Vintage Computer
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Vintage Computer
@vintage.computer
49 followers 14 following 160 posts
🖥 Vintage computing facts & nostalgia, served fresh daily. Punch cards optional.
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Early home computers often bundled everything into a single unit: monitor, computer, and storage in one heavy but convenient package. Limited expandability, maximum simplicity, and wildly popular for a time. #VintageComputer #ThrowbackThursday
A beige, vintage all-in-one personal computer sits on a wooden desk beneath a window. The computer has a built-in CRT monitor displaying a graphical desktop interface, a matching keyboard in front, and a mouse to the right. A coffee mug sits nearby. Above the photo, stylized text reads “Throwback Thursday” and “All-in-One PCs.” Below the image, text explains that all-in-one computers were popular in early home computing because they provided everything users needed in a single package, though they were large, heavy, and had limited expandability. The bottom right displays the text “vintage.computer.”
January 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Wow, that’s fascinating. The vi editor has been intimidating users since the 1970s, but once its modal workflow clicks, it’s unbelievably fast. Love it or learn to love it, vi (and vim) remains a pillar of Unix culture. #VintageComputer #Unix #vi
A black, terminal-style graphic with green monospace text framed by a gray border. Large text at the top reads “Wow That’s Fascinating.” Below it, a headline reads “The vi Editor: Love It or Learn to Love It.” A paragraph explains that vi is fast, efficient, and ancient, and that it and its descendant vim have intimidated beginners since 1976. The text notes that modal editing can be frustrating at first, but becomes extremely efficient once mastered. At the bottom left is the text “vintage.computer,” and the design includes decorative green lines and small circuit-themed icons.
January 7, 2026 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Released in 1980, the HP 85 packed a computer, CRT display, keyboard, thermal printer, and tape storage into a single desktop unit. A favorite in labs and engineering environments for data logging and control. #VintageComputer #TechSpecTuesday
A blue “Tech Spec Tuesday” graphic over a background of electronic schematics. The title reads “HP 85.” On the left is a photo of an HP 85 computer with a beige case, built-in CRT display showing text, integrated keyboard, and a thermal printer at the top. Below the image is a specification table listing: CPU: Proprietary 8-bit hybrid CPU; Memory: 16 KB RAM; Storage: Built-in tape drive, ROM modules; Graphics: 5-inch CRT, 256 × 192 graphics; Networking: Optional GPIB and RS-232 modules; Notes: Integrated computer/calculator with printer. On the right, text explains that the HP 85 was released in 1980 as a compact all-in-one system used in labs and engineering settings for data logging and instrument control. The bottom right displays the text “vintage.computer.”
January 6, 2026 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Intel released the first Core processors, originally as a mobile-only lineup. What started in laptops quickly reshaped desktops and performance computing for decades to come. #VintageComputer #ComputingHistory
A dark, star-filled space background with large yellow text reading “Milestone Monday” and “January 5th, 2006.” On the left is a close-up photo of an early Intel Core processor chip mounted on a green substrate. On the right, yellow text explains that Intel released the first Intel Core processors on January 5th, 2006, originally as a mobile-only CPU series, which later expanded to desktop and mobile processors across many performance configurations. At the bottom is a stylized yellow sunrise graphic above the text “vintage.computer.”
January 5, 2026 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Every machine needs maintenance, even human ones. Taking time to rest and reset isn’t a failure of productivity; it’s what keeps everything running smoothly. Maintenance mode isn’t downtime. #MaintenanceMode #EleanorBrownn #VintageComputer
A serene image of ocean waves at sunset with a warm orange and blue sky. At the top, large text reads “Maintenance Mode.” Centered on the image is a quote that reads: “Rest and self care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve others from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” Beneath the quote is the name “Eleanor Brownn.” In the bottom right corner is the text “vintage.computer.”
January 4, 2026 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Snapshot Saturday: In 1969, selecting text meant pointing directly at the screen with a light pen. Long before mice and touchscreens, interaction with computers was already becoming visual, direct, and surprisingly intuitive. #Retro #Lightpen #VintageComputing #VintageComputer
A sepia-toned graphic titled “Snapshot Saturday” styled like a strip of film. Beneath the title, small text reads: “Using a lightpen to select text on a screen in 1969.” The central black-and-white photograph shows a hand holding a light pen and pointing at lines of text displayed on a CRT screen. The screen contains dense technical text and code. A credit line below the photo reads: “Gregory Lloyd, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons,” followed by a source URL. The bottom right corner of the image displays the text “vintage.computer.”
January 3, 2026 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Free Software Friday: Haiku. Inspired by BeOS, Haiku is a fast, lightweight, community-driven open-source operating system focused on simplicity and responsiveness. A modern continuation of a classic OS philosophy. #BeOS #FreeSoftware #VintageComputing #VintageComputer
A graphic titled “Free Software Friday” at the top. The main image is a stylized compact disc with text reading: “Haiku.” Below it: “Author: Haiku, Inc. & Community.” “Release Date: February 15th, 2002.” “Get it: www.haiku-os.org.” At the bottom of the disc, text reads: “About: A community-driven open-source and compatible implementation of BeOS.” The bottom right corner of the image displays the text “VINTAGE.COMPUTER.”
January 2, 2026 at 1:00 PM
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Throwback Thursday: Type-In Programs. Before downloads and app stores, software came printed in magazines. You typed every line by hand, fixed typos, and finally ran the program. It was slow, unforgiving, and incredibly rewarding. #Retro #TypeIn #VintageComputing #VintageComputer
A sepia-toned graphic titled “Throwback Thursday” with a magnifying glass icon. Below it, large text reads “Type-In Programs.” Centered is a tall scanned page filled with dense columns of printed computer code. Beneath the image, text reads: “‘Type-in’ programs were popular when home computers were first introduced in the 1970s through the 1990s. They were entire programs’ source code distributed in magazines, newsletters, and other periodicals. Users would type the code into their home computer, and run the program. No download necessary!” At the bottom right is the text “vintage.computer.”
January 1, 2026 at 1:30 PM
vintage.computer
A new year boots up today. Fresh cycles, clean states, and endless possibilities, built on decades of computing history. Here’s to the systems, standards, and pioneers that still shape our digital world. Happy New Year from vintage.computer.
January 1, 2026 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Wow, that’s fascinating! Before floppy disks and hard drives, many early home computers stored programs on cassette tapes. You pressed play, waited… and hoped the load didn’t fail halfway through. Computing once required patience. #Retro #VintageComputing #VintageComputer
December 31, 2025 at 1:30 PM
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As the year rolls over, we tip our hats to the machines, software, and ideas that brought us here. From blinking lights to boot screens, the past still powers the future. Happy New Year from vintage.computer.
December 31, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Tech Spec Tuesday: IBM 1130.Released in 1965, the IBM 1130 brought scientific computing to smaller institutions. With core memory, disk cartridges, and FORTRAN support, it became a staple in universities and engineering labs. #IBM #VintageComputer
A graphic titled “Tech Spec Tuesday” with a blue header and a schematic-style background. Large text reads “IBM 1130.” At left is a photo of an IBM 1130 computer with a console typewriter-style keyboard and control panel. Below the photo is a specification table listing: CPU: IBM 1131 at approximately 1 MHz; Memory: 4–32 KB core memory; Storage: disk cartridge (512 KB) or punched cards; Graphics: printer and console output only; Networking: none standard; Notes: low cost scientific computer. At right, text reads: “About this machine: IBM’s 1130, released in 1965, brought scientific computing within reach of smaller institutions. It featured a console typewriter, disk storage, and support for FORTRAN, becoming a favorite in academia and engineering.” The bottom right corner displays the text “vintage.computer.”
December 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Milestone Monday: December 29, 1952.The Sonotone 1010 became the first commercial product to use a transistor, marking a quiet but historic shift away from vacuum tubes and toward modern electronics. Small device. Massive impact. #Transistors #VintageComputer
A dark, star-filled background with large yellow text reading “Milestone Monday” and “December 29th, 1952.” At left is a photo of a vintage Sonotone 1010 hearing aid mounted on a small stand. To the right, text reads: “The Sonotone 1010, a hearing aid and the first commercial product to use a transistor, was introduced on December 29th, 1952. This device used a single transistor in the audio output.” At the bottom is a stylized sunrise graphic and the text “vintage.computer.”
December 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Maintenance Mode 🌿

Even the most complex systems need downtime to reset, recalibrate, and refocus. As Theodore Roosevelt put it: believing you can is often the first step toward making progress, whether you’re debugging code or rebuilding momentum.
A square graphic with a lush green forest background, sunlight filtering through tall trees. Over the forest is a semi-transparent green overlay bordered with thin gold lines. At the top, inside a gold-outlined banner, the text reads: “Maintenance Mode”. Centered in large yellow text is a quote with decorative quotation marks: “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” Below the quote, in smaller yellow text, is the attribution: “Theodore Roosevelt”. At the bottom right corner of the image is a small green-and-gold label with the text “vintage.computer”.
December 28, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Before screens became universal, computing was physical, procedural, and loud. This mid-20th-century scene shows a computer operator using an IBM telereader, a machine that helped automate taking measurements, in this at a supersonic wind tunnel. #VintageComputer
A graphic titled “SNAPSHOT SATURDAY” across the top, styled like a film strip with rectangular sprocket holes along the upper and lower borders. Beneath the title, small text reads: “Computer Operator uses an IBM Telereader.” Centered in the image is a black-and-white historical photograph. A woman sits on a stool operating an IBM telereader console. She is holding a large flat control panel or reader surface angled toward her. To her left are tall stacks of punched cards arranged vertically in trays. To her right is a large IBM machine cabinet with switches and controls on its front panel. Additional stacks of punched cards are visible on top of the machine. Below the photograph is a caption line reading: “NASA Glenn Research Center, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons” followed by a URL referencing the image source. The background outside the photo is a warm brown and gold abstract texture. In the bottom right corner of the image is the text “vintage.computer.”
December 27, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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Logisim Evolution is a free, open-source tool for designing and simulating digital logic circuits. Widely used in classrooms and by hobbyists, it’s perfect for exploring how CPUs, adders, and state machines actually work, without touching a soldering iron. #VintageComputer
A square graphic titled “FREE SOFTWARE FRIDAY” at the top in bold black text on a light gray background. The main design resembles a compact disc, with a large light gray circular disc centered on a darker gray background. Inside the disc, black text reads: “Logisim Evolution” “Author: Logisim Team” “Release Date: 2011” “Get it: https://github.com/logisim-evolution/logisim-evolution” Below that, a section labeled “About:” reads: “Free, open-source educational software for designing and simulating digital logic circuits.” In the bottom right corner of the image is the text “VINTAGE.COMPUTER.”
December 26, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Introduced by IBM in 1987, PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports became a defining feature of PC-compatible systems for more than a decade.
Mostly replaced by USB today, but still appreciated by sysadmins for their simplicity, reliability, and dedicated hardware paths. #VintageComputer
A graphic titled “Throwback Thursday” at the top, with the subtitle “PS/2 Ports:” beneath it. The background features a warm, sandy-toned abstract landscape. Centered in the image is a close-up photograph of two circular PS/2 ports on a computer case. The left port is purple and marked with a keyboard icon, and the right port is green and marked with a mouse icon. The ports are framed by a metallic edge. Below the photo is a credit line that reads: “Jud McCranie, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PS2_keyboard_and_mouse_jacks.jpg” Below that, a paragraph of text reads: “Created by IBM for their Personal System/2 series of computers in 1987, the PS/2 ports became ubiquitous on IBM-compatible machines for over a decade. While mostly phased out and replaced by USB, they are still sometimes favored by system admins as dedicated, peripheral-only connections.” In the bottom right corner of the image is the text “vintage.computer.”
December 25, 2025 at 1:30 PM
vintage.computer
Wishing everyone a warm holiday filled with blinking LEDs, whirring disk drives, and the joy of computing. Whether you’re restoring hardware, preserving software, or just appreciating the machines that built our digital world: Merry Christmas, and happy hacking.
December 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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The first computer “virus” wasn’t about theft or destruction: it was a prank. In 1982, Elk Cloner spread via floppy disks on Apple II systems and revealed itself with a spooky poem after 50 boots. Malware history started with poetry. #VintageComputer
A square graphic with a dark blue background and rounded light gray border. At the top, large white text reads: “Wow That’s Fascinating.” Below it, separated by a thin decorative line, larger underlined white text reads: “The First ‘Computer Virus’ Was Just a Creepy Poem.” Below the headline is a paragraph of white text that reads: “In 1986, the ‘Brain’ virus started infecting IBM PCs via floppy disks. But earlier, in 1982, a less harmful piece of code called ‘Elk Cloner’ spread through Apple II computers. It didn’t damage anything—it just popped up a spooky poem after 50 boots. It was the first prank with code that could travel.” At the bottom of the image is a thin decorative line, followed by small icons of a microchip and a globe, and the text “vintage.computer” in white.
December 24, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Tech Spec Tuesday 📐💾

The Kaypro II packed an entire CP/M workstation into a luggable case. With a Z80 CPU, dual floppy drives, and a built-in green-screen CRT, it made serious computing portable in the early 1980s.

Heavy by today’s standards, but revolutionary for its time.
A graphic titled “Tech Spec Tuesday” at the top, set against a background of technical schematics. Below the header is a large blue panel titled “Kaypro II.” On the left side is a photo of a Kaypro II portable computer with its front open, showing a built-in green CRT screen, two vertically stacked 5.25-inch floppy disk drives, and a detachable keyboard resting in front. Small credit text beneath the photo reads: “By Rama & Musée Bolo – File: IBM_PC-IMG_7271.jpg, CC BY-SA 2.0 fr, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=94784371” . Below the image is a specification table listing: CPU: Zilog Z80 @ 2.5 MHz Memory: 64 KB Storage: Dual 5.25" floppy drives Graphics: 9" green CRT, 80 x 24 text Networking: Serial ports, modem support Notes: CP/M-based, rugged portable On the right side, a section titled “About this machine:” reads: “Launched in 1982, the Kaypro II was a luggable computer running CP/M with bundled word processors and utilities. It was praised for its durability, integrated green screen, and accessible price point for business users.” At the bottom right of the image is a rounded label with the text “vintage.computer”.
December 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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On December 22, 1882, Edward Hibberd Johnson, a friend and business partner of Thomas Edison, decorated his Christmas tree with 80 hand-wired electric lights in red, white, and blue. The tree even rotated, giving passersby a dazzling preview of a fully electric holiday. 🎄💡
A graphic titled “Milestone Monday” with the date “December 22nd, 1882” in large yellow text against a dark, star-filled background. On the left is a black-and-white historical photograph showing several people gathered around an early electrically lit Christmas tree indoors. Small caption text beneath the photo reads: “What is a Home Without Love? Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/2005689091/” . On the right, a block of yellow text reads: “On this day in 1882, Edward Hibberd Johnson, a friend and business partner of Thomas Edison, hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue lightbulbs around his own Christmas Tree. The tree even rotated, giving people on the street a dazzling view of the decorated tree.” At the bottom of the image is a stylized sunrise graphic over a curved black horizon, with the text “vintage.computer” centered beneath it.
December 22, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
Maintenance Mode 🔧 Even systems with long histories can be repaired, improved, and redirected. Progress doesn’t require a perfect start, just a decision to keep going and make the next change count. #MaintenanceMode #VintageComputer #Reflection #Progress
A graphic with a desert landscape background in warm orange and tan tones. At the top, a banner reads “Maintenance Mode.” Centered text in a blue panel displays a quote: “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” Beneath the quote is the attribution “C.S. Lewis.” A small decorative underline appears below the quote. In the bottom right corner of the image is the text “vintage.computer.”
December 21, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
A snapshot from when entire rooms were dedicated to computing power and output arrived on massive plotters. This is what “hands-on computing” looked like before desktops and laptops. #SnapshotSaturday #VintageComputing #ComputerHistory #Mainframe #RetroTech #VintageComputer
A graphic titled “SNAPSHOT SATURDAY” at the top, styled like a film strip. Below the title is the caption: “Employees at Hughes Aircraft Company in the computer room.” The central image is a vintage photograph showing several employees working in a large computer room at Hughes Aircraft Company. In the foreground, a man operates a large plotter or output device. In the background are rows of tall mainframe computer cabinets lining the room. The setting appears to be an engineering facility with bright lighting and raised flooring. A credit line beneath the photo reads: “Hughes Aircraft Company, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Employees_in_computer_room_plotter_in_use_Hughes_Aircraft_Company.jpg” . In the bottom right corner of the image is the text “vintage.computer.”
December 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM
vintage.computer
The Dark Mod is a free, open-source first-person stealth game inspired by Thief. It delivers deep atmosphere, careful pacing, and community-driven missions, and proof that great games don’t need a price tag. #FreeSoftwareFriday #OpenSource #RetroGaming #PCGaming #VintageComputer
A graphic titled “FREE SOFTWARE FRIDAY” at the top. The main image resembles a compact disc on a gray background. Text on the disc reads: “The Dark Mod”. Below that: “Author: The Dark Mod Team”. “Release Date: October 17th, 2009”. “Get it: https://thedarkmod.com” . Further down, text reads: “About: A free, open-source first-person stealth video game set in a gothic steam-punk world, inspired by ‘Thief’.” In the bottom right corner of the image is the text “VINTAGE.COMPUTER”.
December 19, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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Before Wi-Fi and Bluetooth were everywhere, infrared data ports made wireless file transfers possible. Line-of-sight, short range, and a bit finicky; but for a while, IR was cutting-edge tech in laptops, phones, and PDAs. #ThrowbackThursday #RetroTech #Infrared #VintageComputer
A graphic titled “Throwback Thursday” with the subtitle “Infrared Data Ports,” set against a tan, desert-like background. Centered is a close-up photo of an infrared data port on a circuit board, showing two small dark IR transceivers mounted near the edge of the device. Beneath the image is a credit line reading: “amagill, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IrdaPort.jpg” . Below the image, text reads: “Before wifi and bluetooth, if you wanted to transfer data wirelessly, you might have used an Infrared Data Port. It only worked over a short range and with a direct line-of-sight between the devices’ transceivers. It was totally wireless and had speeds comparable to serial cable connections.” At the bottom right of the image is the text “vintage.computer.”
December 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM