Anyone on the list ever heard of the Laser PC-3 and PC-4 Laptop
computers?
They were small NonDos, NonWindows computers to be used mainly as
Organizers and Word Processors. They were out about 7 years ago and sold
at Sears stores, etc.
I sure would like to get one of those machines... Especially the PC-4,
with the bigger screen. They came with a choice of Ms-Dos or Mac
connection cables and Software.
Anyone know where I could find a PC-4 ??
On 24-Mar-97, classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu wrote:
> After CoCos and 64s, next would be TI 99/4 whatevers, then Atari
>800/400 series. I was surprised to see an Aquarius WITH expansion
>module and controllers for sale a month or so ago.
Larry,
That certainly is interesting...I would have liked to have seen that one.
I picked up a second Aquarius the other day, this one from Mattel, while my
first doesn't bear the Mattel name anywhere on it, and seems to have been sold
directly by Radofin Electronics. Other than the Mattel name missing from the
case and ID label though, and the fact that the Radofin machine has an 'R'
tacked to the end of the model number, they are identical. The third variant
I've heard of, but not seen, is the PAL version sold in the UK. I don't
recall it's model number, but it's model was totally different than the 5931
model of the US NTSC version.
Jeff jeffh(a)eleventh.com
--
---------------------------------------------------------------------
// Amiga: The computer for the creative mind...since 1985!
// -------------------------------------------------------
\// True 32bit pre-emptive multitasking GUI, plug&play hardware,
\/ stereo sound, and 4096 color video modes since day #1
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Collector of classic home computers:
Amiga 1000, Atari 800, Atari 800XL, Atari Mega-ST/2, Commodore
C-128, Commodore Plus/4, Commodore VIC-20, Kaypro 2X, Mattel
Aquarius, Osbourne Executive, Sinclair ZX-81, TI-99/4A, Timex-
Sinclair 1000, TRS-80 Color Computer-3, and a TRS-80 Model 4.
Plus Atari SuperPong and Atari 2600VCS game consoles.
(Attempting not to drop into 'blatant advertising' mode... B^} )
In preparation for an exhibit of 'Classic Computers' that I am working on
with other local collectors and the Oregon Museum of Science and History
(OMSI - http://www.omsi.edu) to be presented this November, we are planning
to reconstruct (at least one) functioning 'Mark-8' microcomputer as
originally presented in a construction article in the July 1974 edition of
'Radio-Electronics' magazine. (predating the presentation of the 'Altair'
construction project in a competing magazine by six months)
Briefly for those not familiar with the unit, the 'Mark-8' (referred to as
a "minicomputer" in the original article) is an Intel 8008 microprocessor
based unit with a clock speed of 500kHz and a maximum addresing range of 16kb.
The unit as implemented in this project features a full 'programmers' front
panel, and is constructed on six double sided circuit boards which comprise
the CPU board, parallel data input and output boards, display board,
address latch and memory boards.
The reconstruction as I will be implementing it will add a seventh board to
stand in for the original memory board which was designed for 1101 static
RAM chips which are no longer available in any quantity. The revised
memory board will substitute 2102 static RAM chips which are readily
available.
(Note: there is a possibility that we may just update the existing memory
board layout to allow the use of either RAM chip, but we are not quite that
far along as yet)
To help defer the costs of having the circuit boards made, we are offering
sets of the boards to interested parties at our cost. Currently, with the
minimum run of boards to make this project practical (6 sets) the cost per
set stands at $200.00US. Four sets are currently spoken for. To get this
rolling, we at least to find people interested in the other two board sets,
and if more people are interested we can get the price per set down even
further.
(or if someone out there works for a PC board house???)
And, since someone will no doubt ask... Yes, we do have a source for the
Intel 8008 microprocessors. The quantities are limited however, and the
current price for the microprocessor is $200.00US.
All other required parts to construct this unit are readily available
through stardard sources.
Also, through the kindness of the management of Gernsback Publications
(publisher of 'Radio-Electronics' and other related publications) we can
provide reprints of the original construction article and documentation set
for the 'Mark-8' project to anyone who purchases one of the board sets.
(with updates for the revised memory board)
If anyone is interested in joining us on this classic adventure or has any
questions, please feel free to contact me.
Thanks!
-jim
---
jimw(a)agora.rdrop.com
The Computer Garage - http://www.rdrop.com/~jimw
Computer Garage Fax - (503) 646-0174
-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Spence [SMTP:ds_spenc@alcor.concordia.ca]
Sent: Friday, March 21, 1997 8:34 AM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: Re: Laser500
>> are you sure the VZ200 is from Video Technologies? I have one new in box
>> with 16kB RAM but there is no reference to Video Technologies on the case.
> Well, my source for this info was the March, 1983 issue of COMPUTE!
> magazine, in the article entitled "New Home Computers At The Winter
> Consumer Electronics Show":
> "....Three new computers reatiling for $99 were shown at the show,
> including the first one with color.
> The colour model is the VZ200, the first home computer from Video
> Technologies Ltd., a company with two factories in Hong Kong. Promised
> for delivery by April, the VZ200 comes with 4K of RAM, expandable to 16K
> ($45) or 64K (price not yet determined)...."
That sounds correct - HongKong is mentioned on the box. Maybe Video Technologies
was a unkown name at this time. I have the 16k-Ram Expansion card you mention
so it looks like that this announce was not completely vapourous ...
>> I have four LASER 500 with LASER Tapes. Anyone heard of these?
>
> Well, obviously I haven't. :) Is the Laser 500 an Apple-compatible
> machine, or is it something entirely different?
I will check this but I this it has a Z80 ...
>>I'd like instructions on
>how to use the SOUND, NOISE, SOUND DEF, and SOUND TEMPO extended BASIC
>commands if you have such information. Also PAINT, as I haven't yet
>figured out the syntax for that one, either.
sorry I don't have a single line of doc for my machines.
> LASER Tapes? Did the Laser use something other than standard audio
> cassettes?
No I don't think so - but they have made a special cassett-player.
Does anyone know how to load a file from a tape with a LASER?
Doug Spence
ds_spenc(a)alcor.concordia.ca
On Fri, 21 Mar 1997 17:54:15 -0500, "Captain Napalm" uttered:
> but you might want to add an availability field [for (in the good
Captain's case, microcomputers)], something like:
> Limited - only a single run ever made, and then, not very
> many.
How about some of the rarer minicomputers that were made in the '60s?
Beasts like the LINC-8 (of which there were only 142 built) or Packard
Bell equipment from the very early sixties count here. PDP-1.
> Rare - Only made for a year or so.
I'd put into this category the Classic DEC PDP-8, and orginal Data
General Novas. PDP-12s might go here (production run of ~1000).
> Uncommon - the less popular machines of an era.
I'm speculating at this point, but I'd tend to lump Prime equipment
and Interdata gear in this one. You can find them, but it's a lucky
find. Later Novas and Eclipses might fit here.
> Common - Fairly easy to find.
DEC pdp11 gear fits, for the most part here, although a case can be
made for the 11/20 to fall into the "uncommon" classification. This
class is especially appropriate for early- to mid- life 11s.
> Abundant - the era of the PClone. Can't go to a thrift
> store, auction, ham fest, etc without finding
> hundreds if not thousands of old units.
This is a level of concentration that you'll never find with mini-
computers. In this class, I'd tend to place late-life-cycle pdp11s,
like the 11/84 and up, and various classes of small VAXen. Note that
in many cases these machines are still performing their assigned
tasks and may not be de-commissioned for several years to come.
I hate to flog a horse that's weak, but there is more to computing
life than microprocessors. Whilst I don't disagree that the micro-
based machines should be preserved (they should), I hope that folks,
through their study of machines' history, become aware of what is
now _distant_ history, even though it only happened 25-35 years ago.
Bitmapped displays and typewriter keyboards are nice, but it's also
good to sit in front of the blinking lights and work switches to
program the machine.
______________________________________________________________________
| | |
| Carl Richard Friend (UNIX Sysadmin) | West Boylston |
| Minicomputer Collector / Enthusiast | Massachusetts, USA |
| mailto:carl.friend@stoneweb.com | |
| http://www.ultranet.com/~engelbrt/carl/museum | ICBM: N42:22 W71:47 |
|________________________________________________|_____________________|
Hi folks.
The computer encyclopedia seems to have survived the weekend and
is ready for new entries. So far six machines have been
cataloged. Here's your chance to show off what you know about
your obscure machines (and help justify all the work that went
into this thing).
Go to the CCL site (http://weber.u.washington.edu/~bcw/ccl.html)
and click on the Classic Computer Encyclopedia. Then just go to
Add a computer. Or just browse around and see what you think.
Bill Whitson
ClassicCmp "owner"
bcw(a)u.washington.edu bill(a)booster.u.washington.edu
Hi,
Simply, I am looking for URL's of collectors who document their
collection on the Web. For some time I have had page on my Web site that
lists other classic computer collectors who have web pages that
document their collection. I am now in the process of revamping my
collection web site and I would like to improve the list of the
collectors web pages I have. The URL for this new page is:
http://staff.motiv.co.uk/~kevan/collection/other_collectors.html
If you have a web page that documents your collection and I haven't
already got it then please drop me a note and I will add it to the list.
Regards
--
Kevan Heydon
Old Computer Collector: <URL:http://staff.motiv.co.uk/~kevan/>
>What about machines built at prototypes only (PERQ 2T4, PERQ3A,
Tiger?
>Tandy Deluxe Coco, etc). Some of those are very difficult to
find.
Don't forget the Atari 1400, 1450xld, etc, which exists as
prototypes only.
Absolutely. It never fails to amaze me that some 1980's home
micros
(particularly Sinclar ZX80's, ZX81's, etc and Commodore 64's)
still fetch
quite high prices second-hand, while I am often _given_
minicomputer
equipment.
It's a memory/nostalgia thing. When I was a young boy, I got
access to a bunch of early micros (Ohio Scientific, Exidy Sorcerer, Kim
-1, etc). Now I'm older and want own things from my youth. ;-)
-Matt Pritchard
At 05:54 PM 3/21/97 -0500, you wrote:
> Uncommon - the less popular machines of an era. Usually
> have to hunt around, but persistence pays off.
> Color computers, Coleco Adams and what not
> fall into this catagory (IMHO).
>
> Common - Fairly easy to find. Apple ][s, Amigas would be
> here (again IMHO).
Ummm... my intention here is not to flame, but Tandy Color Computers are
*much* more abundant than you realize, mainly because (and I've learned
this thru observation and personal experience) that one usually notices the
most what one owns or has owned.
<TANGENT>
Dumb kid: "What the heck kinda car is that... it looks funny."
Grandpa: "Son, that's a '47 Pontiac (or Mercury, or... insert personal
favorite here) with a xxx V-8 engine & bla, bla, bla. I used to have one of
those in my heyday, when I was a ..........."
[[a week passes, same car]]
Dumb kid: "What the heck kinda car is that... it looks funny....."
</TANGENT>
My point is there was an immense production of the Color Computer (there
must... I own 3 myself) and in my little town of 14,000, I can name people
who still own and use them, but the last Amiga I saw in this town was
almost 10 years ago. Mind you, I'm not saying they're not around... I'm
saying I don't see/take note of them, because I prefer Color Computers...
You have a good suggestion, but I think that instead of just an arbitrary
listing of who notices what or what might never be seen in a particular
region (Amigas in Sault Ste. Marie, Color Computers in the Ukraine, ad
nauseum...) that it should be based on actual production statistics when
available.
I can give you one bit of information: The Tandy Color Computer line was in
production longer than any other 8-bit (and some 16-bit) home computer.
Anywho, that's my $0.00000002 (that's all it's worth), FWIW, which ain't much.
Thanks for the bandwidth,
Roger "Merch" Merchberger
Roger Merchberger | Everyone complained to me to change my .sig,
Programmer, NorthernWay | but no-one could recommend something better.
zmerch(a)northernway.net | So you'll have to put up with this *junk*
| until I find some new wisdom to share.
