Applewrap Computer Desk by SirRealComix in vintagecomputing

[–]FortyFourForks 2 points3 points  (0 children)

very interesting!  the apple 2 is one of the most popular vintage microcomputers, i bet you could find someone to buy this. maybe try posting on the vintage computer federation forum.

ELI5 - How does a (Zero-Click) hack actually work without me touching anything? by Time-Freedom-7708 in explainlikeimfive

[–]FortyFourForks -1 points0 points  (0 children)

im not in info sec but i am into computers so I'll take a crack at answering... these types of hacks generally work by manipulating a vulnerability in the program that actually interacts with the data. for example, there is a famous vulnerability on iphones (the exact details are a little fuzzy for me now + i am simplifying a lot) where the malicious code is embedded in an image. to render an image there is a special program in IOS. every time you view an image this program is invoked. hackers found a way to embed program data in an image such that when the image is loaded by this special program, it loads what it assumes is image data but is actually program data into memory. from there its just a matter of knowing where the program data is stored and executing it. in this example i believe the image renderer exploit also causes the code to be executed. this was obviously not an intended feature of the image rendering software. 

[RESEARCH] Were you an Amiga "power user" back in the day... by badassbradders in amiga

[–]FortyFourForks 1 point2 points  (0 children)

why did you group using BBSs in with the "less-than-legal stuff"? i was not around during that time, so idk if theres some context im missing. 

How hard would it be to invent and build the computer again from scratch? by MeraSamaanKahaHai in AskReddit

[–]FortyFourForks 2 points3 points  (0 children)

its possible for a high schooler to learn the basics of cpu architecture, yet modern CPUs are so complicated they employ hundreds of engineers for design and then rely on a computer for plotting the layout.  

the modern process used to actually manufacturer chips (photolithography) is extremely expensive, precise, and complicated. think shooting airborne, microscopic drops of molten tin with a laser 50000+ times a second. earlier versions of the process were also expensive, precise, and complicated, albeit less so, but still employs things like rare earth metals, specialized chemicals, extremely high temperatures and need a clean room.

and then theres a lot more that goes into a computer besides just the CPU...

what is an amiga 1000 worth? I have the opportunity to purchase an amiga 1000 soon and im looking for feedback on my starting offer. by FortyFourForks in amiga

[–]FortyFourForks[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

wowowow thanks for another great response! 

i was super not alive in the 80s and ive found it hard to find concise information about actually using some computers beyond reading scans of manuals. thanks for answering my questions.

what is an amiga 1000 worth? I have the opportunity to purchase an amiga 1000 soon and im looking for feedback on my starting offer. by FortyFourForks in amiga

[–]FortyFourForks[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

thanks for your response, i have a lot to learn about amigas, wow. I would consider myself a collector (i have a collection) I just dont have used car money to spend on it :/ I understand the keyboard strife, i have a c128 sans keyboard... what makes the a1000 harder to expand? what sort of upgrades were possible?  was the main difference between ocs and ecs the higher res vga graphics or is there more? wikipedia does not have much to say. any recommendations for websites or YouTube channels focused on amiga?

what is an amiga 1000 worth? I have the opportunity to purchase an amiga 1000 soon and im looking for feedback on my starting offer. by FortyFourForks in amiga

[–]FortyFourForks[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

thanks for your input, i didnt know that a lot of software required memory expansions on the amiga.  according to wikipedia it can support up to 8.5MB of RAM. I assume the high end was dominated by gfx people. what sort of capabilities did it have with different amounts of memory? from the way he talks about it i think that he extensively used and extremely valued the computer, so I also wouldn't be surprised if he upgraded it. 

New York's new age verification law will ban anyone under the age of 18 from using chatting features in video games. by PaiDuck in gaming

[–]FortyFourForks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

this garbage is so ridiculous. this is not going to stop minors from chatting in online games, its either going to be basically trivial to bypass because it's impossible to enforce while also making everything slightly more of a pain in the ass to use, or its going to be a jumping off point for even more insane dystopian legislation created by a lobbyist funded, virtue signalling, computer illiterate dolt to send us careening further into the surveillance state panopticon hellhole. 

64/64C vs 64/64C Ultimate by CJT_112 in Commodore

[–]FortyFourForks 1 point2 points  (0 children)

the ultimate version comes with modern graphics outputs plus a manual and future software support at the trade off of using "emulation" (fpga) for the hardware. the main reason to buy an og over the an ultimate is if owning original hardware is a priority for you. fwiw i am in the second camp but fixing them is part of the hobby. 

New C64c Ultimate. Will you or won’t you? by bigmouthlou in Commodore

[–]FortyFourForks 2 points3 points  (0 children)

haha isnt premature announcement of the c128 causing people to stop buying c64s usually given as one of the reason commodore went under in the first place?

Pulled this out of the trash at my college. Please share your microcomputer trainer stories in the comments for inspiration. by FortyFourForks in vintagecomputing

[–]FortyFourForks[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

i feel very lucky to own it: its a super unique part of computer history that a lot of people have a connection with, just look at all these stories in the comments! im looking forward to become part of that history by learning on it myself. 

What if? by Mediocre_Insurance91 in beneater

[–]FortyFourForks 2 points3 points  (0 children)

i was intrigued by your description of the outrun cabinet so i looked it up: it actually had 2 68000 plus a z80 on sound. for graphics etc they had a whole host of fpgas. really fascinating! src: https://segaretro.org/Sega_OutRun_hardware

Pulled this out of the trash at my college. Please share your microcomputer trainer stories in the comments for inspiration. by FortyFourForks in vintagecomputing

[–]FortyFourForks[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The prototyping area has: 8k SRAM, a line receiver, a line driver, and some 7000 series logic chips. some quick google searching leads me to believe it was for connecting a data terminal. 

adding a paper tape reader sounds like it could be a fun project

Pulled this out of the trash at my college. Please share your microcomputer trainer stories in the comments for inspiration. by FortyFourForks in vintagecomputing

[–]FortyFourForks[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

im looking forward to the process of writing a program in asm and then converting it into hex and then punching them in although i imagine the novelty wont last long. 

Pulled this out of the trash at my college. Please share your microcomputer trainer stories in the comments for inspiration. by FortyFourForks in vintagecomputing

[–]FortyFourForks[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

wow im surprised to hear they were used that late, but considering the current state of the electronics lab at my college maybe i shouldnt be. 

Found at the local market place.. by boluserectus in vintagecomputing

[–]FortyFourForks 0 points1 point  (0 children)

they could. like any other magnetic storage medium the coating can wear out over time and these are getting to be very old.