No computers were harmed in the making of this podcast. Welcome to Show #120! This episode's topic: The Forth Programming Language, Part I! Check out the excellent Commodore 64 laptop project by Ben Heck! To the moon Alice! Here's an emulator for the Apollo AGC system, the computer for the Apollo spacecraft... Computers are in movies all over the place, including many of our retro computer favorites. For full coverage, check out the " Starring the Computer " site! The Breakpoint 2009 demo party ...
Apr 21, 2009•30 min
This podcast produced with WYHIWYG (what you hear is what you get). Welcome to Show #119! This episode's topic: Retro Roundup! The 8-bit TV Computer - 6502 based, Famicom/NES compatible, programmable, on the Maker Shed site... Playpower is promoting the use of the 8-bit TV Computer as an educational game development system! After having a look at their site, check out this Wired article on what Playpower is up to... Have a look at the Rare and Old Computers blog, where you can see information on...
Apr 02, 2009•30 min
(A)bort, (R)etry, (S)mash with large hammer? _ Welcome to Show #118! This week's topic: The Commodore PET 2001! Check out the Wiki page for the N8VEM single board computer, an exciting new CP/M system with lots of activity going on! The VICE Emulator supports the Commodore PET series very well. Give it a try... Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com . For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forum...
Mar 04, 2009•31 min
"TI's new Compact Computer. It takes over your work, not your desk." (an ad from 1983) Welcome to Show #117! This week's topic: The Texas Instruments Compact Computer 40! Radio Shack catalogs of the past! Too cool! The Ultimate Commodore 64 presentation - video and notes ... Tex*In Treasures - a great place to find your TI 99/4A and TI CC-40 gear! Here is some general info on the CC-40 from 99er.net...and from Wikipedia ... ...and more detailed technical info at this FTP site ! Be sure to send a...
Jan 22, 2009•25 min
The Apple IIGS - a computer with appeal. Welcome to Show #116! This week's topic: The Apple II, Part 3 (the Apple IIGS)! A Commodore 65 prototype recently sold for over $9,000 on eBay! Read about the elusive C65 at the Secret Weapons Of Commodore site... Club100 is a long-time resource for owners of Tandy Model 100, 102 and 200 computers - while you're there, check out the NADSBox, the New Age Digital Storage system for the Model "T" computers! Apple II Adventures is a fun new blog with info and...
Dec 22, 2008•32 min
Sorry for the delay! All work and no play makes my podcast late...I'm caught in a work transition, and have been working a ton of hours. The timing is a bit unfortunate, as I just got myself back in the driver's seat for my weekly schedule again. However, this is only going to last for two more weeks!!! Thanks for listening, and I will chat with you all soon! Hopefully I'll be able to put together an episode during this crunch time, but if not, at the latest in a couple of weeks when I'm out of ...
Nov 15, 2008•1 min
"What kind of man owns his own computer?" (Apple II ad, 1980) Welcome to Show #115! This week's topic: The Retro Spirit - Part II! Check out the Pandora project - a handheld computing/gaming unit designed by the community! The One Laptop Per Child "XO" is an example of modern day innovation in personal computing... here is the Wikipedia page... Rob Barnaby, developer of WordStar, visits the Digibarn ! Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com . For online discuss...
Oct 23, 2008•26 min
I don't really want to "surf" the web. The idea of the web crashing down on me is, honestly, frightening... Welcome to Show #114! This week's topic: The Retro Spirit - Part I! Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com . For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page! Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan . Thanks for listening! - Earl This work is licensed under a Creat...
Oct 14, 2008•31 min
Computing is as computing does. Welcome to Show #113! This week's topic: The Apple II - Part 2! A first-person perspective game on the Apple II, written in low-res graphics? Yep, here's a YouTube video , and here's a link to the site where you can actually pick up the game (HBCC) ! Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com . For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page! Our Theme Song is "Swe...
Aug 09, 2008•22 min
I'm back! Welcome to Show #112! This week's topic: The Apple II - Part I! Want to build a digital computer with not much more than paper clips? Have a look at these plans from June 1967... New development on the VIC-20? Absolutely ! And check out the Denial site, a fantastic resource for the VIC-20! Up for a retro challenge? Then check out Retrochallenge 2008 - happening next month! Sign up soon... Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com . For online discussion...
Jun 26, 2008•27 min
Binary - you either like it, or you don't. Welcome to Show #111! This week's topic: The Epson HX-20 portable computer! Have a look at this BBC article and video regarding the reunion of the creators of the BBC Micro! Using a PX-8 laptop as a terminal for Mac OS X ? Leave it to Byte Cellar ... Back In Time Live Stockholm 2008 is coming up in September! If you are into the Commodore 64 music scene, check out the website for more info! For a user-supported information resource on the Amstrad CPC, h...
Apr 03, 2008•26 min
There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works. Welcome to Show #110! This week's topic: My Scott Adams Adventure Adventure! Check out the Scott Adams official site , where you can download Scott Adams adventure games to play on your Windows system! Or, play the games directly online at the ifiction.org website... Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com . For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podc...
Mar 14, 2008•25 min
Binary - for those who try a bit harder. Welcome to Show #109! This week's topic: Building Blocks! An Apple //c, new in the box? And now it's opened? Here are the pictures... Jump aboard the Mac Mothership for a variety of Apple historical info! Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com . For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page! Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Gali...
Feb 19, 2008•27 min
DOWN WITH CYBERCRUD!!! Welcome to Show #108! This week's topic: Book Review: What The Dormouse Said Vintage Technology Magzine , exploring vintage computers, calculators, watches, and more! Want to put a breadboarded circuit directly into a card slot of your Apple II? Then have a look at the LittleProto II ... Here is the Amazon link to "What The Dormouse Said" . And here is the YouTube link to Doug Englebart's "Mother of all demos" (video will play when link is clicked). Be sure to send any com...
Feb 01, 2008•21 min
C:\>WIN Welcome to Show #107! This week's topic: Windows 3.0! If you're a Spectrum enthusiast, then be sure to check out the update of the Free Unix Spectrum Emulator (FUSE) , hosted at SourceForge! Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com . For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page! Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan . Thanks for listening! - Earl This work...
Jan 22, 2008•25 min
HAPPY Y2K8! Welcome to Show #106! This week's topic: Random Bits (a variety show)! JoyBubbles, one of the first phone "phreaks", passed away in August of 2007. Here's a New York Times article about him , as well as the Wikipedia page. See Philo Farnsworth, the inventor of electronic TV, in his only personal TV appearance (warning, YouTube video will start playing immediately). Here's the Wikipedia page on Farnsworth - he was one impressive inventor! The SIMH simulator can simulate a lot of syste...
Jan 10, 2008•30 min
Happy Birthday C64! Many happy returns... Welcome to Show #105! This week's topic: The 68000 Microprocessor! The Commodore 64 gets some mainstream press on CNN ! Happy birthday C64! And to commemorate 25 years of the C64, here is page including a video (warning, 200 Mb) for a Computer History Museum celebration event which included, among other notable figures, Jack Tramiel! Here's a YouTube posting of the same video . Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com . ...
Dec 20, 2007•27 min
cat retrobits.txt > /dev/listener Welcome to Show #104! This week's topic: The Unix Operating System! RetroGamer Magazine caters to the vintage gamer - have a look at their web site! A Computer Called LEO - a business thinking about automation - in the 1930s? Here's an Amazon link for the book... Virtual II , an Apple II/II+/IIe emulator for Mac OS, has just released a new version! Haven't heard about the SCO/Linux controversy? You can read about it at Wikipedia... Wikipedia also has a very c...
Nov 30, 2007•32 min
Amiga gives you a creative edge. (From a 1985 ad...) Welcome to Show #103! This week's topic: The Commodore Amiga! How did we view computers in the 1960s? Not too much differently than today! See for yourself in this YouTube video ...(will start playing on launch of the URL). The Computer History Museum will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Commodore 64 in December - the lineup includes Jack Tramiel, founder and CEO of Commodore. More info here on the Museum's events page . The full-blown, ...
Nov 13, 2007•32 min
Beware the Chickenhead! Welcome to Show #102! This week's topic: An Interview with Bil Herd, former Commodore Engineer (Part III)! Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com . For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page! Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan . Thanks for listening! - Earl This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share A...
Oct 31, 2007•58 min
All Hail the Chickenhead! Welcome to Show #101! This week's topic: An Interview with Bil Herd, former Commodore Engineer (Part II)! Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com . For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page! Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan . Thanks for listening! - Earl This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share ...
Oct 24, 2007•35 min
Long live the Chickenhead! Welcome to Show 100! Thanks for another great year! This week's topic: An Interview with Bil Herd, former Commodore Engineer (Part I)! Links discussed on today's show: Two entertaining videos on YouTube - witness PDP 11 programming along with some campy acting! Also, check out this British computer history documentary , with the tagline GIGO - we all know that acronym... Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com . For online discussions...
Oct 16, 2007•45 min
Remember, wherever you went, there you were. Welcome to Show 099! This week's topic: The 2007 State Of The Podcast! Links discussed on today's show: z80pack 1.14 is released - a Z80 cross-development / simulator package with simulation of many virtual CP/M machine components! Missed the Vintage Computer Festival East 4.0? Videos clips are on YouTube ... Gamasutra has a nice article on Star Raiders , "Video Game's First Space Opera"! Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobit...
Oct 10, 2007•25 min
We're BACK!!! Welcome to Show 098! This week's topic: My Koala Pad Adventure! Links discussed on today's show: Check out the nicely scanned 1984 review of the Epson PX-8 on the Byte Cellar blog site! Happy 30th birthday, Atari 2600! Here's an article at Retro Thing commemorating the occasion... Vintage Computer Festival 10.0? Really? Yep, have a look! Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com . For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Ret...
Oct 02, 2007•23 min
I pressed the End key, and it was all over. Welcome to Show 097! This week's topic: Ethernet! Direct link to the Retrobits Podcast Forum (until the URL is repaired)... Have a look at the site for the Dick Smith System 80 (a TRS-80 clone, but with a style of its own!) Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com . For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page! Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "R...
Sep 12, 2007•30 min
Beauty is only case-deep. Welcome to Show 096! This week's topic: Retro Computer Style! Direct link to the Retrobits Podcast Forum (until the URL is repaired)... There's a new Commodore free online magazine - Commodore Free! Have a look - downloadable PDF, text, or D64 (disk image) versions available. Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com . For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page! Ou...
Aug 28, 2007•26 min
Relax...it's only 1s and 0s... Welcome to Show 095! This week's topic: Retro Computer Restoration! Direct link to the Retrobits Podcast Forum (until the URL is repaired)... These Sharp pocket computers sure are fun - like the Sharp Pocket Computer PC-1211 ... An Amiga cooked up in an FPGA circuit? Cool! Check out the Minimig ! Writing games for a retro computer is good for you. Entering a contest is even better, like the Minigame Compo... The VAXMAN has an awesome museum of large systems - wow, ...
Aug 14, 2007•37 min
Programmer - an organism that turns coffee into software. Welcome to Show 094! This week's topic: The Sharp PC-1500 Pocket Computer! Direct link to the Retrobits Podcast Forum (until the URL is repaired)... Want to learn about the Mattel Aquarius? Here's a page that could get you started... Have a look at Emma's GameIntro video blog , video game intros with many retro/vintage titles! Sites with info on the PC-1500: the Pocket Computer Museum site , the Sharp PC-1500 computer (TRS-80 PC-2) resour...
Jul 31, 2007•32 min
When you get to the point where you really understand your computer, it's probably obsolete. Welcome to Show 093! This week's topic: The IBM System/360! Direct link to the Retrobits Podcast Forum (until the URL is repaired)... Check out what's happening at KansasFest , and all the other great stuff, at the A2Central.com portal ! A very interesting piece of history - an article describing the design motivations behind one of the most successful computer architectures ever - the System/360. ( PDF ...
Jul 24, 2007•28 min
Hi there... The Retrobits Podcast is taking a break this week. Be sure to tune in next week for more retrocomputing goodness! And thanks for listening! - Earl
Jul 17, 2007•14 sec
