Literature List

The following books relate to old and rare computers or computer history.

Collector Literature

Collectible Microcomputers

• Michael Nadeau
• Schiffer Publishing
• 160 pages
• December 2002
• ISBN-10: 0764316001
• ISBN-13: 978-0764316005

The classic list on collectible microcomputers and their prices from an American point of view. Very good compromise between information and the number of listed computers. The only drawback is that it dates from 2002 and that the prices are probably both a little bit outdated and/or stemming from another market than Ebay. But still, already the relative prices of the different models in the book are of value and the other content is rather authoritative.

The Encyclopedia of Game Machines

• Winnie Forster
• Magdalena Gniatczynska
• March 21, 2005
• 224 pages
• ISBN-10: 3000153594
• ISBN-13: 978-3000153594

A nice reference book on consoles, handheld consoles, and home computers from 1972 to 2005 containing about 400 entries. Nice compilation that especially takes into account the number of games existing for the corresponding machine.

Stupid as I am, I bought the English version of this book automatically assuming it was the original one. However, this is not true for this book and I could have bought the original German copy 🙂

Digital Retro: The Evolution and Design of the Personal Computer

• Gordon Laing
• Sybex
• September 21, 2004
• 192 pages
• ISBN-10: 078214330X
• ISBN-13: 978-0782143300

This book presents in short the story of 40 vintage microcomputers. It does probably contain no information you would not find in other books as well, but is has nice, big pictures of the computers. A nice book to give someone as a present that is in your age, but not yet a vintage collector…

VINTROPEDIA – Vintage Computer & Retro Console Price Guide 2009
Michael Starr, Craig Chapple, Arianne Wolodarsky

• Lulu Press
• 2009 edition
• 328 pages
  ISBN-10: 1409212777
• ISBN-13: 978-1409212775

Please read my lengthy review of this book.

Computer History

Revolution in The Valley: The Insanely Great Story of How the Mac Was Made

• Andy Hertzfeld
• O’Reilly Media, Inc.
• December 6, 2004
• 320 pages
• ISBN-10: 0596007191
• ISBN-13: 978-0596007195

A really wonderful book of how the first MAC was created in form of a collection of stories by the people involved in the development.

On the Edge: the Spectacular Rise and Fall of Commodore

• Brian Bagnall
• Variant Press
• September 14, 2005
• 548 pages
• ISBN-10: 0973864907
• ISBN-13: 978-0973864908

A very wonderful book about the history of Commodore.

Dealers of Lightning: Xerox PARC and the Dawn of the Computer Age

• Michael A. Hiltzik
• Collins Business
• April 4, 2000
• 480 pages
• ISBN-10: 0887309895
• ISBN-13: 978-0887309892

An extremely interesting book about Xerox Parc, the research institution that developed a lot of today’s technologies. In contrast to some other books on the topic, this one tries to be more objective on deciding the question whether Parc was a success or a failure for Xerox commercially.

The Soul Of A New Machine

• Tracy Kidder
• Back Bay Books
• 320 pages
• ISBN-10: 0316491977
• ISBN-13: 978-0316491976

The classical book, almost a novel, about how a new Data General Computer (the Eclipse) was created in 1978. Very entertaining and easy to read also for non-experts.