[Long] Re: Repair or Replace?

Rumor has it that Tony Duell may have mentioned these words: Personally, I don't have a probe, but I do have a 'scope, (and I actually know how to use it...) but I do realize that others aren't so lucky... Of course, I also own a JCB backhoe... not too useful whatsoever for classic computers, but hey... how many other geeks do you know with one of those? ;-) While it's not an unusual tool on its own, I would think not that many folks into collecting classic computers would have one (especially if that collector centers on the software side of things and isn't as in-depth on hardware). Ditto on the lathe... Sure, but I've noticed that not everyone has a good "kludging" ability... Merchbergers, despite being from the shallow end of the gene pool WRT other things... ;-) I've been more interested in transformers lately... (especially since an "educated electrical contractor" said I'll *never* be able to set up & run a 288 VAC light on 120V garage wiring...) The best way to get me to do something is to tell me it *can't* be done. ;-) Any good books anyone could recommend? Most certainly -- and hopefully you'll [try to] teach your skills to your children (should you have any, of course), so your kids can help our kids fix things in the next generation, when parts are much more scarce... ;-) [[ An aside... I thanked my father a few weeks ago for teaching me none other than how to build/sharpen/adjust/fix chainsaws & chainsaw chains - something I thought I'd *never* use until I purchased my wife's parents farmstead... ]] Admittedly, I don't get my knickers in a knot if I can't save a common machine. Last weekend my wife was garage sale browsing - came across a C128/printer/paper/some common software (not sure if there was a drive). Wife called me, I offered (thru wife) $20. Lady wouldn't budge from $30. The computer stayed put. I do make an extra effort (including cash expenditures) to save things that are much rarer... a while back I acquired a Frank Hogg Labs CoCo Cartridge Expander module - No one else online wanted it... so I saved it. The person said that it might even be a prototype - he wasn't sure... but I sure like it! ;-) Anyone have info on that beastie? Personally, even if it is common, I always offer anything classic to others before I even think about the dumpster, unless it's big, heavy, and excepting exceptional folks like you, Tony, unrepairable. Like very common old VGA monitors... stuff like that. AAMAF, I'll have some stuff going up soon - I need to part ways with a few things I know I'll never have time for. Really common stuff, like 2 parted-out PCjrs which should make one good, working machine (including monitor & thermal printer) and I'll prolly give up the Atari 800xl I rescued over a year ago - still sitting in packing box I got it in. Full list later... I may actually get one PCjr running before offering it to the list, just for the fun of fixing... Anywho, the wifey called, wants me to go home. And I want to go, too! ;-) If anyone sees David Hasselhoff before the end of the day, wish him a happy birthday. ;-) 'Later, Roger "Merch" Merchberger -- Roger "Merch" Merchberger --- sysadmin, Iceberg Computers Recycling is good, right??? Ok, so I'll recycle an old .sig. If at first you don't succeed, nuclear warhead disarmament should *not* be your first career choice.