jantypas@hope.UUCP (02/24/87)
Does anyone in netland know what type of disks a Dec Rainbow can
read/write? We are doing some software development and need to do it for a
rainbow but have only an AT and Dec Pro350 available. Help!
John Antypas
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decnet: (HELP Dec!)pnessutt@nis.UUCP (02/27/87)
In article <1187@hope.UUCP> jantypas@hope.UUCP (John Antypas) writes: >Does anyone in netland know what type of disks a Dec Rainbow can >read/write? We are doing some software development and need to do it for a >rainbow but have only an AT and Dec Pro350 available. Help! > We have 2 Rainbow's here and we presently use a mixture of 3M RX-50 diskettes and DEC supplied RX-50 diskettes. These diskettes a bit more expensive than normal DSDD diskettes but they are reliable. The only notable problem we have faced with them is that they have no hub ring and this causes them to get beat up a bit if your drives are flaky. We have also used normal DSDD diskettes but usually only 3M's. Many of the other brands we have tryed (except Fuji but you don't find those around much anymore) tend not to be too reliable. The Rainbow's drives are noisy, arn't they? (I imagine you'd be noise too if you had one R/W head that had to be shared between two single sided diskettes) Hope this helps. -Bob -- Robert A. Monio UUCP: ihnp4!meccts!nis!pnessutt Systems/Analyst - Technical Services ATT: (612) 894-9494 National Information Systems, Inc. "These Proceedings are Closed!"
myers@andromeda.UUCP (03/04/87)
In article <1187@hope.UUCP> jantypas@hope.UUCP (John Antypas) writes: >Does anyone in netland know what type of disks a Dec Rainbow can >read/write? We are doing some software development and need to do it for a >rainbow but have only an AT and Dec Pro350 available. Help! > >John Antypas I had a lot of problems with that one myself... I was using standard Double Sided/Double Density diskettes without to much of a problem but I found out that the Rainbow uses a Single Sided/Quad Density diskette that is specially preformatted for the RX-50 Disk Drive... They're not too hard to find but they can be costly... Best bet is to call one of the Dec Fido BBS's and ask the Sysop where you could get them cheap... I hope this helped.. Scott R. Myers Reach Out and Touch Someone... ------------------------------ myers@andromeda.rutgers.edu or myers@aim.rutgers.edu
dutler@ihuxz.UUCP (03/04/87)
> I had a lot of problems with that one myself... I was using standard Double > Sided/Double Density diskettes without to much of a problem but I found out > that the Rainbow uses a Single Sided/Quad Density diskette that is specially > preformatted for the RX-50 Disk Drive... They're not too hard to find but > myers@andromeda.rutgers.edu I have been using a Rainbow for 4 years now and I have a mix of double and quad density disks. The quad disks I purchase before the formatter was available for the Rainbow. The formatter came out for the Rainbow in version 2.05 and later of MS-DOS. I now only purchase double sided double density disks and have had no problems at all. The only disk related problem for the Rainbow is that some manufacturers put an extra thick reinforcing ring on the hub that can cause damage to the RX50 drive in the Rainbow. Off hand, I can't think of what brands do this, but a safe disk to use is Maxell. I have been able to get them for a reasonable price and have never had one fail. I don't have any connection with Maxell and you can buy whatever you like, just a suggestion. How about it Rainbow users, any particular brands of disks that cause the RX50 to fail? -- Stan Dutler There ya go man, Keep as cool as ya can ..ihnp4!ihuxz!dutler Face piles of trials with smiles
campbell@maynard.UUCP (03/05/87)
In article <262@andromeda.UUCP> myers@andromeda.UUCP (Scott R Myers) writes: >... the Rainbow uses a Single Sided/Quad Density diskette that is specially >preformatted for the RX-50 Disk Drive... They're not too hard to finneed to buy special quad-density disks. The Rainbow is perfectly capable of formatting diskettes, and even though it records at 96 TPI, you can use ordinary SSDD (or DSDD) diskettes as long as they're of good quality. For a long time I used el cheapo no-name SSDD diskettes we got for about 27 cents each. About 5% of them were unusable. I got tired of that and switched to Polaroid DSDD diskettes, for about 53 cents each. They have worked perfectly - I've never had a bad one. There are several other DEC products that use RX50 diskettes as well, including the MicroVAX, Micro-PDP11, Pro, and DECmate. I think only the Rainbow can format them, though, so if you have a Rainbow you might hang on to it just so you can format cheap diskettes for your other machines. -- Larry Campbell The Boston Software Works, Inc. Internet: campbell@maynard.uucp 120 Fulton Street, Boston MA 02109 uucp: {alliant,wjh12}!maynard!campbell +1 617 367 6846 ARPA: campbell%maynard.uucp@harvisr.harvard.edu MCI: LCAMPBELL
davidsen@steinmetz.steinmetz.UUCP (William E. Davidsen Jr) (03/05/87)
In article <1907@ihuxz.ATT.COM> dutler@ihuxz.ATT.COM (Dutler) writes: > >I have been using a Rainbow for 4 years now and I have a mix of double >and quad density disks. The quad disks I purchase before the formatter >was available for the Rainbow. The formatter came out for the Rainbow >in version 2.05 and later of MS-DOS. I now only purchase double sided >double density disks and have had no problems at all. The only disk I have a feeling you're wasting your money. All of the Ranbows we have here (100A, 100B, 100+) use DEC drives which are SINGLE-side quad density. If you want to risk using double density it's your decision, but SSDD disks are somwhat cheaper and should work exactly as well. -- bill davidsen sixhub \ ihnp4!seismo!rochester!steinmetz -> crdos1!davidsen chinet / ARPA: davidsen%crdos1.uucp@ge-crd.ARPA (or davidsen@ge-crd.ARPA)
jeff@ingr.com (Jeff Kilpatrick) (02/22/89)
I just read an article in Digital Review where DEC has slashed prices on their Rainbows, model PC100, and Professional 350. I understand the latter machine runs RSX11M+ and the previous runs DOS. Anyone know if these machines have expansion slots? If so, is it an IBM PC type or DEC proprietary(sp?)? Does it come with support for a serial printer? Any recommendations for using one as a home computer? Thanks in advance.
aad@stpstn.UUCP (Anthony A. Datri) (02/22/89)
In article <4028@ingr.com> jeff@ingr.com (Jeff Kilpatrick) writes: >their Rainbows, model PC100, and Professional 350. I understand the latter >machine runs RSX11M+ and the previous runs DOS. Anyone know if these >machines have expansion slots? If so, is it an IBM PC type or DEC >proprietary(sp?)? Does it come with support for a serial printer? Any >recommendations for using one as a home computer? As I understand it, DEC doesn't make either of those any more, but makes pro 380's to use as consoles for big vaxes. The rainbow is an MS-DOS or CPM machine, but *not* pc compatible. 400k rx50 floppy drives. There are variants like "A", "B", and "+", but I don't know the differences. The Pro 350 is basically a PDP 11/23 in a box that looks like a stretched rainbow. The Rainbow comes with a serial port -- in fact, you can use it as a vt102 without even booting an operating system. -- @disclaimer(Any concepts or opinions above are entirely mine, not those of my employer, my GIGI, my VT05, or my 11/34) beak is@>beak is not Anthony A. Datri @SysAdmin(Stepstone Corporation) aad@stepstone.com stpstn!aad
davidsen@steinmetz.ge.com (William E. Davidsen Jr) (02/24/89)
In article <4028@ingr.com> jeff@ingr.com (Jeff Kilpatrick) writes: | | I just read an article in Digital Review where DEC has slashed prices on | their Rainbows, model PC100, and Professional 350. I understand the latter | machine runs RSX11M+ and the previous runs DOS. Anyone know if these machines | have expansion slots? Totally non-compatible with PC. The Rainbow has a Z80 and 8088, and can run CP/M-80, CP/M-86, CCPM and MS-DOS thru 2.1. There is one expansion connector, not compatible with anything else. If you want a really neat machine to hack and as a controller, get a Rainbow and CP/M-86. The Z80 runs the disk and the 8088 runs the serial port, and you can do some real learning about parallel processing and real time using one of these boxes. They are also a vt-100 terminal, which makes them worth about $200. I learned a lot from these, and I almost hacked PC/ix (SysIII for 8088) to run on it. The Pro-350 is an LSI-11, or 11/23, or some such. It does run RSX11M+, and I'm told that you can get (could get?) UNIX for it, either V7 or SysIII. Another nice box to hack with! I wouldn't consider either of these for anything other than hacking, but the Rainbow running CP/M-86 is a great place to learn about assembler and debugging. For hacking I highly recommend it! -- bill davidsen (wedu@ge-crd.arpa) {uunet | philabs}!steinmetz!crdos1!davidsen "Stupidity, like virtue, is its own reward" -me
tjc@mbunix.mitre.org (Tom J. Colley) (02/24/89)
In article <4028@ingr.com> jeff@ingr.com (Jeff Kilpatrick) writes: > > I just read an article in Digital Review where DEC has slashed prices on >their Rainbows, model PC100, and Professional 350. I understand the latter >machine runs RSX11M+ and the previous runs DOS. Anyone know if these machines >have expansion slots? If so, is it an IBM PC type or DEC proprietary(sp?)? >Does it come with support for a serial printer? Any recommendations for using >one as a home computer? > >Thanks in advance. Jeff, Get this: I own a DEC Rainbow--no, make that two Rainbows. One is a 100A and the other a 100B. Currently, one sits unused, and so does the other! The 100B has 768KB RAM and a 5MB hard disk and the standard two RX50 disk drives. The other has 256KB RAM and the RX50s. True, it can run CP/M and DOS, but I'd be real surprised if anyone has released software for it in 4 or 5 years. It is not IBM compatible in the least. There are two 'slots' you can expand into. One is for the hard disk or extended comm option. The other is for the graphics option. I have documentation for the 100A but never bothered to get the massive three binders for the 100B. In one of the binders is some documentation on the slot for the graphics opt. I have not used either system because of the lack of modern software and compatibility with everyone else. If you indeed are interested in purchasing one, I'll sell you two. Actually I'll unload the 100B with hard disk and 512KB RAM and all the software I have and all the documentation for $999.95 I honestly think that this is way too much for a used DEC Rainbow, but in the local swap sheet, people are asking for $1500 for a 128KB, no hard disk system (I feel for the people who buy them). Incidentally, I used to do some repair work for the CS department at the alma matter. DEC went overboard with service charges, so I volunteered to fix them. It was very nearly a full time job. They were very susceptable to bad connections, and the RX50s fail quickly (and are annoyingly noisy). Now it would seem that I think the things are junk. Well...I did get quite a bit of enjoyment from these machines three years ago, and they were state of the art the day they were released (two processors, CP/M AND MS-DOS, vt100,...). And by the way, two serial ports. One labeled COMM and the other PRINTER. Tom P.S. anyone interested in buying the gem, e-mail your bid! Sorry if I insulted any Rainbow power users :-)
shevett@mccc.UUCP (Dave Shevett) (02/26/89)
In article <13238@steinmetz.ge.com> davidsen@crdos1.UUCP (bill davidsen) writes: >In article <4028@ingr.com> jeff@ingr.com (Jeff Kilpatrick) writes: >| ... I understand the latter >| machine runs RSX11M+ and the previous runs DOS. Anyone know if these machines >| have expansion slots? The Rainbow was expandable, but only with Rainbow cards. The cards cost an arm and a leg, and are WAY overpriced... (something like 600 bucks for a HD controller). >They are also a vt-100 terminal, which makes >them worth about $200. I learned a lot from these, and I almost hacked This is arguable. The Vt??? emulation on the Rainbow is yucky at best. There is not file functions you would hope for from a PC based terminal. Better to run out and get a real vt100 for $150. > > The Pro-350 is an LSI-11, or 11/23, or some such. It does run RSX11M+, >and I'm told that you can get (could get?) UNIX for it, either V7 or >SysIII. Another nice box to hack with! The Pro can run Pro/VENIX, a derivative of V7 Unix. (I think). It's got all sorts of extenstions to make it usable for Real-Time functions. It goes for about a grand, but (big but) - most pro's were distributed with teeny hard drives (ala RD50 (5 meg), RD51, (10 meg), and if your lucky, and RD52, (32 meg). ) Try shoehorning a comfortable Unix system into this and you'll run into problems. Also, the pro has 2 (count 'em 2) serial ports than Venix will turn into terminals, and THATS IT. There is a port expander system for the beast, but just try finding one with a price tag less than a mortgage. +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | Dave Shevett ~----------------------~ Labyrinth II BBS | | W. Trenton, NJ | Have you made your | ...!mccc!labii!shevett | | (609) 883-9352 | saving throw today? | -------------------- | | 1200/2400 ~----------------------~ 3b1ish and proud of it | +----------------------------------------------------------------+
avatar@pnet51.orb.mn.org (Timothy Fay) (07/05/90)
I recently acquired (very cheaply!) a DEC Rainbow PC, and I'm looking
for some software for it. Nothing elaborate, just the basics: A word
processor, perhaps a communications program, maybe a few games (its a
gift for someone who wants to learn how to use computers). DEC has not
been very helpful, so any assistance you netters can give would be
greatly appreciated. Please e-mail responses to the address, below.
Thanks in advance!
UUCP: {uunet!rosevax, amdahl!bungia, chinet, killer}!orbit!pnet51!avatar
INET: avatar@pnet51.cts.com, avatar@pnet51.orb.mn.org
=============================
"If civilization owes a debt of gratitude to the self-sacrificing sports-
men who have cleared the Adirondack region of Catamounts and savage trout,
what shall be said of the army which has so nobly relieved them of the
terror of the deer?" -Charles Dudley Warneravatar@pnet51.orb.mn.org (Timothy Fay) (07/06/90)
Sorry about the multiple copies of the original article. There must be
something wrong with either Orbit or P-Net51.
UUCP: {uunet!rosevax, amdahl!bungia, chinet, killer}!orbit!pnet51!avatar
INET: avatar@pnet51.cts.com, avatar@pnet51.orb.mn.org
=============================
"If civilization owes a debt of gratitude to the self-sacrificing sports-
men who have cleared the Adirondack region of Catamounts and savage trout,
what shall be said of the army which has so nobly relieved them of the
terror of the deer?" -Charles Dudley Warnerdavid@oldcolo.UUCP (David Hughes Jr) (07/12/90)
Dec Won't be very helpful on that. They left all their Rainbow users lost in space when they discontinued the 'bow. You will need LCTERM (terminal program, tho there are others). And a list of DEC BBS' (Fido type) where you can go grab other things you need. You can call my BBS for a listing of those DEC rtelated BBS", in the COMMUNICATIONS area. 719-632-2657 - BBS david