Ok, we've all asked it. "Which retro-computer should I buy?" There are a lot of options out there. Imagine someone forcing you to choose computers from 3-4 decades apart. In this post, we're going to cover the basic steps to walk through. Here we go:
Question One: Which decade of computers am I covering?
Ok, you have to choose from the 70s, 80s, 90s and you do not know which to pick. This is up to you. As long as you know why you want that computer, there is a certain decade that matches certain specs. The 70s and 80s mostly consist of pre-made computers from IBM, Apple, and Tandy (among others) and they pretty much all filled up specific specs that specific apps opted to work on. If you got an IBM PC and wanted to run Apple II apps on it, then I think you would have done a wrong choice.
The 90s were way more open to possibility. While Apple was still having their specific "only macs can run this" situation, the IBM PC started to be an example to many more companies who made their own clones of it while other companies made new components that could make new clones better than the original IBM PC. While Mac OS apps could be ran only in Macs, Windows apps could be ran on any computer that is considered a IBM PC clone.
If you choose the 70s or 80s, you may have to opt for certain computers. The 90s give you more opportunity to take, as well as give extra risks to take while deciding.
Question Two: Pre-Made or build my own?
Here, we will mostly cover 90s computers. Now I also advise you to research what parts do what and which apps run in which of these parts, I don't think you want to jump to anything before that.
To answer this question, you need to know how Tech-Savvy you are. If you know how to build a PC and what parts will accomplish your goals, then build your dream Retro-Computer. Be aware that only IBM clones are buildable, don't go building a Macintosh or anything like that. IBM compatibles (clones) run Microsoft DOS and Windows, pretty much the Retro-Wonderland of stuff, if you ask me.
If you want a Mac, you have to buy it. Apple had (and still has) a strict policy where you cannot copy their computers. Let's also mention how their design was all-in-one, and finding Mac displays alone ain't easy.
If you aren't Tech-Savvy enough to build your own IBM clone, there are tons online on eBay. A few companies that made computers back in the 90s were Compaq (rest-in-retro-tech-pieces), Dell, Gateway (RIP), IBM (who also made the first PC), and Packard Bell (RIP).
Warning: If you aren't on a high budget, stop here and do not try to buy a retro-computer.
Question Three: Should I emulate the Retro-Computer experience instead?
Yes, you could. You would save a lot of money on that choice. A LOT. Actually, you would save ALL the money. DOSbox and Virtual Machines (among others) are apps for Windows and Mac that do not need any hardware to emulate the whole experience of a Retro-Computer.
Although, it is not the best option honestly.
A)The systems in those are still not up to the quality of the actual Retro-Computers. Since they fully rely on your modern computer's hardware (which is way more improve than a Retro-Computer's) they need code to tell them how a Retro-Computer behaves, and that code can have loopholes.
B)Also, someone can find those apps aggravating to set up but I am telling you that it is harder to set up an actual retro computer. (Honestly, it's up to you to decide that)
C)With using emulation, you are missing out on the actual experience of setting up and using a retro-computer. No floppies to handle, no buttons to press, no "waiting-for-this-thing-to-load-and-it-takes-so-long" situations. If your goal is re-living nostalgic moments, emulation probably will cut the process by a lot.
So, which Retro-Computer should I pick?
If you have asked yourself the questions and decided on your ideal retro-computer, it's your turn to look up the exact pre-built computer or computer parts you want online and decide how much budget you want to spend. I am warning you that there is going to be a lot of money spent on the computer, and extra to get it working (because you never know what will go wrong with the retro world). If you are confident that you are making the right choice, then go for it. If you want emulation instead, great choice as long as you know what you are getting into.
Retro-Computers are a magical world of possibilities and adventure, it's your choice to start it and with what.