Datapoint 8600

[Dr_Discette]

Hi, I’m new here.
I have a Datapoint 8600 “rebadged 8200” and wanted to see if anyone can help me understand what I have here.

*note, I’m 99% sure it’s a 8600 NOT a 8200 because of the detached keyboard, the 8200 was a full terminal, also all the schematics of the inside of the unit I have matches the 8600 1:1

I’ve had her for a year or 2 now, when you look them up my post about it on Reddit is the first thing that pops up!
Everything I know or can find about it are can be found on this

datapoint :: 8600 :: 61294 8600 Brochure 1982 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

From the bitsavers.org collection, a scanned-in computer-related document.datapoint :: 8600 :: 61294 8600 Brochure 1982

archive.org

http://bitsavers.org/pdf/datapoint/8600/61115_8600_HardwareRef_May82.pdf

I’ve only seen 3 others in the wild. I had 2 of them but I had another collector buy one from me.

One was posted on Reddit by another user, and the last one I found in a museum in Europe..

I’m not gonna lie, this is WAY outside my knowledge or comfort level. So I would love to rehome her with someone who might be able to get it working..

Idk if trades are allowed on here, but let me know. I’m a big IBM guy, and I’m trying to restore my 5150 fully atm.

Thanks y’all

 

[Al Kossow]

you have 8600 schematics? I am really interested.
that looks like an 8200 terminal. the 8600 should have a card cage
see pics in http://bitsavers.org/pdf/datapoint/8600/pictures

does the keyboard have a modular jack or a db style connector on it?

 

[Dr_Discette]

It’s an edge connector, but huge update, a woman in Kansas has come across an entire stash of them!!!!!

 

[Dr_Discette]

 

[jdreesen]

That cartridge is used in a Cynthia Peripherals D120 or D140 mididisk. It has 10 Mbytes.
see http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/cynthiaPeripheral/pictures/
Used in Honeywell Bull computers, the Datapoint 9310 and 9320 drives, some Baydel PDP11 systems and the ETH Lilith.

 

[Al Kossow]

The 1560 is a Z80 system that runs completely different software.
I scrapped one a year ago because I've never been able to find any software for it
and now, of course manuals, diskettes and an arcnet hard disk show up

Then, there is unreasonable expectations of the value of this by the current owner.

 

[Dr_Discette]

The 1560 is a Z80 system that runs completely different software.
I scrapped one a year ago because I've never been able to find any software for it
and now, of course manuals, diskettes and an arcnet hard disk show up

Then, there is unreasonable expectations of the value of this by the current owner.

I’m hoping sometime soon to fly over to where she lives and help her catalog through the collection and figure out what she has.

I think she has the entire Datapoint ecosystem, with the main frames as well.

We are currently doing some research for which museum to reach out to about selling it/conserving it.

She wants to sell it. But she specifically wants to sell it so that it can be put on display! From what I know I think she might be one of the only people in the United States to have an entire set up potentially

 

[Dr_Discette]

The 1560 is a Z80 system that runs completely different software.
I scrapped one a year ago because I've never been able to find any software for it
and now, of course manuals, diskettes and an arcnet hard disk show up

Then, there is unreasonable expectations of the value of this by the current owner.

That’s also only the Datapoint stuff. There are entire rooms filled with terminals and computers that I’ve never seen before.

 

[jdreesen]

The 1560 is a Z80 system that runs completely different software.
I scrapped one a year ago because I've never been able to find any software for it

I've had this up for 5+ years : ftp://ftp.dreesen.ch/Datapoint/DOS.H
I didn't realize you were looking for this....

 

[Dr_Discette]

 

[Al Kossow]

lots of PCs

 

[Eudimorphodon]

(pictures)

FWIW, If the person getting rid of this stuff were willing to take a reasonable(*) offer on that LNW-80 I would be willing to discuss via IM.

(* "reasonable" is undoubtedly open to interpretation)

 

[Al Kossow]

Here is a block diagram of the system they probably have.
Finding every piece of the system, including documentation and all of the software media
is extremely important if someone ever tries to get it running again. I have a hardware summary
on bitsavers for the 1560 but no one has taken good internal pictures or dumped the firmware
from one or the mass storage devices.
The 8200 is an IOBUS connected peripheral, you can tell by the 37 pin connector on the back
Hardware wise, the 1650 isn't very exotic as opposed to Datapoint's earlier microcoded CPUs.
They offered CP/M for the 1500 series, but I've never heard of anyone with a copy of it.

I should put up a product timeline under datapoint/history. I always get confused by their constantly
changing product strategies in the 80s

 

[Al Kossow]

I was mistaken, the 8200 is serial. It appears the serial interface on the CPU side is in the disk controller box.
I just uploaded related product specifcations to bitsavers.

 

[Al Kossow]

this doesn't look promising

Vintage Brown Computer Keyboard Datapoint Quality Assurance Stamped 1983 | eBay

Made by Datapoint in 1983, it boasts a rich history and is sure to add character to any collection. The keyboard is stamped with the Datapoint logo, adding to its authenticity and value.

www.ebay.com

someone in Hays, KS trying to sell an 8200 keyboard for two grand.

 

[antiquekid3]

Complete with the incredibly detailed and accurate, totally-not-AI-generated description!

 

[Dr_Discette]

Complete with the incredibly detailed and accurate, totally-not-AI-generated description!

I think the son re-activated the old listing, atleast that’s what I am thinking atm. Been too busy to talk with them for a few days

 

[Dr_Discette]

this doesn't look promising

Vintage Brown Computer Keyboard Datapoint Quality Assurance Stamped 1983 | eBay

Made by Datapoint in 1983, it boasts a rich history and is sure to add character to any collection. The keyboard is stamped with the Datapoint logo, adding to its authenticity and value.

www.ebay.com

someone in Hays, KS trying to sell an 8200 keyboard for two grand.

 

[Al Kossow]

They've also listed an Infocom game for $1100
I don't think they understand listing things at absurd prices isn't going to get it sold
unless it is going to a keytard, and I don't think Datapoint keyboards have much appeal
to them.
They also have absurdly low seller feedback (14)

 

[Al Kossow]

It looks like it might work for my 8650 turbo, but their minimum offer is over $150
Let 'em sit on the stuff...