3 ms·

My wife asked me why I didn't throw out my old computer that I started coding my hobby project on years ago (a new kind of data management system). The computer

My wife asked me why I didn't throw out my old computer that I started coding my hobby project on years ago (a new kind of data management system). The computer is hopelessly outdated (a core2 duo) so I never use it anymore and the thrift store won't even take stuff like that as a donation. I explained to her that it could be very valuable someday or used as a museum piece once my system is widely adopted and changes the world. I don't think she bought that argument.

favourable 3y ago
> I explained to her that it could be very valuable someday https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jul/17/first-generation-apple-iphone-sells-auction-in-us https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jul/17/first-gen...
ghaff 3y ago
I've thrown out or recycled many hundreds of pounds of computer equipment over the years. Even if I were able to pass it on to someone who briefly appreciated it, it's not worth it.
dboreham 3y ago
You can always buy stuff back on eBay when it starts to become not junk but before it's super valuable. I have a KIM-1, AIM-65, HP-85, PDP-11/23 bought in the last couple of years on that basis. We're a few decades away from a Core 2 Duo being not junk.
- didgetmaster 3y ago
  I guess my joke about this vanilla computer being the one used to start developing my yet to be discovered 'Earth shattering' software system didn't go over like I planned.
bluGill 3y ago
Why do you think it will be valuable? Some old things are junk that nobody wants. Some are valuable. There is no way to know which is what.
- didgetmaster 3y ago
  Equipment used to invent or create something that becomes widely adopted; can be collector's items. The first Apple computer. The original phone used by Alexander Graham Bell. The very first television set. How many things were permanently lost because inventors threw away their early prototypes or first working copy?
nfriedly 3y ago
I just sold an old C2D machine on Facebook marketplace for $80. This one had been given to my son to play games on, and then we did a few upgrades: a 256gb SSD I had laying around, a $15 half-height R5 340X GPU off ebay, and a $5 E8500 CPU upgrade (replacing a Pentium Dual Core E5200.) I gave it a clean install of Windows 10, and someone bought it for his mom to browse facebook on. Sure, without those upgrades, it probably wouldn't have fetched as much, but the SSD made the most significant difference, and you can get those for $15 these days.

favourable 3y ago

> I explained to her that it could be very valuable someday https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jul/17/first-generation-apple-iphone-sells-auction-in-us https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jul/17/first-gen...

ghaff 3y ago

I've thrown out or recycled many hundreds of pounds of computer equipment over the years. Even if I were able to pass it on to someone who briefly appreciated it, it's not worth it.

dboreham 3y ago

You can always buy stuff back on eBay when it starts to become not junk but before it's super valuable. I have a KIM-1, AIM-65, HP-85, PDP-11/23 bought in the last couple of years on that basis. We're a few decades away from a Core 2 Duo being not junk.

didgetmaster 3y ago
I guess my joke about this vanilla computer being the one used to start developing my yet to be discovered 'Earth shattering' software system didn't go over like I planned.

bluGill 3y ago

Why do you think it will be valuable? Some old things are junk that nobody wants. Some are valuable. There is no way to know which is what.

didgetmaster 3y ago
Equipment used to invent or create something that becomes widely adopted; can be collector's items. The first Apple computer. The original phone used by Alexander Graham Bell. The very first television set. How many things were permanently lost because inventors threw away their early prototypes or first working copy?

nfriedly 3y ago

I just sold an old C2D machine on Facebook marketplace for $80. This one had been given to my son to play games on, and then we did a few upgrades: a 256gb SSD I had laying around, a $15 half-height R5 340X GPU off ebay, and a $5 E8500 CPU upgrade (replacing a Pentium Dual Core E5200.) I gave it a clean install of Windows 10, and someone bought it for his mom to browse facebook on. Sure, without those upgrades, it probably wouldn't have fetched as much, but the SSD made the most significant difference, and you can get those for $15 these days.