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Interview with Howell Ivy, Co-founder of Exidy and Developer of Exidy Sorcerer Computer

Welcome to Floppy Days episode 114 for May, 2022. I am Randy Kindig, your host.

Again this month, I have a special interview show for you that actually has been a few years in the making. Some time ago, I had come across and had gotten initial contact with Howell Ivy, who it turns out was co-founder of Exidy and was instrumental in the development of the Exidy Sorcerer computer.

The Exidy Sorcerer is a machine that I covered clear back in 2014 in episode 17 of Floppy Days. It was a very early machine, just after the release of the home computer triad of the Commodore PET/Apple II/TRS-80 Model I and before the Atari 400/800, with great graphics, a Z-80 processor, and one of the first home computers (after the VideoBrain) to have plug-in cartridges (these based on the 8-track tape cartridges).

After the initial contact with Howell, he went silent and I was unable for the last few years to get an interview set up. Finally, recently, I was able to get a response and quickly got the interview in the books.

I also recorded a video for an interview for the first time! The link to the video interview on YouTube is in the show notes here.

Before getting into the interview, I do want to talk about some vintage hardware or modern upgrades I was able to acquire, as well as bring you information about upcoming vintage computer shows.

Finally, while I usually abstain from talking about monetary support for this podcast, I do want to mention that I have a way for you to help if you have the inclination. I have a page set up at https://www.patreon.com/FloppyDays where you can donate. Any funds will be used to defray the cost of managing the podcast as well as acquiring new hardware to talk about. Thank you so much everyone who has contributed and continues to contribute!

Links:

New Acquisitions

• Mattel Aquarius Aquaricart and 32K RAM "Combo Pack" - https://www.ebay.com/itm/124471439128?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
• Apple II Yellowstone Disk Controller - Big Mess o' Wires

Upcoming Shows

• Boatfest Retro Computing Festival 2022 - June 24-25 - Hurricane, WV - https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/boatfest-retro-computer-festival-2022-tickets-222333103297
• The Commodore Los Angeles Super Show 2022 - June 25-26 - Burbank, CA - https://portcommodore.com/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=class:start
• VCF Southeast - July 15-17 Southern Fried Gaming Expo - https://gameatl.com/
• KansasFest 2022 - July 19–24, 2022, Kansas City, MO - https://www.kansasfest.org/
• VCF West 2022 - Aug 6, 7, The Computer History Museum, Mountain View, CA - https://vcfed.org/wp/festivals/vintage-computer-festival-west/
• VCF Midwest - Sep 10-11, Elmhurst, IL - http://vcfmw.org/
• Tandy Assembly - Sep 30-Oct. 2, Springfield, OH - http://www.tandyassembly.com/

Interview Links

• The History of Exidy - http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-ultimate-so-far-history-of-exidy_24.html
• Howell Ivy interview at RetroGamer - https://www.retrogamer.net/profiles/developer/howell-ivy/