My curriculum starts on 1985, when my parents bought a Sinclair ZX Spectrum +. Now, I've got these 8 bit systems (most of them have some modifications):
- My Sinclair ZX Spectrum +. The same my parents bought. I had to repair the keyboard, replace a blown up 7805 and I made a composite video output (for new TV sets), so it now has RF + composite video output.
- A Harlequin. It is a modern clone of a ZX Spectrum 48k, using the same PCB size (and it has the same connectors). I bought the PCB and components, and soldered it about two years ago. It lives inside a ZX Spectrum + case (with a new keyboard membrane) and it has a dual ROM switch with the original Sinclair ROM and OpenSE.
- ZX Spectrum +3. It was a english +3, but I replaced keyboard (with a spanish one) and then replaced ROMs with spanish +3e ROMs, converting it in a spanish +3e. Also, I repaired some hardware bugs (related to sound output) and made another composite video output for this. I has now RF, RGB SCART and composite video output.
- Amstrad CPC 6128. It was my wife first computer, but had a faulty floppy drive. I replaced the floppy drive with one from a CPC 6128+, and put it a ROM selector (to choose between AMSDOS and PARADOS). I've got no space to store the original green phosphor monitor, so I made it a CPC to SCART cable and I have a picoATX PSU to provide power.
- Amstrad CPC464+. A friend gave me this one. I've upgraded it to almost a 6128+ (RAM and FDC mods, but no internal FDD).
Also, I have some extra hardware for my 8 bit computers, like:
- A modified floppy cable to connect a standard 3.5 floppy drive to Amstrad CPC 6128 and Spectrum +3.
- Another modified floppy drive cable, to connect a standard drive to Amstrad CPC 6128+ (for the upgraded 464+).
- A HxC floppy disk emulator.
- A picoATX PSU, with cables for powering +3, CPCs and external floppies.
- A divIDE (HDD interface for ZX Spectrum).
Also, I've had some ZX Spectrum +2A that I repaired and fitted with composite output. I sold out them all, because I'm starting to have too many computers at home.
On the 16 bit side, I've got an Amiga 500 (with TV modulator) and a HP 200LX. Besides that I've got a 486DX2 and a Pentium MMX 166 systems, but I'm not going to keep them.
I have traveled across the universe and through the years to find Her.
Sometimes going all the way is just a start...
I'm selling some stuff!