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** Friday April 4: Exhibits are closed to the public **
** Sat-Sun April 5-6: Exhibits are open **
List of Exhibits
The Apple 410 Color Plotter In Action! — Kate “Cat” Szkotnicki
Did you know that Apple made a plotter? they sure did, but now it’s a rare piece, and doesn’t have a lot of love. See the plotter in action, take a stab at some controls on your own, and see how Cat has worked with modern tech like 3D printing to bring these forgotten machines back to life!
Start Me Up: 30 years of Windows 95 — Alexander Pierson, Katherine Ahlskog
30 years ago, Microsoft introduced Windows 95 and set the standard for graphical user interfaces that is still in use today. We will be displaying all major versions of 95, from one of the Chicago Beta releases, through the final update from 1997, on a wide variety of hardware from a number of prominent manufacturers. Come experience what made Windows 95 a household name, play some games, and see what made computing accessible and easy for everyone.
IBM PS/2 and MIcrochannel Mayhem — Ryan Burke
On display will be 8 PS/2 and MicroChannel machines, including a luggable, NCR server, Eduquest, and more. the exhibit will also be demonstrating some of what makes late 80s and early 90s computers interesting.
FujiNet — Ben Krein, Jeff Piepmeier, Andy Diller, Jaime Idolpx, Thomas Cherryhomes, Frank Rachel
Six Years of FujiNet! This is the year of new “bring-ups,” exciting advances, and more features for FujiNet, the multi-peripheral network device for vintage computer enthusiasts. FujiNet made its way onto two new platforms and will be demonstrating the compact Macintosh (68k) and the TRS-80 Color Computer prototypes. The team made firmware and hardware advances for the Apple II+/e/c/gs and Commodore VIC-20/64/16/Plus4 and will be showing the Apple II production FujiNet device. Atari 400/800/XL/XE remains a perennial favorite seeing the development of aNode Desktop and moar High Score Enabled games – you can compete with your friends and other Atari gamers! The game lobby and original multiplayer games emerged onto the scene leveraging the distinctive network device and protocol adaptors. More vendors are producing devices enabled by FujiNet’s open source licenses making FujiNet more widely available. The team is more active than ever and looking forward to reaching all vintage platforms.
New Old Computers — Kevin Gonzalez
Many people have successfully undertaken the effort in recreating retro motherboards and have brought them to market. This exhibit is to show the work that they have done for the retro community, by displaying a handful of reproduction motherboards. They range from 1 to 1 recreations of the original boards to complete new designs, using the original computer standard. Here is a list of reproduction boards that will be on display:
Vicky Twenty (Reproduction Commodore VIC-20CR)
Sixty Clone (Reproduction Commodore 64)
Little Sixteen (Recreated Commodore 16)
C128 Neo (Reproduction Commodore 128)
Amiga 500++ (Reproduction Amiga 500)
Omega Home Computer (New motherboard based on the MSX 2 standard, using original parts)
(Display list subject to change)
Altair 50th birthday — William Sudbrink
Following on the “sound of vintage” theme, these S-100 bus systems will all feature some vintage sound generation or sound analysis. Secret messages may be “decoded”.
Heathkit H89 and 3D Printed H8 case — Darrell Pelan, Joe Travis, Glenn Roberts, Evelyn Pelan
Preserving and updating the venerable Heathkit H8, H89 and Z100 computers. See a 3D-printed case for the H8. Hear the Votrax SC-01 (speech) and Heath HA-8-2 (music) synthesizers. Demos of CF storage with real time clock; USB flash drive interfacing (via FTDI VDIP1) and ESP32 interface for file transfer; backlit Cherry keyboards for H8/H9/H19; H8 with ROMWBW and full MSX capability for classic gaming; Z100 with HDMI graphics, GoTek floppy emulator and DREM solid state hard drive emulation.
The Foenix F256 meets the Moog Modular 15+ — Michael Weitman, Stefany Allaire
The Foenix F256 is a powerhouse for Computer Music, with two SIDs, two PSGs, a Yamaha OPL3, and General MIDI Dream IC all embedded. We will be showing a variety of Foenix systems including an F256 connected to a Moog Modular over MIDI.
The exhibit includes a variety of recently released tools and amusements including an embedded Text Editor for SuperBASIC procedural development (MoreorLess), an old-school Norton Commander style File manager (F/manager), and demos and games including Micah Bly’s “Lair of the Lich King” and Minstrel Dragon’s “Ultima II” port.
We will also be online with an IEC connected Meatloaf device, demo the Foenix Marketplace Appstore, and have plenty of issues of the “Foenix Rising” newsletter and software development journal on hand.
Finally, we will have a running version of NitrOS-9 for the F256 complete with a release BASIC09, which includes extensions specifically for the Foenix F256 audio and graphics.
Core64 – Adventures in Core Memory — Andy Geppert, Jeremy Geppert, Jared Geppert
At this exhibit you will have the opportunity to get your hands on with the most tangible and discrete form of computer memory called Core Memory and Plated-wire Memory. With respect to the “The Sound of Vintage” theme, you can make music with Core Memory too! When you walk away, you’ll have a new appreciation and a better understanding of how Core Memory was foundational to computer development. Core Memory was used in the computer systems of the 1960s before RAM chips were commonplace. The Apollo Guidance Computers and other spacecraft of the time used core memory. At the end of this magnetic RAM era, plated-wire memory was used in the Voyager space probes. A wide range of authentic Core Memory kits are available to enable you to weave your own core memory and experiment with it. You can use the included magnetic stylus and multicolor LEDs to bring core memory to life in your own creative ways. You can even draw and paint with a magnetic airbrush and play games within the Core Memory itself.
Motorola MC88110 processor – Data General Unix — Maki Kato, Crawford Griffith
Another Unix workstation built on the Motorola mc88k processor, this time from Data General. Will have AV5500 w/ dual 88110 running DGUX alongside a MVME-187 running OpenBSD.
MDCon — Michael (Gunner 5) Stieb, HexaPunk
Join us at MDCon, the premier gathering for enthusiasts and fans of MiniDisc technology! Dedicated to preserving and promoting this unique and beloved format, MDCon brings together a global community of MiniDisc enthusiasts for engaging, in-person events.
Explore exhibits showcasing the history and evolution of MiniDisc and connect with others who share your passion for this iconic technology. Whether you’re a long-time collector, a tech aficionado, or simply curious about MiniDisc, MDCon is the ultimate event to celebrate and keep this timeless medium alive.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the MiniDisc legacy—one gathering at a time!
Totally Normal Computing — Sean Malseed (Action Retro), Helen Malseed, Steve Matarazzo (Mac84), Michael Stanhope (Mike’s Mess), Tom Barber, Sloopy Malibu, Retrofox, Paul Mason
Odd, Rare, and Heavily upgraded computers. Want to see what a Macintosh SE/30 can do when its upgraded way past what is normal? Well, we can tell you! How about a clear SE/30 with a color display! The rare, unusual, and the odd, that’s what we have!
Consolization: When Computers Become Game Systems — Noah Weitz, Sawyer Gilbert
Modern video game consoles are often derided for being nothing more than PCs in disguise, but this practice dates back decades. This approach began in the 1980s, however, it didn’t really take off until the 5th console generation starting in 1993. This was the year major computer manufacturers Fujitsu and Commodore released the FM Towns Marty and Amiga CD32, respectively. The Marty was a new entry in Fujitsu’s FM Towns series of personal computers with a focus on playing the many games already available for the powerhouse of a platform. Meanwhile in the west, Commodore released the Amiga CD32 later in 1993. The CD32 is essentially an Amiga 1200 computer with a CD-ROM drive bolted on. In Cupertino, a struggling Apple Computer created the Pippin platform based on the Power Macintosh, partering with Bandai to release it. The Pippin was very powerful for its time with a PowerPC 603 CPU, rendering its graphics all in software. Finally, we arrive in 2001 and the 6th console generation. Computer juggernaut Microsoft released the Xbox after fearing game consoles would take over the PC’s place in consumer homes. While not based on any specific system, instead the Xbox uses many standard PC components. Unlike past attempts at consolizing computers, the Xbox was a success due to Microsoft’s huge financial backing alongside must-play games like Halo.
Come get hands on with these fascinating pieces of computer and video game history!
It’s not Unix, it’s Cromix! — Mike Loewen
Cromix is a multi-user, multi-tasking operating system developed by the Cromemco company in 1979 for their Z80 S-100 based microcomputers. It was Unix-like, and featured a similar file system layout and many familiar commands. In 1982, Cromemco came out with a dual-processor board, the DPU, which had both a 4MHz Z80A and a Motorola 68000 CPU. At that point, Cromix
was made available for the 68000 and greatly expanded the capabilities of the system.
The Cromemco Z2 system on display will be running 68K Cromix-Plus 31.68, with a set of terminals for users to login and explore. The hardware is the DPU, 64FDC (floppy controller), IOP (I/O Processor) and QUADART (quad serial ports), STDC (MFM hard drive controller), and a modern 4MB static RAM board. Storage is provided by a pair of Gotek floppy emulators and a David Gesswein MFM hard drive emulator.
Fuji Apples: Macs from Japan — Dan Forsythe, Rick Bernard, John Christy
A personal collection of Apple Macintosh and Clones only released in Japan. A number of unique Mac OS compatible models are presented, showcasing the unique features that set them apart from their international counterparts.
Program material is recorded on the other side of this disc (We also have LaserDiscs!)
Early 80’s Luggables — Nicolas Mailloux
The computers are there for you to use and enjoy!
Come see an IBM 5155, a Compaq Portable, an Osborne Executive, an Alcatel Minitel 1 and an Altair 8800! Plenty of software to use! Games, Midi sound and even a paper tape to load a game!
Experiencing the ENIAC — Brian Stuart
Seventy years ago, in 1955, the ENIAC was decommissioned, ending ten years of active service. During that time, it was used for research ranging from number theory to supersonic airflow to nuclear weapons to prototyping the stored program concept. Since it was shut down, no one has seen the complete machine in operation. This exhibit features a pulse-accurate simulation of the ENIAC driving multiple forms of visualization. Each visualization is built on a 3D model based on original engineering drawings. This is as close as we can get to recreating what it was like using the ENIAC.
The Baudot Basement — John Lucas
Get up close and personal with some of the earliest and some of the newest baudot teletypes. Watch period correct news feeds print out at a blistering 45.45 baud. Pound out new text on 100 year old data terminals!
Genericable — Brian L, Jesse C, Robert K, Nikki C, Kelby B, Ari W, Kyle S
We demonstrate the local forecast computers from The Weather Channel, Prevue Guide, Emergency Alert System (EAS), analog channel scrambling, community broadcast character generator, and early digital cable hardware!
Life on EDGE — Collin Mistr, Chad Baxter
A collection of various vintage, rare, and unique mobile devices, all active and connected to a custom home-built 2G/”EDGE” GSM cellular base station.
PDP 8/L Restoration with FPGA-based Disk — Mike Rieker, Chris Randall
A PDP-8/L recently restored with FPGA-based I/O controller plugged into backplane playing music on AM radio.
Early Microcomputers — Ryan Schiff, Brian Boellner
From the Kenbek to the SOL with many other early microcomputers
RCA COSMAC 1802 — Josh Bensadon, Walter Miraglia, Lee Hart, Jeff Brown
A replay of RCA COSMAC music from The First Philadelphia Computer Music Festival from the Personal Computing ’78 show.
Dave’s Retro Video Lab
Retro video cameras and camcorders from yesteryear.
TRS-80 Expansion Interfaces — Peter Cetinski, Alex Cetinski
The exhibit will be a display of many of the expansion interface peripherals available for the Tandy Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I computer, including Tandy as well as third party options.
40 Years of Amiga — AmigaBill Winters, Dave Test, Stefano Corbellini, William Becker, Tony Schiffbauer, Mike Clark, Anthony Becker, Greg Sorvella
In honor of the 40th Anniversary of The Commodore Amiga, we will display key models including the original A1000, A500, A2000 with a Video Toaster, and modern implementations of the Amiga as well.
The Power of Two (Displays), featuring IBM and ThinkPads — The Forgotten King
The usefulness of having two displays, featuring IBM and ThinkPads.
Business Computer, Japan (NEC PC-98) — Quinn Quirble
A small collection of Japanese NEC PC-9800 systems from the early to late 1990s; showing the gradual shift from unique non-PC compatible hardware/features, to regular hardware targeted at windows compatibility.
Pittsburgh Classic Mac Lab — Scott Baret
The Pittsburgh Classic Mac Lab was founded in 2010 to provide local students with the opportunity to use the great educational programs written in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The lab is a traveling group of over a dozen Macintosh computers (LC and compact) that serves students throughout the Pittsburgh region in conjunction with an educational services business and also caters to nostalgic adults. Step back in time to 1992 and travel the Oregon Trail (on a network!), create a masterpiece in Kid Pix and print it on a color ribbon-equipped ImageWriter, practice your primes with Number Munchers, sharpen up your math facts with Math Blaster, catch Carmen as she traverses the USA, play a friendly game of Battle Chess, save Shady Glen School with your reading comprehension skills with Midnight Rescue, or make a classic Print Shop banner…the possibilities are endless. Out there, it’s 2025. In here, it’s always 1992.
Disclaimer: we are NOT a museum! We are still operating this lab as it was intended to be run!!
The Atari ST Turns 40 — Peter Fletcher, Bill Lange
The Atari ST was introduced at the 1985 CES and released to the public in July of that year. This exhibit traces the machines and peripherals from the first 520ST in 1985 to the final machine, the Atari Falcon030 in 1993.
The Plot Thickens: Pen Plotter Artistry — Paul Rickards, James Hageman
Pen plotters were the standard for microcomputer printing up to the early 1980s for things like engineering CAD drawings. At the time, a small group of artists also used them for the newly emerging computer art form. Plotters fell out of favor and were replaced with print methods like dot matrix and inkjet. Recently, pen plotters, both new and vintage, have been rediscovered and are used by artists today to create fine art. Learn about the history of the pen plotter, its use in the development of early computer graphics, and recent rediscovery and use today in fine art. See live demonstrations of plotters from HP, Roland, and curious devices that have pen plotters in them.
HomeComputerMuseum (Netherlands) — Bart van den Akker, Johan Grip, Stefan Joosten
My Story Starts with a Computer — Justin D. Morgan
I’m Justin D. Morgan, host of Computerized Start on YouTube, and I’d like to share with you some of the computers that my generation grew up with. Explore the graphics and sounds of some of the computers that kids of the 80’s and 90’s grew up with. I’ll even have my rebuilt first PC on display for all to see and hear, including the blurry photos that are the only proof of the components I had inside.
The Sounds of Emulation — Rick and Briana Karrer
Can you think back and hear your favorite video game? The tones, the beeps, the notes? This exhibit will let you experience a chorus of video game music while you play your favorite classics and newer games—in ways they were never intended to be played. Machines range from older Macs and PCs, to modern Apple Silicon, to modded consoles and more. We even have a custom Raspberry Pi Macintosh SE (“SE/3.14”).
Come try everything from Snake on a TI-80 emulator, to multiplayer Mario Kart on a Mac. This exhibit has something for everyone.
Vintage Video Capture — BigBadBench & iiiDIY
In the early 1990s, video capture on home computers started to be [somewhat] affordable. But how good was it? I’ll have two Macintosh systems and one PC set up to show the capabilities of some of these early devices. The systems will include a Macintosh LCII with a SuperMac Video Spigot, a Macintosh Performa 630 with Apple AV inputs, and a generic 486 clone with a Creative Video Spigot. All systems will be connected to different devices to show the video capture abilities. These systems have all been restored on my YouTube Channel the BigBadBench: https://www.youtube.com/@bigbadbench (Stop by for a free sticker!).
Heathkit H89 — Alex Bodnar
Showing Microsoft Basic, Cobol, Fortran and more.
Commodore 64 SID sounds and Beyond — Dan Laskowski, Brigitte Laskowski
The sounds of the C64 PLUS MIDI IN AND OUT support with an additional sound chip …the YM2149.
Y2K Intranets and Internets — Stephen Mayo
Join us for an interactive exhibit of late 90s/early 2000 Internet and LAN Networking. Browse a time capsule of the Internet or login to the ‘company’ Intranet hosted by Cobalt Qube. Talk to Vintage & modern chatbots via Telnet, Rip a CD and play with winamp, or chat with festival-goers on IRC or AIM. Create and capture network traffic with Vintage 90s Network. Login and explore networking gear & windows and Unix servers.
It’s Just a PC — Joe Marlin
A video game console is just a PC with weird peripherals and software. So let’s add software and hardware until the inner PC is released!
This is an ongoing silly project with ambitions to turn more of the best consoles into boring desktop machines, but what we’ve specifically got for you this time around is a bog-standard NES that just happens to be running software off of an Apple Disk II drive.
Disclaimer: There is no purpose to be found in this exercise with the possible exception of ‘because you can’ and ‘putting too much work into dumb ideas is funny’.
Intel 4004 processor built with 1741 discrete transistors — Klaus Scheffler, Tim McNerney
We designed and built a PCB with 1741 NMOS transistors and 427 resistors, plus some LEDs. This transistor-based 4004 was successfully tested with the Busicom software and other tests and operates at a clock frequency of approx. 2 -1000 kHz.