22 Apr
2001
22 Apr
'01
6:51 a.m.
Hey,
I recently picked up a VIC-20 with Tape Recorder, Joystick, 5 games, etc.
on EBay for 11 bucks. It was my first purchase as a classic comp collector,
and I had a few questions concerning it and was wondering if any of you guys
could answer:
1. Are there any mods to improve that god-awful display???
2. Are there any companies that still sell the memory upgrades for these
things?
3. Did i get a good deal for 11 bucks? was it worth it??
And finally, are there any schematics/tutorials on the net for creating
text terminals? I wanted one to interface with a 6502 board i'm working at,
but I wanted to build it myself and running some prog like HyperTerminal or
whatever just didn't seem as fun.
-Lanny Cox
22 Apr
22 Apr
7:43 a.m.
Far as I know there are gobs of info on the VIC and C64, 128 and 128D on
the web, just consult your friendly neighborhood search engine. "Brain" is
one of the people that comes to mind in the expert-on-Commodore category but
in the last year or two I haven't done much with any Commode-Ore stuff -
even though I've tons of items stashed in my storage trailer. I guess soon
it's gonna all have to be pulled and sold/traded as appropriate. All i'm
going to keep is the SX64 and C128D out of all the stuff I have.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
[mailto:owner-classiccmp@classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Lanny Cox
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2001 10:51 AM
To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
Subject: VIC-20
Hey,
I recently picked up a VIC-20 with Tape Recorder, Joystick, 5 games, etc.
on EBay for 11 bucks. It was my first purchase as a classic comp
collector,
and I had a few questions concerning it and was wondering if any
of you guys
could answer:
1. Are there any mods to improve that god-awful display???
2. Are there any companies that still sell the memory upgrades for these
things?
3. Did i get a good deal for 11 bucks? was it worth it??
And finally, are there any schematics/tutorials on the net for creating
text terminals? I wanted one to interface with a 6502 board i'm
working at,
but I wanted to build it myself and running some prog like
HyperTerminal or
whatever just didn't seem as fun.
-Lanny Cox
7:52 a.m.
I recently picked up a VIC-20 with Tape Recorder, Joystick, 5 games, etc.
on EBay for 11 bucks. It was my first purchase as a classic comp
collector,
and I had a few questions concerning it and was
wondering if any of you
guys
could answer:
Whee, a VIC-20 was the first computer I actually owned. I spent my larval
stages on the 8-bit line starting from the VIC-20. OT, but I am really
interested in getting a 128D (specifically the D model), but they sell for
upwards $100 sometimes on ebay.
1. Are there any mods to improve that god-awful display???
I wouldn't consider it God-awful :P But from the shattered remains of my
memory, I seem to recall that there may have been 40 column cards for it.
There was also some software which replaced the character maps with
something that resembled 40 columns but it ran at the same resolution, so it
was beyond difficult to read...
2. Are there any companies that still sell the memory upgrades for these
things?
Do some net searches. You probably won't find any company that still sells
them, but you may be able to find a DIY expansion...
3. Did i get a good deal for 11 bucks? was it worth it??
$11 ain't bad. "was it worth it" is objective - did you feel you it was
worth it? Some people will apperently pay $5k for a true IBM 5150 PC, but I
wouldn't want it unless you delivered it to me, and only then if you had a
pizza in the other hand :)
9:20 a.m.
You'll hate me for saying this but I got my 128D, printer, monitor, etc and
a ton of software in swap for a Sound Blaster 16 card. I like it way more
than the old 64's...and the thremal color printer is nice other than
tracking down sources for ribbons.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
[mailto:owner-classiccmp@classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Billy D'Augustine
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2001 11:52 AM
To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: VIC-20
I recently picked up a VIC-20 with Tape Recorder, Joystick, 5
games, etc.
on EBay for 11 bucks. It was my first purchase as
a classic comp
collector,
and I had a few questions concerning it and was
wondering if any of you
guys
could answer:
Whee, a VIC-20 was the first computer I actually owned. I spent my larval
stages on the 8-bit line starting from the VIC-20. OT, but I am really
interested in getting a 128D (specifically the D model), but they sell for
upwards $100 sometimes on ebay.
1. Are there any mods to improve that god-awful display???
I wouldn't consider it God-awful :P But from the shattered remains of my
memory, I seem to recall that there may have been 40 column cards for it.
There was also some software which replaced the character maps with
something that resembled 40 columns but it ran at the same
resolution, so it
was beyond difficult to read...
2. Are there any companies that still sell the memory upgrades for these
things?
Do some net searches. You probably won't find any company that still sells
them, but you may be able to find a DIY expansion...
3. Did i get a good deal for 11 bucks? was it worth it??
$11 ain't bad. "was it worth it" is objective - did you feel you it was
worth it? Some people will apperently pay $5k for a true IBM 5150
PC, but I
wouldn't want it unless you delivered it to me, and only then if you had a
pizza in the other hand :)
11:01 a.m.
You'll hate me for saying this but I got my 128D,
printer, monitor, etc and
a ton of software in swap for a Sound Blaster 16 card. I like it way more
than the old 64's...and the thremal color printer is nice other than
tracking down sources for ribbons.
Yeah, I hate you. My "new" 128DCR cost me $45 by itself. But they definitely
beat the 64 with the internal disk drive and nice case/keyboard.
The thermal printer -- are you talking about the Okimates? They are very
good printers, ribbons aside -- especially the colour output. It's almost
as good as dye sub except for the resolution.
--
----------------------------- personal page: http://www.armory.com/~spectre/ --
Cameron Kaiser, Point Loma Nazarene University * ckaiser(a)stockholm.ptloma.edu
-- When in doubt, take a pawn. -- Mission: Impossible ("Crack-Up") ------------
11:54 a.m.
Yep. Got an Okimate 10 and 20 with it, gave my brother in law the 10 and
kept the 20.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
[mailto:owner-classiccmp@classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Cameron Kaiser
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2001 3:02 PM
To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: VIC-20
You'll hate me for saying this but I got my
128D, printer,
monitor, etc and
a ton of software in swap for a Sound Blaster 16
card. I like
it way more
than the old 64's...and the thremal color
printer is nice other than
tracking down sources for ribbons.
Yeah, I hate you. My "new" 128DCR cost me $45 by itself. But they
definitely
beat the 64 with the internal disk drive and nice case/keyboard.
The thermal printer -- are you talking about the Okimates? They are very
good printers, ribbons aside -- especially the colour output. It's almost
as good as dye sub except for the resolution.
--
----------------------------- personal page:
http://www.armory.com/~spectre/ --
Cameron Kaiser, Point Loma Nazarene University *
ckaiser(a)stockholm.ptloma.edu
-- When in doubt, take a pawn. -- Mission: Impossible
("Crack-Up") ------------ 
5:36 p.m.
Russ Blakeman skrev:
You'll hate me for saying this but I got my 128D,
printer, monitor, etc and
a ton of software in swap for a Sound Blaster 16 card. I like it way more
than the old 64's...and the thremal color printer is nice other than
tracking down sources for ribbons.
I got my C128D in a trade for a pirate copy of the Amiga game "Superfrog"
(great game, but was it really worth it?). =)
At the recycling centre near my grandparents', I found another one, this time
the kind with a carrying handle and parking space for the keyboard. Didn't
cost more than a hundred SEK.
I've also got two spare 128D keyboards, Swedish keymap. Will trade for other
eight-bit things.
--
En ligne avec Thor 2.6a.
Alle Verallgemeinerungen sind gef?hrlich, sogar diese.
--- Alexandre Dumas der ?ltere
6:42 p.m.
Whatever a hundred SEK correlates to in USD. You did good on the first one
though. One thing I like about the dual video is the monitor I got with it,
a Magnavox, has both RGB and composite inputs that are switchable from the
front. It also works well as a test monitor for camcorder and VCR/VCP
repairs. I did have it attached to a vcr for a while and used the VCR as the
tuner and watched TV in the shop without the aid of a separate television.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
[mailto:owner-classiccmp@classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Iggy Drougge
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2001 12:00 AM
To: Russ Blakeman
Subject: RE: VIC-20
Russ Blakeman skrev:
You'll hate me for saying this but I got my
128D, printer,
monitor, etc and
a ton of software in swap for a Sound Blaster 16
card. I like it way more
than the old 64's...and the thremal color printer is nice other than
tracking down sources for ribbons.
I got my C128D in a trade for a pirate copy of the Amiga game "Superfrog"
(great game, but was it really worth it?). =)
At the recycling centre near my grandparents', I found another
one, this time
the kind with a carrying handle and parking space for the keyboard. Didn't
cost more than a hundred SEK.
I've also got two spare 128D keyboards, Swedish keymap. Will
trade for other
eight-bit things.
--
En ligne avec Thor 2.6a.
Alle Verallgemeinerungen sind gef?hrlich, sogar diese.
--- Alexandre Dumas der ?ltere
11:42 p.m.
Russ Blakeman skrev:
Whatever a hundred SEK correlates to in USD. You did
good on the first one
though. One thing I like about the dual video is the monitor I got with it,
a Magnavox, has both RGB and composite inputs that are switchable from the
front. It also works well as a test monitor for camcorder and VCR/VCP
repairs. I did have it attached to a vcr for a while and used the VCR as the
tuner and watched TV in the shop without the aid of a separate television.
That's how I watch TV nowadays, using a Philips 8833 plugged into the video.
It's funny, when I was young, I used a TV for a monitor, now I use a monitor
as a TV.
--
En ligne avec Thor 2.6a.
If you want to program in C, program in C. It's a nice language.
I use it occasionally... :-)
--Larry Wall (perl) in <7577(a)jpl-devvax.JPL.NASA.GOV>
23 Apr
23 Apr
12:18 p.m.
I know, it's weird isn't it? All sorts of bass-ackwards changes have come
alomg in the last 20 or 30 yrs, like using your cable to get internet and
using it to make phone calls. I know people that don't even use their
landline - they have cell for when they are away and use internet phone over
either Starband satellite or their cablemodem. The phone sits there idle and
the phone company is glad to bill them every month for a line they never
use.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org
[mailto:owner-classiccmp@classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Iggy Drougge
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2001 12:00 AM
To: Russ Blakeman
Subject: RE: VIC-20
Russ Blakeman skrev:
Whatever a hundred SEK correlates to in USD. You
did good on the
first one
though. One thing I like about the dual video is
the monitor I
got with it,
a Magnavox, has both RGB and composite inputs that
are
switchable from the
front. It also works well as a test monitor for
camcorder and VCR/VCP
repairs. I did have it attached to a vcr for a while and used
the VCR as the
tuner and watched TV in the shop without the aid
of a separate
television.
That's how I watch TV nowadays, using a Philips 8833 plugged into
the video.
It's funny, when I was young, I used a TV for a monitor, now I
use a monitor
as a TV.
--
En ligne avec Thor 2.6a.
If you want to program in C, program in C. It's a nice language.
I use it occasionally... :-)
--Larry Wall (perl) in <7577(a)jpl-devvax.JPL.NASA.GOV>
24 Apr
24 Apr
6:42 a.m.
I do the same, only on my regular SVGA with a JDH VideoMate. It's a neat
little box with a tuner built in. Contains video i/o as well and a remote. JDH
also made them in card form I understand.
I also have a Power mac 7100av hooked up to a VCR but I find the full screen
viewing slow and a bit jerky. That's with 32m memory.
The Commodore monitors when used with a VCR as a tuner were also great.
larry
Russ Blakeman skrev:
Reply to:
lgwalker(a)look.ca
Whatever a hundred SEK correlates to in USD. You
did good on the first one
though. One thing I like about the dual video is the monitor I got with it, a
Magnavox, has both RGB and composite inputs that are switchable from the front.
It also works well as a test monitor for camcorder and VCR/VCP repairs. I did
have it attached to a vcr for a while and used the VCR as the tuner and watched
TV in the shop without the aid of a separate television.
That's how I watch TV nowadays, using a Philips 8833 plugged into the video.
It's funny, when I was young, I used a TV for a monitor, now I use a monitor as
a TV.
--
En ligne avec Thor 2.6a.
If you want to program in C, program in C. It's a nice language.
I use it occasionally... :-)
--Larry Wall (perl) in <7577(a)jpl-devvax.JPL.NASA.GOV>
22 Apr
22 Apr
1:16 p.m.
New subject: Microtech Genesis 120 MO drive
I just won this auction, and I am real curious about what it is.
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1231005250
Auction says;
Microtech Genesis 120 MO drive + extras
This is a 120mb internal MO drive. Includes all original software: Pro-DOS
trans-port and Genesis 120 System Disk on floppy and a Genesis 120 MO disk.
This appears to be a standard MO drive - I had no difficulties using a MO
disk that came from a Sony drive in this device. (drive label says it was
manufactured by IBM).
*********
Most of the reason I bid on this auction is that I have (3) similar looking
IBM MO drives that are 540 MB and maybe just maybe the software is
compatible (the auction units say they are for a mac).
2:09 p.m.
New subject: Microtech Genesis 120 MO drive
Mike,
If you're on a Mac and have a format/mounting utility such as
FWB Hard DIsk Toolbox, you should be able to use your other MO's
without special software. I've found that I can use the FWB software
with my Mac and then move it to a PC laptop with an Adaptec SCSI
baord and their EZ-SCSI software and it works fine. It also works
fine under OS/2 using a Future Domain board, though I've yet to get
DOS to play ball with it on the same machine since the Future Domain
drivers don't support removable media other than CD-ROMs. Will try
the same drive on my SCSI-equipped Amiga 500 shortly.
Jeff
I just won this auction, and I am real curious about
what it is.
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1231005250
Auction says;
Microtech Genesis 120 MO drive + extras
This is a 120mb internal MO drive. Includes all original software: Pro-DOS
trans-port and Genesis 120 System Disk on floppy and a Genesis 120 MO disk.
This appears to be a standard MO drive - I had no difficulties using a MO
disk that came from a Sony drive in this device. (drive label says it was
manufactured by IBM).
*********
Most of the reason I bid on this auction is that I have (3) similar looking
IBM MO drives that are 540 MB and maybe just maybe the software is
compatible (the auction units say they are for a mac).
--
Collector of Classic Microcomputers and Video Game Systems:
Home of the TRS-80 Model 2000 FAQ File
http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lakes/6757
9:02 a.m.
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11:07 a.m.
I recently picked up a VIC-20 with Tape Recorder,
Joystick, 5 games, etc.
on EBay for 11 bucks. It was my first purchase as a classic comp collector,
and I had a few questions concerning it and was wondering if any of you guys
could answer:
1. Are there any mods to improve that god-awful display???
There is a 40-column cartridge for it but they are hard to find. The major
problem is the screen resolution. Some programs do a software 40-column
screen.
2. Are there any companies that still sell the memory
upgrades for these
things?
Vintage Computer (http://www.vintagecomputer.com/) might.
3. Did i get a good deal for 11 bucks? was it worth
it??
Not bad. My VIC-20 cost me $10.
--
----------------------------- personal page: http://www.armory.com/~spectre/ --
Cameron Kaiser, Point Loma Nazarene University * ckaiser(a)stockholm.ptloma.edu
-- Our policy is, when in doubt, do the right thing. -- R. L. Ash -------------
8490
days inactive
8492
days old
14 comments
9 participants
participants (9)
-
ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
azog＠azog.org -
chronic＠nf.sympatico.ca -
jhellige＠earthlink.net -
lgwalker＠look.ca -
mikeford＠socal.rr.com -
optimus＠canit.se -
rhblake＠bigfoot.com -
spectre＠stockholm.ptloma.edu