24 Jan
2010
24 Jan
'10
12:12 p.m.
On Sunday 24 January 2010, js at cimmeri.com wrote:
Excellent point. Which leads to wonder if only the
early computers
-- when development moved slower and there were far fewer models in
existence -- will remain the collectible ones. I don't see any
computers in most of the 90's, and none at all from 2000 onwards
that I'd ever want to collect. Wonder how others feel? Will a
Dell PC ever be collectible? Are Apples the only ones that might
stand a chance? Are all computers now merely appliances with zero
personality?
It depends. "Home computers" are generally appliances, but there are
still interesting computers being produced, IMO. Stuff like Sun Niagra
(UltraSparc T1/T2) series machines, IBM mainframes, SiCortex's machines,
Crays, and other high-dollar/high end machines. Even things like the XO
OLPC, Asus Eee PC, Apple original iPhone and iPod, etc, are unique
enough (or were when they came out) that I'd say they are collectible.
(that's not to say that I find them interesting, but I can understand
someone finding them to be interesting).
I don't think $random_home_pc is much less collectible than
$random_s100_bus_machine really is. I've got S-100 bus machines (mostly
gone now to other collectors) that people generally were more interested
in the cards in them, than the system itself. In that regard, old PCs
are similar to old "generic" S-100 bus machines... the parts are easily
worth more than the assembled machine.
Pat
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