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Ten Sexiest Computers of all time - Vulture Central

Started byGeoff <gwearmouth@gmail.com>
First post2013-04-09 03:17 -0700
Last post2013-05-30 14:13 -0700
Articles 11 — 8 participants

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Contents

  Ten Sexiest Computers of all time - Vulture Central Geoff <gwearmouth@gmail.com> - 2013-04-09 03:17 -0700
    Re: Ten Sexiest Computers of all time - Vulture Central "Chris Young" <chris.usenet@mail-filter.com> - 2013-04-09 18:53 +0100
      Re: Ten Sexiest Computers of all time - Vulture Central Duncan Snowden <duncan_s@talktalk.net> - 2013-04-09 20:11 +0100
        Re: Ten Sexiest Computers of all time - Vulture Central "Chris Young" <chris.usenet@mail-filter.com> - 2013-04-09 21:05 +0100
          Re: Ten Sexiest Computers of all time - Vulture Central deKay <andyk@lofi-gaming.org.uk.invalid> - 2013-04-10 08:49 +0100
      Re: Ten Sexiest Computers of all time - Vulture Central "Brian Gaff" <Briang1@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-04-10 08:55 +0100
    Re: Ten Sexiest Computers of all time - Vulture Central colboy <colboy@gmail.com> - 2013-04-10 06:31 -0700
      Re: Ten Sexiest Computers of all time - Vulture Central "Brian Gaff" <Briang1@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-04-14 08:02 +0100
        Re: Ten Sexiest Computers of all time - Vulture Central Volker Bartheld <dr_versaeg@freenet.de> - 2013-04-14 09:22 +0200
          Re: Ten Sexiest Computers of all time - Vulture Central "Brian Gaff" <Briang1@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-04-14 15:37 +0100
            Re: Ten Sexiest Computers of all time - Vulture Central andy.z.key@googlemail.com - 2013-05-30 14:13 -0700

#2205 — Ten Sexiest Computers of all time - Vulture Central

FromGeoff <gwearmouth@gmail.com>
Date2013-04-09 03:17 -0700
SubjectTen Sexiest Computers of all time - Vulture Central
Message-ID<69d88fa1-5d48-472b-a98f-5d290bbe4a9e@googlegroups.com>
Wait for it...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/04/09/feature_ten_sexy_computers_roundup/


--
G.

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#2206

From"Chris Young" <chris.usenet@mail-filter.com>
Date2013-04-09 18:53 +0100
Message-ID<5164639B.MD-1.4.17.chris.young@unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk>
In reply to#2205
On Tue, 9 Apr 2013 03:17:10 -0700 (PDT) da kidz on comp.sys.sinclair were rappin'
to MC Geoff:

> Wait for it...
> 
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/04/09/feature_ten_sexy_computers_roundup/

Look at number 4... or should I say, number PHWOARR?

Don't fancy number 3 much, the A600 would have been a better choice
(or the CDTV, now that *is* a sexy looking bit of kit)

Getting slightly back on topic, the SAM Coupé would have been a good
fit for that article.  Maybe not sexy in the traditional sense, but
certainly unique.  Sort of like the girl next door.[1]

Chris
[1] p Footnote not found, 3:2


-- 
+-------------------------------------------+
| Unsatisfactory Software - "because it is" |
|  http://www.unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk  |
| Your Sinclair: A Celebration              |
+- http://www.yoursinclair.co.uk -----------+

DISCLAIMER: I may be making all this stuff up again.

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#2207

FromDuncan Snowden <duncan_s@talktalk.net>
Date2013-04-09 20:11 +0100
Message-ID<20130409201151.51bcaf0b@talktalk.net>
In reply to#2206
On 9 Apr 2013 18:53:15 +0100
"Chris Young" <chris.usenet@mail-filter.com> wrote:

> On Tue, 9 Apr 2013 03:17:10 -0700 (PDT) da kidz on comp.sys.sinclair
> were rappin' to MC Geoff:
> 
> > Wait for it...
> > 
> > http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/04/09/feature_ten_sexy_computers_roundup/
> 
> Look at number 4... or should I say, number PHWOARR?

Computers you can walk inside are always cool.[1]

> Don't fancy number 3 much, the A600 would have been a better choice
> (or the CDTV, now that *is* a sexy looking bit of kit)

For a moment there, I thought you meant the CD32. That was definitely
*not* one of the sexiest computers ever. At all. Brrr. But yes, the CDTV
was very nice. 20 years ahead of its time, when you look at some of the
HTPC cases you can buy these days.

I actually think the C128 was a good choice. It was by far the best
iteration of that Commodore design language.[1] The A500, while vaguely
similar, was much less sharp. Maybe pictures don't do it justice (a
mate of mine had one "back in the day", as the young people have it).

What about the Speccy 128 though, or the QL? All of Rick Dickinson's
designs for Sinclair were awesome.

(And since we're including games consoles, I'd put the original white
Xbox 360 at least alongside the PS3. Especially, oddly enough, in its
cheap “Arcade” guise without all the chrome bling. Familiarity -
and a redesign - might have bred contempt, but look at it: it's like
something out of 2001, or JJ Abrams' Star Trek reboot. If they'd put an
Apple logo on it, the hipsters would have gone bananas.)

[1] Do you see what I did there?

[2] Ooh, get Steven Bailey here!

-- 
Duncan Snowden.

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#2208

From"Chris Young" <chris.usenet@mail-filter.com>
Date2013-04-09 21:05 +0100
Message-ID<5164829C.MD-1.4.17.chris.young@unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk>
In reply to#2207
On Tue, 9 Apr 2013 20:11:51 +0100 da kidz on comp.sys.sinclair were rappin'
to MC Duncan Snowden:

> I actually think the C128 was a good choice. It was by far the best
> iteration of that Commodore design language.[1] The A500, while vaguely
> similar, was much less sharp. Maybe pictures don't do it justice (a
> mate of mine had one "back in the day", as the young people have it).

It's not bad (certainly much superior to the C64 breadbin design), but
the A600 is - can I say cute? (you just did - Ed).

For the larger all-in-one keyboard design, the ST is better - mostly
due to the curvature of the function keys that blend in to the back of
the case.  The (Acorn) A3010/A3020 had some nice curves too. 

> (And since we're including games consoles, I'd put the original white
> Xbox 360 at least alongside the PS3. Especially, oddly enough, in its
> cheap “Arcade” guise without all the chrome bling. Familiarity -
> and a redesign - might have bred contempt, but look at it: it's like
> something out of 2001, or JJ Abrams' Star Trek reboot. If they'd put an
> Apple logo on it, the hipsters would have gone bananas.)

It looks a bit too much like a PC - and the cheap looking plasticy
Dell cases from a similar era PC at that.

The Wii is a much sexier white console.

Chris


-- 
+-------------------------------------------+
| Unsatisfactory Software - "because it is" |
|  http://www.unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk  |
| Your Sinclair: A Celebration              |
+- http://www.yoursinclair.co.uk -----------+

DISCLAIMER: I may be making all this stuff up again.

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#2210

FromdeKay <andyk@lofi-gaming.org.uk.invalid>
Date2013-04-10 08:49 +0100
Message-ID<alpine.OSX.2.00.1304100846330.56619@imac.dekay.sytes.net>
In reply to#2208
On Tue, 9 Apr 2013, Chris Young wrote:

> On Tue, 9 Apr 2013 20:11:51 +0100 da kidz on comp.sys.sinclair were rappin'
> to MC Duncan Snowden:
>
>> I actually think the C128 was a good choice. It was by far the best
>> iteration of that Commodore design language.[1] The A500, while vaguely
>> similar, was much less sharp. Maybe pictures don't do it justice (a
>> mate of mine had one "back in the day", as the young people have it).
>
> It's not bad (certainly much superior to the C64 breadbin design), but
> the A600 is - can I say cute? (you just did - Ed).

Problem with the A600 is that the 3 status LEDs on the right hand side 
make it look like there are three keys missing.

> For the larger all-in-one keyboard design, the ST is better - mostly
> due to the curvature of the function keys that blend in to the back of
> the case.  The (Acorn) A3010/A3020 had some nice curves too.

The A3010/20 were certainly pretty. I like the bright green on them too.

> The Wii is a much sexier white console.

The black Wii U beats it.

I quite like the matt black 360 slim too. All the PS3s look terrible.

deKay
-- 
  Lofi Gaming - http://lofi-gaming.org.uk
  Gaming Diary - http://lofi-gaming.org.uk/diary
  Blog - http://lofi-gaming.org.uk/blog
  My computer runs at 3.5MHz and I'm proud of that

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#2211

From"Brian Gaff" <Briang1@blueyonder.co.uk>
Date2013-04-10 08:55 +0100
Message-ID<kk35pb$rcj$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#2206
Hmm yes, but there have been a lot of computers with a lot of differing 
looks and abilities of course. The one thing now that is a bit boring is 
that you have pcs and appleles and the hardware is not a lot different. Thre 
are more in the mobile and hand held stakes but even here the tendency is to 
use the same bits.

Going back in time it all depends on what you thought suited you. One of the 
best things about ehe Sinclairs were that they could be very easily 
programmed.
 How did we get to todays  machines without developing such abilities.
 Brian

-- 
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is  active
"Chris Young" <chris.usenet@mail-filter.com> wrote in message 
news:5164639B.MD-1.4.17.chris.young@unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk...
> On Tue, 9 Apr 2013 03:17:10 -0700 (PDT) da kidz on comp.sys.sinclair were 
> rappin'
> to MC Geoff:
>
>> Wait for it...
>>
>> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/04/09/feature_ten_sexy_computers_roundup/
>
> Look at number 4... or should I say, number PHWOARR?
>
> Don't fancy number 3 much, the A600 would have been a better choice
> (or the CDTV, now that *is* a sexy looking bit of kit)
>
> Getting slightly back on topic, the SAM Coupé would have been a good
> fit for that article.  Maybe not sexy in the traditional sense, but
> certainly unique.  Sort of like the girl next door.[1]
>
> Chris
> [1] p Footnote not found, 3:2
>
>
> -- 
> +-------------------------------------------+
> | Unsatisfactory Software - "because it is" |
> |  http://www.unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk  |
> | Your Sinclair: A Celebration              |
> +- http://www.yoursinclair.co.uk -----------+
>
> DISCLAIMER: I may be making all this stuff up again. 

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#2212

Fromcolboy <colboy@gmail.com>
Date2013-04-10 06:31 -0700
Message-ID<c3938d61-485d-4af4-bafd-ca9cb15b3e79@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#2205
Can't believe the Memotech MTX 512 doesn't get a mention. Oh how I remember lusting after one of those LOL

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#2214

From"Brian Gaff" <Briang1@blueyonder.co.uk>
Date2013-04-14 08:02 +0100
Message-ID<kkdk5q$a0u$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#2212
Want mine?
 The main reason I found it a pain was that the edge connectors keep needing 
cleaning and the only way to do this was to open the case hinge it up and 
slide out the cards and clean them. At least the speccy ones could be 
cleaned without opening the case!

Brian

-- 
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is  active
"colboy" <colboy@gmail.com> wrote in message 
news:c3938d61-485d-4af4-bafd-ca9cb15b3e79@googlegroups.com...
> Can't believe the Memotech MTX 512 doesn't get a mention. Oh how I 
> remember lusting after one of those LOL 

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#2215

FromVolker Bartheld <dr_versaeg@freenet.de>
Date2013-04-14 09:22 +0200
Message-ID<nd8ja39w0odq.dlg@news.bartheld.net>
In reply to#2214
Hi!

On Sun, 14 Apr 2013 08:02:58 +0100, Brian Gaff wrote:
>  The main reason I found it a pain was that the edge connectors keep needing 
> cleaning and the only way to do this was to open the case hinge it up and 
> slide out the cards and clean them. At least the speccy ones could be 
> cleaned without opening the case!

I soldered an "edge connector extension" onto the PCB of my speccy which
has a gold plating - see http://bartheld.net/temp/dsc_9003.jpg for an
impression on how it looks like. This solved the problem once and for all,
still works fine today.

Unfortunately http://buerklin.de doesn't seem to have them anymore, so
you're pretty much on your own...

Cheers,
Volker

P.S.: Please excuse the messy wire routing. I was young, in a hurry and I
needed the money. ;-)

-- 
@:  I N F O at B A R T H E L D dot N E T
3W: www.bartheld.net

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#2216

From"Brian Gaff" <Briang1@blueyonder.co.uk>
Date2013-04-14 15:37 +0100
Message-ID<kkeepu$4f9$1@dont-email.me>
In reply to#2215
You can't do this on the Memotech as there is only just enough room for the 
computer, memory board and the comms board.

Brian

-- 
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is  active
"Volker Bartheld" <dr_versaeg@freenet.de> wrote in message 
news:nd8ja39w0odq.dlg@news.bartheld.net...
> Hi!
>
> On Sun, 14 Apr 2013 08:02:58 +0100, Brian Gaff wrote:
>>  The main reason I found it a pain was that the edge connectors keep 
>> needing
>> cleaning and the only way to do this was to open the case hinge it up and
>> slide out the cards and clean them. At least the speccy ones could be
>> cleaned without opening the case!
>
> I soldered an "edge connector extension" onto the PCB of my speccy which
> has a gold plating - see http://bartheld.net/temp/dsc_9003.jpg for an
> impression on how it looks like. This solved the problem once and for all,
> still works fine today.
>
> Unfortunately http://buerklin.de doesn't seem to have them anymore, so
> you're pretty much on your own...
>
> Cheers,
> Volker
>
> P.S.: Please excuse the messy wire routing. I was young, in a hurry and I
> needed the money. ;-)
>
> -- 
> @:  I N F O at B A R T H E L D dot N E T
> 3W: www.bartheld.net 

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#2281

Fromandy.z.key@googlemail.com
Date2013-05-30 14:13 -0700
Message-ID<68b105f5-7d85-46f4-a2fa-19bf4befa912@googlegroups.com>
In reply to#2216
Its true that the edge connectors on an MTX oxidize and need cleaning.
Also, in some MTXs, the cards inside the case ended up being physically soldered together because of this.
I think the whole strategy of exposing the same bus signals at both ends/sides of the motherboard and certain add-ons was seen as an innovation at the time.

{{{ Andy

http://www.nyangau.org/memotech/memotech.htm

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