April 2016 - vcf-midatlantic

Which terminal for Prime 6550?
by Evan Koblentz 02 Apr '16

02 Apr '16

As discussed the other day: we'll use a Tektronix terminal with the DG Eclipse and an ADM-3A with the hobby systems. PDP-8 gets an ASR-33. That leaves the Prime 6550 (and also the PDP-11/785, but that one is easy because we have a selection of DEC terminals). So... which terminal (that we might have) is the best choice for the Prime?

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Prime 6550
by Ian Primus 02 Apr '16

02 Apr '16

With all this talk of a terminal for the Prime, does this mean you think you'll get it to the point where we can *run* the 6550? I've been offering to fix it up and get it in running condition for years, but that's never been an option due to lack of power for it. I mean, I know these machines very well, and I have all the service manuals, the operating system tapes and the spare parts. Getting it running is very doable. Problem is, that thing needs three phase in it's factory configuration. I can rewire it to run on anything (240 or 110), but you still need a *lot* of current, and that's historically been a problem for InfoAge, especially considering the problems I had just powering my little Prime 4450 when I've brought it to VCF. -Ian

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Which terminal for Prime 6550?
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 02 Apr '16

02 Apr '16

Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic writes: >As discussed the other day: we'll use a Tektronix terminal with the DG >Ec= lipse and an ADM-3A with the hobby systems. PDP-8 gets an ASR-33. >That le= aves the Prime 6550 (and also the PDP-11/785, but that one is >easy becaus= e we have a selection of DEC terminals). So... which >terminal (that we mi= ght have) is the best choice for the Prime? More April Fools?

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Which terminal for Prime 6550?
by Mike Loewen 02 Apr '16

02 Apr '16

>> the last thing that you would use on a 6550 would be a genuine DEC >> terminal > > What DO we use? Try a PT250: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Terminal-prime-pt250.jpg Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] More museum reconfiguration
by Christian Liendo 02 Apr '16

02 Apr '16

Personally I think we should find all the episodes from the TV show "Wiz Kids" and do a 24hr Wiz Kid marathon. Granted there are only eighteen 60min episodes.

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Press / social media for VCF East
by Evan Koblentz 01 Apr '16

01 Apr '16

Our friends at Hackaday are sponsoring the eight-bit game programming hackathon. They wrote the first of several articles yesterday: http://hackaday.com/2016/03/31/hackaday-teams-with-vintage-computer-festiva… IEEE Spectrum is sending a reporter and photographer to the show. We've already been publicized on the Facebook/Twitter accounts of the ACM and of the IEEE History Center. Next week we'll be on the CSTA blog + social media (Computer Science Teachers Association). InfoAge sent out an announcement on their Constant Contact account recently. We have our own Constant Contact account and sent an announcement about two weeks ago. That was before Ted Nelson signed up, and there are other new details to share (more exhibits, class schedule, sponsors, etc.) so we'll send another blast soon... maybe tonight. I'm going to contact the Press of Atlantic City (daily paper there) and tell them the story of how, 40 years ago this summer, Apple made its public debut in their town... and that anyone can drive one hour north to see Apple history at our show/museum.

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Teletype Class Friday
by william degnan 01 Apr '16

01 Apr '16

Anyone planning on attending the Teletype session on Friday? If so, perhaps one or two of you would like to bring in your Teletype (ASR 33), working or no, so that we can use it as a hands-on demo of restoration and use techniques. At a minimum we can restore the print hammer head and/or lube the machine parts. If you bring a TTY, please clean it of debris/vacuum Bill -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg> Youtube: @billdeg <https://www.youtube.com/user/billdeg> Unauthorized Bio <http://www.vintagecomputer.net/readme.cfm>

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museum opening
by Herb Johnson 01 Apr '16

01 Apr '16

Degnan posted, and others agreed: >> Thought - might not be good to have a formal workshop, but it does >> make sense that our club show up in force to help out, >> show our colors regardless of what we do, and if >> that means some make on the spot repairs...be prepared.. This is what I posted previously - attend the event, demonstrate some repair work - so I agree too. I also suggested showing items that day, relevant to the other museums in the building. herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Ding ding ding! :)
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 01 Apr '16

01 Apr '16

Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic writes: >>> Count me out. I thought the idea was to educate and..... > >Every year someone takes the bait. :) > >Happy April 1st everyone. I didn't realize it was April 1. It's just another day of slavin' for the gv't to me.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] More museum reconfiguration
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 01 Apr '16

01 Apr '16

Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic writes: >Been thinking about what the public museum visitors really care about. >Ma= ybe instead of showing so much obscure stuff, we should just have >substan= tial exhibits about videogames, Windows, iPhone, and stuff like >that. Count me out. I thought the idea was to educate and, perhaps, enlighten the public about the history and roots of computing. If it's video games they're wanting, send them to the boardwalk arcades. If it's iPHone, send them up to the Apple Store at the Freehold Raceway Mall. If it's WEENDOZE, why? That's just my not to humble opinion!

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