Look What I Got Off eBay...

[Darrin]

While I was away at work I treated myself to 2 computers, one from HP and another off eBay. It is quite a contrast to see technology divided by decades running side-by-side. It was a PET 4032 that first got me interested in computers and which made me run home and beg for a VIC-20.


The laptop is a HP dv7 Quad Core (to replace my dv8) while I'm sure the rest of us will recognise the CBM 8032. I couldn't resist buying it on eBay and it really is in excellent condition. Apart from a couple of minor scuff marks and the number "9" stenciled above the keyboard it is perfect.


My only problem was that I missed out on the matching CBM floppy drive. The seller had both auctions finishing within 15 seconds of each other and by the time I knew I'd won the PET I couldn't get a winning bid in on the floppy.

Still, there's 2 active auctions on eBay right now for CBM floppies:

One wants $259.99 for an 8050 and when I emailed him about the cable he wanted another $40 for that!

The other one wants $199.95 for a 2040, says it "should" work, but isn't willing to retest it by plugging it in. No cable either.

Both want another $40 for shipping (the person I bought the PET off managed to ship it for $40). I wished them good luck and declined their offers. The working drive I missed out on when for $87+s&h.

I also got the following books with the 8032:

The PET Personal Computer for Beginners
PET/CBM Personal Computer Guide
Mostly BASIC Applications for your PET
CBM Professional Computer Guide
PET BASIC

So, if anybody out there has a working PET floppy drive at a reasonable price (or knows someone who has one) then please PM me.  

I tried joining AMIBAY to see what they had, but after trying to register I got a message that I was a "Spammer" and my registration was refused.

And just for fun, here's a picture of my C64C running OS3.9 (seriously):

[Darrin]

Yeah, what about your C64c running OS3.9, don't they all?...wait, what? By all means, please explain - that is the coolest thing I have ever seen.

LOL.  As RVO_NL says above, if you look at the back of the C64C you'll see a multi-cartridge adapter.  The first yellow cartridge is the Chameleon64 which allows me to boot into (currently) a C64 on steroids with added virual drives and multiple cartridges I can add on booting, an ECS Amiga (with soft 68000 or 68020) or a Spectrum.

You can even use an infra-red CDTV controller as a joystick with it.

Great fun.  

[Darrin]

Neat (Chameleon).  I didn't know OS3.9 could run in with a 68000 processor (emulated in FPGA).  I thought it needed a 68020.

The Chameleon (and FPGA Arcade have the option of switching between soft 68000, 68010 and a 68020).

The 68020 still has a couple of bugs though and OS3.9 has some major issues.  I had to remove a lot of software from teh startup draw and you can't access certain prefs.  Hopefully it will all be fixed soon.  ClassicWB Lite works great.

[Darrin]

That's a sweet looking PET.

Welcome to the addiction that is retro computer collecting!

Tell me about it.  The new house I'm building has a 14' x 12' computer room and a carpenter friend of mine is making me a "U" shaped desk to cover 3 walls, plus I'll have a large table in the center of the room for more stuff.  That "should" be enough to display the current collection.  

[Darrin]

Damn nice catch on the PET!

There more I look at it, the more I can't believe I got one in this condition!  From the paperwork it looks like it belonged to a public library once.

[Darrin]

@Darrin,

You *ARE* a "spammer". You've been spamming us all on here, for years!

LOL.  and lots more where that came from.