KLund1 Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 I found a sales training brochure that shows a picture of a mainframe style computer and talks about ACTS - ATARI Computerized Test System. I have never heard or read about this. What I find interesting is it says: "The ATARI Computerized Test System (ACTS) analyzes and stores test information on every single Atari Home Computer made." Where is this file(s) with that test info? That would be an excellent storehouse of info and statistics about our favorite computers. Even if it is just for 400/800's it would quite a find. Would this be in the VAX tape files that Curt V. can not quite get access too? Or hopefully not lost to computer heven. Atari ACTS.pdf 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsaluki Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 Very cool pic of those fresh, new 400s, rolling down the line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLund1 Posted June 26, 2020 Author Share Posted June 26, 2020 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DrVenkman Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 Hey @Curt Vendel - do you have any info on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Allan Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 19 hours ago, KLund1 said: I found a sales training brochure that shows a picture of a mainframe style computer and talks about ACTS - ATARI Computerized Test System. I have never heard or read about this. What I find interesting is it says: "The ATARI Computerized Test System (ACTS) analyzes and stores test information on every single Atari Home Computer made." Where is this file(s) with that test info? That would be an excellent storehouse of info and statistics about our favorite computers. Even if it is just for 400/800's it would quite a find. Would this be in the VAX tape files that Curt V. can not quite get access too? Or hopefully not lost to computer heven. Atari ACTS.pdf 679.38 kB · 29 downloads Is this something you found online or do you have a physical copy? If the latter, could possible scan the rest of it? Nevermind. I saw you already did. Thank you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 I wonder where was that assembly line to made Atari 400 ? In El Paso, Texas ? In that photo above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DrVenkman Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 Just now, Caterpiggle said: I wonder where was that assembly line to made Atari 400 ? In El Paso, Texas ? In that photo above. I have a 400 and 800 each made in Sunnyvale, one 400 made in Hong Kong, and my other 800's were made in Taiwain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 (edited) If that photo (Atari 400) made in Hong Kong. Then why I am seen that guy was not Chinese Atari worker ? What more , just ONE Atari employee in that photo ?? Edited June 26, 2020 by Caterpiggle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DrVenkman Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 Just now, Caterpiggle said: If that photo (Atari 400) made in Hong Kong. Who said it was? I just pointed out that Atari 400's and 800's were made in at least 3 locations: Sunnyvale, California USA; Hong Kong and Taiwan. And it's just a marketing/publicity photo. Don't take it so literally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 Okay ... who knows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Vendel Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 8 hours ago, Allan said: Is this something you found online or do you have a physical copy? If the latter, could possible scan the rest of it? Nevermind. I saw you already did. Thank you. ACTS was the Home Computers version of the PITS testing system. I think I ran across something one time, but it may have just been some emails or a memo regarding, not sure if anything code or technical wise is stored on the mainframe backups though. I have to find a photo of an early Missile Command for someone, so I will run a search in the Atari MF Restores and see if anything pop's up. If I do find something I'll post up whatever I've got. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Vendel Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 13 hours ago, KLund1 said: Kevin - so those huge empty platter cases on the tops of those washing machine looking units, those are removable hard drives that connect to the mainframes. Until I can find someone with a working drive unit, which so far no one in the classic computing circles seems to have one in working condition (even I have a drive, but it completely non-functional) and willing to mount the disks and read them.... this is getting to be a serious issue the longer time goes by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 that and we need the calibration packs.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLund1 Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 Thanks everyone. Curt: Yes anything you might have (or anyone) on this ACTS would be great to learn about. What are the VAX model numbers you need to find working units? Has anyone else ever heard about this ACTS system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DjayBee Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 27 minutes ago, KLund1 said: What are the VAX model numbers you need to find working units? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLund1 Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 So we need someone with RM05 hard drive unit connected to a PDP10,11,VAX using a Massbus interface to read CDC 9976 hard disk platter packs? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massbus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kogden Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 (edited) 10 hours ago, KLund1 said: So we need someone with RM05 hard drive unit connected to a PDP10,11,VAX using a Massbus interface to read CDC 9976 hard disk platter packs? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massbus Oh wow.... I have a couple MicroVAX machines but nothing that needs 3-phase power or requires 4 people to move. Maybe various PDP11 UNIX groups like TUHS might have something. Someone on the NetBSD/vax mailing list might have a working drive. Hell with platters that big you can probably almost see the bits. A working PDP8 or PDP11 are on my bucket list though. I like blinkenlights. Edited June 30, 2020 by kogden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 lol, on the next episodic installment of flux dumping your washing machine sized disk pack... I wouldn't put it out of the realm of possibility someone isn't doing just this for kicks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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