Jeremy Mehrle, 29, owns nearly 100 computers, which he has assembled in his basement and those he happen to put on a display earlier this year. He animated life in his basement by transforming it into the coolest private computer museum. Over the course of an email interview with us, he disclosed that from time to time, people offered him their old computers, while a few others, he got from eBay. Sharing about his passion he says, ‘I don’t really consider myself an artist, but I do like to build things that are functionally questionable’.
Scroll down to know still more from the techie himself,
1. Jeremy, I’m so impressed by your vintage collection, how did you go about it, I mean, when did you start your journey with Macs?
Jeremy: I started my computer collection around 1995 when some friends were throwing out an old commodore 64. I couldn’t bear to see it go to waste so I took it. Soon other friends began giving me their old computers and I would set them up to play classic games. Around 2000 I started actively searching eBay to find interesting computers for my collection. I ended up bidding on and winning an original Macintosh. Once I received the little mac and had some time to play with it I realized that it was very advanced for its day. This really piqued my interest so I went back to eBay and bid on and won the original Bondi Blue iMac. I was equally impressed by that machine so when Macworld rolled around in January of 2001 I was ready to purchase my first new Mac computer the iMac G4. Once I had that computer it was all over I switched from the PC and never looked back. Then over the next year I ended up focusing my computer collection just on Apple Computers.
2. When did the idea hit you to display machines you already possess?
Jeremy: Around 2004 I had enough computers in my collection to justify renovating the basement to house and display all my computers. I really don’t like clutter.
3. I am absolutely in love with your basement, how much time did you actually take to complete your ‘Macs museum’?
Jeremy: It took me about a year to finish the basement and get all the computers on display.
4. Does your collection possess all the Mac models till date?
Jeremy: No my collection concentrates on the Apple All-in-One models. I’m starting to expand into towers and Laptops, but I don’t have that many yet.
5. Since, you are already a master of 100 vintage collections. Do you intend to add more? If yes, which one’s gonna be next?
Jeremy: Yes I intend to get more of the desktop and tower Macs as well as all the laptops, but they tend to get expensive so it will take a while.
6. Do you keep all your Macs on at one time? If yes, then how much does it bolster your power bill?
Jeremy: No, I turn them all on maybe once a year, most of the time I just have one or two on.
7. Which software are you using for your vintage systems? Do you have them installed in such a manner that they all happen to on together with a single flip of switch?
Jeremy: Each system is running the OS that runs the best with those machines specs. The Mac Classic bar has two power strips that start the whole thing up. I eventually want to automate the entire basement to turn them all on and off at once, but it’s going to take awhile.
8. Could you please tell us how much is the cost incurred in the whole process?
Jeremy: I really have no idea, and I probably don’t want to know.
9. Jeremy, please acquaint our readers with your digital woman video sculpture?
Jeremy: Sure, the sculpture is made up of 5 TV’s with their cases removed. The tubes are arranged one on top of the next creating a tower of TV tubes. I then have 5 DVD players all playing custom DVD’s of a different section of a 3D woman walking. I eventually want to replace the DVD players with mac mini’s so the animation will stay in sync longer.
10. What is the reaction of your family and friends towards your unique ‘museum’?
Jeremy: My dad collected toy tractors and my mom collected dolls, so my family wasn’t that surprised that I would have a collection of something. They like that it’s displayed well and not in a big pile on the floor. Most of my friends think it’s really cool, especially since they can come over and play all sorts of networked games on my computers.
11. I’m inquisitive to know, what type of Mac are you using now?
Jeremy: My main computer is a MacBook Pro.
12. As you tread ahead in life, what do you expect from yourself? Any dreams or plans for the coming future?
Jeremy: I never really plan that well, so I have no idea what I’m going to do with my future. I am working on a revision to the basement that displays the collection a little better.
13. Finally, we would like to have your thoughts on the Instablogs News Network and all its related sites. Which one is your favorite?
Jeremy: I’m honestly not familiar with instablogs, but I like anyone that is trying to get technology news out to the masses.
That was indeed a fantastic interview, thank you Jeremy for sparing time in doing a rendezvous with us, it is greatly appreciated; also I’d like to wish you success for all your future endeavors.
