Anyone into retro computing?

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  • mrwho
    Major Asshole!

    Site Contributor
    2,500+ Posts
    • Apr 2009
    • 4299
    #1

    Anyone into retro computing?

    Anyone else has a retro computing hobby?

    I have a small collection of older computers, and I was wondering if anyone else over here shares the same.

    Cheers!

    So far I managed to amass (to the changring of my wife):

    - Two Timex TC2048 (one working)
    - A ZX81
    - A Sinclair ZX Spectrum +3 (the one with the floppy drive)
    - A Commodore C64C
    - A Commodore Amiga 500
    - A Commodore Amiga 1200
    - A Apple II
    - Two or three generic 386 computers
    - Two or three laptops with - I think - 286 CPUs
    - A 486DX-33
    - A Pentium MMX-233
    - A Sega Megadrive (the european version of the Genesis)
    - A Nintendo 64
    - A couple of Sega Dreamcasts (only one working)
    - A handful of HP PDAs
    - Lots of spare parts, accessories and whatnot

    And I usually step on the brakes when I see anything that resembles a computer near a dumpster...
    Last edited by mrwho; 12-07-2021, 09:54 PM. Reason: Added brief description of the collection
    ' "But the salesman said . . ." The salesman's an asshole!'
    Mascan42

    'You will always find some Eskimo ready to instruct the Congolese on how to cope with heat waves.'
    Ibid

    I'm just an ex-tech lurking around and spreading disinformation!
    Tags: cheers, computing, retro, shares, wondering
    • slimslob
      Retired

      Site Contributor
      25,000+ Posts
      • May 2013
      • 36800
      #2
      Re: Anyone into retro computing?

      I have an abacus, a slide rule, a Timex-sinclair, a HP-Compaq Presario 2200 that I bought at Fort Lewis while I getting ready to deploy to Iraq in 2004 and an even older Panasonic PC-AT compatible desktop 8086.

        Comment

        • mrwho
          Major Asshole!

          Site Contributor
          2,500+ Posts
          • Apr 2009
          • 4299
          #3
          Re: Anyone into retro computing?

          Originally posted by slimslob
          I have an abacus, a slide rule, a Timex-sinclair, a HP-Compaq Presario 2200 that I bought at Fort Lewis while I getting ready to deploy to Iraq in 2004 and an even older Panasonic PC-AT compatible desktop 8086.
          Would love to have that 8086 and even more that Timex-Sinclair - over here, they were branded TC (Timex Computer) and were manufactured in Portugal. Having a TS would be perfect. Take good care of them!

          Timex Sinclair - Wikipedia
          ' "But the salesman said . . ." The salesman's an asshole!'
          Mascan42

          'You will always find some Eskimo ready to instruct the Congolese on how to cope with heat waves.'
          Ibid

          I'm just an ex-tech lurking around and spreading disinformation!

            Comment

            • Debs1964
              Service Manager

              1,000+ Posts
              • Oct 2010
              • 1687
              #4
              Re: Anyone into retro computing?

              Originally posted by mrwho
              Anyone else has a retro computing hobby?

              I have a small collection of older computers, and I was wondering if anyone else over here shares the same.

              Cheers!

              So far I managed to amass (to the changring of my wife):

              - Two Timex TC2048 (one working)
              - A ZX81
              - A Sinclair ZX Spectrum +3 (the one with the floppy drive)
              - A Commodore C64C
              - A Commodore Amiga 500
              - A Commodore Amiga 1200
              - A Apple II
              - Two or three generic 386 computers
              - Two or three laptops with - I think - 286 CPUs
              - A 486DX-33
              - A Pentium MMX-233
              - A Sega Megadrive (the european version of the Genesis)
              - A Nintendo 64
              - A couple of Sega Dreamcasts (only one working)
              - A handful of HP PDAs
              - Lots of spare parts, accessories and whatnot

              And I usually step on the brakes when I see anything that resembles a computer near a dumpster...
              You're such a nerd, I feel so sorry for your wife
              There are 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary maths and those who don't

                Comment

                • Phil B.
                  Field Supervisor

                  10,000+ Posts
                  • Jul 2016
                  • 22798
                  #5
                  Re: Anyone into retro computing?

                  Originally posted by Debs1964
                  You're such a nerd, I feel so sorry for your wife
                  Hell i threw all my old boxes out, I would have needed another 2 car garage to store the crap.

                  Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

                    Comment

                    • KenB
                      Geek Extraordinaire

                      2,500+ Posts
                      • Dec 2007
                      • 3945
                      #6
                      Re: Anyone into retro computing?

                      I have a Palm Pilot V, which replaced my Palm Pilot III.

                      When I was a tech in the field, I used those to track my customer info, parts, and calls.

                      They replaced my Sharp OZ-7000 organizer. It came with 32KB of storage space, and I had the optional 32KB card. Talk about efficient!

                      Do those count?
                      “I think you should treat good friends like a fine wine. That’s why I keep mine locked up in the basement.” - Tim Hawkins

                        Comment

                        • Tricky
                          Field Supervisor

                          Site Contributor
                          2,500+ Posts
                          • Apr 2009
                          • 2621
                          #7
                          Re: Anyone into retro computing?

                          Got a Raspberry Pi if that counts, it's command line like the good old days.

                            Comment

                            • nathicana
                              Trusted Tech

                              Site Contributor
                              250+ Posts
                              • Aug 2008
                              • 327
                              #8
                              Re: Anyone into retro computing?

                              Here is an online computer museum that has lots of information.

                              There are comments from people who worked in the industry in the early days.

                              Imagine building your own Heathkit computer.

                              h89.jpgSteve's Computer Collection

                                Comment

                                • mrwho
                                  Major Asshole!

                                  Site Contributor
                                  2,500+ Posts
                                  • Apr 2009
                                  • 4299
                                  #9
                                  Re: Anyone into retro computing?

                                  Originally posted by Debs1964
                                  You're such a nerd, I feel so sorry for your wife
                                  Believe me, she does feel sorry for herself too...
                                  ' "But the salesman said . . ." The salesman's an asshole!'
                                  Mascan42

                                  'You will always find some Eskimo ready to instruct the Congolese on how to cope with heat waves.'
                                  Ibid

                                  I'm just an ex-tech lurking around and spreading disinformation!

                                    Comment

                                    • Gift
                                      Service Manager

                                      1,000+ Posts
                                      • Mar 2011
                                      • 2444
                                      #10
                                      Re: Anyone into retro computing?

                                      Nice collection, I bought an Amiga 500 a year ago and an OSSC for TV connection. I also have an extention card with WHLoad / CF Card but I somehow prefer to hear that good old floppy sound.

                                      My N64 is unfortunately the UE version wich is hard to mod for RGB output.

                                        Comment

                                        • mrwho
                                          Major Asshole!

                                          Site Contributor
                                          2,500+ Posts
                                          • Apr 2009
                                          • 4299
                                          #11
                                          Re: Anyone into retro computing?

                                          Originally posted by Gift
                                          Nice collection, I bought an Amiga 500 a year ago and an OSSC for TV connection. I also have an extention card with WHLoad / CF Card but I somehow prefer to hear that good old floppy sound.

                                          My N64 is unfortunately the UE version wich is hard to mod for RGB output.
                                          Doesn't the PAL version have a SCART cable? If so, I believe SCART connectors have RGB pins - but I'm not quite knowledgeable on that...
                                          ' "But the salesman said . . ." The salesman's an asshole!'
                                          Mascan42

                                          'You will always find some Eskimo ready to instruct the Congolese on how to cope with heat waves.'
                                          Ibid

                                          I'm just an ex-tech lurking around and spreading disinformation!

                                            Comment

                                            • Gift
                                              Service Manager

                                              1,000+ Posts
                                              • Mar 2011
                                              • 2444
                                              #12
                                              Re: Anyone into retro computing?

                                              Originally posted by mrwho
                                              Doesn't the PAL version have a SCART cable? If so, I believe SCART connectors have RGB pins - but I'm not quite knowledgeable on that...
                                              Scart can deliver both RGB and composite video. My N64 came with a video cable with 3 chinch connectors (2x audio / 1x video) + scart adapter so it's pretty obvious I can't get any RGB output. I could buy an RGB cable but therefore the console must be modded with an RGB kit before.

                                                Comment

                                                • slimslob
                                                  Retired

                                                  Site Contributor
                                                  25,000+ Posts
                                                  • May 2013
                                                  • 36800
                                                  #13
                                                  Re: Anyone into retro computing?

                                                  Originally posted by Gift
                                                  Scart can deliver both RGB and composite video. My N6 came with a video cable with 3 chinch connectors (2x audio / 1x video) + scart adapter so it's pretty obvious I can't get any RGB output. I could buy an RGB cable but therefore the console must be modded with an RGB kit before.
                                                  There is always the path of SCART component to HDMI and then HDMI to RGB+audio L&R.

                                                    Comment

                                                    • Gift
                                                      Service Manager

                                                      1,000+ Posts
                                                      • Mar 2011
                                                      • 2444
                                                      #14
                                                      Re: Anyone into retro computing?

                                                      Originally posted by slimslob
                                                      There is always the path of SCART component to HDMI and then HDMI to RGB+audio L&R.
                                                      Won't make much sense routing a composite video signal through several adapters. It's like converting a 32kb/s MP3 into FLAC Lossless Audio plus more input Lag^^

                                                      I use this:

                                                      Open Source Scan Converter (OSSC) V1.7 – VideoGamePerfection.com

                                                      Won't work with my EU N64 of course but it does a neat picture with the RGB capable PS2 or my Amiga for example and adds kind of no input lag (well, 1 frame).

                                                        Comment

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