BoatBanter.com - View Single Post

BAR

Calif Bill wrote:
"BAR" wrote in message
...
Calif Bill wrote:
"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 08 Dec 2007 11:37:04 -0500, wrote:

These IBM secrets weren't all that secret. I remember working next to
an AS5, a 3158 clone (Itel?)
Itel/National Advanced Systems (NAS)

It didn't take long for us to show the Tbar guy where his problem was
and that makes the customer happy. Isn't that the real objective?
In a perfect world... :-)

You were one of the good guys. Itel/NAS had a few "good guys" also
but you had to know who they were and ask for them by name.

The AS5 microcode updates were handled in the same lab as the one where
were were developing the 3800 clone. Microcode guy was known forever as
Floppy John. His name was John and he did the floppies for the updates.
Also his user name. Of course everyone reverse engineered the competions
code. And just seem to be near the same when re-engineered. ;) When I
was an FE, I handled the optical scanner for cash register tapes and he
hooked up to lots of the competions CPU's. Met some good guys and a few
duds dealing with them.
I have a strong dislike for an on-site IBM FE at C&S Bank in Atlanta.
Prick wouldn't let me borrow his o-scope to take two readings on a piece
of equipment I was trouble shooting. I even asked him to operate the
o-scope and he still said no.

Your operation to cheap to buy one? :) Maybe IBM was tighter than NCR.

Yeah, we were too cheap to buy a second one. We had one in the lab and
they wouldn't let it travel. Several times I had to go to Radio Shack
and buy the beginner soldering set to use to fix stuff.