kwgst@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Karol Gieszczykiewicz) (12/10/90)
(I posted to sci.electronics and they sent me here. I read some 90+ posts but did not see a mention of "Osborne"...) Greetings. I got 2 osborne 1 computer today ($45 each) and would like to do something useful with them. No, they DO work :-) I just need some info from you guys (and gals). Anyways, there are a few connectors that I would like to know more about: MODEM (9 pin joystick kind) what is this? RS-232 (standard female) how do I control it? IEEE-488 (board edge connector) what is this? controller port? EXTERNAL VIDEO (no idea) Also, it seems to have a custom CPU (most likely of the 65xx origin - uses 6521 for I/O control) Oh, how much memory are we talking here, 32? 48? 64K? (has 3 banks of 8 chips). Also, has a 80 collumn card and a disk drive controller daughter board. The disk controller has 2 connectors, one labeled STANDARD DRIVE and the other, OSBORNE. What density and capacity are standard SS Osborne disk drives? Both of my machines have 2 each. (Someone told me, in sci.electronics, that obtaining a BOOT disk would not be illegal... I don't know so don't flame. I have no docs. whatever) AND FINALLY! I need a BOOT disk! I shows me a nice message and then just gives "BOOT ERROR"s no matter what disk I feed it. Yes, I will pay a symbolic fee for one (if that's required by law ;-) I think a C compiler would be too much to ask.... ? yes? Oh, I got the systems to use as a "smart" security controllers for an office. I want one of them to sense 30 or so sensors (smoke alarms, glass foil, current loads, etc.) and in case anything is abnormal, use a modem and a voice synth (which I have) and have it call our house (or possibly 911...maybe) and give us the news. I've seen it done with an Apple ][+ so I can't see why this won't work. If all else fails, I'll toss the motherboards and put in IBM XT ones in. It just might work..... Take care. Please use e-mail if possible. P.S. I will make the info I recieve archived so in case anyone has/gets one of these, they can have it.