Commodore Computer Club – USACommodore Computer enthusiast Jeri Ellsworth roller skating and playing her new 8-Bit Bass at the 2012 Maker Faire:
Jeri always comes up with some pretty cool homebrew projects related to the Commodore 64 computer. This Bass 64 is just awesome!
Photo Credit: Element 14
Check out this cool video showcasing the Commodore PET computer from the 1983 Canadian television series called Bits and Bytes:
The Bits and Bytes TV series featured a format where Luba Goy as the instructor would address Billy Van through a remote video link. The video link would appear to Luba who was seated in an office on a projection screen in front of her. She was then able to direct Billy who appeared on a soundstage with various desktop computer setups of the era.
Popular systems emphasized included the Atari 800, Commodore PET, Tandy TRS-80, and Apple II. Each episode also included short animated illustrations to explain key concepts, as well as videotaped segments on various developments in computing.
The above video is sort of cheesy in an 1980′s awesome kind of way, but still really informative, so if you have the time, it’s highly recommended that watch the entire thing.
Greetings program. Welcome to the game grid. The next Commodore Computer Club meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 4, 2012 from 6:00 pm PST until 12:00 am PST.
C64 club members, friends and guests from the Portland, Oregon and surrounding areas show up between 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm PST.
Our monthly meetings have been taking place for over 2-years at Pied Piper Pizza located in Vancouver, WA which is approximately 30 minutes from downtown PDX – Portland, Oregon:
Pied Piper Pizza – 12300 NE Fourth Plain Rd. – Vancouver, WA 98682 – Get directions
Once inside Pied Piper Pizza, head straight back past the dart boards to the private banquet room #4. Look for Commodore computers. If you can’t find it, ask someone at the counter.
What You Can Expect To See, Hear and Enjoy:
The following retro hardware and software will be available to enjoy at the May 4, 2012 PDX Commodore Users Group and Computer Club meeting:
Of course there is always more hardware, software and gaming fun brought to the meetings by our members and guests that we don’t have listed, so come and be surprised!
Presentations, Demos, Member Showcase, Etc:
As for presentations, indeed we do plan on having a few C64 Club member presentations and also showcasing some cool hardware and software.
We always plenty of room, tables and electrical outlets, so if you have anything (game consoles, rare retro items, etc.) to show off or enjoy with other members, please feel free to bring it along.
Retro Gaming And Computer Marketplace – Buy, Sell, Trade or Give it away for free:
For those who frequent the meetings know, there are always good finds to be had at our buy, sell, trade and free tables, so remember to bring any Commodore, other 8-bit computer or gaming console items you want to sell, trade or give away.
There will also be a few Commodore Flyer Internet Modem and Disk Drive Emulators for sale at the meeting too. Flyer sales provided by Retroswitch.com – bringing it back!
Bring your Family and Friends:
As always it’s perfectly fine to bring your husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend or kids with you to the upcoming meeting. All are welcome. The more the merrier!
Need more information?
To find out more about our meetings, get directions, etc, please check out the Commodore Computer Club meetings page.
We look forward to seeing you at the next Commodore Computer Club and Users Group meeting on Friday May 4, 2012. Come to learn, come to share.
Both the Telnet and IRC clients have been posted on the Flyer product page for download. These are 100% custom written for the Flyer in C/asm and are currently available for the Commodore 64 (and Commodore 128 in C64 mode).
Native ports for the Commodore 128 and 16K+ PETs are planned for the future.
Use the Retroswitch contact page to drop Brandon a line and let him know what machines you’d like to see supported first, any issues or feature requests you might have, and any suggestions for future Flyer apps!
Source: Originally posted on the Commodore Flyer website
Below are the highlights from our April 6, 2012 Commodore Computer Club meeting:
Retro computer and gadget presentations:
PDX Commodore Computer Club members and guests also enjoyed:
Check out some of our Commodore C64 Club meeting pictures below. Enjoy!
As always a really nice turn out at the Commodore Computer Club. Here we can see C64 Club members, guests, friends socializing:
C64 Club member Scott with his recently acquired vintage retro Atari calculator:
Captain Morgan scoping out the goodies on the Commodore Computer Club buy, sell, trade and free tables:
Multiple Vectrex consoles (thanks Recycled Gamer), Nintendo Super Famicom, Commodore 64 and VIC-20 on hand for people to have some retro fun:
Another angle showing all the awesome retro computer and gaming console goodness at our recent C64 Club meeting:
Check it out, the BigTrak Jr. that Kevin Savetz did a Presentation on:
Here we can see Kevin Savetz (of AtariArchives.org fame) programming the BigTrak Junior to attack his classic retro Vans slip on shoes:
One of our newest Commodore Computer Club members blew the dust off his complete in box C64, 1702 color monitor and 1541 disk drive playing a golf game:
Greg N. checking out the complete in box C64 that was on the buy, sell, trade and free tables:
Scott and Kevin socializing about how much they enjoy Commodore computers, but how both of them really like Atari computers and consoles too:
From time to time Greg N. likes to bring his classic Atari 2600 to the meetings. His is actually a Sears Tele-Games version of the 2600:
Here’s an Amiga 500 that got some play at the meeting along with a classic Nintendo NES and other retro consoles for Commodore friends to enjoy:
Evan playing Metal Slug on the Super Nintendo that Chris T. converted into a NeoGeo game console. Even the controller was modded to have lighted buttons:
Chris T. enjoying the Commodore VIC-20 and the club favorite VIC 20 MegaCart loaded with 100′s of games to play:
Chuck aka Recycled Gamer showing off his awesome homebrew modded controllers for the Vectrex game console:
Everyone at the meeting enjoying all the awesome stuff available on the C64 club’s buy, sell, trade and free tables:
Kevin Savetz showcased how he converted a paperback book to a pixel perfect Kindle version. The best part? It’s now available for download:
Yep, the wives club was in full effect. Card games and bread sticks, a fun combination for sure:
Ian with the Commodore Flyer and one of his favorite games Space Taxi:
Up close and personal with the Super Nintendo that Chris T. converted into a NeoGeo game console next to a stack of NEO GEO cartridges:
Ryan showcased his Sharp Twin Famicom AN-505 to the Commodore Computer Club. This is an awesome floppy disk based Nintendo game console:
Club member Michael D. learning about custom made Commodore 64 and VIC-20 video cables from one of our founder members Dan:
Tommy and Ian with enjoying a little gametime on Ryan’s Sharp Twin Famicom AN-505 console:
Always willing to be in pictures because he’s a good sport, club member Tommy did “good” while playing games as seen on the monitor:
Dan doing a little solder repair on one of Conrad’s vintage computers at the tinker time table:
The Nintendo Super Famicom console was a huge hit! Here you can see Seth playing Super Donkey Kong on the Super Famicom (SFC):
PDX Commodore Computer Club and Users Group members have fun while playing games during gaming time:
Tommy giving Super Donkey Kong 3 a try. Not too many people actually enjoy this third installment of the Donkey Kong Country series:
“Thank you” to everyone from the Pacific Northwest and beyond who continues to support and attend our Commodore Computer Club meetings. It’s greatly appreciated.
Our next scheduled meeting will be Friday May 4, 2012, so be sure to mark it down on your calendar. We hope to see you at the next meeting! Come to learn, come to share.
This past week Brandon over at Retroswitch was able to make good progress on the Flyer IRC client. Here’s a current photo showing a screenshot:
Basic stuff is there – line wrapping, member list, and a small command set (current version supports more commands than are shown in the screenshot).
The Commodore Flyer IRC client currently displays up to 128 channel members (w/ scrolling), and can only join 1 channel at a time currently (really just a UI limitation – could definitely use feedback/suggestions on how to present multiple channels).
Brandon would really like to coordinate testing with a few people to get feedback, work out any bugs and prioritize the next block of commands to be added. Anyone interested should contact him via the Retroswitch contact page.
Source: Originally posted on the Commodore Flyer website
Jack Tramiel the founder of Commodore International and crucial figure in the early history of personal computing passed away on Sunday April 8, 2012. He was 83 years old.
The picture above was taken when the Computer History Museum celebrated 25 years of the Commodore 64 (C64) computer.
Commodore computers are for the masses, not the classes
“Thank you Jack Tramiel” for making the Commodore 64 computer affordable for my family to purchase me one for a 1983 Christmas present. If it wasn’t for that first C64 (which I still own), the Commodore Computer Club might not be here today.
10 PRINT “RIP JACK”
20 END
RUN
RIP Jack Tramiel. Our hearts go out to you and your family.
Come celebrate our 2-year anniversary at our next Commodore Computer Club meeting Friday, April 6, 2012 from 6:00 pm PST until 12:00 am PST.
Typically our Commodore friends, C64 club members and guests from the Portland, Oregon and surrounding areas show up between 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm PST.
Our monthly Commodore users group meetings take place at Pied Piper Pizza, a local favorite in Vancouver, WA that’s approximately 30 minutes from downtown PDX – Portland, Oregon:
Pied Piper Pizza – 12300 NE Fourth Plain Rd. – Vancouver, WA 98682 – Get directions
Once inside Pied Piper Pizza, head straight back past the dart boards to the private banquet room #4. Look for Commodore computers. If you can’t find it, ask someone at the counter.
The following will be available to enjoy at the April 6, 2012 PDX Commodore Users Group and Computer Club meeting:
Because we are celebrating our 2-year club anniversary there will be a raffle to win Commodore computers, software and other awesome prizes.
For those wondering, there will also be a few club member presentations, so you won’t want to miss the meeting.
If you have anything (game consoles, rare retro items, etc.) to show off or enjoy with other members, feel free to bring it along. There is always plenty of room, tables and electrical outlets.
Remember to bring any Commodore, other 8-bit computer or gaming console items you want to sell, trade or give away. Always good finds to be had at our buy, sell, trade and free tables!
As always it’s perfectly fine to bring your husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend or kids with you to the upcoming meeting. All are welcome. The more the merrier!
To find out more about our meetings, get directions, etc, please check out the Commodore Computer Club meetings page.
We look forward to seeing you at the next Commodore Computer Club and Users Group meeting on Friday April 6, 2012. Come to learn, come to share.
I didn’t want to post this yesterday because here in the USA it was April Fools Day (April 1, 2012) and most people might think it was a joke, however it’s now April 2, 2012, so it’s safe to post.
Yesterday a couple of us from the Commodore Computer Club and Users Group went on a road trip to Bend, OR for a Commodore computer rescue:
The picture above shows what we were greeted with upon arriving on location prior to loading it up for the trip back to Vancouver, WA. The end result of the rescue was the following:
Road trip details: 8 hour 398 mile round trip over Mount Hood, dealing with rain, snow, a full tank of gas and spending most of Sunday between driving, loading and unloading everything up. The end result? A couple of tired but happy Commodore geeks.
“Thank you” to Jeremy K. of Bend, Oregon for donating this awesome lot of Commodore computer goodness to the club. It will be used for repairs, trades, given away, sold to raise money to fund other road trips, etc.
If you have anything Commodore related that you would like to sell, trade or donate, please let us know by using our contact form or leaving a comment below.
Greetings Commodore friends, here are the highlights from our March 2, 2012 Commodore Computer Club and Users Group meeting:
PDX Commodore Computer Club members and guests also enjoyed:
Check out some of our C64 Club meeting pictures below. Enjoy!
As always a really nice turn out at the Commodore Computer Club. Here we can see C64 Club members, guests, friends socializing:
During Tinker Time we can see Chris and Chuck (Recycled Gamer) doing some Vectrex controller modifications:
NES Nintendo Top Loader with composite video mod on hand with a nice selection of retro Nintendo game cartridges for people to enjoy:
Gregory all smiles at the PDX Commodore Computer Club and Users Group while playing games during gaming time:
Commodore 64c, NES Top Loader, C64 breadbox, Commodore Flyer and Gold Label VIC-20 on hand for people to have some retro fun:
We always have something fun to show off during show and tell. Check out this C64c Hard Shell Dust Cover that we ended up hanging on Pied Piper Pizzas Wall:
“The Second Book of Machine Language” and “BASIC and The Personal Computer” books which were scored by Earl Evans (Retrobits Podcast) on the buy, sale, trade and free tables:
Earl’s daughter playing Pac-Man on one of the Commodore 64c computers at the meeting:
Tommy and Earl discussing replacing the floppy drive in his Commodore SFD-1001 Disk Drive:
Commodore Flyer, Network Switch, a modern day laptop and the C64 EasyFlash cartridge all connected to Greg’s Commodore 64c serving up the game M.U.L.E.:
“Captain” Morgan playing the action platformer game Splatterhouse by Namco (1989) on the Nintendo NES Top Loader:
Commodore gold label VIC-20 computer running the Crossfire game. Using the classic WICO joystick controller is great:
Ryan showing off his Sharp X68000 XVI Compact from Japan. The game he’s showcasing is called ZugyA. It can best be described as Bosconian on steroids:
Long-time Commodore Computer Club member Dan making C64 video cables for members:
The Commodore Computer Club was happy to help support the Girl Scouts to sell cookies and raise money for a good cause:
Greg buying Girl Scout cookies at the meeting. Thin Mints for the win!
Jasper playing the NES Nintendo port of Prince of Persia. This version plays a lot nicer then the Commodore 64 version:
One of the many projects we worked at the meeting was upgrading Conrad’s Amiga 500 with a 2 MB RAM expansion:
We had a presentation showing off the first two prototypes for Flyer formerly known as Pilot:
Club members, guests and Commodore friends enjoying gaming time at the C64 club:
Gregory enjoying one of the EasyFlash Cartridges on hand at the meeting. We always have at least 3 or 4 ready to go loaded with tons of retro games:
A giant box brought to the meeting for the buy, sell, trade and free tables. There were games and programs for the Commodore 64, Windows PC, Nuon, Xbox, Sony Playstation and more:
Complete In Box C64, Commodore Double Dragon game and the highly sought after Programmers Reference Guide PRG also on the buy, sell and trade tables:
PDX Commodore Users Group and computer club members having a ton of fun socializing, hacking, a little show and tell, playing games and eating Pied Piper Pizza:
Paul (Merwin) playing the retro game Star Trek on the Commodore 64c computer:
Time to relax and play some games thanks to the Commodore Flyer. Frogger is a club favorite:
Morgan playing the retro game Burger Time ’97 a club favorite being loaded thanks to the Commodore Flyer on the C64 computer:
Tommy playing the game “Up N Down” by Bally Midway. This is a really good port and a rare game cartridge:
“Thank you” to everyone from the Pacific Northwest and beyond who continues to support and attend our Commodore Computer Club meetings. It’s greatly appreciated.
Our next scheduled meeting will be Friday April 6, 2012, so be sure to mark it down on your calendar. We hope to see you at the next meeting! Come to learn, come to share.