SHARP PC-3201

[tezza]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/vint ... 003050.htm

For some reason these very retro-looking but oddball machines have a strange appeal.

[SpidersWeb]

Yeah if the bids don't go too high I plan on popping around and picking this up.

Plan is to document it as much as possible, duplicate any floppies 2-3 times, then store.

[tezza]

There might be some competition. I'm looking at this myself (haven't committed yet) and at least one other regular member here has already bidded. Who knows who else has it on their watchlist to strike 2 seconds from close.

Well, that's what auctions are all about.

[SpidersWeb]

It's not essential to my collection, so if you guys call dibs I can stop

[lizardb0y]

I'm already bidding on this as andrew9. Like you, I plan to document as much as possible and create disk images for archiving. It's an interesting machine that I haven't seen before.

[SpidersWeb]

All good

I have some ISA machines to win anywho

[matsondawson]

Thought I'd bid on it, but since your all so keen and there's so much to bid on right now I wont.

[tezza]

Yes, I won't be in the running either. It's a sexy looking beast and interesting but it doesn't really fit the "classics" theme of my collection and (probably more importantly) I don't really have room for it anyway.

You just have to promise us that if you DO win it Andrew, you'll bring it along to the next "Southern North Island" meeting so we can all play with it.

[lizardb0y]

Rest assured, I'll always have something new to show off

I am truly intrigued by this machine, and its curious inability to run CP/M, despite being almost perfectly specified for the job.

[tezza]

Rest assured, I'll always have something new to show off

I am truly intrigued by this machine, and its curious inability to run CP/M, despite being almost perfectly specified for the job.

Yea, it's the old "BASIC in ROM" problem...sitting just where CP/M needs to be. The TRS-80 M1/System 80/TRS-80 Model IIIs had the the same type of setup...but having the large distribution network large user base means a lot was developed to run under the TRS-80 DOS''es anyway, so CP/M was kinda irrelevant (although people in the day still seemed to want it..hence the Model IV CP/M capability).

In fact the TRS-80 Model IV was a lot like the Commodore 128 in that respect...3 machines in one. Completely compatible with the Model III (as the C128 was with the 64), yet able to run it's own native OS (TRSDSO 6.x/LDOS 6.x) to take avantage of the expanded capabilities and CP/M for those that felt they needed it.

[YetiSeti]

Hello??? Is no one bidding?

The blue trim, the 70s style of the monitor...

I wonder if the disc drive was suppose to sit like that according to any marketed photos. The old-computers one has the components sitting apart.

[lizardb0y]

Well, that went for more than I'd expected.

[tezza]

Too bad you missed out. I'm not too surprised at the price. A nostalgia factor was unlikely but it was working, it was clean and complete, it was stylish and it was certainly vintage.

[matsondawson]

Oh stink, if I'd realised you were going to give up at a certain price I would have gone for it.
Maybe when we do these things people should say what price they'll quit bidding at.

[SpidersWeb]

eheh I'm with that
feeling auction pains right now.