What's a Vertra?
Joe
At 10:51 PM 7/3/04 -0700, you wrote:
>need 8 mhz vertra!
>
>Thanks Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC
>
>Please check our web site at
> http://www.smecc.org
>to see other engineering fields, communications and computation stuff we
>buy, and by all means when in Arizona drop in and see us.
>
>address:
>
> coury house / smecc
>5802 w palmaire ave
>glendale az 85301
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Joe R." <rigdonj_at_cfl.rr.com>
>To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
><cctalk_at_classiccmp.org>
>Sent: Friday, July 02, 2004 11:49 AM
>Subject: Re: HP DOS computer selection advice sought
>
>
>> At 09:09 AM 7/2/04 -0500, you wrote:
>> >I have a large multi-tier printer stand on casters that I use for my HP
>> >logic analyzer setup. 1631D analyzer, 9122 dual floppy drive, 2225
>printer,
>> >probe hangers, etc. It's nice to have on that stand because I can roll it
>> >around the work area from system to system easily.
>> >
>> >I would like to put a computer on that stand too, that has HP-IB
>interface
>> >(all the gear above is HP-IB). The primary purpose of the computer is to
>> >interface to the logic analyzer, but I will also use it for interfacing
>to
>> >my Data I/O programmer, various DOS programs like IC stat lookup, etc.
>> >
>> >My problem is I'm not that familiar with HP DOS machines. I have
>particular
>> >requirements for this and I'm not sure what model to look for. Perhaps
>those
>> >familiar with HP's DOS machine lineage can suggest a machine I should
>look
>> >for. Here's the criteria:
>> >
>> >1) It has to be an HP. My TI3100 would look out of place with all the HP
>> >gear on the rack :)
>> >2) It has to allow putting an 8 bit ISA HP-IB card in it (or dare I say
>> >already support HP-IB)
>> >3) It really needs 1mb of RAM for some of the programs I want to run on
>it.
>> >4) DOS version needs to be 5.0 or better, would be nice if I could use
>the
>> >free DR-DOS
>> >5) It would have to have an external serial port
>> >6) I would like to get it on the wireless network. I was thinking of
>using
>> >the zircom parallel port adapter I have, and then getting an ethernet to
>> >wireless bridge. Of course, I have to find DOS TCP/IP drivers for the
>> >zircom, if such a thing exists. I'm open to options here.
>> >7) Vertical space is a premium on the rack, so I would prefer something
>> >without a full-size monitor, preferrably an all-in-one unit rather than
>> >separate cpu, keyboard, monitor, etc.
>> >8) Would need at least 40mb hard disk.
>> >9) Need a somewhat standard size keyboard (this rules out my 200LX).
>> >
>> >So far from my looking around, the HP 110 seems very close to what I'd
>want.
>> >The small vertical height of the screen is a big plus, but, I really have
>to
>> >have 80x24. Plus the 110 seems to be stuck with 256k ram and only DOS
>2.11.
>> >I would LOVE to use my HP-85 for this, but alas, it isn't going to be
>> >running promlink anytime soon. Can anyone suggest a vintage PC machine
>for
>> >this purpose?
>> >
>>
>>
>> Let's see. #2 will require a PC clone and you can't add an ISA card to
>a
>> HP-110 so it's out. #6 rules out things like HP-85s and the like. I can't
>> think of any HP machine that has an intregrated display that also has ISA
>> slots. MY suggestion would be to use an HP Intregral PC! But no wireless
>> networking for that one uneless you can find something that works via the
>> seriel port. Since it's HP-UX you also can't use any programs written for
>> PCs. Another suggestion is a Compaq Portable-III or Portable 386 with the
>> ISA expansion pod on the back but that's not an HP product. The only HP
>> computer that comes close is one of the older Vectras but they use regular
>> CGA/EGA/VGA monitors. You could use one of those with a flat LCD monitor.
>I
>> think $HP $even $makes $them $now. I suppose something like the Omnibook
>> 430 that I just picked up would work if you put the wireless network card
>> and HP-IB in PCMCIA slots but PCMCIA HP_IB interfaces are probably
>> expensive. Have you seen an Omnibook 430? It looks just like a HP-200LX
>> but it's about twice as big so the keyboard and screen have a decent size.
>>
>> If you're interested in an old Vectra, I have one that I'm supposed to
>> pick up later today or tomorrow. It looks like it's in good condition but
>I
>> haven't checked it. They use regular PC type components and they're about
>> 13" square and about 7" tall. It's probably an old 286 12Mhz machine but
>> they work fine. That's what I'm using for my HP HyperViper setup. BTW I do
>> have the CMOS setup disks for them too.
>>
>> Joe
>>
>
>
>
Received on Sun Jul 04 2004 - 06:44:01 BST