Minicomputer Storage Myths

From: Sam Ismail <dastar_at_crl.com>
Date: Tue Jul 22 21:03:32 1997

On Tue, 22 Jul 1997, Carl R. Friend wrote:

> In a few assorted threads I've seen under various names like "RSTS/E
> Manuals" and "Minis not 'Trendy'", several folks have put forward the
> argument that minicomputers are too large to collect easily. I have one
> word: "hogwash".
>
> Another guy gripes about putting a mini in his Honda Civic for
> transport. My wife did just that when she came home with a DG Nova 1200
> for me a few years back; it fit very comfortably in the trunk. I just
> got back from a trip to the US Midwest with two minis in two 6' bays
> in the back of my minivan (story coming on my website).

I should've known better than to say that about my Honda. My point was
that Tim was complaining that nobody wanted the stuff, but the fact is,
who wants to spend hundreds of dollars in shipping or transportation
charges? Plus he's in Canada, and you'd have to deal with customs, which
I'm sure can be gotten around. Storing the stuff is no problem as I have
probably a ton of rackmount mini and s-100 equipment in my garage right
now, and I love the stuff and enjoy collecting it. Getting it to my
garage is another story. I would absolutely love to take a Nova off of
Tim's hands but I'm not willing to spend the amount of money it would
take to ship the equipment.

> I keep three minicomputers (half-height Novas) on a kitchen counter
> underneath our coffee-pot (I really should get a picture of that). I
> also have a small rack with three of my pdp11s in it living in the
> dining-room of our house - it makes a wonderful stand-up terminal
> stand. Smaller racks can be utilised as end-tables.

Hmmm, well that's all fine and dandy if you're a bachelor or your wife
could care less what kind of crap you drag into the house. I for one
would not want to subject my wife to that. She has problem enough with
the garage full of crap.

> The bottom line is that _it's not as big a deal as it's made out
> to be_! It can be done, it should be done, and not enough people are
> doing it. The machines are disappearing - and that's a shame.

I agree. But some people have lines they draw with their collection.
Right now I'm not fully prepared to start taking in large systems (larger
than S-100 rackmounts). I'm not going to give up my living space for the
hobby. That's where I draw the line.

Sam
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Computer Historian, Programmer, Musician, Philosopher, Athlete, Writer, Jackass
Received on Tue Jul 22 1997 - 21:03:32 BST