Ben Z
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bzotto.bsky.social
Ben Z
@bzotto.bsky.social
Forensicphile
Pinned
Thanks to all the lovely people out there who have supported the Sphere book project, the campaign has cleared its goal. I am immensely appreciative.

www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzo...
Go Computer Now! – The Story of Sphere Computers
A book telling the extraordinary story of Sphere, a 1970s Utah personal computer maker far ahead of its time—until its sudden collapse.
www.kickstarter.com
Thanks to all the lovely people out there who have supported the Sphere book project, the campaign has cleared its goal. I am immensely appreciative.

www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzo...
Go Computer Now! – The Story of Sphere Computers
A book telling the extraordinary story of Sphere, a 1970s Utah personal computer maker far ahead of its time—until its sudden collapse.
www.kickstarter.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
three-text is free open source software ready for immersive typographic experiences on the web github.com/countertype/... #threetext #threejs
November 12, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Reposted by Ben Z
Sustainable band lineups include four cool people (Ramones), four dorks (Weezer), or two cool people and two dorks (Cheap Trick). Unsustainable band lineups include one cool person and three dorks (Pixies)
November 12, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Found a 1967 first edition of Kemeny & Kurtz's "BASIC Programming" book. The language was already spreading far enough beyond Dartmouth to warrant a book published by Wiley & Sons. It was only a three or four years old then.
November 11, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
I salute In-N-Out Burger for launching a whole ass Book-It program
November 11, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Reposted by Ben Z
LOVE my new @bart.gov holiday sweater.

Appreciate that instead of thinking “how do we make it weirder/uglier?” they pivoted to “let’s make a holiday sweater people can wear to a first date or job interview!”

❄️🚇💯❄️
November 10, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
I’m once again asking the #retrocomputing community to please back this Kickstarter! Really want to read this story!

Please and thank you!
Go Computer Now! – The Story of Sphere Computers
A book telling the extraordinary story of Sphere, a 1970s Utah personal computer maker far ahead of its time—until its sudden collapse.
www.kickstarter.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
Last few days for funding “Go Computer Now!”, a book about the nearly forgotten, pioneering Utah computer firm Sphere (1975–1977) that you likely *never heard about*. (I edited the book.) Help us get over the last hump at www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzo... @bzotto.bsky.social
Go Computer Now! – The Story of Sphere Computers
A book telling the extraordinary story of Sphere, a 1970s Utah personal computer maker far ahead of its time—until its sudden collapse.
www.kickstarter.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The back of a Sphere computer was a mess. Why? There was no "backplane"-- no slots. The whole system was loomed together with 14-connector ribbon cables, and the cards sat in loose slots. Moving the system could easily wiggle out a pin or two somewhere, and maybe the computer wouldn't start up.
November 8, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Awesome new 3D type rendering tools by @tribby.com countertype.com/tools/three-...
three-text interactive demo
Interactive demo of three-text, a 3D text rendering and layout engine for Three.js
countertype.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Yes!! Learn about the quick rise and sudden fall of Sphere-- and then the even faster rise and fall of this mysteriously related Total Microcomputer Model 4000--in this cool book coming soon. Santo has kindly contributed information and imagery to the book. Great stories. Check it out!
This is my Total Microcomputer Model 4000 computer. Technically the last of a rare Motorola 6800 based home computer that was a pioneer in an "all-in-one" computer. Six days left on @bzotto.bsky.social Kickstarter for his book detailing Sphere Corporation here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzo...
November 7, 2025 at 4:29 PM
6800 squad unite. gotta have that 16-bit index register baby
I have a huge soft spot for the Motorola 6800 series processors. My first computer (Radio Shack MC-10) had a 6805 and the computers I used until the early 90s were all 6809 based. I tried to learn assembly on 6502 after 6809 and wow. Sure the 6502 was everywhere, but also a bit brain-dead compared
November 6, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
I edited the book and am helping to manage the Kickstarter campaign. When Ben came to me with a manuscript, I had an initial concern it was a prank—what is this vital company from 1975–1977 that was *everywhere* apparently and I had never heard of? Success is written by the victors.
November 4, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
This looks like exactly my shit.
For a ripping tale about the lost history of a key early personal-computer company—one connected in ways to Apple, Radio Shack, and others—pledge for a copy of “Go Computer Now!”, @bzotto.bsky.social’s story of Sphere Computers, which you never heard of! www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzo...
Go Computer Now! – The Story of Sphere Computers
A book telling the extraordinary story of Sphere, a 1970s Utah personal computer maker far ahead of its time—until its sudden collapse.
www.kickstarter.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
Just sent off all my newspaper flongs and other newspaper-related printing stuff to the wonderful Museum of Printing to add to their collection and help researchers! They’re in Haverhill, MA, easy jaunt from Boston. www.museumofprinting.org @museumofprinting.bsky.social
The Museum of Printing, Haverhill, Massachusetts
The Museum of Printing in Haverhill, Massachusetts is dedicated to preserving the history of the graphic arts, printing equipment and printing craftsmanship.
www.museumofprinting.org
November 3, 2025 at 10:41 PM
A great reflection on the contextualization of aesthetics, and time, and yearning, by @katewagner.wehwalt.net

untappedjournal.com/stories/why-...
Untapped : Why the Subjects of McMansion Hell Have Ascended to McMansion Heaven : By Kate Wagner
How can these houses, long emblematic of pre-recession greed and excess, now be recast as aspirational, not in their size, but in their whimsy?
untappedjournal.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Had a great time talking with Sean about Sphere, and getting into some stuff off the beaten path, like the TRAC language, which seems to keep coming up on his show... Check out Advent of Computing if it's new to you!
November 1, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
They cloned my baby! 😍❤️
November 1, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Color of the day: Mauveine, aka Aniline Purple. The color of ditto machine ink of old, among other things. Developed in 1856 by someone trying to cure malaria. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauveine
October 31, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Happy Halloween! Here are some sample design spreads from my forthcoming book on the Sphere computer, company, and community. Archival, newly-commissioned, and never-before-seen images of the early micro era. Please check it out so we can get it printed! Thanks. www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzo...
October 31, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Been waiting for years for this one. Instant order!
Preorder Now: Analog Plastic - Pocketmate Maniacs book: www.burodiscount.net/product/pock...
October 31, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
October 31, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
the "Reopen Last Closed Tab" function in the modern browser is an incredible invention. thank you to whoever did this
October 29, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
I offer inscribed/signed and giftwrapped copies of my book Six Centuries of Type & Printing if you have a discriminating and hard-to-shop-for typophile or designer in your life! sixcent.info
October 29, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Reposted by Ben Z
I think this is going to be two of my classes tomorrow. Carrying on the Halloween theme. Besides, I know the guy who made this game.
October 28, 2025 at 8:56 PM