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CP/M in a laptop?� And they said it couldn't be done...

Welcome to Show 049!� This week's Topic: The Epson PX-8 Laptop Computer!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

Programmable calculators are fun!� I loved mine way back when.� Here's a website for TI calculator enthusiasts - programs, connectivity, and more!
Intellivision Lives!� Indeed it does.� I can't wait to play Sea Battle again...
Want a review on the latest retro computer game?� Oldschool Gaming may have what you need...
Here's the old-computers.com site for the PX-8 - don't forget to have a look at the pictures!
Creative Computing had a review of the PX-8.� They liked it, mostly.� Have a look...
Need tech manuals for the PX-8?� Or a utility that makes a PC emulate a disk drive (cool)?� Then wander on over to the Yet Another Computer Museum pages on the PX-8.
Broken PX-8?� Need more technical docs?� The Epson CP/M Computer Technical Manuals page may have the answer...

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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I can't run Linux on my Atari 800.� But it plays a mean game of Missile Command.� 'Nuff said...

Welcome to Show 048!� This week's Topic: Book Review: Digital Retro!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

Here's the site for the book Digital Retro!
Pictures from the C4 Expo - you missed the fun?� Here are some pictures.� Read 'em and weep...
And this is a direct link to the Z80 inside - whoa, they popped the top off that chip!
The Apple II Game Server is being actively worked on - stay tuned!
Magnetc tape in the gigabits per square inch?� Wow!� That's better than my C2N datasette...

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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This witty comment intentionally left blank.

Welcome to Show 047!� This week's Topic: The Z80 Microprocessor!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

Apple history abounds, courtesy of The Apple Computer History Weblog, and the Apple II History site!
Obsolete Technology?� We love it!� Check out the Obsolete Technology Website at oldcomputers.net.
Computer Collector Newsletter is now Technology Rewind.� Congratulations on the new site!
How many computers used the Z80?� Well, at least more than 200, and this site has them listed...
Yes, Zilog still makes Z80s!� Excellent!
Wikipedia's Z80 page has good stuff.
The Z80 Official Support Page will give you years of Z80 reading pleasure.
MyZ80 will give you the Z80 experience on a modern day PC.� It is one of many Z80 / CP/M emulator solutions out there.
Check out the WinApe Amstrad emulator for a Z80 experience in a mainstream home retrocomputer emulation.
If all of this is not enough for you, and you want a Z80 FPGA core (for free!), have at look at the T80 page on the Opencores.org site.

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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My other computer is a Commodore

Welcome to Show 046!� This week's Topic: Live from the C4 Expo in Cincinnati, Ohio!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

Need more retrocomputing listening goodness?� Well, then, head over to the Boring Beige Box!
Issue #25 of Retrogaming Times - hot off the presses!
Commvex v2 is coming up in July, and - it's Vegas, Baby!� And, the World of Commodore 2006 is this December in Toronto!� Alas, so much retrocomputing, so little time...
Have a look at The Cincinnati Commodore Computer Club website for more information on the group that brought you the C4 Expo...

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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It would take about�250 Atari 800s to hold this podcast MP3 file.

(Honestly, I compressed it as much as I could.)

Welcome to Show 045!� This week's Topic: The IBM PC Junior!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

The Apple Game Server - load software onto your Apple II with just a serial connection to your PC!
The Cincinnati Commodore Computer Club is having their C4 Expo on June 3rd and 4th, 2006.� Better hurry and make those reservations!
SymbOS, a multitasking operating system for the Amstrad CPC, goes 1.0!� Check it out at http://www.symbos.de/.
Want to do Commodore emulation on a Macintosh?� ThinkCommodore will show you how.
Wikipedia covers the IBM PC Jr...
And for super extensive coverage of the Junior, check out Mike's PC Jr page.
Of course, Old Computers Dot Com covers the Junior as well, good info, good links.

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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LOAD "RETROBITS",8,1
RUN

Welcome to Show 044!� This week's Topic: Retro Assortment (Variety Show)!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

Do kids still program?� Join in on this discussion forum topic at the PETSCII Forums, and let us know!
Speaking of which, here's a programming environment designed for kids - the Kids Programming Language.
The Commodore16.com site revived my excitement for one of my favorite computers, the Commodore 16.
What do you do with that old, non-functional Commodore CBM 3032?� Well, turn it into the coolest PC case ever invented, of course!
CompactFlash for the Apple II - Flash memory is not just for the new stuff, folks!
Also, CompactFlash and IDE drives for your Commodore 64?� Believe it!� Check out the ide64.org site for more details.
For fun music and retrocomputing goodness, nothing beats the C64 remixes and SID tunes on The C64 Takeaway!

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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This week, take your favorite floppy drive out for a spin.

Welcome to Show 043!� This week's Topic: The Floppy Disk Drive!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

Do you know what types of computers these are?� If so, please drop a line to the e-mail address below - we'd like to find out!
Wikipedia - did I mention to check them out?� And this week, have a look at their page on the Floppy Disk.

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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Ever wonder what the "TRS" in "TRS-80" stands for?� Tune in, you'll find out here!

Welcome to Show 042!� This week's Topic: The TRS-80 Model I microcomputer!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

Do you know what types of computers these are?� If so, please drop a line to the e-mail address below - we'd like to find out!
Here's Peter Jenning's site, with info on his creation Microchess, and also great history on VisiCalc.
Want to know more about Microchess?� Well, go straight to the source.� The source code, that is, on 6502.org.
Digibarn has some good info on Microchess as well!
Enhance the enjoyment of your Amiga emulation with AmiKit, a large bundling of shareware and freeware packages.
Curious about Southwest Technical Products, one of the early computer kit makers?� The swtpc.com site has so much info, you'll never read it all!
Ira Goldklang's TRS-80 Revived website is an absolute gold mine for TRS-80 enthusiasts.
Want to play with a virtual TRS-80 Model I, III or IV?� Well, check out Matthew Reed's TRS32 emulator!
Never forget old-computers.com or Wikipedia when it's time to research that favorite vintage computer.

Hey, I never said what TRS stood for!� It's Tandy Radio Shack.� Yep.� Not "Trash-80", you funny folks.

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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The past is a wonderful present.

Welcome to Show 041!� This week's Topic: The Logo programming language!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

The Arpanet documentary on Google Video is back!� This is retro about retro.� Sweet!
Another retrocomputing podcast!� Check out the Boring Beige Box, it's a great listen!
Wikipedia to the rescue again - here's their article on the Logo Programming Language.
There are magazine reviews of Logo for the Commodore and Atari at the Atari Magazines site - here, and here.

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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To Mac, or not to Mac.� That is the question.

Welcome to Show 040!� This week's Topic: My Classic Mac Adventure!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

A PICAXE - what's that?� It's a microcontroller - a programmable single-chip processor with cool inputs and outputs.� Have a look!
Information on the Macintosh SE/30 from old-computers.com.
Watch out for classic Macintosh CRTs - if you open your Mac Plus, SE, SE/30, etc. up, there are high voltages!� Luckily, there are ways to discharge the CRT before it gets you.

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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Spring Break!

Hi!� I'm celebrating the Easter holiday with my family today, and taking a one-week spring break from the podcast.� But stay tuned, as I'll be back next week with more retrocomputing goodness.

I'd like to take the opportunity to thank all of you who listen to Retrobits.� It's a lot of fun to connect with so many people who have an interest in the bits and bytes of ye olde.

In the meantime, jump on over to the forum (link below) and join in!� See you soon, and have a GREAT week.

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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Variety is the spice of life!

Welcome to Show 039!� This week's Topic: Random Access (A Variety Show).

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

Check out the home page for The Woz himself!� Great information and links, plus answers to frequently asked questions!
Man, the videos just keep on coming.� Here's one from the 1984 Apple Shareholder's Meeting.� This video is hosted on the Mac Essentials site (note, mostly German language).� See Sculley and Jobs on the same stage, and hear about their exciting new milestone product, the Macintosh!
Happy 30th anniversary, Apple!� Have a listen to episode 48 of the This Week In Tech podcast, as many early Apple employees, including The Woz, chat about Apple's formative days.
The DigiBarn Computer Museum site.� Wow!� This is great stuff.� I wish I had a barn for my microcomputer collection.
A PICAXE - what's that?� It's a microcontroller - a programmable single-chip processor with cool inputs and outputs.� Have a look!

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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The Apple /// Personal Computer System.� The Most Powerful Professional Computer System In Its Class.

Welcome to Show 038!� This week's Topic - you guessed it: The Apple III personal computer!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

The Amstrad CPC 6128, reborn in new hardware, and with a cool new OS?� Oh yeah!� That's some modern day fun!
Keep those (Atari) XL's/XE's humming, with these fine utilities...
Oscar's Vintage Computer Collection has some great stuff on CP/M computers, including one of my favorites, the Epson PX-8!
Here's the Apple III page on Wikipedia...
...and the Apple III pages on Washington Apple Pi's website, a great resource!

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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HTTP.� FTP.� SMTP.� NNTP.� Many letters, one heritage...

Welcome to Show 037!� This week's Topic: The ARPANET!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

Electronics that act like a physical disk drive - awesome idea.� Check
it out at the Semi-Virtual Diskette site!
It's Vegas, Baby!� And Commodore fun!� The
Commodore Vegas Expo (CommVex) 2.0will be held on July 29 and 30, 2006...
An Internet Pioneer Ponders the Next Revolution -
an interview with Robert Taylor on nytimes.com!
Here's a tribute to J C R Licklider,
including a link to a PDF of two of his seminal papers on man-computer synergy
that inspired the Internet.
Wikipedia articles on the ARPANETand Licklider - always a
great place to start.
And here's an online
history of the Internet, including it's ARPANET heritage, on the Internet
Society website.

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the
Retrobits
Podcast forum on the PETSCII
Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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I keep hitting the Control key, but I'm still not in control.

Welcome to Show 036!� This week's Topic: The Dot Matrix Printer!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

Old Skool Arcade, Modern Day Fun - In Portland, my home town!� Check out
the Ground Kontrol site...
Need to fix up your Commodore computer?� Have a look at
Ray Carlsen's homepage!
More TI 99/4A links - a Yahoo!
group, and the TI 99ers online User's
Group!
A Wikipedia article on
the Dot Matrix Printer...

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the
Retrobits
Podcast forum on the PETSCII
Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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It's not 8 bits, but it's retro.� And it talks...

Welcome to Show 035!� This week's Topic: The Texas Instruments 99/4A
Microcomputer!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

Use your old DOS PC as a Commodore hard drive.� How?�
With 64HDD...
A 21st century recreation of a 1960s educational computer toy?� Now, that's
retro!� Check out the
DigiComp I v 2.0from Minds-On Toys.
If you're like me, and you think an Altair looked cooler than your modern-day
LAN party case, have a look at the
AltairPC project at Briel Computers.
Commodore 64 native code, cooked on a SuperCPU C64 or PC.� Interested?�
Check out Slang, recently
updated!
Wikipedia article on the TI
99/4A - great info, as always.
Another of my favorite sites, Old Computers Dot Com,
with their
coverage of the 99/4A.� Check out the forums.
An early 80s
review
of the 99/4A, from Creative Computing, on the Atari Magazines site.�
Cool!
Want to see some photos of the 99/4A, and it's various stuff?�
Here's a Flickr site that will
get you hooked up.
The TI 99/4A Tech Pages- bits, bytes, schematics, pinouts - it's all here!
There are several emulators for the 99/4A, including the
Win994a simulator.
The excitement continues with an annual fair in Chicago - couldn't find a main
site, but there are
videos of the event for your viewing enjoyment.

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the
Retrobits
Podcast forum on the PETSCII
Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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One retro computer, over easy.� Would you like some chips with that?

Welcome to Show 034!� This week's Topic: Retro Du Jour!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

Have a look at The Giant
List of Classic Game Programmers, The Source for Video and Computer Game
History since 1997!
Peter Naur wins ACM'S Turing Award for his work on
ALGOL 60 (Wikipedia Link).
If you've got time, they've got videos -
extensive Computer History Museum footage at Google Video!� Lots of
topics, great information.
C64 HQ - Welcome to the world of C64 nostalgia.�
Check out the Interview section and Audio/Video links, talked about on the show.

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the
Retrobits
Podcast forum on the PETSCII
Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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SID!� VIC-II!� 6510!� 64K!� It's demo writer heaven...part
II...

Welcome to Show 033!� This week's topic: The Commodore 64 Demo Scene
Part II!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

The Music Animation Machine,
software originally produced on an Atari 800!
Lots of Atari info this week - have a look at the website
for the documentary, Once Upon
Atari.
And, check out the Tech Roundup
episode
with a look at the Game On video game exhibit!
Bo Zimmerman's site
has
an extensive archive of NTSC demos for the C64.
The C64 Scene Database has lots of
info and demo scene releases.
Have a look at Driven Online, a main
focal point of the ongoing C64 NTSC demo scene!

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the
Retrobits
Podcast forum on the PETSCII
Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

�

SID!� VIC-II!� 6510!� 64K!� It's demo writer heaven...

Welcome to Show 032!� This week's topic: The Commodore 64 Demo Scene
Part I!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

PDP-10 lives!� Of course, we had no doubt.� Check out
PDP Planet, the portal into Paul Allen's
collection of DEC systems!
If you get an account on the PDP-10, you'll need documentation, which you can
find at the Manuals for DEC 36-bit
Computers site.� This site links to bitsavers.org, an extensive and impressive preservation site for systems
documentation and software.
A lost interview with ENIAC co-inventor J. Presper Eckert,
can be found on the computerworld.com site.
Jeri Ellsworth, creator of the C64 DTV and other interesting hardware,
gives a talk at Stanford University on the Google Video link.� (Note
that the video will begin playing immediately on the linked page.)
Bo Zimmerman's site
has
an extensive archive of NTSC demos for the C64.
The C64 Scene Database has lots of
info and demo scene releases.
Have a look at Driven Online, a main
focal point of the ongoing C64 NTSC demo scene!

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the
Retrobits
Podcast forum on the PETSCII
Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

�

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01001000 01001001 !

Welcome to Show 031!� This week's Topic: A book review - Fire In The
Valley, The Collector's Edition

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

8 bit parallel processing?� Leave it to the Apple II enthusiasts!�
Have a look at the
AppleCrate!
Yes, you can build your own computer.� And I mean from scratch.� Check
out the Magic-1 Homebrew CPU, and be
sure to look at the "my other projects" page as well.
It's
The
Woz!� In person, on video, at an event hosted by the Computer History
Museum.� (When you click on the link, the video will start streaming right
away.)
Atari is apparently not doing so well financially,
according
to this article.� It's kind of sad to see it in dire straits yet again.
Ralph Baer, developer of Pong and Simon,
will be
honored at a White House ceremony this month.
The Computer Museums and
Retrocomputing Culture webring has some links that I will have to take a
look at!
Official Website for Fire In The
Valley...

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the
Retrobits
Podcast forum on the PETSCII
Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

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