k p Collins <kpaulc@[----------]earthlink.net> asks:
> Im curious.
> If you care to say... why?
Good question. The short version of the answer: partly to keep a piece of
history from being scrapped, partly because I've always wanted to try
programming on a -12 and never had the chance, and partly because
restoring computers of this age is fun. :)
A lot of early computers have been destroyed for their scrap value over
the years, with the result that some machines of that era (like the PDP-7
and PDP-9) are almost nonexistant now. It's a shame, because the computers
of that time are in some ways much more interesting than modern ones; you
can examine the design of the computer all the way down to the gate level
(or, with some, the transistor level!) and learn a great deal about how it
was designed. That's kind of hard to do with a microprocessor. :)
Unfortunately a lot of machines from that era have been melted down to get
the $70 or so of precious metals they contain. I'd kind of like to save
a PDP-12 from that possible fate.
I first heard of the PDP-12s back around 1978, and have always been
curious about them - they're an interesting hybrid of two earlier
computers - but have never had a chance to work on one. Now that I'm
older, I'm hoping to find a way to remedy that. :) I've restored a
PDP-8/I, a near-relative of the -12, and enjoyed it a lot more than I
expected to; since then I've gone over a set of schematics for the -12,
and it looks like it would be an interesting project. Soooo here I am,
ready, willing and able. Now all I need to do is see if I can actually
_find_ a machine to restore. :)
...I realize this particular post has gone somewhat off-topic, but it
seemed like a reasonable question. :) Anyway, if someone out there
knows of a hospital or lab or office or individual who has a PDP-12
they'd consider selling, I'd be grateful for the information.
Thanks!
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ohh at drizzle.com I promise I'll pay them a lot more than the
scrap value. :) :)