January 2016 - vcf-midatlantic

OT: Free Sun Workstations available at JHU in Baltimore
by Connor Krukosky 02 Feb '16

02 Feb '16

Have someone who has some Sun workstations available at John Hopkins University in Baltimore. I am too busy to get it myself so I figured someone in MARCH would want them. Free for pickup. The guy's name is Mike and you can email him at: mbrotzman.jhu(a)gmail.com "Have some sun equipment in Bal at JHU. Know anyone who might want it? Pickup required. I think an ultra 10 and a newer purple box." -Connor K

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OT: Come watch me install Linux on the IBM z890 Mainframe!
by Connor Krukosky 02 Feb '16

02 Feb '16

Come one come all! Its the day of reckoning. I finally have some storage on loan from a company called Funsoft! Hopefully by the end of the night I will have Linux installed and a portal to the internet to which people can connect and play on it! http://www.twitch.tv/conmega -Connor Krukosky

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Workshop this weekend - Thoughts?
by Chris Fala 01 Feb '16

01 Feb '16

I have been really looking forward to an opportunity to get some experienced assistance repairing 1541 drives. I acquired several on eBay and other sources over the last couple years. Some were functional, some worked after the heads were cleaned, and some are still malfunctioning for unknown reasons. I haven't had the time to dig deeper and diagnose the problems on these. I hope that I can learn more about these this weekend and get at least some of this last category working. Practically speaking, how many drives should I bring this weekend? Is 20 too many or is it possible to actually work on that many in a day? Are there common problems that can be addressed quickly, or is it more likely that each drive will require unique troubleshooting?

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Tomorrow's Workshop
by Jeffrey Brace 01 Feb '16

01 Feb '16

I checked out the site, we have enough tables for the16 people who confirmed plus a few extra. The back door area has a 1/2 inch of snow, which won't be problem. Everyone, just be careful at night as it might get slippery as it melts and refreezes. Evan and I will be on site around 9am and in the workshop area by 10am. I dropped off my 1541, books etc. Call me if you have any problems: 732-759-1783. See youze guys tomorrow! :-D Jeff Brace

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] DC Area Head Count
by Ethan 01 Feb '16

01 Feb '16

[NON-Text Body part not included] Strange email, pine can't reply. I am in the greater DC area (Chantilly VA area.) I normally collect smaller systems these days like Atari, Commodore, etc. I do own an IMSAI, some Apple IIs, BeBox, Cray J932SE, and some other oddities. I am involved with a video game music and gaming festival called MAGFest. The next event is on Feb 18th-21st at the Gaylord National Harbor. Last year we brought back the computer museum spread, and this year it's moving to it's own room. It will mostly be plastic micros like Ataris, Commodores, TRS-80s, etc. There might be some rare stuff. Maybe a PC68000 from Japan (that game console that uses the 1.2MB floppies.) Quite a bit of macintosh, and IBM PC including 5150, 8088s, 286s, 386s, 486s, 5x86, etc. Thin net running Doom. It's a game / music fest so most things are certered around that. My role with the org is arcade room, we've got a 30,000 square foot room with 270+ machines expected. 40+ pinballs. Imported music games are getting higher in the numbers, classic arcades are suffering a bit (classic game #s aren't increasing or decreasing, we're just getting more of the 90s and 2000s stuff now.) We do trade badges in return for arcade machines, the games mostly come from collectors (although more of the collectors have started moving to renting maches for events.) Abbbbout 20,000 people expected to show up. People like the classic systems! Al Lowe was there 2 events ago! There are pics on the internet. I'm also a member of NovaLabs, the Northern Virginia makerspace. There is meeting space there, but at my membership level I don't have keys. If there was a desire for a get together that might be a good place. Could also do any restaurant if it's just to talk. - Ethan

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OT: RE: Wives and retro-computers ( was Re: DC Area Head Count )
by Dave G4UGM 01 Feb '16

01 Feb '16

> -----Original Message----- > From: vcf-midatlantic [mailto:vcf-midatlantic- > bounces(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org] On Behalf Of Tony Bogan via > vcf-midatlantic > Sent: 31 January 2016 16:29 > To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> > Cc: Tony Bogan <thebogans(a)mac.com> > Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Wives and retro-computers ( was Re: DC Area > Head Count ) > > > > Mine has her limits too, but they're HER limits, not mine. Likewise, > > mine are not hers. Thus, I offer these additional cases in addition > > to your list above: > > 5) A compatible spouse > > 6) A spouse who doesn't seek to control her spouse's activities > > I'm not sure number 6 exists in nature. > Perhaps only in a laboratory :-) Not so sure. When I got married, which was some years ago, we were required to attend "Wedding Classes" and at these some girls who were also in the class were discussing how they were going to change their husbands to be, so no Pub, no Soccer Matches etc. My wife said, well what is the point in getting married if you are going to try and change them, marry for what someone is.... ... note it was my wife that said that. Of course she does try and change me from time to time.. > Tony Dave G4UGM

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Wanted: Xerox 820-II hard drive
by Mike Loewen 31 Jan '16

31 Jan '16

I realize this is a long shot, but I'm looking for an external hard drive/8" floppy drive unit for a Xerox 820-II, with the interface card. My system has the dual 8" floppy drive unit, as well as the 40cps Diablo daisywheel printer. The optional 8086 processor card would also be a welcome addition. Please reply off-list if you have one you'd be willing to part with. Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] DC Area Head Count
by Dave McGuire 31 Jan '16

31 Jan '16

AJ, your original message came through very odd, as Ethan also noted. I haven't dug into it. Well, I *was* in the DC area...Greenbelt, then Silver Spring, then Laurel, MD, for about a decade in total. I moved to FL about fifteen years ago, then to PA 4.5 years ago. I (and several others here) am now in the Pittsburgh area. We have gatherings here, much less formal/organized than the NJ workshops, nearly every weekend. All are welcome. -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] DC Area Head Count
by Glenn Roberts 30 Jan '16

30 Jan '16

Ashburn VA (west of DC; near Leesburg). Interested in all aspects of Classic Computing but only collect/work on Heathkit. From: vcf-midatlantic [mailto:vcf-midatlantic-bounces@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org] On Behalf Of Alexander Pierson via vcf-midatlantic Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2016 1:07 AM To: Vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> Cc: Alexander Pierson <ajpierson1(a)yahoo.com> Subject: [vcf-midatlantic] DC Area Head Count

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] DC Area Head Count
by J. Alexander Jacocks 30 Jan '16

30 Jan '16

On Sat, Jan 30, 2016 at 1:07 AM, Alexander Pierson via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Alexander Pierson <ajpierson1(a)yahoo.com> > To: Vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> > Cc: > Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2016 06:04:17 +0000 (UTC) > Subject: DC Area Head Count > >A lot of our members travel to the workshops from your area.Yes, seems > that there is a decent VCFed presence in the DC area. I can think of at > least 3 of us in Northern VA off the top of my head. Personally, I'm > pretty close to both 66 and 495. > > So that got me thinking, why not do a head count? We might be able to > organize something like a workshop locally. Couldn't hurt to try, right? > I wish I could offer up a place I knew for said workshop, but I have no > such space to offer. > > -Alexander 'Z' Pierson > I'm in the DC area (sorta), on the Eastern Shore of MD. I'd definitely be interested in local meetings, but I don't have space to host, either. If we got enough people, however, there are suitable places near my house that I could rent, easily enough. - Alex

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