Retro Computing Roundtable

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: