> >Well, I personaly realy like to get my hands on soopered machines.
> >A ZX81 in Wonderbra configuration (harddrive, 512K Mem, etc. pp)
> >_is_ a real highlight. Of course preservation of 'pure' machines
> >is a must (and keeping the spirit in preserving average work
> >configuration), but such ubercomputer beasts (like a C64 with
> >more drillholes for switches than a 1920 switchboard and a
> >second C64 case just for add on boards, or a Spectrum in C=610
> >case, or an Atari Lighthouse) are true monuments what dedication
> >ment during the haydays of micro computing. If I had to decide
> >between lets say a ZX81 with hard drive and an Apple one, if may
> >be a tough one.
> Then you've got the S-100 bus systems of the mid-late 70's
> where nearly every single one of them was modified to some extent or
> another just due to the fact that it was something that needed to be
> done to get any kind of functionality out of it. Both my homebuilt
> S-100 machine and my SWTPc 6809 were added to over the years.
> Sometimes 'hot rodding' was just the nature of the beast and an
> everyday part of being a computer hobbyist at the time. I don't feel
> that period modifications are any less valid a configuration than a
> fresh factory machine and sometimes even more desirable because of
> how unique they can be.
well, basicly yes - only I wouldn't considere most S100 systems,
even when modified later, in this category. They are supposed to
be expanded. Like a PC with more or less add on boards isn't very
intrigueing. When stretching the similarities, a S100 is more
like a kit car - interesting but nothing unique - and not hot
rodded - otherwise even my actual Athlon system would be a hod
rod, since I did only buy the parts (as always).
It isn't so much about custom configurated, but rather custom
made - there is no ZX 81 HD controller at all, it has to be done
by some very odd kind of high tech geek - you invest more money
and time to get a sub standard solution for a way outdated system
than you may have to pay for something new, several times better.
Gruss
H.
P.S.: I'm not argueing about your systems - they may still
qualitfy by my criterias.
--
VCF Europa 2.0 am 28./29. April 2001 in Muenchen
http://www.vintage.org/vcfe
http://www.homecomputer.de/vcfe
Received on Fri Oct 27 2000 - 12:19:12 BST