Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Carrington Vanston

Topic: 1980

In 1980, Commodore introduced the VIC-20, Sinclair introduced the ZX80, Tandy introduced the Color Computer, and HP tried to breed a computer out of calculators. Also other things happened. Which we discuss!

Topic/Feedback links:

• VIC-20 
• Sinclair ZX80
  • See also: MicroAce (timexsinclair.com)
• HP-85 
  • See also: Tandy PC-4
• Tandy Color Computer 
• Intel 8087 
• Pac-Man 
• Epson MX-80

Retro Computing News:

• ​​Apple’s best keyboard reimagined (YouTube)
• Update on the Business IIGS (original auction gone, but: Incider Jan 1989 cover)
• Daily news from a dot matrix printer
• APFram. APFram
• Atari Portfolio
• It was all Boris Vallejo

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Pac-Man Cereal
• VIC-20
• Timex/Sinclair 1000

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Inflatable Pac-Man costume

Auction Picks:

• Carrington:
  • The Usurper, one of the last text adventures
  • The Odyssey, one of the worst named adventure games
• Paul:
  • Apple-Cat II with expansion box
    • Starring the Computer: Vacation (1983)
  • Apple IIGS upgrade (finished at $720, 11 bids)
  • Blank floppies (finished at $111.50, 9 bids)
  • Because we all want to be able to say “And over here, this is my Grundy NewBrain” (bought now at $850)
    • See also: Grundy NewBrain
  • Timex/Sinclair 1000 with box (finished at $15, 1 bid)
  • Because we all want to be able to say “And over here, this is my Jupiter Ace”
    • See also: Jupiter Ace
  • A moment of silence for the keyboards that have been parted out
  • OCC-2 (bought now at $499)
    • See also: OCC-2
  • 16K RAM chips sans RAM

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr280.a2stream

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 Carrington Vanston

Topic: 1979

In 1979, VisiCalc’s rampage began, and models 400, 800 (Atari), II (TRS-80), and 4 (TI 99) arrived.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Wordstar
• VisiCalc
• TI 99/4
• Intellivision
• Asteroids
• Atari 400/800
• MUD1
• StarMud review
• TRS-80 Model II
• Motorola 68000
• Compu$erve
  • CB Simulator
• Robert Williams becomes first human killed by a robot

Retro Computing News:

• Unicode 16.0 adds more Symbols for Legacy Computing
• Existing Unicode symbols for Legacy Computing
• Unicode symbols for Legacy Computing working group document
• Unscii font
• Grace Hopper lectures archived and released
• Warhol’s lost Amiga art, found
• Wallops: a modern IRC client for classic Mac OS
• Famous Computer Cafe
• Computerland audio commercials (with gaps for filling in local deals)
• Mol (Baldur’s Gate demake for TRS-80 Model 100 and ZX Spectrum)
• Dungeons & Dragons Systems Reference Document
• RadioShack catalog archive

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Radio Shack
• Intellivision

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Insert Coin keychain
  • See also: iBot G3

Auction Picks:

• Carrington:
  • Mockingboard in box (Auction gone, but here’s a similar WorthPoint image)
  • InvisiCalc
    • Scanned at MOCAGH
• Paul:
  • Business IIGS (original auction gone, but: Incider Jan 1989 cover)
  • Amdek Color-I (original auction ended, here is similar one)
  • ZuluSCSI
    • See also: http://zuluscsi.com/
  • TI 99/4a replacement power supply
  • ZX81/TS1000 keyboard replacement
  • SE / SE/30 replacement power supply
    • Video for installing the SE/SE/30 replacement PSU (YouTube)
  • SIO2PC USB-C
    • See also: Set up RespeQT for SIO2PC (Atariprojects.org)

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr279.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

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

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Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting) and Carrington Vanston

Topic: 1978

In 1978, we got WordStar and LaserDisc. Not VisiCalc.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Wordstar (Wikipedia)
• VisiCalc (Wikipedia) almost!
• Laserdisc
• Exidy Sorceror lot discussed in episode 182, November 2018
• DEC VAX (Wikipedia) again?

Retro Computing News:

• Grace Hopper lecture found but can’t be released
• Living Computer Museum will start auctioning things
• Gen One (Christie’s)
• Legends of Adventure: The Story of Sierra On-Line
• Unboxing an Apple-1 (YouTube)
• Apple-1 number 18

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Wordstar commercial (Computerland)
• Lotus 123 running alongside your good applications
• Coleco Adam scholarship

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• SC131
  • SC131 (YouTube)

Auction Picks:

• Carrington:
  • X*Press X*Change
  • Apple Bunny key repeater
  • Dancing Baby screensaver
• Paul:
  • Math Sequences
  • Fix your Apple Plotter (auction long gone)
  • FujiNet for Adam (different auction, and also ended)
  • Atari power cube
    • Apple //c power cube (mozzwald)
    • Another Atari power cube (mozzwlad)
  • NABU RomWBW option card (auction long gone, but see below)
    • NABU forums post about the RomWBW option card
  • Newton 2000/20001 internal USB-C connectivity board (auction long gone, but see below)
    • Newtonsales
  • Model 100/102 ROM
    • Model 200 ROM
  • Atari 2600 power adapter
  • Model 100 set
  • July 1978 Disk II notes

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr278.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

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

Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
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Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Carrington Vanston

Topic: 1977

In 1977, XMODEM, VAX, and FAT arrived. And the Atari VCS (2600). And the TRS-80 Model 1, Commodore PET, and Apple II.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Atari 2600 (Wikipedia)
• Atari 2600 Pac-Man (Wikipedia)
• Tod Frye discusses Pac-Man 8K homebrew (YouTube)
• TRS-80 Model 1 (Wikipedia)
• TRS-80 Model 1 (trs-80.org)
• Commodore PET (Wikipedia)
• Commodore PET (commodore.ca)
• Apple II (Wikipedia)
• XMODEM (WIkipedia)
• FAT (Wikipedia)
• DEC VAX (Wikipedia)
• UNIVAC (Wikipedia)

Retro Computing News:

• Electromechanical Lunar Lander
• Tim Hunkin (YouTube channel)
• Apple II emulator on the CoCo3 (GitHub)
• Apple II emulator on the CoCo3 (YouTube)
• Michael Mahon’s Burroughs 220 emulator (KansasFest 2016 presentation)
• Michael Mahon’s Burroughs 220 emulator
• Choplifter reverse engineered
• Using fountain pens with pen plotters
• The Graphics Scientist

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Atari 2600 Pac-Man
• TRS-80
• VIC 20 vs Atari and Intellivision
• The Choplifter
• Pac-Man and other MB board games

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Ben Eater’s World’s Worst Video Card
  • World’s Worst Video Card (YouTube, part 1)

Auction Picks:

• Carrington:
  • Defender ENTEX
  • Defender MB (auction long gone)
  • Popeye
  • Pooyan
  • Turbo
  • Turtles
  • Board games based on 8-bit arcades (boardgamegeek.com)
• Paul:
  • TRS-80 model 1 set
  • PET 2001
  • Home security sticker (HERO robot)
  • Western Union Telefax receiver
  • Bull Questar 200
    • Bull Questar
    • Groupe Bull
    • List of Groupe Bull products
    • Micral: First personal computer using a microprocessor
    • Micral at MO5
    • “A talk with the father of computing” (Wired)
    • Computer Museum Catalog of Personal Computers

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr277.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

• feedback@rcrpodcast.com
• rcrpodcast@podcast.social on Mastodon
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• RCR Podcast on Facebook
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Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
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Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Blake Patterson, and Carrington Vanston

Topic: 1976

In 1976, Bill Gates wrote a letter, and the Queen sent an e-mail. Two 1s (Apple- and Cray-) appeared on the scene.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Zilog Z80 (Wikipedia)
• CP/M (Wikipedia)
  • Incidental mention: Kaypro 2000
• An Open Letter to Hobbyists (Wikipedia)
• Apple-1 (WIkipedia)
• Cray-1 (Wikipedia)
• The Queen sent an email
• 5.25″ Floppy Disk (computerhistory)
• Public Key Cryptography

Retro Computing News:

• Riven (Digital Antiquarian)
• RealMyst
• Atari 2600 Myst Demake
• Atari 2600 Myst Demake Longplay (YouTube)
• Atari (not really) acquires Intellivision (not really)
• ICQ is shutting down
• USB-C power for the Apple //c
• JQuickTake

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Space games:Intellivision vs. Atari
• Apple QuickTake

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Core16 Interactive Core Memory Kit

Auction Picks:

• Blake:
  • NeXT NU I/O Sound box in 3d Printed Case
• Carrington:
  • New ALPS mechanical keyboards for Apple IIe
• Paul:
  • Apple CTW titles (auction long gone)
    • See instead: Compute! magazine review (1983)
  • Lo and Behold & Ringmaster (auction long gone)

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr276.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

• feedback@rcrpodcast.com
• rcrpodcast@podcast.social on Mastodon
• Vintage Computer Forum
• RCR Podcast on Facebook
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Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
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Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Michael Mulhern, and Blake Patterson

Topic: 1975

In 1975 we got the Altair 8800, Micro-Soft.

Topic/Feedback links:

• MITS Altair 8800 (Wikipedia)
• History of Microsoft (Wikipedia)
• 6502 (Wikipedia)

Retro Computing News:

• A1222+ “Tabor” Now Available for Purchase
• KansasFest 2024 registration opens
• Z80 EOL announcment
• Z80 EOL (hackster.io)
• Z80 EOL (techspot.com)
• Sega AI
• BASIC turned 60

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Apple IIc
• Netpliance i-opener

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Zilog Z80 (mouser)

Auction Picks:

• Blake:
  • BackSID
• Paul:
  • Penguin Map Pack
  • Lode Runner board game
    • Magnet for the super-fans
  • MITS Computer Notes v1n1
  • Apple //c patent
  • i-opener

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr275.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

• feedback@rcrpodcast.com
• rcrpodcast@podcast.social on Mastodon
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Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Earl Evans, and Carrington Vanston

Topic: 1974

1974 brought us the SCELBI 8H, SQL, and the Captain Crunch whistle.

Topic/Feedback links:

• SCELBI (Wikipedia)
• The SCELBI-8H, Probably the First Advertised Personal Computer Sold in Kit Form
• The SCELBI Mini-Computer (Mike Willegal)
• Build your own SCELBI 8H (Mike Willegal)
• Mike’s Hobby Blog, category: 8008. (Mike Willegal)
• Mike Willegal introduces the SCELBI 8H at VCF W 2020
• SQL (Wikipedia)
• John Draper (John Draper, Captain Crunch, Wikipedia)

Retro Computing News:

• A][ VGA MINI card
• FLEX64K
• FLEX64K video (YouTube)
• Original GlobalTalk article (Paul Rickards)
• Marchintosh page for GlobalTalk
• FozzTexx GlobalTalk docker image (GitHub)
• Cat Fight (GitHub)
• Brutal Deluxe: Mr. Sprite

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• The Most Personal Computer (1982 Apple ad)
• SQL Server

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Before Macintosh: The Apple Lisa (Lisa documentary by David Greelish, Vimeo)
• Yes, again.

Auction Picks:

• Carrington
  • OSHA workers building construction game for Apple II
  • Apparently Choplifter was also bought by some people
  • The most personal computer?
• Earl
  • Vintage Commodore PET Model 4016-12 Computer UNTESTED
• Paul:
  • Blue Cray
  • TG Select-a-port
  • Bid or the Apple II collection gets it. You have 3 days.
  • MPF-III/312? 311? 310?
    • See also: Microprofessor III (Wikipedia)
  • Apple IIe dehancement kit

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr274.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

• feedback@rcrpodcast.com
• rcrpodcast@podcast.social on Mastodon
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• RCR Podcast on Facebook
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Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
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Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Earl Evans

Topic: 1973

1973 brought us Ethernet and the TV Typewriter, and more.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Ethernet (Wikipedia)
• TV Typewriter (deramp.com)

Retro Computing News:

• Greaseweazle v4
• Apple II pendulum clock (GitHub)
• Chips to Lode Runner (Eric Badger, YouTube)
• Ben Eater 6502 kits

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Atarisoft radio ad 1983
• TRS-80 Pocket Computer

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Before Macintosh: The Apple Lisa (Lisa documentary by David Greelish, Vimeo)

Auction Picks:

• Earl
  • Commodore 1581 3D-printed case (different auction)
• Paul:
  • Terrible mouse (Lisa 1 mouse) (different auction)
  • Atarisoft Track and Field (different auction)
  • Art Department for LisaDraw on Twiggy disks (auction long gone)
  • Coleco Adam replacement power supply
  • Guide to playing The Hobbit
    • See also: RCR Episode 251
  • CARDIAC (auction long gone)
    • See also: CARDIAC (Drexel University)
  • College guide to personal computers book

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr273.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

• feedback@rcrpodcast.com
• rcrpodcast@podcast.social on Mastodon
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Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
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Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Blake Patterson, and Carrington Vanston

Topic: 1972

1972 brought us C (good enough for us), Pong, Magnavox Odyssey, and more.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Dennis Ritchie on the development of C (ACM SIGPLAN Notices, March 1993)
• Pong released (Wikipedia)
• Atari founded (Wikipeda)
• A history of Syzygy/Atari (Michael Current)
• Magnavox Odyssey (Wikipedia)

Retro Computing News:

• Computer science pioneer Niklaus Wirth dies aged 89 (Developer Tech)
• Thinking Back on Turbo Pascal as it Turns 40 (Bytecellar)
• Dave Dunfield source code (including ImageDisk) (Classiccmp announcement)
• Dave Dunfield source code (including ImageDisk)
• Replacement Injection Molded Inner Bezel for Apple iMac G3 (MacEffects Kickstarter)

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Super Pong
• Magnavox Odyssey promo video

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Squarepainter painted pixel art

Auction Picks:

• Blake
  • IBM 5561-P Model 40 (auction long gone)
    • See also: IBM JX (Wikipedia)
  • Amiga A1060 sidecar for the Amiga 1000 (different auction)
    • See also: Amiga Sidecar (Wikipedia)
• Carrington:
  • RAMWorks III + VGA extender (different auction)
• Paul:
  • Archives I stickers
    • Archives II stickers (auction long gone)
    • Archives III stickers
    • Definite stickers
    • See also: Archives Inc (Wikipedia)
    • See also: Archives Business Computer, Archives Inc., Davenport, Iowa 1979-1983 (YouTube documentary)
    • See also: Mention in On Computing 1980
  • Apple III in box (auction long gone)
  • Atari PC3 (different auction)
  • Duo 2300c (different auction)
    • DuoDock
  • Apple floppy box
    • See also: Apple gift catalog
  • A+Disk-Disk=A

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr272.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

• feedback@rcrpodcast.com
• rcrpodcast@podcast.social on Mastodon
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• RCR Podcast on Facebook
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Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
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Listen/Download:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed