At a time when artificial intelligence, powerful processors and increasingly sophisticated digital devices are defining the future of technology, a growing group of enthusiasts is turning its attention to machines that belong to the past. Vintage computers, once considered obsolete hardware, are attracting collectors, restorers and technology enthusiasts who are determined to preserve the early history of personal computing.
Among them is Seattle-based software engineer Josh Dersch, who has built a collection of more than 200 vintage computers and related devices. Much of his spare time is spent repairing and restoring old machines, often working from his garage. For Dersch, the attraction lies not merely in nostalgia but also in the opportunity to understand how computers were designed and built before modern systems became increasingly complex.
The renewed interest in old technology is becoming visible through a growing network of collectors and public events dedicated to computer history. The Vintage Computer Federation, which promotes the preservation and enjoyment of older machines, has seen increasing enthusiasm for the hobby. Its president, Erik Klein, said interest in the history of computing and the technology associated with it continues to expand.
The trend was evident at the Vintage Computer Festival held in California earlier this month. More than 3,500 people attended the two-day event, which also marked the 50th anniversary of Apple. The gathering included a discussion featuring Apple co-founders Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, who recalled the company’s early years when it was still a small and ambitious technology venture.
Collectors displayed machines that they had spent years restoring, giving visitors an opportunity to see and operate computers created long before the internet, smartphones, social media and artificial intelligence became part of everyday life. Similar gatherings have also emerged in several cities across North America, South America and Europe.
The revival has also created greater demand for vintage machines on online marketplaces. Some historically significant computers have become valuable collector’s items. The Apple-1, the company’s first computer, can command prices running into hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on its condition, authenticity and history.
For many enthusiasts, however, the attraction is less about financial value and more about preserving a technological legacy. The machines produced by companies such as Atari, Commodore and IBM are viewed as important predecessors to the computers, mobile devices and other digital technologies used today. Collectors enjoy restoring these systems to working condition and experiencing the sounds, displays and games associated with an earlier era of computing.
Dersch recently showcased a restored Xerox Alto, a machine developed in the 1970s at Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center. The Alto is regarded as a landmark in computer history because it helped introduce concepts such as the mouse and graphical user interface, including windows, icons and cursors. These ideas later became fundamental to mainstream personal computing and influenced products developed by technology leaders including Apple and Microsoft.
The restored Alto displayed by Dersch included its distinctive upright monitor, keyboard, mouse and large disk drives capable of storing only tiny amounts of data by today’s standards. Yet, for visitors, the machine offered a glimpse into the technological experiments that helped shape modern computing.
Klein’s own experience reflects both the enthusiasm and challenges associated with collecting old technology. At one point, he had around 150 computer systems, along with accessories, manuals and packaging, filling closets and parts of his garage. Eventually, the collection became difficult to manage, prompting him to sell or give away many of the machines and retain only a few favourites.
He now focuses on bringing collectors together through festivals, repair workshops and swap meets. The objective, he said, is to encourage people to learn about computing history while keeping the culture of collecting, repairing and using vintage technology alive.
Sellam Ismail, who helped organise one of the earliest vintage computer festivals in 1997, has also watched the community expand over the decades. The first event attracted about 150 enthusiasts, while similar festivals have since spread internationally. Groups inspired by the movement have emerged in countries including Argentina, Germany and Switzerland.
The growth of the vintage computer movement highlights an unusual contrast in the technology industry. While companies and researchers race towards increasingly advanced AI systems, another community is looking backwards, preserving the machines and ideas that laid the foundations for the digital age. For these collectors, old computers are not discarded electronics but pieces of technological history that continue to offer lessons, challenges and a tangible connection to the origins of modern computing.
