I know, we should make a Model 100 or Model 200 Pocket PC! :)
Ken
On 8/8/18 8:03 AM, Kevin Becker wrote:
Yeah some of the newer Sharp stuff is really cool but my soft spot is
for the Tandy/Radio Shack stuff.
But even the PC-2 has bitmapped graphics and the ability to load
machine language programs.
http://www.pc1500.com/assemblylanguage.html
On Wed, Aug 8, 2018 at 10:52 AM, Nathan Misner <shicky...@gmail.com
<mailto:shicky...@gmail.com>> wrote:
Sharp actually continued making the PC series of pocket computers
into the early 2000s. The last model (the PC-G850VS) can show
bitmapped graphics, is programmable in BASIC, C, and Z80 assembly,
and has an 8-bit parallel user port.
On Wed, Aug 8, 2018 at 9:31 AM, Jeff Gonzales
<gonzobra...@gmail.com <mailto:gonzobra...@gmail.com>> wrote:
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 <mailto: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 <mailto:jt...@localnet.com>> wrote:
I'll keep that in mind. But so far, so good.
----- Original Message -----
*From:* you got me <mailto:ven...@hotmail.com>
*To:* m...@bitchin100.com
<mailto: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
<mailto:m100-boun...@lists.bitchin100.com>> on
behalf of Jim Toth <jt...@localnet.com
<mailto:jt...@localnet.com>>
*Sent:* Wednesday, August 8, 2018 2:08:03 AM
*To:* m...@bitchin100.com <mailto: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
<mailto:rlau...@gmail.com>>
To: <m...@bitchin100.com <mailto: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 <mailto: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/
<http://webpages.charter.net/rlauzon/>
Weblog: http://ronsapartment.blogspot.com/
<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.
