eightbit Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Serviced-Tested-Working-Commodore-128-Computer-Mouse-Composite-Cable-Servant-ROM/303742326336?hash=item46b8741640:g:no4AAOSwN3xfl7vC Looks good...except when I saw the last picture of what looks like a 10 year old girl sticking a screwdriver into a C64 and working on it on their carpet floor....with parts strewn about on the carpet. I am pretty sure the seller did not mean to add that picture. Pretty funny regardless. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 Plot twist: the kid is for sale. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluejay Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 Not a bad price for its condition and extras though! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 Did you know that Markus "Notch" Persson, co-creator of Minecraft, in his youth took apart a C128 into every possible detail and then reassembled it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 2 hours ago, carlsson said: Did you know that Markus "Notch" Persson, co-creator of Minecraft, in his youth took apart a C128 into every possible detail and then reassembled it? Meh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluejay Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 5 hours ago, carlsson said: Did you know that Markus "Notch" Persson, co-creator of Minecraft, in his youth took apart a C128 into every possible detail and then reassembled it? He took the legs off all his ICs? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Not trying to sound like an ass, but probably sounding like one anyway. I took apart many things down to the metal (even de-soldering some parts) in my youth and I grew up to be an IT guy. My little baby cousin wrote a program on her mom's PCjr, at the age of four or five, which printed her name in 15 colors. She became nothing technically-inclined. That Notch took apart his Commodore 128 and rebuilt it may impress the normies, but around here that just sounds like par for the course. The little girl in the photo, possibly working on a computer, only her parents know for certain, may be a future engineer, game developer, or meth-head. I hope for the best and I hope her parents enjoy this time, because these little ones do not stay this way for long and there is nothing in the world like having someone so special with whom to share your hobbies. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eightbit Posted October 28, 2020 Author Share Posted October 28, 2020 I think its great when the kids get involved. I have had my 11 year old involved in a lot of projects like this, so I'm not dissing the guy that listed this auction in any way and I don't want it to be construed that way. I just thought it was kind of funny as the auction was listed as "fully serviced" and started out with some professional type pictures of dead test, running various OSes (like CP/M) and so on....and then the last picture is some little kid on the floor doing some work. Not saying that she cannot do the job, but when I think of a fully serviced vintage computer I have the thought in my mind that it has been serviced on a bench in a professional environment by an adult who knows the hardware and is taking great care of the 35 year old machine. You just never know 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+cvga Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 I love that picture. It's awesome that she's involved and I'm sure her dad (or mom) loves having her there. I know I would. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 @eightbit It might just be clever viral marketing... I know I felt the tug to buy the system if only to support their work and give those kids the rush of having sold something they worked or "helped" to work on. 7 hours ago, eightbit said: when I think of a fully serviced vintage computer I have the thought in my mind that it has been serviced on a bench in a professional environment by an adult who knows the hardware and is taking great care of the 35 year old machine. How cliché Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 If it was a picture from a Chinese sweatshop, we would claim child labor and not support it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youxia Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 The pic is most likely a little joke. This guy has a stellar feedback, mostly for fixing old computers, so even if he really gave it to his daughter to put few screws in it's not something to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swami Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Wouldn’t it be funny if she is actually a 21 year old computer engineering major? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 It would seem more children are involved: https://www.ebay.com/itm/303640256456 https://www.ebay.com/itm/303654909452 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 1 hour ago, carlsson said: If it was a picture from a Chinese sweatshop, we would claim child labor and not support it. We have family business labor exemptions in the US 56 minutes ago, Swami said: Wouldn’t it be funny if she is actually a 21 year old computer engineering major? True story. Back when I started college I met a girl in one of my classes who was around that age. I would not be exaggerating to say she likely could barely use a calculator by the time she graduated, but still wound up landing a nice-paying programming job. I often wonder where she is today. 1 hour ago, youxia said: The pic is most likely a little joke. This guy has a stellar feedback, mostly for fixing old computers, so even if he really gave it to his daughter to put few screws in it's not something to worry about. I would assume so, and maybe to give a little chuckle to the idea of it being professionally services. But also have a look at what she appears to be doing: she has the screw driver at the upper-right corner screw which holds the board and port cover in place. This could very much be a dud machine she is taking apart for fun, maybe for practice, or perhaps she is adept at removing motherboards -- albeit, on a carpet not being the best of ideas. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 3 minutes ago, carlsson said: It would seem more children are involved: https://www.ebay.com/itm/303640256456 https://www.ebay.com/itm/303654909452 Good Lord! He is Fagin running a computer repair sweat shop of street urchins! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 Properly trained, I'm sure children from around 10 years old could contribute quite a bit to repair jobs since they tend to have smaller hands with more dexterity to reach into small places. Sometimes perhaps even better sight than squinting 40+ old farts. I know a guy who works professionally with all sorts of electronics repair. He started with retro computers but recently has moved into farming and other heavy equipment since there is less competition and bigger money to make. He seems to slowly introduce his children into his work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youxia Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 I'm starting to like this guy. He's definitely not one of those prissy dads who rage when kids get close to their hobby stuff, has got enough sense of humour to post these pics (definitely not accidental) and also is confident about his skills (and feedback), so he's not worried about what people might think about it all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eightbit Posted October 28, 2020 Author Share Posted October 28, 2020 I admit the C128 was a good deal. Had I not already owned one I would probably have picked that up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+cvga Posted October 28, 2020 Share Posted October 28, 2020 9 hours ago, carlsson said: If it was a picture from a Chinese sweatshop, we would claim child labor and not support it. Wrong. We* would complain about it but continue to support it (i.e. Nike) *We as in the global we, not anyone on AtariAge of course! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potatohead Posted October 29, 2020 Share Posted October 29, 2020 19 hours ago, cvga said: I love that picture. It's awesome that she's involved and I'm sure her dad (or mom) loves having her there. I know I would. This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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