Why do some of us collect old computers ?

From: Paul Braun <nerdware_at_laidbak.com>
Date: Sat Oct 24 22:25:02 1998

For me, it's because I find it fascinating to watch an industry grow up that I was
around for the beginning (at least pc's).

Some of the machines in my collection were ones that I always wanted but
could never afford. I lusted after a KIM-1 when I was in high school, but couldn't
afford one. Now, I have two and one belonged to Stan Ockers, one of the co-
authors of "The First Book of KIM" and it was used to debug and print out the
code listings used in the book. Apple II's were out of my reach as were Macs.
Now, I own a dozen or so.

The main focus of my collection is education. I exhibit at area libraries and I'm
talking to local schools about giving presentations to their CompSci classes.
Too many kids (man, now I sound like an old guy.............) have no clue about
where their fancy PII 3d DVD-enhanced boxes actually came from. (Of course
the kids who use Macs are a much brighter group overall............oh, stop it.)

I just feel that to better appreciate today's technology you should have an
understanding of where it came from. Plus, having tangible examples always
makes history palatable for me.

Actually, all the above is really just fancy words to justify my incurable case of
packrattitis, and so far my wife is buying it.........



Paul Braun
NerdWare -- The History of the PC and the Nerds who brought it to you.
nerdware_at_laidbak.com
www.laidbak.com/nerdware
Received on Sat Oct 24 1998 - 22:25:02 BST