Classic Computers vs. Classic Computing

From: Douglas Quebbeman <dhquebbeman_at_theestopinalgroup.com>
Date: Fri Sep 14 07:58:56 2001

> What really puts me off emulators is that they're so awfully lame. How can
an
> emulator be lame? Well, it's not as much the emulators as the crowd
> surrounding them. They're usually Win#? kids who know nothing about old
> computers, really don't care, and just want games, games, games, all for
free.

Apples and oranges, Iggy. That's a totally different emulator world
than the one I'm talking about. In the world I'm talking about, I
don't think anyone creating emulators is under 40 years of age
(well, Daniel Seagraves is under 40, I think).

However, MAME32 which I assume is one of the game emulators to
which you're referring, is well-constructed. And since the mainframe
that I'm working to emulate had a vector graphics display as its
system console, rather than reinvent the wheel, I intend on using
the MAME32 codebase to build the CDC 6602/6612 display console
emulator.

This is a serious project that will be able to run all the
operating systems and product set software that the real iron
was running in 1976.

Eventually, it will even have emulated card readers and punches;
a web page will provide the user the ability to create what appear
to be perfect IBM unit-records (punch cards), in the form of an
image, then the punched card will go into a visually-represented
deck. Then, you'll be able to grab the deck with the mouse, with
the pointer changing into a hand, as you drop the deck into the
image of a card reader. The job will then be read by the emulated
mainframe, and processed until completion.

Simulated lineprinters will be constructed using captured images
of the actual "fonts" used by the printer (chain, band, etc). I
may even include an option for greenbar paper.

But ultimately, my underlying motivation is the same as the
"game-kiddi3s" to which you refer: they can't afford the real
thing, and neither can I. If I owned the mainframe of my
choice, running it for a single week could consume my entire
year's salary.

Now, I don't want to dissuade you from your opinion. But I
think perhaps you hadn't thought about emulators in the
broader context to which I'm referring...

Regards,
-dq
Received on Fri Sep 14 2001 - 07:58:56 BST