[Ham-Computers] RE: windows stuff

[fkamp at comcast.net]

Paul wrote:
> 
> Rolly (W7DGX) & Sandra Goodspeed wrote:
> > I believe the 80486 was a CPU, the first of the Intel CPU"s to have the
> > math coprocessor on the same chip as the CPU. The 80386 was the
> > predecessor to the 80486 and could use a math coprocessor (I forgot its
> > nomenclature, perhaps 80387??) or math software routines. I do not
> > remember if a math coprocessor was available for the 80286. I think it
> > was (perhaps 80287??).
> 
> Yes it was the 80287.
> 
> The 80386 came in 2 varieties, the 386SX (32 bit internal, 16 bit
> external bus) & 386DX (internal & external 32-bit)- neither had a maths
> coprocessor.
> 
> The 486DX was the first that didn't need  a matchs coprocessor, the
> 486SX didn't. The original 486SX were faulty DX, but later they made
> them that way deliberately.
> 
> BTw, my first computer was a Sinclair ZX81 kit (solder together
> yourself). 1K memory, witht he 16K add-on back pack which caused the
> thing to crash if it was moved. All on cassttte tapes. Could still be
> used for RTTY recieve, morse.  Think I'll install that emulator on here.
>   8-)

I think you both got it right.

ZX81, huh.  My first real computer was the cosmac
elf.  I got the expansion board with it too.  Had
two extra memory cards but I dont recall if they
were 8k or 16k.  I think they were 8k.  I do
remember they were static ram using 1k chips and
were very expensive.  Spent lots of nights
entering code through the hex keyboard.  Then
stored it on tape.  I recall it used something
called the kansas city method or some goofy name
like that.  Goofy but it worked.  Code could be
reloaded off the tape.  Trouble was the programs
did not do much.

Come to think of it my Z80 CPM system did not do
all that much either compared to what we use now. 
By the way, I still have a Z80 CPM system.  It has
two 8 inch floppy drives and 10meg hard drive. At
that time a 10meg hard disk could store nearly all
the public domain software available at the time.

It does not get much use now but many years ago
(before the internet) it ran a fairly busy dial up
bulletin board system, sharing files and messages.

I see no reason to emulate that old stuff. 8-(

Not that I have not tried.  I have.  I found some
software that would emulate a CPM system and tried
it out.  It worked.  It also reaffirmed why I was
no longer using the CPM system.

Regards,
Frank Kamp
K5DKZ