On Sat, 16 Nov 2002, Jim Kearney wrote:
> Sellam, I don't really think this happens very frequently. I watch the chip
> auctions on eBay closely because I sell some there occasionally (gasp!), and
> the majority of ICs there are rescued from some drawer or old inventory.
I understand and find no problem with this at all. I'm merely responding
to "John Galt"'s claims that the whole of the computer collecting
community hates chip collectors. I won't go that far, but I will say that
I personally find Mr. "Galt" to be a dweeb.
> The fact is that working equipment is usually more valuable than the chip
> alone, except in rare cases like that C8080. And a lot of equipment that
> contained these chips is either already broken up or of little historical
> value. Personally, I've never sold a "pull" from a working (or interesting)
> board. They've all been from trashed industrial controllers or the like.
That's fine. And even if you did, that's your perogative. I just don't
agree with it, and I don't really think there is much room for tolerance
of that sort of habit on this list.
> I suppose that any chip being sold helps build a market, but that's not
> going to go away because of disapproval here. Better to try and channel the
> interest in the chips and their history past the "sitting in a box" stage, I
> think, which was one of my motivations for the 8008 project.
That's an excellent suggestion, and nothing I said should be construed as
being anti-chip collector. In fact, I am not. It is this guy who goes
around calling himself "John Galt" that is trying to give me that
reputation.
In fact, "John" inadvertently sent me an e-mail in which he gave an
indication that he was going around smearing my name to folks as someone
who detests chip collectors. He is surely confusing my contempt for
him alone with condemnation for an entire community of hobbyists.
Not that I should have to, but I will go on record right now to say that I
find nothing wrong with collecting and preserving chips, AS LONG AS A
MACHINE IS NOT DESTROYED IN THE PURSUIT OF THAT HOBBY (which is what I've
been saying all along).
I will not have "John Galt" twist my words any more. The next time I see
his sorry ass impugning my reputation I will take action.
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
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Received on Sat Nov 16 2002 - 16:49:00 GMT