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Weird / interesting vintage computer advertisements

Posted: 11 Apr 2020, 22:56
by snacksthecat
Discussion in the "Interesting Finds" thread got me looking through old brochures and magazine clippings on bitsavers.

Some of these ads were quite eccentric, even for the time. Others seem very weird when you look back at them through 2020 eyes.

I know IBM stuff holds it's value well. But $18k??? Sadly I feel we boomarang back to this price range at some point.

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Plz no byte me.

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Not sure if this is real or just a concept thing. No keyboard no care.

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"Electronic mail?! What is this wizardry?"

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Enhance your spreadsheet experience. Enhance your keyboard. Enhance your life.

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Random baby.

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I heard a rumor that manufacturers started making LCD monitors because people kept trying to stick their head inside CRTs to find their files.

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Encouraging customers to steal.

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The Northgate + Coca Cola collab we've all been waiting for.

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Well that was a fun hour of wasted time. Share cool stuff that you find. Bonus points for keyboard ads (I was not able to find many).

Re: Weird / interesting vintage computer advertisements

Posted: 11 Apr 2020, 23:08
by ddrfraser1
Might as well add mine :)

Re: Weird / interesting vintage computer advertisements

Posted: 11 Apr 2020, 23:26
by sharktastica
snacksthecat wrote:
11 Apr 2020, 22:56
I know IBM stuff holds it's value well. But $18k??? Sadly I feel we boomarang back to this price range at some point.
Yeah, nothing's changed with Beamsprings.

Re: Weird / interesting vintage computer advertisements

Posted: 11 Apr 2020, 23:32
by sharktastica
Not weird, but interesting (and Model M). Especially considering that this gives us a peek of how IBM was marketing typewriters in an age where the PC was on the verge of taking over completely - ie, Wheelwriters were basically diet word processor computers with integrated printers.
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I recently purchased an original cut out of this to preserve properly and put on my wall (because why not). I plan to do that with a few Model F and M ads, which I'll be sure to share with y'all.

Re: Weird / interesting vintage computer advertisements

Posted: 11 Apr 2020, 23:42
by Findecanor
snacksthecat wrote:
11 Apr 2020, 22:56
Not sure if this is real or just a concept thing. No keyboard no care.
It was real. One of the very first arcade games, from the company that later became known as Atari.

Re: Weird / interesting vintage computer advertisements

Posted: 12 Apr 2020, 08:10
by Hak Foo
They have an arcade game convention here once a year (cancelled this year for obvious reasons) Last year they had one of these on display, not plugged in and off in a barren corner of the show. Could have at least used an interpretive placard. :(

Re: Weird / interesting vintage computer advertisements

Posted: 12 Apr 2020, 08:49
by Slom
here are some keyboard related :)

2kro!!!111!!!!
microswitch_ad.png
microswitch_ad.png (405.49 KiB) Viewed 6957 times
And you thought IBM invented the SSK?
microswitch_ad2.jpg
microswitch_ad2.jpg (159.58 KiB) Viewed 6953 times
I was actually looking for one where 2kro was not invented yet and interlock was the great new feature ... can't find it right now ;)

Re: Weird / interesting vintage computer advertisements

Posted: 12 Apr 2020, 09:07
by Slom

Re: Weird / interesting vintage computer advertisements

Posted: 12 Apr 2020, 18:51
by Polecat
Gold label Northgate 102
Gold label Northgate 102
Screenshot_2020-02-12.jpg (247.11 KiB) Viewed 6876 times