PDP-11 on VCM

From: William Maddox <wmaddox_at_pacbell.net>
Date: Fri Feb 27 09:11:27 2004

I would like to make it clear that the seller of the PDP-11 (the 11/20 marked 11) listed on VCM is
as far as I know a perfectly honest gentlemen and was not trying to be deceptive about the condition
of the machine he is selling. Indeed, the pictures are up in the listing for all to see. I take issue
with the description of the front panel as "very nice" if in fact it has been modified by a user, but
it is certainly a subjective matter and it appears that the seller was acting in good faith and did not
realize that his machine was unusual in this respect. He's apparently been busy with multiple
obligations, including arranging the shipment of some other much larger machines, and just hasn't
had time to deal with the 11/20. He got back to me in email yesterday, explained the situation,
and was distressed at the implication that he had been deceptive. I had him pegged as an
Ebay-style "Altairz" mercenary who didn't really know what he was selling but was holding
out for a windfall, and I my tone reflected that. I believe that was a mistake, and that he is a serious
collector as he claimed to be in his mail. A bit of Googling turned up several archival messages
that indicated prior participation in the classic computing community.

In the interests of full disclosure, I should also say that I haven't entirely lost interest in the machine
myself, and anyone who is interested should look for themselves and draw their own conclusions
about its value.

Bill Maddox
Received on Fri Feb 27 2004 - 09:11:27 GMT