RCR Episode 279: A spree de Calc

About this episode

The episode discusses the impact of VisiCalc and various retro computing products from 1979.

Panelists: Paul Hagstrom (hosting), Quinn Dunki, and Carrington Vanston Topic: 1979 In 1979, VisiCalc’s rampage began, and models 400, 800 (Atari), II (TRS-80), and 4 (TI 99) arrived. Topic/Feedback links: Wordstar VisiCalc TI 99/4 Intellivision Asteroids Atari 400/800 MUD1 StarMud review TRS-80 Model II Motorola 68000 Compu$erve CB Simulator Robert Williams becomes first human killed by a robot Retro Computing News: Unicode 16.0 adds more Symbols for Legacy Computing Existing Unicode symbols for Legacy Computing Unicode symbols for Legacy Computing working group document Unscii font Grace Hopper lectures archived and released Warhol’s lost Amiga art, found Wallops: a modern IRC client for classic Mac OS Famous Computer Cafe Computerland audio commercials (with gaps for filling in local deals) Mol (Baldur’s Gate demake for TRS-80 Model 100 and ZX Spectrum) Dungeons & Dragons Systems Reference Document RadioShack catalog archive Vintage Computer(-related) commercials: Radio Shack Intellivision Retro Computing Gift Idea: Insert Coin keychain See also: iBot G3 Auction Picks: Carrington: Mockingboard in box (Auction gone, but here’s a similar WorthPoint…

People in this episode

Host: Paul Hagstrom

Guests: Quinn Dunki, Carrington Vanston

Topics covered

• VisiCalc
• Retro Computing
• Atari
• TRS-80
• TI 99
• Dungeons & Dragons
• Vintage Computing

Keywords

• VisiCalc
• Atari 400
• TRS-80
• TI 99/4
• Dungeons & Dragons
• Retro Computing
• Vintage Computers

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Compu$erve

Products: VisiCalc, Atari 400, Atari 800, TRS-80 Model II, TI 99/4, Intellivision, Asteroids, MUD1, StarMud, Motorola 68000

Books & works: Unicode 16.0, Unscii font, Grace Hopper lectures, Warhol’s lost Amiga art

More episodes of Retro Computing Roundtable

• RCR Episode 288: NeXT, Sound Blaster, and IRC · January 25, 2026 · 2h 7m
• RCR Episode 287: Eureka! · January 9, 2026 · 1h 49m
• RCR Episode 286: Somehow all Myst · November 25, 2025 · 2h 13m
• RCR Episode 285: You’ll Have Mail · June 4, 2025 · 2h 21m
• RCR Episode 284: Hammer time · May 26, 2025 · 1h 52m
• RCR Episode 283: A STRANGE GAME · May 23, 2025 · 1h 23m