New Zealand Vintage Computer Forums

IMSAI 8080
SWTPC S/09
NorthStar Horizon
Atari 800
TRS-80 Model 102
Apple IIGS (ROM 3)
IBM 4860 (PCjr)
IBM 5511 (JX)
Compaq Deskpro 386
Apple Quadra 700

All interesting machines. I'd love an IMSAI 8080 just for the coolness factor! All those switches...

I've been looking for an Atari 800 for about 3 years. I've never seen one on TradeMe. They seem ultra-rare in NZ, although they were sold here if ads in old copies of NZ Bits and Bytes are anything to go by. Has anyone reading this actually got an Atari 800? (not an 800XL). Do they actually exist in the wild?

The BBC (b) seems a lot more common and these appear from time to time.

Mark, consider posting a bit about yourself in the Introductions Forum on this Board. How long have you been collecting, what have you got and what's your main interest. Is it restoration, nostalgia, investment, just to keep a bit of history alive or maybe all of those?

Heh, I hope we don't get into a bidding war over an Atari 800 if one surfaces

Yup, IMSAI because the 8085 was the first micro I learned to program back in the day and, ok I confess the movie WarGames has something to do with it

Sure thing, I'll do an intro post soon.

Mark wrote:Heh, I hope we don't get into a bidding war over an Atari 800 if one surfaces

Stand in line lads - I've been looking for a PAL Atari 800 for 13 years! :->

Actually back when I first started my collection I did win an Atari 800 on eBAY. However, I was inexperienced and lacking in the knowledge I have now. When I realised that...

1. Shipping would cost several arms and legs. Atari 800s were heavier and larger than I thought.
2. It was an NTSC model and I needed PAL

...I wished I hadn't won the bid. Fortunately, the buyer was the understanding type and let me back out of the deal.

lizardb0y wrote:

Mark wrote:Heh, I hope we don't get into a bidding war over an Atari 800 if one surfaces

Stand in line lads - I've been looking for a PAL Atari 800 for 13 years! :->

I saw one last year I think it was. It was in a bulk Atari lot that didn't sell for a few relists because it was pick up only. The guy wouldn't split or post so it went pretty cheap. I looked it up on ebay and saw them selling in the $30-$40US range so thought nothing of it except bit was about the only one I've ever seen on trademe.

I must have missed that one but yeah, bulk lots and pick-ups are always a disincentive, unless local.

Whilst chatting with Philip (pavery) yesterday, I learned the TRS-80 Model 100 uses an 8085, not a Z80 as in the other TRS-80s. After reading more about it on the internet, I was sufficiently intrigued to add it to my wish-list.

Mark, if you can't find one of those also consider the NEC PC-8201a. The two are siblings and have the same CPU.
http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/col ... del100.htm

Here is that Model 100 club website we were talking about yesterday. It's quite an active group
http://www.club100.org/

Thanks for those links, Terry. I've been having a play with the VirtualT emulator.

I think I prefer the Tandy model to the NEC for its appearance and despite the non-ergonomic arrow keys. Apparently they sorted that problem in the Model 200. It also has a bigger display and DTMF dialing, so I might go for a 200.

I can't recall seeing any on Trade Me but there are a few going on ebay.

Yes, I can't recall having every seeing a Model 100 or NEC 8201a on TradeMe. I got both mine from overseas. There was someone selling a Model 102 on TradeMe a while back for about $100 though.

The Model 200 has far less support (i.e. knowledge, docs, mods etc.) than the Model 100/102. I've also heard one or two of the old timers on the Model 100 mailing list grizzel about that model, so you might like to check around the web and various communities (like the Model-100 one) to ensure the design is a good one before committing to a purchase.

There's a Super Brain computer for auction in the UK at the moment. With it's size it could eat a bowl full of Grundy New Brains as breakfast. 200 quid international postage minimum.

Yes, well I've got a TRS-80 Model IV on the way to my from the US at the moment. This is one of the machines I really wanted.

Don't even ASK what the shipping is otherwise it will just confirm how unhinged I am. I just hope it's packed well!

tezza wrote:Don't even ASK what the shipping is otherwise it will just confirm how unhinged I am.

Quite.

Oric-1 and Dragon 32; £47. Shipping from Great Britain; £96.
Seeing a Dragon 32 on Trade Me with a $100 reserve 3 weeks later; ?@(*ing priceless.

lizardb0y wrote:

tezza wrote:Don't even ASK what the shipping is otherwise it will just confirm how unhinged I am.

Oric-1 and Dragon 32; £47. Shipping from Great Britain; £96.
Seeing a Dragon 32 on Trade Me with a $100 reserve 3 weeks later; ?@(*ing priceless.

LOL!! Yes, I thought of you when I saw that there.

Of course, now a TRS-80 Model III/IV is bound to show up on Trade Me also!

I once shipped an Apple Lisa from the US to Tokyo. $500!!!!