Terry Yager
Veteran Member
True that! It's over 4 pounds, so First Class is out of the question.
--T
--T
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PC jr item
- Thread starter Sharkonwheels
- Start date
PCjr's eh? Michigan eh? Tempting. The drive to Windsor ON (across the border from Detroit) from here is 3 hours.
I grew up with a PCjr, which still exists back at my father's house. No spare parts except for a couple chicklet keyboards. Years ago, when it was already obsolete, I said that I wanted it when I grew up. My brother's response was 'fine, nobody will want it anyways'. Since then he's created opposition. He went a bit sentimental I think
. He's no vintage collector, though he has a couple NeXT Cubes collecting dust. Maybe I'll trade him the Jr for a cube .
Joel
I grew up with a PCjr, which still exists back at my father's house. No spare parts except for a couple chicklet keyboards. Years ago, when it was already obsolete, I said that I wanted it when I grew up. My brother's response was 'fine, nobody will want it anyways'. Since then he's created opposition. He went a bit sentimental I think
. He's no vintage collector, though he has a couple NeXT Cubes collecting dust. Maybe I'll trade him the Jr for a cube .Joel
<Rant On>
I have too many PCjr parts in my basement. I tried to save enough for my own use, and for some other people who come down the road. People (not just myself) have spent good money to build a parts stockpile, and we do it to ensure that the machine will have unofficial support down the road. I have more than enough parts to last a few lifetimes, assuming I don't get hit by a flooded basement. I generally distribute what I get for cost .. whatever it cost me plus shipping, if applicable. That's my contribution to the machine ...
That being said, when nobody else wants to step up and preserve this stuff I get a bit annoyed. Everybody has to make decisions based on their circumstances, but people unwilling to help with preservation but always looking for something 'super rare' piss me off to no end.
People don't need to stock parts .. just archiving your software, rare documentation, and making your rare parts available for pictures and documentation goes a long way. I don't have nearly half of the crap available for a PCjr, but I've done the best job of documenting all of it. If everybody made a bit of an effort to do this for their favorite machine we'd enjoy the hobby even more.
It is even more of a shame when people make their good stuff available on eBay first without even talking to other people who might be more interested. Most of the PCjr stuff that goes on eBay disappears into some collectors closet ... A day or two with a digital camera, scanner, and a multimeter would be so helpful before this stuff disappears.
I'm at a point in my life and hobby where I'm not going to make extraordinary efforts anymore to rescue parts. Other people need to pick up the slack. I have enough space and enough money to buy anything I want .. the difference now is that I don't want anymore. ;-0
<Rant off>
I have too many PCjr parts in my basement. I tried to save enough for my own use, and for some other people who come down the road. People (not just myself) have spent good money to build a parts stockpile, and we do it to ensure that the machine will have unofficial support down the road. I have more than enough parts to last a few lifetimes, assuming I don't get hit by a flooded basement. I generally distribute what I get for cost .. whatever it cost me plus shipping, if applicable. That's my contribution to the machine ...
That being said, when nobody else wants to step up and preserve this stuff I get a bit annoyed. Everybody has to make decisions based on their circumstances, but people unwilling to help with preservation but always looking for something 'super rare' piss me off to no end.
People don't need to stock parts .. just archiving your software, rare documentation, and making your rare parts available for pictures and documentation goes a long way. I don't have nearly half of the crap available for a PCjr, but I've done the best job of documenting all of it. If everybody made a bit of an effort to do this for their favorite machine we'd enjoy the hobby even more.
It is even more of a shame when people make their good stuff available on eBay first without even talking to other people who might be more interested. Most of the PCjr stuff that goes on eBay disappears into some collectors closet ... A day or two with a digital camera, scanner, and a multimeter would be so helpful before this stuff disappears.
I'm at a point in my life and hobby where I'm not going to make extraordinary efforts anymore to rescue parts. Other people need to pick up the slack. I have enough space and enough money to buy anything I want .. the difference now is that I don't want anymore. ;-0
<Rant off>
Yzzerdd
Veteran Member
Ah, So I am not the one that has a stockpile? I'm in Texas, so a basement is out of the question(you can't go 2" underground without hitting a slab of rock), but I have taken over my dad's garage. The nice stuff, sensitive to heat, humidity, etc, I keep in my room. Other stuff, less sensitive, such as....well, less important stuff, I keep in my garage. Anyways, I pretty much have "support" for the next lifetime or so, too.
Anyway, steering this thread back on topic, I would love the PCjr stuff, but All I gots is $20 until I sell something. Next week I will have $40(allowance=$20 per week) but that is far from shipping that stuff. I always wanted a PCjr, though.
Ooooh! linux is done installing, gotta reboot.
--Ryan
Anyway, steering this thread back on topic, I would love the PCjr stuff, but All I gots is $20 until I sell something. Next week I will have $40(allowance=$20 per week) but that is far from shipping that stuff. I always wanted a PCjr, though.
Ooooh! linux is done installing, gotta reboot.
--Ryan
Mike, not everyone here shares your enthusiasm for the preservation of PCjr parts & information. This is a general vintage computer discussion board. Some people are interested in preservation, some monetary gain, some collecting rare PC's, some re-living the past, and so on.
Myself, personally, my main interest is collecting computers (& related parts) of significance. I would rather have a NeXT Cube over a PCjr, despite having grown up with the PCjr (and quite likely having clocked more hours between 1985 and 1990 on a Jr, than most Jr owners). The reason is just the significance of the NeXT. Tim could have used many different machines, but he used the NeXT Cube. Hence, the Cube intrigues me.
My interest in collecting PCjr parts is comprised purely of self-serving motivation. I would like to have a PCjr to play old games that I used to enjoy, and play with other old software. I picked up a Tandy 1000 (complete with hard-drive) earlier this year for $20 cash to help me re-live some of that past. The Tandy isn't quite the same as the Jr., and I'd love to have the real thing w/spare parts to keep it going.
Although I have money I could drop on the hobby, I don't want to (nor does the wife!). Buying a NeXT Cube for $700 that isn't going to see much use makes no sense to me. Even if I could get one for free, w/$200 shipping, I don't want it that bad unless I was going to flip it on Ebay. (That being said, I've never sold or thrown out vintage PC parts/computers yet, traded/donated - yes!)
So basically, my interests in preserving vintage computer stuff is saving things from hitting the trash. I'm afraid I can't justify spending lots of money to preserve things because I'm just not that passionate about them. Give me a choice between spending $100 to help preserve computer heritage or donating $100 to the local soup kitchen, I'd pick the latter. I'm not trying to say there's anything wrong with spending money to preserve PCs and their heritage - but I do think there's more pressing causes in the world (which I personally do not help out much nearly as much as I should).
Joel
---
Edit to clarify: Even though I'm not against spending a lot of money to preserve computers/parts, I don't mind spending a bit for computers that I'll actively use or spare parts for said computer (like the Tandy or the PCjr). That being said, the money could still be used better at the local soup kitchen. I'm not perfect, I'm a bit selfish like most people.
Myself, personally, my main interest is collecting computers (& related parts) of significance. I would rather have a NeXT Cube over a PCjr, despite having grown up with the PCjr (and quite likely having clocked more hours between 1985 and 1990 on a Jr, than most Jr owners). The reason is just the significance of the NeXT. Tim could have used many different machines, but he used the NeXT Cube. Hence, the Cube intrigues me.
My interest in collecting PCjr parts is comprised purely of self-serving motivation. I would like to have a PCjr to play old games that I used to enjoy, and play with other old software. I picked up a Tandy 1000 (complete with hard-drive) earlier this year for $20 cash to help me re-live some of that past. The Tandy isn't quite the same as the Jr., and I'd love to have the real thing w/spare parts to keep it going.
Although I have money I could drop on the hobby, I don't want to (nor does the wife!). Buying a NeXT Cube for $700 that isn't going to see much use makes no sense to me. Even if I could get one for free, w/$200 shipping, I don't want it that bad unless I was going to flip it on Ebay. (That being said, I've never sold or thrown out vintage PC parts/computers yet, traded/donated - yes!)
So basically, my interests in preserving vintage computer stuff is saving things from hitting the trash. I'm afraid I can't justify spending lots of money to preserve things because I'm just not that passionate about them. Give me a choice between spending $100 to help preserve computer heritage or donating $100 to the local soup kitchen, I'd pick the latter. I'm not trying to say there's anything wrong with spending money to preserve PCs and their heritage - but I do think there's more pressing causes in the world (which I personally do not help out much nearly as much as I should).
Joel
---
Edit to clarify: Even though I'm not against spending a lot of money to preserve computers/parts, I don't mind spending a bit for computers that I'll actively use or spare parts for said computer (like the Tandy or the PCjr). That being said, the money could still be used better at the local soup kitchen. I'm not perfect, I'm a bit selfish like most people.
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Druid6900
Veteran Member
Could always say you're protecting the US eco-system by dumping it all in Canada
Actually, come to think of it, you could say that you're taking it all the the closest eco-friendly computer recycling facility (that would be me) because, in actuality, every single part I don't use is recycled to the tune of 99%.
HOWEVER, that being said, if you weren't aware of the fact, what I do is repair, refurbish and re-sell the equipment. I like to be upfront about that and you may prefer that it go to someone that is a collector (although all the stuff I've ever resold through my site has gone either to collectors or people/companies that, for whatever reason, HAVE to maintain legacy equipment for whatever it is they are doing).
Anyway, if you happen to be driving through Hamilton....LOL
Well, I live just south of Lansing....Eaton Rapids. I just don't want to trash them. I am willing to give them away. Not sure what all works and what doesn't. I have two monitors, 2 pcs, 2 keyboards (1 seems to be missing a cable), 1 Pc Jr printer, a parallel port or two, a modem, a quadram (doesn't seem to work), a book on getting started, some software, 2 original boxes..one of the monitors is in one...not brand new...just has the box...one box the Pc Jr came in, a Pc Jr joystick, a couple of power supplies, BASIC rom.
Maybe some more, but it is all I have found so far as I clean the old pc room in the basement.
Maybe some more, but it is all I have found so far as I clean the old pc room in the basement.
Big Blues - like I said, it doesn't have to be the PCjr. Be passionate about something, and document it/preserve it. You never know when it will be interesting or useful again ... If anybody has an inkling that they might be interested in this machine sometime in the future Despair has a few parts now.
As a moderator here I'm quite aware that people are here for different reasons. ;-0 And I get annoyed when people look for 'rare' or valuable stuff, but contribute little back in return.
As a moderator here I'm quite aware that people are here for different reasons. ;-0 And I get annoyed when people look for 'rare' or valuable stuff, but contribute little back in return.
So tempting... I might bite. I thought I'd need a passport to cross the border now, but apparently it's only for air travel. $50 duty-free limit for 24-hours, $200 for 48-hours. Not sure how they'd value a PCjr
. I've had some nasty duty in the past. The real kicker is the 8-hours travel (to Eaton Rapids) or the shipping if no travel. Hmm...Terry Yager
Veteran Member
FWIW, if it's just a few items, it probably won't be too bad. She's son just cleared out his storage unit on US side, and moved all his household & personal property to his new home in Canada. He's finally been granted residency after living there for about 6 years, with his new Canadian wife. They made him document every single item in a 24' U-Haul, including such things as tool chests full of tools. Wouldn't let him get by with "chest of tools", or even "drawer full of sockets", he had to put down every individual item. The paperwork took him a couple of months. (Don't feel sorry for him though, the lucky SOB just hit for $12,000.00 on a penny slot two weeks ago. Hell, I didn't even know there was such things as $.01 slot machines).
--T
--T
Anonymous Freak
Veteran Member
heh. I have a "vintage" $.10 slot machine whose "jackpot" is $2.00. (Yup, the jackpot is 20 coins.) It's a fun old completely mechanical slot machine. Has a very nice "ca-CHINK" sound as you pull the lever, followed by the "whirrrrr-clunk-whirrrrr-clunk-whirrrrr-clunk" of the three wheels spinning and stopping.
Yeah, I hadn't thought it possible, but Canada has even stricter customs than the U.S. (I made the mistake of trying to enter Canada at the Vancouver, BC crossing at midnight once, driving straight through from home (Portland, OR) to a friend's party just outside Vancouver. .ca customs stopped me for over an hour, grilling me and almost tearing my car apart.) Heck, .ca will refuse entry if you had one misdemeanor drug conviction in the 1960s! (Not me, I wasn't alive in the '60s, but an uncle was denied entry for it. He had ONE marijuana possession conviction in 1968, and now he can't go into Canada.)
Terry Yager
Veteran Member
Yes, I'm persona non grata in Canadia now too. They said I didn't even need the 30-year-old felony conviction, they could have turned me back for the five-year-old DUI if they wanted to.
--T
--T
Druid6900
Veteran Member
Yeah, pretty strange. We'll let terrorists and war criminals in, but, if you have an old DUI or a 1-joint bust from 40 years ago, you're a threat to our way of life.
I think it's probably backlash to such stupid legislation as you can't enter the US if you have business interests in Cuba and this passport thing that's coming due.
Who know's though? Some civil (rarely) servant (who acts like they are doing you a favour for doing what they are getting paid for (and this doesn't include all of them, just the ones you have to deal with)) in the "permanent" government of one country or the other has a brain fart and it becomes law.
Welcome to the longest undefended (although they are invovled in a constant "who's the biggest idiot war") border in the paranoid world.
I think it's probably backlash to such stupid legislation as you can't enter the US if you have business interests in Cuba and this passport thing that's coming due.
Who know's though? Some civil (rarely) servant (who acts like they are doing you a favour for doing what they are getting paid for (and this doesn't include all of them, just the ones you have to deal with)) in the "permanent" government of one country or the other has a brain fart and it becomes law.
Welcome to the longest undefended (although they are invovled in a constant "who's the biggest idiot war") border in the paranoid world.
Yzzerdd
Veteran Member
It would be better if someone were to pick it up. Granted, mailing would be less costly, chances are the boxes would be kicked across the border, and by time the person it was shipped to got it, you wouldn't know if it was a computer or a toaster oven with a disk drive.
That would be cool, saving settings on a disk, your toast would be just right every time! The phrase "Amiga Toaster" would take a whole new meaning!
--Ryan
That would be cool, saving settings on a disk, your toast would be just right every time! The phrase "Amiga Toaster" would take a whole new meaning!
--Ryan
I don't think that you are going to have problems mailing things into Canada. From what I hear they are civilized people.
I've done lots of transactions, personal and eBay into and out of Canada. I usually put the declared value of the items at next to nothing - that is what they are worth to the casual observer on the street. UPS might be easier than the postal service.
I've done lots of transactions, personal and eBay into and out of Canada. I usually put the declared value of the items at next to nothing - that is what they are worth to the casual observer on the street. UPS might be easier than the postal service.
Druid6900
Veteran Member
Any item shipped into Canada with a declared value of less that $20 CAD is duty-free.
Any item send as a gift is duty-free as long as it contains a gift card or note inside indicating it is a gift and customs sticker has "not for resale" on it.
They are really cracking down on that gift-card or note being present since a lot of e-bayers are trying to get the stuff across without paying the required duty.
All couriers have their own customs clearing divisions which will charge the receiver 30 bucks just to let them know that there is no duty payable on the shipment, so, USPS is the way to go.
They might be S-L-O-W, but, it is, usually, only near the end of the month that USPS and/or Canada Post starts doing custom checks since they have to complete their monthly quotas.
Any item send as a gift is duty-free as long as it contains a gift card or note inside indicating it is a gift and customs sticker has "not for resale" on it.
They are really cracking down on that gift-card or note being present since a lot of e-bayers are trying to get the stuff across without paying the required duty.
All couriers have their own customs clearing divisions which will charge the receiver 30 bucks just to let them know that there is no duty payable on the shipment, so, USPS is the way to go.
They might be S-L-O-W, but, it is, usually, only near the end of the month that USPS and/or Canada Post starts doing custom checks since they have to complete their monthly quotas.
I was guessing that I would be more likely to get nailed with duty if I drove over the border and brought the stuff back, than if Despair brought it over the bridge. I checked last night, and gifts are allowed up to $60 per person.
BTW, Despair if you didn't see, I sent you a private message.
BTW, Despair if you didn't see, I sent you a private message.