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Old Computers (off topic)
My oldest computer is an IBM PCjr which I learned BASIC programming on and
enjoyed games such as King's Quest 1 by Sierra On-Line. Does anyone here have a computer that is older than that and still works. Thanks for the replies. |
#2
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Old Computers (off topic)
In message , Dan
writes: My oldest computer is an IBM PCjr which I learned BASIC programming on and enjoyed games such as King's Quest 1 by Sierra On-Line. Does anyone here have a computer that is older than that and still works. Thanks for the replies. The PCjr came out not long after the original PC, as a cheap and slightly compatible machine; I understand it wasn't a great success. Do you mean an _IBM compatible_ computer, or just any computer? If just any, then there will be millions of them out there - going backwards, roughly, there will be lots of Amstrads and Commodores (VIC20 and similar), Ataris, BBC (Acorn), Atmos, Oric, UK101, Newbrain, Tangerine, Commodore PET, ... AIM65 ... all still working, in people's cupboards and in a few museums; and I understand the Colossus rebuild is coming along nicely (-:! (I think there's a museum in Boston, there's certainly one at Bletchley Park, and probably a few hundred others around the world.) Then if you extend the definition of "computer", there will be devices that include a microprocessor - washing machines, cars, etc. - way back to when the 4004 was invented (196x?), and perhaps a few of those will still be in working order. Not to mention Jacquard looms ... Where I work, there's a BBC computer (either a model B or a master) built into a piece of test equipment that's in frequent use - there was certainly something on its screen when I walked past it yesterday. (And we have lots of pieces of TE that have PCs built into them - the kit I use every day, to test equipment that's in current aircraft, is controlled by a Windows 95 PC, and certainly I know of at least one rig running on DOS 3.x. And until two years ago when the project ended, there was a piece of kit - for testing a flight controller - that ran on a PC which, when turned on, went through testing its memory until it got to a massive 640K, then laboriously loaded from 5.25" floppy its operating system and software. And printed out the results on an impact printer. But 640K is probably slightly later than your PCjr.) -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf ** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously outdated thoughts on PCs. ** The trouble with life in the fast lane is that you get to the other end in an awful hurry. -John Jensen |
#3
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Old Computers (off topic)
In message , Dan
writes: My oldest computer is an IBM PCjr which I learned BASIC programming on and enjoyed games such as King's Quest 1 by Sierra On-Line. Does anyone here have a computer that is older than that and still works. Thanks for the replies. The PCjr came out not long after the original PC, as a cheap and slightly compatible machine; I understand it wasn't a great success. Do you mean an _IBM compatible_ computer, or just any computer? If just any, then there will be millions of them out there - going backwards, roughly, there will be lots of Amstrads and Commodores (VIC20 and similar), Ataris, BBC (Acorn), Atmos, Oric, UK101, Newbrain, Tangerine, Commodore PET, ... AIM65 ... all still working, in people's cupboards and in a few museums; and I understand the Colossus rebuild is coming along nicely (-:! (I think there's a museum in Boston, there's certainly one at Bletchley Park, and probably a few hundred others around the world.) Then if you extend the definition of "computer", there will be devices that include a microprocessor - washing machines, cars, etc. - way back to when the 4004 was invented (196x?), and perhaps a few of those will still be in working order. Not to mention Jacquard looms ... Where I work, there's a BBC computer (either a model B or a master) built into a piece of test equipment that's in frequent use - there was certainly something on its screen when I walked past it yesterday. (And we have lots of pieces of TE that have PCs built into them - the kit I use every day, to test equipment that's in current aircraft, is controlled by a Windows 95 PC, and certainly I know of at least one rig running on DOS 3.x. And until two years ago when the project ended, there was a piece of kit - for testing a flight controller - that ran on a PC which, when turned on, went through testing its memory until it got to a massive 640K, then laboriously loaded from 5.25" floppy its operating system and software. And printed out the results on an impact printer. But 640K is probably slightly later than your PCjr.) -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf ** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously outdated thoughts on PCs. ** The trouble with life in the fast lane is that you get to the other end in an awful hurry. -John Jensen |
#4
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Old Computers (off topic)
On 06/19/2010 03:23 AM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Dan writes: My oldest computer is an IBM PCjr which I learned BASIC programming on and enjoyed games such as King's Quest 1 by Sierra On-Line. Does anyone here have a computer that is older than that and still works. Thanks for the replies. The PCjr came out not long after the original PC, as a cheap and slightly compatible machine; I understand it wasn't a great success. Do you mean an _IBM compatible_ computer, or just any computer? If just any, then there will be millions of them out there - going backwards, roughly, there will be lots of Amstrads and Commodores (VIC20 and similar), Ataris, BBC (Acorn), Atmos, Oric, UK101, Newbrain, Tangerine, Commodore PET, ... AIM65 ... all still working, in people's cupboards and in a few museums; and I understand the Colossus rebuild is coming along nicely (-:! (I think there's a museum in Boston, there's certainly one at Bletchley Park, and probably a few hundred others around the world.) snip In addition to being a vacuum-tube radio refurbisher, I am also a computer refurbisher and indeed have a few vintage machines in my collection.(all working) Of note are a Comodore 64 and a Kaypro (pre-pc) As far as PC's go I have at least "one of each" in my collection starting from the 8088 and up. An original IBM PC 8088 also a Compaq "sewing machine" model plus a Zenith Data systems 286 also an IBM ps/2 etc |
#5
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Old Computers (off topic)
On 06/19/2010 03:23 AM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Dan writes: My oldest computer is an IBM PCjr which I learned BASIC programming on and enjoyed games such as King's Quest 1 by Sierra On-Line. Does anyone here have a computer that is older than that and still works. Thanks for the replies. The PCjr came out not long after the original PC, as a cheap and slightly compatible machine; I understand it wasn't a great success. Do you mean an _IBM compatible_ computer, or just any computer? If just any, then there will be millions of them out there - going backwards, roughly, there will be lots of Amstrads and Commodores (VIC20 and similar), Ataris, BBC (Acorn), Atmos, Oric, UK101, Newbrain, Tangerine, Commodore PET, ... AIM65 ... all still working, in people's cupboards and in a few museums; and I understand the Colossus rebuild is coming along nicely (-:! (I think there's a museum in Boston, there's certainly one at Bletchley Park, and probably a few hundred others around the world.) snip In addition to being a vacuum-tube radio refurbisher, I am also a computer refurbisher and indeed have a few vintage machines in my collection.(all working) Of note are a Comodore 64 and a Kaypro (pre-pc) As far as PC's go I have at least "one of each" in my collection starting from the 8088 and up. An original IBM PC 8088 also a Compaq "sewing machine" model plus a Zenith Data systems 286 also an IBM ps/2 etc |
#6
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Old Computers (off topic)
"Dan" wrote in message
... My oldest computer is an IBM PCjr which I learned BASIC programming on and enjoyed games such as King's Quest 1 by Sierra On-Line. Does anyone here have a computer that is older than that and still works. Thanks for the replies. http://oldcomputers.net/grid1101.html offers an interesting chronology including Kaypro 1982 (my first, 1983) GRiD 1982 (the oldest still in my possession, still operable) IBM PCJr 1984 (yours) -- Don Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada) |
#7
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Old Computers (off topic)
"Dan" wrote in message
... My oldest computer is an IBM PCjr which I learned BASIC programming on and enjoyed games such as King's Quest 1 by Sierra On-Line. Does anyone here have a computer that is older than that and still works. Thanks for the replies. http://oldcomputers.net/grid1101.html offers an interesting chronology including Kaypro 1982 (my first, 1983) GRiD 1982 (the oldest still in my possession, still operable) IBM PCJr 1984 (yours) -- Don Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada) |
#8
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Old Computers (off topic)
Dan wrote:
My oldest computer is an IBM PCjr which I learned BASIC programming on and enjoyed games such as King's Quest 1 by Sierra On-Line. Does anyone here have a computer that is older than that and still works. Thanks for the replies. TRS-80 Model 3, circa 1980. Two of them. -- dadiOH ____________________________ dadiOH's dandies v3.06... ....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that. Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico |
#9
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Old Computers (off topic)
dadiOH wrote:
TRS-80 Model 3, circa 1980. Two of them. This was my first computer: http://oldcomputers.net/trs80pc1.html Radioshack TRS-80 Pocket computer. My next computer was the second generation pocket computer (PC-2). My next computer was a real IBM PC with CGA video and color RGB screen (single or dual floppy- I forget - no hard drive). The IBM PC was sold by "Sears Business Centers" at the time. I had all of those while in highschool. I still have all of them. I put my pocket PC's to special use during math and physics exams in highschool (calculators were allowed). My teachers didn't know they could store alpha-numeric text and complex programmable formulas. |
#10
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Old Computers (off topic)
dadiOH wrote:
TRS-80 Model 3, circa 1980. Two of them. This was my first computer: http://oldcomputers.net/trs80pc1.html Radioshack TRS-80 Pocket computer. My next computer was the second generation pocket computer (PC-2). My next computer was a real IBM PC with CGA video and color RGB screen (single or dual floppy- I forget - no hard drive). The IBM PC was sold by "Sears Business Centers" at the time. I had all of those while in highschool. I still have all of them. I put my pocket PC's to special use during math and physics exams in highschool (calculators were allowed). My teachers didn't know they could store alpha-numeric text and complex programmable formulas. |
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