29 Apr
1997
29 Apr
'97
11:10 a.m.
On Mon, 28 Apr 1997, Sam Ismail wrote:
Naw...Livermore is actually a great spot for a classic computer faire.
Nearby Pleasanton offers a plethora of high-tech corporations to hit up
for sponsorship. The Lawrence Livermore Labs is (literally) right across
the street, and we are a short freeway drive to the Silicon Valley.
Also, since I live in Livermore, it's offers the least hassle to host the
show. I don't expect a big turnout the first year. I don't even expect
a nominal turnout. I figure if I'm lucky, 50 people will show up, but
these types of shows always start off small. We are on the cutting edge
of a budding movement to preserve a part of the worlds digital heritage.
These things take time to grow.
Ya but I'd be there 8-) (Now let's see - how do I move my vacation time
around again) Aside:[I wonder if you can get an educational grant for
the Travelling idea tho - you know schools and stuff so the kids can see
what it all started from. You could start small on that too.]
The historical promotion of Babbage is better left
to the Smithsonian.
Well, from a *media* standpoint, there is more info already available
to newspaper idiots^H^H^H^H^H^Hreporters on Babbage (plus the Enquirer
can take the Ada twist 8-) so they don't get it too wrong 8-)
Well, what I really want to see is all the info on restoring cases,
kwyboards(!), and paper docs.
*I* didn't think so Sam, but YOU KNOW what will happen 8-(
Another problem with the idea is after the first one - what's left?
Maybe it would be better to - more or less - specialize. Cover one
machine exclusively. Cover everybody that worked on it - the history
behind the processor, the design, try to talk to the people involved
why they did one thing or the other. Get this documented before they
are all gone 8-( Just ike some of the books about DEC and Apple -
except you get to TALK to these people (I see a room with huge coffee
pots and 30 gallon butt cans, dimly lit, slight murmuring as we all
ask deep *meaning of life* questions like "Why did the KIM-1 use 6530
RIOTs instead of 6522 and a seperate ROM?" 8-) (That one always bugged
me!) And then follow that with a bright glitsy show on what you use
NOW that has all the same stuff in it!
Boy am I starting to ramble!
BC
On Mon, 28 Apr 1997, Brett wrote:
> On Mon, 28 Apr 1997, Sam Ismail wrote:
[Snip]
Where?
Livermore, California (tentative...actual venue TBD)
Well, THAT cuts out about 99% of the world 8-) How about
a Travelling Show? Classic Computer Pioneer - every year an
computer industry, but is not necessarily active
anymore (ie. this precludes Bill Gates from
qualifying). Nominees: Gary Kildall, creator of
CP/M; Steve Wozniak; ???
How about Babbage??? I'd bet a dollar anyone
running Winders never heard of the guy 8-)
Naw - go for Gary - without him there would
not have been a home computer (pulling up the
zipper on my flame proof suit) Well, I think
it's a neat idea - but you have to do
some followup work too. Release videos of the seminars
and do hardcopy of the show as well as most of us aren't
going to make it 8-(
I planned media coverage and will document it for those unable to
attend. Of course a web page will accompany the show. Also, as for
what machine to pick, just pick one that I have.
Nothing ups the price of a system like a good news article 8-)
I'm not really doing this to increase the perceived value of my
collection. I'm doing it because I love classic computers.