Anyone here collects old computers?

[nbarber]

So what you need is an ISA VGA adaptor board for your 286. And yes, you can get one.

This is true, just make sure you get a card compatible with your ISA bus. An 8bit card will work in a 16 bit bus but not vice versa. Quick check... 8 bit bus is short 16 bit bus is about an inch longer and has a divider. Most 286's are 16bit but might want to check. Also don't spend more than a couple dollars on it. These parts are readily available and garbage to most so they are cheap. If you are having trouble PM me. I'm sure I have a few ISA VGA cards in a box around here somewhere.

 

[Telecolor 3007]

I was into hosting BBS, but did not see internet 'til Jan 7, 1991. The local AUG librarian came over to show it to me.

The episode was from 1992. Man, the Japs moved fast. They had internet in 1991 and in 1992 the arleady had internet store.

 

[DonQuixote99]

This is true, just make sure you get a card compatible with your ISA bus. An 8bit card will work in a 16 bit bus but not vice versa. Quick check... 8 bit bus is short 16 bit bus is about an inch longer and has a divider. Most 286's are 16bit but might want to check. Also don't spend more than a couple dollars on it. These parts are readily available and garbage to most so they are cheap. If you are having trouble PM me. I'm sure I have a few ISA VGA cards in a box around here somewhere.

Well, just to make it a bit more muddy, it wasn't unusual for 16-bit cards to be backwards-compatible with the 8-bit bus. So if you had one, and there's room to plug it in, you could try it.

 

[hrballenger]

I was into hosting BBS, but did not see internet 'til Jan 7, 1991. The local AUG librarian came over to show it to me.

I've had a home internet connection since 1983 (using a T.I. 99/4 with a modem at a blistering 300 baud), using the then new-fangled Compuserve.

Actually first used the internet in April 1975 while doing research on college term papers and thesis. The college set-up was a Dec PDP-11 ( or was it an 8... ) with the same type of KSR-33 teletype terminal that I would in 1976 have at home for my new Altair. Have we really progressed that far ? Sometimes seems like the average Wally-World $5.95 digital multifunction wristwatch has more computing power than those fondly remembered vintage machines.

 

[hypertone]

I still have the TRS-80 CoCo I got for Christmas back in 3rd grade.

 

[Paulfxl]

I collect mostly Apple equipment, from the Apple II+, IIe, IIgs, Mac portable, PowerBook 100 through todays iMacs

Still have my first computer, the IBM PC

I years ago I used Atari computers to run some some woodworking X-Y-Z tables. I would change the joystick port to output and run a simple binary stream to stepper motor controllers.

Those were the days..

 

[quneur]

I don't think so, here the version that I was talking about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEOS_(16-bit_operating_system)

hmm..I remember playing around with an old laptop that had OS/2 (I wanted to know what was so special about it) but I could be wrong. Memories is fleeting, especially for me . But it had GeoWorks on it, rather crude graphics as the laptop was real slow.

 

[quneur]

I still have a Sharp EL-5500 III w/ built-in BASIC, manual and matching printer. I still used it in college as I needed a scientific calculator and this one was handy. A pic is here:

http://pocket.free.fr/html/sharp/el-5500III_e.html


Now, I'm using this (have box and manual):

Note: not my pic.

 

[Brian]

The Sharp 5500 reminds me of the unit from Radio Shack some years ago. It had all kinds of addons. At the time I could not see a practical use for it.

 

[DonQuixote99]

I've still got an IBM PC-XT that I got for nothing from an employeer. It was obsolete when I got it, and the only real use I ever got out of it was to try to set my folks up with a simple word processing application with it. Unfortunately, it was too late for them to learn anything that unfamiliar. But it still works, and I particularly wish I had a way to put the vintage IBM keyboard into regular service.

 

[KLH9]

I particularly wish I had a way to put the vintage IBM keyboard into regular service.

You can get a PC/XT to PS2 adapter (if you have a PS2 keyboard connector on your MB). If you only have USB, there are adapters from PS2 to USB for keyboards

I have been using a Omnikey 101 for the past 25 years. I would not even think of using a different keyboard. When they stopped making them, a couple of decades ago, I purchased 3 new backup keyboards that are still in their boxes on the shelf. I use this thing 8-10 hours a day 7 days a week and it has never given me a single problem.

 

[Telecolor 3007]

I've still got an IBM PC-XT that I got for nothing from an employeer. It was obsolete when I got it, and the only real use I ever got out of it was to try to set my folks up with a simple word processing application with it. Unfortunately, it was too late for them to learn anything that unfamiliar. But it still works, and I particularly wish I had a way to put the vintage IBM keyboard into regular service.

Sheesh, how want I wish me an "I.B.M." XT. Some one will get one from U.S.A., but probably the transportation will cost much. I wish I could find such a computer around here.
On the other hand, some one didn't know that I'm intrested in old laptops, so he desmentle an 486 and solled some of the components. If he would had have known, he would have give it to me.

You can get a PC/XT to PS2 adapter (if you have a PS2 keyboard connector on your MB). If you only have USB, there are adapters from PS2 to USB for keyboards

I have been using a Omnikey 101 for the past 25 years. I would not even think of using a different keyboard. When they stopped making them, a couple of decades ago, I purchased 3 new backup keyboards that are still in their boxes on the shelf. I use this thing 8-10 hours a day 7 days a week and it has never given me a single problem.

I have an keyborad like that at my 286 computer. It's the computer's original keyboard; it's an "Olvietti" ANK 26-101. The keyboard is really god, but the keys are quyte hard to push, so I pefer a newer keyboard. B.t.w., I have the bad habbit to push hard on the keys in order to tipe faster, so if I would do that with the "Olvietti" keyboard I may harm it.


Does someone knows how I set the Romanian diactritics (ă, â, î, ş, ţ) on "Microsft" <<Word>> if I have "Windows" 3.1?

 

[Brian]

Over the years the better keyboards seem to be the ones frm the earliest computers and terminals. The original IBM had the feel of their typewriter for an obvious reason and it was great. Also, Wyse made one for the 100 terminal that could be used on the IBM as well. Used the Wyse some 20+ years until it finally literally fell apart.

 

[KLH9]

Over the years the better keyboards seem to be the ones frm the earliest computers and terminals. The original IBM had the feel of their typewriter for an obvious reason and it was great. Also, Wyse made one for the 100 terminal that could be used on the IBM as well. Used the Wyse some 20+ years until it finally literally fell apart.

The omni key is an alps switch keyboard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyboard_technology#Mechanical-switch_keyboard

Northgate went out of business a while ago but another company bought the license to continue making the keyboards so you can still purchase them today but the price is around $160 http://www.cvtinc.com/products/keyboards/prime.htm

I still have my Televideo 970 terminal. Killer keyboard on that one too

 

[DonQuixote99]

You can get a PC/XT to PS2 adapter (if you have a PS2 keyboard connector on your MB). If you only have USB, there are adapters from PS2 to USB for keyboards

I have been using a Omnikey 101 for the past 25 years. I would not even think of using a different keyboard. When they stopped making them, a couple of decades ago, I purchased 3 new backup keyboards that are still in their boxes on the shelf. I use this thing 8-10 hours a day 7 days a week and it has never given me a single problem.

Actually, I think it's the PC-AT keyboards that set the standard still used, so old keyboards of that sort can be made to work with simple adapters. The IBM-PC and PC-XT had a different scheme for coding the keystrokes, not compatable with more modern hardware and bios.

Or so I heard once.

 

[DonQuixote99]

Sheesh, how want I wish me an "I.B.M." XT. Some one will get one from U.S.A., but probably the transportation will cost much. I wish I could find such a computer around here.
On the other hand, some one didn't know that I'm intrested in old laptops, so he desmentle an 486 and solled some of the components. If he would had have known, he would have give it to me.



I have an keyborad like that at my 286 computer. It's the computer's original keyboard; it's an "Olvietti" ANK 26-101. The keyboard is really god, but the keys are quyte hard to push, so I pefer a newer keyboard. B.t.w., I have the bad habbit to push hard on the keys in order to tipe faster, so if I would do that with the "Olvietti" keyboard I may harm it.


Does someone knows how I set the Romanian diactritics (ă, â, î, ş, ţ) on "Microsft" <<Word>> if I have "Windows" 3.1?

You can always access 'extended-ascii' characters by the following method:

1. Make sure NumLock is on.
2. Holding down ALT-key, type code for character from ascii table.
3. Use numeric keypad.
4. Include leading zero.

Google for more info.

This works in Word, or on the Web, or just about anywhere. Of course in Word, you should be able to load a specifically Romanian font.

 

[benb]

Actually, I think it's the PC-AT keyboards that set the standard still used, so old keyboards of that sort can be made to work with simple adapters. The IBM-PC and PC-XT had a different scheme for coding the keystrokes, not compatable with more modern hardware and bios.

Or so I heard once.

Yes, they changed the wiring/hardware/whatever with the keyboard between the XT and AT, but the AT still used a 5-pin DIN connector. I once had a keyboard with a small switch underneath for connecting to either a PC-XT syste, or an AT system. The PS/2 and modern small connectors still on the back of many desktop system is still the AT keyboard interface. YOu can (still, I presume) get adapters for the 5-pin DIN to the PS/2 connector, and use the AT on a modern machine. Or even plug that PS/2 connector into a PS/2 to USB cable, and use the big, loud AT keyboard on any computer with USB. I think IBM's designation for the AT keyboard (it's got the big Enter key, like a Selectric typewriter keyboard - the whole thing is similar to a Selectric keybpard) was Model F.

I have an old AT keyboard, I tried it because I remember using one in the mid-late '80's. It was loud, and I"m too used to the modern "Model M" layout with the function keys along the top.

Last Novermber I got a Model M "Space Saver" for use with my Netbook (I cannot stand those small keyboards where the keys barely move). Yes, I pull out a separate keyboard wherever I use my netbook.

Obligatory geeky computer keyboard site:
http://geekhack.org/

 

[autoexer]

i ended up with TWO IBM PC's - dual 720k floppies! No hard drive, original 5 slot motherboard with the original keyboards and one matching monitor. they actually work, not y2k compatable either.

 

[KLH9]

Actually, I think it's the PC-AT keyboards that set the standard still used, so old keyboards of that sort can be made to work with simple adapters. The IBM-PC and PC-XT had a different scheme for coding the keystrokes, not compatable with more modern hardware and bios.

Or so I heard once.

The omni key is dip selectable to work with PC/XT, AT/PS2, Commodore, Tandy, or ATT computers.

 

[DonQuixote99]

Very versatile compatibility feature on those keyboards. And the care taken to disambiguate their dip-switch diagrams (black = raised part...) indicates an unusual level of customer-service awareness. If these factors reflect the overall quality of the keyboards, I can see why you got so attached to them.