On Mon, May 22, 2023 at 2:14 PM Liam Proven via cctalk <cctalk@classiccmp.org> wrote: >
> > And > > of course it has to have the right type of disk controller, I > > certainly need to be able to handle single-density (FM) reading and > > writing correctly. Some machines can, some can't. I am hardly going to > > be able to test it before I buy it > > This is a normal ability for a machine of the 486 era, I think. Not in my experience (back in the day). I had no end of problems with friends' PCs handling single-density disks. > > > I'll go > > on public transport for things that interest me and which I actually > > want. An PC is not in that category. > > I am sorry but that is simply rude, and in context, it is adding an > insult to the prior insult. If you want the ability, get off your > backside. If you don't, then suffer in silence. Don't call people > stupid and then add "that is stupid because I can't be bothered." > I did not call you stupid. I called the suggestion stupid. Which I still consider it to be. I can be bothered. I could be bothered to design the darn thing from scratch, actually, which would probably take less time. > > > Not to mention the fact that I > > doubt I could carry the system box, monitor and keyboard in one go. > > Why would you have to? Who said you did? Nobody. You made this up, > then called me stupid for words you put in my mouth. > My experience is that most sellers, if selling a complete system, want the whole lot gone in one go. They do not want multiple visits to pick it up a bit at a time. And if the machine is not near me then fares quickly mount up if you have to make several trips. One other point I forgot is the size of such a machine. I don't have space for one. My house is not large and it's filled with things that interest me -- like classic computers, tools, electronic test gear, books, etc. > > Having it sent to me is inconvenient > > Nonsense. The bulk of commerce these days is mail order because it is > *more* convenient. Obviously you know my life better than I do. Having parcels delivered is inconvenient. I do have things to do that require me to be out of the house at certain times. I can't be in at a particular time necessarily. And many of the jobs I do can't be stopped because the doorbell rings. You try assembling a mechanism with tiny parts, many spring-loaded, and having to stop mid-way. It doesn't work. Don't tell me that the delivery company will give the time/date the parcel will be delivered. Such information is totally inaccurate in my experience. -tony