Read on Twitter
who told IBM it was a good idea to put the power connector for the IBM Convertible approximately 8 miles inset into the case?
The IBM convertible is a neat little computer, and it only needs 15v 3a.
That's an easy power supply to provide! Heck, my Toshibas use that same adapter!
That's an easy power supply to provide! Heck, my Toshibas use that same adapter!
EXCEPT THEY PUT IT SO FAR BACK THAT NONE OF MY CONNECTORS CAN FIT INTO THE FUCKING CASE
GOOD NEWS
this is fine, I'm sure
Insert a disk? uh-oh. I don't have a 720k boot disk on hand.
but I can hit escape and end up in BASIC!
good news: I found a 720k disk.
Now I just gotta set up a computer that'll format this properly.
Now I just gotta set up a computer that'll format this properly.
I DON'T TRUST YOU. YOU'RE PROBABLY JUST A BAD USB FLOPPY DRIVE
nope.
it's really bad. shit.
it's really bad. shit.
OK, don't tell anyone I did this. And don't do it yourself!
DD disks are physically different from HD disks, so while this might work for a bit, it will not be remotely reliable.
DD disks are physically different from HD disks, so while this might work for a bit, it will not be remotely reliable.
but hopefully this'll last long enough to get the other machine booted
And we're formatted. Let's see what happens when I make this bootable and stick it in to the convertible
It seems to be hung here.
Ugh, I'm gonna have to find a real dd disk that works!
Ugh, I'm gonna have to find a real dd disk that works!
BUT WHERE AM I GOING TO FIND A BUNCH OF DOUBLE DENSITY FLOPPY DISKS AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT?
oh right, I'm me.
oh right, I'm me.
WE GOT DOS
it aint a lot of DOS, but it's a dos
Found a boot disk for the convertible
who needs memtest86+ when you have IBM diagnostics?
Keyboard test time! it wants me to push EVERY KEY
I was born for this.
I was born for this.
I did!
oh yeah, share your whole character map, I STEAL YOUR FONT
those are some fun emoji-style smilies.
I got the Application Selector set up.
This is a weird shell IBM included
This is a weird shell IBM included
it won't accept the current date, because it's invalid.
you know, I agree, IBM
you know, I agree, IBM
Fortunately DOS itself has no such problem. it's happy with 2020
it's time to play some DONKEY
DONKEY TIME
Setting up a communications program. This has a built in modem, so I was thinking I'd dial in somewhere.
ahh yes, here's all the online services. all of them.
wait...
I turned off the power supply!
I turned off the power supply!
BUT IT'S STILL ON
I didn't realize this thing actually had a battery in it, let alone one that WORKED
I didn't realize this thing actually had a battery in it, let alone one that WORKED
Yep. this big heavy motherfucker is the battery.
9.6v, apparently.
I'm gonna pull this out and make sure it doesn't ever charge again, just in case charging it after, uh, 33 years, causes it to leak
I'm gonna pull this out and make sure it doesn't ever charge again, just in case charging it after, uh, 33 years, causes it to leak
Anyway, that's enough IBM PC Convertible! Let's look at another computer
How about... An IBM PC Convertible!
Although this one is LONGER. Why is it longer?
How about... An IBM PC Convertible!
Although this one is LONGER. Why is it longer?
BUILT IN DOT-MATRIX PRINTER, MOTHERFUCKERS!
I wonder if this ink is still any good.
heck, I don't know if this thing turns on at all, yet... so maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.
heck, I don't know if this thing turns on at all, yet... so maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.
Yep! it turns on too.
Although the power connector seems to be EVEN FARTHER BACK, somehow.
Same amount of RAM (512k), same dual-disks, same modem, just with PRINTER.
Although the power connector seems to be EVEN FARTHER BACK, somehow.
Same amount of RAM (512k), same dual-disks, same modem, just with PRINTER.
OH YEAH WE CAN PRINT LIKE GEORGE BUSH SENIOR IS STILL IN OFFICE
about 0.2 seconds after printing this, the machine turned off
99% sure that was the connector falling out because it wasn't making a good connection, but it might be that the battery (which I can't figure out how to remove, as the printer is in the way) just caught on fire
99% sure that was the connector falling out because it wasn't making a good connection, but it might be that the battery (which I can't figure out how to remove, as the printer is in the way) just caught on fire
so I'm gonna put these away for tonight and maybe fiddle with them tomorrow
