"Mark Metzler wrote:
I was in WalMart last night, and I swung by the Electronics area. I was curious as to how much a replacement drive would cost me for my PC at home, which has a 17gb drive in it. They had a 80gig drive sitting on the shelf next to the surge suppressors for $70. Never mind that it comes with the software to copy everything to the new drive. So I stood there trying to do the math on what it would cost to equate that volume of storage with ST506 drives at $1995.00 a pop. My head started hurting, so I rounded the ST506 to $2000.
It would take 16,000 ST506’s to reach the memory of the drive in WalMart (again sitting on the shelf, not behind a locked cabinet).
At $2000.00 a pop, it would cost me $32,000,000.00.
Now that would have been a nice sale, but would have been stolen by Jim Scharffe or Mike Daniel.
Here is another perspective. If stacked on top of one another, they would be as tall as a 667 story building.
If from sea level, they would stack high enough to top the tallest building in Downtown Denver.
If sold with a cabinet and power supply, Josef Rabinowitz would be retired. "
"Ohmigod! I'm reminded of when I worked for Heath Kline at Priority One Electronics in Chatsworth...and before that for Galaxy Computers in Woodland Hills when the Commodore 64 was introduced! We thought it huge compared to the Timex Sinclair...."
"We both have been into computers since 1970's & currently own 6 OSBORNE's in working condition. Although we use DOS now, we miss cpm & how actually FAST it was compared to Windows. We miss dBase. Append as well instead of Access now. We still have data on 5 1/4" discs we need to put into the dos machines we use now.
Sorry to hear you are leaving the business - we certainly hope you find a buyer who will keep the collection intact!
Best to you & your wonderful efforts!"
DONATE YOUR OLD
SYSTEM WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VINTAGE COMPUTER SYSTEMS
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO
THE FREEMAN PC MUSEUM
Welcome to The Freeman PC Museum collection. The following is a complete list of vintage computer systems in the museum. Feel free to scroll through the list, view details of the system, see related links and advertisements, and join in on the mini forums for each of the systems.
The following list is complete. If you are searching for a particular model, manufacturer, or a list of computers from a particular year, use the "Search" form on the left. Thank you again for visiting The Freeman PC Museum, and enjoy.
Model 150 still boots to the touchscreen menu. This is one of the first touchscreen computers marketed. System complete with software, manuals and cool thermal printer. The Microprose manuals are a rare complete installation of Wordstar Professional for this system. The disks are still sealed (unopened) and the manuals are still shrinkwrapped. The monochrome monitor is in excellent condition without any burn-in or blemishes. The HP9133 disk unit (optional) also seems to be functional and intact.
Specifications
Introduced: 1983
Original Price: N/A
CPU:Intel 8088, 8 MHz
Memory: 256KB RAM
Display: 9" green screen with optical touch sensitive capability; 512x390 resolution
Operating System: MSDOS customized by HP.
The HP150 was known as the "Touchscreen Max"
Several disk drives were available with the HP150;
The original HP150 Model A could only accomocate single-sided disk drives like the HP9121 (270Kb/3.5" disk). The later HP150B (a ROM upgrade, essentially) made it possible to attach the HP9122 double-sided
disk drive (710Kb/3.5" disk).
The HP150-II usually came with the HP9123 disk drive (it didn't have its own powersupply, and drew power from the HP150-II). The hard disks for the HP150-II included the likes of the HP913x series,
but normally an HP9154 series was suggested. Thanks to Glen H for the new information.
EC-1 Educational Analog Computer was introduced in 1960 by Heathkit. It has nine DC operational amplifiers and three power supplies, five coefficient potentiometers, four sets of relay contacts, an electronically regulated power supply and a built-in repetitive oscillator for automatic operation. The EC-1 uses resistors, capacitors, diodes and patch cords for creating computer problems easily and accurately. This computer is now in a new museum and not part of our collection.
1983. A successful Compaq portable clone. It is said that it was partially designed by Compaq. This particular unit is in complete working order. This was Columbia’s last computer. Key marketing ploy was massive software bundling including: MS-DOS, CP/M86, Perfect Writer, Filer, Calc, Speller, MS-BASIC,
Macro Assembler, Home Accountant and Space Commander game. Filed bankruptcy shortly thereafter. Retail price $2995.
1983. When the Mattel keyboard component project was canceled they scrambled to produce a small and cheap computer. They contacted Radofin Electronics in Hong Kong who was manufacturing the Intellivision. Radofin had just developed a line of 3 Z80 based computers and Mattell decided to offer two of them. The Aquarius 1 and 2 were born. . Retail price $99.95.
1983. Texas Instruments Professional Portable Computer (PPC) was the first luggable version of the TI Desktop. Unfortunately the PPC was not really compatible with the IBM PC. The IBM disks could read and that was all. IBM expansion cards were also not compatible. Interestingly this unit introduced a ethernet card by fledgling company 3Com. Retail price $2695.
Complete IMSAI 8080 maxed out with all S-100 slots packed with cards. Donated by Bill Peterson. This computer is now in a new museum and not part of our collection.
Casio PB1000 Handheld was one of the last they produced. Options:
Printer: (FP-40) Thermal technology, uses FA-7 and SB-43 modules. For color printing uses FP-100(4 color technology).
Storage: Uses FA-7 (external tape i/o) or MD-100 (3.5" floppy drive) module.
