Old Computers (off topic)

My oldest computer is an IBM PCjr which I learned BASIC programming on and
enjoyed games such as King's Quest 1 by Sierra On-Line. Does anyone here
have a computer that is older than that and still works. Thanks for the
replies.

In message , Dan
writes:
My oldest computer is an IBM PCjr which I learned BASIC programming on and
enjoyed games such as King's Quest 1 by Sierra On-Line. Does anyone here
have a computer that is older than that and still works. Thanks for the
replies.

The PCjr came out not long after the original PC, as a cheap and
slightly compatible machine; I understand it wasn't a great success.

Do you mean an _IBM compatible_ computer, or just any computer? If just
any, then there will be millions of them out there - going backwards,
roughly, there will be lots of Amstrads and Commodores (VIC20 and
similar), Ataris, BBC (Acorn), Atmos, Oric, UK101, Newbrain, Tangerine,
Commodore PET, ... AIM65 ... all still working, in people's cupboards
and in a few museums; and I understand the Colossus rebuild is coming
along nicely (-:! (I think there's a museum in Boston, there's certainly
one at Bletchley Park, and probably a few hundred others around the
world.)

Then if you extend the definition of "computer", there will be devices
that include a microprocessor - washing machines, cars, etc. - way back
to when the 4004 was invented (196x?), and perhaps a few of those will
still be in working order.

Not to mention Jacquard looms ...

Where I work, there's a BBC computer (either a model B or a master)
built into a piece of test equipment that's in frequent use - there was
certainly something on its screen when I walked past it yesterday. (And
we have lots of pieces of TE that have PCs built into them - the kit I
use every day, to test equipment that's in current aircraft, is
controlled by a Windows 95 PC, and certainly I know of at least one rig
running on DOS 3.x. And until two years ago when the project ended,
there was a piece of kit - for testing a flight controller - that ran on
a PC which, when turned on, went through testing its memory until it got
to a massive 640K, then laboriously loaded from 5.25" floppy its
operating system and software. And printed out the results on an impact
printer. But 640K is probably slightly later than your PCjr.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

The trouble with life in the fast lane is that you get to the other end in an
awful hurry. -John Jensen

In message , Dan
writes:
My oldest computer is an IBM PCjr which I learned BASIC programming on and
enjoyed games such as King's Quest 1 by Sierra On-Line. Does anyone here
have a computer that is older than that and still works. Thanks for the
replies.

The PCjr came out not long after the original PC, as a cheap and
slightly compatible machine; I understand it wasn't a great success.

Do you mean an _IBM compatible_ computer, or just any computer? If just
any, then there will be millions of them out there - going backwards,
roughly, there will be lots of Amstrads and Commodores (VIC20 and
similar), Ataris, BBC (Acorn), Atmos, Oric, UK101, Newbrain, Tangerine,
Commodore PET, ... AIM65 ... all still working, in people's cupboards
and in a few museums; and I understand the Colossus rebuild is coming
along nicely (-:! (I think there's a museum in Boston, there's certainly
one at Bletchley Park, and probably a few hundred others around the
world.)

Then if you extend the definition of "computer", there will be devices
that include a microprocessor - washing machines, cars, etc. - way back
to when the 4004 was invented (196x?), and perhaps a few of those will
still be in working order.

Not to mention Jacquard looms ...

Where I work, there's a BBC computer (either a model B or a master)
built into a piece of test equipment that's in frequent use - there was
certainly something on its screen when I walked past it yesterday. (And
we have lots of pieces of TE that have PCs built into them - the kit I
use every day, to test equipment that's in current aircraft, is
controlled by a Windows 95 PC, and certainly I know of at least one rig
running on DOS 3.x. And until two years ago when the project ended,
there was a piece of kit - for testing a flight controller - that ran on
a PC which, when turned on, went through testing its memory until it got
to a massive 640K, then laboriously loaded from 5.25" floppy its
operating system and software. And printed out the results on an impact
printer. But 640K is probably slightly later than your PCjr.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

The trouble with life in the fast lane is that you get to the other end in an
awful hurry. -John Jensen

On 06/19/2010 03:23 AM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Dan
writes:
My oldest computer is an IBM PCjr which I learned BASIC programming on
and
enjoyed games such as King's Quest 1 by Sierra On-Line. Does anyone here
have a computer that is older than that and still works. Thanks for the
replies.

The PCjr came out not long after the original PC, as a cheap and
slightly compatible machine; I understand it wasn't a great success.

Do you mean an _IBM compatible_ computer, or just any computer? If just
any, then there will be millions of them out there - going backwards,
roughly, there will be lots of Amstrads and Commodores (VIC20 and
similar), Ataris, BBC (Acorn), Atmos, Oric, UK101, Newbrain, Tangerine,
Commodore PET, ... AIM65 ... all still working, in people's cupboards
and in a few museums; and I understand the Colossus rebuild is coming
along nicely (-:! (I think there's a museum in Boston, there's certainly
one at Bletchley Park, and probably a few hundred others around the world.)




snip

In addition to being a vacuum-tube radio refurbisher,
I am also a computer refurbisher and indeed have a few vintage machines
in my collection.(all working)

Of note are a Comodore 64 and a Kaypro (pre-pc)



As far as PC's go I have at least "one of each"
in my collection starting from the 8088 and up.

An original IBM PC 8088
also a Compaq "sewing machine" model

plus a Zenith Data systems 286

also an IBM ps/2 etc

On 06/19/2010 03:23 AM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Dan
writes:
My oldest computer is an IBM PCjr which I learned BASIC programming on
and
enjoyed games such as King's Quest 1 by Sierra On-Line. Does anyone here
have a computer that is older than that and still works. Thanks for the
replies.

The PCjr came out not long after the original PC, as a cheap and
slightly compatible machine; I understand it wasn't a great success.

Do you mean an _IBM compatible_ computer, or just any computer? If just
any, then there will be millions of them out there - going backwards,
roughly, there will be lots of Amstrads and Commodores (VIC20 and
similar), Ataris, BBC (Acorn), Atmos, Oric, UK101, Newbrain, Tangerine,
Commodore PET, ... AIM65 ... all still working, in people's cupboards
and in a few museums; and I understand the Colossus rebuild is coming
along nicely (-:! (I think there's a museum in Boston, there's certainly
one at Bletchley Park, and probably a few hundred others around the world.)




snip

In addition to being a vacuum-tube radio refurbisher,
I am also a computer refurbisher and indeed have a few vintage machines
in my collection.(all working)

Of note are a Comodore 64 and a Kaypro (pre-pc)



As far as PC's go I have at least "one of each"
in my collection starting from the 8088 and up.

An original IBM PC 8088
also a Compaq "sewing machine" model

plus a Zenith Data systems 286

also an IBM ps/2 etc

"Dan" wrote in message
...

My oldest computer is an IBM PCjr which I learned BASIC programming on and
enjoyed games such as King's Quest 1 by Sierra On-Line. Does anyone here
have a computer that is older than that and still works. Thanks for the
replies.

http://oldcomputers.net/grid1101.html
offers an interesting chronology including
Kaypro 1982 (my first, 1983)
GRiD 1982 (the oldest still in my possession, still operable)
IBM PCJr 1984 (yours)

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

"Dan" wrote in message
...

My oldest computer is an IBM PCjr which I learned BASIC programming on and
enjoyed games such as King's Quest 1 by Sierra On-Line. Does anyone here
have a computer that is older than that and still works. Thanks for the
replies.

http://oldcomputers.net/grid1101.html
offers an interesting chronology including
Kaypro 1982 (my first, 1983)
GRiD 1982 (the oldest still in my possession, still operable)
IBM PCJr 1984 (yours)

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Dan wrote:
My oldest computer is an IBM PCjr which I learned BASIC programming
on and enjoyed games such as King's Quest 1 by Sierra On-Line. Does
anyone here have a computer that is older than that and still works.
Thanks for the replies.

TRS-80 Model 3, circa 1980. Two of them.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

dadiOH wrote:

TRS-80 Model 3, circa 1980. Two of them.

This was my first computer:

http://oldcomputers.net/trs80pc1.html

Radioshack TRS-80 Pocket computer.

My next computer was the second generation pocket computer (PC-2). My
next computer was a real IBM PC with CGA video and color RGB screen
(single or dual floppy- I forget - no hard drive). The IBM PC was sold
by "Sears Business Centers" at the time. I had all of those while in
highschool. I still have all of them.

I put my pocket PC's to special use during math and physics exams in
highschool (calculators were allowed). My teachers didn't know they
could store alpha-numeric text and complex programmable formulas.

dadiOH wrote:

TRS-80 Model 3, circa 1980. Two of them.

This was my first computer:

http://oldcomputers.net/trs80pc1.html

Radioshack TRS-80 Pocket computer.

My next computer was the second generation pocket computer (PC-2). My
next computer was a real IBM PC with CGA video and color RGB screen
(single or dual floppy- I forget - no hard drive). The IBM PC was sold
by "Sears Business Centers" at the time. I had all of those while in
highschool. I still have all of them.

I put my pocket PC's to special use during math and physics exams in
highschool (calculators were allowed). My teachers didn't know they
could store alpha-numeric text and complex programmable formulas.