Zez Retro
@zezretro.bsky.social
Zez Retro and the Cathode Ray Podcast on YouTube. Taking about analog video, CRTs and Hard Off Hunting in Japan.
Next 10c pickup: Microsoft Encarta Resource Centre. Sealed, from 1998
Seems to be an add on which supports students doing school projects.
The digital version of those projects packs they used to sell at the newsagent which you would cut out and paste onto a cardboard sheet.
Seems to be an add on which supports students doing school projects.
The digital version of those projects packs they used to sell at the newsagent which you would cut out and paste onto a cardboard sheet.
November 14, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Next 10c pickup: Microsoft Encarta Resource Centre. Sealed, from 1998
Seems to be an add on which supports students doing school projects.
The digital version of those projects packs they used to sell at the newsagent which you would cut out and paste onto a cardboard sheet.
Seems to be an add on which supports students doing school projects.
The digital version of those projects packs they used to sell at the newsagent which you would cut out and paste onto a cardboard sheet.
1€ big box find: MS Office 97 in Estonian.
Many Estonians have a similar story: back in 97 there really were not Estonian words for the functions in Windows and Office. The translations felt weird and forced.
I’ve bought a lot of retro PCs here and I’ve never seen these main apps in Estonian.
Many Estonians have a similar story: back in 97 there really were not Estonian words for the functions in Windows and Office. The translations felt weird and forced.
I’ve bought a lot of retro PCs here and I’ve never seen these main apps in Estonian.
November 13, 2025 at 10:13 AM
1€ big box find: MS Office 97 in Estonian.
Many Estonians have a similar story: back in 97 there really were not Estonian words for the functions in Windows and Office. The translations felt weird and forced.
I’ve bought a lot of retro PCs here and I’ve never seen these main apps in Estonian.
Many Estonians have a similar story: back in 97 there really were not Estonian words for the functions in Windows and Office. The translations felt weird and forced.
I’ve bought a lot of retro PCs here and I’ve never seen these main apps in Estonian.
Browsing marketplace today it seems that PS4, PS3, PS2 & PS1 are all selling for about the same price
November 11, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Browsing marketplace today it seems that PS4, PS3, PS2 & PS1 are all selling for about the same price
Bought a dot matrix printer, paper and a cable for 24€. Vinted is great, no one in Estonia has one but a bunch of seller in Poland do.
Untested but I bet it works.
That sound is going to take me back…
Untested but I bet it works.
That sound is going to take me back…
November 10, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Bought a dot matrix printer, paper and a cable for 24€. Vinted is great, no one in Estonia has one but a bunch of seller in Poland do.
Untested but I bet it works.
That sound is going to take me back…
Untested but I bet it works.
That sound is going to take me back…
Today I learnt that in Polish, SCART is often just referred to as “EURO kabel”.
I discovered this as Vinted allows me to buy from Polish sellers with free postage.
eBay sucks in Europe and I am loving this marketplace
I discovered this as Vinted allows me to buy from Polish sellers with free postage.
eBay sucks in Europe and I am loving this marketplace
November 10, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Today I learnt that in Polish, SCART is often just referred to as “EURO kabel”.
I discovered this as Vinted allows me to buy from Polish sellers with free postage.
eBay sucks in Europe and I am loving this marketplace
I discovered this as Vinted allows me to buy from Polish sellers with free postage.
eBay sucks in Europe and I am loving this marketplace
My body is ready
Are you ready for #PicoIDE? It seems to be telling me it's ready. Coming soon: ATAPI optical disc emulation and IDE hard drive emulation. picoide.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:44 AM
My body is ready
Reposted by Zez Retro
November 8, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Big box software back in the day was not messing around. I found a MS FoxPro 2.6 box and manuals for 10c and it’s THICC.
There are no less than 8 books.
As I understand FoxPro was a low code desktop database something like FileMaker?
It originally came with 7 floppies but they were missing
There are no less than 8 books.
As I understand FoxPro was a low code desktop database something like FileMaker?
It originally came with 7 floppies but they were missing
November 7, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Big box software back in the day was not messing around. I found a MS FoxPro 2.6 box and manuals for 10c and it’s THICC.
There are no less than 8 books.
As I understand FoxPro was a low code desktop database something like FileMaker?
It originally came with 7 floppies but they were missing
There are no less than 8 books.
As I understand FoxPro was a low code desktop database something like FileMaker?
It originally came with 7 floppies but they were missing
Found a good deal on NT Server 4.0 big box because the disc doesn’t come with the jewel case (and thusly no serial). I have plenty of those anyway
Nice condition although “good deal” is always relative being a European when everything has atleast 30€ of shipping + VAT.
Nice condition although “good deal” is always relative being a European when everything has atleast 30€ of shipping + VAT.
November 3, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Found a good deal on NT Server 4.0 big box because the disc doesn’t come with the jewel case (and thusly no serial). I have plenty of those anyway
Nice condition although “good deal” is always relative being a European when everything has atleast 30€ of shipping + VAT.
Nice condition although “good deal” is always relative being a European when everything has atleast 30€ of shipping + VAT.
My Sun Ray 2 thin client arrived as complete new old stock, it doesn’t seem to have been opened at all!
So fresh, so clean, such pristine Sun cardboard.
I’m busy so I’m no rush to set it up.
Its just a cardboard box but it’s a Sun cardboard box 😀
So fresh, so clean, such pristine Sun cardboard.
I’m busy so I’m no rush to set it up.
Its just a cardboard box but it’s a Sun cardboard box 😀
November 1, 2025 at 12:17 PM
My Sun Ray 2 thin client arrived as complete new old stock, it doesn’t seem to have been opened at all!
So fresh, so clean, such pristine Sun cardboard.
I’m busy so I’m no rush to set it up.
Its just a cardboard box but it’s a Sun cardboard box 😀
So fresh, so clean, such pristine Sun cardboard.
I’m busy so I’m no rush to set it up.
Its just a cardboard box but it’s a Sun cardboard box 😀
Found an Office 95 big box and manual for 50c locally so of course I now needed to spend 25€ to get the media which goes with it.
Turns out the box is “standard” and the media is “professional” but who’s counting
Turns out the box is “standard” and the media is “professional” but who’s counting
October 30, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Found an Office 95 big box and manual for 50c locally so of course I now needed to spend 25€ to get the media which goes with it.
Turns out the box is “standard” and the media is “professional” but who’s counting
Turns out the box is “standard” and the media is “professional” but who’s counting
Encarta 99 for 10c, I’ll take that!
The front has a blurry stamp which says “Raamatukogu” which means “Library” in Estonian. The other words are too smudged to make out.
The front has a blurry stamp which says “Raamatukogu” which means “Library” in Estonian. The other words are too smudged to make out.
October 29, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Encarta 99 for 10c, I’ll take that!
The front has a blurry stamp which says “Raamatukogu” which means “Library” in Estonian. The other words are too smudged to make out.
The front has a blurry stamp which says “Raamatukogu” which means “Library” in Estonian. The other words are too smudged to make out.
I’ve got a thing for thin clients.
When I was in primary school our class computer didn’t work and I pulled it apart only to find it had no hard disk….
It was about 85€ to get this old new stock Sun Ray 2. I’ve got a genuine Sun X2200 M2 ready to go.
Time to order some of them Java cards!
When I was in primary school our class computer didn’t work and I pulled it apart only to find it had no hard disk….
It was about 85€ to get this old new stock Sun Ray 2. I’ve got a genuine Sun X2200 M2 ready to go.
Time to order some of them Java cards!
October 25, 2025 at 1:14 PM
I’ve got a thing for thin clients.
When I was in primary school our class computer didn’t work and I pulled it apart only to find it had no hard disk….
It was about 85€ to get this old new stock Sun Ray 2. I’ve got a genuine Sun X2200 M2 ready to go.
Time to order some of them Java cards!
When I was in primary school our class computer didn’t work and I pulled it apart only to find it had no hard disk….
It was about 85€ to get this old new stock Sun Ray 2. I’ve got a genuine Sun X2200 M2 ready to go.
Time to order some of them Java cards!
Wow. Someone in my city is offering "CD burning services".
Not Blu-ray, just straight up CD-R burning for 10€.
"Don't let the development of modern technology prevent you from accessing the content you need. Buy now and get a CD with the content you want!"
Don't hate the player I guess...
Not Blu-ray, just straight up CD-R burning for 10€.
"Don't let the development of modern technology prevent you from accessing the content you need. Buy now and get a CD with the content you want!"
Don't hate the player I guess...
October 24, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Wow. Someone in my city is offering "CD burning services".
Not Blu-ray, just straight up CD-R burning for 10€.
"Don't let the development of modern technology prevent you from accessing the content you need. Buy now and get a CD with the content you want!"
Don't hate the player I guess...
Not Blu-ray, just straight up CD-R burning for 10€.
"Don't let the development of modern technology prevent you from accessing the content you need. Buy now and get a CD with the content you want!"
Don't hate the player I guess...
My Wi-Fi picture frame randomized it’s MAC address upon startup, confuses my router. I asked the vendor and they said it’s “more secure”
Wut? With all those public Wi-Fis I’m using it on? I do love going to my local cafe and setting up my digital photo frame, thanks vendor!
Wut? With all those public Wi-Fis I’m using it on? I do love going to my local cafe and setting up my digital photo frame, thanks vendor!
October 23, 2025 at 4:06 AM
My Wi-Fi picture frame randomized it’s MAC address upon startup, confuses my router. I asked the vendor and they said it’s “more secure”
Wut? With all those public Wi-Fis I’m using it on? I do love going to my local cafe and setting up my digital photo frame, thanks vendor!
Wut? With all those public Wi-Fis I’m using it on? I do love going to my local cafe and setting up my digital photo frame, thanks vendor!
Any gamer who grew up in Eastern Europe will recognize these: yellow Dendy cartridges.
The Famicom knock off produced for the Easter bloc, seems like everyone I know had one of these at home.
A new colleague found out I was a collector and offered
The Famicom knock off produced for the Easter bloc, seems like everyone I know had one of these at home.
A new colleague found out I was a collector and offered
October 22, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Any gamer who grew up in Eastern Europe will recognize these: yellow Dendy cartridges.
The Famicom knock off produced for the Easter bloc, seems like everyone I know had one of these at home.
A new colleague found out I was a collector and offered
The Famicom knock off produced for the Easter bloc, seems like everyone I know had one of these at home.
A new colleague found out I was a collector and offered
Pour one out for all the vendors who said “we have implemented updates and now our services are back online”, when really you just waited for AWS to come back up
October 21, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Pour one out for all the vendors who said “we have implemented updates and now our services are back online”, when really you just waited for AWS to come back up
Not a good day to be running your support desk on AWS
October 20, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Not a good day to be running your support desk on AWS
I’ve had really poor mental health today and I have a feeling is started when I installed Solaris 10 this morning
October 19, 2025 at 3:13 PM
I’ve had really poor mental health today and I have a feeling is started when I installed Solaris 10 this morning
Reposted by Zez Retro
Here's a deep-dive video comparing OLED gaming monitors! I go over 1440p vs 4K, the benefits of using a 240Hz display, tons of BFI examples - and of course, LAG TESTING :)
Hopefully this is a fun one...especially for retro gamers!
youtu.be/q8DDHiAhQ6c
Hopefully this is a fun one...especially for retro gamers!
youtu.be/q8DDHiAhQ6c
OLED Gaming Monitors: 1440p vs 4K for Modern & Retro Gaming
YouTube video by RetroRGB
youtu.be
October 18, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Here's a deep-dive video comparing OLED gaming monitors! I go over 1440p vs 4K, the benefits of using a 240Hz display, tons of BFI examples - and of course, LAG TESTING :)
Hopefully this is a fun one...especially for retro gamers!
youtu.be/q8DDHiAhQ6c
Hopefully this is a fun one...especially for retro gamers!
youtu.be/q8DDHiAhQ6c
Thift store score today.
Audio cassettes sell for a premium in Estonia because they were late to the western technology party.
Found his sealed 5 pack of Type II TDK tapes from 1991 for 5€, an absolute steal and definite slipping from the store.
Audio cassettes sell for a premium in Estonia because they were late to the western technology party.
Found his sealed 5 pack of Type II TDK tapes from 1991 for 5€, an absolute steal and definite slipping from the store.
October 13, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Thift store score today.
Audio cassettes sell for a premium in Estonia because they were late to the western technology party.
Found his sealed 5 pack of Type II TDK tapes from 1991 for 5€, an absolute steal and definite slipping from the store.
Audio cassettes sell for a premium in Estonia because they were late to the western technology party.
Found his sealed 5 pack of Type II TDK tapes from 1991 for 5€, an absolute steal and definite slipping from the store.
Why does a dachshund keychain from Lindex look like the dog is doing old timey blackface?
October 12, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Why does a dachshund keychain from Lindex look like the dog is doing old timey blackface?
Early 2000s programming book covers were something else..
October 12, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Early 2000s programming book covers were something else..
The local IT college was selling old servers cheap, I got a Sunfire X2200 M2 1U server for 20 bucks.
It’s purely for curiosity, it’s x86 hardware but genuine Sun gear doesn’t come up often around here
It’s purely for curiosity, it’s x86 hardware but genuine Sun gear doesn’t come up often around here
October 8, 2025 at 12:14 PM
The local IT college was selling old servers cheap, I got a Sunfire X2200 M2 1U server for 20 bucks.
It’s purely for curiosity, it’s x86 hardware but genuine Sun gear doesn’t come up often around here
It’s purely for curiosity, it’s x86 hardware but genuine Sun gear doesn’t come up often around here