Sam:
could you please tell me what isbn number and the publisher was on the
"Computer power for small business" book though I could try and track it
down in some used book syores around here.
thanx
Chris
At 10:25 AM 06/02/98 -0800, you wrote:
>
>I added another 37 volumes to my vintage computer library yesterday.
>
>By far the most valuable from a historical standpoint is the book
>_Computer Power for the Small Business_ from 1979. It is a buyer's guide
>for microcomputers of the mid- to late -0's era. Talk about a treasure.
>This book has pictures and decriptions of many computers I've never even
>heard of.
>
>It contains information on systems we know much of, such as the Atari's,
>Apple, PETs, Radio Shack, etc. But it also has blurbs on systems that
>I've not seen mentioned anywhere else (at least not in a way that is
>looking back on these systems with a historical perspective) like the RCA
>Cosmac VIP, the Sol-20, Exidy Sorcerer, Heathkit H-8 and H-11, Intecolor
>8031.
>
>The best part is the descriptions of systems I've never knew about before.
>Has anyone ever heard of an Outpost computer? Its a fully integrated
>package with keyboard, display and 5.25" drive, but its almost three feet
>wide, with the two 5.25" drive bays to the side of the display! How about
>the PeCos One from APF Electronics. I have a pong machine made by APF but
>who would've thought they once made computers? How about The Renaissance
>Machine (aka Compucolor II)? There's also mention of the Teal SHC-8000,
>which is sort of like a pet with display, keyboard and cassette player in
>one unit.
>
>It then has a listing with about 40 different system descriptions,
>including CPU, memory, external storage, input (ie. keyboard, lightpen),
>output (ie. display, printer) and basic cost. There's also the company
>address which is extremely valuable for research.
>
>Here's an interesting tidbit. Apparently Data General made a line of
>computers dubbed "The Digital Group". According to this entry in the
>table, they were systems based on the Z-80, 8080A, 9080A, 6800 and 6502
>processors; they had 2K of main memory; they used cassettes for storage.
>Can anyone verify this?
>
>I also got another similar book entitled _The Peter McWilliams Personal
>Computer Buying Guide_ circa 1985. I haven't had a chance to go through
>it in much detail but it is basically more nice descriptions of early- to
>mid-80's computers, again some of which I've never heard of. I'll do a
>review later.
>
>In my travels I also picked up a Victor 800 electric adding machine. I
>don't collect adding machines and only rare grab them for specific
>reasons. In this case, this is the same Victor as the Victor 9000
>computer. I knew right away because the 'o' in the "Victor" emblem was
>that striped-circle that is telling of a Victor product (plus it had a
>Scott's Valley, CA address on the back).
>
>Sam Alternate e-mail: dastar_at_siconic.com
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass
>
> Coming Soon...Vintage Computer Festival 2.0
> See http://www.siconic.com/vcf for details!
>
>
>
Received on Fri Feb 06 1998 - 21:46:32 GMT