# Retrocomputing: would you buy an obsolete but beloved computer now?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrocomputing-would-you-buy-an-obsolete-but-beloved-computer-now/308518>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 16, 2005, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrocomputing-would-you-buy-an-obsolete-but-beloved-computer-now/308518 "2005-06-16T11:24:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrocomputing-would-you-buy-an-obsolete-but-beloved-computer-now/308518/21 "2005-06-17T00:50:53Z")

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The basement in the shop of my first computer job was full of LNWs, TRS-80 clones. Who would clone a Radio Shack computer? Really. Sorry I didn’t get one though. It was a kaypro shop and they were selling PCs and some 286s by the late '80s when I worked there but they were still in the CP/M business and we supported a lot of those systems.

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**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrocomputing-would-you-buy-an-obsolete-but-beloved-computer-now/308518/22 "2005-06-17T01:45:40Z")

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> [@jrfranchi](#):
>
> It still worked when last tried 3 years ago. Vintage 1983 16K computer. Yes 16K. I taught myself to program on it in basic. It also played some interesting cartridge games. Of course all saved programs were on cassette tape and there is little chance of them still working.

Got one of those in the basement now. It’s still got the quick reference card, the reference manual, the branded TI cassette recorder and audio cable and IIRC a typing tutor cartridge.

Sigh, there’s still one TV in the house I could plug it in to. hmmmmm.

Me, I’d like a NeXT cube with printer and, gasp, MEGAPIXEL display…an Amiga, A Newton 2200 (I’ve still got a 110).

I’ve got a Nokia Analog cellphone. I remember holding out a few months for a ‘cool’ ‘small’ phone to show up at the local grocery store (they were selling cellphones back then)…The sucker’s HUUUUUGE compared to my v600

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**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/retrocomputing-would-you-buy-an-obsolete-but-beloved-computer-now/308518/23 "2005-06-17T01:48:10Z")

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> [@GorillaMan](#):
>
> I’ve com across quite a few recommendations of using a 486 or even a 386 as a Linux mail server on a home network. Which actually makes sense, assuming you know what you’re doing - there’s nothing that’s going to strain the hardware, and it has plenty of benefits.

It’s not bad if you have the hardware, but I threw a leftover harddisk and video card in a BRAND NEW 2.8 Ghz Sempron, new MB, New case, New Ram for $115.

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