Re: disposition of largest private DEC collection in USA

From: Morten Reistad (firstname_at_lastname.pr1v.n0)
Date: 01/23/05

  • Next message: Christian Corti: "Re: disposition of largest private DEC collection in USA" 
    Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 09:01:38 GMT

    In article <41F31CAE.6000803@swbell.net>,
    patrick jankowiak <eccm@swbell.net> wrote:
    >Bill Gunshannon wrote:
    >
    >
    >>
    >> I have wanted to start a computer museum here at the University
    >> for a long time. I figured if I could get commitments from a
    >> few corporations for operating funds I could probably convince
    >> the University to give me the necessary space. But I really
    >> don't know how to go about finding corporate sponsers. :-(
    >> My idea is to have a real hands on facility where people can
    >> come in and actually play with the equipment. I would also
    >> make as much of it as I could available on the INTERNET with
    >> guest accounts. But, I'm probably just dreaming again.

    Corporate sponsors are just as shallow. We need to come up
    with a workable museum first.

    >
    >I wish we could do this. There's a hell of a datacenter here just waiting to be unzipped. It's what we wanted.. (makes me
    >want to listen to "all we ever wanted" by Bauhaus) Man I am trying to keep a good mindset but this step is
    > getting me down. It has to be done though.
    >
    >OPCOM

    A computer museum will need large amounts of space; as well as
    access to largish amounts of energy when someone decides to run
    the machines. Much can be mocked up for the standard visitor, using
    emulators to show software on the correct terminals. But machines
    must be kept intact. We also have the issue of documentation.

    Such space fast becomes the major problem. It cannot be in or very
    near major cities, because land is too expensive there. And the scale
    of this is big enough for a full theme park.

    So why not do this?

    Make a theme park around technology development and preservation.
    Remember that the audience is a premium one for many locations.
    The nerds or wannabees that visit such places have above average
    income, are not very inclined to boozing and gambling, and tend
    to leave the facilities without damage.

    It will have to be located somewhere outside the mainstream, and
    must be the magnet for people itself. Just like Disney World.

    -- mrr

  • Next message: Christian Corti: "Re: disposition of largest private DEC collection in USA"

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