- vcf-midatlantic - lists.vcfed.org

Re: vcf-midatlantic Digest, Vol 8, Issue 26
by mwillega 28 Jan '19

28 Jan '19

I bought a Mac 128K when they first came out and used it extensively. However over the years, I had forgotten much of what that experience was about. A few years ago, I resurrected a MAC128K with the first version of the Mac OS and the associated apps. When I got it going, I was somewhat startled to notice how much it had in common with modern smart phone apps. You basically have one app at a time running and “owning” the platform. Now smart phones can transition between apps much easier that the early Macintosh ever could and there is much that they can do in the background, but there certainly is a bit more commonality going on, when dealing with the basic user interface, than one would expect to see after 30 years of user interface evolution. Regards, Mike Willegal > On Jan 28, 2019, at 12:00 PM, vcf-midatlantic-request(a)lists.vcfed.org wrote: > > Send vcf-midatlantic mailing list submissions to > vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > https://lists.vcfed.org/mailman/listinfo/vcf-midatlantic > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > vcf-midatlantic-request(a)lists.vcfed.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > vcf-midatlantic-owner(a)lists.vcfed.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of vcf-midatlantic digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Museum Report 2019-01-27 (Jeffrey Brace) > 2. Macintosh HD 20 (Jason Perkins) > 3. Re: Macintosh HD 20 (Tony Bogan) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2019 17:00:23 -0500 > From: Jeffrey Brace <jeffrey(a)vcfed.org> > To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > Subject: [vcf-midatlantic] Museum Report 2019-01-27 > Message-ID: > <CALWfZAJPOS4RaXJ8TAic2v2kaGjvfRgaw2n+8RS3buBT+sE8qw(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > A busier than normal Sunday with three groups totaling about a dozen people > coming through with a moderate to high level of interest. They really liked > and appreciated the tours. Two groups were families with young kids. It's > always interesting to have the children guess what the different artifacts > are in the "Everything on this wall is now in your pocket" exhibit. I also > like to see if kids can figure out how to open up MacPaint on the Macintosh > and Paint on the Windows 3.1 machine. The basic functionality of the GUI > hasn't changed since the Macintosh, so it's fun to show how kids who have > never used the computer can still operate it due to user-friendly design. > > I also continued to work on VCF East planning and administration. > > -- > ========================================= > Jeff Brace > Vice President > Vintage Computer Federation > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2019 11:42:38 -0500 > From: Jason Perkins <perkins.jason(a)gmail.com> > To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > Subject: [vcf-midatlantic] Macintosh HD 20 > Message-ID: > <CA+8Y7qLKP7YOLDAb+YBoS=PcCFgxky2LwaJ23hf3EU7DP1t5bQ(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" > > Does anyone know if the original Mac Hard Disk 20 - Model M0135 - ever > shipped with the Apple designed Nisha disk mechanism, or were they all > Rodime drives? > > Thanks! > > -- > Jason Perkins > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2019 11:51:32 -0500 > From: Tony Bogan <thebogans(a)mac.com> > To: vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> > Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Macintosh HD 20 > Message-ID: <032446A7-2F1B-4B06-A5D8-360C270E1A06(a)mac.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > I have had over a dozen, 4 still in my possession, all were the rodime drive. > Tony > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Jan 28, 2019, at 11:42 AM, Jason Perkins via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic(a)lists.vcfed.org> wrote: >> >> Does anyone know if the original Mac Hard Disk 20 - Model M0135 - ever >> shipped with the Apple designed Nisha disk mechanism, or were they all >> Rodime drives? >> >> Thanks! >> >> -- >> Jason Perkins > > > > End of vcf-midatlantic Digest, Vol 8, Issue 26 > **********************************************

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Macintosh HD 20
by Jason Perkins 28 Jan '19

28 Jan '19

Does anyone know if the original Mac Hard Disk 20 - Model M0135 - ever shipped with the Apple designed Nisha disk mechanism, or were they all Rodime drives? Thanks! -- Jason Perkins

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Museum Report 2019-01-27
by Jeffrey Brace 27 Jan '19

27 Jan '19

A busier than normal Sunday with three groups totaling about a dozen people coming through with a moderate to high level of interest. They really liked and appreciated the tours. Two groups were families with young kids. It's always interesting to have the children guess what the different artifacts are in the "Everything on this wall is now in your pocket" exhibit. I also like to see if kids can figure out how to open up MacPaint on the Macintosh and Paint on the Windows 3.1 machine. The basic functionality of the GUI hasn't changed since the Macintosh, so it's fun to show how kids who have never used the computer can still operate it due to user-friendly design. I also continued to work on VCF East planning and administration. -- ========================================= Jeff Brace Vice President Vintage Computer Federation

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Apple IIe Duodisk Disk Drive
by Michael Pohl 26 Jan '19

26 Jan '19

My son and I have an Apple IIe with a Duodisk 5.25 floppy drive. The floppy drive drive suddenly stopped loading programs but still lights up and make the same loud turning noise when a disk is inserted. I did some research and see that we can't load programs from drive B on the Duodisk, but that we can open it up and swap the B drive to the A location. Of course, that won't solve the problem if the problem is with the controller card or circuit board in the Duodisk. Any opinions on whether we should (a) assume there's a mechanical issue move froward with the swap or (b) do additional diagnostic work with the control card and Duodisk circuitry? If (b), what should we try? Thx, Mike Pohl

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SCSI device replacement using Raspberry Pi Zero
by Christopher Gioconda 25 Jan '19

25 Jan '19

Hey everyone, I came across this article about using a Raspberry Pi Zero to replace failing SCSI devices, thought it was an interesting idea: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/using-a-raspberry-pi-zero-scsi-adapter… Chris Gioconda

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White Ceramic 6502 for sale with questions
by Jeff G 25 Jan '19

25 Jan '19

Hi All, I have come to ask for some opinions bout a white 6502 processor that I have acquired. I has a date code 0f 4576 which I believe means the the 45th week of 1976. The problem is that it has 7 broken pins. I have no idea how that happened as this is how it came to me. It looks like it came from an Atari Sprint video game as it had "sprint" written on it in pencil which has been erased. You can still make out a faint outline of the pencil markings if you look closely. I installed it in a machined pin socket to protect the pins so I could attempt to test it with my 6502 tester. I used a CPU tester that a fellow name Molka from Hungary developed as it quickly establishes whether the CPU is dead or alive. Please see here < http://www.cpushack.com/mc680xmcs650x-test-boards-for-sale/> if you want more info. Anyway, by contacting the stubs of the missing pins to the machined pin socket, the device passes the tests so it is a functional unit. So here lies the dilemma, since I want to sell it, do I repair it or sell it as is? I have similar gold IC legs from other bad vintage chips so my repair would consist of leaving the chip in the machined pin socket and tack soldering spare gold legs on the stubs and touching up with gold plating solution if desired. So I guess the question is in preparation for sale, your opinions on whether to repair it or leave it as-is and let the buyer repair it? Here is a link to some pics of the CPU < https://1drv.ms/f/s!AoxC-mzikoIghU-LUkQUKebT0Vdm> BTW, I would like to keep the sale local/face to face as I know these are pretty rare and would hate to lose it in the mail. I am in Northern NJ. So if anyone is interested please let me know as I am accepting offers. I am reluctant to set a price because know how rare the are fully intact but don't know with the broken pins. Regards, Jeff

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Happy owner fo a Tandy MC-10
by Neil Cherry 23 Jan '19

23 Jan '19

On 1/19/19 9:06 AM, Duane Craps via vcf-midatlantic wrote: I haven't gotten the MC-10 yet (won the bid last night). Before I start buying parts for it I'll check that it works. I found some documentation on the MC-10. I already have the 68xx asm books. Really need to find that Moto 6808 CoCo board. I think that's what the MC-10 is abased on. 6800 family, binary compatible 6800 - microprocessor 6802 - 128B of RAM, (microprocessor) 6808 - No ROM, No RAM (microprocessor) 6801 - ROM, RAM, IO (microcontroller) 6803 - RAM, IO, No ROM (microcontroller) 6809 - different microprocessor, mnemonic super set (not binary compatible) I haven't checked the circuit but it might be possible to feed it 9v AC as long as you have the correct current rating (I think it's 1.5A). The DC is okay for now as long as you don't need the RS232 and the cassette (ouch). I have found the various French Alice and Alice 90 stuff. Not sure how compatible it is but it's based on the MC-10. I'm sure there is something interesting there. I have a CoCo 1/2/3, a few Grant Searle's FPGA emulation boards, I'll let you know how that goes. I also have my Sardis ST2900 which I should be working on as I know they need a few chips and then documenting how we used to get them from ROM monitor to full OS9. BTW, love the 6809. :-) -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry(a)linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies

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mYSTERY KEYBOARD
by Neil Cherry 23 Jan '19

23 Jan '19

I have a mystery keyboard from around 1985. I know the following: - Keytronics model unknown - CPU (?) markings 30293-e 20-04592-054 GI 8215 CDA 19-4148-01 REV 1 PCB 01 A65-02395 -201A Images: https://ushomeautomation.com/images/mystery-kb-back.jpg https://ushomeautomation.com/images/mystery-kb-front.jpg What I haven't done so far is to power it up. And I'm not sure if the EPROM is actually original to the keyboard. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry(a)linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] VCF East 2019 keynote suggestions?
by Dave McGuire 22 Jan '19

22 Jan '19

On 1/22/19 3:09 PM, Ben Greenfield via vcf-midatlantic wrote: >> Here's my annual request for suggestions of people who could keynote >> at VCF East. >> >> - The person must have general appeal to our audience. It can't be >> someone who did something very narrow. > > I’m going to throw the name Walt Jung who I have recently stumbled > across and seems quite lucid on the topic of op-amp. I can’t tell if > what he did was narrow (focusing on op-amps) or general op-amps are > fundamental argument. > > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Jung > > I find his writing quite comprehensible. Walt Jung is one of the world's foremost analog EEs. He's amazing and he writes damn good books. I don't see how he'd be relevant to a VCF, though, unless he wanted to give a talk about analog computers...being a known opamp expert, and analog computers consisting primarily of opamps, but still. And he's someone who is typically paid beau-coup bucks to speak at conferences, so.. -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA

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OT: help the makerspace @ InfoAge
by Evan Koblentz 22 Jan '19

22 Jan '19

From the "Many of you may already know this, but some may not" department: For the past few years there's been a makerspace located at InfoAge. It was called the Institute for Exploratory Research, or "IXR". Adjacent to the IXR's space on the InfoAge campus was the Computer Deconstruction Lab, where people can learn about modern computers. It also has a podcast studio. Neither group was an independent entity, unlike VCF, NJARC, NJHDA, etc. -- IXR and CDL were simply part of InfoAge. Now, with InfoAge's blessing, the two groups are both closing and reforming as an independent entity (just like VCF, etc.) under the CDL name. That is already underway. The new group will be branded as "Computer Deconstruction Lab -- the Jersey Shore Makerspace". CDL needs to raise $1,084 for all the business/non-profit filing fees. So far they raised $710. IXR/CDL separately have been helpful resources to VCF and to InfoAge, so let's return the favor! Perhaps VCF/Mid-Atlantic members can help CDL raise the remaining funds. (Any funds beyond that amount will be used as seed money.) The new group doesn't yet have its own bank account. As I understand it, their treasurer will be Martin Flynn, who of course is a trusted VCF member too. Their other officers will be secretary Neil Cherry (also one of us!); president Dan Jacobs (a good friend to us); and VP Joe Wilkes. I will be one of the board members, but I won't be involved in day-to-day management. VCF keeps me plenty busy. :) Until they get a bank account (and thus a PayPal account), Martin is handling the funds directly. Please contact him at maflynn(a)theflynn.org to inquire about helping them get started. (FYI: they said these donations are NOT tax-deductible, because they're ahead of the status being obtained.) The group's website is www.compdecon.org.

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