At 20:35 26-06-98 -0500, Doug Yowza <yowza_at_yowza.com> wrote:
>On Sat, 27 Jun 1998, Tony Duell wrote:
>
>> That could never work for me. I have a 'working' collection - machines
>> are often being used for real-world tasks (I don't really have a
>> non-classic computer), they're being investigated, hacked, tweaked,
>> repaired,etc. So machines rarely stay in the same place for very long.
>>
>> And while I have shelf after shelf of manuals, many of them are open on
>> my workbench, near this PC, etc. They're in _use_.
>
>So, how do you manage? I have about ten machines in daily use, another
>ten or so in various "project" stages, and dozens more boxed up. Other
>than my decaying neurons, I don't have a good way of knowing if I've lost
>something, which periph originally came with which machine, which box
>contains which software title, which journal describes the design of which
>doodad, etc.
>
>I'd like to tag each thing with it's own radio transmitter so I can find
>it with a homing device :-) Short of that, I figure the barcode idea
>might help (yes, I'm really just trying to find a use for these cool laser
>scanners and wands I have).
How about getting a selection of those stick-on dots that are sold at
office supply stores and color-code your items? They are about 1/4" (6mm)
diameter, come in a variety of colors, small enough to be discrete yet
seeable and are very economical (as in 'cheap'). If they need to be
removed, use Zippo lighter fluid or some other product which serves the
same purpose. Choose a single color for each machine and affix them to each
cabinet, cable set, document binder, removable component, box of parts,
etc. where practical. If more machines than number of colors, simply write
a single digit or alpha character specific only to that machine/project on
each dot in a contrasting color of ink before affixing. This works well for
me.
But using a bar code scanner, etc. is a neat use of technology and hardware
we may already own which will justify use of that lonely VAX 11/780 sitting
in the corner <g>.
--Chris
-- --
Christian Fandt, Electronic/Electrical Historian
Jamestown, NY USA
Member of Antique Wireless Association
URL:
http://www.ggw.org/freenet/a/awa/
Received on Mon Jun 29 1998 - 13:24:04 BST