Beige-o-VisionThis is the first in a series of four videos showing how to build a PiDP-11 kit. The PiDP-11 emulates the experience of running a 1970s mini-computer. In the first video we'll talk about the original PDP-11/70 this kit emulates. We'll also start the preparation work for the project.
- Part 2 will cover soldering the small passive component and LEDs. - Part 3 will cover the switches and active components. - Part 4 finishes the assembly and tests it all out.
Acknowledgements: This video was made in association with The National Museum of Computing (www.tnmoc.org). Many of the machines shown are from the museum's collection. Please help support their great work, and go for a visit.
Images Credits: Commodore Pet by Marcin Wichary [CC], via Wikimedia Commons Apple ][ Plus by Kozan [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Ken Thompson and Dennis Richie at a PDP-11, by Peter Hamer [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons A PDP-11 at NASA, by NASA [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
PiDP11 Kit Build - Part 1 (of 4)Beige-o-Vision2019-04-14 | This is the first in a series of four videos showing how to build a PiDP-11 kit. The PiDP-11 emulates the experience of running a 1970s mini-computer. In the first video we'll talk about the original PDP-11/70 this kit emulates. We'll also start the preparation work for the project.
- Part 2 will cover soldering the small passive component and LEDs. - Part 3 will cover the switches and active components. - Part 4 finishes the assembly and tests it all out.
Acknowledgements: This video was made in association with The National Museum of Computing (www.tnmoc.org). Many of the machines shown are from the museum's collection. Please help support their great work, and go for a visit.
Images Credits: Commodore Pet by Marcin Wichary [CC], via Wikimedia Commons Apple ][ Plus by Kozan [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Ken Thompson and Dennis Richie at a PDP-11, by Peter Hamer [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons A PDP-11 at NASA, by NASA [Public domain], via Wikimedia CommonsDeeper into the HP 9845: Design and InternalsBeige-o-Vision2022-01-01 | We go under the covers to see how HP assembled its early workstation the 9845B. We’ll be looking at the assemblies and talking about the processor and some of the other innovations.
Additional Information: - HP9845.net: The authoritative web resource - Hpmuseum.net: The standard reference for HP computing history
Acknowledgements: This video was made possible by with assistance from the National Museum of Computing (www.tnmoc.org).
Photo Credits: - "World Map" by Just Because iCan via Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0 - “Bill Eads,” Hewlett-Packard Journal, April 1978, page 11, (c) Hewlett Packard (fair use) - “Jack Walden,” Hewlett-Packard Journal, April 1978, page 11, (c) Hewlett Packard (fair use) - “QIC Tape” by Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - “IBM 5100” by Sandstein, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - “HP 9815A” by Florian Schaffer, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons - “DEC TU56” by ndiggity, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - Cover, Hewlett Packard Journal, (c) April 1978 Hewlett Packard (fair use) - "Advanced Thermal Page Printer Has High-Resolution Graphics Capabilities" by Ray J. Cozzens, Hewlett Packard Journal, (c) April 1978 Hewlett Packard (fair use)
Music: - “Komputo” by Francis Preve from the YouTube Audio Library
Check out updates and still photos from our other feeds: - Facebook @beigeOvision facebook.com/beigeOvision - Instagram instagram.com/beigeovisionIntroducing the HP 9845: An Early WorkstationBeige-o-Vision2021-12-25 | In this video, we look one of the most exotic desktops of its day. The Hewlett Packard 9845 was a minicomputer shoehorned onto a desktop with a bunch of dedicated peripheral thrown in. This is an introduction to one of the coolest vintage computers we know.
Additional Information: - HP9845.net: The authoritative web resource - Hpmuseum.net: The standard reference for HP computing history
Acknowledgements: This video was made possible by with assistance from the National Museum of Computing (www.tnmoc.org).
Photo credits: - “The Sharp MZ-80K has got it all,” Byte Magazine, Nov. 1981, page 97, (c) 1981, Byte Magazine and Sharp, Inc. - “Learn how to use a computer for $249. And keep the computer,” Byte Magazine, June 1981, page 137, (c)1981, Byte Magazine and Sinclair Research - “Meet the HP Series 80,” Byte Magazine, June 1981, page 57, (c)1981 Byte Magazine and Hewlett Packard - Cover, Hewlett-Packard Journal, April 1978, (c)1978, Hewlett Packard - “The New Series 9800 System 45,” Hewlett Packard Journal, April 1978, Page 3, (c)1978 Hewlett Packard - Cover, Hewlett Packard Journal, December 1972, (c)1972, Hewlett Packard - “HP 9830A” by Hydrargyrum, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons - “IBM 5100” by Sandstein, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons - “WANG 2200” by StenSoft, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - “Louis T. Shulte,” Hewlett Packard Journal, page 11, April 1978, (c)1978 Hewlett Packard - “Ansel K. Vogen,” Hewlett Packard Journal, page 11, April 1978, (c)1978 Hewlett Packard - “John C. Keith” Hewlett Packard Journal, page 11, April 1978, (c)1978 Hewlett Packard - Keith, John. C, Schultz, Louis T. And Vogel, Angel K., “System 45 Hardware Design”, Hewlett-Packard Journal, April 1978, page 11, (c)1978 Hewlett Packard - “1974 Chevy Malibu,” by Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons - “1980 Chevy Malibu,” by dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons - “1980 Chevy C10,” by Riley from Christchurch, New Zealand, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons - “Orion Brochure,” (c) 1982 Highlevel Computing Hardware - “Symbolics 3640,” by Michael L. Umbricht and Carl R. Friend Retro-Computing Society of RI CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - “XEROX Star 8020,” by vonguard CC BY-SA 2.0 cvia Wikimedia Commons - “XEROX Alto,” by Carlo Nardone from Roma, Italy CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Music: - “Komputo” by Francis Preve from the YouTube Audio Library
Check out updates and still photos from our other feeds: - Facebook @beigeOvision facebook.com/beigeOvision - Instagram instagram.com/beigeovisionA Look at HP’s Real-Time ExecutiveBeige-o-Vision2020-09-25 | A look at HP’s Real-Time Executive -- their minicomputer operating system for the 1000 Series computers. We’ll talk about how it came to be written, look at it’s history and then do a basic demonstration of what it’s like to use. The example system is the last version of RTE-A, running on an HP 1000 A600+.
This is a long video so here are some links to jump around to different topics:
Music: - “Sea Breeze Loop” by Joel Thomas Hunger, Zec Music Ltd, Licensed through StoryBlocks - “Komputo” by Francis Preve from the YouTube Audio Library
References: ------------------- - “Lord, what’s software?”, *MEASURE,* January 1969 - Anzinger, G.A. and Gadol, A.M., "A Real-Time Operating System with Multi-Terminal and Batch/Spool Capabilities," *Hewlett-Packard Journal,* December 1975 - Snow, David L. and Hahn, Kathleen F., “HP 1000 Operating System ls Enhanced Real-Time Executive,” *Hewlett-Packard Journal,* March 1977 - *Real-Time Software: A Reference Text for Programmers,* Fourth Ed., HP 02116-9139, 1970 - Diehl, Van and Fox, Kenneth A., “Introduction to Real-Time Operating Systems,” *Hewlett-Packard Journal,* December 1975 - *Hewlett Packard [catalogue]: 1969 Electronic for Measurement, Analysis, Computation, Science,* Industry, Education, Hewlett Packard, 1969 - *Hewlett Packard [catalogue]: 1970 Electronic for Measurement, Analysis, Computation, Science,* Hewlett Packard, 1969
Check out updates and still photos from my other feeds: - Facebook @beigeOvision facebook.com/beigeOvision - Instagram instagram.com/beigeovisionHP 1000 A600+ Vintage Minicomputer IntroductionBeige-o-Vision2020-07-28 | This is an introduction to the HP 1000 A-Series computers starting with one of the last of the series -- the A600+. It’s a 16-bit minicomputer from a long live family. We’ll have a quick look at the system and how it’s put together and what it’s for.
Photo Credits: - Telecom tower - "DSC00203.JPG" by Photo-matt is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 - SES ASTRA Ground Station by MrOrangeflower is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 - Atmosphere Conditioner by byzantiumbooks is licensed under CC BY 2.0 - CSIRO ScienceImage 11137 Equipment at SynCat CSIROs Synfuel and Catalysis Research Facility by Darryl Peroni, CSIRO is licensed under CC BY 3.0 - Dipole test rigs by Victor Engmark is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 - 140-foot Control Room Upgrade by greenbankobservatory is licensed underCC BY-NC-ND 2.0 - Inverkip Control Room by _gee_ is licensed under CC BY 2.0 - Am2900 by Konstantin Lanze CC BY-SA
HP performance data: - RTE-A Performance Brief A ~Series Automaters 5954-8733 June 1985 - MIPS - HP 1000 A-Series Computer Handbook 5954-8590 Dec 1989HP 85A: Power Supply RepairBeige-o-Vision2019-09-22 | This is our second video on the HP 85A. This time we work on repairing its power supply. Props to CuriousMarc who's done the subject better -- but we had to fix this one anyway. So hey, excuse for a video right?
Music Credit: "Tomcat," Jason Donnelly (via Story Blocks)HP 85A: A technical introductionBeige-o-Vision2019-08-27 | This is a tour of the HP 85A desktop computer. It's the first in a short series looking the 85A, how to use and repair it. Props to CuriousMarc who's done the subject better -- but we had to fix this one anyway. So hey, excuse for a video right?
Photo Credits: HP 9830A - Hydrargyrum, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons MOS 6502 -- Dirk Oppelt, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons Sinclair Spectrum Printer -- Jbattersby [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons
Music Credit: "Campus Life," Bruce Zimmerman (via Story Blocks)NEC Versa V/50 Laptop Computer Technical Tour and TeardownBeige-o-Vision2019-06-22 | This is a tour and teardown of the NEC Versa V/50 Laptop. This is a classic 486 notebook built to rock Windows 3.1. We'll talk about its history and look in detail at how it's built.
Photo Credits: NEC 2203 -- Don Debold 2011 (CreativeCommons v2.0) Western Electric Model 21 - Daderot (CreativeCommons) NEC 9801RX PC -- Flickr user - htomari (CreativeCommons v2.0) NEC Earth Simulator -- Manatee_tw -- (CreativeCommons v4.0)IBM PC110 Palm Top Technical Tour and TeardownBeige-o-Vision2019-06-10 | This is a tour and teardown of the IBM PC100 Palm Top / Laptop. It’s a little engineering gem. Built like a like a camcorder, it squeezes a full PC into a tiny brick.
Photo Credits: Atari Portfolio by Evan-Amos, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons Sharp PC-3000 by 59bassman, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Zeos Pocket PC by: I, DeeperThought, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons HP 95LX by W. T. Shymanski, Public domain via Wikimedia CommonsRoad Trip to the Living Computers: Museums + LabsBeige-o-Vision2019-05-28 | Beige-O-Vision continues its roadtrip. This time we're visiting the Living Computers: Museum and Labs, in Seattle, Washington USA.
Check out our other social media accounts: - Instagram feed at instagram.com/beigeovision - Facebook feed at instagram.com/beigeOvisionRoad Trip to the Large Scale Systems MuseumBeige-o-Vision2019-05-12 | Beige-O-Vision gallops through the galleries of the Large Scale Systems Museum in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. We'd like to thank Dave McGuire and the rest of the LSSM team for a very warm welcome. This first video is just a taster of what the LSSM offers.
Check out our other social media accounts: - Instagram feed at instagram.com/beigeovision - Facebook feed at instagram.com/beigeOvisionPiDP11 Kit Build - Part 4 (of 4)Beige-o-Vision2019-05-07 | This is the final part of the our series of four videos showing how to build a PiDP-11 kit. The PiDP-11 emulates the experience of running a 1970s mini-computer. The final complete's the build and walks through a basic functional test.
- Part 1 covered the original PDP-11/70 this kit emulates. We'll also start the preparation work for the project. - Part 2 covered soldering the small passive component and LEDs. - Part 3 covered the switches and active components.
Check out our other social media accounts: - Instagram feed at instagram.com/beigeovision - Facebook feed at instagram.com/beigeOvisionPiDP11 Kit Build - Part 3 (of 4)Beige-o-Vision2019-04-28 | This is the third in a series of four videos showing how to build a PiDP-11 kit. The PiDP-11 emulates the experience of running a 1970s mini-computer. The third video walks through finishing the kit's soldering.
*Note, I've got the instructions backward at 1:38. First switch I put in goes down, the second switch goes up. However, the first from left goes up. This might just confuse some folks.
- Part 1 covered the original PDP-11/70 this kit emulates. We'll also start the preparation work for the project. - Part 2 covered soldering the small passive component and LEDs. - Part 4 finishes the assembly and tests it all out.
Check out our other social media accounts: - Instagram feed at instagram.com/beigeovision - Facebook feed at instagram.com/beigeOvisionPiDP11 Kit Build - Part 2 (of 4)Beige-o-Vision2019-04-27 | This is the second in a series of four videos showing how to build a PiDP-11 kit. The PiDP-11 emulates the experience of running a 1970s mini-computer. The second video walks through soldering the kits small components.
- Part 1 covered the original PDP-11/70 this kit emulates. We'll also start the preparation work for the project. - Part 3 will cover the switches and active components. - Part 4 finishes the assembly and tests it all out.
Check out our other social media accounts: - Instagram feed at instagram.com/beigeovision - Facebook feed at instagram.com/beigeOvisionToshiba 610CT Portege Technical Tour and TeardownBeige-o-Vision2019-03-17 | This is a tour and #teardown of the Toshiba 610CT Portege. It’s a little engineering gem of a vintage laptop, not unlike the one in my first teardown (youtu.be/ulYT60wqu5o). In 1995 it shoved one of the first Pentiums into a sub-notebook box.
Photo Credits: Toshiba 2150 by Aschroet [CC0] via Wikimedia CommonsHP Omnibook 800CT Vintage Computer Technical Tour and TeardownBeige-o-Vision2019-03-03 | This is a technical tour and #teardown of the unusual HP 800CT vintage laptop. I'd forgotten I even had the thing until recently. Now I've dug it out, dusted it off, and done a video to share with you. The machine dates from 1996. It's remembered, for its pop-out mouse. It was part of the sub-notebook market segment. Let see if there's any life left in it, and perhaps find out how it's put together.
3 Places F (dividing factor) = 3375 W (working estimate) = 3.141 Time = 52.330 secondsVintage Computer Racing: Leibnitz Pi Estimation: Elliott 903 FAILED RunBeige-o-Vision2017-05-16 | Race 1. Leibnitz Pi Estimation, run on an Elliott 903 using BASIC. -- FAILED
Had problems recording this one, but thought I'd share it anyway as there were a couple of folks interested to see it.
2 Places F (dividing factor) = 237 W (working estimate) = 3.15 -- wrong! Time = 62.160 secondsVintage Computer Racing: Leibnitz Pi Estimation: Psion 3ABeige-o-Vision2017-05-15 | Race 1. Leibnitz Pi Estimation, run on an Psion 3a using OPL.
4 Places F (dividing factor) = 21587 W (working estimate) = 3.14150000952847 Time = 66.200 seconds
Program Listing ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: PROC leibn: LOCAL w, f, t, p, st, se, e w = 0.0 f = 1.0 PRINT “Number of places? “, INPUT t s = 10**t p = int(3.14159265359*s) PRINT “Calculating Pi to “,t,” places” st = MINUTE * 60 + SECOND w=w+4.0/f WHILE 1 f = f + 2 w = w - 4.0 / f IF int( w * s) = p break ENDIF f = f + 2 w = w + 4.0 / f IF int( w * s ) = p break ENDIF WENDWH
finish:: e = MINUTE * 60 + SECOND – st PRINT “Done. “, e,” seconds “, int(f),w GET ENDP ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Vintage Computer Racing: Race 1 - Leibnitz Pi EstimationBeige-o-Vision2017-05-14 | Come one, come all! Submit your race entries in a vintage computer race.
Our first race! This one's a bit like a stock car race. You're going to go round and round in circles. Estimate Pi using a Leibnitz series. Here's some background: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leibniz_formula_for_π
Compete by choosing the number of digits of precision you can estimate Pi to in 5-minutes, using this method. The series converges. You reach the finish when you match your digits. For instance, the first time you return a number containing 3.14 you complete two places.
Link or embed a video here or against the YouTube site. Provide: A. Value of the divisor at the end of your lap B. The full value of your working estimate at the end of your lap C. Your time, either taken internally or from video timecode D. Your program listing
We'll report entries by based on the system type, and code language. The results will be reported straight and leveled for clockrate.
Here are some sample programs you can just cut and paste. Remember BASIC has lots of subtle dialects, with different default numeric types.
PYTHON: # * Sample implementation of Leibnitz Series Pi Estimation # - Change starting value of 't' to set target places # * Variables # - 'w' is the current value of the working estimate # - 'f' is the current value of the incrementing factor # - 'p' is the Pi based comparitor (left shifted) # - 's' is the shifting factor # - 'two' is a float containing 2 # - 'four' is a float containing 4 import math import time
t = 3 w = float(0.0) f = float(1.0) s = pow(10,t) p = math.floor(math.pi * s) two = float(2.0) four = float(4.0)
start_time = time.time()
print("Calculating Pi to "+str(t)+" places ")
w = w + four / f
# * /OPTIONAL/ Running output showing current state of the calculation print(str(f) + " " + str(w)) # To disable comment the previous line or delete all three.
while( True ): f = f + two w = w - four / f
# * /OPTIONAL/ Running output showing current state of the calculation print(str(f) + " " + str(w)) # To disable comment the previous line or delete all three.
if math.floor(w*s) == p: break
f = f + two w = w + four / f
# * /OPTIONAL/ Running output showing current state of the calculation print(str(f) + " " + str(w) ) # To disable comment the previous line or delete all three.
BASIC SAMPLE 1 REM * SAMPLE LEIBNITZ SERIES PI ESTIMATION 2 REM - CHANGE LINE 40 TO SELECT TARGET PRECISION 3 REM * VARIABLES 4 REM - W IS THE WORKING VALUE OR CURRENT ESTIMATE 5 REM - F IS THE FACTOR BEING INCREASED BY TWO 6 REM - P IS A STATIC VARIABLE CONTAINING PI 7 REM - T IS THE TARGET DIGITS OF PRECISION 8 REM - S IS THE SHIFT FOR COMPARISON 10 LET W=0.0 20 LET F=1.0 40 LET T=3 50 LET S=10^T 50 LET P=INT(3.141592653589793*S) 60 PRINT "CALCULATING PI TO "T" PLACES" 70 LET W=W+4.0/F 71 REM * /OPTIONAL/ RUNNING OUTPUT SHOWING THE CALCULATION STATE 72 PRINT F" "W" "P 73 REM COMMENT LINE 72 OR DELETE 71-73 IF OUTPUT IS NOT REQUIRED 80 LET F=F+2.0 90 LET W=W-4.0/F 91 REM * /OPTIONAL/ RUNNING OUTPUT SHOWING THE CALCULATION STATE 92 PRINT F" "W" "P 93 REM * COMMENT LINE 92 OR DELETE 91-93 IF OUTPUT NOT REQUIRED 100 IF INT(W*S)=P THEN GOTO 150 110 LET F=F+2.0 120 LET W=W+4.0/F 121 REM * /OPTIONAL/ RUNNING OUTPUT SHOWING THE CALCULATION STATE 122 PRINT F" "W" "P 123 REM * COMMENT LINE 112 OR DELETE 111-113 IF OUTPUT NOT REQUIRED 130 IF INT(W*S)=P THEN GOTO 150 140 GOTO 80 150 PRINT "DONE "F" "W" "P 151 REM * TIMING 152 REM - WILL START WITH THE APPEARANCE OF THE FIRST OUTPUT LINE 153 REM - WILL END WITH THE APPEARANCE OF THE LAST OUTPUT LINE OR 'DONE' 154 REM WHICHEVER IS FIRST 160 ENDVintage Computer Racing: Leibnitz Pi Estimation: Osborne OneBeige-o-Vision2017-05-14 | Race 1. Leibnitz Pi Estimation, run on an Obsborne One using MS Basic