April 2020 - vcf-midatlantic

InfoAge update from Mike Ruane (CEO of InfoAge)
by Jeffrey Brace 17 Apr '20

17 Apr '20

To All - Due to the continued impact of the coronavirus, InfoAge is now scheduled to be closed until June 29. A further decision to open on June 29 or to remain closed will be made in mid-June. In the meantime, as I mentioned in my March 16 email, some organizations and/or volunteers will want to work on their museum projects, exhibits, buildings, etc. These organizations/volunteers can use their own discretion as to whether or not they wish to work on their sites or various projects. However, many of our volunteers are in the “at-risk” category and should stay at home if at all possible. Again to repeat what I put out before, be aware that the COVID virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person, and especially between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). COVID is transmitted through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes and these droplets land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Therefore: if you have any common flu symptoms — coughing, sneezing — please refrain from visiting InfoAge. It is an unnecessary risk, even if you are not presenting the additional COVID symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath. If you are coming to InfoAge make certain you observe the following guidelines are observed to insure your good health: 1. If you feel sick, stay home. Do not come to InfoAge. 2. If you do come, practice social distancing. If you are working alone, there is no problem. However, if you are working with someone else, keep at least 6’ apart and wear an N95 mask or another mask that protects your face. Remember, a mask pulled below your nose is of no help at all. 3. Remember to continue to always practice good hygiene: Wash your hands frequently, especially after touching any frequently used item or surface. Avoid touching your face. Sneeze or cough into a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Disinfect frequently used items and surfaces as much as possible. To learn more about the virus and what you can do to protect yourself and your family and friends, please visit the Centers for Disease Control website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html.” Organizations – Please pass this email to all your members. Thank you and be safe. This will end!! Mike -- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President & Board Member, VCF East Showrunner Vintage Computer Federation http://www.vcfed.org/ jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

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COBOL wise-guy
by Jeffrey Jonas 15 Apr '20

15 Apr '20

Bill Degnan posted Q. State the four divisions of a COBOL program A: earth air fire water: the 4 elements that make everything :-)

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] MITS Altair 8800 C&K switches
by Herb Johnson 15 Apr '20

15 Apr '20

My apologies for all the fuss. Again: who knew this was difficult? > Jeff Galinat writes: > > According to Mike Douglas AKA deramp .. the American > Switch brand was used in the original Altair not C & K. > > S1 Toggle Switch On-None-On (Silver) APEM 5236AB > S10-S25 Toggle Switch On-None-On (Gold) APEM 5236CDB > S2-S9 Toggle Switch (On)-Off-(On) (Gold) APEM 5237CDB > > Take this as you wish but I do value Mike's opinion on this Um, I also saw this information 1) in the VCFed discussion list referenced earlier in this thread and 2) on notes it referenced on the deramp site, about a MITS Altair front-panel replica. But... But: those references to a replica, have confused me, as to whether the original Altair switches were of that brand; or if these identified switches are reasonable replacements; or if these are for the replica. Pardon my confusion. Also: in my most-prior post here, I acknowledge I *do not know* what brand was in-use. My error, to suggest C&K. That's why I'm asking. Again: proof beyond doubt, would be a photo of an original switch, in place, on an original front panel. Such a photo seems to be surprisingly hard to produce, hard to find. I certainly don't want to disassemble my MITS Altair just to take an internal photo. And my apologies, this is not a "personal trust" issue. I appreciate the identifications given, it's a "lead". My request for evidence is not unreasonable. I'm surprised it's so obscure! At least in year 2020. I've seen BUNCHES of photos of lots of MITS boards. But not of the original front panel, in profile. I'll be sure to provide those, should I tear my Altair apart. (No it's not for sale). Regards, 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 -- 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] COBOL wise-guy
by gsteemso 15 Apr '20

15 Apr '20

On (Tue, 14 Apr 2020 15:36:58 -0400), Dean Notarnicola <dnotarnicola(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Last time I did any COBOL was 1987. Never looked back. Ah, but /did you inhale?/ (Not Sorry) :¬) G.

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MITS Altair 8800 C&K switches
by Herb Johnson 13 Apr '20

13 Apr '20

An odd thing. I was trying to buy some C&K brand "toggle switches" for a MITS Altair 8800 front panel. I could not find on the Web, a good photo of it's front-panel PC board "naked" to see the original switches; so I could buy one of the proper size. Specifically, the length of the "neck" below the toggle lever. Does anyone have such a photo, of the unmounted PC board with switches, or a photo of of the actual real original switch bodies, or a measure of the physical length of that mounting-shaft? The length does vary. Just to be clear and exact. I'm talking about the original model of the MITS Altair 8800. NO 8800a, no 8800b. These switches have a narrow round "toggle" - not the flat wedge-like toggle on the 8800b and 8800a. And no, MITS doesn't have a C&K number, and no sketch in their original manuals (that I could find). And a Web search for such images is a nightmare. Bunches of faux Altairs, faux front panels. Some number of original Altairs - with the front-panel PC board covered of course with the decorative front-panel. Or poor, low-rez photos from 15 years ago. I've made a good guess, without disassembling my own 8800. Looks like 11/16 inches from base of threaded shaft to top of same. Looks like a 3/4" net length from the base of the C&K body to the top of the threaded shaft. These are eyeball measures and are not likely what are in the C&K 1975 data sheets; but these provide clues. Can anyone measure the damn thing? Or take a clear photo and point me to it? Looks like I'll haveta take a lot of photos, next time I repair the real deal. Regards, Herb "missed" Johnson -- 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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COBOL
by Michael Pohl 09 Apr '20

09 Apr '20

The State of New Jersey needs COBOL help - https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/08/business/coronavirus-cobol-programmers-new-j…

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Wanted: Disk Jockey 2D/B
by Mike Loewen 08 Apr '20

08 Apr '20

Does anyone have a Morrow Disk Jockey 2D/B for sale or trade? I have other S100 boards for trade. Mike Loewen mloewen(a)cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/

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OT: HP 660LX Color Palmtop PC available
by svcatitc＠aol.com 07 Apr '20

07 Apr '20

So that the final disposition of the HP palmtop is not in question, it has been spoken for. Many thanks to Bob Shuster for his assistance. Bill Inderrieden ---------- Original Message ---------- Jim Scheef js at sdf.orgTue Mar 31 23:21:59 EDT 2020 The HP660 is eminently collectible along with the other four or five models in the HP palmtop product line based on WinCE. The DOS-based palmtops starting with the 95lx are even more interesting although not as 'rare'. Hopefully someone will take Bob's offer.Jim

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Free: Radio Shack CoCo disk interface
by Jason Perkins 05 Apr '20

05 Apr '20

Cleaning up. Found a RS Color Computer disc controller cartridge. Email me and it’s yours for postage. Thanks! -- Jason Perkins 313 355 0085 Sent from my iPhone

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ACM digital library is free thru 30-June
by Jeffrey Jonas 04 Apr '20

04 Apr '20

Paywalls and membership only databases are annoying. One obstacle has been temporarily removed: The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) announces: "To help support our community working remotely during COVID-19, we are making all work published by ACM in our Digital Library freely accessible through June 30, 2020." e.g. http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?doid=307824.307853 -- on MindForth AI -- is now freely accessible to read or download as a Portable Document FIle (PDF).

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