Compumater
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Posts posted by Compumater
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OK, oK...
The Radio Shack Trs-80 Model IV. I computer that almost wasn't, and a computer that lived all the way to 1991 being sold new in a world overrun with 386-16 windoze computers!
So here is my story witht the Model 4. I got mine as a hand me down in 1991, a 1984 unit with 2 180K drives,64K of ram, and a "green" screen. I used it to log on to the local bbs scene until 1993 when I "upgraded" IBM XT. After that it lived in storage until 2003 when I dug it out and began to tinker with it again. At that time I Upgraded it to dual 360K drives, and 128K ram. This made it quite the Z-80 computer. I had "double Duty" that made it possible to switch from one program to another at the touch of a button. "Think multitasking... well, sort of" and plenty of on board storage. Most programs were in the 16K realm, so 720K of storage was like having a hard drive!
Anyway, I farted around with it until 2005 when It again went into storage. I actually sold it on flea-Bay, and then backed out of the sale when I realized I still wanted it. Thanks to Ira's site, I had a TON of programs for model 3, and 4 saved away on floppy.
SO fast forward to early August of this year. I'm "purging" the attic, and there it sits. My trusty Model 4. I pull it down, intent on selling it and clean it up for some pictures. But the Damn thing strikes again!
I end up playing with it all night, and then the next day, week, and now a month. Its Still A great and usefull computer. I still get my butt kicked by the computer in Zchess, loved playing a bunch of simple knock off versions of donkeykong, pacman, defender, frenzy, and so on. Dug that 1 channel sound that plays xmas music, and various songs from the early 80's. I don't have a hi-res card, but I can imagine a Gif to R/S converter looking cool on the green screen.
I used to to type a 2 page letter on Supersubscript, and then converted it to an IBM doc to print out. And It worked just fine.
And, and this was the mother of all Model 4 tricks. I used D-Term, Hooked to the serial port of my model 4 and a PC running Windows 98 with 64 Server to telnet to the WEB! Thats right, I surffed the "WEB" (Ok some old telnet bbs sites) with my model IV. and it worked just fine.
This is truly a great little computer, and after all these years of use, it still works, and is workable in the modern era. Thats my report!
What are your TRS stories?
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My fav, and my wifes were the same.
TOY COMMANDER!
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I'll take a Red one please.
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As always, it looks great!
Sign me up for one when its done!
/s
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I recently picked up one of these on ebay, but can not get it going. I've downloaded the correct d64 image and copied to a floppy, but after I load "CPM",8 and run, the c64 just freezes...
Anyone ever get one of these to work???
Thanks,
Jay
The original C64 CP/M carts sucked pretty bad. 40col only and VERY SLOW disks. That said, the cart most likely works. The problem is your C64. Only the early (first year or 2) Commodore breadbox 64 will work. Later ones, and the C64c won't.
Its been many years, so I don't remember why that is, but it is.
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You Can Add me to the Owners list.
Mine is BC 0100014531
By the way. I've been working on a Compumate CD for release later this year. I'm hoping for 20 programs, but may end up with a few less or a few more.
Most will be games, but some will be "productivity" programs! Yes you to can balance your budget on a compumate!
Anyway its good to finally see some interest in the Great Compumate.
/s
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I'll take a XM version or regular version, what ever you have left!
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Got two of them today! They were $8.50, and they are paper thin, but thats ok I like my tee shirts thin.
Looks cool!
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Yes, New programs. That I know of there are only like 2 or 3 availible on the net, and most of those are from the owners booklet.
These would be conversions of Older Timex 1000 games and programs that I wrote some 18 years ago As well as a few to showcase the compumates "ability".
/s
So you're talking about actually writing a bunch of new programs to be used with the Compumate right? I can't see there being enough existing Compumate programs out there to fill a CD with.
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It is limited, Very limited. More so then the Zx-81 or Timex/Sinclair 1000. BUT...
It is still a real computer, and can be "forced" into doing a few tricks.
The sad part is the creators for whatever reason left a good deal of basic basic commands out of the system. I have been able to make a "choose your own adventure" type game, but due to the 2K memory its limited. I've also done a few early computer games like you would have found on late 70's Cp/m 8080 S-100 systems.
I have 7 decent programs now, and was thinking about maybe another 7 or maybe more if I include some non-game programs. to show off the greatness of COMPUMATE!
I thought that with all the recent compumate owners there would be a little more intrest, but, maybe not.
For those that want to play with the Compumate, it is a decent little system, Poke around in it and see for yourself.
I also guess since the Picture mate cassettes are going for so much, that I could add a few picutres to the CD to round it out.
I'm not trying to get rich or anything, I just thought the community could use a few Compumate releases.
Any requests?
I'd love to pick up a Compumate, if there was someplace closer than Venezuela I could get one for a good price.
(Nothing against Venezuela; I just don't want to deal with the international shipping and the month-long wait with no tracking.)
It would be interesting to see what the Compumate can do! I wouldn't expect too much, but it'd be interesting.
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Well, As there seems to be a butt load of Spectravideo Compumates flooding the market, and being a old Timex/Sinclair Programmer, I was wondering if there was any interest in a Compumate CD (.wav files) full of programs that will let you actually use your compumate for more than a door stop.
Now, before anyone get their hopes too high, the Compumate is VERY basic in its basic, so visions of space invaders on the compumate dancing in your head might as well get shot down right now.
BUT, there are a lot of early computer adventure games, guessing games, and simple moving games that are within the realm of the Compumate.
I don't mind putting a few together for the Compumate community, if there is one....
It would also include some basic "productivity" software I've written for it.
So, Anyone interested?
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What homebrews do you have?
Ok here is a list of non-release/homebrews I have.
I know I'm missing Super Pac-man, and Combat 1990
Ms.Pac-Man (fast)
Pac-Man Collection
Pac-Man
Jr.Pac-Man
Klax (ntsc)
Missing In Action
Happy Halloween 2007
Beef Drop
B*nQ
Asteroids Deluxe
Sentinel (ntsc)
Space Dual
Sirius
Space Invaders
Santa Simon
Plutos
Wasp
7800 Traveller (last one 11)
Ultra Pac-Man
Worm (on order, hasn't arrived yet)
Plus all the released 7800 carts made.
I'm kinda a 7800 freak. I bought mine new in 1987 or 88, and have made it a quest to prove that I made the right choice not getting a NES like everyone else I knew by buying every 7800 title there is.
Now, I'm not rich or anything, I just try to keep up with the new finds so I can get one.
Super Pac-Man is on the short list, and I didn't know about Combat 1990 until the other day, So I have to try and find one of those.
I hosted travi when the cart made its way around the world, and convinced the maker to make one more 7800 traveller cart when he produced them. Thats why is number 11.
So what am I missing??
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I'm looking for an updated version of Atari 7800 titles.
I have all the released carts, and a good pile of homebrews and demos, but I'm sure some have slipped through the cracks.
Atariage's list is very outdated.
Thanks in advance!
/s
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I'm still hoping for this one! My 7800 needs a keyboard.
Is there any hope? Or is this product dead?
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Please add me to your list~!
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BBS's The original "internet"
in Classic Computing Discussion
Posted
Man, I've been having a bunch of nastolgic moments lately. First I dusted off my old TRS-80 Model 4 and used it for a month and a half straight to see how it would work for my modern computing needs (see my other post here about that.)
And that led me to Telneting some old but still alive BBS's with it. What a walk down memory lane....
WWIV, RENEGADE, WILDCAT, RBBS, COLOR 64, and others. They are all there in Telnet land, some 300 or so still sitting there mostly empty except a few posts a year, and 30 or so folks that log in to play online games. The message boards sit there with conversations dating back to the peak of BBS coolness, and diwindle down to 10 or so posts a year and then to 3 or 4.
Its the same story for the transfer section with most sites last upload happening in 1996 or early 97 but still loaded with tons of legacy apps, games, and raytraced 3d Gifs from the 90's and before.
I browsed these old giants with names like "The Cave" "Colossus" and "Skull and Cossbones" and felt the memories of logging on at 2am to check my messsages come rushing back. I played a few games of "pimp wars" and "the pit" and loved what could be done at the time.
Its a shame that these great vintage forms of communications go so unsued in todays "connected" world. With the vintage gaming, vintage computing, and other retro comebacks already here, I can't help but wonder how The Great BBS era has been all but forgotten.
What about you? Any good BBS stories?