On Mon, 23 Aug 1999, Tony Duell wrote:
> I suspect the reason why fakes of old computers don't exist is that in almost
> all cases it would cost more to make the fake than the machine is worth.
> If custom silicon is involved, then there's no way of making a perfect
> copy without a lot of cash/resources (yes, you could put the same
> functionality into an FPGA or something, and the machine would work the
> same way, but it would look totally different inside). Even when all the
> parts are standard and available, it's not financially sensible to fake
> an old machine.
Well, an Apple-1 could be faked for a reasonably moderate amount of effort
for a rather large return ($5K+). I know there are some parts no logner
available, like (was it the) shift register? But still, enough searching
in electronics surplus shops would eventually turn those parts up. A
couple or three or four replicas could be produced and someone could end
up with between $20K and $40K.
> The exception may be for things like the Apple 1, which is fairly simple,
> almost all standard (and easy-to-get) parts (the major problem being the
> MOS shift registers in the video system), and which attracts a very high
> price. I am suprised that nobody has started making reproductions (or
> even fakes) of that machine.
I really should read the entire message before I add my comment :)
Consider that a Mark-8 is probably very simple to re-produce (save for the
8008 chip) but could sell for upwards of $1K each on the current ebay
market frenzy. The original PCB layouts are still available too. Same
goes for a Scelbi.
Sellam Alternate e-mail: dastar_at_siconic.com
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Received on Mon Aug 23 1999 - 15:08:22 BST