November 2018 - vcf-midatlantic

Intro
by dillera＠gmail.com 28 Nov '18

28 Nov '18

Hello- I've been asked for an intro, so here we are. I live in Philly and work for a very large local MSO in the city. I run a medium sized engineering team and we handle large scale messaging (SMS and Email) for the MSO. I've been to a number of VCF East Festivals and have loved them (the Ted Nelson festival and the recent Apollo 11). I have been aware of the forums and site for many years, but just decided to join the list. Like many here I have a decent collection of computers - enough that I have to pay for a storage at a local provider (climate controlled of course, I'm not a monster...). I've been lately interested in 1990s era workstations and have been working on refining my collection. I both love and hate eBay. My collection ranges from Cannon Cats to Atari 800XLs to SGI Indigos and much in-between. Looking forward to meeting some of you as time and life permits, meanwhile we can do it virtually. -andy diller PS - To give you a better idea, here is my basement space with my 'in-progress' work right here as I type this: Currently working on: netbooting my SGI and Ultra10, setting up an open-source asset-management app with tags so I can track things better (that's the hand-held scanner there in front of the Sun) and installing Netatalk service on a linux machine to host a AppleTalk/Ethertalk file server for some older Mac's I'm trying to get back in shape... I have a personal blog at http://dillernet.com/apple where I've posted things over the years.

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Jeff vs Steve
by dillera＠gmail.com 28 Nov '18

28 Nov '18

Here was my prototype - back in 2014 http://dillernet.com/apple/2014/09/04/jeff-vs-steve/ I just need to get the Canon Cat to print and I can make this happen- maybe in time for 2019 VCF East. -andy

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Postal scale?
by M 28 Nov '18

28 Nov '18

I was planning to get there early, I can bring one as added insurance. On Wed, Nov 28, 2018 at 9:13 AM Tony Bogan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > I have an AWS PS-25 that I use for weighing rocket for launch. It has a > > 55lbs max. I was not planning on attending too early because I'd planned > > to make ribs for all but the weather forecast does not look conducive for > > firing up the grill to make them -- heavy rain for the weekend, again. :( > > So, I may drop in circa mid-afternoon. I'll bring my scale. > > > > https://americanweigh.com/pdf/manuals/PS-25_manual_v2.3.pdf > > That’s way more betterer than me lugging my scale, you win!! :-) > > Tony

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New museum artifact: Symbolics 3620
by Herb Johnson 28 Nov '18

28 Nov '18

> We got a Symbolics 3620 today, no monitor or keyboard. I recall that Claude Kagan had a Symbolics machine in the Barn, which was damaged even before the fire claimed the barn. I believe the keyboard is unique; Web search shows it's certainly specialized for use. Apparently the keyboards have the Symbolics name on them, so they may be easy to spot. Evan, I suggest you determine the exact keyboard needed, so you and others can keep an eye out for it. Apropos our "keyboards" thread this month, people apparently will buy the keyboard as a collectable. Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT info

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] OT: Modern keyboard question
by Evan Koblentz 28 Nov '18

28 Nov '18

>> I think I have a Cherry MX sampler somewhere, I'll see if I can find it before this weekend. Chris F. is already bringing one this weekend. On Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 5:15 AM Alexander Pierson via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org wrote: > I'm in the Unicomp crowd for my daily driver at work, and I've even given > a few to family members who seem to enjoy them. However, after owning a > few of the 104 Classic USB variations, I've discovered that the tolerances > of the tooling aren't nearly what they should be. Compared to an authentic > IBM, it's just not as well made. They still make a fine keyboard, but it > isn't for everyone. > > I think I have a Cherry MX sampler somewhere, I'll see if I can find it > before this weekend. > > -Alexander 'Z' Pierson > > > On Tuesday, November 27, 2018, 11:33:59 PM EST, Mark Whittington via > vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > There is at least a modern manufacturer of buckling spring keyboards a la > IBM Model M. The Unicomp Ultra Classic Model M comes in a full size 104 key > USB package for ~$100. Someone in my office has one. > > On Tue, Nov 27, 2018, 9:51 AM Jameel Akari via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org wrote: > > > On 2018-11-27 09:19, Thomas Fuchs via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > > > Wombat works great for me, using AEK II on a modern Mac. > > > > > > > Good to know, looking forward to it! > > > > > > And yeah, I might get a second one later, to hook up USB keyboards and > > mice to older Macs. Both directions are useful. > > > > I've enjoyed at least the concept of using vintage keyboards on new > > machines, in part because of the original topic here -- it's exhausting > > reading through all the reviews around various keyswitches and keycaps > > and LEDs and whatever. > > > > Might be time to bring my Type M to work again... > > > > > > -- > > Jameel Akari > > > > > > >> On Nov 27, 2018, at 12:34 AM, jakari via vcf-midatlantic > > >> <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > >> > > >> On 2018-11-26 22:59, David Riley via vcf-midatlantic wrote: > > >>> Interesting feedback. It’s been many years since I looked up the > > >>> price > > >>> of iMates... when I got mine, they were out of production but still > > >>> only $20 on eBay. Sorry to see they’re so expensive now. > > >> > > >> Yeah, I was shocked to see that as well. At $oldjob^4 we threw out > > >> probably a dozen of them. :( > > >> > > >>> On Nov 26, 2018, at 13:44, Herb Johnson via vcf-midatlantic > > >>> <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > >>>> "ADB to USB Connector Adapter" on that auction site, shows Griffin > > >>>> imate, AlphaSmart as apparently old brands, resale price $70-$100+; > > >>>> and maybe "Wombat" as some hobby class product at $59-$79. > > >> > > >> Inspired by this thread, I just ordered one of the Wombats. Made by > > >> the same guy who does the Floppy Emu. I'm ok with gambling $49+S&H on > > >> something that'll probably work just fine. I do want to "daily drive" > > >> some of my old Apple keyboards like the AEK II and see what I really > > >> think of them. Assuming it'll fit on my keyboard tray side by side > > >> with the modern Magic Trackpad. > > >> > > > > >

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Postal scale?
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 28 Nov '18

28 Nov '18

Tony Bogan via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> writes: >Ive got a butcher scale that goes up to 200lbs. I can bring. That should >suffice ;-) > >Tony > >Sent from my iPhone > >> On Nov 27, 2018, at 10:46 PM, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic ><vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > Ack! We're planning to sell surplus books for our usual $1/lb. rate, but > I just remembered that we need a scale for that purpose. Can somebody >(who is planning to arrive early-ish Saturday) please bring one? I have an AWS PS-25 that I use for weighing rocket for launch. It has a 55lbs max. I was not planning on attending too early because I'd planned to make ribs for all but the weather forecast does not look conducive for firing up the grill to make them -- heavy rain for the weekend, again. :( So, I may drop in circa mid-afternoon. I'll bring my scale. https://americanweigh.com/pdf/manuals/PS-25_manual_v2.3.pdf

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OT: Modern keyboard question
by Herb Johnson 28 Nov '18

28 Nov '18

> I'm also more of an Alps fan; my daily [desktop keybord] is an Apple Extended Keyboard II through an iMate ADB->USB adaptor. Since I sell ADB keyboards, this phrase caught my eye. Let's see what such adapters are about, these days. I presume 1) none are in current commercial production but 2) there's some hobby projects old and new about it. And I found I was likely right. "ADB to USB Connector Adapter" on that auction site, shows Griffin imate, AlphaSmart as apparently old brands, resale price $70-$100+; and maybe "Wombat" as some hobby class product at $59-$79. A Web search seems to zero in on a hobby project apparently called "tmk". Further searching and hopping about the Web, reveals some person calling themself "tmk", in Japan. There's some kind of code to run on microcontroller chips like Atmel AVR and Cortex-M; on some kind of hardware design (not physically complicated, interfaces and a MPU chip I imagine). The trail I was able to find amounts to: https://github.com/tmk/ https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=14290.0 http://www.tmk-kbd.com/tmk_keyboard/editor/ Without a lecture from an old-guy; it's mostly a club around someone's microcontroller board for specific purposes. You have to join the conversation to figure out what you get, how to make it useful, see what's available now. All code is on github. The "sales" page seems to be an updated post in a keyboard discussion group (geekhack). More information is in various discussions. I don't think much of this kind of hobby-product-support, to be honest. I understand, this is how such things are done today. And of course - I may be wrong about "tmk" being a particularly popular old keyboard to USB solution. All I did was search the web cold, and see what Google came up with first. I'm not "in the club", so I know nothing. Maybe someone in that club, or another club, can reference other work. This is marginally within vintage-computing: this is about reuse of vintage tech. That's a fact: I sell ADB keyboards for current use, or disassembly, all the time. Otherwise I posted here what I found, to save my other know-nothing friends some of the time I spent on this subject this afternoon. Hope this is informative. Herb "click-clack" Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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Postal scale?
by Evan Koblentz 28 Nov '18

28 Nov '18

Ack! We're planning to sell surplus books for our usual $1/lb. rate, but I just remembered that we need a scale for that purpose. Can somebody (who is planning to arrive early-ish Saturday) please bring one?

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IMPORTANT Festivus Info
by Jeffrey Brace 27 Nov '18

27 Nov '18

Looks like we have all those interested signed up. About 45 this time, which is the most we have ever had. Please make sure to let me know if you are staying overnight. I need a good estimate of head count. Make note of where you need to park. THIS IS IMPORTANT! <https://drive.google.com/open?id=1i_2cgAqnjub4rYE922Cwki38Nsdt8cp_> Also make sure to let me know what you are bringing. Here is all the info that you need: Here is the FESTIVUS signup: < https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CYLtFeyBlKwX7h2ohfXz421hFQjZTPPAkdV… > DATE:* December 1 & 2, 2018 *TIME:* Start about 10 A.M. on Saturday and goes late into the night until everyone sleeps. End about 5 P.M. on Sunday. (Re-starts around 10 A.M. Sunday morning) *LOCATION:* InfoAge Building 9010-D - (2201 Marconi Road, Wall Township, NJ) - It will be straight ahead once you enter through the gate. The door is marked Sandy Recovery and is up the steps. *PARKING:* InfoAge management wants us to park inside the campus, in a neat orderly row, between the Festivus building and the hackerspace building (9059). The main parking lot remains available for guests of the model train show. Do not cost IA money by leaving it open to confuse paying guests. Always close it behind you when you enter/exit, EVEN IF IT WAS ALREADY OPEN! *COST:* $10 for all members attending Festivus, which VCF pays to InfoAge to rent the space and buy burgers, hot dogs and some supplies. $25 if you are staying overnight. See below for details. *EQUIPMENT:* VCF will have tables setup for food and games. We will have full sized refrigerators to temporarily store food and drinks. VCF had a grill donated and will buy a propane tank to cook hamburgers and hot dogs outside. *DRINKS:* Everyone is encouraged to bring their own drinks and enough to share with others. Bring your favorite and put what you are bringing on the list: *FOOD:* VCF will be supplying burgers, hot dogs, condiments, plates, forks, napkins, cups. You are encouraged to bring your own favorite good and put what you are bringing on the list. If you are not sure what to bring, then ask me. I will have some suggestions. *IMPORTANT TO KEEP FOOD AND DRINKS IN THE CAFETERIA! THIS IS THE RULE OF THE FACILITY OWNERS.* *ENTERTAINMENT?* Movies this year in the woman's bunk room. Ian: Vintage video games Jeff Brace: Commodore 64 games: 1) Bear, 2) 4 Player game, 3) PAL C64 to play European games/demos Cards Against Humanity! Vectrex Alex Jaccocks: C128 Games *STAYING OVERNIGHT?* Let me know if you want to stay overnight. The cost is $25. You provide your own mattress cover, blankets, pillows. There is a shower area, lounge, bunk beds, hot water for tea, microwave oven, toaster oven, keurig, coffee pot, ice machine, sink, cable TV, wi-fi. To get an accurate headcount, let me know as soon as possible that you are staying overnight and how many nights. There will be coffee, milk, cream, sugar and tea bags available as well. * SIGN-UP LINK:* < https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CYLtFeyBlKwX7h2ohfXz421hFQjZTPPAkdV… > *MAP WHERE TO PARK:* <https://drive.google.com/open?id=1i_2cgAqnjub4rYE922Cwki38Nsdt8cp_> -- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President Vintage Computer Federation

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New museum artifact: Symbolics 3620
by Evan Koblentz 27 Nov '18

27 Nov '18

We got a Symblics 3620 today, courtesy of Emmanuel Goldstein/2600. I drove out to central Long Island today to pick it up. It came with a tape drive, some tapes, and some Xerox LISP software on 8" disks. Unfortunately no monitor or keyboard.

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