WTB: 1985-1990 laptop with MS-DOS - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: abdullahseba
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 10:46:40 am
content: Does any one have a working 1985-1990 laptop with an RS232 port with MS-DOSfor under £40?

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 10:53:09 am
content: I've got a couple of "luggable" systems laying around (Compaq Portable 3 style).Though, can I ask why you don't just use a VM or DOSbox on a more modern system?Sent from my Smartphone

author: eurofox
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 11:55:31 am
content: I have GWBasic running on my Windows 8.1

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 01:35:01 pm
content: You know you can get modern USB to RS232 adapters don't you?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 05:25:45 pm
content: Older laptop with PCMCIA slot and buy a PCMCIA serial port, which gives a genuine serial port that actually has real UART chips on it. It can do all those odd things that real serial ports can do. Then install the windows drivers and install Dosbox or Virtualbox and install dos in the VM, and allow it to access the serial port hardware directly.Saves looking for old stuff, just merely stuff 5- 10 years old.

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2014, 07:01:01 pm
content: Are you sure you want such an old laptop?I have a 1986 Bondwell 8 laptop somewhere in the loft but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't hideous to use. 720k floppy and really slow.http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/6731/Bondwell-Model-8/

author: poida_pie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2014, 01:01:58 am
content: Even though there exist good usb -> RS232 converters, one machine I work with refuses to have anything to dowith all laptops I have tried using such a converter. The machine only permits programming via a real RS232 connection.I understand the need for this. The devices I used where two variations of Keyspan USA-19HS.And so, my old HP laptop with a real RS232 and the capability to boot via USB is a laptop you will have to pry away from my hands with some difficulty.

author: abaxas
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2014, 07:43:23 am
content: No need for a laptop that old.See if you can find an IBM 240 laptop. I still keep one around purely for serial/cisco stuff.(it dual boots win 98 and ubuntu)

author: abdullahseba
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2014, 08:52:02 am
content: Well, I need for a very old software to program a Motorola MC micro.If you download the software set the compatibility to Windows 95http://www.electro-tech-online.com/threads/motorola-mc-micro-programming.97740/

author: Pinkus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2014, 12:32:38 pm
content: I have a Toshiba T2400/3200 available if you like. It has Centronics and RS232 Interface.The battery missing.Including shipping from Germany you may get it for 30 Pounds if you like.If you are interested I will go and test it. I think it should be Win95 installed, but I am not sure yet.

author: abdullahseba
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2014, 10:54:00 am
content: Quote from: Pinkus on September 19, 2014, 12:32:38 pmthanks but it needs to be with MS-DOS as the software dose not work otherwise

author: abdullahseba
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2014, 10:56:01 am
content: Quote from: G0HZU on September 17, 2014, 07:01:01 pmhow much will you sell it for & dose it work

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2014, 11:02:40 am
content: Quote from: SeanB on September 17, 2014, 05:25:45 pmYes - PCMCIA cards get mapped into normal memory space so appear just like the real thing, under DOS or Win95/8.For stuff that bachest the port directly, even Win2K/XP can be doable usingdirect-io, though can be problematic running old PCMCIA cards due to different driver architecture.DOS PCMCIA drivers can be a bit of a fiddle to set up, but once working it's generally fine.

author: steve30
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 03:03:14 am
content: I just read the linked post and saw that it said that some programmers require a slow computer otherwise they run too fast. I was just wondering if it is possible to 'slow down' a modern computer? I know there is software which can do this for the benefit of old games.I just thought I'd ask as I have come across many late 90s/early 2000s laptops which have normal RS232 and parallel ports, and will run MS-DOS perfectly fine, but in your case, would probably run too fast.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 03:08:21 am
content: I think DosBox allows you to set the target frequency for DOS gameshttp://www.dosbox.com/Btw, we programmers required a fast computer, but programmes might need a slow down