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IBM 5170 TEMPEST variant

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing, security July 2, 2023March 18, 2025

I had an inquiry recently regarding the Tempest version of the IBM 5170, also known as the IBM 4459. The IBM 5170 Tempest variant was a version of the conventional IBM PC/AT designed for sensitive environments. It is more of a curiosity today, and there are good reasons why it is rare.

Having spent part of my career in the type of environment where this machine would have been used, I can elaborate on some of its design, and why it was built the way that it was. I may also be able to give some insight into why not many of these devices survive today.

What a shake-the-box kit is

Dave Farquhar Model Building, Toy trains June 29, 2023April 30, 2023

You will sometimes hear the phrase shake-the-box model kit on a modeling forum or a train forum. But what does the phrase shake the box kit mean? What does it refer to? Hint: It doesn’t refer to the noise it makes when you shake the box.

Notepad++ wrap text

Dave Farquhar Windows June 28, 2023June 17, 2023

Wrapping text is an essential feature in any text editor, but the feature may be hiding somewhere you aren’t looking for it. Here’s how to wrap text in Notepad++.

Why did people like Atari?

Dave Farquhar Retro Gaming June 27, 2023June 17, 2023

I don’t know who needs to know, but I’m wearing my Atari t-shirt as I write this. I’m not sure if it was Steve Fulton or Jeff Fulton who said this and a podcast, or they may have said it in unison. But they said anyone much younger than them sums up Atari in one word: sucks. Yet their best selling console sold more than 20 million units, so somebody must have liked it. In this blog post, I’ll explore why people liked Atari.

Why Lou Whitaker isn’t in the Hall of Fame

Dave Farquhar Baseball June 26, 2023June 18, 2023

Lou Whitaker is frequently cited as a 1980s second baseman who isn’t in the Hall of Fame but should be. I have no reason to disagree. Here’s why Lou Whitaker isn’t in the Hall of Fame but should be.

Marx Allstate train set 9816

Dave Farquhar Toy trains June 22, 2023September 1, 2023

The Marx Allstate 9816 train set was a midrange train set Sears sold in the mid-late 1960s. It featured a basic plastic steam locomotive and a generous assortment of freight cars. It must have been a tempting value for consumers at the time.

Windows XP on SSD

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing June 21, 2023June 6, 2026

A perception exists that you can’t use an SSD with Windows XP. Although it is true that Windows XP was not designed for SSDs and did not specifically support them, that doesn’t mean you can’t use them together. In this blog post, I will talk about the pros and cons of using an SSD with Windows XP.

Are IBM and Lenovo the same company?

Dave Farquhar Hardware June 20, 2023April 16, 2023

Are IBM and Lenovo the same company? It’s complicated. They aren’t the same company, but it’s easy to see why someone might think they are at least related. For a while at least, they wanted it that way. So let’s untangle the relationship.

Lionel 1011 transformer repair

Dave Farquhar Toy trains June 15, 2023June 15, 2023

The Lionel 1011 transformer was a small starter set transformer from the post-war era. It only had a 25 watt capacity, but small transformers like this can still be useful on the bench or for powering accessories. Here’s how I fixed one.

Packard Bell Corner PC

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing June 13, 2023June 11, 2023

The Packard Bell Corner PC is an oddball PC from the 1995 to 1996 time frame. It was Packard Bell’s attempt to make something that looked a little different from the traditional boxy desktop or tower PC. The exact model number varied between retailers but I know it was sold as the Axcel 459CD or as the PB 2000. But if you just call it the Packard Bell Corner Computer or Corner PC, almost anyone familiar with that era knows what you’re talking about.

The Packard Bell Corner PC sold for $1,299 without a monitor. The least expensive monitors Packard Bell offered sold for around $250, but you could get as much as a 20-inch display for it, which added $1,700 to the price. Yes, the top of the line monitor cost considerably more than the computer.