ScuzzBlog: Diaries March 2017
Entry 16th March 2017: Post: 3
Einstein a go go
Hi
Spent the day yesterday finding my PCW9512 2” thick manual plus
my PCW programing guide which I found. Whilst looking for these
books I came across the Tatung Einstein. I was sitting in the
lounge last night reading my books and kept eying the Tatung
lying under a chair. I thought what the heck.
This machine is a large computer in terms of area size. Designed
to have a monitor or ‘ DISPLAY’ sitting on the machine there
is a very large area behind the keyboard. Plugged in and connected
to the SONY TV I was using for the +3. The computer uses the 3”
CF2 Compact Floppy Disc and as you know not one of my 3” disc
drives have worked without replacing the belt to the drive....
So I switched on.... Felt a bit like that moment in Electric Dreams
I got a pale blue screen and the computer asked me for the system
disc. It stated I needed to put in the disc and press CTRL-BREAK....
There was no CTRL. Then I noticed the machine had two ESC keys one
on top of another. I guessed the button had broken and was replaced
with a spare ESC key. I was correct. And AMAZING the disk drive
clicked into gear.... And there across the screen... white on pale
blue
*** EINSTEIN ***
TATUNG/Xta1DOS 1.31 ©1983 1984
o: [flashing cursor]
Honestly I have never been more surprised. The machine comes with
four very colourful books with Einstein [ who else on the cover ]
The first is a reference manual, the second BASIC, a set up guide
and Dr Logo. I have but three discs. I went into the FORMAT command
and when I stuck in the disc I had been using on the +3 the TATUNG
politely told me that the disc was already formatted did I want to
proceed. I said yes. Next you have to specify a drive number from
0-3. And then first use the MOS/DOS disc for system files. And then
you get a a series of ‘F’s all in a line followed by ‘V’s all in
a line as the machine verifies the format. And now the magic part....
you have to turn the disc over and format the other side.... Takes
me back to records and cassette technology. Those were the days.
Next I copied the SYSTEM disc and was away again playing with BASIC.
http://www.scuzzscink.com/amiga/amiga_scuzz161.htm
http://www.scuzzscink.com/amiga/a_scuzz_nov26/a_scuzz_nov2005_267.jpg
And so now I have the PCW9512, Amstrad 464 DD1, Amstrad 6128,
Spectrum +3 and Tatung Einstein all working with the humble CF2 disc
CF2 Floppy Disc
http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/CF2_Compact_Floppy_Disc
Einstein A Go Go – Landscape
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfya8yf7KVg
Together in Electric Dreams - Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVZXj53i9Js
CF2 Drive hardware makers:
Hitachi, Matsushita, Maxell, Teac, Amstrad
Computers and Media Drives that use 3" CF2 standard:
- AMDECK (AMDISK) [1982] : external drive for TRS-80 , IBM PC ,
Atari 400/800 , Apple II
- YAMAHA MDR-1 [1983] : sequencer for professional organs. Pre-MIDI
- National MyBrain 3000 [1983] : computer
- Gavilan Laptop [1983]
- Tatung Einstein [1984]
- Oric Atmos external Disc Drive [1984]
- Sega SF-7000 Disc Drive (for Sega SC-3000 computer) [1984]
- Timex FDD / FDD-3000 drive ( for ZX Spectrum and Timex ) [1985]
- Amstrad / Schneider CPC [1985]
- Amstrad / Schneider PCW (8000 series) [1985]
- Sinclair Spectrum +3 [1987]
- Amstrad PCW 9000 series [1987]
- Amstrad CPC+ [1990]
I truly am in electric dreams. Don’t wake me. Back in time 34 years
and working like new. Wish I was.
Diary... 1984. Just moved to Poole from the Midlands having completed
Part 2 of my RIBA Dip. Arch at Birmingham School of Architecture.
Working for a company called Lesley Jones Architects at Dolphin House.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood was at number one but got banned. Relax.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3_2entulkw
I have the album... on vinyl. Welcome to the Pleasuredome.
Two Tribes lyrics ...
‘Are we living in a land
Where sex and horror are the new Gods?
Yeah’
The eighties... such a massively expanding and dynamic time... ‘
Videos and Micros ‘.
scuzz
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