Today I received.....

[flaxcottage]

The Psion clamshells are great pieces of kit. I have managed to assemble a mini collection of a 3, 3a, 3mx and 5mx along with a Siena and an Acorn Pocket Book 1.

Of all of them my favourite was the 3a. BITD I did a lot of programming on that. I even managed to port the Sphinx and got it to work (sort of). One year I even did all the exams administration for the school on it, which was great because I always had up to date information to hand.

[Andy1979]

The Psion clamshells are great pieces of kit. I have managed to assemble a mini collection of a 3, 3a, 3mx and 5mx along with a Siena and an Acorn Pocket Book 1.

Fantastic bits of kit, that’s a great collection you have there. Haven’t used OPL in about 20yrs but remember it being my favourite programming language - simple commands for dialogue boxes and menus and easy to compile programs into apps.

[1024MAK]

The Psion clamshells are great pieces of kit. I have managed to assemble a mini collection of a 3, 3a, 3mx and 5mx along with a Siena and an Acorn Pocket Book 1.

Fantastic bits of kit, that’s a great collection you have there. Haven’t used OPL in about 20yrs but remember it being my favourite programming language - simple commands for dialogue boxes and menus and easy to compile programs into apps.

Yeah, I concur. I loved OPL and Psion series 3 “PDA’s” The series 5 were also great, but I did miss some of the features of the 3 series.

I got a series 3, then a 3a, upgraded 3a, 3c (with backlight IIRC), 5mx. Since then have got a Revo and a Workabout.

One problem with the clamshell design, is that eventually, the plastic case at the sides suffers from cracks, then these develop into breaks, then the case partly falls apart, such that you have to be very careful when opening or closing. Making them impractical to use
There also problems with the flexi cable to the display. Some of mine have had to be repaired for the above reasons.

So a while ago I bought some more 5’s and 5mx’s and another Revo.

Mark

[kieranhj]

Never thought I'd be buying these new on eBay in 2019.

Floppy

[Commie_User]

Maybe so, though watch for the quality. Repros often aren't the full shilling.

These camera films and cassettes are on sale in my local Pound shop, with more upmarket Maxells at Clas Olsen along with floppies of the same standing. But all is not what it was I hear.

Still, they're better than a kick up the back.

New old media

[jonb]

The Psion clamshells are great pieces of kit. I have managed to assemble a mini collection of a 3, 3a, 3mx and 5mx along with a Siena and an Acorn Pocket Book 1.

Of all of them my favourite was the 3a. BITD I did a lot of programming on that. I even managed to port the Sphinx and got it to work (sort of). One year I even did all the exams administration for the school on it, which was great because I always had up to date information to hand.

My only claim to fame was writing the Psion package "Accounts and Expenses" with a friend. Initially for the 3, then the 3a. That was a long time ago, when I still had hair on my head and programming was fun. Like Mark, I have a few of these machines; I use a Series 5 as an alarm clock, there's a spare as well as a 3, 3a and a Revo (all of which are broken in some way).

[vanpeebles]

I'm a big fan of the Organisers IIs as well. Amazing little pocket computer, which also had OPL.

[Andy1979]

One problem with the clamshell design, is that eventually, the plastic case at the sides suffers from cracks, then these develop into breaks, then the case partly falls apart, such that you have to be very careful when opening or closing. Making them impractical to use
There also problems with the flexi cable to the display. Some of mine have had to be repaired for the above reasons.

I managed to avoid that somehow, with both devices surviving several years in my school bag. Then when I retrieved my 3a from the loft I found both hinges had broken while in storage.

Ended up buying another 3a with broken display flexi cheaply, and swapping the lids over, so it lives again. Keep thinking I should buy another spare, but bidding on Psion stuff can be quite competitive.

I've restored a backup from my Acorn and am now trying to make sense of my 25yr old code - once I figured out that my Acorn had stripped away all of the 'DOS' file extensions so nothing worked at first. Fun times. PsiFS is way better than the original Acorn A-Link software - hats off to the guys who wrote and maintain it - need to add a serial port to my Raspberry Pi as it's a bit slow on an A3010.

[paulv]

A charity shop contacted me the other day asking if I'd be interested in taking a rather battered Hybrid 6000 sensor unit off their hands...

I've not had a chance to test it yet but when I took it to pieces it seems someone had put bubble wrap inside the head unit to stop the sensor and the PCB coming into contact with each other and there does appear to be some dodgy solder work too so I'm not holding my breath.

Doesn't look too bad from a distance

Base unit is a bit rusty (and had blood on it!)

Fascia is a bit damaged too :-(

The Piezoelectric sensor is dislodged

The head unit was twisted too far and cracked the casing

Some dodgy looking solder work in places!

PCB component side

The old glue marks

Serial number 84

Paul

[Multiwizard]

Hi,

today I did run into these,, brand new...

1 for my regular PC
1 for my RISC PC
1 for spare/backup


Greetings, Wim...

[geraldholdsworth]

Wow...warp speed 9 Mr Sulu

One for my MacBook Pro, the other for my Windoze laptop (well, it was faulty, so getting a replacement sent out).

Haven't tried any emulators yet.

[markdryan]

I'm already well past peak retro here but there's something about the C64 breadbins that I just can't resist. Particularly, if they're looking sad and unloved and the estimated delivery date happens to coincide with my partner's weekend away.

This one was a little dirty, and had a slightly damaged case, which I think I've managed to repair. Apart from this though it seems to be working perfectly and came with a bunch of Dutch programming books that weren't mentioned in the listing. What better way to learn a new language than to type in 30 year old BASIC programs on a springy keyboard.

[sbadger]

IMG_0866.JPG

I'm already well past peak retro here but there's something about the C64 breadbins that I just can't resist. Particularly, if they're looking sad and unloved and the estimated delivery date happens to coincide with my partner's weekend away.

This one was a little dirty, and had a slightly damaged case, which I think I've managed to repair. Apart from this though it seems to be working perfectly and came with a bunch of Dutch programming books that weren't mentioned in the listing. What better way to learn a new language than to type in 30 year old BASIC programs on a springy keyboard.

Yeah I like the look too, very nostalgic. Do be careful of that PSU, think they are prone to kill c64s........ check volts etc

[Lardo Boffin]

I got one of these:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Commodor ... %7Ciid%3A1

And left the original PSU in the cupboard.

[markdryan]

Yeah I like the look too, very nostalgic. Do be careful of that PSU, think they are prone to kill c64s........ check volts etc

Actually, I never even tried the PSU. It went straight up into the attic with the dataset. I used the power supply from my other breadbin to test out the new arrival. This is a modern PSU with a built in OVP from retro game supply.

[1024MAK]

It’s the failure of the series pass regulator in the old Commdore power supply units that causes the problem. The failure mode can be that rather than producing a nice regulated +5V supply output (between 4.85V and 5.2V), instead you get anywhere from 6V to 12V! Needless to say, the C64 is not going to be happy with this

Damn shame Commdore insisted in potting the PSU in resin. If not for that, sorting out a faulty series pass regulator is relatively easy.

Mark

[Commie_User]

Interestingly, there was a recent topic on Lemon covering the essential facts of that matter here: https://www.lemon64.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=70345

It should have been 'stickied', to always stay at the top of the pile.

[flaxcottage]

A Sinclair scientific calculator.

This was the first calculator I ever owned. I bought mine as a kit at the end of 1974 or start of 1975 for about £10 - a lot of money in those days.

They are incredibly slow, especially calculating logs and trig functions and use RPN. At the time that was not an issue because the calculator was much quicker than my slide rule and RPN had certain advantages in calculation. Its accuracy left a lot to be desired, however, if one used the logs or trig functions, accurate to only 2 decimal places though Sinclair claimed 3!

Nevertheless it is a nostalgia trip and much treasured.

[vanpeebles]

They look great

[Lardo Boffin]

Finally got one of these. I used to enjoy playing Sorcery and Gauntlet on my mate’s 464.

I wasn’t planning on keeping the monitor as it takes up so much space bur really loving the image quality on this. You can’t beat a CRT for some things. It is a struggle in 80 column CPM mode though.

5 mins to fit a gotek and some quick downloading...

The screen colours lost a lot of their vibrancy in the photos.

I never really took the 464 seriously bitd, probably due to the colourful keys but it is quite capable.

[vanpeebles]

I've been after a C6128 for a while, but not found one that ticks the boxes yet When I was kid, everyone on my street had Amstrads. So I played a lot of the games, sadly one friend passed away a long time ago, and I thought it would be nice to revisit some old games on it. I'm a speccy man through and through, but some (not all!) games were better on the Amstrad.

[danielj]

I never really took the 464 seriously bitd, probably due to the colourful keys but it is quite capable.

They're an excellent machine. The BASIC, although slower than BBC BASIC, is really rather good too. It allows structured programming and even gives access to interrupts etc...

d.

[RobC]

I also have a CPC6128 and they are very nice machines. I have a Gotek ready to fit but I've been too busy working on my Beeb CPC emulator.

I hardly saw an Amstrad BITD as none of my friends had one. However, in testing out my emulator, I've realised that there really are some very good games for it. I've been playing Rick Dangerous and Rainbow Islands a fair bit.

[robcfg]

I had (and still have) a CPC464 bitd and all in all it was quite a balanced machine.

And the colour monitor rocks!

Regarding Locomotive Basic, I think it’s one if the best dialects I’ve used. Before my CPC, I had an Atari 800XL which I loved (and still do), but Atari Basic was too... well... basic. It didn’t even have the ELSE keyword!

As I said, a quite competent and balanced machine.

Congratulations on your acquisition!

[Lardo Boffin]

I've been after a C6128 for a while, but not found one that ticks the boxes yet

The prices are high on these considering how many were made and most people are reluctanct to ship due to the monitor. Its taken a while to find one.

[Lardo Boffin]

And the colour monitor rocks!

Yes its extremely good - any way I can connect my beeb to it?

[jonb]

I have two 6128s (one broken, one working) and while they are "good" in the sense of being well rounded machines, they're also quite slow compared to their contemporaries (quite a few of which I also have). "Slow" in the "subjective user experience" sense of the word.

[vanpeebles]

I have two 6128s (one broken, one working) and while they are "good" in the sense of being well rounded machines, they're also quite slow compared to their contemporaries (quite a few of which I also have). "Slow" in the "subjective user experience" sense of the word.

Don't suppose you would fancy a trade for a ton of acorn magazines, cover discs, and anything else I can bundle in?

[1024MAK]

And the colour monitor rocks!

Yes its extremely good - any way I can connect my beeb to it?

Yes! But I’m not at home at the moment, so I can’t remember the details...

Mark

[robcfg]

And the colour monitor rocks!

Yes its extremely good - any way I can connect my beeb to it?

I don’t know if the BBC Micro has RGB output (easy way) or not (not so easy way).

The easy way would just require a cable and/or small adapter, while the not so easy one some kind of composite to RGB converter, plus the cable.