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For those unfamiliar with the organization at work here, the Living Computer Museum is a gem of a museum located just south of Downtown Seattle. It’s chock full

For those unfamiliar with the organization at work here, the Living Computer Museum is a gem of a museum located just south of Downtown Seattle. It’s chock full of amazing historical computers that you can actually use for the most part. I’ve been to the museum probably a half dozen times since I discovered it two or three years ago. Each time I come back there’s something new on display. Highly recommended.

markdoubleyou 8y ago
I love this place--it's one of my family's go-to destinations when the weather's crappy. They have a terrific exhibit right now where they recreated 1980's arcade--got the second highest score on the Centipede cabinet after a 30 year hiatus.
slededit 8y ago
Its really sad they don't have any that allow you to use a front panel. Even their IMSAI 8080 has a plexiglass cover over the switches. I understand why they do it, but I think front panel computing is something that will be lost without letting a new generation experience it. Its a much more direct way to experience the machine. Other than that complaint it truly is a great museum. They even have a Xerox Alto you can play with.
- peatmoss 8y ago
  I wonder if a front panel could be developed to work in conjunction with an emulator. As it was explained to me, the few systems that you can’t play with are mostly because they’re easy to mess up and hard to reset. It sounds like you have some expertise in front panel operations? If you have the time and inclination, maybe you could offer to help them out. At the very least, an email explaining your thoughts might inspire one of their engineers to create something.
  - slededit 8y ago
    There are cheaper kit clones of the Altair and others with front panel switches. I just find it weird that they don't let you touch the one thing that can't be emulated well, given the mission of the museum.
seanmcdirmid 8y ago
In the 90s, there was a computer junk store south of the international district (just south of I90) in a strange industrial location that actually had a Xerox Alto for sale (among many other interesting things). Makes me wonder if the locations are related. Nice place to stock up on model M’s, at least. I miss those times. I once found an old Sun desk side computer for sale at a similar store in Bellevue. Radiation hardened with a SCSI drive that was even bigger (desk side units are about the size of a filing cabinet).

markdoubleyou 8y ago

I love this place--it's one of my family's go-to destinations when the weather's crappy. They have a terrific exhibit right now where they recreated 1980's arcade--got the second highest score on the Centipede cabinet after a 30 year hiatus.

slededit 8y ago

Its really sad they don't have any that allow you to use a front panel. Even their IMSAI 8080 has a plexiglass cover over the switches. I understand why they do it, but I think front panel computing is something that will be lost without letting a new generation experience it. Its a much more direct way to experience the machine. Other than that complaint it truly is a great museum. They even have a Xerox Alto you can play with.

peatmoss 8y ago
I wonder if a front panel could be developed to work in conjunction with an emulator. As it was explained to me, the few systems that you can’t play with are mostly because they’re easy to mess up and hard to reset. It sounds like you have some expertise in front panel operations? If you have the time and inclination, maybe you could offer to help them out. At the very least, an email explaining your thoughts might inspire one of their engineers to create something.
- slededit 8y ago
  There are cheaper kit clones of the Altair and others with front panel switches. I just find it weird that they don't let you touch the one thing that can't be emulated well, given the mission of the museum.

seanmcdirmid 8y ago

In the 90s, there was a computer junk store south of the international district (just south of I90) in a strange industrial location that actually had a Xerox Alto for sale (among many other interesting things). Makes me wonder if the locations are related. Nice place to stock up on model M’s, at least. I miss those times. I once found an old Sun desk side computer for sale at a similar store in Bellevue. Radiation hardened with a SCSI drive that was even bigger (desk side units are about the size of a filing cabinet).