Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The IBM Personal Computer, aka the Model 5150, literally started the PC revolution. The IBM PC launched in 1981, and according to Wikipedia, "started at $1,565 for a configuration with 16 KB RAM, Color Graphics Adapter, keyboard, and no disk drives." Fortunately mine is better equipped, likely shipping from IBM with 64KB-256KB of RAM and at least one floppy drive. (I can't tell if some of the RAM in mine was installed after shipping, or had bad RAM replaced after purchase.)
And someone go some good use out of this 5150: it has a third-party CGA card (possibly to get an extra parallel port without taking up a separate slot), an AST SixPackPlus card, and a Miniscribe hard card.
When this computer had its Wheel of Regrets™ debut, it threw a double temper tantalum on power up. (And yes, I tested for shorts first - there were none.) One tantalum on the motherboard and one tantalum on a floppy drive both contributed to the smoke show. I'm glad I was behind my "blast shield" and wearing my nerdy safety glasses!
Tonight, after a Wheel of Regrets™ reveal that we can test in the 5150, we are going to clean and recap the Tandon floppy drive I bought from L&Y Electronics a year or two ago. Why am I starting with this drive? It's partly due to wanting to validate the recap process and capacitor values before attempting the same on the original drives, and partly due to wanting to have a spare drive at the ready.
Did I order the correct capacitors? Will I get the floppy drive apart and back together again? Will the drive from L&Y Electronics even work? 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
The IBM Personal Computer, aka the Model 5150, literally started the PC revolution. The IBM PC launched in 1981, and according to Wikipedia, "started at $1,565 for a configuration with 16 KB RAM, Color Graphics Adapter, keyboard, and no disk drives." Fortunately mine is better equipped, likely shipping from IBM with 64KB-256KB of RAM and at least one floppy drive. (I can't tell if some of the RAM in mine was installed after shipping, or had bad RAM replaced after purchase.)
And someone go some good use out of this 5150: it has a third-party CGA card (possibly to get an extra parallel port without taking up a separate slot), an AST SixPackPlus card, and a Miniscribe hard card.
When this computer had its Wheel of Regrets™ debut, it threw a double temper tantalum on power up. (And yes, I tested for shorts first - there were none.) One tantalum on the motherboard and one tantalum on a floppy drive both contributed to the smoke show. I'm glad I was behind my "blast shield" and wearing my nerdy safety glasses!
Tonight, after a Wheel of Regrets™ reveal that we can test in the 5150, we are going to clean and recap the Tandon floppy drive I bought from L&Y Electronics a year or two ago. Why am I starting with this drive? It's partly due to wanting to validate the recap process and capacitor values before attempting the same on the original drives, and partly due to wanting to have a spare drive at the ready.
Did I order the correct capacitors? Will I get the floppy drive apart and back together again? Will the drive from L&Y Electronics even work? 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
![Fixing My Apple ][+ and COMPUTER Using eBay: Im Already Regretting It! (Computerized Start™ Live)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7E2_yCszJgg/mqdefault.jpg "Fixing My Apple ][+ and COMPUTER Using eBay: Im Already Regretting It! (Computerized Start™ Live)
YouTube started having ingest issues while I was doing the Wheel of Regrets! segment. This VOD resumes where Wheel of Regrets! left off in the first attempt: https://youtube.com/live/e2C_R8njKkQ
At least I cant blame my USB microphone this time around...
*
Ive launched a merch shop: https://shop.jdmcs.com - use code APPLEFOOLS for 7% off all April Apples merchandise through April 30th!
*
Adam sent me an Apple ][+ that needs repairs, and COMPUTER is suffering from bad 74LS-series chips. Can I fix both computers using eBay (the place where I buy things I later regret)? Maybe. But the more important question is, Will there be regrets along the way?
Will COMPUTER say COMPUTER again? Will the Apple ][+ say APPLE ][ again? Will all the parts even arrive in time for this stream? Youll have to watch to find out!
*
#AprilApples Event Logo concept and design by myself and is available at https://aprilapples.net for use with attribution when you create AprilApples content.
*
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")
