---
title: "Computer Orphans: Bargains or Paperweights?"
type: "article"
slug: "computer-orphans-bargains-or-paperweights"
url: "http://localhost/article/computer-orphans-bargains-or-paperweights/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/article/computer-orphans-bargains-or-paperweights.md"
published_at: "2020-10-27T17:09:10+00:00"
modified_at: "2022-12-11T02:47:53+00:00"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20230809-041332.jpg"
excerpt: "A factory in Scranton, Pa, used half a dozen ZX-81s to control its weather monitoring station. Task had previously been performed by plant's minicomputer. A few homebrew adapters and ZX81s (at $10 ea) replaced the minicomputer."
category:
  - name: "TPUG Magazine"
    slug: "tpug-magazine"
    taxonomy: "category"
    url: "http://localhost/category/periodicals/tpug-magazine/"
indiv:
  - name: "M. Garamszeghy"
    slug: "m-garamszeghy"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/m-garamszeghy/"
publication: "TPUG Magazine"
publication_r:
  id: 10281
  title: "TPUG Magazine"
  type: "periodical"
  url: "http://localhost/periodical/tpug-magazine/"
authors: "M Garamszeghy"
issue: "24"
issues_articles:
  - id: 26872
    title: "Timex Sinclair User n7"
    type: "issue"
    url: "http://localhost/issue/timex-sinclair-user-n7/"
pages: "4-5"
pubdate: "June/July 1986"
archive_link: false
archiveurl: "https://archive.org/download/tpug-newsletter-24/TPUG_Issue_24_1986_Jun_Jul.pdf"
volumeissue: "vn24"
---

# Computer Orphans: Bargains or Paperweights?

A factory in Scranton, Pa, used half a dozen ZX-81s to control its weather monitoring station. Task had previously been performed by plant’s minicomputer. A few homebrew adapters and ZX81s (at $10 ea) replaced the minicomputer.