when did you get it and why? how often do you use it?
If you don’t own a retro system or console, what is the oldest system you emulate or which system would you like to own in the future?
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For me, my oldest system is an Atari 800xl (i’m counting early home computers). I purchased it on a whim when Netflix’s Bandersnatch interactive movie was briefly popular. I was studying (and still am) computer science and was curious on what you could all do on a home computer from the early 80s. Turns out, quite a lot and I’ve had a lot of fun sifting through the 50+ floppies i have finding everything from home finance software, a plethora home brew games, and even floppy magazines (a bunch of articles on a floppy. not sure the proper name)
when i first got it i was on it more than my modern computer, but after moving it has been gathering some dust in its box. i’m hoping to eventually find a home for it in my home so i can use it more.
a fun thing of note is that it still has the saran wrap on its chrome parts, and it has a Sears Service sticker on the bottom of it when one of the previous owners had it serviced.
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My Commodore 64. I have a ton of cassettes and floppies with games. Some even with intros from scene release groups, which are pretty fun. I should probably digitize them at some point to preserve them. I don’t use it much though due to the risk of the original power supply frying the computer. I’ll have to buy a modern replacement at some point.
Perhaps foolishly, I got rid of most of my older systems 20 years ago, so the oldest one I have left is my Sega Genesis.
The oldest system I have would be the NES. My brother received it sometime before I was born. I’m just holding onto it for him, though - it doesn’t get played right now. I actually intend to clean it all up and retrobright it before sending it back to him… eventually… The oldest system I have that still gets occasional use would be my Gameboy Color, which I received, with Pokemon Red, for Christmas when I was 8 or 9. Unfortunately, I need to find a better plastic polish, to take some light scratches out of the lens, and until I do, it will remain disassembled… I’ve also been contemplating using the board for a complete boxypixel overhaul, but there’s something about still having my full original GBC that I’m having a problem getting over…
I have an Atari Lynx that I picked up at a garage sale. Never actually played it, though…
I have a *working Pong machine.
*It runs, but I don’t like to turn it on because it gets extremely hot.
I still have my original Game Boy that was a gift from my aunt and uncle. Still works but I rarely play it; need to find some of my other games for it.
Vic20 is my oldest machine. After that is either my dead C64 or OG macintosh.
Mattel Electronics IntelliVision (1979)
Had 2-3 of them! Amazing machines for their time. Only knock would be the controller pads kept going bad. My dad started repeating them at one point.
I was so hooked on B-17 bomber with the voice module!
I have this and an Atari 800 in a tote waiting for the day I have somewhere to put them.
Atari 2600. Got in a few years ago from my in laws. Still hook it up and play berzerk from time to time.
GameBoy Pocket. Screen needs a swap though. Copped some sun and the display has darkened bad.
Psion 5mx palmtop computer running Epoc OS. Had the screen cable replaced a few years ago. Still use it for the word processor from time to time. Runs on two AA batteries.
Psions were pretty amazing. Can’t believe they ran a whole operating system like that on a couple of batteries. Iirc, turning on the LCD backlight doubled the idle power consumption. So the whole system was as heavy as a couple of LEDs.
Oldest console probably Atari 2600
Oldest PC Commodore VIC20
Oldest electronic handheld Parker Brothers Merlin
Original 6-switch Atari 2600. Spent so many hours playing it. Hope it still works haven’t tried it in decades.
My NES. My dad had a Pong machine that hooked up to old TVs, but it was in terrible condition when he threw it out after the divorce. If I remember correctly the connector required you to screw it into the contacts on the back of the TV - Old electronics were so bad lol
A Binatone 6-in-1 Pong machine from (if I recall) around 1977. My next oldest machine is a red-label Astro Wars from 1980.
