Here's as much info as I can pull off the mainboard

Machine Serial:
0177038

On the planar:

SW1
on on on on off on on off

SW2
on off on on off off off off

Evan Koblentz wrote:

Ironic timing .... I got a package in the mail from Jon Titus,
containing all of the original IBM PC press releases from 1981 to 1983,
plus the MS-DOS and GW BASIC floppies. Says he found them while
cleaning his house. 

What version of DOS - 2.11 or 3.2, something like that?

Label doesn't say. But I noticed the fine print just now -- "copyright 1987" -- so it must be a newer version, not the original disks.

Now that the springtime fun is behind us, MARCH's summer mission is to
build more museum exhibits in time for VCF East.

Here is my revised plan (remember the "titles" below are only for
list-explaining purposes, so don't get too caught up in them!)

Room 1 (the big room).
  >> Far end (where we currently have the micros) = pre-industrial
computing (abacus, slide rule, Babbage, etc.)
  >> Middle = 1940s/1950s -- medium-sized exhibit of ENIAC, Univac,
MOBIDIC, etc.
  >> Other end (minicomputers -- where they currently are -- meaning we
don't have to move our heaviest stuff.)

Room 2 (small room).
  >> Homebrew-era computing.

Room 3 (small room).
  >> Appliance computing (1977 - 1984)

Room 4 (small room).
  >> Open for rotating exhibits (random artifact of the month; members'
cool things; minor exhibits of other topics such as portables / storage
/ OS / games / Grabbe / etc.)

All of these exhibits will have some elbow room (not all stuff together
like things are now) and all will have thorough signage.  We'll also try
to flesh out the exhibits with fuller systems, i.e. relevant manuals,
peripherals, etc., not just raw computers like we have currently.

I think this is a good plan that satisfies everyone -- it's not too
micro-centric, not too bare of signs and accessories, not too crowded
space-wise (and maybe more like the shipwreck museum where things are
really spread out and the rooms generally feels more museum-like),
covers most of history, leaves room for members' individual interests,
makes the best use of MARCH's existing collection, etc.

If anyone has any MAJOR objections, then raise them now (next day or
two) .... otherwise the above outline represents our overall goal for
the summer exhibit-building season.

Thanks for the info, Bill
Some more questions

Does it matter whether I take video from the CGA port or the composite?

So I could, if I wished, install an MFM hard drive/controller, or perhaps a hardcard. Correct?

Also, due to the different ROM, will it support a full 640k, or the 544k from the first gen?

Joe

The press release
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Computer-History-Museum-998047.html

The pages
http://www.computerhistory.org/highlights/earlyapple/

> Evan - the disk you gave me for the IBM at MARCH has some bare spots,
> the drive needs to be cleaned or replaced.    Do we have any
> replacement Tandon 100-2a drives at MARCH?
I don't know.

Hello MARCHins.

Due to personal reasons, Bryan is not able to serve as club treasurer.

So the job is open.  It involves:
- maintaining our account
- paying our bills on time
- filing our taxes
- collecting fees at the VCF
- processing donations
- various administrative tasks

It also requires:
- someone with business experience
- someone who's sharp (if we need a bill paid, it has to be done
expeditiously, not in a week from now when you get around to it)
- obviously someone who cares about MARCH and what we do

Please apply to me privately, not on-list.  No need for a resume or
anything formal, just explain a little about why you're qualified and
why you want the job.

Pay is TWICE what I make as club president (divide by zero error)    :)

- Evan

Pay is TWICE what I make as club president (divide by zero error) :)

-- [ = http://www2.applegate.org/~ragooman/ ]

>
>> Pay is TWICE what I make as club president (divide by zero error)    :)
> geez, where did you go to school  ?!?
> Did you have difficulty with word problems when you were a kid  :)
>
> "Twice" implies multiply, therefore, two times zero equals zero  -- no
> math error there
>
> capisce  ?
>
> get a new calculator will ya
> go back to using a slide rule
> did you lose your abacus......................................
>
> -- hahaha --
> =Dan
Did you not see the smiley face ....?

--- On Tue, 6/2/09, Evan Koblentz <evan@...> wrote:

> > Evan - the disk you gave me for
> the IBM at MARCH has some bare spots,
> > the drive needs to be cleaned or replaced. 
>   Do we have any
> > replacement Tandon 100-2a drives at MARCH?
> I don't know.

The drive probably just needs a good cleaning. I've never seen a Tandon in an
IBM fail so badly as to scrape up disks. The heads are probably just really
dirty. Also, the disk itself could have been compromised - some brands are more
apt to start shedding oxide with age.

-Ian

-------- Original Message --------
> From: "Mr Ian Primus" <ian_primus@...>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 8:56 PM
> To: midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [midatlanticretro] Re: makeshift IBM monitor
>
> --- On Tue, 6/2/09, Evan Koblentz <evan@...> wrote:
>
> > > Evan - the disk you gave me for
> > the IBM at MARCH has some bare spots,
> > > the drive needs to be cleaned or replaced.
> >   Do we have any
> > > replacement Tandon 100-2a drives at MARCH?
> > I don't know.
>
> The drive probably just needs a good cleaning. I've never seen a Tandon
in an IBM fail so badly as to scrape up disks. The heads are probably just
really dirty. Also, the disk itself could have been compromised - some
brands are more apt to start shedding oxide with age.
>

True on all counts.  I was just curious about whether we had another drive
if next time I come up and I can't fix the problem, I can bring a spare
drive if I have one.  Hopefully you're right and a good cleaning will
suffice, or a new disk.  The disk in question is a copy of DOS 2.11 with a
few scratched tracks, but not completely bare.  I never had issues with
these drives when I was working with the system myself, but I was mostly
focused on the hardware and did not do much disk exercising other than
format a disk in both drives.

bd

Speaking of Basic, does anyone remember the specs for the cassettes on
which the ROM internal basic would work?
bs



Quoting B Degnan <billdeg@...>:

> Evan Koblentz wrote:
> > <!-- /* start of attachment style */ .ygrp-photo-title{ clear: both;
> > font-size: smaller; height: 15px; overflow: hidden; text-align:
> > center; width: 75px; } div.ygrp-photo{ background-position: center;
> > background-repeat: no-repeat; background-color: white; border: 1px
> > solid black; height: 62px; width: 62px; } div.photo-title a,
> > div.photo-title a:active, div.photo-title a:hover, div.photo-title
> > a:visited { text-decoration: none; } div.attach-table div.attach-row {
> > clear: both; } div.attach-table div.attach-row div { float: left; /*
> > margin: 2px;*/ } p { clear: both; padding: 15px 0 3px 0; overflow:
> > hidden; } div.ygrp-file { width: 30px; valign: middle; }
> > div.attach-table div.attach-row div div a { text-decoration: none; }
> > div.attach-table div.attach-row div div span { font-weight: normal; }
> > div.ygrp-file-title { font-weight: bold; } /* end of attachment style
> > */ -->
> >
> >> Evan Koblentz wrote:
> >>
> >>> Ironic timing .... I got a package in the mail from Jon Titus,
> >>> containing all of the original IBM PC press releases  from 1981 to 1983,
> >>> plus the MS-DOS and GW BASIC floppies.  Says he found them while
> >>> cleaning his house.
> >>>
> >> What version of DOS - 2.11 or 3.2, something like that?
> >>
> > Label doesn't say. But I noticed the fine print just now -- "copyright
> > 1987" -- so it must be a newer version, not the original disks.
> >
> Usually GW BASIC appears on systems with a mid period DOS's and OEM
> systems.  If you get a Tandy 1000 series system you could display these
> items  with it appropriately.
> Bill
>

-------- Original Message --------
> From: "Christian Liendo" <christian_liendo@...>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 1:19 PM
> To: midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [midatlanticretro] Joe's IBM 5150 and PCJr
>
> Joe, you have your VCF presentation right there!
>
> You have the original 5150 and the Jr..
>
> I will keep my eye out for magazines or articles that you can display.

I agree (and have spoken with Evan about this) that we should have an IBM
PC exhibit this year.  I believe (and no I don't have any other reason)
that this is a good year for it.  We have had no IBM PC featured exhibits
yet, TMK.

I have a great IBM article somewhere in vintagecomputer.net/cisc367/

Whatta ya say, Joe?

I can help as needed.

Bill

-------- Original Message --------
> From: "Christian Liendo" <christian_liendo@...>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 2:13 PM
> To: midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [midatlanticretro] Fuse & fuse holder on NorthStar Horizon
>
> I got a NorthStar Horizon and I am missing the Fuse holder and fuse. Does
anyone know what fuse goes in there and what holder?
>
> Does anyone else have a Horizon?

I will check when I get home.   I happen to have a motherboard.
Bill

The New York Times has an article (blog) about an analog hydraulic computer, and
a fairly mass-produced one at that (14 of them?)

http://judson.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/guest-column-like-water-for-money/

Here's the slashdot discussion on the story:
http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/06/03/1629246


AND, Slashdot has a book review of "Vintage Games"
http://books.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/06/03/1319225

Good reading for today...

That would be awesome...

I've got a Tandy 1000 sitting in Waldwick.

On 6/1/09, B Degnan <billdeg@...> wrote:
> Evan Koblentz wrote:
>> <!-- /* start of attachment style */ .ygrp-photo-title{ clear: both;
>> font-size: smaller; height: 15px; overflow: hidden; text-align:
>> center; width: 75px; } div.ygrp-photo{ background-position: center;
>> background-repeat: no-repeat; background-color: white; border: 1px
>> solid black; height: 62px; width: 62px; } div.photo-title a,
>> div.photo-title a:active, div.photo-title a:hover, div.photo-title
>> a:visited { text-decoration: none; } div.attach-table div.attach-row {
>> clear: both; } div.attach-table div.attach-row div { float: left; /*
>> margin: 2px;*/ } p { clear: both; padding: 15px 0 3px 0; overflow:
>> hidden; } div.ygrp-file { width: 30px; valign: middle; }
>> div.attach-table div.attach-row div div a { text-decoration: none; }
>> div.attach-table div.attach-row div div span { font-weight: normal; }
>> div.ygrp-file-title { font-weight: bold; } /* end of attachment style
>> */ -->
>>
>>> Evan Koblentz wrote:
>>>
>>>> Ironic timing .... I got a package in the mail from Jon Titus,
>>>> containing all of the original IBM PC press releases  from 1981 to
>>>> 1983,
>>>> plus the MS-DOS and GW BASIC floppies.  Says he found them while
>>>> cleaning his house.
>>>>
>>> What version of DOS - 2.11 or 3.2, something like that?
>>>
>> Label doesn't say. But I noticed the fine print just now -- "copyright
>> 1987" -- so it must be a newer version, not the original disks.
>>
> Usually GW BASIC appears on systems with a mid period DOS's and OEM
> systems.  If you get a Tandy 1000 series system you could display these
> items  with it appropriately.
> Bill
>

--
Sent from my mobile device

Sridhar!  He was in NJ today and visited the museum.  He says our
recently acquired Amdahl mainframe is more useful than we may realize.  :)

Something exciting is happening next week.  For the first time, InfoAge
is running a radio commercial on the local FM station (107.1 and 99.7
for anyone in NJ and south of the Raritan River).  We have a 60-second
ad that will run four times a day, usually during the morning commute,
from Sun. June 7 to Sat. June 13.

Then, on Sun. June 14, we're doing an experiment -- visitors will enter
through the guard shack, where they'll be given a brief welcome and a
campus map.  Just like in a regular museum (or more like at a theme
park, considering that we have a large campus rather than just one
building), people will follow the map to go visit whatever exhibits they
want to see.

This is markedly different from our current arrangement, in which
visitors enter the hotel and then are taken on a long tour of all
exhibits, basically following what InfoAge wants them to see instead of
making their own decisions about what's interesting.  The guard shack
will also be the only exit, so that all visitors will have two
opportunities to contribute to the InfoAge donations jar.

Dan L. from the diving club is making signs this week.  Some will be
outdoor signs for the buildings, with simple wording like "computer
museum", "radio museum", etc.; others will be indoor directional signs.

I strongly supported this plan in our last week weekly meetings, and I'm
looking forward to seeing if we get more visitors than usual on the 14th
because of the radio ad.  It will be great to see visitors reading the
map and walking all around campus looking for different exhibits.  This
approach should make InfoAge a much more lively place on Sundays.

More changes will happen this summer and fall.  Our computer museum will
expand to fill four rooms; the empty rooms across the hall from us will
become an electronic warfare museum; the military tech club will move to
a room down the hall from us; and our wing will get working restrooms.
Additional smaller exhibits will open in the hotel -- a black history
exhibit (related to Camp Evans specifically), a Tektronix exhibit
(because Howard Vollum got his start at Camp Evans), an A/V studio (in
our old computer exhibit room), etc.

This is all happening simultaneous with other major campus
improvements.  InfoAge spent nearly $50,000 in the past couple of months
to re-roof several buildings!  More roof repairs will happen soon on
some of the H-buildings.  Other perimeter buildings are being painted,
so that the public sees progress when they drive past and look through
our fence.  Old internal fences that blocked our access to the former
Army portion are now gone, so nerds like us can now be "free range"
nerds.  :)   Also there is a contractor painting the massive satellite
dish, the building adjacent to the dish is getting a handicap ramp,
various volunteers are beautifying the campus and landscaping where
possible ..... the list goes on and on .... all despite some grumpy and
greedy people who've been saying for 10 years (long pre-MARCH) that it
can't be done.

MARCH does our small part, and I keep hearing compliments from inside
our group, and especially from other groups at InfoAge.  I think our
club's progress is MORE impressive than some of the other groups'
because of MARCHins' geographic sprawl and because we're still the
newest, poorest club at InfoAge -- and yet we've accomplished some
things in terms of exhibits and events that make other clubs try to
duplicate our success.  Today I even heard people at the museum talking
about what a killer party we threw this weekend, and how they wish their
clubs could do the same.

So: rock on!  We'll have several work days this summer.  I'll try to
announce them as far in advance as possible, although sometimes they're
spontaneous based on my schedule.  It makes us look GREAT when the other
InfoAge volunteers and management see MARCH people other than myself
showing up to work, not just showing up for the big events.

>
> Something exciting is happening next week.  For the first time, InfoAge
> is running a radio commercial on the local FM station (107.1 and 99.7
> for anyone in NJ and south of the Raritan River).  We have a 60-second
> ad that will run four times a day, usually during the morning commute,
> from Sun. June 7 to Sat. June 13.
>
Here's the ad: http://www.snarc.net/radio.mp3 .... I'm not supposed to
host the file, but I figured you might all want to hear it, and most of
you can't get central NJ radio stations.  So, keep it hush-hush.   :)

Cool.. I needed to know the Amps. Thank you..

I went through the documentation on Harte's website

http://www.hartetechnologies.com/manuals/Northstar/

Nothing told me the type of fuse.

I looked up fuse holders on mouser.com and there are many. I have to keep
checking.. But thanks... You did in one day what to have been searching for for
about a week.



--- On Wed, 6/3/09, B Degnan <billdeg@...> wrote:

From: B Degnan <billdeg@...>
Subject: Re: [midatlanticretro] Fuse & fuse holder on NorthStar Horizon
To: midatlanticretro@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2009, 9:34 PM





















My fuse is a very standard, see-it-everywhere fuse holder.  All that is
printed on the fuse I have on my Horizon (that works) is 5A.  The fuse
is not on the motherboard.



Bill



Christian Liendo wrote:






         That would be awesome...

Something exciting is happening next week. For the first time, InfoAge is running a radio commercial 

Then, on Sun. June 14, we're doing an experiment -- visitors will enter through the guard shack, where they'll be given a brief welcome and a campus map. 

This is all happening simultaneous with other major campus improvements. InfoAge spent nearly $50,000 in the past couple of months to re-roof several buildings! 

[ = http://www2.applegate.org/~ragooman/ ]

Cool.. I needed to know the Amps. Thank you..
I went through the documentation on Harte's website
http://www.hartetechnologies.com/manuals/Northstar/
Nothing told me the type of fuse.
I looked up fuse holders on mouser.com and there are many. I have to keep checking.. But thanks... You did in one day what to have been searching for for about a week.

[ = http://www2.applegate.org/~ragooman/ ]

Eric Adler wrote:
> I've got a Tandy 1000 sitting in Waldwick.
>
>
>
Better get it out of the waldwick, it will stain the chassis.