Unusual computer items?

[Rorshach]

Greetings Everyone,

What was the most unusual thing you'd seen or used from times gone past? One I remember to this day was HAWS which I saw advertised in Computes Gazette. It came in two parts, one plugged into 64 or Vic20 I think it was and the other went outside. The outdoor section was a set of weather sensors inside a single casing. The other section was of course the interface. It was like having a mini weather station for a Commodore 8bit system. I had always wanted one but never owned one.

Another item I did have was a Spartan from mimic systems. This as you probably remember was an Apple II+ add on for a 64, it connected to the back of the 64 and Apple II+ peripherals and internal cards could be added. It allowed the user to switch between apple II and 64. Some things such as the keyboard, video out and cassette interfaces could be switched between the 64 and Apple II sides.

[RobertB]

     If I can find it in the pile of stuff, it was the pair of carts that let you control a laser light show from the Commodore 64.  I showed it to Jeri Ellsworth once, but I bemoaned the fact that it would cost nearly $1,000 to get the proper lasers and mechanisms.  Engineer Dale Luck said that he would help me out in scrounging those parts, but I never got any farther in the project.

                Truly,
                Robert Bernardo
                Fresno Commodore User Group
                http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                July 25-26 Commodore Vegas Expo - http://www.commodore.ca/forum
                and click on ComVEX

[Rorshach]

RobertB,

If you make it to toronto sometime we must visit Active Surplus. It is a good surplus electronics and machinery store now on a second floor on queen street downtown. They have a lot of unusual parts some of which could be used for that project.

[RobertB]

     Hmm, thanks for the invite! 

                       Truly,
                       Robert Bernardo
                       Fresno Commodore User Group
                       http://videocam.net.au/fcug
                       July 25-26 Commodore Vegas Expo - http://www.commodore.ca/forum
                       and click on ComVEX

[Paul]

I remember an exercise system that connected to a Commodore 64.  The ad depicted a woman, in typical 80's spandex and ankle warmers, using some sort of pull mechanism connected to the Commodore 64's cartridge port, with some building or something displayed on the screen.

Crap, now I'll have to look through my old Compute magazines, unless someone here can help me with this one.