Future uncollectable computers...

From: Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
Date: Fri Jul 18 17:43:51 2003

> > It does worry me that there's not a single microcomputer system made
> > today that I actually want to own....
>
> But that just leaves space for the stuff you *do* want :-)

I ran out of space about 10 years ago...

>
> > More of a problem is that modern machines are plain
> > unrepairable. Spares
> > are unavailable even now (when the machine is in production
> > -- you try
> > getting an ASIC for an Imac or similar...), so %deity knows
> > what it'll be
>
> This has been true for quite a while now and it's only going to

Is it any wonder I don't own a computer less than 10 years old....

> > like in 10 years time. Technical manuals don't exist. The chances of
> > being able to keep these machines running is minimal :-(
>
> The chances probably would not be much better even with a technical

But they might be slighlty better. A tech manual can't do any harm...

> manual! Reworking those smt devices is a skill I've not yet needed
> to acquire (but, hey, how hard can it be!) but a 768 ball(pin?) BGA
> is probably something that needs a specialist (i.e. expensive)
> workstation (and even then the success rate seems not to be

In 10 years time hackers might be able to do this at home. They certainly
won't be able to do it if the chip (or the specs of said chip) are
unavailable.

-tony
Received on Fri Jul 18 2003 - 17:43:51 BST