In <200010151942.PAA24042_at_tbaytel.net>, on 10/15/00
at 08:50 PM, "The Forslunds" <forslund_at_tbaytel3.tbaytel.net> said:
>Hello Claude and others,
>This is my first "posting?", so I'm a bit nervous about doing this.
Don't be. Most people around here are kind except for your's truely when
he has been drinking........
>Isolation sounds like a trend up here in Canada by the replies to
>Claude's posting so far. I live in Thunder Bay, Ontario. It's a smaller
>city of about 120,000 people, and 500 miles from any larger cities
>(Winnipeg or Minneapolis). I have not found anyone here who collects the
>older technology, and many people are glad to have a way of disposing of
>their older machines that have been gathering dust. :-) However, i don't
>have room for most of the items, and have declined to take a few
>systems. :-( I have just recently joined this list, and have enjoyed
>"listening?" to the discussions. Hopefully i will be able to assist some
>of you in the future.
Welcome. Too bad you have more offers than you can deal with <grin>. I
only wish I were in the same boat....
>My focus is on older "microcomputers" at this time from about 1975 to
>the early 1980's. In 1977, i built a digital group Z-80 kit, and have
>just recently renewed my interest in older computers. Eventually, I
>would like to build a system from scratch as a learning experience, but
>have a lot to learn yet, since my focus in the past was mostly on the
>software, not the hardware.
I enjoy early micros as well and am looking for a full-blown coco system
at the moment.
>> Sometimes I think I may be the only vintage computer collector in
>> Quebec, Canada.
Sometimes I feel I'm the only one in North Carolina. Not the same, but
still frustrating.
>> When I mention I collect vintage computers, people look at me like I am
>> due for a trip in the "wacko wagon"...
I get a similar response from my wife at times.... Really though, she is
very understanding and generally supportive.
>> Computers are tough to find here (not like california...) I have managed
>> to accumulate/fix/restore approx 50 micros (all working) from the
>> 197x-198x early 1990's...lotta books, software and peripherals...
No kidding. I'd live in France before California, but the lure of the
machine makes Cali look tempting nonetheless. My freedom is more important
than my habit. I may occasionaly visit California, but I would never live
there. Bread for freedom. Don't bother, Cali is a facist deathtrap.
>> Those who feel sad for me can send me their Lisa's, TRS model IIIs and
>> Next boxes ;->
Sounds like you aren't hurting too badly for new gear but I'll keep it in
mind.
>>
>> ...things I will probably never find around here and I refuse to
>> purchase them on ebay for a zillion bucks...
That is an interesting issue I see come up often. Even though I don't
spend GOBS of money on my hobby I realize that sellers expect a profit.
How do we reconcile our habit of aquiring machines for nothing with
sometimes having to pay?
Even suppliers of religious materials such as chalices and platters of
gold for ceremonies make money on thier products. Sometimes I get the
impression that folks hate someone for making a buck on a sale of a
'sacred' article of equipment. More often I hear the person complain that
the seller is making unreasonable demands.
Greed is a two-way street. The seller displays greed sometimes by
inflating a price, and the buyer displays avarice and hate. Avarice by
wanting the gear so badly and hate because the seller places the item out
of his reach. This is called commerce.
Ed Kirby of CPB for instance is sitting on 16 VaxStation 4000/60's because
he thinks he can sell them as systems for $300.00 each. This, I have
learned is unrealistic and that something like $120 to $150 each is more
like it.
For example, a DG MV9500 might be worth $900.00 (arbitrary figure) but the
TAPES that make the machine operate are nearly priceless. What do you
then do? Hate the fellow for failing to run a free copy, or pay him the
couple of hundred dollars extra for the original tapes? DG wants $1300.00
for those same tapes. $300.00 for the scrapper's tapes is a bargain given
that. Especially if he throws in the drive and controller as part of the
bargain. There are ways and then there are ways.
>> Thanks for reading
>> Claude
Thanks for writing. Hope to hear from you again soon.
Regards,
Jeff
--
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Jeffrey S. Worley
President
Complete Computer Services, Inc.
30 Greenwood Rd.
Asheville, NC 28803
828-277-5959
THETechnoid_at_home.com
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Received on Sun Oct 15 2000 - 19:50:27 BST