Additions to the collection

[Zeela]

My collection just got a bit larger.

First a couple of Commodore machines:
A boxed Amiga 1000
http://www.postimage.org/PqTkRwr.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqTkRwr)

SX-64
http://www.postimage.org/aV24OQQJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV24OQQJ)

A couple of boxed C64s and a boxed disk drive on the side
http://www.postimage.org/aVsCvar.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVsCvar)http://www.postimage.org/aVsD0Bi.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVsD0Bi)

Then some non-Commodore things:
A boxed Luxor VES!!! (Yep, it's a swedish version of the Fairchild Channel F)
It's a fine addition to my Luxor-collection
http://www.postimage.org/aVsBKMJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVsBKMJ)http://www.postimage.org/aVsC1eJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVsC1eJ)

An old Goldstar MSX1...
http://www.postimage.org/aVsCnH0.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVsCnH0)

// Z

[carlsson]

Nice! A few of these items you didn't post on the other forum.. perhaps on purpose? ;-)

[Zeela]

I posted the pictures of the Luxor, the C64s and the MSX a while ago on the other forum. I just remembered that I hadn't posted them here yet.

// Z

[Zeela]

I got a nice little machine last week...
http://www.postimage.org/aV1TiSH9.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1TiSH9)

It's a Compis (COMPuter In School), a swedish computer made especially for use in schools. In short, it's a Intel-based machine, running CP/M-86 or DOS. Featuring a Intel 80186 as the processor and monochrome graphics (green on black).

I got it with a heap of manuals, but not much software.

More info here:
http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=358&st=1

Now all I need is to find some software for it.

// Z

[NathanAllan]

Nice!! I thought the 186's never made it past the business-machine market, sometimes it's good to be wrong.

What "other forum" are you two talking about? Been moonlighting on us here?? :)

[Zeela]

Yes, it's a nice machine. One of the few Swedish computers.
Does anyone know what other computers the 80186 was used in? I've only heard about it in the Compis.


The other forum that Carlsson and I moonlight on is a swedish retro video games and computers forum named VintageGames.se.

And that's where I know one of the newer mebers here, Luzur, from as well.

It has a small english section on the forum if anyone here wants to stop by.

// Z

[Druid6900]

Tandy 2000, for one

[Luzur]

And that's where I know one of the newer mebers here, Luzur, from as well.

and thats me! :D

[carlsson]

Does anyone know what other computers the 80186 was used in?
The Unisys ICON, a school computer in Ontario, Canada used the 80186.
http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showthread.php?t=308

Then you have the Danish RC 759 Piccoline, another school computer running CP/M-86:
http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=1171
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regnecentralen

I believe I've seen a fourth dedicated school computer based on the 80186. Then you have the Tandy 2000 as Druid pointed out, and probably a bunch more. I just wonder why the 80186 was so popular in schools; is it like a 8086/88 on steroids or rather a castrated 80286?

As for the Compis, it was made to be MS-DOS incompatible on purpose, to protect domestic software companies from unwanted international competition. Although most of the software was educational anyway, some word processors, spreadsheets and of course programming languages probably did exist.

[Druid6900]

The Unisys ICON, a school computer in Ontario, Canada used the 80186.
http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/showthread.php?t=308



Lovingly referred to as "The Bionic Beaver" and an impressive waste of taxpayer's money.

[carlsson]

Don't all custom made (e.g. educational) computers cost a lot of money and only give half the value back? The Compis was no exception to this rule, and what's worse is the contract was given to a small company which had no previous experience in designing computers. At the same time Sweden already had a handful of experienced computer manufacturers who only could watch dumbfounded that none of them were considered capable enough.

[Zeela]

More additions to the collection...

A SpectraVideo 738 X'press, with an added resetbutton and upgraded to MSX2.
http://www.postimage.org/Pqhx04S.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pqhx04S)http://www.postimage.org/aVDKJli.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVDKJli)

A TRS-80 Model 1... But I forgot the monitor at the seller's place. :(
http://www.postimage.org/aV1jsV0A.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1jsV0A)

Just a few CoCo-games in a neat storage unit.
http://www.postimage.org/aV1jt1v0.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1jt1v0)

A Audio Sonic - Microprocessor 1292, plus a couple of games...
http://www.postimage.org/aV1jt6ui.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1jt6ui)

And the real reason for getting the thing in the picture above...
A Hobby Module... It lets you write your own games for the 1292 Advanced
Programmable Video System compatible units and save them to tape
http://www.postimage.org/gx1GgVsJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx1GgVsJ)

And lastly a working Epson HX-20, that a friend found two of in the electronics trashbin at his work!
http://www.postimage.org/gxfRfD0.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gxfRfD0)

Now I'm a bit happy!

// Z

[Zeela]

Got a nice package yesterday.
http://www.postimage.org/gx13Af0J.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx13Af0J)
Neatly packed and all...

http://www.postimage.org/gx13AQqS.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx13AQqS)
A PET 3032, a 3040 dual-diskdrive, a CBM 4022 printer and an pordinary 1530 datasette.

The PET works, but the screen has a strange behaivour. The text moves on screen. Not much but it sways horisontally. Rather annoying. Anybody here know what's the problem?

// Z

[tezza]

The PET works, but the screen has a strange behaivour. The text moves on screen. Not much but it sways horisontally. Rather annoying. Anybody here know what's the problem?
// Z

Nice Pet.

I'm no expert, but from what I've read on here and other places, this may be a sign of a dodgey power supply. The voltage is fluctuating hence the video movement.

Tez

[Druid6900]

If the horizontal movement moves down the screen like a wave, it's ripple on one of the power supply feeds.

If the whole screen "bounces" from side to side, it may be a hot spot on the horizontal controls and working them back and forth will usually clean them.

If neither of those are the problem, I'll need more details as to what, exactly, happens.

[carlsson]

For that matter, I have at least two PETs that behave similarly to Zeela's one. There is a seller who currently has five (5) PETs on auction who described that some have the same minor fault. Whatever it is, it may be pretty common.

[cl3mens]

Don't all custom made (e.g. educational) computers cost a lot of money and only give half the value back? The Compis was no exception to this rule, and what's worse is the contract was given to a small company which had no previous experience in designing computers. At the same time Sweden already had a handful of experienced computer manufacturers who only could watch dumbfounded that none of them were considered capable enough.

Yeah, I've always thought it was a stupid decision not to go with Luxors product line. They did have ABCnet and ABC80 was pretty common in the schools already.

Maybe some bribes were involved? :) It just seems strange to me...

[carlsson]

In the beginning, the whole Compis (TUDIS) project was classified - secret information! A journalist began digging into it and had to go to Hovrätten (court) to clear the classification. The court was very surprised these documents were made secret to begin with.

I'd think that little tidbit answers part of your question.

[Toshiba_Collector]

Good job finding the Amiga and C64's.

[Zeela]

Got me another Compis this week! With another model of monitor.
http://www.postimage.org/aV1GKHwA.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1GKHwA)

And a Lambda 8300... Almost a ZX81-clone.
http://www.postimage.org/gx1TBjO0.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx1TBjO0)

// Z

[Zeela]

I went to RetroGathering 2008 (in Stockholm, Sweden) this weekend and I couldn't help buying some more stuff... And of course I met Carlsson there.

A couple of uncommon computers. A Tatung Einstein and a Luxor ABC 9000 (A Unix server and the only computer I own that needs a key to start it :) )
http://www.postimage.org/PqeLBBJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqeLBBJ) http://www.postimage.org/PqeLJ59.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqeLJ59)

A computer aided board game, "Taktik" (also known as "Tank Attack" in English speaking countries). I have been looking for this game a long time now.
http://www.postimage.org/PqeLY30.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqeLY30)

And then some things I thought that I couldn't live without... :wink:
http://www.postimage.org/PqeM9wJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=PqeM9wJ)

[cl3mens]

...a Luxor ABC 9000 (A Unix server and the only computer I own that needs a key to start it :) )...

Gah! :onfire:

That is one of my dream computers (as you may know). Good thing it came into the right hands. Tried to get it up and running yet? I would like some screenshots... :D

[Zeela]

Yes, I seem to remember that you really wanted one of those :)

Maybe I should mention that I'm in negotiations about a ABC 1600 too!

[cl3mens]

Sounds like you are ready to start a shell account service soon... ;) What about the DIAB DS-machines? Have you seen any for sale? Would be cool with the quad 68020 setup.

[Amigaz]

Gah! :onfire:

That is one of my dream computers (as you may know). Good thing it came into the right hands. Tried to get it up and running yet? I would like some screenshots... :D

Yeah and some specs would be nice too :)

Wish I could have went to the retro gathering but I was tied up with work etc :mad:

[Zeela]

Some info about the ABC 9000 can be found here:
http://www.hultsfred.org/abc9000.htm

Sorry, only swedish... But Google Translate might help those of you that can't read swdish :)

[Amigaz]

Some info about the ABC 9000 can be found here:
http://www.hultsfred.org/abc9000.htm

Sorry, only swedish... But Google Translate might help those of you that can't read swdish :)

Thanks

So were these systems used with terminals connected to it?

Wish I was working where I work now 10-15 years ago when they got rid of the ICL System 25 unit and terminals and before that a Singer System 10 running DMF
Everyting went into the recycling at "Högdals tippen" :(


edit: didn't read poroperly,I now see this was the mainframe and then up to 8 terminals connected