28 Jun
2000
28 Jun
'00
1:18 p.m.
GIVE THIS GUY A BREAK! He's recycling, doncha know? I see lots of computer
hardware in the dumpster, and that's not being recycled.
Why is a working computer nobody wants enough to pay for it better than a
box of parts they will pay for?
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis(a)mcmanis.com>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2000 1:15 PM
Subject: The cost of collecting debate
Recently Jeff and Marvin have been debating the
collecting cost issue
again. This was one of Jeff's salvos:
to
What I *do*
care about though, are the poor stiffs who would like to pursue
computing as a hobby, but will instead have to find something
else to do, because the prices are out of sight.
This is both true and a fiction at the same time. If you want to pursue
computer collecting as a hobby there are many underrepresented areas that
are still cheap. For example, PC/AT class computers. (aka 80286 based
machines).
These typically sell for in the $1 - $15 range at most places, they are
also available for free in quite a few places.
You can approach this particular class of machine as the point where
computers ceased being glorified "toys" and actually started being able to
do real work. If the IBM PC made it "acceptable" for mainstream business
give its employees one computer each, it was the PC/AT
that cemented this
relationship and made it possible to do work.
This was the "start" of the "Millions of standards" bifurcation in
the
computer industry, as up to this point computers were "99%" PC compatible
because everything was the same on them. PC/AT introduced us to an I/O
slot
that could support a larger memory map and that lead
to a host of new
video
controllers (several examples could be collected from
the "famous" ones
like the Orchid series and Hercules series, to the "infamous" ones.)
Analog
monitors came about to support these cards and the
very first "multisync"
monitor was introduced. [it impressed the heck out of me, even if it did
make big clicking noises as it tryed to swap in different components.]
There is research to be done, knowledge to recover, and artifacts to
collect. All at very low prices.
Then there is the understanding of Computation, as Richard Feynman and
others understood it, things like the Babbage difference engine and the
Eniac. Often you can re-create this sort of thing from scratch as a hobby
for less than it would cost to acquire an original artifact. People still
by Digi-Comp 1's at Garage Sales for $1 even when they go for >$300 on
Ebay
and elsewhere. You can make your own Digi-Comp 1 out
of plastic from plans
on the Net for about $50.
Now there are "Investment Grade" Computers
Ok, so the segment of the population that spends its disposable income on
antique trinkets has come to appreciate "old" computers. As is typical in
this type of scenario some machines become desirable because they are well
recognized while others remain anonymous. If you want one of those
machines
then you are now going to have to compete with this
group of people to
acquire one. New ones aren't being made (except for IMSAI's :-) so the
supply is fixed/dwindling. You can compete with your feet by tracking nice
pieces down (this is essentially what Antique Dealers have done forever)
or with your wallet. You can complain about how your feet are tired and
your wallet is empty, but it won't change anything.
--Chuck