Really old personal computers

[nuclearsandwich]

This is a Sol-20 personal computer made by Processor Technology. First released in 1976, it utilized the Intel 8080 8-bit microprocessor chip, running at 2 MHz. It was notable for being the first personal computer for including a built in video driver so users were not limited to serial port based terminal systems.



This photograph was taken last Monday at a reunion of the Homebrew Computer Club which I was fortunate enough to attend. The paper taped to the front reads "pull out the guts & screw with the brains"

Does anyone else keep vintage computers around and have photographs of them?

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

You need to meet Microsoft Windows.

His stuff isn't quite as old, but he has lots of old Macs/PCs.  He also has a Commodore 64 if I'm not mistaken...

[rowdy]

My first computer had a 1.79MHz CPU.

2MHz?  Luxury!

[tp4tissue]

My first computer had a 1.79MHz CPU.

2MHz?  Luxury!

My first was 75mhz.. but I didnt get one with the turbo button until much much later..

[nuclearsandwich]

My first computer had a 1.79MHz CPU.

2MHz?  Luxury!

Was it something 6502-based?

[rowdy]

My first computer had a 1.79MHz CPU.

2MHz?  Luxury!

Was it something 6502-based?

Z80.

[nuclearsandwich]

My first computer had a 1.79MHz CPU.

2MHz?  Luxury!

Was it something 6502-based?

Z80.

Awesome! I don't have any experience with the Z80 family of processors.

[SUPER432]

This is a Sol-20 personal computer made by Processor Technology. First released in 1976, it utilized the Intel 8080 8-bit microprocessor chip, running at 2 MHz. It was notable for being the first personal computer for including a built in video driver so users were not limited to serial port based terminal systems.

Show Image

This photograph was taken last Monday at a reunion of the Homebrew Computer Club which I was fortunate enough to attend. The paper taped to the front reads "pull out the guts & screw with the brains"

Does anyone else keep vintage computers around and have photographs of them?

Can't see the pic, but that's awesome. Was Lee Felsenstein there? Did Woz show up?

Always wanted an Altair, always too expensive. I think there are a few replica kits out there now, but they are also quite costly! And all so I can experience computing at its worst - flip switches and blinking LEDs. There's just something really geeky-cool about that to me.

[dustinhxc]

My first computer was an Apple II c! Good ol green text and huge floppys.

[Findecanor]

My first computer had a 1.79MHz CPU.

2MHz?  Luxury!

The Commodore 64 runs on 1MHz btw...

[iri]

My first computer had a 1.79MHz CPU.

2MHz?  Luxury!

Was it something 6502-based?

Z80.

ha! mine had a 3.5mhz cpu! and a ****en plenty of 48kb ram!

[nuclearsandwich]

Can't see the pic, but that's awesome. Was Lee Felsenstein there? Did Woz show up?

Lee Felsenstein was there and moderating the discussion.  Woz was there and spoke briefly about the social mission he felt behind the personal computer.

I'd actually met Woz previously at a similar function some years back and didn't feel up to making my way through the gaggle of people around him. If you ever do meet him don't be shy. He's a phenomenally friendly person!

Always wanted an Altair, always too expensive. I think there are a few replica kits out there now, but they are also quite costly! And all so I can experience computing at its worst - flip switches and blinking LEDs. There's just something really geeky-cool about that to me.

Toggling data into a computer is novel for about 40 switches, then you lose track and get over it. When I first saw cookie clicker it actually kinda reminded me of toggling switches only brainlessly.

If you ever make it to the San Francisco bay area the Computer History Museum in Mountain View has a pretty fantastic setup. Make sure you go on a Saturday so you can see the Babbage Difference Engine in use!

[nuclearsandwich]

Can't see the pic, but that's awesome. Was Lee Felsenstein there? Did Woz show up?

Forgot to mention I fixed the busted photo link. Probably.

[jdcarpe]

My first computer used a 16-bit TI TMS9900 processor @ 3.0MHz, with 256 Bytes of "scratch pad" RAM and 16 KB VDP (graphics RAM).

TI-99/4A

Photograph by Rama, Wikimedia Commons, Cc-by-sa-2.0-fr


I recently bought one on eBay, but I don't plan to use it as-is. My plan was to use it as a housing/keyboard for a Raspberry Pi.

[SpAmRaY]

My first computer used a 16-bit TI TMS9900 processor @ 3.0MHz, with 256 Bytes of "scratch pad" RAM and 16 KB VDP (graphics RAM).

TI-99/4A

Show Image

Photograph by Rama, Wikimedia Commons, Cc-by-sa-2.0-fr


I recently bought one on eBay, but I don't plan to use it as-is. My plan was to use it as a housing/keyboard for a Raspberry Pi. :)

'Solid State Software'

That's is so cool!!

[DamienG]

My first computer had a 1.79MHz CPU.

Which computer had a Z80 clocked at 1.79MHz?

[)amien

[DamienG]

Did not know any other GH'ers were going to be there- HaaTa and I were also there!

[)amien

[jdcarpe]

My first computer had a 1.79MHz CPU.

Which computer had a Z80 clocked at 1.79MHz?

[)amien

TRS-80?

[DamienG]

My first computer had a 1.79MHz CPU.

Which computer had a Z80 clocked at 1.79MHz?

[)amien

TRS-80?

Just reading about it now on Wikipedia - it's amazing all the quirky designs and tricks that crept into 8 and 16 bit machines. (e.g. screen layouts on the Apple ][, TRS-80, Spectrum and Amiga HAM)

[)amien

[nuclearsandwich]

Lee Felsenstein was there and moderating the discussion.  Woz was there and spoke briefly about the social mission he felt behind the personal computer.

Did know any other GH'ers were going to be there- HaaTa and I were also there!

[)amien

Nice! I got to attend as my father's +1. He was an original (though not founding) member of the original and Sacramento chapters. He's also the reason I have a ton of Commodores and other old PCs. One of these days I'll get enough working to organize a retro hack day.

[rowdy]

My first computer had a 1.79MHz CPU.

Which computer had a Z80 clocked at 1.79MHz?

[)amien

TRS-80?

Yes, but mine was **** Smith System 80, which was basically a TRS-80 clone with a built-in tape recorder.

16K RAM!!!

1K VRAM!!!

You really had to know how to optimise your software in those days.

[DamienG]

One of these days I'll get enough working to organize a retro hack day.

I have a whole bunch of retro machines including Sinclair, Amstrad, Acorn, Memotech, Amiga and Atari. If you want to do a retro day I'm in.

[)amien

[SUPER432]

Lee Felsenstein was there and moderating the discussion.  Woz was there and spoke briefly about the social mission he felt behind the personal computer.

I'd actually met Woz previously at a similar function some years back and didn't feel up to making my way through the gaggle of people around him. If you ever do meet him don't be shy. He's a phenomenally friendly person!

Toggling data into a computer is novel for about 40 switches, then you lose track and get over it. When I first saw cookie clicker it actually kinda reminded me of toggling switches only brainlessly.

If you ever make it to the San Francisco bay area the Computer History Museum in Mountain View has a pretty fantastic setup. Make sure you go on a Saturday so you can see the Babbage Difference Engine in use!

Man, that meetup sounds like it was awesome. Don't suppose you have any more pics? Thanks for the share!

I'm actually around the bay area but haven't gone to the Computer History Museum in years. I should really go. There's also the Living Computer Museum in Washington that looks way cool.

[digi]

My first computer used a 16-bit TI TMS9900 processor @ 3.0MHz, with 256 Bytes of "scratch pad" RAM and 16 KB VDP (graphics RAM).

TI-99/4A

Show Image

Photograph by Rama, Wikimedia Commons, Cc-by-sa-2.0-fr


I recently bought one on eBay, but I don't plan to use it as-is. My plan was to use it as a housing/keyboard for a Raspberry Pi. :)

My first comp too! TI-94...Did you ever connect a tape player to load software? lol...If you remember that, then you know.

[nuclearsandwich]

Lee Felsenstein was there and moderating the discussion.  Woz was there and spoke briefly about the social mission he felt behind the personal computer.

I'd actually met Woz previously at a similar function some years back and didn't feel up to making my way through the gaggle of people around him. If you ever do meet him don't be shy. He's a phenomenally friendly person!

Toggling data into a computer is novel for about 40 switches, then you lose track and get over it. When I first saw cookie clicker it actually kinda reminded me of toggling switches only brainlessly.

If you ever make it to the San Francisco bay area the Computer History Museum in Mountain View has a pretty fantastic setup. Make sure you go on a Saturday so you can see the Babbage Difference Engine in use!

Man, that meetup sounds like it was awesome. Don't suppose you have any more pics? Thanks for the share!

I'm actually around the bay area but haven't gone to the Computer History Museum in years. I should really go. There's also the Living Computer Museum in Washington that looks way cool.

Just this other crappy cell phone picture I sent to my coworkers to make them jealous.



When the professionally shot photographs make it on Flickr I'll link them back here.

[SUPER432]

Lee Felsenstein was there and moderating the discussion.  Woz was there and spoke briefly about the social mission he felt behind the personal computer.

I'd actually met Woz previously at a similar function some years back and didn't feel up to making my way through the gaggle of people around him. If you ever do meet him don't be shy. He's a phenomenally friendly person!

Toggling data into a computer is novel for about 40 switches, then you lose track and get over it. When I first saw cookie clicker it actually kinda reminded me of toggling switches only brainlessly.

If you ever make it to the San Francisco bay area the Computer History Museum in Mountain View has a pretty fantastic setup. Make sure you go on a Saturday so you can see the Babbage Difference Engine in use!

Man, that meetup sounds like it was awesome. Don't suppose you have any more pics? Thanks for the share!

I'm actually around the bay area but haven't gone to the Computer History Museum in years. I should really go. There's also the Living Computer Museum in Washington that looks way cool.

Just this other crappy cell phone picture I sent to my coworkers to make them jealous.

Show Image

When the professionally shot photographs make it on Flickr I'll link them back here.

Nice, looking forward to it.

[DamienG]

Was within reach of where I am sitting so easily powered up for the pic although I did have to leave the room to get the camera.

[)amien

[jdcarpe]

My first computer used a 16-bit TI TMS9900 processor @ 3.0MHz, with 256 Bytes of "scratch pad" RAM and 16 KB VDP (graphics RAM).

TI-99/4A

Show Image

Photograph by Rama, Wikimedia Commons, Cc-by-sa-2.0-fr


I recently bought one on eBay, but I don't plan to use it as-is. My plan was to use it as a housing/keyboard for a Raspberry Pi. :)

My first comp too! TI-94...Did you ever connect a tape player to load software? lol...If you remember that, then you know.

Of course! I had a tape recorder and the little cable to connect it. Then you had to type LOAD "PROGRAM_NAME" at the prompt to load it and then RUN to execute it once loaded. :)

I was just a kid, so I couldn't afford the Peripheral Expansion Box and floppy drives, etc.

[iri]

Of course! I had a tape recorder and the little cable to connect it. Then you had to type LOAD "PROGRAM_NAME" at the prompt to load it and then RUN to execute it once loaded.

oh yeah.

[digi]

haha yea, definitely good times, this was one of my fav's, Alpine Climber:

[IvanIvanovich]

I miss unique style from older era...

[iri]

ah, motherland!..

[TLSC.wipeOut]

man vintage keyboards look so sick