Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
@JVHShack found a Marketplace deal on one of the vintage computing groups: a pair of free Macintosh Plus computers. One of them has what appears to be a Radius video card installed. The other probably does not (due to a lack of cables sticking out) but is unexplored.
The only hitch: the computers were located near Williamsburg and Yorktown, part of the "Historic Triangle" of Virginia (the third point of the triangle being Jamestown, but I digress...) And this past weekend was Labor Day weekend, meaning extra traffic from travelers wanting to get one more weekend of vacation in. After all, one of Virginia's two theme parks is located in Williamsburg.
The seller also had an item listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace, which I successfully negotiated for.
Are there any additional hidden goods in either Mac Plus? Will they work? And what item did I buy? You'll have to watch to find out!
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: jdmcs.net/myinstagram
Follow me on Twitter: jdmcs.net/mytwitter
@JVHShack found a Marketplace deal on one of the vintage computing groups: a pair of free Macintosh Plus computers. One of them has what appears to be a Radius video card installed. The other probably does not (due to a lack of cables sticking out) but is unexplored.
The only hitch: the computers were located near Williamsburg and Yorktown, part of the "Historic Triangle" of Virginia (the third point of the triangle being Jamestown, but I digress...) And this past weekend was Labor Day weekend, meaning extra traffic from travelers wanting to get one more weekend of vacation in. After all, one of Virginia's two theme parks is located in Williamsburg.
The seller also had an item listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace, which I successfully negotiated for.
Are there any additional hidden goods in either Mac Plus? Will they work? And what item did I buy? You'll have to watch to find out!
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: jdmcs.net/myinstagram
Follow me on Twitter: jdmcs.net/mytwitter
![This Apple ][ Plus Clone Seems SUS... #vintagecomputing](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FYu2PFcMUts/mqdefault.jpg "This Apple ][ Plus Clone Seems SUS... #vintagecomputing
I have @adriansdigitalbasements Dead Test and a Character ROM installed, and something still seems SUS with the Apple ][ Plus clone motherboard I bought on eBay.")
![Its COMPUTER Week: Replacing All the Sockets in My MCA Apple ][+ Clone (Computerized Start™ Live)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FhiYmRam4-I/mqdefault.jpg "Its COMPUTER Week: Replacing All the Sockets in My MCA Apple ][+ Clone (Computerized Start™ Live)
Last time I had COMPUTER on the bench, I had trouble with the IC sockets that I had bought for the job. Specifically, those sockets have a tendency to let solder wick up into the contacts (especially when using extra flux), rendering the socket useless. I believe that is because some of those sockets dont have sealed bottoms.
COMPUTER has been waiting patiently for another day in the spotlight. That time is this week, as I now have a supply of name-brand sockets for COMPUTER. And the data sheets for all the sockets I bought specifically mention sealed bottom construction. Hopefully this means I can use extra flux when needed.
Will the name-brand sockets work as described, or will I get solder in the contacts? Will I cause even more trace damage? Will Clarus the Desoldering Station hold out? Youll have to watch to find out!
*
Use discount code JUSTINTIME for for 5% off all Computerized Start™ merchandise at https://shop.jdmcs.com.
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: https://jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: https://jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: https://jdmcs.net/myinstagram
Follow me on Twitter: https://jdmcs.net/mytwitter")
![COMPUTER Mission: Possible... My MCA Apple ][+ Clone is Close to Working! (Computerized Start™ Live)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GS9Z20oby5Q/mqdefault.jpg "COMPUTER Mission: Possible... My MCA Apple ][+ Clone is Close to Working! (Computerized Start™ Live)
Last week, I finished installing new sockets into COMPUTER, my MCA Apple ][+ Clone, and then put all the logic chips back into place. I thought it would just power up, and it did, but it looked like the processor was not running code.
I put a modified Applesoft ROM Card into the system, which is hard-wired to boot Adrian Blacks memory test ROM, and the memory test did start to run. However, it would always crash soon thereafter. Seems like theres a problem in the memory section of the motherboard...
Thanks to having a second clone motherboard which is in working condition, I have a motherboard to test the RAM chips in to make sure they are all good. I can also check the chips responsible for addressing and accessing memory - one or more may be bad. But most importantly, this feels like Mission: Possible at this point!
Will COMPUTER boot? How many more bad chips will I add to the collection of bad chips from COMPUTER? Will I get to play a game? Youll have to watch to find out!
*
Use discount code JUSTINTIME for for 5% off all Computerized Start™ merchandise at https://shop.jdmcs.com.
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: https://jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: https://jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: https://jdmcs.net/myinstagram
Follow me on Twitter: https://jdmcs.net/mytwitter")
