Oldest Computer

Chuck Jackson · Post by **Chuck Jackson** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 4:07 pm

I know it's not exactly a computer, but I use my original Nintendo machine everyday for relaxing. Yes, the one that came with Mario Brothers/Duckhunt. My wife got it for me for Christmas in 1989. It works great and through the years I have aquired almost every game made for it and the nifty carrying case for them. I think I go play Tetris!!!!

Chuck"who still hasn't beaten SuperMario Brothers 2, but can still get the extra lives in World 3-1 on SM1, and who will share that info if anyone still has the game"Jackson

Rick Denney · Post by **Rick Denney** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 4:08 pm

Chuck(G) wrote:
Todd S. Malicoate wrote:What fun programming on this thing was - only three error messages - WHAT? for a syntax error in the code, HOW? for an illegal function (usually division by zero), and SORRY if you ran out of memory.
I entered the Intel BASIC interpreter into the Altair through the sense switches on the front of the system. The DRAMs weren't all that stable, either. Eventually, I got a modem scavenged out of a TI Silent 700 and hooked up a cassette recorder for data transfer. Floppies came about a year and a half later.

You did what?! I used to program Nova 1200's (used in an early traffic signal control system) using the register switches for bootup and to get the paper-tape reader started for loading software, but I can't imagine entering a serious program through register switches.

And I programmed a travel-time data acquisition system using an Epson HS-20, if I'm remembering that model correctly. It used a microcassette as the storage medium. It did tend to encourage code efficiency, heh, heh. I developed that system all over again for PC's about ten years later, in text-mode MS-DOS. That was one of the few software products that made enough money to buy me a tuba. I gave it all up when everything went to event-driven programming. I did one big package in object-oriented Pascal using an event-driven architecture, but decided that coupling that approach with the Windows GDI required more devotion to programming than I was prepared to show. But then I'm a traffic engineer, not a EE or programmer.

Then, of course, visual basic and similar environments made it easier again, but I haven't looked back.

Rick "unlike Chuck, committed to never having to learn assembly language" Denney

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 4:33 pm

Rick Denney wrote:Rick "unlike Chuck, committed to never having to learn assembly language" Denney

Dear me, Rick, assembly language is easy memory-wise. I can still remember machine language opcodes from just about every system I've ever used, including an IBM 1620.

e.g. 16 xxxxx yyyyy - transmit field yyyyy immediate to address xxxxx--and remember to set the word flag or you'll have instant disaster.

Come to think of it, I can still remember how to clear memory in a 1620:

26 00009 00008 - transmit record, starting at location 8 to location 9. Essentially takes the 0 at location 8 and keeps pushing it along, wrapping core and eventually wiping the TR instruction itself out.

ThomasDodd · Post by **ThomasDodd** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 4:54 pm

Chuck(G) wrote:
Rick Denney wrote:Rick "unlike Chuck, committed to never having to learn assembly language" Denney
Dear me, Rick, assembly language is easy memory-wise. I can still remember machine language opcodes from just about every system I've ever used, including an IBM 1620.

I'll second that. memory-wise (ie remembering the instructuions) it's easy. But a whole lot of "thinking" to break down what you need to fit the instruction set. Even worse, but lot's of fun, coming up with those neat tricks (like the clear memory you mentioned) to get thinks doe quickly.

I started with 6502 code, but mostly remember nmenoics (LDA #$5 not A9 05) but I never really got to use a macro assemble either:) Lot's of keeping notes on what address has what data or routine. I've probably got a notebook or two from a program around somewhere...

Later I learned 6800 (for microcontroller), and 68000 too, but never could grasp the x86 ISA. Sparc and Alpha looked interesting, but never had time to really learn Sparc, nor access to an Alpha

TMurphy · Post by **TMurphy** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 4:59 pm

Chuck Jackson wrote:Chuck"who still hasn't beaten SuperMario Brothers 2, but can still get the extra lives in World 3-1 on SM1, and who will share that info if anyone still has the game"Jackson

World 3-1??? Only suckers play world 3-1!!! Warp to world 4-1 from 1-2, then warp to world 8-1 from 4-2. Haven't played 3-1 in ages.

My game was always Mike Tyson's punchout. I could spend countless hours ging through that game. just great.

Tim Murphy, for whom Nintendo carries a great deal of nostalgia, but still provides tons of fun.

ThomasDodd · Post by **ThomasDodd** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 5:57 pm

TMurphy wrote:World 3-1??? Only suckers play world 3-1!!! Warp to world 4-1 from 1-2, then warp to world 8-1 from 4-2. Haven't played 3-1 in ages.

Warp-smorp!. Best time 1-1 to 8-4, no warps, 1 life

My best , that I remember, was ~ 45 minutes. Those damned Hammer Brothers give me fits

Chuck Jackson · Post by **Chuck Jackson** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 6:13 pm

My wife can play the thing through pretty easily and she has beaten SM 2&3, but my somewhat poor eye-hand co-ordination doesn't allow me that pleasure. I have beaten it, but never straight through. I have to get the gazillion extra lives in 3-1. I love it though, sore thumbs and all.

Chuck

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 3:34 pm

I've got an IBM PC Jr. that still works great...don't use it much anymore, but it still works. I had it before I remember computers showing up at school, too.

It's got the original color monitor and joystick too. I've even got the two printers that I've used with it still in working condition...dot matrix Okidata and an Epson.

It was an awesome computer once upon a time...people were amazed that I had print shop and could play dungeons and dragons on it if I switched out enough floppy disks.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 3:59 pm

Tom wrote:I've got an IBM PC Jr. that still works great...don't use it much anymore, but it still works. I had it before I remember computers showing up at school, too.

It's got the original color monitor and joystick too. I've even got the two printers that I've used with it still in working condition...dot matrix Okidata and an Epson.

It was an awesome computer once upon a time...people were amazed that I had print shop and could play dungeons and dragons on it if I switched out enough floppy disks.

It's also amazing what corners IBM cut on the PC Jr., including leaving out the DMA controller. You had to pick your add-on hardware very carefully. There were add-on hard disks offered for it by various vendors.

ThomasDodd · Post by **ThomasDodd** » Wed Aug 17, 2005 5:06 pm

Tom wrote:I've even got the two printers that I've used with it still in working condition...dot matrix Okidata and an Epson.

I stumbled across a few old ribbons from my OkiMate 10 (by Okidata) printer. Thermal transfer, 3-1 color (CMY or K). At the time (86-88) the coolor prints were amazing.

Interestingly Okidata had another thermal trnsfer, color printer recently. The DP-5000, which was a rebadged Alps MD-5000. Used multiple ribbons, one per color, though a 4 color(CYMK) ribbon was made. Really cool printers. Spot colors (RGB) and Metallics, even gold and silver foil. Best of all though, WHITE. Try printing on dark paper with and inket or laser.

They only ever sold in it europe though. And Alps gopt out of the consumer printer market about that time. Great stuff though. Cheaper than Roland. Kodak is making a professional line printer based on it now for photos/proofing. And Powis Parker uses it for the FoilFast.