Date   : Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:08:20 +0000
From   : afra@... (Phill Harvey-Smith)
Subject: Leicester RCM Show (RM Nimbuses)

Andy Taylor wrote:
> Phill Harvey-Smith wrote:
>> Andy Taylor wrote:
>>   
>>> Alex Taylor wrote:
>>>     
>>>> Nice to see a mention of a compact Mac. I have a bunch of them
>>>>       
>>> Mine definitely works. Some pics can be found on flickr. 
>>> http://bit.ly/3qkJ1i
>>>     
>> Ohhh, that's the later one that looks like the later MCA based 286 and 
>> 386 machines (I have one of the 386 ones).
>>
>> What sort of a keyboard are you using on your machine ? I was lead to 
>> believe that they where unique to Nimbus 186 machines. I'll have a look 
>> to see if I have a spare RM keyboard, and if so I'll bring that along.
>>   
> Using a standard PS/2 keyboard. Works fine. Dont have a mouse for it. 

Humm, the 286/386 machines ued a ps/2 keyboard too, so maybey they 
upgraded the Nimbus to use a ps/2 also, or maybe I'm miss remembering, 
though my machines deffo have a 5 pin DIN connector, so maybe it's the 
old AT standard which is of course ps/2 compatible...

> The mouse port looks like a serial port, but im not sure.....

Don't think it's a serial port, it's more like the old ST and Amiga mice 
where there was no intellegence and the output from the wheel encoders 
was connected direct to the D9. I have several spares, I'll bring a 
couple along.

>> Looking at your disk controler board, it looks like it *may* be capable 
>> of being upgraded to run a hard disk, by addition of some extra chips.
>>
>> Bear in mind though that the interface implemented is SASI, and will 
>> work with a very select group of early SCSI drives and some SASI->MFM 
>> bridge boards similar to those that where used on the Master.
>>
>> I'll bring one of my controlers with me then we can look at the 
>> feasability of doing this, as far as I know it's all standard LS.
>>   
> We can take a peek inside at the weekend!

Indeed.

Cheers.

Phill.

-- 
Phill Harvey-Smith, Programmer, Hardware hacker, and general eccentric !

"You can twist perceptions, but reality won't budge" -- Rush.