Hello from Colorado!

[FuzzyLogic]

Hello everyone!

I'm a data scientist from Colorado. My interest in vintage computing has been growing lately, partly for nostalgic reasons and partly driven by curiosity about those aspects of technology that I don't understand well yet. And for sure, partly driven by the fun of seeing what I can do with them.

I might describe myself as an "ambitious beginner" for those systems I have played with so far; I can dive in deep when curiosity strikes but am prone to rookie mistakes (being a legitimate rookie). One of my first real vintage computing adventures involved stereoscopic 3D on a Vectrex video game system (6809 assembly programming), and I published some of that work on Github (some early test code to synchronize and control the 3D Imager headset accessory, which was a real barrier to entry for 3D game development). More recently I've been learning to write Apple //c software (65c02 assembly), and have been considering publishing some of the tools I'm making for that as well. A few months ago I acquired my very first serial terminal, a Digital VT330, and have been having a blast learning to connect and configure it and explore its many features. I didn't originally expect it to grow on me as much as it has.

I also have several other systems of various kinds from over the years, some of which are in need of some TLC... so I am eager to learn the art of electronics repair as well.

Happy to join the community!

 

[Sheiladad76]

Welcome aboard! You definitely won’t be a 'rookie' for long if you’re already publishing assembly code for the Vectrex and Apple II. That VT330 is a gem, there's something special about the glow of a real DEC terminal that a modern emulator just can't match. Happy to have you here.

 

[johnx993]

Welcome to the forums!

 

[FuzzyLogic]

Welcome aboard! You definitely won’t be a 'rookie' for long if you’re already publishing assembly code for the Vectrex and Apple II. That VT330 is a gem, there's something special about the glow of a real DEC terminal that a modern emulator just can't match. Happy to have you here.

Thanks! I feel like a rookie, being only self-taught with a handful of things that happened to fascinate me, and being aware of how much more there is.

I'm only just learning how to solder, for example. I have a Game Gear I'm going to try recapping before I attempt fixing other things that need TLC. I'm taking my very first crack at diagnosing a faulty hardware board in another thread on here. Suggestions include e.g. "lift the leg on the capacitor to test it", which I may want to practice a little before I try!

I'm also writing my very first Verilog circuit, and puzzling over the many errors and warnings. It's a learning curve for sure.

And as of about 4 months ago I had never actually touched a real terminal (that wasn't operating in a public place like a campus library). The VT330 has been a wonderful introduction. ReGIS is fun to play with!

So I do feel rather green in a lot of ways! But it's been amazingly fun to dig in and learn how these systems work, and what I can make them do.

 

[wumpus_byte]

Welcome to the forums! Interesting niche you're in. Also, what part of Colorado? I'm from Fort Collins and now leave in small town northeast Wyoming. Enjoy the hobby!

 

[FuzzyLogic]

Welcome to the forums! Interesting niche you're in. Also, what part of Colorado? I'm from Fort Collins and now leave in small town northeast Wyoming. Enjoy the hobby!

Thanks! I do feel like I'm in an odd little niche-within-a-niche quite often with these interests. Even "Apple //c programming" is glossing over things; my first computer from childhood that I've rediscovered and am learning to program on is actually a clone of the Apple //c, the Laser 128.

This seems like a good place to compare notes on slightly obscure old systems though!

I'm in the general Boulder area, though am originally from the East Coast.