Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Kay Savetz
Topic: 1990
1990 saw a decline of various personal computer magazines, as well as the introduction of the Video Toaster. Apple started misting the market with computer variants.
Topic/Feedback links:
RCR episode 90 (https://rcrpodcast.com/2014/12/21/rcr-episode-90/)
Macintosh LC (https://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_lc/specs/mac_lc.html)
Macintosh Classic (https://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_classic/specs/mac_classic.html)
Macintosh IIfx (https://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_ii/specs/mac_iifx.html)
Macintosh IIsi (https://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_ii/specs/mac_iisi.html)
Computer mags in 1990 (https://archive.org/details/computermagazines?and%5B%5D=year%3A%221990%22) were an interesting mix of modern and dying (Compute’s Gazette, BBC Acorn, Atari Explorer, the last issue of Antic (https://archive.org/details/1990-06-anticmagazine)) and MSX which was both.
MiniDisc (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDisc) (actually 1992)
MiniDisc.wiki (https://www.minidisc.wiki/) (home of Web MiniDisc Pro)
MZ-RH1 (https://www.minidisc.wiki/equipment/sony/portable/mz-rh1) MiniDisc player/recorder with USB data export support
Photoshop 1.0 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Photoshop)
Video Toaster (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Toaster)
Retro Computing News:
Interim Computer Museum (https://icm.museum)
Intellivision: How a videogame battled Atari and almost bankrupted Barbie (https://archive.org/details/mit_press_book_9780262380553)
Adventures in Videoland (https://github.com/savetz/AdventuresInVideoland)
Adventures in Videoland playthrough (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epr9gz328QI)
2-XL (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-XL)
Vintage Computer/discussion-related commercials:
MiniDisc system infomercial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJDRZkYe5aA)
Minute Rice (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ4mv-x4Apg)
Family Computing magazine (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQvAsNXZrLk)
2-XL by Mego (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnAhaZ5vlg8)
Keeping up with the Commodore (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uaYHYs4ubw)
Super Breakout (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL7nS1ARCBk)
Various 1980s ads (The Clapper) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSW4J77Ap_U)
Lotus 123 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cNJNKkCQ2E)
Retro Computing Gift Idea:
PBTfans 1984 R2 keycaps (https://kbdfans.com/collections/pbtfans-in-stock/products/pbtfans-1984)
See also: Big Mac at CHM (https://www.tiktok.com/@computerhistorymuseum/video/7609034421768817933)
Auction Picks:
Paul:
CORE remote (https://www.ebay.com/itm/397663911256?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
CL 9 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CL_9) (company)
Celadon PIC-100 (https://ktronicslc.com/core.html) (rebranded CORE, post CL 9)
MagicLink PIC-1000 (https://oldcomputers.net/sony-magic-link.html) (no relation, but had IR remote capability)
Oric-1 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/286964575809?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
Oric-1 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oric_(computer)) (Wikipedia)
Pravetz 8D (https://www.ebay.com/itm/137051517127?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc) (Oric-1 clone)
Elizabethan typing (https://www.ebay.com/itm/147074926850?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
Sargon II (https://www.ebay.com/itm/406730308345?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
MC-10 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/277762863644?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
Chaos the software (https://www.ebay.com/itm/306797531086?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
Three tiny Apple programs (https://www.ebay.com/itm/167813770914?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
Lisa floppies (https://www.ebay.com/itm/306179191593?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
Closing notes:
Kay’s 2025 Wrapped (https://www.patreon.com/posts/kays-2025-147182056)
Softalk for the IBM PC (https://archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Softalk+for+the+IBM+PC%22)
Enter magazine (at time of recording) (https://archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Enter+magazine+%28Children%27s+Television+Workshop%29%22)
Teaching and Computers (https://archive.org/search?query=creator%3A%22Teaching+and+Computers%22)
Other ways to experience this episode:
a2stream file for this episode (http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr290.a2stream): http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr290.a2stream
YouTube episode 290 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvp0eogutkI)
Feedback/Discussion:
feedback@rcrpodcast.com (mailto:feedback@rcrpodcast.com)
rcrpodcast@podcast.social on Mastodon (https://podcasts.social/@rcrpodcast)
rcrpodcast.com on bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/rcrpodcast.com)
Vintage Computer Forum (https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?forums/retro-podcasts-discussion.81/)
RCR Podcast on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/RCRpodcast/)
Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X (https://www.reverbnation.com/johnx/song/3906324-back-to-oz)
Listen/Download:
8 Jul 2026
RCR Episode 289: ZIP me down to Maxis Sim City
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Earl Evans
Topic: 1989
Several things happened during the final year to begin prior to The Simpsons hitting the airwaves. For example, Sim City and PKZIP came out. Tim from CERN proposed an information sharing architecture. Everyone on the bus started playing with Game Boys.
Topic/Feedback links:
SimCity (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SimCity)
Mac Office (Word 4, Excel 2.2, PowerPoint 2.01, Mail 1.37) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Office#Early_Office_for_Mac_releases_(1989%E2%80%931994))
ZIP format (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZIP_(file_format)) introduced
Phil Katz (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Katz)
ARC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARC_(file_format))
Tim Berners-Lee (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee) proposed WWW (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wide_Web)
Microsoft SQL Server (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_SQL_Server) announced
Nintendo Game Boy (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Boy)
Macintosh Portable (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh_Portable)
Ejecting a disk in space (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99pXlcakHdE&t=22s)
RCR episode 89 (https://rcrpodcast.com/2014/12/07/rcr-episode-89/)
Retro Computing News:
MBASIC-2025 (https://github.com/avwohl/mbasic): Modern MBASIC 5.21 Interpreter & Compilers
Microsoft: the Zork source code is open sourced (https://opensource.microsoft.com/blog/2025/11/20/preserving-code-that-shaped-generations-zork-i-ii-and-iii-go-open-source).
Usagi Electric TI homebrew (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUp0VRuMVCA)
Rebecca Heineman (Burger Becky) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_Heineman)
Vintage Computer/discussion-related commercials:
Wisk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecUFX_u5lAU)
TRS-80 Model II (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMxWHodzENQ)
SQL Server (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ycx9hFGHog)
Retro Computing Gift Idea:
Max Build More Retro Building Bricks Unboxing Toy (https://www.walmart.com/ip/MAX-Build-More-Premium-Retro-Building-Bricks-Assorted-Novelty-Unboxing-Toy-Collectible-Mini-s-by-ZURU/13066915391)
Auction Picks:
Earl:
Atari 600 XL Home Computer Near Mint . Never Used. Was In Storage For 40 Years (https://www.ebay.com/itm/336309487055?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
Paul:
Myst board game (https://www.ebay.com/itm/167909863626?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
Tandy 16B (https://www.ebay.com/itm/197892242119?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc).
TS1500 command cartridge player (https://www.ebay.com/itm/389276127631?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
Timex Computer Corp Winter 1983 catalog (https://archive.org/details/timex-computer-corp/Timex%20Computer%20Corp%20Winter%20%281983%29%20Catalog/page/n1/mode/2up)
Available cartridges included Supermath and Flight Simulator.
TS 1500 in case (https://www.ebay.com/itm/167860907669?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
TS 1500 in box (https://www.ebay.com/itm/297712047379?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
TS 1500 description (https://www.timexsinclair.com/computers/timex-sinclair-1500/index.html)
Closing notes:
We’re covered in Compute’s Gazette
Issue number 5, in Brian Cox’s Podcast Corner (https://shop.computesgazette.com/product/individual-issue-computes-gazette-issue-5-physical-edition-november-2025-1st-printing-spare-copy/)
Other ways to experience this episode:
a2stream file for this episode (http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr289.a2stream): http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr289.a2stream
YouTube episode 289 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwNAgOZQcmQ)
Feedback/Discussion:
feedback@rcrpodcast.com (mailto:feedback@rcrpodcast.com)
rcrpodcast@podcast.social on Mastodon (https://podcasts.social/@rcrpodcast)
rcrpodcast.com on bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/rcrpodcast.com)
Vintage Computer Forum (https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?forums/retro-podcasts-discussion.81/)
RCR Podcast on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/RCRpodcast/)
Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X (https://www.reverbnation.com/johnx/song/3906324-back-to-oz)
Listen/Download:
25 Jan 2026
RCR Episode 288: NeXT, Sound Blaster, and IRC
Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Earl Evans
Topic: 1988
In 1988, NeXT introduced its cube, bundled with Mathematica 1.0. IRC was developed. Sound Blaster changed gaming. Microsoft Office was announced. Lots of software was developed, and hardware incrementally improved.
Topic/Feedback links:
NeXT cube (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NeXTcube)
Laser 128EX/2 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_128)
Mathematica (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfram_Mathematica)
Celebrating 35 Years of Mathematica (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxWg8exJxNY) (YouTube, first few sections show it in action on an SE/30)
The Mathematica Story – A Scrapbook (https://www.wolfram.com/mathematica/scrapbook/)
Sound Blaster (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_Blaster) (but 1990? 1989?)
Microsoft Office (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Office) (announced 1988, shipped 1990)
IRC developed – /me likes this (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRC)
Apple IIc Plus – last 8-bit computer introduced by Apple? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_IIc_Plus)
IBM PS/2 Model 70 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PS/2_Model_70)
Lemonamiga games for 1988 (https://www.lemonamiga.com/games/list.php?list_year=1988)
Retro Computing News:
Video of production of new Commodore 64s in the factory (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BffeaLbKHkw&t=614s)
Ken Shirrif repairs a Commodore PET (https://www.righto.com/2025/04/commodore-pet-repair.html)
Vintage Computer(-related) commercials:
Amstrad Portable PC (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdYd4xONlLE)
Microsoft Office System: It’s Showtime (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWgd6ifaa0g)
Retro Computing Gift Idea:
Viking Electronics DLE-200B Two-Way Phone Line Simulator (https://vikingtelecomsolutions.com/products/viking-dle-200b-two-way-phone-line-simulator)
See also: Open House H650 Integrated Voice Networking System (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00013BOAG)
Auction Picks:
Earl:
Altos 580 Computer, Z80 system, supported multi-user MP/M, could accommodate hard drives, 4 RS232 ports (https://www.ebay.com/itm/406281541085?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
See also: http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/altos/580_Series_5/ (http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/altos/580_Series_5/)
Paul:
NeXT Cube (https://www.ebay.com/itm/306584145909?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
NeXT Video Cable (https://www.ebay.com/itm/317256173659?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
Amstrad PPC 640 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/389085765324?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
Adventure International Buckaroo Banzai (https://www.ebay.com/itm/205543507192?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
Akalabeth (https://www.ebay.com/itm/326813887304?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
Contributed Programs (https://www.ebay.com/itm/317435144901?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
See also: Street Life (https://archive.org/details/054_Street_Life) (Apple II disk image)
Closing notes:
Ivan Loves the 80s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV6SF492hNU)
Steve Jobs Unveils the NeXT Computer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92NNyd3m79I)
Other ways to experience this episode:
a2stream file for this episode (http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr288.a2stream): http://lo-fi.rcrpodcast.com/rcr288.a2stream
YouTube episode 288 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3HWzcX19Rc)
Feedback/Discussion:
feedback@rcrpodcast.com (mailto:feedback@rcrpodcast.com)
rcrpodcast@podcast.social on Mastodon (https://podcasts.social/@rcrpodcast)
rcrpodcast.com on bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/rcrpodcast.com)
Vintage Computer Forum (https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?forums/retro-podcasts-discussion.81/)
RCR Podcast on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/RCRpodcast/)
Intro / Closing Song: Back to Oz by John X (https://www.reverbnation.com/johnx/song/3906324-back-to-oz)
Listen/Download:
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
7,194,189
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
21 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 60 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
63
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
51
Contact Retro Computing Roundtable
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