How do you find most of your vintage equipment?

[CP/M User]

"Unknown_K" wote in message:

>EBAY, newsgroups, and swaplists seem to be the
>best places for the equipment and programs I look
>for.

>Flee markets in my area tend to have broken junk,
>pawn shops want way too much money for items,
>and want adds in the paper have machines that are
>way over priced. Unless some older packrat in your
>area kicked the bucket you wont find many vintage
>machines at garage sales since everybody thinks a
>machine that cant run modern apps is junk.

>While I have modern machines I like messing
>around with the older equipment I seen at the store
>and didnt have the cash to buy when I was young.
>An old mac IIfx cost $10,000 back in 1990 but you
>can get one for $10 now and check it out. Alot of
>people just give away the old software packages
>for older machines. Older software running on
>older hardware of the same vintage is actually quite
>usable (assuming you have a few upgrades like
>memory and maybe a larger HD then the stock unit).

>Another cool thing about older machines is that you
>can find pretty much the whole game library on the
>net for download. I think just about every
>commodore, atari, apple game released can be found
>on the net. There are utilities that allow you to put
>those programs back n disk so you can enjoy them
>on the original hardware. I like exploring the old
>classic games (especially when the newer games are
>boring the hell out of me). Back in the 80's and 90's
>programmers spent alot of time on single person
>gameplay unlike today when most of the millions
>spent on a software title is in graphics , multiplayer,
>and sound and not gameplay.

>And as far as the old monitors go, they ARE toxic
>waste. Alot of the older equipment gets shipped
>over to asia where illiterate people break them apart
>for scrap metal and chips that can be reused. The
>leftover stuff just gets dumped on the ground
>leaking all kinds of carcinogens and heavy metals
>that polute the environment.

You kinda make it sound like that old stuff is a waste of
time, but you haven't really stated that, or anything which
has a definite sound about it. I'd rather go for the ol'
games (which you probably have already gathered), than
some game which entails a 10 minute movie describing
your mission, or some adventure game which needs 2
keyboards to play! ;-)

Some ol' games I just find borning (e.g. Adventures or
Text Adventures) & a waste of time to me, but if others
wish to enjoy them, then so be it.

On the subject of hardware, I just wasn't sure if you
were referning to useless ol' hardware or if you were
announcing to the vintage computer world that you
'should' update.

On the subject of the environment, I do believe that
dumping toxic materials (e.g. Monitors) into the ground
is a definite bad thing, but until we can fire it off into
outer Space what do we do with it? That's assuming
that it's okay to fire things outer space, wouldn't it?

Cheers.

 

[Unknown_K]

[quote="CP/M User]You kinda make it sound like that old stuff is a waste of
time, but you haven't really stated that, or anything which
has a definite sound about it. I'd rather go for the ol'
games (which you probably have already gathered), than
some game which entails a 10 minute movie describing
your mission, or some adventure game which needs 2
keyboards to play! ;-)

Some ol' games I just find borning (e.g. Adventures or
Text Adventures) & a waste of time to me, but if others
wish to enjoy them, then so be it.

On the subject of hardware, I just wasn't sure if you
were referning to useless ol' hardware or if you were
announcing to the vintage computer world that you
'should' update.

On the subject of the environment, I do believe that
dumping toxic materials (e.g. Monitors) into the ground
is a definite bad thing, but until we can fire it off into
outer Space what do we do with it? That's assuming
that it's okay to fire things outer space, wouldn't it?

Cheers.[/quote]

I dont understand what you mean. I stated I like using old hardware and where I find most of mine. For anybody but a collector or retro gamer (like me and people here) old hardware is junk to be disposed of, thats why it gets sent to china for disposal. I firmly believe in playing the old games on the vintage hardware it was designed for whenever possible. I never said anything about making people with vintage machines upgrade. If you run vintage software on vintage machines the speed isnt too bad.

As far as the environment everything in a computer can be reclaimed and reused in some way shape or form. You just have to build the plants to do it and it costs money. Its like the old days when people threw their garbage out into the street. After years of people getting sick and dying somebody figured out it would be better for everybody to pitch in and send the trash to a dump.

 

[CP/M User]

"Unknown_K" wrote in message:

>> You kinda make it sound like that old stuff is a waste of
>> time, but you haven't really stated that, or anything which
>> has a definite sound about it. I'd rather go for the ol'
>> games (which you probably have already gathered), than
>> some game which entails a 10 minute movie describing
>> your mission, or some adventure game which needs 2
>> keyboards to play! ;-)

>> Some ol' games I just find borning (e.g. Adventures or
>> Text Adventures) & a waste of time to me, but if others
>> wish to enjoy them, then so be it.

>> On the subject of hardware, I just wasn't sure if you
>> were referning to useless ol' hardware or if you were
>> announcing to the vintage computer world that you
>> 'should' update.

>> On the subject of the environment, I do believe that
>> dumping toxic materials (e.g. Monitors) into the ground
>> is a definite bad thing, but until we can fire it off into
>> outer Space what do we do with it? That's assuming
>> that it's okay to fire things outer space, wouldn't it?

> I dont understand what you mean. I stated I like using
> old hardware and where I find most of mine. For
> anybody but a collector or retro gamer (like me and
> people here) old hardware is junk to be disposed of,
> thats why it gets sent to china for disposal. I firmly
> believe in playing the old games on the vintage
> hardware it was designed for whenever possible. I
> never said anything about making people with vintage
> machines upgrade. If you run vintage software on
> vintage machines the speed isnt too bad.

No, no, it was just a funny feeling I had & at the time
was under the impression that you were against ol'
hardware! Sorry!! :-(

> As far as the environment everything in a computer
> can be reclaimed and reused in some way shape or
> form. You just have to build the plants to do it and
> it costs money. Its like the old days when people
> threw their garbage out into the street. After years
> of people getting sick and dying somebody figured
> out it would be better for everybody to pitch in and
> send the trash to a dump.

Oh well, I just hope we're settled!

Cheers.

 

[Classicsat]

Another thoght would be to check estate auctions, although the last ones I've been to had PCs that were between having "vintage" value, and recent modern useability.

 

[CP/M User]

"Classicsat" wrote:

> Another thoght would be to check estate auctions,
> although the last ones I've been to had PCs that
> were between having "vintage" value, and recent
> modern useability.

Yeah, what is the current Vintage computer? An early
Pentium, any Pentium (prior to 2) or how about a
later Pentium?

Would this mean that W95 is also a Vintage Operating
something a rather?

If so, then that would make my CP/M ancient.

Cheers,
CP/M User.

 

[vic user]

Yeah, what is the current Vintage computer? An early
Pentium, any Pentium (prior to 2) or how about a
later Pentium?

Would this mean that W95 is also a Vintage Operating
something a rather?

If so, then that would make my CP/M ancient.

Cheers,
CP/M User.

Good God I hope not!

My main computer at home is a pentium 166 running win95

Works fine, except that Java is not supported for win 95

Chris

 

[CP/M User]

"vic user" wrote:

>> Yeah, what is the current Vintage computer?
>> An early Pentium, any Pentium (prior to 2)
>> or how about a later Pentium?

>> Would this mean that W95 is also a Vintage
>> Operating something a rather?

>> If so, then that would make my CP/M ancient.

> Good God I hope not!

> My main computer at home is a pentium 166
> running win95

Ditto!! Hey, this is a small world! ;-)

> Works fine, except that Java is not supported
> for win 95

Java or Javascript?
I can get the later, although it's a bit of a joke.
Someone told me you could get Java working
as low as a 486 (it's just Windows which slows
it down!!)

Cheers,
CP/M User.

 

[vic user]

Java or Javascript?
I can get the later, although it's a bit of a joke.
Someone told me you could get Java working
as low as a 486 (it's just Windows which slows
it down!!)

Cheers,
CP/M User.

Hi CP/M user;

I don't really know. All I know is that some websites I can't access 'because I don't have JAVA enabled'

I went to get java, and it can run fine on a pentium 166 with the RAM I have as well (48 meg), it's just not supported with win 95. But God I hate win 98, ugh.

At least I migrated to Mozilla, so now I don't have so many 'Java script errors' every 3 seconds, and explorer (version 4 i think), used to hang up tons of times on certain sites.
Mozilla is really stable.

I can't believe I still use a 28.8 modem too!

It's quite a difference when I get to work, as I have access to some pretty high end stuff. Surfing the web at work (you didn't read that), goes blindingly fast.

I am considering upgrading to maybe 500 MHZ or therabouts, so I can play around with Lego Mindstorms.

One of the main things I want to do, is learn about robotics, and mindstorm is a good introduction to it.

Eventually, I want to be able to interface via the RS232 port of one of my vic 20's to a robot. It may not be sending probes to distant worlds, but having something roam around my house and send feedback to my vic would be super cool.

I have also been looking into BASIC stamps. Would be nice to porgram them via an 8 bit machine as well.

Chris

 

[Terry Yager]

Eventually, I want to be able to interface via the RS232 port of one of my vic 20's to a robot. It may not be sending probes to distant worlds, but having something roam around my house and send feedback to my vic would be super cool.


Chris

A friend of mine has an old magazine arcticle that explains how to mod a toy truck from around 1980, called a "Big Trak", so that it may be controlled from a C=64. After years of searching, I finally found him one in a thrift store. He completed the project, then used it to chase his customers around his computer store. It's a riot! I'll see if I cn get him to scan the arcticle and send ya a copy if ya like. Dunno if it'll work with a Vic but it's something to play with, if ya cn ever find a Big Trak. (IIRC, they were made by Marx.)

--T

 

[joecommodore]

Thrift Stores, Flea Markets, Yard Sales and Swaps...

Thrift Stores, Flea Markets, Yard Sales and Swaps...

Most of my collection comes from the thrift shops and flea markets, I've been a fan long enough I can spot goodies and recognise the rarities pretty rapidly. If you know what you are looking at and have researched potential problems you can save a lot of money (though the downside is you collect way too much stuff!)

Books and software I find more readily on eBayt some peripherals too. though, once in a while some thrift store 'gets it' and they start stocking the stuff I buy. I think a lot of the collection fun for me is the hadventure of the hunt (especially when I discover a new thrift source, and have to paw through the shelves and racks).

 

[CP/M User]

"vic user" wroet:

> I don't really know. All I know is that some
> websites I can't access 'because I don't have
> JAVA enabled'

Most like Javascript. It should be on your computer,
perhaps it's just been disabled since your computer
will run faster without it. Might want to have a look
at your options, if you want Javascript enabled.

> I went to get java, and it can run fine on a
> pentium 166 with the RAM I have as well (48
> meg), it's just not supported with win 95. But
> God I hate win 98, ugh.

I can't understand that. There must be some
Java available for Win95 as I think it's been
going since W95 has. Certainally Javascript I
have (which comes with my WWW browser)
does.

> At least I migrated to Mozilla, so now I don't
> have so many 'Java script errors' every 3
> seconds, and explorer (version 4 i think), used
> to hang up tons of times on certain sites.
> Mozilla is really stable.

Unfortunately, I don't know much about Mozilla
to be sure if Java comes with it or not. All I
know is it's a large download.

> I can't believe I still use a 28.8 modem too!

I have a 33.6kbps which is fine, it struggles on'
the larger sites. I also have a 14.4kbps modem
on my 386 whenever I use Arachne web browser,
in some cases it's faster! (though it worse when
I want pictures!

> It's quite a difference when I get to work, as
> I have access to some pretty high end stuff.
> Surfing the web at work (you didn't read that),
> goes blindingly fast.

Always the way isn't it, until a faster machine
comes out! ;-)

> I am considering upgrading to maybe 500 MHZ
> or therabouts, so I can play around with Lego
> Mindstorms.

Really depends on if you need the extra speed.
Since most of my work is CP/M & using
emulators under DOS, I find I can get away
with the speed of the machine.

> One of the main things I want to do, is learn
> about robotics, and mindstorm is a good
> introduction to it.

Yeah, that might need a really quick machine,
although I don't know which. Unless you want
an Apple II which could do some robotics
(trouble is finding the approrate system which
comes with all that stuff).

> Eventually, I want to be able to interface via
> the RS232 port of one of my vic 20's to a
> robot. It may not be sending probes to
> distant worlds, but having something roam
> around my house and send feedback to my
> vic would be super cool.

Oh dear!

> I have also been looking into BASIC stamps.
> Would be nice to porgram them via an 8 bit
> machine as well.

Now I'm lost! :-(

CP/M User.

 

[Terry Yager]

"vic user" wroet:

> I have also been looking into BASIC stamps.
> Would be nice to porgram them via an 8 bit
> machine as well.

Now I'm lost! :-(

CP/M User.

http://www.parallax.com/

--T

 

[vic user]

Yep Parallax! Neat microcontrollers, and pretty darn cheap too!

Also the name of a Warren Beaty film I think. Odd coincidence, considering the name of the film refers to a company name as well.

Ok, I will stop since this is getting off topic from the original message thread, and I don't want to have to give Erik extra work

Chris

 

[vic user]

CP/M User.

I can't understand that. There must be some
Java available for Win95 as I think it's been
going since W95 has. Certainally Javascript I
have (which comes with my WWW browser)
does.

I am not too troubled by not having java at home. You are right, I probably have it disabled or something.

CP/M User.

Unfortunately, I don't know much about Mozilla
to be sure if Java comes with it or not. All I
know is it's a large download.

well, if you ever get to try out Mozilla, i think you might like it. i think Netscape is connected with it somehow. they share way too many features and looks.

CP/M User.

Yeah, that might need a really quick machine,
although I don't know which. Unless you want
an Apple II which could do some robotics
(trouble is finding the approrate system which
comes with all that stuff).

I played around with a robot arm connected to an Apple II back in high school. All we made it do actually was type things on the keyboard, by gripping a pencil. It took us a few minutes to finally realize we should have been using the eraser end to hit the keys. Lots of pencil marks on that keyboard!

CP/M User.

Oh dear!

I hope that is a good 'oh dear' about my robotic vic 20 hopes

Chris

 

[CP/M User]

"Terry Yager" wrote:

>>> I have also been looking into BASIC stamps.
>> Would be nice to porgram them via an 8 bit
>> machine as well.

>> Now I'm lost! :-(

> http://www.parallax.com/

Cheers,
CP/M User.

 

[CP/M User]

"vic user" wrote:

> Ok, I will stop since this is getting off topic from
> the original message thread, and I don't want to
> have to give Erik extra work

Why?!? We turned the Rants area into something
else! ;-)

Cheers,
CP/M User.

 

[CP/M User]

"vic user" wrote:

>> I can't understand that. There must be some
>> Java available for Win95 as I think it's been
>> going since W95 has. Certainally Javascript I
>> have (which comes with my WWW browser)
>> does.

> I am not too troubled by not having java at home.
> You are right, I probably have it disabled or
> something.

Well yeah, if it's capable of doing that.

>> Unfortunately, I don't know much about Mozilla
>> to be sure if Java comes with it or not. All I
>> know is it's a large download.

> well, if you ever get to try out Mozilla, i think you
> might like it. i think Netscape is connected with it
> somehow. they share way too many features
> and looks.

Maybe when I update to a super fast computer with
broadband, then I'll seriously consider it!

>> Yeah, that might need a really quick machine,
>> although I don't know which. Unless you want
>> an Apple II which could do some robotics
>> (trouble is finding the approrate system which
>> comes with all that stuff).

> I played around with a robot arm connected to
> an Apple II back in high school. All we made it
> do actually was type things on the keyboard, by
> gripping a pencil. It took us a few minutes to
> finally realize we should have been using the
> eraser end to hit the keys. Lots of pencil marks
> on that keyboard!

Sounds neat. This reminds me, when did Plotters
go out? I always thought they were a valuable
piece of hardware, which are far superior to an
Inkjet printer, yet people are replacing them for
that.

>> Oh dear!

> I hope that is a good 'oh dear' about my robotic
> vic 20 hopes

Well yeah, I was thinking in terms of a Vic20 being
more than capable of doing something like that to
your latest IBM. It kinda goes back to what I said
about Plotters & Inkjet printers, as I feel a Plotter
would produce a more accurate image vs an Inkjet.
However, Inkjets do vary in quality, yet it doesn't
stop it from doing what it does which is spray the
colours onto the paper, which is why I felt that a
Plotter is superior. Any thoughts on that?

But just getting back to your Vic20, yeah that was
a good Oh dear hence the smiley!

Cheers,
CP/M User.