I also have a large 8-bit and pre-PC collection of machines, also sitting in boxes, and I also have the desire to .. one day .. have a room big enough to set them all up, turn them on .. and .. hmm .. what .. exactly ..
Oh, I know! Run some of the new software thats being written for these old machines, even still, in the 21st Century! :)
(In my case, its the Oric machines that keep on ticking .. and new stuff pops up every year for this obscure, odd little system .. http://oric.org/ in case anyone is interested..)
I have 2 Amiga 2000s, 2 Amiga 1200s, 1 Amiga 500 and a Commodore 64.
I have 2 machines hooked up at all times attached to C= CRTs. I sometimes need to rotate the Amigas due to software buggery.
The C64 is always ready to go.
> turn them on .. and .. hmm .. what .. exactly ..
Believe it or not, the BBS scene is quite large and healthy. It's run by (mostly) 40-somethings on 8-bit and 16-bit machines. Hackers have made (and sell) fantastic WiFi options that essentially let your 8-bit machines (Apple, Commodore, TRS-80, etc.) telnet into the BBS. I use it for social more than Facebook. Yes, they are technically strangers, but like-minded and into the same thing.
There's no reason these old machines need to stay in boxes like some scene from Indiana Jones. They can be used, and enjoyed, daily. My Amiga is used for gaming/productivity. My C64 is (mostly) used for social interaction. And a little gaming. :)
Preach! Totally with you, brother .. now I just have to finish that assembly-language terminal emulator for the Orics' so I can join you fancy lunchbox users ..
Oh, I know! Run some of the new software thats being written for these old machines, even still, in the 21st Century! :)
(In my case, its the Oric machines that keep on ticking .. and new stuff pops up every year for this obscure, odd little system .. http://oric.org/ in case anyone is interested..)