Archive for April, 2007

Name Those Pixels: Name That Kong

Friday, April 13th, 2007

Pixel Challenge #13 - 1Now we move from crowds to Kongs. This week’s theme is “Donkey Kong.” Each of these three pixel blocks is from a version of Donkey Kong. Can you guess which system or computer each is from? The first block is to the right, the other two are below. As always, post your guesses in the comments section of this entry, and don’t be bashful.

Pixel Challenge #13 - 2    Pixel Challenge #13 - 3

The answers to the last challenge are after the break.

[ Continue reading Name Those Pixels: Name That Kong » ]

Best Week Ever for Vintage Computers on the News Wires

Thursday, April 12th, 2007

Sellam and Merhle, Buddies ForeverThe two most popular news agencies have published no less than two articles in the last two days about vintage computers. Are the planets in alignment, or does there now exist a vast conspiracy (the conspiracy of “twos” perhaps?) to cover vintage computers in the national media? Either way, it’s been a great week for our hobby.

The first article (Reuters via Yahoo) focuses on the ever-popular Sellam Ismail, organizer of the Vintage Computer Festival, and his lovable buddies (Bruce Damer, Evan Koblentz) from the festival scene. Poor Sellam has been covered so many times that he’s probably getting tired of it by now. The second article (AP via Yahoo) “unearths” a relative newcomer to media publicity, Jeremy Mehrle, whose Basement Mac Museum I covered back in February (along with a short interview with the Mehrleman himself). It’s true that many news outlets get some of their news by culling blogs these days. But with cool topics like these, can you blame them? And obviously, the door swings both ways.

Retro Scan of the Week: Daddy’s Little Surgeon

Monday, April 9th, 2007
Facemaker Software Ad
The popularity of plastic surgery, finally explained.

[ From Personal Computing magazine, December, 1983. ]

If you use this image on your site, please support “Retro Scan of the Week” by giving us obvious credit for the original scan and entry. Thanks.

Retro Scan of the Week: Isaac Asimov’s “Favorite Color Computer”

Monday, April 2nd, 2007
Isaac Asimov TRS-80 Color Computer Ad
Take it from Isaac. Now you can save $100 on any TRS-80 Color Computer.

Let’s see. Texas-Instruments had Bill Cosby, Commodore had William Shatner, and Atari had Alan Alda. But did you know that Tandy-Radio Shack’s computer spokesperson in the early 1980s was science fiction author Isaac Asimov? I’ve seen a number of TRS-80 ads featuring him, and he always looks way too happy. But that was his job. And I’ve always loved Asimov’s sideburns. It’s like I’ve always said: nothing sells a home computer like a hairy man with a joystick. Take that, Commodore.

If you use this image on your site, please support “Retro Scan of the Week” by giving us obvious credit for the original scan and entry. Thanks.