That's a SEQUEL machine... the last of the Pick machines from
Microdata/McDonnel Douglas Computer Systems... except for the Series 18. The
SEQUEL was a wonderful pick machine, capable of supporting around 120 users
fairly well.
If I wasn't behind the 8-ball cash-wise, I'd grab this system. I wrote a lot
of the 1/2" Mag Tape code on the SEQUEL OS so there's some sentimental value
there. I sure hope someone preserves it.
One word of caution... this machine I believe (like most of the Microdata
line I am sure), had the firmware on a board in the cpu chassis. This
firmware was what translated the missionary (pick virtual assembler)
instructions to native instructions. As a result, the machine is completely
100% useless without that board. It was very common practice in the final
years of MDCS that when a system was decomissioned, the FE was required to
go out and pull the microcode board. They considered the microcode board as
something that was part of your maintenance contract (they retained
ownership of the board), so if you were no longer paying maintenance they
took the board so you couldn't use or resell the system (at least unless you
sold it to someone who put it on maintenance).
There have been a few of these found in the wild with the firmware board
still installed. Anyone wanting to get this system should definitely check
for that board first.
Regards,
Jay West
----- Original Message -----
From: "Al Kossow" <aek_at_spies.com>
To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 01, 2002 5:50 PM
Subject: microdata 9000
>
> the person auctioning the microdata on ebay forwarded a picture to
> me, which i've put up at www.spies.com/aek/microdata
>
> it's a model 9000 with a cipher 880
>
> the auction is
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2057885211
>
---
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Received on Wed Oct 02 2002 - 07:19:00 BST