What is the oldest...

[BondiBlue]

...computer you have that still works? The other build/spec thread led me to see what we have going the other way. Anyone have any old Commodores or Tandys?

For me, I have stored away a gem of a Gateway 2000 P5-90 tower. Specs on this bad hog are as follows:

CPU: 90 mhz Pentium
RAM: 16MB
HDD: 500MB
Floppy Drive: Yes, it has one.
Comm: 14.4k dialup modem
OS: Windows 95 (plug and pray baby)

And for all that performance, you get a small package about the size and weight of 4 cinder blocks stacked up.

[Audrey]

I cannibalize and give-away to needy friends/family parts of unused machines. I have old stuff in a few boxes in the closet. Probably nothing more than 8 years old. Although, I have a Sega Genesis in there that is playable. Sadly the mainboard on my original Nintendo died in 1996; devastated still. I have my duck hunting rifle at least! I try not to keep the computers around... seems wasteful. Also, I am clingy, so if I don't make an effort to dispose of it I'll end up keeping it forever!

[Marc]

If you are into old C64s, Tandy Coco's and TRS80s and other relics, I'd recommend MESS at mess.org !

My first home computer was a British Sinclair ZX81 (1kb, identical to the 2kb North American Timex/Sinclair TS1000) which I had for a few days because it was kinda broken. Returned it to the store for a Sinclair ZX Spectrum (16kb RAM). Later I found a 48k Spectrum in a closet at work, which I took home as it was collecting dust (and it still does ...).

My first personal computer was a 286 clone (you know, with the Turbo button), 1Mb RAM, 20Mb harddrive, Hercules graphics and 5.25" floppy drive.

There should still be something old in the attic that runs on Win95 or something.

I'm currently typing this on a MSI Wind nettop running OSX natively. My other laptop is a Dell XPS with W7.

[tyurchevich]

Some Toshiba 286 laptop that weighs ~20lbs. black/green monitor. runs dos. specs escape me...in the attic or a closet somewhere.

[dirtyblueshirt]

Originally Posted by BondiBlue

OS: Windows 95 (plug and pray baby)

That reminds me of this classic gem:


As far as the oldest, I've rid my storage of old computers, but I do still have a Newton MessagePad 130 lying around somewhere...

[Marc]

I have never seen a BSOD scroll on to the upper two thirds of a Windows screen before. I therefore call it fake.

[dirtyblueshirt]

Originally Posted by Marc

I have never seen a BSOD scroll on to the upper two thirds of a Windows screen before. I therefore call it fake.

I assure you it isn't. It was widely publicized in 1998 (or 97?) and of course, the footage is from CNN.

[Norm201]

I'm with Audrey. I usually cannibalize old computer and use the parts for rebuilds. Or I give them away. At some point I just toss out all the old outdated stuff. Printers are an exception. They don't recycle very well. Even if its in perfect working condition, you can't give the damn things away.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by dirtyblueshirt

I assure you it isn't. It was widely publicized in 1998 (or 97?) and of course, the footage is from CNN.

I've been saying that since 98! Just look at the video clip and see for yourself!

[Cobra348]

Holy cow! Sad to say I replace the systems around here about every 5 years or so. The old ones always go to a needy family - usually with developmentally challenged kids.

But I do still have a working Atari 2600 console - the original. And carts for Centipede and DigDug. <shrug>