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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
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
Retro Heathkit systems featuring a 3D printed H8 case with Les Bird’s H8-Z80 RomWBW CPU and MSX graphics kit. H89 featuring a CF card system with a real time clock. H89 with a WIN89 IBM ST225 Hard Disk
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
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
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 Stieb
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 — Michael Stanhope
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!
The TRS-80 Model II Business System — Mike Loewen
The TRS-80 Model II, released in 1979, was designed as a small business system with enhancements over the Model I. With a 4MHz Z80 microprocessor and 64KB of RAM, it could run several OS versions, including CP/M with its vast library of applications. The system on exhibit is a high end system formerly used to run an auto parts business. It includes an 8MB hard drive and can boot TRS-DOS II directly from the drive. An external drive unit contains 3 single-sided 8″ floppy drives for an additional 1.5MB of storage. The Line Printer IIIA can handle 132-column wide tractor-feed paper. Tandy sold a complete set of business applications including accounting, inventory, payroll, word processing and database, to name a few.
Fuji Apples: Macs from Japan — Dan Forsythe
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 Burke
From the Kenbek to the SOL with many other early microcomputers
RCA COSMAC 1802 — Josh Bensadon
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!!