Strange Daughterboard on UE7 (PET 8296) ID? Please... Ta

[StowComputers]

Hi all,

I'm going to be listing one of my 8296's on eBay over the weekend, and would appreciate some help on describing the daughterboard in UE7. My other 2 pets don't have one of these and I can't find much online about them. Perhaps some member here have seen them and know what/how they change things.

FYI UE5 has a new modern replacement in it (under the daughterboard) for those wondering.

Many Thanks.

 

[Eudimorphodon]

It looks to me like it's a daughterboard with two EPROMs replacing the original ROM chip that used to reside in that socket. (It appears that an 8296 used a weird (proprietary?) 16K ROM in UE7 that was mapped into both the 0xF000-0xFFFF KERNEL ROM space and the 12K of BASIC 4.0 ROM space from 0xB000-DFFF, and a seperate, more normal 2K EDIT ROM in the 0xE000-E7FF space.

On Zimmers.net in the 8296 firmware section there's talk of a UE7 daughterboard that uses 2764 EPROMS. Maybe some machines shipped stock with them?

http://www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/firmware/computers/pet/8296/index.html

Based on that I'm guessing the board doesn't grant your PET any special abilities.

 

[for()]

One of my 8296s has exactly the same board. Simply an adapter enabling the usage of ordinary EPROMs instead of mask ROMs - that's all.

 

[StowComputers]

Thanks guys,

PET prices seem quite good at the moment, and I don't need 3 8296's! Plus I'd like the storage space back. I don't suppose anybody has any spare 8296 keyboards?

 

[Eudimorphodon]

PET prices seem quite good at the moment...

I have no idea what's up with the apparent PET mass hysteria happening on eBay. I mean, look at this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/COMMODORE-PET-2001-SERIES-VERY-RARE-VINTAGE-/180726899570

Six days to go and already over $250 for what is very probably the *least rare* PET there is. (And judging from the fact it's sitting at the debugger prompt there's a good chance it's at least slightly broken.)

So, sure, probably as good a time to sell as any.

 

[Chuck(G)]

The machine does not smell burnt in any way and sounds quiet when turned on. I do not guarantee it's (sic) functionality in any way, shape or form.

Five days to go yet...

For vintage enthusiasts, this signifies a shift. The people bidding don't care about functionality; just apparently want it on the shelf. How sad.

Reminds me of the time I sold a tuba to a couple of characters. They had no problem with paying a little over $1K for it and weren't interested in even test-playing it. Puzzled, I asked why they'd buy a musical instrument without trying it. "Oh, we're not going to play it--this is for the wall of our media room."

Some people have too much money for their own good. I wonder how a Guarneri violin works as kindling. Or perhaps painted bright green and purple and nailed to the ceiling of the bathroom.