You're right of course, but many people buy junked workstations just to get
the high-resolution monitor, and then find that a video card completely
suitable for the job costs more than a suitable monitor would have cost. I
once tried this and found that the 15" (a BIG one by 1988 standards) APOLLO
monitor I had was VERY well focused and VERY linear, but would work only at
1024x768 as a second monitor. Back then Windows wasn't available in a form
that was of any use, but my CAE software had drivers which would exploit the
higher resolution and allowed me to present 1:1 images of my drawings as
sharp and clear images as opposed to the rather disappointing ones I got
with the normal 640x400 images I was then used to.
While these "retired" workstations are tempting, their sheer mass makes them
forbidding, unless one considers the possibility of using the monitor as a
high-res display for whatever purpose one desires. I found that a 1/8-watt
resistor and a switch mounted on the backpanel bracket was not too much
effort or expense to warrant such an application.
Of course, back then, I had to pay over $1k for a NEC 4D, the equivalent of
which costs about $200 these days.
Nevertheless, this is a decent way to get some immediate benefit from the
act of recycling an old workstation while you work on the problems
associated with getting the workstation to work as a workstation once more.
Dick
-----Original Message-----
From: John Amirault <amirault_at_epix.net>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Friday, March 19, 1999 10:33 AM
Subject: Re: Apollo 400
>Dick,
>I have an easier way to do it. Use the correct monitor. I got lost
>reading your message.
>Thanks for all the info even though I don't understand it.
>John Amirault
>
>Richard Erlacher wrote:
>>
>> If you're thinking about the monitor as being useable with a PC, it
depends
>> on which type it is. The lower-resolution type (I once had one) will
work
>> at 1024x768 if you connect a resistor of about 500 ohms between the
>> composite blanking signal on the "application connector" to the GREEN
output
>> from the card. This will impose the composite blanking beneath the GREEN
>> video, and bias the GREEN up by about enough to make the composite
blanking
>> look like a composite sync, since it's of the right frequency. The GREEN
>> input is usually AC coupled at the monitor, and terminated to ground
through
>> 75 ohms. This is worth a try, but may not work on all card-monitor
>> combinations.
>>
>> It will of course not work at all until you load the 1kx768 driver, which
>> will only happen when the hi-res GUI is loaded.
>>
>> Dick
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Merle K. Peirce <at258_at_osfn.org>
>> To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
>> <classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
>> Date: Thursday, March 18, 1999 5:27 PM
>> Subject: Re: Apollo 400
>>
>> >
>> >Ours stands about waist high and has to weigh over 100#. since it has
>> >wheels, it is, of course, portabel...;) The monitor on ours appears to
>> >be secured to the top. Ours was the main server on a token ring.
>> >
>> >On Thu, 18 Mar 1999, John Amirault wrote:
>> >
>> >> Merle,
>> >> I would not call my HP Apollo 400 a portable by any means. It stands
>> >> about 2' tall and weighs in _at_ about 70 pounds, which is the top end of
>> >> what my doctors say I can lift and I find that trying to do this is
very
>> >> pain full, thank goodness for friends and hand trucks. Mine has no
>> >> wheels. Mine also has a cable with three BNC connectors on each end to
>> >> hook up the monitor. I have been told of a possible source for a
monitor
>> >> and I say thanks Sellam and I will check into it.
>> >>
>> >> JOhn Amirault
>> >>
>> >> "Merle K. Peirce" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> > Perhaps I'm thinking of the 300 series? Is the 400 the very large
>> >> > portable with its own wheels?
>> >> >
>> >> > On Wed, 17 Mar 1999, Merle K. Peirce wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> > > I think the 400 series have integral monitors, John.
>> >> > >
>> >> > >
>> >> > > On Wed, 17 Mar 1999, John Amirault wrote:
>> >> > >
>> >> > > > Mike,
>> >> > > > Is this the HP Apollo 400? If yes,are there any monitors?
>> >> > > > JOhn Amirault
>> >> > > >
>> >> > > > Mike Ford wrote:
>> >> > > > >
>> >> > > > > I had a pleasant afternoon poking around one of my favorite
>> scrappers, and
>> >> > > > > noticed on an incoming cart about two dozen Apollo 400
computers
>> (says
>> >> > > > > model 425 on the back). Hard drives are pulled, but otherwise
>> they are
>> >> > > > > supposed to be complete. Any interest? (he is in Santa Ana CA)
>> >> > > >
>> >> > >
>> >> > > M. K. Peirce
>> >> > > Rhode Island Computer Museum, Inc.
>> >> > > 215 Shady Lea Road,
>> >> > > North Kingstown, RI 02852
>> >> > >
>> >> > > "Casta est qui nemo rogavit."
>> >> > >
>> >> > > - Ovid
>> >> > >
>> >> > >
>> >> >
>> >> > M. K. Peirce
>> >> > Rhode Island Computer Museum, Inc.
>> >> > 215 Shady Lea Road,
>> >> > North Kingstown, RI 02852
>> >> >
>> >> > "Casta est qui nemo rogavit."
>> >> >
>> >> > - Ovid
>> >>
>> >
>> >M. K. Peirce
>> >Rhode Island Computer Museum, Inc.
>> >215 Shady Lea Road,
>> >North Kingstown, RI 02852
>> >
>> >"Casta est qui nemo rogavit."
>> >
>> > - Ovid
>> >
Received on Fri Mar 19 1999 - 12:06:47 GMT