computer sales -- now only on e-bay???

From: Christopher Smith <csmith_at_amdocs.com>
Date: Tue May 21 09:35:07 2002

> -----Original Message-----
> From: R. D. Davis [mailto:rdd_at_rddavis.org]

> It seems that way. I remember a time when one could find a wide
> variety of classic computers advertised on Usenet newsgroups, for sale
> to the first person to make a reasonable, or not so reasonable, offer
> or pay the advertised price. Some of it was free plus shipping. I've

Are you saying that doesn't happen any more?

> rather try to conduct their own private auctions or else they post ads
> mentioning that they're selling the equipment on e-bay; we see this
> happening on classiccmp as well.

"Private auctions?" If you mean selling at a price of "best offer,"
that's probably perfectly reasonable for something of which you can't
decide the value.

As for posting an add for an ebay auction, I won't say they can't do it,
but it annoys me. If I wanted to go to ebay to find the stuff, I would.

> One would think that, like the PDP-11s etc. were several years ago,
> the AS/400, Aviion, VAX 4000 and Alpha systems, etc. would now be

Perhaps it's a "right place, right time" thing. My Aviion was free.
Needs something done to repair the clamps in the SIMM socket -- I
haven't really got the equipment to solder a SIMM socket, or I'd rip one
out of a peesee mainboard for this thing.

Of course, it's difficult to find DG/UX for one, once you _have_ this
Aviion. :)

I've seen VAXStation 4000 systems for very reasonable (sub $100) prices,
which is fine, considering how many of them are still in use.

You can likely pick up free CISC AS/400s.

> Perhaps a number of things: the emphasis on recycling, too many
> collectors seeking collectors' items as opposed to hackish toys, sales
> of scrap to china, etc.

Well, it's kind of conceited to think that everyone wants to be a
"computer collector" these days ;) I think the other points -- especially
the recycling bit -- are right on. The solution, of course, is to find
out where is your local recycling center, and to establish a relationship
with somebody there. Many have no problems about selling computer-related
trash, especially when they can get more for it than the could by recycling
it. If you'll pay them $20 for that VAXStation 4000, you'd probably get it.

Chris


Christopher Smith, Perl Developer
Amdocs - Champaign, IL

/usr/bin/perl -e '
print((~"\x95\xc4\xe3"^"Just Another Perl Hacker.")."\x08!\n");
'
 
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Received on Tue May 21 2002 - 09:35:07 BST