Melodiously Merry Music on the Christmas SID Player LGR Blerbs 2021-12-24 | TexElec sent me one of their Christmas SIDs, which is a standalone chiptune music player all dressed up for the holidays. The STM32 emulates the music chip of the Commodore 64 and plays songs off a MicroSD card. A charming and festive way to get into the (8-bit) Christmas spirit indeed!Here's where they're sold:texelec.com/product/christmas-sid
LGR Vlogs: New York City & Long Island Retro 2024 LGR Blerbs 2024-08-30 | This is the Long Island Retro show experience! At least as it was for me, covering 10 days in August 2024. Driving from North Carolina to Virginia, taking a train from there to Manhattan, exploring New York City, getting settled in Uniondale, a bunch of wandering around the event weekend itself, then flying/driving back home.Mostly it's a bunch of exploring NYC though!My video all about Long Island Retro Gaming Expo will be on LGR soon.00:00 traveling07:35 new york46:57 preshow stuff59:51 the convention01:19:23 heading home#LGR #retro #convention
Testing a 1961 Speakerphone! Model 880 by Automatic Electric LGR Blerbs 2024-06-24 | Found this nifty 1960s speaker phone and had to pick it up! This is the Automatic Electric Executive Type 880 speakerphone from the 60s, a rotary telephone with a built-in mic and external speaker for making conference calls. Don Draper would approve.Here's the technical journal I showed: telephonecollectors.info/index.php/browse/document-repository/catalogs-manuals/automatic-electric/aetj-ae-technical-journal/13243-ae-tech-journal-feb61-p232-new-speakerphone-executive-model-880-tci-ocr/file
WINMIX Reborn67 Retro Inspired Mechanical Keyboard LGR Blerbs 2024-06-23 | Win Mix sent me this intriguing mechanical keyboard to cover, so let’s unbox it and do just that! It has a rather unique look and a hefty aluminum body so it seemed promising. But then I tried it… and found out the price.Here’s where they’re sold: https://winmix.store/products/reborn67
LGR Vlogs: Vintage Computer Festival Southwest 2024 LGR Blerbs 2024-06-21 | This is the complete @VCFSW experience! At least as it was for me in 2024. Flying from North Carolina to Texas, getting settled in Dallas, a ton of wandering around the show itself, visiting the National Videogame Museum, then traveling back home and going for a hike.● Video of the YouTuber panel and Q&A:youtube.com/watch?v=GDXoZ50ZvHU00:00 traveling09:27 the show itself!59:52 video game museum01:05:15 heading home#VCFSW #LGR #VCF
LGR Vlogs: Two Weeks Surrounding VCFMW 2023 LGR Blerbs 2023-09-29 | A companion piece to this video: youtu.be/Q64ILEMgE34This is the complete Vintage Computer Festival Midwest experience! At least as it was for me in 2023. Driving from North Carolina to Illinois, enjoying everything in downtown Chicago, setting up the LGR exhibit, shenanigans at the show itself, then eventually traveling back home and putting this video together while sick. Fun times!● Check out Luke's channel and his video about the trip here:youtube.com/lukeisafinename● Video of the YouTuber panel and Q&A:youtu.be/watch?v=9tM__9zgjUc
The AdLib Gold clone! Testing the GoldLib sound card LGR Blerbs 2023-05-24 | The legendary Adlib Gold 1000 card has been cloned! Along with its elusive surround sound module.more info here: http://pcmidi.eu/goldlib.html
5.25” Sunbeam Cigarette Bay for PCs LGR Blerbs 2023-05-03 | The Thermaltake Xray was one thing, but this Sunbeam deal from 2003? It’s another level of smoker’s PC drive bay accessory. ART, PASSION, CIGARETTES.Here's the LGR Oddware video on that one: youtube.com/watch?v=_ErL39wqO-c
Exploring the Attitude Games Pack for DOS PCs LGR Blerbs 2023-03-22 | Found and bought this early 90s shareware package recently. It looks wonderfully homemade. So let’s dive in and see what’s what!Download the disk images here: archive.org/details/attitude-games-pack
Upgrading a 1996 AST Advantage PC to 32MB RAM LGR Blerbs 2023-03-21 | 8 megabytes of RAM? Time to QUADRUPLE that and test some games!A follow-up to this video on LGR: youtube.com/watch?v=WCdDKPonXXA
This old KLINGON Keyboard Holder for CRTs LGR Blerbs 2023-01-25 | nuqneH! Taking a look at this 80s(?) Klingon keyboard holder device. Which is really just a couple of plastic antlers that adhere to the side of a monitor to make a keyboard stand, ha. Testing with an IBM Model M as the company intended!
Buying New PlayStation Games from Square Enix! Final Fantasy Origins LGR Blerbs 2023-01-24 | Recently saw that Square Enix still sells reprinted and new old stock PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games. So I had to order some! Directly inspired by this video from GAMEGUY1210: youtube.com/watch?v=j3ElYjPnz1gAnd here's the webstore: store.na.square-enix-games.com/en_US/games/all-games
Testing a Vortex PC66 Keyboard on an IBM PCjr LGR Blerbs 2023-01-10 | When I received a new Vortex PCjr styled mechanical keyboard recently, I halfheartedly lamented the fact that the USB-only keyboard couldn't connect to a real IBM PCjr computer from 1983. But what if it could? Here's how!Pertinent links:USB4VCtindie.com/products/dekunukem/usb4vc-usb-inputs-on-retro-computersTexElec PCjr Joystick & Keyboard Breakout Boardtexelec.com/product/ibm-pcjr-joystick-and-keyboard-breakout-boardVortex PC66 USB & Wireless Keyboardhttps://vortexgear.store/products/pc-66-66-key
Slingbox Mobile: Streaming to a 2005 iPaq Pocket PC LGR Blerbs 2023-01-09 | Follow-up to this video: youtube.com/watch?v=0XDlvegECG8After finding the old Windows Mobile software for my 2005 Slingbox, I had to test it out on my HP iPaq RX1995 PocketPC. So let's do just that! Plus testing streaming video over LAN after the servers shut down in November 2022.
Absurd Shareware Art from the Troubled Wiz Technology LGR Blerbs 2022-12-31 | Yeah I kinda forgot I had all these DOS games. So let's admire their weirdness! Released in the 1990s by Wiz Technology Inc, which the Los Angeles Times called "a troubled supplier of discount software" after they went bankrupt following years of financial sketchiness.Here's that LA Times newspaper article: latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-feb-03-fi-14886-story.html
A Color Computer Christmas Thing: Xmas Fantasia II LGR Blerbs 2022-12-23 | I planned on making an LGR video about a mysterious "Rotating Christmas Demo" tape for the TRS-80 CoCo. But welp, not only is not for that machine but I also can't get it working elsewhere! So since I already had stuff set up here's another thing entirely, ho-ho-ho.00:00 Introduction03:27 Holiday Chiptune Music14:37 Outroduction
This CompUSA Disc Dispenser Exists LGR Blerbs 2022-12-22 | Seems I purchased another new old stock thing from Comp USA, this one being a media dispenser for blank CD-R and DVD-R discs. Pointless? Useful? Perhaps a little of both. It sure does exist though.
RIP Slingbox! Testing the Original 2005 Slingbox in 2022 LGR Blerbs 2022-11-07 | Sling Media servers will be permanently shut down and taken offline November 9, 2022. So it seemed like the perfect time to unbox this new old stock model from 2005 and test it out – before it's too late!
A Modern IBM PCjr style Mechanical Keyboard! Vortex PC66 LGR Blerbs 2022-11-06 | Vortex sent me this PC 66 keyboard to take a look at, so let's get to it! I was highly intrigued to see a new wireless mechanical board based on the second IBM PCjr keyboard. I just wasn't sure about how I'd adjust to the layout, compared to the PC68 with more keys. Let's see how it goes!More info on the board here: https://vortexgear.store/products/pc-66-66-key
The HDD Clicker: Add Hard Drive Sounds to SD/CF/SSDs LGR Blerbs 2022-11-03 | Testing out the HDD Clicker by Matze and Serdaco, a board that generates hard disk clicking noises based on HDD LED activity. No more unsettling silence on old machines running off SSD, Compact Flash, or SD card interfaces!Here's where I bought the device: serdashop.com/HDDClickerCheck out the video on the project by root42: youtube.com/watch?v=zxTtG9wmAFMMore info here: https://www.retrokits.de/index.php/hdd-clicker-v0-2/00:00 The HDD Clicker04:39 Installing It06:41 Testing It12:02 Modifying With Tape
AWE64 Legacy: A Premium New ISA Sound Card in 2022 LGR Blerbs 2022-11-02 | I was able to borrow this AWE 64 Legacy sound card, and wow is this thing impressive. A modern 16-bit ISA sound card with just about all the bells and whistles you could ask for in a Sound Blaster of this type. So let's check it out on a Pentium III Windows 98 PC and the LGR Woodgrain 486!More info about the project on Vogons: vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=68555
LGR 486 Update! Applying New Woodgrain LGR Blerbs 2022-10-14 | The LGR Woodgrain 486 has gotten a little rough in recent years, with the wood-pattern vinyl getting all scraped and torn up while being moved around all over the place. So it's time to apply some fresh woodgrain!See the full playlist of LGR 486 build/upgrade videos here:youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbBZM9aUMsjGHvNtHfPOJauZCSVShKA0G
Checking Out a New Atari 2600 Cartridge: Aquaventure LGR Blerbs 2022-10-12 | "Atari" is selling new Atari 2600 games in 2022? Yeah kind of! They sent me this copy of Aquaventure from 1983 to check out – a game that was never officially released as a cart, until now. And it glows! So let's unbox it and try it out on the Zenith TV in my retro room.More info here: atari.com/collections/atari-xp
This IBM Industrial Rackmount Monitor Enclosure LGR Blerbs 2022-10-10 | Got this 1980s rack mounted housing for my IBM Industrial PC and its associated monitor. So let's install a 7534 CRT display inside and see how it looks.
This 8-bit ISA to USB Adapter Card for Vintage PCs LGR Blerbs 2022-04-12 | I purchased one of these unbranded CH375 ISA USB interface cards a while back and it finally arrived. So let's test it out with MS-DOS on an IBM PC AT 5170 and try it with a USB flash drive and some DOS games!I don't have a link to the exact item since it's just a generic thing, but you can find them on places like Aliexpress and eBay by searching "ISA to USB card."Tech Tangents covered the adapter as well after I made this video and has some really useful tips to make it work even better! Check that out here: youtube.com/watch?v=cgtvVi_mjjg
A Bootable eBook for MS-DOS PCs! Chromaspace Conscript LGR Blerbs 2022-04-11 | Checking out the e-book version of Chromaspace: Conscript designed specifically for DOS computers! It's distributed as a bootable floppy disk image, which when written will load on classic systems like the IBM PC 5170. Let's check it out under MS-DOS 6.22!More info on the novel by Megan Alnico here:chromaspace.net
This Wooden Oregon Trail Floppy Disk Art LGR Blerbs 2022-03-28 | It's a 5.25" floppy disk decorative artwork sculpture item thing! Made of wood! I thought it would look neat next to my wooden Oregon Trail boxes so I bought one and here it is.Here's where I bought it: ebay.com/itm/273943996581
Unboxing a New Old Stock 14 Videology CRT Monitor LGR Blerbs 2022-03-23 | Recently purchased this unused 14-inch color CCTV display, a 40VM14H manufactured by Videology – in 2013! Jeez. Let's unbox it and test it out with some Sega Genesis games over composite, aw yiss.
Testing a Rather Mystical Macintosh Color Classic LGR Blerbs 2022-03-15 | Received this lovely Apple Mac Color Classic computer from 1993 the other day, hugely exciting stuff in my book. So let's check it out real quick and see how much work it needs!Oh and I guess this month is #MARCHintosh2022 and it entirely slipped my mind while filming this. Honestly didn't plan on making this an official entry into that, but hey, it sure fits in with the theme. Definitely search for that hashtag on YouTube to find a bunch of other Mac-related videos being posted by folks this month!
ARGUS – A New Gravis Ultrasound Clone LGR Blerbs 2022-03-14 | Testing a borrowed prerelease ARGUS sound card! It's a community-built Gravis UltraSound PnP clone based on the AMD InterWave chip. Unfortunately it's not currently available for sale but it's great that it exists at all! EDIT: Now available! micronick.com/argusMore info on the project here: vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=42431
USB4VC - Using Modern Input Devices on Old PCs LGR Blerbs 2022-02-22 | Testing a prototype of the USB4VC by dekuNukem, a Raspberry Pi-based board with modules allowing you to connect new USB devices to retro computers. 15-pin game port, serial, PS/2, ADB, and more (in the future) can all be paired with modern peripherals and controllers. Like PS5, Xbox Series X, Switch, and so on. It even converts to XT keyboard protocols! Neat!Pertinent links:github.com/dekuNukem/USB4VCkickstarter.com/projects/dekunukem/usb4vc-usb-inputs-on-retro-computers
Testing an IBM Aptiva Desktop PC from 1997 LGR Blerbs 2022-02-17 | This IBM Aptiva 2137-E14 was saved from an e-waste fate recently and sent to me in unknown condition with unknown parts inside. So let's open it up, look inside, power it on, and try out some software! Windows 98 and MS-DOS goodies await.Oh and it looks like the weird graphical glitches in certain DOS games is due to VESA weirdness being weird. Here's a fix! http://www.bttr-software.de/products/fix8x14/
This 1:10 Scale IBM PC 5150 Miniature is SUPERB LGR Blerbs 2022-02-12 | Checking out the handcrafted IBM PC 40th Anniversary Limited Edition from Miniatua! It's a highly detailed 𝟙:𝟙𝟘 scale model replica of the 1981 5150 computer system with 5151 MDA monitor and dual floppy drives. And it even has a working TFT screen showing videos of software! Absolutely lovely.I purchased it here: miniatua.com/work/ibm5150anniversary00:00 Introduction/Overview of the Model06:26 Unboxing It!12:21 Awestruck Admiration16:28 Testing the Display27:22 Musical Compilation/Collage VideoMusic at the end is 'Rising Sun' by DivKid
Testing a Diamond Edge 3D Card & Sega Saturn Interface LGR Blerbs 2022-02-08 | I've had this Diamond Edge 2120 for years but hadn't yet tested it since I didn't have the Sega Saturn interface board and Nvidia NV1-supported Sega PC software. But now I do! So let's hook it up and try it out with some Windows 98 games.Here's my old LGR Oddware episode: youtube.com/watch?v=jChtlWNIAL4
The Awesome Flyby2 Screensaver Running in 4K LGR Blerbs 2022-02-07 | 4K capture of the 'flyby2' screen saver by Soji Yamakawa circa 1997/98. This was originally found on an old Lockheed Martin computer running Windows 95 but has been updated by the community to work on newer hardware. Captured on a Windows 11 PC!See the original Blerb video here: youtu.be/hAQt33Gj3KYLots of you requested a standalone video of this screensaver in the last video, so I figured I'd take the opportunity to go 4K with it. Thanks to the excellent work by LGR viewers, this enhanced version now exists with support for faster CPUs, multiple aspect ratios, and resolution scaling up to 3840x2160 and beyond. The source code was also unearthed by the developer and is now on GitHub!Download the original screensaver here: archive.org/details/flyby2Here's a speed-fixed version for faster CPUs: archive.org/details/flyby2_202201Here's the speed-fixed version with 4K support: archive.org/details/flyby2_4kAnd here are the original screensaver source files: github.com/captainys/FLYBY2Background music is 'Rich in the 80s' by DivKid
Awesome Screensaver Found on a 90s Lockheed Martin PC LGR Blerbs 2022-01-31 | This excellent 3D aircraft aerobatics screen saver (flyby2.scr) was found on a crusty old Windows 95 computer originally belonging to Lockheed Martin. And I don't know much more than that! Does it have anything to do with Blue Impulse as the icon suggests? UPDATE: It is related to the YSFlight simulator from the late 90s! Here's a comment from its creator, Soji Yamakawa. "Wow! That's a pleasant surprise! My friend sent me a link to this video. Yes, I wrote it. That was one of my first screensavers. I believe this one was based on 3D Graphics Library called Blue Impulse (obviously named after the Japanese Aerobatic Team) that I developed for my master's research project. I should still have source code somewhere in my backup. And, some of the airplane models in this screensaver are in YSFLIGHT, too."Download the original screensaver here: archive.org/details/flyby2Here's a speed-fixed version for faster CPUs: archive.org/details/flyby2_202201Here's the speed-fixed version with widescreen/high res support: archive.org/details/flyby2_4kAnd here are the original screensaver source files: github.com/captainys/FLYBY2Music at the end is 'Rich in the 80s' by DivKid
The Rare eMachines eOnes Even Rarer Box LGR Blerbs 2022-01-20 | I've been fortunate enough to receive the box and manual for the elusive and infamous eMachines eOne! It was a rare all-in-one computer that intentionally mimicked the Apple iMac G3 in 1999 and it's rare enough on its own. The box and instruction book though? Oh yeah, this is the good stuff.Here's my video on the eOne over on LGR: youtube.com/watch?v=skkDM9Ijckc
Soothing Sounds of Two Old Quantum Hard Drives LGR Blerbs 2022-01-19 | No narration, just computers. I had a grimy Quantum Bigfoot 5.25" IDE hard drive that needed backing up before it inevitably dies, so I figured I'd record the sights and sounds of copying everything over to a smaller 3.5" Quantum Fireball drive. They're both from around 1997. Enjoy!
The Weird PC Game Boxes of Hock Wah Yeo LGR Blerbs 2022-01-12 | Flipping through the 2021 book "The Boxes of Hock Wah Yeo" and checking out my collection of said boxes. These are some of my absolute favorite items in my PC game collection and I really need no excuse to talk about them, but here we are.Here's where I bought the book:colpapress.com/collections/frontpage/products/the-boxes-of-hock-wah-yeoHere's that Obscuritory article:obscuritory.com/essay/incredible-boxes-of-hock-wah-yeo
Finally! I Found the Retail Box for Depth Dwellers LGR Blerbs 2021-12-25 | I am honestly super stoked to have tracked this down, haha. The game may be a pile of turds but it's a special one to me, and this full registered retail version in the packaging has eluded me for over a decade. And I got some related goodies in the meantime!Grabbable files on my Internet Archive page:archive.org/details/@lazygamereviews
This Repurposed 9.7” iPad LCD in a CRT-like Case LGR Blerbs 2021-11-21 | Testing out the Laser Bear Industries CRT-style LCD monitor with the MiSTer. It's like CRT cosplay.laserbear.net/products/crt-style-9-7-lcd-case
This Odd Numpad Joystick (plus an NES version) LGR Blerbs 2021-11-17 | Checking out this weird little Japonika numpad joystick add-on for PC keyboards, along with a similar model for Nintendo Entertainment System controller d-pads. Yay Canada! 🍁
Perhaps the Best Floppy Disk Album Ive Seen to Date LGR Blerbs 2021-11-14 | Taking a look at the latest Autumn Altair MIDI floppy disk album, Echoes on Stone Walls! This is a special LGR Edition with some excellent Roland Sound Canvas visuals alongside a unique mix of canyon.midaltairaudioengineering.bandcamp.com/album/echoes-on-stone-walls
Thumby, the Tiniest Video Game System... Ever? LGR Blerbs 2021-10-11 | SO SMALL. Checking out and playing some games on a pre-release version of the Tiny Circuits Thumby, the self-proclaimed world's smallest gaming console. And yeah, this thing is smaller than any other playable device I've seen so that sounds about right!See the Kickstarter page for more info: kickstarter.com/projects/kenburns/thumby-the-tiny-playable-keychain
This 9-inch Monochrome VGA CRT Monitor LGR Blerbs 2021-10-07 | Picked up this nifty little Etc Computer Inc JD093A display while thrifting a while back, and after covering the STS Tecom 5-inch amber CRT on LGR it came up in conversation. So yeah, let's take a look at it with some DOS games and whatnot!
Restoring & Testing Roland MA-7 Speakers from 1994 LGR Blerbs 2021-10-06 | Got these awesome vintage computer speakers recently and they really need a good cleaning with some retrobright treatment. So yep, let's take care of that and test them out!link to the music used: youtube.com/watch?v=hVAgbyw_oCc
Customizing & Testing a Keychron Q1 Mechanical Keyboard LGR Blerbs 2021-09-29 | Keychron sent me a thing, how nifty! The Q1 is a modular/hot-swappable 75% layout aluminum mechanical keyboard that struck me as being quite similar to my GMMK Pro. So let's customize the keycaps, swap some switches, and try it out!Here's where they sell 'em keychron.com/products/keychron-q1
A New Microchannel Sound Blaster! Resound New Wave MCA LGR Blerbs 2021-08-23 | Checking out this variant of the Snark Barker MCA project! This card from TexElec recreates the exceedingly rare Creative Labs Sound Blaster MCV for IBM PS/2 Microchannel PCs. Proper 44kHz PCM sound and AdLib support on a PS/2 Model 90 XP 486, nice.Here's where I bought mine, plus more info and a helpful tutorial video: texelec.com/product/resound-new-wave-mca
Playing the 2021 Quake Remaster on a CRT LGR Blerbs 2021-08-19 | Checking out and giving my first impressions on the enhanced remastered edition of Quake 1 from Nightdive Studios! Not a full review and I didn't do any research beforehand, I just hooked up a modern gaming PC to some retro peripherals and started playing and rambling at 1024x768. It's pretty neat stuff.
Organizing Issues of PC Gamer from 99 - 2002 LGR Blerbs 2021-08-19 | Got a pile PC Gamer magazines from the late 90s and early 2000s, and they need to be placed into protective sleeves with backing. So that's what this is! Just a relaxed hour of solace with demo discs galore.
