Introduction - Terry Stewart (tezza)

Hi, I joined a few days ago and feel I should introduce myself to others on this list. Some here may know me as tezza on Eric Klein's Vintage Computer Forums, a handle I also use on a few other vintage computer places around the Net. My interest in microcomputing history started about 11 years ago, when I created a website to archive some facts about my first micro. http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/system-80/index.htm However, in 2007 with the kids off my hands (and more room) I started collecting other micros. This was trigged by finding a OS Challenger 1P someone gave me in the late 1980s in the bottom of a wardrobe, turning it on and finding (astonishingly!) it went! Along with my old System 80, I now had the nucleus of a classic computer collection! There was no looking back after that! http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/collection/index.htm I am not a computer engineer, electronics technician or even associated with the computer industry in any way. Before I started collecting I knew nothing about electronics except you plugged something in at the wall, flicked a switch and (if you are lucky) it went. I had never been under the hood of a computer even my System 80. However, once I started collecting I found I HAD to learn something about the mystery of binary hardware in order to keep these machines up and running! See http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/blog/index.htm . I've found the vintage/classic computer community to be very supportive and helpful with sharing knowledge in this regard. I've still got huge gaps in knowledge regarding the hardware side but it's improving all the time. My main motivation for collecting these old machines is to preserve a slice of history (particularly in the New Zealand context), and perhaps even display (and give talks about) the units when I retire years down the track. I like to have every machine working, with original manuals and decked out with software of the day. Let's face it, it's also great to have all those machines you used to covert back then! Now that I know more about it, I've (unexpectedly) come to enjoy the hardware side as well! Nothing is as satisfying as seeing a dead computer suddenly surge back to life after a fix. To me, a dead computer is just a collection of wires, silicon and plastic. They HAVE to be working, and my wife would claim I go to obsessive lengths to make them so. Anyway, that's all about me. I'm working full-time, have a number of other interests and may not get a chance to contribute too often. However, I hope to share classic computing thoughts/issues where I'm able. Terry Stewart (Tez) http://www.classic-computers.org.nz