[SGVLUG] Real Dumb Terminal Woes

[Emerson, Tom]

> -----Original Message-----
> Behalf Of David Lawyer
> On 1/24/06, Don Saxton <dsaxton at pacbell.net> wrote:
> > I got some experience finding a text terminal ...
> 
> You mean emulated terminal of type "Linux".  It's not a real text
> terminal like I'm using now.  The rains we had resulted in a number of
> my keys sticking so I ... wrecked the keyboard ...  So I'm using a spare
> melted in the oven a few years ago trying to dry it out when it got
> wet in the rain.  ...  I'm now back in business with
> my keyboard created by swapping parts, but now I don't have much in
> reserve for any future failures. ...  Anyway, perhaps it's time
> to upgrade to a newer terminal after 23 years.  New ones cost $400 +,
> almost the price of a low-end PC.

Try this link:

http://www.quasaronlinestore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=QSI&Category_Code=T

warning: it has PICTURES of the terminals they are selling {most less than $200, some even below $100)

You could try this one:

http://www.surety-sys.com/HPPreownedEquip.html

but every product has a price of "call us", so they may try to milk you for all they can  (note: this page features HP equipment specifically, and as the HP3000 is an "obsolete" system, you can pick up parts, especially terminals, really really cheap...)

Note also the 700/9x series of terminals offer both HP and DEC emulation mode, so you can usually get this configured for your environment fairly easily

http://www.escorp.com/s_HP_monitors_terminals.asp has 700/92 & 700/94 terminals for about $100 (and 19/20/21" monitors as well)

http://www.alimartech.com/workstation_server_part_inventory.htm, near the bottom, lists HP terminals as well (and qty on hand, but no price...)  The 700/96 "console" might have a proprietary serial connector (well, seemingly proprietary -- it is actually a common connector, but not one normally associated with RS-232...)  The "secure web console" might even be network based (tcp/ip)

(warning: really long link and I'm too lazy to use tinyurl)
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-HP-Compaq-Thin-Client-t5515-LINUX-Network-Terminal_W0QQitemZ5856849370QQcategoryZ11218QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This is an e-bay auction for (get this) a "BRAND NEW HP Compaq Thin Client t5515 Series Terminal" [running a transmeta "crusoe" chip, no less!]  Current bid is about $50; "buy it now" is $150; bidding ends in about 22 hours, but there appear to be several instances of this or a similar terminal "up for bid"

http://cgi.ebay.com/Retro-Computer-HP-2626A-Data-Terminal-vintage-cpu_W0QQitemZ8748968549QQcategoryZ4193QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Another HP terminal -- affectionately known as an "ET" terminal (look at it's profile...) has an integrated thermal printer to boot!

In short, if you consider the used/refurbished market, there are plenty of "terminals" available that should fit your budget much better than $400 (at which point you would buy a new computer in the first place...)

Tom