Mall directory computers

[Brad H]

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