VCF-SE 10.0 — Exhibits

Hands-on demonstrations of historic computing are the heart of the Vintage Computer Festival series.   Also don’t forget to check out the Vendors coming ( they’re at the bottom of the page)

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Check back to see updates new exhibits as they are registered!

Registered exhibits:

Raising the Bar: Half-Life at 25Andrew Taylor — Simpsonville, SC

A celebration of 25 years of the original Half-Life, the historic groundbreaking title by Valve Software. Explore the game from its earliest Alpha stages, its official expansions, vast modding scene, and later ports to home consoles.

Relatives of the TI-99/4A  — Jon Guidry  — Dacula, GA

See close relatives of the TI-99/4A up and in action – The Tomy Pyuuta, TI-99/2, and TI CC-40! Play from a wide selection of Japanese early 1980s games on the Pyuuta.

Chatting with ☎️, 📺, and 🖨️ — Jon Guidry  — Dacula, GA

Curious about old school communication methods and how people used them to connect? Come by this interactive exhibit and play! Parents, come show your kids how to call each other (or their friend’s cell phone) on Western Electric rotary phones! Connect terminals to each other via modems! Then, type to each other on video terminals and thermal printing terminals. Bring your messages home with you from the printing terminal!

Commodore 8 Bit — Dan Goswick — Blairsville, GA

Assortment of the earliest computers made by Commodore, from the PET to the 264 series.

TI-99/4A  — Alan Rateliff, II  — Tallahassee, FL

Several interactive TI-99/4A systems for games and drawing, the “Don’t Mess With Texas” mega-demo, and “Dragon’s Lair.”

Pittsburgh Classic Mac Lab — Scott Baret — Pittsburgh, PA

Out there, it’s 2023. In here, it’s always 1992. Relive the good old days of school computer labs. Come play the network edition of Oregon Trail over AppleTalk cables, chase Carmen Sandiego around the United States, sharpen your mathematics skills in Number Munchers or Math Blaster, take a break with some Shufflepuck Cafe, draw a masterpiece in Kid Pix, or print out a Print Shop banner on a big noisy ImageWriter printer. All machines are authentic, original, restored Macintosh SE, Classic, and LC series computers.

∀2 Retro Computing — David Kuder — Smyrna,  GA

Modern hardware for vintage computers from ∀2 Retro Computing. You may have seen it mentioned in users groups or on YouTube videos, now is your chance to check out the ∀2 Analog VGA card in person. Cards will be available for purchase at the show while quantities last. New hardware from ∀2 Retro Computing will also make it’s official debut at the show.

Historic Computer Replicas — Marc Tessier — Columbus, GA

Come see our quality handcrafted historic computer replicas for sale.   There will also be a surprise announcement at the show, don’t miss it!

Midrange Madness! — Sean Ellis — Opelika AL

Everyone remembers the Commodore 64, but who remembers the business computers that made small and medium businesses viable for millions worldwide? Join us for an exhibition of IBM’s midrange computing history and see some of these lost business applications live again.

Pong on a chip! — Rob Mitchell — Atlanta, GA

The word Pong is synonymous with the many home TV tennis games of the 1970s. In its simplest form the game is an analog input / output computing device connected to a dial-tuning television. By 1976 several manufacturers brought to market products which concentrated all the functionality the game of Pong into a single integrated circuit (I.C. chip). Another chip added color to the display. With the turn of a knob, a player can experience the joy of batting a ball across the TV screen against another player. “Avoid missing ball for high score!”

A History of the Graphical User Interface — Nathan Lineback — Marietta,  GA

See where Microsoft Windows started, what GUIs came before it and try them out for yourself, at a blazing 4.77mhz. Interactive demonstrations of VisiCorp Visi-On a GUI for the PC that came before Windows, Microsoft Windows 1.0, and many more such as GeoWorks, GEM, OS/2, and even Microsoft BOB!

#FujiNet / Meatloaf — Jamie Johnston — Jonesboro, GA

Stop by to see the latest developments in FujiNet and Meatloaf. FujiNet began as a network adapter for Atari 8-bit personal computers and has grown into a multi-use all-purpose peripheral targeting multiple platforms including Coleco Adam, Commodore 64, RC2014, and Apple II. Meatloaf is a separate project that has shared goals with FujiNet but is more focused on Commodore systems and has a few other things in mind that are beyond the scope of FujiNet. Both are open source /open hardware projects and are sharing code and ideas. Come see the future of 8bit computing!

Logo Robotics — David Brown — Cumming, GA

BBC Micro Model B with Logo and a Floor Turtle. Interactive exhibit where you can draw your own picture.

Apple Lisa: 40 & Kicking — Sean Ellis — Olelika, AL 

Come experience the Apple Lisa and the Office System, just like it was in 1984. Visitors will get a chance to use the Office System’s built-in applications, as well as a variety of rare third-party software preserved thanks to the efforts of Bitsavers and the LisaEm community. Draw cool pictures in LisaDraw and take them home thanks to the Canon PJ-1080A printer, the world’s first commercially available colour inkjet printer!

Digitizers! — Nolan Gilmore — Tucker, GA

Just a fun exhibit featuring a few digitizers (or graphics tablets as they are generally known today) from the 1980s. Guests will be able to use them to interact with period correct software such as AutoCAD, Deluxe Paint, and more, all running on vintage hardware.

Systems that will (most likely) be featured include: Atari 800 with KoalaPad, IBM PS/2 series machine with Summasketch I, Commodore Amiga 2000 with Summasketch II, and a Macintosh II series machine with Wacom SD-510

A Look at the Lynx — Mark Little — Atlanta GA

This small display showcases the world’s first color handheld console, the Atari Lynx, which hit the market in 1989 and was discontinued in 1994. One working Lynx I console from 1989 and two working Atari Lynx II consoles from 1991, all of which sport new LCD screen upgrades, are available for hands-on gaming. Additionally, over 70 game cards, all with original manual booklets or posters and in original boxes, are on display, along with various cases and other add-on accessories. Take-one handouts outlining the brief history of the Atari Lynx and its legacy are also available. And Mark Little, host and creator of the Atari Lynx HandyCast podcast, will be on hand in person to show off the system and its small but amazing library of games, many of them ports of popular arcade hits. If you’re a recent gamer, a retro gamer, or you’re just plain curious about seeing this ahead-of-its time system, be sure to check this display out. But bring lots of AA batteries… …just kidding; power will be provided.

Computers and Cable TV — David Kuder — Smyrna GA

A small Cable TV demonstration system including PreVUE and Weather channels. Demonstrations will be given of the equipment used by small Cable TV operators and Local TV stations to bring you Cable TV before the age of High-Def. Display will include a NABU PC and Adapter, an early example of Cable Modem technology from the 1980’s!

(Not so) Boring UNIX Workstations — David Kuder — Smyrna GA

Three not so boring beige boxes that run flavors of UNIX: Apple’s Quadra 950 with A/UX – Two operating systems in one and Apple’s response to POSIX compatibility being required for government procurement. HP’s 9000 Model 712/100 a PA-RISC machine able to run HPUX or NeXTStep. DIGITAL’s DEC 3000 M300x Alpha running Compaq Tru64 UNIX. What were they used for, and what they can still do today?

Literally Old School Devices — Clifford Scarborough — DeLand FL

Explore the 1980’s and 90’s classroom computers from Apple, IBM, Tandy, and Commodore. Play and experience edutainment games that where used in the classroom.

Computer diversity through time — Jordan Doth — Landrum SC

Come see many different machines from many different brands ( IBM, DEC, Apple, Commodore, Kaypro, Compaq, as well as some some unique one of a kind computers. ). Added from last year’s display include  an  Imsai 8080, and some classic adm terminals.

Apple II’s: The good, bad and ugly — Kyle Richardson — Stockbridge GA

In the wild, wild world of vintage computers, technology is found in a wide range of conditions. This collection focuses on Apple II’s with starting with the Apple II+ through to the Apple IIGS. Complete systems will be displayed with some “good” systems being fully functional and interactive, some “bad” systems in need of repairs, and some “ugly” systems in need of cleaning and restoration. Some repairs and restorations will be actively demonstrated.

Multimedia Workstations — Christopher Teaderman — Dallas GA

Come experience some of the machines that made the multimedia revolution of the 1990s and the decade’s beloved video games and movies possible!

Amiga 4000 – 1992, 25 MHz 68040, AGA chipset, ZZ9000 RTG card, AmigaOS 3.2. Aside from being the platform of choice for many video games, this is where LightWave 3D got its start as part of the Video Toaster software suite, as well as Blender’s predecessor, Traces, making the Amiga the entry-level 3DCG solution of choice.

SiliconGraphics Octane – 1997, 400 MHz MIPS R12000, VPro V10 graphics, IRIX 6.5.30. This is what the big-budget special effects houses used, capable of running numerous 3DCG software suites such as Maya, Softimage|XSI, Blender, and LightWave 3D at speeds most other platforms could only dream of.

Amiga 2000 : Worlds of possibility — Ryan Ashford — Warner Robins GA

Interact personally with an Amiga 2000 and see just how powerful this forward-thinking system was. From emulation to multitasking to video editing, this system could do it all in a time where most computers could barely display color and had primitive sound synthesis capabilities

Altair 8800-dm Foley #15 Restoration — Tina Ashford — Macon GA

Discover a rare piece of computing history at the Vintage Computer Festival: the Altair 8800-dm Foley #15. Acquired in 1978 for $4,995 and generously donated by an MGA alumnus, this iconic machine arrived at the Museum of Technology (MoT) in a non-functional state. Our dedicated MoT staff meticulously restored it, dismantling, cleaning, repairing, recapping, and rewiring. Now fully revived, come explore and experience this significant artifact from the early days of personal computing. Don’t miss the chance to witness the Altair 8800-dm Foley #15, a remarkable symbol of technological innovation.

Behind the Screens — Ethan Bovard — Atlanta GA

Ever wondered what powers The Weather Channel? How about TV Guide? We’re showcasing the purpose built systems that powered the local forecast and scrolling TV listings in your area from the 1980s until today, ranging from custom machines to Pentium PCs.

The clicky-clack Tic-Tac-Toe Computer! (1961) — Jim B. Steiner — Atlanta GA

Jim returns with a show favorite, the Tic-Tac-Toe computer!   This device was designed from scratch, using parts and electromechanical relays from 6 pinball machines (and a piece of furniture). The computer  started as a project for the high school humanities class, but when the science fair coordinator heard of it, he encouraged Jim to finish it in time to enter it in the school science fair.  Additionally Jim was further inspired by the 1960 winners,  the inspiration for the movie “October Sky” Rocket Boys from the small town of Coalwood, West Virginia.  Needless to say, their success led him to have it finished in time to enter the school science fair. The Tic-Tac-Toe Computer then progressed from the High School Science Fair to the Regional Science Fair and to the State Science Fair.  Come see it still in operation and try your luck at beating it!

DOOM Lan — Sam Lysinger — Atlanta, GA

Gamers behold!  The Doom LAN makes its triumphant return to VCFSE 8.0! From its humble introduction at the first VCFSE 1.0, the Doom LAN has triggered memories of LAN parties of days past and introduced many a single-player emulation to the original, raw, period correct, DOS IPX, multi-player experience.  No LCD panels, no Internet, no Windows key on the keyboard, and… no mouse! *gasp*  You won’t get any more authentic than this without a Pizza and 2-liter bottle of Dr Pepper orMountain dew.  Stop by, fight the forces of Evil, and tell tales of great battles fought and won.