Digital Retro: The Evolution and Design of the Personal Computer

By Gordon Laing and Gordon J. Laing

The late Seventies to the early Nineties was a completely unique period in the history of computing. Long before Microsoft and Intel ruled the PC world, a disparate variety of home computers, from an unlikely array of suppliers, were engaging in a battle that would shape the industry for years to come. Products from established electronics giants clashed with machines which often appeared to have been (or actually were) assembled in a backyard shed by an eccentric inventor. University professors were competing head to head with students in their parents' garages. Compatibility? Forget it Each of these computers was its own machine and had no intention of talking to anything else. The same could be said of their owners, in fact, who passionately defended their machines with a belief that verged on the religious. This book tells the story behind 40 classic home computers of an infamous decade, from the dreams and inspiration, through passionate inventors and corporate power struggles, to their final inevitable demise. It takes a detailed look at every important computer from the start of the home computer revolution with the MITS Altair, to the NeXT cube, pehaps the last serious challenger in the personal computer marketplace. In the thirteen years between the launch of those systems, there has never been a more frenetic period of technical advance, refinement, and marketing, and this book covers all the important steps made on both sides of the Atlantic. Whether it's the miniaturization of the Sinclair machines, the gaming prowess of the Amiga, or the fermenting war between Apple Computer, "Big Blue," and "the cloners," we've got it covered. Digital Retro is an essential read for anyone who owned a home computer in the Eighties.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 078214330X
• ISBN13: 9780782143300
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Sybex
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.1" x 0.7" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Digital Retro

For a microcomputer collector this a a great reference book that you just have to read from cover to cover. Great colour photos compliment the text. Covers most of the landmark machines of the home computer boom of the early 80's. If anything I'd love to see more pages so that more machines get covered.

A must have for the curious or nostalgic

Some people are quick to point out some of the facts & tidbits this book may hove not fully verified but if you simply want a good short read about a certain infamous computer and want lush high quality, full page pictures of that computer, this is the book for you. I especially like the fact that the more important computers (ex: Commodore 64) get extended attention in the form of 4 or 5 pages with even more photos, but generally speaking, most computers are a 2 page layout, photo on the right, history on the right. It's a very light read, the perfect coffee table book for the nerd in you.

Great Historical Reference of Personal Computers

This book shows the history of personal computers, from the early build-it-yourself Altair kits, through 8-bit systems like the Commodore VIC-20 and 64 and even later systems. It displays some computer systems most of us have never heard of, along with great pictures of attachments, device ports and the systems themselves. If you have any interest in the history of personal computing, this is a great reference.

Beautiful Pictures

Perfect pictures of your favourite microcomputers of the eighties. Apple II, ZX80, Spectrum, Amstrad, even the NeXT Cube are here, beautifully photographed both with clear orthogonal views as well as with a three-quarter view. These are the pictures of these machines that you wanted to see. You can clearly see all of the case, including the underside if I/O ports exist there. The text is interesting enough though in some cases the precise machine photographed might not be the exact machine described. (Though the Amiga 500 is clearly labelled as such so there is no dishonesty here.) Since I bought this book everyone who has viewed is has practically drooled over it. Throw away your National Geographics and your art books - *this* is the book you need to have on your coffee table! My only complaint is that ink from some pages seems to be making slight marks on the opposing pages. But it's not a big deal.