- vcf-midatlantic - lists.vcfed.org

2nd call for VCF East 13 Saturday Dinner Survey
by Jeffrey Brace 01 Apr '18

01 Apr '18

Here is the survery again: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DV5T7PN I only got 11 responses so far. I was hoping to have more. I will give it another week and then close out the survey. Then the local admin group will decide what to do based on the results. Thanks! Jeff Brace

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UCSD P-System on a hard drive - any pointers?
by Glenn Roberts 01 Apr '18

01 Apr '18

Can't recall if I've asked this here before - looking for anyone with personal experience or connections to enable hosting the UCSD P-System OS on an 8-bit system (Heathkit) with a hard drive. I'm looking for more depth than you can find by just Googling (I'm familiar with most of that content I think). I'm not that interested in the later version by Pecan that was for the IBM PC. If you've no interest then thanks and enjoy your day, otherwise more detail below. tx! * Glenn I have fond memories of using the P system on a Terak 8510a - that was a pretty cool platform (LSI-11 based; wondering - does the museum have one?) P-System was never a big success for multiple reasons, but it has some nice qualities that make it worth preserving, including full screen editing and an IDE-like environment, semi open source (at least the pre-commercial versions done at UCSD) and broad platform support. It was a learning environment that I suspect influenced many who were new to computer science in the late 70's so it deserves a place in the annals of personal computing history. I'm working on a Heathkit platform (H8 or 89). I have the Heath implementations (both rev II and rev IV) but Heath never bothered to support their own hard drive (Z67) - probably because the P-System was rapidly fading around the time that came out. Working with floppy versions is tedious and unreliable - I'd like to host this on my Z67 emulator on the Heathkit. I'm aware that UCSD has released the earlier versions (I.5, II) but the most promising approach (I think) is to use the later "CP/M Adaptable" release. This uses a translator layer to map the P-System BIOS to the CP/M BIOS. We already have CP/M BIOS support for the Z67. The preferable release would seem to be Rev IV from Softech since that supports "Winchester" drives and memory swapping, etc. Again I have a licensed copy of the IV release but it's the Heath tailored one - I'm thinking the CP/M Adaptable one is a better starting point. I've found many of the needed pieces of this in the Maslin archive and in Bitsavers so I've got most (maybe even all) of the pieces of the puzzle but it's a bit tedious to piece together a working system. So if you've got experience (or only interest) in this topic or more importantly know of any substantial work that's been done (or an "expert" - perhaps someone from Softech or the original UCSD team?) I'd be interested in more information. Thanks! - gfr

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Museum Report 2018-03-31 March 31, 2018
by Jeffrey Brace 31 Mar '18

31 Mar '18

I was at the museum today giving tours while Evan and Adam worked in the warehouse and in the museum to rearrange an exhibit and to work on the server etc. for the tablets. He can give you details later on what he and Adam worked on. A steady stream of visitors today. They came in two by two. Lots of highly interested people with lots of questions. A funny story with the first pair, a father and son. They son who was about 16 years old seemed to have some knowledge of vintage computers by reputation, but not personal experience. They needed to rush out and the boy was sad that he didn't have time to try some BASIC programming. I told him that the Commodore 64 was my favorite and that he could always buy one at a reasonable price nowadays. Then Evan and Adam came in the door carrying a C64. I told them of his interest and they gave him the C64. This C64 was found in the Camp Evans Base Of Terror area, so it was exposed to the elements and probably not in working condition, but the kid loved it. We told him that he could come to our workshop and get assistance repairing it. I also told him about our VCF East in May. One guy used to work at Fort Monmouth and Camp Evans and loved our new MOBIDIC display. So lots of fun being docent today with visitors excited and interested. I switched out the Star Gemini-10X printer above the C64 with a Commodore 1526 printer, which was common in that time period and matches the color well. I plan on borrowing the Star Gemini 10X for my exhibit at VCF East with Computer which will use Computer Eyes to capture a still image from a video camera and then print it out on the printer for attendees to take home.

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LOGO Turtles, etc.
by Erik Klein 31 Mar '18

31 Mar '18

Hello, I'm on the hunt for some LOGO turtles for a project at the Computer History Museum. Does anyone have any they're willing to part with or a line on some I could beg or buy? I'd also like LOGO for Apple ][ and Atari if anyone is willing. Thank you, -- ----- Erik Klein www.vintage-computer.com - My personal collection www.vcfed.org - The Vintage Computer Federation www.vcfed.org/forum <http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum> - The Vintage Computer Forums marketplace.vintage-computer.com - The Vintage Computer and Gaming Marketplace

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OT Warning - Non VCF Project Help
by Martin A Flynn 31 Mar '18

31 Mar '18

OT Warning : The team from the Computer Deconstruction Lab is working on a cost reduction project to assist InfoAge. The project has the potential to save InfoAge more than $1500 a year by consolidating cable modems used for data. Basic project is running aerial fiber optic cable between two areas * Building 9059 (the IXR building) and Building 9010 C/D (the Visitor Center area ) * Building 9059 (the IXR building) and Building 9010 A/B (VCF Museum area ) Where we need help: Before installation, loss testing the donated bulk fiber to be used on the run between Building 9059 (the IXR building) and Building 9010 A/B (VCF Museum) To keep the list clutter down, please reply directly. Martin Flynn

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Interesting article about preserving Apple software (not hardware)
by Herb Johnson 29 Mar '18

29 Mar '18

> "Cracking" software to preserve it is akin to taking a picture of artwork > and letting the original rot away in my opinion. > > Sure, some of the original bit patterns are intact, but it's not close to > an original in any sense of the word. I don't see the need to trash-talk, people who are working hard to recover programs and files from digital media. I"ve worked with a number of people who recover files from diskettes and audio cassettes. I'm doing so today. Some work with the physical media, some work with decoding the "flux changes", some with emulators and some with vintage or modern-replica hardware. Some even resurrect hardware unavailable, or never available. They all, are collectively preserving programs and vintage computers, and making the experience of operating those programs available again. They are getting results. Results matter. I'm in no position to judge the merits of the product and services he's described. He's welcome to be enthusiastic, have particular interests, want to preserve certain things. I just don't care that he calls out other people's good work in the way he has. If we don't defend the good work of others, then maybe they won't work so hard to do more. Or get started at all. There's reasons to keep discussions "of good will". This is a discussion group, not an advertising platform. Perhaps in Mr. Courbis' enthusiasm for a product release, he wasn't clear about that concept. herb johnson retrotechnology.com -- 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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WANTED: Camcorder operators (and camcorders) for VCF East class recording
by Jeffrey Brace 29 Mar '18

29 Mar '18

Future VCF East attendees: Last year we had a team of 5 people recording all the Friday classes at VCF East. This year three of them are unavailable. I was able to get two new operators, but would like to have two more as backup and to give the other operators a break. We need confidant, committed people to record Friday May 18 classes. Saturday and Sunday keynotes are already covered. This is a serious request, so only serious replies desired. Send me a personal e-mail if you are interested in being an operator. We are also looking to borrow the highest quality camcorders. We have camcorders, but desire the highest quality. If you have one which we can borrow, then send me a private reply. Thanks! Jeff Brace

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OT: Free CD printer available
by Kelly Leavitt 29 Mar '18

29 Mar '18

I have an extra RIMAGE Everest III printer for free if anyone wants it. Goes to the recycler Friday if no one wants it. You can come to Sparta NJ to pick up or I can bring to VCF. I do not have the driver CD, but I do have 5 sets of thermal ribbons for it. Here's what it looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr7YdWLi0Ds <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr7YdWLi0Ds>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbkSl3YO7pk I just have the printer. The robotics system went up in smoke and has already been recycled. vcfed and Infoage have first dibs.

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Interesting article about preserving Apple software (not hardware)
by Christopher Gioconda 29 Mar '18

29 Mar '18

Admittedly I'm a Commodore guy, but this link about Apple software preservation was shared in a Commodore group on Facebook. It made me think about our recent conservation conversation, and I had a realization it isn't just about hardware. Software mediums, like floppy diskettes and tapes, are falling victim to entropy and require efforts to preserve them in new ways that are more durable and futureproof. Anyway, here is the link: https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/gv39mx/programmers-are-racing-to… Chris

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Museum report today
by Tony Bogan 28 Mar '18

28 Mar '18

Left work early so I could finally pant that section of wall in the museum white to match the rest of the walls in the museum (where I had removed and closed off the old door last year) Stopped at the front desk and let them know I'd be in the museum for a couple hours before I had to go back to work in case anyone stopped by. Well, ended up not getting any painting done as I had half a dozen visitors come through between 1:30 and 3:30 (the only time I had to paint!) The first visitors were a husband and wife that were very interested. They are both programmers and they started their careers on punch card systems. They took the full tour and asked lots of questions. They were also very interested in VCF East coming up. The next two visitors were individuals that came one after the other spaced about a half hour apart. Both gentlemen asked lots of questions. They were mostly interested in the micros since those were the machines they get up using (one had a trs 80, the other an apple II) The past couple were a mother and teenage son. Their interest level was extremely high, and the mother used to work for xerox from the late 80s through the early 2000s. They stayed long after the tour asking lots of questions. I showed them the videos I have of Bill Dromgoole working in the Univac and then ended up telling them everything bill has taught me about its use and inner workings. They too showed interest in VCF East. So the wall is still the same color as it was before the day started! I was disappointed at first that I could not get the work done (Wednesdays are usually dead) but in the end it was a great day with some of the most engaged people I've had while at the museum. Tony Sent from my iPhone

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