Where do old Kaypros go to die?
 

I'm clearing out a bunch of my stored stuff and gittin' rid of much of it -- finally. I've been unable to toss out my old 80s vintage Kaypro 2 in the past for some reason. Damn thing is beyond dinosaur. I checked e-Bay. There's a couple up for sale getting bids around $10. Oh boy.

I reckon I'll need to take it to a recycler.

Anybody have any good suggestions? (This lovely item can be yours, for the low, low ....)

Almost looks like it was made for service on Navy vessels. Has a no nonsense ruggedness that would look at home on an aircraft carrier. What would I know about any kind of military hardware, you might rightfully ask?

Wahllll.... as a callow youth, growing up in Roswell, N.M., I always had buddies whose fathers were stationed at Walker Air Force Base (now closed) about 5 miles outside of town. Every summer, they'd have an open house day and we'd swarm over the aircraft they had on display. I lost track of how many times I laid down in the refueling bay of KC135s, the older tanker aircraft. The guy who operates the airborne fuel nozzle lies on a mattress designed to keep his hands free to operate the controls. Been on plenty of B-52s, helicopters and everything in between. A Kaypro reminds me of that stuff.

A Kaypro was my first computer. :P If I am not mistaken (advance age makes me add that often) it was an 8088. I have long forgotten what the specs were however, it got me into the world of computers. The gent that suggested I purchase it was retired from IBM and sharp as a tack. When the first version of what is now known as PC Anywhere came out, he installed it on my Kaypro and could get me out of any bind from the comfort of his home. I used to be completely amazed. That one is long gone as I donated it when I replaced it with a newer model. Since then, my practice of donating has been the way. Problem now is most people needing a computer also needs someone with the time to keep them going. That is not something I have to offer so your mentioning the recycle seems like the way to go. How about a museum? :D

Try the "freecycle" thing? That's what I'm planning to try with a few things I have that are too nice to scrap outright, but not worth either advertising in the local paper or selling on eBay.

I don't know how the supply of old Kaypros compares to the market of enthusiasts, but you just might find someone local who would be happy to take it off your hands.

Craigslist--Free items.

I can remember when our sociology professor in graduate school got an Osborne. We all sat around it in wonder.
I was the first person at the University of Denver to write his comprehensive exams on a computer. They let me set up my Sanyo in a storeroom where I typed for a couple of days.

Hey! We still fly those suckers, old or not!!! :grin: I have the privelege of fixing them, and, occasionally, riding in them. That boom pod is great for sightseeing... I'm going to try to attach a pic I took flying over Greenland. Nifty! It's also a great place to sleep on long flights.

As far as your old machine goes, wish I were nearby. I'd pick it up for a friend of mine who has a musuem of sorts of old machines. He loves them.

Here are a couple pics from an AK trip... an F-15 getting gas...

... and an F-15 who's gotten gas waiting for his wingman...

And finally, ME in the boom pod. Bring back memories?

Last SE I bought was $5 and I gave it to my friend for his collection. I toyed with using it as a novelty alarm clock beside my bed!

We still use one of those at work.....to hold the warehouse door open for deliveries. ;)

I would hold on to it CPM should be making a comeback 'any day now'. :-)

Thanks for the memory though, a Kaypro was my first computer as well. They just dont make em like that anymore (exersize your brain and your biceps).

There are lots of plans on the 'net . . . a tube of caulking . . . a pump . . . bam, you've got quite the nice aquarium. ;)

I still grin at the old stories about how the head of Digital Research blew off a meeting with some IBM reps looking for a small computer OS . . . so instead they went north to a small company near Seattle . . .

An empty nest senior couple friends of mine have some friends who live up in Mercer Island who decided to support a neighbor's fledgling company by buying a large portion of stock started by, in their words...."a sweet boy named Billy". I wonder how he's doing now....

An empty nest senior couple friends of mine have some friends who live up in Mercer Island who decided to support a neighbor's fledgling company by buying a large portion of stock started by, in their words...."a sweet boy named Billy". I wonder how he's doing now....