computer

The Eerie Interface of Man and Machine (Life Magazine, October 1967)

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In October 1967, Life Magazine published an article exploring how computers functioned and speculated on the possibility of creating learning machines modeled after the human brain’s complex neural network. It highlighted the brain’s interconnected neurons and feedback loops, contrasting them with the more linear pathways in computers, and noted the immense technical and conceptual challenges in replicating human-like learning in machines. Despite early optimism, the article conveyed skepticism about programming such machines to reason or learn autonomously, emphasizing the vast unknowns in brain function and computer programming of the era.

https://blog.jgc.org/2026/06/the-eerie-interface-of-man-and-machine.html

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8086 Segmented Memory Was a Good Idea. (Almost.)

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The 8086’s segmented memory architecture was an innovative solution to extend addressing beyond 64KB using familiar 16-bit registers combined with segment registers, enabling backward compatibility with 8080 code. However, developers preferred treating memory as a flat continuous space rather than true segments, which led to widespread use of normalized pointers and ultimately limited the architecture’s scalability. Intel’s original vision of opaque segment selectors could have sustained the design longer, but the practical demands and shortcuts taken by software broke this ideal, influencing the evolution of x86 memory management.

https://owl.billpg.com/8086-segmented-memory-was-a-good-idea-almost/

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A Brief Tour of the PDP-11, the Most Influential Minicomputer of All Time

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The PDP-11 minicomputer, introduced in 1970 by Digital Equipment Corporation, significantly impacted computing by popularizing interactive computing and influencing modern hardware architecture, operating systems, and programming languages. It notably contributed to the development of the UNIX operating system and the C programming language, with its elegant 16-bit architecture and assembly programming features fostering flexibility and efficiency in software development. The PDP-11’s widespread use in various critical systems and its long commercial life underscore its profound legacy in computing history.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/03/a-brief-tour-of-the-pdp-11-the-most-influential-minicomputer-of-all-time/

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Soldering My Way to 1MB

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The Atari ST, launched in the mid-1980s under Jack Tramiel’s leadership, offered affordable and powerful computing with a Motorola 68000 CPU, a graphical desktop, and notably built-in MIDI ports that attracted musicians and developers alike. The author recalls personally upgrading their 520ST by soldering extra RAM chips onto the motherboard, doubling its memory and extending its lifespan, highlighting the machine’s hands-on, user-friendly nature. Although it never achieved widespread success in the U.S., the Atari ST remains a significant and nostalgic computer for its era, especially in music production.

https://www.macsparky.com/blog/2026/06/soldering-my-way-to-1mb/

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I Love the Computer

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Michael Enger reflects on his lifelong passion for computers, starting from his childhood encounter with a 1990s IBM 486 running Windows 3.0, through his immersion in early tech magazines and the pre-Internet era, to his deep engagement with programming and online exploration. He discusses how computers shaped his identity and career amid shifting tech cultures, lamenting the current commercialization and gatekeeping of technology while remaining hopeful about grassroots, decentralized alternatives and his enduring love for computing.

https://michaelenger.com/blog/i-love-the-computer/

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Online Playable Commodore 64 Games

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This webpage offers an extensive collection of classic Commodore 64 games that can be played online directly in a browser. It features a wide variety of iconic titles such as Prince of Persia, Impossible Mission, Bubble Bobble, and many others, preserving the retro gaming experience for enthusiasts. The site serves as a convenient platform to revisit and interact with vintage C64 games without requiring original hardware or emulation software.

https://c64.krissz.hu/online-playable-games/

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Ahoy, DECmate II! the Little PDP-8 That Could

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The article explores the history and significance of the DECmate II, a 1982 desktop microcomputer by Digital Equipment Corporation that condensed the PDP-8 minicomputer architecture into a word-processing machine aimed at office use. It traces the PDP-8’s evolution from the 1960s, highlights the challenges DEC faced with microcomputers, and details the role of the CMOS microprocessor implementations like the Intersil IM6100 and Harris HD-6120 in enabling the DECmate line. The DECmate II featured improvements over earlier models with a more modern design and pricing strategy, making it an accessible office system that maintained much of the PDP-8’s legacy despite compatibility quirks.

https://oldvcr.blogspot.com/2026/05/ahoy-decmate-ii-little-pdp-8-that-could.html

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How the ZX80 Works

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The Sinclair ZX80, launched in 1980 as a low-cost home computer, operates primarily by drawing the TV screen using clever hardware and running mostly NOP instructions rather than focusing on code execution. It achieves video output without a dedicated video chip by using the Z80 CPU, minimal RAM and ROM, and TTL logic chips to multiplex the address and data buses, intercepting reads in the high address mirror area to generate video signals through character ROM lookups and timing the CPU clock precisely to match TV scan lines, enabling the screen to be refreshed 50 times per second while handling input and memory access with minimal hardware complexity.

http://blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2019/10/how-the-zx80-works.html

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Using a 1978 Terminal in 2026 (DEC VT-100)

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The author explores using a 1978 Digital Equipment Corporation VT-100 terminal as a main terminal in 2026, finding that while the VT-100 remains compatible with modern terminal protocols like ANSI escape sequences, practical challenges arise such as flow control issues, slow baud rates limiting screen redraw speed, and lack of support for Unicode and newer escape sequences. Despite these hurdles, with adjustments like ASCII-only mode and legacy settings, basic applications like vim and bash work, highlighting the enduring legacy and foundational role of the VT-100 in terminal technology.

https://nikhiljha.com/posts/vt100/

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Amiga Graphics Archive

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The Amiga Graphics Archive is a dedicated website showcasing the remarkable graphics created with or for the Commodore Amiga, a home computer launched in 1985 known for its advanced graphics capabilities. The site features a rich collection of images, articles, and updates highlighting the art, games, applications, and artists associated with the Amiga platform, preserving the legacy of its unique custom chip technology and its impact on digital art and gaming.

https://amiga.lychesis.net/

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