I owned one for many years, IPL'd it, that's about it. I have software that one can use to connect via an IBM Convertible Laptop somehow to perform diagnostics. http://vintagecomputer.net/browse_thread.cfm?id=206 I sold the machine to what was once MARCH and then they sold it to the LSSM (Dave McGuire et al museum) in Pittsburgh, but it's still sitting in the warehouse waiting to be picked up. I tried to make something of the machine, even got some help from an ex IBM'er but he told me that they used to get them up and running and then *they* ran...hoping to never have to support it/see it again. http://vintagecomputer.net/ibm/Series1/ http://vintagecomputer.net/browse_thread.cfm?id=12 "Good Luck" if you get it, but the person to talk to is Dave McGuire. Bill On Sat, Oct 13, 2018 at 1:11 PM Dave Wade via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Cory,
I have a little knowledge of Series/1. I used to work on some VM/CMS X.25 software that used one to talk to interface X.25 to mainframe channels. Not sure why there are not more in private hands. Perhaps they were leased, or just not popular? They are a bit special. In the UK IBM used them to do building control. There are no emulators, probably because IBM was stricter at controlling software than say DEC and the PDP-11 and PDP-8 ranges. So if you could find one it should be a reasonable price, but finding one might be challenging. You certainly won't find a pile of interface cards on E-Bay like you might for a PDP-8 or PDP-11.
Dave
-----Original Message----- From: Burning Image <visual_storytellers@yahoo.com> Sent: 13 October 2018 17:36 To: vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org Subject: IBM Series/1 Collecting?
Hi. All:
Over the years, I've owned many systems, going back to 8080-based hardware. I've also had more than a few PDP-11 and MicroVAX systems. I'm now looking for something a little different and could use some guidance.
In the early eighties, I worked for a company in NJ that refurbished IBM mainframe systems. They also sold Series/1 mini's. One of the partners was even developing the hardware interface and software for a cartridge tape backup system. For some reason, I now have the urge to play with a Series/1 system of my own.
Thinking back, I've seen very little - if anything - about someone owning one. Perhaps there's a good reason for this. I'm also not seeing too much on used systems, peripherals, or software - like languages - I could use to develop some applications. Perhaps there's a good reason for that, too.
Is it worth pursuing the acquisition of this old system or is it best left alone? Any constructive advice on this would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance, Cory Sickles