Pre-Built Systems (2022-09-21)

brook > pcs > prebuilt

I also own(ed) some computers that were made to order.

Gone

PC5011

A Sony Vaio Z2 (VPC Z2 190X) that I purchased in August 2011. The laptop itself is ultraportable, but has a Light Peak port that connects to a dock with dedicated GPU and Blu-Ray drive. What I thought was a fantastic concept - being able to purchase upgraded Power Media Docks for better graphics - ended up not being a thing. But, it's a good machine that I'm still using after over a decade (and six address changes).

Components (Standalone)

CPU: Intel Core i5 2540M (2.6GHz)

RAM: 8GB DDR3

GPU: Intel HD3000 (1GB)

Audio: Realtek HD

LCD: 13.1" 1920x1080 plus VGA and HDMI outputs

OS: Windows 7 SP1 Professional

Components (Docked)

CPU: Intel Core i5 2540M (3.3GHz)

GPU: Radeon HD6650M (1GB DDR3) with extra VGA and HDMI outputs

Windows Experience Index: 5.9 (Desktop graphics bottleneck)

Drives

A: Sony 2x Speed FDD (USB)

C: 128GB (64GBx2 RAID0) SSD

D: BD-ROM Drive (Power Media Dock)

E: SDXC card slot

F: Sandisk MobileMate MS+ (USB Full-size Memory Stick reader)

G: MSPD card slot

MAC-X4

A few years ago, I started getting into the Apple side of technology, and decided to pick up a PowerPC G3/600 iBook to dual-boot OS X and OS 9 on. The seller decided to send me a G4 that can only run Tiger. But, y'know, whatever; won't complain about more RAM and an AirPort Extreme card.

iBook G4 A1054 (Late 2004)

CPU: PowerPC G4 (1.2GHz)

RAM: 512MB

HDD: 30GB

LCD: 12" 1024x768

SuperDrive

USB LS-120 SuperDisk (Shared via KVM)

OS: Mac OS X Tiger (10.4.11)

When I got the laptop, the magnetic latch was a bit bent out of shape. I tried to bend it back but ended up breaking it off. Turning it on, OS X had been factory restored, and had no web browser, so I had to open a terminal window and download an old version of Opera (before arc.opera.com was purged). Then, I was able to download some files to get Classic emulation working.

PC5003

A thin client. I was initially going to try running a BBS on it.

Future Acquisitions

As stated on my Tech Wishlist, I'd like to also have some sort of Tandy for 1980s DOS computering, a Color Classic (or equivalent) for early-90s Maccing and Apple II games, and a few others for the ace thetics.

When it comes to modern computers, I'd prefer to try building my own. Though it was briefly tempting to consider a Corsair One or ASUS Flow Z13.

Listen to "Frank Klepacki - Darkmoor Swamp" on YouTube?