Nateo Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 An Apple IIe with a disk drive. It's irrational because I'd have nowhere to put the damn thing. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbo-Torch Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 Since my first computer was the TRS-80 Model I, ever since I saw them in 80-Micro Magazine, I always wanted an LNW-80. TRS-80 compatible computer with color graphics. I've never even seen one though... I have a bunch of those old magazines and they were heavily advertised. I'm looking at an ad right now and the specs are very impressive. While the PMC-80 was an inferior knock off of the Model III, the LNW80 had incredible specs. 4 mhz, 80 column, high res b&w and color, more keys, compatible with the Model I Level II, etc. Even more impressive is the system with one drive and b&w monitor is listed at $1,914.00, which is about $250 less than the Model III. You would think they would have sold well, but I've never seen one in person either. I'm attending Tandy Assembly this weekend, it'll be cool if someone has one on display. I also see the Intertec Superbrain computer advertised a lot in those magazine. I want one just for the looks and name. Oddly those are fairly common on eBay and usually sell for under $200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mutterminder Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 I have a bunch of those old magazines and they were heavily advertised. I'm looking at an ad right now and the specs are very impressive. While the PMC-80 was an inferior knock off of the Model III, the LNW80 had incredible specs. 4 mhz, 80 column, high res b&w and color, more keys, compatible with the Model I Level II, etc. Even more impressive is the system with one drive and b&w monitor is listed at $1,914.00, which is about $250 less than the Model III. You would think they would have sold well, but I've never seen one in person either. I'm attending Tandy Assembly this weekend, it'll be cool if someone has one on display. I also see the Intertec Superbrain computer advertised a lot in those magazine. I want one just for the looks and name. Oddly those are fairly common on eBay and usually sell for under $200. I'm not sure they sold assembled units. You would have had to build it yourself. I did buy the LNW Expansion interface, but it was just a bare PCB with a parts list. The advantage over the Radio Shack expansion interface, was that you could build it one section at a time. In this way I was able to add memory, a printer interface, a serial port, and a floppy disk controller as I could afford it. I found a fiberglass case for it from a third party. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbo-Torch Posted November 11, 2018 Share Posted November 11, 2018 I'm not sure they sold assembled units. You would have had to build it yourself. I did buy the LNW Expansion interface, but it was just a bare PCB with a parts list. The advantage over the Radio Shack expansion interface, was that you could build it one section at a time. In this way I was able to add memory, a printer interface, a serial port, and a floppy disk controller as I could afford it. I found a fiberglass case for it from a third party. Their full page ad in the July 1981 issue of 80 Mircocomputing does list a complete system. The 1,914.00 price includes a 10 day full refund and 6 month warranty. Lower down, they do offer many components including bare boards for those who want to build their own systems. And yes there was one at Tandy Assembly! It's a very cool looking system. It's not exactly on the home made level, but doesn't appear mass produced either. Being made of steel with rough corners, exposed screws, off the shelf toggle switches, it seems more like a small company building them by hand in a small facility. I never did see anyone around that display so I wasn't able to ask questions. I'm guessing it needs a bit of work as many of the keys were depressed and not rebounding. This Lobo was one of my favorites. Seemed really fast and can also run CP/M. When powered on, there's a tiny yellow light for the worlf's eye! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+slx Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 I thought DAI was a run of the mill Apple ][ clone, but perhaps I'm mixing something up. Still, it could be a worthwhile irrational want.No, its a very rare 8080 machine which I only saw in the wild once, in the window of a closed shop.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DAI_Personal_Computer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Ok. A friend of mine had a surplus DAI a couple of years ago. I believe he didn't think much of it so it could be had cheap in untested condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damosan Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 Irrational want? An X68000 would be nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonGrafx-16 Posted November 14, 2018 Share Posted November 14, 2018 (edited) Irrational want? An X68000 would be nice. You read my mind! I so want one. There's only one on ebay atm and it's around $600... still too much. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sharp-X68000-Computer-2MB-100-working-PSU-Floppy-Recaped/192715548897?hash=item2cdebde8e1:g:M7gAAOSwYxdbkwMk:rk:7:pf:0 Edited November 14, 2018 by TravisHuckins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dafivehole Posted November 15, 2018 Share Posted November 15, 2018 Amstrad PC1512... my first PC I would love to get another one... most of them are over in Europe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesD Posted November 15, 2018 Share Posted November 15, 2018 Amstrad PC1512... my first PC I would love to get another one... most of them are over in Europe Those were nice machines. I used to sell them. I probably should have bought one myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dafivehole Posted November 15, 2018 Share Posted November 15, 2018 Those were nice machines. I used to sell them. I probably should have bought one myself. I actually bought mine at Dilliards (the department store) in the late 80's. They were practically giving them away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damosan Posted November 17, 2018 Share Posted November 17, 2018 You read my mind! I so want one. There's only one on ebay atm and it's around $600... still too much. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sharp-X68000-Computer-2MB-100-working-PSU-Floppy-Recaped/192715548897?hash=item2cdebde8e1:g:M7gAAOSwYxdbkwMk:rk:7:pf:0 You'll probably be kicking yourself in a few years when the same machine goes for north of $1000. D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted November 22, 2018 Share Posted November 22, 2018 At the moment, a MicroAce. Absolutely pointless machine when I already have Timex 1000, ZX81, and ZX80 systems (themselves already pretty pointless, ha...or at least redundant). Especially considering how rare/$$$ they are. On the more sensible end of irrational Sinclair-related desires, though (again with the redundancies! ), one of those system enclosures with a mechanical keyboard would be really cool. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted November 22, 2018 Share Posted November 22, 2018 Was the MicroAce one of the few US made pirate computers, or did they eventually obtain proper licensing from Sinclair Research? If the former, it is rational enough to desire as usually we're thinking Far East Asia or Russia when we discuss pirated computer clones, not America. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMenard Posted November 22, 2018 Share Posted November 22, 2018 Amiga 4000 tower Brand new in the box 1702 or 1084S monitor Brand new Apple green "flippy" monitor Those are my "out of there" wants. The 4000 especially since they didn't sell many of those, if any, where I live. Most studio stuck with the A2000 for titling and toaster needs. My more realistic wants for 2019: A new Atari 8bit setup. The one I got rid off was a missmatched set of ebay auctions. I want a minty 800XL with a pair of 1050 with new belts and alligned + happy, a working 1010 with new belt. A new C128 keyboard. Not a D or CR model, just the plain old regular wedge replacement keyboard. Not new as in unused but just one in perfect working condition. A good if not perfect universal replacement solution for my dying CRTs that would give a near perfect image quality on a modern monitor from composite/svideo/RGBi/RGB 15hz etc...etc... One that I don't have to sell a kidney to acquire as I reserve those for my previous "out of there" needs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted November 27, 2018 Share Posted November 27, 2018 Was the MicroAce one of the few US made pirate computers, or did they eventually obtain proper licensing from Sinclair Research? If the former, it is rational enough to desire as usually we're thinking Far East Asia or Russia when we discuss pirated computer clones, not America. It was, although I think "clone" would be a better descriptor than "pirate," rather like the Franklin to the Apple II. The MicroAce ROM was functionally identical to the ZX80 ROM but technically not a direct copy (although, admittedly, the differences are pretty flimsy). It also provided for internal expansion to 2K (as opposed to 1K), which the ZX80 did not. The keyboard, though, was what gave them up when Sinclair took them to court--the judge could see with his own eyes that the MicroAce and ZX80 keyboards where identical. Sinclair forced MicroAce to cease production and distribution of their 4K ROM ZX80 clone computer, but they did later license the 8K ROM to them, allowing MicroAce to offer an 8K/ZX81 ROM upgrade, or a complete system, but only in kit form, and only in the United States. (MicroAce apparently also sold a flicker-free board for the ZX80.) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainBreakout Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 I still want a WICO Command Controller for the Intellivision. It's probably irrational since a Disc is part of the experience of playing the INTV, and most people agree that the WICO Command Controller is less enjoyable. I know... I already have one. I just want another one based on the hypothetical situation that I am playing INTV with a guest and both players want joysticks. All seems pretty unlikly, yet the desire persists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oracle_jedi Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 Irrational? Let me show you "irrational"... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatPix Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Amstrad PC1512... my first PC I would love to get another one... most of them are over in Europe The biggest problem getting that one is that it's a computer that no one care about Well, maybe not, but one problem you might like to consider is that Amstrad made it the same way than they did the CPC; mainly, that the power supply is in the screen. Both power supply and video connection are made with unusual "super-DIN" connectors that are very hard to source (and a massive PITA to solder, I would imagine) If I remember, both keyboard and mouse use PS/2 like connectors but are also Amstrad-specific. So they are hard to come by because usually people would get ride of the screen after forgetting its needed to use the computer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 There's an open box C64 Mini on Amazon for $32 calling to me. I don't have any particular affection for C64, other than the era, but I like mini consoles and I like bargains, too. I know it's not a great emulator and that I can build something nicer on my PC, but $32! Shipped! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arnuphis Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Irrational? Let me show you "irrational"... Wow. I always wanted a Lynx. They looked so awesome when they were announced. But alas the dream was not to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AB Positive Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 Irrational want? An X68000 would be nice. This, with a PC-9800 on top. Such good gaming that's hard to come by out of Japan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newtmonkey Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 Amiga 600 with Gotek drive or (even better) with complete compact flash setup. Irrational because I would want a PAL system but only NTSC was available here, so I'd have to import it with all the trouble and expense that comes with. Also irrational because I don't really have any personal/nostalgic connection to the Amiga (I was a C64 kid and I had a friend who had an Atari ST), and I have a miniMIG that works pretty much perfect just for playing Amiga games. Still want a 600 though! haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tschak909 Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 I wound up getting a unicorn on accident, so I'm not actively wanting any more unobtanium. https://imgur.com/gallery/WCO1sIZ -Thom 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airshack Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 TI-99/4 without the “A”. The chicklet keyboarded version I had as a teen. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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