What makes the old computer setup look so fancy? It has a certain charm to it that I can’t describe and I like it very much.
Posted by No-Sea-81@reddit | vintagecomputing | View on Reddit | 53 comments
Image by NccWarp9 on DeviantArt (2007)
SpreadFull245@reddit
It’s familiar, and helps you recognize your growth.
plutoniumpete@reddit
Because you didn’t have google in your pocket
cheezballs@reddit
I do not want to go back to this era.
No-Sea-81@reddit (OP)
Why not?
cheezballs@reddit
Just look at it. No desk space, single small monitor, nothing even remotely aesthetically or ergonomically designed. We have it much better now. I grew up my whole life my room looking like that and I never wanna go back. Monitor arms, Bluetooth, not having CRT frying my eyes all night.
No-Sea-81@reddit (OP)
I guess it’s not for everyone, I personally like the look. Not the whole messy desk thing, but the systems and designs of the computer themselves.
Doctor_Best@reddit
One word, CRT.
YouFeedTheFish@reddit
It's not just the look. There was a smell, kinda like ozone. It came off the plastic and it was very distinctive to the 80's and into the early 90's. Must have been some chemical that's since been outlawed.
Background_Yam9524@reddit
Maybe it's because all the equipment is so big. The fact that it takes up so much space makes it feel significant.
mi__to__@reddit
If they still sold consumer CRTs...I'd buy them.
No-Sea-81@reddit (OP)
Me too
ultimatebob@reddit
Interesting setup, but why would someone side mount a tower computer like that? Not only are you taking up more desk space, you're probably messing up the airflow as well.
AlfieHicks@reddit
I'm fairly sure that's a desktop form-factor case. One of the 5.25" bays looks to be occupied, and it's seemingly facing the right way up, which wouldn't be the case if it was just a tower laid on its side. Regardless, it's not taking up desk space when they've clearly got stuff on top of it. If it was in a tower configuration, they'd actually lose desk space because you're not going to be able to comfortably reach anything you put on top of it.
As for airflow, this is clearly from the days when your entire PC could be effectively cooled by nothing more than an 80mm fan in the PSU and a 40mm one on the CPU, if that. Airflow was not a word that many computer users were familiar with.
ultimatebob@reddit
You're right, it looks like a desktop case when you zoom in. A HUGE one, but still.
I wonder why they didn't just put their monitor on top of it? I used to do that on mine back in the day.
AlfieHicks@reddit
It looks like, if they did that, then the keyboard would have been right on the edge of the desk, not giving them any room to rest their palms.
GerlingFAR@reddit
PC with an upgraded CD-ROM multimedia package, cordless phone and an Toshiba Libretto mini PC sub notebook. Dude was rolling in it back in the 90s. 👍
TableDuck@reddit
Can’t tell the model of the Libretto. Best guess a 50 or 70, but from the Intel sticker - 50?
I lusted after these for forever…
danmoore2@reddit
I think it's the knowledge that outside of that desk with it's focused computing setup, the internet and other technology that we have today didn't really exist. It is very purposeful, you went to the desk when you needed to use the computer/internet.
Vinylmaster3000@reddit
Yeah nowadays alot of these functions are streamlined - for instance, the tower and monitor will be there, sometimes you can have a laptop or docking station but you won't have a stack of CD's or a printer on the same desk, ditto with a landline.
kriebz@reddit
Totally. It's the intentionality. The computer, the peripherals, the task-specific furniture. The little niche carved out of our homes. It's like a shrine.
No-Sea-81@reddit (OP)
I really feel that setups like this made people look and feel professional and smarter, it could also show that they like to study and get work done.
RolandMT32@reddit
I think it looks cozy and organized, with the things you need to do your work (or gaming) right there at the desk.
tapiringaround@reddit
This just makes me think of Encarta ‘95 and Math Blaster
NightmareJoker2@reddit
The desktop PC case being off to the side instead of under the monitor is a bit odd. That desk is way too small to not try and save desk area this way.
Albedo101@reddit
This is interesting, as it's a early 90s desktop case most likely running late 90s Windows 9x setup.
Also, it's set in Croatia - the very epic Croatian 90s LOTR edition on the top shelf, top right.
feel-the-avocado@reddit
Its the speakers with incoming cellular call prediction that really give any computer desk the perfect finishing touch.
Albedo101@reddit
LOL, thanks for bringing up the memories! I've completely forgotten about that!
I had the exact same speakers and the way they used to chirp right before the phone would ring... lol.
mtest001@reddit
Yes, that was an interesting undocumented "feature" of those speakers.
mikee8989@reddit
I love this sort of setup. I saw a full setup like this once while doing some urbex back in 2007. The place looked like everyone got up and left sometime in 1996
Starshipfan01@reddit
I was thinking 96-98 :) mainly because this belongs in Neo’s room in “The Matrix” (99)
The_Brofucius@reddit
Why am I hearing Sounds of Modem Connecting to Server...You Got Mail....
Huminerals@reddit
Look at all those distractions when you are waiting for a reboot!
Nearby_Surround3066@reddit
I’m getting nostalgic for long boot times and maxtor fireball noises
gnntech@reddit
10 years before this picture, we had a similar setup but with a Commodore 64 as the centerpiece. It was a professional looking setup where my dad would pay bills online using Citibank Direct Access one day a week, and the other 6 days would be me and my brother playing games.
XFX1270@reddit
Every day I wake up and kick myself for selling my Libretto.
No-Sea-81@reddit (OP)
Sorry for your loss mate.
Mortomes@reddit
Not gonna lie, that power strip right where your feet would be is stressing me out.
canthearu_ack@reddit
Gotta add a little risk to the equation.
Will I accidently knock the plug out of my computer, with work I haven't saved in like 5 hours.
Now that is a core memory .... having to remember to save often because computers and software of that age were notoriously unreliable and would happy crash and ruin hours of work, and the chance of it happening was proportional to the length of time since you last saved.
These days though, my main desktop has been running for more than 50 days straight, playing games and work stuff, with barely a hiccup.
weird-oh@reddit
The only word I can think of to describe it is cozy. I used to feel very comfortable sitting down at my setup, which looked very much like that.
MarayatAndriane@reddit
One thing I think of is how each piece of equipment in this shot, including the lamps, would still be functional today or tomorrow, 30 years later, even if it had been used every day since.
probably.
Liquid_Magic@reddit
It’s because back then you needed a whole bunch of extra shit to do anything. I love vintage computing but only because it’s a choice now. Back then it was just… pain. So much… pain.
Shamanjoe@reddit
This is the answer. All the peripherals that were actually needed gave you a whole little ecosystem in your workstation bubble.
DabblingOrganizer@reddit
Agreed. The computer is the whole picture. Every single thing on that desk has its own function as part of the magic. It all adds up unlike how you can have a computer that is literally as big as a can of sardines like my work computer.
Computer, monitor, power strip, keyboard, mouse, speakers, modem, printer, scanner… and when it was time to upgrade you opened it up and installed some awesome new fast CD-ROM drive or a sound card. It required work and knowledge, so we cherished what it could do for us.
Fit-Rip-4550@reddit
This basically is the evolution of how research with computers was executed. Modern methods just have more monitors, but the books have remained in many instances. I suppose this could also be a prototype gaming rig.
BoltLayman@reddit
The feeling of being involved into the huge microelectronics revolution where you can have similar setup to your big corporation office desk :-)
And that lasted pretty long from late1980s to mid 2000s when compactness started being a point.
On the other hand I degraded my black mATX PC case to an old beige ATX with 4x5.25" bays. and only 1 bay is used for a 3.5" spinning drive, another SATA devices are 2.5" SSD. mounted on .2.5"->3.5"adapters.
redruM69@reddit
The little palmtop is a Toshiba Libretto. Quite collectable nowadays.
CubilasDotCom@reddit
I had one for about a week.. left it on the schoolbus one day; we searched the bus barn and nothing
IHaveSpoken000@reddit
I don't miss those heavy ass monitors though.
No-Sea-81@reddit (OP)
Personally for me, I felt that older computer setups created a professional and scientific environment for those who are very into technology. I usually associate these setups with scientists, smart geniuses, and old people.
adrpl@reddit
It's a memory when we were young didn't have back pain caused by this very not ergonomic setup and eye sight wasn't damaged by long staring into flickering CRT.
mudslinger-ning@reddit
Bulky Beige was all the rage ...
JCD_007@reddit
It has a very lived-in look to it. It looks like someone gets a lot done at that desk. The Toshiba Libretto laptop is also a rare and expensive bit of hardware.
JBYTuna@reddit
It looks very well worn. Excellent workstation.