Retro Computing Roundtable

Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Kay Savetz Topic: 1990 1990 saw a decline of various personal computer magazines, as well as the introduction of the Video Toaster. Apple started misting the market with computer variants. Topic/Feedback links: RCR episode 90 Macintosh LC  Macintosh Classic  Macintosh IIfx  Macintosh IIsi Computer mags in 1990 were an interesting mix of modern and dying (Compute’s Gazette, BBC Acorn, Atari Explorer, the last issue of Antic) and MSX which was both. MiniDisc  (actually 1992) MiniDisc.wiki (home of Web MiniDisc Pro) MZ-RH1 MiniDisc player/recorder with USB data export support Photoshop 1.0  Video Toaster Retro Computing News: Interim Computer Museum Intellivision: How a videogame battled Atari and almost bankrupted Barbie Adventures in Videoland Adventures in Videoland playthrough 2-XL Vintage Computer/discussion-related commercials: MiniDisc system infomercial Minute Rice Family Computing magazine  2-XL by Mego Keeping up with the Commodore Super Breakout Various 1980s ads (The Clapper) Lotus 123 Retro Computing Gift Idea: PBTfans 1984 R2 keycaps See also: Big Mac at CHM Auction Picks: Paul: CORE remote CL 9 (company) Celadon PIC-100 (rebranded CORE, post CL 9) MagicLink PIC-1000 (no relation, but had IR remote capability) Oric-1 Oric-1 (Wikipedia) Pravetz 8D (Oric-1 clone) Elizabethan typing Sargon II MC-10 Chaos the software Three tiny Apple programs Lisa floppies Closing notes: Kay’s 2025 Wrapped Softalk for the IBM PC Enter magazine (at time of recording) Teaching and Computers Other ways to experience this episode: a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr290.a2stream YouTube episode 290 Feedback/Discussion: [email protected] [email protected] on Mastodon rcrpodcast.com on bluesky Vintage Computer Forum RCR Podcast on Facebook Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X Listen/Download:

Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Earl Evans Topic: 1989 Several things happened during the final year to begin prior to The Simpsons hitting the airwaves. For example, Sim City and PKZIP came out. Tim from CERN proposed an information sharing architecture. Everyone on the bus started playing with Game Boys. Topic/Feedback links: SimCity Mac Office (Word 4, Excel 2.2, PowerPoint 2.01, Mail 1.37) ZIP format introduced Phil Katz ARC  Tim Berners-Lee proposed WWW Microsoft SQL Server announced Nintendo Game Boy Macintosh Portable Ejecting a disk in space RCR episode 89 Retro Computing News: MBASIC-2025: Modern MBASIC 5.21 Interpreter & Compilers Microsoft: the Zork source code is open sourced. Usagi Electric TI homebrew Rebecca Heineman (Burger Becky) Vintage Computer/discussion-related commercials: Wisk TRS-80 Model II SQL Server Retro Computing Gift Idea: Max Build More Retro Building Bricks Unboxing Toy Auction Picks: Earl: Atari 600 XL Home Computer Near Mint . Never Used. Was In Storage For 40 Years Paul: Myst board game Tandy 16B. TS1500 command cartridge player Timex Computer Corp Winter 1983 catalog Available cartridges included Supermath and Flight Simulator. TS 1500 in case TS 1500 in box TS 1500 description Closing notes: We’re covered in Compute’s Gazette Issue number 5, in Brian Cox’s Podcast Corner Other ways to experience this episode: a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr289.a2stream YouTube episode 289 Feedback/Discussion: [email protected] [email protected] on Mastodon rcrpodcast.com on bluesky Vintage Computer Forum RCR Podcast on Facebook Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X Listen/Download:

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: [email protected] [email protected] on Mastodon rcrpodcast.com on bluesky Vintage Computer Forum RCR Podcast on Facebook Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X Listen/Download:

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: [email protected] [email protected] on Mastodon rcrpodcast.com on bluesky Vintage Computer Forum RCR Podcast on Facebook Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X Listen/Download:

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: [email protected] [email protected] on Mastodon rcrpodcast.com on bluesky Vintage Computer Forum RCR Podcast on Facebook Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X Listen/Download:

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: [email protected] [email protected] on Mastodon rcrpodcast.com on bluesky Vintage Computer Forum RCR Podcast on Facebook Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X Listen/Download:

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: [email protected] [email protected] on Mastodon rcrpodcast.com on bluesky Vintage Computer Forum RCR Podcast on Facebook Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X Listen/Download:

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: [email protected] [email protected] on Mastodon rcrpodcast.com on bluesky Vintage Computer Forum RCR Podcast on Facebook Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X Listen/Download:

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: [email protected] [email protected] 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:

Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Blake Patterson Topic: 1981 In 1981, we started communicating with AT commands and Kermit. Timex/Sinclair released the 1000/ZX-81. We got the BBC Micro and the ABC 800. IBM introduced the PC, for business, no fun allowed. And MS-DOS. And more. Topic/Feedback links: Sony 3.5 drive Quick, hide in this closet! (folklore.org) IBM PC “Atari” design MS-DOS Osborne 1 Xerox Star IPv4 Kermit kermitproject.org C-Kermit 10.0 beta 11 released in early August Hayes Smartmodem 300 Hayes AT command set Sinclair ZX81 Timex/Sinclair 1000 BBC Micro ABC 800 Donkey Kong E-mu Emulator Retro Computing News: Thomas Kurtz obituary (Legacy.com) Dartmouth BASIC at 50 CHM in memoriam Thomas Kurtz San Francisco Muni will stop using floppy disks Any Day Now Atari ST Notebook (it was real) The Pentium as a Navajo weaving (Nat Gallery of Art) Ward Christensen passed away CBBS for winter contact in the Chicago computer hobbyists’ group. Feb 1978, written up in Byte Nov 1978 Ward Christensen obituary (NYT) Vintage Computer(-related) commercials: Magnavox TV with built-in Odyssey Super Pong HayesStack Retro Computing Gift Idea: Floppy disk cookie cutters. Auction Picks: Blake: RARE DCS Industries Slot Box for Tandy EX HX 1000 A SX TX SL TL SL/2 TL/2 RL RLX Paul: 3D printed TI cartridge tray. Warez wear. Omnitronix cassette interface NeXT Cube. Programma 101 (sold at $4000, 2 bids) Closing notes: Estate Sale (wound up with Super Pong, not much else). Streams: a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr281.a2stream Behind-the-scenes livestream recording of this episode (YouTube) Feedback/Discussion: [email protected] [email protected] 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: