>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Zane H. Healy [mailto:healyzh_at_aracnet.com]
>
>> >-No books. Only one or 2 max complete reference per system.
>> Or then it gets
>> >outta control.
>
>> OK, this one I flat out disagree with!!!! Without
>> documentation an old
>> computer is worthless. (same goes for software) My DEC hardware
>
>I agree, but I read that as "you should only have one or two
>complete system references for any given machine."
>
>More than reasonable, since you should only need one ;)
Let's see, there is the OpenVMS Wall (OK, I confess to having a couple
partial walls I really should get rid of). The RSX-11M Wall, three sets of
RT-11 doc's (V3, V4, and V5), the RSTS/E Wall (missing two books). My
Handbook collection (about three shelves). PDP-8 and a few PDP-10 manuals.
Any and all hardware documentation I can find for DEC hardware, including
Microfiche. Oh, almost forgot Ultrix-11, Ultrix-32m, various Layered
product manuals (for RSX, RT-11, RSTS/E, and of course VMS) and TSX-Plus
doc sets.
Then there is the run of Digital Technical Journal (missing about 3
issues), and all the various 3rd party books on OpenVMS. Oh, and not to
forget the various catalogues.
All, told I'm talking 5-7 bookcases worth of books, of which 2 1/2 are in
the apartment, the rest of which are in storage. Like I said, if it wasn't
for the PDP-11/44 I'd have a LOT more dec doc's than hardware (as it is I
still might).
Of the DEC hardware I have the machines I actually use are a PDP-11/73
(totally souped up), VAXstation 3100 (still haven't moved off of it to a
VS4000, but it's only for the rare instance I want to compile something
under VAX/VMS V5.5-2), DEC PWS 433au (primarily used as a server), a
DECserver 90L+, and three VT420's. I've got ton's of PDP-11 spare parts
(almost a spare for every part I use), and systems (though the /44 is the
only Unibus system). A bunch of extra VAX stuff, and some older Alpha's.
At one point I had a fairly large VMS Cluster setup (though normally only
2-3 systems on). I've since broken it up, in part becuase I don't really
need more than the PWS 433au, and in part thanks to power costs around here
(more than doubled in the last few months). Also, I have a couple x86 PC's
that are used for emulating PDP-10's.
Thankfully I've found myself a very understanding wife, but also I've put
limits on myself. Computer hardware is limited to one room (the exceptions
being a VAX3400 and PDP-8/e used as a tall table next to the Neo Geo
cabinet, that my wife found us, in the dinning room). The rest of it's in
storage. Basically the only thing I'll spend money on any more is Doc's
for my DEC systems (and it's rare I find anything I want or need anymore).
What I want to do is trim my 'home computer' collection of stuff like
Commodore, Amiga, and Apple systems down even more than they already are.
With the DEC stuff I don't have time for them. Once I get it trimmed down,
I'll need to take a careful look and do some slight trimming of the DEC
collection (the biggest thing being all the extra VMS manuals).
Zane
--
| Zane H. Healy | UNIX Systems Administrator |
| healyzh_at_aracnet.com (primary) | OpenVMS Enthusiast |
| | Classic Computer Collector |
+----------------------------------+----------------------------+
| Empire of the Petal Throne and Traveller Role Playing, |
| PDP-10 Emulation and Zane's Computer Museum. |
| http://www.aracnet.com/~healyzh/ |
Received on Tue Feb 05 2002 - 13:11:12 GMT