SiriusHardware
Veteran Member
In the UK we have at least two computer museums (that I personally know of) where a substantial proportion of the exhibits are out, switched on and and available for the public to tinker with, these being the Centre For Computing History (Cambridge) and the North West Computer Museum (Leigh, Near Manchester). When I visit these museums I can only admire the bravery of the people who run them because my instinct, especially with the older or rarer systems, is first to keep them from harm - because, of course, I have the rather narrow idea in my head that only I can be trusted to treat them respectfully and carefully and the rest of the human race will only damage them if they are allowed near them.
I know of course that that is a wild exaggeration but museums with an open access policy must have deep boxes full of spares, especially joysticks, keyboard keys and casing parts, to be able to continue this policy for very long. I admire the courage of anyone who seeks to run a computer museum in that way.
I have at least one machine which I suppose I will have to let go when I am eventually about to be carted off into a nursing home but I would be reluctant to let it go to a museum who might box it and never even display it, or sell it to raise funds. I would rather hand it to a single individual who I know is interested enough in it to use it and play with it.
I know of course that that is a wild exaggeration but museums with an open access policy must have deep boxes full of spares, especially joysticks, keyboard keys and casing parts, to be able to continue this policy for very long. I admire the courage of anyone who seeks to run a computer museum in that way.
I have at least one machine which I suppose I will have to let go when I am eventually about to be carted off into a nursing home but I would be reluctant to let it go to a museum who might box it and never even display it, or sell it to raise funds. I would rather hand it to a single individual who I know is interested enough in it to use it and play with it.
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