Re: Re: Door Games - Door Party
By: MRO to Nightfox on Mon Apr 15 2019 07:29 pm
oh yeah, i thought that's what you meant. in my region they no longer h computer stuff at their goodwills. maybe a display once in a while.
My Goodwills often have a small selecton of monitors and PC cables and accessories (USB cables, mice, game controllers, etc.). It's actually not often I see a whole computer there though.
Nightfox
The Goodwills in my area have very little in electronics. My parents onld slide projector died, and when I checked the local Goodwill for a replacement, I found two in similar or worse condition.
Nightfox wrote to Moondog <=-
What you might find at Goodwill is always hit & miss. I've never
actually bought any electronics from Goodwill, other than perhaps a USB floppy drive which turned out to be working.
There's a goodwill outlet, where items are sold by the pound.
My border router is a Linksys WRT1900AC, and my AP a Netgear Nighthawk - awesome routers, and each cost about $5.
We have one of those Goodwills near me too. But one thing about buying electronics at thrift stores is that they're often missing their power supplies and other accessories. I'd feel lucky to find somehting like that that has its power supply with it.
Nightfox
at my goodwills they have a big bin over there with the various power supplies. i just find one that works and pretend it come with it as i take it to the register.
Nightfox wrote to MRO <=-
Some of the Goodwills near me have outlets where you can plug
things in to make sure they power on, but some don't.. Last time
I was at the outlet store, I don't think they had outlets for you
to test stuff.
Power supplies can also vary widely in voltage, polarity, and the
plug they use. You'd have to be lucky to find one where all
those things match up.
Power supplies can also vary widely in voltage, polarity, and the plug they use. You'd have to be lucky to find one where all those things match up.
Some of the Goodwills near me have outlets where you can plug
things in to make sure they power on, but some don't.. Last time
I was at the outlet store, I don't think they had outlets for you
to test stuff.
Power supplies can also vary widely in voltage, polarity, and the
plug they use. You'd have to be lucky to find one where all
those things match up.
True, but nowadays you can easily buy a "universal" PS, often with multiple "ends" on it to fit various connections, and with a switch-selectable output voltage. Plenty on Amazon, or even
locally at a Best Buy or similar.
dmxrob wrote to MRO <=-
Funny, many millenials I work with are knocking themselves over to buy retro computing gear. You can sell an Apple //e or C=64 for way more now than they ever sold for new.
I still daydream about swapping out my Windows desktop for an old Sun
box, and I'm in my 50s. I'd better buy one before the next generation discovers them!
... My other computer is a DEC
Re: Re: Door Games - Door Par
By: Nightfox to MRO on Thu Apr 18 2019 04:17 pm
Power supplies can also vary widely in voltage, polarity, and the plug they use. You'd have to be lucky to find one where all those things match up.
i eyeball it and give it a go. if it lights up, it works.
i eyeball it and give it a go. if it lights up, it works.
And if the device gives up its smoke, it wasn't meant to be? :-)
Checking the voltage, at minimum, is a good idea.
digital man
Re: Re: Door Games - Door Par
By: Digital Man to MRO on Mon Apr 22 2019 02:49 pm
i eyeball it and give it a go. if it lights up, it works.
And if the device gives up its smoke, it wasn't meant to be? :-)
Checking the voltage, at minimum, is a good idea.
i will check it if i can READ it. they microprint that stuff in a weird yellowish hue on black sometimes.
On 04-22-19 17:34, Digital Man wrote to MRO <=-
A "life hack" I picked up a few years back: any time I get a new device that has an AC adapter (wall wart), before I even plug it in, I print a label with a short name/description of the device and stick on the adapter. This has saved me such time and hassle, I wish I'd done it my whole life.
Good idea, though I usually manage to read them (with glasses on these days :D ). :)
On 04-22-19 17:34, Digital Man wrote to MRO <=-
A "life hack" I picked up a few years back: any time I get a new device that has an AC adapter (wall wart), before I even plug it in, I print a label with a short name/description of the device and stick on the adapter. This has saved me such time and hassle, I wish I'd done it my whole life.
On 04-22-19 14:49, Digital Man wrote to MRO <=-
And if the device gives up its smoke, it wasn't meant to be? :-)
Checking the voltage, at minimum, is a good idea.
A "life hack" I picked up a few years back: any time I get a new device that has an AC adapter (wall wart), before I even plug it in, I print a label with a short name/description of the device and stick on the adapter. This has saved me such time and hassle, I wish I'd done it my whole life.
I've started to see USB-based charging becoming more common. It seems like more devices these days have a micro USB port for charging.
I've started to see USB-based charging becoming more common. It seems
like more devices these days have a micro USB port for charging.
Yes, and those, so long as they're compatible, are great!
Re: Re: Door Games - Door Par
By: Nightfox to Digital Man on Tue Apr 23 2019 05:16 pm
Re: Re: Door Games - Door Par
By: Digital Man to Nightfox on Tue Apr 23 2019 03:27 pm
I've started to see USB-based charging becoming more common. It seems
like more devices these days have a micro USB port for charging.
Yes, and those, so long as they're compatible, are great!
The only problem I see with those is that the micro USB ports seem a little flimsy sometimes. I had a smartphone in the past that start having connection problems with the micro USB port, so even if it was sitting still when plugged in, it would constantly beep/vibrate on and off due to the charger connection going in and out. There's a slightly bigger USB port ("mini USB"?) that I think might be more stable. I have one or two devices that use that style.
Yeah, I prefer micro-USB to mini-USB for the same reason.
Re: Re: Door Games - Door Par
By: Digital Man to Nightfox on Tue Apr 23 2019 03:27 pm
I've started to see USB-based charging becoming more common. It seems
like more devices these days have a micro USB port for charging.
Yes, and those, so long as they're compatible, are great!
The only problem I see with those is that the micro USB ports seem a little flimsy sometimes. I had a smartphone in the past that start having connection problems with the micro USB port, so even if it was sitting still when plugged in, it would constantly beep/vibrate on and off due to the charger connection going in and out. There's a slightly bigger USB port ("mini USB"?) that I think might be more stable. I have one or two devices that use that style.
On 04-23-19 17:16, Nightfox wrote to Digital Man <=-
The only problem I see with those is that the micro USB ports seem a little flimsy sometimes. I had a smartphone in the past that start
having connection problems with the micro USB port, so even if it was sitting still when plugged in, it would constantly beep/vibrate on and
off due to the charger connection going in and out. There's a slightly bigger USB port ("mini USB"?) that I think might be more stable. I
have one or two devices that use that style.
On 04-23-19 08:46, Digital Man wrote to Tony Langdon <=-
The adapter that comes with most devices don't have anything to read - they might have DC output voltage and the supported output amperage if you're lucky, but they hardly ever have a brand / model of the
associated device. So inevitably, I have a bucket full of AC/DC
adapters I don't know what they go to and devices with no power,
because I can't find the stupid adapter. Hence, my motivation for
labeling the adapters.
Re: Re: Door Games - Door Par
By: Digital Man to Nightfox on Tue Apr 23 2019 03:27 pm
I've started to see USB-based charging becoming more common. It seems
like more devices these days have a micro USB port for charging.
Yes, and those, so long as they're compatible, are great!
The only problem I see with those is that the micro USB ports seem a little flimsy sometimes. I had a smartphone in the past that start having connecti problems with the micro USB port, so even if it was sitting still when plugg in, it would constantly beep/vibrate on and off due to the charger connectio going in and out. There's a slightly bigger USB port ("mini USB"?) that I think might be more stable. I have one or two devices that use that style.
Nightfox
they might have DC output voltage and the supported output amperage ifOn 04-23-19 08:46, Digital Man wrote to Tony Langdon <=-
The adapter that comes with most devices don't have anything to read -
and the current rating is equal to or greater than the device'syou're lucky, but they hardly ever have a brand / model of the associated device. So inevitably, I have a bucket full of AC/DC adapters I don't know what they go to and devices with no power, because I can't find the stupid adapter. Hence, my motivation for labeling the adapters.
In 99% of cases, as long as the physical connection and voltage are correct,
requirements, it'll work. :)
On 04-24-19 13:36, Digital Man wrote to Tony Langdon <=-
Polarity too. But yeah, all those things need to be compatible, which
can be hard to find sometimes.
When my mother passed away my father gave me her old digital camera, saying it didn't work. I learned the battery was dead, possibly completely discharged and replaced it. Now I discovered the U8 (Kodak's proprietary usb connection) port is damaged and won't accept either cable I have. camera works fine, just needs another means to charge the battery
Re: Re: Door Games - Door Par
By: Moondog to Nightfox on Wed Apr 24 2019 10:47 am
When my mother passed away my father gave me her old digital camera, saying it didn't work. I learned the battery was dead, possibly complet discharged and replaced it. Now I discovered the U8 (Kodak's proprietar usb connection) port is damaged and won't accept either cable I have. camera works fine, just needs another means to charge the battery
Digital cameras often come with a separate charger that plugs into the wall charge the battery.. Sounds like that one doesn't?
Nightfox
Not always the case, atleast in my area. But quite a few of us, are very CS>capable of fixing these old machines up. Pay 20 bucks for a old PC, that mig CS>have cost 1000 back in the day. There's enough old hardware on eBay to upgr CS>and fix 'em. That's been from my experience.
Oh, I first logged onto a BBS using a Microbee (Australian Z80 CP/M machine), which had 2 floppies. Can't recall what terminal emulator
was used then.
On 05-22-19 07:32, Daryl Stout wrote to CHARLES STEPHENSON <=-
Over 30 years ago, one of my BBS users, bought a unique computer at a flea market. It had a keyboard, monitor, mouse, a 3.5" floppy drive,
and a 5.25" floppy drive, but no hard drive. So, on the 3.5" floppy
drive, I loaded the command prompt shell (on drive A), then on the
5.25" floppy drive, I loaded the terminal program of GT Power for
dial-up. So, he could logon to the BBS via dial-up without a hard
drive.
On 05-23-19 21:13, Paul Quinn wrote to Tony Langdon <=-
Oh, I first logged onto a BBS using a Microbee (Australian Z80 CP/M machine), which had 2 floppies. Can't recall what terminal emulator
was used then.
YAM? :)
Oh, I first logged onto a BBS using a Microbee (Australian Z80
CP/M machine), which had 2 floppies. Can't recall what terminal
emulator was used then.
YAM? :)
No idea, can't recall.
On 05-24-19 21:07, Paul Quinn wrote to Tony Langdon <=-
I never used YAM. I had a copy on an Apple ][ CP/M floppy but no
hardware to test drive it. OTOH, there was another copy in use where I worked in the early 80s but us mere (clerical) mortals weren't allowed
to oversee the IT ghods at their work.
IAC, there was another time... in those hectic times, where once upon a time, I was face-2-face at the keyboard with a Microbee, on-line with
the state government BBS. Yes!, there was once a Net640 BBS operating
in the computing centre. :)
| Sysop: | sneaky |
|---|---|
| Location: | Ashburton,NZ |
| Users: | 28 |
| Nodes: | 8 (0 / 8) |
| Uptime: | 189:07:22 |
| Calls: | 2,004 |
| Calls today: | 1 |
| Files: | 11,114 |
| Messages: | 942,265 |