PET Video (was: Replacing 6550s) & 128 - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

29 Nov 1998

...
  From: Doug Spence &lt;ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca&gt;
 Subject: Re: Replacing 6550s 
...
  (I especially find it cool that they list various part
numbers for the
 connector. :) ) 
Digikey is the best source for inexpensive PET compatible connectors.
(1-800-DIGI-KEY) along with a ton of other cool parts.
...

 I just noticed for the first time (!) that the "PARALLEL USER PORT" has
 pins labeled "T.V. Video", "T.V. Vertical", and "T.V.
Horizontal"!  Has
 anyone actually connectd a TV or external monitor to a PET? 
There are plans for a composite video converter using those pins in Nick
Hampshire's PET Revealed, I think it only works on the older 9" screen pets
and not the 12" ones.  The reason for it being on the user port was for deaier
diagnostic testing.

I'll scan the circuit and put it on-line tonite:

http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/petvideo.gif

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  On Mon, 23 Nov 1998, Cameron Kaiser wrote:

  I'm trying to find out what PET has a chiclet
keyboard. I only know of the
 plastic bang-on-em keyboard PETs, not one with the rubber keys.  
 There aren't any with rubber keys as far as I'm aware. 
The 'rubber part of the keys is on the boom of the key, which you don't see. 
The only Commodore computer with rubber keys that I have heard of is the
Commodore 116.
...

 "chiclet keyboard" != "rubber keys", IMHO.  I'm talking about the
cute
 multicoloured keyboard with the small plastic keys that are arranged in a
 grid pattern.  I call that a chiclet keyboard. 
The original PET 2001 (4k or 8k), and I saw a 'Teacher's PET' with such a
keyboard too (proably had a newer motherboard though.  In  general they
(calculator keyboard model PETs) were sold till about 1980 and are the
origninal keyboard design.

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...
  ::"chiclet keyboard" != "rubber
keys", IMHO.  I'm talking about the cute
 ::multicoloured keyboard with the small plastic keys that are arranged in a
 ::grid pattern.  I call that a chiclet keyboard.

 Hmm, okay. But multicoloured? Which colours? Arranged how? 
Ummm  they were all metallic tops, Red, Gold, Blue, Silver...  Check out my
PET page:

http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/pet.html

You can see the colors pretty well on the first image.

If you want exact placement I'll scan a keyboard layout from the PET user
guide tonite:

http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/petkeys.gif

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...
  From: Cameron Kaiser &lt;ckaiser(a)oa.ptloma.edu&gt;
 Subject: Re: Commodore 128 stuff (was:St. Vincent DePaul Finds)

 ::It's a fast-loader for the 128 (that's where the Mach comes in , the 64
 ::version was called Mach 5) It might also be a program freezer/utility.  Put it
 ::in your 128 and push the reset button, some of these will present a menu (for
 ::save options and such).  The switch is probably to select whether the cart is
 ::active or not.  Best not to switch it while the computer is on.

 Gosh, Larry, don't you want to live dangerously? Switching EXROM and GAME
 in realtime? Live a little! ;-) 
After a few Commodore (PET, 64, 128D and Amiga 1000) mishaps between me, my
brother and a couple friends, I have become much more careful.  I do not want
to be the holder of the 'golden butterknife' (yeah, that one went over your
head, it's a long story.)