Tag
A detailed examination of two circuit boards from the Space Shuttle's I/O Processor, explaining its multi-threaded architecture, network interfaces, and microcode storage using fuse-based PROMs.
A blog post details the author's experience running OpenBSD on a Lemote Yeeloong laptop with a Chinese Loongson MIPS processor, discussing hardware, software challenges, and the free software philosophy.
The Old Computer Challenge is an annual community event where retro computing and digital minimalism enthusiasts use limited vintage hardware (initially 512MB RAM) for a week, with a theme like 'Make Something' for 2026.
A deep dive into the Videx VideoTerm, the 80-column card that transformed the Apple II into a serious business machine, and its modern FPGA emulation via the A2FPGA project, focusing on hardware architecture and the MC6845 CRT controller.
GPT2-BASIC implements a GPT-style transformer inference engine in FreeBASIC for DOS systems, using fixed-point arithmetic and local model artifacts to run AI-assisted tasks on vintage hardware.
WebBase-III is a full recreation of dBASE III that runs in the browser, featuring its own W3Script interpreter, BROWSE grid, form engine, indexing, and persistent storage via SQLite.
A personal reflection on 25 years of maintaining a website, reviewing the technological transformations from early 8-bit computers to modern high-performance systems.
An article detailing the unique 1983 Northern Telecom Commodore Phone, a Canadian-only bundle that combined a VICModem with a rotary dial phone to comply with local telecom regulations, highlighting the workaround VIC-1605 adaptor switch.
The article reviews AmigaOS 2, emphasizing its improvements over the original Workbench in color schemes, GUI toolkit, and usability, positioning it as a significant upgrade in the evolution of desktop operating systems.
A retrospective analysis argues that the 8086 segmented memory architecture was a clever design that could have scaled gracefully, but software developers' insistence on treating memory as a flat space led to its perceived flaws.
UHF X11 is a modern X11 display server for Apple Vision Pro, allowing users to run X11 clients in spatial windows with retro display effects.
This project ports Windows NT to Nintendo GameCube and Wii consoles, supporting various input devices and drivers. It is open-source and available on GitHub.
FLOPPINUX is a complete Linux distribution that fits on a single 1.44MB floppy disk, supporting minimal hardware like Intel 486DX and 20MB RAM. It boots into a terminal with persistent storage and essential tools.
A detailed account of restoring a salt-water-damaged Commodore SX-64 from the 2025 VCFSW show, involving drilling out seized screws, cleaning corroded electronics, and replacing parts.
A retrospective on Eagle Computer, a 1980s PC clone maker that soared in sales before collapsing after its CEO died in a Ferrari crash on IPO day.
GentleOS/32 and GentleOS/16 are hobby operating systems for vintage 32-bit and 16-bit PCs, providing a platform for tinkering with retro hardware and running graphical apps on bare metal.
A tool that lets you relive vintage operating systems right on your desktop.
PC architecture and AR expert Jeri Ellsworth shares her technical career journey from Valve R&D to founding Tilt 5, an AR glasses company. She discusses the allure of retro gaming, ethical technology choices, and the resurgence of physical board games driven by people's fatigue with AI-generated junk content.
An exploration of the history of Windows' built-in Pinball game, the collision detection bug that prevented its inclusion in 64-bit Windows (specifically on Alpha AXP), and recent emulation breakthroughs that allow the rare 64-bit Alpha NT build to run the game.
Legacy Labs, a retro-computing summer camp event, invites participants to explore old or permacomputing topics over two months, starting with a deep dive into Windows Server 2008 Core.