Retro Computing Roundtable

RCR Episode 281: The IBM PC and its sticks of ennui

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Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Blake Patterson

Topic: 1981

In 1981, we started communicating with AT commands and Kermit. Timex/Sinclair released the 1000/ZX-81. We got the BBC Micro and the ABC 800. IBM introduced the PC, for business, no fun allowed. And MS-DOS. And more.

Topic/Feedback links:

  • Sony 3.5 drive
  • Quick, hide in this closet! (folklore.org)
  • IBM PC
    • “Atari” design
    • MS-DOS
    • Osborne 1
    • Xerox Star
    • IPv4
    • Kermit
    • kermitproject.org
    • C-Kermit 10.0 beta 11 released in early August
    • Hayes Smartmodem 300
    • Hayes AT command set
    • Sinclair ZX81
    • Timex/Sinclair 1000
    • BBC Micro
    • ABC 800
    • Donkey Kong
    • E-mu Emulator

      • Retro Computing News:

      • Thomas Kurtz obituary (Legacy.com)
      • Dartmouth BASIC at 50
      • CHM in memoriam Thomas Kurtz
      • San Francisco Muni will stop using floppy disks Any Day Now
      • Atari ST Notebook (it was real)
      • The Pentium as a Navajo weaving (Nat Gallery of Art)
      • Ward Christensen passed away
      • CBBS for winter contact in the Chicago computer hobbyists’ group. Feb 1978, written up in Byte Nov 1978
      • Ward Christensen obituary (NYT)

        • Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:

        • Magnavox TV with built-in Odyssey
        • Super Pong
        • HayesStack

          • Retro Computing Gift Idea:

          • Floppy disk cookie cutters.

            • Auction Picks:

            • Blake:
              • RARE DCS Industries Slot Box for Tandy EX HX 1000 A SX TX SL TL SL/2 TL/2 RL RLX
              • Paul:
                • 3D printed TI cartridge tray.
                • Warez wear.
                • Omnitronix cassette interface
                • NeXT Cube.
                • Programma 101 (sold at $4000, 2 bids)

                  • Closing notes:

                  • Estate Sale (wound up with Super Pong, not much else).

                    • Streams:

                    • a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr281.a2stream
                    • Behind-the-scenes livestream recording of this episode (YouTube)

                      • Feedback/Discussion:

                      • [email protected]
                      • [email protected] on Mastodon
                      • rcrpodcast.com on bluesky
                      • Vintage Computer Forum
                      • RCR Podcast on Facebook
                      • RCR Podcast on YouTube

                        • Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
                        Show audio files hosted by CyberEars

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