OT: card storage

[D Yuniskis]

Hi,

Like most folks, I've accumulated a fair number of
"I/O cards" over the years. Many I need to hold onto
to give me certain capabilities (e.g., EIA485, certain
digital I/O's, etc.) to maintain old designs. Others
are worthwhile from time to time as I reorganize my
machine herd and opt to support different peripheral sets.

[I'm currently only speaking of COTS cards -- ISA, PCI,
various memory packages, etc. -- not custom stuff]

Storing these has proven to be not trivial. I've tried
different approaches over the years -- antistatic bags,
small boxes (e.g., "Wide SCSI HBA's", "TR NIC's", etc.),
big boxes (e.g., "Network cards", "Memory", etc.). None
really seem to work well. :<

The REAL solution is probably just to sh*tcan the lot
and <shrug> when I come across a future need! :>

Has anyone come up with a slick way of storing cards
that doesn't beat up on the cards, makes it relatively easy
to locate the card you want *and* doesn't dramatically
increase the volume required to store them (i.e., putting
each in "retail packaging")? Right now, I think the
most viable option (for me) is back to antistatic bags
(to help the cards slide over each other without "catching"
on protruding components) in *large* boxes :-(

Thx,
--don

 

[Jeffrey D Angus]

Has anyone come up with a slick way of storing cards
that doesn't beat up on the cards, makes it relatively easy
to locate the card you want

Order the right size box for several cards to lay in without
having to show horn them in. The real key is uniform size
boxes so they all stak and play well with each other.

Similar to these:
http://www.uline.com/BL_425/White-Corrugated-Boxes

Then start labeling the boxes. NIC, Modem, VGA, etc.

Jeff

 

[D Yuniskis]

Hi Jeff,

Order the right size box for several cards to lay in without
having to show horn them in. The real key is uniform size
boxes so they all stak and play well with each other.

Similar to these:
http://www.uline.com/BL_425/White-Corrugated-Boxes

Then start labeling the boxes. NIC, Modem, VGA, etc.

That's been the problem! With the exception of "duplicates"
of individual cards, it seems like every card is a different
size (and even *shape*!). Couple that with the differences
in component heights/placement, heatsinks, coolers, etc. and
things just don't want to stack nicely. :<

Most of the memory sticks are reasonably well behaved
(though there are some exceptions -- like metal clad
RAMBUS memory, etc.). PCMCIA cards tend to be annoyances
(often due to accommodations for connectors, etc.)

That's why I feel it's probably not worth "fighting" with
them and just bag them and let them fall where they will
in an oversized box :-(

Or, cut some slots in a 1x4 and try to *stand* them in a
suitably dimensioned box...

 

[D Yuniskis]

Find a 'bin' box wide enough for the largest one. Use the bags as you
have mentioned and 'stand' them on edge in the bin box, perhaps
alpabetically front to back.

They don't like to stand :< I've tried standing them with
"connector down" as well as "connector up". They just don't
like either of those orientations "unassisted". That's why
I was thinking of just letting them "slosh around" (the bags
acting as the "lubricant") -- as long as they don't damage
each other.

Or make a cheat sheet - possibly label/number the bags. ???

<grin> I'm not *that* anal retentive! :> If I can see the
card inside the bag, then I'm all set. E.g., "this box
contains network interface cards" (so I know everything in
it will be a NIC). I can dig through a dozen or two cards
to find what I want once it's narrowed down like that.

 

[D Yuniskis]

Hi John,

If they all have edge connectors, you could put 1/16" slots in a
couple of square dowels mounted on a flat board, and store the cards

Yes, I've thought of a "slotted board" (run a 1x4 over a table
saw with blade set at 1/4" or so) without the "dowels" atop.
I'm just not thrilled that even *that* will keep them from
conspiring to topple once they're out of sight (i.e., box closed)

I guess its a lot easier if you have cards that are the same size,
etc. as you can support them (reliably) in more than one place.

 

[D Yuniskis]

Hi William,

I put mine in anti-static bags and store the often used ones in a
metal file cabinet drawer. The less often used stuff goes into copy

Yes, I am more and more convinced that this is the way to go.
I use smaller boxes (think of a 10 read copy paper box sliced
so it is half as deep) to cut down how much "digging" I need
to do. I tend not to be very patient when looking for a
card that I *know* I have so having too many boards in a
box is a Rx for *something* getting busted! :>

paper boxes. It works well for ISA, PCI, and MCA. It should be EISA
compatible as well. <g>

Yes, but only those certified to be Windows compatible!
Else the green electrons intermingle with the *blue*
ones and all hell breaks loose!

A few end up stacked around The Lab, waiting to be knocked over, but I
didn't say that. ;-)

<frown> Better than me -- mine end up on the floor waiting
to be *stepped* on! :-/ (OTOH, this is an excellent
deterrent to walking around barefoot!)

 

[Paul Keinanen]

If they all have edge connectors, you could put 1/16" slots in a
couple of square dowels mounted on a flat board, and store the cards
erect, connectors stuck into the slots, with a piece of paper with a
description next to each card.

If you have some old unused passive backplane computers, which usually
have a lot of ISA and PCI slots, just plug in the cards into these
empty slots

 

[Robert Sneddon]

If you have some old unused passive backplane computers, which usually
have a lot of ISA and PCI slots, just plug in the cards into these
empty slots

Get some old dead motherboards, hacksaw the PCI/ISA socket areas out
then screw them down to a piece of blockboard or similar sized to fit
the bottom of your storage box. Give the slots a spray of contact
cleaner before you stick the cards in to keep the edge connectors shiny.

I use 16"-20" plastic toolboxes to store my assorted ISA/PCI cards as
well as other general hardware such as CPUs, video cards, cables etc.;
they're cheap, rigid, stack nicely and they can be sealed with some
shrink-wrap film around the lids to prevent moisture getting in if they
spend any time in an unheated storage space.

 

[N_Cook]

Hi,

Like most folks, I've accumulated a fair number of
"I/O cards" over the years. Many I need to hold onto
to give me certain capabilities (e.g., EIA485, certain
digital I/O's, etc.) to maintain old designs. Others
are worthwhile from time to time as I reorganize my
machine herd and opt to support different peripheral sets.

[I'm currently only speaking of COTS cards -- ISA, PCI,
various memory packages, etc. -- not custom stuff]

Storing these has proven to be not trivial. I've tried
different approaches over the years -- antistatic bags,
small boxes (e.g., "Wide SCSI HBA's", "TR NIC's", etc.),
big boxes (e.g., "Network cards", "Memory", etc.). None
really seem to work well. :<

The REAL solution is probably just to sh*tcan the lot
and <shrug> when I come across a future need! :>

Has anyone come up with a slick way of storing cards
that doesn't beat up on the cards, makes it relatively easy
to locate the card you want *and* doesn't dramatically
increase the volume required to store them (i.e., putting
each in "retail packaging")? Right now, I think the
most viable option (for me) is back to antistatic bags
(to help the cards slide over each other without "catching"
on protruding components) in *large* boxes :-(

Thx,
--don

I'm aware of a repair shop where they had strung steel wire near the ceiling
of the store, tensioned with turn-buckles (otherwise unused space). Then a
plastic curtain hook hot-melt glued to corner of each board, on a weekly
basis, then strung up. Timewise order to the boards , so could be
cross-referenced to repair job log so no logging of the boards as such

 

[JosephKK]

Hi,

Like most folks, I've accumulated a fair number of
"I/O cards" over the years. Many I need to hold onto
to give me certain capabilities (e.g., EIA485, certain
digital I/O's, etc.) to maintain old designs. Others
are worthwhile from time to time as I reorganize my
machine herd and opt to support different peripheral sets.

[I'm currently only speaking of COTS cards -- ISA, PCI,
various memory packages, etc. -- not custom stuff]

Storing these has proven to be not trivial. I've tried
different approaches over the years -- antistatic bags,
small boxes (e.g., "Wide SCSI HBA's", "TR NIC's", etc.),
big boxes (e.g., "Network cards", "Memory", etc.). None
really seem to work well. :<

The REAL solution is probably just to sh*tcan the lot
and <shrug> when I come across a future need! :>

Has anyone come up with a slick way of storing cards
that doesn't beat up on the cards, makes it relatively easy
to locate the card you want *and* doesn't dramatically
increase the volume required to store them (i.e., putting
each in "retail packaging")? Right now, I think the
most viable option (for me) is back to antistatic bags
(to help the cards slide over each other without "catching"
on protruding components) in *large* boxes :-(

Thx,
--don

For a quick help from what you are doing, sort the cards into boxes by
type and LABEL the boxes. Only one kind in a box. Put the boxes in
storage racks and label the racks.
If you really want to protect the cards build card board separation
racks, include space for matching specialty cables and driver software.
This eats up more space but keeps important combinations of things
together.
One of the smartest things i ever did was to package all the driver
software with each PC i have. I actually placed it inside the case.

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

Hi,

Like most folks, I've accumulated a fair number of
"I/O cards" over the years. Many I need to hold onto
to give me certain capabilities (e.g., EIA485, certain
digital I/O's, etc.) to maintain old designs. Others
are worthwhile from time to time as I reorganize my
machine herd and opt to support different peripheral sets.

[I'm currently only speaking of COTS cards -- ISA, PCI,
various memory packages, etc. -- not custom stuff]

Storing these has proven to be not trivial. I've tried
different approaches over the years -- antistatic bags,
small boxes (e.g., "Wide SCSI HBA's", "TR NIC's", etc.),
big boxes (e.g., "Network cards", "Memory", etc.). None
really seem to work well. :<

The REAL solution is probably just to sh*tcan the lot
and <shrug> when I come across a future need! :>

Has anyone come up with a slick way of storing cards
that doesn't beat up on the cards, makes it relatively easy
to locate the card you want *and* doesn't dramatically
increase the volume required to store them (i.e., putting
each in "retail packaging")? Right now, I think the
most viable option (for me) is back to antistatic bags
(to help the cards slide over each other without "catching"
on protruding components) in *large* boxes :-(

Thx,
--don

For a quick help from what you are doing, sort the cards into boxes by
type and LABEL the boxes. Only one kind in a box. Put the boxes in
storage racks and label the racks.
If you really want to protect the cards build card board separation
racks, include space for matching specialty cables and driver software.
This eats up more space but keeps important combinations of things
together.
One of the smartest things i ever did was to package all the driver
software with each PC i have. I actually placed it inside the case.

Since every case designer seems to have their own bright ideas about
how to mount hard drives etc. it's not a bad idea to bag up all the
extra hardware in a 4 mil poly bag and store it inside the case. Then
you won't find yourself looking for an extra-long metric screw and
silicone grommet, or thin snap-in rails etc. Another possible place is
the mombo box- a dozen or two of them fit nicely on a high shelf.

You can buy boxes in various form factors from places like Uline. If
it isn't worth a 50-cent box to store neatly, maybe it should be
tossed?


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[D Yuniskis]

Hi Spehro & Joseph,


I create a directory containing all of the software installed
on a particular machine along with a text file documenting the
order in which the software was installed (so, if there is a
problem, I can figure out *why*; if not, I now have *one* way of
installing everything that is 'known' to work). I burn this
onto a set of DVD's so I can reinstall as needed.

(I also image the drive so I can restore it to its initial
configuration relatively easily without having to reinstall
all of the software *again*...)

Since every case designer seems to have their own bright ideas about
how to mount hard drives etc. it's not a bad idea to bag up all the
extra hardware in a 4 mil poly bag and store it inside the case. Then
you won't find yourself looking for an extra-long metric screw and
silicone grommet, or thin snap-in rails etc. Another possible place is
the mombo box- a dozen or two of them fit nicely on a high shelf.

I don't save cases. If it's not running (i.e., "in service"),
it goes in the recycle bin.

You can buy boxes in various form factors from places like Uline. If
it isn't worth a 50-cent box to store neatly, maybe it should be
tossed?

I tried that route. You end up with *lots* of "wasted volume". :<
Just pilling boards into four "large" boxes resulted in about
4 cubic feet of "boards". I suspect that would double if each
board was packed in something akin to retail packaging.

E.g., I store my "spare" keyboards in "keyboard boxes" and
they easily take up twice their minimal volume.

I suspect most boards are such commodity items that a 50c
box would be a huge (relative) investment -- in cardboard. :>
(OTOH, if you just toss those commodity cards out, the cost
of acquiring a new one WHEN YOU NEED IT is ridiculously
expensive -- travel time, opportunity costs, etc.)

I'll see how the "sort into four categories" approach works.
If I can find boxes that are ~30% smaller, then I can, perhaps,
toss 30% of the boards (and *hope* I toss the ones that I
won't need NEXT WEEK! :> )

 

[D Yuniskis]

Hi Michael,

I use "Totino's Frozen Pizza" boxes to store keyboards. You can

Huh? Oblong pizzas?? :> (sorry, I just can't picture this :< )

stand about eight in each box. I pick them up at the grocery store for
free. Some of the other frozen food and packaged lunchmeat boxes are
great for storing PC boards & spare drives. The boxes for three, one
gallon bottles of water is good for CD & DVD drives, or other 5.25"
drives.

I've "standardized" on "Vacutainer" boxes (vacutainers are those
vacuum-filled, rubber-stoppered, "test tubes" that are used when
blood is drawn). They are ~18x12x6 so they fit nicely on my
(18 inch deep) shelves. They are big enough that I can store
"enough" in each -- yet not *too* big to end up with lots of
"empty space".

E.g., I have a box for SCSI "1" cables, "2", "wide", VHDCI,
DB25, VGA, DVI, 10Base2, "RJ45", etc.; boxes for screwdrivers,
chisels, drills, etc.; CD-ROMs, DVD writers, speech synthesizers,
barcode readers, PDAs, signature pads, etc.; development boards
(SBC's), hookup wire scraps, etc.; access points, routers, network
fabric, network appliances, etc.

[I think there are ~130 of these boxes currently]

Empty 55 gallon steel drums are great for all those extra hard drive
cables, and other cables from dead PCs. When you get tired of digging
through them, they are already ready to haul to the recyclers. ;-)

I like the cables sorted. Probably 25% of my "storage" is
dedicated to cables. I suspect there is more *real* "value"
there than in any of the other stuff -- it seems like I
don't go more than a day without needing to dig out some
sort of cable! Especially all of the odd-ball "specials"
common for USB :-/

I don't throw out any good boards. You never know when you'll need
one you can't replace. A few years ago I repaired a prototype IBM PC
for a retired IBM EE. The old man was in tears when he discovered that
I not only had a FDC board, but it was a genuine IBM board.

I don't throw *out* anything. Everything gets recycled.

I don't save "old" stuff anymore -- unless I need it to
support an old design, etc. E.g., I have only one ISA bus
PC -- but, it can support two *full* length cards.

OTOH, I got bit yesterday as I needed a PS2 keyboard and
didn't have a "spare" (I only keep a few spare keyboards
and most of those are "specials") so I had to borrow one from
one of my servers. :<

I really like these little *tiny* keyboards (about 12" wide?)
for those machines that I run headless -- yet "need" a keyboard
to be able to power it down "locally" (i.e., "typing blind").

[I keep a portable *7* inch LCD monitor for those times when
I need to connect a display to a headless machine... requires
a bit of squinting to read but a lot nicer than having to
lug a larger monitor around!]

 

[D Yuniskis]

Hi Michael,

Rectangular boxes the ship 10 pizzas in. 10" wide, 20" long and 7"

Ahhh! --------------------------^^^^^^^^

I was trying to imagine how the box for a *single* pizza
could possibly be useful <:-/

deep. Some come with lids, while others are just open trays.


The water boxes are 6.25" wide, 18.5" long and 10" deep.

OK, different form factor (narrower opening, deeper).

E.g., I have a box for SCSI "1" cables, "2", "wide", VHDCI,
DB25, VGA, DVI, 10Base2, "RJ45", etc.; boxes for screwdrivers,
chisels, drills, etc.; CD-ROMs, DVD writers, speech synthesizers,
barcode readers, PDAs, signature pads, etc.; development boards
(SBC's), hookup wire scraps, etc.; access points, routers, network
fabric, network appliances, etc.

[I think there are ~130 of these boxes currently]

I'll see your 130, and raise you over 500 Banana Boxes. (16" wide,
20" long and 9" deep They are used for storage without shelves in one
of my small shop buildings. They are in three groups, stacked eight

--------^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

If I had a "separate space" for work related stuff, the
gravitational field would probably be highly distorted in its
vicinity! :> (i.e., I learned not to have too much
"storage space" lest you end up storing too much *in* it! :> )

high. They are two stacks deep along the outside walls, and a center
isle three deep down the center of the building. That leaves two long
three feet wide isles. This is where things are stored and sorted
before being recycled or dismantled. There are bulk components,

Ah, I only keep what *I* will (personally) use.

computer, test equipment and tooling stored there. A few complete
telephone systems & spare parts that I was using to support some radio
stations.

That was where I did most of my work before I became disabled. I
would grab some old equipment and decide if it was worth repairing. If
it was, I would look for the parts I needed, or just make notes and box
it up until I got the parts. Others were like the old WE or SC 2500
series five line phones. (1A2 type) I had a steady stream of bad phones
show up. The ones in good shape were repaired and boxed up. The rest
were scrapped as fast as I could. In 10 years I scrapped over 500 of

(sigh) There was a time when I was looking for WE 500/2500 sets.

them. I still have some spare phones and 400 series cards. They are
going to a local tire business for spares as I find them. They help
local Veterans, so it's only fair to return that help.


The barrel is for things that I have way too many of. Like 25 foot
Centronics Printer cables or 50 foot RS232 cables. I will grab one of
those to make a custom cable for someone. I just dug out a 25 foot
Centronics Printer cable a few days ago to make a long Serial Printer
cable for an IOLine vinyl cutter for a friend to cut lettering. No one
stocks them anymore, around here. They probably never did stock
anything over six feet.

I hang onto cables because I don't want to have to *make* any!
Just too damn much work for what it's worth, usually.

So, I keep a good assortment of various types of cables in
various lengths. The only ones I have in short supply are
the nice 12" wide SCSI cables. :<

I have a stack of boxes full of hard and floppy drive cables. Others
are full of various power cables. About 500 AC adapters sorted by
voltage, or application. (EG: HP Printer power supplies)

I have two of the vacutainer boxes set aside for "unmatched" wall
warts/bricks. Anything that *needs* a wall wart/brick has that
stored with it.

OTOH, there are times when I need a standalone power supply
for some bit of kit. If I am lucky, I'll have a supply
in one of the boxes *with* the right connector. If not,
I'll find a suitable supply and cut the existing connector
off and replace it with another.

(I presently have to do that with a pair of external HD
enclosures that are missing their power packs)

I'm 'down' to about 200 keyboards and about 130 mice right now.

I typically only keep one of each type of keyboard as a spare.
Recently, however, my spare PS2 keyboard was used to replace
one that developed a flakey spacebar. Unfortunately, I
didn't think to replace the *spare* at the time! :<

Yesterday, I needed to power down one of my headless servers
and discovered that it's keyboard had given up the ghost.
So, I had to resort to powering it down remotely.

I also have a couple 3' cubed shipping containers full of Commodore
computers.

I really like these little *tiny* keyboards (about 12" wide?)
for those machines that I run headless -- yet "need" a keyboard
to be able to power it down "locally" (i.e., "typing blind").

[I keep a portable *7* inch LCD monitor for those times when
I need to connect a display to a headless machine... requires
a bit of squinting to read but a lot nicer than having to
lug a larger monitor around!]

You can't use VNC software to shut it down from another computer?

Not all of my machines run GUI's.

I can telnet/ssh to any of them and shut down that way.
But, that means having to turn *on* a second computer
*just* to telnet to the *first*!

If, instead, I leave a keyboard attached to each, I can simply
type (without *seeing* what I'm typing):

root
<password>
shutdown -p now (or whatever)

wait a few seconds for confirmation that the box *is*
shutting down...

 

[D Yuniskis]

Hi Michael,

[attributions elided]

Bulk is anything that won't fit in a single drawer in one of the ol;d
50 drawer 'Akro Mils' parts

I keep those mounted on one wall. I think there are currently
14 60-drawer cabinets. But, lately, I have been moving "small things"
into old pill bottles, etc. as wall space is at a premium, here.
I may run HVAC into the little (100 sq ft?) store room off the
garage and convert that into usable storage space. But, too many
other "more pressing" projects before that...

Something like these, but five drawers wide & ten tall:
<http://www.akro-mils.com/image_library/view.asp?id=2636>

Mine are 6 wide and 10 tall. Same general idea. I passed up
two "revolving racks" of drawer units (each 4 sided, 6 ft tall
made of those little drawers) simply because I didn't have the
space to store them. :< I'm trying *not* to store little
parts any more as i can just have Digikey drop a package on
my doorstep in a few days (instead of tying up space *anticipating*
future needs)

I give away a lot of used computers & parts, so any that work go into
boxes. There are times when I don't have any to spare.

Yes, there is a group here that does that on a large scale
(probably a thousand PC's yearly) so I bring any "recyclable"
items to them. Stuff like this turns up far too frequently
to set aside places to *store* it!

(OTOH, 13W3 KVM's tend to be "keepers" when I do come across them!)

While waiting with baited breath and a fire extinguisher? ;-)

No, most systems (especially if they don't have "MS" anywhere
in their name!) can handle even abrupt power cycles. The
only frustrating part is if the keyboard had been "bumped"
in the past N days so that the console wasn't sitting
at the "login: " prompt -- since I can't verify that visually.
In that case, I have no way of knowing that my login was
unsuccessful! So, if the machine doesn't start shutting down
when I expect it to, then I have to go back through a more
systematic set of keystrokes to *ensure* I am at a "login: "
prompt, etc.

<shrug> And, if push comes to shove, take the 7" LCD out of
it's case and plug that in. (I have learned to leave a video
cable dangling out of the back of every headless machine here
so I don't have to try to crawl behind it when I *need* to
plug in a monitor! :> Painful lessons learned through
experience...)

 

[D Yuniskis]

Hi Michael,

I mounted a bunch of them on an old 9-track computer tape storage

Huh? The 9T racks I have seen were basically "open" -- nothing to
hang things off of (besides the tapes' "hooks")

rack. I added heavy casters and covered the back side with these:
<http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa...o?itemid=41949&CategoryName=&SubCategoryName=>

That way I can roll it around the storeroom, or turn it around to get
the hardware stored in the open bins.

Yeah, the key there is "storeroom" :> As I said previously, if I
had a place to dedicate to this stuff, I'd do things differently.
But, with age, I've found I like having less and less "stuff"
around to deal with (though I am still not to the point of
wanting to "live in two rooms" someplace! ;-) Probably NEVER
trim down *that* much!)

I had a repair buisness years ago. Why throw out the parts, and buy
more?

Depends on whether or not you have the space to store them.
My first move (out of college) my "load" was 19,000 pounds.
Amusing considering I was just a college kid, etc. :> (I
think all I had by way of "traditional belongings" was a
bed, a couch, a kitchen table and a refrigerator)

I live in terror of ever having that much "stuff" again.
It would be *so* nice to be one of those guys who can get by
with just a laptop. *ONE* laptop! :>

I have several of the Sony versions of those SUN monitors with the
BNC connectors.

4BNC and 5BNC. Actually, I think finding that sort of KVM would be
even harder than a 13W3! (though you could adapt one with an
appropriate set of cables, etc.)

I prefer a monitor switch to switch through the various machines, but
I do have a background in TV Broadcasting.

I found most KVMs don't like the typical mix of machines that
I have, here. They'd "hang" at inopportune times, etc.

So, for "headed" machines, I usually use monitors with two
or more video inputs and just do the switching in the monitor.
This is a little tedious as I usually run dual-headed on
most machines -- but, can also be a win as I can switch one
monitor to machine A while the other is on B and do two
things at once (with careful planning of screen real estate).

The pisser comes from the keyboards (and mice, if I'm running
a GUI). It is *really* hard to keep track of which keyboard
to type on for which "monitor" (machine) -- especially as
you could have the screens set up as A1+A2, B1+B2, A1+B2 or
B1+A2 (so you never really know *what* you're doing until you
get some feedback from a screen :< )

<shrug> Life was so much simpler with a Bell 103 and ASR33...
(though considerably more BORING!)

 

[D Yuniskis]

Hi Michael,

That's it, in one! I screwed a sheet of scrap 1/4" pegboard to one
side to hold the bins, and stacked the metal framed 50 drawer cabinets
on the other. A narrow piece of angle aluminum was run vertically on
both outside edges to tie them together, and to the frame.

Ah, OK. Must have been a real b*tch to try to move it!

The 'Storeroom' is an old 10' * 10' 'Office' off the back of the
shop, where I store tools & parts to keep them away from 'Visitors' with
sticky fingers. I had planned on opening a small shop when I retired,
but I ended up disabled, instead.

I'd like a basement -- except it would quickly end up cluttered.
:< With limited space, you think real hard before you *keep*
something. Especially anything sizable! Hence the appeal
of things that can get "stored" *inside* other things. Like
cards installed in a PC (instead of piled in a box!).

I've been slowly scanning the paperwork that I deem worthy
of saving. That will clear up a fair bit of space (volume).

Heh. I moved over 18,000 pounds when I moved south. I hauled it in
two trips in an old Chevy stepvan.

Now imagine that much stuff when you're "just getting started
in your 'adult' life"! :>

I've had almost a ton of electronic equipment show up at my shop one
day while I was out to lunch. It took me the rest of the day to move it
all from the front door, then into the storeroom.

Like odd bits of furniture, best not to let it in the door
to begin with -- as it is hard to get it back *out*, later! :>

Not a KVM, just a monitor switch. Separate keyboards & mice per
machine.

Ah, OK.

It's too bad someone hasn't hacked together a laptop that
is *just* a monitor + keyboard! I imagine there would be
a market for such a beast.

You had an ASR33?

Yeah, I still have one in the garage. Don't want to scrap
it but *shipping* it anyplace is a real chore. :<

 

[D Yuniskis]

Hi Michael,

What are you scanning? A lot of manuals are available on sites like
'retrevo.com'. Other sites have free downloads of service manuals &
test equipment manuals, as well.

These are either documents for old projects that I did
(and didn't have the foresight to save the electronic versions
of those documents at the time -- something I quickly
learned!), tax and business records, etc.

The most tedious are the print manuals that were never
available (publicly) in electronic form. In addition
to the actual *scanning*, there is a lot of work
getting the manuals "disassembled" to the point where
they *can* be scanned (e.g., ripping "perfect binding").

I've got ~5 cu ft of MULTICS manuals that have been
staring me in the face for a while, now... most of
them are printed on "european size" paper (is that
A4?) so it's also a bit "different" to handle.

Yes, but not enough to convince the bean counters to let them bring
it to market.

I may see if I can hack together a little adapter to fit inside
just such a beast next time I come across one that "feels
right". Doesn't have to be "pretty" -- just functional.
Maybe turn it into a Hackable?

Someone on the 'Green Keys' group would love to have it.

Oh, there are lots of folks who would "love to have it"! :>
Problem is, getting it out of here requires considerable
effort on my part to ensure it will "travel well". It's
just not high on my ToDo list (I got rid of another one a few
months ago so I figure I'm already "50% done"! :> )

 

[Paul Carpenter]

Hi Michael,


These are either documents for old projects that I did
(and didn't have the foresight to save the electronic versions
of those documents at the time -- something I quickly
learned!), tax and business records, etc.

We all have one or two (or several) of these...

The most tedious are the print manuals that were never
available (publicly) in electronic form. In addition
to the actual *scanning*, there is a lot of work
getting the manuals "disassembled" to the point where
they *can* be scanned (e.g., ripping "perfect binding").

I know various place like The British Library, has special research
centres so they can make electronic copies of various documents,
books etc..

Bear in mind they CANNOT rip the bindings or damage some books
many HUNDREDS of years old, so they use special prism like structures
to scan two partially open pages, often in special chambers to
avoid damp, dirt, insects etc.. getting in whilst scanning.

They cannot afford to damage most books as they are even less
obtainable than your old Multics manuals.

I've got ~5 cu ft of MULTICS manuals that have been
staring me in the face for a while, now... most of
them are printed on "european size" paper (is that
A4?) so it's also a bit "different" to handle.

Slight correction ISO standard paper size, used in most of the world
major exception North America.

Nearest thing is ultra thin clients.

--
Paul Carpenter | [email protected]
<http://www.pcserviceselectronics.co.uk/> PC Services
<http://www.pcserviceselectronics.co.uk/fonts/> Timing Diagram Font
<http://www.gnuh8.org.uk/> GNU H8 - compiler & Renesas H8/H8S/H8 Tiny
<http://www.badweb.org.uk/> For those web sites you hate

 

[JosephKK]

Hi Michael,


Ah, OK. Must have been a real b*tch to try to move it!


I'd like a basement -- except it would quickly end up cluttered.
:< With limited space, you think real hard before you *keep*
something. Especially anything sizable! Hence the appeal
of things that can get "stored" *inside* other things. Like
cards installed in a PC (instead of piled in a box!).

I've been slowly scanning the paperwork that I deem worthy
of saving. That will clear up a fair bit of space (volume).


Now imagine that much stuff when you're "just getting started
in your 'adult' life"! :>


Like odd bits of furniture, best not to let it in the door
to begin with -- as it is hard to get it back *out*, later! :>


Ah, OK.

It's too bad someone hasn't hacked together a laptop that
is *just* a monitor + keyboard! I imagine there would be
a market for such a beast.

It not only has been done, but is still available, mouse included.
But most of such currently are just repurposed laptops. Probably more
user hacks than commercial sales. A great excuse to buy a laptop that is
otherwise relatively CPU underpowered.