External Upgrades
OK, so this all sounds scary, ripping open the
box and risking ESD zapping things, or just not
ready to play with the case crews yet?
You can still improve many parts of your PB
without ever turning a screw or
moving a flea sized jumper.
Read On.....
Keyboards.
This was my first broken PB part. After too
much of the better half's zillion words per
minute typing (or was that me madly blasting away
at space invaders) the space bar gave out. I have not found the
best keyboard yet, I test drive everything in the stores
looking for comfort and feel. Actually, my favorite QWERTY
was on an IBM 3477 AS/400 terminal at work. Great feel.
Currently I use a $35 clone cheapy. I was stuck without a keyboard and
was at the mercy of the other shady computer emporium in my
town. Then they wanted $6 for a PS/2 adaptor, a needed
thingy to plug clone keyboards in a PB. I went to Office Depot
and found an adaptor for $3.
Mouse
Again, let your personal choice guide you. The PB Mouse
gave up from what I could only guess as a broken wire close
to the mouse. It would get spazztic from wiggling the wire.
I like the Logitech Mouseman and the Microsoft Mouse 2.0
The kids prefer the Microsoft jobby. The PS/2 version
was priced at an ungodly $90 at Monterey's first
computer store. I luckily found what looked like OEM
plastic wrapped versions at a surplus store for $20.
Monitor
The PB monitor still works OK, I was at Circuit Circus buying a
microwave oven one day and saw a most beautiful computer
screen that I ever seen. There in a row of displayed computers
was a Sony Multiscan 15sx. Better than a PB, even better than
the pricey NECs. Just a great Trinitron picture, from edge to edge.
Price was $500 or so. Dream on. Picked up my microwave and
went and made popcorn.
After some shopping around, I found the same
monitor selling for $350 to $400. Getting close. Went to Salinas's
ComputerWorst store one day to aks about some monitors, like
who REALLY makes what. I could not catch the attention of
the man who was glued to the phone, or the floor person
equally glued to a computer game on a display machine.
So much for the last chance to buy locally.
Then, outta the blue, Fry's (love 'em or hate 'em) puts the Sony
15sx on sale for $300. Whoosh. I drove 80 miles
to buy one. Makes a TON of difference. Nothing
special needed, Multiscan means it accepts many scan
rates. I love it, and want a 17" version on my next
'puter.
Speakers
Read the multimedia upgrade page. HiFi buffs will
spend half of their $$ on speakers for good reason. After
using the Multimedia upgrade kit speakers for 2 years, I could not
believe my ears hearing the sounds from a pair of Yamaha
M10s. Bought at Costco (me, go to one of Monterey's crummy
computer stores for speakers???) for $50 they sound great. Just put the
power supply brick FAR AWAY as possible from
the monitor. The speakers may be magnetically shielded, but
the power supply sure aint.
Headphones
A pair of Sony MDR-V6 keep the noise private
when needed. This is one Consumer Reports "best buy"
that actually was right.
Packard-Bell is a trademark of Packard Bell/NEC. This author and the service provider are not affiliated with Packard-Bell/NEC in any way