S-100 bus and I/O ports (eight or nine of them,
IIRC), then a separate chasis for the very, very, loud Micropolis 10"
hard drive and another chasis containing two Shugart DSDD floppy
drives. Note that this system runs the MP/M-II operating system.
-- 
12:03 p.m.
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12:35 p.m.
In which case it's far from being the first
movable computer -- the
ANY computer that has casters is "portable", and any that can be winched
onto a trailer are "movable"
When calling it "portable", does that require a Samoan?
or how many Somalians?
One Japanese computer company, in a picture ad demoing the "portability"
of their computer used a well known Sumu wrestler. It may have been PC
magazine who pointed out that HE could demo the "portability" of a Suzuki.
1:03 p.m.
Hey!!!
A new measure of computer size - The Samoan!
PDP8 - 2 Samoans
IBM Mainframe with 8 DASD = 20 Samoans (enough samoans to lift
everything at once)
On Monday, November 3, 2003, at 08:35 PM, Fred Cisin wrote:
In which case
it's far from being the first movable computer -- the
ANY computer that has casters is "portable", and any that can be
winched
onto a trailer are "movable"
When calling it "portable", does that require a Samoan?
or how many Somalians?
One Japanese computer company, in a picture ad demoing the
"portability"
of their computer used a well known Sumu wrestler. It may have been PC
magazine who pointed out that HE could demo the "portability" of a
Suzuki.
6 Nov
6 Nov
5:13 a.m.
It'll take significantly more than 20 samoans to lift 8 fully-loaded IBM
RAMAC-2's all at once.
Peace... Sridhar
On Mon, 3 Nov 2003, Ron Hudson wrote:
Hey!!!
A new measure of computer size - The Samoan!
PDP8 - 2 Samoans
IBM Mainframe with 8 DASD = 20 Samoans (enough samoans to lift
everything at once)
On Monday, November 3, 2003, at 08:35 PM, Fred Cisin wrote:
In which
case it's far from being the first movable computer -- the
ANY computer that has casters is "portable", and any that can be
winched
onto a trailer are "movable"
When calling it "portable", does that require a Samoan?
or how many Somalians?
One Japanese computer company, in a picture ad demoing the
"portability"
of their computer used a well known Sumu wrestler. It may have been PC
magazine who pointed out that HE could demo the "portability" of a
Suzuki.
2 Nov
2 Nov
3:41 a.m.
On Sun, 2 Nov 2003, David Woyciesjes wrote:
Anybody looking for these? I was at Computer
Recycling &
Refining in North Branford, CT Friday. Not a bad place. About 2000
square feet. And a bunch of stuff. Two interesting things I saw were a
"Woz" signed IIgs (?) and a Dynabyte computer. According to the guy
there, it was the first portable? Considering it's about the size of a
As soon as someone says anything is the "first", in fact as soon as that
word comes out of their mouth, you can tell them they're wrong and be
correct 99.995% of the time.
The only Dynabyte computer I've ever seen is an S-100 machine. Are you
sure it wasn't a Dyanlogic Hyperion?
http://www.obsoletecomputermuseum.org/hypn/
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
3 Nov
3 Nov
12:57 a.m.
Vintage Computer Festival wrote:
On Sun, 2 Nov 2003, David Woyciesjes wrote:
Yep, I knew that. when he first mentioned it, I thought he was going to
show me a Compaq, then i saw the Dynabyte...
Anybody looking for these? I was at
Computer Recycling &
Refining in North Branford, CT Friday. Not a bad place. About 2000
square feet. And a bunch of stuff. Two interesting things I saw were a
"Woz" signed IIgs (?) and a Dynabyte computer. According to the guy
there, it was the first portable? Considering it's about the size of a
As soon as someone says anything is the "first", in fact as soon as that
word comes out of their mouth, you can tell them they're wrong and be
correct 99.995% of the time. The only Dynabyte computer I've ever seen is an
S-100 machine. Are you
sure it wasn't a Dyanlogic Hyperion?
http://www.obsoletecomputermuseum.org/hypn/
It is a Dynabyte. The previous visual description from R.D. fits it.
--
--- Dave Woyciesjes
--- ICQ# 905818
1:22 a.m.
On Mon, 3 Nov 2003, David Woyciesjes wrote:
It is a Dynabyte. The previous visual description
from R.D. fits
it.
Here it is:
http://oldcomputers.net/dynabyte.html
The one I have has faux wood lamination around the enclosure, instead of
the all black color of the one pictured here.
This is a fairly rare machine and should be grabbed.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
1:43 a.m.
--- Vintage Computer Festival <vcf(a)siconic.com> wrote:
On Mon, 3 Nov 2003, David Woyciesjes wrote:
Looks like a pretty neat machine, I have always wanted
an S100 bus computer of some sort. I'm about three
hours away, but I don't know if I'll be able to get
away. If nobody else can grab it though, I will make
the time. A machine like that should be saved.
It is a Dynabyte. The previous visual
description
from R.D. fits
it.
Here it is:
http://oldcomputers.net/dynabyte.html
The one I have has faux wood lamination around the
enclosure, instead of
the all black color of the one pictured here.
This is a fairly rare machine and should be grabbed.
--
Sellam Ismail
Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger
http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business ||
Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at
http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
Ian Primus
ian_primus(a)yahoo.com
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Exclusive Video Premiere - Britney Spears
http://launch.yahoo.com/promos/britneyspears/
2:14 a.m.
Mr Ian Primus wrote:
--- Vintage Computer Festival <vcf(a)siconic.com> wrote:
I'll give him a call, and try to find out what he looking to get for
it...
--
--- Dave Woyciesjes
--- ICQ# 905818
On Mon, 3 Nov 2003, David Woyciesjes wrote:
Looks like a pretty neat machine, I have always wanted
an S100 bus computer of some sort. I'm about three
hours away, but I don't know if I'll be able to get
away. If nobody else can grab it though, I will make
the time. A machine like that should be saved.
It is a Dynabyte. The previous visual
description
from R.D. fits
it.
Here it is:
http://oldcomputers.net/dynabyte.html
The one I have has faux wood lamination around the
enclosure, instead of
the all black color of the one pictured here.
This is a fairly rare machine and should be grabbed.
7:32 a.m.
David Woyciesjes wrote:
Mr Ian Primus wrote:
Well, just talked to Hugh (?) and he said there should be 2 complete
units, and they're looking to get around $300 each. He also did say that
they'd have to pull them out and have a look at them too, so it sounds
like he may be up for some negotiating on the price too.
I'm just passing along info, only met them once, so of course (insert
usual disclaimer here)...
--
--- Dave Woyciesjes
--- ICQ# 905818
--- Vintage Computer Festival <vcf(a)siconic.com> wrote:
I'll give him a call, and try to find out what he looking to get for
it...
-- On Mon, 3 Nov 2003, David Woyciesjes wrote:
Looks like a pretty neat machine, I have always wanted
an S100 bus computer of some sort. I'm about three
hours away, but I don't know if I'll be able to get
away. If nobody else can grab it though, I will make
the time. A machine like that should be saved.
It is a Dynabyte. The previous visual
description
from R.D. fits
it.
Here it is:
http://oldcomputers.net/dynabyte.html
The one I have has faux wood lamination around the
enclosure, instead of
the all black color of the one pictured here.
This is a fairly rare machine and should be grabbed.
1:45 p.m.
On Monday, November 3, 2003, at 04:32 PM, David Woyciesjes wrote:
David Woyciesjes wrote:
Hmm, well, it's a little out of my price range, but I hope someone
rescues these. I have the space for it here, but spending $300 on a
large machine to fill that space probably isn't a great idea right now,
as $300 is a lot of money.
Ian Primus
ian_primus(a)yahoo.com
Mr Ian Primus wrote:
Well, just talked to Hugh (?) and he said there should be 2 complete
units, and they're looking to get around $300 each. He also did say
that
they'd have to pull them out and have a look at them too, so it sounds
like he may be up for some negotiating on the price too.
I'm just passing along info, only met them once, so of course (insert
usual disclaimer here)...
--- Vintage Computer Festival <vcf(a)siconic.com> wrote:
I'll give him a call, and try to find out what he looking to
get for
it...
-- On Mon, 3 Nov 2003, David Woyciesjes wrote:
> It is a Dynabyte. The previous visual description
from R.D. fits
> it.
Here it is:
http://oldcomputers.net/dynabyte.html
The one I have has faux wood lamination around the
enclosure, instead of
the all black color of the one pictured here.
This is a fairly rare machine and should be grabbed.
Looks like a pretty neat machine, I have always wanted
an S100 bus computer of some sort. I'm about three
hours away, but I don't know if I'll be able to get
away. If nobody else can grab it though, I will make
the time. A machine like that should be saved.
3:09 p.m.
On Mon, 3 Nov 2003, David Woyciesjes wrote:
Well, just talked to Hugh (?) and he said there
should be 2 complete
units, and they're looking to get around $300 each. He also did say that
they'd have to pull them out and have a look at them too, so it sounds
like he may be up for some negotiating on the price too.
Rip-off. Don't bother.
I'm just passing along info, only met them once,
so of course (insert
usual disclaimer here)...
Well, you can educate them and tell them that if they work, come with
system software and complete hardware manuals, then $300 is reasonable.
Otherwise, pfeh...
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
5 Nov
5 Nov
5:44 a.m.
Quothe Vintage Computer Festival, from writings of Mon, Nov 03, 2003 at 09:09:03PM -0800:
Well, you can educate them and tell them that if they
work, come with
system software and complete hardware manuals, then $300 is reasonable.
Otherwise, pfeh...
If that's a Dynabyte 5100, there should be three separate units
(chasis): CPU, floppy drives and hard drive. Also, the documentation
should be fairly substantial: a few thickish three-ring binders (white
covers with orange and black lettering) for hardware and software
documentation.
Of course, if this is a Dynabyte 5200, then it should all be in one
chassis, unless some sort of expansion chasis is being used. I seem
to recall that the smaller 5200 system, which I think was a single
chasis, about the same size as a single 5100 chasis. The 5100, used
two 5-1/4" floppy drives and weird formatting, and the one I saw in a
manual had a wood veneer covering part of the chasis... probably ran
CP/M instead of MP/M-II. My 5100, alas, is just the insides placed
in an aftermarket chasis.
--
Copyright (C) 2003 R. D. Davis The difference between humans & other animals:
All Rights Reserved an unnatural belief that we're above Nature &
rdd(a)rddavis.org 410-744-4900 her other creatures, using dogma to justify such
http://www.rddavis.org beliefs and to justify much human cruelty.
3 Nov
3 Nov
2:13 a.m.
Vintage Computer Festival wrote:
On Mon, 3 Nov 2003, David Woyciesjes wrote:
Yep, that's definitely it. I only saw the front of it sitting on shelf.
I believe he said there was enough of it for 1 and 1/2 machines. I'd get
it, but I don't have expendable cash at the moment. I'm also not sure
what he's asking for it.
--
--- Dave Woyciesjes
--- ICQ# 905818
It is a Dynabyte. The previous visual
description from R.D. fits
it.
Here it is:
http://oldcomputers.net/dynabyte.html
The one I have has faux wood lamination around the enclosure, instead of
the all black color of the one pictured here.
This is a fairly rare machine and should be grabbed.
--
4:30 a.m.
On Mon, 3 Nov 2003, David Woyciesjes wrote:
Yep, that's definitely it. I only saw the front
of it sitting on shelf.
I believe he said there was enough of it for 1 and 1/2 machines. I'd get
it, but I don't have expendable cash at the moment. I'm also not sure
what he's asking for it.
$100 would be reasonable.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
2:07 a.m.
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces(a)classiccmp.org
[mailto:cctalk-bounces@classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of David Woyciesjes
Sent: 03 November 2003 14:58
To: General(a)jupiter.easily.co.uk;
Discussion@jupiter.easily.co.uk:On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: "Woz" IIgs, & Dynabyte computers...
The first true portable was the Osborne 1 wasn't it? The Compaq Portable was
the first true IBM compatible portable after Compaq spent a million dollars
and well over a year creating a BIOS that didn't infringe IBM's
copyright.....
Next after the Osborne was the Semi-Tech Microelectronics Pied Piper,
according to several articles I've read, though that one didn't have an
integral screen....you could, however, take it home and plug it into your
TV. Can't tell you what the picture's like 'cos none of my machines have
modulators :)
cheers
--
adrian/witchy
www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the online computer museum
www.snakebiteandblack.co.uk - ex-monthly gothic shenanigans :o(
As soon as someone says anything is the
"first", in fact as soon as that
word comes out of their mouth, you can tell them they're wrong and be
correct 99.995% of the time.
Yep, I knew that. when he first mentioned it, I thought he
was going to show me a Compaq, then i saw the Dynabyte...
4:29 a.m.
On Mon, 3 Nov 2003, Witchy wrote:
The first true portable was the Osborne 1 wasn't
it? The Compaq Portable
was the first true IBM compatible portable after Compaq spent a million
dollars and well over a year creating a BIOS that didn't infringe IBM's
copyright.....
It depends on how you define the words "first", "true" and
"portable".
This may seem like ridiculous quibbling but the problem is that you must
judge based on a specified set of conditions, otherwise the title is
meaningless.
As a general statement, no, the Osborne was not. I'd point to the MCM/70
(as I always have, since even before the latest press exposure ;)
Next after the Osborne was the Semi-Tech
Microelectronics Pied Piper,
according to several articles I've read, though that one didn't have an
integral screen....you could, however, take it home and plug it into your
TV. Can't tell you what the picture's like 'cos none of my machines have
modulators :)
Well then by that definition anything that can be carried is a portable.
I have a Pied Piper and it is not what I would consider "intended to be
portable" though, yes, it can be ported, as can a PDP 11/45 (with a bit
more effort of course).
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
7:32 p.m.
It depends on how you define the words
"first", "true" and "portable".
This may seem like ridiculous quibbling but the problem is that you must
judge based on a specified set of conditions, otherwise the title is
meaningless.
In this case it was supposed to be the first machine your secretary could
carry round with her to do minutes of meetings using 'standard' (that word
again) applications like wordstar wasn't it? :) I'm sure that's what
featured in osborne ads.
As a general statement, no, the Osborne was not.
I'd point to the MCM/70
(as I always have, since even before the latest press exposure ;)
I only found out about those last week on here, soooooo.....time to update
my website!
Well then by that definition anything that can be
carried is a portable.
I have a Pied Piper and it is not what I would consider "intended to be
portable" though, yes, it can be ported, as can a PDP 11/45 (with a bit
more effort of course).
It's all marketing innit. I can only report on the mag articles and adverts
I've got and the results of google searches. Real research needs more
meatspace input and that's where you guys come in :)
It's like Dilbert says - 'hey, if I could lie I'd be in marketing!'
cheers
--
adrian/witchy
www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the online computer museum
www.snakebiteandblack.co.uk - ex-monthly gothic shenanigans :o(
6:38 a.m.
On Mon, 3 Nov 2003, Witchy wrote:
The first true portable was the Osborne 1 wasn't
it?
NO.
At the West Coast Computer Faire (produced by Jim Warren), I shared part
of my booth with ElCompCo, who mostly made computers for monitoring
elevators. They had converted a variety of machines into portables,
including TRS-80. They finally came out with their first retail machine,
the BMC-80, which was a Z80 based computer with a 5" CRT, with the whole
thing mounted into a Halliburton attache case.
They set up, and sold off almost their entire first production run
(counted in the dozens).
Then Adam Osborne came over, shook my hand, drank one of my beers, and
said how nice it was.
EIGHT HOURS LATER, his people finished building their giant booth, and he
held a press conference announcing "the FIRST portable".
The Elcompco BMC-80 (and probably LOTS of others) were out and FOR SALE
(he was only taking orders) before his was.
The Compaq Portable was
the first true IBM compatible portable after Compaq spent a million dollars
and well over a year creating a BIOS that didn't infringe IBM's
copyright.....
Colby preceded Compaq. They made a portable case for clone motherboards,
but had supply problems with the motherboards, so ended up discontinuing
complete machines and just selling the cases.
Next after the Osborne was the Semi-Tech
Microelectronics Pied Piper,
LOTS more before them.
according to several articles I've read, though
that one didn't have an
integral screen....you could, however, take it home and plug it into your
TV. Can't tell you what the picture's like 'cos none of my machines have
modulators :)
well, ...
I bolted the cpu and ei of my model one TRS-80 to a piece of plywood, in
order to carry it between classrooms that had NTSC overhead
monitors (including Evans 10), without disturbing the flaky ei connections
- does THAT count?
6:14 a.m.
On Sun, 2003-11-02 at 09:41, Vintage Computer Festival wrote:
Librascope/General Precision claimed that their LGP-30/LGP-21 computers
were portable. The '21 weighs 60? lbs. 1963.
Berry's ABC almost-a-computer was built onto a cart. Unfortunately the
cart was wider than the door to the room it was built in, so portability
was merely theoretical. 1948 or before.
<...>
According to the guy
there, it was the first portable? Considering it's about the size of a
As soon as someone says anything is the "first", in fact as soon as that
word comes out of their mouth, you can tell them they're wrong and be
correct 99.995% of the time.
7488
days inactive
7494
days old
23 comments
10 participants
participants (10)
-
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
cisin＠xenosoft.com -
dwoyciesjes＠comcast.net -
ian_primus＠yahoo.com -
rdd＠rddavis.org -
rhudson＠cnonline.net -
tomj＠wps.com -
vance＠neurotica.com -
vcf＠siconic.com -
witchy＠binarydinosaurs.co.uk