Nostr notes by Bits&Terminal Jeff

Which is best? #retroComputing

2026-02-13T21:40:46Z

Which is best?

#retroComputing

A progress pride flag, though I guess colors aren't really ...

2025-11-19T18:17:36Z

In reply to nevent1q…5p30
_________________________

A progress pride flag, though I guess colors aren't really possible here.

You may need to dry that filament. A food dehydrator running for ...

2025-10-15T16:01:24Z

In reply to nevent1q…rry2
_________________________

You may need to dry that filament. A food dehydrator running for a few hours would probably do, but an oven that can be set at 120F (140F is a little high but would do) (not C!) for a couple of hours can work as well at least for PLA.
Alternatively you can print with filament that is still vacuum sealed.

Note that at 140F in an oven the spool itself if in plastic may start deforming. Make sure it's on a cookie sheet (or other metal flat surface) and flip it upside down every half hour.

I've known about the Dillo web browser for a very long time ...

2025-08-15T18:34:19Z

I've known about the Dillo web browser for a very long time and have used it occasionally, but it's only this week that I learned about Dillo+

https://github.com/crossbowerbt/dillo-plus

It supports gemini, gopher, markdown and rss - but no javascript (which is great!)

#retroComputing #gopher #rss #dillobrowser

Unsubscribed from another retro YT channel who started to use ...

2025-07-26T15:10:02Z

Unsubscribed from another retro YT channel who started to use genAI images as thumbnails.

Part of the appeal of old computers is getting away from the worst aspects of current tech. Shoving AI slop images as a thumbnail on what I think will be a very good video just means I won't watch it or anything else of yours.

#retroComputing #genAI

Okay, testing @npub1qfy…wnn8 's A2Vidga with Mario Bros on ...

2025-04-28T22:25:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…4urd
_________________________

Okay, testing Joe's Computer Museum (npub1qfy…wnn8) 's A2Vidga with Mario Bros on my Apple IIe. Composite output first, VGA output second. The latter is so much cleaner than composite.

#AppleII #VGA #retroComputing #retroGaming

By the way, do go take a look at http://jcm-1.com as there's ...

2025-04-25T18:27:05Z

In reply to nevent1q…qp4a
_________________________

By the way, do go take a look at http://jcm-1.com as there's a ton of cool retro stuff. The A2DVI is one of those things and likely is a better choice for most as it's HDMI compatible.

But I chose the VGA version because I happen to have a VGA-only 5:4 LCD monitor and because VGA was released in 1987, when the Apple II line was still heavily in use - making them contemporary.

#retroComputing #VGA #AppleII #1980s

Packaged has arrived - it's an A2 Vidga VGA card for the ...

2025-04-25T18:09:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…jvdl
_________________________

Packaged has arrived - it's an A2 Vidga VGA card for the Apple II by Joe's Computer Museum (npub1qfy…wnn8).

Looking forward to testing it out!

https://jcm-1.com/product/a2-vidga-apple-ii-vga-adapter/

#AppleII #AppleApril #AprilApples #retroComputing

Nearest post office finally has it, but too late to deliver the ...

2025-04-24T19:38:49Z

In reply to nevent1q…mk8g
_________________________

Nearest post office finally has it, but too late to deliver the package today. Hopefully it should get here tomorrow afternoon.

A delivery I'm supposed to get today is hopping between two ...

2025-04-24T15:26:59Z

A delivery I'm supposed to get today is hopping between two nearby post offices instead of being out for delivery. I hope they eventually figure things out.

While I did order a new oooold stock ink ribbon cartridge for my ...

2025-04-18T02:37:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…stee
_________________________

While I did order a new oooold stock ink ribbon cartridge for my printer, I decided to try the WD-40 trick to revive an old ribbon.

Verdict: it mostly works!

#dotMatrix #WD40 #retroComputing #epson

Well, internal test works - ribbon is pretty much dead but that ...

2025-04-12T16:29:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…2xwy
_________________________

Well, internal test works - ribbon is pretty much dead but that was to be expected. Still, it sounds pretty good now. Will try to revive the ribbon.

Warning: might be loud.

Edit: Connected it to my Apple IIe's parallel printer card later on and I was able to print from BASIC. So it works.

#dotMatrix #Epson #retroComputing #appleII

Well, this cat decided he likes this 80s-style bed. #dotMatrix ...

2025-04-10T19:03:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…awwu
_________________________

Well, this cat decided he likes this 80s-style bed.

#dotMatrix #cats #retroComputing

Completely unrelated to the above: 500 sheets of perforated ...

2025-04-10T01:17:11Z

In reply to nevent1q…pmsk
_________________________

Completely unrelated to the above: 500 sheets of perforated 9.5" paper have been purchased.

#dotMatrix #retroComputing

Side by side view of my two Epson LX-80 dot matrix printers. The ...

2025-04-09T21:15:59Z

Side by side view of my two Epson LX-80 dot matrix printers. The one on the right I got free at #VCFEast really needs a good cleaning before I'll start testing it.

#epson #dotMatrix #retroComputing

I have to say that seeing a Bendix G-15 in the metal flesh is ...

2025-04-07T23:01:55Z

I have to say that seeing a Bendix G-15 in the metal flesh is even more fun after seeing all those Usagi Electric YT videos!

#VCFEast #InfoAge #retroComputing

How's the battery life on those?

2025-01-04T19:06:49Z

In reply to nevent1q…s0lu
_________________________

How's the battery life on those?

Okay, I have two PCI SoundBlaster cards with a gameport - both ...

2024-11-17T22:28:30Z

Okay, I have two PCI SoundBlaster cards with a gameport - both cards work fine as sound cards on Ubuntu 24.04, but no success using a joystick on the gameport.

Anyone know of a live usb Linux distro version that supports the legacy gameport? Preferably something that is less than 15 years old. Only doing this to test old joysticks/gamepads so it doesn't have to be good at anything else.

Thank you.

Edit: please only answer if you have personal experience with the above (PC gameport controllers on Linux); looking up possible solutions on search engines and testing them out is something I've already done, which is why I'm asking here.

#retroComputing #retroGaming #gameport #joysticks #linux

Somewhat related recent purchases: #appleII #retroComputing ...

2024-11-16T20:19:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…3s4x
_________________________

Somewhat related recent purchases:

#appleII #retroComputing #gotek

Woz's masterpiece: the Disk II interface. #SteveWozniak #Woz ...

2024-11-16T15:28:10Z

Woz's masterpiece: the Disk II interface.

#SteveWozniak #Woz #appleII
https://paleotronic.com/2024/01/29/steve-wozniak-talks-disk/

Brain and heart not in it today, so I bought stuff I don't ...

2024-11-06T18:47:03Z

Brain and heart not in it today, so I bought stuff I don't need - a lot of old joysticks on goodwill. There's only two of them I actually want, will sell the rest after I test them once they get here.

#retroGaming #retroComputing #joysticks

Part one of making a serial cable for my Apple Super Serial clone ...

2024-10-03T19:47:31Z

Part one of making a serial cable for my Apple Super Serial clone card. This little thing should make it a lot easier and is way cheaper than cables sold in eBay.

#appleII #retroComputing #rs232 #serial

It's only after I rekindled my interest in old computers 5-6 ...

2024-09-09T23:38:28Z

It's only after I rekindled my interest in old computers 5-6 years ago that I eventually learned that CGA was a lot more capable than I believed back in the day. Some of the demos on IBM 5150 PCs with the original CGA adapter are impressive.

#CGA #IBM5150 #retroComputing

As it is the Fedi is (still) actively hostile to women and BIPOC. ...

2024-08-31T23:31:35Z

As it is the Fedi is (still) actively hostile to women and BIPOC. Good people leave because harassment and block evasion are too easy and moderation insufficient on most large servers or nonexistent in small ones.

Maybe a large number of better moderated servers should switch to an allowlist model and better reply controls (on who gets to reply to posts). On top of that, using shared blocklists if some of the allowed servers misbehave.

It will break the fediverse as we know it, but that's not a bad thing as it's already broken by abusers. Most large instances will likely not be on allowlists as they're geared from growth, not community safety.

#fediverse #allowlist

It was unpleasant though to have to deal with that stinky smoke. ...

2024-08-14T01:51:56Z

In reply to nevent1q…8zss
_________________________

It was unpleasant though to have to deal with that stinky smoke. Do not recommend.

I also do not apologize for a joke only fellow olds will get.

#appleII #retroComputing #RIFA #Babylon5

That now desoldered RIFA did not go gentle into that good night. ...

2024-08-13T23:06:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…srhj
_________________________

That now desoldered RIFA did not go gentle into that good night.

Went out in a blaze of glory. Respect.

#appleII #RIFA #powerSupply #retroComputing

Okay, PCB is out. RIFA capacitor did lose a bit more of its flaky ...

2024-08-13T18:05:23Z

In reply to nevent1q…kek8
_________________________

Okay, PCB is out. RIFA capacitor did lose a bit more of its flaky plastic skin in the process.

#appleII #retroComputing #RIFA #powerSupply

That is one unhappy elderly RIFA capacitor. #appleII ...

2024-08-13T15:10:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…hftu
_________________________

That is one unhappy elderly RIFA capacitor.

#appleII #retroComputing #RIFA #powerSupply

Oh good, my power supply doesn't have middle rivets so no ...

2024-08-13T14:28:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…f28d
_________________________

Oh good, my power supply doesn't have middle rivets so no drilling necessary.

Date stamp is 23rd week of 1983, this is an early Apple IIe model (chips and board have 1982 timestamps).

Edit: yeah, it still stinks of RIFA demise.

#appleII #retroComputing #RIFA #powerSupply

Will be watching Adrian Black's video on servicing a similar ...

2024-08-13T04:03:34Z

In reply to nevent1q…70hp
_________________________

Will be watching Adrian Black's video on servicing a similar power supply. Watched it a while back but didn't have this computer yet.

#appleII #retroComputing #powerSupply #AdriansDigitalBasement

https://youtu.be/EJ0IKmHAfoA

Ah, RIFA. When you die you make sure we notice. Note: very glad ...

2024-08-13T02:57:19Z

Ah, RIFA. When you die you make sure we notice.

Note: very glad my windows were open. Yes, that means it went poof - will have to service that power supply after all (not a surprise).

#AppleII #RIFA #retroComputing

Left the event, it was a lot of fun and had so much stuff to see. ...

2024-08-11T21:13:12Z

In reply to nevent1q…uppt
_________________________

Left the event, it was a lot of fun and had so much stuff to see. Still have quite a few pictures to share, but I'll post at a slower pace.

There was an in-box Nintendo Famicom for sale, if you're into such things. There were I think two of them on display in the expo as well.

#retroComputing #retroGaming #famicom #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo #nintendo

Vectrex and Colecovision, two things young me wanted but could ...

2024-08-11T19:17:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…pn6v
_________________________

Vectrex and Colecovision, two things young me wanted but could not afford.

#retroComputing #CRT #retroGaming #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo #vectrex #colecoVision

My favorite PC case designs were the AT mini towers of the early ...

2024-08-11T16:38:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…p7jl
_________________________

My favorite PC case designs were the AT mini towers of the early to mid-90s. They weren't pretty and had a lot of sharp corners everywhere (made me bleed many times when installing/upgrading parts) but they're still great memories of when I started to build my own stuff tailored to my budget/needs.

#retroComputing #CRT #PC #miniTower #retroGaming #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo

Remember when I posted about the Coleco Telstar Colortron we had ...

2024-08-11T16:24:58Z

In reply to nevent1q…n8t3
_________________________

Remember when I posted about the Coleco Telstar Colortron we had at home? Here is its daddy.

#Coleco #Telstar #CRT #retroGaming #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo

They also have a Tetris and variants section. #Tetris ...

2024-08-11T16:20:57Z

In reply to nevent1q…ua9g
_________________________

They also have a Tetris and variants section.

#Tetris #retroGaming #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo

Speaking of the VIC-20, one of the game carts we had was GORF - ...

2024-08-11T16:15:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…3q9z
_________________________

Speaking of the VIC-20, one of the game carts we had was GORF - the expo has the arcade cabinet!

#retroComputing #Midway #GORF #retroGaming #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo

Score: Commodore datasette+cassette and a Commodore 64 manual for ...

2024-08-11T15:37:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…dvqk
_________________________

Score: Commodore datasette+cassette and a Commodore 64 manual for cheap.

I had a VIC-20 as a kid and have fond memories of the datasette.

Edit: staff let me test the Datasette on one of their C64 and it works! Cassette is Commodore 64 Term.

#retroComputing #commodore #commodore64 #vic20 #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo

Last day at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. #retroComputing ...

2024-08-11T15:33:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…pcrn
_________________________

Last day at the Cradle of Aviation Museum.

#retroComputing #retroGaming #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo

Dead monitors/TVs, mostly CRTs. I haz a sad. #retroComputing #CRT ...

2024-08-10T20:16:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…hz09
_________________________

Dead monitors/TVs, mostly CRTs.

I haz a sad.

#retroComputing #CRT #retroGaming #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo

In the late 70s we had a Coleco Telstar Colortron at home, which ...

2024-08-10T20:10:58Z

In reply to nevent1q…ht4k
_________________________

In the late 70s we had a Coleco Telstar Colortron at home, which was a pong-derived clone console. It was fun, but the one young me wanted was the ridiculous-looking Telstar Arcade - and they have one here!

#retroGaming #coleco #telstar #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo

The MSXiest corner of the show. MSX was the 8-bit parallel ...

2024-08-10T19:59:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…qkr9
_________________________

The MSXiest corner of the show.

MSX was the 8-bit parallel universe that we barely got to see on this continent.

#retroComputing #MSX #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo

It should be criminal to look as gorgeous as this Sony Trinitron ...

2024-08-10T19:46:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…n93l
_________________________

It should be criminal to look as gorgeous as this Sony Trinitron CRT monitor.

#retroComputing #sony #Trinitron #CRT #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo

And now for some 16-bitness: mid-to late 80s brothers/enemies: ...

2024-08-10T19:25:36Z

In reply to nevent1q…fy70
_________________________

And now for some 16-bitness: mid-to late 80s brothers/enemies: Atari 1040 ST and Amiga 500.

I'm told that they like each other now. Which I find hard to believe.

#retroComputing #AtariST #Amiga500 #Atari #Commodore #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo

Also from the world of 8-bit Amstrad: a GX 4000 game console. ...

2024-08-10T19:16:20Z

In reply to nevent1q…9fqt
_________________________

Also from the world of 8-bit Amstrad: a GX 4000 game console.

#retroComputing #Amstrad #GX4000 #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo

Now that's a classic : Joust arcade cabinet. #retroGaming ...

2024-08-10T19:12:12Z

In reply to nevent1q…v7fw
_________________________

Now that's a classic : Joust arcade cabinet.

#retroGaming #joust #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo

Just want to add that @npub1lsg…7m6c is a good dude. ...

2024-08-10T18:38:54Z

Just want to add that Mac84 🍏 (npub1lsg…7m6c) is a good dude.

#retroComputing #BlueSCSI #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo

The Apple II/Franklin Ace 1000 corner. Means quite a bit to me as ...

2024-08-10T18:12:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…frtg
_________________________

The Apple II/Franklin Ace 1000 corner. Means quite a bit to me as we hand an Apple IIe (well, a Taiwanese clone of a IIe) and one of my friends had a Franklin Ace 1000. We often helped each other out by making "backups" of each other's floppies. You can never be too safe after all.

#retroComputing #appleII #FranklinAce #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo

Amstrad CPC464 - we don't see a lot of these this side of the ...

2024-08-10T18:02:06Z

Amstrad CPC464 - we don't see a lot of these this side of the Atlantic.

#retroComputing #AmstradCPC #LongIslandRetroGamingExpo

Well, since that 41 years old Apple IIe beauty is working, ...

2024-08-10T03:40:19Z

In reply to nevent1q…32n2
_________________________

Well, since that 41 years old Apple IIe beauty is working, let's start buying stuff. First, a stop at Joe's Computer Museum (npub1qfy…wnn8) to get Alps key stems to repair the one that broke, then a Universal RGB adapter which should work for my Video 7 board (I want to call it a clone of Apple's video 7 RGB card, but this Taxan card has a 1983 date stamp, while all the pics I've seen for the Apple card had 1984).

We'll see when it gets here. It seems like a cool product.

https://jcm-1.com/product/universal-video-adapter-for-apple3/

#appleII #Video7 #RGB #retroComputing

Video works, keyboard works, was able to go to the monitor with ...

2024-08-10T00:31:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…3djv
_________________________

Video works, keyboard works, was able to go to the monitor with CALL -151. Image quality isn't great, but that could be due to the cheap LCD monitor, the video out connector needing a bit of a clean, the "new" RCA maybe needing the same. Anyway, this is a win.

By the way, that beep brings back so many good memories.

Edit: internal self-test also works. An 80 column 64k card I bought as a souvenir last year for $10 also works.

#appleII #retroComputing

Also, went to LI retro gaming expo; pretty cool, will post pics. ...

2024-08-10T00:06:28Z

Also, went to LI retro gaming expo; pretty cool, will post pics. Met Clint (LGR). Nice dude, very patient.

#retroComputing #retroGaming #LGR

I would like to thank the local non-chain hardware store for ...

2024-08-10T00:04:13Z

In reply to nevent1q…lez8
_________________________

I would like to thank the local non-chain hardware store for still having RCA cables - there's multiple years worth of dust on the packaging, but I don't care, I'm happy 😊

Testing composite video on the Apple IIe tonight!

Note: I love what's written at the bottom of the packaging - "Suffering is caused by endless desire, the desire that creates bad Karma". Probably means cable gnomes will return the missing cables.

#appleII #retroComputing #RCA #composite

"But Jeff, why don't you just buy a new composite video ...

2024-08-09T00:01:24Z

In reply to nevent1q…cjg6
_________________________

"But Jeff, why don't you just buy a new composite video cable?" You might say/think.

No, because if I do that's when the cable gnomes will return the stolen ones to mock me. They're evil like that.

Hmmm... I could have sworn I still had a few RCA cables somewhere ...

2024-08-08T22:51:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…d407
_________________________

Hmmm... I could have sworn I still had a few RCA cables somewhere to test its composite video output.

Cable gnomes stole them, probably.

#appleII #retroComputing

It lives! And nothing went poof! #appleII #retroComputing ...

2024-08-08T21:27:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…jmau
_________________________

It lives! And nothing went poof!

#appleII #retroComputing

It came with a few cards: Taxan RGB Video 7 80 column card w/64K ...

2024-08-08T20:04:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…x8x6
_________________________

It came with a few cards:
Taxan RGB Video 7 80 column card w/64K of danger RAM (MT ram)
Hayes Micromodem
Grappler+ parallel card
Super Serial clone card.

If those work, I'll be really happy. I think I may need an adapter from Joe's Computer Museum (npub1qfy…wnn8)'s shop for the video card though, will be shopping there shortly once I make sure the IIe is working (it's unenhanced, so I'll also need to find a kit for that).

#appleII #retroComputing

Oh, yeah... OOOH Yeah... Sooo beautiful Got it a few days early. ...

2024-08-08T00:32:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…zl0d
_________________________

Oh, yeah... OOOH Yeah... Sooo beautiful

Got it a few days early. Definitely needs a lot of love (no way I could afford a IIe in good shape) but I think I can manage. Should be fun!

#yello #appleii #retroComputing

I may have bought a broken Apple //e off of eBay - $81, includes ...

2024-08-06T13:14:39Z

I may have bought a broken Apple //e off of eBay - $81, includes a few cards. Just need to pick it up this weekend - so no shipping costs aside from maybe $3 in gas.

This is another step to recreate the system we had at home in the mid-80s. Probably not going to get floppy drives though or an amber CRT. Maybe a floppy EMU or a CF card thingie.

#retroComputing #appleII #retailTherapy

The only reason I'm not using my Model M with those sweet ...

2024-08-02T14:02:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…ceay
_________________________

The only reason I'm not using my Model M with those sweet buckling springs is that my desk is too small. Missing that amazing loudness and keyfeel.