April 2017 - vcf-midatlantic

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] PC needed for VCFed BBS
by William Dudley 26 Apr '17

26 Apr '17

Machine is Compaq DeskPro. Can't as yet find model name/number. Pentium 3. On mono NIC is Intel 82557/8/9/0/1 Ethernet Pro 100 Rev 8, according to lspci. If there's a DOS driver for that, then great, that frees up a slot. There's also on board audio, (Intel 82801), but you probably don't need audio on this box. Bill On Apr 26, 2017 9:35 PM, "Joseph Oprysko via vcf-midatlantic" < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: It's just that there likely IS a packet driver for that machine, as Netware required packet drivers. And Compaq *IS* was business class machine back in those days. On Wed, Apr 26, 2017 at 9:33 PM, Joseph Oprysko <joprysko1(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Bill, what is the make/model of the machine? I'll look around for a DOS > packet driver just incase something like that beast exists. Using less > IRQ's is better.. :) > > On Wed, Apr 26, 2017 at 9:02 PM, William Dudley via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: > >> No, the built in NIC is unlikely to be have a DOS driver, so you need >> the NE2000 NIC, which takes a slot. If you need another slot, you'll >> have to sacrifice the sound card. >> >> Bill >> >> >> This email is free of malware because I run Linux. >> >> On Wed, Apr 26, 2017 at 8:57 PM, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic < >> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote: >> >> > >> If the NE2000 clone is sufficient, then we don't have to ask anyone >> else >> > for a NIC. >> > >> > ...And it would save a slot for another modem later. >> > >> > > > > -- > Normal Person: Hey, it seems that you know a lot. > Geek: To be honest, it's due to all the surfing I do. > Normal Person: So you go surfing? > Normal Person: But I don't think that has anything to do with knowing a > lot... > Geek: I think that's wrong on a fundamental level. > Normal Person: Huh? Huh? What? > -- Normal Person: Hey, it seems that you know a lot. Geek: To be honest, it's due to all the surfing I do. Normal Person: So you go surfing? Normal Person: But I don't think that has anything to do with knowing a lot... Geek: I think that's wrong on a fundamental level. Normal Person: Huh? Huh? What?

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All set re: PC for VCFed BBS
by Evan Koblentz 26 Apr '17

26 Apr '17

Bill Dudley has the Compaq computer running 6.22 so we're all set. A fanless mini-ATX would have been nifty but two real serial ports can't be beat.

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does anyone have the schematics for the Simon 1 relay computer
by David Keith 26 Apr '17

26 Apr '17

http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/1950/#169ebbe2ad45559efbc6eb35720b3…

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Attaching DEC Handles, the Right Way
by Systems Glitch 25 Apr '17

25 Apr '17

I'm sure most of you DEC hackers have replaced a broken DEC handle or put handles on a protoboard, and did what I've done in the past: use 4-40 screws and nuts, or pop rivets. Well, I finally came across the right tool for the job, an Indestro tubular rivet set! I cut the head off of a rivet on an old Sundstrand CNC control board that was getting scrapped anyway and discovered they're 1/8" hollow brass rivets, but that a M3 x 5mm is close enough. You can buy the M3 rivets online for cheap, I paid $6 USD for 200 rivets, shipped. Here's the writeup: http://www.glitchwrks.com/2017/04/25/installing-dec-handles Thanks, Jonathan

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Inventor of the first personal computer dies - and it's not who you think
by Herb Johnson 25 Apr '17

25 Apr '17

I'm gonna change this thread to "homebrew computing?" if no one objects. Or suggest another title. Then I'll reply to Christian and Bill Degnan. Also: I appreciate the apologies, and Evan's comments. Thank you. - Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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Inventor of the first personal computer dies - and it's not who you think
by Herb Johnson 25 Apr '17

25 Apr '17

On the question of "first personal computers", I think Evan's response of Apr 22 11:16:22 was very even-handed and well-considered. Evan, like many of us, has the experience of describing and responding to A RANGE of questions, on the history of various forms of personal computing devices. He also has the experience, of seeing how current definitions of personal computing change - "what is" and "first" questions are retrospective. Of course, computing devices have "evolved" over time as well. "It's all relative" is a reasonable stance. As for "firsts". Since the definition varies, and since details vary, any claim to "first" must be qualified by function and time. Claims of firsts are more like conversation starters - or to pick a fight. As for "worshiping Wes Clark", he and his colleagues did an amazing thing with the LINC, at that point in time. And those of them still alive today, are STILL working on restoring LINC computers. Evan confuses admiration about results and persistence, for worship of a person at a point in time. --------- All that aside, I personally cringe whenever Evan refers to "the homebrew era". My interests are in S-100 systems; calling them "homebrew" suggests they were some person's one-off contraption from their basement. And retrospectively, casts them as second-class products, "homebrew" vs say "appliance". The generation of basement and garage craftspersons who made what they needed, seems to be lost history to the generation who buys everything they want. I don't have a better term today, but "craft computing" sounds better to me than "homebrew computing". I spent some time, developing an argument (formal history) for what I'm talking about. But it's too long for a reasonable reply to another subject. I'll make the argument another day for why "homebrew" computing sounds to people of my age, like Jed Clampett of the "Beverly Hillbillies" TV show. As in, stills of alcohol in rural middle America. Evan is talking about MY era, and me and my technical and business colleagues of the era aren't "hillbillies"! Herb Johnson Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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Anyone a TI-99/4A tech expert?
by Evan Koblentz 24 Apr '17

24 Apr '17

If so, then contact me privately. ________________________________ Evan Koblentz, director Vintage Computer Federation a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit evan(a)vcfed.org (646) 546-9999 www.vcfed.org facebook.com/vcfederation twitter.com/vcfederation instagram.com/vcfederation

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Who's going to SE?
by Evan Koblentz 24 Apr '17

24 Apr '17

Let's make a list. Who from our group is going? ... Not counting you Atlanta guys, since that's obvious. :) 1. Evan 2. Bill Degnan 3. Brian Stuart ________________________________ Evan Koblentz, director Vintage Computer Federation a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit evan(a)vcfed.org (646) 546-9999 www.vcfed.org facebook.com/vcfederation twitter.com/vcfederation instagram.com/vcfederation

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Possible future workshop dates
by Jeffrey Brace 23 Apr '17

23 Apr '17

Please vote on dates: June 3/4 or 17/18 July 8/9 or 15/16 August 5/6 or 12/13 September 9/10 or 16/17 November 4/5 or 11/12 -- Jeff Brace - ark72axow(a)gmail.com Sent from my Commodore 64 ========================================================

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Museum update
by Evan Koblentz 23 Apr '17

23 Apr '17

We had a good mix of visitors today. A pair of Infoage volunteers who hadn't seen our new space, three or four guys who drove down from Long Island and worked in IT, a family, and an older man who stopped by to donate some old DEC/IBM manuals + punch cards. I stopped at Home Depot and got one more package of window tint to further protect the books/magazine on our workshop shelves from harmful sunlight.

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