Retro Computing Roundtable
  • 26 JAN
  • 2HR 5MIN

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

Retro Computing Roundtable

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:

  • feedback@rcrpodcast.com
  • rcrpodcast@podcast.social 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:

Episode Webpage

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