iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 27/09/2026

Finally landed a CMD FD-2000 3.5" floppy drive for my Commodore 64. It was a "grail" item for me for a long time but was out of reach in terms what these fetch on the market vs what I would be willing to pay. Love the original Creative Micro Design products. #Commodore #CMD #retrocomputing

Shown here is a Commodore 64 turned on and listing the Utilities disk for the attached original CMD FD-2000 3.5" disk drive.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 27/09/2026

Finally got an Amstrad PPC640 computer. It's a neat portable computer but the screen is not great. That, however, was to be expected. Interesting form factor and while it has a battery compartment ("C" cell), it's not practical as it doesn't last long . It's more of a "luggable". #retrocomputing

This is a picture of the Amstrad PPC640 computer opened up and running PPC Organizer software. Shown also are the two manuals that come with it, a brochure and a yellow plastic folder for the system software.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 25/09/2026

Definitely a checkered past but when they work, they are pretty cool. Here's a setup of mine done a little while ago. Runs the Apple II confidence test just fine.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 23/09/2026

Had my IBM 7690 Nursing Workstations out today. Being a PS/2 (Model 30ish), both needed floppy drive recapping. Normally mounted on the wall with the cables connected from the bottom, I propped one up to run. These have a touch screen LCD screen. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputing #IBMPS2

Shown are two IBM 7690 Nursing Workstations. The one on the left is closed. The door on the left side is for floppy drive access. Power switch is on the bottom. The one on the right has booted up to MS-DOS and is started up with the touch screen LCD driver.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 22/09/2026

Had an HP 9830A calculator/computer for 10 years and it never worked. Found another and got it yesterday. It also didn't work but with board swapping, it had one bad board. After board swapping, the original had 4 bad boards. Further repairs in my future. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputing

Pictured are two Hewlett Packard 9830A calculator/computers side by side. The one on the left is broken with four bad boards in need of repair. The one on the right is working and showing "Hello World!" output from a one line BASIC program for testing.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 11/09/2026

I am not 100% sure about the Max part but is definitely does NOT have the poor Yamaha/Adlib/Sound Blaster emulation, from what I've read. Though id does have an Adlib jumper. I'll have to explore that a little more.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 11/09/2026

Very excited about my latest acquisition. A Gravis Ultrasound ACE (Audio Card Enhancer) that I don't think has ever been used. Now I need to create a 486 era PC with some interesting audio/video cards in it :) #vintagecomputer #retrocomputing

This picture shows the Gravis Ultrasound ACE card on the left and the Gravis driver/software CD on the right. The ACE card is sitting on an ESD bag with the short audio cable meant for connection to the sound card of your choice.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 29/08/2026

Just got my MITS Altair 680. It's a little smaller than I thought. Next to the 8800, it looks tiny. Glad it works. Had to fix my LSI ADM-3A though. The contrast knob is very touchy. I'll need to replace that. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

This picture depicts a Lear Siegler ADM-3A terminal with a MITS Altair 680 connected and running. The 680 is sitting on top of it's older brother, the MITS Altair 8800 for size comparison. The 680 is quite small compared to the 8800.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 24/08/2026

Here is a picture of my Kimsi-Plus power supply sold by Forethought as well.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 20/08/2026

The seller said they shipped an Epson PX-8 to Italy and the same thing happened. The buyer mentioned to the seller that this is the third time it happened to him. I've bought tons of stuff on eBay and this is a first time for me.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 20/08/2026

I suspect the policy applies only one way out of the US. They would gain e-waste if it was sent to them and that, of course, is okay.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 20/08/2026

BEWARE Vintage Computer buyers from outside US. Your stuff will be e-wasted! I bought an Epson PF-10 floppy drive from the US (I am in Canada) and as it travelled thru eBay Intl Shipping, it was "Liquidated" and I got a refund. Apparently a new US policy is the reason. kotaku.com/trumps-new-e...

This is tracking information informing me that my Epson PF-10 floppy drive "Did not pass Inspection" at the Ebay International Shipping hub and has been liquidated. Please see the news article link and pass this on so that at least some of this vintage computing equipment will not be e-wasted.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 25/07/2026

I had too many people ask so I dug out a PC, an Adaptec AHA-1542CF and EX-SCSI software and it works great. SCSI confirmed.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 25/07/2026

You are right about SASI as I have couple of devices that use SASI hard drives. Being honest, I don't have a manual and I haven't had a chance to take out a PC with a SCSI card but I am pretty sure it's SCSI. It was built July 1987 as noted on the bottom sticker.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 25/07/2026

Recent acquisition. First ever CD-ROM drive was the Philips CM100. It had a proprietary LMSI interface. The Philips CM110 shown here is the SCSI counterpart. I believe this may be the first SCSI CD-ROM drive. Don't know is if they came out at the same time or if SCSI was later? #retrocomputing

This picture shows the Philips CM110 CD-ROM drive running. There is a dark bar you press to lift up the CD cover so you can carefully insert the CD-ROM. You click the "Run" button and it spins continuously and illuminates a "RUN" light. When you click "Run" again it stops the CD-ROM from spinning. There are no other front buttons.

On the back of the Philips CM100 is two SCSI connectors and a push button ID selector switch. There is a black button on the back that I don't know what it does. Maybe a Reset button? To the right of the power socket is an On/Off pushbutton switch. There is a large dark metal heat sink that protrudes from the back of the beige plastic case.

This picture shows the two halves of the unit once opened. The left side has two stacked card that differ from the CM100 that only has one card. The single card is used for the LMSI connection. These two stacked cards are used for the SCSI connection. To the right is the CD laser unit and circuitry along with the power supply. It has a large hidden from view transformer that makes the CM110 quite heavy.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 11/07/2026

Found this thanks to @hansotten.bsky.social (hopefully this Hans). A pinout for the Centronics 14 pin to 36 pin cable: hansotten.file-hunter.com/uploads/file... Now to buy the connectors. Thank you both!

hansotten.file-hunter.com

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 11/07/2026

Thanks for the tip! Makes sense but I didn't know they used the same cable. If I can find a pinout, I can make my own cable, if I can't find one.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 11/07/2026

I've had this NEC Trek PC-6001A computer for years but never took it out of the shipping box. I remember it having chicklet keys and the tape player but it turns out, it had the PC-6021A thermal printer. No cable though :( It's Centronics 14 pin to 36 pin. Will never find that. #retrocomputing

Pictured is an NEC PC-6001A computer with a PC-6021A thermal printer next to it both powered on. On the other side is an LCD monitor with a green screen showing the N60-BASIC loaded up and running.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 09/07/2026

Finally tracked down a Commodore VIC-1605 VicModem phone adapter used here in Canada. This came in the Viccessories package that included the 1600 VicModem and the original Commodore phone. Still on the hunt for one in a box but that is unlikely to find anymore. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

Pictured here is most of the contents of the Viccessories VicModem package exclusively for Canada. It includes the 1600 modem, the VIC-1605 VicModem Phone adapter and the Northern Telecom Commodore branded telephone.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 04/07/2026

The Exidy Sorcerer II has a power supply with flaky rectifier diodes. One power supply needed two and another one needed a different set of two. The Exidy Sorcerer I needed an NE555 timer and some clean up of the motherboard and all is well now. Worked out easier than I thought.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 04/07/2026

Sorry, I usually don't post pictures of multiple units if I have them. I honestly don't recall getting one of them at all. I had one then two came in a lot with other Exidy items that I wanted so I had to get them. As for the picture, I noticed that and I tried my best to make them even.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 04/07/2026

Working on my Exidy Sorcerer's this week. I think they multiplied because I swear I only had two. So far 1 out of 4 is working properly. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 30/06/2026

It is a special looking Commodore product. I also did the single jack mod. It seemed okay. I just didn't want a "pigtail" sticking out or *gasp* cutting the case. I am curious what it looks like when done.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 29/06/2026

With a small collection of "luggable" computers, I just acquired a Panasonic Sr Partner with dual 360K floppy drives running MS-DOS 2.11. I think this might be the heaviest luggable I own and I do have an IBM Portable Personal computer (Model 5155) too.

This is a picture of a Panasonic Sr Partner personal computer running a Sr Partner demo. The keyboard is removeable and there is a built-in thermal printer where part of a printed document is showing on top.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 25/06/2026

You might want to go back a little further :)

This is a picture of a Commodore branded Norther Telecom telephone sold with the VicModem in Canada in 1983.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 16/06/2026

Got the BeBox out for a regular run to make sure everything is still okay. Love this thing. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

This picture shows a dual 133Mhz Power PC powered BeBox with BeOS 5.03 running. It's connected to a VGA monitor, IBM Model F keyboard and a mouse. Multiple windows are open on screen.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 15/06/2026

Needed to make a ribbon cable for connecting a floppy drive to a Lobos Max-80 I was testing. It's a bit strange. If it does not boot up, you get a beep but absolutely no video output. This is supposed to be a TRS-80 clone. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer.

Pictured is a Lobos Max-80 computer booting up MaxDOS Six from a random 360K floppy drive.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 15/06/2026

I've been making my own ribbon cables for a while now and once I found this "ribbon cable tester" online, I LOVE it! No more multimeter continuity testing on each pin to troubleshoot. I had the edge connector ends already so I can test floppy ribbon cables. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

This is a picture of a Treedix JTAG Cable Tester Board testing a floppy ribbon cable. LEDs lit up mean the wires are connected properly.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 14/06/2026

Don't forget if you're interested. Today at 1PM Eastern.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 13/06/2026

I have one of those. Works great. Good choice.

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Reposted by Santo Nucifora

vcfederation.bsky.social @vcfederation.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Lee Felsenstein livestream Sun. June 14 at 1PM (Eastern): youtube.com/live/Js6R3OI... Before the laptop, before Apple took off, there was the Legendary moderator of the Homebrew Computer Club and designer of the Osborne 1. Don't miss our exclusive livestream with a true PC pioneer this Sunday!

youtube.com

Lee Felsenstein – A Look at Personal Computer History and its Future - VCF East 2026

YouTube video by Vintage Computer Federation

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 06/06/2026

It's hard to take a picture of the screen but... It Works! I would have put an exclamation mark in the one line program but I couldn't find one. Let's say the BASIC on the Spectravideo CompuMate for the Atari 2600 is not full featured but decent. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer #Atari2600

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 06/06/2026

Another project I have is a Spectavision Compumate add-on for the Atari 2600. I believe it may be a PAL model and I need to convert it to NTSC. From my research, the internal piggyback ROMs might have to be changed. Right now video rolls. Might be the last time this ever worked. #retrocomputer

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 06/06/2026

Dug out my two Kaypro 2000s last night. Plugged them in. The earlier vertically "narrow" screen model works fine even with long time dead batteries. The later "wide" screen model Kaypro 2000 does not work :( <sarcasm>I needed another project</sarcasm>. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

This picture shows two Kaypro 2000 portable laptop-like computers that are both black. The newer model on the left has a vertically wider screen. The original model on the right has a more narrow screen.

This picture shows a screen close-up of the earlier Kaypro 2000 on and booting up. The screen contrast is terrible but it's common in screens of this era.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 01/06/2026

Recently acquired an Olivetti M10 and PicDisc unit that turns the M10 into a CP/M computer. Had to replace the 12VDC lead acid battery and a bad diode. If anyone has any software or docs on the PicDisc system, please let me know. Still trying to figure this out. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

This is a picture of a black Samsonite briefcase of early 80's vintage with a PicDisc 3.5" single sided, double density disk drive attached to an Olivetti M10 computer. It is on with CP/M TRS2.2a booted up and ready.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 24/05/2026

It's a painted compressed wood fibre case. It's quite curvy on the top and sides so it must have been in a mold of some kind. The top cover is also fairly light.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 24/05/2026

Working with my MCM/70 and MCM/900 today. The '900 is two generations newer than the '70. Both run APL but have different displays. My dual 8" disk drive for the '900 needs work (blows fuses). After a week of messing around it's away until next time I take a shot. #retrocomputer #vintagecomputer

This picture shows the MCM/70 computer on the left and the MCM/900 computer on the right. To the left of the MCM/70 is a box of "new old stock" data tapes that work with it. A fortunate find.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 20/05/2026

It's not the most exciting find but I'm an Apple Lisa fan so these brochures (two of the Lisa 1) I acquired are pretty cool to me. #AppleLisa #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 16/05/2026

A recent acquisition of mine is a Digital Equipment DECTalk DTC07B speech synthesis card. Works really well. This is the "shorter" newer surface mount version of the original DTC07 card and works much like the very original DECTalk DTC01 in PC ISA card format. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing

This is a picture of the DECTalk DTC07B PC card sitting on a table. It's on the ESD bag sitting on the original DEC box. This was packaged as just the card with no other accessories.

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Reposted by Santo Nucifora

Sinclair Research @sinclairresearch.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

The Jupiter Ace 4000 - the rare North American version of a computer built by two ex-ZX Spectrum designers who chose Forth over BASIC. Stronger case, ROM-deselect feature, and a fascinating history. vintagecomputer.ca/jupiter-ace-4000/

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 12/05/2026

Nice picture! Now I need an Englelbart mouse :(

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 10/05/2026

Adrian's Digital Basement also had firmware for an Apple IIe that would test a 6502 for the ROR bug. I just can't seem to find it at the moment.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 03/05/2026

God, I wish I could edit. I refer to CP/M 2.2 of course.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 03/05/2026

Finally got my DEC VT180 Robin working fully. Power supply issues and a badly needed refurbishment on the RX180AB dual floppy drive was done. This booted up in P/M 2.2 and is running the Select Word Processing System. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

This is a picture of a DEC VT180 computer system. It's essentially a VT100 terminal with additional hardware to make it a fully functional computer. There is a dual disk drive on top of the computer and a box of DEC software in a beige floppy box to the right.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 22/04/2026

One project is to further explore one of the top tier computers in my collection, the Canadian MCM/70. An Intel 8008 based personal computer with built-in APL from 1974. Here I am initializing special NOS data cassettes I found and bought new lead-acid batteries. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

Shown here is the MCM/70 computer from Micro Computer Machines released in 1974. This uses dual direct tape drives for storage of both data and programs AND additional virtual memory (workspace) up to the size of a data cassette (about 100KB). The batteries are for battery backup so that if there is service interruption, the batteries will allow the workspace to be saved to cassette. When power is restored, the workspace will automatically restore to when it was last shut down.

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Santo Nucifora @vintagecomputer.ca · 22/04/2026

Well, turns out one of these 590uF 200v blue caps is completely open in the DEC VT100 model H7831 power supply. I've ordered a set of two to replace both. It was a last resort check as I have never seen these large caps go bad. Let's hope it's only that. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputer

This picture shows the internals of the DEC VT100 H7831 power supply. It is zoomed in on two large blue capacitors.

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