On Nov 6, 2015, at 12:37 AM, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
On 11/05/2015 10:54 PM, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic wrote: 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?
Historical importance is hard. After the initial IBM PC clones I don't see any clones that stands out. But before (during) we have a lot going on. While the Amiga's and later Macs were mostly post IBM 5150 they have some significance. Then the OS starts to become the more significant part. Though the later x86 (>= 386) are significant and are starting to fall into the area of Vintage. While the ARM doesn't fall into Vintage it is significant. Yes, I know this is the tough part of the argument.
Exclude list (just opinion):
1. Our homebrewed "Dudley" PDP-8 clone When was this built?
7. AT&T (but which one? 6300, 7300, or 3B2?) Not the 6300 it's an insignificant clone, Not sure about the other 2's significance. Sun vs AT&T, BSD vs SYSV was this on the 3B2?
12. HP-85B 13. IBM 5100 Lab computers, not insignificant but seems a bit out of place with the rest.
15. IBM PC Jr. It's a clone, made by IBM. Not one of my favorites.
16. IBM (or generic) Windows 3.1 Not insignificant, but which clone? The OS is more important than the clone but a generic clone might be the perfect choice.
24. Sinclair ZX-80 Not significant (IMO), the Acorn seems more important.
25. SWTPC 6800 SS20 and SS50 bus, not significant but seems a bit out of place. I think the OS Flex and OS9 are significant.
What about an IBM PS/2 model 50 as an early example of a 386 machine? That is historically significant since it was the beginning of ia32 32-bit pc line, and it will run Linux or minix or 386BSD as a historical OS?