The Silicon Underground

Computer Reset, Dallas

Dave Farquhar — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:00:56 +0000

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

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The 6502 CPU’s odd debut

Dave Farquhar — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:00:05 +0000

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

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Diamond Rio PMP300

Dave Farquhar — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 11:00:30 +0000

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

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Osborne Computer’s bankruptcy and the Osborne Effect

Dave Farquhar — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:00:16 +0000

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,

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The spy in your living room

Dave Farquhar — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 16:08:43 +0000

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

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Atari 2600 launch titles

Dave Farquhar — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:00:27 +0000

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

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

Dave Farquhar — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:00:32 +0000

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. Nice MP3 collection ya

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The first VHS VCR: JVC HR-3300

Dave Farquhar — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:00:05 +0000

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

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What happened to Compuserve?

Dave Farquhar — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:00:10 +0000

Compuserve was an online service for dialup modems from the 1970s to the 1990s. It was a way of getting online and communicating with others before the Internet was generally available to individuals. Later, it became a primary way for

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The ill-fated HP-Compaq merger

Dave Farquhar — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000

On September 6, 2001, HP announced its intention to acquire Compaq for $25 billion. It was a stunning end for what still seemed to be one of the rising stars of the PC industry. I also think it proved that

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