Episode 55 – First Computers

Commodore 64 Ad
Commodore 64 Ad

For the new year, David and Jeff have decided to look back on the earlier times of computer retail by relating their experiences in getting their first computers.

Links mentioned in this episode:


Jeff’s first computer:

  • Commodore VIC-20
    • Bought at Computers Unlimited, York, PA in October 1981 for $325.
    • Tandy Color Computer and Atari 400 were considered

David’s first computer:

Jeff’s second computer:

  • Commodore 64
    • Bought at Fort Hood, TX AAFES store in Spring 1985 for $150-$200.
    • Got a Commodore Datasette and put a 1541 disk drive on lay-a-way.

David’s second computer:

Jeff’s third computer:

  • Commodore 128
    • Bought with 1571 disk drive at the Incirlik Air Force base in Incirlik, Turkey for about $500 for the pair.
    • Set it up immediately in the motel room during my stay at the base.
    • Had to sell my Commodore 64 because who needed TWO computers!

David’s third computer:

  • Commodore 64C
    • Purchased at the U.S. Army AAFES electronics store in Darmstadt, Germany in the summer of 1991.
    • Google search for “commodore test pilot” Images for commodore test pilot

Jeff’s fourth computer:

  • Commodore Amiga
    • Used my tax return to buy it
    • Had to wait for EB to ship it to me
  • Was blown away at the graphics and sound.
  • Google search for “Electronics Boutique” Images for Electronics Boutique
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EB_Games
    • Bought from Electronics Boutique in early 1989 for around $600
    • Did not have an Analog RGB monitor. To my surprise, it came with an A520 color composite adapter, so I used an NTSC monitor.

David’s fourth computer:

Episode 54 – Sharp Wizard and Palm Pilot

wizard_pilotOn today’s show, we begin our look at the temporarily (at the time) humbled third tier of personal computing, the organizer. We’re covering the Sharp Wizard, Palm Pilot and other notablesThis is the podcast where we take an informal look at personal computing history through the lens of eBay auctions. It’s sort of like Antiques Roadshow, but all about antique personal computers.

 

Links mentioned in this episode:

Auctions:

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

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryofPC

Vintage Computer Forum: http://www.vcfed.org/forum/forum.php

Episode 53 – The IBM 5150

IBM 5150 PC
IBM 5150 PC

What… didn’t we already talk about the IBM 5150 in an eBay episode? Yes we did. But we left it off of the timeline during the original show format after the transition to the eBay only format. Since then, there was some behind the scenes work, Westworld style, to get a couple of “hosts” together to continue the original show format. From this, Todd George came to fruition and is now co-hosting the original format with Jeff Salzman. This is Episode 53, even though it is the first new, old format episode. All future episodes of The History of Personal Computing, regardless of format, will be numbered in a single sequence. Still stumbling through the post-editing process (David had edited the other format), the audio sounds as best as can be from Jeff’s poor quality sources. Todd did a wonderful job at cleaning up the sound. So here it is in all its gory… err, glory. Todd and Jeff promise to get their act together LONG before MS-DOS 9.0 comes to market!

Enjoy the show!

Link(s) mentioned in the show:

 

Episode 52 – Retro Computing Gift Ideas!

screen-shot-2016-12-04-at-12-00-14-am
Creative Computing from December 1980

On today’s show we’re taking a special holiday detour by covering retrocomputing gift ideas. Perhaps something to give to a loved one, or just something you can gift yourself!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Gifts:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryofPersonalComputing/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryofPC

Vintage Computer Forum: http://www.vcfed.org/forum/forum.php

Episode 51 – Casio Zoomer and Amstrad PenPad

Today we’ll be further covering the personal digital assistant or PDA, with the Apple Newton clones or “killers,” the Casio Zoomer and Amstrad PenPad. This is the podcast where we take an informal look at personal computing history through the lens of eBay auctions. It’s sort of like Antiques Roadshow, but all about antique personal computers.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Auctions:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryofPersonalComputing/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryofPC

Vintage Computer Forum: http://www.vcfed.org/forum/forum.php