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  • Toshiba T4500C lives again...again!

    From Retroswim@21:2/121 to All on Mon Oct 26 20:01:52 2026
    Greetings!!

    I'm writing this using MTCP telnet on a 1993 Toshiba T4500C portable.

    https://imgur.com/a/OVJmB3Q

    This little machine has been through quite a lot since started working on it.

    1. At first, zero life, recapped PSU
    2. Slowly became unstable and wouldn't boot, recapped rest of system
    3. LCD died, recapped and it worked for a bit, then died more. Turned out, cap leakage had irreversibly damaged the PCB-flex connections.
    4. Got replacement LCD from Aliexpress. Already cap damaged, returned.
    5. Got replacement for my replacement, same damage. Got refund.
    6. Got *new* replacement 640x480 8.4in LVDS LCD (they exist!!)
    7. Built interposer with FPGA to convert 9-bit parallel from laptop to LVDS for new panel. Learned just enough Verilog to make it go.
    8. Wrangled all the electronics to fit in the lid

    But now, it's bright, clear and functioning!

    What's special about this laptop? It had an active matrix color TFT. IN 1993.

    The original 1993 LCD was surprisingly bright and crisp too. In fact it only lagged behind this manufactured-in-2020 panel in viewing angle.

    https://imgur.com/a/G51sKgy

    That's the original just before it gave up on me!

    I'm happy with how it turned out.

    Cheers,
    RetroSwim

    --- Ezycom V2.15g1
    * Origin: >> Pool's Open - The RetroSwim BBS (21:2/121)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to Retroswim on Mon Oct 26 06:59:27 2026
    Retroswim wrote to All <=-

    Greetings!!

    I'm writing this using MTCP telnet on a 1993 Toshiba T4500C portable.

    Nice! Toshiba was *the* laptop back then, I had the same model, then a
    Portege 410 CDT ahortly afterwards.

    How's the battery holding up?


    ... Observe the procedures of a general alert.
    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)
  • From Dumas Walker@21:1/175 to Retroswim on Mon Oct 26 14:38:38 2026
    Greetings!!

    I'm writing this using MTCP telnet on a 1993 Toshiba T4500C
    portable.

    https://imgur.com/a/OVJmB3Q


    Nice!


    --- ScorpioWeb v0.39a (Linux/x86_64)
    * Origin: capitolcityonline.net * KY, USA (21:1/175)
  • From phigan@21:3/193 to Retroswim on Mon Oct 26 18:17:06 2026
    The original 1993 LCD was
    surprisingly bright and crisp too.

    Wow, that -is- very bright and crisp!


    --- NE BBS v2.07 (linux; x64)
    * Origin: NE BBS - nebbs.servehttp.com:9223 (21:3/193)
  • From Retroswim@21:2/121 to poindexter FORTRAN on Tue Oct 27 21:23:14 2026
    Nice! Toshiba was *the* laptop back then, I had the same model, then a Portege 410 CDT ahortly afterwards.

    How's the battery holding up?

    The battery... is currently just a counterw :D

    I'd definitely like to re-pack it, or work out a way to power the machine from LiPo's or something

    For now, I'm just hoping some other component doesn't give up before I get to try out PicoPCMCIA!

    Cheers,
    RetroSwim

    --- Ezycom V2.15g1 01FD0295
    * Origin: >> Pool's Open - The RetroSwim BBS (21:2/121)