- vcf-midatlantic - lists.vcfed.org

new desktop/micro exhibit -- pick 32 now
by Herb Johnson 09 Nov '15

09 Nov '15

New entry: RCA COSMAC Microtutor with 1801 COSMAC chipset (became 1802 microprocessor). It's small and rare. The museum has one. Dates to 1974 probably. Other reasons: First CMOS microprocessor, which matters because many subsequent microprocessor used CMOS to reduce power. RCA created the CMOS process for digital logic chips and then for the COSMAC. One of the first microprocessor development products from RCA. The COSMAC microprocessor was developed here in New Jersey. Likely the first microprocessor in space. May be the first microprocessor for emissions controls in cars (Chrysler). Direct predecessor of the "COSMAC ELF", a popular you-wire-it COSMAC design by the lead COSMAC developer Joseph Weisbecker; published in Popular Electronics. Many many versions of the ELF have been created and produced every decade since, to the present day. Used in RCA video game and video terminal products (not that popular but known to collectors of early video game computers). Those who argue the 1802 "was a loser so forgetit" might explain why a computing museum should show only "the winners", and set a dollar or production count for "winning". To make space: If space is needed, I suggest choosing between the Commodore 64 and the Commodore VIC-20. I'm sure they are very different but I'm not sure many people would know the difference. The Commodore brand is well-represented among the choices given. The VIC-20 and C-64 could take turns on display. Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com

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My test with a new e-mail address
by Jeffrey Brace 09 Nov '15

09 Nov '15

Apparently the new list doesn't work with MSN, so I have missed many posts. So I changed it to my gmail address. Let's hope that this is working.

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Museum report
by Evan Koblentz 08 Nov '15

08 Nov '15

Went to the museum yesterday. There were three large groups visiting -- NJIT alumni (including our own Jeff J.), Air Force Association, and I forget the name of the third group. Each group had about a dozen people who were interested in our exhibits. There were also a decent amount of regular museum visitors, so it was a good day. Was going to do a few things in the warehouse but I forgot to bring the key! Anyway, I stayed and helped with the Halloween event (final night). InfoAge bought pizza for everyone afterward.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Place your hoodie orders
by VAXman＠tmesis.org 07 Nov '15

07 Nov '15

Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic writes: >>> Sending this message to the old list in addition to new list, so >nobody >> claims "I didn't get it" later.... >> >> We are ready to take >orders for the Federation hoodies. They'll be black >> with front >pockets and (obviously) hoods. Design will be our new logo on >> the >front. Only change is the keys won't have the gray shadow, because >> >that would be a third color and too expensive. > > Logo? > >Posted a while back: http://www.snarc.net/vcf-logo-preview.png > >Only change for the sweatshirts is the keycap shadow will be gone, in >favor of an altered version with line-drawn keycaps. How large will it be on the hoodie and where?

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our new museum -- micro exhibit -- pick 28!
by Evan Koblentz 07 Nov '15

07 Nov '15

Everyone, This is going to be a fun thread. PLEASE DON'T FORK IT. :) Tentatively, we'll have space for 28 microcomputers in that section of our new museum exhibit. This begs the question: which ones? I made a preliminary list. Some ground rules: - Do we have the system and does it work or can realistically be made to work? - What is *** MOST *** historically important? (Thus some of our personal favorites may be initially excluded... examples: Atari 800, Commodore VIC-20, DEC Rainbow, Epson QX-10, and many others) - Exhibits aren't permanent, so some could be rotated in/out. ---------------------- That being said, here's my list of 28. We will probably display them chronologically. Pardon anything obvious that I forgot. Very important: Don't just reply with lists of other notable microcomputers, or make a huge fuss that the CyberBlahBlah-25 was the first with the XYTTTGH 8081 chip, etc. .... I want to hear solid arguments for/against the historical importance of whatever systems you think we should include/exclude. 1. Our homebrewed "Dudley" PDP-8 clone 2. Apple 1 (Mimeo) 3. Apple 2 4. Apple Lisa (2/10) 5. Apple Mac 128K 6. Apple Mac Portable 7. AT&T (but which one? 6300, 7300, or 3B2?) 8. Commodore PET 2001 9. Commodore 64 10. Commodore Amiga (500?) 11. Compaq Portable 12. HP-85B 13. IBM 5100 14. IBM 5150 15. IBM PC Jr. 16. IBM (or generic) Windows 3.1 17. IMSAI 8080 18. Mark-8 19. MITS Altair 8800 20. MOS Tech KIM-1 21. Osborne 1 22. Processor Tech SOL-20 23. Scelbi-8H (repro) 24. Sinclair ZX-80 25. SWTPC 6800 26. TRS-80 Model 1 27. TRS-80 Model 100 28. Xerox 860 And ..... go!

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] DOS Floppy Disks
by tom.hornberger＠verizon.net 06 Nov '15

06 Nov '15

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Testing new address
by Tony Bogan 06 Nov '15

06 Nov '15

Seeing if this works any better than the yahoo address. Tony Sent from my iPhone

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MINI WORKSHOP - Pottstown PA - Saturday November 14th
by tom.hornberger＠verizon.net 06 Nov '15

06 Nov '15

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] our new museum -- micro exhibit -- pick 28!
by Evan Koblentz 06 Nov '15

06 Nov '15

Aaarrrgghhh -- Chris' message arrived here as an .eml attachment. WTF is causing that and how do we fix it!!?? Anyway, Chris said this: --------------------- Whats missing: Atari 400/800.. Why? I can argue that this computer is the one that pushed home users from game machines to computers. Atari designed these machines for non-hobbyist home users by putting in cartridge ports and having composite output. They sold these through SEARS. I think these are engineering marvels for the time and are very under appreciated. I know that the PET/Apple II came out earlier, but they were not targeted to home users. Yes some people purchased them for the home. They were not designed that way. The Apple II was a $1200 just for the machine and over $2000 complete. I would argue that is not targeting the Home Computer Market. The Ti99/4 came out before the Atari but at $1,150 it was not targeted at the home market.. The TI99/4a in 1981 was at $525. VIC-20 First million sold, ushered in a lot of adoption Next Workstation Ahead of it's time, HTTPd developed, Web Developed @ CERN So I think these can be removed KIM-1, Should be part of a CPU collection, which I think the museum should have. IBM PC Jr., I don't see the significance HP-85B, I don't see the significance Our homebrewed "Dudley" PDP-8 clone. N Apple Mac Portable, there were earlier laptops SWTPC 6800 --------------------- My comments: >> Atari 400/800 ... They sold these through SEARS. Good point. >> I know that the PET/Apple II came out earlier, but they were not targeted to home users. Yes some people purchased them for the home. They were not designed that way. So? Exhibit isn't just about home computers. Nothing will convince us to remove the PET and Apple II. :) >> The Apple II was a $1200 just for the machine and over $2000 complete. I would argue that is not targeting the Home Computer Market. Schools, my friend!!! Apple II dominated. >> Next Workstation Ahead of it's time We don't have one. >> So I think these can be removed KIM-1, Should be part of a CPU collection, which I think the museum should have. Eventually. There won't be room for that exhibit in stage one. >> IBM PC Jr., I don't see the significance Big Blue's entry into home computing. >> HP-85B, I don't see the significance HP was a big player in engineering micros, while the home users were building Altairs and playing with BASIC .... I think we should teach this. Too many history books teach people that homebrew and hobby systems were the ONLY small computers back then. Our homebrewed "Dudley" PDP-8 clone. N As previously explained -- this is our best example, albeit technically a mini, of a desktop-sized homemade system. Got to show at least one such thing. Apple Mac Portable, there were earlier laptops Of course, I wrote a book about that. :) Maybe show something that was more of a commodity, such as (any) run-of-the-mill mid/late-1980s laptop.

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Re: [vcf-midatlantic] eml attachments
by Evan Koblentz 06 Nov '15

06 Nov '15

> Simple fix for me. Add me to the list with the address: thebogans(a)mac.com Done. You'll get a confirmation email.

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