| I’m into a weird part of retrocomputing where I mess with things other than just general purpose computers. Most of my equipment is old network/telecom stuff (mostly ISDN and general T1/E1 stuff rn, but I want to get into ATM) and network analyzers. Notably my Agilent J2300E which is a massive Windows 98 machine that look like a laptop but contains all sorts of sync and async serial interfaces too expensive to put on modern PCs (go find how much it costs to get a V.35 adapter) as well as all sorts of modules for various interfaces lile token ring, fddi, fast Ethernet, T1/E1, ISDN BRI, ATM, etc. It also has a nice software suite for emulation / analysis. If you’re curious why do have all this shit, in currently working on a user mode ISDN stack for Linux, which is keeping my love for programming on life support. But to answer the question, here’s what on my wishlist: HP-86 - recently sold my HP-85 with serial and GPIB expansions which I regret and will hopefully pick up an HP-86 to replace it eventually. Finding the serial and GPIB cartridges again my he a task. Lisp machines, particularly a MacIvory - no chance I get my hands on one anytime soon. One of the Tektronix Smalltalk Workstations - Will probably never even see one in my lifetime. DEC VAXstation - May be purchasing one of the larger ones later this year. Will probably stick NetBSD on it. DEC AlphaServer - Particularly models of which I find aesthetically pleasing. Not a Compaq or HP AlphaServer. The ones I like are always just a bit out of my price range. Will probably stick NetBSD on it. IBM 5100 (running APL) - rare and always too expensive on the occasion I see one for sale PDP-X - Actually a chance I might be able to run into a DEC PDP machine and be able to afford it someday. I kinda want an early AS400 , but will settle for a not quite retro iSeries. Not quite computers, but I also want: HP 700/70 - A windowing terminal which was based off an old window standard for terminals called AlphaWindows (for which I also need to find the spec because the current implementations are currently commercial software). I’ve see a few listings for these terminals, but always super shady. X.25 Equipment - PAD’s, switches, etc. I’m starting to thing X.25 was a legend because I have yet to find anything hardware related to it. Anyway my end goal it to have a crazy home network with all the crazy protocols I hack on sectioned off and connected to the main (modern Ethernet) LAN with my retro stuff sitting on various networks. |
X.25 may have been legendary, but certainly not mythical! It was what the UK academic network ran on long ago, and worked well, but was steamrollered by IP (which ran over it for a while). I was rather surprised at how primitive computing/networking was at the US equivalent lab when I spent a summer there. I wouldn't know where to look for kit now, but it's surprising what lurks in the bowels of academic establishments! I've seen suggestions it's still in use in other environments. There was something of a competition for the most obsolete bits found by out Field Support.
Edit: There's probably assorted X.25 in Jim Austin's collection, specifically on the GEC 41xx: http://www.computermuseum.org.uk/