When I think about my hobbies, one common trend I’ve noticed is that much of them involve, for on reason or another, me desiring to keep things that do work doing what they do. Hell, its also my job, actually – much of my day to day game store work is actually repairing old game consoles and hell, even old computers, getting them back into a shape at least somewhat like what they were originally or, alternately, upgrading them (to an acceptable degree) for more modern usage.
For other things I collect ( non video game / computer type stuff, which we will get into in 2018) I still find myself fighting against time and nature to keep some old machines, some of which are nearing 100 year in age, operational. Some are in better shape than others, and sure, I’ve broken as many things as I’ve fixed, but still, the spirit is there.
The motherboard of my Commodore 128 computer, made in 1985 and still working fine. It has one hell of a story to tell, to boot.
Hell, things you would think about, like a VCR – who cares about those? But I find myself fixing them when they break, all because I want it to last for those interested in it in the future. While most people don’t care and move on, and advance with technology (I do of course upgrade computers regularly, for example) some of us do, or become those kinds of people who take an interest in what once was – especially things we never got to experience, yet were once the standard. Typewriters are a very fine example of a now nearly dead technology that many younger people have latched on to (hint hint.)
If those who care, and know about these old machines, can keep them going a bit longer for more people to experience them, well, all the better. Still, when you really think about it, what it boils down to is that I like to keep “useless” junk around – what has long ago become obsolete is still of interest to me, if only for what makes it unique. Old computers are certainly unique, analog video formats like Laserdisc and VHS have flaws, certainly, but also have ways they are still debatably “better” than their successors, at least in certain ways. VHS at least always remembers where you are in a film, right?
I’ve got quite a bit more to say on this over time, but as above, much is coming for 2018. For now, I just, once again, wanted to put something up for the sake of it. Tomorrow back to normal. For today, another short, quick entry.
Remember, that hot new phone or game console you just have to have now will probably barely be working in 5 years. Imagine the odds it will still even exist in 50 years?
More to come. Stay turned.