rarest computers. was: RE: Xerox Alto Restoration + Emulation

From: Ken Kirkby <kenacms_at_ngatoro.six.net.au>
Date: Fri Aug 13 04:41:34 2004

>
> <Can't find the beginning of this thread, so I'm gonna shove my response
> here.>
>
> I've got a few "rare" machines, but they mostly seem to come out of some
> sort of "scientific instrumentation". A vector-based computer that
> processed NMR data - an Aspect 3000, some machines made by Nicolet and
> others, etc.
>
> Some of my favorite "rarer" machines are my General Automation SPC-16/40
> and /45 (which are neither complete nor functional right now ): It was
> a machine targeted where the Data General Nova was targeted (a general
> purpose 16bit machine in the early 70s).

Industrial Electronic Resources in Corona CA still supports the GA's
which are still used in power stations around the world, and in CNC
applications. We support a few customers still with SPC-16/440's.


Ken Kirkby www.plc-peripherals.com
>
> Encore Multimax - a massively SMP UNIX box with NS32332s (or 32232's?)
> that went up to 40 processors and 128MB of memory in the late 80s, and
> ran a Mach-based Unix. I've not yet gotten that up and running, but
> I've got install tapes and documentation for it that the SPC-16s don't.
>
> Another uncommon machine (in model, not in processor architecture) is my
> MicroVAX 3520. I'd love to pick up more processor cards for it at some
> point and see how many I can get it to happily run with.
>
> My favorite machines, though definitely not all that rare are my
> VAX-11/750 (first ...and only for now... UNIBUS machine) and my IBM
> S/390 Gen3 9672-RC4 (which is only 1.5 years away from being "classic"
> by the 10 year rule). As soon as I get more unpacked into my new home,
> I'll have some time to set up my 11/750 and the Multimax to try and
> play with them.
>
> This reminds me I need to get back to updating my website sometime.
>
> Pat
> --
> The Computer Refuge -- http://computer-refuge.org
> Purdue University Research Computing -- http://www.itap.purdue.edu/rcs
>
Received on Fri Aug 13 2004 - 04:41:34 BST

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