VCF SoCal 2025

My Prior VCF

Here is a few of the highlights on my adventure to VCF SoCal on the weekend of February 15-16, 2025. Not far from Disneyland in Anaheim, CA.

Click on images for larger view.

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PART 1: Arrival at Hotel Fera

The weather turned out excellent again this year for SoCal! Huge thanks to the coordinators (Micki and Steve of VintNerd) and the many volunteers, very glad to see a great turnout.

There was an excellent map and agenda posting by the VCF sponsors next to the check in. See the images below for a reminder of all the talks and event-participants. As soon as you cross the threshold into the exhibit hall, it’s like you’re in another world. You can haggle at the Vendor Bazaar for odds and ends, then go explore a variety of exhibits that give a glimpse into some of the things that fellow vintage computing enthusiasts are up to. Then to rest your feet, take in one of the talks on a topic related to vintage computing (sort of like the original homebrew computing club talks, often including a chance to interact with “industry-giants”).

I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to make it to VCF SoCal this year, but by luck I happened to be near-by enough to make the trip over to Anaheim. And it was absolutely worthwhile!

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PART 2: Usagi meets LGP-21, LGP-21 meets Usagi [ youtube ]

Usagi brought his own tables to VCF, in the form of his recently acquired LGP-21 system. Last year at VCF Dallas, I did a “Domesticating the Computer” (here) talk that briefly touched on the LGP-30, one of the earliest “fits on a desk and can be operated by one person” computers of the world. Meaning it can be argued as one of the first personal computers (except perhaps in the domain of affordability). Finding this equipment in relatively great condition is really exciting, and we all look forward to watching how Usagi tackles this next challenge.

Usagi (LEFT) with Cory Smith (another fellow Texan of gotBASIC.com fame, and host of the VCF SoCal Game Show).

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PART 3: Sideburn Studios [ youtube ]

Sideburn Studios had a few truly excellent digital-arts works. I’m not even sure how to categorize them: part static display, part 3D sculpture, part electronically animated. And each one very professionally composed and presented, they really are an artform. But what caught my eye were these two “odd looking laptops.” In fact, they are modern printed cases, with no-screws design, and wrap still-functional vintage equipment.

Specifically, the “OSI” – that rang a bell to me, and it took me a moment to realize that this 3D print case was enclosing a very early Ohio Scientific, Inc. 6502-based system (probably of vintage 1976-1978). Big Thanks for opening the case and really convincing me on what was inside. This is an excellent tool-less case design, that I think could apply to other “loose mainboard” systems (like MiniPET or Commander X16).

The Nixiebot is just one example of his art concepts. He also had a re-purposed camcorder viewfinder with a video of an eyeball “reverse projected” out of it (my photo of it didn’t come out great, but that’s the best way I can describe it).

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PART 4: Handkey, what’s that? [ That Electronics Fool, youtube ]

Around 2009/2010, it became popular for some laptops to come with “fingerprint scanners” as a way to login-protect the equipment (by scanning your fingerprint, foregoing the need to use a password). Prior to that, secure facilities would use things like infrared measurements of your hand. I had never thought much on how such a device worked, and it was interesting to learn that this device communicates using good ol’e RS-232! TEF (That Eletronics Fool) did a video on this and other interesting projects that were on display.

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PART 5: TRS-80 Model 1 Replica [ https://github.com/RetroStack ] [ store ]

RetroStack has various information related to cloning the TRS-80 Model 1, one of the original “trinity-of-microcomputers” that used the Z80 microprocessor (instead of 6502). Work continues on the 32KB expanded card. I’m still slowly restoring my own TRS-80 Model 1. Growing up, my neighbor was Mickey Singer, who founded Medical Manager, which eventually got bought up by WebMD – Mr. Singer started his “computing career” walking into a Radio Shack and buying a TRS-80 set for $600 and using those great Tandy manuals to become a self-taught programmer. That’s just one example of how the humble TRS-80 could be used to start up a business.

One interesting thing about these early Tandy systems is they chose 32-column or 64-column text modes. That’s interesting to me because the IBM 5100 (1975) made a similar choice (being 64-column and being able to “flip” to 32-columns), instead of what became the more typical 40/80 column modes.

PART 6: Inventing the Laptop

Speared on by the Dynabook concept by Alan Kay in 1972, the pursuit of a laptop and tablet/slate style device has been a goal for decades. This exhibits highlights many of the technical challenges along the way: battery life, larger LCD screens, and industrial design of a compact product itself (be it a flat style, clam shell, or eventually keyboard-less altogether). Consider watching the movie Blackberry as an interesting conclusion to the “it still has a keyboard” paradigm.

The Z88 is interesting since it has flash cartridges. It’s not a brand or system I was familiar with, so always fun to see new things. These cartridges are somewhat similar in shape to the bubble memory cartridges of Sharp PC-5000, but I think the Z88 does use a different technology.

Flanking these was some custom “home built” kits that were replicas of the Enigma, Apollo DSKY, LGP-30, and a clicky-relay computer. The LGP-30 mini-replica was great to see with a visualization of its memory! I don’t recall where to get these kits, but will keep an eye out.

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PART 7: Miscellaneous Highlights

A description of some of the other exhibits.

• There was a time when you went to the Western Union and paid (per letter) to send a telegraph, clicked out by an operator. Privacy? No way, it took a specialist to know how to even send the message. About 100 years later, “text messaging” was via these acoustic-coupler equipped keyboards!

• This massive tower case was looking very vintage with the wood-grain siding and white AC vents.

• Sun systems were represented! Look closely, you see it is casually running Windows 95 in one of its windows (and running HyperTerminal therein).

• An excellent MIDI setup, and a collection of salvaged Macintosh’s with revitalized plastic cases.

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PART 8: Xilinx Tribute [ by mxshift ]

Microprocessors (“CPUs” or “general processors”) have always needed a number of “support chips” to really make them useful. The cost and capability of a system is really driven by the composition of these support chips. The amazing homebrew work between 1974 – 1977 was wiring a CPU (like the 6502 or 8080) onto a single board, with enough capability to make it useful (and reliable) – resulting in affordable personal computers that could be manufactured in mass for under $1000.

The next step was to put even more capability into a single chip, and FPGAs came about in the mid-1980s as the technology to help make that happen – and Xilinx was one of the initial pioneers of this process, which was key to making even smaller/portable computers. This exhibit was a great reminder of this and gave insight into “CAD” (computer aided design) type software used to do FPGA development. mxshift managed to find one of the earliest copies of Xilinix XACT software (from 1985) that was used to defined FPGA content and write out the design – a kind of ancestor to Verilog.

This was very expensive and esoteric in the 1980s (but those that figured it out became industry titans). These days it is exciting to see homebrew projects “brewing” their own niche FPGA solutions (Commander X16 VERA and Aquarius+ come to mind).

To me, this is also a nice reminder of what a “boring PC” would typically be used for – some kind of “no-nonsense-productivity” task. Whereas, in the mid-1980s, Macintosh world focused on things like desktop publishing (PageMaker, for magazines or yearbook clubs, or more artistic oriented tasks).

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PART 9: “Weird” (uncommon) Rare Systems [ Jeri Ellsworth, youtube ]

The legendary Jeri Ellsworth was on-site, presenting a few “don’t see that every day” business-related systems: one very esoteric tax-accounting related system (with so many number dials, a bean-counters dream machine, even fitting in a suitcase!), then some kind of apparent executive-class stations. Not much is known about these systems, which is why they are on display – if anyone happens to be familiar with any of these, seek out Jeri since we’d all like to learn more about them.

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PART 11: Consignment Shop!

By partitioning off a portion of the presentation hall, this made a nice space for the consignment shop. Portions of the prices do help the VCF, so that’s a decent reason to support the prices. There were also “grab bags” from $5 to $25, I think I got pretty lucky on one of those! I also picked up the Falcon 3.0 for PC, thanks to whoever brought that – I had been looking for the printed manual on that.

Plenty of Apple-stuff, PC towers, decent laptops. The set of GRiD systems isn’t something you see too often! I’m not sure if anyone took the Tandy 1000 TL – I might have myself if I wasn’t flying back home. A great thing about those Tandy’s is the keyboard plug being in the front instead of all the way in the back side of the system (and that they tried to somewhat mimic the “big red power button” style of the original IBM PC’s). There was also a good amount of Atari equipment, which I think most of that sold. Printers, cables, software, monitors, and some modern-make project kits.

I didn’t hear much complaints about the consignment – there were some lines now and then, and the volunteers did their best to connect buyers to sellers when requested. Overall, I think it was a great success, lots of smiling faces.

Also to note, the “free table” had a good rotation of inventory throughout the event! From old magazines, KVM switches, but also fliers for local “hack the planet” gatherings 😉

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PART 12: The Talks, Panels, and a Game Show!

The VCF talks during this weekend will be processed and put online in due time. But one in particular that I’d like to highlight: Lee Felsenstein himself offered to present at this VCF! Lee is one of the few remaining “living legends” who was there during the initial “Computer Lib” movement of the early 1970s. It’s opportunities like this that really make VCF’s ultra special. Lee is most commonly known for his later design work on the SOL-20 and OSBORNE-1. He was a solid electronics engineer. But Lee (as a moderator) was also the one who introduced Wozniak and Jobs at the Homebrew Computer Club at Menlo Park. That is, Lee was involved in formulating the community that enabled Wozniak and Jobs (and numerous others) to become the industry giants that they did.

Just a few months ago, Lee has published a book that includes his perspective on these events. The title is “Me and My Big Ideas: Counterculture, Social Media, and the Future” One place to order is here:
Me and My Big Ideas: Counterculture, Social Media, and the Future: Felsenstein, Lee: 9798991431415: Amazon.com: Books

Huge thanks to Lee for coming out and speaking with us. Of the time available, his focus was more on the mid/late 1960s build up that led to Community Memory. I certainly wish we had more time. While it is still fresh in mind, in speaking with Lee afterwards he did convey these sentiments: “When we converse, it should be clear on who we are conversing with. Hiding behind anonymity isn’t really engagement into the community.” Those will be interesting notions to ponder about, and I look forward to reading more insights from his book.

Thank You Lee for talking with a few of us for a while! Sorry you had to stand so long 🙂

BELOW: John Blankenbaker (left), “Person A”, Lee Felsenstein, Thi T. Truong (right side)
(in 1986, on declaring the “first personal computer” based on another panel, that included Woz)
I asked Lee about Person A, but he was unable to recall the name. We think he was a host/owner of one of the MITS Altair computer clubs. If anyone recognizes, we would be grateful to put a name with the face!

EDIT: Per Comments below, “Person A” is possibly Robert Pond (per CHM archive notes). However not much is known about this person.

Lee is up for doing a TikTok to promote his book 🙂 But his general motto is “I never use a computer that I didn’t build myself.” If you know TikTok people, give Lee a ring. It’ll be epic!

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OTHER HIGHILIGHTS (but photos didn’t come out very well)

• The Wind Terminal – WindOS v0.8f.1 “e-waste” telephone-booth looking information system (intended for use at airports around 2006, a concept just a couple years before the “smart phone” took over the world). In this case, the equipment is re-purposed to be a therapeutic device to contact the ethereal realm. To express and then cast out a thought or message, with no judgement (or response) ever to be made.
• The Aquarius+ ! Sean Harrington was there in person, with a fantastic “retro-basement” themed setup. I can’t believe I didn’t take any photos, it was really great. I have a demonstration on using one of these systems available here (which comes with a WiModem, supports tape load/store, can do CP/M, and an enhanced Game Master System). Sean reports that a modern-make game controller for this system is “coming soon” Looking forward to it!
• CMA: San Diego Computer Museum of America. The reps of CMA report that their original collection is in basement storage and in need of cataloging. If you live in the area, give them a shout out. Or if you have contacts to CMA of Roswell, GA (or similar venue with space), maybe also consider reaching out.
• Shout out to Rabbit Hole Computing [ Rabbit Hole Computing – Rabbit Hole Computing ] selling Gotek’s, and modern CD-ROM emulation (IDE and SCSI) – put ISOs on SD, even a daughter board to pass through CD-audio. Also Amiga of Rochester offering BlueSCSI devices!
• Thanks to Jeff’s Vintage Electronics for a variety of ISA and S-100 boards, processors, and other useful doodads. And his neighbor, with mountains of Kaypro’s, printers, and Apple cards.
• MooingLemur himself, legendary maintainer/curator of the X16 KERNAL software, author of Melodius (premier ZSM and MIDI player), and main developer of the X16-flavor of Second Reality!
  Commander X16â„¢ Home – Commander X16â„¢ Community [ youtube ]
• And so much more, I couldn’t get to everything! Katarina Melki showcased an excellent collection of ThinkPads! FujiNet table and soldering station out front. MiniDisc galore ( Home | MDCon ), Cory Smith (of gotBASIC) hosting the Game Show (trivia) was fun!

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See ya’ll at VCF SW in June!