Claude × retrocomputing: emulating a QIC-117 tape drive
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Claude × retrocomputing: emulating a QIC-117 tape drive
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Re: Claude × retrocomputing: emulating a QIC-117 tape drive
#2I think LLMs go against the retrocomputing ethos
Re: Claude × retrocomputing: emulating a QIC-117 tape drive
#3I think LLMs go against the retrocomputing ethos
Then so do emulators, flash drives instead of 1541's, etc. Nobody forces you to use generative models to get older hardware to do its thing, you're still free to try to get the actual hardware to run, free to build interfaces to get QIC drives connected to whatever you want them connected to, etc.
Re: Claude × retrocomputing: emulating a QIC-117 tape drive
#4I think LLMs go against the retrocomputing ethos
It removes the fun of figuring things out by yourself and the learning how to learn things. Also the lower complexity these systems usually have vs what we use today.
I don’t see the appeal either, but perhaps the person using takes something else from their retrocomputing use.
Re: Claude × retrocomputing: emulating a QIC-117 tape drive
#5I'd be interested in access to real drives capable of reading real tapes, to get archival data off my tapes. And, DAT format.
If the emulation aides in FPGA or small device coding to make modern interface bindings to older devices and so drops the entry cost to get an older SCSI or firewire drive working, I'd be delighted.
If this is emulation of the command set aimed at "driving" a software emulated tape drive, It's for another purpose. It won't help me recover old media.
(cheapskate: there are competent, expensive companies which specialise in this kind of data recovery. The problem is cost/benefit, not actual capability at any price)
Re: Claude × retrocomputing: emulating a QIC-117 tape drive
#6I think LLMs go against the retrocomputing ethos
It removes the fun of figuring things out by yourself and the learning how to learn things. Also the lower complexity these systems usually have vs what we use today. I don’t see the appeal either, but perhaps the person using takes something else from their retrocomputing use.
Some of us care a bit more about having historically relevant content be accessible. I care very little about the reverse engineering aspect.
Re: Claude × retrocomputing: emulating a QIC-117 tape drive
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
It removes the fun of figuring things out by yourself and the learning how to learn things. Also the lower complexity these systems usually have vs what we use today. I don’t see the appeal either, but perhaps the person using takes something else from their retrocomputing use.
Some of us care a bit more about having historically relevant content be accessible. I care very little about the reverse engineering aspect.
Yes, I understand, as perhaps someone who has a museum and has to keep things working with very little resources, and I imagine there are many more reasons. Different people may have the same hobbies on the surface for different reasons and so on.
Re: Claude × retrocomputing: emulating a QIC-117 tape drive
#8I'd be interested in access to real drives capable of reading real tapes, to get archival data off my tapes. And, DAT format. If the emulation aides in FPGA or small device coding to make modern interface bindings to older devices and so drops the entry cost to get an older SCSI or firewire drive working, I'd be delighted. If this is emulation of the command set aimed at "driving" a software emulated tape drive, It's…
Doesn't this bring us closer to that?
Re: Claude × retrocomputing: emulating a QIC-117 tape drive
#9I'd be interested in access to real drives capable of reading real tapes, to get archival data off my tapes. And, DAT format. If the emulation aides in FPGA or small device coding to make modern interface bindings to older devices and so drops the entry cost to get an older SCSI or firewire drive working, I'd be delighted. If this is emulation of the command set aimed at "driving" a software emulated tape drive, It's…
Doesn't this bring us closer to that?
That's certainly the hope!
Re: Claude × retrocomputing: emulating a QIC-117 tape drive
#10I think LLMs go against the retrocomputing ethos
There are many ways you could make a principled argument in that direction and I would agree in lots of cases. But retro-computing is a varied field with lots of different interests. Many of those are simply enthusiast curiosity.
So I will say this. Back in the days of 80x25 terminals, I was adamant that larger screens made you more productive. I don't remember anything but outright derision and skepticism in this regard. The saying "the monitor is the computer" meant a lot to me. The limitations of the day were defining but as developers we always wanted the best technology and tools available.