[cctalk] Re: Altair 8800 50th birthday...
How well I had to remember the early deadline before the date something was really going to be hit the streets I did photography work for magazines and yeah you had to have it in early just because it was going to be a December issue I bet you had to have stuff in there generally several months ahead of time are you lost out some editors wanted stuff even earlier just depended on how they were and what they were doing and what schedule they were working on and what their time frames were but yeah I think we all nailed it down on that date then thanks everybody for chipping in on the information! Sent from AOL on Android On Mon, May 6, 2024 at 10:19 PM, Smith, Wayne via cctalk wrote: "November 19, 1974" is what is written on the "Date of Publication of This Issue" line in Copyright "Form B" (for periodicals) used at the time. The form then states "The copyright law defines the 'date of publication' as '. . . the earliest date when copies . . . were placed on sale, sold or publicly distributed." The form is then signed pursuant to 17 U.S.C. sec. 506(e), which provided for a substantial fine in the event that any false representation was made on the form. There is no reason to doubt the date of publication in the notice. In fact, there is every reason to believe it is correct. In the magazine business it is a routine business practice to have actual publication occur months prior to the "cover date" the publisher places on the magazine. The reason for this is so that the magazines could remain on the newsstands for at least a few months without appearing to be stale. This is particularly the case with magazines published on a monthly cadence. Just as a check, I looked up the publication date of the January 1975 issue of Playboy. According to the copyright registration, it was November 20, 1974. > Date: Mon, 6 May 2024 01:27:28 + (UTC) > From: ED SHARPE > Subject: [cctalk] Re: Altair 8800 50th birthday... > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > > Cc: Sellam Abraham > Message-ID: <1726519925.3966543.1714958848...@mail.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Perhaps After doing the layout work in the November it was perhaps > copyrighted Immediately during layout But it did not ship Until January > Think! back in those days things did not instantly happen and we're instantly > shipped Ed# > > Sent from AOL on Android > > On Fri, May 3, 2024 at 7:09 AM, Sellam Abraham via > cctalk wrote: On Fri, May 3, 2024, 1:28 AM Smith, > Wayne via cctalk > wrote: > > > I looked up the Jan. 1975 issue of Popular Electronics in the > > Copyright Office's Periodicals Digest. It was published on Nov. 19, > > 1974 if you are looking for an actual anniversary date. > > > > The January issue was certainly not available in November of 1974. > > When did it actually get sent out and start showing up in people's mailboxes? > > Sellam >
[cctalk] Re: Altair 8800 50th birthday...
"November 19, 1974" is what is written on the "Date of Publication of This Issue" line in Copyright "Form B" (for periodicals) used at the time. The form then states "The copyright law defines the 'date of publication' as '. . . the earliest date when copies . . . were placed on sale, sold or publicly distributed." The form is then signed pursuant to 17 U.S.C. sec. 506(e), which provided for a substantial fine in the event that any false representation was made on the form. There is no reason to doubt the date of publication in the notice. In fact, there is every reason to believe it is correct. In the magazine business it is a routine business practice to have actual publication occur months prior to the "cover date" the publisher places on the magazine. The reason for this is so that the magazines could remain on the newsstands for at least a few months without appearing to be stale. This is particularly the case with magazines published on a monthly cadence. Just as a check, I looked up the publication date of the January 1975 issue of Playboy. According to the copyright registration, it was November 20, 1974. > Date: Mon, 6 May 2024 01:27:28 + (UTC) > From: ED SHARPE > Subject: [cctalk] Re: Altair 8800 50th birthday... > To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts" > > Cc: Sellam Abraham > Message-ID: <1726519925.3966543.1714958848...@mail.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Perhaps After doing the layout work in the November it was perhaps > copyrighted Immediately during layout But it did not ship Until January > Think! back in those days things did not instantly happen and we're instantly > shipped Ed# > > Sent from AOL on Android > > On Fri, May 3, 2024 at 7:09 AM, Sellam Abraham via > cctalk wrote: On Fri, May 3, 2024, 1:28 AM Smith, > Wayne via cctalk > wrote: > > > I looked up the Jan. 1975 issue of Popular Electronics in the > > Copyright Office's Periodicals Digest. It was published on Nov. 19, > > 1974 if you are looking for an actual anniversary date. > > > > The January issue was certainly not available in November of 1974. > > When did it actually get sent out and start showing up in people's mailboxes? > > Sellam >
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
On 5/6/24 21:16, Don R wrote: > Maybe I need one of these power cords for my Monroe-Litton 1830 aka > Compucorp 485. It might make the calculations more precise? ;) That's the economy version. If you're *really* serious, you'll grab this one (on sale: 6% off!): https://www.ebay.com/itm/116042610200 --Chuck
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
Maybe I need one of these power cords for my Monroe-Litton 1830 aka Compucorp 485. It might make the calculations more precise? ;) Don Resor Sent from someone's iPhone > On May 6, 2024, at 8:55 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk > wrote: > > On 5/6/24 20:25, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote: > https://www.ebay.com/itm/134706639303 >> include a basic feature for rewinding rental DVDs before returning them. > Of course, you need a pure silver AC cable for those: > > https://www.ebay.com/itm/115970049389 > > --Chuck
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
Maybe I need one of these power cords for my Monroe-Litton 1830 aka Compucorp 485. It might make the calculations more precise? ;) Don Resor Sent from someone's iPhone > On May 6, 2024, at 8:55 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk > wrote: > > On 5/6/24 20:25, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote: > https://www.ebay.com/itm/134706639303 >> >> include a basic feature for rewinding rental DVDs before returning them. >> > Of course, you need a pure silver AC cable for those: > > https://www.ebay.com/itm/115970049389 > > --Chuck >
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
On 5/6/24 20:25, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote: https://www.ebay.com/itm/134706639303 > > include a basic feature for rewinding rental DVDs before returning them. > Of course, you need a pure silver AC cable for those: https://www.ebay.com/itm/115970049389 --Chuck
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
Ignorant question: Q: When looking for current availability of bulk tape/disk demagnetizers, on eBay, I ran into a lot of CD/DVD demagnetizers What kind of a problem do they have with magnetism? Or is this like the DVD REWINDERS? On Mon, 6 May 2024, Will Cooke via cctalk wrote: A must-have accessory to go with your oxygen-free cables. https://www.tnt-audio.com/accessories/vs_demagnetizer_e.html OK But, neither this one for $80.99 https://www.ebay.com/itm/265168453635 nor even this one for $3600 https://www.ebay.com/itm/134706639303 include a basic feature for rewinding rental DVDs before returning them. -- Grumpy Ol' Fred ci...@xenosoft.com
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
Fred Never underestimate the sheer ludicrosity and gullibility of an audiophile! -Ali > -Original Message- > From: Fred Cisin via cctalk [mailto:cctalk@classiccmp.org] > Sent: Monday, May 06, 2024 6:58 PM > To: cctalk@classiccmp.org > Cc: Fred Cisin > Subject: [cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks > > Ignorant question: > > Q: When looking for current availability of bulk tape/disk > demagnetizers, > on eBay, I ran into a lot of CD/DVD demagnetizers > What kind of a problem do they have with magnetism? > > Or is this like the DVD REWINDERS?
[cctalk] Vintage Computer and Technology Swap Meet - Wall, NJ - June 22, 2024
Same place as last year in the big parking lot across from Brookdale and down the street from InfoAge Science and History Museums. We have the Southern Monmouth County Firehouse museum selling food and drinks in the middle. This is a fundraiser for both museums (VCF and Firehouse museum) which are both part of InfoAge. All the info is here: https://vcfed.org/vcf-swap-meet/ Thanks! Jeff Brace VCF Mid-Atlantic Event Manager Vintage Computer Federation is a 501c3 charity
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
> On 05/06/2024 8:58 PM CDT Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote: > > > Ignorant question: > > Q: When looking for current availability of bulk tape/disk demagnetizers, > on eBay, I ran into a lot of CD/DVD demagnetizers > What kind of a problem do they have with magnetism? > > Or is this like the DVD REWINDERS? A must-have accessory to go with your oxygen-free cables. https://www.tnt-audio.com/accessories/vs_demagnetizer_e.html Will Grownups never understand anything by themselves and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them, Antoine de Saint-Exupery in The Little Prince
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
Radio Shack sold two models: the original, suitable for cassettes and audio tapes, and a later, larger and more powerful version for video tapes as well (44-233A). I keep one of those plugged in beside my desk and still use it fairly often, but I'm planning to build one of Chuck's one of these days (that one minute on, 30 minute off (officially ;-) duty cycle is a PITA if you're degaussing a bunch of disks). On Mon, May 6, 2024 at 9:42 PM Mike Katz via cctalk wrote: > I also have one of those from Radio Shack that I have had for more than > 30 years. > > On 5/6/2024 8:30 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote: > > On 5/6/24 15:12, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote: > >> Radio Shack used to sell a "Bulk Tape Eraser". I gave mine to the > college. > >> Those are on eBay, and even Amazon. > >> > > I've had one of those for years. Resembles a kitchen Mixmaster without > > the beaters. The problem is that it has a limited working period of > > about a minute before it gets too hot and the thermal cutout stops the > fun. > > > > --Chuck > > > > > >
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
Ignorant question: Q: When looking for current availability of bulk tape/disk demagnetizers, on eBay, I ran into a lot of CD/DVD demagnetizers What kind of a problem do they have with magnetism? Or is this like the DVD REWINDERS?
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
I also have one of those from Radio Shack that I have had for more than 30 years. On 5/6/2024 8:30 PM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote: On 5/6/24 15:12, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote: Radio Shack used to sell a "Bulk Tape Eraser". I gave mine to the college. Those are on eBay, and even Amazon. I've had one of those for years. Resembles a kitchen Mixmaster without the beaters. The problem is that it has a limited working period of about a minute before it gets too hot and the thermal cutout stops the fun. --Chuck
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
On 5/6/24 15:12, Fred Cisin via cctalk wrote: > Radio Shack used to sell a "Bulk Tape Eraser". I gave mine to the college. > Those are on eBay, and even Amazon. > I've had one of those for years. Resembles a kitchen Mixmaster without the beaters. The problem is that it has a limited working period of about a minute before it gets too hot and the thermal cutout stops the fun. --Chuck
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
Radio Shack used to sell a "Bulk Tape Eraser". I gave mine to the college. Those are on eBay, and even Amazon. About 25 years ago, Radio Shack/Tandy changed the label and box, and called it "Bulk Disk Eraser". The college bought one, and discarded mine. But, as everyone knows, the one SURE way to totaally erase a disk is to store the only copy of something irreplaceable on it. -- Grumpy Ol' Fred ci...@xenosoft.com
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
I wonder if one of the old CRT demagnetizer‘s would work. Sent from my iPhone > On May 6, 2024, at 13:30, Bill Gunshannon via cctalk > wrote: > > On 5/6/2024 2:28 PM, Wayne S via cctalk wrote: > > You do need a very strong magnet. I’ve put 3.5 floppies on top of > > a mag tape demagnitizer ( not technically called that, but you know > > what i mean) and it had no effect at all. I could still read them fine > > in my pc. I surmised that the magnetic field generated was not strong > > enough to get through the plastic disk shield. Gave up after that. > > And yet, I have a cheap Radio Shack tape degauzer and it erases > 3.5" disks just fine. I do it all the time whenever I have > one that refuses to reformat. Quick pass over the degauzer > and they usually work fine. If not, time to toss them. > As for 720K disks I bought a box of new ones (12 boxes actually) > several years ago on eBay and expect they will out last me. > Especially now that I am moving everything to Goteks. > > bill
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
On 5/6/2024 2:28 PM, Wayne S via cctalk wrote: > You do need a very strong magnet. I’ve put 3.5 floppies on top of > a mag tape demagnitizer ( not technically called that, but you know > what i mean) and it had no effect at all. I could still read them fine > in my pc. I surmised that the magnetic field generated was not strong > enough to get through the plastic disk shield. Gave up after that. And yet, I have a cheap Radio Shack tape degauzer and it erases 3.5" disks just fine. I do it all the time whenever I have one that refuses to reformat. Quick pass over the degauzer and they usually work fine. If not, time to toss them. As for 720K disks I bought a box of new ones (12 boxes actually) several years ago on eBay and expect they will out last me. Especially now that I am moving everything to Goteks. bill
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
On Mon, May 6, 2024 at 11:59 AM Chuck Guzis via cctalk <
cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote:
> On 5/6/24 11:28, Wayne S via cctalk wrote:
> > You do need a very strong magnet. I’ve put 3.5 floppies on top of a mag
> tape demagnitizer ( not technically called that, but you know what i mean)
> and it had no effect at all. I could still read them fine in my pc. I
> surmised that the magnetic field generated was not strong enough to get
> through the plastic disk shield. Gave up after that.
>
> I made my own PM demagnetizer (I do own a bulk videotape eraser also,
> but this one is so convenient and works very well). The trick was to
> use two magnets with like poles facing. I got the magnets from a
> magnetron--it took a fair amount of clamping to get the things set in
> place. Unlike poles facing doesn't work, BTW.
>
> https://i.imgur.com/MUKTExa.jpg
>
> --Chuck
>
At the old Alameda County Computer Resource Center (the non-profit computer
recycler I was shacked up with before I got my own warehouse and started my
own recycling operation), James ("God") designed a bulk demagnetizer that
accommodated several hundred 3.5" floppies at a time. He'd run it for I
think 20 minutes (the period of time he determined was required for 100%
erasure of data), which also had the side effect of heating up the disks,
which had the desirable side effect of making it much easier to peel off
the labels. They sold bulk recycled 3.5" disks and made good money off it
(this is late 1990s).
I wish I could remember the details of how he made it, but he basically
took some existing thing and either modded it in some way or simply
re-purposed it from its intended purpose to conveniently demagnetize floppy
disks.
Sellam
[cctalk] Re: Netflix Series: American Conspiracy/Octopus Murders
On Mon, May 6, 2024 at 10:36 AM Patrick Finnegan via cctalk < cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > There was some movie magic, so no running version of promis. I did the > screen design myself for the TVI 950 based on pictures of screens running > the software that Christian and Zach provided. > > They came last year and did a day of filming after a couple days of setting > up the set at my place. Supposedly I was the only person they could find > with a VAX 11/780 running that had somewhere they could film it (presumably > also in their budget). > > They did pay me a bit for the location, but the whole experience was great. > I'm happy it finally came out so I can talk about it. > > Patrick Finnegan > The nice thing is that this should lead to further similar engagements for you in the future. Good work. Sellam
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
On 5/6/24 11:28, Wayne S via cctalk wrote: > You do need a very strong magnet. I’ve put 3.5 floppies on top of a mag tape > demagnitizer ( not technically called that, but you know what i mean) and it > had no effect at all. I could still read them fine in my pc. I surmised that > the magnetic field generated was not strong enough to get through the plastic > disk shield. Gave up after that. I made my own PM demagnetizer (I do own a bulk videotape eraser also, but this one is so convenient and works very well). The trick was to use two magnets with like poles facing. I got the magnets from a magnetron--it took a fair amount of clamping to get the things set in place. Unlike poles facing doesn't work, BTW. https://i.imgur.com/MUKTExa.jpg --Chuck
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
You do need a very strong magnet. I’ve put 3.5 floppies on top of a mag tape demagnitizer ( not technically called that, but you know what i mean) and it had no effect at all. I could still read them fine in my pc. I surmised that the magnetic field generated was not strong enough to get through the plastic disk shield. Gave up after that. Sent from my iPhone > On May 6, 2024, at 03:28, Just Kant via cctalk wrote: > > I have a vague recollection of someone telling me there was a trick to > demagnetizing high density disks. Perhaps wave a magnet in various ways, even > moving the magnet to and from the disk's surface. Then again maybe it's just > a chatgpt style hallucination. Wouldn't hurt to try though.
[cctalk] Re: Netflix Series: American Conspiracy/Octopus Murders
There was some movie magic, so no running version of promis. I did the screen design myself for the TVI 950 based on pictures of screens running the software that Christian and Zach provided. They came last year and did a day of filming after a couple days of setting up the set at my place. Supposedly I was the only person they could find with a VAX 11/780 running that had somewhere they could film it (presumably also in their budget). They did pay me a bit for the location, but the whole experience was great. I'm happy it finally came out so I can talk about it. Patrick Finnegan On Mon, May 6, 2024, 13:30 Jonathan Katz via cctalk wrote: > Awesome! I figured I'd know someone involved. Did you actually get a > vintage version of PROMIS running? They talk about it being so > "revolutionary" in the documentary, but it just seems like any other > database? > > On Mon, May 6, 2024 at 6:25 PM Patrick Finnegan wrote: > > > > My museum is in the credits, so it was probably me... > > > > Patrick Finnegan >
[cctalk] Re: Netflix Series: American Conspiracy/Octopus Murders
It dates back to the early 1980s and seems to run on VMS. It was specialised software for law enforcement used to manage casework, but could also do some pattern matching. Almost like a "prehistoric Palantir" based upon what the documentary said. There was a large scandal involving the software, involving stolen source code and the government trying to bankrupt the software company (which is still in business.) On Mon, May 6, 2024 at 5:53 PM Hans-Ulrich Hölscher via cctalk wrote: > > I do know the VAX-11/780 very well (although I do only own a /750), but > what is the PROMIS software good for? Does it run on ancient VMS versions > (i.e. V4 or earlier)? > >
[cctalk] Re: Netflix Series: American Conspiracy/Octopus Murders
Awesome! I figured I'd know someone involved. Did you actually get a vintage version of PROMIS running? They talk about it being so "revolutionary" in the documentary, but it just seems like any other database? On Mon, May 6, 2024 at 6:25 PM Patrick Finnegan wrote: > > My museum is in the credits, so it was probably me... > > Patrick Finnegan
[cctalk] Re: Netflix Series: American Conspiracy/Octopus Murders
My museum is in the credits, so it was probably me... Patrick Finnegan On Mon, May 6, 2024, 10:42 Jonathan Katz via cctalk wrote: > Hey everyone, > > My better half recently turned this on and also a podcast with the > creator/director. They mentioned they visited "someone" with a working > VAX 11/780 to get b-roll footage for the movie. Which one of us was > it? :D > > In all seriousness, it would be fun to try and get a vintage copy of > the PROMIS software running on something (I assume it was VAX/VMS in > its original incarnation, but many other screenshots show > SNA/greenscreen implementations.) > > Cheers, all! > > -- > -Jon > +44 7792 149029 >
[cctalk] Re: New VCF Video bumper
Personally I like Brad's idea of a machine sound versus an intro tune. And if we can reduce background noise (e.g. putting the machine in an anechoic chamber or surrounding it with acoustic panels) when capturing that sound it would feel really professional. Might be easier said than done considering the size of some of these machines, haha. Acoustic foam: https://a.co/d/7cp3H6g =] -- Anders Nelson www.andersknelson.com On Mon, May 6, 2024 at 2:26 AM Steve Lewis via cctalk wrote: > I picked the regular Daisy Bell one (except there is a little blip/bump at > the 2-second mark that is a little jarring). It's a homage to what the > IBM 7094 did back in 1961 (while that one did have vocals, it is a bit > eerie, and so just an audio track like a PDP-1 might play it is good). > > > On Sat, May 4, 2024 at 12:03 AM Jeffrey Brace via cctalk < > cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > > > The Vintage Computer Federation is looking for a new bumper to add to the > > front and back of all their new videos. > > There are 7 different versions. Vote on the one that you like best! > > > > https://forms.gle/Y9Qrj26xokeFXjub6 > > >
[cctalk] Re: Netflix Series: American Conspiracy/Octopus Murders
I do know the VAX-11/780 very well (although I do only own a /750), but what is the PROMIS software good for? Does it run on ancient VMS versions (i.e. V4 or earlier)? Jonathan Katz via cctalk schrieb am Mo., 6. Mai 2024, 16:41: > Hey everyone, > > My better half recently turned this on and also a podcast with the > creator/director. They mentioned they visited "someone" with a working > VAX 11/780 to get b-roll footage for the movie. Which one of us was > it? :D > > In all seriousness, it would be fun to try and get a vintage copy of > the PROMIS software running on something (I assume it was VAX/VMS in > its original incarnation, but many other screenshots show > SNA/greenscreen implementations.) > > Cheers, all! > > -- > -Jon > +44 7792 149029 >
[cctalk] Re: New VCF Video bumper
The weird noise at the beginning is confusing. Sounds like it starts off on a street somewhere. Sellam On Fri, May 3, 2024 at 10:03 PM Jeffrey Brace via cctalk < cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > The Vintage Computer Federation is looking for a new bumper to add to the > front and back of all their new videos. > There are 7 different versions. Vote on the one that you like best! > > https://forms.gle/Y9Qrj26xokeFXjub6 >
[cctalk] Netflix Series: American Conspiracy/Octopus Murders
Hey everyone, My better half recently turned this on and also a podcast with the creator/director. They mentioned they visited "someone" with a working VAX 11/780 to get b-roll footage for the movie. Which one of us was it? :D In all seriousness, it would be fun to try and get a vintage copy of the PROMIS software running on something (I assume it was VAX/VMS in its original incarnation, but many other screenshots show SNA/greenscreen implementations.) Cheers, all! -- -Jon +44 7792 149029
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
I have a vague recollection of someone telling me there was a trick to demagnetizing high density disks. Perhaps wave a magnet in various ways, even moving the magnet to and from the disk's surface. Then again maybe it's just a chatgpt style hallucination. Wouldn't hurt to try though.
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
On Tue, 30 Apr 2024, Mike Katz wrote: The HP9114A drive uses a modified Sony 3.5" floppy drive running at 600 RPM instead of the normal 300 RPM. This is an extremely unusual configuration that is different from any PC/MAC/Commodore/Amiga situation. I am using normal HD floppies in those 600 RPM Sony drives (HP 9121). I haven't had any issues for now. Christian
[cctalk] Re: Double Density 3.5" Floppy Disks
On Tue, 30 Apr 2024, Mike Katz wrote: I have tried bulk erasing 1.44 MB disks and they still won't format in the HP9114A battery operated HP-IL Floppy Disk drive. Then I'd guess there is a problem with your drive; write-protect switch? Christian
[cctalk] Re: New VCF Video bumper
I picked the regular Daisy Bell one (except there is a little blip/bump at the 2-second mark that is a little jarring). It's a homage to what the IBM 7094 did back in 1961 (while that one did have vocals, it is a bit eerie, and so just an audio track like a PDP-1 might play it is good). On Sat, May 4, 2024 at 12:03 AM Jeffrey Brace via cctalk < cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: > The Vintage Computer Federation is looking for a new bumper to add to the > front and back of all their new videos. > There are 7 different versions. Vote on the one that you like best! > > https://forms.gle/Y9Qrj26xokeFXjub6 >
