Thread
RetroChallenge Winter Warm-up 2008
Subject: RetroChallenge Winter Warm-up 2008
Retrocomputing enthusiasts the World over are cordially invited to participate
in the 2008 RetroChallenge Winter Warm-up, commencing January 1, 2008.
RetroChallenge is an opportunity for fans of "obsolete" platforms to spend a
month pushing their retrocomputing limits in the company of like-minded geeks.
Participants set their own goal(s) and typically keep the community apprised of
progress via weblogs or on the Retro BBS.
Challenges are as unique as the individual RetroChallenger -- in the past
participants have programmed games; created music and video content; performed
dangerous hardware hacks or simply spent a month trying to get an old computer
to boot.
RetroChallenge is not so much about competing, as it is about sharing. Think of
it as an on-line show-and-tell for RetroGeeks. Because the individual challenges
are self-posed, the RetroChallenge is equally well-suited to hoary old wizards
and tender newbies alike. It's not about winning, but about *doing*.
RetroChallenge is open to *all* retrocomputing platforms. For the sake of
simplicity (and to avoid the usual endless debate), the criteria for what
constitutes a "retro system" is left up to the conscience of the participant.
Although it's very much a matter of perspective, we would hope that nobody's
going to bring their 5-year-old Dell to the games!
The Rules? Well... there really aren't any.
RetroChallenge runs from January 1st, 2008 to January 31st, 2008. Participants
are encouraged to announce their intentions prior to December 31st (but
stragglers, as always, will be accommodated). Other than that, have fun and try
to keep the platform wars to a minimum.
~LD8
Home page: http://retrochallenge.net
Contact : retrochallenge@ld8.org
Retro BBS: http://telnet://lorance.no-ip.org
RC Forum : http://68kmla.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=18
Please feel free to post this announcement to appropriate blogs and forums.
http://retrochallenge.net/2008/winter/RCWW08PR.TXT
Retrocomputing enthusiasts the World over are cordially invited to participate
in the 2008 RetroChallenge Winter Warm-up, commencing January 1, 2008.
RetroChallenge is an opportunity for fans of "obsolete" platforms to spend a
month pushing their retrocomputing limits in the company of like-minded geeks.
Participants set their own goal(s) and typically keep the community apprised of
progress via weblogs or on the Retro BBS.
Challenges are as unique as the individual RetroChallenger -- in the past
participants have programmed games; created music and video content; performed
dangerous hardware hacks or simply spent a month trying to get an old computer
to boot.
RetroChallenge is not so much about competing, as it is about sharing. Think of
it as an on-line show-and-tell for RetroGeeks. Because the individual challenges
are self-posed, the RetroChallenge is equally well-suited to hoary old wizards
and tender newbies alike. It's not about winning, but about *doing*.
RetroChallenge is open to *all* retrocomputing platforms. For the sake of
simplicity (and to avoid the usual endless debate), the criteria for what
constitutes a "retro system" is left up to the conscience of the participant.
Although it's very much a matter of perspective, we would hope that nobody's
going to bring their 5-year-old Dell to the games!
The Rules? Well... there really aren't any.
RetroChallenge runs from January 1st, 2008 to January 31st, 2008. Participants
are encouraged to announce their intentions prior to December 31st (but
stragglers, as always, will be accommodated). Other than that, have fun and try
to keep the platform wars to a minimum.
~LD8
Home page: http://retrochallenge.net
Contact : retrochallenge@ld8.org
Retro BBS: http://telnet://lorance.no-ip.org
RC Forum : http://68kmla.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=18
Please feel free to post this announcement to appropriate blogs and forums.
http://retrochallenge.net/2008/winter/RCWW08PR.TXT
Alright. My challenge to myself...
Go the entire month of January using only computers produced in 1994 or earlier for my own use.
What makes this a challenge? I am an on-site computer technician, and spend all day going from client site to client site, and often need to whip out my notebook computer or iPhone to look things up online. For simplicity's sake (I don't have any other GSM phones anymore,) I will use my iPhone solely for its phone functions. I will use a Newton MessagePad (aka "OMP",) for 'PDA' duties, a PowerBook 540c for mobile computer needs, (I will likely use a Wi-Fi card in it, though,) and Power Mac 7100 as my desktop computer.
I know I have at least one functioning PowerBook 500-series battery, but I might buy two brand new ones just for this challenge, so I can actually use it for more than an hour at a time off wall power. I haven't yet decided if I'll run each computer's original OS (7.1.2 for the Power Mac, 7.1.1 for the PowerBook,) or if I'll put a more modern OS on each (9.1 for the Power Mac, and either 8.1 or an attempt to hack 8.5 or 8.6 onto the PowerBook, since I have one with a PowerPC upgrade.) The more modern OS would allow a reasonably modern web browser to be run, although iCab 2.9.9 can theoretically run on System 7.1. Or maybe I'll compromise and go with 7.6.1.
Go the entire month of January using only computers produced in 1994 or earlier for my own use.
What makes this a challenge? I am an on-site computer technician, and spend all day going from client site to client site, and often need to whip out my notebook computer or iPhone to look things up online. For simplicity's sake (I don't have any other GSM phones anymore,) I will use my iPhone solely for its phone functions. I will use a Newton MessagePad (aka "OMP",) for 'PDA' duties, a PowerBook 540c for mobile computer needs, (I will likely use a Wi-Fi card in it, though,) and Power Mac 7100 as my desktop computer.
I know I have at least one functioning PowerBook 500-series battery, but I might buy two brand new ones just for this challenge, so I can actually use it for more than an hour at a time off wall power. I haven't yet decided if I'll run each computer's original OS (7.1.2 for the Power Mac, 7.1.1 for the PowerBook,) or if I'll put a more modern OS on each (9.1 for the Power Mac, and either 8.1 or an attempt to hack 8.5 or 8.6 onto the PowerBook, since I have one with a PowerPC upgrade.) The more modern OS would allow a reasonably modern web browser to be run, although iCab 2.9.9 can theoretically run on System 7.1. Or maybe I'll compromise and go with 7.6.1.
funky: If your list in your sig is current, then ALL of your old Macs "can get on the internet", and all but the Plusses can run graphical web browsers. (Although web sites look like crap in 1-bit black/white on the Classic II.) The Performa and the LC II can even have internal Ethernet cards.
True, One plus is dead, the other need an os, and I have no way of making a boot disk. I also have no keyboard or mouse for them. I also have to clue how to set up a network. I would just use dialup. I would like to get my Powerbook online because it has an internal modem.
How 'bout my 9-year-old Dell?
I'd use that for Windoze... Win '98, yo! It's the oldest peecee I've got with me. Plus, I need to use FireFox or something for Hotmail, as I can't get it to render properly with IE5 or iCab.
For Macs, I've got my 540c running 7.5.5. I'll be spending most of my time with that little bugger, including posting my progress. An added project would be to rebuild 3 batteries so that I can use it for more than five minutes without its duct-taped power adapter. For emergency use (such as eBay bid sniping), I shall use 8.6 on a 233MHz WallStreet.
All you need to be able to make a boot disk is a Mac that can write 800k floppies (you can even use a 1.44 MB floppy with the hole taped over if you have no way of getting any 800k/720k (they are the same) disks, though that shouldn't be used long-term as it's bad for the disk) and one of the boot disks from the web, Apple themselves even have some available.
Getting a Plus online would be hard as it has no built-in ethernet, you'd need one of those SCSI-to-ethernet adapters that seem to be hard to find and expensive if you do find one. You don't need to do much setting up if you use the built-in ethernet on the later models, just select DHCP from the TCP/IP control panel (you'll need Open Transport installed) and off you go!
I'd use my 9-year-old Mac, but somehow I don't think that would be very popular!How 'bout my 9-year-old Dell?
Especially given that I would probably enjoy using it more than I do using Vista every day, I really love using OS X.While thinking what I can do for my project I had a revelation!
If you are in the southern hemisphere, then it's not the winter warm-up but the summer warm-up! In a way the retrochallenge's name is discriminating everybody on the other hemisphere!
This revelation does not solve my lack of an original entry, mmm, i'll keep thinking about it. Endurance is an easy answer, but not very original
If you are in the southern hemisphere, then it's not the winter warm-up but the summer warm-up! In a way the retrochallenge's name is discriminating everybody on the other hemisphere!
This revelation does not solve my lack of an original entry, mmm, i'll keep thinking about it. Endurance is an easy answer, but not very original
Just a quick update...
There are currently 13 people officially participating in the RC. Unfortunately the ftp password for the site seems to have been reset just before xmas, so I'm currently unable to update it. Hopefully Tom will be back amongst us soon and we can get it sorted.
There are currently 13 people officially participating in the RC. Unfortunately the ftp password for the site seems to have been reset just before xmas, so I'm currently unable to update it. Hopefully Tom will be back amongst us soon and we can get it sorted.
Ok, so hopefully this isn't a complete cop-out but I can't pin down a single project. I have a bunch of small things I'd like to work on, so my winter challenge "project" is to blog, and document my findings. I often wish more people would document what they do and discover, so I'll practice what I preach.
Anyway, tomorrow's the start. Have fun. woot!
Anyway, tomorrow's the start. Have fun. woot!
I'm not sure if i will join this year since things went awry for me last time and i can't think of anything that i would like to do at the moment.
well i can think of some things but i'm not sure if it really belongs in the retro challenge.
One is that for a month i will only use my "olivetti lettera 32"
the other is that i will limit my gaming to interactive fiction.
let me know what you guys think.
well i can think of some things but i'm not sure if it really belongs in the retro challenge.
One is that for a month i will only use my "olivetti lettera 32"
the other is that i will limit my gaming to interactive fiction.
let me know what you guys think.
There *is* a lot of good interactive fiction out there, but a whole month? I'd be afraid of burn out. I'd be tempted to create a page documenting what IF development and runtime setups work with system 6 and/or 7?
I mean, I doubt you can develop Inform 7 on a mac plus, but you should be able to play an Inform 7 game right?
I mean, I doubt you can develop Inform 7 on a mac plus, but you should be able to play an Inform 7 game right?
Hey all! I forgot (or didn't know I had to) register, but got that done last night and just got on here right now. Look forward to hanging out.
My goals.. to get an Amiga 2000 working the way I want to reliably, and fix up a few things on the Atari 800 I have. Yes, Jay Miner did some good work.
My goals.. to get an Amiga 2000 working the way I want to reliably, and fix up a few things on the Atari 800 I have. Yes, Jay Miner did some good work.
does it not work for you?
it should bring up a video of a zx printer running from a zx81 printing the entry list for the warm-up.
as an aside - i am doing quite well thanks - glad the holidays are passed ad things are returning to normal.
that said i have a very nice xmas/new year.
things grand with you i hope.
it should bring up a video of a zx printer running from a zx81 printing the entry list for the warm-up.
as an aside - i am doing quite well thanks - glad the holidays are passed ad things are returning to normal.
that said i have a very nice xmas/new year.
things grand with you i hope.
I love IF enough to avoid a burn out (i hope).
i can't be 100% sure about the plus but i have a se/30 that has never had any problem with any IF I've tried. I haven't tried to write anything myself however.
making a howto for people that want to use IF on a compact does seem like a nice idea however.
still... using only my olivetti for a month still seems like more of a challenge. i just don't know how i will keep a journal
[
] ]'>I persuaded the Talking Moose to come out of retirement and wish everyone luck at the half way point.
Youtube Video -
Quicktime (better quality than the Youtube) - http://www.ehs1987.net/mooseretro.mov
More info here: http://mac-v.blogspot.com/
Youtube Video -
Quicktime (better quality than the Youtube) - http://www.ehs1987.net/mooseretro.mov
More info here: http://mac-v.blogspot.com/
I'm late, but I am busy making HELLO WORLD programs for the original Apple 1. Although I am cheating because I don't actually have an original Apple 1 computer. There aren't many around, so I built "Isaac" an Apple 1 emulator that runs on my slightly retro iBook to run the programs.
http://www.geocities.com/mmphosis/apple2/contest/2008/retrochallenge.net.html
http://www.geocities.com/mmphosis/apple2/contest/2008/retrochallenge.net.html
My new favorite RetroChallenge result...
http://bp1.blogger.com/_JerGGreyF5Q/R5C6p6hgKlI/AAAAAAAAACM/_WDP2DbX98A/s1600-h/quickcamwindow.jpg
... Nice work MacTV
http://bp1.blogger.com/_JerGGreyF5Q/R5C6p6hgKlI/AAAAAAAAACM/_WDP2DbX98A/s1600-h/quickcamwindow.jpg
... Nice work MacTV
I've got a 25-diode 3-bit adder designed, but I haven't been able to test it at the system clock because I blew up my function generator's 50-/600-ohm output stage while measuring a 2N2222 switching speed (one of the hazards of testing with non-standard logic levels).
I've repaired most of the output stage, only two 1/4W resistors in the emitter followers were so toasted I have no idea what their original values might have been (they were charred, as was the circuit board underneath). I have to trace out the schematic and figure out what their values should be.
-Bobby
I've repaired most of the output stage, only two 1/4W resistors in the emitter followers were so toasted I have no idea what their original values might have been (they were charred, as was the circuit board underneath). I have to trace out the schematic and figure out what their values should be.
-Bobby
Hi, All
Real Cool Web Site
.
Well I have been retro computing for the last 5 years daily.
I work for a small company as the IT person and have kept the retro
network going, which is a DOS server running Novell Netware 3.2 and
5 workstations running Windows95. Server is a 350mhz Compaq,
workstations are 233mhz off-brands. We have just upgraded to newer
Dell gx270's and XP and have spend this month getting the old
software to run under XP and have just succeeded.
At hone I keep a fully loaded A/V 6400/200 on my network with an
600mhz Imac and a 3gig pc.
I also have a Packard Bell XT, Tandy 1000lt, 386sx machine and a
Mac Plus with a modem to access the internet, all of which is running fine.
[
] ]'>
Real Cool Web Site
.Well I have been retro computing for the last 5 years daily.
I work for a small company as the IT person and have kept the retro
network going, which is a DOS server running Novell Netware 3.2 and
5 workstations running Windows95. Server is a 350mhz Compaq,
workstations are 233mhz off-brands. We have just upgraded to newer
Dell gx270's and XP and have spend this month getting the old
software to run under XP and have just succeeded.
At hone I keep a fully loaded A/V 6400/200 on my network with an
600mhz Imac and a 3gig pc.
I also have a Packard Bell XT, Tandy 1000lt, 386sx machine and a
Mac Plus with a modem to access the internet, all of which is running fine.
[
] ]'>Finally got something done. Another participant list for everyone to... enjoy?
http://www.retards.org/projects/retrochallenge/2008-winter/RCWW2008.sit
http://www.retards.org/projects/retrochallenge/2008-winter/rcww2008-system6.gif
http://www.retards.org/projects/retrochallenge/2008-winter/RCWW2008.sit
http://www.retards.org/projects/retrochallenge/2008-winter/rcww2008-system6.gif
Nice job Equant.
However - in the "About" menu, under the Apple - it says About RCWW2007 instead of 2008.
Then again, I'm sure my Talking Moose version slaughtered the pronunciation of people's names and nicknames.
I'm bummed I didn't get a single comment about it though.
However - in the "About" menu, under the Apple - it says About RCWW2007 instead of 2008.
Then again, I'm sure my Talking Moose version slaughtered the pronunciation of people's names and nicknames.
I'm bummed I didn't get a single comment about it though.
Ah bugger! I'm so bad about things like that. I just wanted to get something posted! I guess I *should* fix it.
Not only that, I commented on something of yours and made it clear I didn't even read your blog post!
I appreciate your nod of recognition. Maybe not completely gratifying, but you were named in my post about my app. Anyway, it was a blast to see the moose after many many years.
That's okay, Moose aren't that well known for their public speaking abilities... anyone know the history of that? I'd assume it was inspired by the Fawlty Towers episode withe the "talking" moose head.
I neglected to include it in the last progress report... sorry!
I agree - wonderful job Luddite, it was great fun.
I can't decide which part of the retochallenge winner's presentation I like the best.
The lucrative prize money; the presentation of the golden 5 1/4" floppy by the Swedish bikini team, or the previous year's winner presenting the vintage Apple rainbow colored jacket, just like the Masters in golf - only more colorful.
But seriously - are we going to vote on the winners? (I know, it's not about the winning...and we don't have that complex points system from years past...)
I can't decide which part of the retochallenge winner's presentation I like the best.
The lucrative prize money; the presentation of the golden 5 1/4" floppy by the Swedish bikini team, or the previous year's winner presenting the vintage Apple rainbow colored jacket, just like the Masters in golf - only more colorful.
But seriously - are we going to vote on the winners? (I know, it's not about the winning...and we don't have that complex points system from years past...)
Okay, but let's not do it in public... email your choices to retrochallenge@ld8.org
Categories:
1. Best creative project.
2. Best hardware project.
3. Best programming project.
4. Best blog
That should cover it. I'll leave the voting open until some time on Tuesday.
Categories:
1. Best creative project.
2. Best hardware project.
3. Best programming project.
4. Best blog
That should cover it. I'll leave the voting open until some time on Tuesday.
That would be cool! As much as I abso-fargin'-lutely LOOOOVE Acuity (thanks Alk!), it's nice to have an alternate!Congratulations to the winners