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Author Topic: Tandy still dandy  (Read 4006 times)

Offline LR827

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Tandy still dandy
« on: June 09, 2006, 10:02:33 PM »
I still have the Tandy 102 laptop which was my very first computer.  I wrote an entire book on it, and tried to transfer it to a cassette tape recorder, but gave up b/c it kept cutting off words.  I eventually re-typed the entire book at a later time.

Now I found this article and it says that the data from one of these old models can be transferred easily to another computer.  Does anyone know how I can do that? Or how I can find out a way to do that?

The reason I would like to do it is that the Tandy 102 is incredibly light and compact.  It weighs nothing, is very sturdy, and I can plop it into a tote bag in its leather case.  I would love to do that, if I could transfer the data easily to my PowerBook G4.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

================================
  Machine Model:   PowerBook G4 15"
  CPU Type:   PowerPC G4  (3.3)
  Number Of CPUs:   1
  CPU Speed:   1 GHz
  L2 Cache (per CPU):   256 KB
  L3 Cache (per CPU):   1 MB
  Memory:   512 MB
  Bus Speed:   133 MHz
  Boot ROM Version:   4.5.3f2
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Offline kbeartx

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Tandy still dandy
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2006, 12:44:29 AM »
You have two hurdles to jump: the appropriate software, running on the Mac for sure and possibly on the Tandy as well, that will allow the two computers to communicate; also, finding a cable w/ the appropriate connectors for these two devices, separated by 20 years or so.  

AFAIK, of all the various connectors on the PowerBook, none was in common use in the eighties.  I expect that you will need a custom-made cable, but I could be mistaken.

 - KB
« Last Edit: June 10, 2006, 12:45:17 AM by kbeartx »
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Offline LR827

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Tandy still dandy
« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2006, 10:31:09 AM »
Thanks, Kenny.


It would be so neat to be able to use that like a scratch pad wherever I happened to be.  It is such a neat little machine.  I hate to give up on it.  I guess that's why I've kept it all these decades.
« Last Edit: June 10, 2006, 10:31:51 AM by LR827 »
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Offline Gregg

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« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2006, 11:43:42 AM »
Log another entry in the "they don't make 'em like they used to" book....
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Ya gotta applaud those bunnies for sacrificing their hearing just so some guy in Cupertino can have better TV reception.

Offline kelly

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« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2006, 12:21:07 PM »
tacit could probably make something like that work.  Thinking.gif

But it's really not worthwhile Lorraine.

There's lots of modern options to do what you want.

Did you read this "string"?

http://www.techsurvivors.net/forums/index....showtopic=12578
« Last Edit: June 10, 2006, 12:22:09 PM by kelly »
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kelly
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Offline Klaus1

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« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2006, 05:26:04 PM »
LR

If you can get the Tandy on line you could email the files to yourself.

(serious suggestion).

Much depends on what OS it is running.
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Offline swhitset

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Tandy still dandy
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2006, 06:54:27 PM »
I know absolutely nothing about that Tandy, but if it has any type of modem (even a very slow one) you could do a file transfer using some type of communication software.


As an example back in 1998, I had a Performa 637CD when I bought an iMac.  I used Clarisworks on the Performa and Appleworks on the imac and set up a Modem to modem file transfer by dialing out on one phone line and receiving on another (actually, I took one computer over to my mother's house for the second phone line).  I used the communications protocol in Claris/Apple works to do a modem to modem transfer of all my data.

This method worked better than the email method because there were no file size limitations.  I don't know what the capabilities of that Tandy are, but this might be a possibility.

Steve
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Offline Mayo

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« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2006, 06:56:07 PM »
Here is a place to start, although the info is dated.  Try searching the Internet using Google; that's what I did...
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Offline kelly

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« Reply #8 on: June 10, 2006, 08:14:12 PM »
Not worth it.

SPEED  3 MHz

RAM  8 kb, up to 32 KB (29638 bytes free)

Etc.
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kelly
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Offline Gregg

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« Reply #9 on: June 10, 2006, 08:58:56 PM »
Ah, but the satisfaction of getting more use out of  your first computer has a powerful reward. I resurrected my beloved Mac TV for my son's freshman year in college so he could take our G3 and defer his choice of what computer to get until his sophomore year. Three years later, I was trying to do it again to get my Mom online, but the screen went "poof" and then black. (went well with the case, but not too useful)

Not worth the cost of accessories?? I know some of them can be pricey. I spent $500 fixing the Mac TV, but declared that to be a one-time act of frivolousness. Not worth the time and effort?? Depends on the intensity of the emotional attachment. Not worth the headache? That's why they make aspirin. wink2.gif
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Ya gotta applaud those bunnies for sacrificing their hearing just so some guy in Cupertino can have better TV reception.

Offline krissel

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Tandy still dandy
« Reply #10 on: June 10, 2006, 09:20:23 PM »
Depending on your model it may have more speed and memory.

Here's some places to check out. The forums and sites that cater to this and similar machines may be your best bet. It seems uploading was done via a 300 baud modem.

http://www.club100.org/

http://www.old-computers.com/forum/frameset.asp

http://www.trs-80.com/trs80-10.htm

http://www.blinkenlights.com/classiccmp/kyocera.txt

http://www.ringsurf.com/netring?ring=Vinta...oks;action=list

If you are a member of Compuserve or AOL they have archives of more info that are only available with your password.

http://login.compuserve.com/login/loginSNS...smode=skipcheck
« Last Edit: June 10, 2006, 09:21:43 PM by krissel »
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Offline Gregg

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« Reply #11 on: June 10, 2006, 09:25:08 PM »
If you can't get it to work, would you consider giving it to my friend's son Randy? (a student at Vandy)

That is unless you want to keep it around for eye candy....

Just keep it away from the beach. Too sandy. wink2.gif
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Ya gotta applaud those bunnies for sacrificing their hearing just so some guy in Cupertino can have better TV reception.

Offline LR827

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Tandy still dandy
« Reply #12 on: June 11, 2006, 12:16:14 PM »
Gosh, thanks to everyone for the responses.

kelly, you got the specs right.  One thing, I don't even know if my Tandy has an internal modem.  I bought a floppy disc drive for it (when I gave up on the cassette recorder) but that was all. I know you are right about it not being worth the trouble, but it is just such a neat little machine, and I guess there is a nostalgia attached to it.

krissy & Mayo, those are great links.  I'm going to see what they have to say.

Steve, Klaus1, email would be no problem -- as kelly pointed out, I have a total of 32 kb ram on it (I did the upgrade from the 8kb that came with it!) so I could email pretty much anything if I got the right connection.

I think I also bought something like a null-modem cable? Does that sound right?  I was going to use that to transfer documents to my next computer, the Performa 6205.  I recall trying to do that, but couldn't get it to work.  

Gregg... Gregg.  Leave the poetry to Dick, okay?
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Offline kbeartx

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Tandy still dandy
« Reply #13 on: June 11, 2006, 05:08:49 PM »
QUOTE(swhitset @ Jun 10 2006, 06:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I know absolutely nothing about that Tandy, but if it has any type of modem (even a very slow one) you could do a file transfer using some type of communication software.


I stand [sit, actually] corrected.

If the Tandy has a builtin modem [which I doubt, actually], it might use a modular telephone connector, which I'm pretty sure you DO have on the PB.

 - KB
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Offline Gregg

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Tandy still dandy
« Reply #14 on: June 11, 2006, 08:40:16 PM »
QUOTE(LR827 @ Jun 11 2006, 12:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Gregg.  Leave the poetry to Dick, okay?


I will if you will... wink2.gif

Hmm....
Could bad poetry be the reason Handy Andy went out of business?
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Ya gotta applaud those bunnies for sacrificing their hearing just so some guy in Cupertino can have better TV reception.
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