Another lowest cost 8-bit computer from the early 80s. This one is a MC-10 or better known as the Tandy Micro Color Computer. It used a Motorola 6803 processor and had a whopping 4K. It was the little brother to the Tandy Color Computer. While better in many aspects than the Timex Sinclair, it came out a bit later and never sold near as well. Featured include the 4KB of main RAM, a serial port, color graphics, cassette report, a keyboard with actual keys and a 16 KB expansion option. It had its own video chip (Motorola MC6847) and ran at 0.89 MHz. So probably a better deal than the Timex Sinclair which actually had to use CPU cycles to draw the screen.
This one was given to me by a coworker after he found out I collect odd computers. It appears to work. The display on the LCD TV is not so crisp.
Tonight we present an extremely rare computer. It was quite expensive when it was new as it was cutting edge. Nah, its a Timex Sinclair 1000. It sold for $99. They made a gazillion of them. They were considered underpowered even when they were released in 1982. Their sole redeeming feature was they introduced thousands of people to computing.
It was a Z80 machine based on the Sinclair ZX81. The differences was twice the memory (2K versus 1K) and NTSC versus PAL output. The whole computer was 4 chips. CPU, RAM, ROM and a custom logic array. The computer was tiny and slow. My portable tv did not like the output so no screen shots. maybe I will try it on the larger tv and see what happens. Anyway, this one I think I got from the library sale. Maybe not as I have 3. The other two belonged to coworkers.
Another Apple II. This time an enhanced Apple IIe. Would that be then an enhanced apple II enhanced? The Apple IIe came out in 1983 and the enhanced version came out in 1987. Basically the IIe was cheaper to build, had 64K built in, 80 column support and support for an external numeric keypad as opposed to the II+. The enhanced version of the IIe had a built-in numeric keypad and used a 65C02 processor.
This example was purchased from the University of Kentucky in a surplus auction. I think I paid either $1 or $5 for it. It was when they closed the old library and opened the new one. I like the fact that someone has colored in around the apple logo.
Well a break from the DEC computers (don't worry they will be back).
Here is an Apple II+ computer but its not a normal Apple II+. Notice anything? Yep its black. Bell and Howell sold them under license (Apple still made them) to schools. So its sorta unusual. The Apple II+ was a followup to the Apple II. It was basically almost the same but with 48KB of RAM and a few other things. I obtained this sample from another coworker. This was his second computer. It still works but could use the keyboard repaired as some of the keys stick. Not bad considering the Apple II+ was sold from 1979 to 1982.
I am lazy tonight so I will let the picks speak for themselves.
Note: Edited to include "Darth Apple" nickname. Thanks Lurkertype.
YAPDP - yes indeed this is a PDP11 but in a nifty all in one desktop case. DEC responded to the success of the IBM PC with a trio of desktop computers aimed at different markets. The Professional 350 (Pro-350) was a PDP11 on the desktop with a hard drive. It was released in 1982. The Pro-325 was similar but did not have the hard drive. Both used the F11 processor used in the PDP11/23 but they used a totally different bus. The Pro series were well made systems but were expensive and did not have near the business software base that the IBM PC did. Hence they flopped in the market place. The higher end version (Pro-380) survived as consoles on high performance VAX systems. This system was given to me by a coworker. It had a fried powersupply cable. I made a new one and upped the memory.
The system typically consisted of the base unit, a LK201 keyboard and a monochrome VR201 monitor. Color monitors were available. Bit mapped graphics was supported. One of my VR201 monitors died the ugly death, it a capacitor leak all over the place. My other one (shown) has a de-lamination issue on the protection over the CRT. Time to go LCD I guess.
YAPDP (Yet Another PDP). Indeed here is another. Its a PDP11/73. It is a QBUS based system. The 11/73 came out in the early 1980s. This one spent its working life running custom software and a multi-user OS called TSX-Plus at a local pharmacy. TSX-Plus actually ran on top of RT-11. Sort of like the early versions of Windows using DOS to boot. And this PDP 11 actually boots. It is running RT11. It has an RQDX2 drive controller, KDJ11 processor board, DEC memory, serial ports and Ethernet. It is in a BA23 case with the proper rack mount hardware. No games are loaded at the moment. I guess I could go to my own website - RT11 Games at Saracom and get them. Anyway, here is some pics and Easter eggs too. And a picture of the nifty RX50 5.25 inch diskette drive. Space of two diskette drives but used one spindle motor. You put the bottom diskette in upside down. I also assigned the drive letters so it would mimic MS-DOS letters. I guess I was bored that day.
Ack!!! Vox ate my post. So first some text and I will add the links and pics later. Anyway another PDP11. This time a Micro 11/23+. The + is for 22 bit addressing. The original 11/23 came out in 1979 with 18 bit addressing. The plus version was a bit later.SO I am not exactly sure how old this one is so lets say circa 1980.
The PDP 11/23 was a QBUS computer. The QBUS was a lower cost bus compared to the Unibus. It did not have separate memory and address lines etc. The QBUS was utilized on the DEC PDP 11/03, 11/23, 11/23+, 11/53, 11/73, 11/83, and 11/93. It was also utilized on various microVaxen.
Anyway, this one consists of a BA23 chassis, KDF11-BA cpu board, RQDX3 drive controller, 3rd party memory (whopping 256 kilobytes), RX33 floppy and yes a 3.5 inch floppy.
The front panel is homemade. It is part of the BA23 covering and an old style rack panel combined.
I wish I could say it was fully functional, but it appears the 20 meg hard drive has finally died. And this was the one with Adventure/ Colossal Cave on it!!!!! Anyway, I guess I need to look up error 15.
Well at least their mail. Today I got mail for both my mom and the mother of the guy who we bought our house from. Both dead. Strange.
Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) introduced the PDP 11 line of computers in 1970. DEC had effectively invented the mini computer concept with the PDP-8 introduced in 1965. This was a low cost alternative to the IBM Big Iron. The PDP-8 had limitations due to its low cost point, small memory space (4096 12 bit words), one interrupt etc. Yes I said 12 bit. It was a 12 bit computer. Toward the end of the 1960s, the 16 bit computer was to be the big thing. And the PDP-11 was DEC's entry. It had some advantages over the PDP 8, more memory (16 bit addressing gave 64 KWs of memory, later models even more), more interrupts etc. The PDP 11 was very popular and many applications and Operating systems own there existence to the PDP 11. Obviously, UNIX had much of its early development on the PDP 11, but also MS-DOS and CP/M leaned heavily on some concepts of OS RT 11* for the PDP 11. The PDP11 system supported both multitasking and multiuser setups.
Here is a PDP11/45 console. The console gave the traditional blinkenlights display and allowed for bootstrapping and diagnostics. Yep, you could toggle a program in via the toggle switches. Set the address hit load, set the value hit load. Or was it the other way around? Anyway, this was originally from WKU's computer science department. It was built around 1972. It is non-functional as most of the computer is long gone.
And many of the earlier computers utilized magnetic core memory and the PDP 111/45 was no different:
Well it is November again. Again I am taking part in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month). This will be my second year. Last year I posted about cameras. Yep, a camera a day for 30 days. So with last years precedence, I wanted anther theme I could post about for 30 days. And it is Computers and Data Communications. I shall post from my collection computers and accessories. 8, 16 and 32 bits will be represented. Some days may be accessories or data devices. Most will be from my "museum". But be forewarned, Intel, Windows, DOS and MAC will be mentioned very sparingly. And without further ado here is a preview of the next several posts:
Recent Comments
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crankypants said:
Hey your photo made the [technology is good] page!! hee! congrats. You've made the big time. read more
on NaBloPoMo - Black Apple ("Darth Apple") -
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Lurkertype said:
We had one of these, but we got it for free in 1982, so didn't feel ripped off. No peripherals,... read more
on NaBloPoMo - Timex Sinclair 1000
Nifty, I finally made the big time or to quote Sally Field "You like me, you really like me!" read more
on NaBloPoMo - Black Apple ("Darth Apple")