Retrocomputing History Lab

Retrolab Systems

The core collection of the lab consists of a set of desktop computers, arranged in several sections. Each is hooked up to a television or monitor, and has a binder holding primary source information such as reproductions of reviews, instruction manuals, pricelists or user group material to give users a sense of how the machine was perceived at the time of its original purchase.

The 8-Bit Aisle

  • TRS-80 Model 1 (1977). In 1977 three successful mass-produced personal computers were launched: the Apple II, the Commodore PET, and the TRS-80. Unlike earlier kit-based and homebrew machines, these could be used by well-heeled enthusiasts and wealthy families without requiring soldering skill. The TRS-80 was initially the most popular, and the first computer of any kind to sell 100,000 copies. The Model I was sold until 1981. This one had 16K of RAM in computer itself (built into the keyboard) and another 32K in the expansion unit that sat under the monitor (introduced in 1978). It has two disk drives and a selection of original manuals, software, and tapes. 
  • Morrow MD-3 (1983). A single board CP/M computer, which provided similar capabilities to the early business-oriented personal computers of the late-1970s at a much lower price to undercut the then-novel IBM PC. This one has 64K of RAM and two floppy disk drives, running software such as WordStar and Zork. It was used with an external terminal via a serial connection. The original amber terminal needs repair so I’ve substituted a green screen IBM terminal.
  • Kaypro 2 (circa 1983). Another single board CP/M computer sold as a low-cost business computer with an impressive bundle of included software. The difference is that this is a portable computer, by the standards of the era, meaning that it has a handle and a built-in nine inch monitor. This one is splendidly well preserved, with boxes of disks, spare parts, about a dozen manuals, and even the original sales receipt. 
  • Apple IIe (1983). An improved version of the original Apple II (1977) this can reproduce the late-1970s personal computer experience of loading programs from tape, or VisiCalc from disk. It also handles a full range of Apple II software from the mid-1980s, including celebrated games such as Ultima IV, Lode Runner, Choplifter, and Prince of Persia. It’s hooked up to both a color TV and an Apple green screen monitor, has a parallel printer card, and is connected by serial link to a PC so that disk images downloaded from the Internet can be transferred to floppy disk.
  • IBM PCjr (1984). Technically this is a 16-bit machine, but in terms of price and performance this computer was IBM’s attempt to go up against the Apple IIe for the home computer market. This is the higher end of the two standard configurations with 128KB of RAM and a single floppy disk drive. On paper it looks like strong competition to the IIe, but considered as a PC it’s a bust: slow, limited compatibility, no internal expansion possible, and unable to run most of the popular PC software of the 1980s. The wireless keyboard was famously terrible. On the positive side, IBM equipped jr with improved sound and graphics, shown off to good effect in the specially written launch title King’s Quest. That wasn’t enough to save jr, but it did launch a hugely successful game series.
  • BBC Microcomputer Model B (1981). The British equivalent of the Apple II, sold to schools and middle class families. This one has a lot of accessories including boxed software on tape and disk, an original manual and welcome cassette, several disk drives, a cassette player, a Gotek floppy disk emulator, joysticks, and a coprocessor emulator.
  • Sinclair Spectrum 128 (1985). This is a modestly upgraded version of the quirky and low priced Sinclair Spectrum (1982), one of the best-selling desktop computers of all time. These home computers were widely used in much of the world (but not the US), mostly to play games and learn how to program. I have a large selection of software on tape, and a modern device to load games quickly from an SD-card. Equipped with joystick and tape recorder.

The 16-Bit Table

  • Sinclair QL (1984). An ill-fated attempt by Sinclair to sell a computer to small businesses, the QL was launched to great enthusiasm for its powerful processor, high resolution graphics, bundled office software and advanced BASIC. But the first machines were delivered months late and in such an unfinished state as to be almost unusable, a problem compounded by the unreliable tape cartridges Sinclair used as a cost-saving alternative to floppy disks. The QL was quickly discontinued, but a small enthusiast community spent years developing hardware and software add-ons to fulfill its original promise. This one is equipped with a replica of the Miracle Systems Gold Card which added a faster processor, more memory, functional operating system, and floppy disk interface. Miracle Systems closed years ago, but the replicas were hand made by an electronics enthusiast in Siberia.
  • Atari ST 520STFM (1987). Although produced by an American company, the ST range (introduced 1985) and its competitor the Commodore Amiga were much more widely used in Europe. It was a budget-priced alternative to the Apple Macintosh with similar specifications but much less refinement. However, as the Atari had color graphics modes it was also popular as a games machine (whereas in the US game players shifted the console systems in the mid-1980s). This was a low-cost version of the ST that integrated a floppy drive, computer, and keyboard into a single unit. I upgraded it to 2.5MB of RAM and added an external 44MB SCSI hard drive in an internal enclosure, which also had room for a 1GB Jaz drive holding a large selection of software. I also have a selection of programs on floppy disk and two joysticks.
  • Music keyboard. Hooked up the Atari ST via its built-in MIDI interface. This allows for a rich soundtrack on some games, and experimentation with early music sequencing and notation software such as Cubase. The ST was widely used by professional musicians into the early 1990s.

The PC Island

  • IBM Portable PC (1984). Basically the original IBM PC (1981) with a handle and integrated amber monitor, as it uses a regular PC XT motherboard and keyboard. Reproduces the original PC experience, but as it is upgraded with a 286 Tiny Turbo accelerator and EGA Wonder card it can also run software from the late-1980s. Easy to load more software as the hard drive is a Compact Flash card. Connected to a dot matrix printer and external monitor.
  • Homebrew PC circa 1990 (25 MHz 386 processor, 4MB of RAM). Runs Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS. Equipped with a double speed CD-ROM drive and sound card for the early 1990s multimedia experience. Handles a full range of DOS and Windows software such as Word, Excel, Corel Draw, PageMaker, Civilization and Myst. We also have a selection of software on 3.5 and 5.25 inch disks. Connected to a LaserJet 4M for desktop publishing.
  • Precision 486 PC (1992. This would have been a very high-end and expensive machine in its day, as it has a 50 MHz processor which was only sold for a short period during which it was Intel’s fastest PC chip. Produced by an obscure small-scale company, this machine used a full size desktop case modelled on IBM’s already obsolete PC/AT. The original owner had upgraded it a few years later with an 850MB hard drive, larger than what would have been available at the time. We added a sound card and a single speed CD-ROM drive for a period-appropriate multimedia upgrade. It runs Windows 3.11. The machine handles DOS and early Windows CD-ROM titles like Encarta.
  • Gateway 2000 DX2-66V (1993). With 16MB of RAM and a new, high speed slot to give the processor a direct, Windows-friendly connection to the graphics card this machine captures the way PCs were being remade around the needs of Windows rather than DOS. In those days, Gateway and Dell were neck and neck as leading mail order providers of solid but well priced custom built PCs to businesses and upper middle class families. Computers and monitors arrived in boxes with bold cow-style spots, celebrating Gateway’s origins in Sioux City, Iowa where the company was originally based in a “dilapidated cattle brokerage.” It’s in a full sized desktop case with Gateway’s classic curved front and round buttons, capturing a moment just before the mainstream shifted to smaller desktop and minitower cases like the one we used for the 386 computer next to it.
  • Pentium PC Windows 95 computer circa 1997 (233 MHz Pentium MMX, 64MB of RAM). Equipped with CD-ROM and Zip drives. We have a selection of period CD-ROM software. Runs mid-1990s Windows applications well and later period DOS games like Doom and Quake with good performance.
  • Homebrew Pentium III PC from 1999 with later upgrades running Windows 2000. Used mostly as a bridge computer to prepare software for the other machines, as it can write 5.25 and 3.5 inch disks, Jaz, and Zip disks and also read downloaded image files from USB drives. Can run late 1990s and early 2000s Windows software such as Office 2003, Half Life and Planescape Torment.

We also have several donated desktop systems that have not yet been fully assessed and restored.

The Mac Corner

  • Macintosh SE (1987). Similar to the original Macintosh (1984) and Mac Plus (1986), but with more memory and updated keyboard and mouse connectors. This model has two floppy drives and 4MB of RAM so can run early Mac software like MacPaint and MacWrite through early-1990s versions of Word, Excel, PageMaker and Illustrator. Also classic games like Dark Castle and Sim City. It is using a Zip drive as a hard drive, which makes it easy to load new software. Connected to a LaserWriter Select 310.
  • Macintosh IIci (1989, upgraded 1992). The classic workhorse of Apple’s professionally oriented Mac II range, this was produced from 1989 all the way to 1993. It had a compact case, was highly expandable, and used a 25 MHz 68030 processor. Versus the original Mac and its upgraded successors this was much faster, much more expensive, and had color graphics. The original hard drive is still functioning. It’s one of the nicest Mac designs Apple ever produced, but what’s special about this one is the 68040 processor accelerator card tucked inside, an obsure TokaMac model launched in 1992 from a short-lived company. That triples its performance, so circa 1993 this would have been one of the fastest Macs that money could buy. Great for early- to mid-1990s Mac applications including games like the Civilization as well as PageMaker and Microsoft Office. Runs System 7.1 (the newest version that works with the accelerator card).
  • Macintosh IIvx (1992). In contrast with the long-lived IIci, this was a stopgap model sold only for a year. It’s slow and badly engineered but has one interesting feature: this was the first computer from any manufacturer to have a built-in CD-ROM drive. Once Apple slashed the price in 1993 this became the cheapest way to get a multimedia system. So if you want to see what Myst and other CD-ROM games would have looked like to their original players this computer will show you. Runs System 7.5.
  • PowerMac 6500/300 (1997). Configured with System 7.6.1, though I also have a hard drive with Mac OS 8 that can be swapped in. CD-ROM, Zip drive and floppy disk all restored to full functionality. Runs mid-1990s Mac software, including early 3D accelerated games like Descent and multimedia titles on CD. With original documentation and software bundle, and an original Apple monitor.
  • iMac G3 600 (2001). A late model of the original curvy CRT-based iMac (1998) with a slot loading CD which, like most of the others, no longer ejects disks well enough to be usable. After replacing the hard drive and speakers everything else works fine, so it’s configured with an external firewire DVD drive. Triple boots Mac OS 9, OS X 10.0 and OS X 10.4 to allow experimentation with a range of Mac environments before, during, and after Apple’s transition to a modern operating system. 
  • iMac G4 1GHz 17 inch (2003). One of the short-lived models with a small flat panel screen mounted on a pivoting stand that’s often compared to a desk-lamp. Running OS X 10.4 (“Tiger”). Good for early- to mid- 2000s Mac software including games like Halo. The internal DVD drive is broken, but it works with an external USB drive and we should eventually be able to swap out the internal drive for a working one.

Laptop computers

  • Zenith Z183 laptop (8088 processor). Hard disk is broken but boots from floppy.
  • Zenith SuperSport 8088 laptop. Boots from hard drive, but screen is fuzzy.
  • A Compaq Concerto (80486 processor) Pen based table computer Windows 3.1. Screen is cracked but usable.
  • Toshiba 430CDT (Pentium processor) with CD and floppy drives, running Windows 98
  • Several Fujitsu Lifebook miniature laptops with pen capabilities from the early 2000s
  • Various PC laptops from the early 2000s including Sony and Compaq systems.
  • An Apple Powebook G4 12 inch (circa 2001) running OS X 10.5.
  • An Apple Macbook Pro (circa 2011) running OS X 10.9.

Handheld computers

  • Apple Newton Message Pad 100 (with manual, videotape, etc.)
  • Palm IIIe
  • Palm V (broken)
  • Palm Tungsten T5
  • Dell Axim 50v
  • Apple iPod (third generation, 15GB)

Games Consoles

  • Atari VCS console (circa 1980). The first VCS model arrived in 1977, at the dawn of home videogaming, and pioneered the idea of a console that ran games coded onto removable cartridges. To be affordable in 1977 it has an incredibly minimal design, which generations of coders found ingenious ways to push far beyond its original intentions. Renamed the 2600, the VCS remained in production for fifteen years, long after far more powerful machines arrived, but remained popular for simple home gaming. This one has the original fake woodgrain styling, but simplified internals and only four control switches which means it is from about 1980. We have dozens of game cartridges including classics such as Asteroids, Space Invaders, Adventure, Indy 500, Frogger and Star Raiders along with the lineup of joysticks and paddles needed to run all of them.
  • Nintendo 64 console (1996). This was the first Nintendo model built for 3D graphics, bringing graphical capacities formerly found only in expensive workstation computers to basements and living rooms across America. We have two classic Zelda games: The Occarina of Time and Majora’s Mask.