Anyone have one of these? QDP-300

[jim stephens]

This looks like a very nice system.  I'm not sure I ever heard of it, 
but today's Sharktank (computerworld) has a fun story about it.


Even better extra points if you have the said system in your collection.

System (from link in article):
http://blog.modernmechanix.com/qdp-300-the-peace-of-mind-computer/

Quasar Data Products
http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1=616

Shark Tank Column, 1/13/2017 (yes Friday the 13th).  For future 
reference if the link fails.

http://www.computerworld.com/article/3157097/it-industry/it-its-not-just-a-job-its-a-rollover-accident.html

The QDP had a hard drive and 8" floppies.  Z80 x 64K memory.

Thanks
Jim

Re: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

[Jon Elson]

On 01/13/2017 06:42 PM, Antonio Carlini wrote:

On 14/01/17 00:06, Jon Elson wrote:
I eventually got a MicroVAX-II to replace it, and, yes, 
that DID have a cache to speed up the memory, but it was 
quite a difference.


I'm reasonably sure that the uVAX II did not have a memory 
cache. It did have a translation lookaside buffer and some 
(small) amount

of instruction pre-fetch though.


Right, I am misremembering.  The 780 and the KA650 had caches.
The KA630 did real well, then, without a cache.  So, I never 
understood why the Nat Semi 32016 performed so poorly.  I 
did build a multiprocessor using the 32016 WITHOUT the MMU, 
and it looked to be around 300KIPS (roughly 1/3 of a VAX 
780).  So, maybe it was the MMU that really hurt the 
performance.


Jon

Re: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

[Glen Slick]

On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 4:42 PM, Antonio Carlini  wrote:
>
> I'm reasonably sure that the uVAX II did not have a memory cache. It did
> have a translation lookaside buffer and some (small) amount
> of instruction pre-fetch though.
>

Digital Technical Journal, Number 2 March 1986
http://www.dtjcd.vmsresource.org.uk/pdfs/dtj_v01-02_mar1986.pdf

The MicroVAX 78032 Chip, A 32-Bit Microprocessor

All existing VAX processors implement memory
management with a large address translation
cache (at least 128 entries), with system
and process addresses in separate halves. A
translation cache must have a high hit rate to be
effective. Since most caches are direct mapped,
many entries are required to achieve a high
cache rate. Implementing a comparable number
of translation cache entries in the 78032
was out of the question, due to die size constraints.
However, the VLSI technology in the
78032 is very amenable to using a fully associative
translation cache with least-recently-used
(LRU) replacement.

Such a cache needs many fewer entries to
achieve the same hit rate as the direct-mapped
version. In addition, the tight coupling to local
memory, as explained in the next paragraph,
made it possible to reduce drastically the
amount of time required to process a translation
cache miss. Thus the translation cache in
the chip has only eight entries, but the cache is
fully associative, uses true LRU replacement,
and is supported by highly optimized
microcode for fast processing of misses. Moreover,
simulation studies showed that the best
use of the eight entries was with a homogeneous
structure. Therefore, the system and process
addresses are cached together.

The team also decided to forgo the use of an
external memory cache, which required a complex
external interface. Use of an internal memory
cache had already been ruled out due to die
size constraints. Accordingly, the speed of
memory access is 400 ns, or two microcycles,
which is the speed of local memory. Thus the
chip encounters no wait states, and its average
time to access memory is approximately the
same as the 11/780's. In a typical program,
there is little difference between the integer
instruction performance of the two CPUs.

Re: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

[Antonio Carlini]

On 14/01/17 00:06, Jon Elson wrote:
I eventually got a MicroVAX-II to replace it, and, yes, that DID have 
a cache to speed up the memory, but it was quite a difference.


I'm reasonably sure that the uVAX II did not have a memory cache. It did 
have a translation lookaside buffer and some (small) amount

of instruction pre-fetch though.

Antonio

--
Antonio Carlini
arcarl...@iee.org

Re: What is the most amount of money you've spent on a computer or computer-related item?

[Jon Elson]

On 01/13/2017 05:14 PM, Kyle Owen wrote:
I'd be interested in seeing some pictures of your 
photoplotter, if you have a chance. Now with the idea of 
direct toner transfer with modern laser printers, I can 
see bringing a darkroom into it as being a bit of a hassle.

See http://pico-systems.com/photoplot.html

The picture shows the old version, but most of it is the 
same.  The Beagle plus an interface board becomes an 
identical drop-in replacement for the ISA bus DMA card that 
used to run the thing.


I wrote a program for the Beagle's PRU processor to imitate 
the DMA card's functions, and also unpack run-length encoded 
data on the fly.


Jon

Re: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

[Jon Elson]

From: "Rick Bensene" 

- A Tektronix 4132 Unix workstation  using a National 32016 CPU and a
4.2bsd port called UTek


Gee, how does it perform?  I built a clone of a Logical 
Microcomputer Co. 32016 Multibus system and got it working.  
But, it was glacially slow!  I did have some memory that was 
likely a little slower than the stock memory, but it wasn't 
insanely slow.  But, firing up certain things like editors 
was just maddening.  And, I'm not talking about Emacs, just 
vi.  I eventually got a MicroVAX-II to replace it, and, yes, 
that DID have a cache to speed up the memory, but it was 
quite a difference.


Jon

Re: What is the most amount of money you've spent on a computer or computer-related item?

[Kyle Owen]

On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 4:24 PM, Jon Elson  wrote:

>
>>> I have a laser photoplotter I built a long time ago to make circuit
> board artwork.  It does 1000 x 1000 DPI via a raster process, wrapping the
> film around a drum.  After moving all the conversion software over to
> Linux, it occurred to me that it might not be hard to convert some raw
> pixel image format produced by one of the PostScript converters to the
> format for my photoplotter.  it was about a one hour exercise to get it
> working!
>
> Not exactly a one button operation to get images, what with all the
> darkroom processing, but I might use it some day.  I mostly use it now to
> make solder stencils for board manufacturing.


I have some circuit boards out of a 1980s Intergraph photoplotter, and I
could probably manage to get the laser and such from it as well. When it
was operational, it was also used to make PCB artwork.

I'd be interested in seeing some pictures of your photoplotter, if you have
a chance. Now with the idea of direct toner transfer with modern laser
printers, I can see bringing a darkroom into it as being a bit of a hassle.
But still, quite cool.

Kyle

Re: What is the most amount of money you've spent on a computer or computer-related item?

[Toby Thain]

On 2017-01-13 7:24 PM, Jon Elson wrote:

On 01/13/2017 12:16 PM, Al Kossow wrote:


On 1/13/17 10:05 AM, Toby Thain wrote:


AUD $25,000 for a Linotype L100 PostScript imagesetter (used).



I have a laser photoplotter I built a long time ago to make circuit
board artwork.  It does 1000 x 1000 DPI via a raster process, wrapping
the film around a drum.  After moving all the conversion software over
to Linux, it occurred to me that it might not be hard to convert some
raw pixel image format produced by one of the PostScript converters to
the format for my photoplotter.  it was about a one hour exercise to get
it working!

Not exactly a one button operation to get images, what with all the
darkroom processing, but I might use it some day.  I mostly use it now
to make solder stencils for board manufacturing.


I remember you mentioning on the list before. Would make a nice hackaday 
writeup :-)


--Toby




Jon

Re: What is the most amount of money you've spent on a computer or computer-related item?

[Jon Elson]

On 01/13/2017 12:16 PM, Al Kossow wrote:


On 1/13/17 10:05 AM, Toby Thain wrote:


AUD $25,000 for a Linotype L100 PostScript imagesetter (used).


I have a laser photoplotter I built a long time ago to make 
circuit board artwork.  It does 1000 x 1000 DPI via a raster 
process, wrapping the film around a drum.  After moving all 
the conversion software over to Linux, it occurred to me 
that it might not be hard to convert some raw pixel image 
format produced by one of the PostScript converters to the 
format for my photoplotter.  it was about a one hour 
exercise to get it working!


Not exactly a one button operation to get images, what with 
all the darkroom processing, but I might use it some day.  I 
mostly use it now to make solder stencils for board 
manufacturing.


Jon

Re: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

[Ken Seefried]

From: "Rick Bensene" 
>
> - A Tektronix 4132 Unix workstation  using a National 32016 CPU and a
> 4.2bsd port called UTek

Those seem quite rare now, especially if it works.  You should
preserve an image of UTek if possible.  Any chance you have the
install media?

KJ

Re: PAL video in the states

[Adrian Graham]

On 13/01/2017 20:51, "Tony Duell"  wrote:

>> Just looked at the pics of someone servicing one, I'll go looking for the
>> manual :)
> 
> It's actually not too bad to work on. The 2 main PCBs (deflection one side,
> video processing on the other) are on fold-out frames. And in fact the whole
> thing comes apart in a few minutes.

So I see, it reminded me a bit of the Acorn Cambridge Workstation in that
respect.
 
> If you can't find the service manual, I have the one I downloaded...

Hopefully I won't need it for a long while but you never know!

>> The monitor is a Hitachi chassis I think, dark-ish picture of my machine is
>> here: http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/einstein.jpg
> 
> That would surprise me, given that Tatung made TV sets (which were often
> badged 'Decca' in the UK). Tandy sold a set based on the Tatung 160 chassis
> as well.

Yes, you're probably right. I was all over the unofficial
tatungeinstein.co.uk last year when I was readying my machine for exhibition
since I could only find one games disk for it. Naturally I found them all a
few weeks ago. Said website is run by the nephew of a Tatung worker in
Telford and I'm sure he said who made the monitor but I can't find it now.
 
> Given that, I would have thought they would have used their own chassis
> in this monitor.
> 
>> 
>> And why oh why did I look on ebay for Einstein stuffgrr :)
> 
> Why? What happened?

I was reminded that the Einstein 256 existed and there's still a couple of
places selling unused ones - unused because there wasn't a market for them
AND the monitor powered the machine a la Amstrad. Not that I've got a spare
£250 of course, but...

-- 
Adrian/Witchy
Binary Dinosaurs creator/curator
Www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the UK's biggest private home computer
collection?

Re: What is the most amount of money you've spent on a computer or computer-related item?

[Toby Thain]

On 2017-01-13 5:19 PM, Paul Koning wrote:



On Jan 13, 2017, at 2:02 PM, Toby Thain  wrote:

On 2017-01-13 3:17 PM, Paul Koning wrote:



On Jan 13, 2017, at 1:05 PM, Toby Thain  wrote:
...
AUD $25,000 for a Linotype L100 PostScript imagesetter (used).

Has a 68K computer inside it with Adobe ROMs. Communication via serial or 
AppleTalk.

One of the first high resolution PostScript imagesetters. Put a lot of feet of 
bromide paper through it.


Neat! By the standards of the time, those were not really high image
quality, but definitely adequate and successful for newspaper work. I
remember working with them in the early 1980s.


Yes, its primary job was newspaper galley setting when I bought it, but I did 
bureau work on the side. Even some negatives of questionable density ;)


The quality issue I remembered was somewhat jaggy outlines, even

though the scan resolution was entirely adequate. It was the first
outline based typesetter I've seen, and you could tell from the film --

Now I think about it, I've definitely seen what you are talking about, 
although not with this device. Indeed, early outline set fonts were 
insufficiently high resolution. Either they misjudged it or perhaps it 
was due to a memory/storage constraint. Maybe this was a Linotron 
problem, but I'm not familiar with that generation. (IIRC Linotype sold 
the laser/raster engine with its own pre-PostScript software, a 
generation after CRT setters? Or these poor rasterisations might have 
been in the CRT generation.)


This isn't an issue with any of the PostScript setters though 
(specifically not the Linotronics); the PostScript rasterisation is good 
quality. You would never be able to discern flatness issues in the text.


--Toby


but not from newsprint -- that the outline shapes weren't quite fine
enough. It's possible I'm remembering wrong and that was the Linotron
300 that had this issue. Perhaps so, the dates for PostScript don't
quite fit the dates when I was doing this stuff.


paul

Re: What is the most amount of money you've spent on a computer or computer-related item?

[Toby Thain]

On 2017-01-13 5:19 PM, Paul Koning wrote:



On Jan 13, 2017, at 2:02 PM, Toby Thain  wrote:

On 2017-01-13 3:17 PM, Paul Koning wrote:



On Jan 13, 2017, at 1:05 PM, Toby Thain  wrote:
...
AUD $25,000 for a Linotype L100 PostScript imagesetter (used).

Has a 68K computer inside it with Adobe ROMs. Communication via serial or 
AppleTalk.

One of the first high resolution PostScript imagesetters. Put a lot of feet of 
bromide paper through it.


Neat! By the standards of the time, those were not really high image
quality, but definitely adequate and successful for newspaper work. I
remember working with them in the early 1980s.


Yes, its primary job was newspaper galley setting when I bought it, but I did 
bureau work on the side. Even some negatives of questionable density ;)


The quality issue I remembered was somewhat jaggy outlines, even

though the scan resolution was entirely adequate. It was the first
outline based typesetter I've seen, and you could tell from the film --
but not from newsprint -- that the outline shapes weren't quite fine
enough. It's possible I'm remembering wrong and that was the Linotron
300 that had this issue. Perhaps so, the dates for PostScript don't
quite fit the dates when I was doing this stuff.

That machine was switchable 1270/635/317 dpi. I never saw such an issue 
with the L100 at 1270dpi. It was as good as you could expect from a 
capstan machine.


--Toby




paul

Re: PAL video in the states

[Tony Duell]

>> [Sony PVM9044QM]
>>
>>> I bought one of those recently ostensibly as a monitor for my Apple ][s but
>>> like you say it's capable of pretty much anything you can throw at it.
>>> ukp25 too, bargain.
>>
>> You can get the service manual from elektrotanya, and believe me you
>> need it!
>
> Just looked at the pics of someone servicing one, I'll go looking for the
> manual :)

It's actually not too bad to work on. The 2 main PCBs (deflection one side,
video processing on the other) are on fold-out frames. And in fact the whole
thing comes apart in a few minutes.

If you can't find the service manual, I have the one I downloaded...


{Tatung Einstein]

>> I've never seen the official Tatung monitor for it. I assume it's based on
>> a common TV chassis design. (The Einstein PSU is very similar to some
>> 1980s Decca/Tatung TV power supply circuits).
>
> The monitor is a Hitachi chassis I think, dark-ish picture of my machine is
> here: http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/einstein.jpg

That would surprise me, given that Tatung made TV sets (which were often
badged 'Decca' in the UK). Tandy sold a set based on the Tatung 160 chassis
as well.

Given that, I would have thought they would have used their own chassis
in this monitor.

>
> And why oh why did I look on ebay for Einstein stuffgrr :)

Why? What happened?

-tony

Re: What's the rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?

[Rico Pajarola]

I don't have any pre-80ies stuff at all, but some cool/rare/obscure 32bit
machines. If I'd have to pick a single one, I'd say it's the Motorola
PowerStack E100 running Solaris 2.5.1 for powerpc. Still looking for the
sun compiler for that (one of these days I'll try to resurrect the gcc
port, but I'd rather not debug the code generation and linker issues while
also cross compiling).

On Tue, Jan 10, 2017 at 11:09 PM, Andy Cloud  wrote:

> Hi Everyone!
>
> I thought this would be an interesting question to ask around - What's the
> rarest or most unusual computer-related item do you own?
>
> For me, personally, I have a Altair 8800!
>
> Looking forward to hearing your answers
>
> >_Andy
>

Re: What is the most prized possession in your collection?

[COURYHOUSE]

Mine is the HP-2000  ...  it  was a game changer   for me  in the  used  
computer  business as it  gave me  a one company direction... from  dealing in 
parts to keep it alive to   having  HP-3000 systems being an indy  new  HP  
dealer  on  PC  products in the 80s into the 90s.
 
On a more personal level,   the Classic PDP-8 with the plexi  top covers  
we have here in the SMECC   museum project I  have   given them.   I wanted 
one ion 1965and  finally  got one in the 80s!
 
Ed#  _www.smecc.org_ (http://www.smecc.org)  
 
 
In a message dated 1/13/2017 4:03:03 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,  
alexandre.tabaj...@gmail.com writes:

We've  talked about the most expensive, the most rare, the less usual...

Now  lets talk about what you love most <3

For me is the Apple IIe signed  by Woz :D

What is your most prized and loved possession?  :)

Re: PAL video in the states

[Adrian Graham]

On 13/01/2017 18:02, "Tony Duell"  wrote:

> On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 4:17 PM, Adrian Graham
>  wrote:
>> On 13 January 2017 at 15:49, Tony Duell  wrote:
> 
> 
> [Sony PVM9044QM]
> 
>> I bought one of those recently ostensibly as a monitor for my Apple ][s but
>> like you say it's capable of pretty much anything you can throw at it.
>> ukp25 too, bargain.
> 
> You can get the service manual from elektrotanya, and believe me you
> need it!

Just looked at the pics of someone servicing one, I'll go looking for the
manual :)

>> I didn't think of putting my Einstein through my big TV, instead I spent
>> quite a bit on the official Tatung monitor for an exhibition I was doing.
> 
> The Einstein can output either RGB (analogue) + sync or 'Component
> video' (luminance and 2 colour difference signals). There are links on the
> PCB to select which.

When it was released it was 'unique' for a home computer in that its video
output was YUV, I remember that being mentioned specifically.
 
> I've never seen the official Tatung monitor for it. I assume it's based on
> a common TV chassis design. (The Einstein PSU is very similar to some
> 1980s Decca/Tatung TV power supply circuits).

The monitor is a Hitachi chassis I think, dark-ish picture of my machine is
here: http://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/einstein.jpg

And why oh why did I look on ebay for Einstein stuffgrr :)

-- 
Adrian/Witchy
Binary Dinosaurs creator/curator
Www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - the UK's biggest private home computer
collection?

Re: What is the most amount of money you've spent on a computer or computer-related item?

[Paul Koning]

> On Jan 13, 2017, at 2:02 PM, Toby Thain  wrote:
> 
> On 2017-01-13 3:17 PM, Paul Koning wrote:
>> 
>>> On Jan 13, 2017, at 1:05 PM, Toby Thain  wrote:
>>> ...
>>> AUD $25,000 for a Linotype L100 PostScript imagesetter (used).
>>> 
>>> Has a 68K computer inside it with Adobe ROMs. Communication via serial or 
>>> AppleTalk.
>>> 
>>> One of the first high resolution PostScript imagesetters. Put a lot of feet 
>>> of bromide paper through it.
>> 
>> Neat! By the standards of the time, those were not really high image
>> quality, but definitely adequate and successful for newspaper work. I
>> remember working with them in the early 1980s.
>> 
> Yes, its primary job was newspaper galley setting when I bought it, but I did 
> bureau work on the side. Even some negatives of questionable density ;)

The quality issue I remembered was somewhat jaggy outlines, even though the 
scan resolution was entirely adequate.  It was the first outline based 
typesetter I've seen, and you could tell from the film -- but not from 
newsprint -- that the outline shapes weren't quite fine enough.  It's possible 
I'm remembering wrong and that was the Linotron 300 that had this issue.  
Perhaps so, the dates for PostScript don't quite fit the dates when I was doing 
this stuff.

paul

Re: PAL video in the states

[Geoffrey Oltmans]

I use a TV tuner/video capture card (Hauppauge WinTV-D) and DScaler to
display output from my PAL Commodore 128D either composite or Y/C. It works
quite well actually. I did try a cheapy PAL/NTSC converter from eBay but
any horizontal movement is terrible since it doesn't do any
framebuffering/pulldown necessary to handle the difference in refresh
rates. Dscaler displays just about perfect (although the Hauppauge card
introduces a bit of noise in the video).

On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 12:02 PM, Tony Duell  wrote:

> On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 4:17 PM, Adrian Graham
>  wrote:
> > On 13 January 2017 at 15:49, Tony Duell  wrote:
>
>
> [Sony PVM9044QM]
>
> > I bought one of those recently ostensibly as a monitor for my Apple ][s
> but
> > like you say it's capable of pretty much anything you can throw at it.
> > ukp25 too, bargain.
>
> You can get the service manual from elektrotanya, and believe me you
> need it!
>
> >
> > I didn't think of putting my Einstein through my big TV, instead I spent
> > quite a bit on the official Tatung monitor for an exhibition I was doing.
>
> The Einstein can output either RGB (analogue) + sync or 'Component
> video' (luminance and 2 colour difference signals). There are links on the
> PCB to select which.
>
> I've never seen the official Tatung monitor for it. I assume it's based on
> a common TV chassis design. (The Einstein PSU is very similar to some
> 1980s Decca/Tatung TV power supply circuits).
>
> -tony
>

Re: What is the most amount of money you've spent on a computer or computer-related item?

[Toby Thain]

On 2017-01-13 3:17 PM, Paul Koning wrote:



On Jan 13, 2017, at 1:05 PM, Toby Thain  wrote:
...
AUD $25,000 for a Linotype L100 PostScript imagesetter (used).

Has a 68K computer inside it with Adobe ROMs. Communication via serial or 
AppleTalk.

One of the first high resolution PostScript imagesetters. Put a lot of feet of 
bromide paper through it.


Neat! By the standards of the time, those were not really high image

quality, but definitely adequate and successful for newspaper work. I
remember working with them in the early 1980s.

Yes, its primary job was newspaper galley setting when I bought it, but 
I did bureau work on the side. Even some negatives of questionable 
density ;)


--Toby



paul

Re: PAL video in the states

[Phil Blundell]

On Fri, 2017-01-13 at 11:18 -0500, Paul Koning wrote:
> > 
> Just yesterday I was looking at roughly the opposite question: how to
> make a DVD (in the USA) that my sister in Holland would be able to
> use.  The impression I got is that PAL DVD players will usually
> accept NTSC DVDs, and modern PAL TVs will accept a *digital* data
> stream of NTSC video from such a player.  But that doesn't
> necessarily mean they will accept NTSC analog (for VCR output for
> example).  Your report fits that story.

There are two different aspects to the video standard and they are
slightly orthogonal.

PAL, strictly, is a way of encoding chroma in a composite video signal
and an associated set of analogue TV broadcast standards.  NTSC is the
name of the equivalent US TV standard which has a different way of
doing chroma.  (And there's also SECAM which is different again...)

Most PAL-based systems use 576 lines and 50 fields per second, whereas
most NTSC-based systems use 480 lines and 60 fields per second, and so
PAL and NTSC have become more or less synonymous with 576i and 480i
video timing respectively.  However, the opposite combinations do
exist, for example PAL-M uses 480i timings but (as the name suggests)
uses PAL encoding for colour.

But, most of these details of colour encoding are only relevant in the
analogue domain.  Digital video, and even analogue component video,
doesn't have a chroma subcarrier at all so, technically, it is
meaningless to refer to "digital PAL".  In the digital domain, either
compressed files on a DVD or pixels carried over an HDMI link, the only
thing that matters is the resolution and framerate.  The aggregate data
rate in terms of pixels per second is about the same for both formats
and any modern device will almost certainly be able to cope with both.

So, yes, most TVs will be quite happy to accept either 480i or 576i
over HDMI and display it, and I assume this is what you mean by "a
digital stream of NTSC video".  This applies even if they don't have
the capability of decoding NTSC colour, though actually I suspect quite
a lot of the TVs currently on sale are based on multistandard chipsets
and can quite likely do both.  

Most "PAL" DVD players are also quite happy (region coding aside) to
decode and and output 480i video from a US-market disc.  Though it's
worth noting that if you do that, the signal that comes out of the
analogue port is still PAL and not NTSC even though the video timings
will be the 480i ones.

p.

Re: PAL video in the states

[Chuck Guzis]

On 01/13/2017 07:49 AM, Tony Duell wrote:

Back in the day, a friend from the UK sent me a collection of VHS tapes
and a PAL video player.  I ordered a PAL-to-RGB demodulator kit from a
small supplier and took the (analog) RGB output to my Mitsubishi
Diamondscan CRT monitor.  Worked just fine.

--Chuck

Re: PAL video in the states

[Paul Koning]

> On Jan 13, 2017, at 1:05 PM, Tony Duell  wrote:
> 
> On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 4:18 PM, Paul Koning  wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Just yesterday I was looking at roughly the opposite question: how to make a 
>> DVD (in the USA)
>> that my sister in Holland would be able to use.  The impression I got is 
>> that PAL DVD players wil
>> l usually accept NTSC DVDs, and modern PAL TVs will accept a *digital* data 
>> stream of NTSC
>> video from such a player.  But that doesn't necessarily mean they will 
>> accept NTSC analog (for
>> VCR output for example).  Your report fits that story.
> 
> No, this TV will accept analogue NTSC video (such as from a VCR, or I
> assume an Apple ][, not
> that I have tried it).
> 
> But what one earth is a 'digital data stream of NTSC video'?

The stuff that comes out of the HDMI port of a DVD player, when playing an NTSC 
disk?  But note that I'm quoting, or paraphrasing, what I read when digging 
into the topic.  I'm still trying to make sense out of things.

The whole TV and DVD stuff is clearly obfuscated in amazing ways, probably in 
part intentionally.

paul

Re: What is the most amount of money you've spent on a computer or computer-related item?

[Paul Koning]

> On Jan 13, 2017, at 1:05 PM, Toby Thain  wrote:
> ...
> AUD $25,000 for a Linotype L100 PostScript imagesetter (used).
> 
> Has a 68K computer inside it with Adobe ROMs. Communication via serial or 
> AppleTalk.
> 
> One of the first high resolution PostScript imagesetters. Put a lot of feet 
> of bromide paper through it.

Neat!  By the standards of the time, those were not really high image quality, 
but definitely adequate and successful for newspaper work.  I remember working 
with them in the early 1980s.

paul

Re: What is the most amount of money you've spent on a computer or computer-related item?

[Al Kossow]

On 1/13/17 10:05 AM, Toby Thain wrote:

> AUD $25,000 for a Linotype L100 PostScript imagesetter (used).
> 
> Has a 68K computer inside it with Adobe ROMs. Communication via serial or 
> AppleTalk.
> 
> One of the first high resolution PostScript imagesetters. Put a lot of feet 
> of bromide paper through it.
> 
> The machine itself is actually available in Sydney NSW Australia for anyone 
> who would like to preserve it.
> 
> --Toby
> 

While trying to get the Compugraphic MCS Powerview simulated in MAME 
(specifically trying to find a keyboard), I'm
finding a lot of dead trails to phototypesetters.

A friend in the business got a good laugh when I said I was looking for parts.

Someone should document the L100, but it isn't going to be me :P

Re: PAL video in the states

[Tony Duell]

On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 4:18 PM, Paul Koning  wrote:
>
>
> Just yesterday I was looking at roughly the opposite question: how to make a 
> DVD (in the USA)
> that my sister in Holland would be able to use.  The impression I got is that 
> PAL DVD players wil
> l usually accept NTSC DVDs, and modern PAL TVs will accept a *digital* data 
> stream of NTSC
> video from such a player.  But that doesn't necessarily mean they will accept 
> NTSC analog (for
> VCR output for example).  Your report fits that story.

No, this TV will accept analogue NTSC video (such as from a VCR, or I
assume an Apple ][, not
that I have tried it).

But what one earth is a 'digital data stream of NTSC video'?

-tony

Re: What is the most amount of money you've spent on a computer or computer-related item?

[Stefan Skoglund (lokal]

tor 2017-01-12 klockan 20:35 + skrev Andy Cloud: 
> Hi Everyone!
> 
> I know this is a bit of a personal question, so please feel free to ignore
> this email!
> 
> If you're willing to answer it would also be interesting to know what drove
> you to spend as much as you did on that particular computer?
> 
> For me, the most I've spent on a single computer is $2,000 for a Rev 0
> Apple II around 3 years ago, I spent that much because I had wanted an
> original Apple II for so long (not plus or E) and this one was so clean and
> perfect! I cannot think of a time when I will sell it!
> 
> Can't wait to hear your answers :) :)
> 
> _>Andy

My Sun 2/120 is such an example:

8000 :- swedish crowns and
4000:- for a CDC 300 MB WREN disk from the US (this in early 1991.)

so lets say 1500 US $

The disk didn't work because it is embedded SCSI but SunOS 2 (and 3) is
basically only SMD and MFM (or ESDI) thru a disk controller.

The machine is still very complete :
full amount of RAM (4 MB)
QIC tape with controller
smd card
keyboard
mouse
original SUn screen

Re: PAL video in the states

[Jon Elson]

On 01/13/2017 07:38 AM, Noel Chiappa wrote:

 > From: William Degnan

 > some are made to handle both pal and ntsc automatically. ... not sure
 > if they still do all that for LCD tv's but why not?

Well, one thing most LCD's don't handle is interlaced video, so that could be
an issue.

Noel

LCD computer monitors may not handle interlaced video.  I'm 
sure some of them do.


But, I suspect all LCDs that can be used as TV monitors will 
handle interlaced just fine.  So, if it has a composite 
video input, it will have interlace.


Jon

Re: What is the most prized possession in your collection?

[Jon Elson]

On 01/13/2017 05:02 AM, Alexandre Souza wrote:

We've talked about the most expensive, the most rare, the less usual...

Now lets talk about what you love most <3

For me is the Apple IIe signed by Woz :D

What is your most prized and loved possession? :)

Well, the Honeywell Alert is rather special, and definitely 
out of the ordinary, as a collector's item.


Also, the MicroVAX-II is dear to my heart, as I did a LOT of 
work with it (at home, as well as at work with a variety of 
VAXen and uVAXen) from 1986 to 1995 or so.  When I got it in 
1986, it was a ***REAL*** computer, and I was in hog heaven.


Jon

Re: PAL video in the states

[Jon Elson]

On 01/13/2017 04:47 AM, Corey Cohen wrote:

So I have a friend who is originally from the U.K.   He has his old BBC micro 
from when he was a kid and wants to be able to use it here in the states.  His 
parents threw out his old TV in the U.K.

Is there a way to use a BBC Micro PAL version with a modern US LCD TV?  Do some 
brands of modern TVs support both NTSC and PAL? Let's assume he may need to 
grab video before the modulator.

Most RS-170 video monitors (plain composite video input) 
should be capable of syncing to monochrome video at PAL 
rates.  The color scheme is pretty different, so color won't 
work, but I'm guessing that is not what the BBC provided.


MUCH more trouble to use an LCD TV, unless it has a 
composite input for some compatibility with old stuff.  SOME 
LCD monitors may have this.  If they do, rather likely they 
know how to sync to it.  Some of those multi-purpose 
monitors that have 20 connectors on the back might be a good 
one to try, they try to support all formats and electrical 
interfaces.


Jon

Re: anybody have MOVIE.BYU?

[Jon Elson]

On 01/13/2017 12:46 AM, Randy Dawson wrote:

The famous Brigham Young University 3D graphics program, by Dr. Hank 
Christensen.


I am looking for the fortran source, it should be 7 files:
OH MY!  I definitely had that at one time - a LONG time 
ago.  I think it was on one of the DECUS tapes.
I took a quick look at some of the backups I now have 
online, and did not find it.  A lot of stuff that I used to 
have has been junked, as it was presumed to be available 
form somewhere else.


There seem to be some links under "movie.byu"

Any docs related too.
I think the docs were just text files included with the 
source code.


Jon

Re: What is the most prized possession in your collection?

[geneb]

On Fri, 13 Jan 2017, Charles Anthony wrote:



(The second reply was received in June 2014. On Jan 6 of this year, the ad
hoc MCRB (Multics Change Request Board) approved MCR10021 fixing the bug.)


I think this one is the most awesome yet. :)

g.

--
Proud owner of F-15C 80-0007
http://www.f15sim.com - The only one of its kind.
http://www.diy-cockpits.org/coll - Go Collimated or Go Home.
Some people collect things for a hobby.  Geeks collect hobbies.

ScarletDME - The red hot Data Management Environment
A Multi-Value database for the masses, not the classes.
http://scarlet.deltasoft.com - Get it _today_!

Re: PAL video in the states

[Paul Koning]

> On Jan 13, 2017, at 11:24 AM, Charles Anthony  
> wrote:
> 
> On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 8:18 AM, Paul Koning  wrote:
> 
>> 
>> Just yesterday I was looking at roughly the opposite question: how to make
>> a DVD (in the USA) that my sister in Holland would be able to use.  The
>> impression I got is that PAL DVD players will usually accept NTSC DVDs, and
>> modern PAL TVs will accept a *digital* data stream of NTSC video from such
>> a player.  But that doesn't necessarily mean they will accept NTSC analog
>> (for VCR output for example).  Your report fits that story.
>> 
>> 
> As loathe as I am to recommend Windows software, I seem to recall that Nero
> will do a reasonable ("acceptably lossy") job of converting DVDs between
> PAL/NTSC.

Thanks.  On the Mac, iDVD will do this (more precisely, make a DVD in either 
format from digital source material, which is what I have).  

paul

Re: PAL video in the states

[Charles Anthony]

On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 8:18 AM, Paul Koning  wrote:

>
> Just yesterday I was looking at roughly the opposite question: how to make
> a DVD (in the USA) that my sister in Holland would be able to use.  The
> impression I got is that PAL DVD players will usually accept NTSC DVDs, and
> modern PAL TVs will accept a *digital* data stream of NTSC video from such
> a player.  But that doesn't necessarily mean they will accept NTSC analog
> (for VCR output for example).  Your report fits that story.
>
>
As loathe as I am to recommend Windows software, I seem to recall that Nero
will do a reasonable ("acceptably lossy") job of converting DVDs between
PAL/NTSC.

-- Charles

Re: PAL video in the states

[Adrian Graham]

On 13 January 2017 at 15:49, Tony Duell  wrote:

> On my workbench I have a little (9") Sony Trinitron monitor. It's the sort
> of
> thing that was used for moniitoring signals in a TV studio. It's a model
> PVM9044QM. It can handle just about any TV rate video (US or UK
> rates), PAL, NTSC, Secam, analogue RGB (seperate sync or sync on
> green), component video, S video, etc. OK, 9" is probably too small for
> normal use, but it is ideal on the bench as it will display the output of
> just
> about any home computer. Be warned it's complex inside, 2 large PCBs full
> of chips and several smaller ones.
>

I bought one of those recently ostensibly as a monitor for my Apple ][s but
like you say it's capable of pretty much anything you can throw at it.
ukp25 too, bargain.

I didn't think of putting my Einstein through my big TV, instead I spent
quite a bit on the official Tatung monitor for an exhibition I was doing.

-- 
adrian/witchy
Owner of Binary Dinosaurs, the UK's biggest home computer collection?
www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk

Re: PAL video in the states

[Paul Koning]

> On Jan 13, 2017, at 10:49 AM, Tony Duell  wrote:
> 
> On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 2:37 PM, Kurt K  wrote:
>> I have a number of systems that require PAL and I was looking on Ebay for 
>> dual
>> NTSC / PAL monitors, and if necessary I can handle the power conversion 
>> requirements.
>> Any recommendations for a monitor that can work with Amstrad/Sinclair, 
>> BBC's, the
>> Archimedes, and the like.  I figure more than one may be necessary.
> 
> My LCD television (Sony KDL-22E5300) claims to be able to display PAL, PAL60 
> (I
> assume PAL with 60Hz vertical), SECAM (doesn't say which one), NTSC (with 
> either
> a 3.58MHz or 4.43MHz subcarrier). It also has a VGA input, analogue
> (TV rate) RGB
> and 'component video' (the last if you happen to have a Tatung
> Einstein computer, I
> guess :-)). I am sure other TVs of a similar date (about 6-7 years
> old) have similar
> facilities, maybe more modern ones do as well.

Just yesterday I was looking at roughly the opposite question: how to make a 
DVD (in the USA) that my sister in Holland would be able to use.  The 
impression I got is that PAL DVD players will usually accept NTSC DVDs, and 
modern PAL TVs will accept a *digital* data stream of NTSC video from such a 
player.  But that doesn't necessarily mean they will accept NTSC analog (for 
VCR output for example).  Your report fits that story.

On the other hand, I also read that US TVs generally don't understand PAL, and 
US DVD players don't either.  My BlueRay player says that explicitly in its 
manual.  It did accept the "PAL" DVD I just burned, which might mean that I 
didn't do it right and what I got was actually an NTSC disk...

One possible approach for US people to deal with PAL analog video is to feed it 
into a video capture device.  For example, the one sold by ElGato is documented 
as accepting NTSC, PAL, and PAL60.  It captures, of course (to H.264 movie 
files) but it will also simply display what it's getting on the computer's 
screen.

paul

Re: What is the most prized possession in your collection?

[Charles Anthony]

On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 3:02 AM, Alexandre Souza <
alexandre.tabaj...@gmail.com> wrote:

> We've talked about the most expensive, the most rare, the less usual...
>
> Now lets talk about what you love most <3
>
>

Two emails.

While getting Multics up and running, I discovered a few bugs in Multics
and sent bug reports to the Multics mailing list. I received the following
replies which I treasure:

Super.  Nothing like coming home from an exhausting workday to find a bug
> in my 35-year-old code has come back to haunt me.   :-(


and

I like the idea of submitting a bug report 14 years after the last site was
> shutdown. Might be a record.
>
> Do we have to reconvene the MCR board to approve the fix?


(The second reply was received in June 2014. On Jan 6 of this year, the ad
hoc MCRB (Multics Change Request Board) approved MCR10021 fixing the bug.)

-- Charles

Re: anybody have MOVIE.BYU?

[emanuel stiebler]

On 2017-01-13 03:23, Randy Dawson wrote:

Ohhmygosh!
I am reading and it looks like most of it is there, with some goofy stuff 
messing up the subroutine declarations, and binary inserted in places.
You have wrecked my weekend.
This gets me started with trying to build the thing.

please let us know how it goes.
It looks like a very interesting piece of software.
I love wire frames!

Re: What is the most prized possession in your collection?

[ethan]

We've talked about the most expensive, the most rare, the less usual...
Now lets talk about what you love most <3
For me is the Apple IIe signed by Woz :D
What is your most prized and loved possession? :)


For me it's similar, IIGS signed by Woz!

--
Ethan O'Toole

Re: PAL video in the states

[Tony Duell]

On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 2:37 PM, Kurt K  wrote:
> I have a number of systems that require PAL and I was looking on Ebay for dual
> NTSC / PAL monitors, and if necessary I can handle the power conversion 
> requirements.
> Any recommendations for a monitor that can work with Amstrad/Sinclair, BBC's, 
> the
> Archimedes, and the like.  I figure more than one may be necessary.

My LCD television (Sony KDL-22E5300) claims to be able to display PAL, PAL60 (I
assume PAL with 60Hz vertical), SECAM (doesn't say which one), NTSC (with either
a 3.58MHz or 4.43MHz subcarrier). It also has a VGA input, analogue
(TV rate) RGB
and 'component video' (the last if you happen to have a Tatung
Einstein computer, I
guess :-)). I am sure other TVs of a similar date (about 6-7 years
old) have similar
facilities, maybe more modern ones do as well.

On my workbench I have a little (9") Sony Trinitron monitor. It's the sort of
thing that was used for moniitoring signals in a TV studio. It's a model
PVM9044QM. It can handle just about any TV rate video (US or UK
rates), PAL, NTSC, Secam, analogue RGB (seperate sync or sync on
green), component video, S video, etc. OK, 9" is probably too small for
normal use, but it is ideal on the bench as it will display the output of just
about any home computer. Be warned it's complex inside, 2 large PCBs full
of chips and several smaller ones.

As for power, the TV runs off normal UK 240V mains. The workbench monitor
runs off ACmains from 100V to 240V or off a 12V DC supply.

-tony

Re: What's the rarest or most unusual software item do you own?

[Paul Koning]

> On Jan 12, 2017, at 6:45 PM, Noel Chiappa  wrote:
>> ...Paul Koning
>> A listing of RSTS-11 V0
> 
> If that's not already online in machine-readable form, we should get it
> scanned and OCR'd.

It's been scanned; the person who did the scanning has not yet posted it.  I 
haven't try to OCR it, but suspect it would be doable.

The listing contains the kernel and a binary loader, but not BASIC -- it's a 
printout from a project at U of Illinois to turn RSTS into a timesharing system 
for assembly language programmers.

paul

Re: PAL video in the states

[Kurt K]

I have a number of systems that require PAL and I was looking on Ebay for dual 
NTSC / PAL monitors, and if necessary I can handle the power conversion 
requirements.  Any recommendations for a monitor that can work with 
Amstrad/Sinclair, BBC's, the Archimedes, and the like.  I figure more than one 
may be necessary.  

> On Jan 13, 2017, at 8:07 AM, william degnan  wrote:
> 
>> On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 8:59 AM, Phil Blundell  wrote:
>> 
>> On Fri, 2017-01-13 at 08:38 -0500, Noel Chiappa wrote:
 From: William Degnan
>>> 
 some are made to handle both pal and ntsc automatically. ...
>>> not sure
 if they still do all that for LCD tv's but why not?
>>> 
>>> Well, one thing most LCD's don't handle is interlaced video, so that
>>> could be an issue.
>> 
>> Anything sold as a TV (as opposed to a computer monitor) will include a
>> deinterlacer; a TV that could only handle progressive scan input would
>> be unacceptable to most consumers.  Standard definition broadcasts were
>> always interlaced and so are most/all DVDs, though as far as I know
>> Blu-ray is progressive scan only.  Even high definition broadcasts are
>> still routinely interlaced in many cases.  ATSC for example can be
>> either 1080i or 720p, and I think the majority of DVB broadcasts are
>> 1080i.
>> 
>> In fact, even computer monitors often tend to include some sort of
>> deinterlacing capability, though I suspect this is more because it
>> comes for free with the chipsets than because the market actually
>> requires it.  But monitors tend to have a minimum horizontal sync rate
>> of 20kHz or so and often won't lock to a 480i/576i input, so they'd be
>> no use for the current purpose anyway.
>> 
>> p.
> So I guess what you're saying is, get a last-gen CRT TV that claims PAL and
> NTSC automatic capability.  I don't have mine anymore, but it was my bench
> monitor, I have PAL Commodores I used to use it on.  Wish I remembered the
> manufacturer.
> b

Re: PAL video in the states

[william degnan]

On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 8:59 AM, Phil Blundell  wrote:

> On Fri, 2017-01-13 at 08:38 -0500, Noel Chiappa wrote:
> > > From: William Degnan
> >
> > > some are made to handle both pal and ntsc automatically. ...
> > not sure
> > > if they still do all that for LCD tv's but why not?
> >
> > Well, one thing most LCD's don't handle is interlaced video, so that
> > could be an issue.
>
> Anything sold as a TV (as opposed to a computer monitor) will include a
> deinterlacer; a TV that could only handle progressive scan input would
> be unacceptable to most consumers.  Standard definition broadcasts were
> always interlaced and so are most/all DVDs, though as far as I know
> Blu-ray is progressive scan only.  Even high definition broadcasts are
> still routinely interlaced in many cases.  ATSC for example can be
> either 1080i or 720p, and I think the majority of DVB broadcasts are
> 1080i.
>
> In fact, even computer monitors often tend to include some sort of
> deinterlacing capability, though I suspect this is more because it
> comes for free with the chipsets than because the market actually
> requires it.  But monitors tend to have a minimum horizontal sync rate
> of 20kHz or so and often won't lock to a 480i/576i input, so they'd be
> no use for the current purpose anyway.
>
> p.
>
>
So I guess what you're saying is, get a last-gen CRT TV that claims PAL and
NTSC automatic capability.  I don't have mine anymore, but it was my bench
monitor, I have PAL Commodores I used to use it on.  Wish I remembered the
manufacturer.
b

Re: PAL video in the states

[Phil Blundell]

On Fri, 2017-01-13 at 08:38 -0500, Noel Chiappa wrote:
> > From: William Degnan
> 
> > some are made to handle both pal and ntsc automatically. ...
> not sure
> > if they still do all that for LCD tv's but why not?
> 
> Well, one thing most LCD's don't handle is interlaced video, so that
> could be an issue.

Anything sold as a TV (as opposed to a computer monitor) will include a
deinterlacer; a TV that could only handle progressive scan input would
be unacceptable to most consumers.  Standard definition broadcasts were
always interlaced and so are most/all DVDs, though as far as I know
Blu-ray is progressive scan only.  Even high definition broadcasts are
still routinely interlaced in many cases.  ATSC for example can be
either 1080i or 720p, and I think the majority of DVB broadcasts are
1080i.

In fact, even computer monitors often tend to include some sort of
deinterlacing capability, though I suspect this is more because it
comes for free with the chipsets than because the market actually
requires it.  But monitors tend to have a minimum horizontal sync rate
of 20kHz or so and often won't lock to a 480i/576i input, so they'd be
no use for the current purpose anyway.

p.

Re: PAL video in the states

[Noel Chiappa]

> From: William Degnan

> some are made to handle both pal and ntsc automatically. ... not sure
> if they still do all that for LCD tv's but why not?

Well, one thing most LCD's don't handle is interlaced video, so that could be
an issue.

Noel

Re: PAL video in the states

[william degnan]

I used to have a little 13 in  tv that could handle about anything I
plugged into it, some are made to handle both pal and ntsc automatically.
Ebay comes to mind, I am talking in the crt days, not sure if they still do
all that for LCD tv's but why not?

Bill Degnan
twitter: billdeg
vintagecomputer.net
On Jan 13, 2017 7:36 AM, "Tony Duell"  wrote:

> On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 10:47 AM, Corey Cohen 
> wrote:
> > So I have a friend who is originally from the U.K.   He has his old BBC
> micro from when
> > he was a kid and wants to be able to use it here in the states.  His
> parents threw out his old TV in the U.K.
>
> There was actually an NTSC version of the BBC micro. I think you had
> to fit a different colourburst crystal,
> change a link to disable the phase switching of one of the colour
> signals (which is what PAL means, of
> course) and a different operating system ROM to reprogram the 6845 for
> US rates. The last is probably the
> hardest. But anyway...
>
>
>
> >
> > Is there a way to use a BBC Micro PAL version with a modern US LCD TV?
> Do some brands of modern
> > TVs support both NTSC and PAL? Let's assume he may need to grab video
> before the modulator.
>
> I don't know about US TVs, but a lot of UK TVs support NTSC video.
>
> You have 3 video outputs on the Beeb :
>
> UHF RF. This is the old UK analogue TV standard on what was channel
> 36. PAL encoded
>
> Composite (on a BNC socket). This is UK scan rates, and monochrome by
> default. Fitting a
> link on the PCB will get PAL colour there.
>
> RGB (on a 6 pin DIN socket). TTL levels, 3 colour signals (so 8
> possible colours total) + sync.
> If you can find a way to use that, do so. It gives by far the best picture.
>
> -tony
>

Re: PAL video in the states

[Adrian Graham]

On 13 January 2017 at 11:27, Phil Blundell  wrote:

> I imagine more or less any modern TV should be able to cope with the
> 576i timings.  If you plug the "composite" output (BNC connector) into
> the CVBS input on your TV then you'd probably get a decent monochrome
> image.  The BBC doesn't provide chroma information on its composite
> output and, even if it did, I doubt that a US-market TV would be able
> to recover the chroma.
>

It does if you solder in the link at S30 next to the composite output, that
adds chroma to the signal.
It degrades the signal too, but your point still stands :)

-- 
adrian/witchy
Owner of Binary Dinosaurs, the UK's biggest home computer collection?
www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk

Re: PAL video in the states

[Tony Duell]

On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 10:47 AM, Corey Cohen  wrote:
> So I have a friend who is originally from the U.K.   He has his old BBC micro 
> from when
> he was a kid and wants to be able to use it here in the states.  His parents 
> threw out his old TV in the U.K.

There was actually an NTSC version of the BBC micro. I think you had
to fit a different colourburst crystal,
change a link to disable the phase switching of one of the colour
signals (which is what PAL means, of
course) and a different operating system ROM to reprogram the 6845 for
US rates. The last is probably the
hardest. But anyway...



>
> Is there a way to use a BBC Micro PAL version with a modern US LCD TV?  Do 
> some brands of modern
> TVs support both NTSC and PAL? Let's assume he may need to grab video before 
> the modulator.

I don't know about US TVs, but a lot of UK TVs support NTSC video.

You have 3 video outputs on the Beeb :

UHF RF. This is the old UK analogue TV standard on what was channel
36. PAL encoded

Composite (on a BNC socket). This is UK scan rates, and monochrome by
default. Fitting a
link on the PCB will get PAL colour there.

RGB (on a 6 pin DIN socket). TTL levels, 3 colour signals (so 8
possible colours total) + sync.
If you can find a way to use that, do so. It gives by far the best picture.

-tony

Looking for Dr. Dobb's Developer Library DVD 6

[Steven M Jones]

Greetings all,

I always figured I'd order one of the compilations of Dr. Dobb's Journal
on CD/DVD One Of These Days... Then they went and stopped publication.
While a lot of DDJ content is still online at drdobbs.com, I'd still
like to pick up that DVD.

So like the Subject says, I'm looking to acquire a copy of this last
version of said compilation.

Thanks,
--Steve.

Re: PAL video in the states

[Phil Blundell]

On Fri, 2017-01-13 at 05:47 -0500, Corey Cohen wrote:
> So I have a friend who is originally from the U.K.   He has his old
> BBC micro from when he was a kid and wants to be able to use it here
> in the states.  His parents threw out his old TV in the U.K.  
> 
> Is there a way to use a BBC Micro PAL version with a modern US LCD
> TV?  Do some brands of modern TVs support both NTSC and PAL? Let's
> assume he may need to grab video before the modulator.  

I imagine more or less any modern TV should be able to cope with the
576i timings.  If you plug the "composite" output (BNC connector) into
the CVBS input on your TV then you'd probably get a decent monochrome
image.  The BBC doesn't provide chroma information on its composite
output and, even if it did, I doubt that a US-market TV would be able
to recover the chroma.

To get a colour output you'd have to find a TV which can accept RGB
input and then improvise a way to adapt the TTL-level RGB output from
the DIN socket to the levels that the TV is expecting.  I suspect there
might be some adjustment required to the sync signals as well.  Or I
think there exist converter boxes for this purpose that can take
"analogue" RGB input and convert to HDMI output, doing scan conversion
at the same time if necessary.

p.

What is the most prized possession in your collection?

[Alexandre Souza]

We've talked about the most expensive, the most rare, the less usual...

Now lets talk about what you love most <3

For me is the Apple IIe signed by Woz :D

What is your most prized and loved possession? :)

Re: anybody have MOVIE.BYU?

[Nigel Williams]

> On 13 Jan 2017, at 9:23 pm, Randy Dawson  wrote:
> I am reading and it looks like most of it is there, with some goofy stuff 
> messing up the subroutine declarations, and binary inserted in places.

Wasn't sure how to interpret your statement, but just in case you overlooked 
it, TAP is a special magnetic tape format used by SimH emulation suite:

http://simh.trailing-edge.com/docs/simh_magtape.pdf

and I guess Nova RDOS(?) might have structured magtapes in a particular way; 
you might need to hunt down some tools to extract the files as complete units.

Anyhow happy Fortran compiling...

PAL video in the states

[Corey Cohen]

So I have a friend who is originally from the U.K.   He has his old BBC micro 
from when he was a kid and wants to be able to use it here in the states.  His 
parents threw out his old TV in the U.K.  

Is there a way to use a BBC Micro PAL version with a modern US LCD TV?  Do some 
brands of modern TVs support both NTSC and PAL? Let's assume he may need to 
grab video before the modulator.  

Thanks,
Corey

corey cohen
uǝɥoɔ ʎǝɹoɔ

Re: anybody have MOVIE.BYU?

[Randy Dawson]

Ohhmygosh!


I am reading and it looks like most of it is there, with some goofy stuff 
messing up the subroutine declarations, and binary inserted in places.


You have wrecked my weekend.


This gets me started with trying to build the thing.


I had so much fun with it a long time ago, and I have a Tektronix 4051 terminal 
for the output!


Thank you Nigel!


Randy




From: cctalk  on behalf of Nigel Williams 

Sent: Friday, January 13, 2017 1:47 AM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: anybody have MOVIE.BYU?

On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 5:46 PM, Randy Dawson  wrote:
> The famous Brigham Young University 3D graphics program, by Dr. Hank 
> Christensen.

This?

http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/bits/DataGeneral/nova/movie_byu.tap

Fragment of text found inside the TAP, looks to be FORTRAN source and
doc files there:

 M O V I E . B Y U


   A GENERAL PURPOSE

   COMPUTER GRAPHICS

 DISPLAY SYSTEM


 SEPTEMBER 1976

  MIKE STEPHENSON HANK CHRISTIANSEN

Re: anybody have MOVIE.BYU?

[Nigel Williams]

On Fri, Jan 13, 2017 at 5:46 PM, Randy Dawson  wrote:
> The famous Brigham Young University 3D graphics program, by Dr. Hank 
> Christensen.

This?

http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/bits/DataGeneral/nova/movie_byu.tap

Fragment of text found inside the TAP, looks to be FORTRAN source and
doc files there:

 M O V I E . B Y U


   A GENERAL PURPOSE

   COMPUTER GRAPHICS

 DISPLAY SYSTEM


 SEPTEMBER 1976

  MIKE STEPHENSON HANK CHRISTIANSEN