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Why the IBM PCjr failed

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing May 1, 2019March 24, 2023

When IBM announced the IBM PCjr home computer in 1983, the industry expected it to dominate the home market. Who didn’t want a computer that could run office software while offering game console-like graphics and sound capabilities? But it didn’t work out that way. Instead, it flopped like New Coke. Why did the IBM PCjr fail?

The IBM PCjr failed because of three flaws: It was too expensive, too incompatible, and not expandable enough. While its competitors were trying to build new machines with as few compromises as possible, IBM deliberately designed the PCjr to be its second-best or third-best product, so the market went other directions.

Cheap project enclosures

Dave Farquhar DIY April 30, 2019April 13, 2019

Commercial boxes for electronics projects are expensive. You can spend more on the enclosure than you spend on the parts it protects, in many cases. I’ve seen plenty of ideas for cheap enclosures from hardware store products. But I have a source for cheap project enclosures that’s both cheaper and more versatile.

Tin boxes, available at dollar stores and gift stores especially in the fall and winter seasons and in secondhand stores almost year-round, make sturdy and inexpensive enclosures with lots of space inside. They are comparable in size to commercial project enclosures but cost 1/3 as much. And if you know where to shop, you can get them year round at an even lower price.

Deconstructing my first computer

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing April 29, 2019December 28, 2024

In 2019, my mom sent me a photograph. It depicts me, sitting in front of a computer, sometime in late 1984 or very early 1985. It was a Commodore 64, and I was playing a game called Micro League Baseball. The computer was a Christmas gift in 1984. A very expensive Christmas gift. But where did it come from? I figured it out.

Old Christmas catalogs are good for figuring out where gifts may have come from, especially when we have photographs to work from. Sometimes the photographs provide visual clues.

Lower rolling resistance for tin trains

Dave Farquhar Toy trains April 26, 2019May 13, 2022

If you like long trains, you want them to roll as easily as possible. Lionel figured out a bunch of secrets to lower rolling resistance in the 1970s. If you like tin like me, Lionel’s needlepoint axles and Delrin trucks won’t help you. But there are things that can. Here’s how I get lower rolling resistance for tin trains.

Are VHS tapes worth collecting?

Dave Farquhar Video April 25, 2019September 10, 2023

If you’re looking for a nostalgic hobby that won’t cost a fortune, VHS tapes are very underrated. Although not as cheap as they once were, VHS tapes haven’t exploded in value the way other 1980s technologies have. Are VHS tapes worth collecting? I think they have a lot of potential.

VHS tapes have not increased in value to the extent that video games and computers from the same era have. The days of buying the titles you remember as a kid for pocket change may be past us, but you can still buy the majority of the movies you remember for a few dollars.

Shop vac blowing dust out back? It’s the filter.

Dave Farquhar DIY April 24, 2019September 9, 2023

Is your shop vac blowing dust out the back? Mine always does after a while. Fortunately it’s an easy fix, and you don’t need to replace the unit. If yours just started doing it, stop what you’re doing right away and give the unit a checkup. You may save yourself 20 bucks.

A shop vac or similar wet/dry vacuum blowing dust out the back is always a filter problem: either your filter is clogged, missing, loose, or the dust is too fine. But once you clean or replace the filter, the problem goes away.

Commodore VIC-20 models

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing April 23, 2019September 29, 2019

The VIC-20 was on the market for about four years, but that was long enough for Commodore to revise it several times in pursuit of lower costs. Here’s a look at the various Commodore VIC-20 models.

The VIC-20 was quickly overshadowed by the Commodore 64, but if anything, that means the VIC-20 provides a more affordable challenge for collectors than its more common sibling. Despite its shorter time on the market, the VIC-20 has numerous variations for collectors to pursue.

How long does a mechanical keyboard last?

Dave Farquhar Hardware April 22, 2019June 2, 2019

Mechanical keyboards are expensive, so it’s understandable to hesitate to spend half a day’s pay on a keyboard not knowing whether it will break. So how long does a mechanical keyboard last?

Mechanical keyboard lifespans are rated in millions of keystrokes, which sounds impressive but is hard to comprehend. Practically speaking, a mechanical keyboard can last decades.

Silver frame Marx cars

Dave Farquhar Toy trains April 19, 2019May 4, 2023

In 1938 and possibly 1939, Marx produced its 6-inch cars with plain tin-plated frames, rather than lithographing or painting them. But these silver frame Marx cars were short lived. As such they provide a challenge for collectors today.

Silver frame Marx cars are a bit difficult to find because of their short production time but are also easy to fake. Don’t pay a heavy premium for a frame that looks too good. In this blog post, I’ll tell you how to identify one that’s too good and probably fake.
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Why are mechanical keyboards so expensive?

Dave Farquhar Hardware April 18, 2019June 2, 2019

I’m a mechanical keyboard fan. Mechanical keyboards have gone in and out of fashion, but I kept using them regardless. I only see one drawback with them: the cost. So what does a mechanical keyboard cost? And why are mechanical keyboards so expensive?

A mechanical keyboard costs 10 or even 20 times as much as a cheap membrane keyboard, so the price can be off-putting. The reason is because mechanical keyboards have many more parts, and they are more labor intensive to make. The cost is easier to justify if you use it a lot, but the price does make it feel like a commitment.