In message <20041124154031.Q41898_at_shell.lmi.net>
Fred Cisin <cisin_at_xenosoft.com> wrote:
> My neighbors often discard computers, although admittedly rarely laptops.
I've had the same experience -
Them> "Would you like this computer?"
Me> "What is it?"
Them> "Um.. 386-25 with 1MB of RAM"
Me> "To tell the truth, I don't collect PCs, they're not that rare, or even
particularly useful."
Them> "Oh, OK. I've got a ZX81 you can have for fifty quid. Or a C64 for ?95"
Them> "They're going in the bin tomorrow, so let me know before then, ok?"
See my point?
> Therefore, the computer is cheaper and easier to obtain than components.
Agreed. I've got, what, three PC laptops and two Acorn A4s. The lowest-spec
PC laptop has been earmarked for testing various bits of hardware, the A4s
are used roughly once in a blue moon (one needs a new floppy drive, though).
So far the most I've hooked up to the high-spec (relatively speaking) PC
laptop is an Ethernet card and the EPROM programmer.
> 'Course I could get components by taking apart the discarded computers,
> but I seem to recall that you didn't approve of rendering working machines
> inoperable to get parts.
I wouldn't object to ripping PCs apart - again, common as dirt. I would
cringe at the sight of someone ripping apart a perfectly good ZX81, and if
someone dared destroy an Acorn System-1 (or anything of a similar rarity or
vintage), I'd probably offer the owner a few quid and buy the machine before
they nuked it. They get beer money, I get some more historical computer gear
to preserve.
Current rarest machine: a Jupiter Ace that needs major motherboard repairs.
Assuming I can get the m/b back that is :)
If anyone's got a Jupiter Ace that they want rid of, I'm listening :). Same
applies to MOS KIMs, Synertek SYMs/SY-VIMs, Rockwell AIM65s, that sort of
thing.
Speaking of which, iirc someone offered me a SYM-1 a while back.. they
wanted somewhere in the region of $900 for it. Last I heard, it hit the
dumpster. Real shame - then again, their property, their choice :-/
Later.
--
Phil. | Acorn Risc PC600 Mk3, SA202, 64MB, 6GB,
philpem_at_philpem.me.uk | ViewFinder, 10BaseT Ethernet, 2-slice,
http://www.philpem.me.uk/ | 48xCD, ARCINv6c IDE, SCSI
... Smash forehead against keyboard to continue...
Received on Wed Nov 24 2004 - 18:23:42 GMT