thanatoid's computer is 10 years old today, Sept. 27, 2007!

[MEB]

"thanatoid" <waiting@the.exit.invalid> wrote in message
news:Xns99BCF42A4760thanexit@66.250.146.158...
| =?Utf-8?B?RGFu?= <Dan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
| news:86689535-FA74-4FDC-8EF2-0C0E31F9F892@microsoft.com:
|
| > Thanks so much for the great thread and discussion,
| > thanatoid. I think many of us and I know I really
| > appreciate you for going the distance to post your
| > information about your cool computer.
|
| Are you being sarcastic? I was actually REALLY surprised how few
| people flamed me and how quite a few shared their "I also have
| an old machine that I use and love" stories.
|
| Maybe almost everyone just has me killfiled!


Nah, I just can't remember how old my computers are.... most have been torn
down, rebuilt, updated, parts swapped with others, used as test beds, ah,
ah, what was I saying? Oh yeah, then every once in awhile I get out the old
parts boxes and put another one together,,, had an old V20 setup two or so
months ago for awhile just to play around..

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com
________

 

[Dan]

Nope, remember I still have my old IBM PCjr in storage which I learned BASIC
Programming on and had great joy in making different colors flash on the
screen. I addition, I still have a 486 with Windows 3.1 and DOS 5 that plays
my old DOS games like Zeliard, Sorcerion, King's Quest series, Quest for
Glory series, Thexder, etc. I have a Roland MT-32 which my grandmother saved
up for and bought me as a combined birthday and Christmas present. It is now
my favorite computer with the dual-boot 98SE and XP Pro. biting the dust for
now so it takes over first place. I still like rocking back and forth to
music from Codename: Iceman and what sounds like digital (is really analog I
think) clicks from the game in the Introduction.

"thanatoid" wrote:

> =?Utf-8?B?RGFu?= <Dan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> news:86689535-FA74-4FDC-8EF2-0C0E31F9F892@microsoft.com:
>
> > Thanks so much for the great thread and discussion,
> > thanatoid. I think many of us and I know I really
> > appreciate you for going the distance to post your
> > information about your cool computer.
>
> Are you being sarcastic? I was actually REALLY surprised how few
> people flamed me and how quite a few shared their "I also have
> an old machine that I use and love" stories.
>
> Maybe almost everyone just has me killfiled!
>

 

[Dan]

Wow, I never heard of a V20. I guess Google to the rescue. <laughs>

"MEB" wrote:

>
>
> "thanatoid" <waiting@the.exit.invalid> wrote in message
> news:Xns99BCF42A4760thanexit@66.250.146.158...
> | =?Utf-8?B?RGFu?= <Dan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> | news:86689535-FA74-4FDC-8EF2-0C0E31F9F892@microsoft.com:
> |
> | > Thanks so much for the great thread and discussion,
> | > thanatoid. I think many of us and I know I really
> | > appreciate you for going the distance to post your
> | > information about your cool computer.
> |
> | Are you being sarcastic? I was actually REALLY surprised how few
> | people flamed me and how quite a few shared their "I also have
> | an old machine that I use and love" stories.
> |
> | Maybe almost everyone just has me killfiled!
>
>
> Nah, I just can't remember how old my computers are.... most have been torn
> down, rebuilt, updated, parts swapped with others, used as test beds, ah,
> ah, what was I saying? Oh yeah, then every once in awhile I get out the old
> parts boxes and put another one together,,, had an old V20 setup two or so
> months ago for awhile just to play around..
>
> --
> MEB
> http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com
> ________
>
>
>
>

 

[Franc Zabkar]

On 28 Sep 2007 04:51:21 GMT, thanatoid <waiting@the.exit.invalid> put
finger to keyboard and composed:

>thanatoid's computer is 10 years old today, Sept. 27, 2007!

I don't know when mine was born, but it's probably of similar vintage.

It's a PC Chips M571 with 128MB RAM, AMD K6-2 450MHz CPU, 13GB Seagate
HD (currently with 120 reallocated sectors !!!), 48x CDROM, 2x Ricoh
CD-RW, Realtek 8139 NIC, Mouse Systems serial optical mouse, and
Dynalink 56K ISA modem. I use it for everything except serious
multimedia work. The only thing I really miss is Google Earth. One
other annoyance is that Youtube videos are somewhat choppy.

My machine is assembled from bits and pieces. The case is an
attractive and robust Aridyne server enclosure. I've done a lot of
work getting it to look and perform as it does, so I'll be devastated
when the time comes to retire it. One small thing my box has that I
almost never see on others is a communication LED on the front panel.
I have diverted the LED on my NIC to this more logical position.

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

 

[PCR]

thanatoid wrote:
| "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in
| news:uGELWK6AIHA.4444@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl:
|
|> Dan wrote:
|>| I see that you have been using your computer over 7 years
|>| and that is also impressive PCR. <grin>
|>
|> Thanks. But there was an HDD crash that did put my head
|> through the ceiling. Also, there were horrible sounds one
|> day with the CD-ROM, & I couldn't get the CD out of it for
|> three days-- however, that has worked well ever since. On
|> that 3rd day, the sliding door would pop in/out real quick
|> at each boot-- until finally I was a tad quicker! This is
|> my 3rd monitor & 2nd mouse. Finally, my left speaker conked
|> out, but has revived. I have added a 2nd HDD, additional
|> RAM & briefly had a Promise/Maxtor Ultra100 PCI IDE Adapter
|> card in there. (That isn't the actual order it all
|> happened, though, & bits/pieces of plaster still
|> occasionally do fall on my head.)
|>
|> SO, yea, I'm not all that far behind thanatoid in
|> longevity! And I have reason to believe he will be
|> assassinated before me!
|
| Thnaks for the laugh. Yes, I think my computers will outlive me.

You are welcome. Naturally, if you are sitting on your computer at the
appropriate time, it may go too!


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp@netzero.net

 

[thanatoid]

"PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in
news:#wugYUHBIHA.4732@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl:

<SNIP>

>|> quicker! This is my 3rd monitor & 2nd mouse. Finally, my
>|> left speaker conked out, but has revived. I have added a
>|> 2nd HDD, additional RAM & briefly had a Promise/Maxtor
>|> Ultra100 PCI IDE Adapter card in there. (That isn't the
>|> actual order it all happened, though, & bits/pieces of
>|> plaster still occasionally do fall on my head.)
>|>
>|> SO, yea, I'm not all that far behind thanatoid in
>|> longevity! And I have reason to believe he will be
>|> assassinated before me!
>|
>| Thnaks for the laugh. Yes, I think my computers will
>| outlive me.
>
> You are welcome. Naturally, if you are sitting on your
> computer at the appropriate time, it may go too!

Man! Are you guys thinking of Molotov-cocktailing me? OUCH!

 

[Dan]

My 486 is an IBM (International Business Machine) that is a PS/2 computer.
It is a 486 DX PS/2 77. It has Windows 3.1 and IBM DOS version 5.02. The
computer has 8064 KB's of memory. It has just over 200 megabytes of space on
a computer that according to chkdsk was created on March 11, 1993.
(3-11-1993) I adjusted the Windows Time Clock recently and now it remembers
the proper time and date after turning it off and on again. So much for all
the Y2K concerns that computers might just lose all data --- LOL!! --- that
was really riduculous that people including myself to a certain extent were
really worried about the year change. My IBM PCjr does not keep time
properly anymore but I don't care about that and apparently it has an early
version of DOS with it. My dad, Ivan, who is a great man and taught me an
early love of computers created a MS-DOS disk with a later version of DOS or
at least a way to access it easily. My memory is poor on this because it has
been so long since I dabbled with BASIC programming on that IBM computer. I
know the IBM PCjr was a flop but it was a great early gaming machine for me
and I still like playing games on it although the next time I fire it up I
will have to try and remember my early programming days of BASIC and using a
BASIC cartridge as well as the DOS 5.25 inch black floppy disk to work on
DOS. Anyone, else so old as to remember back in around 1984

10 cls
20 sound on
30 echo off ---------------- etc. --- I am not sure if this is right but
you get the idea and cls is to clear your screen.

 

[PCR]

thanatoid wrote:
| "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in
| news:#wugYUHBIHA.4732@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl:
|
| <SNIP>
|
|>|> quicker! This is my 3rd monitor & 2nd mouse. Finally, my
|>|> left speaker conked out, but has revived. I have added a
|>|> 2nd HDD, additional RAM & briefly had a Promise/Maxtor
|>|> Ultra100 PCI IDE Adapter card in there. (That isn't the
|>|> actual order it all happened, though, & bits/pieces of
|>|> plaster still occasionally do fall on my head.)
|>|>
|>|> SO, yea, I'm not all that far behind thanatoid in
|>|> longevity! And I have reason to believe he will be
|>|> assassinated before me!
|>|
|>| Thnaks for the laugh. Yes, I think my computers will
|>| outlive me.
|>
|> You are welcome. Naturally, if you are sitting on your
|> computer at the appropriate time, it may go too!
|
| Man! Are you guys thinking of Molotov-cocktailing me? OUCH!

We only will admit we want to have a computer that lasts longer than
yours! The rest is only speculation!


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp@netzero.net

 

[Dan]

My IBM PCjr is 23 years old at least.

"PCR" wrote:

> thanatoid wrote:
> | "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in
> | news:#wugYUHBIHA.4732@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl:
> |
> | <SNIP>
> |
> |>|> quicker! This is my 3rd monitor & 2nd mouse. Finally, my
> |>|> left speaker conked out, but has revived. I have added a
> |>|> 2nd HDD, additional RAM & briefly had a Promise/Maxtor
> |>|> Ultra100 PCI IDE Adapter card in there. (That isn't the
> |>|> actual order it all happened, though, & bits/pieces of
> |>|> plaster still occasionally do fall on my head.)
> |>|>
> |>|> SO, yea, I'm not all that far behind thanatoid in
> |>|> longevity! And I have reason to believe he will be
> |>|> assassinated before me!
> |>|
> |>| Thnaks for the laugh. Yes, I think my computers will
> |>| outlive me.
> |>
> |> You are welcome. Naturally, if you are sitting on your
> |> computer at the appropriate time, it may go too!
> |
> | Man! Are you guys thinking of Molotov-cocktailing me? OUCH!
>
> We only will admit we want to have a computer that lasts longer than
> yours! The rest is only speculation!
>
>
> --
> Thanks or Good Luck,
> There may be humor in this post, and,
> Naturally, you will not sue,
> Should things get worse after this,
> PCR
> pcrrcp@netzero.net
>
>
>

 

[thanatoid]

=?Utf-8?B?RGFu?= <Dan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
news:8EB94F34-893A-4BAC-89C3-D0997718AC28@microsoft.com:

> My IBM PCjr is 23 years old at least.

<SNIP>
Yes, but do you use 10 hours a day for all your work and
internet access?

 

[Dan]

No, you have me beat there, thanatoid since it is in storage in New York City
(Manhatten) but I pull it out and run it usually at least once a year ---
<smile> I still use my 486 several hours a few times a week and it is over
14 years old. <grin> [LOL-- I really do like your post and enjoy reading all
the replies it has inspired.]

"thanatoid" wrote:

> =?Utf-8?B?RGFu?= <Dan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> news:8EB94F34-893A-4BAC-89C3-D0997718AC28@microsoft.com:
>
> > My IBM PCjr is 23 years old at least.
>
> <SNIP>
> Yes, but do you use 10 hours a day for all your work and
> internet access?
>

 

[thanatoid]

=?Utf-8?B?RGFu?= <Dan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
news:551E1F83-2C7B-4847-A93B-3DF2450FC506@microsoft.com:

<SNIP>

>[LOL-- I really do like your post and
> enjoy reading all the replies it has inspired.]

Thank you. I am actually astounded at the fact I am still
getting replies to it almost a week later. I wish more serious
posts received such attention.

t.

<SNIP>

 

[PCR]

Dan wrote:
| No, you have me beat there, thanatoid since it is in storage in New
| York City (Manhatten) but I pull it out and run it usually at least
| once a year --- <smile> I still use my 486 several hours a few
| times a week and it is over 14 years old. <grin>

I don't care about your PCjr, either! But where did you say that 486 is
located? Can you move it closer to thanatoid's machine?

| [LOL-- I really do
| like your post and enjoy reading all the replies it has inspired.]
|
| "thanatoid" wrote:
|
|> =?Utf-8?B?RGFu?= <Dan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
|> news:8EB94F34-893A-4BAC-89C3-D0997718AC28@microsoft.com:
|>
|> > My IBM PCjr is 23 years old at least.
|>
|> <SNIP>
|> Yes, but do you use 10 hours a day for all your work and
|> internet access?

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp@netzero.net

 

[Dan]

My 486 is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I moved there in 2006 from
Tucson, Arizona and I am glad to be out of the deadly summer heat of 110+ F.
Where is your compaq located again, PCR?

 

[PCR]

Dan wrote:
| My 486 is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I moved there in 2006 from
| Tucson, Arizona and I am glad to be out of the deadly summer heat of
| 110+ F. Where is your compaq located again, PCR?

It's in a cave in Saskatchewan! OK, thanks for the information.


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp@netzero.net

 

[thanatoid]

=?Utf-8?B?RGFu?= <Dan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
news:F9C083AB-D4E6-4904-997A-BFC8C69B74D2@microsoft.com:

> My 486 is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I moved there
> in 2006 from Tucson, Arizona and I am glad to be out of the
> deadly summer heat of 110+ F. Where is your compaq located
> again, PCR?

You and your associates' morbid plans concerning my computer and
my soon-to-be-carcass aside, HOW significant can the temperature
difference be between AZ and NM? If you had moved to Iowa or New
Hampshire, I could understand...

 

[Dan]

The difference in temperature between Tucson, Arizona and Albuquerque, New
Mexico can be a large amount. I live in Albuquerque and my folks live in
Santa Fe, New Mexico. I never liked the heat and prefer cold weather. Heck,
I probably am better suited to weather in Oregon or Washington State but I do
like the Green Chile of New Mexico.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/climate/20thcentury_top10wx.php

June 26 1990 - Hottest temperature officially recorded in Tucson
The mercury topped out at 117 degrees on the afternoon of the 26th setting
an all-time high temperature in Tucson.

4). Summer of 1994 - Hottest meteorological summer on record (Tucson)

Sweltering heat plaqued the area during the summer of 1994 (June through
August) and resulted in the warmest summer on record. Monthly average
temperature records were set for all three months (June 89.2 degrees, old
record 88.6 degrees in 1990 July 90.4 degrees, old record 89.9 degrees in
1989 and August 90.2 degrees, old record 86.9 degrees in 1962). The mercury
topped 100 degrees on 82 of the 92 summer days of 1994. For the year, 99
days were recorded with high temperatures of 100 degrees or more. Records
were also set for consecutive days with high temperatures of 105 degrees or
more (24 days - June 23rd to July 16th, old record was 15 days in 1990 - June
17th to July 1st) and 110 degrees or more (6 days - June 24th to 29th, old
record was 5 days in 1990 - June 24th to 28th). The second, third and fourth
hottest days on record were recorded in the summer of 1994 (116 degrees on
June 29th and 115 degrees on June 25th and 28th). Overall the summer of 1994
had 19 record highs that were set or tied...7 days came within one degree of
tieing a record and four days came within two degrees of tieing a record.

Now for Albuquerque, New Mexico (Much Cooler for me)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albuquerque,_New_Mexico


Springtime starts off windy and cool, sometimes unsettled with some rain and
even light snow, though spring is usually the driest part of the year in
Albuquerque. March and April tend to see many days with the wind blowing at
20 to 30 mph, and afternoon gusts can produce periods of blowing sand and
dust. In May, the winds tend to subside, as temperatures start to feel like
summer.

Summer daytime highs range from the upper 80s to the upper 90's, while
dropping into the low 60s to low 70s overnight the valley and uppermost
foothills are often several degrees cooler than that. The heat is quite
tolerable because of low humidity, except during the late summer during
increased humidity from surges in the monsoonal pattern at that time,
daytime highs drop slightly but the extra moisture in the air can cause
nighttime temperatures to increase.

Fall sees mild days and cool nights with less rain, though the weather can
be more unsettled closer to winter.

The city was one of several in the region experiencing a severe winter storm
leaving between 10 and 26 inches of snow in just over 24 hours on December
30, 2006.[1]

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Avg high °F 48 55 62 71 80 90 92 89 82 71 57 48
Avg high °C 9 13 17 22 27 32 33 32 28 22 14 9
Avg low °F 24 28 34 41 50 59 65 63 56 44 32 24
Avg low °C -4 -2 1 5 10 15 18 17 13 7 0 -4
Rainfall inches .49 .44 .61 .50 .60 .65 1.27 1.73 1.07 1.00 .62 .49
Rainfall mm 12.4 11.2 15.5 12.7 15.2 16.5 32.3 43.9 27.2 25.4 15.7 12.4

Albuquerque's climate is classified as arid (BWk or BWh, depending on the
particular scheme of the Köppen climate classification system one uses),
meaning average annual precipitation is less than half of evaporation, and
the mean temperature of the coldest month is above freezing (32F). Only the
wettest areas of the Sandia foothills are barely semi-arid, where
precipitation is more than half of, but still less than, evaporation such
areas are localized and usually lie above 6000 feet in elevation and often in
arroyo drainages, signified by a slightly denser, taller growth of evergreen
oak - juniper - pinon chaparral and rarely, woodland, often mixed with taller
desert grasses. These elevated foothill areas still border arid areas, best
described as desert grassland or desert shrub, on their west sides.

Traveling to the west, north and east of Albuquerque, one quickly rises in
elevation and leaves the sheltering effect of the valley to enter a
noticeably cooler and slightly wetter environment. One such area is still
considered part of metro Albuquerque, commonly called the "East Mountain"
area it is covered in savannas or woodlands of low juniper and pinon trees,
reminiscent of the lower parts of the southern Rocky Mountains, which do not
actually contact Albuquerque proper.

<Grateful Thanks to the authors of the web sites>

 

[Dan]

It is more like a place in New York. <grin>

 

[Tim Slattery]

thanatoid <waiting@the.exit.invalid> wrote:

>=?Utf-8?B?RGFu?= <Dan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>news:F9C083AB-D4E6-4904-997A-BFC8C69B74D2@microsoft.com:
>
>> My 486 is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I moved there
>> in 2006 from Tucson, Arizona and I am glad to be out of the
>> deadly summer heat of 110+ F. Where is your compaq located
>> again, PCR?
>
>You and your associates' morbid plans concerning my computer and
>my soon-to-be-carcass aside, HOW significant can the temperature
>difference be between AZ and NM? If you had moved to Iowa or New
>Hampshire, I could understand...

It's a BIG difference because he moved from the low desert (Tucson) to
the Colorado Plateau. There's a difference of 6,000 feet or so of
elevation. Santa Fe is MUCH cooler than Tucson.

--
Tim Slattery
MS MVP(DTS)
Slattery_T@bls.gov
http://members.cox.net/slatteryt

 

[PCR]

Dan wrote:
| It is more like a place in New York. <grin>

.

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp@netzero.net