Author: Dave Farquhar

Plantronics Colorplus: Forgotten PC graphics

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing
Plantronics Colorplus: Forgotten PC graphics

Plantronics color was a superset of CGA, introduced in 1982, similar to but not compatible with the extended color modes in the IBM PCjr and Tandy 1000.

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Is a SOC analyst a good job

Dave Farquhar security
Is a SOC analyst a good job

As a security professional, I frequently get questions about security careers. One common topic is the role of SOC analyst. What is a SOC analyst, and is a SOC analyst a good job? Those are fair questions, and not necessarily as straightforward as it first sounds.

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Marx roadbed track

Dave Farquhar Toy trains
Marx roadbed track

Marx roadbed track is a curiosity today, but it was a cheap way for them to improve their track in the 1960s to try to make their trains more competitive.

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Remove Unicode and extended ASCII in Notepad++

Dave Farquhar security
Remove Unicode and extended ASCII in Notepad++

There’s been a number of times in my career where I’ve needed to convert files to plain text. That means plain. No smart quotes, Unicode, extended ASCII characters, or other funny business. Here’s how to use Notepad++ to quickly remove all of these types of characters from a text file. Here’s what to do when your plaintext isn’t plain enough.

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Atari 2600 emulator for the VIC-20

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing
Atari 2600 emulator for the VIC-20

Rumored to exist! I first heard the rumor in 1996, and more than a quarter century later, it’s never turned up. But let’s talk about the Cardapter 1 and the Game Loader, a pair of vaporware Atari 2600 emulators for the VIC-20. The Cardapter 1 was  demonstrated in January 1983 under much secrecy, advertised a bit over the spring of 1983, but never appeared. The Game Loader is a bit more mysterious.

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Protecto Enterprizes: What is was and wasn’t

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing
Protecto Enterprizes: What is was and wasn’t

Protecto Enterprizes (not Protecto Enterprises), and Computer Direct, one of its divisions, are names that come up occasionally in retro circles. They were a company that advertised heavily in computer magazines in the mid-1980s, and their inventory is frequently interesting to retro computer collectors. But sometimes it’s a little unclear what this company was, and I think that was by design.

Protecto Enterprizes/Computer Direct was a computer mail order discounter based out of the Chicago area from 1979 to about 1995. They were not a manufacturer nor were they strictly a liquidator, though they did sell a lot of closeout inventory and private label products that made them look like they may have been more than just a distributor.

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Is OO gauge the same as HO?

Dave Farquhar model railroading
Is OO gauge the same as HO?

Is OO gauge the same as HO? Yes and no. How is that possible? Here’s how and why they can be the same and different.

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VCR won’t accept date? Here’s the fix

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing
VCR won’t accept date? Here’s the fix

Some VCRs won’t accept dates after the year 2000. Some old computers won’t either. But there is a creative solution so your old device knows what day of the week it is on a given date, even if it can’t handle a year after 2000.

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Are battery wet dry vacuums good?

Dave Farquhar DIY
Are battery wet dry vacuums good?

Battery wet dry vacuums certainly have appeal, if only due to convenience. Frequently the places where you need to use them may not have a convenient outlet, or the outlet may not be safe to use because of the standing water. But does that mean they’re good? They certainly have trade-offs. Here’s how to figure out if they are right for you.

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Lionel 116 station

Dave Farquhar Toy trains
Lionel 116 station

The Lionel 116 station is a popular if impractical centerpiece for pre-war tinplate layouts. Also known as the double station, it is an enlarged version of the Lionel 115 station and shares many of its characteristics. While best suited for standard gauge trains, its design does lend itself to o gauge. It’s a majestic station for large layouts, but it’s easier to squeeze the smaller 115 station into a typical layout.

The Lionel 116 is the largest station Lionel produced, eclipsing the similar 115 station. Its design was inspired by New York city’s Grand Central station, but it used selective compression to give the impression of a big city station without taking the space that would be required of a true scale model.

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