Diecrusher Posted December 15, 2015 Share Posted December 15, 2015 (edited) Looking back at almost all of the old TI flyers they show the TI monitor sitting nicely on top of the PEB. I have set up mine the same way but I notice a serious bowing in the top plastic cover of the PEB. Is that just the way it is? I don't want to permanently dent my box over time but surely they meant the setup to be this way. Stupid question I know but I am just curious.................. I know that I could just put something additional under the monitor but that would ruin the look! Opinions?? Edited December 15, 2015 by Diecrusher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted December 15, 2015 Share Posted December 15, 2015 Maybe post a pic of what you're seeing? Been too long since I've laid eyes inside a PEB, but aren't there a couple of aluminum braces underneath the top lid?… either way, even the 'Coz sez it's all-ight and worthy of leaning on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfernalKeith Posted December 15, 2015 Share Posted December 15, 2015 The official TI Color Monitor is smaller and lighter than some of the other monitors of the day, like the Commodore models. Maybe they planned for the light one but not the standard size? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diecrusher Posted December 15, 2015 Author Share Posted December 15, 2015 Not totally bad but a little more sag then I hoped.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed in SoDak Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 I have one of these old Mac towers atop my PEB. Bill could put his foot on top instead of an elbow to be a 35 lb. equal weight. Been that way for well over a decade. Top doesn't look bent at all from the front, but the Mac does straddle the PEB and overhangs front and back. I know the top's finish is scratched and worn from rough use. There's also an old CD burner atop the Mac and in the space beside it rest four TI floppy drives and their power supply. I picked up a used PEB and its lid was actually bent down. Used as a stepstool? I didn't care, I was only interested in if it worked reliably. Which both PEBs have since the 80's. -Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matthew180 Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Are you sure the bowing is from the monitor? From what I recall (I have not looked at my PEB lid in a while) the PEB lid has folded metal underneath and the plastic parts are just cosmetic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simbalion Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 Ok, here is the nicer of the two PEB's I got today. Weighs about one metric ton! Now, here is the underside of the top, which is kinda hefty in and of itself. I tried leaning on this thing while on the PEB and could hardly bow it! There is a metal plate clear across and pads to help hold on and protect the cards. I doubt the original monitor would cause much if any deformation. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 These would nice in the TI-99 photos thread... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 I just finished using an UV sensitive epoxy plastic to reglue all of those little plastic shafts back onto the lid so that it would sit nicely on the PEB without shifting around. The Postal Service delivered it to me last week in a box that the sender failed to pack properly. The box was more than strong enough--it arrived with no visible dents or markings, but the PEB rattled around inside like a ping-pong ball, doing some minor damage to the lid (now repaired) and totally destroying the TI monitor it was sharing the box with. The monitor's picture tube had the neck driven into it when the entire back of the monitor was crushed inward. The resulting inrush of gas, glass, and metal fragments splatted onto the center of the screen, completely removing a circular patch of phosphor. It was not pretty. . .and a sad end for a formerly functioning TI monitor. Im more than happy that I was able to fully rescue the PEB though--I'll use it to expand the system my boys use somewhat further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
globeron Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 Looking back at almost all of the old TI flyers they show the TI monitor sitting nicely on top of the PEB. I have set up mine the same way but I notice a serious bowing in the top plastic cover of the PEB. Is that just the way it is? I don't want to permanently dent my box over time but surely they meant the setup to be this way. Stupid question I know but I am just curious.................. I know that I could just put something additional under the monitor but that would ruin the look! Opinions?? I would not be too worried, I used to have a Sharp TV on top of my PEB when I was a kid, but now it is in the closet (after I migrated all my floppy disks to the PC and use the nano-PEB). But my kid had an idea what to do with it when I was making some pictures of the system (see picture): PEB boxes are strong as "Tonka" (there is a commercial of toys with an elephant standing on it (Tonkaclub.nl/Tonkaclub/Tonka.jpg) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 The old Tonka trucks were pretty much indestructible back when I was a kid. They were some of the only toys that would survive longer than a few months of active play. . . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkdrummer Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 Almost all TI stuff was built to military spec in my opinion. Tonka trucks and Buddy L - built to last back in the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simbalion Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 (edited) You know, I was thinking 'military spec' when I first took the top off one of my PEBs and pulled a card to look at it. These things are really overbuilt and I am thinking they might even be able to survive an EMP! No wonder they cost so much back in the day, but it is one of the reasons I really do like the TI computers. In spite of their shortcomings, the original TI-99/4a and it's accessories were generally all well-built. Atari was initially this way as well, really. I do like Commodore, but the cut corners do add up with their products. Edited December 28, 2015 by simbalion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+jedimatt42 Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 The inside of my PEB lids have E-M-P etched into them... I like to joke that these things will be used to reconstruct our technological society after nuclear winter. Of course these plates are really there to keep the radio leakage in, but it makes a strong package and a good story. (And apparently, a size appropriate sitting bench ) -M@ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tursi Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 The story I heard with the PEBs was the engineers were instructed to design them for no shipping damage returns. Dunno if it's true, but they are tough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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