"Rare" DEC finds in Montreal...?

From: Doc Shipley <doc_at_mdrconsult.com>
Date: Sat Jul 13 15:44:01 2002

On Sat, 13 Jul 2002, Claude.W wrote:

> I dont think the models and equipement are rare, but getting any kinda DEC
> stuff up here in Montreal, for free, in perfect cosmetic and working
> condition with tons of software is rare...for me anyways...I guess the trick
> was tracking down some older ex DEC employees around here...
>
> Vaxstation 4000 VLC
> Vaxstation 4000 - 60
> Storage Expansion with tape drive
> DEC mouse
> VRT19-HA monitor
> and a few cables...
>
> No missing parts, no cracks, no broken doors...

  Sweet! The VS4000/60 will usually sell for well over $100 US on eBay,
if it has any add-on RAM (8M on-board) and drives at all. Very spiffy
box. The VRT-19 is a pretty nice display too.
  The Storage Expansion boxes are good-looking, but suck up a lot of
power, and mine is really noisy. If the VS4000/60 has the CD/tape sled
I'd mount the tape drive internally. Actually, first, after cleaning &
inspection, but before changing any SCSI IDs, I'd hook the expansion box
up to the /60 and see what boots. Then hook it to the VLC & do the
same.
  I just picked up a 4000vlc last week (the guy at Goodwill was pretty
contemptuous of "that old terminal" and sold me the VLC, a VT320, and an
LK402 keyboard for $5) It's not as fast as the /60, and according to
DEC spec will only take 24M of memory, but it does take regular 36-bit
(parity) 4MB SIMMs. It's also got a rep for being darn picky about hard
drives. NetBSD labelled and partitioned a Seagate OEM 2G just fine, so
I think the pickiness is more VMS than VLC. Voh-doh-di-oh. :)

> And the guys says : oh!....I have more DEC...way more at one of my houses if
> you are interested...! I guess I might be...

  Yep. You're bitten. You might as well go rent another storage barn
now. You should also explain to your family that you'll be preoccupied
and mentally absent for the next few years.


        Doc
Received on Sat Jul 13 2002 - 15:44:01 BST