I only got a computer at home relatively late — in 2006. Nobody probably understood why one would even be needed. So I collect gear from the 80s and 90s purely out of interest — I never lived through those times, but for some reason I really want to poke around in all of it, to touch the technology of that era of rapid development.
Toshiba Satellite 2750
The first laptop in the collection. Picked it up on the principle of "an old laptop with a floppy drive, CD-ROM, and the most ports possible." Now it's my main working retro machine — the most polished and the most powerful.
Configuration
- Pentium III
- 192 MB RAM (64 onboard + 128 module)
- 64 GB SSD via IDE → SATA → M.2
- USB, COM, LPT, FDD
- Partially working battery, original power adapter
Status
Fully operational. Running Windows 98 and Windows XP. Chronic problem: the CD-ROM. The original one died, the replacement from eBay didn't last long either, and a third drive is waiting to be installed — which requires almost a full teardown.
To do
- Install the third CD-ROM (a compatible one per the documentation)
- Image the system drive once it's fully configured
- Restore the battery if needed
IBM ThinkPad 770X
The third in the collection, bought as "sort of non-working." Turned out to be an easy fix — the problem was the BIOS battery. A restoration and collector's project.
Configuration
- Pentium II
- RAM amount to be confirmed
- CF adapter instead of a hard drive
- External FDD, port replicator
- 1280-wide display
Status
Powers on. Case damage: broken left hinge, missing blanking plates and plastic parts, one dead pixel. No working battery — two packs are on the way for repacking.
To do
- Full teardown, cleaning, and inspection
- Repair or replace the left hinge
- Reinforce the case
- Fabricate the missing plastic parts
- Figure out the CF card configuration
- Repack the battery packs
- Image the system after setup
Wishlist
- IBM SelectaDock II or III
- A donor laptop for the case
Epson ActionNote AC500
The second laptop, from 1994. Color passive-matrix display, a Cyrix 486-class chip (actually a fast 386 with extended capabilities). One of the most interesting projects in terms of hardware mods.
Configuration
- Cyrix 486-class, 4 MB RAM
- Math coprocessor (installed)
- CF storage
- Memory expansion slot
Status
Working. Fully disassembled and cleaned, the main components are in good shape. The battery doesn't work. The main limitation is the 4 MB of memory.
Done
- Dallas RTC mod: drilled the case, routed external battery power, installed a holder
- Installed a math coprocessor
In progress
A 4 MB memory module. Finding an original one is basically impossible. Got photos of the module from both sides, bought the chips — planning to design my own.
Battery repacking. Identified the cell type, ordered from AliExpress. The contacts and sensors from the original battery are intact.
CF card configuration. Need to sort out a stable configuration, and check whether two devices are supported on one IDE channel (Master/Slave).
Toshiba T3200SX
One of the newest additions, not explored much yet. Gas-plasma display, 386SX. Planned as a big long-term project — the main experimental platform for ISA development.
Configuration
- 386SX, currently 3 MB RAM
- Bought 4 more 1 MB modules
- Two ISA slots
- Have an ISA network card, an ISA sound card is on the way
Status
Working, no serious faults found. Screen is in good shape. Still barely explored so far.
To do
- Full teardown, cleaning, maintenance
- Install additional memory modules (up to 6+ MB)
- Check whether a coprocessor can be installed
- Set up networking (ISA card is on hand)
- Set up sound (card is on the way)
ISA project
I want to design my own ISA card — inspired by the 3inONEder for Toshiba portables, though not to copy it, but to build one for my own needs. Bought a blank ISA board.
Directions: working with modern storage, networking features, interfaces for LEGO projects, digital and analog I/O.
Epson HX-20
Not received yet. One of the world's first portable computers — from 1982. Built-in receipt-tape printer, microcassette storage. Got it purely for fun and experiments; there's also interest in integrating it with LEGO projects.
After it arrives
- Check the battery (whether it was ever replaced)
- Check the keyboard, built-in printer, microcassette drive
- Service as needed
Consumables and peripherals
Have: printer ink, receipt tape. Need: microcassettes. Long-term: an acoustic modem, a barcode scanner.
Plans
Get it into fully working condition and actually use it — not just keep it on a shelf. Write a few programs of my own, experiment with the peripherals.