1. Home
  2. / Science and Technology
  3. / Man bought 2.200 computers in 1983, didn't use any of them and had to sell them on the internet
reading time 3 min read Comments 68 comments

Man bought 2.200 computers in 1983, didn't use any of them and had to sell them on the internet

23/01/2025 ร s 16:48
Updated 24/01/2025 ร s 14:44
computers
Photo: Reproduction

In 1983, a man bought thousands of computers but never used them. Years later, he had to sell them on the Internet.

More than 2.200 old computers were discovered in a barn in in Massachusetts, in the United States, and quickly became an Internet phenomenon.

The machines, manufactured by the Canadian company Nabu in 1983, remained forgotten for more than 30 years until they were rediscovered at the end of 2022.

The History of Nabu Computers

Launched in 1983, Nabu computers were a breakthrough for their time. They operated via a cable TV connection, making them one of the first systems to offer high-speed Internet-like functionality.

To use the computer, the user had to connect the machine to a special adapter and subscribe to a cable TV service.

Unlike conventional computers, Nabu did not have a hard drive and depended entirely on the network to access and store data.

Despite the innovation, the computers were not commercially successful and were restricted to the Canadian market.

The lack of demand and the rapid evolution of technology at the time ended up making the devices obsolete quickly, which caused many of them to be stored or discarded.

the rediscovery

Following the discovery in the barn in 2022, James Pellegrini decided to sell the units on eBay for an asking price of US$60 (approximately R$290).

Interest in computers was so great that James' account was temporarily deactivated due to the volume of sales.

James has worked with programming in the past, revealing that he acquired the computers in the 80s with the intention of creating a telephone exchange system for small businesses.

However, the project never got off the ground, and the computers ended up in storage for decades.

The repercussion grew even more when YouTuber Adrian Black, who specializes in old devices, bought a unit and published a video demonstrating how it works.

The video quickly went viral and led to the sale of a quarter of the stock in just three days.

Another enthusiast, DJ Sures, whose father and uncles worked at Nabu, decided to go further and recreate the original computer network.

With the help of one of the developers of the 80s project and data from the University of York, he was able to simulate the original experience of computers, making them fully functional again.

The impact on the retro technology community

The rediscovery of Nabu computers has sparked a growing interest in the history of computing and the innovations that preceded the modern Internet.

The enthusiast community grew quickly, and the recreation of the network allowed devices to be used as if they were still in the 80s.

Furthermore, the Nabu phenomenon highlights the sentimental and historical value of retro technology. Many collectors and hobbyists see these machines as an opportunity to relive the past and better understand the evolution of computing.

Due to the growing demand, James increased the price of the units to US$99 (around R$480), and there are currently no more computers available on eBay, which indicates that the stock has completely sold out.

With information from Vice.

  • Reaction
  • Reaction
  • Reaction
  • Reaction
  • Reaction
  • Reaction
211 people reacted to this.
React to article
Registration
Notify
guest
68 Comments
Older
Last Most voted
Feedbacks
View all comments
John Bosco Cardoso
John Bosco Cardoso
23/01/2025 20:39

Sensational

Wagner Rogerio da Silva
Wagner Rogerio da Silva
23/01/2025 20:53

Looking at a photo of one of these computers, it looks like a typewriter.

UmmaGumma
UmmaGumma
23/01/2025 22:39

One of the
Bomb ๐Ÿฅด

Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Journalist specializing in a wide range of topics, such as cars, technology, politics, shipbuilding, geopolitics, renewable energy and economics. I have been working since 2015 with prominent publications in major news portals. My degree in Information Technology Management from Faculdade de Petrolina (Facape) adds a unique technical perspective to my analyses and reports. With over 10 thousand articles published in renowned media outlets, I always seek to bring detailed information and relevant insights to the reader. For story suggestions or any questions, please contact me by email at flclucas@hotmail.com.

Share across apps
0
We would love your opinion on this subject, comment!x