Wolfus wrote on 2021-10-21, 08:56:

Aublak wrote on 2021-10-14, 04:43:

There was an Apple IIvx back at the ewaste site. I was thinking of grabbing it too. There seemed to be a bunch of matching accessories for it too; monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.
Would that be a good tween machine?

I think it would be MUCH more apple-newbie-friendly.

Probably, but I find it a lot less fascinating.
Might still be worth picking up.

picked up one of these. prices are getting out of hand. been wanting a isa+pci+vlb 486 board for a while. with a proper cache module, and no cache sockets so no fake cache 😀

I should really try and hunt down a faster cyrix 5x86 for this.

I have two of these Dell Bigfoot keyboards... i love them, except BOTH of them have had 1-2 switches die on me (i think they're Alps switches)

dionb wrote on 2021-10-21, 12:29:

Was in town for a medical appointment today so of course checked out the local thrift shop too. Not very optimistic, but this ti […]
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Was in town for a medical appointment today so of course checked out the local thrift shop too. Not very optimistic, but this time it was my lucky day:

16348178416880.jpg

Dell AT102W, ISO variant of the legendary AT101W. Alps Black switches (silent, tactile) and great build quality.

Oh, and I actually prefer ISO 😉

For the grand price of EUR 2.50, including the USB adapter.

DaveJustDave wrote on 2021-10-21, 17:03:

I have two of these Dell Bigfoot keyboards... i love them, except BOTH of them have had 1-2 switches die on me (i think they're Alps switches)

I've gone so far as to disassemble the actual key switches and clean the contacts. I then relegated the repaired switches to less used keys. The keyboard still works!

DaveJustDave wrote on 2021-10-21, 16:55:

no cache sockets so no fake cache 😀

Seems that PCChips didn't even bother to populate the fake cache spots near the RAM slots, you can even see the traces going nowhere, which are normally hidden under the "chips".

No need to. It has cache on a stick 😉

appiah4 wrote on 2021-10-21, 13:06:

I have this exact same DELL keyboard in a cupboard somewhere. Came with a GX110 I once bought, I think. I want to use it with my XPS D333 but it is in horribly dirty and yellowed condition. I am honestly too scared to open it up and restore it. But I should. It's a damn solid keyboard..

Don't be scared, it's not like an IBM M2 or anything, everything inside will stay in place. Take the caps off, stick them in a pillow case, tie it shut and put it in the laundry. Take the plastic casing off and stick it in the dishwasher. Afterwards retrobrite if desired. Then use compressed air or similar to blow between the switches. None of that is even remotely risky or challenging.

Messing around inside Alps switches, now that is a challenge - but might be necessary if they are very dirty or broken. Alps switches are vulnerable to dirt and start to feel very scratchy. My SGI Bigfoot has a bad case of those scratches. This Dell is smooth as silk though 😀

I found a couple of Adlib Gold 1000s still sealed, today. It was weird that no one else seemed interested in them.

Megadragon15 wrote on 2021-10-21, 23:26:

I found a couple of Adlib Gold 1000s still sealed, today. It was weird that no one else seemed interested in them.

Pics of you holding them or shens.

cyclone3d wrote on 2021-10-21, 23:30:

Megadragon15 wrote on 2021-10-21, 23:26:

I found a couple of Adlib Gold 1000s still sealed, today. It was weird that no one else seemed interested in them.

Pics of you holding them or shens.

Pics of you holding them + yesterdays news paper clearly in the shot.

These aren't special. They were priced at $4,99 at the thrift store I just wanted to share that I bought a couple of retro sound cards

I have a clone of the Adlib Gold 1000 in my Wyse WY-2108 that has a Sony CD-ROM interface integrated. I need to find the MIDI/Joystick dongle so I can connect my joystick or gamepad to the system.

Best $80 I spent on it and my Disney Sound Source will be installed on the 286 soon.

Wait, $4.99/ea or $4.99 altogether at a thrift store? Dude, that's a bargain.

$4.99 each plus tax. The same place that I bought the item from my first post, the Soyo motherboard with either a Pentium III or Celeron.

Dude. That's a bargain.

Got lucky at the thrift store again today with yet another complete tower for $5 and it looks to be complete. Specs:

Intel C2Q 6600
3GB RAM
GeForce 8400 GS
500 GB IBM Clickstar HDD 🤣
Hauppauge WinTV PCI-E video capture card

I've never had a complete media center PC, it's a very interesting case and layout. I really have no desire to hang onto it though (I don't think) so I'll likely flip it.

Also not PC hardware, but will possibly become part of a custom PC/Gaming 5.1 speaker system, I also found a Mirage Omni S8 powered subwoofer for $15 and the reviews look pretty good, so I picked it up. I can take a picture if there's any interest.

Make a bowtie antenna out of a 2x4 and coathangers and use it as an OTA PVR

Edit: This is a reasonable one I think https://moneyrhythm.com/projects/how-to-build-a-db4-antenna/

Megadragon15 wrote on 2021-10-21, 23:52:

These aren't special. They were priced at $4,99 at the thrift store I just wanted to share that I bought a couple of retro sound cards

Aren't special???? We want pics. They are super rare and go for insane prices on eBay.

cyclone3d wrote on 2021-10-22, 01:48:

Megadragon15 wrote on 2021-10-21, 23:52:

These aren't special. They were priced at $4,99 at the thrift store I just wanted to share that I bought a couple of retro sound cards

Aren't special???? We want pics. They are super rare and go for insane prices on eBay.

Yep.

pan069 wrote on 2021-10-21, 23:35:

cyclone3d wrote on 2021-10-21, 23:30:

Megadragon15 wrote on 2021-10-21, 23:26:

I found a couple of Adlib Gold 1000s still sealed, today. It was weird that no one else seemed interested in them.

Pics of you holding them or shens.

Pics of you holding them + yesterdays news paper clearly in the shot.

No, something unique, unfakable, embroider your username in purple thread on the back of a Metallica tour shirt, wear it backwards, hold up yesterdays newspaper and the cards and stand on one leg while balancing a box of kleenex on your head. 🤣

just kidding, where the hell is anyone gonna get a newspaper these days.

BitWrangler wrote on 2021-10-22, 02:08:

pan069 wrote on 2021-10-21, 23:35:

cyclone3d wrote on 2021-10-21, 23:30:

Pics of you holding them or shens.

Pics of you holding them + yesterdays news paper clearly in the shot.

No, something unique, unfakable, embroider your username in purple thread on the back of a Metallica tour shirt, wear it backwards, hold up yesterdays newspaper and the cards and stand on one leg while balancing a box of kleenex on your head. 🤣

just kidding, where the hell is anyone gonna get a newspaper these days.

Newspapers are the most retro thing you can own mate. 😀