[vcf-midatlantic] our new museum -- micro exhibit -- pick 28!

[J. Alexander Jacocks]

On Friday, November 6, 2015, Evan Koblentz via vcf-midatlantic <
vcf-midatlantic at lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:

> >> This kind of thing is a hard decision. I asked myself, in the grand
> scheme of microcomputer evolution, how historically important is (for
> example) the Atari 800 vs all the other 8-bit consumer micros? One could
> ask the same question about (for example) the TI-99/4A. If either of these
> didn't exist, would anything be different today? What did either of these
> bring to the table that others didn't?
>
> By the way, the reason I thought to include the TI system is because of
> its unique-ish expansion interface.
>

My thoughts:

I agree with the inclusion of the PS/2, but the model 50 is an 80286.  I'd
suggest a model 80, and to have it run OS/2 1.x.  Though they didn't win,
in the end, both were important developments.

As far as the Amiga goes, there are good arguments for both the 500 (sales
volume) and the 1000 (first), but I would pick the 1000, personally.

I would also agree that the PC Jr. can be dispensed with, for the first
group.  As far as a Windows 3.1 system, how about the Compaq Deskpro 386?
Quite a significant machine, if we have one.

Last, I'd switch out the Mac Portable for a PowerBook 100/140/170.  The
Portable is neat, but they are the true first Mac laptops that sold any
numbers.

- Alex