There are so many nice systems out there. My job is to resist purchasing them.
I'm really conflicted here... I really want to add some new systems to my very small collection, but I have a limited amount of space, money, and time to give it all the attention it deserves.
Read on for more...
So far I have an AT&T 3B2/400, a Kaypro 4/84, and a private network with a pair of old Intel boxes running SVR4, and although I would really like to expand that collection, the other side of my brain says I should use the things I have - build new software for them, show off what they can do, have some fun building stuff rather than just collecting stuff.
And for now that's what I'm doing. The SVR4 systems get continual software and documentation upgrades, and I'm working on getting them to talk over UUCP. The Kaypro is a joy, and I'm busy writing software for it in C, Pascal, and Assembly. I plan to show some games and maybe some UNIX utilities ported to CP/M at the next Retro Computer Show. The 3B2 is mostly working, and someday I would like to bring it back to original.
On the other hand, there are so many systems I would love to have:
- A Xerox 860 CP/M box - perhaps the ultimate in industrial quality CP/M systems.
- A TRS-80 Model IV
- A TRS-80 Model 2
- A NeXT cube
The problem is I don't want them to sit around gathering dust - these machines should be used! I doubt I'd have sufficient time to devote to all of them.
Luckily, the problem is self-solving for now. I don't have a lot of cash or room for a bunch of new antiques, and I'm not tripping over them for sale at low prices anyway. So for a while, I'll try to be happy using my existing toys until something changes.
