As AI grips world, thrill of collecting vintage, iconic computers growing

In the age of artificial intelligence, a passionate community is dedicated to preserving the machines that powered the digital revolution. Software engineer Josh Dersch, who owns over 200 vintage computers, finds fascination in understanding "the origins of things" and enjoys the challenge of debugging and repairing these decades-old devices.

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It's always been fascinating to me to see the origins of things. It's a fun challenge to debug and repair. You can understand the entire system from top to bottom.

These hardware enthusiasts see artifacts of computer history where others see obsolete technology. They cherish the nostalgic sounds of classic machines and the thrill of playing early games like "Pong." Erik Klein, president of the Vintage Computer Federation, notes the growing enthusiasm for computer history, organizing annual festivals that celebrate milestones like Apple's 50th anniversary. This year's event featured Apple co-founders Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne.

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The enthusiasm for the history of computers and all the stuff around it is growing.

Interest in vintage computers is booming, with over a dozen similar gatherings now held globally. Online marketplaces show increased demand, and rare machines like the Apple-1 can command hundreds of thousands of dollars. Klein, who once had 150 systems himself, now channels his passion into organizing events, repair workshops, and swap meets, aiming to "evangelise that history and evangelise this hobby of maintaining, collecting and enjoying this vintage technology."

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So it's really about evangelising that history and evangelising this hobby of maintaining, collecting and enjoying this vintage technology.