Year 2021: computing
====================
There ware some (mostly unimportant) changes in my computing collection
and in enhancement of my computer skills:
PDP-11:
As a new owner of a workstation with PDP-11 style CPU (the Soviet UK-NC
computer) I have started to learn how to use the RT-11 operating
system. The problem is that the Soviet machines were not 100%
compatible (they are not clones of the DEC machines, they are designed
just use the subset of the PDP-11 instruction set). This mean that the
Soviet RT-11 thing is not 100% the same as the DEC thing (they even
used different names for these systems). Many things work - it is even
possible to run a lot of the original RT-11 software. Many things
don't, however. At least I have learned basics of the RT-11 text editor
and installed the BBC BASIC for PDP-11 [1]. It might sound as a strange
thing but it is actually useful to have the same environment available
on several machines (the BBC BASIC is pre-installed on the Cambridge
Z88 and it is available for the Linux, the DOS and even for the
Windows...).
In other hand, I did little with my other PDP-11 machines - I replace
batteries in my Elektronika MK-90 (is uses 2xAA) and have found than
one mere of my Elektronika MK-85 is dead (there were installed the
batteries which were described by the producer in this way: "the main
feature of these batteries is that they cannot leak..."). So I decided
to have only one of my MK-85s with batteries installed and to check
them on a more regular basis.
Silicon Graphics/SGI:
I have replaced the dead Dallas RTC chip with a modern, CR1620-based
solution. In the process I have found that a pair of my RAM moduli are
dead. This now I have only some 768 MB of RAM (instead of 1024 MB). I
have to do the same thing (I mean just the Dallas replacement) with my
SGI Octane.
The PSU of my SGI IRIS Indigo R3000 died. I am still searching for the
replacement. The second IRIS Indigo, the R4000-based machine, saw
little more use (it is the fastest working workstation in our cottage).
I have installed an internal SCSI floppy here and used it for transfer
data.
I did nothing with my two Indy workstations (one of them needs the new
HDD to be installed) nor with the Indigo2 (it is complete, installed
but it refuses to boot to the IRIX - I should try to update the IRIX to
the 6.5.22 but I have not managed to do this).
PC and notebooks:
The Raptor Engineering BlackBird was my main home workstation. No
change here.
I have got the ThinkPad R61 device. Its only use is to synchronise the
Centro (it is not so easy to download media files under the Linux) and
for other such tasks.
The PSION MC600 (the 8088 MS-DOS laptop which runs on 8xAAs) was
sometimes used for notetaking, light programming (Psion OPL, BASIC) and
to testing of some DOS-based software. It is albe to run the PSION
Organise II emulator and OPL IDE or the BBC BASIC for DOS. So it ran
these things. The main success was that I have found how to connect it
with the Organise II directly! (if was necessary to play with the
cables a bit). It have made possible not only to develop OPL programs
here but also to transfer them to the Organiser II.
Palm devices:
I sometimes use the TRGpro and in the December I have started to try to
use the IIIx more. I also have the Treo 90 (I use it as a portable
notebook/addressbook at work) and the Treo 180 (I am just have been
charging it on regular basis with no actual use). I use the Palm Centro
as my outdoor/freetime phone, though.
I actually ceased to use any of the Palms as an e-book reader as I
started to prefer larger e-ink screen.
Psion devices:
Except the MC600 (it will be described later) I use the Organiser II as
an alarm clock and the bed-side notetaking device. I wrote most of
phlogs here.
I also have the Series 3a device. I used it for a few specific tasks
but for the most of time it just sits in its pouch.
The PSION MC400 was mowed to our cottage where it infrequently serves
for writing and for very light computing (it has a Lotus123-compatible
spreadsheet).
HP handheld:
I only used the 200LX for a few occasions. I decided that I have to
manage the Kermit connection to work (for some reasons I never did it
before). So now I can connect the 200LX to my R4000 Indigo via serial
port and transfer data files!
Apples:
I still have the 15" PowerBook G4 (the latest 1.67GHz model) and the
17" iMac G5 (the first model). I used the PowerBook for some WWW
browsing during weekends (too bad that the TenFourFox is no longer
developed!) but the iMac was only turned during holidays to try the
MultiRacer [2]. The MultiRacer runs well on both these devices, by the
way. Full resolution, full details, of course.
I have managed to get the CFFA-3000 card for my Apple IIe and it even
works. It will be necessary to resolve my monitor problems (not only
the IIe but also the UK-NC is not fully compatible with my LCD TV-like
device).
Tablets/consoles:
I used the reMarkable 2 as an e-book reader as it is great for PDFs. I
also used it for the work-related activities like noting of articles
and making of drafts. It actually replaced my Palm devices in many
situations.
The BQ Aquaris M10 FHD was used for some browsing when I didn't wanted
to turn on other devices. Actually I have used it mostly to track
UBport progress than for an actual stuff. The same is with my Aquaris
E4.5 (once my main phone). Its primary role is to carry the COVID
certificates.
The nVidia Shiled Tables was designed for gamiong. And it was used on a
few occasions for ... err ... some gaming.
I also have got the GP2X portable gaming console. I installed some
stuff [3], put some music on the device and have started to enjoy it.
It eats batteries as an evil but it runs on a pair of AAs so I use
re-chargeables here. There are some other things (like the mapping
application [40]) I had to try but didn't in 2021. Maybe in 2022...
The Gemini PDA have became my wife's main shopping/greencard/navigation
device. o I no longer use it.
GPS:
No equipment-rlated changes here. I used the eTrex Touch for hiking and
the eTrex 30 for bike riding (mostly to record my tracks or as a
speedometer and nod for navigation). I ahve started to use paper maps
much more often than GPS anyway.
References:
[1]
https://mdfs.net/Software/PDP11/BBCBasic/
[2]
https://www.franticware.com/multiracer
[3]
https://www.franticware.com/multiracer
[4]
https://www.franticware.com/multiracer
