Retro Computing Roundtable

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

Topic: Every Septandy is Like the First Septandy

We rediscover the Tandy enthusiasts event, talk about simulators and emulators, wind-up computers, and board games...

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

Topic: Screensavers

Avoid burn-in, and sometimes end relationships, with the help of flying toasters, fireworks, and 3D pipes...

Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Tim Colegrove, Blake Patterson, and Carrington Vanston

Topic: The BYTE Shop

We chat with Tim Colegrove, who has just opened The BYTE Shop, a computer history museum and electronics repair shop in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. We discuss his collection, his journey, plans, and hopes for bringing history and inspiration to those who visit...

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

Topic: Commodore 1541GS

We continue yet again a conversation about computers as they arrived in schools, but also spend some time marveling at a Commodore 1541 drive that also produces music and video...

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

Topic: 18-bit Space Computers

We continue a conversation about computers in school, but also mention an 18-bit space computer along the way.

Topic/Feedback Links:

• Crosscountry Canada
• Quazar's history of the Sam Coupé
• ICON computer (old-computers...

Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Michael Mulhern, Jack Nutting, Blake Patterson, and Carrington Vanston

Topic: Lasers Smoking in the PET Room

We start a conversation about computers in school. For many of us, computers were only just becoming available in our school years, so we consider the access this provided (limited though it often was)...

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

Topic: Playing in the MUD

Multi User Dungeons brought a social aspect to computer RPGs, some with opportunities to do creative world building. We talk a bit about our experiences with these, and some about their background...

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

Topic: This sandwich tastes suspiciously like a ZX Spectrum

Another topic-free episode, this one discussing the smuggling of Spectrums, satirical adventure games, BBS simulations, IBM clocks, CoCo paint programs, and various other tangents.

Retro Computing News:

• Full Motion, Double High-Res Video Playback on the Apple IIe
• 1988: P.R.E.S.T.A.V...

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

Topic: Retro Development

Writing new software on old computers...

Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Jack Nutting, and Carrington Vanston

Topic: Period Peripherals

When you use retro computers, do you also use retro peripherals? That is, do you stick with appropriately vintage keyboards, monitors, and mice? Does mixing and matching vintage computers with new peripherals ruin the experience or aesthetic? Or do the (supposed) benefits of modern keyboards and displays outweigh the heresy?

Retro Computing...