steampunk credo
Rich “↑Datamancer“ Nagy specializes in “prestidigital datamancery & paraphernalic technofetishism (now with 20% more superfluous pleonasm!!).” In strictly out-of-character words: he makes customized steampunk-themed computer hardware to order. Here is a long quote, illustrating the ↑rationale behind his occupation:
Due to both the lack of creativity in most of the technically inclined and refinements in plastic forming and mass production, the home computer was denied what I feel to be the proudest time in the life of any technological device. It was robbed of the fleeting, wonderful period right after invention, where it is celebrated and honored by the finest craftsman and creative minds, and given a structure befitting its potential and greatness. It was essentially denied a “novelty period”.
When the steam train roared into history, hissing smoke and howling into the night, it was an awesome beast, adorned in the finest woods, ivory, gold, and intricate inlays, like some Serpent King on a sacred tapestry. The automobiles of the 20’s to 60’s, each was a work of art. The television and radio affected the world in more ways that can be imagined, changing the entire dynamic of human social structure and communication. They were both appropriately gifted with the most lavish of hand tooled, wooden scrolled cabinetry, housings which borrowed architectural details from the grandest schools, churches and banks.
Sadly, the personal computer, which has impacted the world more profoundly than probably all of the previously mentioned inventions put together, never recieved the same kind treatment. It went from a buzzing beige cube, to a buzzing white one, to the garish space-eggs you see nowadays. The train is a chain of linked rectangles, the automobiles have devolved into these crappy little automobubble spheres, and TVs/radios are about as lavish and attractive as a 2 X 4. But that’s another rant. What I’m trying to do is retroactively create a false period of greatness in computing. The “Golden Days” of the PC, so to speak. I’m building a blazing-fast, modern computer into antique fine cabinetry. I’ve been stalking Ebay for about a year now, and I’ve finally gathered just about everything I need. It took me a long time, because I had to find pieces of broken or useless antiques to modify. I couldn’t bring myself to destroy anything good. I figure, if it survived this long, who am I to destroy it? Also, the old hardware has a soul to it that the new crap doesn’t, so I’d almost feel like I was killing it. But I digress….as always. [emphasis mine]
When the steam train roared into history, hissing smoke and howling into the night, it was an awesome beast, adorned in the finest woods, ivory, gold, and intricate inlays, like some Serpent King on a sacred tapestry. The automobiles of the 20’s to 60’s, each was a work of art. The television and radio affected the world in more ways that can be imagined, changing the entire dynamic of human social structure and communication. They were both appropriately gifted with the most lavish of hand tooled, wooden scrolled cabinetry, housings which borrowed architectural details from the grandest schools, churches and banks.
Sadly, the personal computer, which has impacted the world more profoundly than probably all of the previously mentioned inventions put together, never recieved the same kind treatment. It went from a buzzing beige cube, to a buzzing white one, to the garish space-eggs you see nowadays. The train is a chain of linked rectangles, the automobiles have devolved into these crappy little automobubble spheres, and TVs/radios are about as lavish and attractive as a 2 X 4. But that’s another rant. What I’m trying to do is retroactively create a false period of greatness in computing. The “Golden Days” of the PC, so to speak. I’m building a blazing-fast, modern computer into antique fine cabinetry. I’ve been stalking Ebay for about a year now, and I’ve finally gathered just about everything I need. It took me a long time, because I had to find pieces of broken or useless antiques to modify. I couldn’t bring myself to destroy anything good. I figure, if it survived this long, who am I to destroy it? Also, the old hardware has a soul to it that the new crap doesn’t, so I’d almost feel like I was killing it. But I digress….as always. [emphasis mine]
