The Old Computer

[Bill Pierce]

My old computer has to go to the shop; so, there goes the digital darkroom and conversing with like minds on the RF Forum for a few days. As always, first come, first serve, but you are welcome to use this thread to start a conversation on something that interests you. Hopefully, I'll be back in the computer world in a few days, log on and find a scintillating discussion of exceptional insight on a topic of incredible importance. See you soon.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

They aren't that hard to fix Bill.
What's the problem?

 

[zauhar]

My old computer has to go to the shop; so, there goes the digital darkroom and conversing with like minds on the RF Forum for a few days. As always, first come, first serve, but you are welcome to use this thread to start a conversation on something that interests you. Hopefully, I'll be back in the computer world in a few days, log on and find a scintillating discussion of exceptional insight on a topic of incredible importance. See you soon.

You only have one computer?

Is it a UNIVAC?

 

[charjohncarter]

It's funny how everything is suppose to be so great now but you need a c repair person, computer specialist for your car, an answering machine to triage your calls, and various bartista specialists for your coffee.

Going to hire an illegal to do your yard and he wants you to sign a contract.

I hope it is an easy fix your computer, but then hopefully you don't live on the West Coast.

 

[randolph45]

I have my grandson to do my computer stuff🙂

 

[Pál_K]

You only have one computer?

Is it a UNIVAC?

Heh. I worked on a Univac 1108. It had a “Fastrand” drum for memory storage. The display console, with maybe a hundred switches and lights, had Nixie tubes to display the current time. Its assembly language was wonderful.

I also worked on IBM 360 and DEC PDP-11’s, DECsystem 10’s, and VAXes. I still love assembly language - got to write some ARM assembly language not too long ago.

 

[Beemermark]

I worked at a refinery (engineer) and the dept used a DEC PDP-11. The Hewitt Packard came out with the HP-41 programmable calculator and we ended up junking the DEC.

 

[Corran]

Am I the only one that has 4 computers running concurrently in the house, as well as a laptop (and phones!)?

 

[Axel]

Time for evolution and a second computer? 🙂

 

[Dralowid]

I've a box full of scsi leads and some termination blocks if it helps...

 

[RichC]

Yes, people who are serious about their photography should have more than one computer, just as they do cameras...

My main computer built bespoke for photography, including three 30 in. screens (equivalent to a single screen 2 m or 6 ft wide) so I can see multiple photos or use multiple programs at the same time, like Photoshop, Capture One and SilverFast.

What possibly could go wrong with it...

 

[raydm6]

Bill, have you considered downloading the Taptalk app to your mobile phone to participate on RFF?

 

[Bolo Kukus]

Talking about ancient computers... and equally ancient users, ha!

I still have an IBM PC (THE original one, which is what it was called - IBM PC) from 1986, bought new, somewhere in the debris of my storage room aka third bedroom.

It still worked about three years ago when it was last turned on - but the floppy disks are getting thin and very worn.

It's an odd feeling to have to insert a Windows disk in the left slot, put a Wordperfect disk in the right slot, and 'shift' the PC from one to the other to load the data on the two, while the PC grinds and groans like a coffee grinder.

The good old days when 360 KB flobby was considered to be a lot of memory...

I also recall what I paid for this ancient contraption - think THOUSANDS - I could buy six or more very decent laptops today with that money, with enough dosh left for a lavish dinner for two with wine. Progress.

 

[wolves3012]

Yes, people who are serious about their photography should have more than one computer, just as they do cameras...

My main computer built bespoke for photography, including three 30 in. screens (equivalent to a single screen 2 m or 6 ft wide) so I can see multiple photos or use multiple programs at the same time, like Photoshop, Capture One and SilverFast.

What possibly could go wrong with it...

Do I spy an old Sinclair Scientific on the desk? I still have one of those, if so, in working condition. Bought new in 1975.

 

[jsrockit]

Yes, people who are serious about their photography should have more than one computer, just as they do cameras...
]

Are you really saying the OP isn’t serious about photography because he’ll be without a computer for a few days? That’s ridiculous...

You don’t even need a computer to do photography.

 

[raydm6]

Early work career:

• ASK/ManMan ERP software running on VAX/VMS and HP Mainframes accessed with VT100 & VT220 Terminals
• X-Windows System/UNIX OS/Motif UI/GNU Emacs Text Editor
• Sun SPARCstation UNIX OS

(I know this isn't helping Bill 🙂)

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Yes, people who are serious about their photography should have more than one computer, just as they do cameras...

My main computer built bespoke for photography, including three 30 in. screens (equivalent to a single screen 2 m or 6 ft wide) so I can see multiple photos or use multiple programs at the same time, like Photoshop, Capture One and SilverFast.

What possibly could go wrong with it...

Your cat is suspicious of HAL9000

 

[lynnb]

Your cat is suspicious of HAL9000

I thought the cat might've eaten the mouse.

 

[RichC]

Do I spy an old Sinclair Scientific on the desk? I still have one of those, if so, in working condition. Bought new in 1975.

Ha ha! Yes!

I've been using it for about 45 years...!

Love the purple LEDs, but it eats batteries, thinks to itself when calculating (do anything complex and the display flickers for a few seconds before the answer appears) and if do a calculation in different ways, the last digit after the decimal point may differ (rounding errors!). The numbers printed on the buttons wear off, so every decade I end up buying a scrap calculator to steal its buttons! Who says electronics don't last - nearly half a century of use!

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Heh. I worked on a Univac 1108. It had a “Fastrand” drum for memory storage. The display console, with maybe a hundred switches and lights, had Nixie tubes to display the current time. Its assembly language was wonderful.

I also worked on IBM 360 and DEC PDP-11’s, DECsystem 10’s, and VAXes. I still love assembly language - got to write some ARM assembly language not too long ago.

I speak your language.
When I was hired out of college, 1981- the market was super-hot for computer scientists. I was hired to write code for a Vax 11/780 with an FPS-120b attached array processor and for the Texas Instruments Advanced Scientific Computer. I loved that machine. The person that was going to be my new boss asked that I stay around. Told him it would take someone offering me a job to write code for a HAL-9000 to get me away from the ASC. I recently had some of the vector instructions from that computer implemented in FPGA for an embedded project. Still the best instruction set of any computer ever built.

We had a couple of wide-spread Internet outages this weekend. I use stand-alone computers for real work, so it did not impact me EXCEPT the DVR missed recording Bugs Bunny and Road Runner on Saturday morning. Probably was a DNS attack. Stupid Internet.