[ Retro Scan of the Week ] Hemingway’s Computer?

July 28th, 2008 by Benj Edwards

Ernest Hemingway's New Computer - Microstuf Crosstalk AdvertisementPapa’s got a brand new modem. (click above for full ad)

[ From Personal Computing, 1983 ]

Discussion topic of the week: What’s your favorite computer- or video game-related book?

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11 Responses to “[ Retro Scan of the Week ] Hemingway’s Computer?”

  1. Dan Says:

    Marketing Guy #1: Hey, what do you think about putting a nice, big image of our modem next to the copy on the Advertisement?

    Marketing guy #2: Nah, man. Those crates are bitchin! Let’s focus on them instead!

  2. Multimedia Mike Says:

    You mean, like, our favorite computer manual or video game instruction booklet? 🙂 I always liked the instruction booklet for the original Legend of Zelda game.

    As for fictional literature based on technology, I was always partial to a short story called “0wnz0red” published at Salon.com some years ago: http://dir.salon.com/story/tech/feature/2002/08/28/0wnz0red/index.html

  3. Kitsunexus Says:

    Fact: The Secret Guide To Computers by Russ Walter

    Fiction: The SUPERCOMPUTER Choose Your Own Adventure Book

  4. Layne Says:

    What about the Pac-Man themed joke book? Or the Atari Force comic books that came with certain cartridges? Or the “How to Win at Video Games” book from the 80’s?

    Oh, and I think that guy is printing out plans for extending his sons skateboard ramp that you can see throught he window…… 😀

    Layne

  5. Benj Edwards Says:

    Any book is fine — i.e. “a written or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers.”

    I was mostly thinking of works over 100-200 pages in length, but I guess Atari Force can count. 🙂

  6. Geoff V. Says:

    The Terminal Man by Michael Crichton.

  7. GeorgeR Says:

    Totally lame, but I’d have to say first thing that comes to mind is Lucky Wander Boy. It is just so good and weird and wonderful.

  8. Geoff V. Says:

    “For whom does that sweater toll for? It tolls for thee!”

  9. Benj Edwards Says:

    I almost said the same thing about modems, Geoff. It was hard to resist. 🙂

  10. Jim Ulrich Says:

    I don’t know why, but I love to find out what happened to these compaines Benj features. Here is what I found out:
    Microstuf became DCA/Crosstalk Communnications around the late ’80’s. They later merged with Attachmate in 1994, which is still in business today.
    Sources:
    http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/ftp/e/cbx.txt
    http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-15916985.html

  11. Rockin' Kat Says:

    I recently read “On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Commodore”

    I thought it was pretty good.

    http://www.amazon.com/Edge-Spectacular-Rise-Fall-Commodore/dp/0973864907/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218281829&sr=8-2

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