There should be a vintage computer registry. (Models and serial numbers, etc.)
Posted by The-Tadfafty@reddit | vintagecomputing | View on Reddit | 21 comments
If you've ever heard of The Typewriter Database, like that.
There are a handful of individual ones, Apple ][ registry, TRS-80 model 100 registry, and Commodore 64 registry.
I think what this hobby needs is an overall website where people can register their collections. So many other vintage collectables have their own registries, computer people are really missing out.
We could take the same concept as the Apple ][ and Commodore 64 registries, adding two more categories: Make and model.
It would be a great way to get a good idea of what computers are out there, see what computers exist, and what people are collecting. It could also function as a tool to keep track of your collection for people with large collections.
THEtechknight@reddit
Thats an amazing idea. People could register accounts and have their own personal collections database or something. I bet with something like wordpress you could build a plugin. It would be far easier than maintaining this goofy spreadsheet i got.
savageronald@reddit
You could make it? I can help, I’m a SWE
The-Tadfafty@reddit (OP)
I don't know who would host the website. I don't have a server.
Icy_Builder_3469@reddit
I have plenty of surplus server capacity (but I am in Australia)
The-Tadfafty@reddit (OP)
If you're open to hosting then I think you should try.
Icy_Builder_3469@reddit
What are you planning on building? A website where people can create their own account and then record their collections, in way where its all nicely categories, so we can then show all computers, across makes and models. So if you want to know whos go an Altair 680, you can just look it up and see their are 4 people with one? That sort of thing?
The-Tadfafty@reddit (OP)
Yes, and that also can, as a normal serial number registry would, keep track of changes through the years. So if you look up a model you can see if there are differences between newer and older ones. Also, what big_ass_grey_car said.
The-Tadfafty@reddit (OP)
Does physical location really matter on the internet?
Icy_Builder_3469@reddit
Somewhat, but can be fixed by using a cdn. I have to do that when systems from the UK connect to my services.
marx2k@reddit
https://theretroweb.com/
https://www.1000bit.it/database.asp?by=S_NOM
The-Tadfafty@reddit (OP)
I mean one for people's personal collections.
2raysdiver@reddit
This is an awesome idea!
The-Tadfafty@reddit (OP)
Thanks....
Now all we need to do is find somebody who would host the website.
2raysdiver@reddit
If I were retired, I'd be all over this, but you caught me a few years too soon.
big_ass_grey_car@reddit
Love this idea. Memorializing maintenance and modifications makes modernity more manageable.
The-Tadfafty@reddit (OP)
Can you explain what you mean by the alliterative sentence you gave?
big_ass_grey_car@reddit
When buying a computer that someone else has modified or repaired, it would be nice to have a list of everything done to it in a consistent format. Being able to track repairs on a specific serial even if a machine has changed hands multiple times would be so valuable.
As an example, I restore a bunch of compact macs and they all have the same floppy drive and analog board maintenance items. Knowing someone else did some work and when could save me some trouble, especially if it’s changed hands with multiple tinkerers. I also might not choose to buy a fully serviced mac, leaving a nicer machine to someone else, and choosing to go through those quick maintenance wins myself.
I’d love it if you could tie repairs back to user profiles, so someone like me could build a log of all the computers I’ve ever worked on. I sell the nicest projects I complete, and I’d be proud to have a standardized library that documents my workmanship and successes.
The-Tadfafty@reddit (OP)
That's a marvelous idea actually, I hadn't thought of that.
The-Tadfafty@reddit (OP)
That's a marvelous idea actually, I hadn't thought of that.
The-Tadfafty@reddit (OP)
I also think that even the existing registries would benefit greatly from this, more people would add their C64s, Apple ][s. and TRS-80 100s to the registries if it was one big one that many more vintage computer users knew about.
The-Tadfafty@reddit (OP)
I've discussed this with a few people online, we've worked out the best thing to do for vintage custom builds is add a separate "Custom" make to the make category, which leads to more of a gallery.