I intercepted a SE/30 that was set to be discarded (in the late 90's), due to a video problem -- the image was a single line across the center. The solder for the vertical control had cracked and it turned out, all I needed to do was reflow it, and it was good to go. Since this was my first 'spare' computer, I promptly installed NetBSD on it, and learned unix there. I eventually got a modem attached to it, setup PPP, and got a serial console to another 8086 laptop someone else gave me, that my brother and used to run https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAC_(software) to chat into the evening. I got a nuBus Network card on there too, and figured out how to wire up our main family computer too!
A year or so later, I learned about Flyback Transformers and precisely how large of a capacitor was in the vicinity, and thanked my lucky stars I didn't accidentally discharge it.
The Se/30 will always be a special machine for me :)
A year or so later, I learned about Flyback Transformers and precisely how large of a capacitor was in the vicinity, and thanked my lucky stars I didn't accidentally discharge it.
The Se/30 will always be a special machine for me :)