20 May
2009
20 May
'09
10:35 p.m.
Zane H. Healy wrote:
At 8:09 PM +0100 5/20/09, Tony Duell wrote:
Are you seriously suggesting it would be a Good Thing if we all gave up
playing with our (classic computer) toys?
Maybe... I've said in the past that I view this as an unhealthy hobby.
We're moving into our new house this week, and once we get moved in
we'll be emptying the 10x25' storage unit that houses the bulk of my
remaining "computer junk". It will be interesting to see in the long
run how much of it I get rid of. I definitely want to trim down the
collection, the problem being that some of the stuff is spares for
systems that I want to keep. I honestly have no clue as to how much
stuff falls into the "no interest/use" category, and how much into the
keep category. In any case a lot of what I get rid of will be going to
the library for the one project I have for them.
I'm finding it to be a pyramidal progression. I have All This Stuff,
and when I look at, say, an ISA FDC/MFM controller I think "I can't toss
this, it supports SSSD floppies!" And then I think "But wait, I'm
ditching all the Z80/8088/6502/whatever gear! I don't NEED SSSD
support! BuhBye!" Then I find the 80286 motherboard and I think "I
need this to run that MFM controll... Wait!"
And on and on.
This hobby has been not at all healthy for me. Fully 80% of my
*running* systems, let alone the projects, fail the 2-year rule**. At
some point I went from "inquisitive" to "acquisitive", and all the fun
went out.
Doc
** "If it hasn't been powered on in 2 years..."
Well, not really. I'm giving up most of my
electronics and
computer stuff, but while it's all been great fun, I'm nor all that
sad about it.
As elegant as this stuff can be, I finally get to start riding
again, and I need the space (and cash of course!).
Congratulations! The best of luck on your road to recovery!