|
Post by retrobits on Jan 17, 2006 2:02:45 GMT -5
Hi everybody, In last week's e-mail, I'd been asked how folks enjoy the vintage computing hobby. My particular niche is programming, and I would like to get into hardware interfacing with external devices, and more gaming. I was curious if others wanted to jump in and talk about some of the ways you enjoy the retrocomputing hobby. Is it retro gaming, collecting/restoring, programming, online activities, ? Walked all over Disneyland today, and boy are my feet tired. But it was really fun Chat with you all soon, - Earl
|
|
|
Post by miner2049er on Jan 17, 2006 6:08:40 GMT -5
My particular niche is programming, and I would like to get into hardware interfacing with external devices, and more gaming. I'm mainly a gamer but I don't mind getting my hands dirty now and then with the simple stuff. I have my xbox .xml config files sorted for example. I used to have a P3 500 which was just emulators sat on a clean windows install and that was fun to set up and use but I had to give up the room to an unexpected arrival. Walked all over Disneyland today, and boy are my feet tired. But it was really fun Hey I know how that feels.
|
|
|
Post by thurstan on Jan 17, 2006 11:16:01 GMT -5
For me it has originally been for playing games mainly C64 and Amstrad games. But now it has turned into collecting old computers and consoles. Quite an obsession it has turned into but I have a decent collection now, time to focus on the more rare machines. A commodore PET is next on my list!!
The C64 has really been the focus of my retro hobby especially hooking it up to my PC and going online with it. Also the C64 music scene I am very into, the SID tunes really were and still are superb to listen to. I can now transfer SID tunes from my PC to play natively on the C64 for that authentic sound blasting out of my 1084S commodore monitor!
As for programming I would like to get into programming a retro machine, but find it easier to do on a PC. I am currently learning DarkBasic and it seems quite good so far
|
|
|
Post by Golan Klinger on Jan 17, 2006 14:20:51 GMT -5
My interest in retrocomputing started out purely as a nostalgic trip. I was trying to relive my youth by returning to a time when computing was fun rather than work so one weekend I setup my SX-64. I played a few games and tinkered with some programs I had written when I was a teenager and I had a really good time. I found it relaxing and comforting. I started using my 64 every weekend and then I switched to emulators which meant I could use a 64 at any time in any place. That's when things went into overdrive. I started reading through old magazines and browsing the web for Commodore-oriented sites and eventually I went to a user group meeting. Now I spend all my leisure time (and then some) programming, playing games and interacting with other members of the retro Commodore community, mostly through telnet accessible bulletin boards and the IRC. What's odd is that I'm having more fun now than I remember having when I was a kid. Also, I can stay up as late as I want playing Paradroid.
|
|
|
Post by Jeff Ledger on Jan 17, 2006 14:47:50 GMT -5
I'm another person who re-purchased a 64 for the nostalgia trip. At the time things were very bad and I needed a good way to relax so I wandered up to Ebay and picked up a 64 and a 1702 hoping to relive some better times. It wasn't until after I'd played a few games did I hit the net to find out if anyone else was crazy enough to still tinker with this creaky old machines, or if perhaps I was the only one. <smirk> Two months later I hit the mother-load so to speak, a local secondhand store had several 64's, and 1541's that they didn't know what to do with. I bought them all for $50.00, filling my car for two trips. Several of these units I repaired and sold as starter kits for others who wanted to get involved. For me, retrocomputing is interesting because of two reasons. First, I enjoy the many friendships I've discovered over the last 5 years as I've re-entered this as a hobby. I've met people for all backgrounds, parts of the world, and viewpoints. All of us share a common love for these creaky old machines. Secondly, retrocomputing continues to hold the challenge for those who like to play with the hardware side of computing. If I want some sound feature on my PC, I have only to drop $9 for a new soundcard, and within mins of installing and loading the driver I've upgraded my PC. On the other hand, if I want to add three more SID voices to my 64, I've got to hunt down the documentation, buy a few parts, solder together, and cross my fingers that I both read, and built everything correctly... If it works, eureka! I have something that I built with my own hands. Retrocomputing still holds that adventure that the PC lost a long time ago. Oldbitcollector
|
|
telengard
Junior Member
Stuck in the 80s
Posts: 51
|
Post by telengard on Jan 17, 2006 23:57:24 GMT -5
Hi everybody, In last week's e-mail, I'd been asked how folks enjoy the vintage computing hobby. My particular niche is programming, and I would like to get into hardware interfacing with external devices, and more gaming. I was curious if others wanted to jump in and talk about some of the ways you enjoy the retrocomputing hobby. Is it retro gaming, collecting/restoring, programming, online activities, ? Walked all over Disneyland today, and boy are my feet tired. But it was really fun Chat with you all soon, - Earl Hmm, I'd have to say all of the above. This would probably be the order though: Playing games Collecting/Restoring/Fixing ( I collect other 8 bit stuff too like magazines/catalogs ) 8 bit music (love using quadrasid etc) Programming HW interfacing/projects Emulation There isn't much I can find not to like about the old computers. ~telengard
|
|