11 Jun
1997
11 Jun
'97
8:32 p.m.
Hi guys, my collection is still on the small side (25 or so) and lately
I've just been trying to cover "all the bases." I'm mainly interested
in
80's micros (since that's what I grew up with) and have a few holes to
fill. OK, enough filler, here's what I need:
- I *still* don't have an Atari!
- I'd like a MSX machine as well (never even seen one in anything other
than magazine articles)
- and maybe a Timex just for the hell of it.
If anyone has any duplicates that they'd like to sell/trade etc. than
PLEASE let me know! I live in the (relatively) Philadelphia area.
BTW, someone on this mailing list mentioned that they needed the TI Speech
box. If by this you mean the Speech Synthesizer that plugged into the
side than I have 2 (and only 1 TI) so....
However, if you mean the Terminal Emulator II cartridge than, sorry, I
only have 1 of those! :(
Les
more(a)crazy.rutgers.edu
11 Jun
11 Jun
10:36 p.m.
Mr. Self Destruct wrote:
- I *still* don't have an Atari!
That one is most likely easy once you tell us *what* Atari you would
like. I still have the original Atari 400 and peripherals that I paid
about $1500 or so for when it first came out. Neat machine! I have
several 400's and 800's although I need to check them out to make sure
they still work (I sometimes get non-working machines and get them mixed
in with the working ones.)
- I'd like a MSX machine as well (never even seen
one in anything other
than magazine articles)
What is an MSX machine?
- and maybe a Timex just for the hell of it.
The Timex machines are still fairly easy to obtain out here. If you
can't find one back there, let me know as I have (I think) three of
them. With any luck though, someone will respond who lives on your side
of the country :).
If anyone has any duplicates that they'd like to
sell/trade etc. than
PLEASE let me know! I live in the (relatively) Philadelphia area.
12 Jun
12 Jun
2:30 a.m.
On Thu, 12 Jun 1997, Marvin wrote:
What is an MSX machine?
MicroSoft eXtended Basic. Bill's attempt to take over the Japanese home
computer marker, ooh, 14 years ago. It produced a standard machine: Z80 at
3.5 MHz, GI AY-3-8912 for sound, TMS-9918A for video, MS Basic in ROM and
external ROM cartridges) that was implemented by a lot of Japanese
manufacturers (and Spectravideo who IIRC inspired the hardware specs with
their older SVI models [318, 328]).
I don't think it did very well in the States, but it sold a bit in Europe
(esp. Netherlands and UK) and I guess it must have sold a lot in the Far
East. They're typically nice, robust machines with good, complete typewriter
keyboards and, most of the times, prominent designer cursor keys in bright
colo[u]rs. The BASIC is really powerful (it's effectively what PC users knew
as GW-BASIC), allowing direct control of the video/audio hardware *plus*
indirect, high-level control (eg LINE, DRAW, PLAY, etc).
Alexios
--------------------------- ,o88,o888o,,o888o. -------------------------------
Alexios Chouchoulas '88 ,88' ,88'
alexios(a)vennea.demon.co.uk
The Unpronounceable One ,o88oooo88ooooo88oo, axc(a)dcs.ed.ac.uk
10:47 a.m.
On Thu, 12 Jun 1997, Marvin wrote:
That one is most likely easy once you tell us *what*
Atari you would
like. I still have the original Atari 400 and peripherals that I paid
about $1500 or so for when it first came out. Neat machine! I have
several 400's and 800's although I need to check them out to make sure
Preferably, one of the older ones (400/800, not XL, XE, etc.)
- I'd like
a MSX machine as well (never even seen one in anything other
than magazine articles)
What is an MSX machine? 
11:58 a.m.
New subject: MSX comments.... (Re:)
On Thu, 12 Jun 1997, Mr. Self Destruct wrote:
On Thu, 12 Jun 1997, Marvin wrote:
Actually, to make a few clarifications, as far as I know, on the above
questions and answers. MSX does NOT stand for Microsoft Extended. That
basically was a bad rumor. The MSX was an attempt and a world-wide
standardization of computers by several companies. I'm not quite sure if
MSX-DOS was format compatible with MS-DOS.... I don't think it was.
And, finally, this project (the MSX) did NOT fail miserably. In the United
States, teh MSX did fail miserably... but mainly because of the fact that
it was not widely marketed here. The MSX was VERY popular in Asia and, I
believe, in Europe. To tell you the truth it still is! I happen to be a
fan of the MSX, and can to you the quality of the many, many, game titles
for it are quite similar to that of first Nintendo Entertainment System.
Many of the games were sold on both platforms.... such as Metal Gear,
Donkey Kong, Dig-Dug, F-16 Fighting Falcon, Frogger, Galaga, The Goonies,
Zelda, Thexder, Zaxxon, etc., etc. A large manufacturer of game software
for the MSX was Konami, and world-wide leading game manufacturer. So, that
should let you know about some fo the MSX capabilities.
Anyway, maybe some of our European and Asian friends out there could let
us know more about the MSX? I personally do not have a machine, but have
tons of MSX software running on emulators on my PC. I would love to get
one, so again, if anyone has one for sale, please let me know.
Look forward to hearing from you,
CORD G. COSLOR
Archive Software
PO Box 308
Peru, Nebraska 68421
(402) 872- 3272
- I'd
like a MSX machine as well (never even seen one in anything other
than magazine articles)
What is an MSX machine? From what I gather, it was an early attempt
('84-'85) at computer
"standardization" by a number of large
companies (Sony, Yamaha, Panasonic,
Sanyo, Hitachi, Goldstar, and a bunch of others. The systems were all (?)
Z80 based with a TI graphics chip and generally had 48-64k of memory.
MSX stands for Microsoft Extended (oh no!) and the OS, called MSX-DOS was
format compatible with MS-DOS and apparently had smoe CP/M functionality.
MSX failed miserably, mostly because for the time period, the technology
was old. (Amiga's, Macs, and ST's on the way)
3:27 p.m.
New subject: MSX comments.... (Re:)
On Thu, 12 Jun 1997, Cord Coslor wrote:
And, finally, this project (the MSX) did NOT fail
miserably. In the United
States, teh MSX did fail miserably... but mainly because of the fact that
it was not widely marketed here. The MSX was VERY popular in Asia and, I
believe, in Europe. To tell you the truth it still is! I happen to be a
fan of the MSX, and can to you the quality of the many, many, game titles
for it are quite similar to that of first Nintendo Entertainment System.
Many of the games were sold on both platforms.... such as Metal Gear,
Donkey Kong, Dig-Dug, F-16 Fighting Falcon, Frogger, Galaga, The Goonies,
Zelda, Thexder, Zaxxon, etc., etc. A large manufacturer of game software
for the MSX was Konami, and world-wide leading game manufacturer. So, that
should let you know about some fo the MSX capabilities.
WoW! The more I hear about this thing the more I want one. It's amazing
that this system was so unknown in the states. It's like discovering a
whole new species. Of course, I'd never heard of the Oric either until I
started doing more research into older computers. I wonder if anything
will come out of the old eastern bloc countries. I hear they did quite a
bit of cloning of western technology.
Sam
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass
15 Jun
15 Jun
5:38 a.m.
New subject: Eastern European Computing (was: Re: MSX comments.... (Re:)
On Thu, 12 Jun 1997, Sam Ismail wrote:
On Thu, 12 Jun 1997, Cord Coslor wrote:
> And, finally, this project (the MSX) did NOT fail miserably. In the United
> States, teh MSX did fail miserably... but mainly because of the fact that
> it was not widely marketed here. The MSX was VERY popular in Asia and, I
> believe, in Europe. To tell you the truth it still is! I happen to be a
[...]
WoW! The more I hear about this thing the more I want one. It's amazing
that this system was so unknown in the states. It's like discovering a
whole new species. Of course, I'd never heard of the Oric either until I
started doing more research into older computers. I wonder if anything
will come out of the old eastern bloc countries. I hear they did quite a
bit of cloning of western technology.
I remember a Byte Magazine from about 10 years ago that had an article
about a Russian Apple II clone (called the "Agat"). It used a modified
DOS that used the hi-res screens to display Cyrillic characters . . .
6 a.m.
New subject: Eastern European Computing (was: Re: MSX comments.... (Re:)
On Sun, 15 Jun 1997, Charles P. Hobbs wrote:
I remember a Byte Magazine from about 10 years ago
that had an article
about a Russian Apple II clone (called the "Agat"). It used a modified
DOS that used the hi-res screens to display Cyrillic characters . . .
And it cost equivalent to about US$15,000 at the time. Without
paying royalties to Apple.
--
Ward Griffiths
"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within
the system, but too early to shoot the bastards." --Claire Wolfe
12 Jun
12 Jun
9:18 p.m.
New subject: MSX comments.... (Re:)
On Thu, 12 Jun 1997, Cord Coslor wrote:
Actually, to make a few clarifications, as far as I
know, on the above
questions and answers. MSX does NOT stand for Microsoft Extended. That
basically was a bad rumor. The MSX was an attempt and a world-wide
standardization of computers by several companies. I'm not quite sure if
MSX-DOS was format compatible with MS-DOS.... I don't think it was.
Well all my info (right or not) came from an '84 issue of Compute.
And, finally, this project (the MSX) did NOT fail
miserably. In the United
States, teh MSX did fail miserably... but mainly because of the fact that
it was not widely marketed here. The MSX was VERY popular in Asia and, I
believe, in Europe. To tell you the truth it still is! I happen to be a
fan of the MSX, and can to you the quality of the many, many, game titles
for it are quite similar to that of first Nintendo Entertainment System.
Well I didn't say that it sucked or anything... I just said that it
failed miserably...
Many of the games were sold on both platforms.... such
as Metal Gear,
Donkey Kong, Dig-Dug, F-16 Fighting Falcon, Frogger, Galaga, The Goonies,
Zelda, Thexder, Zaxxon, etc., etc. A large manufacturer of game software
for the MSX was Konami, and world-wide leading game manufacturer. So, that
should let you know about some fo the MSX capabilities.
Well I personally have never been a fan of "Computer Standardization."
Sure, now we can all shop at the same stores (except for the Mac/Amiga
diehards) and don't really have to port crap anymore, but if you ask me,
it takes all the fun out of it. How fun would it be if we all drove the
same car? (Well mine has air conditioning! Well mines got air and
leather etc. etc.)
Boy it's late...
Les
12:07 p.m.
On Thu, 12 Jun 1997, Mr. Self Destruct wrote:
Cool! I want one of these.
Sam
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass
What is an MSX
machine?
From what I gather, it was an early attempt
('84-'85) at computer
"standardization" by a number of large
companies (Sony, Yamaha, Panasonic,
Sanyo, Hitachi, Goldstar, and a bunch of others. The systems were all (?)
Z80 based with a TI graphics chip and generally had 48-64k of memory.
MSX stands for Microsoft Extended (oh no!) and the OS, called MSX-DOS was
format compatible with MS-DOS and apparently had smoe CP/M functionality.
MSX failed miserably, mostly because for the time period, the technology
was old. (Amiga's, Macs, and ST's on the way)
9:20 p.m.
On Thu, 12 Jun 1997, Sam Ismail wrote:
Cool! I want one of these.
Sam
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass
GET IN LINE! ME FIRST!!!!!
Sheesh.... see if I ever open MY big mouth again...
;)
Les
9900
days inactive
9903
days old
10 comments
7 participants
participants (7)
-
alexios＠vennea.demon.co.uk -
coslor＠pscosf.peru.edu -
dastar＠crl.com -
gram＠cnct.com -
marvin＠rain.org -
more＠camlaw.rutgers.edu -
transit＠primenet.com