Userlandia

Hosted by Dan Vincent

Technology Leisure

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Oct 2024

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Userlandia is the home for the power user. Featuring articles about new tech, old tech, reviews and tech policy commentary, you'll look forward to logging in at Userlandia.

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31 recent

October 21, 20241 hr 4 min

The VCF Midwest 2024 Report

Vintage Computer Festival Midwest made a massive change for 2024: they moved to a new venue! Can the Schaumburg Convention Center contain this massive mix of retro computer goodness? Join me as I try to cover almost everything at an impossibly huge at VCFMW. Blog Post: https://www.userlandia.com/home/vcfmw2024 Join the Userlandia Patreon at https://patreon.com/Userlandia Visit VCFMW at http://www.vcfmw.org -=- Chapters -=- 0:00 - Intro 0:20 - Moving On Up 2:11 - Exhibition Excursion 27:18 - Venue Variables 34:27 - Vendors, Makers, and Traders 48:23 - People, Panels, and Events 59:52 - The Winds of Change -=- Contact -=- Follow on Mastodon: https://bitbang.social/@kefkafloyd Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kefkafloyd.bsky.social Visit The Website: https://www.userlandia.com Join The Userlandia Discord: https://discord.com/invite/z2jmF93 Theme Song by Space Vixen: https://spacevixen.bandcamp.com Follow them on Bluesky @SpaceVixen: https://bsky.app/profile/spacevixen.bsky.social

August 5, 202459 min

The Apple IIGS Megahertz Myth

I love the Apple IIGS. It's a great computer, but could it have been greater? The legend goes that Apple purposefully underclocked its CPU during development to avoid competing with the Macintosh. But is this actually true? Join me for a deep dive into the IIGS architecture, the life of the 65816 CPU, and the ghosts of keynotes past. Blog Post: https://www.userlandia.com/home/IIGS-MHz-Myth Join the Userlandia Patreon at https://patreon.com/Userlandia -=- Chapters -=- 0:00 - Intro 0:27 - The Myth, The Legend, the Apple IIGS 6:09 - The Apple IIx 12:21 - The Need for Speed 15:52 - The Birth of the 65C816 22:56 - Yields, Bugs, and Errata 33:56 - Accelerators, ASIC Inc, and Mark Twain 43:51 - Sanyo, Nintendo, and the End of Acceleration 47:41 - ARM, Möbius, and The Road Not Taken 55:25 - The End of an Odyssey -=- Contact -=- Follow on Mastodon: https://bitbang.social/@kefkafloyd Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kefkafloyd.bsky.social Visit The Website: https://www.userlandia.com Join The Userlandia Discord: https://discord.com/invite/z2jmF93 Theme Song by Space Vixen: https://spacevixenmusic.bandcamp.com Follow them on Bluesky @SpaceVixenMusic: https://bsky.app/profile/spacevixen.bsky.social

July 2, 202434 min

Installing OS/2 on a PS/2 Model 80: 5000 Subscriber Special

I've hit 5,000 subscribers, and what better way to celebrate than to install an old operating system on a lumbering battlestation? In a past video I said I'd install IBM's OS/2 on the PS/2 Model 80 386, and now we're doing it. How well does it run? Will I learn to love the Workplace Shell? I'm also giving a big channel update about ongoing projects and some of my thoughts about the vintage / retro / whatever scene. How well does OS/2 run on this massive 386? You'll have to watch to find out. Blog Post: https://www.userlandia.com/home/os2-on-ps2 Join the Userlandia Patreon at https://patreon.com/Userlandia -=- Chapters -=- 0:00 - Intro 0:29 - Setting Up OS/2 Warp 7:07 - Inside the OS/2 Warp Box 11:41 - 5K Subscriber Update: Thank You! 13:37 - 5K Update: Video Production 16:46 - 5K Update: Scene Thoughts 19:35 - 5K Update: Upcoming Projects 21:34 - 5K Update: Patreon 23:28 - Running OS/2 Warp on a 386 26:32 - The Workplace Shell Desktop 28:18 - Why Did OS/2 Fail? 32:32 - An Ode to OS/2 -=- Links -=- * Another Boring Topic on OS/2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAMT187GWd4&t=2922s * RetroBytes on OS/2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3DZJ_LD7F4 * BlueSCSI - https://bluescsi.com * WinWorld PC OS/2 Repository - https://winworldpc.com/product/os-2-3x/os-2-30 -=- Contact -=- Follow on Mastodon: https://bitbang.social/@kefkafloyd Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kefkafloyd.bsky.social Visit The Website: https://www.userlandia.com Join The Userlandia Discord: https://discord.com/invite/z2jmF93 Theme Song by Space Vixen: https://spacevixenmusic.bandcamp.com Follow them on Bluesky @SpaceVixenMusic: https://bsky.app/profile/spacevixen.bsky.social

May 6, 202433 min

VCF East 2024 Review

Vintage Computer Festival East is back for 2024 with more to see than ever before. After a banner crowd in 2023 the show needed to make some adjustments in 2024 to account for more people. Were those changes a success? Join me for a tour of the east coast's big retro tech expo. Blog Post: https://www.userlandia.com/home/vcf-east-2024 -=- Chapters -=- 00:00 - Intro 00:18 - Exhibits, Vendors, and Things to See 13:51 - Panels & Events 20:04 - Consignment Considerations 30:15 - A Change Will Do You Good -=- Links -=- * The Vintage Computer Federation - https://www.vcfed.org * InfoAge Science Museums - https://www.infoage.org -=- Contact -=- Follow on Mastodon: https://bitbang.social/@kefkafloyd Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kefkafloyd.bsky.social Visit The Website: https://www.userlandia.com Join The Userlandia Discord: https://discord.com/invite/z2jmF93 Theme Song by Space Vixen: https://spacevixenmusic.bandcamp.com Follow them on Bluesky @SpaceVixenMusic: https://bsky.app/profile/spacevixen.bsky.social

April 8, 202425 min

An American Visits British Computer Museums

Computer museums are a great place to check out the coolest of vintage tech. I've been to my share in America, but what about the rest of the world? Join me as I fly across the pond to check out some of the UK's coolest collections of classic computers. There's Sinclairs, Acorns, and Amstrads—oh my! Blog Post: https://www.userlandia.com/home/british-computer-museums -=- Chapters -=- 00:00 - Intro 00:18 - An American Tourist in King Retro's Court 02:31 - The Centre for Computing History 12:51 - A Colossal Cave Adventure 23:11 - The Best of Britain -=- Links -=- * The Centre for Computing History - https://www.computinghistory.org.uk * Retro Collective Site - https://www.retrocollective.co.uk * Arcade Archive Site - https://www.retrocollective.co.uk/arcade-archive.php * RMC The Cave - https://www.youtube.com/@RMCRetro * Arcade Archive - https://www.youtube.com/@TheArcadeArchive * The Sky Skipper Project - https://www.skyskipperproject.com -=- Contact -=- Follow on Mastodon: https://bitbang.social/@kefkafloyd Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kefkafloyd.bsky.social Visit The Website: https://www.userlandia.com Join The Userlandia Discord: https://discord.com/invite/z2jmF93 Theme Song by Space Vixen: https://spacevixenmusic.bandcamp.com Follow them on Bluesky @SpaceVixenMusic: https://bsky.app/profile/spacevixen.bsky.social

February 14, 202429 min

Garmin iQue 3600: How A Palm OS PDA with GPS Predicted The Future

Garmin iQue 3600 We take for granted that we can pull out a phone and get directions to almost anywhere on Earth. But years before Apple and Google gave us the tools to navigate our lives a GPS maker gave us the first pocketable personal digital assistant with an embedded GPS. Featuring dynamic turn-by-turn directions, the Garmin iQue 3600 built an amazingly powerful navigational tool on top of Palm OS. How did it stack up against the competition when it launched in 2003? Can I still get accurate directions from a device released two decades ago? And can I install up-to-date maps to make it even more accurate? Watch to see me put it to the test on today's streets. Blog Post: https://www.userlandia.com/home/garmin-ique-3600 -=- Chapters -=- 00:00 - Intro 00:16 - The First PDA with a GPS 05:40 - Inside the iQue 12:58 - Navigating with the iQue 21:23 - The iQue as a PDA 26:49 - Take the Long Way Home -=- Links -= * OpenMapChest - https://www.openmapchest.org/ * Replacing the Battery - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw6cwDAdwjg * iQue Setup CD-ROM image https://archive.org/details/ique-3600-setup * PathAway GPS for Palm OS https://pathaway.com/PWPalmOS.php -=- Contact -=- Follow on Mastodon: https://bitbang.social/@kefkafloyd Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kefkafloyd.bsky.social Visit The Website: https://www.userlandia.com Join The Userlandia Discord: https://discord.com/invite/z2jmF93 Theme Song by Space Vixen: https://spacevixenmusic.bandcamp.com Follow them on Twitter @SpaceVixenMusic: https://twitter.com/spacevixenmusic

January 8, 202434 min

IBM's 386 Tower of Power: The PS/2 Model 80

IBM was late to the 386 PC party, but when they finally arrived they made a statement about what they thought the future of computing would be. With a 32-bit Micro Channel bus and room for six drives IBM aimed this tower directly at the likes of Compaq. But what's inside this monstrous machine and how can it be upgraded? And what can you do with an old boat anchor like this? Join me as I pull this PC apart to see what you got when you bought a $6,845 workstation in 1990. -=- Chapters -=- 00:00 - Intro 00:35 - Adopting a Micro Channel PC 04:38 - The Case 07:35 - Drive Bays and Power Supply 09:30 - Disassembling the Model 80 13:35 - Micro Channel Slots and Cards 15:53 - Auxiliary Video Extension 18:38 - Token Ring Network Card 19:05 - IBM PS/2 SCSI Adapter 19:51 - IBM Enhanced 80386 Memory Adapter w/ ROM 23:12 - Programmable Option Select 25:31 - Auto Configuration In Action 27:51 - Period Appropriate Productivity 29:15 - XGA-2 Graphics Adapter 34:21 - Conclusion & Outro -=- Links -= * Ardent Tool of Capitalism - https://www.ardent-tool.com * Model 8580-081 Resources - https://www.ardent-tool.com/8580/Planar_T2.html * Tube Time's MCA Tutorial: https://github.com/schlae/mca-tutorial * The Micro Channel Architecture Handbook by Chet Heath and Winn Rosch: https://archive.org/details/microchannelarch00heat * IBM Museum - https://www.youtube.com/@IBM_Museum/ * BOPT 16 MB Barrier Walkthrough: https://groups.google.com/g/comp.sys.ibm.ps2.hardware/c/SIRXr3RBBLM/m/4fDpZeg-YtkJ -=- Contact -=- Follow on Mastodon: https://bitbang.social/@kefkafloyd Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kefkafloyd.bsky.social Visit The Website: https://www.userlandia.com Join The Userlandia Discord: https://discord.com/invite/z2jmF93 Theme Song by Space Vixen: https://spacevixenmusic.bandcamp.com Follow them on Twitter @SpaceVixenMusic: https://twitter.com/spacevixenmusic

November 15, 202343 min

IBM PS/2 Model 30 286 - Computers of Significant History

What was the first retro or vintage computer you collected? I saved an obsolete PS/2 Model 30 286 from the scrap heap back in 1997. This machine was a footsoldier in IBM's war to reclaim their ownership of the PC platform they invented. But why did they bring out a machine featuring ISA after hyping up Micro Channel? And where do these machines fit in for the modern collector? Watch to find out. Blog Post: https://www.userlandia.com/home/ibm-ps2-model-30-286 -=- Chapters -=- 00:00 Intro 00:28 The IBM PS/2 Model 30 286 10:18 Baud to the Bone 22:20 The Big Blue Meanies 37:28 Mr. Big Blue Sky 42:49 Outtro -=- Links -= Ardent Tool of Capitalism - https://www.ardent-tool.com Tex-Elec - https://texelec.com WinWorldPC AT Diagnostics - https://winworldpc.com/product/ibm-pc-diagnostics/advanced-102 CNet BBS Software for Amiga http://www.cnetbbs.net See video credits for image and other attributions. -=- CC Music Credit -=- Time Rider by | e s c p | https://escp-music.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ -=- Contact -=- Follow on Mastodon: https://bitbang.social/@kefkafloyd Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kefkafloyd.bsky.social Visit The Website: https://www.userlandia.com Join The Userlandia Discord: https://discord.com/invite/z2jmF93 Theme Song by Space Vixen: https://spacevixenmusic.bandcamp.com Follow them on Twitter @SpaceVixenMusic: https://twitter.com/spacevixenmusic

October 2, 202340 min

The Vintage Computer Festival Midwest 2023 Report

I'm back at the Vintage Computer Festival Midwest for another convention of old and obsolete technology. With tons of retro computers and video games it's a celebration of old technology and the people that made them. VCF is bigger than ever in 2023, with more panels, more exhibitors, more vendors, and more attendees. But being bigger also means more challenges. Did VCFMW rise to the occasion and conquer the challenges, or did it crash like an old PC running Windows 95? You'll have to watch to find out. Blog Post: https://www.userlandia.com/vcf-midwest-2023 -=- Chapters -=- 00:00 Intro 00:40 VCF Midwest Returns 03:21 Exhibits and Ambiance 15:11 Testing the Limits 20:25 Let's Make a Deal 29:24 People and Panels 35:12 The Vibe 46:46 Outtro -=- Links -= * VCF Midwest - https://www.vcfmw.org * The VCF Midwest YouTube Page - https://www.youtube.com/@VCFMW -=- Subscribe -=- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/userlandia/id1588648631 Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1588648631/userlandia Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/m4tegn1u Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/79LO3vO9avAt3yCLpNWark Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly91c2VybGFuZGlhLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz -=- Contact -=- Follow on Mastodon: https://bitbang.social/@kefkafloyd Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kefkafloyd.bsky.social Visit The Website: https://www.userlandia.com Join The Userlandia Discord: https://discord.com/invite/z2jmF93 Theme Song by Space Vixen: https://spacevixenmusic.bandcamp.com Follow them on Twitter @SpaceVixenMusic: https://twitter.com/spacevixenmusic -=- Music Credits -=- Astronaut In A Submarine by | e s c p | https://escp-music.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Paradox by | e s c p | https://escp-music.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Our Sunrise by Diamond Ace | https://soundcloud.com/diamond-ace-music Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US Autumn Dance by | e s c p | https://escp-music.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ambivert by | e s c p | https://escp-music.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ➞ Artist: Ron Gelinas ➞ Track Title: Curious (Original Mix) ➞ Link to Track: youtu.be/h-yia5l_Jjs Artist: Ron Gelinas Track Title: Slinky https://youtu.be/DgJkI4R4W1Y Downtown Walk by | e s c p | https://escp-music.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Sundown by | e s c p | https://escp-music.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Parallel Synthesis by | e s c p | https://escp-music.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Tokyo by | e s c p | https://escp-music.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

August 17, 202313 min

Sun, Surf, and Street Fighter: The World of East Coast Beach Arcades

Any self-respecting beach town in the United States has an arcade. But there's a certain variety that lives along the northeast Atlantic coast. When kids of all ages tire of the sand and surf, they can hop on to the boardwalk for video games and the chance to win big prizes. Join me as we experience Fun-O-Rama in York Beach, Maine, a classic beach arcade I've been visiting for over thirty years. Blog Post: https://www.userlandia.com/home/2023/8/arcades -=- Chapters -=- 00:00 Intro 00:28 Sun, Surf, and VIdeogames 02:16 Inside Fun-O-Rama 05:15 How the Beach Arcade Survived 09:00 Destination: Arcade 13:17 Outtro -=- Subscribe -=- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/userlandia/id1588648631 Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1588648631/userlandia Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/m4tegn1u Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/79LO3vO9avAt3yCLpNWark Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly91c2VybGFuZGlhLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz -=- Contact -=- Follow on Mastodon: https://bitbang.social/@kefkafloyd Follow on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kefkafloyd.bsky.social Follow Userlandia: @userlandia - http://twitter.com/userlandiashow Follow Dan: @kefkafloyd - http://twitter.com/kefkafloyd Visit The Website: https://www.userlandia.com Join The Userlandia Discord: https://discord.com/invite/z2jmF93 Theme Song by Space Vixen: https://spacevixenmusic.bandcamp.com Follow them on Twitter @SpaceVixenMusic: https://twitter.com/spacevixenmusic