I was just re-reading the book "Gates" (Manes/Andrews) and this brought to mind a memory... in the mid 90s I came by an original IBM 5150 (the first IBM PC)... don't remember if it worked or not, but someone had restored it carefully... it must have worked. Wonder if something like that would have collectible value nowadays. Don't remember what happened to it, but it was probably tossed in the trash.

I've owned a couple of those Compaq suitcase size luggables too (again sometime in the 90's), with EGA green screens and dual full height 5 1/4" floppies... those were interesting toys.

P.S. the book I'm re-reading: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...l/-/0671880748/

Interesting coverage of the early computer industry (back as far as late 1960s) and early history of Microsoft as well -- great book... recommended (unless you truly, wholeheartedly despise MS).

The first PC I used was a twin floppy XT, no HD, of course!!

The first actual PC compatible I bought was in '87 or '88... I actually paid for an XT compatible, and the store made a mistake and sold me an AT compatible (286) instead. The price difference wasn't large at that point, but it was still something very nice to discover when I got home... I think it had a 10 meg hard drive and ran at either 10 or 12 MHz (forgot which).