Another PDP-11 available: Wisconsin

From: Dave McGuire <mcguire_at_neurotica.com>
Date: Mon Oct 9 23:36:56 2000

  There's nothing anyone here can say that would convince me that this
message is anything but a very enthusiastic and rather caustic TROLL.

         -Dave McGuire

On October 9, Jerome Fine wrote:
> Jerome Fine replies:
>
> First I must admit I am biased since I do not regard PDP-11 hardware
> as being very important as opposed to the software. On the other
> hand, I have attempted to keep available a reasonable REAL PDP-11
> system at considerable expense compared to that $ US 100 mentioned
> above.
>
> BUT, unless there is some specific reason as to why some of the specific
> hardware mentioned is extremely important, I would suggest that the
> requested price is in excess of the value by a factor of 100. Old
> LSI-11 or 11/02 systems are so inhibited as compared with even an
> 11/23 CPU, let alone a 11/73 system, that I can't see why anyone
> would want one - except maybe to fill out a full line of PDP-11
> systems. When an emulator on a PC can duplicate most, if not
> all of the functions, only a die-hard hardware fan (addict - yes I am
> a PDP-11 software addict) would want an 11/02 system. And at
> $ US 100, that is so overpriced compared to an 11/73 in a BA123
> box no less about 2 years ago at $ US 10, I can't begin to see why
> Tom thinks or feels that such a price is reasonable. If Tom really
> wants to see it go to a good home, he should be offering to help
> with the shipping as well.
>
> Anyone willing to suffer through the hardware problems of an old 11/02
> system needs to be encouraged. I actually have a couple of such old
> systems which I haven't used in 10 years, but have kept just in case
> someone might want then, but if and when they are ever available
> (which could be within a year or two since I must start cleaning up
> the basement), they will be for free. Anyone who has that in mind,
> contact me and I will keep you on a list. Note that they are in Toronto
> and local; pickup only. The last time I gave away an 11/34 backplane
> and power supply, it took over a year to get someone to pick it up
> and almost ended up in the dumptser.
>
> Sincerely yours,
>
> Jerome Fine
Received on Mon Oct 09 2000 - 23:36:56 BST