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Why Atari failed

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing December 10, 2019January 28, 2026

Atari was on top of the world in 1982, so much so that the movie Blade Runner featured it as a dominant company in 2049. But it fell hard and fast, and several times. Here’s why Atari failed and didn’t maintain world dominance for 80 years like we once expected.

Atari’s failure happened on two fronts, the computer market and the game console market. Atari was an early pioneer in both, but its upstart competitors ultimately understood both markets better. But in all fairness, not all of the companies that understood the market better survived either.

Is buying a house an investment?

Dave Farquhar Landlording December 9, 2019March 3, 2020

While investing in real estate is a common path to wealth, is buying a house an investment? Here’s what you have to consider. It’s not a simple yes or no answer.

By default, buying a house is not an investment, at least not without explicitly planning to make it one. That doesn’t necessarily mean buying a house is a bad idea, however.

North Pole Express Christmas train set

Dave Farquhar Toy trains December 6, 2019December 1, 2019

For the last couple of years, in early November, retailers started carrying the North Pole Express Christmas train set, an inexpensive battery-operated train set. But there are two distinct, and very different North Pole Express sets. Here’s what you need to know.

The North Pole Express sets are made by Scientific Toys/Eztec, though the branding may or may not appear anywhere on the box. The trains are made mostly of plastic and operate on batteries, and sell at price points of $10 and $50.

Difference between SDHC and SDXC

Dave Farquhar Hardware December 5, 2019May 30, 2023

The difference between SDHC and SDXC can be confusing. It would be nice if we could just buy whichever one we thought we needed, but there are differences between the two and they aren’t fully compatible or interchangeable with one another. Here’s how to know which to buy, and what other important things you may need to look for.

The difference between SDHC and SDXC is capacity. SDHC tops out at 32 GB, but ExFAT, the technology that lets SDXC go beyond 32 GB, isn’t compatible with all devices or operating systems, so you need to check compatibility before you buy.

How to fix a broken wire

Dave Farquhar DIY, Hardware December 4, 2019May 18, 2022

If you run across a broken wire in the midst of a project, don’t fret. Depending on what materials and how much space you have to work with, you have several options. Here’s how to fix a broken wire.

The key to fixing a broken wire is to restore the connection, which means splicing the wire back together mechanically and electrically and insulating the joint. You can use connectors if you have room, or solder the wire if space is tight.

How to find the IP address for Roku

Dave Farquhar Hardware December 3, 2019May 12, 2023

Sometimes you need to know the IP address of your Roku, especially if you have a complex network at home. It’s buried a bit in the user interface, but you can find it. Here’s how to find the Roku IP address.

There are several reasons to want to find the IP address. Maybe there’s a strange device on your network and you want to know if it’s your Roku. Maybe you want to set up QoS for some reason.

How to hook up a Nintendo 64 to newer TVs

Dave Farquhar Retro Gaming December 2, 2019January 22, 2025

Setting up a Nintendo 64 wasn’t supposed to be hard, but it can get tricky if you can’t find all of the cables. Cables from some other Nintendo consoles will work, but not always. Plus, TV sets have changed a lot since the 1990s, so an HDTV won’t have all the same options as an older TV, which makes it much more difficult. So here’s how to hook up a Nintendo 64 to a modern TV, even a smart TV, and how to troubleshoot the No Signal indicator if you get one.

Cables exist to hook up your Nintendo 64 over composite video or S-Video like a VCR, or over HDMI for TVs that lack those options. If you hooked yours up and are getting a No Signal indicator on your TV, there are three possible fixes.

Lionel tubular track vs Fastrack

Dave Farquhar Toy trains November 29, 2019October 14, 2021

Lionel Fastrack is certainly popular, but tubular track retains a cult following even as others love to hate it. Let’s take a look at Lionel tubular track vs Fastrack.

Lionel tubular track was the standard on Lionel layouts for nearly a century until Lionel introduced Fastrack, a track system with integrated plastic roadbed and a wider radius. Both track systems have their uses, though Fastrack has proven immensely popular.

What are keyboard o rings?

Dave Farquhar Hardware November 27, 2019November 23, 2019

What are keyboard o rings? Do keyboard o rings work? I’ve installed them on my mechanical keyboards and I’m happy with them. Here’s why.

Removing black marks from linoleum floors

Dave Farquhar DIY November 26, 2019November 23, 2019

I like linoleum floors because they’re pretty resilient and easy to take care of. But they can get a bit marked up in some cases. Here’s how to remove black marks from linoleum floors and, more importantly, how to keep them from coming back.

Black marks on linoleum floors are usually a result of the feet on tables or chairs rubbing against the floor while you scoot it. They’ll come off with a mild abrasive and moderate scrubbing.