Hi everyone! Retro computer noob from the UK, with an Apple II

[Panda]

Hi all, I'm Panda, (sometimes Akagi)

I recently acquired a near mint condition and boxed Apple II EuroPlus (European variant of the Plus with PAL mono video and 230V power supply input)

It has been sitting for upwards of 30 years, so it took a little bit of persuading to come back to life. A capacitor here, a chip there, bit of contact cleaner, prodding of chips, and some luck.

Its now 95% working, just having an issue with a couple of keyswitches, and with the expansion cards.

Before now the oldest computer I had worked with ran Windows 95, and I think it had a 166MHz Pentium. So working with Applesoft BASIC and early DOS is a minor culture shock.

During the week I am usually a software tester / application support person, but I am on a hiatus at the moment.

My main interests besides old computers are cars, watches, anything mechanical I guess...

Thanks for having me!



- Panda

 

[tradde]

Welcome.

 

[Caluser2000]

Gidday and welcome.

 

[Panda]

Thanks both.

 

[tradde]

I too enjoy old cars, watch repair (watching someone else repair as I can't imagine myself doing it), and of course old computers. I grew up with the pdp-8 though. I too am a computer person, having been both a tester and more often a coder. I prefer supporting existing code vs writing new. Just my thing. I am a dinosaur as I worked with C most often. Later some Java. Not too much C++ or anything newer. Your system looks pretty sweet. I have never owned or used an Apple computer of that timeframe.

 

[Panda]

I too enjoy old cars, watch repair (watching someone else repair as I can't imagine myself doing it), and of course old computers. I grew up with the pdp-8 though. I too am a computer person, having been both a tester and more often a coder. I prefer supporting existing code vs writing new. Just my thing. I am a dinosaur as I worked with C most often. Later some Java. Not too much C++ or anything newer. Your system looks pretty sweet. I have never owned or used an Apple computer of that timeframe.

Nice!

I never got on with writing code when I was at college, and I never went back to it. I can barely type a print command now, its all gone from my head.

Cars wise I am mostly into 80s era things. My regular car is an E30 325i Touring, not that old in the scheme of things, but old enough to feel it. We also have in the family a 1947 MGTC which is a lovely thing!

Watchmaking videos are extremely relaxing to watch. Personally I enjoy Wristwatch Revival on Youtube. I myself connect fairly low value vintage watches because I enjoy tinkering with them. Only the basics though. I regulate them, clean them, replace crystals and straps, re-set hands, etc.

Someday I'd like to be able to service a watch fully, but that is extremely beyond me right now!

Thanks for the compliments on the Apple ][, I feel very lucky to have found one in this condition.

 

[tradde]

Yes, I enjoy watching Wristwatch Revival too. He explains so well what he's doing and his voice is soothing. I would only even consider working on older pocket watches but even then my hands shake just a bit too much for me to be comfortable trying. Soldering is already difficult.

The 1947 MGTC must be really nice. Never seen one, but looked it up.

I am more into the DEC computer stuff as that's what I learned on. I have a few smaller ones and one pdp-11. And an older Gateway 2000. Not much really, but I tinker around with lots of stuff more on the software end.