HP 9000 520

From: Joe <rigdonj_at_intellistar.net>
Date: Sat Apr 7 10:20:28 2001

Curt,

   First, are we talking about the same machine? I'm talking about the HP
9000 520. Aka 9020. It's a large desktop machine with a built in keyboard
and monitor. It looks like a grossly oversized Commodore 64. I think the K
520 is an entirely different machine.

   Next, I was speaking of old computers in general. Some of people on the
list are always complaining about how the internet, E-bay (and now the
ex-MITS building computer museum) are driving up the prices of old machines
and how they can't afford old computers any more, etc, etc. However I
manage to find something interesting nearly everytime that I go looking. I
didn't even go out this week but still managed to aquire some HP Integral
manauls, a HP documentation index and found the auction listing for the two
9000 520s. Last week I did go looking and found two NICE Kaypros with loads
of original disks. The week before that I found an IBM L40SX, IBM P70, a
Sun 635 MP, a HP 9000 520, a HP 9836, a HP 9000 series 300 and a HP 9000
835. My point is there are still loads of old computers out there and for
cheap prices if anyone is willing to get off their a** and go look!

   FWIW I do consider the 9000 520 an odd machine. Perhaps unusual would be
a better term. I've been collecting HP computers for a good number of years
and I've never seen one before. I found (and bought) one a couple of weeks
ago. Before that the only person that I know of that actually had one was
Frank McConnell. My research indicates that there were a lot 520s used by
the US navy and some of it's subcontractors but few elsewhere. Even my
contacts at HP tell me that the 520 was problematic and was very late
getting into production and was a commercail failure. Despite the large
number of them used by the US Navy, very few managed to get into the
surplus market. I couldn't find a single surplus dealer that had one or
that even knew what they were.


    Joe

At 10:32 PM 4/6/01 -0400, you wrote:
>Joe,
>
> Old Odd Machine??? The HP 9000 K520 isn't that terribly old, I
installed
>one of those with HPUX 11.3 at GT Interactive in Manhattan back in 95' A
>damn good and powerful machine.
>
>
>Curt
>
>
>
>Joe wrote:
>
>> FWIW there were two of these for sale at the auction at the Goddard Space
>> Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama this past week. A guy that I know went
>> to the auction and I asked him to try and pick them up for me but I don't
>> know if he did or not. He should be back in a day or two and then I'll
>> know. The point is there's still lots of these old odd machines around if
>> someone is willing to search for them.
>>
>> Joe
>
>
Received on Sat Apr 07 2001 - 10:20:28 BST