MikeTech

Pre-release for the HP Vectra video!

Despite a multitude of distractions this week (holiday, birthdays), the Vectra video is done! Still not done with the thumbnail or timestamps though. These have become some of my favorite systems in recent years since acquiring my Pentium Pro-powered Vectra VA. '90s HP quality! Hope you enjoy! https://www.youtube.co...

The HP Vectra systems have been on my mind…

It’s high time I give these HP Vectra systems the attention they deserve… The Vectra line of systems are among my favorite enterprise workstations from this time period. The system on top is one that’s been in my collection for about 5 years now. No functionality issues at all, but it is due for a refresh. Also, I’m dying to show its absolute behemoth of a CPU: The Intel Pentium Pro! It...

Pre-release for the Bubble Systems video!

Well my on-call week came early... I switched with someone to free up the weekend that VCF Southeast falls on. This week has been... Eventful... For that reason this video is shorter than usual. However, at least it's done! Not gonna let 6 evening PROD deployments de-rail my upload schedule! Decided to take a look at some of these post-beige systems, affectionately called bubble systems! I just...

Pre-release for the 'mystery towers' video!

Not knowing the contents of these systems has been driving me slightly mad... Time to remedy that! These are all either custom builds or products from some small-time system builders. The free-time struggle is real, so I haven't finished the thumbnail or timestamps yet. Luckily I got the video completed though! It was nearly my first late video as work has been intense this week...

Oh BTW...

Pre-release for the (first) Dell video!

Since we looked at Compaq systems last week, I figured we'd look at some of the Dells in this haul. This is another video that came down to the wire, but I'm glad to be releasing it on-time! Still not done with the thumbnail or timestamps yet, but wanted to get this out to you. Warning: May contain references to certain early 2000s commercials... Hope you enjoy!

2023-06-16 00:34:40 +0000 UTC View Post

People really love Compaq systems!

I'm pretty surprised at how strong the Compaq video is performing! Seems these systems are special to quite a lot of people. Have to admit I was a bit nervous about this one, but so glad to see it's actually doing well and bringing in new subscribers! Here's some screenshots of the YouTube analytics for it. The first screenshot is a point-in-time comparison that shows how other videos performed...

Pre-release for the (first) Compaq video!

Well this week was pretty eventful, lots of work-related on-call stuff spilled over to this week... However, I'm fortunate to have completed this week's video on-time! Covering some of the Compaq systems from the haul. Compaq is certainly a favorite of mine, having owned so many of them back in the day. I've re-acquired two Compaq LTE-series laptops which I show during the outro of this video. ...

Pre-release for the mystery pizza-box systems video

Haven't finished the thumbnail or timestamps yet, but very happy to have gotten this one done on-time despite this week's time challenges! There were MANY treasures in these systems, but I don't want to spoil it. Hope you enjoy! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myZfSdJO7Ig

Checking out these custom or obscure desktops next!

These are some of the systems that have been driving me mad with curiosity. Not knowing what’s inside is killing me. Time to remedy that! Going to be a tough one time-wise. This is a short week for me due to going away for Memorial Day Weekend. It’s also my on-call week (booo). Going to try real hard to have this one ready on-time!

Pre-release for the (first) laptop video!

By the way, I'm making a laptop video! Normally I make a post about a week in advance on what I'm working on, but still wasn't sure if this video was even going to be about these particular systems. There are certainly some other promising laptop candidates, including a troubled Compaq LTE Elite 4/75CX from my pre-haul collection. So here's the first of what will be many laptop videos. Hope you...

Pre-release for the Unusual Towers video!

This one about broke me time-wise, but fortunately it's ready in-time for Friday release! I don't even have the thumbnail yet. Haven't even taken the picture but I wanted to get this out to you. It's a long one... I'll start adding chapter marks after I finish the thumbnail. Finally pushed over the 1-hour mark, so we'll see how that goes... Let me know what you think! Thanks!!

2023-05-19 02:38:11 +0000 UTC View Post

Looking at some of the more unusual towers from the haul

I had planned a laptop video for next week, but it hasn’t quite come together yet. Going to be tearing into some of the more unusual towers from the haul instead. From left to right: an HP NetServer E60, a Micron Millenia Mme (yes, THAT Micron!), an NEC Ready 7022 and a Canon MT 6000. Who knew Micron and Canon were making PCs in the ‘90s? I sure didn’t! I suspect the Micron Millenia is ju...

Pre-release for the Gateway 2000 video!

I ended up dropping down to just the desktop Gateway 2000 systems due to time constraints. However, there are plenty more Gateway systems to cover, so the tower's time will come. Let me know what you think! Thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6OIMimCtpI

If the next video is delayed, here's who to blame!

Apparently laptops are competition...

Time to wrangle some Gateways!

Starting on the first batch of Gateway systems. Three Gateway 2000s and one LP Select mini-tower. It seems that many people are quite fond of Gateway systems and it's no surprise given how ubiquitous they once were. Gateways provided many people with their first computing experiences thanks to their comparatively low price. I probably have more Gateways in this lot than any other brand of syste...

Deleted scene of the Maxtor spin-up

[VOLUME WARNING] I cut this part because I felt like the viewers might be annoyed by the noise at that point. Here's what the Maxtor drive is doing when it's improvising Tom Morello. Seems like it's not detecting when it's at the edge of the disk. Maybe there's hope for it yet?

Pre-release for the video covering some of my oldest systems.

Well, I couldn't manage to fit five systems in this video, but certainly found some gems in the systems I did cover! These are some of the oldest systems from the Franklin eWaste haul. Going back to the mid-80s! Wanted to get these opened up due to potentially leaky batteries. Glad I got this done in time... Hope you enjoy! https:...

Hard at work on the next one!

Let’s see if I can get FIVE systems in this one! Trying to prioritize the older systems which might potentially have leaky batteries. It’s been a lot of fun so far!

Pre-release for the IBM PS/1 and PS/2 teardown video!

Well this was a tough one, but fortunately I've got it finished before the weekend! Tearing down and testing the IBM PS/1 and PS/2 from the Franklin eWaste haul. Also decided to throw my darling PS/1 from my personal collection in the mix, because we had to borrow its monitor. Experimenting with some different camera angles in this video, so please let me know what you think! Thanks!

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I built a wood thing!

Trying to get a feel for Patreon as a video platform, so I made a quick video of me bumbling through a small wood-working project today. I've been struggling with finding a good angle for the computer cases while shooting video and working on them at the same time. Hopefully this wood thing will fix that! Sorry for the gym-bro attire, but it's already over 80°F here in Florida. Hope this video...

Pre-release for the Retro Giants video!

This was a tough one to get done due to this being my on-call week at work, but I'm very pleased to be able to release this video in time for the weekend! This is the second batch of systems from the massive Franlkin eWaste haul. Let me know what you think! Thanks!!

https://youtu.be/vct5Rqphtww

The Giants!

I’ve started shooting the next video, which covers these positively ginormous AT and ATX towers. They’re nearly 24 inches or 61 centimeters tall! Baby AT for scale. Getting these massive things in-frame has been interesting… I can’t wait to see what that Yamaha AX44 is all about!

Pre-release for the Baby AT video!

At last, I'm finished editing. This is the first batch of systems from the massive Franklin eWaste haul. Let me know what you think! Thanks!!

https://youtu.be/JwAGY4v8ka4

Greetings from the garage!

I’m about 70% done with shooting the first video on the contents of this massive lot. I’ve started with the baby AT systems! I’m hoping to have everything shot and edited for release this weekend!

Pre-release for the video of this weekend's adventure!

I hope this is the kind of madness that you're here for. Let me know what you think! Thanks!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCOw8Rt0WnY

This is what normal people do right? Right???

Greetings fine patrons! I’m here to report that I do in-fact have a problem! I stumbled upon this collection of over 200 retro desktops and laptops… and I bought every single one of them! Drove 7 hours, grabbed a U-Haul, now I’m 6 hours into the return trip. It’s safe to say I’ll have plenty of content coming!!

Hello and thanks for your support!

I can barely put to words how grateful I am for all of your support! I’m still pretty new to this, so please feel free to let me know what kind of patron-only content you want to see! I’m in the process of overhauling my computer room to add more desk and display space, so I will definitely be posting progress updates and finally a tour of it once it’s finished and populated with treasure...