Retro Computing…

Retro Computing – a term that probably means something different to anyone who sees it.  To me, Retro Computing is being able to re-experience the early days of home computing – back when there were a dozen different players all competing.

Sadly, for me, the Retro Computing era ended when IBM introduced their Personal Computer and almost over night, dominated the market based on their name.

It took years for the IBM PC and the eventual clones to catch up to computers such as the Atari 800 and Commodore 64 where sound and graphics were concerned.

Most people who owned computers pre-IBM PC either disposed of, sold or placed their original computers in storage – where they languished and faded from memory.

I myself started with a Radio Shack TRS-80 Micro Computer that was retro-actively named the “Model 1” a few years later.  It was my first experience with a real personal computer after a friend told me that the town library had bought one.  (Summer 1980?) The library used it weekly for an “Introduction to Computers” class they conducted – and when the class was not using it – it was available for anyone to use – for an hour at a time.

My friend and I would hit the Library at the same time – and reserve the computer room via the sign up on the sheet so we were guaranteed a two hour block of coding bliss.

The Radio Shack computer had one big advantage for me over other computers of that time period such as the Apple II and the Atari 800 – the cost.  You could get a basic system (Keyboard, Monitor, Cassette tape player) for approximately $500.

I remember saving up from my summer job and buying one via the Trade’n’Times.  I even remember the person’s profession whom sold it to me – he was a Patent Attorney.  I remember never having heard of that profession until that time – and that was the first one I ever met – until years later at a friends house party.

I took computer programming in BASIC during High School – I recall my first class used three teletype machines with paper tape.  You would type in your programs on one of the two “dumb terminals” that were only good for creating paper tapes.

The third teletype machine was the magical one with a modem.  Our school was contracted with a time sharing service in downtown Cleveland.  I don’t know how much online time cost – but it must have been pricey.  Someone showed me how to bring up a “hidden” menu that had a list of games on it – and introduced me to “Adventure” – a text based game where you explored a large cave.  I remember playing it unattended during my lunch one day – when I was discovered by the computer teacher and she was FURIOUS!  It was then I learned that some people considered playing games a waste of time and money.

The next computer class I took at school was in the same class room – and with the same teacher (!) but the terminals were gone.  In their place were three shiny new Radio Shack TRS-80 Model III’s.  The Model III’s replaced the original TRS-80 when the FCC started cracking down on RF emissions.  The original TRS-80 (Model 1) had no shielding whatsoever, and could wreak havoc on the TV sets of the time.

Having Model III’s in the classroom was perfect – since by this time I now had my very own Model 1 – which could save programs on cassettes that were readable by the classroom computers.

I remember one of the computers was connected to a printer – so three students at a time could create their programs – and then take turns loading them into the computer with the printer and print them out.  I would leisurely write my programs (and debug them!) at home – then bring them to school the next day on my cassette.

In 1984, I met someone at college who had brought his computer from home with him  for creating papers – something that was quite rare back then.  Unlike my Radio Shack Model 1 – he had a Radio Shack Color Computer – and I was immediately in awe at the graphics and color it was capable of. I remember he (Doug Kelly) was writing an arcade game – I wonder if he ever finished it…  And I wonder what ever became of him.

When I returned home from college that summer, I bought myself a Color Computer 2. Since I was constrained on table space in the basement (yes – that cliche was true) the Model 1 was moved aside to make way for the Color Computer – or CoCo as they were fondly called.

Sadly, in 1987 a friend introduced me to MSDOS machines, and I bought my first IBM Clone – which resulted in the Coco being moved aside also.

So for me – my Retro Computing era lasted from 1980 – 1987.

Fast forward thirty years (wow – am I really that old?) and now my interest in these “old iron” have been rekindled.  I actually had my original Radio Shack computers up until around 2002 – when I bought a Radio Shack Model 4 on eBay. The Model 4 replaced the Model III (Have to love the numeric inconsistencies).  Sadly, I felt I was done with the Model 1 at this time – and threw it out.  I didn’t even try selling it on eBay – I just threw it out.  One of my great retrocomputing mistakes, but not my last.

During the 80s, I subscribed to multiple home computer magazines of the era – such as 80 Microcomputing (Later renamed to 80 Micro) and The Rainbow.  I also bought the occasional book related to the specific model of computers I owned.  One such book was a rather unique one – it contained the source code for a popular game for the TRS-80 called “Alien Defense”.  The book was entitled “Alien Defense Commented”.  I had bought the book at a B Dalton book store that carried hobbyist books and magazines.  This book languished on a book shelf in my parents basement for years.  After I got married in 1989 and moved out – my magazine collection and computer book collection were left behind – forgotten about.  In 2012, my parents asked if I wanted anything on that bookshelf – since they needed the space.  Sadly, I told them no – so the entire contents of the bookshelf were carted into a paper recycling dumpster – including the precious rare book.  At the time, I had no idea how rare it was – but google searches for “Alien Defense Commented” invariably result in no trace of the book – just people searching for it.  If there was a tarred and feathered offense category for Retrocomputing – my allowing the book to be recycled probably qualified.  The only thing I remember from my glancing at the book soon after I bought it was the pages looked like they had been printed directly from one of the popular dot matrix printers at the time and simply bound with a cover.  Alas, as they say, it’s no use crying over spilled milk at this point.

Speaking of eBay, In the past 10 years I have been slowly increasing my Retro collection of computers from the ’80s by acquiring first an Apple IIgs, then an Atari 800xl – followed by an Atari 800 and a Commodore 64.

Once I have finished collecting (and cleaning!) these bits and pieces of the past, then I shall be able to experience what I missed as a teenager in the 80s.

I am planning on documenting this at https://www.retro-80.com