eesz34 wrote on 2023-04-01, 22:42:
BitWrangler wrote on 2023-04-01, 20:31:
Hot from the thrift store, the cheap bug bit me. $3.99.... the funny thing was, I was just thinking as I walked into the place "I dunno why I come to this one, no real computer parts in months, years..."
I'm a little superstitious I guess, but it seems I never find something cool for dirt cheap if I walk into a store expecting it. I know it's dumb, but my Teac combo drive was a total surprise, $4, and Teac 55GFR perfect condition, $5, and new in box Casio organizer, $3.
A couple of times several months apart I found myself in a neighboring town and near a thrift I had not been in, first visit a cheap P4 with an LS-120, second visit months later an external LS-120, see other late parts there, and a stripped out system with nothing particularly tempting. Anyway made a mental note to go there more often, like monthly-ish, and last 3 visits, nothing. So yah, something in your theory, stuff turns up when least expecting. Stores seem to run hot and cold in short streaks as well. Weird thing this week was each of 4 stores had MULTIPLE Karaoke machines, and a variety of types too, CD+G with CRT in, DVD based, standalone microphone doohickeys, 2 and 3 of a type even, it's like some home fashionista talking head like Marie Kondo pronounced "Thou shalt not suffer a karaoke machine to live in thy abode" and everyone got rid of them at once.
edit: oh yah, I need to read up again on organizers, there's some really nifty ones that have a z80 and can load more programs on. I was a little fascinated by a Sharp one today, seemed to need a cradle though and maybe USB hookup which was I think a little past early pocket computer/organiser melding period.
Unicorn herding operations are proceeding, but all the totes of hens teeth and barrels of rocking horse poop give them plenty of hiding spots.