Retro Computing Roundtable

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FAQs about Retro Computing Roundtable:

How many episodes does Retro Computing Roundtable have?

The podcast currently has 44 episodes available.

Retro Computing Roundtable episodes:

January 09, 2026RCR Episode 287: Eureka!
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Blake Patterson
Topic: 1987
The Acorn Archimedes became the first computer sold based on the ARM chip. Even today, the last does not appear to be in sight. 1987 also bought us Perl, the IBM PS/2, VGA, Hypercard. CompuServe gifted us GIF. Beyond 1987, we talk BBC BASIC, Quantum Link, and more about the Commodore Colt than you ever wanted.
Topic/Feedback links:
Acorn Archimedes
IBM PS/2
VGA
Larry Wall wrote Perl
Bill Atkinson designs Hypercard
CompuServe introduced a proprietary graphics interchange format. Great. Took off like gangbusters. Like a gift to the online world.
So Far; The First 10 Years of a Vision (Apple turned 10)
Retro Computing News:
The Commodore acquisition happened
One line Tetris (Rheolism) (Hackaday)
Rheolism
How Rheolism works
Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:
Commodore Colt at Best Buy
Acorn Electron
IBM PS/2
Retro Computing Gift Idea:
The Apple II Age: How the Computer Became Personal (Laine Nooney)
See also: INIT HELLO wrap-up discussion (YT)
See also: RCR episode 266 with Laine Nooney
Auction Picks:
Paul:
Commodore Colt
Spectravideo Compumate VCS keyboard
CompuMate (Wikipedia)
I turned my Atari 2600 into a REAL COMPUTER (YT, 8-Bit Show And Tell)
Actual Quantum Link software package
Alternate universe (to Apple users) SoftDisk: LoadStar
Cf: SoftDisk
Closing notes:
INIT HELLO
Other ways to experience this episode:
a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr287.a2stream
YouTube episode 287
Feedback/Discussion:
[email protected]
[email protected] on Mastodon
rcrpodcast.com on bluesky
Vintage Computer Forum
RCR Podcast on Facebook
Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
Listen/Download:
...more
1h 50min
November 25, 2025RCR Episode 286: Somehow all Myst
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Jack Nutting, and Blake Patterson
Topic: 1986
IDE, IMAP, IIGS, and even some other things that do not begin with “I” were introduced in 1986.
Topic/Feedback links:
Apple IIGS
MacBook Wheel
SCSI-1
IDE
IBM PC XT/286
IMAP
ShaderGlass
Retro Computing News:
The Myst Graph: A New Perspective on Myst (and Part II)
Postage-stamp-sized Atari 8-bit compatible FPGA hardware device
Ice-T, a VT100/102/52 terminal emulator for the Atari 8-bit
Bill Atkinson passed away (Wired)
Building a dream PC in 1993
Shufflepuck Cafe for the Apple II
Retro Recipes is buying Commodore
Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:
Gateway
Myst board game
What is the @ (Good Morning America)
Retro Computing Gift Idea:
Strong Magnetic Field warning stickers
Also Magnetic-Field-Warning cookie cutters
Auction Picks:
Blake:
1980s AMust Corp. Mini Robot-1 Simulator Arm HX-3000 Australia (EARLY ROBOTICS)
Paul:
PowerBook Weight Saving Device
The Toy Shop (C64)
Closing notes:
Alien Beast Inspector
INIT HELLO
Other ways to experience this episode:
a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr286.a2stream
YouTube episode 286
Feedback/Discussion:
[email protected]
[email protected] on Mastodon
rcrpodcast.com on bluesky
Vintage Computer Forum
RCR Podcast on Facebook
Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
Listen/Download:
...more
2h 13min
June 04, 2025RCR Episode 285: You’ll Have Mail
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Blake Patterson
Topic: 1985
The year of the Amiga arrives, NeXT is founded, the first .com site appears, Quantum Computer Services begins its journey toward becoming AOL.
Topic/Feedback links:
Commodore Amiga
Installing FS-UAE on Mac
Amiga Forever
Ample
NeXT
symbolics.com
symbolics.com museum
Symbolics
Aldus PageMaker
Apple LaserWriter
Enterprise
Super Mario Bros
Microsoft Windows 1.0
Quantum Computer Services founded, which became AOL
GameLine
GameLine (eBay)
Atari Compendium: Longevity (mentions Supercharger)
Arcadia/Starpath Supercharger (eBay)
A modern news story on AOL
Retro Computing News:
The First Perfect Computer (upgrading an Amiga 1000)
INIT HELLO
Computer Museum at System Source
National Electronics Museum
Bloop Museum
CuriousMarc visits System Source
Usagi Electric visits System Source
Usagi Electric gets a Bendix G15 to run the first half of a test program
DigiBarn
The SuperFo Harlequin 128
The Leningrad-1
Original Soviet key cap kit
Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:
America Online
Enterprise 128
Super Mario 2
Retro Computing Gift Idea:
Commodore4ever VertiPort
Auction Picks:
Blake:
Vintage Olympia EX 100 Typewriter Extension CP/M Computer Word Processor Systel
Paul:
The PC-8001 They Didn’t Want You To See. Picture number 6 will shock you.
Mario Bros 2 ripped burned floppy disk
The 202 Alliance
Mario Bros (202) on Internet Archive, hit Esc while “202 Alliance” is being painted
Real pirates buy Apple Cats
The Curse
Apple catalogs (including last one with Apple //e)
Closing notes:
Rasberry Pi MIDI hat
Stronghold
Other ways to experience this episode:
a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr285.a2stream
YouTube episode 285
Feedback/Discussion:
[email protected]
[email protected] on Mastodon
rcrpodcast.com on bluesky
Vintage Computer Forum
RCR Podcast on Facebook
Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
Listen/Download:
...more
2h 21min
May 26, 2025RCR Episode 284: Hammer time
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Blake Patterson, and Kay Savetz
Topic: 1984
Apple introduced the Macintosh and Apple //c in 1984, IBM introduced the PCjr, HP introduced the LaserJet, and FidoNet began distributing mail.
Topic/Feedback links:
Apple //c
IBM PCjr
Christmas 1984: The Great Apple //c vs. PCjr Battle
Macintosh
The 1984 Superbowl ad (YT)
The 1984 Superbowl ad
FidoNet
fidonet.org
FidoNews
Subtext (classic Mac BBS with FidoNet support)
HP LaserJet
LaserJet in HP’s own Virtual museum (warning: QuickTime 5 required)
CHM discusses Lisa source code with Bill Atkinson
Retro Computing News:
SyncTerm
Playing with toy interfaces – Rich Gold, Mattel Toys
Video Game History Foundation Library opens
Storing data on cassette with a modem
KCS modem
Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:
Apple //c
IBM PCjr
Macintosh
Retro Computing Gift Idea:
Tiny TV
Auction Picks:
Blake:
Atari SC1224 Vintage Color Monitor (specifically, red)
RDKL Inc’s YT video about this collection
Kay:
Vintage The Microperipheral Corporation Computer Speech Synthesizer?
No, almost certainly a Sofcast Shuttle Communicator
Interview with Michael Darland, Microperipheral Corporation and Sofcasting
Paul:
AnDATAco front panel
AnDATAco
Speech recognition processor for Hero 1 and Apple II
New overpriced belts
ITT 2020
US ZX-81 (auction long gone)
Timexsinclair.com on ZX-81
Closing notes:
Super Impulse Space Invaders (eBay search)
Other ways to experience this episode:
a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr284.a2stream
YouTube episode 284
Feedback/Discussion:
[email protected]
[email protected] on Mastodon
rcrpodcast.com on bluesky
Vintage Computer Forum
RCR Podcast on Facebook
Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
Listen/Download:
...more
1h 52min
May 23, 2025RCR Episode 283: A STRANGE GAME
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Kay Savetz, and Carrington Vanston
Topic: 1983
In 1983, Apple gave us Lisa, the ImageWriter, and the Apple //e. Atari gave us the XL line, Microsoft gave us (Multi-Tool) Word, Lotus gave us 1-2-3, David Lightman gave us wardialing. The era of it being always DNS began.
Topic/Feedback links:
Apple Lisa
Apple ImageWriter
iOMEGA Bernoulli Box
Demo of Bernoulli Box A220
Bernoulli Box brochure
PCMag review of the Bernoulli Box
MIDI
ANTIC interview 447: Robert Moore and Paul Rother (Hybrid Arts MIDIMate)
ANTIC interview 448: Frank Foster (Hybrid Arts MIDIMate)
Microsoft Multi-Tool Word
Multi-Tool Word in Infoworld May 30, 1983
Microsoft Word in PC World Nov 1983
Lotus 1-2-3
TRS-80 Model 100
Apple //e
Atari 1200XL
DNS
It’s always DNS
MSX
WarGames
The WarGames IMSAI etc.
History Lesson
Retro Computing News:
Z80-sans
50 years of Oregon Trail
Angry Robots! New puzzle game for 68K Macs
Bill Atkinson accidentally doxxed Douglas Adams on The Computer Chronicles
FlatMac (Hackaday)
FlatMac build video
Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:
Lotus 1-2-3 rocks
Atari XL home computer
TRS-80 Model 100
Retro Computing Gift Idea:
Brew Atari
Auction Picks:
Carrington:
Portal (different auction)
Kay:
TELEVIDEO 990 Terminal 63 Units (in a field!)
TEC Micro-Tec Model 70 X CRT VDT Terminal
Paul:
Keep your vintage computers from looking crappy by using dust covers
Symantec Bedrock
Bedrock (framework)
Inside NeXT 2024 edition
This Apple-1 tape does not look authentic to me
Bernoulli Box 10+10
Closing notes:
ANTIC interview: Robert Leyland: AtariArtist, KoalaPainter, Murder on the Zinderneuf, The Dragon’s Eye
Other ways to experience this episode:
a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr283.a2stream
YouTube episode
Feedback/Discussion:
[email protected]
[email protected] on Mastodon
rcrpodcast.com on bluesky
Vintage Computer Forum
RCR Podcast on Facebook
Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
Listen/Download:
...more
1h 23min
May 23, 2025RCR Episode 282: End of Line
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, Michael Mulhern, and Kay Savetz
Topic: 1982
In 1982, Commodore launched the Commodore 64, GCE launched the Vectrex, Brøderbund launched a rescue helicopter. Computers reached TV, and Flynn drove a light cycle.
Topic/Feedback links:
Commodore 64
MAX Machine in Japan (Ultimax elsewhere), formerly VICKEY
Spawned RUN magazine, but people failed to follow this advice in droves
Tron
Apple III
Choplifter
Choplifter: The Complete History (YouTube, Slopes Game Room
Pitfall!
Classic game postmortem GDC 2011
Vectrex
The Computer Programme (10 part BBC series) first broadcast in January 1982
The Computer Programme BBC archives
Bits & Bytes
Computer Chronicles IBMS PS/2 (1987)
Minitel
NABU
The Sketch Show, Secretary, series 1 episode 2
The Sketch Show
Retro Computing News:
AltStore
Mini vMac4ios
Action Retro installs Mini vMac4ios
The Commodore Thermostat (Commodore History, YT)
Commodore Thermostat on eBay
A 9958 in your C64
The V9958 is a bad design. No, really (Andy Hu, YT)
http://bsky.app
Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:
Timex/Sinclair 1000
Tron sweepstakes
Vectrex
Retro Computing Gift Idea:
Atari joystick decanter set
Atari 2600+
Atari 400 mini
Atari 7800+
Plaion
ANTIC interview 439: Making modern Atari hardware
Auction Picks:
Michael:
Four APC magazines
Paul:
MAX Machine
On Mercari via buyee
On Mercari via Zenmarket
Apple II+ from Pirates of Silicon Valley
QX-16 (not QX-10 as labeled) (auction long gone)
Epson QX-10
Softside 1983, Relaaax issue (auction long gone)
Softside 1983 Relaaax on IA
Closing notes:
ANTIC interview 446 Mary Eisenhart (Microtimes magazine)
ANTIC Mary Eisenhart interview, video version
Homeputerium 10 line programming contest
A2Stream file:
a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr282.a2stream
YouTube episode
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
Listen/Download:
...more
1h 44min
January 26, 2025RCR Episode 281: The IBM PC and its sticks of ennui
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
Listen/Download:
...more
2h 6min
December 30, 2024RCR Episode 280: Cheap home computers
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Carrington Vanston
Topic: 1980
In 1980, Commodore introduced the VIC-20, Sinclair introduced the ZX80, Tandy introduced the Color Computer, and HP tried to breed a computer out of calculators. Also other things happened. Which we discuss!
Topic/Feedback links:
VIC-20
Sinclair ZX80
See also: MicroAce (timexsinclair.com)
HP-85
See also: Tandy PC-4
Tandy Color Computer
Intel 8087
Pac-Man
Epson MX-80
Retro Computing News:
Apple’s best keyboard reimagined (YouTube)
Update on the Business IIGS (original auction gone, but: Incider Jan 1989 cover)
Daily news from a dot matrix printer
APFram. APFram
Atari Portfolio
It was all Boris Vallejo
Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:
Pac-Man Cereal
VIC-20
Timex/Sinclair 1000
Retro Computing Gift Idea:
Inflatable Pac-Man costume
Auction Picks:
Carrington:
The Usurper, one of the last text adventures
The Odyssey, one of the worst named adventure games
Paul:
Apple-Cat II with expansion box
Starring the Computer: Vacation (1983)
Apple IIGS upgrade (finished at $720, 11 bids)
Blank floppies (finished at $111.50, 9 bids)
Because we all want to be able to say “And over here, this is my Grundy NewBrain” (bought now at $850)
See also: Grundy NewBrain
Timex/Sinclair 1000 with box (finished at $15, 1 bid)
Because we all want to be able to say “And over here, this is my Jupiter Ace”
See also: Jupiter Ace
A moment of silence for the keyboards that have been parted out
OCC-2 (bought now at $499)
See also: OCC-2
16K RAM chips sans RAM
A2Stream file:
a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr280.a2stream
Feedback/Discussion:
[email protected]
[email protected] on Mastodon
rcrpodcast.com on bluesky
Vintage Computer Forum
RCR Podcast on Facebook
Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
Listen/Download:
...more
2h 12min
December 27, 2024RCR Episode 279: A spree de Calc
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Carrington Vanston
Topic: 1979
In 1979, VisiCalc’s rampage began, and models 400, 800 (Atari), II (TRS-80), and 4 (TI 99) arrived.
Topic/Feedback links:
Wordstar
VisiCalc
TI 99/4
Intellivision
Asteroids
Atari 400/800
MUD1
StarMud review
TRS-80 Model II
Motorola 68000
Compu$erve
CB Simulator
Robert Williams becomes first human killed by a robot
Retro Computing News:
Unicode 16.0 adds more Symbols for Legacy Computing
Existing Unicode symbols for Legacy Computing
Unicode symbols for Legacy Computing working group document
Unscii font
Grace Hopper lectures archived and released
Warhol’s lost Amiga art, found
Wallops: a modern IRC client for classic Mac OS
Famous Computer Cafe
Computerland audio commercials (with gaps for filling in local deals)
Mol (Baldur’s Gate demake for TRS-80 Model 100 and ZX Spectrum)
Dungeons & Dragons Systems Reference Document
RadioShack catalog archive
Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:
Radio Shack
Intellivision
Retro Computing Gift Idea:
Insert Coin keychain
See also: iBot G3
Auction Picks:
Carrington:
Mockingboard in box (Auction gone, but here’s a similar WorthPoint image)
InvisiCalc
Scanned at MOCAGH
Paul:
Business IIGS (original auction gone, but: Incider Jan 1989 cover)
Amdek Color-I (original auction ended, here is similar one)
ZuluSCSI
See also: http://zuluscsi.com/
TI 99/4a replacement power supply
ZX81/TS1000 keyboard replacement
SE / SE/30 replacement power supply
Video for installing the SE/SE/30 replacement PSU (YouTube)
SIO2PC USB-C
See also: Set up RespeQT for SIO2PC (Atariprojects.org)
A2Stream file:
a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr279.a2stream
Feedback/Discussion:
[email protected]
[email protected] on Mastodon
rcrpodcast.com on bluesky
Vintage Computer Forum
RCR Podcast on Facebook
Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
Listen/Download:
...more
2h 9min
November 18, 2024RCR Episode 278: Words and Lasers
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting) and Carrington Vanston
Topic: 1978
In 1978, we got WordStar and LaserDisc. Not VisiCalc.
Topic/Feedback links:
Wordstar (Wikipedia)
VisiCalc (Wikipedia) almost!
Laserdisc
Exidy Sorceror lot discussed in episode 182, November 2018
DEC VAX (Wikipedia) again?
Retro Computing News:
Grace Hopper lecture found but can’t be released
Living Computer Museum will start auctioning things
Gen One (Christie’s)
Legends of Adventure: The Story of Sierra On-Line
Unboxing an Apple-1 (YouTube)
Apple-1 number 18
Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:
Wordstar commercial (Computerland)
Lotus 123 running alongside your good applications
Coleco Adam scholarship
Retro Computing Gift Idea:
SC131
SC131 (YouTube)
Auction Picks:
Carrington:
X*Press X*Change
Apple Bunny key repeater
Dancing Baby screensaver
Paul:
Math Sequences
Fix your Apple Plotter (auction long gone)
FujiNet for Adam (different auction, and also ended)
Atari power cube
Apple //c power cube (mozzwald)
Another Atari power cube (mozzwlad)
NABU RomWBW option card (auction long gone, but see below)
NABU forums post about the RomWBW option card
Newton 2000/20001 internal USB-C connectivity board (auction long gone, but see below)
Newtonsales
Model 100/102 ROM
Model 200 ROM
Atari 2600 power adapter
Model 100 set
July 1978 Disk II notes
A2Stream file:
a2stream file for this episode: http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr278.a2stream
Feedback/Discussion:
[email protected]
[email protected] on Mastodon
Vintage Computer Forum
RCR Podcast on Facebook
Throwback Network on Facebook
Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X
Show audio files hosted by CyberEars
Listen/Download:
...more
1h 41min

FAQs about Retro Computing Roundtable:

How many episodes does Retro Computing Roundtable have?

The podcast currently has 44 episodes available.

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