• Vintage computers

    From Nightfox@VERT/DIGDIST to Moondog on Friday, September 04, 2020 07:58:56
    Re: Re: Young folks
    By: Moondog to Vk3jed on Thu Sep 03 2020 01:09 pm

    I was watching an LGR youtube video where he went to a place that would recycl e e-waste, and they would set aside x86 and early pentiums for vintage computing folks. The owner of the business palced a limited winodw of opportunity to pick up early Pentium systems due the amount of gold involved in motherboards and CPU's from that era. They get more money per pound selling 90's era boards.

    I think it would be interesting to find a place near me that might do that. But then I'm not sure how much I'd really use a vintage PC these days.. You can still run a lot of old software with emulation & virtual machines (though I know sometimes it's better to run it on actual hardware).

    Nightfox

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  • From Moondog@VERT/CAVEBBS to Nightfox on Saturday, September 05, 2020 00:49:00
    Re: Vintage computers
    By: Nightfox to Moondog on Fri Sep 04 2020 07:58 am

    Re: Re: Young folks
    By: Moondog to Vk3jed on Thu Sep 03 2020 01:09 pm

    I was watching an LGR youtube video where he went to a place that would recycl e e-waste, and they would set aside x86 and early pentiums for vintage computing folks. The owner of the business palced a limited win of opportunity to pick up early Pentium systems due the amount of gold involved in motherboards and CPU's from that era. They get more money p pound selling 90's era boards.

    I think it would be interesting to find a place near me that might do that. better to run it on actual hardware).

    Nightfox

    Some Goodwill stores and pawn shops have have older stuff on their shelves.
    I should've bought a C-64 when they were only $20 on ebay versus $300 or more for one in unknown condition or the board had the SID, PLA and other custom IC's pillaged from the board.

    LGR on Youtube does thrift shop videos and sometimes finds neat stuff. Otherwise you could go to garage sales or e-recycling events and save items from being tossed.

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  • From Dennisk@VERT/EOTLBBS to Nightfox on Saturday, September 05, 2020 22:14:00
    Nightfox wrote to Moondog <=-

    Re: Re: Young folks
    By: Moondog to Vk3jed on Thu Sep 03 2020 01:09 pm

    I was watching an LGR youtube video where he went to a place that would recycl e e-waste, and they would set aside x86 and early pentiums for vintage computing folks. The owner of the business palced a limited winodw of opportunity to pick up early Pentium systems due the amount of gold involved in motherboards and CPU's from that era. They get more money per pound selling 90's era boards.

    I think it would be interesting to find a place near me that might do that. But then I'm not sure how much I'd really use a vintage PC these days.. You can still run a lot of old software with emulation &
    virtual machines (though I know sometimes it's better to run it on
    actual hardware).

    Nightfox

    I've gone through a phase this year, in getting my "retro" equipment sorted and running. I've networked and fixed up a Pentium and two 486's, got my XT working again, unbelievably, using a 1.44M drive, a 720K floppy disk and a ZIP drive. I've played with a C64, and will try and re-cap my Vic 20 to fix that. I have a few C64's at my parents place, and a serial cable is in the mail, so I can finally use the 1571 disk drive with it.

    But to be honest, if I'm at my desktop machine, I'm more likely, if I want to use a C64, or play an old DOS game, to use Vice of DosBox. It's good enough. I have a real DOS machine I fixed up to play Larry on, but I ended up playing in DosBox anyway, because that is where I was. And DosBox is pretty damn good.
    Vice is very good with CRT filters.

    What I want, is modern convienience, but with a "vintage" aesthetic and approach to design.

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  • From Nightfox@VERT/DIGDIST to Moondog on Saturday, September 05, 2020 12:09:30
    Re: Vintage computers
    By: Moondog to Nightfox on Sat Sep 05 2020 12:49 am

    Some Goodwill stores and pawn shops have have older stuff on their shelves. I should've bought a C-64 when they were only $20 on ebay versus $300 or more for one in unknown condition or the board had the SID, PLA and other custom IC's pillaged from the board.

    LGR on Youtube does thrift shop videos and sometimes finds neat stuff. Otherwise you could go to garage sales or e-recycling events and save items from being tossed.

    Yeah, I've seen a couple of LGR's Goodwill videos. It's really luck of the draw at Goodwill, and depends on where you live and the things people are donating.

    Nightfox

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  • From Vk3jed@VERT/FREEWAY to Moondog on Sunday, September 06, 2020 09:05:00
    On 09-05-20 00:49, Moondog wrote to Nightfox <=-

    Some Goodwill stores and pawn shops have have older stuff on their shelves. I should've bought a C-64 when they were only $20 on ebay
    versus $300 or more for one in unknown condition or the board had the
    SID, PLA and other custom IC's pillaged from the board.

    Even though I wasn't a big C64 fan, I'd be tempted to buy one, if I saw it for $20. Still a good collectors item. :) Getting harder to find old computer gear - a lot of the op shops here don't carry any electrical items, because of safety inspection requirements, but there's always garage sales and computer or ham radio flea markets, where you might find something. :)

    LGR on Youtube does thrift shop videos and sometimes finds neat stuff. Otherwise you could go to garage sales or e-recycling events and save items from being tossed.

    Another possibility here is the recycling yard, where salvagable items are often restored and sold. We have a pretty good recycling facility here. A lot of stuff taken to the tip ends up in the recycling yard, because it's the first stop, and also free, as opposed to dumping, for which a fee is charged.

    I've got some older (but not 80s) computers that I will be taking to the recyclers, and some of them might end up being resold. :)

    But on second thoughts, I may retain one as an old DOS box. I still have to fix up my inter-FTN gateway (think it neads a real DOS BBS).


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  • From Dennisk@VERT/EOTLBBS to Vk3jed on Sunday, September 06, 2020 11:59:00
    Vk3jed wrote to Moondog <=-

    On 09-05-20 00:49, Moondog wrote to Nightfox <=-

    Some Goodwill stores and pawn shops have have older stuff on their shelves. I should've bought a C-64 when they were only $20 on ebay
    versus $300 or more for one in unknown condition or the board had the
    SID, PLA and other custom IC's pillaged from the board.

    Even though I wasn't a big C64 fan, I'd be tempted to buy one, if I saw
    it for $20. Still a good collectors item. :) Getting harder to find
    old computer gear - a lot of the op shops here don't carry any
    electrical items, because of safety inspection requirements, but
    there's always garage sales and computer or ham radio flea markets,
    where you might find something. :)

    Hard to find a cheap one now. I have a few, and I'd be willing to trade, but not sure what for. Make sure you hook it up to a CRT TV though. C64 on LCD just looks wrong. Hell, the emulators look more like the real thing than the real thing on an LCD.

    It sucks about Op Shops, that is where I used to get my old gear. Australia's regulatory requirements really go to absurdities quite often. Your not even allows to salvage things from hard rubbish.

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  • From Moondog@VERT/CAVEBBS to Nightfox on Sunday, September 06, 2020 01:12:00
    Re: Vintage computers
    By: Nightfox to Moondog on Sat Sep 05 2020 12:09 pm

    Re: Vintage computers
    By: Moondog to Nightfox on Sat Sep 05 2020 12:49 am

    Some Goodwill stores and pawn shops have have older stuff on their shelves. I should've bought a C-64 when they were only $20 on ebay vers $300 or more for one in unknown condition or the board had the SID, PLA and other custom IC's pillaged from the board.

    LGR on Youtube does thrift shop videos and sometimes finds neat stuff. Otherwise you could go to garage sales or e-recycling events and save items from being tossed.

    Yeah, I've seen a couple of LGR's Goodwill videos. It's really luck of the

    Nightfox

    I've peeked around some local Goodwill's with no luck. I might take a trip down to South Bend, but my assumption is they moght've been picked through already by the ham radio guys and Notre Dame students.

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  • From poindexter FORTRAN@VERT/REALITY to Vk3jed on Sunday, September 06, 2020 07:17:00
    Vk3jed wrote to Moondog <=-

    Even though I wasn't a big C64 fan, I'd be tempted to buy one, if I saw
    it for $20. Still a good collectors item. :) Getting harder to find
    old computer gear - a lot of the op shops here don't carry any
    electrical items, because of safety inspection requirements, but
    there's always garage sales and computer or ham radio flea markets,
    where you might find something. :)

    The thrift shops around here have lots of Pentium simgle-core systems
    circa 2000 or so, but nothing older. I've been tempted to get a 2GB
    system, put my PATA SSD in it, and throw Lubuntu on it for a spare
    system.

    Another possibility here is the recycling yard, where salvagable items
    are often restored and sold. We have a pretty good recycling facility here. A lot of stuff taken to the tip ends up in the recycling yard, because it's the first stop, and also free, as opposed to dumping, for which a fee is charged.

    I worked at a job recently that e-wasted pallets of old PS/2s and XTs
    they had laying around for years. I wept when I heard that.

    The PS/2 model 80 was my favorite system from the time.




    I've got some older (but not 80s) computers that I will be taking to
    the recyclers, and some of them might end up being resold. :)

    But on second thoughts, I may retain one as an old DOS box. I still
    have to fix up my inter-FTN gateway (think it neads a real DOS BBS).


    ... hAS ANYONE SEEN MY cAPSLOCK KEY?
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  • From Dennisk@VERT/EOTLBBS to poindexter FORTRAN on Monday, September 07, 2020 10:10:00
    poindexter FORTRAN wrote to Vk3jed <=-

    Vk3jed wrote to Moondog <=-

    Even though I wasn't a big C64 fan, I'd be tempted to buy one, if I saw
    it for $20. Still a good collectors item. :) Getting harder to find
    old computer gear - a lot of the op shops here don't carry any
    electrical items, because of safety inspection requirements, but
    there's always garage sales and computer or ham radio flea markets,
    where you might find something. :)

    The thrift shops around here have lots of Pentium simgle-core systems
    circa 2000 or so, but nothing older. I've been tempted to get a 2GB
    system, put my PATA SSD in it, and throw Lubuntu on it for a spare
    system.

    Another possibility here is the recycling yard, where salvagable items
    are often restored and sold. We have a pretty good recycling facility here. A lot of stuff taken to the tip ends up in the recycling yard, because it's the first stop, and also free, as opposed to dumping, for which a fee is charged.

    I worked at a job recently that e-wasted pallets of old PS/2s and XTs
    they had laying around for years. I wept when I heard that.

    The PS/2 model 80 was my favorite system from the time.


    That is awful! It's like seeing baby seals be clubbed. I need to save these machines.

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  • From Vk3jed@VERT/FREEWAY to Dennisk on Monday, September 07, 2020 19:33:00
    On 09-06-20 11:59, Dennisk wrote to Vk3jed <=-

    Hard to find a cheap one now. I have a few, and I'd be willing to
    trade, but not sure what for. Make sure you hook it up to a CRT TV though. C64 on LCD just looks wrong. Hell, the emulators look more
    like the real thing than the real thing on an LCD.

    Fair enough. I did have a nice RGB and composite CRT monitor (which I used to use as a TV, with a VCR driving it), but I think that's long gone. :(

    It sucks about Op Shops, that is where I used to get my old gear. Australia's regulatory requirements really go to absurdities quite

    Yes, there used to be good tech bargains at op shops. :(

    often. Your not even allows to salvage things from hard rubbish.

    Technically no, but I don't give a rat's arse on that one. :D

    It's a stark contrast from when I was a kid and "tip scabbing" was a national sport. :D Back then, one could end up with more stuff AFTER throwing stuff out at the tip! :D


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  • From Vk3jed@VERT/FREEWAY to poindexter FORTRAN on Monday, September 07, 2020 19:37:00
    On 09-06-20 07:17, poindexter FORTRAN wrote to Vk3jed <=-

    The thrift shops around here have lots of Pentium simgle-core systems
    circa 2000 or so, but nothing older. I've been tempted to get a 2GB
    system, put my PATA SSD in it, and throw Lubuntu on it for a spare
    system.

    Yes, that sort of system still has a fair bit of grunt for many tasks. BBSing definitely comes to mind! :) I've got a heap of old netbooks. Lubuntu runs well on them, and as text based systems, they run well. :)

    I worked at a job recently that e-wasted pallets of old PS/2s and XTs
    they had laying around for years. I wept when I heard that.

    Ouch. :(

    The PS/2 model 80 was my favorite system from the time.

    I didn't have a lot to do with PS/2's, and cards for them were harder to find.


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  • From poindexter FORTRAN@VERT/REALITY to Vk3jed on Monday, September 07, 2020 07:37:00
    Vk3jed wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

    Yes, that sort of system still has a fair bit of grunt for many tasks. BBSing definitely comes to mind! :) I've got a heap of old netbooks. Lubuntu runs well on them, and as text based systems, they run well. :)

    BBSes, definitely. I ran my BBS on a 1.1 ghz celeron with 512 MB of
    RAM for 10 years. It was an old consumer HP system that wouldn't quit.
    Until it finally did.



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  • From Dr. What@VERT/DMINE to poindexter FORTRAN on Monday, September 07, 2020 15:25:00
    poindexter FORTRAN wrote to Vk3jed <=-

    I worked at a job recently that e-wasted pallets of old PS/2s and XTs
    they had laying around for years. I wept when I heard that.

    Some places won't even let you take them if they have tube monitors.

    I remember surfing at Shorpy for old photos. I saw some photos of piles of Ford Model A cars stacked up for "recycling" and
    I thought Oh.. the waste.

    But then I remembered the context: Those cars had been used up. They were 10 years out of date. No one wanted them.
    They were junk and, so, were scrapped.

    Unfortunately, the PS/2s were in the same boat: used up, 30 years out of date, no one (that they knew of) wanted them. They
    were junk and, so, were scrapped.

    I think one of the ways that we can save these old systems is to make sure that people know that there is a demand for these
    vintage computers and people who will restore them (or, at least, use them for parts to restore others).


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  • From Vk3jed@VERT/FREEWAY to poindexter FORTRAN on Tuesday, September 08, 2020 14:34:00
    On 09-07-20 07:37, poindexter FORTRAN wrote to Vk3jed <=-

    @VIA: VERT/REALITY
    Vk3jed wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

    Yes, that sort of system still has a fair bit of grunt for many tasks. BBSing definitely comes to mind! :) I've got a heap of old netbooks. Lubuntu runs well on them, and as text based systems, they run well. :)

    BBSes, definitely. I ran my BBS on a 1.1 ghz celeron with 512 MB of
    RAM for 10 years. It was an old consumer HP system that wouldn't quit. Until it finally did.

    Yeah, they would definitely run a BBS, no question about it. They do make a nice BBS terminal, but web surfing is a real chore. :) I'm tempted to try ArcaOS on a one of the netbooks. The key hardware seems to be supported, according to the website. :)


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  • From Dennisk@VERT/EOTLBBS to Dr. What on Tuesday, September 08, 2020 20:31:00
    Dr. What wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

    poindexter FORTRAN wrote to Vk3jed <=-

    I worked at a job recently that e-wasted pallets of old PS/2s and XTs
    they had laying around for years. I wept when I heard that.

    Some places won't even let you take them if they have tube monitors.

    I remember surfing at Shorpy for old photos. I saw some photos of
    piles of Ford Model A cars stacked up for "recycling" and
    I thought Oh.. the waste.

    But then I remembered the context: Those cars had been used up. They were 10 years out of date. No one wanted them.
    They were junk and, so, were scrapped.

    Unfortunately, the PS/2s were in the same boat: used up, 30 years out
    of date, no one (that they knew of) wanted them. They
    were junk and, so, were scrapped.

    I think one of the ways that we can save these old systems is to make
    sure that people know that there is a demand for these
    vintage computers and people who will restore them (or, at least, use
    them for parts to restore others).


    That is a good point. For many, its just stuff they don't need. And I myself when I was younger, didn't see much point in keeping the VZ 200 and Vic 20 I had, when I had a newer computer. It wasn't until my late teens when I thought about keeping them, because they might be valuable later. The reality is, I didn't want to dump them in the trash for environmental reasons, and these machines wouldn't sell. I did try to sell my XT once, but got no buyers.

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  • From Moondog@VERT/CAVEBBS to Dr. What on Tuesday, September 08, 2020 23:01:00
    Re: Re: Vintage computers
    By: Dr. What to poindexter FORTRAN on Mon Sep 07 2020 03:25 pm

    poindexter FORTRAN wrote to Vk3jed <=-

    I worked at a job recently that e-wasted pallets of old PS/2s and XTs
    they had laying around for years. I wept when I heard that.

    Some places won't even let you take them if they have tube monitors.

    I remember surfing at Shorpy for old photos. I saw some photos of piles of Ford Model A cars stacked up for "recycling" and
    I thought Oh.. the waste.

    But then I remembered the context: Those cars had been used up. They were years out of date. No one wanted them.
    They were junk and, so, were scrapped.

    Unfortunately, the PS/2s were in the same boat: used up, 30 years out of dat no one (that they knew of) wanted them. They
    were junk and, so, were scrapped.

    I think one of the ways that we can save these old systems is to make sure t people know that there is a demand for these
    vintage computers and people who will restore them (or, at least, use them f parts to restore others).


    ... To err is human. To moo is bovine.

    My father remembers going down to the scrap yard with his father and seeing piles of old hand-cranked phones that were being torn down to salvage the
    coils and copper wiring. He recalls having rotary phones in the late 40's
    when his parents lived in Bayside, NY, and they were present in southwest Michigan in the 50's so the hand cranked phones were probably 15 to 20 years old. I've seen where the old wooden phones were gutted, and the face was hinged so it could be opened to see the new wall phone hidden inside.

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  • From hollowone@VERT/AMIGAC to Dennisk on Saturday, September 12, 2020 21:55:00
    I've gone through a phase this year, in getting my "retro" equipment sorted and running. (...)

    Since I've moved to new house 2 years ago I dedicated one room to be my retro-entertainment place.

    real amigas, fpga amigas, c-64, various generations of PCs, all Playstations ever made, SNES.

    Now before i launch anything I waste one hour looking here and there as making decision is the hardest part of enjoying my nostalgic moment..

    WHen when I choose.. wife calls back to go sleeping.

    Brutal reality check :>

    /h1
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