IMHO, it's arrogant to think that ANY old computers (other than a few very
rare exceptions) are all that "valuable". If all the TRS-80s, ALTAIRS,
SWTPs, all the documentation, and software, etc... were to disappear
tomorrow, life as we know it would not change.
The reason that I collect is that I enjoy tinkering with and restoring old
machines. It has nothing to do with monitary gain, historical preservation,
mentoring children about the "old ways", or saving the world from the loss
of some irreplacable techno-saur. With the exception of "monitary gain" all
the other reasons above are BS!
Frankly I do have enough money to buy almost any computer I want and I do
buy from E-Bay. I also buy from garage sales, flee markets, thrift stores,
and other collectors. I have driven as much as 800 miles to pick up a system
that I particularily wanted but, I have NEVER paid too much. I've always
paid EXACTLY what I was willing to pay. The good thing about forums like
Ebay is that they give you the opportunity to set the price that you are
wiling to pay. If someone else is willing to pay more, so be it.
Sure I've been disapppointed because I didn't get a system that I was
bidding on but, so what. By the same token, I found a system that is the
only surviving member of it's species for $50. Is it irreplacable? Sure it's
irreplacable because there aren't any more. Would it really matter if I
tossed it in the trash? Maybe to a few people on this list but other than
that... not really.
Before anyone goes on another rant about throwing a machine in the trash,
let's take a poll:
Assuming I was to offer it for free, who on this list (other than captain
napalm who's only 10 miles away) would drive to South Florida to pick it up?
Steve Robertson
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Received on Tue Jun 27 2000 - 18:46:21 BST