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The "Not Quite Amiga but still computer related category" => Alternative Operating Systems => Topic started by: TheMud on July 02, 2012, 11:34:40 PM

Title: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: TheMud on July 02, 2012, 11:34:40 PM
First of all - why I post on an Amiga site ? Because here I finde people who knows most. And I always get the best answers here. Sooooo... Thats why.

Found this in my moms attic.

It's a suitcase.

In it there is a computer. Has 2 disc drives, som plugs, a monitor connected with a cable as is the keyboard and it even has a build in printer. Weird... Didnt know she had this.

Best of all - it works. Even the disc's are still intact. There is somekind of medical program on it, with info about different drugs. The screen is monochrome (green) or what is it called again? :-D

What I Know.:

British Broadcasting Corporation - Microcomputer System
Operating System - Acorn DFS (Disc File System)
Disc drives names are Opus

It's a portable computer in a suitcase - name of case, "Potterton"

You can see it here
http://www.guloggratis.dk/computere/stationaer/anden-model/annonce/16018899-bbc-mikro-computer-system
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: CritAnime on July 03, 2012, 12:11:23 AM
Can you post some pics of it? I have seen most Acorn systems but this is confusing. Its possible its a custom system.
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: persia on July 03, 2012, 12:27:45 AM
Is it this?

http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/1327/Acorn-Briefcase-Communicator/ (http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/1327/Acorn-Briefcase-Communicator/)
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: TheMud on July 03, 2012, 12:29:25 AM
Quote from: CritAnime;698789
Can you post some pics of it? I have seen most Acorn systems but this is confusing. Its possible its a custom system.


There are pics just follow the link in post one :-)

http://www.guloggratis.dk/computere/stationaer/anden-model/annonce/16018899-bbc-mikro-computer-system?bigimages=1#images
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: bloodline on July 03, 2012, 01:23:09 AM
Nice, a custom build of a beeb! :)
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: TheMud on July 03, 2012, 05:26:09 AM
Quote from: bloodline;698796
Nice, a custom build of a beeb! :)

Of a beep ? Nooooo it's a fine machine. Surfin' from it now typing this ;-)
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: bloodline on July 03, 2012, 07:50:30 AM
Quote from: TheMud;698811
Of a beep ? Nooooo it's a fine machine. Surfin' from it now typing this ;-)
"Beeb" is what we used to call the Acorn BBC computers here in the UK. Every school in the '80s had hundreds of them and I had some of my earliest experiences on them :)

Acorn DFS = Acorn Disk Filing system... That's the operating system ;)
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: psxphill on July 03, 2012, 11:22:52 AM
Quote from: bloodline;698823
"Beeb" is what we used to call the Acorn BBC computers here in the UK. Every school in the '80s had hundreds of them and I had some of my earliest experiences on them :)

Beeb is also used as slang for the British Broadcasting Corporation.
 
You're lucky if you had hundreds of them, we had little over a dozen (I'd guess 15 because it's half a standard class size but that is a very rough guess).

I remember we had 2 BBC master computers.
 
ECONET was awesome. We didn't have that at school but I did a course later on that had a server with a hard disk drive.
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: Hattig on July 03, 2012, 11:33:40 AM
Heh, 3" floppies. That format died out pretty quickly apart from a few 8-bit lines. The discs were very robust.

It's a very nice find, and you'll have to play Chuckie Egg now.
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: bloodline on July 03, 2012, 12:01:12 PM
Quote from: psxphill;698834
Beeb is also used as slang for the British Broadcasting Corporation.
 
You're lucky if you had hundreds of them, we had little over a dozen (I'd guess 15 because it's half a standard class size but that is a very rough guess).

I remember we had 2 BBC master computers.
 
ECONET was awesome. We didn't have that at school but I did a course later on that had a server with a hard disk drive.
My school had a couple of computer rooms, with about 30 BBC model Bs in each and every classroom had one too... Probably approaching about a hundred machines in total... These were all on the ecconet, with a large central hard drive... Then in the early 90's they were all replaced with Archimedies A3000 (IIRC, then later, quite a few were upgraded to A3020)... But I remember typing *I am MattParsons to log on and then access all my files :)
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: TheMud on July 03, 2012, 01:18:08 PM
Soooo it's worthless?

Darn... :-D
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: bloodline on July 03, 2012, 01:27:38 PM
Quote from: TheMud;698858
Soooo it's worthless?

Darn... :-D
Not worthless! It looks in perfect condition and that software must be of historical value to someone!!!
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: CritAnime on July 03, 2012, 02:29:57 PM
Looks to me like it's some sort of one off build. With it all been in working condition I bet it would fetch a nice price to someone who is into these odd ball custom systems.

My guess is it would have been used in a GP's surgery or maybe a clinic given that it looks to have some pharmacy related software. Actually it would make a really nice coding station too. I would keep it and use it myself.
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: _ThEcRoW on July 03, 2012, 02:33:04 PM
Whoah! 3" disks!. I thought these were used only in amstrad computers. I still have my original cpm disks as well as a number of blank floppies for my first computer.
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: Hattig on July 03, 2012, 03:16:58 PM
Quote from: _ThEcRoW;698874
Whoah! 3" disks!. I thought these were used only in amstrad computers. I still have my original cpm disks as well as a number of blank floppies for my first computer.


Yup, Amstrad CPCs and PCWs, also later Spectrums, Tatung Einsteins, the Opus disc drives shown in this unit, the Oric disc drive, and probably quite a few other places too.
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: psxphill on July 03, 2012, 05:47:57 PM
Quote from: Hattig;698882
Yup, Amstrad CPCs and PCWs, also later Spectrums, Tatung Einsteins, the Opus disc drives shown in this unit, the Oric disc drive, and probably quite a few other places too.

They weren't popular by any stretch of the imagination, but they weren't limited to Amstrad either (The Spectrum didn't have a 3 inch drive until Sinclair sold the Spectrum to Amstrad).
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_floppy_disk#The_3-inch_compact_floppy_disk
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: Darrin on July 03, 2012, 06:44:22 PM
Quote from: CritAnime;698873
Looks to me like it's some sort of one off build. With it all been in working condition I bet it would fetch a nice price to someone who is into these odd ball custom systems.

My guess is it would have been used in a GP's surgery or maybe a clinic given that it looks to have some pharmacy related software. Actually it would make a really nice coding station too. I would keep it and use it myself.


I was wondering the same thing.  It looks like someone has tried (and done a fantasic job) of turning a BBC Model A/B into some sort of custom build.  Great find!
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: Nostalgiac on July 03, 2012, 08:51:36 PM
far from ! excellent find, and custom build as well.

If you *must* sell it, I'm sure it will fetch a nice price (no, must not bid... damn... stop...)

Tom UK
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: CritAnime on July 03, 2012, 09:51:06 PM
I really wouldn't sell it. Its something that begs to be used and I would imagine that it would end up in a private collection and gather dust. The Beeb was a brilliant computer, it had some great games and was easy enough to program on.
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: Duce on July 03, 2012, 10:30:19 PM
Really unique piece of kit - I'd hang onto it if I were you.
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: TheMud on July 04, 2012, 06:59:51 AM
Quote from: Nostalgiac;698920
far from ! excellent find, and custom build as well.

If you *must* sell it, I'm sure it will fetch a nice price (no, must not bid... damn... stop...)

Tom UK


Yes yes.. Bid - I don't want it. Im not into this kind of stuff. Wouldnt be used.
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: InTheSand on July 04, 2012, 07:58:33 AM
Quote from: psxphill;698903
They weren't popular by any stretch of the imagination, but they weren't limited to Amstrad either (The Spectrum didn't have a 3 inch drive until Sinclair sold the Spectrum to Amstrad).
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_floppy_disk#The_3-inch_compact_floppy_disk


Back in the day, I also saw a couple of Beebs connected to 3" drives - these were in an industrial setting but I'm not sure why they had these drives rather than the 5.25" common units - perhaps better durability?
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: foleyjo on July 04, 2012, 09:17:03 AM
Everyone who had a BBC at school in the 80's must remember playing Grannys Garden on it
Title: Re: BBC Micro Computer System Acorn DFS
Post by: CritAnime on July 04, 2012, 10:09:51 AM
I was thinking of that myself :)