The cost of collecting debate

From: Charles P. Hobbs <transit_at_lerctr.org>
Date: Tue Jun 27 15:52:29 2000

On Tue, 27 Jun 2000, Chuck McManis wrote:
>
> This is both true and a fiction at the same time. If you want to pursue
> computer collecting as a hobby there are many underrepresented areas that
> are still cheap. For example, PC/AT class computers. (aka 80286 based
> machines).

Anything else? (I've stuck mostly with 8-bit machines from the
80's...Apples, Commodores, etc. and generally pay about $25 on
average per cpu..and, as far as I can tell, prices on these machines are
falling. (Often, though, I've gotten stuff like this for free, just
haul it away before it hits the trash can)

Of course, there are anomalies, like the $700 TRS-80 we discussed earlier.
(But that predates E-bay...check out some back issues of "Computer
Shopper" from the early 90's, and try to find all the Timex Sinclairs
someone was trying to foist off for $500+)

[...]
>
> Now there are "Investment Grade" Computers
>
> Ok, so the segment of the population that spends its disposable income on
> antique trinkets has come to appreciate "old" computers. As is typical in
> this type of scenario some machines become desirable because they are well
> recognized while others remain anonymous.

Those are the usual suspects, Imsai, Altair, Apple I. But of course, there
are a number of less well known machines: the SWTPC, the single boards
like the KIM and AIM...

An aside: It's amazing, how some people over on E-bay, will add "Imsai
Altair" to descriptions of all these non-descript S-100 computer boxes and
parts. Of course, nobody is fooled, and the prices stay low. (Same with
collecting synthesizers. People will tack on "ARP Moog" to a description
of some no-name keyboard and expect the world to be impressed...
Received on Tue Jun 27 2000 - 15:52:29 BST