Hewlett Packard Vectra 286/12 - Crossing one off of my bucket list
I have had more computers than I can remember in the over 40 years I have been using computers. The one computer system that I never personally owned was an AT class 286. I had 3 Tandy 1000s before moving on to a Northgate 386/20 in 1990. I just skipped over an AT 286. Now I have had 286 Tandy 1000TX and 1000 TL/2 computers, but those are strictly XT class computers, with 8-bit slots and 640K of DOS memory. AT class machines have 16-bit slots and allow for more than 640K using extended memory. Getting back into retro computing, this was not high on list of wanted computers. It was only after getting most of the computer systems I wanted that I started thinking about adding a real 286 AT computer to my retro collection. I started keeping my eye on Craigslist and eBay. I didn't have to wait long before a batch of HP Vectra 286 computers went up for sale on eBay. The starting bid was $100 each. There were 3 ES/12 models and one 286/12. I did some research and found out the 286/12 was