Computer collectors are no longer the dweebiest people in the

[Jim Battle]

Tony Duell wrote:
>>
>> No, now we can point at the toaster collectors:
> 
> I am not sure what the exact definition of 'dweebiest' is, but I can't 
> see anything wrong with collecting toasters. Not that they particularly 
> interest me, but I see no harm in being interested in them. 

"dweeb" has passed into common usage, but the original meaning was a 
acronym of "d*ck with ears".  As many curses go, it doesn't make literal 
sense.  The common usage of calling someone a d*ck usually means the 
person is a jerk, but in the dweeb context, it just is a general 
pejorative.  Think of dweeb as meaning "nerd," "clueless," or 
"unfashionable."

> Perhaps sombody can elightent me as to the differenc between collecting 
> toasters and collecting computers, calculators, cameras, service 
> manuals, etc, etc, etc.

Tony, you missed it; he gently mocking toaster collectors, but he was 
also putting us vintage computer collectors in the same category.  The 
point was self effacement more than putting anyone else down.

>> http://www.toastermuseum.com
>>
>> Navigate your way over to "SPECIALS" and then "What is it worth?" to read 
>> up on toaster pricing.  It will seem strangely familiar.
> 
> Am I the only 'collector' who doesn't much care about the value of the 
> items hi his colelction? I collect things becuase I'm interested in them, 
> I find them beautiful (in a somewhat odd way, I can appreciate the good 
> design in a PDP11 or HP98x0 CPU, for example). I don't collect in the 
> hope that I'll be able to sell them later for more money.

Tony, I think you are alone in that.  The rest of us are getting 
stinking rich stockpiling boring old electronics doo-dads.  I just wish 
my hands didn't get so dusty touching the stuff, as it makes my cash dirty.