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A comment on Ask HN: What to do with old computer books?.

Re:Ask HN: What to do with old computer books? by timoth3y on Wednesday December 28, 2022 @06:26PM (#34167422)
> I can't really see there's much demand for Java 1.3, or Dreamweaver 4.

Designate one bookshelf as your "memory shelf". Keep the books on the languages you learned the most from or that remind you of your best (or most horrible) projects, and place them on that shelf.

Display it prominently, and it will be become a conversation starter for every nerd that comes to your home. "OMG, I haven't thought about Dreamweaver in years!". You can then share war stories.

It will only get more fun as the years pass.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: What to do with old computer books? by geocrasher on Wednesday December 28, 2022 @06:35PM (#34167502)
That's the best use I can imagine. I love it.

Whenever I visit peoples homes, I look at their bookshelves. I pick one book that may indicate something in common, and I make a comment or ask a question. It rarely fails to start a great conversation. And when you're fixing their computer and waiting half an hour for a malware scan to finish, and the customer insists on sitting there watching, such conversations are life savers. Plus, you learn a ton.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: What to do with old computer books? by barbazoo on Wednesday December 28, 2022 @06:30PM (#34167455)
That's a really nice idea. I wish I had kept more of my books now.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: What to do with old computer books? by morninglight on Wednesday December 28, 2022 @07:04PM (#34167747)
Books are so heavy. If you move often, they can be a real burden, especially if they are no longer used.

If you keep them as a conversation starter, try this alternative method.

https://youtu.be/UqLTU9uFlPA?list=PLsgvviE9c9fBEPvopDnHcYhyN...

.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: What to do with old computer books? by paulryanrogers on Wednesday December 28, 2022 @07:59PM (#34168183)
Or maybe just posters?
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: What to do with old computer books? by hashim on Thursday December 29, 2022 @01:16PM (#34175866)
This is amazing, jokes so timeless they could have been written yesterday.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: What to do with old computer books? by mejutoco on Wednesday December 28, 2022 @07:21PM (#34167873)
I like this idea, but if I did this I would have to have the conversation outside of my flat.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: What to do with old computer books? by reassembled on Wednesday December 28, 2022 @08:00PM (#34168193)
Right next to your copy of HoTMetaL Pro.
[ Parent | on HN ]