Computers: NCR Computer Systems & Parts

The NCR Corporation manufactured a number of personal and business computers during the 1980s and '90s. Some of their more recent computers are sophisticated enough for most tasks, including internet access, and are not uncommon to find for sale. Parts are also still available from a variety of sources.

NON-PORTABLE COMPUTERS: Some of the newer personal computers made by NCR include models with Pentium II and III processors. These computers can frequently be purchased for under $65 (including any shipping costs), despite running at speeds as high as 500 or 550 MHz. They are often listed on eBay.com auctions, and occasionally on CraigsList.org classifieds as well; someone recently posted an advertisement on the CraigsList site for Miami offering Pentium III NCR desktop computers for $50 each. A number of computer sales websites also offer these computers, some of them refurbished. Wikipedia.org indicates that NCR also made 286 computers during the '80s and introduced a set of computer systems with 386 and 486 processors in 1990; these appear for sale much more seldomly than the mid/late-90s models.

LAPTOP COMPUTERS: Although less common than NCR's desktop and tower-style computer models, their laptops can still be found for sale as well. Some of their laptop systems appear to be very similar (and have the same model names and/or numbers) as AT&T laptops; according to wikipedia.org, NCR was a subsidiary of AT&T from September 1991 through 1996.

COMPUTER PARTS: Parts for relatively new NCR computer systems, such as memory cards and replacement motherboards, are not particularly hard to find. For example, UpgradeMemory.com offers a 128MB memory upgrade for the NCR 3271 and 3272 computer models, and several websites (jpcparts.com, pinnaclemicro.com, ebay.com) sell replacement motherboards (which can be rather expensive). NCR and similar AT&T laptop computers for parts are not uncommon on eBay as well, which may offer a less expensive alternative if you need more than one part, and are willing to take the risk that the part(s) you need might be missing or broken. Parts for older computers from this manufacturer are less common, and can be very expensive (a 64KB NCR memory upgrade, probably from the '80s, recently sold on eBay for $150). Their computer speakers and monitors (with the exclusion of NCR terminal displays) can be bought relatively inexpensively.

LAPTOP BATTERIES: Batteries for these computers are offered by a number of battery sales websites, as well as some eBay sellers. Try searching for "ncr battery" on eBay or froogle.google.com to find these. Some batteries are interchangeable with AT&T computers with the same model number; for example, atbatt.com offers a battery which can be used in either the AT&T Safari 3150 or the NCR 3150 computer. Many websites offer laptop power adapters/supplies, but generally charge $30-70 for them.

According to NCR's website, they "finalized the transfer and sale of their computer hardware manufacturing assets" in 1998. The former support page (ncr.com/support/) for their computers appears to no longer be accessible, but they still have a section for downloading drivers. NCR continues to produce a variety of other products and services.