I feel like I’m kind of alone in this. I was born in 2004 so the two retro computers I tinker with the most (a C64 and a 486 clone) are way older than I am. Are there any other younger retro enthusiasts who never grew up with the hardware but are into it now?
Also this is my first post on Lemmy, so I’m sorry if this is out of place here.
Kinda sorta. I’m firmly in the millennial generation, so there aren’t as many computers older than me. But I can tell you about my dad bringing home a brand new 486 (25MHz) and temporarily setting it up for the first time on the kitchen table, before it was officially set up downstairs.
In high school I got a handful of leftover computers to play with. Some early Pentiums, a really weird 486 tablet (still have that in my crawlspace!), and stuff like that. Great to learn hardware on, do some homework in my room, listen to Winamp, etc.
Then college came and I had less time and space. Then I bought a home a couple years later (when they were all on sale!) and had a kid. Most of my time and money goes to those things.
But! I hate where technology is going now. I remember things being fun and innovative, rather than yet another thing weirdly integrated with an app on your phone (likely with a subscription 🙄 ). So I’ve spent some time restoring antique radios, and put together some fun projects I’ve found that use a 3D printer and Raspberry Pi, including a working mini computer that runs a Dosbox instance with my favorite games from that 486.
Tl;dr not that young by Lemmy standards, but I get it!