The computers I get often need thorough cleaning, but the keyboard of this Commodore VIC 20 was filthy, especially under the keys and on the motherboard. Continue reading
Cleaning the keyboard of a VIC 20
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Author Archives: Giacomo Vernoni
Commodore VICMODEM (1982)
It’s quite impossible to collect all the peripherals that were produced for the Commodore computers, but a few of them are worth searching for because they mark a milestone in the history of home computing. The VICMODEM is one of those peripherals: it’s been the first modem to cost under 100$ and the first to sold over a million units, contributing to the diffusion of online services and BBSes outside laboratories, universities, big Companies and military agencies. Continue reading
Acorn Electron (1983)
I have to thank my English aunt for this computer (she shipped it to me in Italy) and one of her walking companions, the original owner. Some time ago I received an e-mail from my aunt, who wrote “I think you will be amazed by what I have”, and included a detailed list of all the items she was given: the computer in its original box, a tape reader, magazines, games, books; the box arrived a few days later… and I really was amazed! Continue reading
Macintosh Plus (1986)
This is the first Mac of my collection; I bought it at a public auction in 1995. The description that I read in a local newspaper was “Macintosh monitor with keyboard”: I immediately realized that it might be a compact Mac and I went to the auction hoping that there would be no other people interested. Continue reading
Restoring an Apple Macintosh II
My thanks to Ettore for the donation of this complete system: a Macintosh II, a 13″ AppleColor High-Resolution RGB Monitor, a mouse and a keyboard. Ettore wrote to me that he had a Macintosh II upgraded to IIfx that he wanted to get rid of, but he didn’t want to take it to a landfill. Unfortunately not many people have the time or will to send a couple of boxes and often these old machines are dumped. Continue reading
Commodore Amiga 1000 (1985)
Today, July 23rd 2014, the Amiga turns 29: it was presented in 1985. That year my parents bought a Commodore 128, while my first Amiga, model 500, arrived in 1988. As always I won’t discuss the technical details of this revolutionary computer, but I will pay my tribute with a set of photographs. Continue reading
Commodore TV Game 3000H (~1976)
For a short period, like many other companies, even Commodore sold a version of the classic Pong – at least here in Europe. When Atari released the VCS in 1977, all these games quickly disappeared. Continue reading
Commodore 116 (1984)
I bought this Commodore 116 on eBay a few weeks ago from a German seller. The keyboard didn’t work, and I had to repair it. Not a simple task, as these keyboards weren’t built to be opened; I’ll probably write a separate article to document my restoration. Continue reading
Atari VCS (1977)
Last Sunday, like every second Sunday of the month, I went to the flea market of Udine (I live 10 minutes away from the city). I hadn’t found anything interesting in months, but this time I brought home an Atari VCS, renamed “2600” a few years later, with a dozen games and some instruction booklets, but without joysticks or paddles. Continue reading
Commodore 8296-D (1984)
This computer represents the swan song of the PET line: the failure of the CBM-II and the unstoppable advance of the PC in the business sector forced Commodore to stop the production of these computers. Continue reading