Retro Computing Roundtable

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

Host’s Topic: Easter Eggs

Hidden developer lists. Slipping it past management. Have you ever added an Easter Egg to a program?

• First EE?
• WAIT 6502 on a PET
• Other MS fingerprints/Easter Eggs
• Search Google for “do a barrel roll” using Chrome or Firefox
• Excel 97: Flight Simulator
• Commodore 128: SYS 32800,123,45,6 dev team, peace message
• Micro pictures in the silicon
• Mac SE “stolen from Apple Computer” (G 4188a4) and dev team slideshow (G41d89a)
• 65816 WDM opcode
• Karateka (Apple II) back side of floppy plays upside-down

Retro Computing News:

• Margaret Hamilton and coding the Apollo Guidance Computer
• A Canadianized ZX Spectrum
• Web8201 website is back
  • Club 100
  • LaddieAlpha TPDD emulator
  • DLPlus TPDD emulator
• ConnectTo, integrating older Macs to modern networks
• MacIPgw – MacIP server VirtualBox machine
• SIDFX, 2 SIDs in every C64
• RetroStyle – Spacewar Fleet Action
  • See also: Eliza
• FPGA co-processor for the BBC Micro
• Ken and Roberta Williams interview from 1994
  • Softline 1982 interviews Alick Diabczenko of Sierra Software
  • Photo of Retro-Ball hardware from eBay
  • Ken Williams on Apple II hi-res graphics in the same issue
  • On-Line ad, in the same issue
  • A less rosy overview of the company’s history from Jimmy Maher
  • Laine Nooney’s research blog, Broderbund and Sierra On-Line

Vintage Computer “Commercial” (sort of):

• BBC Micro “Daphne”

Retro Computing Gift Idea:

• Computer Chocolate

Auction Picks:

• Earl: XT-CF-Lite v4 for Vintage PCs
• Michael: If you’re going to listen to your retro computer, give your ears some retro style:
  • 1960s – PIONEER STEREO HEADPHONES MODEL SE-2P
  • 1970s – Hosiden DH-150Z-S headphones
  • 1980s – Realistic NOVA 14 Headphones
• Paul: Color Computer 2 kits
  • IBM 101 Monochrome Mazes
  • 101 Monochrome Mazes – why not color?
  • ITT Xtra
  • Bondi Blue iMac with box etc
  • Freeze Frame for C64

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 – link
Show audio files hosted by CyberEars

Listen/Download: