From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: kees.stravers@iae.nl (Kees Stravers) Date: Thu, 02 Mar 2006 17:03:29 +0100 Subject: [TUHS] ATT 3b2 In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <44072561.19971.9511DD1@kees.stravers.iae.nl> On 20 Feb 2006 at 10:43, Stuart, Jon wrote: > Hello, > > I'm interested in acquring an AT&T 3b2 computer. One of these > systems > used to run a famous public UNIX system "killer". They also run > #5ess > telephone switches, however the OS is different in that case > (DMERT/UNIX-RTR instead of whatever the consumer-level 3b2 runs). Where are you located? I have an Olivetti-rebranded AT&T 3B2/400 machine over here, but I live in The Netherlands and I have decided long ago never to lift that machine again and leave it where it stands now in the house. It may not be that big but it is very strongly built and it has two heavy full height 70 MB 5.25 hard disk drives in it. You see, the last time I carried this machine, more than 10 years ago, I hurt my back because of it and had to have six weeks of therapy. It bothers me to this day. The perils of collecting old computers, I guess. What impressed me most when I got the machine, apart from my back problems, whas the impressive manuals that came with it, a row of red binders in grey sleeves with excellent documentation. Also I was surprised by the on/off switch, which does not blindly power off the machine but initates a proper shut down sequence, so you can shut it down properly without knowing any passwords. All *nix machines should have a power switch like that. Also, the serial ports had RJ45 connectors already, and that is a lot easier if you have to put the plug in while fumbling about on the side, you can put them in without looking. I'm not doing much with it now since my main interest in old computers still is the VAX. Regards, Kees Stravers http://www.vaxarchive.org/