I completely respect Chip collectors, in fact it takes a higher order of
interest, persistence and meticulous inventorying of chips then say Classic
Computers since they are obviously (due to form factor) more difficult to
track, locate and acquire in a pile, a desk drawer, cabinet or
scrap-heap.... they also assist the collecting community as a whole when
they go to the task to publishing their collection, along with technical
data and photo's of the chips, making everyone's involvement and enjoyment
that much more rich.
Curt
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sellam Ismail" <foo_at_siconic.com>
To: <cctalk_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2002 10:51 AM
Subject: Re: Promoting Classic Computers [was Re: Chip with holes in it]
> 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
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
> International Man of Intrigue and Danger
http://www.vintage.org
>
> * Old computing resources for business and academia at
www.VintageTech.com *
>
>
Received on Sat Nov 16 2002 - 17:17:00 GMT