23 Sep
2002
23 Sep
'02
5:39 a.m.
From: "Merle K. Peirce"
I think with larger machines, there may have been a
tendency to recycle
by sale. Many older machines found homes at other, smaller companies.
you are right. I am focused on the home computer market of the '80s, were
the micros are rather small in volume and can be stored away, probably as a
foundation on a future collection (like mine).
Most of the PCs are bulky and also upgradable, expanding the lifecycle of
the actual machine at least for 10 years in some extreme cases (you could
use the PC/XT/AT box to hold a Pentium II class motherboard), something
impossible for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum or ZX81s.
The second option, is to extend lie cycle or "recycle" by software, changing
the basic use for the main home computer (PC) from gaming to router or
printer server (in SOHO configurations).