ScuzzBlog: Diaries May 2019
Entry 21st May 2019: Post 01: BBC B: It's what I do
BBC B: It's what I do
The purpose of my diaries has always been to log my activities in
respect of my quite massive computer collection. I spent a very
long time collecting what I have and for many years could do little
in respect of actually having a play, as it were. So when the
opportunity arose for me to take a long break from work I took it
without even a blink of an eye. That was five years ago and I have
no intentions to return to the world of architecture. I am still a
registered architect and who knows... dunno.
So what have I been doing today. Well, in an earlier entry this
month I discovered the Cub was faulty to the BBC Master System. It
was not the only fatality this month, as my large Sony Trinitron
CRT TV finally kicked the bucket. Been repaired a few times and
probably will again. But not for now. So having moved the Samsung
from the BBC B I needed to find a new way to test the computer.
One of the issues I have with all the collection is dust and nooks
and little hidey holes that may be home to small spiders. Try as I
might those little creatures will find their way in. If left they
contaminate cardboard and books. So I spend quite a bit of time
dusting and generally cleaning. The answer would be to place all
that I have in tubs. I tried that but it just denies me constant
access to all that I have, so spider watch is the answer and I am
constantly emptying shelves and dusting all surfaces. So far I
am winning.
Today it was the turn of some quite enormous shelves containing
Amiga magazines. Before I did so I thought it sensible to move
out of the way the BBC B and test to see if she works with a basic
black and white TV. The Samsung that I was using is now the monitor
for the BBC Master System.
And so in true scuzz fashion I set up the camera and recorded the
event. She worked fine, though the photography was a little of a
failure. Trust me when I say that the images on the actual TV
were a lot better than the images shown.
I have a BBC floppy drive for the BBC B fed off a ribbon and as with
the mice on Ataris, I find the connection under the machine a real
pain. The computer works fine albeit missing a key. I do have the
key, which works but it is loose. Needs a bit of work that. I do
like the BBC. It is incredibly friendly and has the same appeal as
sitting on a very large sofa. So much room you can really spread
your fingers out. Quite like playing the piano.
She's back in her spot behind my beloved A1200 and all the shelves
and magazines are dusted. In sifting through magazines I was reminded
of what a wonderfully rich period 1994-1995 was for the Amiga. Sadly
Commodore had gone to the wall, but the Amiga in the UK was enjoying
a most busy time. The magazines had never been thicker. More on that
tomorrow.
This week I have focussed on a couple of items that are winging their
way to me so I have been holding off on those respective pages until
they arrive. I had considered leaving the blog alone, but with summer
inching its way toward us I sense I will be spending a lot more time
in the cool of the Workshop. So having the spring clean and booting
the diaries back into action seemed the right thing to do.
I have created a Twitter account which I use to notify of the page
updates. Its nothing special and will only carry headlines. Not a
great fan of Twitter and I have a feeling it will eventually die.
On to the pictures.. not many. She worked. I checked the drive and
gave her a dust.... It's what I do.
BBC B: It's what I do
I loaded the file from last April
and updated with today's weather.
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