At our July 21st (2pm) meeting: AHCS GAME DAY!

Published on Monday, 18 June 2012 12:50
Written by Brad Arnold

It’s our very first Game Day — A hands-on fun fest, where we get to play with all the toys! Bring your favorite vintage computer-based games for everyone to have fun with. Own some aliens! All are welcome — vintage personal computers, hand helds, video consoles, there’s even a rumor of a mechanical computer šŸ™‚

The first pgm to name the ten classic games represented in the pic gets extra hp’s!

We’ll have a couple of video projectors there to accent the fun but it’s a good idea to bring your own monitor, too. It’s all happening at the Atlanta Historical Computer Society meeting on Saturday, July 21st at 2pm, here:

http://christthelordlutheran.org/directions

(Use the door at the far left of the front of the church.)

Gonna be a blast! Just watch out for flying gibs šŸ™‚

How to Create Apple II System Disks from a PC

Published on Friday, 01 June 2012 09:54
Written by Brad Arnold

Raj Wurttemberg will be demonstrating the use of the Apple Disk Transfer program to create Apple II system disks for Apple DOS 3.3 and Apple Pro DOS. Raj will be using a PC (Windows or Linux) to act as a disk server for an Apple II or //gs. ADTPro uses a serial connection between the PC and the Apple II to bootstrap the Apple and transfer the ADTPro program from the PC to the Apple computer. The only special equipment needed is a SuperSerial II card in the Apple II computer.

Computer Kit Presentations at the Meeting

I’m pleased to announce that, in addition of Raj’s main presentation (see above), we will be having two short presentations of kit computers from Alan Hightower and Jim Kempthorne. Alan is bringing an N8VEM Zeta SBC and Jim is bringing a Briel 8800micro. It has been proposed that we do something with a computer kit as a workshop or club project. In any case, it’s fun to find out about these products and talk about them.

  • The N8VEM Zeta is a Z80 based single board computer which is software compatible with the N8VEM original. That machine was designed as a classic style microcomputer and it spawned lots of software support and peripheral boards. If you have longed for a classic Z80 computer, this would be an easily and inexpensive way to get one.
  • The Briel 8800micro is a small working model of the Altair 8800, using an ATmega8515 microcontroller to emulate the 8080A microprocessor. It has a front panel with functionality similar to the original Altair 8800 and is software compatible with the original. If you always wanted an Altair but can’t justify their stratospheric prices today, the 8800micro is affordable and available.

The two machines are seen on right.

So c’mon all you game-kiddies and arm chair computer historians!Ā  Git yer hands dirty!Ā  Let’s build hardware!Ā  ‘Nuff o’ this pussy-footin’ around with appliances. Are we not MEN?Ā  I love the smell of solder in the morning!

Don’t forget that it’s this Saturday, June 9th, at 2pm here: http://christthelordlutheran.org/directions

(Use the door at the far left of the front of the church.)

All about the Radio Shack TRS-80 Model III

Published on Friday, 11 May 2012 15:30
Written by Brad Arnold

When the TRS-80 Model III was introduced in July 1980, Radio Shack’s line of TRS computers was king of the PC industry. Touted as the most affordable business computer, the Model III was arguably the apex of the Shack’s early computer offerings. Even Isaac Asimov had one! Brad Arnold is going to give us an in-depth look at this ubiquitous machine at the Atlanta Historical Computer Society meeting on Saturday, May 19th, at 2pm.

We will also get a first look at Brad’s new computer media collection, which is being made an AHCS club project. You are most welcome to bring historic computer media to contribute or just for show and tell.

This is a critical time in the growth of our club, so it’s very important that we all turn out. So yall come, ya heah? šŸ™‚

Computer Movie Stars

Published on Sunday, 22 April 2012 13:50
Written by Brad Arnold

Computers which starred in classic sci-fi movies, helped to shape the dreams and perceptions of modern day computers. See your favorite Computer Movie Stars, (that’s the machines, not the wetware!) at our next Atlanta Historical Computer Society meeting on Saturday, April 28th at 2pm.

Dave, Brad and Steve are going out on a limb to present clips of their picks for the most interesting ones from classic films.

So come prepared to argue for your favorites in the lively discussion that’s sure to ensue!

Article about David Greelish

Published on Saturday, 21 April 2012 16:02
Written by Brad Arnold

You Think You Love Apple? This Guy Has An Apple Museum In His Garage

byĀ Julie BortĀ Ā Apr. 21, 2012, 10:11 AMĀ on Business Insider

David Greelish lovesĀ AppleĀ so much that for the past 20 years he’s been collecting its products — including rare items like the Lisa computer.He’s made some money on them, too. A fully functionalĀ NeXTĀ Cube can be worth up to $1,200 these days, he says.Ā He bought three of them for under $500. (NeXT was Steve Job’s computer company after he was ousted from Apple.)GreelishĀ has created a name for himself among fellow computer collectors between his book,Ā The Complete Historically Brewed, his blogĀ ClassicComputing.comĀ Ā and his Classic Computing Show podcast, which features famous guests like ex-Apple CEO John Scully.”It started when I got my first Mac in December of 1989. I was taken with this weird machine. I started to dig into its history, the story of Apple, how the two Steves started the company,” he toldĀ Business Insider. From there he got into collecting other PC artifacts.He doesn’t know exactly how many items he has, but it’s enough to fill his garage.

Greelish’s garage is filled old computer hardware and software. Look for the Commodore PET, Mac G4 and iBook.

Greelish's garage is filled old computer hardware and software. Look for the Commodore PET, Mac G4 and iBook.

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David’s article on ZDNET

Published on Friday, 06 April 2012 15:10
Written by Brad Arnold

Why Cook should ā€˜Think Differentā€™ on Apple Museum

ByĀ Ā | April 6, 2012, 12:01am PDT

Summary:Ā Computer historian David Greelish thinks that Apple should build a corporate museum on its new campus. It would be a great way to celebrate the dent that Apple created in the universe.

Why Cook should 'Think Different' on Apple Museum - Jason O'GradyI thoroughly enjoyed computer historian David Greelishā€™s post aboutĀ why Apple should build a corporate museumĀ at its new campus and I agree with his premise.

Apple needs to build a public museum to celebrate its past and present. It also needs to create a dedicated public space at the new campus. A space where visitors can spend a couple of hours learning more about the company they respect, and about the past products and leadership which brought Apple to the here and now. A wonderful place for visitors to relax and learn about Appleā€™s exciting past, while standing in the exciting present, and future of the company.

If youā€™ve ever visited The Mother Ship in Cupertino (on anything other than official business, that is) you may have left disappointed. Short of taking some photos of the sign out front and visiting the outmodedĀ Company StoreĀ there really isnā€™t much for a visitor to see or do at 1 Infinite Loop.

Appleā€™s planned new corporate campus (photo gallery) is the perfect opportunity for it to celebrate the dent that it created in the universe.

Apple Campus 2 - Jason O'Grady

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David’s article on Forbes

Published on Saturday, 31 March 2012 15:36
Written by Brad Arnold

More than Steve Jobs: Why Apple Deserves A Museum

David Coursey, Contributor Ā –Ā TECHĀ –Ā 3/31/2012 @ 7:40PM

Please indulge me a moment and imagine that Iā€™m standing at a podium. Iā€™m also in front of a large group of assembled people. So, OK, thanks, here I go ā€“

ā€œHi, my name is David, and Iā€™m . . . anĀ AppleĀ fanboy.ā€

First thereā€™s shocked silence, then applause starts quietly and builds to a thundering volume. There, I did it . . . I admitted it.

This is a guest post byĀ computer historianĀ David Greelish

Even better, Iā€™m not alone, there are many others. My little visual here is not to imply that myself or others have a problem, but that there are plenty of serious Apple fans around. We love the products, and many of us love, or at least have a high regard for, the company.

I live on the east coast, but I have been to Silicon Valley twice; visiting the ā€œmothershipā€ was a must-do for me. Perhaps you might feel the same way. Itā€™s exciting for us fans, though all you can really do is park, take pictures out in front of the main 1 Infinite Loop building, and the Apple sign near the street, then visit The Company Store.

Itā€™s a special treat as they donā€™t sell Apple devices, they sell logoed items not found anywhere else. I donā€™t know if I would go so far as to call my visit a pilgrimage, but it was a top priority for me, if I was going to be anywhere near Silicon Valley.

So now letā€™s ponder that new Apple campus thatĀ Steve JobsĀ announced to the Cupertino City Council in June of last year. Itā€™s set to open sometime in 2015. Itā€™s just beautiful and very unique, as Apple has reversed the typical ratio of 80% building to 20% landscaping to just 20% building and 80% landscaping!

It definitely looks like a sort of flying saucer, or more accurately, a flying ring. I know Iā€™ll want to visit this campus one day and Iā€™m sure even more fans will also want to as well. Plus, architects, artists, students, tourists, and the just plain curious. The new campus will become a mainstream destination and Apple needs to realize this, and more importantly, embrace it.

I have what I think is a great idea, and this article serves as a vehicle to plant the seed of this idea, hopefully even to Appleā€™s leadership team. First though, and in all frankness, a corporate museum is something that Steve Jobs himself had been against. He certainly would have continued to be so, if he was still living, but thatā€™s another key consideration.

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Computers Go To War

Published on Saturday, 31 March 2012 12:38
Written by Brad Arnold
Computers Go to War (WWII)

March 31st Meeting – Computing in World War II

Published on Wednesday, 21 March 2012 20:46
Written by Brad Arnold
photo of the British machine, Colossus

Photo of the British machine, Colossus

From predicting trajectories of artillery shells, bombs, and ballistic missiles to code breaking to atomic bomb design, the second World War provided more impetus for the development of computing machinery than any other event in human history. In this presentation by Dr. Brian Stuart, we will look at the convergence of a century of mathematical, mechanical, and electronic work to set the stage for the computer as we know it today.

Surface Mount Soldering Demonstration

Published on Saturday, 18 February 2012 14:00
Written by Brad Arnold

On March 3rd, we get to experience a realtime “Surface Mount Soldering Demonstration” by Alan Hightower. These days, it’s getting harder to find the old through-hole components, like the ones we saw in the 1980’s.Ā Projects often require that surface mount parts be used.

They are ubiquitous in modern computers, are found in some vintage computers and are often essential in new boards to support vintage computers. Alan will be demonstrating surface mount soldering techniques which you can use at home to get results much like the modern boards you see today. The presentation will include:

  • An overview of surface mount packages and tools.
  • Demo of stencil solder paste application to a surface mount board.
  • Reflow soldering of the whole board, using hot-air and a pre-heater.
  • Soldering iron techniques for cleanup and rework.
  • Drag soldering of components, which can’t take reflow heat.

Whether you’re a DIY builder or a vintage computer enthusiast, you’re sure to be intrigued by seeing what goes on behind the curtain to make electronic boards today.

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