new to the list

From: D. Peschel <dpeschel_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Fri Jan 8 02:44:29 1999

> After a couple of days lurking, I'm finding the endless discussion of Altair
> prices and email "formats" dreary. The former was a rather badly built piece
> of crap compared to the IMSAI (though we obviously have to acknowledge the
> Altair's historical importance - right BEHIND the Mark 8), and the latter
> has nothing to do with antique computers. I should think that the list owner
> should have clamped off that discussion some time ago.

Hi (from the list owner). :)

I usually tell people to stop eventually, though I am rather lazy about it.
Generally, I come down harder on the poltiical discussions.

The Altair-price discussions are generally considered to be on topic,
not just because they deal with classic computers, but because they deal
with changes in the hobby of _collecting_ classic computers. If you've been
looking at prices and available machines for any length of time, you can
probably tell that it just isn't easy to pick up machines that used to be
fairly readily available. (PDP-8's and -11's, for example.)

Of course people usually counter by syaing, "But only lazy/desperate/moronic
people buy from eBay exclusively!" This is true, but that doesn't mean the
rise in prices is not an alarming trend. But if you're out to make money
from collecting, as a few list members are, you may find it a welcome trend.


Maybe I should start keeping a list of subjects that are on-topic by
consensus, and those that are off-topic by consensus.

-- Derek
Received on Fri Jan 08 1999 - 02:44:29 GMT