So I Bought Those Weird New AliExpress Retro PCs
video description
Date: 2023-06-16
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 19
fanjoy
what I think a lot of people don't realize, is that a lot of the world uses a combination of old/new tech to make up to the lack of practical chip manufacturing for less industrialized nations. Countries like Ghana and for some reason Bulgaria have made hundreds of thousands of these things, they just normally don't see a lot of traffic outside of their relative need areas. Housing for these computers cost pennies and allow for increasingly online business transactions to happen in these countries. A lot of the software is just literally, whatever is on hand, China is just getting into this market now and selling them in the US for some reason.
reply
what I think a lot of people don't realize, is that a lot of the world uses a combination of old/new tech to make up to the lack of practical chip manufacturing for less industrialized nations. Countries like Ghana and for some reason Bulgaria have made hundreds of thousands of these things, they just normally don't see a lot of traffic outside of their relative need areas. Housing for these computers cost pennies and allow for increasingly online business transactions to happen in these countries. A lot of the software is just literally, whatever is on hand, China is just getting into this market now and selling them in the US for some reason.
reply
Scooter
I think the 8088 is the most interesting, but also the most tragic. The screen and keyboard are clearly justy whatever the guy had on hand rather than anything purpose built. A proper build would include a proper keyboard, not just whatever the builder had available, and they'd have proper ports and controls. As you said, it's an interesting proof of concept, but that's all it is. If this was closer to the two vintage clamshell PCs you showed at the end, I think this would really scratch that itch for a lot of people. But as it is, it seems like it's just a cute novelty that never asked if it should be done (just because it could be.
reply
I think the 8088 is the most interesting, but also the most tragic. The screen and keyboard are clearly justy whatever the guy had on hand rather than anything purpose built. A proper build would include a proper keyboard, not just whatever the builder had available, and they'd have proper ports and controls. As you said, it's an interesting proof of concept, but that's all it is. If this was closer to the two vintage clamshell PCs you showed at the end, I think this would really scratch that itch for a lot of people. But as it is, it seems like it's just a cute novelty that never asked if it should be done (just because it could be.
reply
Soulless
I think that this is just too sketchy. With the stolen BIOS and such. Also, I'm not a fan of 386s.
A better 486, with an overdrive, or something, can run you all the good stuff you want. Like Doom for example. Maybe even Duke 3D.
But the 386 is overequipped for the 80s stuff and underequipped for the best mid to late 90s stuff. It's in that weird limbo, on its own, not doing anything spectacular.
Also, the lack of I/O and ports, and running Windows 95? Doesn't scream a great retro package to buy to me. I'd rather convert a laptop from IBM to run Windows 98.
reply
I think that this is just too sketchy. With the stolen BIOS and such. Also, I'm not a fan of 386s.
A better 486, with an overdrive, or something, can run you all the good stuff you want. Like Doom for example. Maybe even Duke 3D.
But the 386 is overequipped for the 80s stuff and underequipped for the best mid to late 90s stuff. It's in that weird limbo, on its own, not doing anything spectacular.
Also, the lack of I/O and ports, and running Windows 95? Doesn't scream a great retro package to buy to me. I'd rather convert a laptop from IBM to run Windows 98.
reply
segamanxero
I also purchased one of these, the book8088 with the isa expansion and Yamaha sound card specifically. I reached out to the seller about the dim display and got the same message about swapping the SMD resistor. I do solder but usually through hole components. Only recently have started doing stuff with SMD stuff, even then I am using a regular soldering soldering iron with a tiny tip. I will eventually swap the resistor on my end when I order a reel or sample book of misc smd resistors.
reply
I also purchased one of these, the book8088 with the isa expansion and Yamaha sound card specifically. I reached out to the seller about the dim display and got the same message about swapping the SMD resistor. I do solder but usually through hole components. Only recently have started doing stuff with SMD stuff, even then I am using a regular soldering soldering iron with a tiny tip. I will eventually swap the resistor on my end when I order a reel or sample book of misc smd resistors.
reply
Never
I ve been working on making a 6502-based Laptop just like that 8088 machine since October!
Although. Mine has a LOT more options than the 8088 one here. like 2 serial, keyboard/mouse, VGA, Parallel, and a 50-pin DSub port for my own expansion stuff
I DO like the access ports for the CPU, although I have a few cooling options I ve been debating on, which won t allow for a cool access port like that
reply
I ve been working on making a 6502-based Laptop just like that 8088 machine since October!
Although. Mine has a LOT more options than the 8088 one here. like 2 serial, keyboard/mouse, VGA, Parallel, and a 50-pin DSub port for my own expansion stuff
I DO like the access ports for the CPU, although I have a few cooling options I ve been debating on, which won t allow for a cool access port like that
reply
txcforever
I was thinking of solutions like this for my retro needs until I reached the exact same conclusion by then. Why not just look for a decent laptop from that age that can play the games I care about (mosty late 90s/early to mid 2000s) instead of wasting time experimenting with modern hardware or weird devices like the ones in the video? Which is exactly what I did.
reply
I was thinking of solutions like this for my retro needs until I reached the exact same conclusion by then. Why not just look for a decent laptop from that age that can play the games I care about (mosty late 90s/early to mid 2000s) instead of wasting time experimenting with modern hardware or weird devices like the ones in the video? Which is exactly what I did.
reply
tcnymex
I have an HP 95lx, anHP 100lx, and an HP 200 LX (1 & 2vmegabyte ram pc dos pocketables) I have seen the video where some guy soldered a raspberry pi w into an old HP 95lx. Alas i have no soldering skills, but i would love a low end winintel/linux computer in something as pocketable as the old HPlx machines. anybody know where I can find one?
reply
I have an HP 95lx, anHP 100lx, and an HP 200 LX (1 & 2vmegabyte ram pc dos pocketables) I have seen the video where some guy soldered a raspberry pi w into an old HP 95lx. Alas i have no soldering skills, but i would love a low end winintel/linux computer in something as pocketable as the old HPlx machines. anybody know where I can find one?
reply
Steve
i purchased both and i'm wondering if i can flash the original BIOS from Serge on the Book 8088 and still use the hot keys for speed switch and whatnot. The lack of I/O is a huge limit as i didn't purchase the optional 8bit dock. Someone needs to design a compatible NIC that will plop into the expansion on the side for network stuffs. :)
reply
i purchased both and i'm wondering if i can flash the original BIOS from Serge on the Book 8088 and still use the hot keys for speed switch and whatnot. The lack of I/O is a huge limit as i didn't purchase the optional 8bit dock. Someone needs to design a compatible NIC that will plop into the expansion on the side for network stuffs. :)
reply
DoctorX17
Interesting big shame about the poor handling of the software licenses. Definitely agree the choice of 95 on the hand is weird with the lack of mouse input.
One of the nice things is if you get a vintage machine that you like, you can adapt a lithium ion battery to run what used to be NiCAD or NiMH safely.
reply
Interesting big shame about the poor handling of the software licenses. Definitely agree the choice of 95 on the hand is weird with the lack of mouse input.
One of the nice things is if you get a vintage machine that you like, you can adapt a lithium ion battery to run what used to be NiCAD or NiMH safely.
reply
Axel
They're neat toys but it seems that the usability was compromised a bit too much for the sake of portability, specially on the 386 one. If you have to plug an external keyboard just to be able to type without going insane then what's the point of making it so small?
reply
They're neat toys but it seems that the usability was compromised a bit too much for the sake of portability, specially on the 386 one. If you have to plug an external keyboard just to be able to type without going insane then what's the point of making it so small?
reply
Jeffmetal
I understand maybe 1% of anything you ever talk about but have been subbed for what has to be close to 10 years now. I always enjoy your content output, you have a knack for making topics/videos interesting for ppl who know nothing about old/new tech. Cheers!
reply
I understand maybe 1% of anything you ever talk about but have been subbed for what has to be close to 10 years now. I always enjoy your content output, you have a knack for making topics/videos interesting for ppl who know nothing about old/new tech. Cheers!
reply
KRAFTWERK2K6
These things are nice but WHY the fff. would you want 16: 9 screens on retro DOS PCs? >_> And where are the I/O ports like Serial, for using old PC mice or joysticks? The basic idea is great but the execution is really not all that well thought out.
reply
These things are nice but WHY the fff. would you want 16: 9 screens on retro DOS PCs? >_> And where are the I/O ports like Serial, for using old PC mice or joysticks? The basic idea is great but the execution is really not all that well thought out.
reply
davidinark
I ve avoided watching videos about these until now. So glad I watched yours first: honest, hold no punches. At least it wasn t TOO bad of a waste of money. Hopefully, you ll earn that back with the revenue generated from the video itself
reply
I ve avoided watching videos about these until now. So glad I watched yours first: honest, hold no punches. At least it wasn t TOO bad of a waste of money. Hopefully, you ll earn that back with the revenue generated from the video itself
reply
J-Tech
I was hoping you'd cover these eventually! My hope is someone else does these concepts just a bit cleaner. That, or someone finds a way to mod systems like the Libretto with modern screens and batteries, like we've seen in the Gameboy space.
reply
I was hoping you'd cover these eventually! My hope is someone else does these concepts just a bit cleaner. That, or someone finds a way to mod systems like the Libretto with modern screens and batteries, like we've seen in the Gameboy space.
reply
DarkestVampire92
Honestly, given that the Book 8088 is held together with phillips screws and made from off the shelf components, i imagine swapping the terrible screen for a better one is a piece of cake. 7 Inch displays are a dime a dozen, too.
reply
Honestly, given that the Book 8088 is held together with phillips screws and made from off the shelf components, i imagine swapping the terrible screen for a better one is a piece of cake. 7 Inch displays are a dime a dozen, too.
reply
Girth
I'm kind of shocked there isn't more modular kits that use these old legacy/machine tool parts that are still being produced. It seems like some kind of cottage industry you could easily start making tiny DOS PCs for old games like that.
reply
I'm kind of shocked there isn't more modular kits that use these old legacy/machine tool parts that are still being produced. It seems like some kind of cottage industry you could easily start making tiny DOS PCs for old games like that.
reply
RightHandReaper
LGR, Techmoan, and the Why Files are some of the things I look forward to most each week. Rare and unlikely gems. The vids are ALWAYS over too soon, no matter the length. Never stop Clint, you rock bro. Gob bless you!
reply
LGR, Techmoan, and the Why Files are some of the things I look forward to most each week. Rare and unlikely gems. The vids are ALWAYS over too soon, no matter the length. Never stop Clint, you rock bro. Gob bless you!
reply
uncle
What a piece of shit. That's my comment. The screen is horrible and if you really have to use the keys to operate win 95 then that's a tragedy as well. I'm glad you paid for this because I would be mad this was even for sale.
reply
What a piece of shit. That's my comment. The screen is horrible and if you really have to use the keys to operate win 95 then that's a tragedy as well. I'm glad you paid for this because I would be mad this was even for sale.
reply
Ken
I both love and hate these-love that they work as they should in most respects for retro computers, but hate they're missing like, most basic ports PCs had at that time and the absolutely terrible useability experience overall.
reply
I both love and hate these-love that they work as they should in most respects for retro computers, but hate they're missing like, most basic ports PCs had at that time and the absolutely terrible useability experience overall.
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
