Collectors Cast a Wide Net in the Search for Older Computers

Most people trash their computers once the technology is outdated. After all, who needs an Apple I when you can have an iMac?

Apparently, some people.

Although old PCs have yet to acquire much antique value, some computer collectors are devoted to finding and restoring these artifacts.

Older PCs are not as fast or powerful as modern machines, of course, but many still can function with the right equipment. However, most computer stores do not stock parts for decade-old PCs.

Traditionally, hard-core hobbyists have found old computer parts at garage sales, flea markets or specialty trade shows. But some collectors are using modern technology to search for technology of the past.

Online auctions feature hundreds of antique accessories and Usenet groups connect hobbyists around the world. One site, https://www.haggle.com, was created in the 1990s by a group of engineers who wanted to buy and sell computer parts. The site has since expanded to appeal to other interests, such as travel.

Haggle.com also has a museum section that includes photographs and details of “antique� machines, such as the Altair.

“We have a lot of people on there that are looking for the older products maybe to restore an old computer,� said Steve Deelstra, business development manager for Info Space, which now owns the site.

Those looking for a specific part, however, might have a better chance of finding it at a larger online auction, such as EBay.

The site--at https://www.ebay.com--offers dozens of computer categories, including one for vintage computers that lists more than 1,400 items for sale, from Atari accessories to a 1979 guide to designing a home computer.

“EBay traditionally has been the place where people would buy and sell computer stuff,� said Sellam Ismail, producer of the Vintage Computer Festival. But, “people have always been looking for a different solution.�

Since standard prices for old computers are not established, online auctions tend to inflate them, he said. Prices can range from “free to ridiculous.�

Some collectors might be better off buying directly from a used-computer parts supplier. Computer companies often have online outlets that offer refurbished parts. However, many sites, such as https://www.compaqfactoryoutlet.com, usually feature technology that is only a few years old.

Although some hobbyists might not find specific items they are seeking online, they often can locate other collectors to arrange individual trades or purchases.

Yahoo clubs and Usenet groups cater to computer enthusiasts of all stripes, and organizations, such as the Vintage Computer Festival at https://www.vintage.org, plan events to bring them together in person.

“It’s really a low-key hobby at this point,� Ismail said.

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Times staff writer Christine Frey covers personal technology.