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

Topic: 60 years between Bell 103 and today” s InterNet

In 1962, the world gained Spacewar! and the Bell 103 modem.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Spacewar at masswerk.at
• Spacewar!
• History of Spacewar!
• Computer Space
• Bell 103
• NCR CRAM
• NCR CRAM product brochure.
• BBC archive, speaking with Douglas Adams about the HHGTTG game
• A few Apple II clones
• Microsci Havac, review, Creative Computer Oct 1984
• A Computer Called LEO (book, Georgina Ferry)
• NitrOS9 Ease of Use project
• 8 bit Shack
• Linus Akesson 15 years of scene spirit
• Going online in the early 90s part 2, Goto10 substack

Retro Computing News:

• Adrian finds a white ceramic 6502 in his digital basement
• Modular display for retro systems
• NABU (York University)
• NABU retroNET
• Leo Binkowski, games programmer for NABU, on the local news in 1984
• NABU auction
• Adrian’s Digital Basement’s NABU
• DJ Sures’ playlist of NABU hacking
• IBM 5150 Christmas ornament that plays DOOM
• IBM 5150 Christmas ornament that plays DOOM (Hackaday)

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• “Pack up your troubles (pack up your family)” – Seattle World’s Fair 1962
• MS-DOS 5 Upgrade rap
• Bell Data-Phone

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• 4X magnifying glass with stand
• See also: One of these on Paul’s OCC1

Auction Picks:

• Earl:
  • Amiga 500 Keyboard
• Michael:
  • FORTRAN 5
• Paul:
  • Old Apple II with Disk II number 61
  • A very thin book
  • IBM postcard from 1962 Seattle World’s Fair
  • Crayperweight
  • Craysler mug
  • OCC1 for $50 BIN
  • OCC1 glare guard
  • Microsoft muMath 80
  • See also: MuMath 80 in the Microsoft catalog
  • See also: MuMath 80 review in BYTE
  • See also: MuMath 80 review in Creative Computing
  • Suncom Joy Sensor
  • See also: Joy Sensor review in Video and Computer Gaming Illustrated
  • See also: Suncom Aerobic Joystick ad
  • Best keypad layout (Micromodule 85)

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://yesterbits.com/media/a2s/rcr262.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

• @rcrpodcast on Twitter
• Vintage Computer Forum
• RCR Podcast on Facebook
• Throwback Network
• 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: Cause the Commodordian Is Keeping Up With You

1961 was all fine and good, but someone has made an accordion out of two Commodore 64s and a bunch of floppy disks.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Neural net on a C64.
• Minus zero at fourmilab
• OS 2200
• Unisys 2200 Series architecture
• BBC archive on Infocom 1985
• Floppy disk supplier says business is booming. Reuters story. Oct 20, 2022.
• Lotus 1-2-3 for Linux. Tavis Ormandy.
• Lotus 1-2-3 for UNIX ported to Linux (video).
• The Commodordion (video).
• The Commodordion (write-up). Linus Akesson.
• the sixtyforgan
• Compiler Explorer
• Compiler Explorer: ZX Spectrum
• Compiler Explorer: Sega
• Upcoming CHM source code releases
• Previous CHM source code releases
• Kathleen Booth obituary. Inventor of assembly language.
• Assembly language
• Laine Nooney: The Apple II Age (forthcoming book)
• Laine Nooney
• Open Apple podcast #49 (talking with Laine Nooney)
• Teletext on a BBC Micro – Matthew North Music
• Interactive Ceefax Viewer

Retro Computing News:

• Mastodon client for MS-DOS
• DOjS
• Neurons in a dish play Pong (allegedly interesting)
• The Skeptic’s Guide podcast #901 (on whether the Pong-playing neurons are interesting)
• 2FA on a C64
• Turbo Button for modern PCs
• Angry Birds for the Apple II (8-Bit Shack)
• Angry Birds for the Apple II (video)
• Angry Birds for the Apple II (VITNO)
• ISA emulation

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Lotus 1-2-3 rocks
• Commodordian
• ADAM (legal)

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• HDD Clicker
• See also: HD Clicker write-up

Auction Picks:

• Carrington:
  • Creative Computing binary dice
  • Macintosh Extended Keyboard carrying case
• Paul:
  • COSMAC Super Elf
  • See also: COSMAC Super Elf
  • Decimal skills
  • Newton apps
  • Ventless Apple II case
  • Badgey the card reader
  • Coleco high speed digital data pack C-250
  • See also: Coleco high speed digital data pack C-250
  • Nobody does cool like Microsoft

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://yesterbits.com/media/a2s/rcr261.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

• @rcrpodcast on Twitter
• Vintage Computer Forum
• RCR Podcast on Facebook
• Throwback Network
• Throwback Network on Facebook

Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
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Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Earl Evans, and Blake Patterson

Topic: Recommended Standard 232 and Programmed Data Processor-1

1960 brought us RS-232 and the PDP-1, more COBOL, and curly braces.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Recommended Standard 232
• A proposal for character code compatibility.
• The great curly brace trace
• Demo of the Digirule 2A
• Digirule 2U
• Legacy OS 2200
• Floppy disk assembly line
• Elephant: The Secrets of Perfect Memory

Retro Computing News:

• Mega 65 first look on Retro Recipes
• Mega 65
• A Lisa 1 starting up

Vintage Computer(-related) commercial:

• PS/2 (it)
• Lisa (alone)
• PS/2 (college)

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Epson LX-350
• See also: Continuous paper

Auction Picks:

• Blake:
  • Discovery Cartridge from Happy Computers For The Atari ST Computer
• Earl:
  • IBM PS/2 Microchannel 77s (9577-BNB)
  • See also: John C. Dvorak (PC Magazine) bested by the PS/2 (Computer Chronicles)
• Paul:
  • MCT Speed Demon
  • Micro Professor II

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://yesterbits.com/media/a2s/rcr260.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

• @rcrpodcast on Twitter
• Vintage Computer Forum
• RCR Podcast on Facebook
• Throwback Network
• 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: Little bit taller, COBOLler

We consider 1959, and mostly come up with COBOL, then spend some time in an engagement-generating excercise, not quite remembering a remarkable number of things.

Topic/Feedback links:

• COBOL at Britannica.com
• COBOL at Smithsonian.
• Grace Hopper on Letterman
• Gorilla Banana, a rebranded Seikosha GP-100 (same as VIC-1525)

Retro Computing News:

• TRS-80 Model I/III diagnostic ROM
• Behind the scenes at Berkeley Softworks
• Open Apple #52
• Hell’s Halls type-in program for TI-99/4A
• Hells’ Halls cassette with game and variant
• How Apple I video memory worked

Vintage Computer(-related) commercial:

• Joust and Moon Patrol (Atari)
• Commodore VIC-20

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Joust board game

Auction Picks:

• Carrington:
  • Playskool Play and Learn Computer
  • Avalon Hill Class Struggle game
  • See also: The Story of Class Struggle, America’s Most Popular Marxist Board Game
• Paul:
  • Bell & Howell II+/-
  • Echo II set
  • Rocketry software
  • Griffin iMate selling for what now?
  • Brand new IBM PC, moldy box

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://yesterbits.com/media/a2s/rcr259.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

• @rcrpodcast on Twitter
• Vintage Computer Forum
• RCR Podcast on Facebook
• Throwback Network
• 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: Tron and Perceptron

In 1958, the Perceptron arrived and Lisp was defined. We talk a bit about things we came across that were associated with 1958.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Setting up Genera in Linux
• Bell Labs 101 modem
• Tennis For Two
• Perceptron
• Open Worm
• Deviant Oliam on opening wristbands and removing tamper-proofing stickers
• LEO: The story of the World’s First Business Computer
• Lyons Electronic Office

Retro Computing News:

• The Lost TRON Documents
• CP/M’s open source status clarified
• The CP/M Email
• CP/M is now freer than it was (Hackaday)
• YouTube on a PET
• system.css
• 98.css

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Blip
• Tron home video game

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• MYST vinyl soundtrack

Auction Picks:

• Carrington:
  • Remarkable computer auction
  • Steve Jobs’ original Apple 1 prototype
  • Steve Wozniak’s Apple Rainbow Glasses
  • Bill Gates’ Tandy Model 100 with note
  • Atari Video Music (Model C240) still sealed in box
  • Apple IIe prototype with French external keyboard
  • Croix de Apple medal
  • Apple Color Plotter
• Paul:
  • Sirius 1982 retail/dealer price list, displays
  • MacPhone
  • Apple III
  • TRS-80 appliance and light controller
  • E-Z Key 60
  • See also: Different E-Z Key 60
  • See also: E-Z Key 60

Closing notes:

• Where Wizards Stay Up Late
• Proving Ground

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://yesterbits.com/media/a2s/rcr258.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

• @rcrpodcast on Twitter
• Vintage Computer Forum
• RCR Podcast on Facebook
• Throwback Network
• Throwback Network on Facebook

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

Topic: The dot matrix impact

Spending some time revisiting the calmer, quieter days when our printing was done by forcefully slamming pins through an ink ribbon onto perforated paper, pushed along by rotating spikes.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration. Trailer
• Multimedia HyperGuide: A Windows 3.1 Podcast. Episode 11: The History of After Dark. (29 Sep 2020).
• RetroMagazine 15
• Connecting a 1541 drive to a KIM-1 (Commodore History)
• Unboxing the KIM-1 (Dave’s Garage)

Retro Computing News:

• Celebrating 50 years of Smalltalk
• TRS-80 programming competition

Vintage Computer(-related) commercial:

• Okidata Business Printer (1985)
• Epson (1984)

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• 50 Years of Text Games
• See also: 50 Years of Text Games (Kickstarter)
• See also: 50 Years of Text Games (Substack series)

Auction Picks:

• Carrington:
  • On-Line Systems Thrilogy
  • Checkers by David Slate
  • Karateka for Apple II or maybe Commodore
  • Wasteland with Survival Guide
  • See also: Wasteland Survival Guide PDF
• Earl:
  • Radio Shack CGP115 graphics printer/plotter
• Paul:
  • IBM 5161
  • Apple mouse pad
  • Timex/Sinclair 2068
  • Numeric keyball

Closing notes:

• In Search of Darkness, and In Search of Tomorrow

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://yesterbits.com/media/a2s/rcr257.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

• @rcrpodcast on Twitter
• Vintage Computer Forum
• RCR Podcast on Facebook
• Throwback Network
• Throwback Network on Facebook

Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
Show audio files hosted by CyberEars

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

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

Topic: Keep calm and carry on

Episode 0 has arrived.

Topic/Feedback links:

• The 6502 overflow flag explained
• The 6502 overflow flag explained mathematically
• The 6502 overflow flag explained at the silicon level
• ZX80 8K BASIC ROM upgrade
• Floppy Days 114: Howell Ivy, Exidy
• The Gaming Chronicles (Kickstarter)
• Robert Henke, CBM 8032 AV

Retro Computing News:

• How to use an Apple II as a dumb terminal for a modern Mac
• Reverse-engineered AOL
• International Research Conference on the History of Computing. 1976
• DOOM ported to A/UX
• Encyclopedia Britannica picks an odd Apple
• Apple museum tour by Woz from 1984

Vintage Computer(-related) commercial:

• AOL commercial (1997)

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• MOS 6502 poster
• See also: MthreeL (etsy store)

Auction Picks:

• Carrington:
  • Screenies monitor frame
  • Q3 Monitor Mobile
  • 1965 Shazam System Reference Manual
• Earl:
  • Osborne 1
• Paul:
  • MicroProfessor II
  • Cray catalog
  • Novation modems
  • ELF II
  • ELF II (continued)
  • See also: ELF II
  • ZX microdrive
  • See also: ZX Microdrive (Wikipedia)

Closing notes:

• Dotti

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://yesterbits.com/media/a2s/rcr256.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

• @rcrpodcast on Twitter
• Vintage Computer Forum
• RCR Podcast on Facebook
• Throwback Network
• Throwback Network on Facebook

Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
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Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Earl Evans, and Blake Patterson

Topic: The One With All The Ones

The Retrocomputing Roundtable has reached the end of its 8-bit run.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Byte
• 8-bit computing
• Nibble
• Big boxes history video
• Traveler (Wikipedia)
• Traveler (Imperial Encyclopedia)
• Traveler (Mongoose Publishing)
• Mayday 2022
• Manhunt
• Wonderful Things (story about Manhunt)
• Open Apple 41 (November 2014). Seek to 2:03.
• Identify II v2.01

Retro Computing News:

• Tweeting from the Teletype, April 2020
• Tweeted from the Teletype
• FASTRAND (Powerhouse Collecttion)
• FASTRAND (Univac memories)
• FASTRAND (Computer History Archives Project)
• FASTRAND (Wikipedia)
• Kenbak-1 Emulator
• HP9830a Repair
• The Apple Boogie

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials etc.:

• Elephant Memory Systems mini micro floppy disk (Italian)
• Laser Computer (Katja Schuurman, Dutch)

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• 8 bit game cartridge cutting board

Auction Picks:

• Blake:
  • Laser 386SX/3
  • Y2K Bug
• Earl:
  • Altair 8800
  • Ventana World Wide Web Kit
  • See also: Ventana (PC Magazine review)
• Paul:
  • Elephant mug
  • Intel inside
  • MPF-1P
  • MPF-Ib
  • See also: MPF-I (Wikipedia)
  • See also: Flite interview (Elektor)
  • Tomy Tutor
  • ZX-80
  • HHC set

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://yesterbits.com/media/a2s/rcr255.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

• @rcrpodcast on Twitter
• Vintage Computer Forum
• RCR Podcast on Facebook
• Throwback Network
• Throwback Network on Facebook

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

Topic: Fortran, for better or for worse

The year 1954 brought us Fortran (not named after the year though) to help us with our math, and development of SAGE to scan the skies for threats.

Topic/Feedback links:

• IBM 650
• Drum memory
• Wurlizter SideMan (not 1954, but related via tangent)
• SAGE (Gizmodo)
• SAGE (Wikipedia)
• Fortran
• Fortran 2018, 202x

Retro Computing News:

• system7.app
• macos8.app
• Tech details for system7.app, macos8.app
• Return to Monkey Island
• ACM opens first-50-years backfile
• Game of pong in a single sprite
• Sprite pong video
• SWTPC 6800 rescue
• SWTPC 6800 fan site
• ADB makes fun of the IIGS manual
• University of Saskatchewan self guided computer history tour
• A2stream, audio server
• A2stream demo
• AppleWin with Uthernet II
• a2stream file for this very episode: http://yesterbits.com/media/a2s/rcr254.a2stream

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials etc.:

• IBM SAGE (1960)

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Atari sneakers
• See also: Atari NFT sneakers

Auction Picks:

• Carrington:
  • Apple Credit salesperson’s kit
  • Apple branded radio lunchbag
• Earl:
  • MMD-1 8080A Trainer
  • See also: MMD-1 (Oldcomputermuseum)
• Paul:
  • Funniest CD of the century
  • The drive of a new generation
  • USB evangelism mouse
  • Companion diskette
  • Astra 1620 dual drive for Atari
  • VM 4209

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://yesterbits.com/media/a2s/rcr254.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

• @rcrpodcast on Twitter
• Vintage Computer Forum
• RCR Podcast on Facebook
• Throwback Network
• Throwback Network on Facebook

Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
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Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Earl Evans, Michael Mulhern, and Carrington Vanston

Topic: Prebricked drives

Episode 253 relates to 1953. Core memory begins its long dominance of the RAM space, the IBM 701 is introduced. A year that was kind of between things, so as one might expect the conversation keeps sliding into a discussion of beverages.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Magnetic core memory
• Advent of Computing, episode 77
• The Thinking Machine (1961)
• IBM 701
• Williams tube
• Jeffries tube
• Exploring the Amiga series, assembly language programming
• Brief tour of the PDP-11
• Top 20 C64 games from 2011-2021
• Commodore 64 turns 40

Retro Computing News:

• SystemSix desk calendar
• SWTPC 6800 rescued (Adrian’s Digital Basement)
• Jobs for the boys?
• The ultimate multics project
• A quarter century of Unix. Peter Sallas. 1994 Addison-Wesley
• The evolution of the Unix time sharing system
• Compatible time sharing system
• Incompatible time sharing system
• Easter Egg found in Windows 1.0.
• Mariupol Computer Museum in Ukraine
• Club it8bit
• A Brick for Some Bytes: My First Hard Drive (Byte Cellar)
• One of the Biggest Frauds in Tech History – The Miniscribe Brick Fiasco (Tech Time Traveler)

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials etc.:

• Tab

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• The Art of Point and Click Adventure Games

Auction Picks:

• Carrington:
  • MCM/70
  • About the MCM/70
• Earl:
  • IBM Core Memory
  • See also: Core memory shield for Arduino
• Michael:
  • RCA Selectron 256bit
  • See also: Selectron tube
• Paul:
  • QuickLetter
  • Murder Party
  • CA Simply Tax 1993
  • eMate pin

Feedback/Discussion:

• @rcrpodcast on Twitter
• Vintage Computer Forum
• RCR Podcast on Facebook
• Throwback Network
• Throwback Network on Facebook

Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
Show audio files hosted by CyberEars

Listen/Download:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed