-----Original Message-----
From: Rodrigo Ventura <yoda_at_isr.ist.utl.pt>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
<classiccmp_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Thursday, November 25, 1999 3:57 AM
Subject: Re: LET'S RESOLVE THIS ISSUE was (Re: Made a deal to get a
Vax6000,2 Fujitsu Supercomputers and TOPS10???)
>
> You sound like someone who burns paintings just because you
>don't have space to store them, regardless from being priceless
>Picasso's... It's not very hard to understand the following facts:
> - the majority of this list subscribers are collectors, which
>means that they like collecting certain stuff.
Picasso didn't have 40,000 people making 1,000,000 of the same painting.
Also, I am sure you are I could not go out and save *every* "$19.95 CHEAP
OIL PAINTING LIQUIDATOR" work. Yes, I would burn paintings if I was offered
more than I could handle. It's only common sense. You buy the lot for the
valuable material.
> - everyone understands the difference between "storing" and
>"collecting". It's impossible to prevent all minis from the planet
>from being destroyed -- store all obsolete minis. However, collectors
>are available to save a necessarily small percentage from destruction,
>by collecting them. They do this because they *love* it.
It's not possible. I don't think anyone owns a country bid enough to store
them. We are talking about millions of Vaxes, PCs, DGs, etc...
> - the average storage capacity of collectors is usually not
>very high. Not everyone is able to own a VAX, and those who are, can't
>hold more than 1-2 of such machines. Now compare this storage capacity
>with the rate you get minis (you said about 40-50 a year).
> - you can't expect to come here saying "I crush 40 minis a
>year" without people becoming upset. I guess it breaks the heart of
>every collector (at least it breaks mine...).
That's life. I *really* find it hard to understand why scrapping a Vax
11/780 would break your heart when there are probably at least 100,000 left
in mills out there... and no one wants them!
>
> Cheers,
>
>
>--
>
>*** Rodrigo Martins de Matos Ventura <yoda_at_isr.ist.utl.pt>
>*** Web page: http://www.isr.ist.utl.pt/~yoda
>*** Teaching Assistant and MSc Student at ISR:
>*** Instituto de Sistemas e Robotica, Polo de Lisboa
>*** Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisboa, PORTUGAL
>*** PGP fingerprint = 0119 AD13 9EEE 264A 3F10 31D3 89B3 C6C4 60C6 4585
>
Received on Thu Nov 25 1999 - 07:15:37 GMT