Trade 6: VGA cable for TTC token

Yes, I know this has to be the most boring trade ever, but I’m committed to documenting everything so here it is anyway.

There were two slight complications to Trade #4, in which I obtained a 2nd monitor for my home computer setup.

First, the monitor didn’t come with a VGA cable. Second, my ancient Mac uses a discontinued port technology called mini-DVI. In order to get the monitor working with my home machine, I needed to find two cables, a VGA cable and a mini-DVI to VGA adapter.

Then I came across this post:

We wound up agreeing on a token for the VGA cable (you’ll recall I scored a bunch from Trade #3). I also inquired if he happened to have a mini-DVI to VGA adapter, and he said yes! So that was another token.

The VGA cable was fine, but in my excitement at finding someone with a mini-DVI adapter—a relatively rare item due to its obsolescence—I only checked the mini-DVI end for confirmation.

Of course as you can probably tell from the above photo, the other end is DVI, not VGA! In other words I had gotten the wrong 2nd cable. Oops. [And the monitor is VGA only, so getting a DVI-DVI cable wasn’t an option]

My outlay for this trade. Spent an extra token!

My mistake only cost me a token—of which I had a trading surplus anyway—and it was too late and embarrassing to call the other Bun back and say, “this wasn’t the cable I asked for”, so I didn’t get upset about it. Anybody need a mini-DVI to DVI adapter?

I then realized that with a VGA cable now in my possession, I could still test to see if the monitor worked—by hooking it up to the laptop I salvaged from Trade #2.

The monitor from Trade 3, ensconced in its new home.

It works!! And it’s a great corner fit in limited space.

Meanwhile, I ordered a mini-DVI to VGA adapter from NewEgg. It’s meandering its way here from China. At some point I’ll be able to use this monitor with my home computer! [Update: adapter arrived. It works! It’s so convenient to be able to put extra windows onto the other screen.]

I’ll share some thoughts about the use of TTC tokens as currency inside Bunz, in a subsequent post.

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Next— Trades 7 and 8: Triangle trade! Shoe rack for tall can for Family House scrapbook
Previous— Trade 5: A bag of kale for Egon Schiele postcards

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