...so Wed noon, someone who writes for an online personal-tech lets-make-it-whee Web site, emails me. "I was asked to write about a possible trend toward retro tech. Would you answer questions like this? 1) what's so fascinating about retro tech? Is interest increasing? 2) is retro tech practical or nostalgic? 3) does retro tech have any advantage over modern tech? You can have me email or phone you, let me know." [I'll remind readers, my Web domain is "retrotechnology.com".] Of course, I have a life, so I did not respond that same second. It was the next day, just about 24 hours later, I emailed "OK, contact me with your questions, and give me some clue about your audience. Because, most of my answers will depend on what kinds of people you are talking about." I made the obvious-to-me statement that there's different generations of people, who are involved with vintage computing. They have different points of view; the questions I was given suggest as much. Response back, in six minutes: "the editors moved up my deadline and the story already has been filed. Thanks for the offer." Thus I was given, an object lesson about modern vintage computing. Namely - there's no time. It must be now, just like modern computing and modern "life". My view, is that the preservation of vintage computing hardware and methods, is to preserve the object lessons (of development, production, business) learned then, on their own merits; and on the merits of developing technology in a resource-poor environment, which could occur again. Put another way: then, we had time but no resources. Today, we have too many resources, but no time. If this is too cryptic, you may have to think about it awhile. Herb Johnson retrotechnology.com -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net
1) what's so fascinating about retro tech? Is interest increasing?
History and memories of the old day I would guess. The interest is increasing as far as I can tell, but mostly on the 8 bit micro side. The plastic computers of the 80s. There is a pretty large game hoarding scene and those people are going after anything and everything. Perhaps a speculative bubble of some sorts similar to housing, 90s era pinball machines and beanie babies. There are a number of Nintendo carts that sell for more than they cost new, and some games in the original boxes sell for $300+. Anyone looking on craigslist for retro computing stuff I'm sure has come across the fishing posts looking for the goods.
2) is retro tech practical or nostalgic?
Nostalgic
3) does retro tech have any advantage over modern tech?
From an educational perspective easier to master the computers?
No different than classic cars.
Not completely sure what this thread is about but I thought I would add my 2 cents.
On Nov 19, 2015, at 11:45 AM, Ethan via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
1) what's so fascinating about retro tech? Is interest increasing?
History and memories of the old day I would guess.
The interest is increasing as far as I can tell, but mostly on the 8 bit micro side. The plastic computers of the 80s. There is a pretty large game hoarding scene and those people are going after anything and everything. Perhaps a speculative bubble of some sorts similar to housing, 90s era pinball machines and beanie babies. There are a number of Nintendo carts that sell for more than they cost new, and some games in the original boxes sell for $300+. Anyone looking on craigslist for retro computing stuff I'm sure has come across the fishing posts looking for the goods.
I think it is a silly question like asking... what is so interesting about history?
2) is retro tech practical or nostalgic?
Nostalgic
My interest is purely practical. If you don’t know why things are done a certain way one tends to re-invent the wheel.
3) does retro tech have any advantage over modern tech?
From an educational perspective easier to master the computers?
No different than classic cars.
Yes. Retro tech is more accessible because the thinking that makes the technology go is more accessible. Newer tech is buried under successive layers of abstraction that may even include digital rights management today. Those are my thoughts, Ben
:
Not completely sure what this thread is about but I thought I would add
my 2 cents.
It's not the answers to the questions it's the attitude of the requestor that is of note here. The point is that the person asking his questions wanted his answers NOW. Ironic because the impatience of the requester subtly answered his own questions as to why understanding computer history is important. In a way it is good that the requestor ran out of time as it saved Herb from wasting his on a person who probably would have simply copy and pasted Herb's responses without actually contemplating any of it. The requestor illustrates an unintended consequence of how computer networks have bread a generation of intellectually lazy term paper researchers. It would be fun to watch this person attempt to complete his assignment in the library using books. Ha. The questions themselves are typical, nothing unique. Bill
On 11/20/2015 06:04 AM, Ben Greenfield via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
2) is retro tech practical or nostalgic?
Nostalgic
My interest is purely practical. If you don’t know why things are done a certain way one tends to re-invent the wheel.
My interest is in both. For me it goes far (really far) beyond nostalgia...first, it's respect for how we came to be where we are today. These amazing iOS and Android devices we're so attached to didn't just leap into existence in a vacuum; their development was a process that really began in, very roughly, the 1940s. Further, as a designer, knowing where we came from better prepares me to help guide where we're going. My favorite quote: "Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being to improve and no direction is set for possible improvement: and when experience is not retained, as among savages, infancy is perpetual. Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana, 1906 -Dave -- Dave McGuire, AK4HZ New Kensington, PA
participants (5)
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Ben Greenfield -
Dave McGuire -
Ethan -
Herb Johnson -
william degnan