Hi DEC Enthusiast's, If I were to have to decide on just one model DEC PDP system to run in a DEC Emulator, which one would be the most useful, versatile and has the most software available for it?
I have only ever used a real PDP-8/e system way back in high school so I'm not up to par on any other model of DEC PDP system and I only know BASIC on the PDP-8/e so not much there either. I hear a lot about the PDP-11. I found out that there were 16 major PDP models at one time so I'm not too sure which one to pick. I built Oscar Vermeulen's PiDP-8/I which I'm waiting on 1 part for. Other than that project which is in a holding pattern at the moment, I have no other PDP anything running in any form. Back in the day when Bill Gates and company 1st started out, I had always wondered how they developed their very 1st software program - Altair Basic. I was pleasantly surprised one day when I saw a B/W photo of a young Bill Gates bending over the operator at what looked like a very small computer. Maybe it was just a terminal. I don't remember. I understand they did software development on a DEC PDP of some sort. Finding this out regenerated my interest in the DEC PDP line of computers. I have many projects in the works already so I decided to setup a software emulation of just one of the DEC PDP models. I have heard a lot about the PDP-11 which if the information I read is correct was 16-bits. My PiDP-8/I is 12 bits. I understand the PDP 10 was 36-bits and the PDP-15 was 18-bit. The PDP-11 is the model I hear the most about. I also have some experience on some version of a VAX when I was in the Air Force so I'm thinking of getting a VAX emulation going at some point too. So if I'm going to do this, what suggestions, pointers, experiences, etcetera do you guys have for me. I am very interested in the DEC PDP equipment though next to no experience so I have no basis to make a decision. This is a serious request so I would definitely like to hear what you all have to say. If you have read this far, thank you. Take care my friends. Kip Koon [email protected] http://www.cocopedia.com/wiki/index.php/User:Computerdoc
