Re: Just wondering...

On 6/2/25 4:58 PM, Captain Nemo wrote:

On Mon, 2 Jun 2025 11:38:49 -0500, John wrote:
 

I get it that the youngsters don't have the old machines, as they seem
to expend a lot of effort recreating workalikes.

 I don't know about others, but part of my interest in vintage machines was
to learn about computers in general.  And the old machines are simpler
with more discrete components - not everything bundled into one chip that
you can't modify.
 

100% agree!  I've met many clueless youngsters.  Or, even worse, those whose education consisted of web searches and YT videos.
I call it the 'Swiss cheese effect'.  Gaping holes in their knowledge because they didn't know what questions to ask. And they come off as they know what they are talking about because they simply don't know yet what they are missing. 'Poseur' is sometimes an appropriate appellation.
Some seem to think the totality of computer science is learning to code in Python.  Make me cringe.  I'm the old geezer that gives Heathkit ET-3400's to kids for Christmas.  :)

So... where have the machines gone?
When grandad dies, does he leave them to a museum?

 eBay, estate sales, etc.
 Plenty at the Vintage Computer Festivals.
 As I get older, I'm making plans to liquidate my collection at some
point.  I'll probably get a table at a VCF near me and sell them, with the
assurance that they are going to people who know what they are.
 Not perfect, but it's the best that I think is humanly possible.
 

I'm in the same boat.  I've collected/restored machines since the 90's and properly seeing to their disposition would be a time consuming chore.  Even arranging transport to a (somewhat) local VCF entails many details and layers of protection. And I don't fancy lugging them up to a hotel room or keeping them in a vehicle overnight.  If I had a few small laptops, OK, but I have mainly big S-100 boxes. Maybe I should start working out more?

It seems only a few years ago there were many posts here.
Now it's dead quiet.

 Probably because Google stopped accepting new messages.  Many BBSs (yes,
they still exist) were using Google as a message-base-Usenet gateway and
the amount of spam was getting pretty bad in some groups.  So Google
turned it off.

Classic case of putting all your eggs in one basket.
And trusting a company like Google.
I've had good results with the VCFed forums.
But, frankly, a lot of the traffic is the newer machines (Apple,Atari,Commodore, etc.) and that doesn't interest me a whit.
Even back in the day, I viewed these 'mass market' machines with a degree of contempt. They were for those who didn't know which end of a soldering iron to hold.  Business wise, it was the right move for them, of course.  But for me, it was just a rewarding hobby.  So I guess you could say I prefer 'hobby computers' to 'home computers'.  And I still tinker to this day.
-J