Retro Computing Roundtable

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

Topic: Poolside computing arrives

We look back on a few highlights of 1965, including the Programma 101, the PDP-8, Moore’s Law. We talk analog computers, Visual BASIC, sticky mice, and more.

Topic/Feedback links:

• Moore’s Law (Wikipedia)
• Moore’s Law (NYT)
• PDP-8
• The incredible story of the first PC, from 1965
• Olivetti Programma 101: Memory of the Future
• Olivetti Programma 101 (Wikipedia)
• Project TACT
• A history of Visual BASIC
• The Xerox Alto turns 50

Retro Computing News:

• Jacob Ziv
• Infinite Mac
• A history of Visual BASIC
• Globus analog spaceflight computer
• Technology Connections video on stereo records
• Puyo Puyo
• 1979 video of father watching son program an Apple II
• Followup interview with same father and son today
• A2Central reboot

Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

• Visual BASIC launch
• Triumph of the Nerds part 1
• Olivetti Programma 101: Memory of the Future

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• The UNIX pipe card game

Upcoming (or recent) gatherings:

• VCF East (Apr 14-16, 2023, Wall, NJ)
• CoCoFest (Apr 22-23, 2023, Chicago area, IL)
• Indy Classic Computer and Video Game Expo (Apr 29-30, 2023, Indianapolis)
• VCF Southwest (June 23-25, 2023, Dallas area, TX)
• KansasFest 2023 (July 18-23, Kansas City, MO; July 29-30, online)
• VCF Southeast (July 28-30, 2023, Atlanta, GA)
• VCF West (Aug 4-5, 2023, Mountain View, CA)
• VCF Midwest (Sep 9-10, 2023, Elmhurst, IL)
• Tandy Assembly (Sep 29-Oct 1, 2023, Springfield, OH)

Auction Picks:

• Blake:
  • Newtech Model 6 Music Card Reproduction (S-100 bus)
• Carrington:
  • Mostek Bytewide button
  • I’ve Got Mnemonic Plague button
  • I Confessed to Cringely button
• Paul:
  • Your Computer
  • Sanyo MBC-550
  • IBM System/360 RPG Programming
  • Sticky mouse
• Quinn:
  • Commodore 1901
  • See also: Commodore monitors by model

A2Stream file:

• a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr265.a2stream

Feedback/Discussion:

• rcrpodcast@podcast.social on Mastodon
• 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: