• Vintage Computer Fair

    From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to All on Sun Aug 7 09:34:00 2022
    I went to the Vintage Computer Fair this weekend. Quite a bit smaller than when I went a couple of years ago, which is to be expected.

    What I didn't expect was exorbitant prices for used crap - lots of semi- broken crap, and horrendously yellow overpriced retro PCs, like a $400 IBM
    PC, and $180 13" CRT monitor.

    I think of all of the 8088/80286 crap that I tossed out over the years, I
    wish I'd had storage space for them all.

    Notably, I had an IBM PC XT, a Compaq Portable II, an AT&T 6300, and an Osborne 1 that I wish I'd kept. Oh, and a generic 286 desktop with 4 mb of
    RAM that I set up a MINIX server on back in 1995.


    ... Remove specifics and convert to ambiguities
    --- MultiMail/DOS v0.52
    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)
  • From Utopian Galt@21:4/108 to Poindexter Fortran on Sun Aug 7 11:45:21 2022
    BY: poindexter FORTRAN(21:4/122)


    What I didn't expect was exorbitant prices for used crap - lots of semi-

    broken crap, and horrendously yellow overpriced retro PCs, like a $400
    IBM
    PC, and $180 13" CRT monitor.
    old video games are the same way now.
    SNES 145 BUCKS. Turbo grafix 16- 275


    --- WWIV 5.5.1.3261
    * Origin: inland utopia * california * iutopia.duckdns.org:2023 (21:4/108)
  • From Spectre@21:3/101 to poindexter FORTRAN on Mon Aug 8 06:14:00 2022
    I think of all of the 8088/80286 crap that I tossed out over the years, I wish I'd had storage space for them all.

    I'm not sure even with todays crazy prices that the cost of storage for the last 30 years would be covered :) I had a mountain of 286's every time I needed more HD Space I'd hook another one up to the network <chuckle>.

    So I'd probably have had 5 x 286, 2 x 386, 2 x Apple IIgs and 1 x Apple IIc....Out of that lot I really only miss one of the IIgs' it had lots of
    loot in it.

    Spec


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  • From Spectre@21:3/101 to Utopian Galt on Mon Aug 8 06:16:00 2022
    old video games are the same way now. SNES 145 BUCKS. Turbo grafix

    Now you say something :P I just gave away 4 games and a controller for postage....

    Spec


    *** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
    --- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
    * Origin: A camel is a horse designed by a committee. (21:3/101)
  • From paulie420@21:2/150 to poindexter FORTRAN on Sun Aug 7 18:23:27 2022
    What I didn't expect was exorbitant prices for used crap - lots of semi- broken crap, and horrendously yellow overpriced retro PCs, like a $400
    IBM PC, and $180 13" CRT monitor.

    I hate hearing more and more about this. Its not really the fauly of the sellers, BUT I do remember - even just a couple years ago - that these events were still about 'sharing' the retro tech; even tho the prices were rising.

    Seems like the more we get deeper into the retro craze that the community ends up hurting. Meh.



    |07p|15AULIE|1142|07o
    |08.........

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 2022/07/15 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: 2o fOr beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)
  • From nblade@21:3/170 to poindexter FORTRAN on Mon Aug 8 15:01:49 2022
    What I didn't expect was exorbitant prices for used crap - lots of semi- broken crap, and horrendously yellow overpriced retro PCs, like a $400
    IBM PC, and $180 13" CRT monitor.


    This is the sort of thing that I noticed in HAM radio events I've been to over 15 years. People having high prices on used radios that I could buy new for about $10 more. Or even as you say broken stuff for stupid prices. In some ways I think the HAM radio stuff is even worse because it seems the attitude is "I know what I got and I know what it's worth" even thought the item they have isn't worth half of what they are asking for.

    In some ways, I think people just no longer expect stuff to depreciate. Or they really don't want to get rid of stuff. Or they figure if some fool eventually buys it as thier asking pricing, then hey bad from them, good for me. At any rate, I expect that sort of thing to continue for the forseeable future.

    ... You can learn many things from children... like how much patience you have

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/12/24 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: RVs and RPGs BBS (21:3/170)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to paulie420 on Mon Aug 8 08:01:00 2022
    paulie420 wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

    Seems like the more we get deeper into the retro craze that the
    community ends up hurting. Meh.

    I'm more of a "3 generations back" kind of guy and not a "retro computer"
    guy - the sad thing is that for the price of a PC XT you could probably get
    a handful of single-core pentium systems.


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  • From doctor wade@21:3/105 to poindexter FORTRAN on Fri Aug 12 12:26:19 2022

    On 07 Aug 2022, poindexter FORTRAN said the following...
    Notably, I had an IBM PC XT, a Compaq Portable II, an AT&T 6300, and an Osborne 1 that I wish I'd kept. Oh, and a generic 286 desktop with 4 mb

    I had the AT&T PC6300 as well. Ran my first BBS on it. Was an expensive machine back in the 80's. Good times!

    ... Press SPACEBAR once to abort, or twice to save changes

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    * Origin: The Lab BBS (21:3/105)
  • From Darklord@21:3/171 to poindexter FORTRAN on Wed Aug 10 15:14:38 2022
    A handful of us from the Atari side of the BBS scene are supposed to be
    going to VCF Midwest in September. Three of us went last year and we had
    a blast. I'm hoping for more of the same this year. :)


    /\
    Dark><Lord
    \/

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    * Origin: STar Fleet HQ - Real Atari! bbs.sfhqbbs.org:5983 (21:3/171.0)
  • From Commodore Clifford@21:3/171 to poindexter FORTRAN on Thu Aug 11 00:03:48 2022
    On 07 Aug 22 09:34:00 poindexter FORTRAN wrote...

    I went to the Vintage Computer Fair this weekend. Quite a bit smaller
    than when I went a couple of years ago, which is to be expected.

    What I didn't expect was exorbitant prices for used crap - lots of
    semi- broken crap, and horrendously yellow overpriced retro PCs,
    like a $400 IBM PC, and $180 13" CRT monitor.

    I think of all of the 8088/80286 crap that I tossed out over the
    years, I wish I'd had storage space for them all.

    Notably, I had an IBM PC XT, a Compaq Portable II, an AT&T 6300, and
    an Osborne 1 that I wish I'd kept. Oh, and a generic 286 desktop
    with 4 mb of RAM that I set up a MINIX server on back in 1995.

    ... Remove specifics and convert to ambiguities --- MultiMail/DOS
    v0.52 * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power.
    (21:4/122)

    To which Commodore Clifford replies...

    Which VCF was it? Hoping to still hit VCF Midwest in September.

    --- RATSoft/FIDO v09.14.95 [JetMail 1.01]
    * Origin: STar Fleet HQ - Real Atari! bbs.sfhqbbs.org:5983 (21:3/171.0)
  • From Commodore Clifford@21:3/171 to paulie420 on Thu Aug 11 00:06:20 2022
    On 07 Aug 22 18:23:27 paulie420 wrote...

    What I didn't expect was exorbitant prices for used crap - lots
    of semi- broken crap, and horrendously yellow overpriced retro
    PCs, like a $400 IBM PC, and $180 13" CRT monitor.

    I hate hearing more and more about this. Its not really the fauly of
    the sellers, BUT I do remember - even just a couple years ago - that
    these events were still about 'sharing' the retro tech; even tho the
    prices were rising.

    Seems like the more we get deeper into the retro craze that the
    community ends up hurting. Meh.



    |07p|15AULIE|1142|07o |08.........

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 2022/07/15 (Linux/64) * Origin: 2o fOr
    beeRS bbS>>20ForBeers.com:1337 (21:2/150)

    To which Commodore Clifford replies...

    But it's a double edged sword in a way. Yeah, things are way more
    expensive... but if you're really into it, you had a lot of that anyway.

    The interest renewal has it's own benefits. Authors of old software
    revisting some of their works. BBS'ing getting a renewal of interest (I
    put this one back up in 2013, and back then it wasn't uncommon to go weeks/months even without a call!... now if I don't get a call every few
    hours, I'm checking to see if something is wrong! Not to mention
    POSTING!)


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  • From Commodore Clifford@21:3/171 to nblade on Thu Aug 11 00:11:30 2022
    On 08 Aug 22 15:01:49 nblade wrote...

    What I didn't expect was exorbitant prices for used crap - lots
    of semi- broken crap, and horrendously yellow overpriced retro
    PCs, like a $400 IBM PC, and $180 13" CRT monitor.


    This is the sort of thing that I noticed in HAM radio events I've
    been to over 15 years. People having high prices on used radios that
    I could buy new for about $10 more. Or even as you say broken stuff
    for stupid prices. In some ways I think the HAM radio stuff is even
    worse because it seems the attitude is "I know what I got and I know
    what it's worth" even thought the item they have isn't worth half of
    what they are asking for.

    In some ways, I think people just no longer expect stuff to
    depreciate. Or they really don't want to get rid of stuff. Or they
    figure if some fool eventually buys it as thier asking pricing, then
    hey bad from them, good for me. At any rate, I expect that sort of
    thing to continue for the forseeable future.

    ... You can learn many things from children... like how much patience
    you have

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 2021/12/24 (Linux/64) * Origin: RVs and
    RPGs BBS (21:3/170)

    To which Commodore Clifford replies...

    I've said it so many times on Atari sites.... things are worth what
    they're worth.

    If I want to sell something for $1000, you might not think it's worth it.
    But if someone wants to buy it and pay $1000, then... it's worth $1000, period.

    You might disagree, but the universe doesn't care. (I don't necessarily
    mean you personally, by the way)

    So many people get uptight because they think something is "old" and not
    worth what a seller is asking, but if someone is willing to buy it, then
    that is what it's worth. If they aren't, then the price has to go down
    if they really want to sell it. But too many think that just because
    it's "old junk" the prices are too high.

    But then in reflection... well... they're mad because they want it, and
    can't afford it.

    But they still want it... and that's where the value comes from.

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  • From Commodore Clifford@21:3/171 to Darklord on Thu Aug 11 00:14:48 2022
    On 10 Aug 22 15:14:38 Darklord wrote...

    A handful of us from the Atari side of the BBS scene are supposed to
    be going to VCF Midwest in September. Three of us went last year and
    we had a blast. I'm hoping for more of the same this year. :)

    To which Commodore Clifford replies...

    Maybe we should plan a dinner event for fsxNet?!?!?

    --- RATSoft/FIDO v09.14.95 [JetMail 1.01]
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  • From Darklord@21:3/171 to Commodore Clifford on Wed Aug 17 11:43:02 2022
    On 11 Aug 22 00:03:48 Commodore Clifford wrote...

    To which Commodore Clifford replies...

    Which VCF was it? Hoping to still hit VCF Midwest in September.

    To which Darklord replies...

    Me too! :)


    /\
    Dark><Lord
    \/

    --- RATSoft/FIDO v09.14.95 [JetMail 1.01]
    * Origin: STar Fleet HQ - Real Atari! bbs.sfhqbbs.org:5983 (21:3/171.0)
  • From Darklord@21:3/171 to Commodore Clifford on Wed Aug 17 11:49:56 2022
    On 11 Aug 22 00:14:48 Commodore Clifford wrote...

    On 10 Aug 22 15:14:38 Darklord wrote...

    A handful of us from the Atari side of the BBS scene are supposed
    to be going to VCF Midwest in September. Three of us went last
    year and we had a blast. I'm hoping for more of the same this
    year. :)

    To which Commodore Clifford replies...

    Maybe we should plan a dinner event for fsxNet?!?!?

    --- RATSoft/FIDO v09.14.95 [JetMail 1.01] * Origin: STar Fleet HQ -
    Real Atari! bbs.sfhqbbs.org:5983 (21:3/171.0)

    To which Darklord replies...

    Get enough interested people and anything is possible, I reckon. :)


    /\
    Dark><Lord
    \/

    --- RATSoft/FIDO v09.14.95 [JetMail 1.01]
    * Origin: STar Fleet HQ - Real Atari! bbs.sfhqbbs.org:5983 (21:3/171.0)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to Commodore Clifford on Mon Aug 22 09:09:00 2022
    Commodore Clifford wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

    Which VCF was it? Hoping to still hit VCF Midwest in September.

    West. It's hosted at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA - a great venue in its own right with a working PDP-1 and IBM 1401 and many
    static displays.


    ... What else have you hidden from me?
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    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)
  • From Commodore Clifford@21:3/171 to Darklord on Fri Aug 19 23:42:26 2022
    On 17 Aug 22 11:43:02 Darklord wrote...

    On 11 Aug 22 00:03:48 Commodore Clifford wrote...

    To which Commodore Clifford replies...

    Which VCF was it? Hoping to still hit VCF Midwest in September.

    To which Darklord replies...

    Me too! :)

    To which Commodore Clifford replies...


    Alas..... car on the fritz again... and this time the mechanic says it's
    not worth it. (It is 21 years old). But he's afraid once he starts, the
    frame is so rusted out that it will just get worse.

    Really not expecting it, since the body looks pretty good.

    --- RATSoft/FIDO v09.14.95 [JetMail 1.01]
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  • From Darklord@21:3/171 to Commodore Clifford on Sun Aug 21 12:39:38 2022
    On 19 Aug 22 23:42:26 Commodore Clifford wrote...

    To which Commodore Clifford replies...

    Alas..... car on the fritz again... and this time the mechanic says
    it's not worth it. (It is 21 years old). But he's afraid once he
    starts, the frame is so rusted out that it will just get worse.

    Really not expecting it, since the body looks pretty good.

    To which Darklord replies...

    Hmm, are you still going to be able to make it? I'm hoping too. It looks like I'll be using my 2006 Trailblazer to get to the Lexington, KY
    airport, which is about 2-2.5 hours from here, as my son won't be able to
    drive me this year...


    /\
    Dark><Lord
    \/

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    * Origin: STar Fleet HQ - Real Atari! bbs.sfhqbbs.org:5983 (21:3/171.0)
  • From Commodore Clifford@21:3/171 to Darklord on Mon Aug 22 23:36:16 2022
    On 21 Aug 22 12:39:38 Darklord wrote...

    On 19 Aug 22 23:42:26 Commodore Clifford wrote...

    To which Commodore Clifford replies...

    Alas..... car on the fritz again... and this time the mechanic
    says it's not worth it. (It is 21 years old). But he's afraid
    once he starts, the frame is so rusted out that it will just get
    worse.

    Really not expecting it, since the body looks pretty good.

    To which Darklord replies...

    Hmm, are you still going to be able to make it? I'm hoping too.
    It looks like I'll be using my 2006 Trailblazer to get to the
    Lexington, KY airport, which is about 2-2.5 hours from here, as my
    son won't be able to drive me this year...

    To which Commodore Clifford replies...

    It's not looking good.
    And if I can make it, it's not likely I can drive there, so I'll have to
    make other arrangements... it's not looking like it's worth the trouble.

    --- RATSoft/FIDO v09.14.95 [JetMail 1.01]
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  • From Darklord@21:3/171 to Commodore Clifford on Thu Aug 25 13:11:30 2022
    On 22 Aug 22 23:36:16 Commodore Clifford wrote...

    To which Commodore Clifford replies...

    It's not looking good. And if I can make it, it's not likely I can
    drive there, so I'll have to make other arrangements... it's not
    looking like it's worth the trouble.

    To which Darklord replies...

    Well, you should make other arrangements then. Look at all the great
    stuff you'll be missing. Not to mention the (semi-questionable) honor of meeting Atari notables, legends and myths, such as Amis and myself... :)


    /\
    Dark><Lord
    \/

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