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Post by chairmonkey on Feb 7, 2006 0:30:59 GMT -5
Hello, all! First thread here on Retrobits, I've been listening to the show for quite some time, I love it even though I've never owned an 8-Bit machine, I love listening to the podcast trying to decide which one of these things I should pick up and mess around with. Anyway, I found this on Hackaday, and thought it was pretty neat. A guy hacked together 8 Apple II mainboards into a cluster and boots them off the network. While interesting, I don't really know what you could do with it, but thought you would enjoy it nonetheless. Here's the link: members.aol.com/MJMahon/CratePaper.html
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Post by Golan Klinger on Feb 7, 2006 4:14:22 GMT -5
That is really neat and the custom built crate is a work of art. Just when you think you've seen it all...
[Insert tired Slashdot-esque joke about making a Beowulf cluster of these.]
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Post by Jeff Ledger on Feb 7, 2006 9:55:26 GMT -5
Wow! Wonder if someone's set an email the Woz on this one.. (He'd love it) Well the gauntlet has been thrown, anyone want to step up and create the first Commodore or Atari parallel computer?
<wink>
Jeff
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Post by retrobits on Feb 7, 2006 12:20:57 GMT -5
Well, it's a cinch that I need to cover this in my news and links section :-)
This is really interesting! Jeff's right, I bet the Woz would get a kick out of this.
My Slashdotesque contribution:
Steps to making a fortune using an 8-bit computing cluster:
1. Produce parallel cluster of retro 8-bit systems 2. ?? 3. Profit!!!
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Post by Golan Klinger on Feb 7, 2006 14:25:09 GMT -5
In Soviet Russia, the Apple clusters you. <ugh>
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Post by chairmonkey on Feb 7, 2006 20:29:05 GMT -5
I'd gladly work on a project for a C64 or other 8-Bit cluster, hardware hacking is totally my thing, albeit I'm no good at it . I'm in it to learn, what can I say?
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Post by Golan Klinger on Feb 7, 2006 21:19:53 GMT -5
I'd gladly work on a project for a C64 or other 8-Bit cluster, hardware hacking is totally my thing, albeit I'm no good at it . I'm in it to learn, what can I say? You should pick up a C64DTV and use it as a hardware hacking learning tool. They're relatively inexpensive and there are lots of knowledgeable and friendly people posting to the DTVHacking board who can give you advice. When you're done you'll have a modern retro-computer and then the fun really begins...
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Post by thurstan on Feb 8, 2006 8:25:40 GMT -5
Modern day thinking/methods with old/retro hardware is always fun. Makes you wonder why nobody had tried this or thought of it back in the day.
As for hardware hacking, I will definitely try this with a DTV. I am bound to break a few during the learning process!
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Post by Jeff Ledger on Feb 8, 2006 16:56:47 GMT -5
People give me funny looks when I pull up the www.petscii.com page while testing a web browser or internet connection when on site. (Of course I do this because I *KNOW* their computer has never seen it before and it won't be in the cache.) I try to explain to people that it's a hobby, and that the reason for working with and modifing old hardware is because it's a challenge to create modifications and code and see them actually work. The DTV is a perfect starter project for someone who wants to do a little hardware modification hacking. Some basic soldering skills, a little troubleshooting and you are good to go. Be warned that success in this project will hook you into more.... Jeff
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Post by thurstan on Feb 9, 2006 5:38:51 GMT -5
definite ploy by the manufacturers to make it hackable, they know lots of people will accidentally destroy their DTV and end up buying 2 or 3 spares!
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MikeAZ1
Full Member
Qlinker of the 80's
Posts: 157
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Post by MikeAZ1 on Feb 11, 2006 22:37:29 GMT -5
just checked out the link to the Apple II crate Cool idea and creative Old 8bits arent dead yet
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