sully wrote:As you may or may not know with Modern computers eventually after use Main-boards fail... <snip> ...These computers are 30 years old So the less they are used the better for the long term.
Yeah, that's not strictly true. It's a bit more of a compromise than that. While it's true that some electrical/thermal fatigue does happen, most of the reasons a
vintage machine dies are related to sheer age or disuse. Capacitors dry out.. Batteries leak... Motherboards delaminate.. Moisture gets into places that normally stay dry when a machine is in use..
The machines that are used and maintained regularly are the ones that stay going. Unless you've got some seriously controlled environment storage facilities, I'd switch on your machines regularly.. bring them up on a really good power conditioner, of course, if you're worried.
sully wrote:What use is a original Jupiter ace if it has a blown main-board that can never be replaced?
About the same as one that never gets switched on. Schrodinger's cat springs to mind.
Also, unless something absolutely catastrophic (like a lightning strike) happens, a "blown main-board" is usually fixable. It's usually a component fault, and very few IC's are truly "rare". (despite what the sellers on EBay would have you believe.) Actual "board faults" are rare and much more repairable than a modern 15 layer board with microscopic, surface mounted components.
"dsakey" on trademe. Apple II's are my thing.