Mall directory computers - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

1 Aug 2016

I've been searching the dim recesses of my mind trying to remember the one at
Oakville. ?As I recalled the graphics output was quite slow.. it'd draw shapes
individually and then fill in. ?And the color was not great. ?Must have been a CGA PC or
some derivative. ?This would have been around 1982-1983. ?I just remember being fascinated
as a kid pushing buttons and having stores and locations of things show up. ?For early
1980s it was a pretty cool idea vs the big directory board you had to look all over.

Sent from my Samsung device

-------- Original message --------
From: Ian Finder <ian.finder at gmail.com> 
Date: 2016-08-01  11:22 AM  (GMT-08:00) 
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" <cctalk at
classiccmp.org> 
Subject: Re: Mall directory computers 

you should certainly open it up and remove the battery. I would guess the
add on shell is a power supply, video modulator of some kind, and possibly
a hard drive controller.

On Mon, Aug 1, 2016 at 3:06 AM, Kevin Parker <trash80 at internode.on.net>
wrote:

...
  I'm not exactly sure - it was one of those things
that someone gave me and
 I put it away - my policy is grab first and ask questions later so it
 doesn't become landfill.

 I have tried to research this based on info from another reply but no joy.

 I might open it up and see if there are any clues inside.

 My understanding was that it was connected to a large flat panel monitor
 and just used for displaying advertisements and specials etc. It has a
 floppy disk "jammed" in the floppy drive which won't come out - not sure
 why.

 Kevin Parker

 -----Original Message-----
 From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of
 drlegendre .
 Sent: Monday, 1 August 2016 09:41
 To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <
 cctalk at classiccmp.org>
 Subject: Re: Mall directory computers

 It's not +just+ an A500. What's the extra hardware piggybacked on the A500
 case?

 Looks to have a set of six RCA (F) type jacks on it. Is this for
 connection of a touchscreen display?

 On Sun, Jul 31, 2016 at 2:43 AM, Kevin Parker <trash80 at internode.on.net>
 wrote:

  Thanks for the clarity and the extra info? - as I
said I haven?t
 opened it or fired it up much less had a good look at it.

 Kevin Parker

 -----Original Message-----
 From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Ian
 Finder
 Sent: Sunday, 31 July 2016 17:28
 To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <
 cctalk at classiccmp.org>
 Subject: Re: Mall directory computers

 That is certainly not a C= 64 as the title in your link suggests but
 rather an Amiga 500.

 These were quite popular for "video billboard" sort of purposes- I
 imagine they had it running SCALAMultimedia or a similar authoring  environment.

 My local high school district channel ran on a similar setup for many
 years. I recall seeing it stuck on the Amiga Workbench one day...

 On Sunday, July 31, 2016, Kevin Parker <trash80 at internode.on.net> wrote:

 > Just spotted this Brad clearing up email after a 4 week break. I
 > can't answer your question but it reminded me of something that
 > other list users may be able to help with or it might just be of  interest.
  >
 > Quite some time ago a friend of mine bought a travel agent in a
 > shopping mall, did a refit of the shop and then later went bust.
 > Fortunately before the refit and going bust he gave me his old shop
 > display which was run on a modified Commodore.
 >
 > I haven't opened it up or powered it up but if anyone knows what
 > this is I'd be grateful. I've posted some photos:
 >
 >
 > http://koken.advancedimaging.com.au/index.php?/albums/shop-mall-comm
 > od
 > ore-64/
 >
 >
 >
 > Kevin Parker
 >
 > -----Original Message-----
 > From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org <javascript:;>]
 > On Behalf Of Brad H
 > Sent: Thursday, 14 July 2016 12:25
 > To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts' <
 > cctalk at classiccmp.org <javascript:;>>
 > Subject: Mall directory computers
 >
 > Been wondering about this for a while.?? Just one of those odd  childhood
  > memories.
 >
 >
 >
 > When I was a kid growing up in Oakville, Ontario, I remember
 > Oakville Mall getting one of those very early mall directory computers.
 > This would have been like, 1982-84, somewhere thereabouts.? From
 > what I remember, they had kind of CGA-sh graphics and a chiclet 
'keyboard'
   you used
to browse the directory.? I'm wondering, were they just
 PCs, most likely?? Or some kind of custom job?

 --
??? Ian Finder
??? (206) 395-MIPS
??? ian.finder at gmail.com

-- 
?? Ian Finder
?? (206) 395-MIPS
?? ian.finder at gmail.com