On 1/3/23 10:09, Neil Cherry wrote:
Dave I think we need to get you a 68000 OS-9 system for the LSSM! Taking the Large Scale technologies and putting them into the little scale devices.
I would absolutely love that. What hardware do you think would be appropriate? -Dave Mc Guire
Maybe 20 years ago, I worked in the Princeton NJ area for a tiny company that produced a PC board imaging scanning system, for PC board component inspection. It used an analog TV camera on an X-Y mount, digitized images, and recognition software trained on other images. Of course it looked for component errors, misplacement, etc. The computer was a Motorola VMEbus 68000 system, running on OS-9 68K. The image processing code, was FORTH. Motorola produced a range of VMEbus 68K systems, as did other companies. But Motorola created the VMEbus. I believe OS-9 68K found a lot of industrial use, it was a bit pricey in hardware and software for home/hobby users. But many hobbyists and business people familiar with SS-50 and OS-9 6809 (and Flex), found their way to OS-9. And i think there was an OS-9 flavor for the Tandy Color Computer (6809) line. Early Sun stuff was 68000 I believe. Unix ran on 68000's. and of course, the Macintosh was 68K before PowerPC. Later in life, I've accumulated some VMEbus cards including various 68000 and 68010 boards and I/O cards and chassis. They are out-of-favor now of course, but I get requests occasionally for replacement boards, not much hobby interest. No software for them. An OS-9 port would not be hard, but too hard for me. To Dave's question. It's a decision in a vintage computing collection, to select industrial equipment, business equipment, or hobby equipment, or the crossovers. People choose what's familiar to them, from whatever domains where they encountered computers they found of interest. "Hardware appropriate"? Depends on your goals. But a 21st cent. SS-50 6809 running NitrOS9, next to a 68000 industrial thingy running something (OS-9, Unix), and a Tandy Color Computer nearby, would be a Motorola trifecta. Add the SWTPC 6800 running Flex on floppy to get something seriously vintage. Regards, Herb -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT comcast DOT net
On 1/3/23 21:39, Herbert Johnson via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Maybe 20 years ago, I worked in the Princeton NJ area for a tiny company that produced a PC board imaging scanning system, for PC board component inspection. It used an analog TV camera on an X-Y mount, digitized images, and recognition software trained on other images. Of course it looked for component errors, misplacement, etc.
The computer was a Motorola VMEbus 68000 system, running on OS-9 68K. The image processing code, was FORTH. Motorola produced a range of VMEbus 68K systems, as did other companies. But Motorola created the VMEbus.
Neat!!
Early Sun stuff was 68000 I believe. Unix ran on 68000's. and of course, the Macintosh was 68K before PowerPC.
Yes, earlier Suns were based on 68010s, 68020s, and 68030s.
To Dave's question. It's a decision in a vintage computing collection, to select industrial equipment, business equipment, or hobby equipment, or the crossovers. People choose what's familiar to them, from whatever domains where they encountered computers they found of interest.
"Hardware appropriate"? Depends on your goals. But a 21st cent. SS-50 6809 running NitrOS9, next to a 68000 industrial thingy running something (OS-9, Unix), and a Tandy Color Computer nearby, would be a Motorola trifecta. Add the SWTPC 6800 running Flex on floppy to get something seriously vintage.
The goal in this case is for LSSM to show off OS-9 on a 68K system. We've wanted to do that for some time. The emphasis in this case is on the operating system and its capabilities. -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
On Tue, 3 Jan 2023, Herbert Johnson via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I believe OS-9 68K found a lot of industrial use, it was a bit pricey in hardware and software for home/hobby users. But many hobbyists and business people familiar with SS-50 and OS-9 6809 (and Flex), found their way to OS-9. And i think there was an OS-9 flavor for the Tandy Color Computer (6809) line.
I have OS-9 for the Tandy Color Computer: http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/Tandy/OS9-1L.jpg One of these days, I'll get around to trying it, although I should probably go with NitrOS-9. Mike Loewen mloewen@cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/
On 1/3/2023 9:57 PM, Mike Loewen via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On Tue, 3 Jan 2023, Herbert Johnson via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I believe OS-9 68K found a lot of industrial use, it was a bit pricey in hardware and software for home/hobby users. But many hobbyists and business people familiar with SS-50 and OS-9 6809 (and Flex), found their way to OS-9. And i think there was an OS-9 flavor for the Tandy Color Computer (6809) line.
I have OS-9 for the Tandy Color Computer:
http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/Tandy/OS9-1L.jpg
One of these days, I'll get around to trying it, although I should probably go with NitrOS-9.
I have always admired how the CoCo, with the 6809 & OS-9, ended up with one of the most powerful operating systems among the other affordable home computers. I'm not sure what those user accomplished with it, that would be interesting to hear about if someone wanted to start a thread on that.
Mike Loewen mloewen@cpumagic.scol.pa.us Old Technology http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/
On 1/3/23 21:57, Mike Loewen via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On Tue, 3 Jan 2023, Herbert Johnson via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I believe OS-9 68K found a lot of industrial use, it was a bit pricey in hardware and software for home/hobby users. But many hobbyists and business people familiar with SS-50 and OS-9 6809 (and Flex), found their way to OS-9. And i think there was an OS-9 flavor for the Tandy Color Computer (6809) line.
I have OS-9 for the Tandy Color Computer:
http://q7.neurotica.com/Oldtech/Tandy/OS9-1L.jpg
One of these days, I'll get around to trying it, although I should probably go with NitrOS-9.
I've been interested in running it on a CoCo, but honestly I'd prefer an ASCII terminal on a serial port to that level of video. :-/ Don't get me wrong, I think CoCos are great machines. But for running a powerful OS with editors, compilers, etc...it screams out for good text terminals. -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
participants (4)
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Dave McGuire -
Douglas Crawford -
Herbert Johnson -
Mike Loewen