On Sun, May 9, 2021 at 3:39 PM Herb Johnson via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
Just as a matter of courtesy: consider starting a new thread when the conversation changes greatly from the "subject" line. I am a user, I'm not in charge. But since I'm posting a response, I'll change the subject line.
Yes, I agree Herb. Thanks for the catch. I usually enforce the topic drift and get people to create a new thread, but missed this one.
The subject of the thread "Needed SD card solutions for museum" was about SDcard adapters to replace floppy drives on 8-bit computers. But most of the thread now is entirely about an H89 acquired which may be donated to the VCFed museum; and/or about the utility of a "Gotek" hardware product for it that emulates various vintage floppy drives with file-storage.
Yes. We like to have original hardware, disks, etc. where possible, but modern SD card solutions make it much easier and sometimes faster to do a demonstration in the museum. As is often the case hard drives fail, floppy drives fail, disks fail, but modern solutions are easier to find, replace, fix, and troubleshoot. I also like the fact that one can have a lot of software in one place instead of spread over multiple floppies, etc.
I would have ignored the thread, except by luck. I read this list online, after the fact; not by emails. And anyone looking backwards or search, would not find those H89 interests among the subject lines, until now.
The H89 by Heath and Zenith is a great 8-bit Z80 system. It works fine with original hardware and software, and hard or soft sectored disks. One needs a controller for each, with drives dedicated for each. That's how it was done in the era. But people today do like putting modern widgets and new boards on it, some use modern mass storage. The H89 and support for it, or a system to restore or to pass to the Museum, are certainly worth their own discussion threads.
I agree. I'm endeavoring to learn more about the H89 system. Admittedly I know nothing about it other than the Heathkit legacy.