RetroHospital
Experienced Member
Anything between 1980 and 2000 roughly 8086->Pentium era, mostly toshiba, compaq, and also apple (PB100->G4).
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Not just laptops and consumer projects, my SPARCStation 10 case which was not an inexpensive computer in 1992 is somewhere between dried playdough and dried sea weed. Wish I'd known how fragile they are before I started manhandling it (although it already had a few cracks).I’m very surprised that you haven’t run into more brittle machines then, especially the Apple stuff.
Toshiba is hit or miss. Some models are still solid while others fall apart. My 430CDT is still doing fine, but my Tecra 500CDT is falling apart and cracking all over.
Compaq is overall pretty solid with some exceptions.
Apple on the other hand… the 100 Series PowerBooks are usually not brittle, but the plastic does shrink which cracks all the screw posts. Not the same as brittle plastic disease though and easy to repair. The Sony-built PowerBook 100 is far more resistant to this shrinkage and is the only one that id truly consider to be rock solid still. Later models though like the 500 series, 190/5300 series, 1400 series, 3400 series are all brittle.
How does PBT hold up? I went with PBT keycaps for the mechanical keyboard I built knowing it's a little bit soft. Maybe that's a good thing.Oh of course, it affected most things ABS of the time, desktops very much included. It's just less damaging on those since it's less structurally integral in most cases.
My mistake, off the top of my head I thought the Satellite and Tecra laptops used the same batteries. The extra one I have is only for the Tecra laptops. Sorry...What Tecra would a SP400 series battery work in? I know the 430CDT battery won't fit in my Tecra 500CDT. In any case, if you have one that works and would fit a 430CDT, I'd totally take it.
It's not even limited to computers - I've seen many things made from 90's ABS plastic that is now falling apart. Power strips, picture frames, outlet and lightswitch covers, flashlights... you name it.Oh of course, it affected most things ABS of the time, desktops very much included. It's just less damaging on those since it's less structurally integral in most cases.
Well I’ve also got a Tecra 500CDT that’s missing the battery, so that could potentially work as well!The extra one I have is only for the Tecra laptops. Sorry...
Alright, cool. I'll get around to testing its capacity tomorrow. Not only do I have the extra battery but I also have a complete Tecra 500CDT I'm willing to part with. PM if you're interested.Well I’ve also got a Tecra 500CDT that’s missing the battery, so that could potentially work as well!
I've never understood why some sellers - usually Americans - get horribly offended when you make an offer which they consider "lowballing". Who even invented that stupid term? I've had sellers ban me from buying their items after I made an offer of 60% of what they were asking.I have noticed that estate sale resellers will often accept "lowball" offers because their items are so overpriced to begin with. Quite a few times I have offered 50% and they accepted directly without even a counteroffer. If I see a seller has items in every category, I never feed bad about making a low offer.
I don't really need two of them, unless yours is somehow less brittle than mine is.Alright, cool. I'll get around to testing its capacity tomorrow. Not only do I have the extra battery but I also have a complete Tecra 500CDT I'm willing to part with. PM if you're interested.
Sellers with this kind of attitude problem are all too common. They are able to set minimum offers if they want. It's the "I know what I have" syndrome - yeah you have a piece of junk and you are getting an offer to buy it at what someone considers reasonable for a piece of junk.I've never understood why some sellers - usually Americans - get horribly offended when you make an offer which they consider "lowballing". Who even invented that stupid term? I've had sellers ban me from buying their items after I made an offer of 60% of what they were asking.
It says, "make an offer", so why get offended because the offer is lower than expected? Just refuse the offer or counter-offer. No need to get offended.
I've done plenty of 50% offers with European sellers that have been accepted with no problem - but with Americans I always have to worry... will he get offended?
PBT is closely related to PET which is the plastic used for water and soda bottles. AFAIK, it's a long lasting plastic and doesn't react with much and so I think it should last quite well.How does PBT hold up? I went with PBT keycaps for the mechanical keyboard I built knowing it's a little bit soft. Maybe that's a good thing.
We sold my wife's childhood Barbie, an early one, on eBay for well over $500 about 15 years ago.Sellers with this kind of attitude problem are all too common. They are able to set minimum offers if they want. It's the "I know what I have" syndrome - yeah you have a piece of junk and you are getting an offer to buy it at what someone considers reasonable for a piece of junk.
Lot: Naked well-used Barbie with no hair and GI Joe figure missing one arm with partially melted head. NO LOWBALL OFFERS, I KNOW WHAT I HAVE.
I assume it wasn't filthy and cut up and had its hair removed. That's what I mean, the lottery-win sellers will see something in a category worth a lot (vintage computers, barbies, whatever) and without any reason just take a chance that their junk pile find is also worth that much.We sold my wife's childhood Barbie, an early one, on eBay for well over $500 about 15 years ago.