Banquo Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) It seems like whenver I come across a refurbished console or one modded with AV output, one additional "feature" they always add is a gaudy blue LED. I hate blue LEDs in general, I think they are overused and far too bright, but I'm baffled as to why someone would want to ruin the authentic look of their retro consoles with one of these blue abominations. No offense to anyone who likes them, I know everyone has their own taste but in this case I just don't get it. Edited February 23, 2015 by Banquo 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariBrian Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Well I think that authentic is out the window once you start modding a console and have a bunch of jacks added . 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Yeah, there are two different camps for sure, the purists and the retro-modder's. I personally love 'em, it gives my old classic a bit more of a modern look, not to mention the fact that the old ones were just too darn dim. (CLICK ON IMAGE TO RADICALLY ENLARGE) 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) There was a time when blue leds weren't possible. And when they were they were expensive. It's the same thing as why people slam their cars. Something different. Something to do. A novelty. A trend. For much of the early 2000's they were over used in consumer electronics. That trend seems to have slowed down recently. And that's a good thing. Blue led's aren't ugly in and of themselves. It's just their overuse is what bothered me. Well I think that authentic is out the window once you start modding a console and have a bunch of jacks added . Sure it is. So are the old NTSC/RF characteristics. Fuzzy pic, artifacting, all that stuff, all gone. On one hand you got the purists wanting things like they were out of the box. And the other hand you got the modders cleaning up the signal to emulation standards. All sorts of things going on! Edited February 23, 2015 by Keatah 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banquo Posted February 23, 2015 Author Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) Well I think that authentic is out the window once you start modding a console and have a bunch of jacks added . That's true, though they are at least usually hidden out of sight on the back. I know some people like how the blue LEDs look more modern, though personally I find them a bit tacky myself. An NES with a blue LED for example just looks wrong. Give me classic red LEDs any day. Yeah, there are two different camps for sure, the purists and the retro-modder's. I personally love 'em, it gives my old classic a bit more of a modern look, not to mention the fact that the old ones were just too darn dim. (CLICK ON IMAGE TO RADICALLY ENLARGE) That is an awesome looking setup. I love the TI-99/4A. Edited February 23, 2015 by Banquo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoon Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 That is an awesome looking setup. I love the TI-99/4A. Not to hijack the thread, but I couldn't agree more. When I mentally retreat to my "happy place", this is the kind of place I retreat to. Nice, clean, organized, well-lit desk with retro computing. Just looking at that picture puts me into a state of complete relaxation. As far as modded consoles with blue LEDs...I suppose it's what sells the easiest. Kind of like how most car dealerships will always have a selection of black, white, and red cars available in all models. It's the most widely appealing of colors. I understad there are buyers for pink and yellow cars, but it's a smaller group of people. For an amatuer modder, they might be sitting on their hard work for a while if they install a pink LED and be forced to eventually sell it for less money. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 That is an awesome looking setup. I love the TI-99/4A. Thanks! It's the one computer I'll have to the day I die. PC's come and go, the TI is forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Thanks! It's the one computer I'll have to the day I die. PC's come and go, the TI is forever. I feel the same way about my Apple IIe. It's the one system with its own dedicated place in my game room and will be the last system I ever part with. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatPix Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 As far as modded consoles with blue LEDs...I suppose it's what sells the easiest. I'd think that what sell the easiest is the original red or green LED. This thread was discussed before, and my idea is still the same. Blue LEDS might be okay, but... A profesionnal looking deep, low power blue. What modder seems to like using are those 1.21 Gigawatts piss blue Chitnese LEDS that screams "Jackass bought 100 of me for 2,35$". Seriously. I don't want the console I buy being a light source more powerful than my ceiling light, I think it's simple to understand. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr SQL Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Great thread topic. Some of the awesome flashcarts have them as useful indicators but entirely too bright and out of phase with the system LED's. The warm red glow of my C64's power LED doesn't distract from anything on screen in contrast to the green and red searchlights on the UIEC. High power LEDS need lamp shades; rice paper works well for dimming them If the high power LED is totally non-functional or just a power indicator I'll put black electric tape over it and block it out completely. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazing Lazers Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 LED's also look cool in the dark! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 The totally unnecessary LED mods wouldn't be half bad if they weren't so damned bright! Tacky as hell if you ask me. The electrical tape solution works wonders though. Even on my latest Martin Logan subwoofer purchase. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 ...1.21 Gigawatts piss blue Chitnese LEDS that screams "Jackass bought 100 of me for 2,35$". I LOVE the way you turn a phrase! I was busting a gut over here! Great thread topic. I agree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPA5 Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I like the colour blue. I don't mind them in my electronics, I find it a soothing colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omegadot Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 When I was younger I had a blue CCFL in my tower. It was fun to have the blue glow radiate out. To me at least. I really hate blue LEDs that face me and I always electrical tape over them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatPix Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I like the colour blue. I don't mind them in my electronics, I find it a soothing colour. As I said, there is nothing wrong with blue. My keyboard have Deep blue and "laguna" blue backlights, and it's very fine. This is fine : And this... is not IMA FIRIN MAH LAZOOORRRR!!!!!!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Climber Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 On some of the classics its nice to know your system is actually powered on 15 systems with 2 power strips humping each other and 30 plus year old cartridges can leave some margin of error while your sifting through the empty beer cans to make sure everything is plugged in 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Climber Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 By the way, great TI sign 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 IMA FIRIN MAH LAZOOORRRR!!!!!!!!! MY EYES! The goggles, they do nothing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 By the way, great TI sign Yeah, I think there are a couple more people and a newbie or two that missed the last run. You might consider going << HERE >> and put word out if you want to sell a couple more to some devoted TI FANatics. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7800fan Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I must be in the minority that likes blue LED. But it can't be so bright I get question from FAA and FBI investigating possible illegal laser pointing at planes. If I am going to mod older consoles, it will be using red and green LED. Older, low brightness LED aren't easily found these day but with modern high efficiency (and eye-blinding bright) LED it can be tamed by increasing resistor value a lot. For example, a typical hi-e red LED may do best with 220 ohms resistor on 5v rail but a 1k resistor will bring that down to almost the same as old 1980's era LED. (not to mention usually they last a long time on lower voltage/current) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Blue in moderation is alright. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Climber Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Yeah, I think there are a couple more people and a newbie or two that missed the last run. You might consider going << HERE >> and put word out if you want to sell a couple more to some devoted TI FANatics. Thanks man! Yeah, I have received 5 or so PM's asking if I could do another run (I can't help but think your awesome display had something to do with it, hehe) and I would absolutely love to do it but unfortunately, the color I used to make them was custom and I don't think we will ever get it again. It was called Colonial red and used for a canopy for a High School football field snack/concession bar in the South somewhere. I pondered maybe doing a Brighter red/white color scheme, maybe something like this... I have those colors ready to go but wasn't sure if it would look as good as the brushed aluminum/colonial red one I might give it a shot here when I get some free time and see what it looks like... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clint Thompson Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I generally tend to not care for them and admit that I should have went with a blue that wasn't so blindingly bright but I felt that the blue matched the fresh white contrast of the XL when I painted it many moons ago: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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