The History of Personal Computing

Jeff and David

On today’s show, we talk about the Vintage Computer Festival shows of the last few weeks. Plus, VCF East is where David and Jeff actually met in person for the first time.

Links mentioned in this show:

• David’s new job

• Pictures from VCF East XI 2016
• VCF East XI Wrap-Up
• Sights and Sounds of the Vintage Computer Festival Southeast 4.0 (video)
• Joint podcast from VCFSE on the Floppy Days podcast
• Computer Chronicles on Archive.org

• Pictures from VCFSE 4.0
• VCFSE writeup by Oscar Vermeulen
• Great Computers Never Die – VCF East 2016 (video)

• VCF West (Silicon Valley) – August 6-7, 2016
• VCFMW (Chicago) – September 10-11, 2016
• VCF Europa (Munich) – April 30 – May 1, 2016
• VCF UK (Bletchley Park) – TBA

Welcome to a special interview segment of the History of Personal Computing podcast! In this episode, David and Jeff are speaking to Oscar Vermeulen from Obsolescence Guaranteed and creator of the PiDP-8/I, a modern replica of the 1968 PDP-8/I computer. On Oscar’s web page he explains:

“Project goal: to create a faithful but low-cost replica of the 1968 PDP-8/I. Operated through the Blinkenlights front panel, it should evoke the user experience from the past. It should also replicate all stages in the PDP-8’s development. Which is not trivial, because the PDP-8 series spanned a long period in computer history: from 1965 to 1979 and from teletype & paper tape all the way through to hard disks and multi-user systems.”

Links mention in the show:

• Obsolescence Guaranteed
• The Computer History Simulation Project

Send feedback to feedback@HistoryOfPersonalComputing.com because we really would love to receive your email or audio comment.

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Osborne 1

On today’s show, we begin our official look at the beginning of the second tier of personal computing… portable computers! We kick off by covering the first portables, the “luggables”, covering both the Osborne 1 and Otrona Attache.

Links mention in this episode:

• Seven Microprocessors That Powered the PC Revolution

Auctions picked for this episode:

• Jeff’s
  • Vintage Otrona Attache Portable Computer Ships Worldwide
  • Otrona Attache 1980s Portable Computer
  • Osborne 1 vintage portable computer
• David’s
  • RARE Otrona Attache 1980s Portable Computer with Manual and Serial Cable.
  • Vintage Osborne OCC1 Portable Computer in GREAT Condition Early Model
  • 1984 Osborne 4 Vixen Z80A Processor USA Professional Computer System Osborne04

Extra auctions:

• Jeff’s
  • TURBOLOAD Program Operation MANUAL ONLY for Adam COLECO Computer System
• David’s
  • ATARI STACY LST-1124 RETRO VINTAGE ANTIQUE PORTABLE COMPUTER RARE (JAGUAR)

Send feedback to feedback@HistoryOfPersonalComputing.com because we really would love to receive your email or audio comment.

Tell someone about us please! Write a review on iTunes or help us spread the word with Facebook, Google+ or Twitter. Perhaps you’re in a specialty discussion group – tell them!

Thank you for listening!

NeXT Computer

On today’s show, we’re continuing and finalizing our coverage of the 32-bit GUI computers. On our last show, we covered the somewhat boring, beige Compaq Deskpro 386, other 386 based computers, and touched on the Windows/386 operating system. Today, we’re talking about the NeXT computer!

Links mention in this episode:

• Slow down your Apple IIc Plus
• Go to a Vintage Computer Festival!
• The NeXT Computer documentary
• Banana Computer Community on Facebook (Adam Sommerfield)
• http://retroconnector.com/

Auctions picked for this episode:

• Jeff’s
  • NeXT Computer w/ Monochrome Display
    NeXT Cube Computer – Model: N1000 Part No: 23 – 1989 – Steve Jobs – AAK0018230
  • NeXT Computer Sound Box – N4004
• David’s
  • Black Hole Inc. Computerpowwow NeXT
  • NEXTSTEP NeXT nextstation cube install disks and documentation
  • Rare Steve Jobs Vintage NEXTWORLD Computer Magazine Volume 1 Number 1 1991

Extra auctions:

• Jeff’s
  • APPLE 1 COMPUTER – (yeah, RIIIGHT!)
• David’s
  • Palm Zire Handheld Electronic Organizer Sealed NIB

Send feedback to feedback@HistoryOfPersonalComputing.com because we really would love to receive your email or audio comment.

Tell someone about us please! Write a review on iTunes or help us spread the word with Facebook, Google+ or Twitter. Perhaps you’re in a specialty discussion group – tell them!

Thank you for listening!

Compaq Deskpro 386

On today’s show, we’re continuing our coverage of the 32-bit GUI computers. We’ve covered some exciting and colorful 32-bit computing platforms. But in this episode, we go a little more boring and beige by covering the Compaq Deskpro 386, other 386 based computers, and touching on the Windows/386 operating system.

Links mention in this episode:

• TRS-80 Model 102
• PiDP-8/I: RECREATING THE PDP-8/I
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_2.1x
• THE EXECUTIVE COMPUTER; A Top Machine Carries a Top Price
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_80386
• http://www.networkworld.com/article/3035474/software/opera-founder-talks-up-new-vivaldi-browser.html

Auctions picked for this episode:

• Jeff’s
  • Microsoft Windows/386
  • Compaq SLT 386s/20 laptop
  • AMAZINGLY RARE COMPAQ SLT 286 386s/20 LAPTOP COLLECTION!! ENRON MOTOROLA WINDOWS
• David’s
  • Vintage DOS 6.2 GAMING Computer CompuAdd 316s 3″ & 5.25″ floppy 386 Restored
  • AST Premium Exec 386SX/20, FULLY LOADED – SSD, Extra RAM & Keyboard, Books, Case
  • Vintage Compaq Deskpro 386 8MB RAM 60MB HD 3.5″ Floppy 2535 Desktop Computer

Extra auctions:

• Jeff’s
  • Vintage SHARP POCKET COMPUTER PC-1270, Printer, Microcassette Recorder
• David’s
  • “S100” in “Vintage Computers & Mainframes”/”Sold listings”

Send feedback to feedback@HistoryOfPersonalComputing.com because we really would love to receive your email or audio comment.

Tell someone about us please! Write a review on iTunes or help us spread the word with Facebook, Google+ or Twitter. Perhaps you’re in a specialty discussion group – tell them!

Thank you for listening!