Stuff and Things.

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exxos
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by exxos »

rubber_jonnie wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 11:37 am I suppose it would definitely be a possible thing to do though and has the potential to save not only the RAM but also the LM1889 that also takes 12v.
Yep you just need a SCR and a couple resistors to set the bias voltage.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by rubber_jonnie »

exxos wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 11:42 am
rubber_jonnie wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 11:37 am I suppose it would definitely be a possible thing to do though and has the potential to save not only the RAM but also the LM1889 that also takes 12v.
Yep you just need a SCR and a couple resistors to set the bias voltage.
Sounds cool :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by rubber_jonnie »

And the Game Gear sound board arrived today from Zedlabz.

PXL_20231017_104943543.jpg
PXL_20231017_104943543.jpg (288.13 KiB) Viewed 371 times

It's a 100% drop in replacement for the original, so looks like it came like that from the factory :) Here it is before closing up:

PXL_20231017_105716794.jpg
PXL_20231017_105716794.jpg (344.04 KiB) Viewed 371 times

I have to say the improvement in sound quality and volume is very impressive.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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PhilC
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by PhilC »

@rubber_jonnie heres the old IBM thinkpad that I was telling you about.

You know they made them right when the paint rubs away but they still happily power up. It’s running win 98.

IMG_2884.jpeg
IMG_2884.jpeg (884.65 KiB) Viewed 351 times
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
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chronicthehedgehog
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by chronicthehedgehog »

That brings back a few memories. I didn't buy a PC until '98 - the first game I played was Half Life. My mind was blown :D
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by rubber_jonnie »

PhilC wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 8:07 pm @rubber_jonnie heres the old IBM thinkpad that I was telling you about.

You know they made them right when the paint rubs away but they still happily power up. It’s running win 98.IMG_2884.jpeg
Nice, and mine seems to have picked up some design cues from yours :) Mine is now happily running Windows 7 :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by rubber_jonnie »

OK, I'm at it again with the laptops:

PXL_20231019_124107802.jpg
PXL_20231019_124107802.jpg (292.27 KiB) Viewed 292 times

This time it's a Dell Inspiron 1525 that my brother gave me, but the screen was damaged. I managed to find a parts only machine with a good screen for just £18.52 :) so am in the process of transferring the parts over.

I may even get enough bits from the parts machine to make my money back :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Well, big day of sorting out stuff.

I decided I needed to rationalise my cabling a bit, particularly power to neaten things up, and also to ensure everything can be plugged. This is with everything pulled out.

PXL_20231021_134120951.jpg
PXL_20231021_134120951.jpg (382.87 KiB) Viewed 271 times

Several hours later, all the power has been moved around, with all but my main power bar in the power troughs under the desks. Much more space now and only the video cables and a small number of other cables on top.
PXL_20231021_174216012.jpg
PXL_20231021_174216012.jpg (315.27 KiB) Viewed 271 times
Unfortunately during the move, my TRS-80 PSU seems to have died, so that's on the bench now for repair. Photos to follow, it's a pretty horrible design.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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HigashiJun
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by HigashiJun »

Love that room !

:D
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Stuff and Things.

Post by rubber_jonnie »

HigashiJun wrote: Sun Oct 22, 2023 8:56 am Love that room !

:D
Thank you. It's always a bit in motion, but much happier now the power cables are better hidden, as everything is plugged in now and controlled by one master switch on my master power bar, whereas before I did have to plug in some stuff on demand, now everything that is permanently out is plugged in.

I'll still need to plug in some stuff, but only the stuff that I don't put out regularly.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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