Enthusiasts revive vintage computers as AI dominates modern tech landscape
A growing community of collectors is restoring and showcasing classic machines like the Xerox Alto, while events such as the Vintage Computer Festival draw thousands of fans.
Amid the AI-driven focus of today’s tech industry, hobbyists like Seattle-based engineer Josh Dersch are dedicating countless hours to reviving decades-old computers, boasting a personal collection exceeding 200 units. At the recent Vintage Computer Festival in Mountain View, Dersch displayed a fully operational Xerox Alto, a machine that introduced the mouse and graphical user interface and inspired early work by Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.
The two-day event, marking Apple’s 50th anniversary, drew over 3,500 visitors and included a reminiscence panel with co-founder Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Erik Klein, who leads the Vintage Computer Federation, reported a surge in online demand for rare systems such as the Apple-1, with some fetching six-figure sums. The festival’s success has spurred similar meet-ups in cities across the Americas and Europe, as collectors and restorers continue to celebrate and preserve the hardware that launched the digital age.
Why it matters
Preserving early computers helps us understand the foundations of today’s digital world.
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