Just happened to come across an old post regarding the PCjr. Its
interesting that people still occasionally talk about it. I designed the
cartridge that you were talking about. It did reset the machine. This
was done to insure that the CPU didnt go into the weeds because of the
bus glitches. I (IBM got a patent on the little "L" reset tab on the
card edge. There is also a mechanism where the cartridge actually
replaced the on-board BIOS.
..gary
While packing up two minis in racks today, I noticed that one of the
switches on my PDP-8/S is broken. It appears that the little bits of
plastic on the handle that snaps into the metal (trunnions?) have snapped
off. I think I can repair it, but in case I can not, does anyone have a
white DEC switch, as found on PDP-8/Ss? It looks to be the same shape as
those found on PDP-8/Es.
The other mini, an Interdata 14, needs lots of the caps for the
incandescants, but finding any of those would be pure fantasy.
Anyway, thank you.
William Donzelli
william(a)ans.net
<95 run? I mean, could a C64 or VAX have modern computer features?
Well, VAX is a modern computer! It was/is 32bits when intels biggest was
still 8bits. So happens that the version I use happen to be over ten
years old but new ones are still being built.
Now what features would a modern computer have that a 1986 Microvax-II/GPX
doesn't? Windows(is 1280x1024 color enough), multiuser, networking and
maybe even speed. If anything I'm still waiting for the modern X86
powered boxen to aquire some of the attributes of the VAX (they do but
only when running NT or LINUX).
Could a C64 do that... YES and NO. The video graphics included in the C64
is far more limited and the 8bit CPU would certainly impact speed but
every modern feature is doable(and likely was originally done on the likes
of C64s, trs80s, compucolor, ti99/4 Etal). There are people running web
browswers, Email and IP on 6500 based machines. The latter proves that
the answer is yes in that to the performance limits of older machines
there is much that can be done.
<BTW, what do you use the Vaxen and so on for?
Mostly editing files and pretty printing them. It doesn't eat much
more power than a PC so why not. The OS(VMS) allows 36 character file
names (18.18), versions and journaling and deep heirarchal directories.
The versions is nice when editing as foo_file.text;1 when edited becomes
foo_file.text;2 and the ;1 version is still around is needed. Great for
coding.
Allison
What I wonder every so often is considering the examples set by
classic computers, how quickly, efficiently, and stabley could Windows
95 run? I mean, could a C64 or VAX have modern computer features?
BTW, what do you use the Vaxen and so on for?
>
>Hummmphf!
>
>I must be real retro then...486DX2/50, 8mb ram, 516mb disk, 1x cdrom,
>33.5 modem and no sound capability.
>
>I run Gcadd6, PADS, WP5.0 and 6.0 dos, winders3.1. Almost a classic
>and it does everything I need it to do and adaquately fast.
>
>BUT... My s100 z80 crate still sees several hours a day as do my
PDP-11s
>and the vaxen that always has one up full time. All provide useful
>capability and often surprizing speed when compared to the new GUI.
>
>Allison
>
>
______________________________________________________
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If I know the problem with your Kaypro II, the red light by the disk
drives does not light up when it says "Please insert disk into Disk A".
I don't know why it happens, but a couple swift bashes on the top of the
computer will get the light on, and the drive will read the disk.
Sometimes it take 8-10 hard pounds on the top, but the light should go
on. I've been punching the top of my Kaypro II for over ten years, and
have caused no other problems by doing so.
______________________________________________________
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Hummmphf!
I must be real retro then...486DX2/50, 8mb ram, 516mb disk, 1x cdrom,
33.5 modem and no sound capability.
I run Gcadd6, PADS, WP5.0 and 6.0 dos, winders3.1. Almost a classic
and it does everything I need it to do and adaquately fast.
BUT... My s100 z80 crate still sees several hours a day as do my PDP-11s
and the vaxen that always has one up full time. All provide useful
capability and often surprizing speed when compared to the new GUI.
Allison
I have FTP working... If you have interesting PDP-10 stuff, you can
FTP it up to 209.174.127.164 in /pub/pdp10. I have about 1.2GB to burn.
I'm still working my way up through DEC breauocracy to get permission to post
my KA-10 docs.
-------
I just bought a Northstar Advantage. I plugged it in and
turned it on. It ran fine for about 5 minutes after which it
locked up. I pressed the reset button, but nothing happened.
So, I opened the case and found a length of wire coming off of the
floppy drive rack. It appears to be grounded to the rack. A large
resistor is in series with teh wire and the other end was floating
free. Does anyone know where this wire might connect? It was
sliding around on the motherboard, I hope it didn't short anything.
Thanks...Win
--
Win Heagy
wheagy(a)erols.com
I just got a copy of IBM PC Xenix (MS's Xenix as distributed by IBM).
It is the Base Operating System V1.00 (1984), and it runs on the PC/AT.
There are two additional products in the IBM distribution:
Software Development System
Text Formatting System
If anyone has any of these two additional components and would like to
discuss giving/selling/trading, I would greatly appreciate hearing.
Thanks,
Dave
