Post 597073 by lrz@mastodon.cloud
(DIR) More posts by lrz@mastodon.cloud
(DIR) Post #575115 by thomasfuchs@mastodon.social
2018-10-16T19:15:19Z
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#Retrocomputing nerds, what's your oldest computer thing that has survived over the years with you? And do you still use it? Does it still work?
(DIR) Post #575138 by tsturm@mastodon.cloud
2018-10-16T19:16:52Z
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@thomasfuchs My original ZX Spectrum is still around and still works. Although I keep it at a family member's place in Germany since I wouldn't be able to get the PAL 50Hz spectrum to do much in NTSC 60Hz land.
(DIR) Post #575186 by tsturm@mastodon.cloud
2018-10-16T19:19:43Z
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@thomasfuchs But that's not even the oldest! I just remembered that I still have my original programmable CASIO calculator from 1980-81 on my desk in the US, and it still works. 😊
(DIR) Post #575195 by TheLizardQueen@laserdisc.party
2018-10-16T19:20:06Z
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@thomasfuchsRegrettably I have no old bits and bites from the way back when it comes to computers. But I am so here for this thread...
(DIR) Post #575199 by thomasfuchs@mastodon.social
2018-10-16T19:20:20Z
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@tsturm wait, where do you live? :)
(DIR) Post #575206 by tsturm@mastodon.cloud
2018-10-16T19:20:44Z
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@thomasfuchs Sausalito, near San Francisco. But I'm originally from Germany.
(DIR) Post #575212 by thomasfuchs@mastodon.social
2018-10-16T19:21:12Z
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@tsturm I'm from Vienna, Austria but live in rural Pennsylvania now. :)
(DIR) Post #575230 by fenny@queer.af
2018-10-16T19:22:26Z
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@thomasfuchs ti-83 plus from middle school and pokemon pokewalker, sadlyused to have a cool win95 laptop where the only nonfunctional things were the original battery and the original screen, dunno what i did with it
(DIR) Post #575235 by tsturm@mastodon.cloud
2018-10-16T19:22:55Z
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@thomasfuchs And moving across the pond definitely has thinned out my collection. I've also left behind a still working Falcon030, since the ageing power supply would probably not be super-excited about 110 Volts. That one is also at my uncle's place in Germany.
(DIR) Post #575252 by thomasfuchs@mastodon.social
2018-10-16T19:24:00Z
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@tsturm Fwiw I use a voltage converter for some stuff and have a professional video monitor CRT that can do PAL & NTSC.
(DIR) Post #575275 by tsturm@mastodon.cloud
2018-10-16T19:25:20Z
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@thomasfuchs I know I could overcome it, but not yet... it's also a space problem in the apartment in the US. Not enough space to plonk down a Falcon with monitor. 😞
(DIR) Post #576398 by tvdv@mastodon.social
2018-10-16T20:15:52Z
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@thomasfuchs Amiga 500. Yes. Yes.
(DIR) Post #576553 by neauoire@sunbeam.city
2018-10-16T20:23:30Z
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@thomasfuchs I still have the ball from one of my first mouse. It's been a fidget for years.
(DIR) Post #576595 by starbreaker@octodon.social
2018-10-16T20:25:12Z
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@thomasfuchs I've still got my 2008 aluminum unibody Macbook. It probably still works OK, but needs a new magsafe power adapter and would probably benefit from a replacement battery.The question would be whether it's worth my while to try to install a BSD or whether I'd be better off taking my chances with OSX Lion (the last supported version, IIRC).
(DIR) Post #576742 by fnord@chaos.social
2018-10-16T20:37:30Z
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@thomasfuchs Unfortunately I sold my Amiga 500 somewhen in the 90s. In retrospect this was obviously a bad idea. Many years later I got another one from a friend. It was in pretty good condition, and after I retrobrighted it, it looks really nice again. I also built a Kickstart switcher for it (without any mechanical switches, because I wanted to leave the case intact - you can switch it via software).
(DIR) Post #578346 by juzam@mastodon.social
2018-10-16T20:58:04Z
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@thomasfuchsMmh maybe it's a 2600 baud modem. It was working last time I've used it. It was my internet uplink and on IRC at the time I said some like "please forgive my lag, I'm her and also downloading my mail on a 2600 modem" nobody believed me until they saw it in real life. All this was on a 486 25mhz iirc.
(DIR) Post #578350 by balglaas@mastodon.social
2018-10-16T21:04:58Z
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@thomasfuchs Atari ST somewhere, Sinclair Spectrum 48 somewhere. Philips PCD315 (http://ibmvaluepoint.blogspot.com/2015/08/philps-pcd-315.html?m=1) on my desk, still working, next to a Compaq Deskpro (486), also still working.
(DIR) Post #578463 by paradroyd@mastodon.sdf.org
2018-10-16T22:00:36Z
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@thomasfuchs Actual computer.. My original TI99/4A, which I bought in late 1983 when Kmart was closing them out for $25. I still have it. I have significantly upgraded it in the last couple of years. I've added a F18A video processor replacement/upgrade (gives it VGA out and lots of enhanced video capabilities) a TIPI (for network access drive emulation) and a UberGROM SD card-based multi-cart. I use it for telnet/TCP BBSing and it does great ANSI in 80 columns now.Best $25 I think I've spent.
(DIR) Post #578555 by thomasfuchs@mastodon.social
2018-10-16T22:14:23Z
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@paradroyd that’s so awesome!! 🤓
(DIR) Post #578560 by thomasfuchs@mastodon.social
2018-10-16T22:22:51Z
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@neauoire I love that!
(DIR) Post #578582 by galaxis@mastodon.infra.de
2018-10-16T22:08:28Z
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@paradroyd @thomasfuchs Cool, is there still a source for that upgrade stuff? My 99/4a should work too (or worked not a too long time ago before the power supply died, but that should be easy to replace).
(DIR) Post #578583 by paradroyd@mastodon.sdf.org
2018-10-16T22:16:44Z
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@galaxis @thomasfuchs The power supplies for TI99/4As are pretty easy to come by on Ebay. Actually, TI99s themselves are one of the few still fairly easily/cheaply obtainable retro systems on Ebay. Most every other retro system has gone through the roof lately.
(DIR) Post #578584 by thomasfuchs@mastodon.social
2018-10-16T22:24:48Z
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@paradroyd @galaxis Agree, the TIs are a great way to get some #retrocomputing going on a small budget, or if you just want to dip your toes in. Next up from that, Apple IIs and Atari 400/800 are (relatively) affordable.
(DIR) Post #578598 by paradroyd@mastodon.sdf.org
2018-10-16T22:24:29Z
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@thomasfuchs There's a lot of discussion about a lot of these TI99 upgrades and a lot of people that know a lot more than I do about them on the AtariAge TI99/4A forums. That seems to be where most of the really advanced TI99 peeps hang out.http://atariage.com/forums/forum/164-ti-994a-computers/There, and heatwave BBSheatwave.ddns.net:9640
(DIR) Post #578652 by paradroyd@mastodon.sdf.org
2018-10-16T22:26:02Z
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@thomasfuchs @galaxis The Atari 800XL is a good one if you can get one with a good keyboard. The keyboard mylars tend to go wonky, but they're usually fixable.
(DIR) Post #578823 by galaxis@mastodon.infra.de
2018-10-16T22:38:55Z
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@thomasfuchs @paradroyd I'm not really terribly into home computers from that time, but the TI99/4a was my first own system, and it's still the machine from back then, so doing a few small upgrades is tempting... (There should be a 600XL with disk drives in the basement too, but I never used that one much.)
(DIR) Post #579032 by dheadshot@mastodon.social
2018-10-16T22:50:51Z
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@thomasfuchsI guess my Windows 98SE PC that I got in 2002/3 or my GameBoy Colour ('99ish) if consoles count - most of my collection is relatively recently obtained in comparison.
(DIR) Post #579253 by paradroyd@mastodon.sdf.org
2018-10-16T22:44:57Z
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@galaxis @thomasfuchs've kind of gone off of the deep end with collecting them the past few years. Most of these I've gotten fairly recently. Most I stumbled onto very cheaply.
(DIR) Post #579254 by thomasfuchs@mastodon.social
2018-10-16T23:01:11Z
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@paradroyd @galaxis 😍
(DIR) Post #579282 by thomasfuchs@mastodon.social
2018-10-16T23:02:34Z
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@paradroyd @galaxis I recently got am Atari 800 and I’m loving it. What’s the appeal of the 800XL over it? As I understand it’s not really an upgrade...
(DIR) Post #579376 by paradroyd@mastodon.sdf.org
2018-10-16T23:04:55Z
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@thomasfuchs I the category of weirdest Thing I have that actually works, it'd probably be these.My original 1st gen Cybikos.I recently pulled them out of their long storage and was able to find batteries for them.I found that someone had written a fairly full-featured VT100 client for them. I hooked the purple one up to a Raspberry Pi-based modem emulator over serial, and used the 900Mhz radios in them to BBS remotely from the blue one, AT commands and all. Big fun.
(DIR) Post #579421 by paradroyd@mastodon.sdf.org
2018-10-16T23:06:49Z
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@thomasfuchs @galaxis I think that the 800 is a more solid machine if you have room for it. The 800XL's main appeal is space-savings, I think. A lot of people like the 800XE, too (the one with the slanty keys like the ST).
(DIR) Post #581350 by paradroyd@mastodon.sdf.org
2018-10-16T22:48:14Z
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@galaxis @thomasfuchs The blue C64 is my original..obtained a few years after the TI99/4A. Though it's also got a bunch of upgrades and looks completely different now.The Atari 800XL is a fairly recent addition.
(DIR) Post #581351 by paradroyd@mastodon.sdf.org
2018-10-16T22:53:41Z
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@galaxis @thomasfuchs The Amiga 2000 is one of my favorites..I've had it for 30+ years.If I could only keep one machine...
(DIR) Post #581352 by epifn@mamot.fr
2018-10-16T23:11:57Z
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@paradroyd @galaxis @thomasfuchs that mouse, though... 😄
(DIR) Post #581353 by paradroyd@mastodon.sdf.org
2018-10-16T23:13:25Z
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@epifn @galaxis @thomasfuchs I agree..there is something fundamentally wrong about that.I need to get one of those original tank mouse laser rebuild kits.
(DIR) Post #581354 by thomasfuchs@mastodon.social
2018-10-17T00:53:10Z
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@paradroyd @epifn @galaxis I use that mouse on some of my retro PCs, one of the best mouses (mice?) ever made. But yeah you need a real Amiga one. :)
(DIR) Post #581423 by paradroyd@mastodon.sdf.org
2018-10-16T23:10:28Z
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@thomasfuchs @galaxis There may be a lot more modern upgrades for the 800XL than the 800, too. I don't see a lot of massively upgraded 800s, but people do a lot of crazy stuff with the 800XL and XE.I also have a boxed 1200XL that I picked up at the estate sale where I got the Apple IIe, but it needs some keyboard work. The mylar is shot from age.
(DIR) Post #581424 by thomasfuchs@mastodon.social
2018-10-17T00:55:28Z
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@paradroyd @galaxis I love how the original 800 looks like so much. Sort of the perfect retro 8bit.
(DIR) Post #584909 by guzzisti@mastodon.social
2018-10-17T04:35:12Z
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@thomasfuchs a KC85/4 personal computer built in the GDR of the late 80s, unfortunately the cassette player is broken - need a "new" (haha) one to get it up running again. besides that its still running fine
(DIR) Post #591077 by jj@bsd.network
2018-10-17T10:41:59Z
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@thomasfuchs My amiga4000 still runs openbsd 3.2-ish and talks ipv6.
(DIR) Post #593817 by Mycroft@meow.social
2018-10-17T11:24:39Z
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@thomasfuchs I'm not a collector, don't have the space for it sadly, but I have two contenders:An 8" floppy disk I use as a wall decoration is the oldest thing I have. I forgot where I got it but I certainly didn't use it myself.A Model M keyboard with integrated trackball (ps2 connectors) is the oldest still working thing I have. Sometimes I think about ebaying it, but I think someday someday I'll have room for a retro pc set up and it'd be perfect.
(DIR) Post #594695 by thomasfuchs@mastodon.social
2018-10-17T11:38:02Z
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@Mycroft yeah, this keyboard is quite valuable! you could use it on a modern PC, too :)
(DIR) Post #597073 by lrz@mastodon.cloud
2018-10-17T12:35:10Z
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@tvdv @thomasfuchs I’m curious, what do you use it for?
(DIR) Post #597074 by tvdv@mastodon.social
2018-10-17T12:51:33Z
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@lrz Games. I sometimes use my 1200 for writing, drawing, and music making.
(DIR) Post #597075 by lrz@mastodon.cloud
2018-10-17T13:03:03Z
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@tvdv Surprised it's still working, I assume it doesn't have a hard disk? (not sure if that model had one, I remember it was optional on my 500)
(DIR) Post #597076 by thomasfuchs@mastodon.social
2018-10-17T13:08:39Z
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@lrz @tvdv FWIW I have a never serviced IBM PS/2 Model 25 with the original hard disk from 1987 and it still works like it’s fresh out of the factory
(DIR) Post #597109 by lrz@mastodon.cloud
2018-10-17T13:10:51Z
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@thomasfuchs @tvdv Even more surprised, I had so many hard disks failures in the past, before SSD.
(DIR) Post #597171 by thomasfuchs@mastodon.social
2018-10-17T13:15:29Z
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@lrz @tvdv tbf I wouldn’t store anything important on a 30-year old hard disk :)I do have, however, a Drobo raid from 2008 which I still use, those drives are now 10 years old. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(DIR) Post #600015 by Mycroft@meow.social
2018-10-17T16:42:07Z
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@thomasfuchs Oh, yes, even my newest PC still has one ps/2 port, and I know I can get ps/2 to USB adapters that can handle the Model M. Just I have roommates and thin walls, so noise has been a consideration for years.It's very comfortable to type on, since I first learned touch-typing at a trade school on an IBM Wheelwriter typewriter.
(DIR) Post #600114 by thomasfuchs@mastodon.social
2018-10-17T16:48:08Z
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@Mycroft well, the easiest way to get rid of the roommates is to use a Model M…
(DIR) Post #600373 by bhtooefr@cathoderay.tube
2018-10-17T17:06:08.286661Z
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@thomasfuchs I've still got some parts of my family's original Apple //c, that my dad bought in October 1984. Some of those parts do still work.
(DIR) Post #601328 by Mycroft@meow.social
2018-10-17T18:03:37Z
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@thomasfuchs I try to be respectful, mainly because I can't afford an apartment on my own, but also they can escalate the Noise Wars much higher than I can.
(DIR) Post #611407 by js@mstdn.io
2018-10-18T06:43:14Z
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@thomasfuchs VT420. Still using it 🙂. Even used it as my main way to admin my server for a while (before I moved my server to a place where the noise doesn’t bother me 😉)
(DIR) Post #647837 by fuji@ruby.social
2018-10-20T00:35:27Z
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@thomasfuchs This czechislovak ZX Spectrum clone from like 1990. Wasn’t my first computer but it was my first contact with programming. #retrocomputing
(DIR) Post #652152 by igstef@mastodon.social
2018-10-20T08:44:41Z
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@thomasfuchsThanks for reminding me this beauty is still in my closet. Have not seen daylight for a few years. But still working for sure!#c64
(DIR) Post #652182 by igstef@mastodon.social
2018-10-20T08:47:18Z
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@thomasfuchsThanks for reminding me this beauty is still in my closet. Has not seen daylight for a few years. But still working for sure!#c64