Firstly - is it really true that this is the main focus? I see a bunch of interest in the beige box era PCs as well. Assuming it's true, though, then I would i

Firstly - is it really true that this is the main focus? I see a bunch of interest in the beige box era PCs as well. Assuming it's true, though, then I would imagine there are several contributing factors: The 80s is when computing arrived for the masses - and most of those masses were children at the time; the first computer I owned was a ZX81 and I was 9 years old when I got it. That lends it powerful nostalgia value. For later generations computers were likely more part of the background. That generation of people is also now entering their late 40s or 50s. They probably have some income (especially if they got into IT) and their outgoings are likely tailing off - if they have kids then those kids are leaving the nest or have already. So there's spare cash to spend on all the bits and pieces that they couldn't afford back when they owned them the first time! It's all far enough in the past that you can see it through rosy spectacles. Ram Pack wobble, slow tape loading, limited memory and primitive graphics all become features instead of limitations. Then for younger generations who are getting into this the above points mean that there's a background of somewhat knowledgeable people to propagate information about these machines. Add on top of that the limited nature of the machines meaning that one can have a complete-ish (or illusion of such) understanding of the machines. That's always been appealing. Personally I find the 1970s minicomputers far more fascinating! But my dad worked with some of those and I adore Unix culture so I'm probably atypical.