[Ham-Computers] RE: windows stuff

Duane Fischer, W8DBF dfischer at usol.com
Tue Aug 30 23:23:17 EDT 2005


Robert, 	
	
I had one of the XT when they came out. I paid $3000 for it, another $460
(wholesale) for a 13" color monitor by Taxon. Then I had to add options to the
computer, like serial and parallel ports, I think the CGA was optional and the
monochrome was stock, etc. 	
	
Built like a Tank and it worked and worked and worked. MS DOS rocked!
----------
From: WA5CAB at cs.com
To: ham-computers at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Ham-Computers] RE: windows stuff
Date: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 9:39 PM

Dale,

I know we're traipsing down memory lane but I think you've moved a couple of 
decimal points one place to the right.  The original IBM PC-XT, the portable 
version whose nomenclature I forget,  the Compaq DeskPro and the Compaq 
Portable I ran 8086's at 4.77 MC and were available with a 10 MB hard drive
(5-1/4" 
Full Height).  The IBM PC-AT, Compaq DeskPro 286 and Portable II ran 80286's at 
7 point something MC and could be had with 20 MB hard drives.  The latter at 
least with half-height drives.  I still have a Portable I and one of the very 
few 3-drive Portable II's ever built (and never sold commercially).  So far as 
I can recall, the first commercial machines running 16 MC or faster ran 
80386's.  I had a DeskPro 386 16 and then a 20.

Unfortunately, about the time that MC became MHz (and there's probably a 
French connection) the bloat set in.  My current 3 GHz P4 is nowhere near 627 
times faster at doing anything, including booting up, than my Portable I.

In a message dated 8/30/2005 7:46:54 PM Central Daylight Time, 
stpatrick3 at twlakes.net writes: 
> Duane I'm not old but I remember the commodore 64.
> My first computer was a Epson Equity IE.
> It had a 8086 processor running at I think 25 Mhz.
> It came with 1 3 1/2 floppy and I added a second.
> Then I got the money to add a harddrive, wow 200 meg was alot too.
> 

Robert Downs - Houston
<http://www.wa5cab.com> (Web Store)
MVPA 9480
<wa5cab at cs.com> (Primary email)
<wa5cab at houston.rr.com> (Backup email)
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