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Finding a Tech Museum For Your Beloved Retired Computer (s)

Posted by timothy on from the do-you-need-a-receipt? dept.

First time accepted submitter Daniel Dern writes "There may be a better home than your basement or recycling for those beloved computers you once built and/or used — like one of the many tech-collecting/displaying museums. My ComputerWorld article, '9 museums that want your legacy tech,' looks at nine institutions that might — be sure to ask, don't just drop on their doorsteps after hours — want some of them. (Probably not everything you've got, alack.)" Look soon for a Slashdot video visit to the Goodwill Computer Museum, one of the collections mentioned.

7 of 78 comments (clear)

  1. Hmmm ... by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Informative

    Unless you have something singularly unique, like a Cray or something, I very much doubt your old computer gear is of value to anybody.

    I don't imagine a lot of these places want to be contacted to dump off your old PC, no matter how cool you think it is.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    1. Re:Hmmm ... by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 5, Informative

      I did do the search when I finally decided to part with my old stack of 8-bit magazines, and lo and behold, there was a guy digitizing most of them, and he had holes in his collection which I had in a box in the shed! I mailed the missing magazines to him (BTW, F.U. USPS, 30 year old magazines do not contain 'advertising') and he sent me back a set of CD's with /all/ of the issues on them. He was even willing to return the magazines, but I didn't need them. Win-win - I have a 5x5x2" backup archive of my collection which was previously measured in cubic yards.

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    2. Re:Hmmm ... by linebackn · · Score: 3, Informative

      486 and Pentium 1 based systems frequently sell as retro gaming machines. There were a large number of games made for machines of this class that will not run or run acceptably on newer computers or emulators.

      They also make good "tweener" systems for moving data in between newer and even older systems. They often have networking, CD drives, and USB but can handle 360k drives and ISA devices.

  2. They left out Bletchley Park! by chalsall · · Score: 3, Informative

    The National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park (England) might be interested as well -- they have a section for personal computers.

    Also, if you ever get a chance to visit, plan for at least half a day -- it's fascinating!

  3. Re:Control Data Cyber 180 by Al+Kossow · · Score: 3, Informative

    There are people that want this. Check on the 'controlfreaks' mailing list
    controlfreaks@lists.controlfreaks.org
    Don't scrap it.

  4. UMich Video Game Archive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    The University of Michigan has a video game archive - where virtually any computer or video game ever made can be played (slight exageration) on original hardware. They accepted my donation of a working TI-99/4a (bought new by me) along with cartrigdes and accessories. http://www.lib.umich.edu/computer-video-game-archive

  5. Rhode Island Computer Museum by Andrew+Lindh · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you're in the North East here is another good one http://www.ricomputermuseum.org/

    They have a lot of minicomputer systems like DEC, IBM, Wang, Data General...and the usual collection of micro computers.