SNAPSHOT SATURDAY The IBM 7090 (from 1959) was a mainframe designed for high speed scientific computations. Black-and-white photo showing a man seated at the console of an IBM 7090 computer system surrounded by large mainframe cabinets. Credit: U.S. Weather Bureau, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IBM_7090_console_used_by_a_meteorologist,_1965.jpg vintage.computer

Snapshot Saturday 📸

The IBM 7090 (1959) was a powerful transistorized mainframe built for high-speed scientific computing. Systems like this powered early space research, weather modeling, and large-scale calculations in the dawn of modern computing.

#VintageComputer

I know, kinda "geeky" but I'm excited about finding this Teletype Model 43. I previously acquired the matching M43 paper tape punch/reader. This model, has the "Aux" port for the M43. Got the GNT 3601 paper punch in the deal. Like used together. Needs cleaning. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputer

FREE SOFTWARE FRIDAY Freeciv Author: Unold, Gregersen, Kjeldbjerg Release Date: January 5th, 1996 Get it: www.freeciv.org About: A free, open-source turn based strategy game inspired by Sid Meier’s Civilization series. VINTAGE COMPUTER

Free Software Friday 🎮

Freeciv (1996) is a free, open-source turn-based strategy game inspired by Sid Meier’s Civilization. Build cities, research technology, and expand your empire in this classic community-driven strategy game.

#OpenSource #VintageComputer

Throwback Thursday Console Typewriters: The first computers had no console interface of any kind, so it was a major breakthrough when Console Typewriters like the Teletype gave operators the ability to issue commands and review output quickly, even if it was via a noisy, mechanical typewriter with limited characters! Image credit text: Marcin Wichary, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IBM_1620_console_typewriter.mw.jpg vintage.computer

Throwback Thursday 🔎

Before screens and keyboards as we know them, computers used console typewriters like Teletypes. Operators typed commands and read system output printed on paper. Loud, mechanical, and revolutionary for early computing.

#ThrowbackThursday #VintageComputer

Wow That’s Fascinating The Legend of Finger The finger command let users see who was logged in, and sometimes read their profile or “plan” file. It was social networking before the web—a peek into someone else’s terminal. vintage.computer

Wow That’s Fascinating 💻 Before social media, Unix had finger. The finger command let users see who was logged in and read profile or “plan” files. A surprisingly early form of online presence and status updates on multi-user systems. #VintageComputer #Unix #RetroTech

As I go through some Macintoshes for #Marchintosh, these Sony Mac floppy drive gears are going to be the death of me. Ordered a 12 pack off of eBay. Let's hope I can get these back together again because the clips that hold on the back plate are super brittle. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputer.

This is a picture of a Macintosh Quadra 700 with a Radius Precision Color Pivot displaying the Mac OS 7.1 desktop. It is in "portrait mode" which means I got the drivers working.

Got my Radius Precision Color Pivot monitor working for #Marchintosh I had to recap four Macs before I could find one that would show color. Now I have to fix 2 of the 4 Macs and go through the rest of my Macs while I'm at it. Got two Portrait displays to check too. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputer

Maintenance Mode “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” — Simone Weil The quote appears centered in a blue panel over a scenic landscape with a rainbow over grassy hills. Bottom text reads: vintage.computer.

Maintenance Mode 🔧

Careful observation, patience, and focus are at the heart of repairing and preserving vintage machines. Sometimes the most important tool is simply paying attention.

#MaintenanceMode #VintageComputer

SNAPSHOT SATURDAY IBM 2401 Magnetic Tape Drives Photograph of three IBM 2401 magnetic tape drive units with large colored tape reels mounted in tall cabinets. The machines are displayed in a museum setting. Photo credit text: Don DeBold, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ , via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IBM_2401_tape_drives_at_the_Computer_History_Museum.jpg Bottom text: vintage.computer

Snapshot Saturday 📸

IBM 2401 magnetic tape drives stored massive amounts of data for mainframe systems in the 1960s and 70s. Spinning reels like these powered banking, science, and government computing long before modern disks.

#SnapshotSaturday #IBM #VintageComputer

FREE SOFTWARE FRIDAY GRAFX2 Author: GRAFX2 PROJECT TEAM Release Date: 1996 Notes: OPEN-SOURCE / FREEWARE BITMAP GRAPHICS EDITOR INSPIRED BY DELUXE PAINT Get it: GRAFX2.CHEZ.COM VINTAGE.COMPUTER The graphic appears on a stylized floppy disk design.

Free Software Friday 🎨

GrafX2 is a retro-style bitmap graphics editor inspired by Deluxe Paint. Released in 1996 and still open source today, it’s a favorite for pixel artists working with classic graphics workflows.

Try it: grafx2.chez.com

#VintageComputer

This is my proof of concept for one channel. The MBasic program on the Altair Mini is triggering the base drum (sample player) of the modular synthesizer. Now that the other optocouplers have arrived it is time for more
#synthsky #eurorack #altair #vintagecomputer

Magnifying glass icon and the title: Throwback Thursday Minicomputers: Image of a DEC PDP-8 minicomputer with front panel lights and switches, enclosed in a cabinet with a glass top. Small credit text: Wolfgang Stief, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ , via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DEC_PDP-8,_Stuttgart.jpg Text on image: Mainframe computers were so large and expensive they were out of reach, even for many universities. For decades before microcomputers made computers ubiquitous, minicomputers like the DEC PDP-8 exploded in popularity with both small businesses and professors and students in academia. Bottom text: vintage.computer

🔎 Throwback Thursday

Before PCs, minicomputers changed everything. Systems like the DEC PDP-8 brought computing power to universities, labs, and small businesses that couldn’t afford massive mainframes. A small machine, huge impact. #Minicomputers #VintageComputer

Incredible evening seeing Samia Halaby's Commodore Amiga artwork on display at The Whitney Biennial - one of the most prestigious art shows in the country. Congratulations Samia!!! #commodore #commodoreamiga #vintagecomputer #WhitneyBiennial

Wow That’s Fascinating IBM Sold Billions of Punch Cards Before disks, programs and data were stored on punch cards. IBM once manufactured over a billion cards per year—each one a paper memory chip. Black background with orange text and decorative lines. Bottom text reads: vintage.computer.

Wow, that’s fascinating 🤯

Before hard drives and SSDs, data lived on punch cards. IBM once produced over a billion cards per year. Each one a tiny slice of paper memory powering business, science, and early computing.

#VintageComputer #IBM #PunchCards #ComputingHistory

Everything is now ready to be connected to my modular synth to trigger a voice (and more in the future). Will keep you posted. The next video should have audio, I hope! :-)
#synthsky #altair #vintagecomputer #euclideanRhythm

TECH SPEC TUESDAY Amiga 500 About this machine: The Amiga 500 was not the first personal computer from Amiga, but it was the first that became popular and had mainstream success. It had advanced graphics and sound capabilities especially compared to competitors like the IBM PC which were much more expensive. The Amiga 500 was built into the case along with the keyboard and had an adapter to connect to a standard CRT television. The Amiga’s rich color graphics and sound capabilities made it a favorite choice for playing games. Specifications table: CPU: Motorola 68000 @ 7.16 MHz Memory: 512 KB - 1 MB Storage: 3.5" Floppy Disk Drive Graphics: OCS/ECS, 4096 colors Networking: Serial / modem Notes: Personal computer with advanced multimedia Image of an Amiga 500 computer with monitor, keyboard, mouse, and external floppy drive. vintage.computer

Tech Spec Tuesday 💾 Amiga 500 brought true multimedia home computing to the masses. With a Motorola 68000 @ 7.16 MHz, up to 1 MB RAM, 4096 colors, and legendary sound, it became a gaming and demo scene icon of the late 80s. #TechSpecTuesday #Amiga500 #VintageComputer

Milestone Monday March 2nd, 1987 Apple introduced the Macintosh SE, the first significantly improved model in the Macintosh line. It included new features like an internal hard disk, an expansion slot, and the first machine to support the Apple Desktop Bus. Image of a beige Apple Macintosh SE computer on a dark starry background. Small text near the computer reads: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Macintosh_SE.jpg#filelinks Bottom text: vintage.computer

Milestone Monday: March 2, 1987 🍎

Apple introduced the Macintosh SE, the first major upgrade to the original Mac line. With an internal hard disk, expansion slot, and Apple Desktop Bus support, it set the stage for a more expandable Macintosh era. #VintageComputer

My vintage computer collection is very large. Today I have outsourced a first part. I also need to reduce some of the Apple collection. #vintagecomputer

Graphic titled “Maintenance Mode.” Quote text: “Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that unless we love the truth, we cannot know it.” Attribution: “Blaise Pascal.” Background image shows ocean waves at sunset with a semi-transparent overlay panel containing the quote. Bottom text: “vintage.computer.”

Maintenance Mode 🛠️

“Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that unless we love the truth, we cannot know it.” — Blaise Pascal

A reminder that critical thinking and curiosity are timeless tools.

#MaintenanceMode #BlaisePascal #VintageComputer

Graphic titled “SNAPSHOT SATURDAY.” Subtitle text: “The Ferranti Perseus, a large-scale data processing computer, in 1959.” Black and white photo showing the Ferranti Perseus computer installation. Large cabinets line the room. Three men in lab coats operate consoles and equipment. Tape drives and control panels are visible. Credit text: “Silander, Gunnar, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ferranti_Perseus_(1).jpg” Bottom text: “vintage.computer.”

Snapshot Saturday 📸 The Ferranti Perseus, 1959. A large-scale data processing computer filling an entire room, staffed by operators in lab coats. Before laptops and cloud servers, computing meant cabinets, tape reels, and serious infrastructure. #VintageComputer

Graphic titled “FREE SOFTWARE FRIDAY.” Title: “FREE PASCAL” Author: “FLORIAN KLAMPFL & VOLUNTEERS” Release Date: “1997” Notes: “FREE COMPILER FOR PASCAL (AND OBJECT PASCAL).” Get it: “HTTPS://FREEPASCAL.ORG” Bottom text: “VINTAGE.COMPUTER.”

Free Software Friday 💻 Free Pascal (1997), created by Florian Klampfl & volunteers, is a free compiler for Pascal and Object Pascal. Still maintained and cross-platform today. Get it: https://freepascal.org #FreeSoftwareFriday #FreePascal #OpenSource #VintageComputer

Graphic titled “Throwback Thursday” with the subtitle “Translucent Plastic.” Image shows a translucent Apple iMac G3 (side view), revealing internal components through the plastic case. Text reads: “After beige boxes but before tempered glass, many manufacturers, but especially Apple, experimented with translucent plastic cases for their machines. Designs that looked futuristic at the time now look downright retro!” Bottom text: “vintage.computer.”

🔎 Throwback Thursday: After beige boxes but before tempered glass, translucent plastic ruled the desktop. Apple’s iMac G3 made internal components part of the aesthetic, turning hardware into design. Futuristic then. Pure retro now. #ThrowbackThursday #VintageComputer

Graphic titled “Wow That’s Fascinating.” Large underlined text: “Ctrl+Alt+Del Was Invented as a Developer Shortcut.” Body text: “IBM engineer David Bradley created the Ctrl+Alt+Del combo in the early 1980s to quickly reboot systems during development. It wasn’t meant for the public—but Microsoft adopted it for the Windows login process. What started as a hidden trick became one of the most famous keystroke combos in history.” Bottom text: “vintage.computer.”

Wow That’s Fascinating 🤯 Ctrl+Alt+Del wasn’t meant for you. IBM engineer David Bradley created it in the early 1980s as a developer shortcut to reboot systems. Microsoft later adopted it for Windows login. A hidden trick turned into an iconic keystroke combo. #VintageComputer

This is a picture of a Commodore PET 8296-D computer. It's one o the latest models of the Commodore PET line. In the background is an original Commodore PET poster. A simple black poster with a PET computer in the middle and the words, "PET UNLEASH ONE TODAY".

I was able to switch my #Commodore PET 8296-D from it's normal 80 column format to 40 columns to play my favourite PET game, Miner. Loved playing that in school back in the day. This model has dual disk drives built in and is a 240V model I converted to 120V. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputer

This is a picture of a small blue terminal called "The Miget" from Micon that is very small and has a glowing red 32 character single line display. It runs at 300 bits per second with 7 data bits, no parity and 1 stop bit.

Acquire a very cute Micon "The Miget" terminal initially out in 1977. This one is from 1980 and runs at 300 bps, 7 bit, no parity, 1 stop bit. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputer

Graphic titled “TECH SPEC TUESDAY” featuring “NeXTcube.” Section titled “About this machine:” “Released in 1990 as a follow-up to the original NeXT Computer System, the NeXTCube had an improved CPU and storage drive. It still ran the proprietary NeXTSTEP operation system. Tim Berners Lee used a NeXTCube while working at CERN in Switzerland to develop Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), what would become the World Wide Web. The NeXTCube’s enclosure was made out of magnesium and created by frog design. The NeXTCube’s retail price was $7,995.” Specifications table: CPU: Motorola 68040 @ 25 MHz Memory: 8 - 64 MB Storage: SCSI Hard Disk Drive Graphics: 1120 x 832 grayscale Networking: Ethernet Built-In Notes: Birthplace of the World Wide Web Image shows a NeXTcube workstation with monitor, keyboard, mouse, and cube-shaped CPU enclosure. Bottom text: “vintage.computer.”

Tech Spec Tuesday 💾 NeXTcube (1990): Powered by a Motorola 68040 @ 25 MHz, up to 64 MB RAM, SCSI storage, and built-in Ethernet. Tim Berners-Lee used one at CERN to develop HTTP and lay the groundwork for the World Wide Web. #TechSpecTuesday #NeXT #VintageComputer

This is a picture of the Commodore 900 computer that was Commodore's first attempt at a Unix-like workstation. It used the Coherent Unix work-alike operating system. This computer never made it to production.

Had my #Commodore C900 out today to try something for a friend. More testing is needed (when I get the nerve) but it might have a medium resolution RGBI/VGA port when the stock Hi-Res ECL monitor goes.
#vintagecomputer #retrocomputer

Graphic titled “Milestone Monday” with the date “February 23rd.” Black and white portrait of Allan MacLeod Cormack. Text reads: “Allan MacLeod Cormack was born on February 23rd, 1924, became a professor of physics at Tufts University, and won the Nobel Prize for his work on X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans.” Bottom text: “vintage.com”

Milestone Monday: February 23 🎉 Allan MacLeod Cormack, born this day in 1924, helped revolutionize medical imaging. His work on X-ray computed tomography laid the foundation for modern CT scans and earned him a Nobel Prize. #MilestoneMonday #VintageComputer #HistoryOfTech

Pictured is the Heathkit ETW-3800 trainer powered on with ETC-6811 CPU module and ETC-128 memory cartridge for program storage. In addition, there is the "8-bit Microprocessor Programming" course cartridge next to it. It gets put into the memory cartridge slot. The CPU is replaceable with other CPU modules including the Intel 8085. I'd love to find one of those. Wish it had a 6502 option.

As a collector of single board computer trainers, I acquired this Heathkit ETW-3800 trainer complete with interchangeable ETC-6811 CPU module (replaceable with other CPUs), the ETC-128 memory module (program storage) and "8-bit Microprocessor Programming course cart. #vintagecomputer #retrocomputer

Graphic titled “SNAPSHOT SATURDAY.” Caption text: “The ‘CHAOS’ Team at RCA around the console of a Univac 1108 computer.” Black and white photo of several men gathered around a Univac 1108 console. A chessboard is set up on the desk in front of the console. Small credit text: “chessprogramming.org, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CHAOS_Team_circa_1972.gif” Bottom text: “vintage.computer.”

Snapshot Saturday 📸

The “CHAOS” team (Chess Heuristics And Other Stuff) at RCA gathered around a Univac 1108 console, circa 1972. Early AI research, mainframe power, and machine chess in progress.

#SnapshotSaturday #Univac1108 #EarlyAI #Chess #VintageComputer