Revised, My take on "what is vintage computing"
I revised an article I wrote the other day to further define my take on "what is vintage computing" from the hobbyist perspective. https://www.kennettclassic.com/the-new-generation-of-classic-computing-hobby... Bill
Nicely written and very much agreed, Bill! On Mon, Dec 21, 2020 at 10:09 AM Bill Degnan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
I revised an article I wrote the other day to further define my take on "what is vintage computing" from the hobbyist perspective.
https://www.kennettclassic.com/the-new-generation-of-classic-computing-hobby...
Bill
On 12/21/20 10:59 AM, Alexander Jacocks via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
Nicely written and very much agreed, Bill!
On Mon, Dec 21, 2020 at 10:09 AM Bill Degnan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
I revised an article I wrote the other day to further define my take on "what is vintage computing" from the hobbyist perspective.
https://www.kennettclassic.com/the-new-generation-of-classic-computing-hobby...
Computers the invisible menace in every thing. ;-) I'd love to see more about things like the 4 bit computers and bit slicers. What is a bit slice computer? One of the interesting things about the x86 era is that as IBM patents expired we'd suddenly find that technology in the x86 computers. One of the bad things is that x86 has been everywhere since 1986. Almost the exact same software, the same CPU, the same drives. Networking was starting and an interesting subject (I supported them all, XNS, PUP, etc.). Graphics cards got interesting. Palmtops, some laptops, video game?, early cell phones? The problem with the x86 era is that we're still kind of in it. That doesn't mean I haven't kept my 6386sx. :-) It was running Linux 1.2 (might be running as high as 2.4). I wonder what a vintage computer will look like in 20 years. I have several tinyML edge computers (limited AI in the small arm computer). I guess the cell phones will be the new vintage computer. BTW, I think one of the reasons for rejecting all but the most interesting x86 (original PC, Compag lunch box, etc.) was that folks were dumping their old (last generation) PC. And now I am selling the old PC clones motherboards, really need to clean out the attic better. ;-) -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
On Mon, Dec 21, 2020 at 02:17:50PM -0500, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I'd love to see more about things like the 4 bit computers and bit slicers. What is a bit slice computer?
"Bit slicing is a technique for constructing a processor from modules of processors of smaller bit width, for the purpose of increasing the word length." The bit slice I have some knowledge of executed microcode the designer created to implement the instruction set desired or the microcode directly implemented the desired functionality for special hardware. Should be able to find more online. Most use it for referring to machines using the couple chips intended for this purpose such as the AM290x. I thought it was neat that Tek used the 290x chips in the 4052 to make a faster upgrade of the 4051 which used a 6800. They made a faster 6800 than you could buy as a microprocessor. They also added new floating point instructions since it wasn't as fast as they hoped. https://w140.com/tekwiki/wiki/4052
On 12/21/20 8:11 PM, David Gesswein via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
On Mon, Dec 21, 2020 at 02:17:50PM -0500, Neil Cherry via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
I'd love to see more about things like the 4 bit computers and bit slicers. What is a bit slice computer?
"Bit slicing is a technique for constructing a processor from modules of processors of smaller bit width, for the purpose of increasing the word length."
The bit slice I have some knowledge of executed microcode the designer created to implement the instruction set desired or the microcode directly implemented the desired functionality for special hardware. Should be able to find more online.
Most use it for referring to machines using the couple chips intended for this purpose such as the AM290x. I thought it was neat that Tek used the 290x chips in the 4052 to make a faster upgrade of the 4051 which used a 6800. They made a faster 6800 than you could buy as a microprocessor. They also added new floating point instructions since it wasn't as fast as they hoped. https://w140.com/tekwiki/wiki/4052
Okay bit processors were CPU construction sets. :-) Thanks for the cool link. I'm still trying wrap my head around the 16 bit 6800 compatible. :-) The Floating point makes a lot of sense but most 6800 instructions were 8 bit (not all) so the 16 bit part and the speed increase over the 1Mhz 6800. -- Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies
Bill, I would change the word "sludge" to "slog" in this line: rather than *sludge* through a computer timeline yawn fest. Other than that, good article. Bill Dudley This email is free of malware because I run Linux. On Mon, Dec 21, 2020 at 10:09 AM Bill Degnan via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
I revised an article I wrote the other day to further define my take on "what is vintage computing" from the hobbyist perspective.
https://www.kennettclassic.com/the-new-generation-of-classic-computing-hobby...
Bill
participants (5)
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Alexander Jacocks -
Bill Degnan -
David Gesswein -
Neil Cherry -
William Dudley