11 Oct
1998
11 Oct
'98
10:44 a.m.
From: Doug Spence <ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca>
Subject: Fairchild Channel F (was: Re: Corrections to trivia)
On 6 Oct 1998, Eric Smith wrote:
Well I recall they were sold by Montgomery Wards in the U.S. for a couple
years also the carts I had once bought had Macy's or some other retail chain's
tags on them, so they were well mechandised. But they are somewhat uncommon nowadays.
The Atari 2600 beat them out of business though, pitty, the Fairchild had
some of the coolest joysticks (controls were left, right, up, down, twist
left, twist right, fire (and I think push down))
--
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Larry Anderson - Sysop of Silicon Realms BBS (300-2400bd) (209) 754-1363
Visit my Commodore 8-Bit web page at:
http://www.goldrush.com/~foxnhare/commodore.html
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I might, however, get out the old Fairchild
Channel F video game system
tonight and play a few hands of blackjack on an F8.
Speaking of which... how common are the Channel Fs? I picked up several
cartridges for one some time ago, but I've never seen the actual unit.
I've only seen ads for them in old magazines.
11 Oct
11 Oct
4:07 a.m.
Larry Anderson wrote:
> > I might, however, get out the old Fairchild
Channel F video game system
> > tonight and play a few hands of blackjack on an F8.
>> Speaking of which... how common are the Channel Fs? I picked up several
> cartridges for one some time ago, but I've never seen the actual unit.
> I've only seen ads for them in old magazines.
The Atari 2600 beat them out of business though,
pitty, the Fairchild had
some of the coolest joysticks (controls were left, right, up, down, twist
left, twist right, fire (and I think push down))
I have 3 of old the Fairchild F8's in my collection.. Purchased the one new in I
think
1976, and as I recall the biggest reason for their downfall was the Joysticks themselves,
they were very easy to break, they twisted and because you held them by making a fist
around the joystick housing and twisted with the other hand they easily snapped apart..
Also the other problem as I recall was they did not have a sound chip, just beeps and
crude musical notes. When that Atari 2600 came out it just blew them away with features..
Another really interesting game machine I have is the RCA Studio 2 (Circa 1975).. This
was
a looser from the start. It had only B/W graphics and sound (Beeps) only from the
console,
no hand controllers. I have several games for this machine however one is a really quite
impressing baseball game, for its time period it was very well done.. But One very cool
thing it had was the RCA 1802 processor, in 1977 I sent off for an instruction manual on
how build an interface to turn the game machine into an RCA Cosmac computer. I never
completed the project because I purchased a Radio Shack Model 1 and was Hooked on it
after that. It had a Whopping 4K RAM, and a very crude basic that as I remember supported
only 2 String Variables, (Can you say Key bounce) .. Boy did I have fun with that
machine.
I recently acquired another TRS-80 Model One, to replace my long lost one, and just
looking at it made me feel 20 years younger... Gads am I rambling on here or what!!!..
<Grin>!!!
I would be interested in knowing if there were any real computers made using the
Fairchild
F8 computer chip... or any real applications for it.. Anyone know anything about the F8 ?
Phil...
12 Oct
12 Oct
5:58 p.m.
Phil Clayton wrote:
how build an interface to turn the game machine into
an RCA Cosmac computer. I never
completed the project because I purchased a Radio Shack Model 1 and was Hooked on it
after that. It had a Whopping 4K RAM, and a very crude basic that as I remember
supported
only 2 String Variables, (Can you say Key bounce) .. Boy did I have fun with that
machine.
I recently acquired another TRS-80 Model One, to replace my long lost one, and just
looking at it made me feel 20 years younger... Gads am I rambling on here or what!!!..
<Grin>!!!
I don't recall keybounce being a problem with Level I BASIC -- it
reared its ugly head after the upgrade to Level II.
--
Ward Griffiths <mailto:gram@cnct.com> <http://www.cnct.com/home/gram/>
When I was crossing the border into Canada, they asked me if I had any
firearms with me. I said "Well, what do you need?" -- Steven Wright
6:41 a.m.
New subject: 16K RAM was 300 bucks in 1977
Ward Donald Griffiths III wrote:
Phil Clayton wrote:
I purchased a Radio Shack Model 1 and was Hooked on it
Yes, I think you are correct, I recall I never had the problem untill I spent the $299.00
to
upgrade it to Level 2 Basic, Oh Yes then another $299.00 for an additional 16K RAM. In
fact my
recently acquired RS Model One with Level 2 basic has the problem big time. As I recall
some
tuner cleaner or alcohol rubbed on the contacts underneath the key tops will resolve the
problem
for awhile.. I remember I had around $1,300 in this machine and still didn't have a
floppy
drive.. I never did purchase the expansion accessories for the unit.
In 1980 I moved into a Commodore Pet with a single IEEE Floppy drive, this was like
heaven, A
nice clear green 9 inch monochrome monitor, no more cassette tapes, 32K RAM, what more
could a
person want.. Well OK, add a Printer another $700.00, and a 300 baud modem $200.00.. And
at
about $2600.00 I had a dream machine.. Phil...
after that. It had a Whopping 4K RAM, and a very
crude basic that as I remember supported
only 2 String Variables, (Can you say Key bounce) ..
I don't recall keybounce being a problem with Level I BASIC -- it reared its ugly
head after
the upgrade to Level II.
--
7:45 p.m.
New subject: 16K RAM was 300 bucks in 1977
Phil Clayton wrote:
Yes, I think you are correct, I recall I never had the
problem untill I spent the $299.00 to
upgrade it to Level 2 Basic, Oh Yes then another $299.00 for an additional 16K RAM. In
fact my
recently acquired RS Model One with Level 2 basic has the problem big time. As I recall
some
tuner cleaner or alcohol rubbed on the contacts underneath the key tops will resolve the
problem
for awhile.. I remember I had around $1,300 in this machine and still didn't have a
floppy
drive.. I never did purchase the expansion accessories for the unit.
Keybounce was a periodic problem with my first system under Level II.
It came back every time I turned the machine over and dumped out the
month or two worth of cigarette ashes that had accumulated, lasted
maybe a week until I'd dropped enough more inside.
In 1980 I moved into a Commodore Pet with a single IEEE Floppy drive, this was like
heaven, A
nice clear green 9 inch monochrome monitor, no more cassette tapes, 32K RAM, what more
could a
person want.. Well OK, add a Printer another $700.00, and a 300 baud modem $200.00.. And
at
about $2600.00 I had a dream machine.. Phil...
Checked out a Pet with the original tiny rectangle keyboard before I
went with the TRS-80. Yuck. Turned me off the Pet (and anything else
with a 6502) to this very day (and the Atari 400 keyboard didn't help
much either).
--
Ward Griffiths <mailto:gram@cnct.com> <http://www.cnct.com/home/gram/>
When I was crossing the border into Canada, they asked me if I had any
firearms with me. I said "Well, what do you need?" -- Steven Wright
13 Oct
13 Oct
6:39 a.m.
New subject: 16K RAM was 300 bucks in 1977
Ward Donald Griffiths III wrote:
Phil Clayton wrote:
Keybounce was a periodic problem with my first system under Level II.
It came back every time I turned the machine over and dumped out the
month or two worth of cigarette ashes that had accumulated, lasted
maybe a week until I'd dropped enough more inside.
The Commodore Pet I purchased in 1980 had a full size keyboard with
numeric keypad. This model 2001 was much improved over the original Pet
with chicklet keyboard, however I wished I could today find one of the
old Pet's with chicklette keyboard, they are very rare these days.
The Radio Shack Model One was a great unit, I spent thousands of hours
on it befor I went to the Commodore Pet...
Phil...
In 1980 I moved into a Commodore Pet with a single IEEE Floppy drive, this was like
heaven, A
nice clear green 9 inch monochrome monitor, no more cassette tapes, 32K RAM, what more
could a
person want.. Well OK, add a Printer another $700.00, and a 300 baud modem $200.00.. And
at
about $2600.00 I had a dream machine.. Phil...
Checked out a Pet with the original tiny rectangle keyboard before I
went with the TRS-80. Yuck. Turned me off the Pet (and anything else
with a 6502) to this very day (and the Atari 400 keyboard didn't help
much either).
5:22 a.m.
New subject: IBM 5120 at the local thrift store
Here's a good find for ya..
Today at the Local Salvation Army store i saw this huge IBM 5120 console machine on
wheels.
Its an Auto Diagnostics station. Must weigh 500lbs easy, mounted on wheels with a built in
touch screen
monitor.. I opened up the side panel on it and saw a CDROM drive, UPS, Some sort of
cartridge drive and
hard drive.. It had 30 or 40 cdroms (Auto tech data) and all the manuals for it. Looking
at the manuals
it appears to be an XT type machine.
5:46 p.m.
New subject: IBM 5120 at the local thrift store
On Tue, 13 Oct 1998, Phil Clayton wrote:
Here's a good find for ya.. Today at the Local
Salvation Army store i
saw this huge IBM 5120 console machine on wheels. Its an Auto
Diagnostics station. Must weigh 500lbs easy, mounted on wheels with a
built in touch screen monitor.. I opened up the side panel on it and saw
a CDROM drive, UPS, Some sort of cartridge drive and hard drive.. It had
30 or 40 cdroms (Auto tech data) and all the manuals for it. Looking at
the manuals it appears to be an XT type machine.
Did you grab it? If not, do! You can leave the automotive diagnostics
stuff behind, but the 5120 is the last of the original 5100 line, and the
machine that followed it was the 5150 (i.e., the PC).
If you don't want it, wheel it over to me!
-- Doug
6:07 p.m.
New subject: IBM 5120 at the local thrift store
Did it look something like this?
http://www.islandnet.com/~dek/pic/uofa_ibm.jpg
-- Doug
4:59 p.m.
New subject: IBM 5120 at the local thrift store
Doug Yowza wrote:
Did it look something like this?
http://www.islandnet.com/~dek/pic/uofa_ibm.jpg
-- Doug
I'm beginning to think I have the wrong model number, and it looks
nothing like the picture you have provided.. However I am pretty sure it
said IBM 5120 on the side..From my quick inspection yesterday it sure
looks like an IBM XT Engine..
It had a CDROM Drive mounted vertically 5-1/4 size, its an older style
cdrom with cassette, also a 360KB Floppy drive and some other type of
cartridge drive..
This thing is in a huge metal box with a 15 inch touch screen monitor
built in, has all sorts of connectors for spark plugs, dist caps, .. Its
for diagnostics, even has a built in tool box. Its built for a greasy
dirty environment.. Painted military green.. I will go back today and
look again.. If its something other than an XT class machine I may just
get it, otherwise to me its a huge 500lb Tank... And the local Salvation
Army would no doubt want more than its worth just because it looks very
expensive, and no doubt was at its time..
The last Kaypro IIx I purchased there I got for 5 dollars because they
thought it was a defective Television set. Hey where's the tuner the
clerk said.. <HeHe>!
Phil...
14 Oct
14 Oct
5:20 a.m.
New subject: IBM 5120 at the local thrift store
On Tue, 13 Oct 1998, Phil Clayton wrote:
The last Kaypro IIx I purchased there I got for 5
dollars because they
thought it was a defective Television set. Hey where's the tuner the
clerk said.. <HeHe>!
I got my last KPII for the same price - for the same reason. They also
tend to think that those very light Wyse terminals are "cheap little
monitors." When I bought the 60 yesterday the guy asked if it went to an
old video game system...
15 Oct
15 Oct
6:32 a.m.
New subject: IBM 5120 at the local thrift store
Doug Yowza wrote:
On Tue, 13 Oct 1998, Phil Clayton wrote:
I will go back to the Thrift store to take a closer look at the IBM 5120 Auto
diagnostics machine tomorrow and see if its an XT class or truly a 5100
computer as you indicated..I really don't think so as I did see a cdrom drive
5-1/4 and a 5-1/4 360 floppy drive on it..
If it was resonably priced I would get it just for the touch screen monitor..
Like I said the think is huge, the size of a Washing Machine and built like an
army tank.
Perhaps thats what it was used for , tuning up army tanks.. Ha!
Phil...
Here's a good find for ya.. Today at the
Local Salvation Army store i
saw this huge IBM 5120 console machine on wheels. Its an Auto
Diagnostics station. Must weigh 500lbs easy, mounted on wheels with a
built in touch screen monitor.. I opened up the side panel on it and saw
a CDROM drive, UPS, Some sort of cartridge drive and hard drive.. It had
30 or 40 cdroms (Auto tech data) and all the manuals for it. Looking at
the manuals it appears to be an XT type machine.
Did you grab it? If not, do! You can leave the automotive diagnostics
stuff behind, but the 5120 is the last of the original 5100 line, and the
machine that followed it was the 5150 (i.e., the PC).
16 Oct
16 Oct
10:14 a.m.
New subject: IBM 5120 at the local thrift store
> On Tue, 13 Oct 1998, Phil Clayton wrote:
>
> > Here's a good find for ya.. Today at the Local Salvation Army store i
> > saw this huge IBM 5120 console machine on wheels. Its an Auto
> > Diagnostics station. Must weigh 500lbs easy, mounted on wheels with a
> > built in touch screen monitor.. I opened up the side panel on it and saw
> > a CDROM drive, UPS, Some sort of cartridge drive and hard drive.. It had
> > 30 or 40 cdroms (Auto tech data) and all the manuals for it. Looking at
> > the manuals it appears to be an XT type machine.
>
> Did you grab it? If not, do! You can leave the automotive diagnostics
> stuff behind, but the 5120 is the last of the original 5100 line, and the
> machine that followed it was the 5150 (i.e., the PC).
Ok, I went back to the local SA. There it still stands in all its
glory..
I took a closer look... Its an IBM 5126.. Not a 5120 (Sorry)...
And a even closer look reviels its an IBM AT machine..
Store manager say its worth $100.00 to them and has been there 2 weeks
now...
I offered 20 bucks and he declined, noting the steel case alone is worth
that..
Any one want it ? Its in Fort Myers Florida... Weighs an estimated
500lbs..
Nice mono touch screen monitor, CDROM, UPS, and several really heavy
duty
goodies inside.. About 40 Techinical CD's and several tech manuals on
the
computer... Personally I would love to play with this machine, all the
I/O ports, analog I/O's, touch screen.. Would be lots of fun, but
$100.00 is over my fun/gadget budget ...
Phil...
14 Oct
14 Oct
10:26 a.m.
New subject: IBM 5120 at the local thrift store
Today at the Local Salvation Army store i saw this
huge IBM 5120 console
machine on wheels. Its an Auto Diagnostics station. Must weigh 500lbs
Does IBM reuse model numbers? I suppose they must, or four-digit numbers
would have been exhausted long ago.
The IBM 5120 I'm (only slightly) familiar with is a later version of the
IBM 5100 portable computer from 1975.
11:08 a.m.
New subject: IBM 5120 at the local thrift store
On 14 Oct 1998, Eric Smith wrote:
Does IBM reuse model numbers? I suppose they must, or
four-digit numbers
would have been exhausted long ago.
Well... considering that a couple of machines that I have in my lab at
work are branded (on the front panel) "IBM (Personal Computer) 360 ?!?
-jim
---
jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com
The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw
Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174
16 Oct
16 Oct
4:05 a.m.
New subject: IBM 5120 at the local thrift store
At 01:08 PM 10/14/98 -0700, you wrote:
On 14 Oct 1998, Eric Smith wrote:
Humorous and I have had more than one ford also.
You are speaking of an IBM PC Type not model number which by the way was
followed with a model number for its full name.
It used the 360 in its name due to the similarity in architecture to the
system but certainly did not have the same model number.
The IBM System 360 was a system type which also had a model numbers.
gene@ehrich
http://www.voicenet.com/~generic
Computer & Video Game Garage Sale
Does IBM reuse model numbers? I suppose they
must, or four-digit numbers
would have been exhausted long ago.
Well... considering that a couple of machines that I have in my lab at
work are branded (on the front panel) "IBM (Personal Computer) 360 ?!?
14 Oct
14 Oct
12:15 p.m.
New subject: IBM 5120 at the local thrift store
On 14 Oct 1998, Eric Smith wrote:
Does IBM reuse model numbers? I suppose they must, or
four-digit numbers
would have been exhausted long ago.
Are you suggesting that IBM has produced over 10,000 different computer
models? I doubt it!
The IBM 5120 I'm (only slightly) familiar with is
a later version of the
IBM 5100 portable computer from 1975.
Does anybody know all the machines that comprised the 51xx series? The
few I know are:
5100, IBM Portable
5110, similar with optional (?) 8" flops
5120, bigger screen, built-in 8" flops
5140, Convertible
5150, PC
5155, Portable PC
5160, PC/XT
5180, PC/AT
Was there a 5130?
-- Doug
12:27 p.m.
New subject: IBM 5120 at the local thrift store
Are you suggesting that IBM has produced over 10,000
different computer
models? I doubt it!
Maybe not 10,000, but certainly lots. Don't forget that the numbers cover
not only computers, but accessories, ATMs, cash registers, lab equipment,
clocks, racks, typewriters, and other stuff.
William Donzelli
william(a)ans.net
12:45 p.m.
New subject: IBM 5120 at the local thrift store
I wrote:
Does IBM reuse model numbers? I suppose they must, or
four-digit numbers
would have been exhausted long ago.
Doug replied:
Are you suggesting that IBM has produced over 10,000
different computer
models? I doubt it!
The IBM numbers are 'Type' numbers. For instance, for the Type 729 tape
drives, there are Model I, II, III, etc. For the Type 360 computer, there
were initially Models 30, 40, etc. The IBM AT was Type 5170, but had many
Models, such as the famous 339.
However, for computers, each box generally had its own Type number. When
you talk about an IBM Type 7090 Data Processing System, that's actually just
the type of the main processor. The memory, the I/O channels, even the
control console each have their own type number, from the same name space.
Even a 360/30 has a Type number for its CPU, although I don't recall offhand
what it was.
They've definitely had more than 10,000 Types, and probably more than 100,000
Models. But not every Type is a "computer".
4:57 p.m.
New subject: IBM 5120 at the local thrift store
However, for computers, each box generally had its own
Type number. When
you talk about an IBM Type 7090 Data Processing System, that's actually just
the type of the main processor. The memory, the I/O channels, even the
control console each have their own type number, from the same name space.
Even a 360/30 has a Type number for its CPU, although I don't recall offhand
what it was.
2030. In the "good ole days", processors were 20xx, disks were 23xx, tapes
were 24xx, conrollers were 28xx, and more that I can not think of offhand.
They used this for thier mainframe line until the ES/9000s, or
thereabouts.
The IBM marketing people obviously have all of the say in coming up with
the "system" and "series" numbers. Those number may or may not have
anything to do with the model numbers. A prime example is the RS/6000s -
the first ones were 7011s, 7012s, and 7015s - not a 6000 in sight. Yet
other systems embed their number in the model designation - all System/36s
have 36 for thier 2nd and 3rd numerals.
William Donzelli
william(a)ans.net
12:17 p.m.
New subject: IBM 5120 at the local thrift store
Does IBM reuse model numbers? I suppose they must, or
four-digit numbers
would have been exhausted long ago.
Yes, considering they have been using them since the 1930s. I do think
they wait a long time before reusing the numbers, as there is an awful lot
of old IBM things still in use.
William Donzelli
william(a)ans.net
9418
days inactive
9423
days old
20 comments
9 participants
participants (9)
-
aaron＠wfi-inc.com -
eric＠brouhaha.com -
foxnhare＠goldrush.com -
gene＠ehrich.com -
gram＠cnct.com -
handyman＠sprintmail.com -
jimw＠agora.rdrop.com -
william＠ans.net -
yowza＠yowza.com