Hot take: Do whatever you want to old shit if it means you'll use it. Unless it has archeological value (It's the only/last of its kind, undocumented hardware, etc) then I'd much rather see a "vintage" computer with yellowed plastic and a big hole drilled in the side for a battery pack running someone's automated garden watering system or home automation than a pristine system powered off in a private collection. Don't get too precious about these mass manufactured tools.
@North there's an energy efficiency issue in the old stuff unfortunately. I was thinking to use old Pentium MMX for some kind of automation, but raspberry will do it better and for lesser cost
@North Quibble: I repair old dolls and if you think they're creepy, please just give them or the parts to a member of your local doll club. (See UFDC listings) Also, destroying your Mom's childhood toys is sexist, go make "art" out of vintage Hot Wheels or early 20th century train sets.
@Nazani Oh I see. Yeah, that seems frustrating. I guess I'm speaking pretty specifically about mass-manufactured objects, especially electronics and computers.
@North Yeah, full agree! I love seeing old machines get a new lease of life. Yellowed, chipped up and rough machines have a story to tell, and the story is just as important as the thing telling it.
I'm not saying you can't enjoy the aesthetics of mass-manufactured goods, I like to take a good whiff of a Dieter Rams, etc. But you don't get to berate people for using a tool instead of "preserving" it. All of it is temporary. All of it and you.
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