🚀 go-pugleaf

Keith,

Welcome to the high-speed world!  Those prices are still kind of 
shocking to look at.  Too bad you can't make planters, or maybe 
wheel-chocks, out of the PC/XT's for $10 each...

Doug








In article <3ir4pb$ibi@access4.digex.net>,
Keith F. Lynch <kfl@access.digex.net> wrote:
>This morning was the Vienna (Virginia) Winterfest, an annual hamfest
>hosted by the Vienna Wireless Society.
>
>It isn't just ham radio gear that's for sale.  Lots of computer hardware
>and software, too.  I spotted the following bargains:
>
>(By "complete," I mean a computer comes with monitor, keyboard, memory,
>diskette drive, hard disk, and operating system, ready for use.)
>
>(Please note that the hamfest is over, and these are no longer available.
>Similar bargains can probably be found next year, however.  Or at other
>hamfests.)
>
>512k Apple MacIntosh, $75
>Compaq portable computer, complete except no hard disk, $10
>IBM PC with 1 meg memory, complete except no hard disk, $10
>IBM PC/XT, complete except no hard disk, $10
>IBM PC/XT, complete, $20
>286 system, no hard disk, no diskette drives, no monitor, no kb, $10
>Complete 286 system with 105 meg disk, $150
>Complete 386 system with 40 meg disk and 2 meg memory, $350
>Complete 486 system with 540 meg disk and 8 meg memory, $1300
>
>DEC VT100 terminal, $5.  Later reduced to $1
>Broken DEC VT220 terminal, free
>DEC VT220 terminal, $50
>
>1200 baud Hayes external modem, $1
>2400 baud external modem, $10
>14,400 baud external modem, $100
>14,400 baud external Courier HST modem, $110
>28,800 baud external modem, $160
>
>20 meg disk drives, two for $10
>70 meg disk drive, $55
>380 meg disk drive, $100
>540 meg disk drive, $215
>
>3.25" DSHD diskettes, 10 for $4, or (at another table) 50 for $15
>Everex ethernet interface card, $20
>40 meg backup tape drive, $25
>Audio cassettes holding assorted military training lectures, 15 for $1
>External CD-ROM drive, $65
>Standard (high quality) touch tone desk phones, $10
>
>I saw electrical magazines dating back to 1902, and electronics dating
>back to 1926.  But I didn't see any blank 5.25" diskettes for sale.  And
>I didn't see any 300 baud modems.
>
>What did I buy?  Just the HST modem.  I'm using it now.  It came in its
>original packaging, complete with manuals, but not shrink-wrapped.  It's
>labelled FOR DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY -- NOT FOR RESALE in large
>unfriendly letters.  It works great.  Unfortunately, my nine year
>old 286 system can only go up to 9600.  But that's still a four-fold
>improvement in speed, for less than half the cost of the 2400 baud
>modem.  Which in turn, cost me less than half of what my 1200 baud
>Hayes modem cost!
>
>At the same hamfest last year, I rescued a Texas Instruments Silent 700
>printing terminal with built-in 300 baud modem and accoustic coupler from
>the trash.  It had been on sale for $15 but there were no takers.  I
>didn't see any Silent 700s this year.
>
>I've been attending that hamfest for over 20 years.  Oh, for a time
>machine so that I could attend it 20 years from now, and bring back
>28,800 baud modems, Sun/4s, and 1 gig disks for a dollar!
>-- 
>Keith Lynch, kfl@access.digex.net
>
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