Read Me

UNDER CONSTRUCTION !


Welcome to DECOR, the DEC Owner's Registry!

Imagine DECOR as a kind of international, worldwide virtual DEC computer museum, where you can find your favourite DEC computer as well as the rarest models.

Table of Contents


Benefits

  • Proudly present your DEC computer collection
  • Retrieve numbers and types of remaining DEC computers
  • Get in touch with like-minded people
  • Help and get help
  • Manage your own collection
  • Receive support for worldwide Barter Trade

Participation

You can participate in DECOR by applying for membership* and entering your DEC computer collection's data into our database.

* You can apply for membership in two ways :

  • Write an email to [email protected] explaining why you want to be invited to DECOR
  • Ask a DECOR member you know to recommend your membership via email.

Backup

We strongly recommend that you regularly create backups of your data using the "Export / Import Your Data" page.

Naturally, we strive to ensure data security, but as a free service, we cannot guarantee it.


Rules

There are only a few rules that must be followed:

  • We only accept active private or institutional collectors as members, but no dealers.

  • Computer and Appliance entries are only permitted for DEC hardware, hardware of DEC successors Compaq and Hewlett Packard whose origins go back to DEC (e.g. Alpha) or hardware with DEC architecture, e.g. from Mentec.

  • Entries for third-party computer components such as Emulex, Dilog or others are also permitted, as are entries for devices that emulate DEC hardware (or third-party hardware for DEC devices), such as floppy disk or hard disk emulators or Qbones / Unibones.


Definitions

  • Owners - Individuals or organizations (e.g. museums) that collect DEC items and participate in in the DEC Owner's Registry (DECOR).
  • Computers - A term that certainly needs no definition.
  • Peripherals - All devices that are connected externally to a computer.
    Examples for Peripherals: Magtape drives and disk drives in a separate enclosure, expansion boxes, printers, terminals, ...
  • Appliances - All devices that operate independently from a computer.
    A device that needs to download a software image to function is not considered dependent.
    Examples for Appliances: Network devices, storage servers, ...
  • Components - Modules, assemblies, individual parts, software.

Computers, Peripherals, and Appliances can have Components, in some cases even the same ones.

Software of any kind is considered a Component, as it is useless without a Computer or Appliance.


Usage

Recommended usage of data fields:

  • Computers/Appliances/Peripherals
    • Model: Select from list of available models - If your model is still missing, contact the DECOR admin*.
    • Order Number: Enter the order number from the nameplate of your DEC computer/appliance, which is normally located on the back of your computer.
    • Serial Number: Enter the serial number from the nameplate of your DEC computer/appliance.
    • Condition: Select a condition.
    • Run Status: Select a run status.
    • History: Tell us about your computer, its provenance, previous owners, how you acquired it, etc.
  • Components
    • Computer/Appliance Model: Selected a computer/appliance; otherwise leave blank if this is a spare component not attached to a computer.
    • Computer/Appliance Order Number: Auto-filled from the selected computer/appliance.
    • Computer/Appliance Serial Number: Auto-filled from the selected computer/appliance.
    • Component Type: Select a type
    • Component Order Number: If it is a module, enter the module number; otherwise the part number; if it is software, enter name and version.
    • Component Serial Number: Enter the serial number, if available (often on a small sticker).
    • Component Condition: Select a condition.
    • Component Description: If it is hardware, enter the option name.

* You can reach the admin at the following address: [email protected]