Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Blake Patterson, and Kay Savetz

Topic: 1984

Apple introduced the Macintosh and Apple //c in 1984, IBM introduced the PCjr, HP introduced the LaserJet, and FidoNet began distributing mail.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Apple //c
• IBM PCjr
• Christmas 1984: The Great Apple //c vs. PCjr Battle
• Macintosh
  • The 1984 Superbowl ad (YT)
  • The 1984 Superbowl ad
• FidoNet
  • fidonet.org
  • FidoNews
  • Subtext (classic Mac BBS with FidoNet support)
• HP LaserJet
  • LaserJet in HP’s own Virtual museum (warning: QuickTime 5 required)
• CHM discusses Lisa source code with Bill Atkinson

Retro Computing News:

• SyncTerm
• Playing with toy interfaces – Rich Gold, Mattel Toys
• Video Game History Foundation Library opens
• Storing data on cassette with a modem
  • KCS modem

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Apple //c
• IBM PCjr
• Macintosh

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Tiny TV

Auction Picks:

• Blake:
  • Atari SC1224 Vintage Color Monitor (specifically, red)
    • RDKL Inc’s YT video about this collection
• Kay:
  • Vintage The Microperipheral Corporation Computer Speech Synthesizer?
    • No, almost certainly a Sofcast Shuttle Communicator
    • Interview with Michael Darland, Microperipheral Corporation and Sofcasting
• Paul:
  • AnDATAco front panel
    • AnDATAco
  • Speech recognition processor for Hero 1 and Apple II
  • New overpriced belts
  • ITT 2020
  • US ZX-81 (auction long gone)
    • Timexsinclair.com on ZX-81

Closing notes:

• Super Impulse Space Invaders (eBay search)

Other ways to experience this episode:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr284.a2stream
• YouTube episode 284

Feedback/Discussion:

• feedback@rcrpodcast.com
• rcrpodcast@podcast.social on Mastodon
• rcrpodcast.com on bluesky
• Vintage Computer Forum
• RCR Podcast on Facebook

Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X

Listen/Download:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Kay Savetz, and Carrington Vanston

Topic: 1983

In 1983, Apple gave us Lisa, the ImageWriter, and the Apple //e. Atari gave us the XL line, Microsoft gave us (Multi-Tool) Word, Lotus gave us 1-2-3, David Lightman gave us wardialing. The era of it being always DNS began.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Apple Lisa
• Apple ImageWriter
• iOMEGA Bernoulli Box
  • Demo of Bernoulli Box A220
  • Bernoulli Box brochure
  • PCMag review of the Bernoulli Box
• MIDI
  • ANTIC interview 447: Robert Moore and Paul Rother (Hybrid Arts MIDIMate)
  • ANTIC interview 448: Frank Foster (Hybrid Arts MIDIMate)
• Microsoft Multi-Tool Word
  • Multi-Tool Word in Infoworld May 30, 1983
  • Microsoft Word in PC World Nov 1983
• Lotus 1-2-3
• TRS-80 Model 100
• Apple //e
• Atari 1200XL
• DNS
• It’s always DNS
• MSX
• WarGames
  • The WarGames IMSAI etc.
  • History Lesson

Retro Computing News:

• Z80-sans
• 50 years of Oregon Trail
• Angry Robots! New puzzle game for 68K Macs
• Bill Atkinson accidentally doxxed Douglas Adams on The Computer Chronicles
• FlatMac (Hackaday)
  • FlatMac build video

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Lotus 1-2-3 rocks
• Atari XL home computer
• TRS-80 Model 100

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Brew Atari

Auction Picks:

• Carrington:
  • Portal (different auction)
• Kay:
  • TELEVIDEO 990 Terminal 63 Units (in a field!)
  • TEC Micro-Tec Model 70 X CRT VDT Terminal
• Paul:
  • Keep your vintage computers from looking crappy by using dust covers
  • Symantec Bedrock
    • Bedrock (framework)
  • Inside NeXT 2024 edition
  • This Apple-1 tape does not look authentic to me
  • Bernoulli Box 10+10

Closing notes:

• ANTIC interview: Robert Leyland: AtariArtist, KoalaPainter, Murder on the Zinderneuf, The Dragon’s Eye

Other ways to experience this episode:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr283.a2stream
• YouTube episode

Feedback/Discussion:

• feedback@rcrpodcast.com
• rcrpodcast@podcast.social on Mastodon
• rcrpodcast.com on bluesky
• Vintage Computer Forum
• RCR Podcast on Facebook

Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X

Listen/Download:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Michael Mulhern, and Kay Savetz

Topic: 1982

In 1982, Commodore launched the Commodore 64, GCE launched the Vectrex, Brøderbund launched a rescue helicopter. Computers reached TV, and Flynn drove a light cycle.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Commodore 64
• MAX Machine in Japan (Ultimax elsewhere), formerly VICKEY
• Spawned RUN magazine, but people failed to follow this advice in droves
• Tron
  • Apple III
• Choplifter
  • Choplifter: The Complete History (YouTube, Slopes Game Room
• Pitfall!
  • Classic game postmortem GDC 2011
• Vectrex
• The Computer Programme (10 part BBC series) first broadcast in January 1982
  • The Computer Programme BBC archives
  • Bits & Bytes
  • Computer Chronicles IBMS PS/2 (1987)
• Minitel
• NABU
• The Sketch Show, Secretary, series 1 episode 2
  • The Sketch Show

Retro Computing News:

• AltStore
• Mini vMac4ios
• Action Retro installs Mini vMac4ios
• The Commodore Thermostat (Commodore History, YT)
  • Commodore Thermostat on eBay
• A 9958 in your C64
  • The V9958 is a bad design. No, really (Andy Hu, YT)
• http://bsky.app

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Timex/Sinclair 1000
• Tron sweepstakes
• Vectrex

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Atari joystick decanter set
  • Atari 2600+
  • Atari 400 mini
  • Atari 7800+
  • Plaion
  • ANTIC interview 439: Making modern Atari hardware

Auction Picks:

• Michael:
  • Four APC magazines
• Paul:
  • MAX Machine
    • On Mercari via buyee
    • On Mercari via Zenmarket
  • Apple II+ from Pirates of Silicon Valley
  • QX-16 (not QX-10 as labeled) (auction long gone)
  • Epson QX-10
  • Softside 1983, Relaaax issue (auction long gone)
    • Softside 1983 Relaaax on IA

Closing notes:

• ANTIC interview 446 Mary Eisenhart (Microtimes magazine)
  • ANTIC Mary Eisenhart interview, video version   
• Homeputerium 10 line programming contest

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr282.a2stream
• YouTube episode

Feedback/Discussion:

• feedback@rcrpodcast.com
• rcrpodcast@podcast.social on Mastodon
• rcrpodcast.com on bluesky
• Vintage Computer Forum
• RCR Podcast on Facebook
• RCR Podcast on YouTube

Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X

Listen/Download:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed