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Thread: old tech

  1. #1
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    Default old tech

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    which I was given as a present [second-hand]

    it has been given, and still gets, a lot of use - every few years, as today, it needs taking apart and cleaning and piece of sellotape at top left second pic replacing [that is old tech ]

    so what is it - not difficult I'm thinking... but bonus points for the make....and the year of manufacture [give or take a couple]
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  2. #2
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    Default Re: old tech

    Frankly I'm puzzled, handrawn, i was thinking it could be a calculator but the speaker doesn't seem right for that. then I thought it could be an electronic dictionary, or game. If it is a calculator I have no idea which one.(certainly not a TI) none of the ones I owned do not make a beep or any other kind of sound.
    Larry a.k.a wizard509

    Never give up. You will never fail, but you may find a lot of ways that don't work.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: old tech

    I would hazard a guess at Othello/Reversi around 1986, made by Digital.

    Acorn
    Acorn - installed Xara software: Cloud+/Pro+ and most others back through time (to CC's Artworks). Contact for technical remediation/consultancy for your web designs.
    When we provide assistance, your responses are valuable as they benefit the community. TG Nuggets you might like. Report faults: Xara Cloud+/Pro+/Magix Legacy; Xara KB & Chat

  4. #4
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    Default Re: old tech

    It looks like it might have an 8 x 8 grid. Is it some kind of pocket chess game?
    Jon (Jono) Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 19.0.0.64329 DL x64 May 19 2022

  5. #5
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    Default Re: old tech

    or game
    that it is larry

    Othello/Reversi around 1986, made by Digital
    spot on with the date, but Othello/Reversi it is not

    Is it some kind of pocket chess game?
    have a cigar Jono [you don't need to smoke it]...

    anyone any idea of the make.....
    Last edited by handrawn; 04 May 2019 at 03:25 PM. Reason: dyslex
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  6. #6
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    Default Re: old tech

    1986 Kasparov Pocket Chess Electronic Computer Game


    it was the 12 switches for the type of chess piece that threw me - I miscounted!
    The two banks of LED paired pins is the clincher.

    I recall a very techie training course in 1984 where we were given parts of PCBs to determine original function.
    I think I even played against the beast in a shop in Gloucester and won. I thereafter shunned all computer games as not up to much.

    Acorn
    Acorn - installed Xara software: Cloud+/Pro+ and most others back through time (to CC's Artworks). Contact for technical remediation/consultancy for your web designs.
    When we provide assistance, your responses are valuable as they benefit the community. TG Nuggets you might like. Report faults: Xara Cloud+/Pro+/Magix Legacy; Xara KB & Chat

  7. #7
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    Default Re: old tech

    model is spot on.... but we still need the make... and as it's you, the chip number ....
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  8. #8
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    Default Re: old tech

    OK.

    Saitek Karparov MK 14 coach or SciSys Pocket Chess Model No. 114.


    Chip is HD44868 with 5 kBytes ROM & 80 Bytes of RAM:

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    Hard to work out but I think your Serial # is A18345.

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    Acorn
    Acorn - installed Xara software: Cloud+/Pro+ and most others back through time (to CC's Artworks). Contact for technical remediation/consultancy for your web designs.
    When we provide assistance, your responses are valuable as they benefit the community. TG Nuggets you might like. Report faults: Xara Cloud+/Pro+/Magix Legacy; Xara KB & Chat

  9. #9
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    Default Re: old tech

    almost a full house there, but as you say serial number not easy to guess...


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    the top label that has mostly worn away was the QA: 'PASS OK'

    I am impressed by how long it has lasted, the icons above the button strip have faded [and btw the photo above is pre-clean ], but the strip itself [neoprene?] is as good as new and apart from a slight crack in the cover it is fine - not bad for what I understand was 250 Fr when new and when such things were not cheap and this would have been an inexpensive model

    I really like this device because on a challenging setting it can take hours to decide a move, so I am not tied to it when I should be doing other things; also I find it easier to think the move patterns as opposed to a flat screen [2 or 3D]

    I understand that the program on the chip is by Julio Kaplan, but i have no verification of this...
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  10. #10
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    Default Re: old tech

    http://www.spacious-mind.com/html/pocket_chess.html

    What is fascinating is the shear volume of designs that erupted all in a decade.

    Glad you still enjoy it,
    Acorn
    Acorn - installed Xara software: Cloud+/Pro+ and most others back through time (to CC's Artworks). Contact for technical remediation/consultancy for your web designs.
    When we provide assistance, your responses are valuable as they benefit the community. TG Nuggets you might like. Report faults: Xara Cloud+/Pro+/Magix Legacy; Xara KB & Chat

 

 

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