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• Post #4193293

  Releasing my remaining Sphere logo mugs for sale. They're excellent mugs, I basically spent a stupid amount of time and money on trying to answer the question of "if this 1970s computer company had a promotional mug, what could it have been like?" Two variants: bright cream ink and some earlier samples with a metallic silver (the latter ink is fragile but beautiful.. like the Sphere). While supplies last at https://shop.gocomputernow.com

• Post #4193292

  @Luke What a picture! You're a far better photographer than I. And I'm glad you like it! But.... this doesn't look good to me. Am I seeing that right? If it's cracked I'll send you a replacement

• Post #4193291

  @Luke OK, if you're sure. That looks like a mishandling in the mail-- I have only had one issue in mailing dozens of them in that packaging but don't like the idea of someone being stuck with a damaged one. LMK if you change your mind, and either way-- enjoy!

• Post #4147508

  Perfect vibes

• Post #4147507

  New post, a behind-the-scenes from finishing my Sphere book: getting one final photo that required an unusual Southwest Technical product and logistics gymnastics. And graphical chess! https://sphere.computer/news/2026-06-24-a-checkmate-on-the-teevee.html

• Post #4147506

  New game for Sphere: Scrappy Bird, a mini flappy bird that runs on a 32x16 text screen on the 1975 Sphere system. I made this for the upcoming VCF West. You can play it in the emulator by clicking this link. Enjoy! https://sphere.computer/emulator?run=bird

• Post #4147505

  RE: https://mastodon.social/@isonno/116880480427959486 I really appreciated this useful side-by-side book review of my Sphere book along with Pogue's on Apple. Thank you for writing it!

• Post #2336772

  My new book about Sphere, the forgotten 1970s computing pioneer is published and available! Curious? Grab a copy here: https://gocomputernow.com

• Post #2161735

  Computer History Museum offers $1,000 travel grants for researchers. Their archives are incredibly extensive and they're great to researchers (ask me how I know!) Info here: https://computerhistory.org/access-and-research/research-travel-grants

• Post #1027931

  In honor of Apple's 50th, here's my favorite early coverage of the company, from the Palo Alto Times. 21-year-old Jobs on computers: "It's like a car. People don't use them just to go places. They're used for other reasons, like to impress other people."

• Post #667344

  @larsbrinkhoff @mwichary Lars since you know LINC well can you tell me the meaning of the shifted key character (and font character) that looks like this? Couldn’t quite suss it out from doc scans.

• Post #667343

  @spacehobo @larsbrinkhoff @mwichary thank you guys for this! Also the potential connection to the sun character is so interesting.

• Post #667342

  @msherr And even if it is, it seems like a crummy kind of gift ("I'm bringing some gold, what did you get him? ... Oh, some gum-resin from the Commiphora tree. Inappropriate, bro.")

• Post #667341

  @mwichary Amazing list (have bookmarked for myself). My grandparents lived down the road from the Marconi station on Cape Cod which has a little museum https://www.chathammarconi.org

• Post #667340

  @mwichary FYI I haven't been here yet, but I've had it bookmarked for next time I'm in Ohio: https://www.earlytelevision.org/museum.html

• Post #667339

  @mwichary oh wow I am looking forward to whatever you share from your visit. Love that era/type of tech and I know they do good work there (like actually repairing irreplaceable CRT tubes, incl re-evacuating them )

• Post #667338

  Most people call it EGA and VGA but real Californians say “the” EGA and the VGA

• Post #667336

  Final book jacket design for my upcoming history of Sphere computers. Looks fab. The book can as of now still be pre-ordered via the Kickstarter campaign's "late pledges." https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzotto/go-computer-now-the-story-of-sphere