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cbmeeks

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Posts posted by cbmeeks

  1. Posted

    I love that Zenith monitor!

     

    I have several IIe's but I always wanted an original II and a II+.  Well, the II is simply out of my budget.  And, for the most part, the II+ is way too expensive.  So what I did was build me a II+ in pieces.  Last year or so, I bought a II+ motherboard that is in great condition.  Then, last spring, I found a II+ case that is near mint.  Beautiful condition with no yellowing that I can see.  Well, no more than the "yellowish-tan" color it normally is.

     

    The missing piece was the PSU and keyboard.  Keyboards for the II+ can be very expensive when you find them separate.  So I got lucky.  I found a II+ on eBay that had a scratched up case and hole drilled into it for a reset.  I got it for $117 + S/H. 

     

    I plan on rebuilding the PSU (or maybe get a modern PSU) and put in my original II+ motherboard in that beautiful case I have.  I don't think I really saved any money in the long run.  But this allowed me to get a near-mint II+ that works and spread the "payments" out.  🙂

     

    Keyboard, PSU, 80-col card and Disk ][ controller = $117

    Motherboard = $80

    Case = $50

     

    I can't remember what all the S/H was but probably another $75 for all.

     

    So I'm at around $322 or so.  Which isn't too far off what a near-mint II+ costs.

     

    Now, I have an Apple III monitor and a standard Apple IIe monitor that is color.  The III monitor looks awesome but is monochrome.  The IIe monitor is really bland if you think about it.  Compared to how beautiful the II line of computers are.  So I may just use my 1084S on it but that's sort of taboo sometimes.  LOL

     

    Oh, I have the same disk drive and a similar printer.  An ImageWriter, IIRC.

     

    I'm really thinking about building my own Mockingboard card using the prototype boards I have.  Really pays respect to the spirit of the Apple II line. 

     

    Sorry to babble so much.  But you don't see as many people excited about their Apple II collections these days.

  3. Posted

    I just bought an Apple II+ that had basically no description.  I mainly bought it for the keyboard as I already have a near-mint case and motherboard.  Then I noticed that the computer comes with a Disk][ controller and some type of "CRT" card in slot 4.

     

    Can you tell what it is?

     

    Thanks!

    Photo Oct 02, 5 03 21 PM.png

  5. Posted

    I'm a fan of Gateway 2000.  Don't ask me why....I guess it's the cow logo.

     

    I'm not sure if this qualifies as "Classic Computing" but a while back I was at a thrift store and saw a Gateway computer (after they dropped the "2000") that was a Pentium 4, 256 MiB RAM and 1.5 Ghz CPU.  It has two DVD drives and a floppy drive.  It was dirty but it cleaned up nice and works great.  It's a small tower model and I already had a PS/2 Gateway keyboard.

     

    Oh, and it only cost $4.99.

     

    So, one of the first things I'm using it for is to read many of my old IDE hard drives since my modern computer is SATA only.

     

    But when I'm done with that, I'm looking for suggestions.  I thought about making it a bench computer for random work but that seems a little boring.

     

    I already have a 486 for DOS gaming (which I prefer) and I'm not into modern shooters.

     

    Another idea was to put some form of BSD on there (which I am a fan of) and use it for a small server.  But that seems boring too (especially since I have better computers for this).

     

    I guess I could make it another DOS gaming PC since it's physically smaller than my 486.  But I would have to drastically slow it down somehow.

     

    Suggestions?

     

    Thanks!

  7. Posted

    Frantic Freddie for the Commodore 64 is one of my favorite games for that platform. And with the recent release of Frantic Freddie 2, it got me wondering how well the TI could handle those games.

     

    I think the TI would be a great fit for that game.

     

    So, does anyone know if Frantic Freddie was ever created for the TI?

  8. Posted

     

    imo for the most fun with the Model I don't upgrade it; stick with the original Level I BASIC and the cassette drive.

     

    The built in 4K is all you need for old-school games and BASIC programming fun from the 70's, that keyboard has a lot of play.

     

    If you want to take the Model I into the 80's you can upgrade it with Level II BASIC, 48K, sidecars and floppy drives.

     

     

    That's actually what I am going to do. I don't know 100%, but I believe the system was expanded to 16K and Level II BASIC. I can't tell at the moment because the keyboard is having issues and the video timing is having issues. So I have some repairs on it. The keyboard ribbon cable was 60% disintegrated. Almost all of the traces were gone. So I am replacing that with a small IDE ribbon cable.

     

    The video problem is going to take some time. But it's still pretty easy to get parts for that machine.

     

    You know, despite the "Trash-80" moniker, the keyboard feels pretty great and the plastics are a little thicker than I thought they would be. I think I got a little lucky in that mine wasn't used much. Because the paint hasn't been rubbed off where your palms rest (unlike my CoCo 1).

     

    I also found a Radio Shack cassette drive recently that is in mint condition. For $4 at a thrift store. It's not period accurate (probably mid-80's) or Tandy but it's Radio Shack and the color almost matches. So I guess I match the "RS" out of the "TRS". LOL

    • Like 1

  12. Posted

     

    That's a fair statement. The technology and limitations of the times...

     

    At the time, the TI was my primary (only) computer system. Looking back with 20/20 hindsight my vision is a little clouded after all these decades, almost as much as my den is crowded. Due to time and space limitations, if I want a graphic moved over to the TI now days, I'll cheat by using Tursi's TMS9918A converter.

     

     

    What's this Tursi's TMS9918A converter you mention?

  15. Posted

    I finally wonder if I shouldn't propose the TIny-99/4A v2 as bare motherboard and keyboard PCBs. Sure, I will be a little bit desapointed but if I don't find a serious serious IC supplier, I will make this decision.

     

    Tomorrow I wil take a picture of the finalized keybard (the serial product). To my mind, it is very pleasant ! Hope it will be appreciated by all :)

     

     

    I think offering a bare PCB would be a great idea. Many of us have parts already and I certainly wouldn't mind sourcing my own parts.

     

    Plus, this give me the option of "buying it in payments". Meaning, that I may not have the money to buy the board and all components at once but I could spread those acquisitions out over time. Many times, I make small orders from Mouser and add misc components that I need from many projects.

     

    Thanks for all that you do.

    • Like 8

  18. Posted

     

    I'm a laser guy.. not a 3D printing guy.. it seems a lot easier to me to laser a rectangular panel out of sheet acrylic, with a second layer jig that also fits snugly around whatever jack is present. Cost of material: 25 cents. Time to produce: cut dozens of them in a few minutes batch job.

     

    My beige is not an exact match for TI beige. Black acrylic is cheap.

     

    This would work for new mods (or covering up unsightly holes)

     

    I'm not going to be removing my F18A either (its super valuable and useful! never obsolete!). I will just mod another console for an F18A mk2.

     

     

    Hmm. That's a tough call. I might pull my F18a out and use in my Coleco ADAM. But only after I have an MK2.

  21. Posted

    I have several of the CoCo's but I always wanted an original model 1. Now, that dream is finally a reality. :-D

     

    I also bought an original monitor that should be here in a couple weeks.

     

    Other than a Radio Shack cassette drive, what should I get next?

     

    I just want to play some old-school games and do a little BASIC programming.

     

    Suggestions appreciated!

     

    • Like 2

  22. Posted

    I mounted my F18A in a pretty good spot a few years ago. That is, until I started using my PEB. The VGA cable was in the way and I had to move the TI too far away for my liking.

     

    So I then wondered if they made right-angle VGA adapters. And what do you know...they do!

     

    Anyway, I'd thought I'd share for anyone in the same situation. I can't remember what I paid for it but it was well less than $10 US with free shipping from China. Took two months to get here.

     

    The quality is actually pretty good.

     

    If you get one, just make sure you look closely at the pics! There are different genders and left/right angles.

     

     

    post-5987-0-40131800-1552566703_thumb.png

    • Like 11

  23. Posted

    Got it.

     

    I think I will run the disk image in an emulator. But I'm still on the lookout for a real floppy drive. I like to experience the real deal.

     

    BTW, this is literally the first TI-99/4A software I have ever owned on a floppy disk!

  25. Posted

    I got mine the other day. Looks beautiful! I love supporting fan projects like this.

     

    I have a disk controller on the way but no floppy drive. I'm going to see about getting a floppy drive over the next few weeks (hopefully). In the meantime, could I get a copy of for my FG99?

     

    Thanks

     

     

    I'll shoot it to you in a PM, the full disk image. :)

    • Like 1
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