How Did Woz Write the Apple Basic Before Building the Computer

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Steve Wozniak wrote the Apple 1 BASIC entirely by hand, assembling 6502 machine code on paper before he had a working computer. Lacking access to an assembler or a host computer for cross-development, he manually translated each instruction into hex codes, carefully calculating addresses and branch offsets, then entered the code directly once the Apple 1 was built. This hand-assembly approach was practical for Wozniak due to the relatively small size and modular structure of the BASIC interpreter, and reflects early programming practices when development tools were scarce or unaffordable.

https://retrocomputing.stackexchange.com/questions/17957/how-did-woz-write-the-apple-1-basic-before-building-the-computer

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How a Polish Holocaust Survivor Revolutionized Home Computing

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Jack Tramiel, a Polish-born Holocaust survivor, revolutionized home computing by founding Commodore and championing affordable personal computers for the masses. After surviving the Łódź Ghetto and Auschwitz, Tramiel emigrated to the U.S., established Commodore, and launched landmark machines like the Commodore 64 in 1982, which became one of the best-selling home computers of its time. Later, Tramiel acquired Atari’s consumer division, advancing personal computing with the Atari ST line, while maintaining ties to his Jewish heritage and supporting Holocaust remembrance.

https://tvpworld.com/96476877/jack-tramiel-the-polish-holocaust-survivor-behind-the-commodore-64

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From Trash to Treasure: The Retro Computers Collectors Are Desperate to Find

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Retro computer collectors highly prize a few iconic models that were once discarded as obsolete, including the Apple Lisa (1983), Commodore 64’s rare Silver Label edition, IBM PC XT 5160, and the Amiga 3000/4000. These machines, prized for their historical significance and rarity, can command thousands of dollars depending on condition, completeness, and originality. Collectors also caution against powering up these vintage machines without first checking for battery corrosion, which can damage delicate circuitry.

https://vocal.media/01/from-trash-to-treasure-the-retro-computers-collectors-are-desperate-to-find

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Every Processor Die Anyone Has Photographed and Given Away

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The website sheets.works presents a collection of 363 photographed processor dies dating from 1971 to 2024, contributed by enthusiasts like Pauli Rautakorpi and Fritzchens Fritz. These images reveal the silicon chips inside processors, often freed by dissolving their packaging, and include size comparisons and links to detailed analyses. The project documents this visual history of processor design, with original photos licensed and sourced from various archives and individuals.

https://sheets.works/data-viz/cpu-dies

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CALCUSEUM

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Calcuseum is an extensive online museum dedicated to vintage electronic calculators, featuring a searchable collection of over 22,000 references spanning more than 40 years from the 1950s to 2000. It offers detailed catalogs, brand databases, milestones, and statistics to document the history and evolution of calculators, supporting enthusiasts with resources such as for-sale items, FAQs, modifications, and related museum links. The platform aims to preserve and share the heritage of calculator technology by providing comprehensive information and community contributions.

https://www.calcuseum.com/

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Commodore PET: The World’s First Personal Computer

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The Commodore PET, first announced in January 1977, is recognized as the world’s first personal computer, preceding the Apple II and TRS-80. It featured a fully integrated design with a keyboard, monochrome monitor, MOS 6502 processor, built-in BASIC operating system from Microsoft, cassette tape storage, and expansion ports, all housed in a durable metal or plastic chassis. Developed under Chuck Peddle’s leadership and launched by Commodore after acquiring MOS Technologies, the PET was revolutionary for providing a complete, ready-to-use personal computing system that spurred early home and educational computer adoption before eventually evolving into various improved models and becoming a foundation for Commodore’s later successes.

https://www.commodore.ca/commodore-products/commodore-pet-the-worlds-first-personal-computer/

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Celebrating Commodore’s Industrial Design Legacy

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Ira Velinsky was the key industrial designer behind many iconic Commodore computers, including the CBM-II series and the Commodore 64’s “breadbox” case, reshaping rugged metal enclosures into elegant, user-friendly designs that defined the brand’s aesthetic. His work continued through his tenure at Atari and later Sozo Design, leaving a lasting impact on computer hardware design until his untimely death in 2001. Despite being overlooked historically, Velinsky’s legacy remains evident in the distinctive style and ergonomics of several landmark 1980s and 1990s computing devices.

https://www.commodore.ca/commodore-history/ira-velinsky-commodores-amazing-industrial-designer/

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They Don’t Make ’em Like That Any More: Borland Turbo Pascal 7

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Borland Turbo Pascal 7, also known as Turbo Pascal for Windows 1.5, was a groundbreaking development tool that introduced integrated source-level debugging and an object-oriented programming model tailored to Windows, making Windows programming more accessible in the early 1990s. Its efficient, memory-conscious compiler heritage from CP/M allowed fast compilation on limited hardware, and its seamless graphical IDE simplified Windows application development compared to the more cumbersome C tools of the time. Turbo Pascal’s influence waned due to rising competition from C, Microsoft’s growing dominance with its own development tools, and the popularity of Visual BASIC, but it remains a significant piece of computing history for early Windows software development.

https://kevinboone.me/tpwin.html

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How I Talk to Kiro Via Dumb Terminal

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The author demonstrates how to interact with the AI assistant Kiro using an actual teletype, a mechanical dumb terminal device connected via a serial interface through a WiModem232 modem emulator that supports Hayes commands over telnet. By building a minimalist Rust client implementing the Agent Client Protocol (ACP), the author translates Kiro’s JSON-RPC output into simple ASCII suitable for the low-speed teletype, enabling practical communication with modern AI through vintage hardware. The project highlights the enduring relevance of old terminal protocols and provides a Docker-based setup to replicate the experience on various retro systems like IBM PC, Commodore 64, and TRS-80.

https://rup12.net/posts/how-i-talk-to-kiro-via-dumb-terminal/

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10 Games From 1989 That ’80s Kids Still Love

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The year 1989 produced several enduring video games that remain beloved by ’80s kids, including groundbreaking titles like Super Mario Land, which showcased the Game Boy’s portable platforming capabilities, and Mega Man 2, noted for its memorable levels and challenging bosses. Other classics from that year such as Prince of Persia, Final Fight, and SimCity helped define genres with fluid gameplay, rich storytelling, and innovative mechanics, while games like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure offered faithful adaptations of popular media through point-and-click adventures.

https://www.cbr.com/best-video-games-1989/

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