Stan Perkins wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I just acquired an HP3000/37 running MPE-V

Congrats...it may just outlive you... (:

> I am familiar with other HP computers/workstations/OSes,
> but this is my first experience with the 3000 series. Is
> there some sort of "getting started" guide available,
> either on the Web or in hardcopy, that can explain the
> essentials of the hardware and the OS?

There used to be a system manager's intro book...15 years
ago...do they still put the manuals out on CD-ROM?  There
might be something that could help you on that.

> Also, the system has only COBOL II installed. I would
> like to get a Basic interpreter/compiler at a reasonable
> cost.

The 3000 is a mini, not a micro.  We used to joke (15 years
ago) that everthing on the 3000 was either free (like IMAGE)
or cost $6000, like TDP, Fortran, COBOL, etc.

There should be an SPL compiler on the system.  It is
close to Pascal.  If you know Basic, you should be able
to catch on to SPL.  Be cautious, though.  It is the
system assembler, and you could cook your goose quickly.
And, as HP used to point out, "if you do anything in
Priv Mode, we will charge you to fix it".

--

Buz          (8

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