videotex projects / was Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-27 Thread Brent Hilpert 
On 2015-Oct-25, at 8:29 AM, Jon Elson wrote:
> On 10/24/2015 08:54 PM, Mike Ross wrote:
>> For reasons too abstruse to explain in detail I'm on the lookout for
>> terminals that are, physically, really small - especially serial and
>> coax 3270, and possibly twinax 5250.
>> 
>> 
> I had a thing that was apparently used in France and maybe Canada for 
> telephone directory lookup and similar uses.  I believe it was called a 
> Minitel.

The French Minitel, and British Prestel, were videotex systems.
Canada's national effort of the late-70s/early-80s at a videotex project was 
Telidon.
Telidon resulted in protocol standards (which led to NAPLPS), and some hardware 
was produced, but it never saw major deployment as the Prestel and Minitel 
systems did.

I'm not aware of any Minitel presence in Canada.
Perhaps some terminals made their way here for use as compact terminals in some 
application or some such.



> It had a TINY CRT screen, maybe 5 x 7".  It used a standard 40-pin 
> microprocessor and other standard parts.  I junked mine because it would 
> randomly reset every minute or so, and I didn't really have a use for it.  I 
> think mine was smaller than the one in the Wikipedia article, but it did look 
> similar to that. There are some on eBay, but they are all from France and 
> Belgium. Interface was pure serial RS-232.
> 
> Jon

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-26 Thread Jon Elson 

On 10/25/2015 08:32 PM, william degnan wrote:

On Oct 25, 2015 8:54 PM, "Jon Elson"  wrote:

On 10/25/2015 05:27 PM, Mike Ross wrote:


A pull-out keyboard in the base? I have one too. Would be perfect if
it worked, and I had half a dozen of them!



No, mine did NOT have a pull-out or fold-down kbd, it was all one piece,

like a micro-miniaturized ADM3 or similar terminal.  Possibly it WAS the
same as the picture on the Wikipedia article, I couldn't tell the scale
from that pic.

Jon

Something like the iXO handheld terminal?

http://vintagecomputer.net/iXO/iXO_telecomputing-system.jpg


No, it WAS a Minitel.  The Wikipedia picture gives nothing 
for scale, but there is a picture of one on a Google 
pictures collection that shows it on a desk with a regular 
keyboard and LCD screen, and you can see how small the thing 
really was.


Jon

RE: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-26 Thread Dave G4UGM 

> -Original Message-
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Jon Elson
> Sent: 26 October 2015 19:09
> To: gene...@classiccmp.org; discuss...@classiccmp.org:On-Topic and Off-
> Topic Posts <cctalk@classiccmp.org>
> Subject: Re: Oddball question: really small terminals
> 
> On 10/25/2015 08:32 PM, william degnan wrote:
> > On Oct 25, 2015 8:54 PM, "Jon Elson" <el...@pico-systems.com> wrote:
> >> On 10/25/2015 05:27 PM, Mike Ross wrote:
> >>>
> >>> A pull-out keyboard in the base? I have one too. Would be perfect if
> >>> it worked, and I had half a dozen of them!
> >>>
> >>>
> >> No, mine did NOT have a pull-out or fold-down kbd, it was all one
> >> piece,
> > like a micro-miniaturized ADM3 or similar terminal.  Possibly it WAS
> > the same as the picture on the Wikipedia article, I couldn't tell the
> > scale from that pic.
> >> Jon
> > Something like the iXO handheld terminal?
> >
> > http://vintagecomputer.net/iXO/iXO_telecomputing-system.jpg
> >
> >
> No, it WAS a Minitel.  The Wikipedia picture gives nothing for scale, but 
> there
> is a picture of one on a Google pictures collection that shows it on a desk 
> with
> a regular keyboard and LCD screen, and you can see how small the thing
> really was.
> 
> Jon

Televideo made small terminals, PT102 and "Personal Terminal". I found a pic 
here:-

http://s11.photobucket.com/user/ballsandy/media/Computer%20related/100_2308.jpg.html

but there are more about if you google

Dave

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-25 Thread Pontus Pihlgren 
I think you want a Minec 1000. but it's a very rare beast. It 
talks 3270 and VT100.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/zachetus/535850501/

/P

On Sun, Oct 25, 2015 at 02:54:41PM +1300, Mike Ross wrote:
> For reasons too abstruse to explain in detail I'm on the lookout for
> terminals that are, physically, really small - especially serial and
> coax 3270, and possibly twinax 5250.
> 
> Yes you could do things with small laptops and PDAs with PCMCIA cards
> and adapters and software - I know a guy who kept a Psion Organizer
> configured especially for use as a terminal with SGI boxes. But that's
> Not The Same, and NOT what I'm after; I want dedicated purpose-built
> terminals; switch it on and It Works.
> 
> And both DEC and IBM made 'real' terminals in a 'small pizza box' form
> factor, using a separate standard VGA monitor as a display; one could
> use those with a small LCD screen and achieve a similar result, and I
> might do just that - can anyone remember the model numbers of IBM 3270
> and 5250 terminals that were built this way?
> 
> But really I'd prefer a compact all-in one solution; a one-piece
> terminal. Any suggestions? I'm open to both LCDs and *small* CRTs.
> Preferably colour!
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Mike

RE: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-25 Thread tony duell 
> 
> For reasons too abstruse to explain in detail I'm on the lookout for
> terminals that are, physically, really small - especially serial and
> coax 3270, and possibly twinax 5250.
>
> Yes you could do things with small laptops and PDAs with PCMCIA cards
> and adapters and software - I know a guy who kept a Psion Organizer
> configured especially for use as a terminal with SGI boxes. But that's
> Not The Same, and NOT what I'm after; I want dedicated purpose-built
> terminals; switch it on and It Works.

Three things that I use for small async RS232 terminals

1) (The one I use all the time). HP palmtops. I actually prefer the 95LX as the 
40
column display is easier to read in poor light when working on a rack. But the
100LX and 200LX are good too. Yes, it is a computer, but it has a built-in 
serial
port (just need a cable) and terminal software in ROM. The good points are that 
it will capture the downloaded data and you can kermit it to another machine if
you so wish. The standard cable is wired to plug directly into a PC and is thus 
a 
DCE, but I got a second cable, cut off the moulded D connector and wired it to 
a DB25 plug as a DTE.

2) One of my RS232 testers has a terminal mode on a 32*4 LCD. Just a dumb 
terminal, though, but it will do odd baud rates and 5-bit ITA2 (incorrectly
called Baudot) which can be useful

3) You will not find one, but Trend Data Systems did a version of the Opal
telex terminal that was a very good VT100 clone (even down to the 
setup mode). A clamshell design with a fold-down LCD and a full-size keyboard.
Runs off 12V (I am missing the original PSU for mine) and the power connector
(A variant of the UK telephone plug) is almost as hard to find as the machine.

-tony

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-25 Thread Glen Slick 
On Sat, Oct 24, 2015 at 10:35 PM, Mike Ross  wrote:
>
> This is along the right lines, although it's a TCP/IP network device
> without serial or 3270 ports for direct connection, and it doesn't
> have a screen:
>
> http://www.axel.com/uk/id_M75.html
>

I have a couple of AX3000 M75. I'm pretty sure you can connect
directly to a host through the RJ45 serial ports. It's been a while
since I've used them and I forget the details of the setup /
configuration screens.

I also have a similar ESPRIT 350C
http://www.sourceforterminals.com/newpdf/350C.pdf

These were reasonably cheap when I picked them up on eBay a while ago.

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-25 Thread Jason T 
On Oct 24, 2015 8:54 PM, "Mike Ross"  wrote:

> But really I'd prefer a compact all-in one solution; a one-piece
> terminal. Any suggestions? I'm open to both LCDs and *small* CRTs.
> Preferably colour!
>

First thing that comes to mind are the Informer terminals.  They had them
in small CRT versions and the more rare orange plasma display with the
folding lid.  The plasma one that I have seen was a 3270 emulation,
complete with the PF keys.  I know it had serial...not sure about coax.  I
believe I have seen the CRT ones with coax options.  Both monochrome
displays.

J

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-25 Thread Mike Ross 
On Sun, Oct 25, 2015 at 8:36 PM, tony duell  wrote:
>>
>> For reasons too abstruse to explain in detail I'm on the lookout for
>> terminals that are, physically, really small - especially serial and
>> coax 3270, and possibly twinax 5250.
>>
>> Yes you could do things with small laptops and PDAs with PCMCIA cards
>> and adapters and software - I know a guy who kept a Psion Organizer
>> configured especially for use as a terminal with SGI boxes. But that's
>> Not The Same, and NOT what I'm after; I want dedicated purpose-built
>> terminals; switch it on and It Works.
>
> Three things that I use for small async RS232 terminals
>
> 1) (The one I use all the time). HP palmtops. I actually prefer the 95LX as 
> the 40
> column display is easier to read in poor light when working on a rack. But the
> 100LX and 200LX are good too. Yes, it is a computer, but it has a built-in 
> serial
> port (just need a cable) and terminal software in ROM. The good points are 
> that
> it will capture the downloaded data and you can kermit it to another machine 
> if
> you so wish. The standard cable is wired to plug directly into a PC and is 
> thus a
> DCE, but I got a second cable, cut off the moulded D connector and wired it to
> a DB25 plug as a DTE.

Oh those look pretty good; I love the terminal emulator in ROM;
doesn't even need an OS, switch it on and it works; that's one of the
things I'm after. Shame about the rather nasty looking monochrome LCD
though... I'm more interested in colour, especially for 3270 use, and
as a hardware ANSI serial console for Hercules...

Ahhh or I could make my own... useful gizmo here...
http://www.brielcomputers.com/wordpress/?cat=25


Keep the ideas coming folks! Thanks!

http://www.corestore.org
'No greater love hath a man than he lay down his life for his brother.
Not for millions, not for glory, not for fame.
For one person, in the dark, where no one will ever know or see.'

RE: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-25 Thread Dave Wade 


> -Original Message-
> From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Mike Ross
> Sent: 25 October 2015 09:19
> To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
> <cctalk@classiccmp.org>
> Subject: Re: Oddball question: really small terminals
> 
> On Sun, Oct 25, 2015 at 8:36 PM, tony duell <a...@p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> For reasons too abstruse to explain in detail I'm on the lookout for
> >> terminals that are, physically, really small - especially serial and
> >> coax 3270, and possibly twinax 5250.
> >>
> >> Yes you could do things with small laptops and PDAs with PCMCIA cards

Having read you want Color I would see if you can get a NeoWare thin client 
with TN3270 support.
My only gripe is that I have not found a way to get one of my Nokia 3270 
keyboards to fully work with them.

Dave

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-25 Thread Mike Ross 
On Mon, Oct 26, 2015 at 3:19 AM, tony duell  wrote:
> [HP Palmtops, 95LX etc]
>> Oh those look pretty good; I love the terminal emulator in ROM;
>> doesn't even need an OS, switch it on and it works; that's one of the
>> things I'm after. Shame about the rather nasty looking monochrome LCD
>
> Actually, there is an OS -- MS-DOS -- and it's in ROM too. Along with a text
> editor, address book thingy, HP financial calculator (19B-II a-like, it does 
> have a
> 4 level stack RPN mode) and Lotus 1-2-3. I've never needed to use an 
> application
> other than the ones in ROM on these machines.
>
> The terminal emulator has a VT100 mode (which seems to work reasonably
> well). And plain text, Xmodem and kermit file transfers. I've used it to 
> download
> a file from one machine, then carry the palmtop to a different room and upload
> said file to a different machine if it would be impractical to run a cable.
>
> It is certainly a machine worth considering even if it doesn't meet all your
> requirements at the moment...
>
> -tony

Well I had forgotten I had pretty much what I was looking for in the
Corestore collection already!

http://www.corestore.org/terms.jpg

Two terminals the size of small pizza boxes using external VGA
displays. On top, an IBM 3483 coax 3270 terminal, on the bottom a DEC
VT525 serial terminal.

Now all I need is to find VGA LCD displays about the size of those
boxes - say 10" or 12" diagonal, suggestions??? - and maybe a few more
terminals - and we're pretty much in business!

I still love my VT52s and VT100s and 3278s, but I have space
considerations too for some of these applications! :-)

Thanks!

Mike

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-25 Thread Fred Cisin 

"physically really small" means different things to different people. It


45 years ago, a "mini-computer" was considered to be "really small".  So 
small that they gave it a special name to refer to how tiny it was.



Sony tried to call their Vaio "ultra-portable",
which was rather laughable when held up next to an OQO.

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-25 Thread Glen Slick 
On Sun, Oct 25, 2015 at 8:43 PM, Mike Ross  wrote:
>
> Well I had forgotten I had pretty much what I was looking for in the
> Corestore collection already!
>
> http://www.corestore.org/terms.jpg
>
> Two terminals the size of small pizza boxes using external VGA
> displays. On top, an IBM 3483 coax 3270 terminal, on the bottom a DEC
> VT525 serial terminal.
>
> Now all I need is to find VGA LCD displays about the size of those
> boxes - say 10" or 12" diagonal, suggestions??? - and maybe a few more
> terminals - and we're pretty much in business!

One issue with the VT525 is that you might have to experiment with a
few different LCD monitors to find one that produces an acceptable
display, especially if you want to use 132 column mode.

The last time I tried this with the LCD monitors I happened to have on
hand a ViewSonic VP2000s, a Samsung 931B, and a Dell 1704FPTT all
produced unacceptable results while an older ViewSonic VP150 did
reasonably well.

http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showthread.php?41674

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-25 Thread Mike Ross 
On Mon, Oct 26, 2015 at 4:29 AM, Jon Elson  wrote:
> On 10/24/2015 08:54 PM, Mike Ross wrote:
>>
>> For reasons too abstruse to explain in detail I'm on the lookout for
>> terminals that are, physically, really small - especially serial and
>> coax 3270, and possibly twinax 5250.
>>
>>
> I had a thing that was apparently used in France and maybe Canada for
> telephone directory lookup and similar uses.  I believe it was called a
> Minitel.  It had a TINY CRT screen, maybe 5 x 7".  It used a standard 40-pin
> microprocessor and other standard parts.  I junked mine because it would
> randomly reset every minute or so, and I didn't really have a use for it.  I
> think mine was smaller than the one in the Wikipedia article, but it did
> look similar to that. There are some on eBay, but they are all from France
> and Belgium. Interface was pure serial RS-232.

A pull-out keyboard in the base? I have one too. Would be perfect if
it worked, and I had half a dozen of them!

Mike

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-25 Thread william degnan 
On Oct 25, 2015 8:54 PM, "Jon Elson"  wrote:
>
> On 10/25/2015 05:27 PM, Mike Ross wrote:
>>
>>
>> A pull-out keyboard in the base? I have one too. Would be perfect if
>> it worked, and I had half a dozen of them!
>>
>>
> No, mine did NOT have a pull-out or fold-down kbd, it was all one piece,
like a micro-miniaturized ADM3 or similar terminal.  Possibly it WAS the
same as the picture on the Wikipedia article, I couldn't tell the scale
from that pic.
>
> Jon

Something like the iXO handheld terminal?

http://vintagecomputer.net/iXO/iXO_telecomputing-system.jpg

Bill

RE: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-25 Thread tony duell 
[HP Palmtops, 95LX etc]
> Oh those look pretty good; I love the terminal emulator in ROM;
> doesn't even need an OS, switch it on and it works; that's one of the
> things I'm after. Shame about the rather nasty looking monochrome LCD

Actually, there is an OS -- MS-DOS -- and it's in ROM too. Along with a text
editor, address book thingy, HP financial calculator (19B-II a-like, it does 
have a
4 level stack RPN mode) and Lotus 1-2-3. I've never needed to use an application
other than the ones in ROM on these machines.

The terminal emulator has a VT100 mode (which seems to work reasonably
well). And plain text, Xmodem and kermit file transfers. I've used it to 
download
a file from one machine, then carry the palmtop to a different room and upload
said file to a different machine if it would be impractical to run a cable. 

It is certainly a machine worth considering even if it doesn't meet all your 
requirements at the moment...

-tony

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-25 Thread Mike Ross 
On Mon, Oct 26, 2015 at 3:19 AM, tony duell  wrote:
> [HP Palmtops, 95LX etc]
>> Oh those look pretty good; I love the terminal emulator in ROM;
>> doesn't even need an OS, switch it on and it works; that's one of the
>> things I'm after. Shame about the rather nasty looking monochrome LCD
>
> Actually, there is an OS -- MS-DOS -- and it's in ROM too. Along with a text
> editor, address book thingy, HP financial calculator (19B-II a-like, it does 
> have a
> 4 level stack RPN mode) and Lotus 1-2-3. I've never needed to use an 
> application
> other than the ones in ROM on these machines.
>
> The terminal emulator has a VT100 mode (which seems to work reasonably
> well). And plain text, Xmodem and kermit file transfers. I've used it to 
> download
> a file from one machine, then carry the palmtop to a different room and upload
> said file to a different machine if it would be impractical to run a cable.
>
> It is certainly a machine worth considering even if it doesn't meet all your
> requirements at the moment...
>
> -tony

These are the best bet I've seen for serial terminals so far:

http://www.brielcomputers.com/wordpress/?cat=25

Just stick one to the back of a small LCD screen and I'm in business.

But on closer inspection the site shows "out of stock". I'll email;
maybe they'll do another batch. Or does anyone know someone who has
stock?

And I'm still left with the need for something for 3270...

Useful thread though; all kinds of interesting things coming out of
the woodwork :-)

Mike

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-25 Thread Jon Elson 

On 10/24/2015 08:54 PM, Mike Ross wrote:

For reasons too abstruse to explain in detail I'm on the lookout for
terminals that are, physically, really small - especially serial and
coax 3270, and possibly twinax 5250.


I had a thing that was apparently used in France and maybe 
Canada for telephone directory lookup and similar uses.  I 
believe it was called a Minitel.  It had a TINY CRT screen, 
maybe 5 x 7".  It used a standard 40-pin microprocessor and 
other standard parts.  I junked mine because it would 
randomly reset every minute or so, and I didn't really have 
a use for it.  I think mine was smaller than the one in the 
Wikipedia article, but it did look similar to that. There 
are some on eBay, but they are all from France and Belgium. 
Interface was pure serial RS-232.


Jon

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-25 Thread COURYHOUSE 
I wonder if - http://www.brielcomputers.com/wordpress/?cat=25
can be hacked to  do Baudot at 60 wpm?
Ed#
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 10/25/2015 7:29:19 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,  
tmfdm...@gmail.com writes:


These are the best bet I've seen for serial terminals so  far:

http://www.brielcomputers.com/wordpress/?cat=25

Just stick  one to the back of a small LCD screen and I'm in business.

But on  closer inspection the site shows "out of stock". I'll email;
maybe they'll  do another batch. Or does anyone know someone who has
stock?

And I'm  still left with the need for something for 3270...

Useful thread  though; all kinds of interesting things coming out of
the woodwork  :-)

Mike

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-25 Thread Fred Cisin 

> > For reasons too abstruse to explain in detail I'm on the lookout for
> > terminals that are, physically, really small - especially serial and
> > coax 3270, and possibly twinax 5250.

How small is "really small"? IBM made a terminal with a 5" screen for the 4704 
banking systems. http://frente-cajas.blogspot.com/


On Sun, 25 Oct 2015, Mike Ross wrote:

5" might be a bit small even for me! The 9" version looks pretty close
to that kind of thing I have in mind except:


5" was not the smallest, and there were several, even luggable, machines 
that used it  (earliest Osborn, Otrona, Elcompco, etc.)



Small computers running DOS aren't what I had in mind,


Can you explain what your objection is?
In what qualitative or quantitative way is a DOS computer running terminal 
software fundamentally different from a terminal that did not also have 
general purpose capabilities?  A DOS machine can be setup to run the 
program on startup - in the case of HP95, Poqet, and portfolio, the
memory cards gave you close to the same speed to boot and run the 
software as a dedicated machine.



neither are  single line displays :-)


OK.
BUT, it would have helped if you were to say what you are doing and what 
you WANT, instead of just rejecting systems that are not what you want.

We'd waste less of your time.

"physically really small" means different things to different people. 
It could mean that a pocket computer is the upper limit (I have used a 
CCTV viewfinder as a monitor),  or it could mean that you want ADM3A 
(iMac prototype?) V IBM 3270 terminals.

What does "really small" mean to YOU?



My *ideal* device would be something like a 10" or 12" LCD panel with
terminal logic built-in: power connector, 3270 or serial port, and a
PS/2 or USB keyboard port. A terminal you can hang on the wall. Cable
it up, hang it on the wall, away you go... if I can find something
along those lines I'll take a dozen :)


OK, that's much closer to a description!
Howzbout: Connectbot running on an Android tablet?
Do you want the keyboard to remain attached?   (unfold a Sony Vaio, or any 
small laptop)


Or only use the keyboard for setup and maintenance/reconfiguration?
(back to tablet)
What are your keyboard requirements?  IBM "M", Palm thumbpad, "virtual 
keyboard" with touchscreen?


Your desire for COLOR throws a serious crimp in many/most dedicated 
terminals, and points more towards "thin client" or dedicating a general 
purpose machine.

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-24 Thread COURYHOUSE 
yes we have one line LED  letter terminals used for Deaf and hard of  
Hearing.

we will buy more of them too. do you have any of them?
ASCII or BAUDOT either for our  Deaf Telecom diaplay.
 
Drop me a line offlist  thanks  Ed Sharpe  archivist   for SMECC
 
 
In a message dated 10/24/2015 8:44:59 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,  
charles.unix@gmail.com writes:

On Sat,  Oct 24, 2015 at 8:39 PM, Alexandre Souza  <
alexandre.tabaj...@gmail.com> wrote:

> 16 char x 1 line  is small enough? :)
> Em 25/10/2015 01:34, "Chuck Guzis"   escreveu:
>
> > On 10/24/2015 08:10  PM, Cindy Croxton wrote:
> >
> >> How small is "really  small"? IBM made a terminal with a 5" screen for
> >> the 4704  banking systems. http://frente-cajas.blogspot.com/
> >>
>  >
> > I've got one with a 64 character 1-line LED display.   Is that small
> enough?
> >
> > --Chuck
>  >
> >
>

Set the baud rate really low and tie an LED  to the xmit line.

--  Charles

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-24 Thread Alexandre Souza 
16 char x 1 line is small enough? :)
Em 25/10/2015 01:34, "Chuck Guzis"  escreveu:

> On 10/24/2015 08:10 PM, Cindy Croxton wrote:
>
>> How small is "really small"? IBM made a terminal with a 5" screen for
>> the 4704 banking systems. http://frente-cajas.blogspot.com/
>>
>
> I've got one with a 64 character 1-line LED display.  Is that small enough?
>
> --Chuck
>
>

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-24 Thread Fred Cisin 
The Epson RC-20 wrist watch (30 years ago) had serial port, RAM, ROM, 
and sort of a Z80.


But, nobody ever brought up CP/M on it.

RE: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-24 Thread Cindy Croxton 
How small is "really small"? IBM made a terminal with a 5" screen for the 4704 
banking systems. http://frente-cajas.blogspot.com/


-Original Message-
From: cctalk [mailto:cctalk-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Mike Ross
Sent: Saturday, October 24, 2015 8:55 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Oddball question: really small terminals

For reasons too abstruse to explain in detail I'm on the lookout for
terminals that are, physically, really small - especially serial and
coax 3270, and possibly twinax 5250.

Yes you could do things with small laptops and PDAs with PCMCIA cards
and adapters and software - I know a guy who kept a Psion Organizer
configured especially for use as a terminal with SGI boxes. But that's
Not The Same, and NOT what I'm after; I want dedicated purpose-built
terminals; switch it on and It Works.

And both DEC and IBM made 'real' terminals in a 'small pizza box' form
factor, using a separate standard VGA monitor as a display; one could
use those with a small LCD screen and achieve a similar result, and I
might do just that - can anyone remember the model numbers of IBM 3270
and 5250 terminals that were built this way?

But really I'd prefer a compact all-in one solution; a one-piece
terminal. Any suggestions? I'm open to both LCDs and *small* CRTs.
Preferably colour!

Thanks

Mike


---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus

RE: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-24 Thread Fred Cisin 

On Sat, 24 Oct 2015, Cindy Croxton wrote:
How small is "really small"? IBM made a terminal with a 5" screen for 
the 4704 banking systems. http://frente-cajas.blogspot.com/


And the Atari Portfolio runs a version of DR-DOS.
And the Poqet ran MS-DOS.

Both have serial ports available.
Both will run DOS software, including most of the undocumented calls, such 
as TSRs.

Either can function as a terminal.

Re: Oddball question: really small terminals

2015-10-24 Thread Charles Anthony 
On Sat, Oct 24, 2015 at 8:39 PM, Alexandre Souza <
alexandre.tabaj...@gmail.com> wrote:

> 16 char x 1 line is small enough? :)
> Em 25/10/2015 01:34, "Chuck Guzis"  escreveu:
>
> > On 10/24/2015 08:10 PM, Cindy Croxton wrote:
> >
> >> How small is "really small"? IBM made a terminal with a 5" screen for
> >> the 4704 banking systems. http://frente-cajas.blogspot.com/
> >>
> >
> > I've got one with a 64 character 1-line LED display.  Is that small
> enough?
> >
> > --Chuck
> >
> >
>

Set the baud rate really low and tie an LED to the xmit line.

-- Charles