Sphere papers gone

From: Frank McConnell <fmc_at_reanimators.org>
Date: Sun Oct 5 01:31:38 1997

William Donzelli <william_at_ans.net> writes:
> Apparently there is not much call for ancient M6800 micro stuff, as I only
> got one response. I suppose if they were from the 8080 side of the fence,
> things would be different.

As I recall you wanted some sort of justification and I really
couldn't think of anything beyond "yeah, I'd like to get a look at
that" -- really I figured you would find other respondents who could
offer it better homes. I do have some 6800 stuff (not Sphere, Smoke
Signal Broadcasting) but also have the manuals for it and probably have
a book or two around somewhere with the 6800 instruction set.

I guess it's time for one of those questions I still don't have a good
answer for. Where the foo has all the SS-50 stuff gone? Or is it still
hiding? Or is it just not here in Sillycon Valley?

I have a couple of SS-50 systems in my collection. Depending on how
you look at it, the SSB Chieftain may be the system that started me off
collecting, though I really bought it with the idea that it was all
put together out of commonly-available parts that I could replace if
I let the magic smoke out while teaching myself hardware hackery.
(I never got the appropriate round tuit, and am still lacking a
proper appreciation of electronics.)

Oh, and it was another few years before I finally admitted to myself
that what I was about was collecting old computers. You know, the
first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem....[1]

And, well, last week I saw the first SS-50 stuff I've seen up for
grabs since I moved to Sillycon Valley seven-plus years ago. I
recognized it as SS-50 at a distance, but it had already been
stripped: all that was there was the chassis and power supply, with
the motherboard, baud rate generator, and a couple of serial cards.
All Gimix stuff but that's all that was there of it. Even the front
plate from the case was missing.

Well, I left it there.[2] When I went back for it today I got there a
little bit past closing time. I expect it's still there, and will go
back for it again on Monday.

-Frank McConnell

[1] "Well, I've filled this storage closet...I guess I'm gonna have
    to rent another one." Somehow I don't think this is the sort
    of "admitting I have a problem" that will lead to recovery.
[2] No, I won't write about why I did that. Suffice it to say I
    felt pressed for time, and when I think about the time my
    colleague in this endeavor wasted before and after I am *still*
    seeing a little red.[3]
[3] Insert a smiley after every third word if you think that helps.
Received on Sun Oct 05 1997 - 01:31:38 BST