How to thin a collection...

In article <alpine.DEB.2.00.1104190951320.9283 at slate.spiritone.com>, "Zane H. Healy" <healyzh at aracnet.com> writes: On thinning: one way you can thin your collection is to remove a whole line of collecting. For instance, I have a few microcomputers that I've acquired that aren't exactly terminal or graphics related. (These are the two areas that I actively collect.) So for me, those would be the first things to go. Also I might include items where I have a partial system and obtaining the rest of the pieces needed to make the system operational is expensive. I have an Evans & Sutherland flight simulation image generator. Getting the remainder needed to make a functioning flight simulator (gimbal platform, avionics controls, mock cockpit, projectors) is very expensive and flight simulation machines still have a vibrant secondary market. So even though that is very graphics related, its highly unlikely I'd be able to get the rest of the components needed to make it a functioning system and/or exhibit. On spares: it depends on your comfort level in repair work and the intended use of the systems. For my purposes, I intend to make working exhibits so I tend to overallocate for spares than most people. If you are comfortable at repairing boards and diagnosing components, then you may need fewer spares. Similarly, if the items in question have readily obtainable spares (like a Mac, for instance), then having an inventory of spares is more of a convenience than a critical need. For myself, SGI machines still have a readily available supply of spares for things like Indigo^2 and later, but earlier machines are really quite in short supply. So for some things I've accumulated more spares than might seem reasonable, even for my needs, because I know stuff eventually breaks and when it breaks the spares may not be available at that time. I would be interested in hearing what kind of terminals you'd like to unload, of course :-). -- "The Direct3D Graphics Pipeline" -- DirectX 9 draft available for download <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com/the-direct3d-graphics-pipeline/> Legalize Adulthood! <http://legalizeadulthood.wordpress.com>