Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Current Packard Bells in My Collection

Earlier this year, I became interested in '90s Packard Bell computers again and really wanted one again. Up until recently, the only one my family ever had was a Packard Bell Platinum 2240, which I got rid of in 2005 after it was unable to be fixed properly. Since then, I've somewhat regretted that decision even though the computer didn't work, as I just love the appearance of the '90s Packard Bell cases.

Anyway, I learned of a YouTube user named Roadgeek, who obtained most of his Packard Bells from a thrift store called Value Village. I never really considered checking thrift stores for computers but decided to give it a try. Fortunately, there was a Value Village not too terribly far from where I live. Shockingly enough, on the very first time I checked Value Village, I found a Packard Bell! Even more shocking was that the cabinet was in the same style as my original Packard Bell Platinum 2240! Since then, I've checked various other Value Villages in my area for Packard Bells but was coming up dry until the last month or two when I got two horizontal PBs (I've always wanted one of those). And just a few days ago, I found a Packard Bell Legend 814CD but decided not to buy it because the cabinet style was the same as the last one I got, so I didn't want to spend the money.

Anyway, the Packard Bells currently in my collection are the Packard Bell Platinum Supreme 1665 (the first I got), the Packard Bell Legend 18CD, and the Packard Bell PB 5310. I'm glad I got these from thrift stores, as they'd be a lot more expensive on eBay. I'd still like to find a computer like my old TeleVideo TS-1605, though.

2 comments:

Joe said...

Update: On September 23, 2011, I caved and decided to buy the Packard Bell Legend 814CD, even though I was reluctant to spend the money. I was glad it was still there several days later. I was shocked that like the PB 5310 I got at the thrift store next door a month earlier, the Legend 814CD already had Windows 95 AND Navigator again! Seriously, I couldn't believe it. Two computers with Windows 95 and Navigator...within a month of each other!

Chris said...

Hey, Does the hard drive on the 1665 have a format number? Thanks!