So yes this blog as been silent for some time. It’s not a secret that life gets in the way from time to time. I haven’t stopped my tinkering. In fact one of the projects I’ve been involved lately in will allow me to keep tinkering for a long time. So [...]

Texas Instruments TI-99/4A

CPU: TI TMS9900, 3MHz

RAM: 16KB

DISPLAY: 32 x 24 Text
         192 X 256, 16 color

SOUNDS:
3 channels, 5 octaves
1 noise channel (periodic and white)
Upgradeable to a Speech Synthesizer    

AVAILABLE PORTS:
ROM cartridge (on front)
Data storage cassette
Audio/Video output
Joystick input
CPU bus expansion

AVAILABLE PERIPHERALS:
Speech Synthesizer
Peripheral Expansion Box
Data storage cassette
300 baud modem

OS:    ROM BASIC

YEAR: 1981

ORIGINAL PRICE: $525
I remember first seeing [...]

This tutorial isn’t going to be as in depth as my previous ones.  The problem is this procedure can vary greatly from computer to computer.  It also requires a basic knowledge of how a bootdisk works and the use of some DOS commands.
As the IT department for the most of my family, I’m always looking [...]

These are a few knick-knacks I have sitting on my bookshelf.  I keep them there because they help me reflect on how astonishing the computers that sit on our desks our.  These three pieces, when put in proper perspective, is just short of the absurd.

Exhibit A is a vacuum tube.  This particular one I believe [...]

Sharp PC-7000

CPU:
Intel 8086, 7.37 or 4.77 Mhz
RAM:
320k (704k max.)
Display:
80 x 24 Text
640 x 200 Mono Graphics
Sound:
Beeper
Available Peripherals:
Serial port
Parallel port
Color CRT video output (optional)
2 x Internal 360K Floppy Drives (5 1/4″)
OS:
MS-DOS
Year:
1985
Original Price:
???
The Sharp PC-7000 was an early portable machine from the mid-80’s.  Early in a style of computer that we call a “Lunchbox PC”.  Obviously named [...]