User bjb

46 votes

5 answers

7k views

Why are C64 games inconsistent with which joystick port they use?

asked May 24, 2019 at 13:56

37 votes

3 answers

6k views

What was the point of Apple Pascal having its own file system?

asked Aug 31, 2017 at 14:03

36 votes

6 answers

6k views

What was the purpose and history of the C64's special keys?

asked Jun 6, 2017 at 17:08

35 votes

6 answers

3k views

Did the LET statement actually do anything in 8-bit Microsoft BASICs?

asked May 27, 2016 at 16:22

33 votes

3 answers

6k views

What is DRAM refresh and why is the weird Apple II video memory layout affected by it?

asked Mar 3, 2020 at 13:10

28 votes

5 answers

4k views

Is there any advantage of a ceramic microprocessor over a plastic one?

asked Apr 25, 2017 at 16:43

27 votes

4 answers

4k views

Why did the Atari 8-bit computers make beeping noises while accessing the disk and cassette drives?

asked Nov 8, 2016 at 19:55

27 votes

4 answers

5k views

Why was it common to reference memory locations using negative numbers on some BASICs?

asked Jan 29, 2020 at 13:16

24 votes

3 answers

6k views

Did C128 native games have any technical advantages over C64 ones?

asked Apr 18, 2017 at 18:16

23 votes

1 answer

1k views

Was the Atari 400/800 internal speaker of any use besides key click?

asked Oct 13, 2016 at 20:48

22 votes

3 answers

3k views

What makes slot 7 of the Apple ][ unique from 1-6 and how was this used?

asked Aug 3, 2016 at 16:47

22 votes

1 answer

2k views

Why was it possible to cause an Apple //e to shut down with SHIFT and paddle button 2?

asked May 30, 2019 at 15:00

22 votes

3 answers

12k views

What purpose did the lower-right "Enter" key serve on the original Mac 128k keyboard?

asked Aug 6 at 12:38

21 votes

2 answers

3k views

Was there ever any real use for a 6800-based Apple 1?

asked May 10, 2019 at 13:03

21 votes

3 answers

3k views

What windowing system had the first size-proportional scroll bar?

asked Nov 3, 2021 at 19:44

20 votes

3 answers

2k views

What exactly were those large orange chips on the Hayes Micromodem II interface card?

asked Oct 21, 2022 at 16:54

20 votes

4 answers

3k views

How did DoubleDOS work?

asked Jun 28, 2017 at 16:55

20 votes

1 answer

2k views

How did the Atari 2600's 6507 handle zero page and stack with only 128 bytes of RAM?

asked Apr 19, 2018 at 17:31

20 votes

3 answers

2k views

Why was the original Apple Computer labeled as the Apple I?

asked Aug 23, 2018 at 17:19

19 votes

4 answers

1k views

When or should we expect our 8-bit motherboards to fail due to the capacitors?

asked Jan 26, 2017 at 18:07

18 votes

6 answers

1k views

Is there software that will run across multiple Commodore 8-bit machines without modification?

asked May 31, 2017 at 17:03

18 votes

3 answers

2k views

Was Apple DOS 3.3 created because of the Apple III?

asked Sep 6, 2017 at 16:22

16 votes

1 answer

605 views

Who or what is the 'AH' credited on the die of the Atari TIA chip next to Jay Miner?

asked Sep 6, 2018 at 16:59

16 votes

4 answers

6k views

What was the last x86 processor that didn't have a microcode layer?

asked Dec 6, 2022 at 17:39

16 votes

3 answers

2k views

Was there ever a Kickstart that took advantage of 68020+ instructions that would work on an A2000?

asked Apr 30, 2019 at 12:30

16 votes

3 answers

1k views

How widespread was the 'test' activation code for Microsoft products?

asked May 16, 2018 at 17:30

15 votes

1 answer

2k views

How are the randomizer values on the Apple II maintained?

asked Jan 12, 2023 at 17:43

15 votes

1 answer

1k views

Was there any software on the IBM PC that specifically took advantage of the NEC V20?

asked Nov 30, 2021 at 17:49

15 votes

2 answers

3k views

How do C64 cartridges swap running programs without losing state and context?

asked Jun 1, 2020 at 15:22

14 votes

2 answers

3k views

What options were available for having an Amiga 1000 not be dependent on a KickStart disk?

asked Jan 24, 2018 at 18:06

Stack Exchange Network

74 Questions

Why are C64 games inconsistent with which joystick port they use?

What was the point of Apple Pascal having its own file system?

What was the purpose and history of the C64's special keys?

Did the LET statement actually do anything in 8-bit Microsoft BASICs?

What is DRAM refresh and why is the weird Apple II video memory layout affected by it?

Is there any advantage of a ceramic microprocessor over a plastic one?

Why did the Atari 8-bit computers make beeping noises while accessing the disk and cassette drives?

Why was it common to reference memory locations using negative numbers on some BASICs?

Did C128 native games have any technical advantages over C64 ones?

Was the Atari 400/800 internal speaker of any use besides key click?

What makes slot 7 of the Apple ][ unique from 1-6 and how was this used?

Why was it possible to cause an Apple //e to shut down with SHIFT and paddle button 2?

What purpose did the lower-right "Enter" key serve on the original Mac 128k keyboard?

Was there ever any real use for a 6800-based Apple 1?

What windowing system had the first size-proportional scroll bar?

What exactly were those large orange chips on the Hayes Micromodem II interface card?

How did DoubleDOS work?

How did the Atari 2600's 6507 handle zero page and stack with only 128 bytes of RAM?

Why was the original Apple Computer labeled as the Apple I?

When or should we expect our 8-bit motherboards to fail due to the capacitors?

Is there software that will run across multiple Commodore 8-bit machines without modification?

Was Apple DOS 3.3 created because of the Apple III?

Who or what is the 'AH' credited on the die of the Atari TIA chip next to Jay Miner?

What was the last x86 processor that didn't have a microcode layer?

Was there ever a Kickstart that took advantage of 68020+ instructions that would work on an A2000?

How widespread was the 'test' activation code for Microsoft products?

How are the randomizer values on the Apple II maintained?

Was there any software on the IBM PC that specifically took advantage of the NEC V20?

How do C64 cartridges swap running programs without losing state and context?

What options were available for having an Amiga 1000 not be dependent on a KickStart disk?