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Museum report
by Evan Koblentz 29 Mar '17

29 Mar '17

Tables were delivered at 8:30 this morning. Jeff B., Bill I., Tony's son Mike, and Mike's friend Vince all showed up to assist with schlepping. We cleared the bunk beds from one barracks room for the keynotes, moved 100 chairs to that room, set up those chairs, set up tables in the consignment room, and set up tables in one exhibit hall. Everyone had to leave by 4-ish, but then Tony came over. We set up the tables in the other exhibit hall. Tonight I have the IA weekly staff meeting at 6:30 and the Off the Hook interview at 8-ish. Then I'll clean the museum, it's a mess now!

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Stuff I'm looking for at VCF
by Jeff 29 Mar '17

29 Mar '17

Hey all - Jeff here (aka Bags). Not looking for a lot, but figured I'd throw this out there incase anyone happens to have stuff in their stash and could bring it along. I'll only be at VCF on Friday, but can make arrangements if anyone has any of this. Best bet is to email me directly at jeffg(a)junknet.net if you have any of this: #1 TI Silentwriter 700 Power Brick/Adapter (actually the one I have is a Silent 700/Travelmate 1200, 20vac). Looks like a typical smaller black wall-rat with rounded corners, and a 3 pin molex plug. I think the part # is 2310442-0001. I could use a couple other parts if someone has a busted one. #2 Commodore PET 8032 Keyboard (I'd take a busted parts unit with the number pad intact). The one I'm looking for is the one that has only 3 columns of buttons on the numeric keypad. #3 Really really reaching out there, but I have an At&t Touchtel Terminal (aka At&t Personal Terminal 510) that I'd love to find a keyboard (and keyboard garage) for. It should be branded At&t, have a flat plug simliar to the one used on the IBM Model M keyboards (keyboard side), and be fairly narrow, almost laptop sized. This shows the terminal and what the keyboard would look like: http://terminals-wiki.org/wiki/index.php/AT&T_Personal_Terminal_510. Also if anyone knows anything about it and any info that I could use to adapt a normal keyboard, I'd love to know. This particular unit is near and dear to me! I think thats about it - stuff I'm bringing to sell include a 19" SVGA monitor (CRT), 2x HP ColorPro Plotters, some NextStation part no:1477 power supplies (pizza boxes), and possibly a Zenith Lunch box computer that needs some love. Open to trades! Jeff aka Bags

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Stuff I'm bringing for consignment sale at VCF East, and call for requests.
by jsalzman＠gmail.com 29 Mar '17

29 Mar '17

Going through my collection, picking out stuff I don't need anymore to be sold at the consignment table. I'm going to load up my 20 cu.ft. trunk with as much as I can. One thing I will be bringing is a working TI-99 PEB with RS-232 card, 32KB RAM, Disk Drive and controller. If you are looking for anything in particular, let me know. If I have the item(s) and I want to sell them, I'll make those items a priority. Also, any interest in a TRS-80 Model III that needs TLC? It powers up, the keyboard contacts may need cleaned, and a connector for one of the internal ribbon cables should be fixed/soldered. Just to note, I won't be selling any requested items "out of my trunk." Any requested items I bring will be placed in the consignment room. Thanks, Jeff Salzman

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Anyone going to VCF East bringing a Processor Tech 48KRA for sale
by corey cohen 29 Mar '17

29 Mar '17

I'm in need of one, figure I'd ask if someone had one to sell at consignment or if they were considering selling one if they knew there was interest. I have other 48k S100 ram cards, just need one of these for my collection. Thanks, Corey corey cohen uǝɥoɔ ʎǝɹoɔ

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A little promotion...[KERMIT]
by Herb Johnson 28 Mar '17

28 Mar '17

An interesting fact about KERMIT the communications protocol, is that it is owned and was actively supported by Columbia University, for over 30 years. They still assert ownership, but don't provide active support today. There's few early microcomputer products or services that have had such long interest by the originators; fewer still with CURRENT interest from the owners. http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/ Columbia U's site had KERMITs for many many kinds of microcomputers and minicomputers and more. So their interest wasn't casual, they provided real resources, and also charged for some services. They apparently still sell some kind of use license. I'd be curious to hear about this at VCF-East, but that's up to Doug, he may be more interested in the technical side of KERMIT and the superbrain of course. herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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Thumb out
by Joseph Marlin 28 Mar '17

28 Mar '17

So my ride share sitch was forwarded on the mailing list like a month ago and, not at all to my surprise, nothing ever really came of it. But since I've been pretty active on the list today I figure it's worth another shot. I'm coming in on the NJT from New York eaaaaarly Friday morning, and it's about a two mile hike up to the center from there. The walk's not godawful, but it is about an hour out of my morning. So if anyone with a vehicle wants to make a friend, I would be very grateful for a pickup. Anyhow, carry on and thanks either way!

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VCF-E stuff I'll likely sell
by Herb Johnson 28 Mar '17

28 Mar '17

http://www.retrotechnology.com/vcfe12/vcf17_sales.htm Here's a Web page for the items I'll likely bring to VCF-East. They will be available in the dealer's space, where I'll be. YOu can contact me for questions but I'm a bit busy... Prices at the show. See you there. Herb Johnson tired typist -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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VCF East on Reddit
by Evan Koblentz 28 Mar '17

28 Mar '17

I posted at https://www.reddit.com/r/vintagecomputing/. Please up-vote it. ________________________________ Evan Koblentz, director Vintage Computer Federation a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit evan(a)vcfed.org (646) 546-9999 www.vcfed.org facebook.com/vcfederation twitter.com/vcfederation instagram.com/vcfederation

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Call for Extra Irons for VCF East
by Systems Glitch 28 Mar '17

28 Mar '17

All, I was going to borrow a number of Hexacon soldering stations from a former employer for VCF East, but apparently the guy who was supposed to be servicing and repairing their spares has not finished. I have three irons of my own that I'll be bringing, but I'm not sure how many people will be active in the workshop area at a given time. I'd appreciate if a few people could bring spare irons that they don't mind random people using. Stands and cleaning sponges would be good, too. Thanks, Jonathan

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Sunday Appliance Computer Panelists
by william degnan 28 Mar '17

28 Mar '17

Attention Sunday's panelists, here is some prep info for you. 1. Each of the three groups (Tandy, Apple, Commodore) will have one microphone (hopefully) that they can pass amongst the team. You can rotate who the person will be to respond to questions, does not matter to me. 2. Questions will be pretty specific game show style and hopefully closed-ended. Please keep your answers specific to the question, on-topic and paragraph length so we can get through the entire set. 3. Generally speaking the discussion will cover (*not necessarily in this order*): a. Why is 1977 an important year? b. The common characteristics of home/small business appliance computers in 1977. b.2 "Appliance computer or not"? Covers other lesser-known appliance computers available in 1977, "almost appliance" computers, etc. c Questions related to "..why today are the Apple II, Commodore Pet and Tandy TRS 80 Model 1 models are synonymous with the term appliance computer?.." d. The appliance computer in the home of 1977, typical user and what was "new" about the appliance computer owner, what drove this new market? e. Describe the appliance computer in small business in 1977, what kinds of things did the appliance computer and related peripherals begin to make obsolete? f. Compare and contrast Apple, Commodore, Tandy products. Technical, user experience, software, reliability, pet peeves, etc. g. Putting appliance computers in perspective as they relate to the overall computer industry in 1977 4. The last time I ran a panel at VCF some of the speakers took it as an opportunity to go waaay off topic "before I answer your question let me first tell you about what great new project I am working on today..." - please do not do that, ok? Feel free to contact me with questions. Bill

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