Marlagram

A review of Econet — comparing the cost vs disc systems, showing the installation in a BBC Model B and BBC Master, building a network and a demo of the Level 1 and Level 3 file servers. Also shows the PiEconetBridge v1 and v2 boards and software running.

Short presentation: my simple ASIC concept design of a 3D-like "ray caster" video game hardware accelerator chip, FPGA-tested, then synthesised/submitted to TT04 (Tiny Tapeout 04) for VLSI/ASIC manufacture. Created with OpenLane and the sky130 process (Google/Skywater 130nm Open PDK).

The history of the first microprocessor is murky and ill-defined. For years, the Intel 4004 was generally accepted to hold the title. However, in 1998, the historical record was rewritten as the existence of an earlier system was revealed to the world.

In this video, we'll learn about the MP944, and why many now consider it the first microprocessor. Regardless of whether it was or not, it was extremely complex for its day.

Чисто для истории. Распаковал свою БК и решил выложить недоделанную (к сожалению) версию Элиты для БК. Работал в школе на Чукотке и писали с ребятами на ассемблере. На КУВТ после заставки игра загружалась, а в Андос что-то не хочет, приходится вручную запускать. Проблема была в том, что после 10 класса ребята уехали поступать на материк, а следующие уже захотели делать XCOM. Версия отладочная, надо вспоминать, где лежит скорость корабля, он летал как положено, а тут просто на месте стоит. Ну и выстрелы и взрыв не подключены. Расчёты все реальные, рисуется в буфер на 5000 байт, массив вершин корабля множится на матрицы преобразования, отсечения линий вычисляются, видимость граней. Но доделать уже маловероятно, лет 25 уже прошло. Это на БК-0010.

At last! :D
After casually keeping an eye out since 2004* I finally came across a System/32! At this point it's more of a collectors piece (and a big one at that) but this finally fits into the slot that I left open for a 70's era IBM system that is both small and still somehow functional in a residential environment.

Take an Atari ST, 4 budget synths from 1988, and spend months seeing how far they can go - all while staring at a black-and-white CRT! I took me over a year to make this given most of the equipment was DOA and keeping in mind there's another part coming later this year.

Massive thanks to mu:zines and archive.org for their incredible collections. This led me to all the cheapest gear that people were actually using back in the day. Thanks also to all those I reached out to who verified most of the findings and gave me amazing insights to the gear of the day.

Gear used: Atari 520ST (mostly), Roland MT-100, Yamaha MusicStation PSS-580, Kawai K1, Yamaha EMT-10, Dr T MIDI Recording Studio, Cubase 1.5 and Rotel mini system.

You might think OS/2 is long gone, but it still lingers around in more places then you'd expect. Today's video covers ArcaOS, an OS/2-based operating system designed to work with newer hardware!

ArcaOS: https://www.arcanoae.com/arcaos/

...Origin of the Lexitron Videotype word processing computer. A unique tribute to the historic Lexitron Videotype Word Processing computer, from its conception in 1969 to its production in 1972, and its successful growth and eventual purchase by Raytheon Company. Models: Lexitron 911, Lexitron VT 1202, Lexitron VT 1303. (Run Time: 10 mins, with 3 min Photo Gallery)
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Киножурнал Наш край №11, 1987г.

The Amiga was more than just a games machine, it was a ground breaking graphics power house and a serious mission critical device for the NASA.
Lets take a look.

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Поэтому минимально-адекватная конфигурация компьютера, это PEB (Peripheral Expansion Box) — специальная большая корзина для плат расширения, дисковод и расширение памяти 32kb. Либо NanoPEB — современное устройство, включающее всё перечисленное.

К PEB/NanoPEB необходим ещё картридж Editor/Assembler (без которого можно загружать и запускать лишь программы на Бейсике и который заодно содержит упомянутые дополнительные 32kb ОЗУ).
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Это устройство втыкается в правый порт компьютера (туда же, куда и синтезатор речи. В т.ч. можно воткнуть его через синтезатор) и эмулирует 32кб дополнительного ОЗУ, три дисковода (на CompactFlash карте) и порт RS-232.

Существует также устройство CF7+, в котором всё тоже самое, но вместо RS-232 имеется параллельный порт Centronics.

Само по себе наличие NanoPEB позволяет загружать лишь программы на Бейсике (а из стандартного TI Бейсика невозможно запустить программу в машинных кодах, если не считать совсем уж грязных и нетривиальных хаков).

Поэтому совершенно необходим ещё картридж Editor/Assembler (EA), втыкаемый в верхний порт. С ним уже можно загружать и запускать нормальные программы. Картридж также ищется на Ebay. Вроде бы, вместо него можно использовать картридж Extended Basic (XB).
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The Powertran Cortex is a 16-bit TMS 9995-based computer that was available in the UK between about December 1982 and early 1985. The computer could be bought in kit or ready-built forms, and its design was serialised in the Electronics Today International (ETI) magazine between November 1982 and January 1983. Further articles appeared in subsequent issues describing various interface circuits.

The computer was manufactured by Powertran Cybernetics Ltd who were based in Andover, Hampshire, UK.

The Cortex was developed by TI employees Tony Rowell, Jim Gill, Neil Quarmby, Colin Hinson and Ian White. Tony recalled on a forum dedicated to the system:

"The Cortex came about as an extension of a group of us at TI trying to build ourselves a home computer out of 'scrap', remember that at the time a home computer was somewhere between non-existant and insanely expensive. We started of by taking faulty Viewdata boards (sort of Teletext over a dial-up modem) based on the TMS 9980. When the TMS 9995 came out we started looking at building something around that. At that time TI had a minicomputer division (990/12 etc.) and a home computer division (99/4A) with lots of internal politics to ensure that the home computer didn't tread on the minicomputer dept toes so to speak. We however worked for the semiconductor division and just wanted to build something and management just wanted to sell chips. The semiconductor division building a home computer was a big no-no, it would have been stomped on by both the home computer division and the minicomputer division so we had unofficial encouragement to go ahead with the design and the way to 'get it out' was ETI (as long as there was no direct connection to TI). Powertran simply made the kits and sold it. Jim Gill and myself did the BASIC (based on one from TI [TI Power BASIC] but mostly rewritten), Colin Hinson did the debug monitor, Neil Quarmby did the schematics and floppy boot code and Ian White did hardware prototyping and 'resourcing'."

The Cortex underwent a facelift around August 1984 into a new slimline case, with a revised PCB which included all the modifications that had accrued since the Cortex was originally published. The disk drives, which were originally fitted in the Cortex case, were now housed in an external enclosure. The revised system was known as the Cortex II.

A short video from 1981 shows two women relating their personal experiences with working from home using WANG word processing machines, modem access and remote processing. Seen are WANG computers, Racal-Vadic acoustic modems. Run time 2 minutes.

See more about WANG computer history here:
Remembering Wang Computers
https://youtu.be/K6LN2Zd3x2I

An introduction and overview of the Turbo9 microprocessor IP. The goal of this project is to create a small, powerful and professional microprocessor IP based on the 6809 instruction set.