Lab Notes
Compute!'s Gazette collection complete!
Collection complete! With this last acquisition I now have every print issue of Compute!’s Gazette magazine. Not counting the software special which for my purposes is nice to have but not essential. Gotta draw the line somewhere.
On PETs and rocks
The Commodore PET was named after the Pet Rock fad of 1976.
The original Pet Rock sold 1 mil units at $4 each in 1976.
The trademark holder reissued the Pet Rock in 2012. It is still available on Amazon for $20.
You can get an original issue vintage pet rock on eBay for $75.
The official P8PNG compression routines
For #pico8 hackers and historians, I put the C code for the P8PNG compression routines (legacy and PXA) on Github and linked them from the Wiki: github.com/dansanderson/l…
Many thanks to @lexaloffle for releasing this code officially!
Franklin talking dictionary
Perhaps straining the interests of my followers in vintage tech but I’m enjoying this Franklin talking dictionary. Definitions, synonyms, pronunciations; word games, study lists; booklets on grammar, tables and lists.
Super Mario Bros Game & Watch
I thought the Super Mario Bros Game & Watch would be an overpriced toy that I put in a drawer. I was not prepared for how wrong I was. This is a perfect grab and go toy with multiple levels of engagement, a fidget toy during meetings and a casual game between meetings.
Opening the C256 Foenix FMX case
A short tutorial on opening the #c256foenix FMX case. It is quite serviceable but there are a few things to note. For starters, the panels on top provide access to the JTAG ports, DIP switches, and RTC battery with tiny Philips-head screws, if that’s all you need. (1/n)
reMarkable e-Ink tablet
I have to gush a bit about the @remarkablepaper e-ink tablet. This is the first digital tablet I’ve ever used with paper-like performance, and it’s a game changer for me for notetaking and visual ideation.
Programming Google App Engine with Java/Python (2015), extra author copies
Programming Google App Engine with Java/Python (2015), extra author copies. Anyone want one? I can sign them, but I can’t keep them. [Edit: They’re gone!]
The BeamRacer
What’s this? It’s the BeamRacer video enhancement for the Commodore 64 by Mad Hackers Lab (@beam_racer)! Let’s try putting it in my C64C… (thread)