Portable PDP-11 (was Re: Does anyone use RT-11?)

[Allison]

>
>Subject: Re: Portable PDP-11 (was Re: Does anyone use RT-11?)
>   From: "Zane H. Healy" <healyzh at aracnet.com>
>   Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:54:24 -0700 (PDT)
>     To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
>
>> >As for storage, obviously some flavor of FLASH is great for most
>> >things.  CF is easy to interface to, and CF cards 1GB and smaller are
>> >quite inexpensive.  MMC/SD are also inexpensive and even easier to
>> >interface to, with a bit more work on the driver side to man the SPI
>> >interface.
>> 
>> None of the above for cost or availability reasons.  I'd opt for IDE
>> using one of the many 40-500mb drives I have.
>
>I believe converters for IDE to CF cards are pretty cheap, so if you have
>IDE, you effectively have CF.

True but then I ahve to buy an adaptor and the CF. And I don't get 
to use up that pile of drives.. ;)

>> You envision what sould like a Laptop.  I can't easily fabricate that
>> but a toteable like Kaypro, Osborne and a few others is very doable.
>
>You might want to look at some of the "Laptops" that others have built for
>things such as the Amiga.  It might not be as difficult as you might think.

If you have to wirewarp the system board first then create a CRT/LCD driver 
board yes it gets nasty. If you have RS170 video already then there are 
screens available.  I've traversed this path a few times already and the 
basic thing is if you have excess money to throw at it then it's easier.

>> The basic machine description is a 128kW using 32kx8 static parts (8pcs),
>> Boot roms/ODT, MMU, two serial, parallel (PC conpatable for printer) 
>> and IDE disk. Things like OS in Eprom have surfaced to my idea pool
>> to consider especially if it were not RT11 (CUBIX influence).  Terminal 
>> logic would be VK170 (base VT52 on a dual size card) and a monitor in 
>> the 7-9" size.  
>> 
>> Right now it's a static project from the build it perspective but 
>> as new ideas surface and other projects supply different expereinces
>> it morphs some.  What I'd have built say 6 years ago and noew would 
>> be very different. It will eventually get attention as I have parts 
>> stored away for it.  
>
>Sounds fun.

One day I'll just decide to do it.. ;)


Allison