#vcfexxi

[commodorez]

Pittsburgh Classic Mac Lab – Scott Baret

"The Pittsburgh Classic Mac Lab is an operational lab that transports all who visit back to 1992. Used in a multitude of settings, the Mac Lab helps children explore and learn using proven programs while letting adults take a trip back in time. From playing Oregon Trail over a network to drawing in Kid Pix to munching factors in Number Munchers, there’s a little something for everyone in the lab."

[commodorez]

Computing for Small Businesses – Dave Shevett

"The 80s saw the first generation of kids raised on home computers bringing their skills and energy and talents into small businesses. Teaching Dad how to use a word processor or the old accountant how to use a spreadsheet became the sea-change of the silicon revolution. This exhibit will explore some of the early examples of using home computers for work, such as accounting, word processing, and small business operations. We will also look at some of the machines that the larger corporations like AT&T and DEC brought out to try and fill this new market for small, affordable, easy to use computers."

[commodorez]

Roadkill from the rise of the PC – David Gesswein, Janet Walz

This was a mix of Ohio Scientific equipment and a TI Professional PC, both machines that were left in the dust by computer market forces.The TI Professional PC was not 100% IBM compatible, so it didn't pan out, even if it did have a powerful graphics output.

Meanwhile, David's Challenger II featured a unique OSI-560Z processor lab, a board that allowed the user to have a Z80, or 6100 processor, which was a PDP-8 on a chip. This machine could be seen running FOCAL, and playing a PDP-8 specific game while the 6502 was busy running other software -- at the same time on the same computer.

[commodorez]

HP 2113E minicomputer and 87XM micro – Mike Loewen

"The HP 2113E minicomputer from 1976 was part of the second series of 21MX machines, and used semiconductor RAM instead of core memory. The system on display has a 2748B high speed paper tape reader (500cps) which is used to load software into RAM. Paper tape BASIC will be loaded, after which BASIC programs can be loaded from the interpreter. A 2645A terminal is used for communication. Also on display is an 87XM personal computer from 1983 with dual diskette drives. The 87MX has built in BASIC with graphics capability."

I spent some time programming in BASIC on the HP2113E (which is a model in the HP 1000 line), but before I could Mike had to load BASIC into RAM first. He had a cleaver method of rewinding the tape using a power drill.

[commodorez]

Weird Japanese Laptops - @ms-dos5 & RadRacer203

"A selection of ultraportable or otherwise weird Japanese laptops from the 90s onward."

There are some cool and wacky little machines, along with some of the most cursed and funny wallpapers. I spot a newer Toshiba Libretto... also Yuri from Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2

[commodorez]

Commodore 8-Bit Reborn – Kevin Gonzalez

"In modern times, people have undertaken the effort to recreate the motherboards of many of Commodore’s 8-Bit computers. This exhibit is dedicated to displaying some of the reproduction boards that have been created. These recreations range from 1 to 1 copies of the original boards to boards with quality-of-life fixes, and extended changes/ building modern mods into the design. Reproduction motherboards on display will be for the following computers: 1) Commodore VIC-20 2) Commodore 64 3) Commodore 16 4) Commodore 128"

[commodorez]

Ohio Scientific turns 50! - @commodorez

This was my VCF East exhibit! I brought my OSI-400 semi-replica system, a combination of authentic 1970s parts, and modern replica boards from the Glitchworks in a homemade wooden case. Attached to that is a common surplus keyboard from a Sanders 720 terminal, which OSI recommended for use with their 440 video board before they started manufacturing their own keyboard design.

I also brought my mini OSI-300, a modern replica of Ohio Scientific's first product. Connected to the OSI-400 was an NEC Spinwriter 5520, a printing terminal used for interaction with the memory monitor, and for debug statements from other software that used the video display.

The computer on the right with the wooden sides is my Challenger 4P, a later OSI machine featuring BASIC in ROM, 8K of RAM, and a modern replica 540B color video board. I mostly demonstrated the 4P in monochrome mode, running little BASIC programs.

The OSI-400 was running Desert Miner, the game I've been writing for the past few months in 6502 assembly. It's intended to showcase the limited capabilities of a 1976 kit-built microprocessor system. I used this opportunity to get feedback from players, and test the game's features with users who were unfamiliar with the title.

I brought along various documents and spare parts to really showcase what it was like to build a machine from a kit before appliance computers were available on the market. Overall, the exhibit went as well as could be expected, and I'm glad that people took the time to sit down and experience my perspective on Ohio Scientific.

[commodorez]

This wasn't an exhibit at VCF East XXI, but it did visit for a brief bit, and I was super excited to see it. This is a replica OSI-400 from the Glitchworks made by Glitch himself explicitly to showcase a very rare processor: an MOS 6501. These were taken off of the market following a lawsuit from Motorola, because they were pin compatible with their 6800 processor (even if they were not code compatible).

And the signature on the board? Bill Mensch, one of the engineers who worked on the Motorola 6800 and MOS 6502 processors. In fact, he runs Western Design Center, which still sells modern 6502 processors.