At work I used the Xerox 6085 from the early 1980' to the mid 1990's on a daily basis. At the start of your video, there were a number of apps like the clock that you manually started. On a regular networked 6085, which was usually never turned off, most of those apps would be set to automatically start at boot-up, and would simply remain running basically all the time. Second, in order to use the basic transfer graphics one would to create a graphics frame within the document, and then you could copy and paste those images. The "Special" keyboard would you allow to insert a graphics frame, and so much more into your documents. There is on GIt-Hub a Xerox Star emulator, as well as the whole series of Xerox 6085 documentation books in PDF format. This was a good trip back down memory lane.
This system was marketed in Germany from the 80s to the 90s by Siemens under the name "Bürosystem 5800". I was a technician for this computer system at that time and am still a big fan. Thanks for this great post.
When I began my long career back in 89, this was the system my employer had in place. I knew absolutely nothing about it or even computers. So when I was shown the basics, I began spending every waking moment during breaks and lunches learning everything it would do. I was a total sponge for knowledge with it because it was so different from anything I'd ever seen. My employer didn't even know it was capable of producing complicated line art illustrations until I found it. Until then, it was merely being used as a publishing network and our illustrations were being sent out for professional prints and then mounted on the blank pages that this bad boy would spit out. It was a unique time for us when we used this to transition towards going fully electronic. I'm pretty sure we still have a few collecting dust somewhere in the office.
I can hear the Micropolis HDD percolating away in the back ground. If you had not noticed. When you log on, the icons appear on the screen in alphabetical order.
So lucky. It's really hard to find those vintage Xerox D* machines. and if you find one, it will be super expensive. But I think it is a lot easier to find the (Daybreak) than the other D* machines.
Really interesting system. Completely ahead of it's time. Makes the 1985 era Macintosh look like a complete toy. I honestly can't think of any desktop system in 85 that could hold a candle to the Daybreak in terms of user interface design. The PC compatibility function is a huge added bonus. It wouldn't be until at least 1987-89 or so where you see machines that could compare.
Macintosh is from January 1984, though, and the Lisa from 1983. JFYI (Though I know earlier iterations of the machine also existed, just as how the mouse and GUI concepts also predate anything Xerox). Incidentally, in terms of "user interface design", how was this particularly better than GUI-based systems of the 80s? Could you elaborate on that? It seems like a great system in its own right, but a lot clunkier at first sight, at least when compared to Macs of the time. (Which, of course, is not to say the Xerox system was less feature-complete.)
Beginning in View Point Version 2.2, you could drop images into Basic Graphics frame. Unless of course you were connected to the Xerox Network, seems the only problem with Quick Restart is the Clock/Calendar is froze in time. At least that is the way the "BWS Hacks" version worked. The XPIW (Xerox Publishing Illustrator's Workstation) version had a "XPIW" logo which slowly appears filling in as pixels superimposed over the bouncing keyboard ICON. Now all you need is a Xerox 7650 Scanner and 4045 Model 50 Laser printer!
@@techfury90 I have one of the later monitors with a volume control built in for the loudspeaker. No more full volume while playing "Fly Swatter". It has retrace lines appearing on it. I may have been lucky in a way that I was allowed to harvest all the boards from machines destined for scrap. Back when EDS a "Can I Get A Minute-Ross Perot" company purchased all of Xerox' computer equipment and then leased it back to them until they were sent to scrap. I was told EDS only cared about the serial number on the back-plane of the machine. Since everything unplugs, including, floppy drive units, boards, power supplies and the fan assembly....
If you're feeling up to it, I'd argue it'd be great to make a follow-up video with the machine on a lazy-susan or something, with better lighting. When viewing the hardware at the beginning of the video, all I could see was a black silhouette of a box. Everything above the desk had good visibility, though.
Do you have an actual 6085 system, or are you just looking to add another Alps to your hoard? Even if I did have an extra (I don't), I won't sell it unless it's actually going to be used with the machine it goes to. Keyboard collectors have created a serious problem for those of us who have an actual interest in keeping rare machines going.
At work I used the Xerox 6085 from the early 1980' to the mid 1990's on a daily basis. At the start of your video, there were a number of apps like the clock that you manually started. On a regular networked 6085, which was usually never turned off, most of those apps would be set to automatically start at boot-up, and would simply remain running basically all the time. Second, in order to use the basic transfer graphics one would to create a graphics frame within the document, and then you could copy and paste those images. The "Special" keyboard would you allow to insert a graphics frame, and so much more into your documents. There is on GIt-Hub a Xerox Star emulator, as well as the whole series of Xerox 6085 documentation books in PDF format. This was a good trip back down memory lane.
This system was marketed in Germany from the 80s to the 90s by Siemens under the name "Bürosystem 5800". I was a technician for this computer system at that time and am still a big fan. Thanks for this great post.
When I began my long career back in 89, this was the system my employer had in place. I knew absolutely nothing about it or even computers. So when I was shown the basics, I began spending every waking moment during breaks and lunches learning everything it would do. I was a total sponge for knowledge with it because it was so different from anything I'd ever seen. My employer didn't even know it was capable of producing complicated line art illustrations until I found it. Until then, it was merely being used as a publishing network and our illustrations were being sent out for professional prints and then mounted on the blank pages that this bad boy would spit out. It was a unique time for us when we used this to transition towards going fully electronic. I'm pretty sure we still have a few collecting dust somewhere in the office.
Holy crap that thing is incredible, thanks for the detailed walkthrough!
amazing. absolutely love these computers
We need a mini retro one.
Really appreciate the tour! What a machine.
Prior to this there was the 8010 in 1981 and the Xerox Alto in 1972!
I can hear the Micropolis HDD percolating away in the back ground.
If you had not noticed. When you log on, the icons appear on the screen in alphabetical order.
The original software is super amazing! Would also be cool to see FUZIX running on this as well, for that juicy modern UNIXness
So lucky. It's really hard to find those vintage Xerox D* machines. and if you find one, it will be super expensive. But I think it is a lot easier to find the (Daybreak) than the other D* machines.
Really interesting system. Completely ahead of it's time. Makes the 1985 era Macintosh look like a complete toy. I honestly can't think of any desktop system in 85 that could hold a candle to the Daybreak in terms of user interface design. The PC compatibility function is a huge added bonus.
It wouldn't be until at least 1987-89 or so where you see machines that could compare.
Macintosh is from January 1984, though, and the Lisa from 1983. JFYI (Though I know earlier iterations of the machine also existed, just as how the mouse and GUI concepts also predate anything Xerox).
Incidentally, in terms of "user interface design", how was this particularly better than GUI-based systems of the 80s? Could you elaborate on that? It seems like a great system in its own right, but a lot clunkier at first sight, at least when compared to Macs of the time. (Which, of course, is not to say the Xerox system was less feature-complete.)
Beginning in View Point Version 2.2, you could drop images into Basic Graphics frame. Unless of course you were connected to the Xerox Network, seems the only problem with Quick Restart is the Clock/Calendar is froze in time. At least that is the way the "BWS Hacks" version worked.
The XPIW (Xerox Publishing Illustrator's Workstation) version had a "XPIW" logo which slowly appears filling in as pixels superimposed over the bouncing keyboard ICON.
Now all you need is a Xerox 7650 Scanner and 4045 Model 50 Laser printer!
Unfortunately my 6085 Model 1 is sitting in the closet collecting dust. I just don't have the heart to part with it.
@@DandyDon1 yes, the 7650 and 4045 would be epic. Sadly, my monitor just died the other week- seems to be caused by capacitor leakage. Repair time...
@@DandyDon1 I wouldn't want to part with it either! They're such amazing machines!
@@techfury90 I have one of the later monitors with a volume control built in for the loudspeaker. No more full volume while playing "Fly Swatter". It has retrace lines appearing on it.
I may have been lucky in a way that I was allowed to harvest all the boards from machines destined for scrap. Back when EDS a "Can I Get A Minute-Ross Perot" company purchased all of Xerox' computer equipment and then leased it back to them until they were sent to scrap. I was told EDS only cared about the serial number on the back-plane of the machine. Since everything unplugs, including, floppy drive units, boards, power supplies and the fan assembly....
If you're feeling up to it, I'd argue it'd be great to make a follow-up video with the machine on a lazy-susan or something, with better lighting. When viewing the hardware at the beginning of the video, all I could see was a black silhouette of a box. Everything above the desk had good visibility, though.
Hello. is it possible to contact you somehow? I would really like to purchase a keyboard from xerox daybreak.
Do you have an actual 6085 system, or are you just looking to add another Alps to your hoard?
Even if I did have an extra (I don't), I won't sell it unless it's actually going to be used with the machine it goes to.
Keyboard collectors have created a serious problem for those of us who have an actual interest in keeping rare machines going.
People like you make it difficult for people who are making sure these machines last. Go use some new switches.
@@techfury90 don't get mad at me, I'm really just a regular keyboard collector...
in fact, I usually solder the switches, and then put in place other, less unique ones, and then just sell the device.
@@ironwell5345 “I don’t kill the elephants, I just pull their tusks and put in plugs!”
first