TI99 Update

Recently, I purchased a Jaton X-Media Dreambox which converts TV and other video signals to SVGA for viewing on an LCD or other computer monitors. It was a $150 converter on sale for $30. My main reason to buy it was to eliminate a TV monitor that I was using on one of my TI99/4A computers which now can display on the Dell PC monitor. I actually use one of the A/V inputs leaving two other A/V and S-Video inputs that could be used with a DVD or VCR. A 15 pin computer monitor input allows switching to use the PC normally. There is also a regular TV/cable input and 125 channel analog tuner built-in so that broadcast TV can be watched. The converter also has an audio mini-jack input and output which is switched depending on the video input selection through a remote control or buttons on the box.

The picture above shows the A/V input which comes from the TI99 console shown in the left picture below. The Dell PC is connected through the Dreambox VGA input as well and the display is switched between the PV and the TI99. The other picture below shows the TI99 Peripheral Expansion Box with one internal 5 1/4 inch floppy drive and 2 external floppy drives. The

Dual-screen Recliner

I recently updated my LazyBoy recliner to two screens. Back in Feb 2006, I posted my setup with an iMac G5 mounted on a PVC pipe arm. In Oct 2006, I upgraded that to a MacBook Pro with a second monitor. About a year ago, I purchased a MacPro and used it with the monitor which I had. About a month ago, I purchased another 20" monitor and modified the base stand to support both monitors. I was able to find another Sanus monitor support arm that matched the one I had. Both PVC pipes have a steel pipe within for added strength and less flexing. In this picture, you can also see the HP All-in-One printer and the extended carpeted base. The MacPro is a quad-processor running at 2.8 Ghz with 6 GB of memory and 3 SATA hard drives totaling 1.14 TB. I have space for a 4th hard drive which I plan to fill soon with at least another TB.















This second picture, looking from the back corner, shows the Logitec wireless keyboard and mouse. My iPhone is also sitting on the side-shelf which is a place to set the keyboard and mouse when I am not using them.

I can also connect the MacPro to my Sony 46" LCD TV and effectively have 3 monitors. (Note the perspective makes the 20" monitors look bigger than the 46" TV). The TV and Mac are connected to separate Sony and Coby surround sound systems. The Coby system also has an AM/FM receiver and DVD player built in. An AppleTV (essentially a Mac computer) is networked with the Mac and connected to the TV as well for direct internet access to Apple's iTunes store. To complete the setup, an EyeTV box is connected to a Comcast DVR as well as direct to the cable and a VHS tape player. This allows video recording on the MacPro from all three sources.

Note that the raised base for the chair provides a stable support for the monitors and makes it easy for me to stand up with my arthritic knees.

Macintosh 25th Birthday

There has been much publicity over the weekend about the Macintosh computer turning 25 years old. It was at the Superbowl in 1984 that the famous ad ran. It was shortly after that I saw my first Mac at a local Dayton's store. My 3 yr old daughter was with me and was readily using the mouse and MacPaint within a few minutes. I own the premier issue of MacWorld magazine shown to the left as well as issues of Byte and Popular Science that featured the Mac on the cover in the next several months. A good review of the Mac history can be found in today's MacWorld online article.

It wasn't until mid-1985 that I bought my first Mac though it was really a MacXL, a repackaged Apple Lisa that ran the Mac software. It had a larger screen and a 10MB hard drive built in. At one point, I had 3 MacXLs as shown in the photo below, but sold all on eBay in 2000.


My February 2008 post listed all of the 44 computers that I owned at the time. 27 of these are Macintosh though I had purchased and sold others that are not listed. Some of these were given to me by people cleaning out their closets. Actually I should count the iPhone as well since it runs a version of Mac OSX. Anyway, I am no where close to the 1500 Apple computers owned by Wayne Bibbens who was featured on the DVD Welcome to Macintosh.

Prior to 1990, I was a Mac developer for a few years and bought a new Mac when they came out about every 6 months. I got a 50% discount from Apple and sold my old Mac for what I paid for it, upgrading to the next level. That got me to a Mac IIci level which I used until 1998 when the iMac was produced. A complete description of all Mac models can be found at the Apple History web site. Note the list on the right side of the page.

Unlocking a Norwegian Chest

The njerd goes retro.

Recently, my mother-in-law died and left us an old Norwegian immigrant chest but no key. The chest was very heavy and about 4 feet long, 2 feet wide and 2 feet high made of wood about 1 inch thick. It was very heavy and we joked there might be a body inside.

The chest was dated 1792 and had an old fashioned lock that apparently used a large key with a 1/2 inch diameter hollow key. We talked to a number of locksmiths who claimed they could open the chest but not guarantee they would not damage the chest. I told them that I could certainly do just as well and took the challenge. We located a blacksmith associated with the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, IA who had opened similar chests for them. He was willing to come to Minneapolis sometime next month at a cost of $500, but was kind enough to explain to me what his process to make a key. It took me a couple of days, about 6 hours and 6 trips back and forth between my shop and the chest, but I accomplished the task. As I was working on this, I thought of the Norwegian carpenter/blacksmith who built this chest over 200 years ago and who had used it in the passing years.

I started with an old door hinge from which I cut one of the three rolled parts with part of the flat portions. It actually took me a couple attempts to get a piece the right length to use as a primary blank. I braised a piece of copper water pipe to the hinge blank and a steel ring bolt to the other end. To get the right lengths inside the lock, I used a bent paper clip to probe the depth of the lock and internal parts. The lock was almost 2 inches deep though the first inch was just to get past the wooden side of the chest. The lock was a basic "warded lock" with one ward requiring that I had to cut the key blank to allow rotation. I determined the location of the ward by dripping candle wax on the key and turning it to get an impression of the ward on the key. The ward seemed to be tapered since it took me about 4 attempts as I kept cutting more and more of my key blank away. By that time, I had my Dremel tool with me to make fine adjustments on site with the chest.

As you can see from the final version of the key, I ended up cutting most of the blank away. It was a great feeling when the key finally turned in the lock and I raised the lid. Unfortunately, there was no great treasure inside, just heavy metal tools and some old clothes. A 1977 newspaper lined the chest, giving the best guess of when it was last opened.

Computer Inventory

I was just exchanging email with an old friend and mentioned this blog to him. I said I needed to update it so decided not to procrastinate any further. This update will relate a current inventory that I did of my computer collection. Note this is somewhat an update to the posting of Feb 15, 2006 titled "Summary of Computers Used" except these are computers that I presently own. The number in ( ) is the number that I have of that model. That should total 44 "computers" in my museum though only about 80% are working.

Wolverine Adding Machine
Post Slide Rule
TI99/4 (2)
TI99/4A Black & Silver (9)
TI99/4A Beige
TI99/4A Modified with Mechatronics 80 Column Card & Rave 101 Keyboard
Mac Plus (2)
Mac SE/30
Mac Classic II (2)
Mac IIvx
Mac IIci (2)
Mac PowerBook 170 (2)
Mac LC II
Mac LC III
Mac Quadra 660AV
Mac Performa 630CD
Mac Performa 636CD
Mac Performa 6116CD (2)
Mac Powerbook Duo 2300C
iMac G3 Bondi Blue
iMac G3 Strawberry
iBook G3 Blue
iBook G4
iMac G5
PowerMac G5
MacBook Pro 15" (Dual processor, away at college)
Mac Pro (Quad processor)
AppleTV
Dell Dimension XPS R400 PC - Win98
Nobilis PC - WinXP