RetroSessions

Old Computers Never Die - Their Users Do!!

What?

A regular discussion of archaic technology, with purpose ...

Purpose

We will, as a group and with interest, attempt to bring abandoned computers to life, for new reasons. Anything interesting we can do with an old computer, we will try to do it.

If you've got something you wanna demo - AWESOME! Let us Demo our still-working, ±30 year old systems!

We will meet at MetaLab to discuss, review, remember, re-write, revive, a bit of love for retro- computing; we will see what sort of answers we come up with for questions such as: what we can do with old computers; why we should do things with old computers; who has a new, old computer, to demonstrate; who has an old, old computer to demonstrate; what can a computer do, old and new?

What Is a Retro-Computer?

To be considered a "retro- computer", the device should be any computer platform where the general majority of mainstream users have moved on, i.e. stopped using the platform. It should be a machine from the past, which maybe isn't so common any more. It could also be a common, old computer - really the only point is, its not an iBlah or McPC. "Those aren't quite old enough .. yet."

The best thing to bring along is an old, dusty machine, and get it back up and running. Maybe you've got a great Amiga collection? Still got a C64 "somewhere in the attic"? Dust it off, bring it along, and lets make it work again.

Among other platforms, we might demonstrate the following systems:

Oric-1/Atmos
Atari
Commodore
Spectrum
Amstrad
Dragon
SGI
Amiga
Cambridge Z88
80286,80386,80486,Z80,6502,MIPS,68k

Who?

Anyone and everyone, interested in retro-grade computing, is invited to come to the next RetroSession - bring something with you, or enjoy a demo of what we've already got. That means YOU are invited to join the RetroSession squad!

When?

Last Friday of Every Month

(As of 26 May 2018, the **next** RetroSession is scheduled for 29 June 2018)

Agenda for 29 June 2018 RetroSession

torpor: continue work on the Amstrad CPC6128, will bring a BeBox for the fun of the next RetroSession squad meeting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BeBox

Event Log for 25 May 2018 RetroSession

torpor: presented non-working Amstrad CPC6128, attempted repair (with help from MaV), determined that a full replacement set of RAM chips is in order. Repair of this machine continues. Also presented working Oric Atmos machine, demo'ed a number of old games, discussion of graphics techniques of the 8-bit machines (due to time constraints, and burned fingers from the Amstrad repair, the Twilighte+Sittler card demo running Orix postponed for next session.) Hop: presented his AmigaOS emulator rig on PSP, got it upgraded during the session. ??? presented the very retro electro-mechanical Space Invaders machine. Hannah: played some weird old Oric games, basked in the glory of 8-bit pixels. Plans were made by members of the RetroSession squad to bring other interesting gear for the next RetroSession, scheduled for 29 June.