• Please review our updated Terms and Rules here

New Member From U.K

C

Cosmic-Wizard

Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2013
Messages
12
Hi everyone, my name is James and I live in London, U.K.

I came across this site while Googling so thought I'd join up.
I've had an interest with computers since I was 4 years old. My parents bought a Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48k, but they couldn't get it to do much. I had a sneaky play with it and I've been hooked ever since.

I love all aspects of vintage computing and my dream would be to own a vintage 1970's mainframe like an old Honeywell or IBM :D

I currently own a few systems both old and new. I've still got my Spectrum and I also own a Compaq Portable Plus & Portable 2 plus a couple of 486 machines.

My most treasured machine however is a 1996 HP Netserver LX Pro which is called Big Bertha. I've owned this since 2002/3 and have restored and upgrded it since. It may not be a vintage mainframe, but it's big, runs multiple SCSI drives and is now quite rare here in England. I've also got a Netserver LH Pro to keep Big Bertha company ;)

Apart from computers, my other interests include Electronics and Music.

Hope I haven't bored you too much lol. I'm now going to check this site out.
Take it easy:)
 
Nope.. TLDR.. j/k welcome! :) It's actually a quad core Pentium Pro? Very nice! Probably a bit OT but what OS do you run on it? Were the Compaqs an after thought/collecting effort or were they part of the evolution of your families computer purchases?
 
Hello there :)

The LX Pro is fitted with four Pentium Pro 200Mhz processors. At the moment it's running on Windows 2003 Server, but I'm going to change it back to 2000 Server. From what I've read, Microsoft did away with a work around in 2003 which enabled the operating system to use all four processors. 2000 Server was the last NT operating system that was able to run with twin/quad cpus. I did wonder why 2003 Server takes upto 10 minutes to shut down :eek:

I bought the Compaq's on eBay some years ago - I've always loved HP/Compaq machines. I originally bought a Compaq Deskpro (the first version) on eBay, but it was missing it's monitor and keyboard. It all worked, but after some time it became apparent that I'll never find the missing parts. During this time the Portable Plus came up for sale but it had a video problem. On closer inspection, the Deskpro had the same video card, so I sacrificed the Deskpro to save the Portable Plus.

Now though, the Portable Plus has died. It's developed a power supply fault which looks like it's a common problem on those machines :( I'll get round to mending it at some point lol.
 
Cosmic-Wizard said:
From what I've read, Microsoft did away with a work around in 2003 which enabled the operating system to use all four processors. 2000 Server was the last NT operating system that was able to run with twin/quad cpus.
Click to expand...

That is not my understanding nor my experience. Windows Server 2003 should be able to take 4 CPUs no problem in the Standard Edition, and many more in the Enterprise Edition.
 
Ironically most of the x86 servers I've played with have all been dual processor and multi-core so I haven't experienced 2k or 2k3 on a true quad-processor machine. MS does claim 2003 will support 4 processors though. But it could also be a restriction on what supports Pentium Pros. If you're adventurous you might try some *nix variant or BeOS for fun.
 
Sorry, wasn't that clear there. It's to do with the number of Pentium Pro CPUs. There's also mention of having an even stepping number on the CPUs for them to work properly. It's all a bit too advanced for me, but from experience Windows 2000 Server is definitely alot faster booting up and shutting down than Windows 2003 Server.
When I get time I'll fire it up, get 2000 Server back on and do a little vid of the start-up. I miss hearing those SCSI's spin up :)

BTW barythrin, that BeOS looks interesting. I've not heard of that OS before.
 
LOL you're not crazy. I've been thinking about getting one myself. I've had a few old systems over the years that I've picked up at car-boot sales, but they've never compared to my little Spectrum. They end up gathering dust and cluttering up the place, so I sell them on. I'm afraid a QL will go the same way.

Here's a pic of my Spectrum when I had it setup a little while ago ;)

 
C64EVA! Spectrum sucks! Oh, and Byte (Soviet clone) would kick it's ass too. :p

Nah, man, just kidding, welcome aboard, need more brits to invade and whilst I am a commodore guy through and through there's deffinitely not enough speccy talk around here. Oh, and I like the sound of your Pentium Pro system, deffinite lack of server/workstation grade gear over in the UK.
 
LOL I knew it wouldn't be long before I got some grief from a Commodore guy :p

I remember that there was always a divide in the school playground between Commodore and Sinclair boys. Even I will admit that the sound and graphics were better than the little Spectrum though. It's good that this banter can still continue after 30 years and also that our machines are still working. I wonder if it will be the same with the Playstation and Xbox boys in 30 years time?

Yeah, old mainframe/server equipment is very hard to find over here, unless I'm not looking in the right places lol. A great deal of the old systems were just thrown in skips when offices were refurbished - criminal really. Just wish I was born a few years earlier, I may've been able to save some :(

BTW, I'll post some pics up of Big Bertha in a bit ;)
 
Cosmic-Wizard said:
LOL I knew it wouldn't be long before I got some grief from a Commodore guy :p

I remember that there was always a divide in the school playground between Commodore and Sinclair boys...
Click to expand...

I liked Charlie Brookers take on it
There was, however, one thing that Spectrum and Commodore users could agree on; users of the BBC Micro - the third system - were d**ks.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the banter carries on, technically the Commodore was before my time, I'm more from the SNES vs. Mega Drive era, my best friend is a Sega guy wheras I am a Nintendo guy and we still bicker over it as well as Megadeth vs. Metallica. As for the Spectrum being the weaker system in the graphics and sound department though, Spectrum programmers instantly gain a lot of respect from me when they make something good.

You think people will remember Xbox and PlayStation in 30 years? Archeologists will be digging them out of the ground in 100 years maybe and deciding that the only possible use was likely an elaborate door-stop or paper weight and it will baffle scientists for years why it existed in a society that probably didn't use much paper... Oh, and Giorgio A. Tsoukalos will say Aliens built it.
 
Thanks Tezza :D

High_Treason said:
I liked Charlie Brookers take on it


Yeah, the banter carries on, technically the Commodore was before my time, I'm more from the SNES vs. Mega Drive era, my best friend is a Sega guy wheras I am a Nintendo guy and we still bicker over it as well as Megadeth vs. Metallica. As for the Spectrum being the weaker system in the graphics and sound department though, Spectrum programmers instantly gain a lot of respect from me when they make something good.

You think people will remember Xbox and PlayStation in 30 years? Archeologists will be digging them out of the ground in 100 years maybe and deciding that the only possible use was likely an elaborate door-stop or paper weight and it will baffle scientists for years why it existed in a society that probably didn't use much paper... Oh, and Giorgio A. Tsoukalos will say Aliens built it.
Click to expand...

LOL I remember that comment. Charlie, of course was a Spectrum boy ;)

I agree with all of that. I forgot about the Sega / Nintendo war. I had a SNES and a Game Boy. Never had a Sega, but I always loved playing Sonic the Hedgehog on a mates Mega Drive - happy days :D

Got to be honest though, I lose interest with games consoles. I always prefer to sit infront of the Spectrum for 15 minutes watching the flashing bars and listening to the screeching while a games cassette loads. They do say old habits die hard lol

By the way, my oldest mate - who I've known since we were both 4 years old - had a BBC B. I won't tell him what Charlie said lol
 
Last edited:
Welcome. It's nice seeing new members show up, share their experiences and show off their machines.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top