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Good morning guys and welcome back to the ValorosoIT channel! What do we have here? It's a package that I ordered on eBay and it arrived after more than a month and a half late. I ordered it, it was supposed to arrive around March 14th, but it has arrived now, at the end of April! What did I order on eBay? I had seen this advert for a Commodore Plus/4.
So, the price was initially a little high, but, fortunately, the seller accepted my slightly higher proposal of half that value, so, in the end, the price became quite interesting. In general, you know that I'm not used to talking about prices, because very often you make comments like 'but if you told me I would give it to you for 25 euros, because I have seven in the cellar'. If you have seven in the cellar, you want to give it to me for 25 euros, I'll buy another one.
Don't worry, in fact, I'm also looking for a Commodore SX-64, the executive, and I'm also looking for the Commodore 116, so if you have them in the cellar to give for 25 euros, don't worry. I buy them without having to go on eBay to make obscene offers to foreign sellers. Moreover, yes, there was a good saving in buying it, but on the other hand the transport costs were quite high, because this computer comes from England and, after Brexit, in addition to transport you also pay import taxes, and this is not nice. The Commodore Plus 4 that you ordered is in the PAL version, tested and working. Despite this, after we open the package, we go to see if it really works. Every now and then, on eBay, you can find interesting offers, for example this one.
But, in reality, as you can see, it is a starting price and then there are always these blessed import taxes, which from England, now, will kill you. It's really a mess. In the end, I consider myself quite satisfied with the price I paid, also because, here in Italy, I couldn't find it at that price. I definitely found it at a higher price. Even looking on other websites, this was the best offer I found. Then it's a computer that I've wanted for a long time... in short, it cost what it cost! If you have one that costs less, I'll also buy a second one, don't worry, there's no problem, it's also the other computers I told you about before! Let's open the package and see what's inside, come on! So, the packaging and so-so, also because the package is a little soft, let's see you arrived intact.
So, generally I always ask the seller to leave some space between the edge of the computer and the box. In this case it was not done, even though I specifically asked for it. Why do I ask you to leave so much space between the computer and the edge of the box?
Because, if the box were to take... Actually, sorry, I said something stupid. Because, when the box takes a blow, because it certainly takes the blow on the outside, as there is more space, the blow is cushioned by chips, rather than bubble wrap, rather than other packaging elements. Rather than reaching directly, as in this case, it may have reached computers directly. Obviously we hope not. In this case the packaging is a negative point. Even if he gave me a discount (positive point) then the goods arrived a month and a half late (negative point) and the packaging... in short, it's a bit of a negative point! Furthermore, let's look closer, I would require the distance on all sides of the box, so this one, this one in short all the other two sides, but also the top and bottom. So, in reality, the box has six faces, space must be left on all six faces, which must then be filled with all the packaging elements and absorbents. Let's continue our unboxing, see what's inside.
Original Commodore power supply, with four-pin socket and plug, in this case, in English format. For me it's not a problem because I had bought the adapter which I then also used for the Commodore PET, this one, if you remember, I showed it to you when I bought the Commodore PET. You can also insert a 220 volt English socket, always 50 hertz. Let's take out the computer and open it!
The space underneath is also very little. The packaging is really weak, weak! So, luckily it's not a brick, so the seller was definitely honest and sent me what I ordered.
There doesn't appear to be any breakage. There is this dirt that was already visible on the advert, so, in short, it was something I was already ready for, I was expecting. Come on, we can try it! First I test the voltages of the power supply: we test them with the tester. After that, let's try connecting the computer to the TV to see if it really starts. I had already made a video on how to turn a computer back on after it has been turned off for many years. I'll go quickly here, I'll put the link in the description, so you can see it more calmly.
So, let's measure the supply voltage.
It started for a second but... So, the fuse blew as soon as I connected it so it doesn't look very promising. If he said it was tested and working, in theory, the fuse shouldn't blow right away. But let's change it. If it's just this, let's see what happens. We put the new one on.
So, now let's try the alternating (9VAC) first. Ok, 10 volts AC, here we go. Perfect. Now I move the two crocodiles below, to the DC (5VDC) and then we'll see if it starts.
Yes, perfect, luckily only the fuse broke, so the power supply works. Let's try connecting the computer to the TV and see if it works, if it starts. After such a slow start, fingers crossed. Come on, fingers crossed and let's connect!
The TV is already on audio video, we can proceed by turning on the computer.
He doesn't seem very happy to me... It's not good. Even though the LED lights up, it doesn't work. Nothing, guys, this bad luck of computers arriving with something wrong continues to haunt me! So, I don't know, I'll probably contact the seller. Because, if you tell me it's tested, I expected it to be a tested and working computer. I was a little disappointed. I have to tell the truth, I was a little disappointed.
Because, in the end, you trust a person, you go to buy the product that says 'fine', then it arrives and it's not fine... In short, I'm a bit sorry.
I hope I can at least get a refund, or send it back. Let's see what happens. In the end I bought it on eBay, paid with PayPal, and therefore, I should be slightly protected. We'll see, come on. I'll be able to tell you! In the meantime... nothing!
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