17 Jun
1999
17 Jun
'99
11:25 a.m.
Pays to stay away from the tip shops for a while :-)
Today I got:
Three Dick Smith VZ200's plus tape drives, joysticks, manuals & a bit of
software, another CBM 1571 & a 1541-II, a CBM 1802 monitor, a CBM 1701
amber monitor (been looking for one of these & something I've been
looking for, an Apple //c (it even works!), although the case is rather
shabby. As well as the usual collection of books, tapes & disks for the
64......
cheers,
Lance
17 Jun
17 Jun
6:48 a.m.
New subject: Sol-10
As I recall, Bob Marsh at VCF 1.0 indicated that the SOL-20 had only been
advertised and not produced. I am confused now. Last night, I pulled out the
SOL to fire it up and see if it worked or not. In looking at the nameplate,
it says "SOL Terminal Computer Model No. 10".
As an aside, the screen is filled with "90909090...". In skimming the manual
last night, I didn't see any reference to this as it sounds like there
should be a short Company notice appear on the screen. I might add that the
personality module has an eprom for the N* Disk controller and another one I
haven't identified yet along with a switch on the back (to switch between
the two?) Any help would be much appreciated!
3:57 a.m.
New subject: Sol-10
At 08:48 AM 6/17/99 -0700, Marvin wrote:
As I recall, Bob Marsh at VCF 1.0 indicated that the SOL-20 had only been
advertised and not produced. I am confused now. Last night, I pulled out the
SOL to fire it up and see if it worked or not. In looking at the nameplate,
it says "SOL Terminal Computer Model No. 10".
Wasn't a SOL 10 a SOL 20 without a:
numeric keypoard, so it had 70 keys vs. 85
backplane for 5 S-100 cards.
fan in power supply (a smaller supply)?
Which one do you have, ignoring the nameplate?
-Dave
7:10 a.m.
New subject: Sol-10
On Thu, 17 Jun 1999, Marvin wrote:
As I recall, Bob Marsh at VCF 1.0 indicated that the SOL-20 had only been
advertised and not produced. I am confused now. Last night, I pulled out the
SOL to fire it up and see if it worked or not. In looking at the nameplate,
it says "SOL Terminal Computer Model No. 10".
Seems like that should be the other 'way round. The SOL-20 was the
production machine, and the lesser equipped SOL-10 may not have been
produced. Altho...
As an aside, the screen is filled with
"90909090...". In skimming the manual
last night, I didn't see any reference to this as it sounds like there
should be a short Company notice appear on the screen.
Thet is what you will see if the CPU starts executing RST7 commands and
stack fills the video memory... Usually caused by a bad/missing
'Personality Module', failure in the power-up jump logic, a mis-addressed
memory board on the S-100 buss (overlaying the PM), or something jamming
the memory bus.
The 'normal' start up prompt for SOLUS (the resident monitor) is a clear
screen with a ">" in the upper left corner.
I might add that the
personality module has an eprom for the N* Disk controller and another one I
haven't identified yet along with a switch on the back (to switch between
the two?) Any help would be much appreciated!
A not uncommon mod... the usual (more or less) command to invoke the
loader (at least on the ones we did) was "BO" ("BOOT" if you prefer,
tho
the monitor only parses the first two characters).
The other EPROM may be the standard SOLUS (or almost anything else) B^}
-jim
---
jimw(a)computergarage.org
The Computer Garage - http://www.computergarage.org
Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174
>> Coming soon to www.computergarage.org - the
CBBS/NW on-line archives
>> Coming to VCF III (2-3 October 1999) - CBBS/NW
live!
7:17 a.m.
New subject: Sol-10
On Thu, 17 Jun 1999, Marvin wrote:
As I recall, Bob Marsh at VCF 1.0 indicated that the
SOL-20 had only been
advertised and not produced. I am confused now. Last night, I pulled out the
SOL to fire it up and see if it worked or not. In looking at the nameplate,
it says "SOL Terminal Computer Model No. 10".
No, there was never really a Sol-10. The Sol-10 was just a Sol-20 without
the disk controller or something like that. If yours says Model 10 then
that's interesting, and Bob Marsh lied :) Maybe it was the one that
didn't originally come with a disk controller?
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: 05/25/99]
7:47 a.m.
New subject: Sol-10
As I recall, Bob Marsh at VCF 1.0 indicated that
the SOL-20 had only been
advertised and not produced. I am confused now. Last night, I pulled out the
SOL to fire it up and see if it worked or not. In looking at the nameplate,
it says "SOL Terminal Computer Model No. 10".
No, there was never really a Sol-10. The Sol-10 was just a Sol-20 without
the disk controller or something like that. If yours says Model 10 then
that's interesting, and Bob Marsh lied :) Maybe it was the one that
didn't originally come with a disk controller? 
7:57 a.m.
New subject: First Apple I up for auction
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8 a.m.
New subject: First Apple I up for auction
Change that to read some RICH lucky person!
^^^^
George
=========================================================
George L. Rachor Jr. george(a)racsys.rt.rain.com
Beaverton, Oregon http://racsys.rt.rain.com
United States of America Amateur Radio : KD7DCX
On Thu, 17 Jun 1999, Zane H. Healy wrote:
Now's some lucky persons chance to own a piece of
computing history.
http://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/20271.html
Sam is in the article, and the place selling the computer is hoping to get
$40,000 for it.
I'm depressed. I think I need a new hobby that's costs less, and takes up
less room. Something like collecting large diamonds.
Zane
8:07 a.m.
New subject: First Apple I up for auction
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8:16 a.m.
New subject: First Apple I up for auction
It was bad enough when someone accepted a 4.5K offer I had made then
backed out when Woz offered 15K. This happened about 4 years ago.
I'm going to have to to settle for less lofty goals.. Like actually having
my machines run!
I was really depressed...
Geprge
=========================================================
George L. Rachor Jr. george(a)racsys.rt.rain.com
Beaverton, Oregon http://racsys.rt.rain.com
United States of America Amateur Radio : KD7DCX
On Thu, 17 Jun 1999, Zane H. Healy wrote:
Change that to read some RICH lucky person!
What, you aren't going to morgage your house to get this system? :^(
Getting more depressed by the minute.... :^(
Zane
8:58 a.m.
New subject: First Apple I up for auction
On Thu, 17 Jun 1999, George Rachor wrote:
It was bad enough when someone accepted a 4.5K offer I
had made then
backed out when Woz offered 15K. This happened about 4 years ago.
I'm going to have to to settle for less lofty goals.. Like actually having
my machines run!
I was really depressed...
Relax guys... I probably set up the first Apple I to hit Oregon, and it
wasn't that good...
Ok, so that probably won't help...
...but I tried... B^}
-jim
---
jimw(a)computergarage.org
The Computer Garage - http://www.computergarage.org
Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174
>> Coming soon to www.computergarage.org - the
CBBS/NW on-line archives
>> Coming to VCF III (2-3 October 1999) - CBBS/NW
live!
9:15 a.m.
New subject: First Apple I up for auction
On Thu, 17 Jun 1999, Zane H. Healy wrote:
Now's some lucky persons chance to own a piece of
computing history.
http://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/20271.html
Sam is in the article, and the place selling the computer is hoping to get
$40,000 for it.
<BIG ANNOYED SIGH>
I love being misquoted. I also love it when the journalist takes the
information I give him and jumbles it all up into a miserable pile of
gibberish.
Oh well, the price I pay for free publicity.
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: 05/25/99]
9:49 a.m.
New subject: First Apple I up for auction
At 11:15 AM 6/17/99 -0700, Sellam Ismail wrote:
<BIG ANNOYED SIGH>
I love being misquoted. I also love it when the journalist takes the
information I give him and jumbles it all up into a miserable pile of
gibberish.
Oh well, the price I pay for free publicity.
That, and dealing with all the groupies. Such pains!
- John
10:26 a.m.
New subject: First Apple I up for auction
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11:46 a.m.
New subject: First Apple I up for auction
On Thu, 17 Jun 1999, Cameron Kaiser wrote:
::I love being misquoted. I also love it when the
journalist takes the
::information I give him and jumbles it all up into a miserable pile of
::gibberish.
You think your quote was gibberish? What about "Micro Instrumentation
Tolementary Systems" [sic]? You got off lightly, my friend. :-P
That WAS my quote! That's what I was talking about. I told him the
Altair was made by MITS, and then decided to tell him what MITS stood for
(WARNING! Never attempt to decipher for a reporter the initials of a
company that uses big words in its full name). I discussed IMSAI next, so
that explains how his notes got jumbled.
I even spelled "Telemetry" for him twice for gawd's sake!!
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: 05/25/99]
12:13 p.m.
New subject: First Apple I up for auction
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3:51 p.m.
New subject: First Apple I up for auction
Upon the date 01:46 PM 6/17/99 -0700, Sellam Ismail said something like:
On Thu, 17 Jun 1999, Cameron Kaiser wrote:
Uhh, you should never use *any* big words when talking with some of those
reporters who are clueless at the get go.
I was interviewed some years ago by a young, non-technically oriented
reporter about my early radio display at a local antique farm equipment
show. When I saw the confused wording and downright mixed up descriptions
that was actually printed I dang near knocked myself out when I slapped my
forehead in exasperation. Sheesh.
Regards, Chris
-- --
Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian
Jamestown, NY USA cfandt(a)netsync.net
Member of Antique Wireless Association
Check our redesigned website!
URL: http://www.antiquewireless.org/
::I love being misquoted. I also love it when
the journalist takes the
::information I give him and jumbles it all up into a miserable pile of
::gibberish.
You think your quote was gibberish? What about "Micro Instrumentation
Tolementary Systems" [sic]? You got off lightly, my friend. :-P
That WAS my quote! That's what I was talking about. I told him the
Altair was made by MITS, and then decided to tell him what MITS stood for
(WARNING! Never attempt to decipher for a reporter the initials of a
company that uses big words in its full name). I discussed IMSAI next, so 
3:30 p.m.
New subject: First Apple I up for auction
On Thu, 17 Jun 1999, Christian Fandt wrote:
show. When I saw the confused wording and downright
mixed up descriptions
that was actually printed I dang near knocked myself out when I slapped my
forehead in exasperation. Sheesh.
Speaking of confused wording, I recently walked through a computer store,
hunting for various hardware. I use Linux, so I am looking for a cheap
SCSI scanner. I read one tag that said:
Uses Easy Printer Port (EPP) connection
I don't think one can get any more confused than that.
--Max Eskin (max82(a)surfree.com)
http://scivault.hypermart.net: Ignorance is Impotence - Knowledge is Power
8:20 p.m.
New subject: First Apple I up for auction
Uses Easy Printer Port (EPP) connection
I don't think one can get any more confused than that.
Oh dear. Well, on my way to the SciFi channel the other day, I
accidentally landed on QvC <home shopping network>. They were describing
an overpriced middle to high end system; they being two guys who had
absolutely no idea what they were talking about. One said "This is a 350
MHz machine.." which was fine... then the idiot said "This is a 350-meg
machine. It doesn't get any better than this! You can pay a lot more money
anywhere else and you won't get a machine like this..." oh well. As I
always say, the gene pool could use some chlorine and a few lifeguards. I
know a lot of people that prove Darwin was wrong - survival of the
fittest? These people should have never made it past the womb.
--Max Eskin (max82(a)surfree.com)
http://scivault.hypermart.net: Ignorance is Impotence - Knowledge is Power
-- Kevin
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It's you isn't it? THE BASTARD OPERATOR FROM HELL!"
"In the flesh, on the phone and in your account..."
-- BOFH #3
9:25 a.m.
New subject: First Apple I up for auction
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4:07 p.m.
New subject: Sol-10
allisonp(a)world.std.com wrote:
Another interesting feature of this machine is a personality module by Micro
Complex. This has two ROM sockets on it along with a switch to select one or
the other. The one at C000 is labeled "N* C000" and the one at F000 is
labeled "*80.2 F000".
The memory board is Processor Technology and says it has 64K. Once I get the
machine up and running with the proper boot prompt, I'll try putting in a
dual Synetic Designs Company 8" disk drive. The interface card says it has
been modified for the SOL (D000). I have the Processor Technology Dual 8"
Disk drives, but I don't think there is an interface card with it.
At some point, I probably should dump the contents of the two personality
ROMs for safekeeping. Too many projects with too little time!
No, there was never really a Sol-10. The Sol-10
was just a Sol-20 without
the disk controller or something like that. If yours says Model 10 then
that's interesting, and Bob Marsh lied :) Maybe it was the one that
didn't originally come with a disk controller?
There was only one SOL that I know of but it was sold as a diskless system
initally and later with a disk (helios). The system never sold with NS*
disk.
Lots of user hacks there.
3:57 p.m.
New subject: Sol-10
Sellam Ismail wrote:
On Thu, 17 Jun 1999, Marvin wrote:
That was a typo above and I meant to say the SOL-10 had only been
advertised. I thought that this one saying Model 10 was interesting also!!!
What do the nametags on some of the other SOLs here on the list say?
As I recall, Bob Marsh at VCF 1.0 indicated that
the SOL-20 had only been
advertised and not produced. I am confused now. Last night, I pulled out the
SOL to fire it up and see if it worked or not. In looking at the nameplate,
it says "SOL Terminal Computer Model No. 10".
No, there was never really a Sol-10. The Sol-10 was just a Sol-20 without
the disk controller or something like that. If yours says Model 10 then
that's interesting, and Bob Marsh lied :) Maybe it was the one that
didn't originally come with a disk controller?
18 Jun
18 Jun
7:50 a.m.
New subject: Sol-20 Keyboard
Well, the saga continues. This unit does have the 85 key keyboard and the
Sol-20 power supply so I don't know what to say about the model 10 on the
nameplate.
I took the keyboard apart last night and found both the sponge
disintegrating and the metalized plastic that contacts the keyboard also has
the metalization disappearing. Since I believe this is a capacitive type of
keyboard, I can see why it didn't work. What have others on the list done to
replace the plastic/sponge sandwich on this type of keyboard?
8:48 a.m.
New subject: Sol-20 Keyboard
On Fri, 18 Jun 1999, Marvin wrote:
Well, the saga continues. This unit does have the 85
key keyboard and the
Sol-20 power supply so I don't know what to say about the model 10 on the
nameplate.
I took the keyboard apart last night and found both the sponge
disintegrating and the metalized plastic that contacts the keyboard also has
the metalization disappearing. Since I believe this is a capacitive type of
keyboard, I can see why it didn't work. What have others on the list done to
replace the plastic/sponge sandwich on this type of keyboard?
Well, you've found the standard problem unless the keyboard has been
vacuum sealed for the last 20 years.
<blatant self-serving ad mode> B^}
I have keyboard rebuild kits (replacement pads and instructions) available
for $25.00, or I do keyboard rebuilds for $50.00. (plus $5.00
shipping/handling/etc.)
Details on the web page on the 'parts/objects' menu.
</blatant self-service ad mode> B^}
-jim
---
jimw(a)computergarage.org
The Computer Garage - http://www.computergarage.org
Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174
>> Coming soon to www.computergarage.org - the
CBBS/NW on-line archives
>> Coming to VCF III (2-3 October 1999) - CBBS/NW
live!
12:20 p.m.
New subject: Sol-20 Keyboard
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21 Jun
21 Jun
7:46 a.m.
New subject: Sol-20 Keyboard
I took the
keyboard apart last night and found both the sponge
disintegrating and the metalized plastic that contacts the keyboard also has
the metalization disappearing. Since I believe this is a capacitive type of
keyboard, I can see why it didn't work. What have others on the list done to
replace the plastic/sponge sandwich on this type of keyboard?
Sounds like a Keytronics capacitive keyboard. They're very common on all
sorts of machines. There are even some PC-clone ones out there.
The 'sandwich' is a pair of plastic disks, the lower one metalised on the
back (foam) side which clip into the ends of the key plungers. It's easy
to get them out.
Fortunately, these sandwiches seem to be the same on all such keyboards.
Last time I needed to repair one, I bought a suitable second-hand PC
keyboard and raided it for spare parts.
-tony
9:59 a.m.
New subject: Sol-20 Keyboard
On Mon, 21 Jun 1999, Lawrence LeMay wrote:
keytronic still sells the pads for these keyboards, at 10 cents each,
or 9 cents each for 1000 or more. (800) 262-6006, selection 5 at the
menu. Its part number 52535-1
I'm planning to order some to repair my 20+ year old Terak keyboards.
-Lawrence LeMay
lemay(a)cs.umn.edu
Don't forget to factor in the fixed minimum shipping charge of $6.50.
Group buy, perhaps?
- don
I took the keyboard apart last night and found both
the sponge
disintegrating and the metalized plastic that contacts the keyboard also has
the metalization disappearing. Since I believe this is a capacitive type of
keyboard, I can see why it didn't work. What have others on the list done to
replace the plastic/sponge sandwich on this type of keyboard?
Sounds like a Keytronics capacitive keyboard. They're very common on all
sorts of machines. There are even some PC-clone ones out there.
The 'sandwich' is a pair of plastic disks, the lower one metalised on the
back (foam) side which clip into the ends of the key plungers. It's easy
to get them out.
Fortunately, these sandwiches seem to be the same on all such keyboards.
Last time I needed to repair one, I bought a suitable second-hand PC
keyboard and raided it for spare parts.
-tony
10:20 a.m.
New subject: Installing Epson PF-10 floppy drive
I just acquired the PF-10 external floppy for my PX-8 and find that I am
rather stuck for lack of information. The rather minimal documentation
that I have describes a cable pinout for it which is apparently for some
other version as it indicates a 6-pin DIN on the drive end, whereas, my
drive needs an 8-pin mini-DIN.
Can anyone be of help with the cable pinout? Any other related
information would be most welcome also.
- don
11:30 a.m.
New subject: Sol-20 Keyboard
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2:09 p.m.
New subject: Sol-20 Keyboard
On Mon, 21 Jun 1999, Tony Duell wrote:
Tony, here is point of contact information for you.
Fred Engel
Key Tronic Corporation
Accessories Sales Coordinator
PH# 509-927-5320
FAX# 509-927-5252
email address: fengel(a)keytronic.com
- don
keytronic
still sells the pads for these keyboards, at 10 cents each,
or 9 cents each for 1000 or more. (800) 262-6006, selection 5 at the
menu. Its part number 52535-1
Excellent! It's nice to hear of a company that supplies spare parts!
Does anyone know how to order these from the UK (we can't use 800-numbers
here AFAIK)? At $90, I just might take 1000 of them. I've got enough
machines with that sort of keyboard.
-tony
17 Jun
17 Jun
9:22 a.m.
New subject: Sol-10
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1 p.m.
New subject: Sol-10
On Thu, 17 Jun 1999, Tony Duell wrote:
(niggle) the SOL is 8080 based... B^}
As an aside, the screen is filled with
"90909090...". In skimming the manual
This sounds like a classic display on all Z-80 based machines with
memory-mapped video.
The 39 displays as '9', the 00 displays as something that's
machine-specific. I seem to remember that most Processor Technology
machines have a rectangular frame for this character. Is the '0' really a
zero or could it be this?
Indeed, with the standard character generator ROM it is a square frame
rather than a zero. (but how do you represent that in ASCII?) B^}
-jim
---
jimw(a)computergarage.org
The Computer Garage - http://www.computergarage.org
Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174
>> Coming soon to www.computergarage.org - the
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>> Coming to VCF III (2-3 October 1999) - CBBS/NW
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2:10 p.m.
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9142
days inactive
9146
days old
32 comments
16 participants
participants (16)
-
a2k＠one.net -
allisonp＠world.std.com -
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
black＠gco.apana.org.au -
cfandt＠netsync.net -
ckaiser＠oa.ptloma.edu -
dastar＠ncal.verio.com -
ddameron＠earthlink.net -
donm＠cts.com -
george＠racsys.rt.rain.com -
healyzh＠aracnet.com -
jfoust＠threedee.com -
jimw＠agora.rdrop.com -
lemay＠cs.umn.edu -
marvin＠rain.org -
max82＠surfree.com