Vintage Computer
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Vintage Computer
@vintage.computer
40 followers 13 following 110 posts
🖥 Vintage computing facts & nostalgia, served fresh daily. Punch cards optional.
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The Altair 8800 started the homebrew computer revolution. Built around the Intel 8080 and programmed with front-panel switches, it inspired a generation of hobbyists and led Gates and Allen to write their first BASIC interpreter. #Altair8800 #VintageComputing #VintageComputer
Image titled “Tech Spec Tuesday — Altair 8800.” Background: blueprint-style computer schematics. Header: “TECH SPEC TUESDAY” in white text on a blue banner. Main section: Left side shows a photo of an Altair 8800 computer with its distinctive blue case and visible internal boards. Right side text block labeled “About this machine:” reads: “Released in 1975 by MITS, the Altair 8800 is often credited as the spark that ignited the personal computer revolution. It used toggle switches for input and LEDs for output, and inspired Bill Gates and Paul Allen to write a BASIC interpreter—founding Microsoft.” Below is a specs table: CPU: Intel 8080 @ 2 MHz Memory: 256 bytes – 64 KB Storage: Paper tape, cassette, optional floppy Graphics: None (front panel lights/switches) Networking: None built-in Notes: Sparked the homebrew computer revolution Bottom right: “vintage.computer” inside a blue rounded rectangle.
November 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Milestone Monday: On this day in 1998, AOL announced its plan to acquire Netscape, the company behind the Netscape Navigator browser that helped introduce millions to the early web. #MilestoneMonday #Netscape #NetscapeNavigator #AOL #VintageComputing #VintageComputer
Image titled “Milestone Monday — November 24th, 1998.” Background: dark starry sky with bright yellow headline text. Top text: “Milestone Monday” Subheadline: “November 24th, 1998” Left side: Photograph of a boxed copy of Netscape Navigator software, including a CD-ROM and packaging. Attribution reads: “Marcin Wichary from San Francisco, Calif. CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons Right side text reads: “AOL announced on November 24th 1998 a plan to acquire Netscape Communications, the maker of the popular Netscape Navigator web browser.” Bottom: stylized sunrise graphic with the text “vintage.computer.”
November 24, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
When we choose what we keep, tools, objects, even habits, we’re really choosing the kind of life we want to live. Clearing what no longer serves us creates room for what does. #MaintenanceMode #WilliamMorris #VintageComputer
Image titled “Maintenance Mode.” Background: warm desert landscape with sand dunes and soft light. Large header at top: “Maintenance Mode” in a blue and gold beveled box. Centered quote text: “Have nothing in your houses that you do not consider to be beautiful or believe to be useful.” — William Morris Decorative curved underline beneath the quote. Bottom right: “vintage.computer” inside a small rounded blue box with gold trim.
November 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Before the Macintosh became an icon, it existed as a messy, hand-wired prototype Wire-wrap boards were where ideas became real hardware. It’s a reminder that even revolutionary machines begin as experiments. #SnapshotSaturday #Macintosh #AppleHistory #VintageComputer
Image titled “Snapshot Saturday.” Background: a film-strip themed frame in brown tones. Headline across the top: “SNAPSHOT SATURDAY.” Subheading text: “Prototype of the Macintosh computer on wire wrap prototype board.” Main image: A close-up photograph of an early Macintosh prototype built on a wire-wrap board. The board is covered with numerous chips, resistors, and hand-wrapped wires. A handwritten tag reads: “MAC wirewrap prototype #4 A52.” Attribution text at bottom: “ArnoldReinhold, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons — bottom right: vintage.computer
November 22, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
🆓💿 Free Software Friday!
This week’s spotlight: 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗢𝗦 — a free, open-source operating system aiming for full compatibility with Windows Server 2003 programs and drivers. 🖥️
Learn more: https://www.reactos.org
#VintageComputer #FreeSoftwareFriday #ReactOS #OpenSource
Text on image: “FREE SOFTWARE FRIDAY ReactOS Author: ReactOS devs Release Date: 1998 get it: www.reactos.org About: open-source OS that’s intended to be compatible with Windows Server 2003 programs and drivers. vintage.computer” Image description: The graphic depicts a pale yellow CD labeled “ReactOS” with text detailing the author, release date, download link, and a short description. The CD sits on a muted gray-blue background with a tan header reading “FREE SOFTWARE FRIDAY.”
November 21, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Before USB sticks took over, the Iomega Zip drive was the way to move big files from one machine to another. 100MB on a single disk felt unlimited at the time! #ThrowbackThursday #ZipDrive #Iomega #VintageComputer
Image titled “Throwback Thursday — Iomega Zip drives.” Background: stylized desert sand dunes in warm tones. At center: a blue external Iomega Zip 100 drive next to a Fujifilm Zip 100MB cartridge. Caption text below the image: “Before USB flash drives were ubiquitous, the Iomega Zip drive was the way to move large files around between computers. The most popular of all ‘superfloppy’ drives, the removable Zip disk cartridges could store 100 MB when they launched, a truly astronomical amount of storage space at the time.” Bottom right: “vintage.computer.” Attribution text under the image referencing Yuri Litvinenko / 30pin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, with source URL.
November 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Before MS-DOS became the standard, CP/M was the operating system for 8-bit microcomputers. Its commands, conventions, and structure shaped computing, right down to things we still use today. #VintageComputing #CPM #RetroTech #WowThatsFascinating #VintageComputer
Image titled “Wow That’s Fascinating — CP/M: Before MS-DOS Took Over.” Background: beige border with a black central panel styled like a vintage terminal. Headline: “Wow That’s Fascinating.” Subheading: “CP/M: Before MS-DOS Took Over.” Body text: “Before MS-DOS ruled the PC world, CP/M was the dominant OS for 8-bit microcomputers. It influenced everything from command names to file formats.” Bottom left: a small pixel-style chip icon. Bottom right: text reading “vintage.computer” next to a small line-art globe.
November 19, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
The Atari 800 pushed the boundaries of what an 8-bit home computer could do in 1979. With custom chips for graphics and sound, it delivered smooth animation and vivid color, great for games and creativity! #TechSpecTuesday #Atari800 #VintageComputing #RetroTech #VintageComputer
Image titled “Tech Spec Tuesday — Atari 800.” Background features technical schematics in grayscale. Main panel shows: A photo of an Atari 800 computer with its top cover removed, revealing internal components. Caption: “Evan-Amos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons" Right-side text: “About this machine: Launched in 1979, the Atari 800 was a powerful 8-bit home computer with custom chips for graphics and sound. Its architecture allowed for smooth animation and multicolor graphics, making it a favorite for gaming and educational software.” Specifications table: CPU: MOS 6502B @ 1.79 MHz Memory: 8–48 KB Storage: Cassette, 810 Floppy Drive Graphics: Custom chips, up to 320 × 192, 16 colors Networking: Modem via serial port Notes: Advanced multimedia for a home computer in 1979 Bottom text: “vintage.computer.”
November 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
On this day in 1970, Douglas Engelbart received the patent for the mouse, which reshaped how humans interact with machines, and it all started with a small, wooden box with wheels. #MilestoneMonday #VintageComputing #DouglasEngelbart #VintageComputer
Image titled “Milestone Monday — November 17th, 1970.” Background: a starry night sky with a yellow sunrise graphic at the bottom. Left side: A photo of the original wooden computer mouse prototype, with a cord and connector. Right side text: “On this date in 1970, Douglas Engelbart received a patent (US Patent 3,541,541) for the mouse, described as ‘X-Y position indicator for a display system’. Engelbart did not receive any royalties.” Bottom text: “vintage.computer”.
November 17, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Everything flows, nothing stays still. Life is a stream of constant, unstoppable change, in our work, our relationships, and within ourselves. Instead of resisting it, we can learn to move with it. #MaintenanceMode #Heraclitus #VintageComputer
Image titled “Maintenance Mode.” The background shows a lush, green landscape with rolling hills under a bright sky and a vivid rainbow. Centered in a translucent blue box with gold trim is the quote: “The only constant is change.” — Heraclitus At the top, a banner reads “Maintenance Mode.” At the bottom right corner is the vintage.computer logo.
November 16, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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An early prototype of IBM Watson, photographed at Yorktown Heights, NY. Built on IBM’s POWER7 systems, Watson became famous for defeating human champions on Jeopardy!, a milestone in AI and natural language processing. #VintageComputing #IBMWatson #AIHistory #RetroTech
Image titled “Snapshot Saturday – Early prototype of IBM Watson at Yorktown Heights, NY, USA.” The design features a large computer system enclosed in glass, with glowing blue and purple lighting illuminating the word IBM and WATSON printed vertically along the panels. A spherical light display with radiating blue rays symbolizes the Watson logo. Reflections of people can be seen observing the system through the glass. Text at the top reads: “Early prototype of IBM Watson at Yorktown Heights, NY, USA.”
November 15, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Since 2000, Audacity has been helping creators, musicians, and hobbyists record, edit, and mix audio, all for free and open source! Whether you’re cutting podcasts or digitizing cassettes, it’s a classic tool that just works. #VintageComputing #Audacity #FOSS #RetroSoftware
Image titled “Free Software Friday – Audacity.” The design shows a stylized CD disc on a gray background with the following text written across its surface: Audacity Author: Audacity Team Release Date: May 28th, 2000 Get it: audacityteam.org About: Free and open-source digital audio editor and recording application for Windows, Mac, and Linux (and more)! At the top, bold text reads FREE SOFTWARE FRIDAY, and at the bottom right corner, the text vintage.computer appears in uppercase.
November 14, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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Meet the machine that started it all: the IBM 5150, released in 1981. It defined the term “IBM PC-compatible,” launched the home computer revolution, and made IBM, Microsoft, and Intel household names. #VintageComputing #IBM5150 #RetroTech #ComputerHistory #VintageComputer
Image titled “Throwback Thursday – The original PC, the IBM 5150.” The background shows a warm, soft desert sand scene with the text in a classic brown serif font. At the center, an IBM 5150 personal computer is shown — consisting of a beige desktop unit with two black floppy disk drives, a separate CRT monitor stacked on top, and a full-size beige mechanical keyboard attached by a coiled cable. Caption text at the bottom reads: “This was the machine that put the ‘IBM PC’ in ‘IBM PC-compatible’ and started the home computer revolution; it made IBM, Microsoft, Intel, and Bill Gates household names; and it brought computing into more homes and offices than any computer manufacturer before.” At the bottom right corner is the vintage.computer logo.
November 13, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
The first “portables” like the Osborne 1 weighed over 20 lbs, with a screen smaller than a smartphone! They were more suitcase than laptop, but they paved the way for the tech we take for granted today. #VintageComputing #RetroTech #Osborne1 #ComputerHistory #VintageComputer
Alt-text transcription: Image titled “Wow That’s Fascinating – Early Laptops Were the Size of a Suitcase.” The design features white monospaced text on a dark blue background framed by a light gray border, mimicking a retro computer terminal. Text reads: “The first ‘portable’ computers, like the Osborne 1, weighed over 20 pounds and had a tiny screen nestled between two floppy drives. With a handle bolted on, they were lugged around like a typewriter in a briefcase. Today’s tablets are infinitely lighter—and infinitely more powerful.” At the bottom, small icons of a globe and circuit appear next to the text vintage.computer.
November 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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Released in 1983, the Compaq Portable was the first truly IBM PC-compatible computer. By reverse-engineering IBM’s BIOS, Compaq made a legal clone that could run MS-DOS flawlessly, paving the way for the PC boom. #VintageComputing #Compaq #RetroTech #PCHistory #VintageComputer
Infographic titled “Tech Spec Tuesday – Compaq Portable.” The design features a blueprint-style background with blue and white panels. In the upper left, a photo shows the Compaq Portable computer — a beige, suitcase-style “luggable” machine with a built-in monochrome CRT display and detachable keyboard that doubles as the front cover. On the right, text reads: About this machine: “The Compaq Portable, released in 1983, was the first successful IBM PC-compatible computer. It featured full BIOS compatibility, allowing it to run MS-DOS software seamlessly. Its luggable form factor and legal cloning changed the PC industry forever.” A specification table lists: CPU: Intel 8088 @ 4.77 MHz Memory: 128–640 KB Storage: Dual 5.25” floppy drives, later HDD optional Graphics: Monochrome CRT, CGA-compatible Networking: Optional ISA expansion Notes: First true IBM PC-compatible clone At the bottom right corner, the text vintage.computer appears in white on a dark blue box.
November 11, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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The Go programming language, designed by Robert Griesemer, Rob Pike, and Ken Thompson, was released on November 10th, 2009. Go focused on simplicity, concurrency, and performance. #VintageComputing #GoLang #Programming #TechHistory #VintageComputer
Image titled “Milestone Monday – November 10th, 2009.” The background features a dark starry night sky with a stylized yellow sunrise graphic at the bottom. On the left is the Go programming language logo in blue, showing the word “GO” with motion lines extending from the G. On the right, yellow text reads: “The Go programming language was released on this day in 2009; it was designed by Robert Griesemer, Rob Pike, and Ken Thompson at Google, and it was intended to improve productivity when programming for multicore and networked machines.” At the bottom center, the text vintage.computer appears in gold.
November 10, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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A timeless reminder from Confucius: “A workman who wants to do his work well must first sharpen his tools.” Preparation and precision, whether in code, circuits, or craftsmanship, make all the difference. #VintageComputing #Inspiration #Confucius #TechWisdom #VintageComputer
Image titled “Maintenance Mode.” The background shows a beautiful beach at sunset, with waves rolling onto the shore and the sky glowing in orange and violet hues. A blue box with gold trim overlays the image, containing the white text: “A workman who wants to do his work well must first sharpen his tools.” — Confucius At the top, a matching blue sign with gold edges reads “Maintenance Mode.” At the bottom right corner, a small gold-bordered tag reads vintage.computer.
November 9, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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Inside a 1980s U.S. Census Bureau computer room, from an era when entire rooms were filled with mainframes, tape drives, and terminals. Data processing on this scale powered the nation long before “the cloud” was even a dream. #VintageComputing #RetroTech #Mainframe #TechHistory
Image titled “Snapshot Saturday.” The design features a brown filmstrip border with white text at the top reading “U.S. Census Bureau employees, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.” The central black-and-white photograph shows a U.S. Census Bureau computer room from the 1980s. Rows of large mainframe computers and tape drives line the back wall, while several employees sit at desks equipped with computer terminals and keyboards. The floor is tiled with raised panels typical of mainframe environments, and large columns divide the space. At the lower right corner of the image, the text vintage.computer appears in white on a brown label.
November 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Free Software Friday! This week’s pick: OpenRA, an open-source project that brings classic RTS titles like Command & Conquer: Red Alert and Dune 2000 back to life with modern enhancements. Build, conquer, and relive the glory days of 90s strategy gaming! 👉 http://www.openra.net
Image titled “Free Software Friday – OpenRA.” The design features a large light-purple CD graphic centered on a gray background. Text printed on the CD reads: OpenRA Author: OpenRA Devs Release Date: 2007 Get It: www.openra.net About: An open-source implementation of real-time strategy games like Red Alert and Dune 2000. At the top, bold black text reads “FREE SOFTWARE FRIDAY.” At the bottom right corner, in smaller text, is vintage.computer.
November 7, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Before laptops, there were “luggables.” Early portables like the Kaypro could technically travel, if you didn’t mind carrying 25 pounds of metal, CRT, and floppy drives. Not exactly a “lap-top". #VintageComputing #Kaypro #RetroTech #PortableComputers #VintageComputer
Image titled “Throwback Thursday – ‘Luggable’ computers.” The background shows a soft desert sand landscape with a magnifying glass icon near the title. In the center, a Kaypro 10 computer is shown — a large gray portable computer with a built-in green monochrome CRT display, dual floppy drives, and a detachable keyboard resting flat in front. The display shows green text in a command-line interface. Text at the bottom reads: “The ‘luggable’ computer was the first portable computer. Resembling a large tool box (and just as heavy) these early machines were technically portable but they definitely didn’t fit on your lap (or even have a battery).” At the bottom right corner, the text vintage.computer appears in brown.
November 6, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Windows uses CRLF, Unix uses LF, and that tiny difference has broken scripts, configs, and friendships alike. The “line ending war” dates back to the mechanical quirks of teletypes and typewriters. #VintageComputing #Unix #Windows #RetroTech #Programming
Image titled “Wow That’s Fascinating – CRLF vs LF: The Line Ending War.” The design mimics a retro computer terminal, with green monospaced text on a black screen framed by a gray border. Text reads: “Windows uses CRLF. Unix uses LF. This minor formatting difference has broken scripts, configs, and friendships. It all dates back to typewriters and teletype machines.” At the bottom, green symbols of a globe and circuit icon appear beside the text vintage.computer.
November 5, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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Released in 1987, IBM’s PS/2 Model 30 brought the sleek PS/2 design and 3.5” floppy drive into homes and offices. Powered by the Intel 8086, it helped define the late ‘80s IBM PC experience. #VintageComputing #IBM #PS2 #RetroTech #VintageComputer
Infographic titled “Tech Spec Tuesday – IBM PS/2 Model 30.” The design uses a blue and white blueprint-style background. On the left, a photo shows an IBM PS/2 Model 30 computer setup, including a beige desktop case, CRT monitor displaying blue text, keyboard, and joystick. On the right, text reads: About this machine: “Released in 1987, the PS/2 Model 30 was IBM’s entry-level model for the PS/2 series. It featured the new Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) in higher models, a redesigned case, and the debut of the now-standard 3.5” floppy disk.” A specification table lists: CPU: Intel 8086 @ 8 MHz Memory: 640 KB base, expandable Storage: 20 MB HDD, 3.5” floppy drive Graphics: MCGA Graphics Networking: Optional Network Card Notes: Part of IBM’s PS/2 lineup with MCA bus At the bottom right corner is the text vintage.computer.
November 4, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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On this day in 1971, the first edition of UNIX was released. Developed by Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs, UNIX ran on the PDP-11 and went on to shape nearly every modern operating system. #VintageComputing #UNIX #TechHistory #KenThompson #DennisRitchie
Image titled “Milestone Monday – November 3rd, 1971.” The background features a dark, starry sky with a stylized yellow sunrise graphic at the bottom. At the top, large yellow text reads: Milestone Monday – November 3rd, 1971 To the right, text reads: “The first edition of UNIX was released on November 3rd, 1971. Developed and compiled on the PDP-7 at Bell Labs to run on the brand new (at the time) PDP-11/20 minicomputer. It was designed by Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie, and it’s hard to overstate the influence and impact it had on all aspects of computing.” At the bottom center, the text vintage.computer appears in gold. On the left is a black-and-white photograph labeled “Ken Thompson (left) and Dennis Ritchie (right).” Both are smiling and facing the camera. Below the photo, small text credits: “http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/U/Unix.html
November 3, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Maintenance Mode 🌿 A timeless reminder from John Ruskin:
“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of intelligent effort.” Whether you’re restoring a vintage machine or writing clean code, craftsmanship always matters. #VintageComputer #MaintenanceMode
Image titled “Maintenance Mode.” The background shows a lush, sunlit forest with rays of light filtering through tall green trees. Overlaid on a translucent green box bordered in gold is a quote in yellow text: “Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of intelligent effort.” — John Ruskin At the top, a green banner with gold trim reads “Maintenance Mode.” At the bottom right, a gold label contains the text vintage.computer.
November 2, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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Snapshot Saturday 🖥️

The IBM System/36: a mainframe you could fit right in your office. Launched in 1983, it brought multiuser business computing to small and mid-sized companies before PCs caught up. #VintageComputing #IBMS36 #RetroTech #Mainframe #VintageComputer
Image titled “Snapshot Saturday – IBM System 36: a mainframe that fits in your office.” The design features a brown filmstrip border with the title at the top. The central photograph shows an IBM System/36 computer—a large, off-white floor-standing unit with a slanted top housing control panels, indicator lights, and a paper feed area. It sits in a small office space next to wooden shelving, carpeted flooring, and storage containers, emphasizing its “office-sized” design. A credit beneath the photo reads: “MHMCCabe at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IBM_System36_5360_(1).jpg.” At the bottom right corner, the text vintage.computer appears in white on a brown label.
November 1, 2025 at 12:00 PM