9 Apr
1999
9 Apr
'99
11:25 p.m.
It would be well to get the timelines aligned. The model 1 was of 1977
vintage. The model -3 was worked up in the late '70's before Apple got its
juggernaut rolling. Radio Shack had a real chance to make the microcomputer
market its own. No one had a decent sales and service network, not to
suggest that Radio Shack's was really decent, but at least it was there.
The Model 3 was out in '81? by which time double density was "old hat" and
by 1982-1983, Apple had the door closed. Having turned out two (if not
more) pieces of relative rubbish, the RS people had no chance after 1983.
IBM was gaining acceptance (nobody ever got fired for buying IBM, right?)
and ultimately legitimized the PC for "respectable" business use. By mid
'84, the 8-bitters were in the "Komputerdaemmerung."
Dick
-----Original Message-----
From: Allison J Parent <allisonp(a)world.std.com>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu>
Date: Friday, April 09, 1999 5:09 PM
Subject: Re: What if,... early PCs (was: stepping machanism
<The RCA TV set design that RS used for a monitor
for the model 1 was NOT
<really adequate for 80x24 display. (YES, I've done it.)
It could but the opto isolator used to keep the hot chassis and the video
seperate wasn't up to the task. Bypassed and of course using an isolation
transformer it was much crisper even at 80 cols.
<Double density was NOT readily achievable in 1978. And the poor quality
My dog, don't tell DEC that or intel.
<> was SLOW. The Z-80-card in the Apple was significantly (and noticeably)
<> faster. The two machines otherwise occupied about the same desk space,
a
Than the TRS80, every thing was faster. Next to my S100 CPM crate with a
real 4mhz z80 and no wait state memory they were both slow.
<> aside from the stupid, Stupid, STUPID choice to leave the Tandy machine'
<> display at 16 lines of 64 characters (about half of what was on a 24x80,
As it works 64wide was more useful for word processing than 32 or 40.
Allison
10 Apr
10 Apr
12:37 a.m.
On Sat, 10 Apr 1999, Richard Erlacher wrote:
It would be well to get the timelines aligned. The
model 1 was of 1977
vintage. The model -3 was worked up in the late '70's before Apple got its
juggernaut rolling. Radio Shack had a real chance to make the microcomputer
market its own. No one had a decent sales and service network, not to
So they had a chance if...what? The fact is they didn't so why bother to
speculate over past history.
suggest that Radio Shack's was really decent, but
at least it was there.
The Model 3 was out in '81? by which time double density was "old hat" and
by 1982-1983, Apple had the door closed. Having turned out two (if not
more) pieces of relative rubbish, the RS people had no chance after 1983.
Actually, the Model II/12/16 machines seemed to have done quite well in
the small business arena. In my opinion, the II/12/16 are very nicely
designed machines, and I've enjoyed even the litle time I've spent with
the ones in my collection. TRSDOS-II is quite robust (surprisingly).
Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't rub the lamp if you don't want the genie to come out.
Coming in 1999: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0
See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details!
[Last web site update: 04/03/99]
27 Apr
27 Apr
10:29 a.m.
New subject: When stuff has to go
The unfortunate side of our pasttime is that eventually we run out of room,
and something has to go. Its a no brainer for commodity items like generic
monitors, easy come, easy go, and often profitable. Same for the really odd
bits, you keep them forever if they seem the least bit interesting, well
maybe not. What about the rest, the stuff you take to a swapmeet and nobody
looks twice at.
Case in point, I was dumpster diving the other day, and pulled out some IBM
3812 laserprinter toner refills, a HP Scanjet isa I/F card, and some weird
tungsten HP plotter bits and pens. It just didn't seem right to leave this
stuff behind as I harvested a few choice shipping boxes, but eventually I
will have to question my judgement.
I am wondering about creating a list of last resort, with the catchy title
of 99 cents and shipping, where every item listed would be 99 cents and
actual shipping costs (ie token payment, but it gets a home).
10:59 a.m.
New subject: When stuff has to go
Case in point, I was dumpster diving the other day, and pulled out some IBM
3812 laserprinter toner refills, a HP Scanjet isa I/F card, and some weird
tungsten HP plotter bits and pens. It just didn't seem right to leave this
stuff behind as I harvested a few choice shipping boxes, but eventually I
will have to question my judgement.
Tungsten pens? Are these refillable pens that would work in a HP 7576
plotter (i may be slightly wrong on that model number, but there are
quite a few that use similar pens).
I am wondering about creating a list of last resort, with the catchy title
of 99 cents and shipping, where every item listed would be 99 cents and
actual shipping costs (ie token payment, but it gets a home).
Go for it.
-Lawrence LeMay
12:06 p.m.
New subject: When stuff has to go
At 12:29 PM 27/04/99 -0700, you wrote:
I am wondering about creating a list of last resort,
with the catchy title
of 99 cents and shipping, where every item listed would be 99 cents and
actual shipping costs (ie token payment, but it gets a home).
This is a great idea. I'd have stuff for this list myself. That old
terminal or board that you just don't want to throw out, etc.
Kevin
==========================================================
Sgt. Kevin McQuiggin, Vancouver Police Department
E-Comm Project (604) 215-5095; Cell: (604) 868-0544
Email: mcquiggi(a)sfu.ca
12:21 p.m.
New subject: When stuff has to go
At 12:29 PM 27/04/99 -0700, you wrote:
Especially if its not limited to 10 year old stuff. I have all these
Microsoft manuals and CD's for learning about Microsoft NT 4.0
(mainly administration stuff)... What i'm gonna do with 8-10 sets
of this stuff is puzzing me to no end.
-Lawrence LeMay
I am wondering about creating a list of last
resort, with the catchy title
of 99 cents and shipping, where every item listed would be 99 cents and
actual shipping costs (ie token payment, but it gets a home).
This is a great idea. I'd have stuff for this list myself. That old
terminal or board that you just don't want to throw out, etc.
Kevin
12:49 p.m.
New subject: When stuff has to go
At 12:29 PM
27/04/99 -0700, you wrote:
Especially if its not limited to 10 year old stuff. I have all these
Microsoft manuals and CD's for learning about Microsoft NT 4.0
(mainly administration stuff)... What i'm gonna do with 8-10 sets
of this stuff is puzzing me to no end.
-Lawrence LeMay I am wondering about creating a list of last
resort, with the catchy title
of 99 cents and shipping, where every item listed would be 99 cents and
actual shipping costs (ie token payment, but it gets a home).
This is a great idea. I'd have stuff for this list myself. That old
terminal or board that you just don't want to throw out, etc.
Kevin
1:26 p.m.
New subject: When stuff has to go
The more I think about it, the more it seems like a usenet newsgroup might
be a better idea. alt.marketplace.99cent or comp.sys.marketplace.99cent.
Charter would be simple,
Usual drivel.
All items must be 99 cents or less.
Shipping must be actual cost.
Good home clause, seller can restrict offer to only buyers who agree not to
resell for more than 99 cents, or to scrap the unit.
alt.five&dime
5:31 p.m.
New subject: When stuff has to go
On Tue, 27 Apr 1999, Mike Ford wrote:
The more I think about it, the more it seems like a
usenet newsgroup might
be a better idea. alt.marketplace.99cent or comp.sys.marketplace.99cent.
Charter would be simple,
Usual drivel.
All items must be 99 cents or less.
Shipping must be actual cost.
Good home clause, seller can restrict offer to only buyers who agree not to
resell for more than 99 cents, or to scrap the unit.
I think its a great idea. I hope you carry through with it.
Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar(a)siconic.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't rub the lamp if you don't want the genie to come out.
Coming this October 2-3: Vintage Computer Festival 3.0!
See http://www.vintage.org/vcf for details!
[Last web site update: 04/03/99]
5:15 p.m.
New subject: When stuff has to go
Especially if its not limited to 10 year old stuff. I
have all these
Microsoft manuals and CD's for learning about Microsoft NT 4.0
(mainly administration stuff)... What i'm gonna do with 8-10 sets
of this stuff is puzzing me to no end.
Fill pot holes?
Zane
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Adminstrator |
| healyzh(a)aracnet.com (primary) | Linux Enthusiast |
| healyzh(a)holonet.net (alternate) | Classic Computer Collector |
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
| Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
| and Zane's Computer Museum. |
| http://www.dragonfire.net/~healyzh/ |
9:48 p.m.
New subject: When stuff has to go
Especially if
its not limited to 10 year old stuff. I have all these
Microsoft manuals and CD's for learning about Microsoft NT 4.0
(mainly administration stuff)... What i'm gonna do with 8-10 sets
of this stuff is puzzing me to no end.
Fill pot holes? 
28 Apr
28 Apr
7:39 a.m.
New subject: When stuff has to go
At 11:48 PM 4/27/99 -0700, you wrote:
Do you really want the traction and safety of your car depending on a
MicroSoft product? Better to store it with nuclear waste.
No, it's better to use it in the out house. That way it ends up with the
other S--- where it belongs.
Joe
Especially if its not limited to 10 year old stuff. I
have all these
Microsoft manuals and CD's for learning about Microsoft NT 4.0
(mainly administration stuff)... What i'm gonna do with 8-10 sets
of this stuff is puzzing me to no end.
Fill pot holes? 
27 Apr
27 Apr
2:44 p.m.
New subject: When stuff has to go
On Tue, Apr 27, 1999 at 12:29:52PM -0700, Mike Ford wrote:
Case in point, I was dumpster diving the other day,
and pulled out some IBM
3812 laserprinter toner refills, a HP Scanjet isa I/F card, and some weird
HP ScanJet FAQ says that this adapter is unbelievably RARE. Perhaps you
should put it on $AUCTION_SITE and earn a small fortune?
--
Sergey Svishchev -- svs{at}ropnet{dot}ru
9:33 p.m.
New subject: **** RARE ***** ISA card
On Tue, Apr 27, 1999 at 12:29:52PM -0700, Mike Ford
wrote:
**** RARE ***** ISA card, will trade for small plane or country
I don't want to be the reason some poor guy out in the world stops using a
piece of equipment due to the cost of some critical part that I have. OTOH
if there are TWO such people needing the item, I see no reason why the one
that "needs" it the most doesn't get it.
BTW the card is a HP 48L REV A 88290-66501, the fingers look ISA to me, the
connector looks DB25F, and the label on the bracket says Scanjet I/F card.
What exactly is this, just a scanner controller card?
Case in point, I was dumpster diving the other
day, and pulled out some IBM
3812 laserprinter toner refills, a HP Scanjet isa I/F card, and some weird
HP ScanJet FAQ says that this adapter is unbelievably RARE. Perhaps you
should put it on $AUCTION_SITE and earn a small fortune?
--
Sergey Svishchev -- svs{at}ropnet{dot}ru
9198
days inactive
9216
days old
13 comments
8 participants
participants (8)
-
dastar＠ncal.verio.com -
edick＠idcomm.com -
healyzh＠aracnet.com -
lemay＠cs.umn.edu -
mcquiggi＠sfu.ca -
mikeford＠netwiz.net -
rigdonj＠intellistar.net -
svs＠ropnet.ru