This is the show where enthusiasts, collectors, educators, bloggers and podcasters of computer history get together and talk about news concerning our hobby. Plus, how recent tech news relates to our computing past.
With Earl Evans, Paul Hagstrom, Michael Mulhern and Carrington Vanston.
RCR Episode 269: Considered harmful
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Carrington Vanston Topic: 1968-1969 In 1968 and 1969, we had SHRDLU, the Mother of All Demos, Go To being considered harmful, and Unix. Topic/Feedback links: Retro Computing News: Vintage Computer(-related) commercials: Retro Computing Gift Idea: Auction Picks: A2Stream file: Feedback/Discussion: Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by … Continue reading RCR Episode 269: Considered harmful →
1/7/2024 • 2 hours, 6 minutes, 50 seconds
RCR Episode 268: KansasFest/A24eVR megapodcast
Various podcasters who attended the KansasFest 2024 or virtual A24eVR event relate their experiences and thoughts, in the annual “megapodcast” tradition. Participants: A2Stream file: Feedback/Discussion: Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John XShow audio files hosted by CyberEars Listen/Download:
1/7/2024 • 1 hour, 37 minutes, 51 seconds
RCR Episode 267: Turtles all the way down
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Earl Evans, and Blake Patterson Topic: 1967 1967 gave us Logo and the floppy disk, so we talk about that, and then many other things. Topic/Feedback links: Retro Computing News: Vintage Computer(-related) commercials: Retro Computing Gift Idea: Auction Picks: A2Stream file: Feedback/Discussion: Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz … Continue reading RCR Episode 267: Turtles all the way down →
12/4/2023 • 2 hours, 12 minutes, 59 seconds
RCR Episode 266: The Apple II Age
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Blake Patterson, with guest Laine Nooney Topics: 1966, and The Apple II Age Two topics this time: First, some things from 1966, and then, a discussion with Laine Nooney on their newly published book The Apple II Age: How the Computer Became Personal. Topic/Feedback links: Retro Computing News: Vintage … Continue reading RCR Episode 266: The Apple II Age →
8/11/2023 • 2 hours, 16 minutes, 29 seconds
RCR Episode 265: Poolside computing arrives
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Blake Patterson, and Carrington Vanston Topic: Poolside computing arrives We look back on a few highlights of 1965, including the Programma 101, the PDP-8, Moore’s Law. We talk analog computers, Visual BASIC, sticky mice, and more. Topic/Feedback links: Retro Computing News: Vintage Computer(-related) commercials: Retro Computing Gift Idea: Upcoming … Continue reading RCR Episode 265: Poolside computing arrives →
5/19/2023 • 2 hours, 3 minutes, 37 seconds
RCR Episode 264: Double bucky, you’re the one
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Carrington Vanston Topic: Double bucky, you’re the one We look back on a few highlights of 1964, including the double bucky, SABRE, and BASIC. Topic/Feedback links: Retro Computing News: Vintage Computer(-related) commercials: Retro Computing Gift Idea: Auction Picks: A2Stream file: Feedback/Discussion: Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz … Continue reading RCR Episode 264: Double bucky, you’re the one →
2/27/2023 • 1 hour, 35 minutes, 41 seconds
RCR Episode 263: The year of the gopher
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Earl Evans, Michael Mulhern, and Carrington Vanston Topic: The year of the gopher We begin 2023 with a shift to new hosting providers, that require encrypted communication. How/should we access the modern web from old computers? Topic/Feedback links: Building a new C64 (Retro Recipes) LinuxJedi’s GoFloppy Gameboy Tetris ported … Continue reading RCR Episode 263: The year of the gopher →
2/19/2023 • 1 hour, 49 minutes, 2 seconds
RCR Episode 262: 60 years between Bell 103 and today” s InterNet
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Earl Evans, and Michael Mulhern Topic: 60 years between Bell 103 and today” s InterNet In 1962, the world gained Spacewar! and the Bell 103 modem. Topic/Feedback links: Spacewar at masswerk.at Spacewar! History of Spacewar! Computer Space Bell 103 NCR CRAM NCR CRAM product brochure. BBC archive, speaking with … Continue reading RCR Episode 262: 60 years between Bell 103 and today” s InterNet →
12/25/2022 • 1 hour, 51 minutes, 39 seconds
RCR Episode 261: Cause the Commodordian is Keeping Up With You
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Carrington Vanston Topic: Cause the Commodordian Is Keeping Up With You 1961 was all fine and good, but someone has made an accordion out of two Commodore 64s and a bunch of floppy disks. Topic/Feedback links: Neural net on a C64. Minus zero at fourmilab OS 2200 Unisys … Continue reading RCR Episode 261: Cause the Commodordian is Keeping Up With You →
12/9/2022 • 1 hour, 53 minutes, 53 seconds
RCR Episode 260: Recommended Standard 232 and Programmed Data Processor-1
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Earl Evans, and Blake Patterson Topic: Recommended Standard 232 and Programmed Data Processor-1 1960 brought us RS-232 and the PDP-1, more COBOL, and curly braces. Topic/Feedback links: Recommended Standard 232 A proposal for character code compatibility. The great curly brace trace Demo of the Digirule 2A Digirule 2U Legacy … Continue reading RCR Episode 260: Recommended Standard 232 and Programmed Data Processor-1 →
12/8/2022 • 2 hours, 9 minutes, 15 seconds
RCR Episode 259: Little bit taller, COBOLler
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Carrington Vanston Topic: Little bit taller, COBOLler We consider 1959, and mostly come up with COBOL, then spend some time in an engagement-generating excercise, not quite remembering a remarkable number of things. Topic/Feedback links: COBOL at Britannica.com COBOL at Smithsonian. Grace Hopper on Letterman Gorilla Banana, a rebranded … Continue reading RCR Episode 259: Little bit taller, COBOLler →
11/23/2022 • 1 hour, 43 minutes, 5 seconds
RCR Episode 258: Tron and Perceptron
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Carrington Vanston Topic: Tron and Perceptron In 1958, the Perceptron arrived and Lisp was defined. We talk a bit about things we came across that were associated with 1958. Topic/Feedback links: Setting up Genera in Linux Bell Labs 101 modem Tennis For Two Perceptron Open Worm Deviant Oliam … Continue reading RCR Episode 258: Tron and Perceptron →
10/9/2022 • 1 hour, 41 minutes, 42 seconds
RCR Episode 257: The dot matrix impact
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Earl Evans, and Carrington Vanston Topic: The dot matrix impact Spending some time revisiting the calmer, quieter days when our printing was done by forcefully slamming pins through an ink ribbon onto perforated paper, pushed along by rotating spikes. Topic/Feedback links: Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration. Trailer Multimedia HyperGuide: A Windows … Continue reading RCR Episode 257: The dot matrix impact →
8/14/2022 • 1 hour, 52 minutes, 21 seconds
RCR Episode 256: Keep calm and carry on
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Earl Evans, and Carrington Vanston Topic: Keep calm and carry on Episode 0 has arrived. Topic/Feedback links: The 6502 overflow flag explained The 6502 overflow flag explained mathematically The 6502 overflow flag explained at the silicon level ZX80 8K BASIC ROM upgrade Floppy Days 114: Howell Ivy, Exidy The … Continue reading RCR Episode 256: Keep calm and carry on →
8/3/2022 • 1 hour, 42 minutes, 18 seconds
RCR Episode 255: The One With All The Ones
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Earl Evans, and Blake Patterson Topic: The One With All The Ones The Retrocomputing Roundtable has reached the end of its 8-bit run. Topic/Feedback links: Byte 8-bit computing Nibble Big boxes history video Traveler (Wikipedia) Traveler (Imperial Encyclopedia) Traveler (Mongoose Publishing) Mayday 2022 Manhunt Wonderful Things (story about Manhunt) … Continue reading RCR Episode 255: The One With All The Ones →
6/5/2022 • 2 hours, 19 minutes, 47 seconds
RCR Episode 254: Fortran, for better or for worse
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Earl Evans, and Carrington Vanston Topic: Fortran, for better or for worse The year 1954 brought us Fortran (not named after the year though) to help us with our math, and development of SAGE to scan the skies for threats. Topic/Feedback links: IBM 650 Drum memory Wurlizter SideMan (not … Continue reading RCR Episode 254: Fortran, for better or for worse →
4/26/2022 • 1 hour, 45 minutes, 13 seconds
RCR Episode 253: Prebricked drives
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Earl Evans, Michael Mulhern, and Carrington Vanston Topic: Prebricked drives Episode 253 relates to 1953. Core memory begins its long dominance of the RAM space, the IBM 701 is introduced. A year that was kind of between things, so as one might expect the conversation keeps sliding into a discussion of … Continue reading RCR Episode 253: Prebricked drives →
4/18/2022 • 2 hours, 7 minutes, 19 seconds
RCR Episode 252: UNIVAC liked Ike
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Carrington Vanston Topic: UNIVAC liked Ike Episode 252 relates to 1952. The year when UNIVAC correctly called the election early and nobody believed it. The year the paper introducing the Huffman code compression algorithm was published. And the 50th anniversary of all the things that happened in 1902. … Continue reading RCR Episode 252: UNIVAC liked Ike →
4/15/2022 • 1 hour, 52 minutes, 45 seconds
RCR Episode 251: Memories of Whirlwind I
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Charles Mangin, and Carrington Vanston Topic: Memories of Whirlwind I It’s been 71 years since 1951. So, we talk about some things kind of loosely related to 1951, including computer music, the Whirlwind I, and memory technology. Topic/Feedback links: Whirlwind I Jim Butterfield C64 training tape David Ahl’s BASIC Computer Games, … Continue reading RCR Episode 251: Memories of Whirlwind I →
3/27/2022 • 1 hour, 46 minutes, 45 seconds
RCR Episode 250: Computing Machinery and Intelligence
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Earl Evans, and Carrington Vanston Topic: Computing Machinery and Intelligence It’s been 72 years since the year Turing published the paper that outlined the Turing test. So: Let’s talk about interactions we’ve had relating to artificial intelligence in some form or another. Topic/Feedback links: RetroMagazine issue 12, English version Total Replay … Continue reading RCR Episode 250: Computing Machinery and Intelligence →
2/4/2022 • 2 hours, 3 minutes, 54 seconds
RCR Episode 249: 2020 also
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Earl Evans, Michael Mulhern, and Blake Patterson Topic: 2020 also We enter the third year of 2020. Yet another New Year’s, yet another opportunity to make the New Year’s resolution joke. Topic/Feedback links: Mega II project (single chip Apple II) Mega II project progress Acorn – a world in pixels (extended … Continue reading RCR Episode 249: 2020 also →
1/31/2022 • 2 hours, 26 minutes, 16 seconds
RCR Episode 248: So long, 2021
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Earl Evans, and Carrington Vanston Topic: So long, 2021 At the tail end of 2021, we talk about our retrocomputing-based adventures during the year, with a little bit of a look ahead at what might come after. Topic/Feedback links: Drop /// Inches, episode #11 (re: visiting Stanford archives) Mac networks game … Continue reading RCR Episode 248: So long, 2021 →
1/19/2022 • 2 hours, 1 minute, 37 seconds
RCR Episode 247: Computing 24/7
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Blake Patterson Topic: Computing 24/7 In honor of episode 247, we talk about stuff vaguely related to “all the time.” Mostly we wound up talking about whether we turned our computers off or not. Topic/Feedback links: RetroMagazineWorld #11 The World of Commodore 2021 event information The World of … Continue reading RCR Episode 247: Computing 24/7 →
1/13/2022 • 2 hours, 1 minute, 35 seconds
RCR Episode 246: Data hoards, musician chords
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Jack Nutting, and Carrington Vanston Topic: Data hoards and privacy Retrocomputing collectors often collect retrocomputers, which often have disks or hard drives, which might contain private data. Particularly as computers get recent enough to have hard drives. Particularly particularly in the future when retrocomputers might contain SSD drives. Topic/Feedback links: Retro … Continue reading RCR Episode 246: Data hoards, musician chords →
12/15/2021 • 1 hour, 43 minutes, 42 seconds
RCR Episode 245: End of line
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Michael Mulhern, Blake Patterson, and Carrington Vanston Topic: End of line To the extent that you have physical objects, intellectual properties, accounts that host archives, what kind of plans do you have for when you are (possibly unexpectedly) no longer around? Or, what kind of plans do you plan … Continue reading RCR Episode 245: End of line →
12/10/2021 • 2 hours, 17 minutes, 23 seconds
RCR Episode 244: Lacking Future Relevance
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Earl Evans, and Carrington Vanston Topic: Lacking future relevance Sunk time – times you’ve spent learning (or learning how to do) something that has no future relevance. What did you do, what were you THINKING? Topic/Feedback links: Foone Turing explores the updated Twitter image posting/processing rules, for a very good reason … Continue reading RCR Episode 244: Lacking Future Relevance →
12/9/2021 • 1 hour, 31 minutes, 30 seconds
RCR Episode 243: Networking keeps us all connec
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Ian Baronofsky, and Earl Evans Topic: Networking keeps us all connec We continue to talk about networking in the context of old computers, in the days before everything was TCP/IP, when certain things were case-sensitive. Retro Computing News: A SAM Coupé spotted in the wild SAM Coupé on eBay RMC – … Continue reading RCR Episode 243: Networking keeps us all connec →
11/2/2021 • 1 hour, 56 minutes
RCR Episode 242: Retro networking, episode 1
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Ian Baronofsky, Blake Patterson, and Carrington Vanston Topic: Retro networking, episode 1 We talk about things the word “networking” evokes in the context of old computers. Transferring files between computers, reaching (sort of) the modern internet, networking socially, etc. Retro Computing News: Sir Clive Sinclair (Guardian) Arctic Adventure Captain 80 Book … Continue reading RCR Episode 242: Retro networking, episode 1 →
10/23/2021 • 2 hours, 27 minutes, 19 seconds
RCR Episode 241: Every Septandy is Like the First Septandy
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Earl Evans, and Carrington Vanston Topic: Every Septandy is Like the First Septandy We rediscover the Tandy enthusiasts event, talk about simulators and emulators, wind-up computers, and board games. Retro Computing News: Septandy Virtual Data Center, IBM 1401 Tiny load card assembler in Virtual IBM 1401 Upgrade Board Adds … Continue reading RCR Episode 241: Every Septandy is Like the First Septandy →
9/17/2021 • 1 hour, 53 minutes, 7 seconds
RCR Episode 240: A Flock of Toasters
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Earl Evans, and Carrington Vanston Topic: Screensavers Avoid burn-in, and sometimes end relationships, with the help of flying toasters, fireworks, and 3D pipes. Topic/Feedback Links: MiniPET 40/80 kit build and review MiniPET 40/80 kit Strange Commodore replacement keyboard? Emulating IBM PC on an ESP32 Retro Computing News: Applecorn: run Acorn BBC … Continue reading RCR Episode 240: A Flock of Toasters →
8/30/2021 • 1 hour, 59 minutes, 10 seconds
RCR Episode 239: The BYTE Shop
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Tim Colegrove, Blake Patterson, and Carrington Vanston Topic: The BYTE Shop We chat with Tim Colegrove, who has just opened The BYTE Shop, a computer history museum and electronics repair shop in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. We discuss his collection, his journey, plans, and hopes for bringing history and … Continue reading RCR Episode 239: The BYTE Shop →
8/1/2021 • 1 hour, 56 minutes, 24 seconds
RCR Episode 238: Commodore 1541GS
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Earl Evans, and Carrington Vanston Topic: Commodore 1541GS We continue yet again a conversation about computers as they arrived in schools, but also spend some time marveling at a Commodore 1541 drive that also produces music and video. Topic/Feedback Links: Handheld 64 (Gameboy-sized C64, Hackaday) PCBs to build your … Continue reading RCR Episode 238: Commodore 1541GS →
7/31/2021 • 2 hours, 9 seconds
RCR Episode 237: 18-bit Space Computers
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Carrington Vanston Topic: 18-bit Space Computers We continue a conversation about computers in school, but also mention an 18-bit space computer along the way. Topic/Feedback Links: Crosscountry Canada Quazar’s history of the Sam Coupé ICON computer (old-computers.com) ICON computer (wikipedia) Reddit thread about ICON Growin’ Up 80s, talking … Continue reading RCR Episode 237: 18-bit Space Computers →
