Old computers – everyone has one (or at least parts of one) gathering dust in the attic somewhere. Depending on when you bought it, it might have been obsolete within a year, or, if you were an early adopter, the entire platform might have died out. But you might want to check that basement, because in the 2020s, “retro computing” has become a big deal. Much like vintage cars, a very real market for vintage computers has emerged, and a thriving 8-bit subculture has emerged.

Prices for classic devices – old Amigas, Commodore 64s, early Apple devices and PCs – have skyrocketed, especially if they are in good condition. Who would have thought that old junk and electronic waste could become a cash cow?

The reasons for this are varied, ranging from simple nostalgia to a resurgence in the popularity of arcade games or, in the case of many younger people, never having had the opportunity to experience what computers were like before everyone more or less agreed on the same paradigms for using them.

And this trend is not just limited to hardware. Old computer games and software now sometimes exceed their original value if they are in good enough condition.

Keep in mind that this trend is largely limited to truly classic systems: systems from the mid-’80s to early ’90s seem to be particularly popular, with some systems fetching more than $1,000 and games costing nearly $30 in good condition.

Huge communities have sprung up dedicated to improving the capabilities of these machines – adding modern storage solutions, HD video output, memory and processor upgrades, and developing new software and games. Many of the games and much of the software for these machines are also available for free. Often these machines are very inexpensive (though you may spend some money if you want to secure a well-stocked, complete machine). That said, if you’re frugal and know where to look, this can be a hobby that’s very rewarding and inexpensive.

I’m not immune to the virus myself. I recently acquired a 1987 Commodore Amiga 500. I’ve wanted one for years, as Amiga machines are legendary in the retro computer world. With a mere 7MHz processor, the Amiga in the 1980s was capable of 4000-color graphics and high-fidelity sound. It even had a graphical operating system. Back when Macs and PCs struggled to display pixelated images and could do more than make “beep beep” sounds, this thing had amazing capabilities for its time. I upgraded the machine to include an HDMI video output and USB storage, and I’ve ordered a number of other upgrades.

There are other benefits for hobbyists: restoring one of these machines, especially an old one, will help you learn the basic principles of electronics, as they are relatively simple and there are many instructional videos on YouTube. It’s also a great introduction to the basics of how computers work, as modern systems are still based on the same principles.

For me, however, it’s a way to recapture the feeling of a simpler time when I could pop in a 3.5″ disk with PacMan or OutRun on it without distraction and it be just as fun as I remembered.