I started on this jouney some time ago, when I pulled my old 1978 model Apple II down out of the
attic in order to
build the The Super D'Lux Shutter Tester.
As I worked on the project, many nostalgic thoughts
crossed my mind. As time has passed, I have fixed up my old
Apple II, built an Apple II rev 0 replica motherboard and also built an
Apple 1 replica. I have spent a considerable
number of enjoyable hours tinkering with these classic machines.
One of the great aspects of this hobby is sharing my experiences
with others, as well as learning from other like minded people.
Occasionally you may even learn directly from an original
developer of these classic machines, as many of them will respond to
respectful queries.
The
thing I really love about these old machines is that a single person
can understand how they are put together and operate. Modern
computers and the software that runs on them is designed by large teams
and no single person is able to understand the complete system.
A number
of people collect these machines, but do not operate them, for fear of
damaging them. As an example, I know of only 2 original Apple 1s
that are in operating condition. My philosophy is that these
machines should be put in operating order. These machines are not
great works of art, the essence of the machine is in the operation of
them. Each one's computing capabilities had a significant impact
on it's success or failure in the market.
Imagine how
much more interesting a computer musuem exhibit would be if the
machines were operating, or better yet, if you could operate them
yourselves. Since replacements for most components can still be
found, if you look hard enough, there is no reason that these old
machines shouldn't continue to run. At some point in the future,
failed components may become more difficult to replace. I feel
that the more machines we have running now, the more that will be
running in the future, when component replacement becomes a more
serious issue.
For These Projects, I Have Made Kits, PCBs and Parts Available For Sale to Fellow Hobbyists
