Someone spoke of being a PhD and having better things to do with one's life than fooling around with old Macs.
After having read the 3 or 4 Quadlists that came in from the weekend, I've kind of lost track of who it was, but I thought I might reply just the same. First off I can speak from experience. I am an advid collector of computers. My oldest being an IMSAI S-100 bus based computer, and going up through the various Commodore, TRS-80, and Atari lines of machines that were popular in the 1980's right on into the 90's with a Classic on the low end and a PowerMac 8500 on the higher end, and a IIci, a couple of IIvx's, and various other Lowend PowerMac and high end 68040 machines in between. First off my collection is housed in a self-storage faciility the size of a single car garage. I do this for 2 reasons. #1 it keeps the silly things from over-running my home. #2 it also gives me a place to work with them. I have a power-outlet and a bench out there. I find that the collection is a nice diversion. I work a lot. I work as a TV engineer for a local cable station. Being able to come home and induldge in my technical interests without having to worry about it being some mission critical thing is, for me, a release. Likewise, I find that working on the old equipment is actually helpful for my skills. The way I approach a problem with a piece of machinery is different because of it. I think about low-level events that may be going on with a machine. It creates a different mindset. Now, to the person who mentioned the Macs taking over his life. The only thing I could recommend is that if its not fun anymore, stop doing it. If it is still fun, then there's nothing really wrong with it. There are far worse things in the universe than a garage full of Macintoshes that actually give someone pleasure. If you feel you're out of control, then make a list. Inventory your Macintoshes and list by them why you like that machine. My list looks something like this: Computers in Use: 8500 - Edit Bay Computer 6100 - Home Desktop Computer IIci w/ PPC upgrade - Appletalk Server 636 w/ DOS - Work Desk Computer 630 - FTP Server 475 - Master Control Desk Computer SE/30 - Recepie Computer Classic - Bathroom Terminal IIcx w/ 68040 - Database Computer IIcx - Appletalk Router 486 Laptop - Test Bench Computer 486 Laptop - Portable Database Computer Pentium 100 - Win95/DOS Machine Compaq 486 - MP3 Player (Stereo System) Apple IIGS - Main Apple IIe compatible fun Computer Commodore 128 - Main Commodore fun Computer Commodore 64/SX - Edit Bay Slate Display Computer Atari 800 - C/G Backup Slate Display 286 - Display Controller 286 - LPD Server 386/20 - Internet Router 386/40 - Commodore / Atari Internet Router Now this list doesn't even include every computer that I own, just the one's I use on a regular basis. You'll notice that some of the computers are put to use in my job doing various things. But that doesn't count for all of them. Several of the above are just listed as "fun" computers. That means they serve no purpose other than I like them. At any rate, by making a list you might figure out how you really use your computers. It would aid in culling some of your excess should you decide to ween yourself from a room full of Macintoshes, or you might even discover that you use more of them than you realize. At any rate, I hope this rambling post gives some help. I'm just giving some suggestions as a collector on how to "manage" the addiction. Good luck, David -P.S. now if only I could get that work Desk computer to behave itself with Excel. -- Quadlist is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Enter To Win A | -- Canon PowerShot Digital Cameras start at $299 | Free iBook! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Quadlist info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/quadlist.shtml> The FAQ: <http://macfaq.org/> Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/quadlist%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
