Re: Laser 3000

[Lonnie McClure <lmcclure@delphi.com>]

In a message dated 2-18-95, you said:
 
     "Do you (or anyone else) know how to get in touch with V.T.?"
 
I do not, but anyone out there with a manual for their Laser 128 should
have access to that info, and hopefully an address or perhaps even phone
number for Video Technology's U.S. office.
 
 
     "Maybe the top 15 pins and bottom 15 pins are identical?"
 
It is possibly the RS-232 on the Laser 3000 is set up that way, as
Commodore's edge connector for their datasette used that method. However,
most edge connectors I have seen that have enough pins on one side for
the active signals put ground on the other side, so that if a flat ribbon
cable is used, every other line is ground, cutting interference and
crosstalk.
 
That said, such a design make make sense for a parrallel or disk drive
cable, but not for serial.
 
 
     "Salvation Army thrift shop, for $10 Canadian. That's the
      most I've payed for a machine from there, but it has also
      proven to be by far the most interesting."
 
I wish our local Salvation Army thrift shops would put more "thrift" in
their computer prices. As an example, I dropped by the main one here in
Little Rock today. They wanted $40 for an old NEC PC-6001A, which had
no disk drive, only the cassette cable, and no box or manual. They also
had a "kids learning computer" of some type made by our old friend
Video Technology that they wanted $25 for.
 
Had those prices been more realistic (i.e. $10-$20 for the NEC and $10-$15
for the Vid-Tech unit), I would have likely walked out with both.
 
A couple of years ago, I had visted their North Little Rock store and
observed similar pricing.
 
It sounds like when it comes to acquiring old computers, I would come
out better by paying you 2x the price you pay + shipping! <grin>
 
 
     "I had no idea it had 192K, BTW.  But I guess it's bank
      switched, as the ROM also must be.  Any idea how to access
      either?"
 
The second 64K might be accessed in the same manner as on an Apple IIe.
However, even if so, I have no idea how the third 64K would be accessed.
It could also be banked into the main 64K address space in small memory
segments, like the aftermarket mods to put 256K or more in 8-bit Ataris,
and Atari's own 130XE.
 
Admittedly, if you can get some tech info on this thing, it will make
your life MUCH easier. How's that for an understatement? <grin>