The Retrocomputing Thread

Bella · April 28, 2010, 05:23:22 PM

I figured we needed one of these, since so many members here are interested in vintage/historic/retro computers/OSes. And also old computers-- the ones that can't quite be considered "vintage" just yet, but are well on their way. ;P

I'll start with an "old computer" story. Today, I visited my local used electronics shop on a whim. Just to ask the shopkeeper if he ever got any REALLY old computers in the store-- you know, micros and what not. Turns out he doesn't, but he does have an abundant supply of those "old" computers.

Me: "Er... eh.. yeah... okay, how do I put this: I'm a wannabe vintage-computer collector, and I wanna know if you ever get any old computers in here. I mean, like pre-1995 computers."
Shopkeeper: *goes into closet, pulls out 1995 Apple Powerbook 190 laptop*
Me: "OH MY GAWD." *eyes sparkle*
Shopkeeper: "I'll take $20 for it, as is, no power cord and no guarentees it'll work."
Me: "NOOOO, I SPENT ALL MY MONEY AT THE GROCERY STORE. ON USELESS FOOD." *sobs*

Then he went into the Closet of Old Computers again and pulled out a IBM Thinkpad 770z. Circa 1999. "Ten bucks for this one," he said. I sparkly-eyed again. Last and probably least, he produced a Gateway Solo 2500-- running Windows 98-- which he wants $5 for.

Me: "Will you hold these until I get some money?" *sobs*
Shopkeeper ".......I'm pretty sure these aren't going anywhere."

I'm thinking of rustling up some Christmas money and going over there to buy 'em-- the Powerbook I REALLY want (a laptop from the not-so-golden-age of Apple Computer? Hells yeah!), but the others seem too good to pass up for $15. I dunno, maybe if I buy the lot I'll get a discount or something. What think my OSC peeps?

Chocofreak13 · April 28, 2010, 05:50:41 PM

badass win, makes me want to pay a visit to MY local computer shop.

any chance you could give some directions to yours? :3

IanDanKilmaster · April 29, 2010, 12:59:59 AM

Wanna talk golden age? My first computer was an Apple IIe, and that wasn't all that long ago either (well just under a decade, I think). Anyway, I wish I still had it, largely for nostalgia (and a little for entertainment too), but it was taking up too much space.

I still happen to have a few the old floppies that came with it (from the person that dropped it on us >_< ). Bard's Tale I & II remain some of my fondest gaming memories.

Red-Machine · April 29, 2010, 03:44:28 AM

You lucky little nerd! I wish we had stores like that...

I REALLY want a 486 DX4 (100Mhz) computer that I can use for DOS and Win 95. But alas, only eBay is good for things lik that and the only one I've found is Â£100.

AMDKurt · April 29, 2010, 04:48:34 AM

I got an old computer, not pre-dating 95 but it's from 2000 i think, doesn't start though and i havn't bothered opening it, bought it for 100 kroner from a guy for like 3 years ago :3 I wanna know where to get the old computers though.

VonDaab · April 29, 2010, 10:00:40 AM

I have both an old Apple powerbook 2400c/180 and a Performa... err... cant remember model, but it had a CPU around 150MHz. At moment theyre only collecting dust.

I dont know if 1st gen iMacs are "retro", but i have one, with OSX in it, for lulz. Actually, I have 2 them, though the other one doesnt boot.
My big bro just called me one day and asked if I wanted one, as he suddenly had a truckload of them, so he brought me 2.

I also have the chassis that has only its mobo and PSU intact, of a HP vectra from 1995.

Hmm, I have a laptop from 1996, 97, which I think is a Compaq, with Secchan installed and a AMD CPU at ~500MHz IIRC.

NejinOniwa · April 29, 2010, 01:23:48 PM

I actually got a Macbook (or whatever it was called back then) running Mac OS 7.5 for my birthday some years ago...I think I managed to break the poor thing, though. Inserted a floppy with an .exe file on it, after which it just refused to run anymore.

It weighed like brick, and looked REALLY old. I wonder, now...

Bella · April 29, 2010, 05:05:03 PM

@ Choco: Er... directions... lesse... well, you go north on I-93 for awhile, until you're in the middle of friggin' nowhere (you'll see the sign), then you take a left...

@ IDK: Noooo, how could you get rid of something like that? ;.; I have a friend in New Jersey who has an Apple ][ sitting out in his garage, and an old PC too. I asked to buy the PC off him if he ever decided to get rid of it, but he sounded rather attached to the ][ so I didn't mention anything. xD;;

@ Red: Really? No used electronics/computer shops at all? :V To be honest, I'm surprised we even have one here-- it's a bit of a one-horse town, you see. O.o

@ VonDaab: You have a nice collection of old Macs going!

@ Nejin: The Powerbook I'm looking at supposedly has System 7.5 installed. Hmmmph.

Red-Machine · April 29, 2010, 05:17:46 PM

Tis true, the only place for used electronics here is classified ads in newspapers, eBay and car boot sales. Even charity shops don't take electronics these days.

At present, I have an old Pentium 90MHz laptop with 40MB RAM; currently with Win 95 OSR2.1. Bella, could you do with an 800MHz Pentium III at all?

Bella · April 29, 2010, 05:48:15 PM

Quote from: "Red-Machine"Tis true, the only place for used electronics here is classified ads in newspapers, eBay and car boot sales. Even charity shops don't take electronics these days.

At present, I have an old Pentium 90MHz laptop with 40MB RAM; currently with Win 95 OSR2.1. Bella, could you do with an 800MHz Pentium III at all?

Oh, I see... a lot of second hand shops around here won't take older electronics either.

What do you mean? Just a processor, or a computer?

Anyway, forgot to mention this before-- today I went to visit my long-time hardware adviser/guru/repairman. I asked what he thought of those three laptops, and my chances of finding power cords for them-- he gave me a weird sort of WTH look and tried to talk me out of it (cause they're "too old to be useful". I just sort of snickered, since that's OBVIOUSLY not possible). I'm fairly set on getting the three of them... heck, it's $35 for the lot, and if I hold onto them long enough they'll go from being "old junk" to "antique computers". ;P

True, the power cords might be tough to find (and rather expensive when I do) but it's not like they aren't out there. He did warn me against any cheap "knockoff" AC adapters, since those tend to have woefully short lifespans.

Chocofreak13 · April 29, 2010, 09:28:12 PM

yea, you tend to get what you pay for there.

lesee, moar specific instructions, cause there's nowhere and then there's NOWHERE.

like, goffstown nowhere or cheever nowhere? :\

oh, the oldest computers have:
original shitty (technically no longer exists, except for speakers and hard drive) which was built in 97', and
tanky, who was running Sec-chan so somewhere aroun 99 i'd assume.

IanDanKilmaster · April 30, 2010, 12:14:30 AM

Last I checked, we still had thrift stores around here that sell "vintage" computers. I think that's where my Apple IIe went. Anyhow, I guess I should pay one of those places a visit and see what I find...

Red-Machine · April 30, 2010, 04:11:07 AM

Yeah, just a processor, Bella. I also have plenty of RAM chips too.

Chocofreak13 · April 30, 2010, 09:19:07 PM

i need to go to the thrift store one of these days or sumthin .__.

maybe once big brother's girlfriend moves away i can cheer him up w/ old computers. ^^

AMDKurt · May 01, 2010, 01:09:49 PM

Hey i have to ask you guys and gals a question. I already tried googling it but i havn't been able to find the answer i seek. Thing is, i recently (just 2 hours ago) got hold of a Compaq Presario CDS 742. Im very eager to find out when this computer is from and what type of hardware it has, from what i know it has a 90mhz processor, 12 mb RAM and runs windows 95. Can anyone help? ^_^