On Apr 13, 11:12, Jerome Fine wrote:
> Also, I am not surprised, but no one seems to consider software as part
> of their collection. Is it because they are mostly copies that have been
> "acquired" or because software is not really considered collectable by
> most list participants?
> Does anyone on the list run RT-11 still other than Megan Gentry?
Yes, two of my systems run RT-11 (V4.00 and 5.01). One 11/73 normally runs
RSX-11M (4.2). The 11/83 runs BSD 2.11, and an 11/23 runs 7th Edition
UNIX. The Microvax runs VMS, or at least, that's what's on the disks and I
will figure out how to make it do things one day, honest. I also have
various versions of XXDP on 5.25" and 8" floppies, and an RL02 pack.
I'm not quite sure what I have for the VT78 as it's been in storage since I
got it and I can't find the disks right now. David Gesswein has been
helpful in pointing me to some software, and I expect I'll end up
installing something something liek OS/8 or OS/278.
The SGI machines mostly run IRIX 5.3 (one Indy has 6.5), and several of
them have applications software (like MediaMail, Netscape, Acrobat Reader,
..) which I use regularly. One of them is the local mail server and
fileserver, an also acts as a modem server for some home-grown viewdata
software; one manages the print queues. The one with the modem is likely
to have HylaFAX added to it (fax server software). Two of them are the
machines my wife and I use for most day-to-day stuff.
The other machines that get used regularly are an Acorn Archimedes A440,
used as a fax server and DTP machine, using ArcFax and Impression
Publisher, One R260 does a similar job at work, where it's used to print
CD-R labels -- Publisher again -- and also acts as a terminal emulator to
connect to serial ports on hubs and switches.
There's a boring PC that gets used to decode Word documents sometimes, if
the SGIs' can't read them, and occasionally to use Powerpoint, and
sometimes to run some network management software for fun.
The Exidy Sorcerer and one of the BBC Micros are sometimes used for games.
I have a pretty good collection for the Beeb, including classics like
Elite, and Revs; not much for the Sorcerer except Galaxians and Breakout.
Anybody got any Sorcerer software?
One of the Beebs is also used for programming EPROMs, assembling Z-80 code,
and general hackery.
I have quite a lot of software, I suppose (looking at all the disk boxes
around here) but a surprising amount of it is systems software rather than
applications -- most of the useful applications get run on Indys that
aren't yet classic by the 10-year rule. If you want a list of O.S's:
Paradox OS for a 68K machine (eg Sage II)
CP/M for the Amstrad and Acorn Z-80
CP/M-86 for an Apricot which I no longer have
CPN (CP/M-like OS) for the Torch
UCSD p-System for the Apple ][ , Sage II, BBC Micro, and 11/23
RT-11 V2.00, V4.00, and 5.01 for almost any of my -11s
RSX-11M 3.1 and 4.2 for the 11/23 and 11/73, and occasionally the 11/34
XXDP for any of the -11s
DOS 3.3 and PRoDOS for the Apple ][ and //e
RISC OS 2 for the Acorn Archimedes machines
RISC OS 3 for the Acorn Archimedes and R260 machines
Arthur (predecessor of RISC OS) for the Archimedes A310
RISC iX (BSD 4.3, ported) for the R260s
BSD 2.11 for the 11/83
7th Edition for the 11/23 (and for the 11/73 if I rebuild the kernel)
MOS 1.0 for the BBC Micros, plus a couple of modified versions, along with
lots of additonal ROM software
IRIX 5.3, 6.2, and 6.5 for various SGIs
Solaris 2.3 and 2.7 for the Sparcs
DOS 3.30 for the PC used to run 22-DISK etc
DOS 6.2 for other PCs
Windows 2.0, 3.0, 3.11, 95, and NT for PCs (English and German versions)
Mac OS 6.something for the Mac Pluses
Mac OS 7.something for the IIvx
There's obviously a lot more but that's what comes to mind because I use it
"every so often" rather than "once in a blue moon". For example, I have a
licensed copy of RT-EMT which is an RT-11 emulator for Unix (mine was
licensed to run under 7th Edition on the 11/23), but it's not something I
use every day or even every year. 20 years ago it was in regular use.
I also have some "classic" software, like Elite for the Beeb (I still have
over a dozen shrink-wrapped copies), lots more Acorn/BBC software,
HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy for DOS and CP/M-86, ADVENT for RSX and
RT-11, Star Trek for umpteen machines, Galaxians for the Sorcerer, Kermit
for almost everything I own that has a serial port (still extremely
useful), assorted Claris software for the Mac Plus, Impression Publisher
for the Arcs, Netscape (ie, version 1) and Mosaic for the SGIs, and
probably 101 other things I can't think of this late at night :-)
The point, I suppose, is that the hardware is more visible, while most of
the software I use daily isn't exactly part of the "classic" collection.
The software is at least as important, of course, as is the documentation;
it's just less tangible.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
Dept. of Computer Science
University of York
Received on Fri Apr 13 2001 - 18:29:28 BST