Thought much into a smaller, more compact version of the 80 - the P70 or 75
portable? They;re also 386DX and can be carried from site to site, used with
it's plasma display or an external VGA monitor, and can use up to a 120mb
ESDI (or SCSI or IDE if you put a small controller card in) and can accept a
regular long 8mb memory card. WAY smaller and easier to work than an 80 and
it can be closed up when not in use. I have mine running Win95 with
Quickbooks 5 for Windows. They go on ebay from $40 to $140 dependant on
included items and come complete with keyboard, video, etc, you normally add
a mouse. They also have a standard paralle port and 25 pin serial (for modem
and printer of course).
I'll be putting mine on ebay this week but I expect to get a lot for it
since it's in collectable condition and I have a carry bag, original mouse,
120mb drive, 16mb ram, external floppy cable, etc and it's in like-new shape
so for a GP machine I wouldn't suggest waiting for it. I've seen a few good
condition machines selling for under $50 but they always have at least 10
bids for them.
Also a model 70 desktop might fit t he bill as a lighter/smaller sub for the
80 - it might actually be a better choice, unless you can locate a 386
version of the model 25 - full vga color and ISA slots, uses about any
HD/controller combo you want to throw in it. All the ones I have left are
8086 and 286, the 286 being DOA for parts.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
[mailto:owner-classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Lawrence Walker
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2001 1:22 PM
To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: OT: Older inventory programs for home computers
Thanks all for the suggestions.
I've decided to go with a spare IBM 8580 I have. They're built like a tank
and
could survive the rigors of a machine shop. Also I don't want to part with a
precious Commodore xx02 monitor. :^)
In looking at the current crop of Shop Management programs they all seem
to be simply upgraded Doze programs using things like Paradox. And also
very expensive. Using the 386 would also expand his options to include an
accounting program, as well as other discontinued business programs with
invoice printing, etc. I have a raft of old W3.1 and Doze software so I have
to
get creative on what I put on it's 2 small ESDE drives, keeping in mind that
he is basicly computer-illiterate and that this is a small, self-supporting
operation out in the boonies. Any guidance would be welcome. Kind of an
"if you were setting up a small business PC in the late 80s what would
you put on it" project.
I find it humorously ironic that I made a decision between machines like
the
C-64 ( around $400) and an 8580 ($10k w/o any peripherals). Kind of a pay-
back for the snub of a Mac salesman in the early 80s who coldly responded
to my questions by quickly moving on to other customers after deciding I
likely didn't have the $3000 outlay for an early Mac. He looked at me as if
I
was diseased. BWAW, HAAW. HAW, HEE HEE.
Lawrence
> Lawrence,
>
> Check out http://www.ia4u.net/~maurice and click on "Software Ordering
> Information". There is a software package for the C64 called "Invoice
> Writer II"
>
> The programmer of this software is also an auto mechanic.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Bryan
>
>
> >
> > A local general purpose mechanic who mainly works on Ski-doos in the
> > winter and pumps and everything else in the summer gave me a complete
> > Adam (!) collecting dust on the shelf, when I told him I collect
computers. He
> > mentioned he could use an old box to keep track of his parts inventory
if I
> > had any spares. I volunteered to supply him with something that would
serve
> > simple needs thinking of everything from a C-64 to an A2 or an XT to a
386 and
> > that there must be 100s of programs that would be available. And no I
don't
> > want to configure a Database program.
> > I did a Google search and found only the newest Gee-Whiz Winblows 9x,
> > 2k, XP, and OSX programs, and while I haven't searched Simtel, out of
> > frustration I've decided to defer to the list about older programs to
track
> > inventory and if it also has billing and labour, so much the better.
> > Any suggestions would be appreciated. It would serve as an example that
> > older machines don't have to be delegated to land-fills. This area is in
> > north- central Manitoba,Canada and not exactly a hotbed of technology.
The
> > temperature at present is -20 C, but the air is breathable.
> >
> > Lawrence
> >
> >
> >
> > Lawrence
> >
> > Reply to:
> > lgwalker_at_mts.net
> >
>
Reply to:
lgwalker_at_mts.net
Received on Mon Dec 31 2001 - 15:25:58 GMT