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Post by lorddoomicus on Mar 28, 2009 9:42:10 GMT -5
Anyone running something big? An IBM Mainframe? A Cray? A Wang maybe? A VAX 11/70? Something really old and big with Vacuum tubes?
My biggest computer is my Crimson, but I'd love to get myself an air cooled Cray ( and EL, EL9x, or J90 that is ).
Of course, powering even a modest Cray would not be easy, but running one should be fun.
So I was just wondering if anyone runs something big, and if so, how do they power it?
- Derrik
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Post by thurstan on Mar 29, 2009 17:44:46 GMT -5
i have considered this, as there always seems to be boards,memory, power supplies and parts of mainframes and minicomputers floating around on ebay. But never seen a whole one.
i make do with telnetting into a Cray run by someone, cant remember who. they have various mainframes running you can get accounts on and play with.
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Post by David Murray on Mar 29, 2009 22:36:39 GMT -5
What would you actually do with such a thing? Other than use it to heat your home in the winter?
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Post by lorddoomicus on Mar 30, 2009 9:45:34 GMT -5
What do we do with Apple 2's and C-64's?
I actually play doom on my Crimson. Maybe you have some old software you'd like to run. I have a small collection of interesting programs for Irix for data visualization, and stuff like that I like to play with.
But, lets compare an old Mainframe to a Model T ( the car that is ). Lots of people collect Model T's. They restore them, and even drive them - they are no where near as usable as a modern car, but people do collect them. So, why would someone not collect 360's and PDP-11's?
- Derrik
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Post by David Murray on Mar 30, 2009 11:58:37 GMT -5
Well, I guess part of it has to do with the fact that I've never used any "big iron" so I have no idea what can even be done with one. I assume the were all command-line driven operating sytems? I've used a few machines from the 1970's that were really big although at the moment I couldn't tell you what they were. They all worked through dumb-terminals.
Anyway, the other big difference is that I can store a Commodore 64 happily in the closet, attic, whatever. I would think the types of computers you are describing would eat up a lot more square footage in your house.
I suppose if you could figure out a way to make the machine double as a kitchen table, coffe table, or something like that. I am not sure the exact shape of these things.
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Post by thurstan on Mar 30, 2009 15:36:12 GMT -5
Well Mr Cray made his computer into a cool looking seat
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dilbert
Full Member
Registered Linux User #306113
Posts: 223
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Post by dilbert on Apr 4, 2009 10:00:12 GMT -5
Well, I guess part of it has to do with the fact that I've never used any "big iron" so I have no idea what can even be done with one. I assume the were all command-line driven operating sytems? I've used a few machines from the 1970's that were really big although at the moment I couldn't tell you what they were. They all worked through dumb-terminals. Anyway, the other big difference is that I can store a Commodore 64 happily in the closet, attic, whatever. I would think the types of computers you are describing would eat up a lot more square footage in your house. I suppose if you could figure out a way to make the machine double as a kitchen table, coffe table, or something like that. I am not sure the exact shape of these things. Let me jump in here. I got to go along here with David here for the most part. NO EXPERIENCE WITH MACHINE = so there is no love for the old days that way. NO ROOM = nada. However, I like the old days(nostalgia) of white coats and big iron. I had my hands on the paper tapes and teletypes. (circa '67). Punch cards = no.. only as end items = recites. BUT just recently, I got my hands on a BOOK for programing the IBM 1620 and there is a project of it at the computer museum www.computerhistory.org/projects/ibm_1620/"Display"/console is the teletype and input and output is mainly punch card or paper tape. I other weirdness is the DECIMAL WORD.. works out to 12-bits..i think. It was IBM's first MINI-computer (economy) ... $85,0000.00 ;D dictionary.reference.com/browse/IBM+1620They used the old displays in the movie. starringthecomputer.com/computer.php?c=1Earl, you won't have to watch the whole movie!
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Post by thurstan on Apr 15, 2009 12:12:45 GMT -5
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