Ebay Altair

From: foo <foo_at_siconic.com>
Date: Tue May 9 22:49:52 2000

On Tue, 9 May 2000, Jim Battle wrote:

> It is somewhat contradictory to have the position of wanting to preserve
> old computers but at the same time wanting to return to the old days,
> days when old machines were cheap but where most were trashed.
> What better way to guarantee something will be preserved than to put
> a value on it?

This is not entirely true. A lot of old machines survived not because
people thought they could make a buck or two on them but because they just
couldn't bare to throw them out! In fact I'm still receiving 20-30 year
old machines from people who have not been tainted by the eBay syndrome,
but just want their beloved old machines that they didn't have the heart
to just toss out go to a good retirement home.

Granted eBay has a lot of machines listed. But that doesn't mean eBay
necessarily coaxed them out of their closets, garages, attics, basements,
etc. Before eBay there were (and still are believe it or not) things call
flea markets and garage sales where these things still do pop up from time
to time.

> So, what do you want? To preserve these wonder old machines,
> or just have a lot of free/cheap playthings?

I pick "have a lot of free/cheap playthings". Or was that some sort of
trick question?

> And sorry, not just to pick on you Sellam, it is a question I have

Not at all ;)

> thought about a lot myself. Whenever I get the itch to pick up
> something on ebay or a swap meet, I try to really think if it is
> something I can actually spend time with, or is it just another
> butterfly in the butterfly collection.

It depends on what you intend to do with the butterflies, eh?

> I like ebay.

Heretic! :)
Received on Tue May 09 2000 - 22:49:52 BST