Joe, If your goal is primarily to build a classic, "retro" computer, the Micro-KIM or Replica 1 kits (Apple 1 clone) would be a good choices. However, I see your mention of a desire to learn some machine language coding. In that case, it might be wise to learn something that has modern applications, like coding for microcontrollers. There are a huge number of trainers, kits and development boards for those and, because they are current technology, a large number of books and other information about them. As a big plus, any coding experience you'd get would have value on a resume. The 8051 has always been a very popular and much-used microcontroller, but I'm not sure if it's still the most popular. The Atmel AVR series, especially their Mega devices, seem to be getting a lot of attention. Among the large number of board choices for that series, there's a little $20 demo board (not a kit) based upon a Mega device called the AVR Butterfly. It has an LCD display, light sensor and thermistor. You could build things around it since it isn't a kit: http://www.avrfreaks.net/index.php?module=FreaksTools&func=viewItem&… There are a whole series of other AVR-based boards to choose from and the total number of microcontroller trainers, evaluation and development boards available based upon other microcontroller series is huge. Bill ____________________________________________________________________________________ Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games. http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=monopolyherenow