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Vintage Computers Any vintage computer systems, calculators, video games etc., but with an emphasis on 1980s and earlier equipment.

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Old 20th Jan 2023, 12:47 pm   #21
Realtime
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Default Re: So what exactly were INS8060s used for?

What goes around comes around It's all new to me though.
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Old 20th Jan 2023, 2:24 pm   #22
ScottishColin
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Default Re: So what exactly were INS8060s used for?

This may start to drag the thread off topic (again - apologies if so) but I found a 1983 thesis that talks a lot about the 8060 (amongst other things).

Well beyond me but I thought others might find it interesting.

https://purehost.bath.ac.uk/ws/porta...rth_thesis.pdf

Colin.
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Old 20th Jan 2023, 3:15 pm   #23
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Default Re: So what exactly were INS8060s used for?

Just had a very fast skim, looks quite interesting. Certain individuals will be excited to note that circuit elements of 'Softy' are discussed at one point, including the video output buffer for which the circuit is given...
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Old 21st Jan 2023, 11:08 am   #24
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Default Re: So what exactly were INS8060s used for?

Some more photos of the EP4000 and P4000 programmer in my flickr account here :

https://www.***********/photos/tony_d...77720305391660
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Old 1st Feb 2023, 2:31 pm   #25
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Default Re: So what exactly were INS8060s used for?

As it transpires, one of the uses of the INS8060 was in the Softy 1 EPROM programmer.

http://www.bygonebytes.co.uk/Softy.html

One of which resides upstairs alongside an MK14.

Each was excavated from an enormous cardboard box of junk in the misleadingly termed "Instrument Store" at work.

It must be said that everything in there was dry stored because, despite the lack of a radiator in the room, the temperature never dropped below about 90 deg F due to the various heating pipes.
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Old 1st Feb 2023, 5:20 pm   #26
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Default Re: So what exactly were INS8060s used for?

Hello DrStrangelove, any chance you might bring those two survivors downstairs and see if they still work?
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Old 1st Feb 2023, 7:22 pm   #27
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Default Re: So what exactly were INS8060s used for?

and if anybody fancies building a replica SOFTY1 : http://theoddys.com/acorn/Replica%20...a_softy_1.html

Chris
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Old 3rd Feb 2023, 9:18 pm   #28
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Default Re: So what exactly were INS8060s used for?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark1960 View Post
Hello DrStrangelove, any chance you might bring those two survivors downstairs and see if they still work?
IIRC the MK14 powered up with "--------" on the display.

I've never powered the Softy 1.
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Old 3rd Feb 2023, 10:33 pm   #29
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Default Re: So what exactly were INS8060s used for?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DrStrangelove View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark1960 View Post
Hello DrStrangelove, any chance you might bring those two survivors downstairs and see if they still work?
IIRC the MK14 powered up with "--------" on the display.

I've never powered the Softy 1.
Hopefully you've got the original PSU for the Softy-1, so are able to try it sometime. However, if you don't have one, then Chris has also designed a modern Single (USB) +5Vdc powered replacement using switching regulators (being as getting a suitable replacement for the original custom multiple secondary's one will be difficult & doesn't seem like DIY transformers with ready-wound primary are still sold).
Chris's one also sequences the supplies correctly, for added precaution against failures - See above link on the Softy-1 Replica.
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Old 4th Feb 2023, 6:50 pm   #30
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Default Re: So what exactly were INS8060s used for?

I don't have the original psu.

It may well have been in that enormous cardboard box back in the day and presumably remained there or in the equally enormous cardboard box full of wall warts, all of which went to recycling.
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Old 22nd Feb 2023, 6:33 am   #31
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Default Re: So what exactly were INS8060s used for?

As stated in January, Italian 1979 pinball tables:-
These data are selected from the excellent site www.zaccaria-pinball.com (q.v.)
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Old 22nd Feb 2023, 1:11 pm   #32
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Default Re: So what exactly were INS8060s used for?

Fascinating - and no known examples of them exist!
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Old 22nd Feb 2023, 6:04 pm   #33
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Default Re: So what exactly were INS8060s used for?

If you're referring to the pinball machines, I don't see any reason to assume that. The website is aimed at enthusiasts/collectors.
There are closeup pictures showing details. No doubt a (treasured) example or two are out there....
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Old 22nd Feb 2023, 10:20 pm   #34
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Default Re: So what exactly were INS8060s used for?

Ah OK looks like the Background page may be out of date then which is the main one I read - then again I should have clarified "working"

"8060 Games

Based on a single circuit board using the National Semiconductor INS8060 processor, produced in 1978-1979:

Ski Jump
Strike
Space City

Very little is known about these games. There are no known working examples of any of them. Strike seems to be the most common of the three."
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