Z100 Lifeline - is it still alive?
Bob Groh
the Z100 Lifeline is still active? The web site is still active but
doesn't show any additions in last 9 months or so. I have emailed
them (i.e. Stephen Vagts) and waiting for a reply. Decided to hop
over here, sign up and add to my email count and forum count!
For a bit of history, I was a Heathkit employee (ham radio department)
in St. Joseph, Michigan from 1977 to 1961 - right among the big surge
in computers. My first purchase at the company store was an H-89
(which I still have) and later I purchased a Z-100 (which I still
have). Also have another Z-120 sitting on the side. If I didn't have
so many other hobbies, I would be more serious about getting these
back and running. Maybe I will this winter - well, hope springs
eternal.
Bob Groh
Blue Springs, Missouri
Bob Groh
Actually heard from Charles Hett who was one of the 3 gentleman who
worked on the IDE card for the Z100 which was a major project for
Stephen Vagts at the Z100 Lifeline. Mr. Hett says that the Z100
Lifeline is still chugging along - he got his last issue back in May
2009 - but activity is, understandably low. Hence a response to my
email to Mr. Vagts may be a bit delayed (I assume that he has many
other pots in the fire than our beloved Z100s!).
The IDE card (which also handles compact flash cards) was apparently a
success after a good deal of work and Mr. Hett reports that it is a
wonderful to be running a Z-100 with a couple of GB of 'silent' hard
disk. I think I will try another email to Mr. Vagts and prod him for
an update on that card. Might even be enough to break out my
Z-100's!!
Bob Groh
Bob Groh
of his response below. Bottom line is: yes, the Z100 Lifeline is
still active.
"Hi Bob,
Thanks for writing. Yes, we are still here. It's just that I've been
busy building a master bath room addition since February and haven't
been very active with anything else. I've just painted the drywall and
am to the point of installing the cabinets, so I've got a ways to go
yet.
As an update, the new IDE controller board are done and have been
shipped out. I've heard from one person who was having problems
getting his Disc on Modules (DOMs) to be recognized, but I think that
it was a problem with the speed upgrade in his computer. I asked him
to try another computer and I haven't heard further from him. I've
tried his installation on three different computers here and found no
problems.
Regarding the LifeLine, I've slowed down to about three issues a year,
the last one was sent out in May, 2009, but I'm looking for topics for
the next one. I was hoping that I would hear from more persons with
their IDE installations.
I can relate to your weighty problem, as I still have about a dozen of
the machines myself. They are in the garage, which I've had to make my
electronics workshop, and I swear the house is leaning in that
direction also.
Cheers,
Steven Vagts ---- Editor, Z-100 LifeLine
+++++ "Long live the Z-100!!!" +++++
e-mail: z100li...@earthlink.net
--- Visit the Z-100 LifeLine website at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~z100lifeline