- vcf-midatlantic - lists.vcfed.org

Last call for those coming to workshop 9/17 & 9/18
by Herb Johnson 16 Sep '16

16 Sep '16

Some participants have mentioned they will repair Apple Macs (68K's). Contact me or post a list of Macs and parts needed, maybe I can bring some of those on Saturday. No freebies but I'll be generous. ;) -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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Vintage Computer Federation at Lehigh Valley FAST 2016
by Herb Johnson 16 Sep '16

16 Sep '16

Thanks from me for your excellent report on your own activities and exhibit. Your exhibit is good vintage-computing outreach. Can you also report on the other exhibits there? I am (and others I correspond with are) interested in how children today are presented with STEM technology, by the various groups that support (and sell) STEM; and how the kids themselves present their own efforts and school-sponsored projects. We compare that, with how we old-people learned about computing and electronics, in our youth. The vintage-computing connection to STEM in my opinion is this. In the vintage era of the 1960's and 70's, "STEM" was represented as "the space race", and it was mostly a federal/schools program on education fundamentals. There were few products to offer, not many computers. Apple and the Apple II were the educational "push", but that came later. And the "personal computer revolution" as group events, was mostly a product of adults in locally-formed clubs, that met in homes or in public spaces (libraries, museums, etc.). Kids were not a big part of either of these, until the video gaming rise (and fall) in the later 1980's. NONE of this was particularly "competitive" as in contests between groups to perform any kind of tasks or games, with scoring and regional/national contests. Efforts to nationalize computer clubs, didn't pan out. Later there were top-down organizations, around Apple or IBM or other specific product lines; and most supporting magazines or publications or conventions, or BBS's or email lists. STEM of course, in the schools and as supported by national groups and international corporations, is quite a contrast. The common point is that these circumstances - STEM in schools, what became vintage personal computing groups - is how these introduced "computing" technology to youngsters. We vintage-computing owners look back at vintage computers and remember our involvement, and our machines. I have no doubt that some STEM participants, will look back at their experiences and products used, with the same sort of "vintage" interests. But more relevant today to us, is when STEM participants - still kids - come to vintage computing events and exhibits, and evaluate "our" technology based on their STEM competitions and events. They will expect the kinds of "computing" they have experienced; and will have no experience with some of our earliest vintage computers which we display and describe. Todd's report, in my opinion, gives us a glimpse into the present (and the future) of vintage computing. The kid's attraction to printers, for instance, is that they are loud, use paper, and move paper around - not that they would actually READ any papery-bloggy-texty things not on a screen! And of course, the parents have their own expectations and histories, directly related to vintage computing, but likely influenced by their kid's participation in STEM. Todd and his colleagues, reported on both, thanks! (Sorry if that appears long-winded. But these are not simple concepts or even widely-held point of view. It takes time to explain such things. And frankly, it's a little frustrating to me, when I post such remarks. Why? Because I get little response. If there's no reaction, I assume I'm either off-base, boring, overwhelming, or irrelevant to those reading this list. So let me know if what I say, means anything to those reading it. Thank you.) Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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C64 CRT monitors vs LCD (was: PC speakers needed)
by Herb Johnson 16 Sep '16

16 Sep '16

1) I changed the subject line to match the discussion. I think that's a good policy to follow. 2) It's reasonable to use LCD's over CRT monitors for many reasons; of course it's good to show original equipment as well. But eight CRT's are a tough exhibition to "mount", physically and because of failures. Eight LCD's makes more sense - I can make that case if necessary, essentially CRT's are a pain in the a**. This has been discussed, and I agree with the considerations noted. 3) Dan Roganti and colleague's work on multiplayer C64 development is of value, and is exhibited annually now at VCF-East. Thus local warehousing of several LCD displays at once for that event, is a good thing. One can argue for additional LCD's for other exhibitors, that's a policy issue. But stock of them for museum use is reasonable and of course a stock exists. 3) There are still old, small, analog TV LCD monitors available in thrift stores and garage sales. I don't think they will be available much longer - they don't sell, they sell cheap, there's no more analog broadcasts TV to receive, small is out of vogue - and so on. My point - soon these old LCD TV's won't be available as used/donated. The well will run dry. Therefore: If VCF Inc is going to gather these monitors cheaply, now is the time to do that. To do that in a consistent way, means determining some criteria - size of screen is first, perhaps other features are important, maybe even brands/models desired or to be avoided. And: if exhibitors are to be supported, others (those exhibitors in particular) may wish to make contributions of LCD monitors or $$$ accordingly. Bottom line: there's no point in moving and operating dozens of large, heavy CRT monitors at exhibits and events, when a stock of small LCD TV's can be acquired now - used, cheap - and put to use locally. They won't be available used for much longer, a selection can still be made not but not later - if so desired. Support can be asked, of those who benefit - exhibitors and their audience. That's my point. Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Last call for those coming to workshop 9/17 & 9/18
by Todd George 16 Sep '16

16 Sep '16

> XX) Lost count. I'm 90% sure I'm coming at least saturday. May bring > TRS-80 M3 or 4 and H-500 with broken clock generator - Need 5000uf 10v-ish > caps, axial I suspect. ESR meter is on the way, but probably won't make it > to the show. > So some junk drawer caps and and ESR would be helpful. I'll definitely have my ESR meter. I'm low on ~5000uf caps, I need a few for my one Macintosh. Will be ordering them, but won't have them in time for the workshop due to lack of planning. See ya! -Todd

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Last call for those coming to workshop 9/17 & 9/18
by Herb Johnson 16 Sep '16

16 Sep '16

I can't provide an SE/30 case or working motherboard, sorry. I contacted you privately but I'm posting this in case that email fails. Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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PC speakers needed
by Jeffrey Brace 16 Sep '16

16 Sep '16

So Dan R. and I are planning on eventually converting from Commodore 1702 monitors to LCD monitors to connect to our Commodore 64s. We have a special adapter that we bought that connects them. But we apparently need PC speakers to produce sound from the monitors. If anyone has any extras that they want to give us or know of a place where we can get them inexpensively, then please let us know! We just need tiny ones, nothing too big by the way. -- Jeff Brace - ark72axow(a)gmail.com

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Interesting local artifact
by Evan Koblentz 16 Sep '16

16 Sep '16

There was a quasi-famous computer store in Manhattan called Tekserve. They specialized in Apple and closed recently. The owner auctioned a lot of the assets and collectibles. Someone in California bid on their outdoor neon sign as a joke. He never expected in a million years to win, but that's what happened. Then he realized it's 13 feet long, two feet high, weighs 80 pounds, and isn't easy to ship to the west coast! He contacted several museums in NYC and they all ignored him or declined to take it. Then he contacted me. I told him to try to NY Hall of Science or NYC Resistor, and if they decline then we'll take it. Maybe it can hang in our museum during the next big move in another few years. Meanwhile, it was costing him a fortune to store in NY, so he's having it UPS'd to us. I told him we can store it for a few weeks until he finds a home for it or donates it to us. It's being delivered Saturday. We will keep it safe in the warehouse.

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Lego + Logo
by Evan Koblentz 16 Sep '16

16 Sep '16

Ben G. loaned us his Lego kit for the Apple II and IBM PC. We used the IBM PC part for HOPE and we're using the Apple II part for World Maker Faire next month. The IBM version had some issues. Its initialization program was buggy, which Jon C. fixed. One of the commands to turn off a port still didn't work. Jon thinks it is because (at least in part) that the Compaq 386 we used is too fast; the kit is made for an IBM PC. Anyway, the kit lacked the Apple II card, but we had the schematics so Jon built one (see his email thread from Tuesday). He mailed it to me and it arrived today. I've only tried some minimal commands but it works great so far. One thing I love about it is the speed control command -- "setpower (1-7)". The BASIC version doesn't do that so I had to build a Lego gear reduction which was fun but shouldn't be necessary. What should I build? There are two motors, four lights, one optical sensor, and one touch sensor. Lego documentation lists many examples such as the classic Turtle (follow the line, draw, etc.) but I'd like to do something different. Ideas so far: - Robot arm. Programmatically move it around, grab stuff, release. Not unlike the Radio Shack "Armitron" but programmed instead of just moving levers. - "Ping-Pong Ball Enlarging Machine". Use simple robot arm to put a ping-pong ball into a hole in a box, then watch kids get surprised when a trap door opens and a Wiffleball pops out. Convince them it's the same ball, just enlarged. :) - A car game that involves programming it to accomplish tasks. Certain direction to hit a sensor, certain speed to jump a gulf, etc. Any other ideas? It's VITAL to remember that the families/children at Maker Faire have short attention spans. We cannot take time to give every visitor a programming lesson. The past couple of years our booths were in loud locations and we regularly had 10-20 people waiting their turn to see us at any time.

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Thank you -- mini fridge benefactor
by Evan Koblentz 15 Sep '16

15 Sep '16

Thank you to the person donating funds for a mini-fridge to go in our museum workshop. He asked to remain anonymous.

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Last call for those coming to workshop 9/17 & 9/18
by Herb Johnson 15 Sep '16

15 Sep '16

I will likely come sometime Saturday, to visit with a few of the participants. I will not need a table. I have competing events to attend thru the weekend. Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net

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