From ff888c069ad8c09c16d6119301ebdd5515d28f43 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Andreas Baumann Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2023 10:02:11 +0100 Subject: added first version of VCF 2023 --- ...puting-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023.md | 106 +++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 106 insertions(+) create mode 100644 content/blog/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023.md (limited to 'content') diff --git a/content/blog/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023.md b/content/blog/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1ffd1d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023.md @@ -0,0 +1,106 @@ ++++ + +title = "Retro Computing - Vintage Computer Festival Zürich 2023" +categories = [ "Retro Computing", "Vintage Computer Festival", "VCF" ] +date = "2023-11-12T17:32:22+02:00" +thumbnail = "/images/blog/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023-scrib.jpg" ++++ + +## Intro + +This time the vintage computer festival in Zürich was held in +the "EWZ Kraftwerk Selnau". This is a former substation in the middle +of Zurich which is a museum, event hall and coworking area now. +The enterior is best described as a bunch of ship containers +aranged in a middle of a factory hall. In the middle there is a bar +now. There are corners with couches and a big room upstears which +looks like the former control room (and most likely was one). + +{{< figure src="/images/blog/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023-selnau1.jpg" alt="EWZ substation at Selnau" >}} + +As always I'm not listing all exhibitors and exhibited pieces, I'm +just pointing out new things, which catched my attention this year. +(the others can be seen on older blog entries of the series). + +This year I was not in for challenges, I rather prefer talking to +people, but everybody can do what he wants. + +New this year is a full recording of all the talks, this is nice +as you don't have to decide whether you are watch the computers +in the exhibition and have discussions with the exhibitors or whether +you watch the talks. This also good for the exhibitors themselves who +would love to attend the talks too. + +## Portables + +A full room upstears was dedicated to a bunch of portable computers +from the venerable Osborne OCC-1, Commodore SX-64, Amstrad, +various PC portables, etc. + +{{< figure src="/images/blog/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023-portables.jpg" alt="Portable computers" >}} + +### OLPCs + +It's nice to see two OLPC XO-1 next to each other, with the mesh +wlan in action. My takeaway is that it's not only the pieces of +hardware you have and want to show, it's also about the story +you tell about them and the way you present them - and where. + +{{< figure src="/images/blog/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023-olpcs.jpg" alt="Two 'One Laptop per Child' OLPC XO-1 on a bench" >}} + +### IBM PC Convertible (model 5140) + +I couldn't resist to play Planet X3 on CGA Composite on a small +surveilance monitor thingy (sorry, one photo was blurred and the +other one has now a non-syncing output signal, I promise, +take my word, it worked just fine in "full" CGA colors). + +{{< figure src="/images/blog/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023-ibm-convertible.jpg" alt="IBM PC Convertible (model 5140) with external monitor" >}} + +### Scrib + +Thankfully they put a Scribd teletype writer from the Smaky series +of computers in that room, which you could actually touch without +white glowes. It was the technological equivalent of a Chinese +fingertrap to me trying to spin my head around the way you use this +thing. Unique is the idea to use a mirror on the back to reflect the +image of the CRT (which is mounted on the back). The image is cristall +clear compared to other CRT displays of that time. + +I managed to print something, but couldn't remember the key combination +I pressed so I spent far too much time to reproduce printing. +I managed all kind of "erreurs de casettes" (behind the little +shiny glas cover on the right the machine can hold two small tapes) +but sadly not a second print. + +{{< figure src="/images/blog/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023-scrib.jpg" alt="Smaky Scrib" >}} + +## BBC Acorn Econet school network + +It was real joy to see the UKs pride of computing in a series of Acorn +machines joined in a Econet network. Of course various Raspberry PIs +were serving as coprocessor emulators, network files servers, etc. + +It was really pleasant to talk to Mark Usher and his plans collecting and +documenting those machines. + +Who has the time should see BCC early education series on computing on TV. + +{{< figure src="/images/blog/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023/retro-computing-vintage-computer-festival-zurich-2023-acorns.jpg" alt="Acorns" >}} + +## Important Lessons Learned + +Fix that darn IMC-2001.. ;-) + +## Links + +* general links + * [Vintage Computer Festival Zurich](https://vintagecomputerfestival.ch): official webpage +* smaky + * [Smaky Scribd](https://www.smaky.ch/chapitre.php?id=lami_6) +* Acorn, Econet + * [Listing of computer models](https://www.retro-kit.co.uk/page.cfm/content/Acorn-Computers-Ltd/index.html) + * [Econet manuals](http://www.8bs.com/othrdnld/manuals/econet.shtml) +* videos + * [Youtube video on the IBM PC Convertible (model 5140)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4fH6iPMxGw) + -- cgit v1.2.3-54-g00ecf