Thanks for scanning in the old mags. I was really pleased and nostalgic to see again my first ZX81 game publised in issue 2-12 Sept 1984 page 33. Brilliant!! The ZX was so much fun!!

Great to see people still active in the old scene!

I have 3 old Atari 400 systems, 4 old 800xl systems, 3 ST systems including 1040stf mono colour screens, Falcon 030, and various carts for 8-bit! My disks were stolen years ago, but i have downloaded everything Atari even though I should have bought a Commodore Amiga( Not Atari ST), as design is basically an Atari 8 bit modified, same designer!

Hi Tezza,
Thanks for your good article on the Osborne1. It was a good reference in resurrecting my newly acquired Osborne1. As you know by now, it also suffered the same 'blowing/smoking' capacitors.
Cheers

I was passed a message that you wanted to document the development of so-called 'classic' computer games of the 80s' - typically called 8-bit home computers these days - that were designed and programmed in New Zealand?

Since you started this quest of documentation? some years? ago - I don't know why you have not contacted me? regarding the first home computer arcade games that were completely designed and programmed in New Zealand...

Hi!
thanks to your article on the Wellington Haul, and especially the article on the New Zealand Telecom Computerphone I was finally able to identify something in my collection that has been taunting me for a while...turns out I own an NOS replacement keyboard for said compterphone...no idea how that part made it to germany to be picked up by me.

Thanks!

Chris

Hi,
I am new member of VCF but has been browsing a lot of website related to retro including your wonderful website (blogs, pic,etc.)
Well I am also member of Yahoo's COSMAC ELF 1802 group and yesterday,someone found your Cosmac Elf Trainer and he created a new topic talking about what he discovered and put a link to you CET picture.
Of all the many Cosmac Elf pics, yours is very unique.
Enjoying all the articles (not finished yet reading them)

The "yellowing" article brought me here, and I have to say finding your blog was great. You have provided really solid info about those vintage wonders. Keep them coming!

Terry,

Very enjoyable read. The Colour Genie was my exposure to computers, like others I used to go to the user-groups in Ponsonby and remember changing the colour 16 colour on some of the German games (black -> white), usually things like the score, using a assembler called ZEN.

Also wrote some small games using the basic compiler with a guy who's already commented on here (Hi Ralph!)

I remember the secretary of the user group was called Nola Huggins, and there was a Airforce guy from Whenuapai called Andy that got pretty far with the Genie/Z80 Assembly.

Was highly jealous of those mates of mine with Apple ][ or C64 machines, but probably learnt more with a niche machine like the cololur genie as you did not have the plethora of games to play.

Anyway cool site, cool memories thanks for taking the time.

Roger.

I really like your page about the Compaq SLT/286. I use one almost daily for labeling CDs & DVDs [DOS based CAD output to HP pen plotter]. But does anyone know how to activate it's external VGA monitor connection? Thanks!

Good work man!

Just wanted to compliment on this page.. And also on all the comments on the guestbook :) I love to see such an active community whose goal is to preserve old computers :) My collection is also just a small one, but growing every day.
Your projects and their comments + pictures are amazing, you have given me a lot of ideas and inspiration!! Mainly the idea to not just give up.. Some determination and the rights tools might just revive that old machine!

You sir, are my hero!!

Hi Tezza and hello everyone.

I am Guille from Spain. Izham_gb94 from Internet.
I give my congratulations to this page and this work.
A site impressive. It is full of good ideas, well commented and very helpful.
I have a small collection of old computers every day a little bigger and this page has been of great help to me.

Thanks and best regards, Tezza.

Izham_gb94

What a wonderful page. It's not just you who's got trouble getting the Model 30-286es to work, I've spent the weekend moving parts back and forth between two of them, and finally ended up with one in working order.

Awesome site, you have some very interesting machines!

Good to see the old computers being preserved. I have had Sinclair ZX81, Commodore VIC-20 and 64, Memotech, Acorn Electron and currently have Sinclair Z88, Acorn Risc PC, Mac powerboog G3, Powerbook G4 and PPower PC G5 which has Virtual Acorn installed on it.

Great site! Takes me back to days of building my first micro computer using a 6502? and old telecom dial pads for data entry (now I'm showing my age) - my first real PC, the Colour Genie (used to go to a club in Ponsonby? formed to cater for this one in Auckland), the SpectraVideo 328 with disk drives & printer I paid around $1000 for 2nd hand! and then my first IBM clone a 286 from some Auckland maker, can't remember the name.
Still tinkering with the damn things but now am president of a seniors computer club here in southern NSW. How times have changed!

I saw a oil covered computer once lol

Hey, I love your postings about the Apple II. I had one of those back in the days but I think I dumped them a while ago.
But its nice to see some "antique" macs.
Cheers,Louis

I really find the way you fix these computers interesting. It makes me laugh when something breaks, but can be fixed. (Like those durned filter caps. I wonder when I'll have to replace the ones in my own Apple II... XD)

I enjoy reading your blogs. I come back every few months to see what project you are working on. Very entertaining read.