> So we need at least the programmer's
> guides for the TT and DI
I thought they were the same boards as used in the 980B
I'll check to see if I've put scans for the 980 versions
on line. At least some of the 980 documentation refers
to 960/980
> Yes, check the licensing info for SIMh and a few others. While PDP-11
> OSs (RT, RSX and RSTS [it may not include all of those]) are made
> available
> for SIMs it is not for commercial use or operation on real hardware.
> The
> copyrights are still valid and some of the products are active.
>
>
> Allison
>
One of my concerns was that the SIMH license seems a bit ambiguous as
to whether or not it covers SIMH (and there was no authoritative or
semi-authoritative opinions on the SIMH or Mentec websites). I've been
e-mailing with someone and they have clarified that, yes, Mentec's
correspondance/actions indicate that SIMH is still covered by the
"Supnik license"
even though it isn't a DEC product).
Pity that there isn't an explanation on the SIMH website, but I suppose
that Mentec doesn't want to throw money at explanations, and nobody
else wants to pontificate in an "official" manner given the current
state of the USA.
Scott
Al Kossow wrote:
> <http://www.dvq.com/oldcomp/photos2/1k/selectric_term1.jpg>
Found one in the CHM collection today.
It is a "Datel 30". There are a few mentions of it on the web,
mostly saying it was a light-duty device that broke a lot.
-------------------------------
Billy asks:
Wasn't Datel one of the first to offer timeshare services? Sort of a
precursor to the Internet? I remember Datel advertising on TV about making
stock market transactions in your office.
The model 33 was not the most popular device for that environment.
Billy
> It's still commercial software, and it's still possible to buy
> licenses.
>
> I assume you're looking at mentec.com, that hasn't been the place to
> look for several years.
>
> Zane
mentec-inc used to be the place for the commercial stuff, but it seems
to be no longer around.
My question, however, was regarding the non-commercial PDP-11 stuff. At
this point, I'm not interested in the commercial stuff- it just isn't
worth it. (before you grab the torches and pitchforks I don't find
Windows "worth it" enough to walk across campus and pick up the
all-but-free disks either). I was looking into emulators (never touched
the VAX's little brother or O/S SW yet), and came across some disk
images with the following licensing:
"Whereas, MENTEC owns the rights to the following PDP-11 Operating
Systems and associated layered products (RT-11 V5.3 or prior, RSTS/E
V9.6 or prior, RSX-11M V4.3 or prior, RSX-11M PLUS V3.0 or prior)
(SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY) and is prepared to grant a non-exclusive license
to use such
SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY for personal, non-commercial purposes;"
and
"SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY shall mean the binary versions of the PDP-11
Operating Systems (RT-11 V5.3 or prior, RSTS/E V9.6 or prior, RSX-11M
V4.3 or prior, RSX-11M PLUS V3.0 or prior), and associated utilities
and layered products that run on PDP-11 computers.
"
but somewhat cryptically also
"EMULATOR shall mean software owned by Digital Equipment Corporation
that emulates the operation of a PDP-11 processor and allows PDP-11
programs and operating systems to run on non-PDP-11 systems.
2 LICENSE GRANT
MENTEC grants to CUSTOMER a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free
license under MENTEC's INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS to use and copy the
SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY solely for personal, non-commercial uses in
conjunction with the EMULATOR."
So, in short, is this only valid for emulators in which DEC or it's
successors in interest (HP?) own the copyright, or is it only valid for
systems where DEC or (...) hold RTU licenses for a PDP-11 emulator on?
If the prior, what is the connection to SIMH? If it is valid for
currently obtainable emulators and (as it seems to at face value)
include RSX-11, why no RSX-11 images? I suppose RSTS/E is the easy way
out, (provided licensing is good), but RSX-11 has the advantages of
some commonality with VMS (DCL).
I got the following email earlier today:
---
Hi,
I'm a writer from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel working on a story about
people who collect vintage computers. I'm looking to interview people from
the South Florida area (Broward County especially, which includes Fort
Lauderdale) and was wondering if you had any such people are your members
and if you could ask them to contact me ASAP. [...]
Thanks,
Jamie Malernee
Staff Writer
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
954-356-4849
---
Jamie is looking specifically for collectors in the South Florida area to
"localize" the story. Others have already been interviewed.
Please give a call if you're interested!
Erik Klein
www.vintage-computer.comwww.vintage-computer.com/vcforum
The Vintage Computer Forums
> So, who knows what documents I need and where to get them?
Clean copies of 8/E schematics are difficult to find. I'll go through
the scans that I have to try to find a good set.
Most of the omnibus interface schems are on line under
http://bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/pdp8/omnibus
There is a large pile of VAX and other documentation waiting for
disposal on the 7th floor of Disque Hall at Drexel University in
Philadelphia.
Disque hall is located on the former 32nd street between market and
chestnut streets, its the tall(~10 floors)) brick building.
Pretty much everything paper, and a working Phaser 370? printer (missing
its paper tray and missing the centronics->microcentronics adapter but
otherwise working) is free for the taking.
This documentation originally went along with the VAX machine which
someone from the list rescued from there about 2 years ago when it was
being disposed.
Jonathan Gevaryahu
jzg22 at drexel.edu
