Nesting Dolls

Palm TX.

HP Pavilion.

Lilith 7: 15" PowerBook Aluminum 1.25 GHz.

MacBook.

PowerBook 100...Lilith 1, as a matter of fact.

NEC MobilePro 790 HPC.

Panasonic H1400 HHC handheld computer.

Newton Messagepad 2100.

Newton Messagepad 100.

TRS-80 Pocket Computer.

HP 95LX.

Palm VII.

Sharp Pocket Computer PC-1250A.

iPod 5G.

iPod Nano 2G.

HTC Star Trek Windows Mobile smartphone.

OnHand WristPC.

JavaRing. Yes, it really IS a computer!

I remember Lilith!
My PB100 was "Uhuru".

Is this really green?

Indeed it is; I disassembled Lilith 1 and painted its plastics green (insides), blue (outsides and trackball keeper), and metallic-purple (interrupt and reset switches).

Which I would recognize anywhere even if I were not typing on it this very second. *Sigh*

Let's click through the "History" menu on this particular articulation of my dementia:

1) "I bet the paper won't be able to find a good picture of the MobilePro for my column. I should shoot one."

2) "That's a nice picture...actually, it'll be even more interesting if I shoot it on top of my Powerbook, just for scale."

3) "Ha...you know, before I put everything away, I should put the MobilePro and the Powerbook on top of the 17" Pavilion, just for fun."

4) "Wouldn't that old HP palmtop look cool on top of the stack? It looks like a mini-laptop. I know it's in that big drawer of palmtops in my hardware locker..."

And the next thing you know, I'm rummaging through my digital locker in the office, pulling out all kinds of current and vintage gear, trying to produce the tallest stack of incrementally-smaller mobile computers that I can.

("Computer" defined as "an electronic device capable of running user-installable software, which can take in data through some sort of input port, perform a calculation or a transformation on that data, and then spit it out through some sort of output.")

No, I don't have some sort of OCD, dammit. Looking at this shot, I realize that hell, I could have put my MacBook between the PowerBook and the MobilePro. I think the MagicCap device could go between the MobilePro and the Newton, too. But am I going to go back and reshoot this? Nope. So there.

This photo has notes. Move your mouse over the photo to see them.

To take full advantage of Flickr, you should use a JavaScript-enabled browser and
install the latest version of the Macromedia Flash Player.

Comments

MacSmiley says:

Where'ya gonna put the iPhone, Andy?
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

gl3n says:

Great pile! Sure, you don't have a trace of OCD, but what about your poor Flickr contacts? Please reshoot with a MacBook added in whenever's convenient for you. That'd be great, thanks.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Big DumpTruck says:

Dude, I swear, if I wasn't already married....

p.s. I left the dark side two weeks ago. I'm typing this from my shiny new MacBook Pro. I could put my MacBook on top of my Pavillion, but after that, I only have a T-Mobile Sidekick. Do you have a closeup of the ring?
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

chickenofeathers says:

Now I'm obsessed with seeing the MacBook between the PowerBook and the MobilePro. Now that you've mentioned it, that is. I can almost see it in my mind's eye, the whiteness of it. The photo look entirely not white enough now.

MacBook!

MacBook.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

splorp says:

I love tech piles. Not to be too big of a nitpicker ... but you forgot to ‘note’ the Newt. By the way, we’d appreciate it if you’d consider adding this image to the Newton group. Ta, Andy.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

sandrino says:

How about a real HP RNP calculator?

Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

sandrino says:

“But am I going to go back and reshoot this? Nope. So there.”

Couln't resist, could you? What was that again about OCD?
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

sandrino says:

You don't have a shuffle? It could go right on top of that nano.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

sandrino says:

You know what would really be cool? Taking the photo again with all the devices on at the same time.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

andyi says:

Judges...?

...

BZZZZZT. No, I'm sorry; the judges say that this device is a calculator and not a computer. Couple number three: what computer didyour husband say was closest the last time you made whoopee?
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

andyi says:

I do and I do and I do for you kids. Here's an updated (and final) photo. There are 18 portables in the new stack instead of just 11...yes, including the MacBook.

I might possibly have fit more machines into the stack. But I didn't want this to turn into a really expensive game of Jenga...
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

sandrino says:

Why is lilith 1 green?
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

andyi says:

Sandrino:

1) It's not about OCD. It's about serving the needs of my readers. This is why I stand among the world's most beloved technology pundits.

2) "Taking the photo again with all the devices on at the same time"...that's a terrific idea; you should get right on that.

3) I did get a shuffle...from a company who did Something Naughty by loading their press releases on it and inviting me to keep it as a gift. I gave it to the Red Cross. All through the month of December I enjoyed seeing the phrase "DONATE BLOOD; WIN AN IPOD" on their sign by Route 1.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

andyi says:

4) Lilith 1 is green because my creativity knows no bounds. And early PowerBook cases were fantastically easy to disassemble and paint.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

sandrino says:

“It's not about OCD.”

Keep telling yourself that.

“‘Taking the photo again with all the devices on at the same time"’...that's a terrific idea; you should get right on that.”

OK, just overnight the devices to me. I'll take the picture for you. ;)

“Lilith 1 is green because my creativity knows no bounds. And early PowerBook cases were fantastically easy to disassemble and paint.”

Cool!
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

zuhl says:

That is eleventy-forty kinds of awesome, Andy.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Jerrie says:

I'm impressed!!!!
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

gawd says:

Yeah, definitely not an ocd. .. Right..
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Michelle Brea (Away... for about a week...) says:

This photo deserves a big HEART,
please post this beautiful picture at
Heart Awards Group
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

sandrino says:

“I did get a shuffle...from a company who did Something Naughty by loading their press releases on it and inviting me to keep it as a gift.”

Why not delete the offending marketing material and keep the shuffle? Not that donating it wasn't a cool thing to do.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

andyi says:

Because it's a major no-no. The iPod has nothing to do with the product in question, I in no way need it to cover the product on a continuing basis...I'm sure they just thought "He gets a million press kits a day; here's a way to stand out and make sure he gets the product and tech info" but it's too close to graft.

As it was, I loved their product and I wrote a very positive review. I sure wouldn't want people saying "Well, sure...they gave him a free iPod!"
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

alaejano58 says:

Genial.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Big DumpTruck says:

If I'm couple number three, either his Treo or my Sidekick.

Hey, does a Tivo fit the qualifications? If so, that was closest.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Big DumpTruck says:

Okay, my last comment....If you liked the documentation that came with that NEC MobilePro - you have me to thank for it. I learned to field strip one as well, and wrote some of the doc for the Tech guide. Ahhh, the good old days, before they laid us all off.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

andyi says:

Hey, cool. The MobilePro came with absolutely nothing...but I downloaded the manual. I found it clear and helpful.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Peter John Hill says:

I used to have one of those trs80 pocket computers.. I even had the printer accessory that it docked into. The one with the paper roll tape.

Nice photo Andy!
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

kmarsh227 says:

Very cool picture, but I can't help wondering: How did the HP Pavilion laptop feel about having all those computers stacked on top of it?
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

andyi says:

"Pressured," I'd guess. :)

Actually, while in the first version of this photo I'd fanned the computers out somewhat artfully, in this edition I made sure that the notebooks were supporting the weight on their frames, distributed as widely as possible.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

kmarsh227 says:

"Actually, while in the first version of this photo I'd fanned the computers out somewhat artfully, in this edition I made sure that the notebooks were supporting the weight on their frames, distributed as widely as possible"

Imagine that phone call to tech support, if any mishaps had happened.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

andyi says:

It'd go something like this:

"I dunno; it just won't wake from sleep for some reason. It is still under warranty..."
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

saillena says:

Too Good To Be True
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

antiapathy says:

wow, all of those things must make your life really happy and fulfilling.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

rglenn says:

antiapathy: Wow, that attitude must make you a total joy to hang out with.
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

mortimer? says:

You like gadgets hey! :-P

--
Seen in the interestingness archives. (?)
Posted 31 months ago. ( permalink )

Lunasmom says:

Groovy cool!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

mgratzer says:

Nice collection, every Geeks dream!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Robbie Howell says:

this is clever & inventive.

well done.
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

Half-light says:

That’s awesome!
Nice photo!
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

Shutterhack says:

Machine thought in digital bliss, all knowledge
stored in memory banks equal to the Universe.
Machine had learned how to think for itself
but was like an unloved child, left on the shelf.
A sentient being with nothing much to do.
Machine was bored…Source
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

Christopher Vigliotti says:

could sell this as stock photography...very nice
Posted 27 months ago. ( permalink )

chinaski_83 says:

fantastic!
Posted 26 months ago. ( permalink )

☼ Helder says:

this looks like those evolution charts but instead of a monkey you have computers :-D
Posted 20 months ago. ( permalink )

flarthurhu says:

you don't throw much away, do you? I actually recognize 3/4 of the computers, still have my HP 200LX.
Posted 19 months ago. ( permalink )

npearson99 says:

That's clever!

I was doing a search for nesting dolls, and this took me by surprise.

I think you're missing a desktop system at the bottom of the pile ;-)
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

Zrajm says:

Hmm. Dates, or at least years for these devices would be incredibly nice to have for the image comments.

Were they bought from the bottom up? I'm guessing not, but half of the stuff in this picture is completely unknown to me..
Posted 9 months ago. ( permalink )

eha11oran says:

Where's the Apple IIc Andy?
Posted 7 months ago. ( permalink )

Art, as a weapon. says:

i'd do this except most of my old technology is in pieces.

and i cant find the HP jornada

www.pocketpcfaq.com/wce/21/jornada680.JPG
=[
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Art, as a weapon. says:

i was inspired
gave you credit

www.flickr.com/photos/dividedxwexstand/373855 2199/
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

Would you like to comment?

[?]

	andyi's photostream
		3,390 uploads

This photo also belongs to:

	SSH (Set)
		12 items

	Storytime With Uncle Andy (Set)
		30 items

	/geeks (Pool)
		0

	FlickrCentral (Pool)
		0

	The Secret Life of Technology (Pool)
		0

	vintage electronics (Pool)
		0

	Views: 2000 (Pool)
		0

	Geek Porn (Pool)
		0

	Stacks (Pool)
		0

115 people call this photo a favorite

Additional Information

Some rights reserved Anyone can see this photo

Taken with a Nikon D80.
More properties
Taken on May 2, 2007
Viewed 10,450 times
Replaced on May 2, 2007

Add to your map

Yay location removed

...

(Some formats are OK.)

Or, remove it from the map.

Go to the map

You	Sign in \| Create Your Free Account
Explore	Places \| Last 7 Days \| This Month \| Popular Tags \| The Commons \| Creative Commons \| Search
Help	Community Guidelines \| The Help Forum \| FAQ \| Sitemap \| Get Help

Nesting Dolls

Comments

MacSmiley says:

gl3n says:

Big DumpTruck says:

chickenofeathers says:

splorp says:

sandrino says:

sandrino says:

sandrino says:

sandrino says:

andyi says:

andyi says:

sandrino says:

andyi says:

andyi says:

sandrino says:

zuhl says:

Jerrie says:

gawd says:

Michelle Brea (Away... for about a week...) says:

sandrino says:

andyi says:

alaejano58 says:

Big DumpTruck says:

Big DumpTruck says:

andyi says:

Peter John Hill says:

kmarsh227 says:

andyi says:

kmarsh227 says:

andyi says:

saillena says:

antiapathy says:

rglenn says:

mortimer? says:

Lunasmom says:

mgratzer says:

Robbie Howell says:

Half-light says:

Shutterhack says:

Christopher Vigliotti says:

chinaski_83 says:

☼ Helder says:

flarthurhu says:

npearson99 says:

Zrajm says:

eha11oran says:

Art, as a weapon. says:

Art, as a weapon. says:

Would you like to comment?

Tags

Additional Information