Dave McGuire wrote:
On May 8, 2010, at 9:30 PM, Brent Hilpert wrote:
Wow ....
with 20 seconds to go, it jumped from 9900 to 20100, then
with
five seconds to go it jumped to 25600, then ended.
I can appreciate some degree of added value for this particular
unit giving
it's direct providence to Blankenbaker, and as much I might think
the Kenbak is
neat for technical reasons such as a minimal processor made from
SSI/MSI
devices, bit-serial architecture, and so on, this is one where I
really scratch
my head over the dollar value people are placing on them, given
their obscurity
in their day and relative lack of influence on computing development.
(just MHO ...)
Apparently other people have different ideas of why it's
important. Lack of commonality and lack of influence in the future
are only two possible things that one might find important.
Yes, yes; other people have different values, etc., that's well and fine,
but it doesn't answer what values are being applied to the kenbak to give
it such a high dollar value (it's not just one or two individuals).
I understand there is some claim, by some definition, to it being the 'first'
'personal computer', and it has it's place in computing history; but in
context
of the period, other items from the period, etc., it strikes me as
idiosyncratically high.