Author: Mark Rawlings
Date: 19:40:08 09/24/00
Go up one level in this thread
Seems to me that a place like ICD (although I've never been there) would be appropriate for a computer chess museum. Steve - do you have the space? I'm sure you have the time :) Mark On September 24, 2000 at 22:08:08, Will Singleton wrote: >On September 24, 2000 at 21:17:12, D Ridge wrote: > >>Greetings All, >> >>I'd like your collective opinion on an ambitious, gigantic and noble project >>I've been thinking about. My name is David Ridge, I'm in my mid-forties and I've >>been a computer chess fanatic for 23 years. >> >>My first machine was a Chess Challenger 7 in 1978 and I've owned over 40 >>different dedicated units between now and then. Like most of you, I mostly use >>chess software on a PC these days but I have fond memories of those early days >>when dedicated units ruled and a newer, stronger, better one was always just >>around the corner. >> >>You see, I learned chess in 1978, just when dedicated chess playing units were >>becoming technically possible. For those of you who weren't around the scene >>then, I'll tell you a little about it. The early machines played poorly, but so >>did I. They improved with each new unit and, so did I. We kind of grew together. >> >>The late 70's and early 80's saw a furious pace of development with great >>imagination and ingenuity applied to some very unique concepts like the Scisys >>Mark V and the Executive hand-held. Even Mattel got into the act with a LCD >>pocket unit. There were LCD touch screens and Robot Adversaries. Heady days >>indeed. >> >>Anyway, I've been thinking a lot lately that someone ought to preserve this >>history of computer chess. A computer Chess Museum is required. Of course this >>could never be a commercially viable project. People aren’t going to line up >>around the block to buy tickets to see this stuff. >> >>Some form a privately owned view-by-appointment collection would be the way to >>go. I would like to try to take this project on. Now, I know there were about >>500 different units manufactured since the beginning of time and, since I'm not >>wealthy (an understatement to be sure) there is no way I could afford to >>purchase these things. >> >>Surely many of the really old ones are probably lying dormant and worthless in >>someone's closet or garage, waiting for the next yard sale.I was thinking that I >>would appeal to the world chess community to send me their old, useless, unloved >>computers for a nominal fee of ..say…$10 to compensate them for the trouble of >>packaging it up and I would also pay the cost of shipping. In return I would >>pledge to inscribe their name prominently as "Donated by...", sort of their >>chance at immortality. >> >>I'm not talking about finding all 500…that would be unrealistic. I'm thinking >>that, over a period of years, 100 to 200 units could be accumulated, all >>representing something different or unique. Perhaps a kind of retirement >>project. >> >>Do you think it would fly or am I over-estimating people's philanthropy? Or am I >>just plain crazy?? >> >>Looking forward to your responses. >> >>You can respond here or to me directly at dridge@idirect.com. >> >>Thanks >> >>David > >Good idea. I think a number of people have wanted to do something like this, >myself included. One large problem, of course, is space. Where the heck could >you display all these machines appropriately? It almost has to be the type of >deal where a guy dedicates a room or two in his place, then has the ability to >schedule time, etc. Would be nice if it was in a large city, so folks could get >there easily. > >I'd also like to see early programs that ran on the appleII series, as well as >the pc, commodore, etc. Of course, then you'd really need some generosity. > >I have a couple old machines I can donate, but I'd like to see a list of >commitments before going forward. I'll commit to a CompuChess and a Boris >(subject to where you are, and if you have your act together). > >Will
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