A show on a calculator?  Yep, it all adds up.

Welcome to Show 070!  This week's Topic: The HP-41C Programmable Scientific Calculator!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

What's Dan Bricklin, creator of VisiCalc, up to these days?  Find out in an online interview at LowEndMac.com!
Check out the HP41 page on The Museum of HP Calculators for a good write-up on the 41!
The HP41.org site has emulators, software, manuals and more!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A FANTASTIC NEW YEAR!  See you in 2007!

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

What we have here is a successful way to communicate.

Welcome to Show 069!  This week's Topic: Perspectives On Networking!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

Check out the 8bitsunplugged blog, another happy retrocomputing spot on the World Wide Web...
Apple II Forever?  You bet!  Computer Chronicles had it right all along...

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

Our friends up north are having a party!  (Well, they're north of me...)

Welcome to Show 068!  This week's Topic: The World Of Commodore 2006, from Toronto, Canada!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

The "Atari Landfill" legend - fact or fiction?  You decide!  All the details uncovered (unfortunately, none of the cartridges can ever be "uncovered"...)
Have a look at the DOS section of the Paterson Technology site, and take a look at this page for info on the humble beginnings of MS-DOS!
Be sure to check out the Toronto Pet Users Group (TPUG) web site for more information on this great and long lasting group of Commodore enthusiasts...

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

It's Retro Deja Vu all over again...

Welcome to Show 067!  This week's Topic: Retro Mix (a variety show)!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

Want to test your Amiga skill and cunning?  Then take the Amiga Quiz!  Let us know how you do.  I scored a 37%.  It's not pretty, but I confess it anyhow.
When you're ready to hook up your Commodore drives to your Windows or Linux system, make sure you look at the OpenCBM software package!
About Woz, by Woz - iWoz, the new autobiography.  I must read this soon...
Build your own, brand new Altair 8800 kit?  Impossible you say?  Not so, with the new Altair 8800 replica!

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

"If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development."  (Aristotle)

Welcome to Show 066!  This week's Topic: Great Inventions In Computing!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

Play the adventure that started it all - The Colossal Cave Adventure!
Commodore 128 fan?  Then check out Commodore 128 Alive...
PBS had a show on the Transistor called "Transistorized" - their site has lots of info on that device that changed the world!
The 4004 (Wikipedia page and Intel page) chip had about that many transistors.  Boy have times changed!

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

Floating point numbers keep it real.

Welcome to Show 065!  This week's Topic: The C Programming Language, Part II!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

The World of Commodore 2006 is coming on Dec 2, 2006 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada!  Check out the info at the TPUG web site.
If you want to try C/C++ (or C#, or VB.NET), have a look at the free Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions from Microsoft.
Another great option for C/C++ on Windows and DOS is OpenWatcom!
If C for the 6502 is your goal, then cc65 has just the compiler for you...
Specifically for the Commodore 64 and 128, here's some information on a popular compiler, Power C!
Brian Kernighan, co-author of The C Programming Language, has a website here.  You can read about him on Wikipedia here...
Dennis Ritchie, creator of C and co-author of The C Programming Language, has a website here, and Wikipedia info here...
The GE-600 (otherwise known as Honeywell 6000) with the funky 36 bit C variables?  Read about it at Wikipedia here...
Finally, some history of the evolution of the C language can be found at faqs.org!

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

Integers just don't get the point.

Welcome to Show 064!  This week's Topic: The C Programming Language!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

The October edition of the 1 MHz podcast is out.  Don't miss it!
Wikipedia, as usual, a good place to start - this time, on the C Programming Language.
Here's an article written by Dennis Ritchie on the history of C.  Nothing like getting your history straight from the source!
Here's some info on the book: The C Programming Language - note the various human languages it's been translated into...
BDS C for CP/M - for free!  What a deal.
Turbo C 2.01 for DOS, also free, courtesy of the Borland Antique Software collection.  Thanks Borland!

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

Hi there,

Retrobits is taking a break this week. Be sure to tune in next week for more retrocomputing goodness!

Coming up next week - The C Programming Language!

- Earl

What if computers programmed us?

Welcome to Show 063!  This week's Topic: The Joystick!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

Want to take your retro hobby into your virtual reality world?  Now you can buy retro computer models for Second Life.  No, really.
The DECWriter printing terminal.  Whether it's black and white or color, it's prettay.  It's so prettay...
Now you can play Centipedes anywhere you've got Java and a web browser.  Check out Atari's Games site!
If you need a CompactFlash card for your Apple II, you're in luck.  And, for the Apple I.  Yes, you read that right!
A2Unplugged is coming out with new episodes - they are at #4 and counting...

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl

RSTS PDP - find out what it means to me

Welcome to Show 062!  This week's Topic: The PDP-11 Minicomputer!

Topics and links discussed in the podcast...

It's not retro, but you can hook it up to retro stuff (that's one of my main purposes)...the Propeller 32-bit 8 core microcontroller!  Electronics super-fun...
Another interactive fiction environment - have a look at Eamon, and the many games available for it!
The Wikipedia page on the PDP-11 - a good starting point.  And one for RSTS as well...
Here's a nice picture of a PDP-11/20 front panel.  See those switches?  Remind you of an IMSAI?
Man, Bitsavers.org has an incredibly impressive collection of vintage computer manuals, in PDF format.  Nice.
I know, you want to play with a PDP-11 emulator, don't you?  Admit it!  And then, have a look at SIMH...
FAQ on the PDP-11, lots of reading here!  Make sure to check out the models that were made!
More info sources on the PDP-11, here, and here...
For a look at the PDP-11's big brother, point your browser to PDP Planet!

Be sure to send any comments, questions or feedback to retrobits@gmail.com.

For online discussions on Retrobits Podcast topics, check out the Retrobits Podcast forum on the PETSCII Forums page!

Our Theme Song is "Sweet" from the "Re-Think" album by Galigan.

Thanks for listening!

- Earl