Owner of Symbolics Lisp machines IP is interested in a non-commercial release

Re:Owner of Symbolics Lisp machines IP is interested in a no... by johndmcmaster on Saturday July 08, 2023 @04:43AM (#36642581)

Some friends and I tried to buy chips from them recently. However, they wanted a relatively significant amount of money for them that more accurately reflected commercial rates than historical collectible prices. Seems like they are operating as a corporation still and may still be protective over their IP

Background: I maintain the largest die photography collection on the internet. I wanted to take some die pictures for historical reasons. Fortunately I was able to get one to image from a third party, although I haven't posted it yet

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Owner of Symbolics Lisp machines IP is interested in a no... by lispm on Saturday July 08, 2023 @10:19AM (#36644673)

I would think that in the few remaining CPUs specially designed to run Lisp have a significant historical value. Just having a working original Lisp Machine is extremely rare these days - given that there were probably only 10000 ever being made and the older ones (from the early to mid 80s) are extremely fragile.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Owner of Symbolics Lisp machines IP is interested in a no... by eschaton on Sunday July 09, 2023 @02:08AM (#36652023)

They’re not that fragile.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Owner of Symbolics Lisp machines IP is interested in a no... by eschaton on Sunday July 09, 2023 @02:05AM (#36652007)

I doubt you’ll be able to buy working ICs to decap since they may be needed to bring a broken system back to life.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Owner of Symbolics Lisp machines IP is interested in a no... by asciilifeform on Wednesday July 12, 2023 @03:36PM (#36700468)

I have 5 Symbolics Ivory CPUs (1 of which is in a working MacIvory III card.)

Recently I found that not far from where I live, one can rent time on an electron microscope for a very reasonable price. But the lab in question does not have the gear needed for decapping and delayering.

If someone knows of a reasonably-priced (mid five-figures or less) commercial facility that will do it with a good chance of success, I'd be interested. But I won't be sending these chips to some random person who may or may not be able to (or even make an honest attempt) to do the job, as I have only this small handful of units and currently no way to get more.

[ Parent | on HN ]