After years of searching, I finally own an Exidy Sorcerer

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progdaddy@reddit

I wrote a pretty good Star Trek game on one of those back in 1982 over Christmas vacation. That beauty started my programming career.

Good job, this is one of the coolest 8-bit computers ever made.

There was a way to use the programmable character set is a high res sprite graphics system. Everything about this machine was way ahead of its time.

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Dangerous-March-8525@reddit

The computer looks like it's gonna say "Human, Listen carefully. You need my help, and I need your help."

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It definitely needed my help. I cleaned it, recapped the power supply, and replaced the failed power switch and broken fuse holder. The plastic mesh vents were loose, but a little hot glue solved that. I even managed to find a BASIC language “ROMPac” for it. Next step, which I’ve been putting off for some time, is to connect my Teensy-powered SD card-to-cassette interface so I can run the library of Sorcerer software I have for it.

It helps me by being a very cool and fairly rare addition to my collection, and makes me VERY happy when I run “GOTO 10” on it and on the Commodore PET it sits next to.

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Dangerous-March-8525@reddit

You didn't get the joke, did you?

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mdgorelick@reddit (OP)

Evidently not. A little help? Apparently there’s a reference I’m missing.

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Dangerous-March-8525@reddit

There's an scp that's an ai on an exidy sorcerer, SCP-079 to be specific.

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mdgorelick@reddit (OP)

Very entertaining read, thank you! Good thing mine’s switched off most of the time. These old machines are clearly not to be trusted.

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Dangerous-March-8525@reddit

The doors to gate b are now open.

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Biglaczek@reddit

Just don't run an AI on it by any means

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Sianxz@reddit

Until that thing starts speaking and turning on and off your switches

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mdgorelick@reddit (OP)

This one checked all the boxes:

Sorcerer-II (revised main board)

48K RAM

Nice condition, cosmetically

IT WORKS!

Has original box

Lowest price I’ve seen for this machine in years

I also managed to find and purchase a BASIC ROM-Pac for it.

Woohoo!

Edit: I opened the machine up so I can start replacing caps. Revision C4 motherboard. I also figured out why the power switch doesn't work...it was bypassed by a previous owner! LOL

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Hatta00@reddit

Congrats. What's a good price for these?

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mdgorelick@reddit (OP)

I paid $500 (plus shipping), which a ton cheaper than all the ones presently for sale on eBay or FB Marketplace. The current listings are looking for more like $1500.

I could easily imagine people thinking I’m crazy for spending $500 on a 43-year-old computer, but have you seen what Commodore PETs go for these days? (Another of my bucket list computers)

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