[Coco] Tom Mix SR-71 going for over $100

Richard Ivey rrivey at yahoo.com
Sat Apr 15 22:07:06 EDT 2006


I don't think "a fool and his money are soon parted" applies.. Granted, I think it's a little much to pay (not that I mind receiving $109.50, mind you), but he wanted it and he got it.  If this purchase makes him content and adds to his collection (makes you wonder what is IN his collection, doesn't it?), more power to him.  

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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Starting up memory problems and solution. (Stephen Castello)
   2. EPROM eraser wanted (Roger Taylor)
   3. Re: Tom Mix SR-71 going for over $100 (Dr. Turnip Q. Moron)
   4. Re: Preparing for a job which requires knowledge of C
      (Neil Morrison)
   5. Re: Switched wall wart for Roy's Video Adapter (Neil Morrison)
   6. Re: Tom Mix SR-71 going for over $100 (Neil Morrison)
   7. Re: Preparing for a job which requires knowledge of C
      (John Donaldson)
   8. Re: Preparing for a job which requires knowledge of C
      (Mark McDougall)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2006 12:50:52 -0400
From: Stephen Castello 
Subject: Re: [Coco] Starting up memory problems and solution.
To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts 
Message-ID: 
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

On Fri, 14 Apr 2006 23:40:10 -0700, Jim Cox  had a
flock of green cheek conures squawk out:

>After setting up my CoCo-3 and briefly testing it last 
>weekend, I decided to move the tabe to a better location.
>
>After the move, I briefly powered it up and then decided 
>to try a different monitor.  It was a used monitor that I 
>hadn't tried before, and it didn't come up right away and 
>when it did the entire screen was green without any text.
>
>I determined it was the RAM problem.  I reseated my Disto 
>board multiple times, but only had marginal success and 
>even then the screen would go blank after a minute or so. 
> I swapped out the board for a new C-9 512 board and after 
>a few adjustments, I got it seated correctly and it worked 
>fine.  I
>
>I am running the memory tests now and it's working fine 
>now.
>
>I am going to reseat all the RAM on the Disto board and 
>clean it's contacts and try it on another CoCo 3. 
> Hopefully it's just needs a little attention.
>
>I just wanted to check and see if anyone else has seen 
>this issue with the screen being blank due to a memory 
>issue.
>
>-Jim

I've had mine come blank, but most of the time it's full of random
characters.  If it occurs with nothing in the slot, moving the 512k
board pins up & down in their sockets has cured it.  For the blank
screen, it's usually the cartridge slot's fault.  I think it's revenge
for not using it enough. :-)

Stephen
-- 


------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2006 12:25:15 -0500
From: Roger Taylor 
Subject: [Coco] EPROM eraser wanted
To: cocolist for Color Computer Enthusiasts 
Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.0.20060415121936.04a883a8 at mail.newfoal.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

I'm looking for a used EPROM eraser, doesn't matter how old or ugly it is, 
as long as it works.  Also a 21v power supply if somebody can dig one of 
those out of your parts stash.  Bare wires at the end is ok because I will 
be soldering it to a 2-hole header for plugging into the Disto EPROM 
programmer.

If you donate it towards the CoCo3.com efforts to create new products, I 
will return a Portal-9 or Rainbow IDE registration, or if you want cash let 
me know your asking price.

I also want to ask other developers what the most common or popular 
Windows-based EPROM programmer might be so I can start looking into adding 
support to my IDEs.  I definatetly want to let the users burn their 
software to ROM right from the IDE if they are creating those kinds of images.








-- 
Roger Taylor



------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2006 12:54:54 -0500
From: "Dr. Turnip Q. Moron" 
Subject: Re: [Coco] Tom Mix SR-71 going for over $100
To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts 
Message-ID: 
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

on 4/14/06 11:57 PM, Mark McDougall at msmcdoug at iinet.net.au wrote:

 
> All I can say is: "A fool and his money are soon parted".

Perhaps more appropriately: "A fool and his money are soon popular"?

Shaun



------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2006 12:10:33 -0700
From: "Neil Morrison" 
Subject: Re: [Coco] Preparing for a job which requires knowledge of C
To: "CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts" 
Message-ID: <166c01c660c1$524ed310$dbe679d1 at NewBaby>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
 reply-type=original


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tony C" 

> One question stands out on the list, that I haven't been able to find a
solution on
(most of the others I've been able to come up with reasonable answers,
considering I haven't used the language in over 8 years)

> What is the difference between main() in a C program, and main() in a C++
program?

Not sure there is any. This is from Microsoft:

main: Program Startup

A special function called main is the starting point of execution for all C 
and C++ programs. If you are writing code that adheres to the Unicode 
programming model, you can use the wide-character version of main, wmain.
The main function is not predefined by the compiler; rather, it must be 
supplied in the program text.
The declaration syntax for main is:

int main( );

or, optionally:

int main( int argc[ , char *argv[ ] [, char *envp[ ] ] ] );

Microsoft Specific
The declaration syntax for wmain is as follows:

int wmain( );

or, optionally:

int wmain( int argc[ , wchar_t *argv[ ] [, wchar_t *envp[ ] ] ] );

The types for argc and argv are defined by the language. The names argc, 
argv, and envp are traditional, but are not required by the compiler. See 
Argument Definitions for more information and for an example.
Alternatively, the main and wmain functions can be declared as returning 
void (no return value). If you declare main or wmain as returning void, you 
cannot return an exit code to the parent process or operating system using a 
return statement; to return an exit code when main or wmain is declared as 
void, you must use the exit function.



------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2006 12:26:14 -0700
From: "Neil Morrison" 
Subject: Re: [Coco] Switched wall wart for Roy's Video Adapter
To: "CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts" 
Message-ID: <16a101c660c3$0e4044e0$dbe679d1 at NewBaby>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
 reply-type=response


Wal*Mart used to sell one. It's a multi voltage 1 amp which is much smaller 
and lighter than you would expect given the power ratings.

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/item/PS-10

is very similar.

Could

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/item/PS-440

or

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/item/PS-657

be adapted somehow?

Neil

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Cox" 

> Roy's adapter is working great, though when I power up something like a 
> fan or light, I get some momentary distortion.
>
> In the documentation Roy states that in this case it's best to get a 
> switched supply.  Has anyone done this, and if so, can then provide the 
> source and part number?
>
> I'll try looking this up later, but thought I'd ask the list.



------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2006 12:28:34 -0700
From: "Neil Morrison" 
Subject: Re: [Coco] Tom Mix SR-71 going for over $100
To: "CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts" 
Message-ID: <16a201c660c3$0eee5f30$dbe679d1 at NewBaby>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
 reply-type=response


When you see what people pay for things it's clear that too much money is 
chasing too few 'valuable' items.

"It's a nice vase but $40,000"?

Neil

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark McDougall" 

> All I can say is: "A fool and his money are soon parted".



------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2006 19:20:37 -0500
From: John Donaldson 
Subject: Re: [Coco] Preparing for a job which requires knowledge of C
To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts 
Message-ID: <44418DD5.5010500 at sbcglobal.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Tony,
   Don't feel too bad. I was once asked to name 5 different ways to sort 
a list of numbers. Then I was asked to write the code for one on a white 
board. Then another time I was asked what C is normally used for today. 
The answer was "Embeded Systems". Here is  a real kikker. We are looking 
at buying some DICOM software. DICOM is medical imaging database 
software. This package is written in C and VB. I asked which version of 
VB 5 or 5. The answer was Ver 5., which is almost 10 year old. The funny 
part is Microsoft is dropping all support for VB 6.0 next year. Not sure 
if we are going to buy this package. LOL

John Donaldson




Tony C wrote:

>I've been actively interviewing since I will be out of work sometime this
>year.
>I've been in my current position for 8.5 years, have only used C for a 2-3
>month project, about 4-5 years ago.
>I worked with C++ for 1-2 years when I first started here (8+ years ago),
>and it was the first time I had used C++ outside of school.
>The C++ project was extrmeley well architected, and made my coming up to
>speed easy, and i was able to produce something  within a reasonable amount
>of time.
>However, it only used a very tiny subset of the C++ features, which is
>really a blessing in disguise, considering all the bloat and pitfalls tied
>to the language.
>I've never used the STL nor iostreams.
>
>
>However, I do have both languages listed on my resume, and as a result I
>have been asked questions on both. The job req I'm interviewing for done's
>read x years with C programming", it just reads "knowledge of C". This is
>quite strangely worded, because it could be construed as an entry-level
>position (which it certainly is not).
>
>So earlier this week during a phone screen, I was asked 5 questions about
>C++ which I couldn't answer. I tried to direct the interviewer to the fact
>that I hadn't used the language
>in 6 years, and could probably pick up the things I need to know relatively
>quickly.
>
>During another phone screen, I was asked a few questions about C which I
>couldn't answer, but did answer other questions on C correctly.
>
>
>I think asking these types of questions do not really assess one's
>capabilities, and shouldn't be used exclusively to determine of a person is
>suitable for a position without giving
>them an opportunity to prove it. Many managers and engineers where I work
>also feel this way, and don't ask these types of questions.
>
>Since many of you are professional programmers, I'd like to get your input.
>
>I've found a list of 100 questions on C that I am going over this weekend,
>to get ready for a phone interview on Monday.
>The job isn't a full-time programming job, and that's fine with me. I've
>never been a full-time coder anyway.
>(that is, it's a full -time job that doesn't require me to write code al
>lthe time)
>
>
>One question stands out on the list, that I haven't been able to find a
>solution on
>(most of the others I've been able to come up with reasonable answers,
>considering I haven't used the language in over 8 years)
>
>What is the difference between main() in a C program, and main() in a C++
>program?
>
>I don't really need to know it, but it is intriguing, and I've never heard
>this before even in a classroom
>
>
>COmments ?
>
>thanks
>
>
>Tony
>
>  
>




------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2006 11:24:46 +1000
From: Mark McDougall 
Subject: Re: [Coco] Preparing for a job which requires knowledge of C
To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts 
Message-ID: <44419CDE.2040700 at iinet.net.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Tony C wrote:

> So earlier this week during a phone screen, I was asked 5 questions about
>  C++ which I couldn't answer. I tried to direct the interviewer to the
> fact that I hadn't used the language in 6 years, and could probably pick
> up the things I need to know relatively quickly.

As someone who has interviewed programmers for (embedded) programming 
positions, I can tell you that it's *extremely* difficult to assess 'coding 
skill' under interview conditions.

I've come to the conclusion that the absolute best you can hope to assess is 
whether or not the applicant can answer your questions!

I'm still amazed at the generally low level of competence out there - 
although to be fair it may be that, as a small company, we don't attract the 
'guns'?!? At times we worry that our questions are too hard, or unfair. In 
the last 7 years we've only had 1 applicant that breezed through all the 
questions in a few minutes - and thankfully he still works for us!

> I think asking these types of questions do not really assess one's 
> capabilities, and shouldn't be used exclusively to determine of a person
> is suitable for a position without giving them an opportunity to prove
> it. Many managers and engineers where I work also feel this way, and
> don't ask these types of questions.

I can see both sides of the argument. I think questions like this assess the 
applicant's experience rather than skill. There should only be a handful of 
indicative questions for each field - any more than that tends to ring alarm 
bells for me that the company culture is one of elitist w**kers who love to 
congratulate each other on how 'pretty' their company coding 
standards-conforming code is.

> What is the difference between main() in a C program, and main() in a C++
>  program?

My guess would be that, aside from the C startup code, main() in a C program 
is the first code executed. OTOH, all the global constructors are executed 
in a C++ program before main(), so you need to be careful what you assume.

Good luck with the job hunting!

Regards,

-- 
|              Mark McDougall                | "Electrical Engineers do it
|     |   with less resistance!"


------------------------------

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