I have a PC-6 which I used in high school. It was such a cool "calculator" for the time. I liked the earlier ones more, however, as they had more cool accessories.
"Ready P0" haha. On Wed, Aug 8, 2018 at 8:59 AM, Kevin Becker <ke...@kevinbecker.org> wrote: > I'm a pocket computer fan too. My original was a PC-3 that I used through > high school. At some point it died and I got a PC-7 which I used through > college and early career. In the mean time the PC-3 had been repaired by a > friend but the PC-7 was a better calculator for my needs at that time. > > Not long ago I dug them out and started messing around with them again. > The keys on the cover of the PC-7 no longer work. I suspect the ribbon > cable is broken and there probably isn't an easy way to repair it without > destroying it in the process. > > The PC-3 mostly worked but the run/program/power switch was flakey. I > took it apart and cleaned it an bent the contacts a bit to make a better > connection and it is good to go. I also replaced the nicad pack in the > printer. > > Since then I picked up another PC-3a and printer that needed the same > repair. It has some bleed on the LCD but not too bad. I also acquired a > PC-4 which is working great with no refurbishment. Most recently I got a > PC-2 and a Sharp PC1500 that are also in great shape. I have a Sharp > CE-150 printer for it but I actually haven't tested it out yet but it seems > to have been unused, with unopened pens included. Ron Lauzon was nice > enough to sell me some memory modules for them and I'm looking forward to > doing some more advance programming on them soon. > > > > On Wed, Aug 8, 2018 at 7:39 AM, Jim Toth <jt...@localnet.com> wrote: > >> I'll keep that in mind. But so far, so good. >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> *From:* you got me <ven...@hotmail.com> >> *To:* m...@bitchin100.com >> *Sent:* Wednesday, August 08, 2018 1:26 AM >> *Subject:* Re: [M100] TRS-80/Tandy Pocket Computer >> >> be careful about the pc-2 and printing. You can always make or refill >> your own pens.... but the MAJOR problem is a plastic cog within the >> printing mechanism itself. Over time these things would crack and then you >> would have abnormal printing operations. A brass or 3d printed version of >> that cog would revitalize 98% of those ancient pc-2 printers. (that, and >> changing the ni-cad batteries with ni-mh ones). >> ------------------------------ >> *From:* M100 <m100-boun...@lists.bitchin100.com> on behalf of Jim Toth < >> jt...@localnet.com> >> *Sent:* Wednesday, August 8, 2018 2:08:03 AM >> *To:* m...@bitchin100.com >> *Subject:* Re: [M100] TRS-80/Tandy Pocket Computer >> >> You can still purchase PC-2 printer pens? Excellent. Where? >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Ron Lauzon" <rlau...@gmail.com> >> To: <m...@bitchin100.com> >> Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2018 9:46 PM >> Subject: Re: [M100] TRS-80/Tandy Pocket Computer >> >> >> My PC-4 was my constant companion through college and into my first >> job. I picked up a PC-2 at the Tandy Corporate auction and got bit by >> the pocket computer bug. >> >> What I've put together is this: >> + PC-1 - usually had bad screens over time. >> + PC-2 - frequently people left the AA batteries in them when they >> stopped using them. The batteries leaked. So always check the >> battery compartment before buying one. Leaky batteries can cause a >> great deal of damage. >> The printer/cassette interface is where the flaws are. The printer >> gears tended to wear out. Also the rechargeable battery packs are >> shot by now and are leaking. >> There are some people who refurbish the printers (new batteries and >> new gears), but they will be more expensive. Surprisingly, you can >> still purchase the pens. >> + PC-3 - Not much that I know of. I only have 1 in my collection and >> it has no problems. The printer even works. >> + PC-4 - No problems with the pocket computer itself that I know of. >> The printer batteries are shot by now. Usually they don't leak, but >> the batteries are not meant to be replaced. But with some work, the >> printers can be made to work with an AC-adapter. >> >> On Tue, Aug 7, 2018 at 8:01 PM megarat <mega...@yahoo.com> wrote: >> > >> > Hey folks, a recent thread here highlighted my interest in the old >> > TRS-80/Tandy Pocket Computers (rebadged from existing Casio and Sharp >> > models). I always had a fascination with these things as a kid, and I >> was >> > lucky enough to own one of them for a while (a PC-5), so I'm >> entertaining >> > the possibility of hunting some of them down. >> > >> > I'm concerned, however, with how well these models age. Specifically >> the >> > electrolytics (and how easy are they to replace?), the LCD display (do >> > they have a tendency to fade/bleed?), and the keypad (do those little >> > chicklet keyboards still hold up years later?). >> > >> > Are there any PC collectors on this list that can offer me some >> > advice/guidance? Thanks. >> > >> > /CAM >> >> >> >> -- >> Ron Lauzon - rlauzon at acm dot org >> Homepage: http://webpages.charter.net/rlauzon/ >> Weblog: http://ronsapartment.blogspot.com/ >> >> TRS-80 Pocket Computer 2 - TRS-80 Pocket Computer 4 - TRS-80 Model 100/102 >> Some people like to work on old cars. But old computers are cheaper >> and don't require a big garage. >> >> >
