June 2024 - vcf-midatlantic

Reminder: Vintage Computer Meetup in Northern VA - 30 June @ 2pm
by Ryan Stapleton 28 Jun '24

28 Jun '24

Hello All, I wanted to send out a reminder for my Vintage Computer Meetup in Chantilly, VA this Sunday @ pm. I look forward to seeing some old friends and making some new ones. I have added a flyer to my web page I tossed together quickly along with a link to VCF for information. Thank you -Ryan https://www.bluewizard.net/pages/vintagecomputermeetup/

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Ages of PC based software
by Gregg Levine 27 Jun '24

27 Jun '24

Hello! I am again trying one of my blue sky ideas, one to work on between right now, and again of the next repair weekend. That will be onsite. Would any of you good people remember the time period for a representative OS for when we can call it a Vintage Operating system? Last time I checked it was 1995. No velociraptor, he is visiting relatives in California, and Oregon and WA. ----- Gregg C Levine gregg.drwho8(a)gmail.com "This signature fought the Time Wars, time and again."

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VCF Tech Swap Meet Nov 2, please let your friends and groups know.
by Christian Liendo 27 Jun '24

27 Jun '24

So, I know this happens every time but as we get closer to the next swap meet we get told. My group has an event and they conflict. Can you please let the groups you belong to know about the event. This should reduce the chance of a conflict and it will also drum up interest. https://vcfed.org/vcf-swap-meet/ We would like the next swap meet to be bigger and it would help to start getting the word out now. Thanks

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Straight 8 repair at workshop
by David Gesswein 27 Jun '24

27 Jun '24

Decided to post to the forum this time so I can add some bad pictures to my excessive text. Summary fixed one intermittent and at least one still remains. Made progress on enabling A/D converter but not yet working. Machine was working with all demos checked when I left. https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/vcf-straight-8-repair.1248709/ You you have opinions you can let me know 1) Prefer text postings 2) Pictures were nice 3) Why filling my inbox with this stuff 4) I was hoping for an hour youtube video For docents let me know if the front panel now works reliably. I put in a card to better debounce the switches. If you get funny running put in this little program 0: 3006 1: 7200 2: 1006 3: 2006 4: 5001 Which is 0: DCA 6 1: CLA 2: TAD 6 3: ISZ 6 4: JMP 1 5: HLT If it halts its not the last intermittent I had. If it doesn't let me know what bits in the AC are changing/dimly lit and what is solid on/off. You can then try running hand across processor (right) side wirewrap pins C and D row and see if that makes it halt. If it doesn't you can wiggle each R211 card up and down slightly in its socket and see if one makes it halt. If it does let me know which card wiggling changed behavior. Cards are numbered starting with 1 from the right side looking at the card handles. If it keeps halting you can try demos again.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] VCF Tech Swap Meet
by Bob Shuster 27 Jun '24

27 Jun '24

My take on the event: I did ok financially, but I brought a ton of stuff with me (3 SUVs full.) My goal was not necessarily to make money but to down-size the collection which I was only moderately successful at achieving. I’m not sure I would do another of these, especially not in summer again, and I don’t think I’ll be able to convince my wife and daughter to help again! I had too much stuff to properly display it all, so I think that affected my sales, but ultimately it was the heat and lack of buyers that had the biggest effect. But overall I was happy that some of my collection is in new hands. I gave quite a bit away and I reduced the footprint of the remaining items somewhat. I’ll be busy reorganizing for a while, then all goes back into storage. Any interest in anything, please let me know - I’d even be willing to meet somewhere if necessary. Bob Shuster http://theshusters.com/bobvintage.html > I have the final totals for buyers: > 183 buyers > 175 Buyers paid buyers (13 and older) > 8 Buyers non-paid (12 and younger) > > By the way, it is called "VCF Tech Swap Meet" not "Flea Market". An > important distinction that we settled on years ago to make it sound more > than just a free for all of all types of items.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] VCF Flea Market
by Jeffrey Brace 26 Jun '24

26 Jun '24

I have the final totals for buyers: 183 buyers 175 Buyers paid buyers (13 and older) 8 Buyers non-paid (12 and younger) By the way, it is called "VCF Tech Swap Meet" not "Flea Market". An important distinction that we settled on years ago to make it sound more than just a free for all of all types of items. On Wed, Jun 26, 2024 at 4:51 PM Alexander Pierson via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > (not that many of you will be able to read this because of yahoo's weird > .eml encapsulation on this listserv, but here goes anyway) > That is the first time I was able to attend a VCFed swap meet, and minus > the heat, I enjoyed myself. Sold some things, bought some things, gave > some things away. And I avoided sunburn and dehydration for the most part. > I came back with less weight in items but my wallet was lighter than when > I started -- c'est la vie. I also forgot to grab my whiteboard markers out > of my toolkit which was locked in the workshop space, which would have been > nice for making my advertising signage. Thank you to whomever thought to > provide sunscreen for sale at the VCFed merch table, I made use of that > because I forgot to bring some. > I don't know when my schedule will permit me to attend another one of > these, but here's hoping it will be at a time that isn't so brutally hot. > > -Alexander 'Z' Pierson > > On Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 08:06:13 PM EDT, Ian Litchfield via > vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > Yes, > > This swap was definitely less lucrative for many sellers than our previous > one, definitely an issue due to the heat. Interests seem to also be > shifting in the community. > > Another thing to keep in mind is not pricing based off eBay. I didn’t > personally run into anything overpriced, but I was also not there to shop I > went to volunteer and sell. > > At swaps I always look for busted systems to fix and I did surprisingly see > a lot of working systems. That may have to do with it too. > > Like many of us I’m a tinkerer and I just want to find some broken machines > to get going. > > -Ian L. > > On Tue, Jun 25, 2024 at 19:03 Matthew Martin via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > Interesting if true. A waning interest in monochrome displays may help my > > quest to find a good one for my 5160… > > > > -Matthew > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > > On Jun 25, 2024, at 4:02 PM, Bill Degnan via vcf-midatlantic < > > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > > > > Regarding the TRS 80 Model 4 (and III) ... I also noticed the lack of > a > > > market for the TRS 80 Model III and 4 at the Kennett Classic surplus > > sale. > > > They used to be a lot more popular in vintage computing circles. > > > Generally-speaking there is less of a market for monochrome displays as > > > much. This is also true when you compare the IBM PC 5151 vs 5153 > > display. > > > > > > Bill > > > > > >> On Tue, Jun 25, 2024 at 2:48 PM Bob Shuster via vcf-midatlantic < > > >> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > >> > > >> I’ll echo everyone else’s sentiments - it was good to see the few > folks > > I > > >> knew there, but dang was it hot! We should rename it “Swap Melt”. In > any > > >> case, I just finished updating my webpages with the sold items marked > > off, > > >> but there’s still plenty left! (theshusters.com/bobvintage.html) - > > >> *Please* feel free to make offers - I promise I won't be insulted. > > >> > > >> Nobody wants this TRS-80 Model 4? I was really hoping to not bring it > > >> home, but alas… Also the Wang WLTC is still available. Lots of people > > >> thought it was cool, but none interested enough to take it home! > > >> > > >> - Bob Shuster > > > >

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Ages of PC based software
by Dean Notarnicola 26 Jun '24

26 Jun '24

There is much of the Win 2K and up code base still win 10/11 On Wed, Jun 26, 2024 at 4:40 PM Sentrytv via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > Personally > I would say windows Xp > But that OS is still used in may ways > And can still get on the “internet” with the correct browser > Yes this is opening a can of worms ! > > Mike R. > > Sent from: > My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device. > > > On Jun 26, 2024, at 4:22 PM, Gregg Levine via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > > Hello! > > I am again trying one of my blue sky ideas, one to work on between > > right now, and again of the next repair weekend. That will be onsite. > > > > Would any of you good people remember the time period for a > > representative OS for when we can call it a Vintage Operating system? > > Last time I checked it was 1995. > > > > No velociraptor, he is visiting relatives in California, and Oregon and > WA. > > ----- > > Gregg C Levine gregg.drwho8(a)gmail.com > > "This signature fought the Time Wars, time and again." > >

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] VCF Flea Market
by Jeffrey Brace 26 Jun '24

26 Jun '24

On Wed, Jun 26, 2024 at 4:51 PM Alexander Pierson via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > (not that many of you will be able to read this because of yahoo's weird > .eml encapsulation on this listserv, but here goes anyway) > That is the first time I was able to attend a VCFed swap meet, and minus > the heat, I enjoyed myself. Sold some things, bought some things, gave > some things away. And I avoided sunburn and dehydration for the most part. > Glad that you could make it! I know that it is far for you and it is hard to get off work as well. > I came back with less weight in items but my wallet was lighter than when > I started -- c'est la vie. I also forgot to grab my whiteboard markers out > of my toolkit which was locked in the workshop space, which would have been > nice for making my advertising signage. Thank you to whomever thought to > provide sunscreen for sale at the VCFed merch table, I made use of that > because I forgot to bring some. > I remembered from last June to sell sunscreen this time since someone made the suggestion. > I don't know when my schedule will permit me to attend another one of > these, but here's hoping it will be at a time that isn't so brutally hot. > It won't be. I will schedule the next one on Nov. 2. It should be 70 degrees and next June I will do earlier in the month. > > -Alexander 'Z' Pierson > > On Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 08:06:13 PM EDT, Ian Litchfield via > vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > Yes, > > This swap was definitely less lucrative for many sellers than our previous > one, definitely an issue due to the heat. Interests seem to also be > shifting in the community. > > Another thing to keep in mind is not pricing based off eBay. I didn’t > personally run into anything overpriced, but I was also not there to shop I > went to volunteer and sell. > > At swaps I always look for busted systems to fix and I did surprisingly see > a lot of working systems. That may have to do with it too. > > Like many of us I’m a tinkerer and I just want to find some broken machines > to get going. > > -Ian L. > > On Tue, Jun 25, 2024 at 19:03 Matthew Martin via vcf-midatlantic < > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > Interesting if true. A waning interest in monochrome displays may help my > > quest to find a good one for my 5160… > > > > -Matthew > > > > Sent from my iPhone > > > > > On Jun 25, 2024, at 4:02 PM, Bill Degnan via vcf-midatlantic < > > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > > > > Regarding the TRS 80 Model 4 (and III) ... I also noticed the lack of > a > > > market for the TRS 80 Model III and 4 at the Kennett Classic surplus > > sale. > > > They used to be a lot more popular in vintage computing circles. > > > Generally-speaking there is less of a market for monochrome displays as > > > much. This is also true when you compare the IBM PC 5151 vs 5153 > > display. > > > > > > Bill > > > > > >> On Tue, Jun 25, 2024 at 2:48 PM Bob Shuster via vcf-midatlantic < > > >> vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > >> > > >> I’ll echo everyone else’s sentiments - it was good to see the few > folks > > I > > >> knew there, but dang was it hot! We should rename it “Swap Melt”. In > any > > >> case, I just finished updating my webpages with the sold items marked > > off, > > >> but there’s still plenty left! (theshusters.com/bobvintage.html) - > > >> *Please* feel free to make offers - I promise I won't be insulted. > > >> > > >> Nobody wants this TRS-80 Model 4? I was really hoping to not bring it > > >> home, but alas… Also the Wang WLTC is still available. Lots of people > > >> thought it was cool, but none interested enough to take it home! > > >> > > >> - Bob Shuster > > > >

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Remember, if it's old, it must be worth tens of thousands of dollars!
by Dave Shevett 26 Jun '24

26 Jun '24

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/7313061908778748/?mibextid=6ojiHh As far as I can tell, this is a DECmate 1. VT78 with an RX01 drive. I don't know what an MR78 is though. -d -- Dave Shevett shevett(a)pobox.com

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Next Repair Workshop July 27&28, 2024 @ InfoAge
by Jeffrey Brace 24 Jun '24

24 Jun '24

The next repair workshop will be at InfoAge July 27 & 28. Signup is here <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Rfk37BXt2tFN_VRdkitMJbyBaIaWMsfLxVF…> See you there! Jeff Brace VCF National Board Member Chairman & Vice President Vintage Computer Festival East Showrunner VCF Mid-Atlantic Event Manager Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity https://vcfed.org/ <http://www.vcfed.org/> jeffrey(a)vcfed.org

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