Vintage Technology Collector

Ars Technica published the following  article  about the evolution from of modern computing, here is except: " Back in 2005, we charted 30 years of personal computer market share to show graphically how the industry had developed, who succeeded and when, and how some iconic names eventually faded away completely. With the rise of whole new classes of "personal computers"—tablets and smartphones—it's worth updating all the numbers once more. And when we do so, we see something surprising: the adoption rates for our beloved mobile devices absolutely blow away the last few decades of desktop computer growth. People are adopting new technology faster than ever before. " (Read the rest of the  article )

Today I came across the " The Big Internet Museum ", they're generally open 24 x 7, but per the website " We will be closed during the Brazilian Carnival, for obvious reasons. "  To be honest I haven't seen a online Internet museum for a little while, and I like how this one is laid out.  The entrance fee is free, and you may find it worth the 3-5 minutes you may spend on the site.

The Harwell computer, later known as the Wolverhampton Instrument for Teaching Computing from Harwell (WITCH), or the Harwell Dekatron Computer, was an early British relay-based computer. From 2009 to 2012, it was restored at the National Museum of Computing, where it is described as "the oldest original functioning electronic stored program computer in the world". The museum hopes to use the computer's visual, dekatron-based memory to teach schoolchildren about computers.[

Microsoft Windows 1.0 is a 16-bit graphical operating environment, developed by Microsoft Corporation and released on November 20, 1985. It was Microsoft's first attempt to implement a multi-tasking graphical user interface-based operating environment on the PC platform. Windows 1.0 was the first version of Windows launched. It was succeeded by Windows 2.0. Microsoft ended support for Windows 1.0 on December 31, 2001. (from Wikipedia ) Video Description: Windows 1.0 feature demo. Video Description: A Microsoft slideshow advertising the features of Windows 1.0. Video Description: Steve Ballmer promoting Microsoft Windows 1.0. Video Description: This video shows boot screen and desktop of all the versions of Windows 1.0 - 8.0.

Video Description: "The computer was invented in the 30s: not the 1930s, but the 1830s. British mathematician Charles Babbage designed and prototyped a fully functional mechanical computer he called the Analytical Engine, but it was never completed. Now a team in Britain plans to build the machine for display at London's Science Museum before the 2030s come around."

BBC News  reports: France is switching off its groundbreaking Minitel service which brought online banking, travel reservations, and porn to millions of users in the 1980s. But then came the worldwide web. Minitel has been slowly dying and the plug will be pulled on Saturday. (read the rest of the article )

Video Description: "Paul Otlet, a Belgian bibliographer, pacifist and entrepreneur imagined a day when users would access the database from great distances by means of an "electric telescope" connected through a telephone line, retrieving a facsimile image to be projected remotely on a flat screen." (More information ) Paul Otlet is one of several people who have been considered the father of information science. (More information )

Here is an excerpt for a rare item from an eBay Auction : " *Early 4-banger desktop calculator is in excellentcondition and works perfectly! *Includes original power cord. *Unusual Itron display is "Crisp and Bright" with all segments illumined. *Keys are responsive and all functions perform correctly."   (read more on the  auction  page)

Here is an excerpt for a rare item from an eBay Auction : " Steve Jobs wanted to create art in the form of technology. Like Andy Warhol, Steve wanted to "manufacture" art. If one was to think of a finished computer (product) as a form of art, then each piece of technology produced by Apple, under the vision of Steve jobs, should be considered a "print"... or a "masterpiece". The Lisa 1 Computer was Steve Jobs' first "masterpiece". The original Macintosh was his second. " (read more on the auction  page)

Here is an excerpt for a rare item from an  eBay Auction : " up for sale is a brand new, still in the box Sony AIBO robotic dog. Released in 1999 and limited to 5,000 units (3,000 units in august for Japan & 2,000 in september for the USA), the AIBO sold out within a matter of days in both territories. This was one of what many would consider one of the first autonomous "toys" and allowed its owners to raise their dog from "puppy" to adult, training it along the way. the AIBO series was quite successful and popular for Sony until the mid 2000's (it was discontinued in 2006). "  (read more on the  auction  page)

Below is an excerpt  from an article: "Once upon a time, frighteningly not that long ago, Ross M Greenberg wrote the first anti-virus software for the PC.  It was called FluShot and it was written in 1982, thirty years ago this year."

Here is a rare working Apple Lisa with Twiggy drives, all for only $25,000.  Excerpt from the auction : WHAT'S INCLUDED: * A working Apple Lisa 1 Computer (with 2 x 5.25"TWIGGY floppy drives)  + original box & foam inserts *  A working Apple Lisa Keyboard with original pull-out cards (cleaned, tested, & restored - foam pads replaced)    + original box & foam inserts *  A working Apple Lisa Mouse + original box & foam inserts *  A working 5 MB Apple Profile Hard Drive *  All necessary power & data cables *  Lisa Office System 1.0 installed on external 5mb Hard Drive. *  Software Programs installed: LisaWrite v1.0, LisaDraw  v1.0 , LisaGraph  v1.0 , LisaList  v1.0 , LisaCalc  v1.0 ,  LisaProject  v1.0    Nothing else is included