Historic Computing and Computer projects

This blog is my attempt to document the different computing projects I'm working on, provide useful links to me and other people concerning specific projects and useful products. I've been into computers since 1979, when I was convinced that I needed to take computer courses in High school because that would lead to high tech jobs, which presumably would pay more. Well, I never ended up a burger flipper or a stock boy at the grocery store, so I guess in one sense, whoever told me about computers being the future was correct. I think we all make less money than we thought we would, because corporations see computer specialists as just a different kind of janitor these days -- janitors who clean up the messes made by executives who ruin their computers.

But I digress...

Our High school had a Digital Equipment Corporation(DEC) PDP-11/60, which was a mini-computer about the size of a fridge or two, with 20 or more terminals hooked up to it. It was donated by DEC as long as they had a preventative maintenance contract on it. I made my most memorable friends in the computer room, and was accepted as one of the admins on it. We all tried to program our favorite arcade games to run on the terminals, none of which had hires graphics, but we made it work using what capabilities the terminals did have.

From there, it was TRS-80 computers, IBM PC clones, and Apples. I got rid of all my old computers at one point, mainly because they took up a lot of space, and I didn't want to move them any more. Of course, now I kick myself, because most of those same systems are now worth much more in the Vintage Computer market.

SO currently, I will be documenting several computer projects:

(1) The restoration and modification of a TRS-80 Model 4 computer. This project was created on a whim. I saw one for sale at a surplus website, and bought it on a lark. Then, after I realized the task at hand (locating software to run on it, the lack of 5.25" double density floppy discs, and the problems with 30-year-old disc drives, power-supplies, and other issues) I decided to locate possible alternative ways to get the software needed to make it run. The great thing is that all the software ever written for this computer is available more or less for free in internet software archives and hobby sites. I located a device that you can plug in, which lets the TRS-80 Models 1, 3, and 4 use an SD card as a hard drive, so I'll be documenting that, as well.

(2) The construction and programming of a reproduction of DEC PDP-11/70, and PDP-8 computers, which are available in kit form, and run off of a Raspberry Pi. I've done a lot of small projects with Raspberry Pis, such as arcade machines, and this is sort of a pet project. I want to recreate the operation of a computer like our High school had -- which is arguably the oldest computer I've ever operated -- and if possible, make a mock-up of a computer room from the period in my home, as a conversation piece, which I might later donate to a museum.

(3) The Resurrection of a couple of Apple computers, and my attempts to empower them with abilities they didn't originally have -- like Internet access, USB ports, and other things.

(4) My quest to locate a working DEC terminal or two from the 1970's and 80's, to use with the mini-computer project (2) above.

(5) To Document the construction of my arcade machine emulators, which use tiny Windows PCs and Raspberry Pi boards, and genuine arcade parts to recreate the 1980's arcade experience.

(6) To document the construction of various modern computer projects and design of computer furniture and workstations to make my hobbies easier and more comfortable.

(7) The Documentation of the restoration and/or modification of other vintage computers I acquire.

(8) Document the various emulators I've played with, and how to set them up to easily run old computer software on your PC.

(9) Document the construction and setup of Retro-Console Gaming devices I build, and the software setups for various console emulator packages.

When all is said and done, I should have lots of photos, links to relevant sites, and give viewers the information they need to do similar projects. Of course, having everything organized will have to be done, too, but after I've written a few articles.