Uncle Roger wrote:
> Except, that people may feel it's easier (and/or safer) to just destroy the
> machine than it is to try and make sure no one can read their data. What
> if some one told you, "yeah, I had one of those imsai computers, but I had
> it smashed up to make sure no one could get at my old tax returns." Not a
> pleasant thought.
It's rarely done, most people aren't that superstitious of electronic machines.
> I agree that people should be responsible for their own data, but I also
> feel that we, as collectors, need to hold ourselves to a higher standard,
> so that people will feel comfortable giving us their old machines.
If they actually gave us the machines. Most times they're swapped or sold cheaply.
> Similarly, would you tell your analyst/doctor/lawyer as much as you do, if
> you thought they might be telling everyone in the pub what you told them?
Bad similarity...no one is paying you for confidentiality.
> >camcorder at a consignment or pawn shop and the last owners left a tape of
> >their after-hours playtime in the camcorder, is it my responsibility to
> erase,
> >safeguard or return it? I think not. I feel the same should apply to personal
>
> It's your responsibility to post it on the internet! 8^)
Now we agree.
> Camcorders are reasonably well understood items; what if it were a digital
> camera? Someone might decide not to pass it on if they thought they might
> not have erased everything...
>
> Most of the people here probably know how to wipe a hard drive so it can't
> be read. (My best guess is a low-level format, then fill it with worthless
> data? Good thing I have nothing to hide!) But the average AOL user
> doesn't. When Grandpa passes on, you don't want the grandkids trashing all
> his old computers because they don't know how to make sure that no one will
> know about all the porno sites he visited on the web.
And many have had to use level 3 read/write data destruction if they've worked for
the government. If the goverment is required to insure a clean machine to the
point of even installing a new hard disk prior to public sale, why should the
average Joe be protected in his or her sloppy handling of their private matters.
If you get right down to it they risk public viewing just by installing anything
on the hard disk and connecting to the net.
> >Roger: Very nice page of your collection. A few more pics of each item and it
> >should become a very informative source for those interested in the world of
> >the obsolete (the computers, not you).
>
> I tried to get pics of each side and any important features... You think
> even more pics would be appropriate? Or do you mean pics of more computers?
Not more of the one, but a picture or two of each machine. I realize you're just
working on the site but a picture really makes the site interesting to those not
familiar with the machines. A prefect example is the dual drive on a Rainbow. How
many people can even grasp the thought of putting a floppy in right way in one
slot, upside down in the other?
> P.S., for them what was interested, I'm still working (in my Copious Spare
> Time) on documenting the programs I use to generate the pages. I'll post
> when I get them finished and uploaded.
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Russ Blakeman
RB Custom Services / Rt. 1 Box 62E / Harned, KY USA 40144
Phone: (502) 756-1749 Data/Fax:(502) 756-6991
Email: rhblake_at_bbtel.com or rhblake_at_bigfoot.com
Website:
http://members.tripod.com/~RHBLAKE/
ICQ # 1714857
* Parts/Service/Upgrades and more for MOST Computers*
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Received on Tue Apr 07 1998 - 01:25:37 BST