Approaches to projects (was: KM11 maintenance module

[Tony Duell]

> > Therefore, the computer is cheaper and easier to obtain than components.
> 
> Agreed. I've got, what, three PC laptops and two Acorn A4s. The lowest-sp=


I don;'t have a single PC-compatible laptop. I've got a Tandy M100, a 
handful of Epson HX20s and a PX4, an HP110 and a couple of Portable 
Pluses..... I do use them, but I don't think any are particularly 
suitable for making a KM11 clone. 

Incidentally, if you use a laptop to make a KM11 clone, presumably you 
need some hardware to link it to the KM11 slot on the DEC backplane. I 
can't believe that's the sort of thing that's thrown out by your 
neighbour (or, indeed, is as easy and cheap to obtain as a few buffer chips).

> I wouldn't object to ripping PCs apart - again, common as dirt. I would
> cringe at the sight of someone ripping apart a perfectly good ZX81, and i=

What's this love of the ZX81, which I regard as a postively horrible 
machine. I'd not rip one apart, though, mainly because there's little of 
use to raid from it...

> Current rarest machine: a Jupiter Ace that needs major motherboard repair=
> s.
>   Assuming I can get the m/b back that is :)
> 
>   If anyone's got a Jupiter Ace that they want rid of, I'm listening :). =

I've only got one, and I'm hanging on to it. I happen to like Forth (and 
RPN in general).

-tony