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Its really sad they don't have any that allow you to use a front panel. Even their IMSAI 8080 has a plexiglass cover over the switches. I understand why they
by slededit 8y ago
Its really sad they don't have any that allow you to use a front panel. Even their IMSAI 8080 has a plexiglass cover over the switches.
I understand why they do it, but I think front panel computing is something that will be lost without letting a new generation experience it. Its a much more direct way to experience the machine.
Other than that complaint it truly is a great museum. They even have a Xerox Alto you can play with.
- peatmoss 8y agoI wonder if a front panel could be developed to work in conjunction with an emulator. As it was explained to me, the few systems that you can’t play with are mostly because they’re easy to mess up and hard to reset. It sounds like you have some expertise in front panel operations? If you have the time and inclination, maybe you could offer to help them out. At the very least, an email explaining your thoughts might inspire one of their engineers to create something.
- slededit 8y agoThere are cheaper kit clones of the Altair and others with front panel switches. I just find it weird that they don't let you touch the one thing that can't be emulated well, given the mission of the museum.