Vintage Computer Software Support

A vintage computer is an older computer system that is largely regarded as obsolete.

The personal computer has been around since approximately 1971.[1] But in that time, numerous technological revolutions have left generations of obsolete computing equipment on the junk heap. Nevertheless, in that time, these otherwise useless computers have spawned a sub-culture of vintage computer collectors, who often spend large sums to acquire the rarest of these items, not only to display but restore to their fully functioning glory,[2][3] including active software development and adaptation to modern uses. This often includes homebrew developers and hackers who add on, update and create hybrid composites from new and old computers for uses for which they were otherwise never intended.[4][5] Ethernet interfaces have been designed for many vintage 8-bit machines to allow limited connectivity to the Internet; where users can access user groups, bulletin boards, and databases of software.[6] Most of this hobby centers on those computers manufactured after 1960, though some collectors specialize in pre-1960 computers as well.[7]

The Vintage Computer Festival, an event held by the Vintage Computer Federation for the exhibition and celebration of vintage computers, has been held annually since 1997 and has expanded internationally.[8]