[TenTec] Dragonball CPU for Ten-Tec Orion

[Ron Notarius W3WN]

 Well, the discussion got me curious, even though I don't currently own an Orion and doubt I'll be able to get one in the near future (unless some rich relative I don't know of suddenly leaves me a lot of money in his will, and I don't think the odds of that happening are exactly high)...


Looking over on everyone's favorite auction site for the Orion's MC68EZ328 Dragonball processor, the guy in Brooklyn who allegedly had 90 individual CPU's is selling them at $10 a pop.  No idea if he offers quantity discounts.


There's another one in Albuquerque who has a lot of 160 for sale as a group.  Starting bid $125 or buy them all right now for $250


And then there's a guy in MA who is selling a lot of 20 for a flat $200.  


So it looks like processors ARE available in "small" lots (small for a manufacturer, that is)


Looking for the O2's Dragonball, the MC68SZ328, right now there's only five available from one source in Germany, for $3.25. 


(Plus shipping etc on all of these, I'm sure)


Frankly, all things considered (hi Frank!), if I owned an O or O2, I'd pick up a spare processor or two just to keep on the shelf.  Just in case.  At these prices, it seems like a fairly safe bit of insurance.
 
73, ron w3wn