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Author Topic: Unsolicited rant on Computer History Museum <correction>  (Read 55504 times)

anotherLISAguy

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Unsolicited rant on Computer History Museum <correction>
« on: September 27, 2025, 09:12:17 am »

As a long time fan of this museum, I found myself, dare I say, appalled by its poor documentation. I'm writing this as a follow-up to a 20-minute series of suggestions to the museum curators on properly labeling their LISA collection. I've attached a copy of the URL so you can see how detailed their titling and description is.  I know that I must sound like I'm wearing 'my old man shaking fist overhead' costume at the moment, but honestly, it seems this type of poor documentation is becoming the new norm, systemic to society these days.

Anyway, having my dander raised, I thought it best that I write them, and so I did. With nearly a dozen suggestions on correcting items that they described as a processor unit. Or the mislabeling of a Lisa Mouse. Along with a number of other small, incidental, but valid clarifications, that would be important.for anyone who is trying to research the Lisa computer system from what they assume is a pinnacle of computer historians and preservationists.

Anyway, I just wanted others to know that I did my part today to help clean up some of the misinformation out there. Particularly when it comes from a bastion of historical hardware preservation.

Having said that, I'd be curious to hear other people's input on not only the webpage that I reference, but others' situations where eBay listings, auction houses have completely screwed the pooch.

https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/search-catalog/search/keyword:apple%20lisa/

PS: For those that have never looked at their collection at this detail level, I think you'll find some items that they have in here a real treat. Particularly the prototype Twiggy drives.
« Last Edit: October 14, 2025, 07:37:38 am by anotherLISAguy »
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bmwcyclist

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Re: Unsolicited rant on Boston Computer Museum.
« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2025, 08:00:49 pm »

Well, labeling the drive cage as 'processor_x' is ridiculous!

I do believe that an organization calling itself a museum should hold itself to a reasonable standard of accuracy.

I have been restoring antique motorcycles since I was 14 years old.

I cringe when I visit the Barber Museum because many of the bikes they have there that I know very well are incorrectly described on the display and often incorrectly restored.

So I really get it.

As a devil's advocate, I also helped run a volunteer organization for over a decade, and sometimes you have to work with what you have.

I feel that if you have knowledge that can help a museum, volunteering and being a good volunteer are two of the best ways to mitigate these issues.

My 2 cents on your 2 cents!  8)
 

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Using my LISA for writing blogs and other work projects and fun and games at home.
LISA 2/10, AST RAM board, ESProfile, FloppyEMU, reproduction LISA 1 mouse, BlueSCSI

anotherLISAguy

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Re: Unsolicited rant on Boston Computer Museum.
« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2025, 07:05:54 am »

Fully agree, this is why I offered my knowledge to help improve the system.
and the system responded.
My post and title was tip-of-the-hat to the high-minded critiques of brush strokes used in oil paintings prior to the 1860s and similar esoteric topics.  :D
EOC
-----------------------
Hello,

Thank you for reaching out with your recommendations regarding the Lisa-related records, it is much appreciated. The recommendations have been reviewed, and changes have been made to the following records:

Apple Lisa 2 - 102626732 - CHM
Apple Lisa Drive Cage - 102673912 - CHM
Widget Drive Assembly from an Apple Lisa 210 - 102673910 - CHM
Breakout of a Complete Apple Lisa210 - 102673911 - CHM
Apple Lisa Keyboard - X2410.2002B - CHM
Apple Macintosh Mouse - X2410.2002C - CHM

Thank you, again for your support of CHM!

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bmwcyclist

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Re: Unsolicited rant on Boston Computer Museum.
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2025, 10:26:49 am »

Great!
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Using my LISA for writing blogs and other work projects and fun and games at home.
LISA 2/10, AST RAM board, ESProfile, FloppyEMU, reproduction LISA 1 mouse, BlueSCSI

TorZidan

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Re: Unsolicited rant on Boston Computer Museum.
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2025, 06:25:29 pm »


A small correction: the Computer History Museum (aka CHM) being criticized in this post is located in Mountain View California, not in Boston.
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anotherLISAguy

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Re: Unsolicited rant on Boston Computer Museum.
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2025, 07:40:58 am »

Thanks and correction made - I'd lean to constructive corrections not so much criticism :D least that was the intent!


A small correction: the Computer History Museum (aka CHM) being criticized in this post is located in Mountain View California, not in Boston.
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