Anyone off to VCF-UK?

Hi All I have been interested in the response to my comments. Its clear that the event title was at lest misleading and possibility a misrepresentation. That said I may well still attend. However this situation has brought up a number of import issues. There's a suspicion that the world of computer collecting may be divided into to two groups. I'll define the two as the 'Restorers' those who put systems back into working order and the 'Preservers' who clean the outside and display non working items. A bit like dead animals pickled in formaldehyde and displayed in clear jars. Worse yet they tend to display only part of their hoard. I can't accept that storing systems out of sight in an unserviceable condition is justified. I can honestly say that every system I have powers up to some extent and most boot. Machine Misers who exhibit a small number of mostly non-working systems and try to charge the general public to look at items they do not understand are just trying to get others to fund their hobby. Rod -----Original Message----- From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Tony Duell Sent: 21 May 2010 20:30 To: cctalk at classiccmp.org Subject: Re: Anyone off to VCF-UK? Having looked at the appropriate web pages, I somewhat agree with you. I have serious reservations about the organisation of this event. I hadn't realised it was actually organised by Bletchley Park -- having discovered this, there is _no way_ I would waste my time attending. I hope this desn't sound like sour grapes. It appears that they have no clue about the sort of things that private collectors get up to, and the sort of people who they really should be catering for. It appears to be public show. Don't get me wrong, I am in favour of us sharing our knowledge and interest with everyone, but equally, having to explain for the 10th time in an many minutes that, no, this machine does not run Windows gets boring fast. I think back to the very successful HPCC conference in 2007. Although members of the public were welcome to atttend (I think you had to book in advance), it was a very techncial event, If you hadn't a clue about A-level (high school) mathematics, or simple electronics, or things like that you would not have got anything out of it. And that's how I feel about a VCF-type event. It should be a place for fellow enthuiasts to talk about and demonstrate the machines we all love. If others are interested, fine. But it should be pitched at a level that assumes everyone will at least know what machine code is, what a flip-flop is, etc. Some things struck me instantly. The default space for a private collector is 1m*2m. That is nowehre near large enough. I could fill that area with a collection of _handheld_ computers, and that's a minor part of my collection. I think just about any reasonable classic micro set up (keyboard, storage, monitor possibly a printer) with a sheet of text (in a large font) saying what it is and why it's interesting would occupy more than that space. And as for a minicomputer, well... There is no mention of power. Will people be able to power up their private collections? If so, how much power per 'stand'. Note that <n> 13A BS1363 sockets doesn't tell you anything. It may well be a total of 30A or less for the entire room. Which is again nowhere near enough. And what about safety? There is a slight risk of electrical failure, metal cases becoming live, etc./ What is going to be done about that? Or do the organisers (as I suspect) regard classic computers as pieces of art, not to be powered up? I found some curious statements for the flea market (or whatever you want to call it). 'No PCs' What is a PC? Do they really believe that the IBM5150 is not a significant vintage machine? And then 'No memory modules over 64K'. Is that bits, bytes, or words? If the first, I have some 96Kbit core emmeory modules in the PDP8/e on my desk. Surely _that_ is a vintage computer. If, as I suspect, it means 'bytes' then how many of the follwoing machines are not vintage : HP87, HP9000/200 series, HP Intergral, any Unibus or Qbus PDP11, any VAX, Whitechapel MG1, PERQ (any model), etc, etc, etc. I believe memory PCBs of > 64K byutes were available for all of those. And then there is the question of security. I don;t think anyone could be ecpected to man their stand for the entire day without the odd break. How do you ensure that stuff doesn't go walkabout? It would also appear that if you are looking after your own collection you wouldn't be able ot go to the talks or the flea market. I have one regret. One of my dreams was to be present at a true classic computer enthusiasts meeting. That is, a room where a number of us turn up with our own machines, discus them, exchange tips and tricks, and so on. A room with ample power. Of course the public should be admitted, but as I said earlier, it would remain a technical event. My regret is that this is not going to happen now -- ever. The style of VCF-UK seems to have been set. But I truely wish that VCF-UK is a success. -tony