Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
There is a company-unicomp I think that still makes them. They have a line called the customizer which feels and sounds like a ps/2 era keyboard. They even make a USB version, but it's only available in a black case with grey keys (and windows keys) -- John W Reames jwrea...@comcast.net Home: +14106646986 Mobile: +14437915905 On Feb 17, 2010, at 1:25, Walt Zarnoch zarnoch...@gmail.com wrote: Might be true, but my smartphone keyboard types better than a netbook. It's all in the spacing, if you 2-thumb it you can get pretty good speed reasonably easy, and surprisingly little discomfort. I for one find the netbook keyboards in that awkward too small to type properly with 2 hands, but not small enough to thumb type category. My all-time favorite keyboard is an old IBM click-key model, with the individual switches per key. Saddly USB has eclipsed keyboard ports, and usb-ps/2 adapters won't work with it. It's the big old din connector, and uses a long dead protocol... I keep telling myself I'll make converter, but I never do... Walt On Feb 16, 2010 2:47 PM, Mitch Haley m...@voyager.net wrote: Alex Chamberlain wrote: http://promos.asus.com/US/EeePC_Pinetrail/index.html Who else rememb... but that one's only 92% chiclet. Wasn't 'Chiclet' the term for the Tandy 1000's flat white keyboard? My Tandy's keyboard is much bigger than a 10 diagonal netbook. The advertising slogan for netbooks should be easier to type on than a smartphone. Mitch. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.o... ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
Walt Zarnoch wrote: Might be true, but my smartphone keyboard types better than a netbook. It's all in the spacing, if you 2-thumb it you can get pretty good speed reasonably easy, and surprisingly little discomfort. I for one find the netbook keyboards in that awkward too small to type properly with 2 hands, but not small enough to thumb type category. My all-time favorite keyboard is an old IBM click-key model, with the individual switches per key. Saddly USB has eclipsed keyboard ports, and usb-ps/2 adapters won't work with it. It's the big old din connector, and uses a long dead protocol... I never had an actual IBM AT keyboard, but I've got a couple of those PC keyboards with the mechanical ALPS switches that weigh about ten pounds. If only it had an F11 key, I'd think about building a converter, but I'd probably midd the numeric keypad. I haven't thumb typed much, but I have played games on cell phones. Even Sudoku and Othello give me sore thumbs in 10 minutes or less. Action games are worse. Mitch. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
I paid a fortune for a Northgate keyboard back when they only made keyboards because it was as close to an IBM as I could afford (half the price) Still works great, or did until my ancient AT box croaked. I wish I could hook it up to my new dual processor box, I really dislike plastic bumper keyboards. I suppose that's because I learned to type on a Selectric, and anything other than that mechanical feel seem strange, even after 30 years. Peter -Original Message- From: Allan Streib str...@cs.indiana.edu Sent: Feb 17, 2010 12:39 AM To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age Walt Zarnoch zarnoch...@gmail.com writes: My all-time favorite keyboard is an old IBM click-key model, with the individual switches per key. Saddly USB has eclipsed keyboard ports, and usb-ps/2 adapters won't work with it. It's the big old din connector, and uses a long dead protocol... The IBM Model M design was bought from Lexmark by a company called Unicomp. They claim to produce keyboards with the classic IBM feel. http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/ -- 1983 300D ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
Mountain Man wrote: Our first family computer was a pcjr 20 years ago . . . When I was about 10 years old, my father bought me a Commodore Vic 20 for Christmas. The computer actually had 4K of memory, but you could buy this thing you inserted into the back of it which boosted it to 20K. Hence the name Vic 20. It had a TAPE drive. We had one game for it. It was called quizmaster. You put the tape in and waited A LONG TIME, and then the game was ready. Donald H. Snook ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
My first TWO computers came from Service Merchandise, think about that for a sec... The first was a TI-99/4A which my dad said will last him through college. We got that around 1982 when it was already mostly obsolete. When I was in junior high I got an Atari 130XE which was the last of the Atari 8-bit computers and really the end of the golden age of home computing when you could buy computers at places like Service Merchandise and Kmart. The TI had 16K of RAM and is really my favorite computer ever. We had a tape player for it but most of the applications we had were on cartridge. In 2000 I paid $60 for an entire pickup truck load of TI stuff, 3 or 4 computers, a monitor, Epson dot matrix printer and the PEB (Peripheral Expansion Box) which added an RS-232 port (for the printer) another 32K of RAM and dual floppy drives, hot stuff! I just checked and I've got around 60 applications for the thing, games, office apps (not Y2K compliant) programming etc, even LOGO... -Curt Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:53:02 -0600 From: Donald Snook dsn...@mtsqh.com To: 'Mercedes@okiebenz.com' Mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age Message-ID: a0121bfa28702c4fa69fc5d9ceb56d08a146564...@mtsqhexc2.mtsqh.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Mountain Man wrote: Our first family computer was a pcjr 20 years ago . . . When I was about 10 years old, my father bought me a Commodore Vic 20 for Christmas. The computer actually had 4K of memory, but you could buy this thing you inserted into the back of it which boosted it to 20K. Hence the name Vic 20. It had a TAPE drive. We had one game for it. It was called quizmaster. You put the tape in and waited A LONG TIME, and then the game was ready. Donald H. Snook ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
On Wed, Feb 17, 2010 at 6:45 AM, Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.net wrote: I paid a fortune for a Northgate keyboard back when they only made keyboards because it was as close to an IBM as I could afford (half the price) Still works great, or did until my ancient AT box croaked. I wish I could hook it up to my new dual processor box, Why can't you? There are DIN to mini-DIN keyboard adapters, and DIN to USB (or mini-DIN to USB) if your current box doesn't have the old round DIN port. I am using a 1987 Model M on a year-old Linux box right now. Alex ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
Curt Raymond wrote: I just checked and I've got around 60 applications for the thing, games, office apps (not Y2K compliant) programming etc, even LOGO... Heh. Tombstone City is the only game I miss from those. But even that I don't miss enough to setup an emulator to run it. -- Philip ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
You apparently didn't play Tunnels Of Doom... Enough to make an 8 year old wait the 200 seconds it took to load from tape. -Curt Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:30:16 -0600 From: Fmiser fmi...@gmail.com To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age Message-ID: 20100217163016.15124cdd.fmi...@gmail.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Curt Raymond wrote: I just checked and I've got around 60 applications for the thing, games, office apps (not Y2K compliant) programming etc, even LOGO... Heh. Tombstone City is the only game I miss from those. But even that I don't miss enough to setup an emulator to run it. -- Philip ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
http://promos.asus.com/US/EeePC_Pinetrail/index.html Who else remembers when chiclet was a term of derision for certain computer keyboards, rather than something a company would call attention to in their advertising? ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
wasn't that the first thing screamed about on teh pc junior? On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 2:41 PM, Alex Chamberlain apchamberl...@gmail.comwrote: http://promos.asus.com/US/EeePC_Pinetrail/index.html Who else remembers when chiclet was a term of derision for certain computer keyboards, rather than something a company would call attention to in their advertising? ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- save 5% on our already low, low prices. use coupon code DAVE at checkout. www. BuyEUROparts.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
Alex Chamberlain wrote: http://promos.asus.com/US/EeePC_Pinetrail/index.html Who else remembers when chiclet was a term of derision for certain computer keyboards, rather than something a company would call attention to in their advertising? but that one's only 92% chiclet. Wasn't 'Chiclet' the term for the Tandy 1000's flat white keyboard? My Tandy's keyboard is much bigger than a 10 diagonal netbook. The advertising slogan for netbooks should be easier to type on than a smartphone. Mitch. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
Alex Chamberlain wrote: http://promos.asus.com/US/EeePC_Pinetrail/index.html Who else remembers when chiclet was a term of derision for certain computer keyboards, rather than something a company would call attention to in their advertising? Looks like I was wrong, chiclet was a reference to the keyswitch construction used, among other things, in the PCjr: http://www.pcworld.com/article/139100/the_10_worst_pc_keyboards_of_all_time.html ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
Bother that, I can remember when an IBM Selectric typewriter was an object of admiration! The first one, not the Selectric II. Peter -Original Message- From: Alex Chamberlain apchamberl...@gmail.com Sent: Feb 16, 2010 1:41 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age http://promos.asus.com/US/EeePC_Pinetrail/index.html Who else remembers when chiclet was a term of derision for certain computer keyboards, rather than something a company would call attention to in their advertising? ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 12:06 PM, Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.net wrote: Bother that, I can remember when an IBM Selectric typewriter was an object of admiration! The first one, not the Selectric II. Well, sure. They still are. That's why those in the know refer to the apostrophe-next-to-the-semicolon organization of keys as the Selectric layout. My point was the irony of the Asus ad. Alex ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
i liked em all. i still even have a broken selectric 3 that i got for very cheap that i've been lugging around for 25 years On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 3:06 PM, Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.netwrote: Bother that, I can remember when an IBM Selectric typewriter was an object of admiration! The first one, not the Selectric II. Peter -Original Message- From: Alex Chamberlain apchamberl...@gmail.com Sent: Feb 16, 2010 1:41 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age http://promos.asus.com/US/EeePC_Pinetrail/index.html Who else remembers when chiclet was a term of derision for certain computer keyboards, rather than something a company would call attention to in their advertising? ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- save 5% on our already low, low prices. use coupon code DAVE at checkout. www. BuyEUROparts.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
everyone got that, i think. the rest is just nostalgic reminiscences. On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 3:18 PM, Alex Chamberlain apchamberl...@gmail.comwrote: On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 12:06 PM, Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.net wrote: Bother that, I can remember when an IBM Selectric typewriter was an object of admiration! The first one, not the Selectric II. Well, sure. They still are. That's why those in the know refer to the apostrophe-next-to-the-semicolon organization of keys as the Selectric layout. My point was the irony of the Asus ad. Alex ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- save 5% on our already low, low prices. use coupon code DAVE at checkout. www. BuyEUROparts.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 12:00 PM, Mitch Haley m...@voyager.net wrote: Looks like I was wrong, chiclet was a reference to the keyswitch construction used, among other things, in the PCjr: I'm pretty sure the term was in common usage (at least in the magazines of the time that catered to the 8-bit home computer market, like Creative Computing and Compute) before the PCjr, but it certainly popularized, if that's the word, the idea. Alex ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
I have a nice blue Selectric II. Needs to be cleaned and oiled. Also have a nice tan Actionwriter I. Daisy wheel rather than a ball. Randy -Original Message- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com]on Behalf Of Gary Hurst Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 2:19 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age i liked em all. i still even have a broken selectric 3 that i got for very cheap that i've been lugging around for 25 years On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 3:06 PM, Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.netwrote: Bother that, I can remember when an IBM Selectric typewriter was an object of admiration! The first one, not the Selectric II. Peter -Original Message- From: Alex Chamberlain apchamberl...@gmail.com Sent: Feb 16, 2010 1:41 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age http://promos.asus.com/US/EeePC_Pinetrail/index.html Who else remembers when chiclet was a term of derision for certain computer keyboards, rather than something a company would call attention to in their advertising? ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- save 5% on our already low, low prices. use coupon code DAVE at checkout. www. BuyEUROparts.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
When some of us grew up, Chiclets were little white squares that you chewed. Dwight-(not that old.) Bissell Cove Quahog Auto Salvage Co Dwight E. Giles, Jr. Wickford RI 02852 -Original Message- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of Mitch Haley Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 3:01 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
We splurged on the PC Junior a year after it came out, and went into hock to purchase a model with bells and whistles (such as A and B drives). It cost about $1500 IIRC, which is equivalent to maybe $3K 25 years later. This turned out to be a great investment, because it got our son interested in computers at an early age (he was 5 at the time). He has been able to secure high-paying jobs in the field largely from being self-taught, though lacking a college degree. On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 3:33 PM, R A Bennell b...@mts.net wrote: I have a nice blue Selectric II. Needs to be cleaned and oiled. Also have a nice tan Actionwriter I. Daisy wheel rather than a ball. Randy -Original Message- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com]on Behalf Of Gary Hurst Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 2:19 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age i liked em all. i still even have a broken selectric 3 that i got for very cheap that i've been lugging around for 25 years On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 3:06 PM, Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.net wrote: Bother that, I can remember when an IBM Selectric typewriter was an object of admiration! The first one, not the Selectric II. Peter -Original Message- From: Alex Chamberlain apchamberl...@gmail.com Sent: Feb 16, 2010 1:41 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age http://promos.asus.com/US/EeePC_Pinetrail/index.html Who else remembers when chiclet was a term of derision for certain computer keyboards, rather than something a company would call attention to in their advertising? ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- save 5% on our already low, low prices. use coupon code DAVE at checkout. www. BuyEUROparts.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
Chicklet... As used in conjunction with peanut (as a stark contrast to a model M...) -- John W Reames jwrea...@comcast.net Home: +14106646986 Mobile: +14437915905 On Feb 16, 2010, at 14:41, Alex Chamberlain apchamberl...@gmail.com wrote: http://promos.asus.com/US/EeePC_Pinetrail/index.html Who else remembers when chiclet was a term of derision for certain computer keyboards, rather than something a company would call attention to in their advertising? ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
A good friend bought an IBM PC with the add on board to get to 640K of Memory (if my memory is correct), the nice green flickery monitor, 2 floppy drives etc for the measly sum of something like $6,500. Remember this is in Canada and he no doubt paid through the nose at the time. I think that was early 80's. He gave it to me only a handful of years later for the cost of having it shipped from Vancouver to Winnipeg ($156 by courier if memory serves to be correct). My sons, esp the elder, now 25, recall playing a simple game on it called JumpJoe where you had to find ways for a stick like character to get from one spot to another without falling off etc. Randy who also remembers having $800 in RAM and only 8K of the same -Original Message- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com]on Behalf Of andrew strasfogel Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 2:37 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age We splurged on the PC Junior a year after it came out, and went into hock to purchase a model with bells and whistles (such as A and B drives). It cost about $1500 IIRC, which is equivalent to maybe $3K 25 years later. This turned out to be a great investment, because it got our son interested in computers at an early age (he was 5 at the time). He has been able to secure high-paying jobs in the field largely from being self-taught, though lacking a college degree. On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 3:33 PM, R A Bennell b...@mts.net wrote: I have a nice blue Selectric II. Needs to be cleaned and oiled. Also have a nice tan Actionwriter I. Daisy wheel rather than a ball. Randy -Original Message- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com]on Behalf Of Gary Hurst Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 2:19 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age i liked em all. i still even have a broken selectric 3 that i got for very cheap that i've been lugging around for 25 years On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 3:06 PM, Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.net wrote: Bother that, I can remember when an IBM Selectric typewriter was an object of admiration! The first one, not the Selectric II. Peter -Original Message- From: Alex Chamberlain apchamberl...@gmail.com Sent: Feb 16, 2010 1:41 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age http://promos.asus.com/US/EeePC_Pinetrail/index.html Who else remembers when chiclet was a term of derision for certain computer keyboards, rather than something a company would call attention to in their advertising? ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
Ah, I wrote my first code on a PC Jr... Logo. Tail up tail down. Good times. -Rolf On 02/16/2010 02:46 PM, Gary Hurst wrote: wasn't that the first thing screamed about on teh pc junior? On Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 2:41 PM, Alex Chamberlain apchamberl...@gmail.comwrote: http://promos.asus.com/US/EeePC_Pinetrail/index.html Who else remembers when chiclet was a term of derision for certain computer keyboards, rather than something a company would call attention to in their advertising? ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
Watch Mad Men some time and wax poetically about all the old stuff on there. Their set decorators are wizards. Dan --- On Tue, 2/16/10, Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.net wrote: From: Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.net Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2010, 3:06 PM Bother that, I can remember when an IBM Selectric typewriter was an object of admiration! The first one, not the Selectric II. Peter -Original Message- From: Alex Chamberlain apchamberl...@gmail.com Sent: Feb 16, 2010 1:41 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age http://promos.asus.com/US/EeePC_Pinetrail/index.html Who else remembers when chiclet was a term of derision for certain computer keyboards, rather than something a company would call attention to in their advertising? ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
Our first family computer was a pcjr 20 years ago. The sons all grew up typing papers on an old hp with touch screen - not like touch screen today, but touch screen with a matrix of x,y beams that intersect, I believe, and run all things by swapping 3.5 floppy, unlike the 5 floppy in the epson qx-10 we used at work. The hp had the capability to have a printer installed on top of the green screen, but we had dot matrix epson instead - all hand me down from a mechanical engineer. As I understand, the huge connector cables for hp were worth some money for someone wanting them. mao ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
Yeah, as kids we always liked when the Moormans Feed guy came around. He would always leave a handfull of chicklets boxes with mom for us. Of course the boxes advertised Moormans That was before the homebuilt 8 bit computer age. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
Might be true, but my smartphone keyboard types better than a netbook. It's all in the spacing, if you 2-thumb it you can get pretty good speed reasonably easy, and surprisingly little discomfort. I for one find the netbook keyboards in that awkward too small to type properly with 2 hands, but not small enough to thumb type category. My all-time favorite keyboard is an old IBM click-key model, with the individual switches per key. Saddly USB has eclipsed keyboard ports, and usb-ps/2 adapters won't work with it. It's the big old din connector, and uses a long dead protocol... I keep telling myself I'll make converter, but I never do... Walt On Feb 16, 2010 2:47 PM, Mitch Haley m...@voyager.net wrote: Alex Chamberlain wrote: http://promos.asus.com/US/EeePC_Pinetrail/index.html Who else rememb... but that one's only 92% chiclet. Wasn't 'Chiclet' the term for the Tandy 1000's flat white keyboard? My Tandy's keyboard is much bigger than a 10 diagonal netbook. The advertising slogan for netbooks should be easier to type on than a smartphone. Mitch. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.o... ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT: for those who grew up in the 8-bit age
Walt Zarnoch zarnoch...@gmail.com writes: My all-time favorite keyboard is an old IBM click-key model, with the individual switches per key. Saddly USB has eclipsed keyboard ports, and usb-ps/2 adapters won't work with it. It's the big old din connector, and uses a long dead protocol... The IBM Model M design was bought from Lexmark by a company called Unicomp. They claim to produce keyboards with the classic IBM feel. http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/ -- 1983 300D ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
