Vintage Computers

PaulMurkin said:
Q: how many vintage computers got ruined in that recent "recycling voucher BS" at Makro.
Anyone ever considered that?
Click to expand...
I 100% considered, and we joked about going to sit in the parking lot and vetting what people are dropping off. :)
 
One thing that a computer with limited RAM was really, really good for, was forcing developers to maximize memory usage by using clever tricks, and to optimize the heck out of their programs.

This is why the programs of that time run so much efficiently, in comparison to today's mass-produced software. Keep in mind you had a 4MHz Z80 chip with 48k RAM (or the equivalent in the case of the Commodore 64).

Also, in the DOS days you could use Turbo Profiler to increase the performance of your program.

It is so easy just to add a stronger CPU, more RAM or bigger HDD should the software fail to perform, and most of the time the software is not even optimized at all.
 
The_Librarian said:
One thing that a computer with limited RAM was really, really good for, was forcing developers to maximize memory usage by using clever tricks, and to optimize the heck out of their programs.
Click to expand...
Some games would put code in the borders of the screen to get more RAM for code:


The_Librarian said:
This is why the programs of that time run so much efficiently, in comparison to today's mass-produced software. Keep in mind you had a 4MHz Z80 chip with 48k RAM (or the equivalent in the case of the Commodore 64).

Also, in the DOS days you could use Turbo Profiler to increase the performance of your program.

It is so easy just to add a stronger CPU, more RAM or bigger HDD should the software fail to perform, and most of the time the software is not even optimized at all.
Click to expand...
This is why I like the high speed trading and HPC environments. Nanoseconds still count there.
 
How much would a working Toshiba T3200 laptop be worth?
Back from 1987 :

Toshiba T3200 - Computer - Computing History

Toshiba said in 1987: Toshiba knows that in the PC world bigger isnt always better.Toshiba said in 1987: Toshiba knows that in the PC world bigger isn't always better. And Toshiba proves it again w...
www.computinghistory.org.uk
 
airborne said:
How much would a working Toshiba T3200 laptop be worth?
Back from 1987 :

Toshiba T3200 - Computer - Computing History

Toshiba said in 1987: Toshiba knows that in the PC world bigger isnt always better.Toshiba said in 1987: Toshiba knows that in the PC world bigger isn't always better. And Toshiba proves it again w...
www.computinghistory.org.uk
Click to expand...
That was a VERY nice machine back in the day.
 
airborne said:
How much would a working Toshiba T3200 laptop be worth?
Back from 1987 :

Toshiba T3200 - Computer - Computing History

Toshiba said in 1987: Toshiba knows that in the PC world bigger isnt always better.Toshiba said in 1987: Toshiba knows that in the PC world bigger isn't always better. And Toshiba proves it again w...
www.computinghistory.org.uk
Click to expand...
Impossible to put a figure to collectibles really. The price is always what a collector is willing to pay. Only way to find out is to advertise for sale. Usually buyers are past owners going for the nostalgia factor. Compare it to this one on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/404218174359
 
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