On the Closing of Living Computers: Museum+Labs

It’s such a shame that an institution like this, backed by an estate that can fund it indefinitely, gets shut down purely because some middle managers saw a dip in cashflow during a pandemic. It’s utter idiocy at the core.

Used to go there when I had a long-term contract at Starbucks corporate, which is practically next door. I always intended to take a day and take my spouse, who I am sure would have enjoyed it. :-(

For those that didn't make it, you missed a treat. Downstairs was for the kids, the good stuff was upstairs. When you haven't seen a keypunch machine in 30 years, and then there's one right there in front of you, man...

:( Stumbled upon this place on a visit to Seattle once and the joy on my face to sit down at an early IBM PC (XT or whatever) and code some BASIC in a wave of nostalgia was magic.

Damn it! I told myself I would go here on my next trip to Seattle. Then COVID-19 happened.

I was very lucky to see this place on my last trip to Seattle. I'm from Boston, where DEC, Wang, and Data General were part of local lore but I'm too young (32) to have ever seen a minicomputer in the real world.

I hope it stays afloat. It was such a fascinating experience for me.