The Panasonic R.E.A.L 3D0 Interactive Multiplayer FZ-1 arrived today all wonderfully boxed. Looks pretty cool. 32 bit RISC CPU. Up to 16 million colors graphics power. Full screen, full color digital video. CD stereo sound. Multi CD compatibility. Double speed CD-ROM disc drive. Plus.. Total Eclipse The Ultimate 32-Bit space combat experience. All from Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Osaka Japan. As much as I am tempted to open the box, I will wait.
Well... not quite a flood, but postie at the sorting office was pleased to see me after a three month break. And so today we had a quite wonderful collection of PD disks arrive from the houses of, Lorenzo's Domain, Virus Free PD, Softville PD Service, Advantage and a series of disks from a magazine not heard of before called The Disk for Amiga users. I discovered I was short of a Retro Magazine Load 29 which arrived all mint complete with a Codemasters special. Next up is a replacement caddy for my CDTV which was bust when I checked it out. The corner had come away. This was to my second CDTV from Bristol. In the post was also my Supersoft Programmers Tool Box for the C64 which boldly states DISK on the front. This looks to me like it has never been used. The manual is just too well preserved. My sealed Amiga 2000 manuals and booklet introducing the 2000 series A2000 A2000D and A2500 all nicely shrink packed looking all mint arrived also. The 40GB hard drive bagged new as replacement drive for the future came also today. And lastly, keeping up the comic collection the two latest editions of Witchblade, which are very sexy... ooh er !! I'm expecting a QBasic manual, 80GB hard drive, AmstradMSDOS Learning Linux DVD and Radio Shack Level II BASIC book. And that's the start...
I have tried and failed on numerous occasions to buy an original HiSoft SCSI Squirrel in the box. Imagine my joy at not only getting the Squirrel boxed as original, but with a very slinky slim CD player. Back in 1995 I was drooooooooooooooling over the SCSI Squirrel and could only dream of getting one. Back then a 100MB disk sounded like pure heaven. They also boasted removable hard drives along with other types of drives. Cost a small fortune then. As ever I still reflect on such matters, and this will in some way make up for my inability to get one then. At last. Just opening the box gave me a thrill, and I just can`t wait to get this latched onto a 1200.... And there you have it... The start of yet another project.
Hi It is always a dilemma whether to copy disks or just let them sit in my collection until the day I die, and then get dumped down the tip. What do you all think. I have this batch of disks amongst my SASC6.50 Disks. They are obviously of no use to anyone... :-) 3.1 Amiga Developers Update: Disk 1 of 5 : Docs Instructions, Contents, AutoDocs and Tutorials. Ditto Disk 2 of 5 Includes Files, Lib's, FD's, SetPatch Tools Ditto Disk 3 of 5 Examples 1 Libraries Compatibility and PCMCIA Ditto Disk 4 of 5 Examples 2 IFF DataTypes AmigaGuide Ditto Disk 5 of 5 Software Toolkit: Tools for debugging and development. All Copyright 1985-93 Commodore Amiga Inc ISO 9660 Tools V1.04x June 1993 1991-93 Commodore Int'l Services Corp CDGS Support 40.60 CD32 Support Confidential Do Not Duplicate October 1993 Commodore Amiga Inc CDXL Toolkit 5th March 1992 Preliminary and Confidential Copyright 1992 Commodore Amiga Inc CDXL Examples "Sound on Sound " v1.1 Example 5th March 1992 Preliminary and Confidential Copyright 1992. All these disks are official Commodore disks. Welcome to the 3.1 Amiga Developers Update Disk Set These disks contain include files, libs, autodocs, examples, tutorials, and debugging tools for developing Amiga software for versions V38(2.1) V39(3.0) and V40(3.1) of the Amiga OS. These materials can also be used to develop code for earlier version of the Amiga OS, since materials include all earlier OS structures and functions. 3.1_Docs Contents Instructions Legal_README autodocs.lha DiskVersion tutorials.lha 3.1 Amiga Developers Update Disks Copyright 1985-93 Commodore Inc INCLUDES&LIBS Includes&Libs(dir) Debug_Examples(dir) Debug_Examples.lha DevTools(dir) Contents README fd.lha include_i.lha legal_README.info runtime_libs.lha Setpatch40.lha StructOffsets.lha Using_Includes.info DevTools.lha include_h.lha legal_README linker_libs.lha SetPatch37.lha startups37.lha using_includes EXAMPLES1 Examples1(dir) AsyncIO(dir) async.doc asyncio.c gadtools(dir) listview(dir) listview graphics(dir) wbtricks colorwheel(dir) wheelgrad(dir) wheelgrad async.txt asynco.h listview.c wbtricks.c wheelgrad.c asl(dir) [ Simplified list from now on... you get the idea ] asl(dir) intuition(dir) locale(dir) compatibility(dir) PCMCIA(dir) EXAMPLES2 Examples2(dir) Iff(dir) DatTypes(dir) AmigaGuide(dir) LHEX(dir) Picdt_42_1.lha SWTOOLKIT3 SWToolkit3(dir) s(dir) crashes(dir) [ includes such things as ] memorytide, mergemem, munglist,ReBootOff, snoopstrip, wack,watchmem and wedge newiff39.lha iffp(dir) 8svx.h ftxt.h iff.h iffp.ct packer.h [ etc etc etc ] apps(dir) Save8(dir) Save8 PlayMUS(dir) 24bitDemo(dir) ILBMDemo(dir) ILBMLoad ILBMtoC ILBMtoRaw Play8SVX RawtoILBM ScreeSave iffobj(dir) Manx(dir) SAS(dir) Makefile.SAS Contents of locale.lha helloworld(dir) localize(dir) Selfload(dir) Contents of PCMCIA.lha PCMCIA(dir) Tools(dir) AmigaXTP(dir) PCMCIA.General PCMCIA.software Contents of datatypes.lha src(dir) wav(dir) devs(dir) DataTypes(dir) ClipView(dir) bmp(dir) Bin(dir) Contents of picdt_42_1.lha PicDataTypes(dir) devs(dir) datatypes(dir) MacPaint WindowsBitmap classes(dir) Contents of AmigaGuide.lha AG_V39(dir) src(dir) HyperBrowser(dir) AG_V34(dir) Utilities(dir) AD2(dir) ADTHT AmigaGuide Source(dir) s(dir) rexx(dir) libs(dir) include(dir) fonts(dir) fd(dir) Examples(dir) Docs(dir) AD2AG(dir) Contents of wack.lha tools(dir) Demos(dir) startupWack [ contents list ] Contents of StructOffSets.lha Structure.Offsets Contents of tooldocs.lha Contents of SetPatch37.lha Contents of SetPatch40.lha Contents of runtime_libs.lha Contents of startup37.lha Contents of DevTools.lha Contents of Debug_Examples.lha Contents of Tutorials.lha Contents of Autodocs.lha Contents of linker_libs.lha Contents of fd.lha Contents of include_h.lha and include_i.lha Literally hundreds and hundreds of files. There was far too much to list as you can imagine. I will keep these disks here, for my lifetime anyway.
Just won a Commodore SFD 1001 5.25" floppy drive Model : SFD-1001 Type : 5.25" Floppy Disk Media : Single Sided, Double Density Capacity : 1024K per disk Interface: IEEE-488 Dos : CBM DOS 2.7 [ What Bo had to say about these devices ] Like all Commodore disk drives, these drives were "smart" devices. They included their own processor, their own memory, and their own disk operating system. In fact, the relationship between a Commodore computer and it's disk drive resembles more closely two computers on a network than a typical Computer->peripheral relationship. The peripherals on the IEEE-488 "network" each had a unique identifying "Unit" number, typically ranging from 8-30. This number identified which physical device was being accessed. When a disk drive contained more than one floppy drive (like the 8250lp on this page), you also had to refer to the particular "drive" number you wanted (typically 0 or 1). Single-floppy drives, like the SFD-1001, still had to deal with the legacy of the dual drives by referring to their single floppy as "drive 0". [ And from the Old Secret Weapons Vault ] http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/ckb/secret/periph.html The SFD 1001 is a single-drive, low profile version of the better known 8250 IEEE-488 disk drive capable of storing 1MB per floppy disk, powered by CBM DOS 2.7. According to Nicolas Welte and Andre Fachat, many PET-era drives, including the SFD, are powered by two CPUs, one for the floppy drive controller and the other for file handling and bus transfer. The SFD, as well as the 8050 and 8250 disk drives, have twin 6502s; the high profile 2040, 3040 and 4040 have a 6502 and a 6504. Vestiges of this are still in the modern single CPU Commodore drives; the 6502 alternately operates in FDC or command processing mode, switching modes on IRQs. (The PET-era exception is the oddball 2031, which has only one CPU and is suspiciously similar to the 1541. In fact, Nicolas points out that you can turn a 1541 into a 2031 merely by putting in 2031 ROMs and exchanging the IEC serial bus interface for an IEEE-488. The 2031's position on the disk drive timeline is somewhat murky. The 4032 drive is merely a high-profile version of the 2031.) The SFD 1001 has a single drive head, 4K RAM for buffer storage, 77 tracks per side with 23 to 29 sectors per track for a total of 4,166 sectors, BAM in four sectors on track 38 (0, 3, 6 and 9), and directory entries on track 39 with a total of 224 free file slots (29 sectors). 4,133 blocks (!) are free on a freshly formatted disk. SFD disks are quite unreadable in other drives except the 8050 and 8250, but disks written by the 170K-capacity 2031/4040 drives can be read by the later DOS in your 1541 or 1571. However, it is strongly recommended you don't try to write to them with your 1541 or 1571 unless you regard file recovery as an enjoyable pastime, as the write gap between sectors is too different between the two DOSes. Remember to feed your SFD quad density disks (i.e., 96tpi dual density): not traditional 48tpi dual density, and not modern 96tpi high density. They are not equivalent. Traditionally, SFD stands for "Super Floppy Drive". [ end blurb ] Mild whoppeee there by the way.
Just returned from my trip to Windsor to pick up the SONY MSX HB-101P computer and MSX PRN-C41 printer. This is truly a magical bit of kit. Sexy curvy tapering edges all in black. Two cartridge slots and most amazingly a joystick control actually on the case. The bottom edge has a retractable handle for carrying around. There is even a detachable base part with pocket for the cables. All nicely boxed and complete with all the manuals and books on BASIC. Not a great fan of printers, but getting hold of an original MSX colour plotter printer is a bonus... Monopoly houses.... And there was the customary green monopoly house in the bottom of the box. Amazing how many times I find these in boxes.. :-) NAME Hit-Bit 101 MANUFACTURER Sony TYPE Home Computer ORIGIN Japan YEAR 1984 BUILT IN LANGUAGE MSX Basic V1.0 KEYBOARD Full-stroke keyboard, including 5 function keys and 4 cursor keys CPU Zilog Z80A SPEED 3.58 MHz CO-PROCESSOR Video chip must be compatible with the Texas Instruments TMS 9918/A or TMS 9928/A (Japan : 60 Hz) or TMS 9929/A (Europe : 50 Hz) RAM 32 KB VRAM 16 KB ROM 32 KB (MSX BASIC V1.0 + BIOS) TEXT MODES Mode 0 : 40 x 24 Mode 1 : 32 x 24 GRAPHIC MODES Mode 2 : 256 x 192 with 16 colors (Hires mode) Mode 3 : 64 x 48 with 16 colors (Multi colour mode) 32 sprites COLORS 16 SOUND General Instruments AY-3-8910 Programmable Sound Generator 3 channels, 8 octaves I/O PORTS 2 joystick sockets, 2 cartridge slots, Tape-recorder plug (1200/2400 bauds), RGB video output, Centronics interface OS MSX DOS PRICE 46,800 yen (Japan, 1984) http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=783
Twas in the mood for a programmable computer calculator after getting hold of the TRS-80 and like magic up pops the Casio FX-720P from 1984 no less. http://www.rskey.org/detail.asp?manufacturer=Casio&model=FX-720P http://www.rskey.org/casio.asp And all for £7. Technical specifications RAM (total) 2 / 4 Kb (1 ramcard of 2 or 4 Kb) RAM available 1,568 / 3,616 bytes ROM 27 Kb CPU VLSI specific Text screen 1 line of 12 characters Graphic screen No Sound Dual tone beep (high, low) Size 164 x 82 x 14 mm Weight 183 g. with batteries and a ramcard Year 1984 Power 2 CR-2032 lithium batteries And all BASIC programmable... which is nice.
Just a bit of blurb on that Atom that arrived.. The owner bought this as a build it yourself kit. The system has a 6502 CPU and is fully expanded with 12K RAM ans 12K ROM. The TV output is monochrome. The computer came with the original PSU, a Getting Acquainted with Your Acorn Atom book, software tapes and a well thumbed copy of Atomic Theory in Practice. This guy obviously was there at the beginning of the home computer and this machine represents one of those very early home build computers of that era. And its still working, which is a credit to the previous owner. I just hope I can look after it, in the same way. NAME ATOM MANUFACTURER Acorn Computer TYPE Home Computer ORIGIN United Kingdom YEAR 1980 END OF PRODUCTION 1983 BUILT IN LANGUAGE Basic, machine-code KEYBOARD QWERTY, full-stroke keyboard, 60 keys ESC, BREAK, COPY, DELETE, CTRL, RETURN, LOCK, SHIFT (x2), REPT, arrow keys (x2) CPU 6502 SPEED 1 mHz CO-PROCESSOR 6847 Video Display Generator, PIA 8255 (keyboard & tape) RAM 2 KB (up to 12 KB, or 32 KB using external RAM expansion kit. ) VRAM 6 KB ROM 8 KB (Atom BASIC and COS), up to 16 KB TEXT MODES 32 x 24 / 16 x 12 GRAPHIC MODES 64 x 64 (4 colors), 64 x 96 (4 colors), 128 x 96 (monochrome), 64 x 192 (4 colors), 128 x 192 (2 colors), 256 x 192 (monochrome) COLORS 8 SOUND Built-in beeper SIZE / WEIGHT 15'' long x 9.5'' deep x 2.5'' high I/O PORTS Tape interface, UHF Modulated TV output, Acorn Bus Extension POWER SUPPLY External PSU - 8v 2A PRICE kit: £120 Built : £170 50£ (UK, 1983) 381 (France, 82) http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=80
The Sam Coupe arrived today. I like the blue feet. Miles Gordon Technology PLC. This one has been modified quite heavily and has even a couple of connectors cut into the case. Just gotta find a power supply for it now. NAME Sam Coupé MANUFACTURER MGT (Miles Gordon Technology) TYPE Home Computer ORIGIN United Kingdom YEAR December 1989 END OF PRODUCTION 1992 BUILT IN LANGUAGE SamBasic KEYBOARD Full-stroke keyboard, 72 keys, Reset button CPU Zilog Z80B (fully compatible with i8080 and Z80) SPEED 6MHz with screen off, 4.5 MHz with screen on can be slowed down to emulate ZX Spectrum CO-PROCESSOR Motorola MC 1377P Video Chip, Philips SAA1099 soundchip, ASIC handling graphics RAM 256 kb or 512 kb onboard (depending models), and up to 4Mb with external addons (4.5 Mb total) ROM 32 kb (BASIC, BIOS & disk bootstrap) TEXT MODES 32 x 24, 85 x 24 GRAPHIC MODES 256 x 192, 512 x 192 COLORS 128 colors SOUND Philips SAA1099 soundchip, 6 channels stereo FM synthesis, 8 octaves, 2 noise generators, 2 envelope generators, DAC digital output , sample rate 15.6 kHz. Built-in MIDI interface (in, out, through) SIZE / WEIGHT 2.26 Kg I/O PORTS RF video output (UHF, channel 36), RGB scart video output, serial / network socket, joystick connector (Atari standard), parallel interface, audio input, audio output BUILT IN MEDIA one or two 3.5'' ultraslim Citizen Double Density Drives (800 kb) First models had no disk-drives OS SamDOS, CP/M available POWER SUPPLY External PSU (5v) http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=545
Kinda splashed out a bit today on a rare boxed mint Nintendo Famicom from 1983 no less. This is the pink and white Japanese version all complete, all in original packaging. There is a guy on Ebay with a retro console computer shop just filled with boxed mint goodies of the console type, plus the large arcade games machine. Anyway, my jaw dropped when I saw this, and on a ' Buy Now ' well my finger just zapped the button. More on that later.
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Last updated 4th August 2007
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