Author: allan johnson
Date: 04:51:42 05/16/04
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On May 15, 2004 at 20:33:54, steven blincoe wrote: > Those sets could be extremely valuable in the future I would argue.They >>represent an important period of technological development. >>Al > > >some computers will be..most i think not >of the 400 or so computers in my collection i think perhaps less then 50 have >any real value.(and by real value i mean several hundred dollars each) >the vast majority of computers that were sold were portable plastic units which >retailed for less then $100-$125 when brand new >these comnputers can be found on Ebay selling for less then $50 today many for >less then $25 Yes I realise that the plastic ones won't grow in value greatly. > >the other main problem with future value is the defect factor >most of the computers i have were released between 1977-1990 >sooner or later, most if not all, will one day become defective in some way >getting them repaired is close to impossible even now >the parts are no longer manufactured and most of the companies making these >computers have long since gone out of business I have a Mephisto Lyon 32 bit which seized up on me about 12 months ago.Oh well I said to myself that's the end of that.In the end I took it up to a local Dick Smith's electronics shop[they have a big chain of stores here in Australia] and asked them to do what they could.I got it back in a week and it works fine. Cost me 50 bucks.Sure it might be that the problem I encountered proved minor nonetheless when I took it in they didn't act as if I was asking them to do something very specialised. > >i doubt very highly that a non working chess computer(even if made out of >beautiful Mahagony wood)will be worth very much in years to come >some collector's will not even play with a rare computer for fear of it becoming >defective > >to me i do not see this logic >i will not have a computer in my collection if i am afraid to ever play against >it Some people just like things for show. > > >there are a very small number of people in Europe who can still repair the old >computers but the cost is generally more then the price of the computer and with >round trip shipping costs it becomes quite prohibitive > > >anyone collecting chess computers today,does not do so for current or future >value..it is for the love of the hobby and to be able to play chess with an >opponent in front of a real chess board with real pieces and not use a mouse and >a computer monitor and keyboard Possibly, but people collect for all different reasons Steve. > >Steve
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