Making the decision to specialize on a particular classic comp. arch?

From: Roger Merchberger <zmerch_at_30below.com>
Date: Sat Apr 24 10:13:56 2004

Rumor has it that Thomas Dzubin may have mentioned these words:

>I'm wondering if anyone else has this problem.
>For years and years, I've basically collected anything
>non-Wintel old-ish (older than ten years) computer-related stuff.
>I've got quite a few systems which aren't really "rare" like Commodore
>64, Radio Shack Cocos & MC-10s, TI-99s, etc. etc.

Guilty.

>My basement is a mess and I'm starting to think about scaling back by
>selling or giving away some of the non-DEC common stuff.
>(I regularily see Commodore 64s on eBay for $20)

Been there, done that, still got the scars. I'm taking a hard look at what
I'll actually have time to tinker with within the next 15 years, and if
it's something I don't think I'll have time for (and common as dirt), I'm
getting rid of it.

>Is this specializing the right approach?

Only you can answer that for yourself. ;-)

> Am I likely going to be kicking
>myself in fifteen years because I *had* a working Radio Shaft Colour
>Computer and I eBay-ed it for $10?

I would doubt that, they're so common that I doubt they'll be "rare"
anytime soon...

>Also in my mind is the possible demise of analog TV and it may not be
>possible to find a TV with a composite-input to plug my C64 into in
>fifteen years if everything (including broadcast) is digital

Nope - there are NTSC -> VGA upconverters you can get for under $80USD. I'm
looking to get one so I can turn my 17" LCD into a NTSC monitor for my
computers & S-Video display for satellite/DVD player.

It's tough to totally get rid of a standard that's been around since the TV
industry was in it's infancy... Heck, I can still hook a 360K floppy drive
to my Dual Athlon 2600+ mongobox, and read floppies...

Laterz,
Roger "Merch" Merchberger

--
Roger "Merch" Merchberger   | A new truth in advertising slogan
sysadmin, Iceberg Computers | for MicroSoft: "We're not the oxy...
zmerch_at_30below.com          |                         ...in oxymoron!"
Received on Sat Apr 24 2004 - 10:13:56 BST

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