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NEC V20 CPU: A bit of pep for an XT

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing September 21, 2026September 21, 2026 5 Comments

The NEC V20 was an Intel 8088-compatible CPU that ran slightly faster. It was a niche CPU in the 1980s and 1990s but had a following as a cheap upgrade for power users, especially in instances where motherboard swaps were impractical. It’s popular with retro computing enthusiasts today, as a period-correct upgrade. On September 22, 1986, NEC prevailed over Intel in court, clearing the way to sell it.

The NEC V20 was pin-compatible with the Intel 8088 but included some unique forward and backward compatibility features. It included the 80186 instruction set and could also emulate the Intel 8080, in addition to being faster than the 8088.

Retro emojis: We had ’em in the 80s and 90s

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing September 18, 2026September 18, 2026 0 Comment

It might surprise you to hear we had emojis in the 1980s and 90s. We’ve had them since 1982, to be precise. The first known use was on a bulletin board by Scott Fahlman, a Carnegie Mellon computer science professor, on September 19, 1982. They didn’t stop there. Whether we called them emojis, emoticons, smileys, or just faces, they proliferated throughout online life in the 80s and 90s.

Computer Reset, Dallas

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing September 17, 2026September 17, 2026 2 Comments

Computer Reset was a large used computer store and warehouse in northeast Dallas whose heyday was in the 1980s and 1990s, but it remained a go-to source for vintage and retro computer parts into the 2010s. Its fame grew after it closed in 2019 when several prominent Youtubers visited the facility and made videos about it.

The 6502 CPU’s odd debut

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing September 16, 2026September 18, 2026 5 Comments

On September 16, 1975, the 6502 CPU made its debut. It was a simple, inexpensive processor designed and priced for everyone. The 6502 cost $25 when Intel’s closest equivalent cost $370. Unsurprisingly, its low price made it an immediate success and it ended up powering numerous computers and game consoles from the 1970s and 1980s.

Diamond Rio PMP300

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing September 15, 2026September 15, 2026 1 Comment

On September 15, 1998, Diamond Multimedia introduced an MP3 player, the Diamond Rio PMP300. It wasn’t the first MP3 player, but it made the MP3 player mainstream. I had one. It wasn’t exactly great, but I understand why the RIAA was afraid of it. That’s one of the main reasons I spent $200 to get one. I got mine so early the RIAA hadn’t been able to sue Diamond Multimedia yet.

Osborne Computer’s bankruptcy and the Osborne Effect

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing September 14, 2026September 14, 2026 0 Comment

On September 13, 1983, Osborne Computer Corporation, one of the early makers of CP/M computers and a pioneer in portable computing, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Although it was able to secure funding and emerge from bankruptcy in January 1985, Osborne never fully recovered and was out of business by early 1986.

The spy in your living room

Dave Farquhar security September 13, 2026September 13, 2026 4 Comments

Your LG TV knows where you live. The spy in your living room may or may not know your name. But it can find your home on a map. It knows the name of your wifi network, and all your neighbors’ wifi networks, so pinpointing you on a map isn’t hard. Your wifi network name may or may not be unique but the combination in your neighborhood probably is. It knows what’s on your home network too.

It knows what you watch, too. Even if you aren’t using their apps to watch.

Atari 2600 launch titles

Dave Farquhar Retro Gaming September 11, 2026September 11, 2026 1 Comment

The Atari 2600 was first released on September 11, 1977, along with nine titles. It wasn’t the first home video game console to connect to a TV and it wasn’t even the first one to use cartridges, but it was the first one to gain widespread success, selling 30 million units over its long lifetime. Let’s take a look at the nine Atari 2600 launch titles.

When the RIAA sued a 12-year-old for MP3 piracy

Dave Farquhar Copyright, Music, Retro Computing September 10, 2026September 10, 2026 2 Comments

On September 8, 2003, the Recording Industry Association of America started suing individuals for pirating MP3 files. One of the people caught up in a lawsuit was a 12-year-old honors student who lived in public housing.

The first VHS VCR: JVC HR-3300

Dave Farquhar 1980s September 9, 2026September 8, 2026 0 Comment

In 1986, it seemed like everyone was talking about VCRs, especially VHS VCRs. But this was an example of it taking years to become an overnight sensation. The first VHS VCR, the JVC HR-3300, was announced September 9, 1976. JVC started selling it in Japan on October 31, 1976.

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