[Milsurplus] audiophiles and the like

[Michael]

From: milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:milsurplus-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Ray Fantini
> Yea those audiophiles can be funny, paying all that money for gold plated
receptacles and 
> the like. Nothing like those smart people who  pay several hundred dollars
for a relatively 
> poor performing and way obsolete by any modern standards  "RAT" series
command sets to 
> say they have one or in my case of spending much money and many hours
working on a 
> PDP-11 that will serve no useful function when finished. 

You've got a working PDP-11?  Darn!  That was one of the PDP-series I had
hands on time in college, starting with a PDP-1.  I'd like to get one or a
PDP-8 someday.  Or one of the HP-21xx series boxes.  They were a blast.

Anyway, you're right in one regard; we're all phools to some degree.  The
difference comes in where the restorers like you and others and me actually
understand the technology behind what we're doing and the assorted gurus
aren't snake oil sales beings.  In the case of the audiophools (vs.
audiophiles), a few self-appointed gurus and some questionable marketers,
both looking at a gullible following, have lead that following down a path
of what may be politely referred to as "poppycock".  

Audiophiles (or the ones I've met), as a rule, have a greater understanding
of reality and the limitations of things like ... well, the power available
at the wall outlet.  A few have pointed out to me some of the more amusing
bits of chicanery on the web (although more on the bay place) including
details that I missed.  They are, in the end, a lot more like us than not.

> Maybe it's like racing stripes or flames painted on your car, it makes the
car go faster or at 
> least it makes you feel it dose. 

Huh?  You mean the 1984 ex-cop Impala I had for a while wasn't even faster
after it got painted black with white skunk stripes up the center?  Well,
darn!  :-)

Seriously, that's more an ego thing and gets into a subject that might push
the Moderaptorial Entities' patience a bit.  

Side note: The Impala got that paint job after extensive coach and interior
work to put it to rights (nothing fancy, just a lot of repair) and a
gentleman I knew offered to paint it at the body shop where he worked in
exchange for some computer work I did for him ... but it had to be HIS
choice of finish.  The finish was excellent and I got something like 4x what
I paid for the car initially in large part because of it but about I broke
even once all the expenses were added up.

> You do have to admit that audiophiles have a way cooler name then us,
after all what do you 
> call antique radio or computer collectors?

Do I have to say it on list and risk the ire of those selfsame MEs?  :-D

Best regards,
 
Michael, WH7HG BL01xh
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/NTH/index.aspx 
http://wh7hg.blogspot.com/ 
http://kludges-other-blog.blogspot.com 
Hiki Nô!