🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <Bx946L.KCM@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu> mgcbo@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu (Charles B. Owen) writes:
>I was very interested to notice this new newsgroup.  I have long been
>interested in obtaining a small PDP-8 system as a collector item,
>to restore and get operational.  I think lots of the machines are still
>floating around (???)

Yup, I'd definitely say so.

>Questions:
>
>Is anyone else doing this, as just a hobby (not maintaining one for
>business use)?

I know of quite a few who maintain pdp8 systems just for the fun of it.
I'm one of them. I have actually scrounged together 7 pdp8 systems.

>How available is software that I would not have to pay DEC for?  Much PD
>available?  For obsolete hardware, it would almost make sense for DEC to
>give the stuff away.  

I'd say you could get every piece of software for the pdp8 without
paying anything. DEC has released much to DECUS, and I doubt they
would try to sell any of it today.

>Any problem maintaining these systems?  I am very good at electronics,
>so I can handle anything I can get parts for.  But, are there many
>custom parts that are difficult to obtain?  (particularly mechanical
>parts)  DEC still support?  (Reasonably)  

I'm not that very bright on electronics, but I'm not having too much
trouble keeping systems running. Just get the drawings for the machine
and everything will be quite easy. DEC also still has some of the hardware
in stock, if you just ask the right person.

>Any idea what used systems are costing?  I an talking about the real
>PDP-8's, not the Rainbows.

Most of these systems goes for free nowadays. Maybe a few bucks, but
not much.

Rainbow is not a pdp8, by the way. I suspect you are thinking of the
DECmate I, II and III.

>Thanks for any comments.
>Charles B. Owen

You're welcome.
-- 
Johnny Billquist                  || "I'm on a bus
CS student at Uppsala University  ||  on a psychedelic trip
email: bqt@minsk.docs.uu.se       ||  Reading murder books
pdp is alive!                     ||  tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol