Claimed!

Anyone want some old computers?

I bought a batch of old Compaq Presarios awhile ago. I was going to repair what I could and strip parts out of what I couldn't, but I just don't have the time. I'd like to see these go to a retrocomputing enthusiast who can do something cool with them!

Three laptops work:
1625 - boots, has a weird screen flicker
1210 - boots, red splotches on LCD
1220 - boots, keyboard has some dead keys

In pieces:
1610 and another unknown model (series CM2060).

I have batteries for all of them (bad, naturally) and one charger. The plastics are *really* bad on these, so be warned repairs will be challenging.

Free to the first person who claims them, but I do ask you cover shipping (about $40-50). I can take venmo or zelle. Please reply to this post so other folks can see if they've been claimed!

In the 1980s I did know Compaq was a major computer manufacturer but didn't realize the extent to which it influenced the PC industry. This article tells the story of the company and its CEO Rod Canion.

https://every.to/the-crazy-ones/the-man-who-beat-ibm

didn’t touch it and yet i still feel as if i gotta wash my hands

Compaq Portable III is More Than Meets the Eye - The Compaq Portable III hails from the 386 era — in the days before the laptop for... - https://hackaday.com/2024/04/15/compaq-portable-iii-is-more-than-meets-the-eye/ #compaqportableiii #retrocomputing #computerhacks #portableiii #compaq

Fished this out of the garbage. It works. Trying to sell it for $10. F'n' thing weighs 40+ lbs. We've been living with LCD monitors for so long we forget how much these damn things weigh. Need to list it on FB Marketplace as no cracker is going to pay shipping. ("Yes the monitor is $10 but the shipping is $55.")
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#Compaq

I didn't need ANOTHER #VintageComputing / #RetroComputing project in my queue but here we are. An original #Compaq Portable with problems. Powers on but no beeps, nothing on the screen, no drive activity.

Is it wrong that I have this certain itch to pick up a Compaq iPaq desktop? I used to have one that I installed FreeBSD on to act as my personal web and mail server back in the day.

I loved the form factor of the system and probably kick started my road down of using quiet and low-power small form-factor desktops.

Asking price for one with a CD-ROM Multi-Bay drive is 225 USD

eBay listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/385508603847

Archived copy of the Dæmon News article I wrote about install FreeBSD on one of those: https://static.closedsrc.org/articles/dn-articles/iPaq.html

How about this for some "retro" tech? I just found my old Compaq clamshell PDA that I got when I was working as an ISP call center support tech.

The batteries that were still in the unit were Rayovac rechargeable alkalines that didn't leak (thankfully). I replaced those with IKEA rechargeables and a known-good CR2032 coin cell battery.

It's back at factory default because of the lack of NAND storage outside of any cards that you slap in. The screen is faded and barely readable even with the now faded screen lighting.

In-Browser emulation of a *ton* of different platforms! IBM-PC era, TI-57 Calculators, PDP-11/70, this is nuts.

#RetroComputing #Emulation #TexasInstruments #IBM #Compaq #DEC #CDP #Zenith
https://www.pcjs.org/