Cursed Apple IIgs, Odd Windows 1.0, iMac Prototypes, the AT&T UNIX PC, And More (VCF East 2021)

Рет қаралды 28,988

2 жыл бұрын

So what happens when you release a wild NCommander at an event celebrating vintage computing? You end up with Vintage Computer Federation and a sleep derived NCommander shooting 120 GiB of footage over the course of three days, and a 26 minute long video covering this fact. During that weekend, I helped create an exceptionally cursed Apple II/gs running flight simulator, then spent a lot of time covering the AT&T UNIX PC, a strange copy of Windows 1.0, a look at an iMac prototype, an HP Minicomputer, followed by a DEC Rainbow, and so much more.
My socials:
Patreon: www.patreon.com/ncommander
Twitter: FOSSfirefighter
Discord: discord.gg/V8esNah
Blog: casadevall.pro
Channels and persons referenced:
ActionRetro: kzfaq.info
Mac84: kzfaq.info
Mike's Mac Shack: kzfaq.info
Ian Primus/Sark: crtdude
During VCF, I set up an exhibit with my friend sirocyl demonstrating the Compaq Portable that I had been repairing ont his channel. Of course, just before show, the machine gave up the ghost, so I did a bunch of emergency repairs, and got it ready before heading down to Wall, NJ.
While down during the first day, I ended up helping setup a lot of the machines on display, such as the XT 286, an IBM PC 5155, and setting up OS/2 on a PS/1. We also had our first deaths of the show, such as three PS/2's on the bench of healing, a Commdore PC floppy drive, and more. Still, we got it all sorted out in the end.
The second day, I met @ActionRetro, and checked his cursed Mac collection, while also meeting @Mac84, who unfortunately, I didn't get to talk long with. However, I did spend quite of time trying to dump the firmware off @MichaelAStanhope's iMac G5, which involved telneting into OpenFirmware and more. Afterwords, I spent some time browsing consignment.
In the consignment area, I found a version of Windows 1.0 for the Zenith Z100, which has not had a proper dump, then setup Windows on the actual Z100 in the show. The Z100 is a non-PC computer capable of running its own special versions of DOS and Windows. I also tested the hello world programs from my first retrotech videos.
Afterwards, I spent some time with the system that sank the Bell System, the AT&T UNIX PC. This system has it's own unique UI based off MGR, and is built around System V UNIX. I really wish I had a lot more time to spend with it
Following a night of almost no sleep, I then spent some tim eexploring an HP 3000 Micro minicomputer, which had Dungeon, a bunch of programming tools, and more, with a really amazing terminal, and then topped it off with a DEC Rainbow 100, which brought VCF to a close.
This was then ended with the CHRP based RS/6000 I found at consignment.
Chapter Marks:
00:00 - Intro
03:00 - The Compaq Portable
04:50 - Retro Machine Setup and OS/2 Unboxing
06:38 - Apple II PC Compatibility (and Flight Sim)
09:30 - Cursed Mac Collection
10:33 - Archiving Firmware From Prototype imac G5
12:07 - 8088 MPH in COLOR!
13:42 - Windows 1.0 on the Z100
17:45 - AT&T UNIX PC
20:06 - HP 3000 Micro XE w/ MPE Minicomputer
21:57 - DEC Rainbow 100
25:23 - Dawn Of A New Day
Music Provided by Epidemic Sound, with the tracks used in order:
- A Sophisticated Affair - Gavin Luke
- Where It Started - Spectacles Wallet and Watch
- Hidden Enigma - Dream Cave
- Progressive Progress - Howard Harper-Barnes
- Control Bridge STEMS INSTRUMENTS - Etienne Roussel
- Don't Fear the Future - Philip Ayers
- Up and Beyond - Airae
- Prescient - Howard Harper-Barnes
- Sacred Waters - Gabriel Lewis
- Seeking Justice - Raymond Grouse
- For the Many - Jon Bjork
- A Celtic Blessing - Bonnie Grace
- Valiant - Dream Cave
- A Healing Component - Spectacles Wallet and Watch
- In the Mystic Woods - Spectacles Wallet and Watch
- Chariots - Gavin Luke
- Until You Left - Madison York
#vcf #retrocomputing #oddware #ncommander

Пікірлер: 98

@NCommander 2 жыл бұрын

To Past Me: Its Flyback TRANSFORMER, not Flyback Transistor >.< ... (ARGH)

@paulstubbs7678 2 жыл бұрын

Close enough, it could be the line out transistor causing all the drama.

@Fuzy2K 2 жыл бұрын

I didn't even notice you said that :P

@MrGencyExit64 Жыл бұрын

Was just going to comment on that, rofl.

@DanTDMJace 11 ай бұрын

@@MrGencyExit64 lol

@Mac84 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! This perfectly encapsulates VCF East! It was awesome meeting you at the show. Sorry we didn’t get too much time to chat, I was busy trying to help a few others get their Macs happy. Hope to see you next time! 🤓

@SFSAtlas 2 жыл бұрын

Finally, quality on KZfaq. That's rare.

@orangejjay Жыл бұрын

You must be looking in the wrong places. There's TONS of awesome stuff on KZfaq across a massive slew of topics. Look harder.

@generallyunimportant Жыл бұрын

@@orangejjay you can't really look in the right place when the personalized advertising forces you into viewing content of a lesser quality than desired. also wow that was a fancy sentence. didn't reallty know any other way to say waht i had in mind though ,_,

@WilliamHostman 2 жыл бұрын

When you said, "I can cause cursed computing to happen without actively trying," My Switch decided KZfaq had to stop. Also, there was a port of Microsoft Flight Simulator for the Apple II line, and it runs just fine on the IIgs. So seeing that is no surprise. Finding out one's using the x86 card? Ok, a little odd. As for OS2? it's fans could see no flaws, its detractors no benefits. Much like Windows.

@garthhowe297 2 жыл бұрын

That was an interesting episode. I love seeing the variety of machines that existed in the 70's and 80's.

@stephenwinson4302 2 жыл бұрын

Our first computer when I was a kid was a DEC Rainbow with a green screen. It was the machine I first played Zork 1 on. So I guess I can blame DEC for my love of video games. Nice to see someone booting up one of the old Infocom games on it, memories of simpler times. Thanks for putting this up.

@AnonymousFreakYT 2 жыл бұрын

6:30 - Hey, when OS/2 2.0 came out (actually before, as I was in the beta program) I ran it on a PS/2 Model 30/286. Yes, a 286. Because I had an Evergreen Technologies 386SX upgrade slapped on, with 4 MB of RAM, and a 20 MB hard drive. This system was *BELOW* OS/2's official minimum specs, and I masochistically ran it anyway.

@batorerdyniev9805 2 жыл бұрын

Wait what

@vonatok 2 жыл бұрын

wait.... what, how did you... put a... timestamp?

@AnonymousFreakYT 2 жыл бұрын

@@vonatok You just type a time,? And KZfaq turns it into a link to that point in the video. Here’s me typing just a four color twenty: 4:20 - YT turns it into a link.

@NCommander 2 жыл бұрын

@@vonatok It was released to Patreons beforehand.

@neozeed8139 2 жыл бұрын

I ran it on a 386sx-16 4mb of ram, CGA card and 40mb disk.... so painful! so slow! so chunky, so 32bit awesome!

@TrolleyMC 2 жыл бұрын

You should try and get a UNIX machine, I’d think that’d be so cool

@revoltosotintan 2 жыл бұрын

I like the backgroud music !

@askhowiknow5527 2 жыл бұрын

The floppy drives on the DEC Rainbow are so neat looking. Very clever

@WayneBorean 2 жыл бұрын

Hot dog, my eldest pointed me at this video. The first business computer I used was a XT Clone running CPM86. I’ve owned both a Compaq luggable, as well as the later one that folded like a box. C64, Timex Sinclair, PC, Mac, CPM, DOS, Unix, GEOS C64 and PC, and at one point a really weird Sperry OS called Mapper. I love this stuff. You have gained another follower.

@fabiangirsch2391 2 жыл бұрын

So happy I found your channel. Keep up the good work, it’s most appreciated.

@ceticobr 2 жыл бұрын

Video production values keep on improving! Good job!

@IgnoreMyChan 2 жыл бұрын

1:06 jesus christ they're waaay too close to the steering wheel. You can't turn like that! Slide or tilt the seat back, they're driving like a grandma. 🤣

@systemchris 2 жыл бұрын

Nice video! Enjoyed seeing all the weird stuff

@daol03 2 жыл бұрын

very nice to see all these old and functional systems, no bloatware and telementry anywhere :)

@RodrigoDeVincenzoMonteiro 2 жыл бұрын

Fond memories running Spinrite on MFM disks :) - great video!

@AdamChristensen 2 жыл бұрын

It was an amazing event! My current profile picture is a selfie with the WeatherStar 4000 that was on display. 😍

@ryjelsum 2 жыл бұрын

Please do a CP/M video! I was born in the late 90s, so CP/M is a part of computing history I'm completely unfamiliar with since it doesn't have nearly as much software that's fun to use in the modern day for most like MS/DOS does..

@evilpenguinson6808 2 жыл бұрын

Flight simulator on an Apple II is super cool to see :)

@yeppiidev 2 жыл бұрын

11:14 very disrespectful 😤 haha just kidding it's amazing to see these old machines still work

@punboleh7081 Жыл бұрын

It was nice to see OS/2 again :) I wouldn't mind installing it from disks if that is what it takes to use the Workplace Shell again. Actually, I was really impressed by the installation program back then. Being a programmer myself, that image based progress bar was intriguing. Back in the day I used OS/2 with 4MB RAM, it was thrashing most of the time but boy was it worth it.

@RTheren 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic. Really wish I could be there....

@fllthdcrb Жыл бұрын

Oh, wow! For a little while, years ago, I had a Rainbow that someone gave me. Mostly just played around with it, but it was interesting in its own way. ISTR it had an amber display like the second one you were using.

@nticompass 2 жыл бұрын

I was here, VCF was so much fun! I have an AT&T UNIX PC and I love it. I should do a video on it, I have lots of software disks for it.

@LeftyPem 2 жыл бұрын

There needs to be a Cursed Computing/Gaming Expo.

@Boostland 2 жыл бұрын

one of the first computers I used at the BHP research labs was the HP 2645A terminal even played backgammon on it at lunchtime

@smakfu1375 2 жыл бұрын

That HP terminal is gorgeous, and the HP3000 hardware (even the later PA-RISC "XL" based hardware) was all very impressive. But man, I hated MPE/ix with a passion. I tried everything to ensure that I only had to deal with the HP-UX (HP9000) side of the house (I had no complaints about the HP9000 / HP-UX stuff; I loved my 735/125 workstation), but I'd keep getting looped into work on the 3000. I miss working on VMS, HP-UX, Irix, etc., but I sure don' t miss MPE.

@SlantsDraws Жыл бұрын

Perhaps the true VCF East was the friends we made along the way

@shodanxx 2 жыл бұрын

I wish you could visit the 386 PC of my youth in 1992 to 1996 with quick menu , mod music and so many game demos and weird stuff from the CDs of French magazine my dad purchased at the tobacco store. So much early post BBS pre internet computer art presumably lost too time. Wish I could just get my hands back on that 200 mb hard drive !

@andresbravo2003 2 жыл бұрын

Boy this has ton of them. Thanks for the video then.

@chaoticsystem2211 Жыл бұрын

Ooow. the Zenith has a nice font

@ocircles738 2 жыл бұрын

Wait, 20k subs? Been watching a bunch of ur videos and I genuinely thought I was watching like a 2 million sub channel. This is criminally underrated. Keep it up and you'll blow up for sure.

@NJRoadfan 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry I wasn't able to make it. If you want that copy of Lotus 1-2-3 to archive, feel free to contact me via e-mail. Anyway, I used a HP3000 in high school. They were long in tooth by the late 90s but my high school was STILL teaching HP3000 BASIC for intro to computer science courses (eventually replaced with Visual Basic) and they were using the machine for the school scheduling and grading system. I guess if it ain't broke...... Also I have a PC Transporter, so I guess my Apple IIgs is cursed. I even got it working with 1.44MB HD 3.5" floppies!

@cutemartinj 2 жыл бұрын

Love the Zelda countdown :)

@NerdlyPleasures 2 жыл бұрын

Someone took inspiration from Majora's Mask!

@roaridse 2 жыл бұрын

When watching the HP mini with tapedrive, I started thinking of another system which would be great to have look into.... RS/6000 ... then you got it in the end of the video.. Hope you make a video about it...

@NCommander 2 жыл бұрын

It unfortunately died on me right as I released this video. We might know what the problem is, but time will tell ...

@Nexxxeh Жыл бұрын

Archivist, entertainer... and hero.

@MrLukealbanese 2 жыл бұрын

Superb.

@TimSedlmeyer 2 жыл бұрын

There was at least one more machine there which could run both CPM-80 and MS-DOS. In RetroTech Chris's VCF East video he briefly shows a Seequa Chameleon Plus on one of the tables. This luggable contained a Z-80 and 8088 allowing it to run CPM-80 software.

@NCommander 2 жыл бұрын

I must have missed that one. There was a lot to see and not a lot of time.

@paulstubbs7678 2 жыл бұрын

Made my day, pity I'm on the other side of the planet, so seeing these in person is out for me.

@henson2k 2 жыл бұрын

I had a great time, many thanks to all exhibitors!!! PS: Was hoping to see some MSX machines but oh, well..

@NCommander 2 жыл бұрын

I'm not certain if I saw any MSX machines there at all ... if there was, I missed it.

@Bitwise1024 2 жыл бұрын

Man, do I ever miss the smell of warm electronics while computing.

@chucku00 Жыл бұрын

This isn't a NiN video. The NCR Decision Mate V is also quite versatile since it can use MS-DOS 2.11, CP/M, CP/M86 and CP/M 68K. I briefly used this model in the 80's and I remember it could exchange data between MS-DOS and CP/M but I didn't have the opportunity to use CP/M86 or CP/M68K.

@michaelperugini4199 11 ай бұрын

I am a former AIX administrator, use to run 43p and SP6000 nodes

@cheechyba Жыл бұрын

Yo, is it an illusion, or is the picture of that hp terminal at 20:16 really looking that sharp and "crisp" in real life as well?

@marciomaiajr 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome video. That AT&T machine has a very interesting design. It's a shame it flopped on the market.

@excessionary 2 жыл бұрын

Are those day titles a reference to Pathologic? Or am I mis-remembering that... If so, very niche and cool.

@NCommander 2 жыл бұрын

Majora's Mask

@Whiterabbit124 2 жыл бұрын

boosting engagement

@ww21943 2 жыл бұрын

Haha I saw myself in your footage!

@victiln666 2 жыл бұрын

Hey, this might be a weird question, but have you played Pathologic? The chapter screen have a similar energy.

@NCommander 2 жыл бұрын

It was based on Majora's Mask, never played PathLogic.

@wizardx4187 11 ай бұрын

the flyback transistor

@Wertercat Жыл бұрын

Any luck on the Z100 Windows images?

@NCommander Жыл бұрын

Unfortunately, no.

@forbiddenera 2 жыл бұрын

I really need to get my Pivot working for a video but I really need 5.25 floppies or something

@asanjuas 2 жыл бұрын

Did you tell a correct Sound Blaster to play 8088 Domination? A sound blaster(sound card) for ISA 8 bits??

@NCommander 2 жыл бұрын

I'd actually need a soundblaster compatible, the PSU in the Portable doesn't generate -5v, and the original SB card is one of the very few that needs it for the pre-emp circuit. There are ways of wiring in a voltage regulator to fix it, but I didn't bother. I did have an AdLib in there though and had Ultima 6 on the Portable.

@asanjuas 7 ай бұрын

Atx PSU not modern for -5v and -12v Will be good if you need that sound blaster 2.0 send me a beep.

@cemmy410 2 жыл бұрын

Oh hey, I know sirocyl! Tell him I say hi

@compucat 2 жыл бұрын

Hey, you know sirocyl too? Small world

@oakley4595 2 жыл бұрын

Bummed I couldn't make it... I dissected a ATT unix machine in 5th grade for science fair and would have loved to see it again Also have a Compaq portable that I haven't turned on in about 15 years, afraid to try from all these horror stories I've been seeing

@oakley4595 2 жыл бұрын

Also my ATT must have had the PC card, because I got Mickeys Runaway Zoo running on it kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rpmUi7CDnr-WpZ8.html

@marksmith9566 2 жыл бұрын

Were there any Kaypro machines?

@NCommander 2 жыл бұрын

Not that I saw :(, C/PM was very much not present.

@Walczyk Жыл бұрын

Tbh computers were much more transparent back in the early 90s, debugging is horrible nowadays

@TheJamieRamone 2 жыл бұрын

The flyback TRANSISTOR?

@NCommander 2 жыл бұрын

... transformer ... how did that go through all my Patreons without being noticed ...

@grossteilfahrer 2 жыл бұрын

@22:52 nope. the RX50 floppies are not dead. Theyre QD, single sided 400K. Quad Density. Another magnetic medium than most other floppies of the era, and not compatible with MSdos machines (and delibarately so according to wikipedia) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Digital_Equipment_Corporation#RX50 Edit: saw you had teh right media for the other machine.. I jumped.