Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Packard Bell sold Designer Color Panels for their computers in Frog Design* cases. (* I think this is/was an industrial design company that designed the cases and/or design language.)
I wish I could tell you how much they cost, or which retailers sold them. But I think I've found which colors they were available in, thanks to an old Tom's Hardware forum post: "an off red, a grey, a blue teal and a blue".
And I wish I had actually seen them in person... until now, where I've managed to acquire a Packard Bell Pack-Mate 3987CD computer with the red color panels. Don't adjust your YouTube set!
Let's see what other mysteries lurk inside this otherwise boring beige box from a boring big box department store (or not-so-boring electronics store) of the mid-to-late 90's.
What processor is inside? How much RAM has been installed? Will it POST? You'll have to watch to find out!
*
Links for following along:
Packard Bell Manual with reference (see page 5-1): archive.org/details/packard-bell-20CD-manual
Tom's Hardware forum post: forums.tomshardware.com/threads/another-question-where-to-get-color-accents-for-pb-comp.10190/post-45306
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/jdmcs
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📦 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
Packard Bell sold Designer Color Panels for their computers in Frog Design* cases. (* I think this is/was an industrial design company that designed the cases and/or design language.)
I wish I could tell you how much they cost, or which retailers sold them. But I think I've found which colors they were available in, thanks to an old Tom's Hardware forum post: "an off red, a grey, a blue teal and a blue".
And I wish I had actually seen them in person... until now, where I've managed to acquire a Packard Bell Pack-Mate 3987CD computer with the red color panels. Don't adjust your YouTube set!
Let's see what other mysteries lurk inside this otherwise boring beige box from a boring big box department store (or not-so-boring electronics store) of the mid-to-late 90's.
What processor is inside? How much RAM has been installed? Will it POST? You'll have to watch to find out!
*
Links for following along:
Packard Bell Manual with reference (see page 5-1): archive.org/details/packard-bell-20CD-manual
Tom's Hardware forum post: forums.tomshardware.com/threads/another-question-where-to-get-color-accents-for-pb-comp.10190/post-45306
*
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
![COMPUTER Repair: My MCA Apple ][+ Clone Needs a Power Supply & 3 Sockets! (Computerized Start™ Live)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q80ly9p4EhY/mqdefault.jpg "COMPUTER Repair: My MCA Apple ][+ Clone Needs a Power Supply & 3 Sockets! (Computerized Start™ Live)
Back in September, I got COMPUTER, my Apple ][+ clone from MCA of Japan, powering up to the BASIC prompt. To do so, however, I had to disconnect the keyboard and use another Apples power supply. I think I have what I need to solve both problems.
The power supply was easy: just buy another power supply on eBay (the place where I buy the things I later regret™). I have a cap kit on-hand, thanks to the magic of buying the wrong kit for another project, so well go ahead and recap it.
The keyboard might be even easier: I should have used sockets without a lip for the three sockets that have cables installed into them: the keyboard, the joystick/paddle port, and the memory chip at E3. I purchased some sockets that should fit the cables that go into these sockets, allowing the cables to make and maintain good contact.
Will I get the power supply re-capped without drama? Will I swap the correct three sockets? Will COMPUTER still boot? 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")
![Its COMPUTER Week: More Sockets, More Mooing for My MCA Apple ][+ Clone (Computerized Start™ Live)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QeiCKQ_OVgQ/mqdefault.jpg "Its COMPUTER Week: More Sockets, More Mooing for My MCA Apple ][+ Clone (Computerized Start™ Live)
This description will be updated after Tuesdays stream...
*
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")
