slow tech - 2023
For Alison, restoring an old computer is like solving a mystery. It’s deeply rewarding.
Alison, who is retired from a career in finance, is a lifelong self-described nerd. During the pandemic she developed an interest in collecting and restoring vintage computers, primarily old Macintoshes. She finds peace and satisfaction in the process of finding an old machine, diagnosing the issues, tracking down the right parts, and working on it in the basement of her Toronto home.
Part of this hobby's appeal for Alison is returning to machines that can only do one thing at a time. Old computers’ limited capabilities forced users to linearize, instead of the dizzying multitasking that defines modern computers.
When Alison was beginning her career in computers, it was easier to teach any individual to program or build software. Things that are now embedded on a single chip, preventing hacking or tweaking, used to be laid out on a motherboard like a miniature landscape. Memory can be added and parts can be soldered on. Communities of “nerds” like Alison share their tips and tricks with each other in vintage computer forums.
Using old computers also means no ads, no notifications, and no one trying to sell you things. It’s a return to the days of a computer being no more than a tool designed to facilitate a set of tasks for you.
Restoring and using these vintage computers is a private and personal experience for Alison. The appeal of slow tech to her is for the same reason that she’s not on social media. “I think people are getting tired of being inundated with information. It wasn’t always like this. I think people want to go back to a simpler experience.”
The inside of one of Alison's vintage computers, the NABU. The NABU, which stands for Natural Access to Bi-directional Utilities, was a personal home computer released in 1982 to connect people on a worldwide network. It was founded in Ottawa and used cable TV modems to connect to a country-wide network. Alison bid on a NABU online and won it, after a skid of the computers was found in a warehouse and put up for auction.
Alison works on the audio circuit of her Macintosh Performa 400. She finds the process of fixing vintage tech to be peaceful and rewarding. Half the fun for Alison are the mystery and problem-solving aspects.
Alison prepares to solder the motherboard of her Macintosh Performa 400.
Alison opens up an old game on a Macintosh from the 1989/1990 era, using a Dell monitor. The old Mac is running OS7, which is the newest operating system it is capable of running. The computer on the far left is an iMac G4 from approximately 2002, the middle computer is a Mac from approximately 2000 in the rare indigo blue colour, and the thick laptop on the floor is from around 1995.
A mouse sits on the floor by its matching Mac from around the year 2000. The Mac itself is in the rare indigo blue colour, but when Alison found and ordered the supposed indigo blue mouse and keyboard, she found that the seller had mislabelled the colour. For now, the slightly different colour will have to do.
Alison's Macintosh Performa 400. This computer was released on September 14, 1992 and was discontinued on October 18, 1993.
Alison shops for vintage tech at a Value Village in Scarborough. This laptop's pristine screen will replace the scratched screen of an identical laptop that she has at home.
Alison looks at different electronics cords at Value Village.
Alison works on the audio circuit of her Macintosh Performa 400 at her work station in the basement of her home.
Alison shows the inside of one of her vintage computers, the Macintosh Performa 400.