This article explores the question of whether we've reached a point of diminishing returns in computing power. It notes historical mispredictions about computer demand and highlights the rapid increase in processing capabilities, comparing modern smartphones to 1980s supercomputers. The author discusses how software engineers will always utilize available resources and questions if the continued pursuit of ever-increasing compute power is truly beneficial. It suggests that for many personal projects, existing hardware is more than sufficient, and that the "enough" threshold is highly dependent on individual needs and tasks.
This Hackaday article discusses the historical significance of the Atari 800 and 400 computers, released in 1979, and their impact on the early home computer market. It highlights how the Atari 800, with its music synthesizer, bit-mapped graphics, and sprites, compared favorably to competitors like the Apple II, Commodore PET, and TRS-80.
A Landel Mailbug email appliance was repurposed into an AI console using an ESP32 microcontroller, text-to-speech, and the ChatGPT API.
Microsoft has released version 1.1 of Microsoft BASIC for the 6502 under an MIT license. This version, from mid-1978, supports the Commodore PET, KIM-1, and early Apple models. It's a version that has circulated unofficially for some time, now with licensing clarified.
Niklas Roy has created a modern-day take on the two-wheeled robots used in schools in the 1980s with Logo programming. His robots are vector plotters that create artwork and can be built with an Arduino Nano.
A retrospective on the MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor, celebrating its 50th anniversary. The article discusses its history, impact on early home computers and consoles, and its continued (though niche) presence in modern electronics.
Han has created a 512-bit magnetic core memory module and documented the process, including wiring details and oscilloscope traces. The module has passed extensive testing, demonstrating the reliability of ferrite memory. The article details the principles of magnetic core memory and provides links to resources for building your own.
The article details the history of the TRS-80 Model I computer, highlighting its cost-cutting design, limitations, and impact on the early home computer market. It discusses its hardware, software (Level I & II BASIC, CP/M compatibility), and eventual replacement by the Model II and Model III. It also touches on the community's nickname 'Trash-80' and its lasting legacy.
A modern replica of the 1955 Elektronensaldierer ES 24, built by Heinz Nixdorf, is on display in the HNF computer museum. The replica features 204 vacuum tubes and a USB interface for modern communication, making it a fascinating blend of old and new technology.
Playing chess has always been a bellwether for computers. The game isn’t trivial, but the rules are managably simple. However, the game is too complex to be easily solved entirely, so you have to use tricky software to play a credible game. Big computers do have an advantage, of course. But Microchess — arguably the first commercial game for home computers — was able to play on tiny machines like the Kim-1. Joachim Froholt » interviewed Peter Jennings » — the man behind Microchess to learn the whole story of its creation.
