Ask HN: Which vintage computers do you find interesting?

#1

Post by albertkoz » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 6:15 PM UTC

I recently got into retro computers. Besides just buying them, I want to actually experience and use the technology. So far I've spent most of my time with a C64: programming and learning different system quirks. Programming on these machines is really something else!

Right now I have my eyes on Acorn. Mostly because they were the first ARM/RISC computers available in the market (to the best of my knowledge), but I would also love to hear other recommendations. I want to acquire something interesting, that would be challenging and rewarding to program with.

Re: Ask HN: Which vintage computers do you find interesting?

#2

Post by johng » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 6:16 PM UTC

Wanted to pick up some old SGI stuff but it’s still hard to get and very expensive.

Re: Ask HN: Which vintage computers do you find interesting?

#3

Post by johng » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 6:17 PM UTC

Old Amiga stuff is still attainable and supposedly really rewarding to play with/program.

Re: Ask HN: Which vintage computers do you find interesting?

#4

Post by bediger4000 » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 6:41 PM UTC

Radio Shack Color Computer III - they had a multi-tasking OS, OS-9, that worked via memory bank switching. It had a windowing system that worked via in-band signalling, which is quite different than any windowing system today.

Re: Ask HN: Which vintage computers do you find interesting?

#5

Post by Dracophoenix » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 8:17 PM UTC

johng wrote: post #3

Old Amiga stuff is still attainable and supposedly really rewarding to play with/program.

Which models are attainable in particular? I've always wanted to have a Video Toaster capable machine (A4000T especially) but I can't seem to find them anywhere.

Re: Ask HN: Which vintage computers do you find interesting?

#6

Post by pcdoodle » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 9:21 PM UTC

Slot 1 based Pentium 2/3. The golden age.

Re: Ask HN: Which vintage computers do you find interesting?

#7

Post by xkeysc0re » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 9:22 PM UTC

The C64 is really sweet - one of my goals is to eventually develop a game for it (thinking a monorail/train sim like a simplified version of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Densha_de_Go!_2_K%C5%8Dsoku-he...)

Right now I'm interested in the Phillips MSX systems and PC Engine, as they both have a catalogue of unique platform-specific games (such as the original Metal Gear!) and are less-trodden territory for retrocomputing which, alas, makes them a little pricier. But part of the fun of retrocomputing is that it can be a passive hobby where you set some price alerts on ebay and craigslist and then try and go for the score.

If you haven't, be sure to check out https://old.reddit.com/r/retrobattlestations/

Re: Ask HN: Which vintage computers do you find interesting?

#8

Post by the_only_law » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 9:23 PM UTC

I’m into a weird part of retrocomputing where I mess with things other than just general purpose computers. Most of my equipment is old network/telecom stuff (mostly ISDN and general T1/E1 stuff rn, but I want to get into ATM) and network analyzers. Notably my Agilent J2300E which is a massive Windows 98 machine that look like a laptop but contains all sorts of sync and async serial interfaces too expensive to put on modern PCs (go find how much it costs to get a V.35 adapter) as well as all sorts of modules for various interfaces lile token ring, fddi, fast Ethernet, T1/E1, ISDN BRI, ATM, etc. It also has a nice software suite for emulation / analysis. If you’re curious why do have all this shit, in currently working on a user mode ISDN stack for Linux, which is keeping my love for programming on life support.

But to answer the question, here’s what on my wishlist:

HP-86 - recently sold my HP-85 with serial and GPIB expansions which I regret and will hopefully pick up an HP-86 to replace it eventually. Finding the serial and GPIB cartridges again my he a task.

Lisp machines, particularly a MacIvory - no chance I get my hands on one anytime soon.

One of the Tektronix Smalltalk Workstations - Will probably never even see one in my lifetime.

DEC VAXstation - May be purchasing one of the larger ones later this year. Will probably stick NetBSD on it.

DEC AlphaServer - Particularly models of which I find aesthetically pleasing. Not a Compaq or HP AlphaServer. The ones I like are always just a bit out of my price range. Will probably stick NetBSD on it.

IBM 5100 (running APL) - rare and always too expensive on the occasion I see one for sale

PDP-X - Actually a chance I might be able to run into a DEC PDP machine and be able to afford it someday.

I kinda want an early AS400 , but will settle for a not quite retro iSeries.

Not quite computers, but I also want:

HP 700/70 - A windowing terminal which was based off an old window standard for terminals called AlphaWindows (for which I also need to find the spec because the current implementations are currently commercial software). I’ve see a few listings for these terminals, but always super shady.

X.25 Equipment - PAD’s, switches, etc. I’m starting to thing X.25 was a legend because I have yet to find anything hardware related to it.

Anyway my end goal it to have a crazy home network with all the crazy protocols I hack on sectioned off and connected to the main (modern Ethernet) LAN with my retro stuff sitting on various networks.

Re: Ask HN: Which vintage computers do you find interesting?

#9

Post by cbxyp » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 9:30 PM UTC

Transmeta CPUs were cool

Re: Ask HN: Which vintage computers do you find interesting?

#10

Post by gnufx » Wed, Jul 21, 2021, 9:34 PM UTC

I'd suggest more interesting systems, but probably interesting in inverse proportion to how you could get hold of one :-/. Not wanting to dampen enthusiasm for old systems, but was there anything radically different about things like C64 and Acorn products?

If you don't need hardware, there might be more interest in programming on simulators for various old systems.