yann64andClaude Opus 5.5
b274874139
1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
190 lines
6.7 KiB
Markdown
190 lines
6.7 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Kaypro 2x
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Transportable
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origins:
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- U.S.A.
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years:
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- '1984'
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cpus:
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- Z80A
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params:
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name: Kaypro 2x
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image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_system_2.jpg
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company: /companies/kaypro
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company_name: Kaypro
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: Kaypro 2x
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Kaypro
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- label: TYPE
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value: Transportable
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: U.S.A.
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- label: YEAR
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value: '1984'
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- label: END OF PRODUCTION
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value: Unknown
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: None (M-BASIC and O-BASIC on diskette)
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: Detachable, 72 key typewriter style keyboard with 18 programmable keys.
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- label: CPU
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value: Z80A
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- label: SPEED
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value: 4 MHz
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- label: RAM
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value: 64 KB
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- label: VRAM
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value: 2 KB
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- label: ROM
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value: Unknown
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 80 chars x 25 lines (ADM-3A compatible)
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: 160 x 100 text squares
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- label: COLORS
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value: built-in 9'' non-glare green phosphor screen
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- label: SOUND
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value: Beep only
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 45 (W) x 38.5 (D) x 21 (H) cm / 11.5 Kg
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: 2 RS232c serial ports, 1 Centronics-type parallel port, keyboard, built-in 300-baud modem
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: 2 x 5.25'' DS/DD 400 KB half-size floppy drives
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- label: OS
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value: CP/M 2.2
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: Built-in switching power supply unit
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: 10 MB hard disc, battery pack/charger
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- label: PRICE
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value: $1595 (in 1986)
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tabs:
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- photos
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- emulators
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- links
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- docs
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forum_thread: 930
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photos:
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- title: LARGER VIEW
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subtitle: ''
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text: Notice that some Kaypro 2X models had a "2X" label on the front panel, between the two floppy drives. This version only have a "X" sticker on the back panel.
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image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_system_1.jpg
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- title: RUNNING SYSTEM
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subtitle: ''
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text: The Kaypro 2x is running ProfitPlan, a spreadsheet program from Chang Laboratories.
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image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_running_1.jpg
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- title: RIGHT SIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_rightside_1.jpg
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- title: KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP
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subtitle: ''
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text: The keyboard, made by Keytronic, was build sturdy.
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image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_keyboard_1.jpg
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- title: READY FOR TRAVELLING
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_closed_1.jpg
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- title: CARRYING BAG
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subtitle: ''
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text: The Kaypro 2x in its carrying bag.
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image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_bag_1.jpg
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- title: REAR SIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** Power plug, switch and fuse\
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**(2)** Reset button\
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**(3)** The case was designed to take a fan but most of the Kaypro models didn't need it\
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**(4)** Modem RJ11 plug\
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**(5)** Parallel printer connector\
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**(6)** The Kaypro 2x sticker\
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**(7)** Serial port for data I/O\
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**(8)** Second serial port for serial printer\
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**(9)** Keyboard RJ11 plug\
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**(10)** Brightness control knob
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Special thanks to **Thomas J. Casey** who donates us this computer
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image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_back_1.jpg
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- title: INSIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: The main board is taken off. One can see the video circuitry and the switching power supply unit.
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image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_inside_1.jpg
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- title: MOTHERBOARD
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** 8 x Mostek 4564 chips hold the 64 KB of RAM\
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**(2)** Memory controller chip labelled Kaypro\
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**(3)** BIOS ROM chips\
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**(4)** Mostek Z80A processor\
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**(5)** Characters generator ROM\
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**(6)** MOS display controller\
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**(7)** MOS serial I/O controllers\
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**(8)** Siemens floppy drives controller\
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**(9)** Several empty sockets are probably used for an optional hard disk controller
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image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_mainboard_1.jpg
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- title: FLOPPY DRIVE
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subtitle: ''
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text: Slimline floppy drives came from an U.S. company called High Tech Peripherals, but they were probably made in Japan.
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image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_floppydrive_1.jpg
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- title: ARTHUR C. CLARKE
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subtitle: ''
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text: Arthur C. Clarke working with his Kaypro computer.
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image: /media/museum/photos/kaypro_iix_clarke_1.jpg
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emulators:
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- title: M.E.S.S. emulator
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url: http://www.emulator-zone.com/doc.php/misc/mess.html
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platform: Windows
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text: also emulates the Kaypro 2x
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links:
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- title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
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url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
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text: ''
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docs:
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- title: KAYPRO TECHNICAL MANUAL
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url: null
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/kaypro_technical_manual.jpg
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text: |-
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**KAYPRO TECHNICAL MANUAL**\
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written by Kaypro
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compiled/archived by Unknown\
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type of document : Online reader
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**... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
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related:
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- /museum/kaypro-1
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- /museum/kaypro-10
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- /museum/kaypro-4
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- /museum/kaypro-ii
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- /museum/kaypro-iv
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- /museum/kaypro-robie
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oc_id: 954
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20221203191624/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=954
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date: '2022-12-03'
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---
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The Kaypro 2x was one of the last models Kaypro produced. Size and appearence were the same as the first [Kaypro II](/museum/kaypro-ii/), but Internal hardware was inspired by the [Kaypro 10](/museum/kaypro-10/).
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It came with a 4 MHz Z80A processor, dual slimline 400 KB floppy drives, a built-in 300 baud modem, two serial ports and a full set of Micropro software (WordStar, CalcStar, DataStar)
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It is said that **Arthur C. Clarke** worked in the movie version of "2010: Odyssey Two", a sequel of "2001", using a Kaypro 2x and its built-in modem for transfering texts from Sri Lanka, where he lived, to Los Angeles.
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---
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**Roy Miller** specifies:\
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I own two. One looks like the machine you have (colors of the original 2), and has the same equipment. The other doesn't have a modem, and came in the same color scheme as the 4, 10, and 16.\
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The one in the older color scheme has a sticker with an "X" on it pasted just after the "2" on the back. The dark grey one doesn't have that. It seems clear that they used the older 2 cases as well as newer cases.
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---
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More info about the internal modem by **David C. Oshel**:\
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The internal modem didn't work with the software Kaypro provided, so you had to use a Hayes Smartmodem attached to a serial i/o port. The internal modem chip had a defect: One of its pinouts went low when the specs said it went high.\
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We put an oscilloscope on the pup and saw this for ourselves on the Beacon Microcenter (Ames, Iowa) workbench in 1983. I was able to write a driver that made it work, but nobody cared.
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