27 Apr
2009
27 Apr
'09
11:17 a.m.
It brings to my mind the Exato II Pro (search for
it on the web) from
CCE (Brazil). It was a beautiful apple clone, with one of the best keyboards
I've ever used (similar or better than the GREAT IBM model "M"). It has a
row of 10 or 12, I'm not that sure, programable function keys on the top of
the keyboard. A real gem outside. But used one of the WORST IC sockets ever
made. It is so bad, but SO BAD, that I know of no one that operates well
today. And even one I had when they were new had the same problems. The
leaf-type sockets oxidised (wow, how do I spell it?) so fast that CCE had to
stop producing it and recall many of the computers made. I have two here,
maybe someday I'll change all the sockets and have a great machine for
playing.
I think the best thing to do with a machine like that is to remove all
the old sockets (cut them up and desolder a pin at a time), clean out the
PCB holes and replace them with turned pin (machined pin, whatever you
call them) sockets. Yes, they're expensive, but I've yet to have problems
with them. I use nothing else here...
-tony