[HN Gopher] Vintage HP computer systems
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Vintage HP computer systems
Author : optimalsolver
Score : 42 points
Date : 2021-03-28 08:06 UTC (14 hours ago)
(HTM) web link (groups.io)
(TXT) w3m dump (groups.io)
| GekkePrutser wrote:
| Thanks for the link. I still have two old hp9000s.
| cowmix wrote:
| The HP2000/HP3000 is where where I cut my teeth on developing on
| a timeshare system in the mid 80s. Great systems and they set my
| expectations for what computing should be at an early age.
| markbnj wrote:
| I learned BASIC on an HP3000 circa 1975 or so.
| jhallenworld wrote:
| Same, in junior high school around 1980 (we had some
| DECWriters and a Hazeltine terminal connected to an HP2000
| somewhere). Kids played HP BASIC Star Trek:
|
| https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek_(1971_video_game)
|
| I remember my first program was a slot machine- so I learned
| about generating random integers within a desired range.
| ghaff wrote:
| Same. My high school had a "computer lab" which had a
| teletype with a paper tape punch that communicated over a
| modem to a local community college. Definitely not the norm
| at the time for a high school.
| cromulent wrote:
| We had an HP-150 in 1983, it felt like the future. 3.5" floppy,
| touch screen. Incredible.
|
| Unfortunately it was a loaner from HP and Dad had to give it back
| eventually.
| azinman2 wrote:
| Here's their launch video: https://youtu.be/VrlY-aPOW7E
|
| Aside from the fact that this presenter and presentation is
| almost a stereotype of mac vs pc, it is interesting to see how
| touch was used. There are elements that now look very familiar
| -- PAM being much like the Home Screen of smart phones,
| selecting text, direct manipulation of individual elements...
| but of course it would have been a not super great touch
| experience in both technical capacity to recognize the touch,
| inability to drag (?), and most importantly, gravity working
| against you here. The mouse would soon replace their vision for
| touch and fix all these fundamental problems. Still cool to see
| what they thought was important then: business.
| the_only_law wrote:
| I own a number of prices of vintage/retro HP hardware including
| stuff that was from specific divisions (Agilent, IDACOM). I ended
| up having a number of questions on these things and I'm also in
| need of missing software. I wonder if these sort of things are on
| topic here, even though information on them outside the
| documentation I currently have is a log shot either way.
| tyingq wrote:
| Caused me to search for "IDACOM". The PT500 protocol tester is
| pretty neat. A color screen luggable with seven separate MC68k
| processors, all running FORTH. And pretty cheap ($120+shipping)
| for a used one. https://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Idacom-
| PT500-Protocol-Tester-E40...
|
| Here's the guts: https://imgur.com/a/tz0Y4BZ
|
| Looks like a MVME bus system.
| the_only_law wrote:
| That's exactly what I have :).
|
| Got a really good deal on one with the original carrying case
| manuals and a lot of the software although I'm missing a few
| disks that I want in particular. It also has a CGA video out
| I'm trying to get converted to something like VGA.
|
| There's a company that exists supposedly full of former
| engineers for the company providing support. Or at least I
| should say a website for a company. I tried reaching out to
| them to get some information on the missing software but
| unfortunately didn't hear back. I wouldn't be shocked if it's
| abandoned but I would have imagined their domain / hosting
| expired in that case.
|
| I also made some minor progress on reverse engineering the
| file system used on the floppy disks but haven't done much in
| a while.
| unixhero wrote:
| That was incredibly fascinating. Loved the keyboard.
| smcleod wrote:
| Here's a HP 4951C I had on loan until recently:
| https://smcleod.net/tech/2017/12/27/hp-4951/
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