The Retrobits Podcast

In Show 148, I talk about my continuing adventure with a generous donation I received of MITS Altair equipment. It's been quite a ride!

See http://www.vintage.org/2015/east/ for more information!  

See http://www.retrobits.com/2014/10/show-147-jeff-ledger-and-micromite.html for show notes!

See http://www.retrobits.com for show notes!

This feed is NOT 404. Welcome to Show #145!  This episode's topic: The Vintage Computer Festival East 9.1! The Vintage Computer Festival (VCF) East 9.1 information page! Tune in to the sometimes rowdy Retro Computing Roundtable Podcast, Next Without For or Chicken Lips Radio for more retro goodness! Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to earl@retrobits.com. The Retrobits Podcast blog can be found at www.retrobits.com.  You can follow the podcast on Twitter @RetroEarl. For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retro Podcast section at the Vintage Computer Forums. 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 Alike 2.5 License.  

Old Computers. Me Likey. Welcome to Show #144!  This episode's topic: Raiders of the Lost Shrinkwrap! Tune in to the sometimes rowdy Retro Computing Roundtable Podcast - http://rcrpodcast.com/ Next Without For and Chicken Lips Radio coming soon! Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to earl@retrobits.com. The Retrobits Podcast blog can be found at www.retrobits.com.  You can follow the podcast on Twitter @RetroEarl. For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retro Podcast section at the Vintage Computer Forums. 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 Alike 2.5 License.  

Show 143 Give us a listen. We don't byte. Welcome to Show #143!  This episode's topic: An Interview with Bob Armstrong of Spare Time Gizmos! Links for Spare Time Gizmos and the SBC6120: Yahoo! Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sparetimegizmos/ SBC6120 on the Spare Time Gizmos page: http://www.sparetimegizmos.com/Hardware/SBC6120-2.htm ELF2K on the Spare Time Gizmos page: http://www.sparetimegizmos.com/Hardware/Elf2K.htm Spare Time Gizmos Wiki documentation for recent things: http://www.sparetimegizmos.com/wdoc/index.php?title=Main_Page New podcasts coming: Chicken Lips Radio (not a poultry show) for Commodore topics... Next Without For - a podcast about programming retro computers! Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to earl@retrobits.com. The Retrobits Podcast blog can be found at www.retrobits.com.  You can follow the podcast on Twitter @RetroEarl. For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retro Podcast section at the Vintage Computer Forums. 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 Alike 2.5 License.  

And, We're Back.  Again!  Yoi otoshi o! Welcome to Show #142!  This episode's topic: An Interview with Kevin Savetz! Here's the site for Kevin Savetz' new book, Terrible Nerd!Tune in to the sometimes rowdy Retro Computing Roundtable Podcast - http://rcrpodcast.com/Want to know more about Reversi?  Check out the Wikipedia page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReversiBe sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to earl@retrobits.com. The Retrobits Podcast blog can be found at www.retrobits.com.  You can follow the podcast on Twitter @RetroEarl. For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retro Podcast section at the Vintage Computer Forums. 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 Alike 2.5 License.  

And, We're Back. Welcome to Show #141!  This episode's topic: My Reversi Game Adventure, Part I! Tune in to the sometimes rowdy Retro Computing Roundtable Podcast - http://rcrpodcast.com/Hang with us at the Vintage Computer Forums - http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/forum.phpSpecifically, you can find us in the Retro Podcast section on that forum - http://www.vintage-computer.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?83-Retro-Podcasts-DiscussionApple2Online – the online resource for Apple II documentation, software, and more – celebrating their 2 year anniversary - http://apple2online.com/ This year's Vintage Computer Festival East 8.0 looks to be the biggest and best ever - http://www.vintage.org/2012/east/ - May 5th and 6th, 2012If you're a Color Computer Fan, check out the 21st annual “Last” Chicago CoCofest 2012 - http://www.glensideccc.com/ - May 19th and 20th, 2012The RCR is in the house at this year's KansasFest 2012 in Kansas City, Missouri, July 17th through the 22nd, 2012 - http://www.kansasfest.org/Learn more about the Commodore Flyer Internet modem and disk drive emulator - http://www.retroswitch.com/products/flyer/Want to know more about Reversi?  Check out the Wikipedia page - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReversiBe sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to earl@retrobits.com. The Retrobits Podcast blog can be found at www.retrobits.com.  You can follow the podcast on Twitter @RetroEarl. For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retro Podcast section at the Vintage Computer Forums. 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 Alike 2.5 License.  

Hooray, it's Tax Day... (for U.S. listeners...) Welcome to Show #140!  This episode's topic: The Vintage Computer Festival (VCF) East 7.0! In this episode, I'm joined by Evan Koblentz of the Mid Atlantic Retro Computing Hobbyists, who talks about the upcoming VCF East 7.0.You can find information about the VCF East 7.0 here, and also on Facebook!  Also, you can contact Evan Koblentz at evan@snarc.net.MARCH has recently acquired an IBM 1130 mainframe - check out more info on the IBM 1130 at ibm1130.org...Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to earl@retrobits.com. The Retrobits Podcast blog can be found at www.retrobits.com.  You can follow the podcast on Twitter @RetroEarl. 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 Alike 2.5 License.  

Happy New Year! Welcome to Show #139!  This episode's topic: My SFD-1001 drive adventure! In this episode, I discuss the Commodore SFD-1001 disk drive, IEEE-488 interface technology, and my related Retrochallenge 2011 Winter Warmup entry!Find information on the rebuilding of EDSAC (CNET link) at the U.K. National Museum of Computing site...See a video tour from Robert Scoble of the new Revolution exhibit at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California!Visual 6502 - a transistor level simulator (and a LOT of info) for the 6502 microprocessor!Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to earl@retrobits.com. The Retrobits Podcast blog can be found at www.retrobits.com.  You can follow the podcast on Twitter @RetroEarl. 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 Alike 2.5 License.  

Happy Holidays! Welcome to Show #138!  This episode's topic: The PDP-8 Minicomputer! In this episode, I provide an introduction to the PDP-8 Minicomputer, released by Digital Equipment Corporation in 1965.  The PDP-8 was the first commercially-produced and widely available minicomputer, and launched a new era in computing.The new generation of Commodore?  Check out the new Commodore 64 - a modern PC in a C64 replica case...The Diamond operating system - the Atari 8-bit GUI OS!The Retro Computing Roundtable (RCR) is a new podcast hosted by David Greelish, now on episode #4!  Find out more at the Classic Computing blog...It's time for this year's Retrochallenge Winter Warmup!  Get your retro game face on!The Cult Of Mac website covers the Vintage Apple news for 2010...The IEEE Computer Society launches a new feature - Computing Then!Keynote speaker announced for this year's KansasFest...more info at their site...Check out the PDP-8 FAQs at faqs.org, and also the Doug Jones PDP-8 resource site!Cool PDP-8 video on YouTube (video will begin playing immediately) from TNMOC, and also the PDP-8 playing music!Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to earl@retrobits.com. The Retrobits Podcast blog can be found at www.retrobits.com.  You can follow the podcast on Twitter @RetroEarl. 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 Alike 2.5 License.  

A personal computer with 64K of RAM for only $595???? Welcome to Show #137!  This episode's topic: The Commodore 64, Part III! In this episode, I conclude our examination of the Commodore 64, covering the variants of the C64, some popular hardware and software add-ons, and of course, modern day fun."The Woz" recently gave a preview tour of the Computer History Museum's upcoming permanent exhibit - "Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing".Check out the Retro Computing Roundtable podcast on iTunes or at the Classic Computing blog site!Hear real SID tunes at the SOASC (Stone Oakvalley's Authentic SID Collection) web page.Want to know more about the GEOS operating system for the C64?  Check out the awesome GEOS FAQ!  You can download GEOS for the C64 at the CBM Files site.Check out Jeremy Reimer's blog entry on Personal Computer Market Share, 1975-2009.  It is VERY informative.Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to earl@retrobits.com. The Retrobits Podcast blog can be found at www.retrobits.com.  You can follow the podcast on Twitter @RetroEarl. 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 Alike 2.5 License.  

Bits are bits. Welcome to Show #136!  This episode's topic: KansasFest 2010 with Ivan Drucker! Ivan Drucker, attendee at this year's KansasFest 2010 event, gives us the scoop on sessions, activities, and related fun! (Part III of the Commodore 64 series coming soon!) For info on this and next year's KansasFest, visit www.kansasfest.org! Also, check out KansasFest videos (search for "KansasFest") on vimeo.com. Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to earl@retrobits.com. The Retrobits Podcast blog can be found at www.retrobits.com.  You can follow the podcast on Twitter @RetroEarl. 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 Alike 2.5 License.  

3.2 GHz hexacore, and my GIGO goes faster! Welcome to Show #135!  This episode's topic: The Commodore 64, Part II! In Part II of this series on the Commodore 64, I talk about two of the chips in the Commodore 64 that really set it apart from the competition - the VIC-II graphics chip, and the SID sound/synthesizer. 300 Baud Magazine - what a great title!  Check it out at their website... Linus Åkesson does some great stuff with chiptunes and demos! Results are in for Retrochallenge 2010!  See them here... Happy 25th birthday Amiga!  Want to read a cool retrospective at the Technologizer website? Dates are set for KansasFest 2011!  Time to start counting the days... At Bletchley Park, they're teaching computing old skool.  See this article on BBC News! Wow, the 2600 game doesn't look like the game art!  Really?  Rundlc.com has a great post on this... Lots of info on the C64 "SID" chip at sid.kubarth.com... Wikipedia to the rescue for the VIC-II!  Make sure to check out the links at the bottom of the page. Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to earl@retrobits.com. The Retrobits Podcast blog can be found at www.retrobits.com.  You can follow the podcast on Twitter @RetroEarl. 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 Alike 2.5 License.  

Five Year Anniversary coming up! Welcome to Show #134!  This episode's topic: An Interview with Stewart Cheifet, Part II! In part II of this interview, Stewart Cheifet and I discuss more about the Net Café television program, the effort to bring Computer Chronicles to the Internet Archive, more about the Internet Archive including its work with NASA, and some parting shots on the computing industry in general.(Note: The Commodore 64 series will resume after this two-parter with Stewart Cheifet.  Stay tuned...)The Internet Archive site for NASA, as mentioned by Stewart Cheifet on the podcast!Check out Stewart Cheifet's website at www.cheifet.com.Two new retrocomputing users groups in my area - Commodore Computer Club - Vancouver, WA – USA:, and the Portland Commodore Users Group!Retrochallenge 2010 starts in just one week!  Sign up at retrochallenge.org! Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to earl@retrobits.com. The Retrobits Podcast blog can be found at www.retrobits.com.  You can follow the podcast on Twitter @RetroEarl. 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 Alike 2.5 License.  

Run.  Stop.  Restore. Welcome to Show #133!  This episode's topic: An Interview with Stewart Cheifet, Part I! In part I of this interview, Stewart Cheifet discusses the genesis and some favorite moments from the Computer Chronicles program, which he anchored for two decades.(Note: The Commodore 64 series will resume after this two-parter with Stewart Cheifet.  Stay tuned...)Want a full-featured command-line based mail agent?  Check out Heirloom Mailx!Talk Geek to Me, an Internet Radio program by Deepgeek.A Tandy CoCo, connected to the Internet as a client and server?  You bet...Some very nice retro computing photos on Time magazine's site!15 enjoyable vintage tech ads on IT World... 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 Alike 2.5 License.  

Computers for the masses, not the classes... Welcome to Show #132!  This episode's topic: The Commodore 64, Part I! In part I of this series on the Commodore 64, I cover my initial experiences with the machine (back in "the day"), and also provide an overview of the C64 hardware specifications. Have an old 680x0 based Mac?  Interested in them?  If so, be sure to visit the 68K Macintosh Liberation Army site!Commodore reborn, again?  Have a look at the article on The Register, and the website itself at Commodore USA, LLC, and you be the judge...Read "The Bob Chronicles", and remember one of the most famous software failures of all time!KansasFest 2010 is open for registration!Join in on PET Alive!, a 10-day event to celebrate the Commodore PET! 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 Alike 2.5 License.  

Yay!  We're BACK! Welcome to Show #131!  This episode's topic: Ten Years Of Retrocomputing! In this episode, I discuss some observations on the time that I've spent in the retrocomputing hobby, which coincidentally turns out to be 10 years.  It's been a fun ride, and more fun to come! The SIDStick is a portable SID chiptunes player.  More information at the Gadget Gangster website...Old retro plastics yellowed with age?  Take a look at Retr0bright to see if it might be a solution! 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 Alike 2.5 License.  

I found the Enter key.  Where's the Exit key?Welcome to Show #130!  This episode's topic: Enhancing the TRS-80 Model 100! In this episode, I cover two add-on products for the Tandy Model 100/102/200 computers - the REX flash module, and the NADSBox SD-card storage system. Both of the products discussed in this episode can be found at the Club100 site! 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

Have you hugged your retro computer today?Welcome to Show #129!  This episode's topic: Connecting with the Atari 800! In this episode, I cover several of the Atari 8-bit add-on products from Atarimax, including the SIO2PC/ProSystem adapter, the Atari Peripheral Emulator for Windows software package, and the MaxFlash 8 Mbit flash memory cartridge!  It's loads of 8-bit modern day fun. The full range of Atarimax products can be found here, at their website...A new game for the Atari 8-bit systems, Kolony 2106, available for download, with manual!The game was announced at the AtariAge forums, where information is available on purchasing the special collector's edition... 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

Hi there Retrocomputing fans! I wanted to post a quick note and let everyone know that more episodes of Retrobits are on the way soon!  I've had some challenges dragging on my heels the last few weeks, but things are getting back to normal. Thanks for staying tuned!  Chat with you soon... - Earl  

Part IV!Welcome to Show #128!  This episode's topic: An Interview With Chuck Peddle, Part IV! In this final, part IV of the interview series with Chuck Peddle, he discusses being among the first to bring hard drive technology to personal computing, portable hard drive systems, industry trends, and his current endeavors with flash memory.  He ends with a tribute to many of the engineers and industry players that he worked with throughout the years. 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

This just in at the news desk - computers are cool!Welcome to Show #127!  This episode's topic: An Interview With Chuck Peddle, Part III! In part III of this interview series, Chuck Peddle discusses further market considerations for the Commodore 8-bit machines, and leaving Commodore to produce business-class personal computers at Victor/Sirius. Look for Part IV, the conclusion, sometime around August 31st! 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

We will serve no bits before their time.Welcome to Show #126!  This episode's topic: The Vintage Computer Festival East 6.0! In this episode of Retrobits, Evan Koblentz, producer of the Vintage Computer Festival East, and President and Co-Founder of MARCH (the Mid Atlantic Retro Computing Hobbyists), joins us to discuss the Vintage Computer Festival East 6.0 event!More information on the Vintage Computer Festival can be found at www.vintage.org...And here is a flyer (PDF format) for this year's VCF East 6.0 event!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 Alike 2.5 License. 

Hi again!Welcome to Show #125!  This episode's topic: An Interview With Chuck Peddle, Part II! In this episode, Chuck Peddle, lead creator of the 6502 microprocessor and the Commodore PET, continues our conversation on the early history of the 6502 and Commodore computers, and the market dynamics of the day!  It's a great conversation. A modern-day Commodore 64 laptop, created by the famous "Ben Heck", is auctioned for $6,000 for charity!Juiced.GS, the last remaining print magazine for the Apple II, continues in 2010 for another publication year!Win994a, a TI 99/4A simulator for Windows, introduces a new version with improved user interface!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 Alike 2.5 License. 

Press Enter to exit...Welcome to Show #124!  This episode's topic: KansasFest 2009 Special Report! In this installment of Retrobits, Ken Gagne, Editor-In-Chief of Juiced.GS and longtime KansasFest attendee joins us from KansasFest 2009, an annual Apple II convention event.For more information on KansasFest, head over to www.kansasfest.org!Check out Sheppyware, home of much Apple goodness, including the Sweet16 Apple IIGS emulator...A Twitter client for the Apple IIGS?  And more, at ryansapplesoftware.com!And for all things Apple II, browse to A2Central!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 Alike 2.5 License. 

Hi there!Welcome to Show #123!  This episode's topic: An Interview With Chuck Peddle, Part I! In this episode, I'm happy to bring you the first part of an interview with Chuck Peddle, lead designer of the 6502 microprocessor, Commodore PET, and many other innovations in the computing industry.  In Part I, Chuck talks about his early history in computing, distributed intelligence, and the development and launch of the 6502. Enjoy! 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

High level languages sold here.  No assembly required.Welcome to Show #122!  This episode's topic: A Brief History Of Programming! The Carte Blanche expansion card for the Apple II uses an FPGA chip and can have many personalities!For a brief history of Fortran, have a look at this document on the ibiblio.org site...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 Alike 2.5 License. 

: podcast prepare record upload listen ;Welcome to Show #121!  This episode's topic: The Forth Programming Language, Part II! Check out www.zophar.net, an interesting emulator resource!Don't miss out on the Commodore Vegas Expo (CommVEX) 5.0, happening July 25-26 2009 at the Plaza Hotel, Las Vegas, NV...Looking for Atari retro resources and discussions?  Then hop on over to AtariAge!The book "Starting Forth" by Leo Brodie is a Forth language classic, and Thinking Forth is the excellent sequel!An account of the history of Forth can be found on the Forth, Inc. site - "The Evolution Of Forth"!Modern day Forth systems include Win32Forth and GForth... 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

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 is over, but videos, photo collections, and reports are there for those of us who couldn't attend...The book "Starting Forth" by Leo Brodie is a Forth language classic, and one of the best programming introductions for any language...An account of the history of Forth can be found on the Forth, Inc. site - "The Evolution Of Forth"! 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

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 production numbers and current sales of rare and old computers!Ancient UNIX?  You bet...how about...First Edition?  Download it at the unix-jun72 Google Code project site, then run it on the awesome SIMH simulation system...If you're a Commodore fan, check out Commodore Free - the freely downloadable magazine!The Woz can help jump-start the computing industry, but...can he dance?  Find out at his website page covering the "Dancing With The Stars" event, and at Woz TV on YouTube! 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

(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 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

"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 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

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 links for the Apple II series of computers...Retro robotics?  You bet!  Have a look at The Robot Gallery!Just out - the documentary "Welcome To Macintosh" - available now...Be sure to visit the RetroMacCast for your share of Mac retrocomputing fun!A2Central is your total source for Apple II computing...Relive the Apple IIGS with the Sweet16, KEGS, or Virtual Apple (web-based!) emulators......and check out the "What is the Apple IIGS" site for more info and resources on IIGS emulation!More info on the IIGS is available at Wikipedia, and the Apple II History site...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 Alike 2.5 License. 

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 the woods...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 Alike 2.5 License. 

"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 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

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 Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 License. 

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 "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan. Thanks for listening! - Earl This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 License. 

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 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

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, have a look at the CPCWiki... 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

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 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

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 Galigan. Thanks for listening! - Earl This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 License. 

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 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

C:>WINWelcome 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 is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 License. 

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 systems!  Definitely worth a look...Here is the home page of RetroChallenge - a way for retro enthusiasts to challenge themselves (and share their experience with other like-minded folks).  This year's "Winter Warmup" is happening right now!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 Alike 2.5 License. 

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. 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

cat retrobits.txt > /dev/listenerWelcome 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 comprehensive article on Unix itself!Check out the home page of one of Unix's creators - Dennis Ritchie...And here is the promised link on the Unix timeline!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 Alike 2.5 License. 

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, unabridged history of the Amiga can be found on the Amiga History Site...there's lots of material, ranging from the beginning years to fairly recently.Emulate the Amiga in style with the Amiga Forever package from Cloanto! 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 Alike 2.5 License. 

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 Alike 2.5 License. 

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 Alike 2.5 License.