- vcf-midatlantic - lists.vcfed.org

Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Last call for Group Unix Exhibit
by Ethan Dicks 21 Feb '19

21 Feb '19

On Thu, Feb 21, 2019 at 12:29 PM Brian L. Stuart via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > I haven't really decided for sure about what I want to > exhibit this year. One option I've been considering is > to set up one of Oscar's PiDP-11 model PDP-11/70s > running 6ed UNIX to show some about early UNIX. > Would there be interest in such an exhibit and would > it be welcome in the group UNIX Exhibi Let me preface my answer by saying that I've been Oscar's neighbor at VCF East and VCF Midwest, I built a PiDP-8, I helped with refining the toggle switch design on the PiDP-11, and I have a PiDP-11 enroute right now. That said, I think an early UNIX is a good idea but I'm less sold on doing it by means of simulation. Here's a list of supported hardware for 5th ed forward https://minnie.tuhs.org/PUPS/pupsfaq.html#pdp_versions If I had a known-good Unibus PDP-11, I'd seriously consider putting together my own 1970s UNIX box, but I'm still in the middle of going through a pile of PDP-11/04 and PDP-11/34 hardware and haven't yet gotten past what seems to be a slightly-broken BA-11L/front panel situation. I don't happen to have an 11/40 or 11/45 and an 11/70 won't fit in my Saturn wagon (newer stuff like an 11/23 is much easier to put together) My own goal has been for a while to show PDP-11 UNIX on early hardware for the 50th anniversary of UNIX on the PDP-11 (this year is the anniversary on the PDP-7). My target is 1st ed/2nd ed UNIX (as preserved by Warren Toomey) on an 11/20, which will take some additional time to restore and is out of scope for this year. The biggest hurdle for anything pre-7th ed is disk. Later UNIX editions (v7, 2.9BSD, 2.11BSD...) support 1980s disks like the RL02 or MSCP which are far, far easier to keep running. If someone wanted to put together an 11/34 w/128Kw (preferably with FP11-A floating point) and an RK11/RK05, that might make a viable v6 platform. I have all that gear but am hesitant to promise I can ensure it's all 100% functional by May. I can do it down the road but the time is tight right now. Keeping desktop-sized stuff running is a lot easier than big boxes. The time required does not scale linearly. So, yes, I think it would be great to have early UNIX but I'm in it for the hardware. -ethan

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Exhibit ideas - help needed to choose
by Andrew Diller 21 Feb '19

21 Feb '19

> On Feb 21, 2019, at 3:26 PM, W. Bryan Caudle via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > > > From: "W. Bryan Caudle" <bcaudle(a)ctsi.net> > Subject: Exhibit ideas - help needed to choose > Date: February 21, 2019 at 3:26:25 PM EST > To: "vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org" <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > > > Another idea was a separate display highlighting some games running on business machines. Imagine 2 or 3 terminals (maybe even a Decwriter) connected to VAX, PDP11, Xenix, etc running some text adventures and such. > I am also working on this- getting a MUD working on my SGI Personal Iris with a few terminals connected to it so people can login and play in the mud together. If you have a cool terminal to bring put it on the list if you can bring it. I'm also planning on having some early unixs running via SIMH emulation on a mac and try connecting them to as many serial terminals as I can- having a display on the evoltion of unix will be of interest I think this year. -andy

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Last call for Group Unix Exhibit
by Ethan O'Toole 21 Feb '19

21 Feb '19

> > > [NON-Text Body part not included] Hmp for some reason your message doesn't quote. Okay, so that board seems cool but not willing to spend $165+ on it. I just found this one: https://shop.inventronik.de/index.php?id_product=28&controller=product&id_l… That is about $50 USD shipped from Germany. That should do the same? If so I will order that and probably buy a SCSI2SD for the TT030 as well. - Ethan

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Last call for Group Unix Exhibit
by David Gesswein 21 Feb '19

21 Feb '19

> > Having said that, I could pull out a 3b1, but I'm pretty sure > someone else is already doing that, and the early research > UNIX is a lot more interesting to me than the commercial. > It was one of the machines I offered to bring but I've brought it before. Since I will also have a PDP-8 exhibit this year so if anybody else wants to bring something I have offered they can bring it instead. > The truth is the part that I would find most interesting is > a deep dive into Lions' commentary on the 6th ed kernel, > but I don't know how to make an exhibit of that where > it wouldn't just be a poster session. > But could go along with the emulation where you go over the implementation choices and how it differs from later Unix's and people can see the differences. Its hard to be both educational and a crowd pleaser. I sort of alternate those types of exhibits.

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Exhibit ideas - help needed to choose
by W. Bryan Caudle 21 Feb '19

21 Feb '19

Good afternoon! I had recently joined this list and was interested in making some contribution to the exhibits at the upcoming VCF-East event. I had a few ideas, and was hoping to get some feedback before applying. One thought was that I could contribute to the group Unix exhibit. It looks like there are a large variety of systems already on the list, but I could contribute my Tandy 12/6000 running Xenix and an SGI O2 running Irix. I could also contribute a Wyse 60 and VT-220 terminal, some software, and publications (I have some of those giant SCO boxes full of books and stuff). Another idea was a separate display highlighting some games running on business machines. Imagine 2 or 3 terminals (maybe even a Decwriter) connected to VAX, PDP11, Xenix, etc running some text adventures and such. Finally, I was thinking about a display centered around the 68000 CPU (40 years since introduction). It would include many classic systems, and I have a whole library of 68000 family data books and developer materials. Suggestions welcome, and if none of these ideas sound good I'm ok with that too :-)

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Last call for Group Unix Exhibit
by Evan Koblentz 21 Feb '19

21 Feb '19

>> Hence my question whether there would be interest in early UNIX on a simulated 11. Yes. Also as I told others, you're welcome to come up here and see if any of the VCF collection hardware suits you. On Thu, Feb 21, 2019, 1:56 PM Brian L. Stuart via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > On Thu, 2/21/19, Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > >... That said, I think an early UNIX > > is a good idea but I'm less sold on > > doing it by means of simulation. > > > > If I had a known-good Unibus > > PDP-11, I'd seriously consider putting > > ... > > So, yes, I think > > it would be great to have early UNIX but I'm in it > > for the hardware. > > This has in fact been my biggest hesitation about this as > an exhibit for this year. However, I don't actually have > any Unibus gear at all. Between that and the fact that > I usually have the same exhibit at East and Southeast > and as you point out transportation of the real thing is > challenging if not prohibitive, simulation is my best option. > > Having said that, I could pull out a 3b1, but I'm pretty sure > someone else is already doing that, and the early research > UNIX is a lot more interesting to me than the commercial. > > The truth is the part that I would find most interesting is > a deep dive into Lions' commentary on the 6th ed kernel, > but I don't know how to make an exhibit of that where > it wouldn't just be a poster session. > > The other option is that I could do another ENIAC > exhibit. It just seems a shame to miss the opportunity > to revisit my early UNIX experience in the 50th > anniversary year. Hence my question whether there > would be interest in early UNIX on a simulated 11. > > BLS >

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Last call for Group Unix Exhibit
by Brian L. Stuart 21 Feb '19

21 Feb '19

On Thu, 2/21/19, Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks(a)gmail.com> wrote: >... That said, I think an early UNIX > is a good idea but I'm less sold on > doing it by means of simulation. > > If I had a known-good Unibus > PDP-11, I'd seriously consider putting > ... > So, yes, I think > it would be great to have early UNIX but I'm in it > for the hardware. This has in fact been my biggest hesitation about this as an exhibit for this year. However, I don't actually have any Unibus gear at all. Between that and the fact that I usually have the same exhibit at East and Southeast and as you point out transportation of the real thing is challenging if not prohibitive, simulation is my best option. Having said that, I could pull out a 3b1, but I'm pretty sure someone else is already doing that, and the early research UNIX is a lot more interesting to me than the commercial. The truth is the part that I would find most interesting is a deep dive into Lions' commentary on the 6th ed kernel, but I don't know how to make an exhibit of that where it wouldn't just be a poster session. The other option is that I could do another ENIAC exhibit. It just seems a shame to miss the opportunity to revisit my early UNIX experience in the 50th anniversary year. Hence my question whether there would be interest in early UNIX on a simulated 11. BLS

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Last call for Group Unix Exhibit
by Brian L. Stuart 21 Feb '19

21 Feb '19

On Wed, 2/20/19, andy diller via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: > Hello - if you are interested in being part > of a group Unix Exhibit with linked tables please put some > info in this sheet: I haven't really decided for sure about what I want to exhibit this year. One option I've been considering is to set up one of Oscar's PiDP-11 model PDP-11/70s running 6ed UNIX to show some about early UNIX. Would there be interest in such an exhibit and would it be welcome in the group UNIX Exhibit? BLS

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Need to Borrow IBM VGA CRTs for VCF East (8512, 8513, or 8514)
by J. Alexander Jacocks 21 Feb '19

21 Feb '19

All, Does anyone have 2 IBM PS/2 VGA CRTs (8512, 8513, or 8514) that I could borrow to use with my exhibit for VCF East? I could also use 1 Model M, as I only have two, and 3 IBM two-button early PS/2 mice (like this: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IBM_PS2_hiiri.jpg) Not looking to buy, as I’m only keeping one machine, afterwards, so that my collection doesn’t grow beyond bounds. Thanks! - Alex

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Fwd: PC Collection
by Evan Koblentz 20 Feb '19

20 Feb '19

Mid-Atlantic folks: have at this! (We're declining for the VCFed collection.) CC:ing Alan H. so he can bring this to AHCS attention too. Maybe it's the kind of collection that people can do as a group haul. THE OWNER IS NOT ON THIS LIST, so don't be the person who replies on-list and makes me roll my eyes. :) On 2/19/19 6:26 PM, Erik Klein wrote: > ---------- Forwarded message --------- > From: *Gene D. Robinson* <robinsgd(a)wctel.net <mailto:robinsgd@wctel.net>> > Date: Mon, Feb 18, 2019 at 10:45 AM > Subject: PC Collection > To: <webmaster(a)vintage-computer.com > <mailto:webmaster@vintage-computer.com>> > > > Erik, > > The purpose of this letter is to see if you might have any interest in > acquiring my collection of approximately 100 old PC computer systems. > There are also approximately 20 early laptops going back to the early > 1980s > > I am nearly 76 years old and can no longer adequately curate my > collection gathered over the past 25 years. Although some are quite > valuable, such as a very low serial number original IBM PC and the > Columbia PC (the first PC clone) and an early Eagle PC, I would like > to keep the collection together rather than sell them individually on > eBay. I hope you might be interest in acquiring the collection, or if > not, you might offer advice as to how I should proceed. > > The heart of my collection is perhaps unique and is based on a > realization that hit me when in the late 90s while pricing out that > the original IBM PC would have cost about $3,500, adequately equipped > to be useful and productive in 1981-’82. I realized that was still > what a high end, well equipped PC would cost. As I investigated, I > soon saw that $3,000-$3,600 had remained constant down through the > years as the cost of a high-end PC. Thus, the idea for my collection > was born: > > A high-end PC each year, priced in mid-year, with software installed > appropriate to the year. > > Below is a list: > > *YEAR* > > > > *SYSTEM NAME* > > > > *PRICE $* > > > > *CPU & SPEED* > > ** > > > > ** > > > > ** > > > > ** > > *1981* > > > > *IBM PC Model 5150* > > > > 3,480** > > > > *80088-4.77 Mhz* > > *1982* > > > > *Columbia MPC* > > > > 3,195** > > > > *80088-4.77 Mhz* > > *1983* > > > > *Eagle PC-2* > > > > 3,613** > > > > *8088-4.77 Mhz* > > *1984* > > > > *XPC-XT* > > > > 3,515 > > > > *8088-4.77 Mhz* > > *1985* > > > > *Conquest PC Turbo* > > > > 2,900 > > > > *8088-8 mhz* > > *1986* > > > > *PC's Limited AT* > > > > 3,122 > > > > *80286-8 Mhz* > > *1987* > > > > *PC Limited 286-12* > > > > 3,499 > > > > *80286-12 Mhz* > > *1988* > > > > *DMP 386* > > > > 2,907 > > > > *80386-20 Mhz* > > *1989* > > > > *Home Smart 386* > > > > 3,117 > > > > *80386-25 Mhz* > > *1990* > > > > *Comtrade* > > > > 3,370 > > > > *80386-33 Mhz* > > *1991* > > > > *Computer World 486-33* > > > > 3,520 > > > > *80486-33 Mhz* > > *1992* > > > > *Strobe MPC* > > > > 3,416 > > > > *80486-50 Mhz* > > *1993* > > > > *Gateway 2000 4DX2-66V* > > > > 3,345 > > > > *80486-66 Mhz* > > *1994* > > > > *Gateway 2000* > > > > 3,446 > > > > *Pentium-90 Mhz* > > *1995* > > > > *MidWest Micro P5-133 PCI* > > > > 3,494 > > > > *Pent-133 Mhz* > > *1996* > > > > *Dell Dimension XPS P200S * > > > > 3,287 > > > > *Pent-200 Mhz* > > *1997* > > > > *Unicent Titana II266XLA* > > > > 3,263 > > > > *Pent II-266 Mhz* > > *1998* > > > > *Quantex QP6/400 SM-4x* > > > > 2,899 > > > > *Pent II-400 Mhz* > > *1999* > > > > *Compaq Presario 5700t * > > > > 2,828 > > > > *Pent III-550 Mhz* > > *2000* > > > > *Tiger TM71A* > > > > 3,149 > > > > *Athlon 1 Ghz* > > *2001* > > > > *Gateway 1800* > > > > 3,160 > > > > *Pent IV 1.8 Ghz* > > *2002* > > > > *ABS Digital 8* > > > > 3,100 > > > > *Pent IV 2.53 Ghz* > > *2003* > > > > *Gateway 710XL* > > > > 3,090 > > > > *Pent IV 3.2 Ghz* > > *2004* > > > > *Cyberpower * > > > > 3,411 > > > > *Pent IV 3.6 Ghz* > > *2005* > > > > *Cyberpower* > > > > 3,389 > > > > *Athlon 64 FX 57* > > *2006* > > > > ** > > > > > > ** > > *2007* > > > > ** > > > > > > ** > > *2008* > > > > ** > > > > > > ** > > The only non-PCs in the collection are the three original home > computers that came on the market in 1977 within a few months of each > other: Apple II, Commodore PET 8k, and Tandy TRS-80. There is also an > original Mac from the fifth week of production in February 1984 that > comes with all the original disks, manuals and accessories. At last > check these all worked properly including the cassette tape drives on > the Tandy and PET. There is also a large selection of original > software cassettes for the PET, extremely rare. > > I also have a hundred feet of shelf space filled with old software > going back to VisCalc, Lotus 123, and DOS 1.1 and numerous games going > back to the early 80s. The first of these computers to have a hard > disk drive (Zenith Z-100 in 1984) plus each subsequent computer has > the correct software installed on it for its year including Windows > 1.0. Some of the computers are the actual brands shown in the table, > and some are generic versions patterned after brand name machines. > > In addition, I got interested in how a high-end machine would compare > to a low-priced PC ($400-$500 including monitor) and started > accumulating those machines (or building generic versions). I found > that generally these low-cost machines had the performance of the > hig-end PCs from about three years earlier. > > I have some other machines of particular interest such as the a new, > never removed from the box, IBM PCAT, an IBM PCXT with the original 10 > MB hard drive that boots and runs programs just fine. There’a a Tandy > 2000 (80186 cpu and its own unique operating system), and the first > 386 PC (Compaq Deskpro). There’s also a complete collection of /PC > Magazines/ from Vol 1-No.1 up to fairly recent plus many old /Byte/ > magazines and /PC World/. > > I’m hoping you might have some interest in this collection or, if not, > that you can advise me what to do. Perhaps you might know of an > auction company that could sell the collection. I can send images if > you want to have a better idea of the scope. > > Gene D. Robinson > > Abbeville, SC > -- Evan Koblentz, executive director Vintage Computer Federation www.vcfed.org evan(a)vcfed.org (646) 546-9999 VCF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

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