Restoration

~/blog/2025-02-25-powering-up-a-commo...
2025-03-12
#retrocomputing #commodore #vic-20 #commodore-vic-20 #home-computers #restoration
The Commodore VIC-20, before clean up.
Bill Shatner using his Captain Kirk charm to sell the VIC-20.
The VIC-20 does a cameo appearance in John Wick.

Powering up a Commodore VIC-20

The 1980s was a pretty amazing time to experience the early days of personal computing. Apple, Commodore, Atari, Sinclair, Amstrad, Texas Instruments, Radio Shack, MSX, and many more platforms were vying for a place in people’s homes.

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~/blog/2023-12-24-reflections-on-rest...
2023-12-24
#retrocomputing #restoration #Amiga 500+ #vintage computers #Commodore
This Amiga 500+ is resilient.
The corroded PCB track under the battery that needed tinning.
In contrast, this particular board’s (an Amiga 1500 (2000), Rev 6) damage is caused by a Varta battery, which resulted in corroding the CPU and its socket since the battery’s innards crept into its area.

Reflections on restoring a Commodore Amiga 500 Plus

As a hobby, I do occasional restorations of vintage computers and other electronics. Restoring vintage computers is my escape—like a mental jog that keeps burnout at bay. It’s also a fantastic way to “time travel” and appreciate some brilliant engineering feats from the past.

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