Date   : Tue, 25 Mar 2003 10:19:45 +0000
From   : Kate Kneebone <kate.kneebone@...>
Subject: BBC Micros, what else :)

Hi,

 I'm quite new to this list, I've been lurking for a few weeks now, so I 
hope I don't break any list rules with this post!  Anyway, I've just 
acquired a pair of BBC Bs from a friend, and I'm attempting to tidy one 
of them up to the point where it's a nice shiny example of beeb kind and 
I can play Repton 2 on it :)  The question is, which one do I do up!

 They both claim to have issue 7 boards, but other than that, they're 
quite different.  The one which is currently in the best cosmetic 
condition has a power supply made in the UK and yellow printing on the 
PCB, but no disc interface and looks like I remember Model Bs to look 
from my schooldays (I had an electron and a Master 128 at home).  The 
other one has a power supply made in Hong Kong, white printing on the 
board and an 8271 disc interface with Watford Electronics' DFS, and all 
the bits of disc interface other than the 8271 are soldered to the board 
(scuppering my attempt to move it to the other machine!).  Intriguingly 
this computer has a slightly different case from the other one, it's a 
different texture and has what looks like a space for an extra sticker 
on the bottom, on the other side from all the connectors to the normal 
sticker.  Unfortunately it's got marker pen on the lid too. It's also 
noisier than the other one, and hisses quite loudly when it's on.

At the moment, I've got the lid of the UK computer on the bottom half of 
the Hong Kong one.  This doesn't quite work as they're both different 
textures and the UK lid isn't yellowed but the Hong Kong base is!  I 
have a feeling that the UK machine is the better one.  I'm intending to 
order it a shiny new 1770 disc interface from the nice blokey at 8-bit 
software. However, I'd be interested in what expert BBC people think 
about the merits of the two machines.  Oh and any upgrades you think a 
really good Model B should have and where I can get them from would be 
interesting too; I handle all sorts of electronics at work, so hopefully 
a BBC micro shouldn't be *too* tricky to upgrade :)

Thanks!


Kate
(never thought I'd have a BBC lid in my washing up...)