The blog post highlights the DEC Professional 380's strengths as a retrocomputing platform, specifically its ability to run the PRO/VENIX operating system. The author successfully installed and showcases PRO/VENIX 2.0 on the 380, demonstrating its impressive speed and functionality compared to the standard P/OS. The post emphasizes the sleek and responsive nature of PRO/VENIX, particularly its windowing system and overall performance improvements, making the 380 feel like a more modern machine. The author concludes that PRO/VENIX significantly enhances the user experience and opens up new possibilities for the DEC Professional 380.
This blog post, titled "More pro for the DEC Professional 380 (featuring PRO/VENIX)," delves into the enhanced capabilities and allure of the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) Professional 380 personal computer, specifically when operating under the PRO/VENIX operating system. The author elaborates on their previous post about the machine, further extolling its virtues and explaining why it has become their preferred retrocomputing environment.
The central theme revolves around the seamless integration of PRO/VENIX, a licensed version of the Unix System V operating system, with the Professional 380's hardware. This synergy, according to the author, elevates the 380 from a somewhat obscure and underappreciated machine to a powerful and highly enjoyable vintage computing experience. The author highlights the stability and responsiveness of PRO/VENIX, contrasting it with the more common MS-DOS environment typically associated with the Professional 380. They detail the ease with which they installed the operating system from original floppy disks, a process facilitated by the well-preserved condition of the media.
Furthermore, the post emphasizes the rich software ecosystem available for PRO/VENIX, making the Professional 380 a versatile platform capable of fulfilling a variety of retrocomputing tasks. The author specifically mentions the availability and functionality of tools like troff, nroff, and the C compiler, indicating the system's suitability for document processing and software development. They underscore the satisfaction derived from using these tools in an authentic historical context, experiencing computing as it was in the past.
The author also provides a visual tour of the system in operation, showcasing screenshots of various applications and the command-line interface. These images serve to illustrate the clean and efficient user interface of PRO/VENIX and further reinforce the author’s positive impressions. The overall tone of the post is one of enthusiastic rediscovery, presenting the DEC Professional 380 with PRO/VENIX not just as a functional vintage computer, but as a captivating and rewarding glimpse into the history of computing. The author concludes by expressing a renewed appreciation for this particular combination of hardware and software, solidifying its place as a preferred choice among their collection of retrocomputing systems.
Summary of Comments ( 4 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43376570
Hacker News users discuss the DEC Professional 380, primarily focusing on its historical significance and the PRO/VENIX operating system. Several commenters reminisce about using the machine, praising its then-advanced features and performance. Some highlight its role in bridging the gap between minicomputers and personal computers. The robustness of the hardware and the positive experience with PRO/VENIX are recurring themes. There's also mention of its connection to the VT100 terminal and how the 380 compared to other systems like the IBM PC and the Apple II. A few commenters express surprise at the system's relative obscurity, given its capabilities.
The Hacker News post titled "More pro for the DEC Professional 380 (featuring PRO/VENIX)" has generated several comments discussing various aspects of the DEC Professional 380 and its historical context.
One commenter expresses nostalgia for the machine, recalling its use with VT100 terminals and reflecting on its role as a bridge between the PDP-11 world and the then-emerging IBM PC compatible market. They specifically mention the PRO/ToolKit assembler and linker, reminiscing about its power and efficiency.
Another commenter delves into the technical details of the Professional 380's architecture, highlighting the use of the PDP-11's FPU and the challenges involved in porting VENIX, a Unix-like operating system, to the machine. This comment provides insight into the complexities of software development during that era.
A subsequent comment chain focuses on the operating systems available for the Professional 380, mentioning both VENIX and Microsoft XENIX. Commenters discuss the licensing costs associated with XENIX, contrasting it with the relative affordability of VENIX. The discussion further touches upon the competitive landscape of the time, comparing the Professional 380 with the IBM PC and its clones, and considering DEC's overall market strategy.
Another commenter shifts the focus to the Professional 350, a related model, and its use of the PDP-11/23 processor. They mention specific details like the use of a DC-powered hard drive and the prevalence of these machines in the newspaper industry. This adds another dimension to the conversation, illustrating the diverse applications of DEC's Professional series.
Finally, the thread includes a brief exchange about the scarcity of information on the Professional series online, with one commenter suggesting the existence of a dedicated website with more detailed resources. This underscores the historical significance of these machines and the ongoing interest in preserving their legacy.