Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Earl Evans

Topic: 1988

In 1988, NeXT introduced its cube, bundled with Mathematica 1.0. IRC was developed. Sound Blaster changed gaming. Microsoft Office was announced. Lots of software was developed, and hardware incrementally improved.

Topic/Feedback links:

• NeXT cube
• Laser 128EX/2
• Mathematica
  • Celebrating 35 Years of Mathematica (YouTube, first few sections show it in action on an SE/30)
  • The Mathematica Story – A Scrapbook
• Sound Blaster (but 1990? 1989?)
• Microsoft Office (announced 1988, shipped 1990)
• IRC developed – /me likes this
• Apple IIc Plus – last 8-bit computer introduced by Apple?
• IBM PS/2 Model 70
• Lemonamiga games for 1988

Retro Computing News:

• Video of production of new Commodore 64s in the factory
• Ken Shirrif repairs a Commodore PET

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Amstrad Portable PC
• Microsoft Office System: It’s Showtime

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Viking Electronics DLE-200B Two-Way Phone Line Simulator
  • See also: Open House H650 Integrated Voice Networking System

Auction Picks:

• Earl:
  • Altos 580 Computer, Z80 system, supported multi-user MP/M, could accommodate hard drives, 4 RS232 ports
    • See also: http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/altos/580_Series_5/
• Paul:
  • NeXT Cube
  • NeXT Video Cable
  • Amstrad PPC 640
  • Adventure International Buckaroo Banzai
  • Akalabeth
  • Contributed Programs
    • See also: Street Life (Apple II disk image)

Closing notes:

• Ivan Loves the 80s
• Steve Jobs Unveils the NeXT Computer

Other ways to experience this episode:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr288.a2stream
• YouTube episode 288

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

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

Topic: 1987

The Acorn Archimedes became the first computer sold based on the ARM chip. Even today, the last does not appear to be in sight. 1987 also bought us Perl, the IBM PS/2, VGA, Hypercard. CompuServe gifted us GIF. Beyond 1987, we talk BBC BASIC, Quantum Link, and more about the Commodore Colt than you ever wanted.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Acorn Archimedes 
• IBM PS/2
• VGA 
• Larry Wall wrote Perl 
• Bill Atkinson designs Hypercard 
• CompuServe introduced a proprietary graphics interchange format. Great. Took off like gangbusters. Like a gift to the online world.
• So Far; The First 10 Years of a Vision (Apple turned 10)

Retro Computing News:

• The Commodore acquisition happened
• One line Tetris (Rheolism) (Hackaday)
• Rheolism
• How Rheolism works

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Commodore Colt at Best Buy
• Acorn Electron 
• IBM PS/2

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• The Apple II Age: How the Computer Became Personal (Laine Nooney) 
  • See also: INIT HELLO wrap-up discussion (YT)
  • See also: RCR episode 266 with Laine Nooney

Auction Picks:

• Paul:
  • Commodore Colt
  • Spectravideo Compumate VCS keyboard
    • CompuMate (Wikipedia)
    • I turned my Atari 2600 into a REAL COMPUTER (YT, 8-Bit Show And Tell)
  • Actual Quantum Link software package
  • Alternate universe (to Apple users) SoftDisk: LoadStar
    • Cf: SoftDisk

Closing notes:

• INIT HELLO

Other ways to experience this episode:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr287.a2stream
• YouTube episode 287

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

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Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Jack Nutting, and Blake Patterson

Topic: 1986

IDE, IMAP, IIGS, and even some other things that do not begin with “I” were introduced in 1986.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Apple IIGS
• MacBook Wheel
• SCSI-1
• IDE
• IBM PC XT/286
• IMAP
• ShaderGlass

Retro Computing News:

• The Myst Graph: A New Perspective on Myst (and Part II)
• Postage-stamp-sized Atari 8-bit compatible FPGA hardware device
• Ice-T, a VT100/102/52 terminal emulator for the Atari 8-bit
• Bill Atkinson passed away (Wired)
• Building a dream PC in 1993
• Shufflepuck Cafe for the Apple II
• Retro Recipes is buying Commodore

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Gateway
• Myst board game
• What is the @ (Good Morning America)

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Strong Magnetic Field warning stickers
• Also Magnetic-Field-Warning cookie cutters

Auction Picks:

• Blake:
  • 1980s AMust Corp. Mini Robot-1 Simulator Arm HX-3000 Australia (EARLY ROBOTICS)
• Paul:
  • PowerBook Weight Saving Device
  • The Toy Shop (C64)

Closing notes:

• Alien Beast Inspector
• INIT HELLO

Other ways to experience this episode:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr286.a2stream
• YouTube episode 286

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, and Blake Patterson

Topic: 1985

The year of the Amiga arrives, NeXT is founded, the first .com site appears, Quantum Computer Services begins its journey toward becoming AOL.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Commodore Amiga 
• Installing FS-UAE on Mac 
• Amiga Forever
• Ample
• NeXT 
• symbolics.com
• symbolics.com museum
• Symbolics
• Aldus PageMaker
• Apple LaserWriter 
• Enterprise
• Super Mario Bros
• Microsoft Windows 1.0
• Quantum Computer Services founded, which became AOL 
• GameLine
• GameLine (eBay)
• Atari Compendium: Longevity (mentions Supercharger)
• Arcadia/Starpath Supercharger (eBay)
• A modern news story on AOL

Retro Computing News:

• The First Perfect Computer (upgrading an Amiga 1000)
• INIT HELLO
• Computer Museum at System Source
• National Electronics Museum
• Bloop Museum
• CuriousMarc visits System Source
• Usagi Electric visits System Source
• Usagi Electric gets a Bendix G15 to run the first half of a test program
• DigiBarn
• The SuperFo Harlequin 128
• The Leningrad-1
• Original Soviet key cap kit

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• America Online
• Enterprise 128
• Super Mario 2

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Commodore4ever VertiPort

Auction Picks:

• Blake:
  • Vintage Olympia EX 100 Typewriter Extension CP/M Computer Word Processor Systel
• Paul:
  • The PC-8001 They Didn’t Want You To See. Picture number 6 will shock you.
  • Mario Bros 2 ripped burned floppy disk
    • The 202 Alliance
    • Mario Bros (202) on Internet Archive, hit Esc while “202 Alliance” is being painted
    • Real pirates buy Apple Cats
    • The Curse
  • Apple catalogs (including last one with Apple //e)

Closing notes:

• Rasberry Pi MIDI hat
• Stronghold

Other ways to experience this episode:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr285.a2stream
• YouTube episode 285

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

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

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