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Forum etiquette

Our mission ...

This forum is part of our mission to promote the preservation of vintage computers through education and outreach. (In real life we also run events and have a museum.) We encourage you to join us, participate, share your knowledge, and enjoy.

This forum has been around in this format for over 15 years. These rules and guidelines help us maintain a healthy and active community, and we moderate the forum to keep things on track. Please familiarize yourself with these rules and guidelines.


Remain civil and respectful

There are several hundred people who actively participate here. People come from all different backgrounds and will have different ways of seeing things. You will not agree with everything you read here. Back-and-forth discussions are fine but do not cross the line into rude or disrespectful behavior.

Conduct yourself as you would at any other place where people come together in person to discuss their hobby. If you wouldn't say something to somebody in person, then you probably should not be writing it here.

This should be obvious but, just in case: profanity, threats, slurs against any group (sexual, racial, gender, etc.) will not be tolerated.


Stay close to the original topic being discussed
  • If you are starting a new thread choose a reasonable sub-forum to start your thread. (If you choose incorrectly don't worry, we can fix that.)
  • If you are responding to a thread, stay on topic - the original poster was trying to achieve something. You can always start a new thread instead of potentially "hijacking" an existing thread.



Contribute something meaningful

To put things in engineering terms, we value a high signal to noise ratio. Coming here should not be a waste of time.
  • This is not a chat room. If you are taking less than 30 seconds to make a post then you are probably doing something wrong. A post should be on topic, clear, and contribute something meaningful to the discussion. If people read your posts and feel that their time as been wasted, they will stop reading your posts. Worse yet, they will stop visiting and we'll lose their experience and contributions.
  • Do not bump threads.
  • Do not "necro-post" unless you are following up to a specific person on a specific thread. And even then, that person may have moved on. Just start a new thread for your related topic.
  • Use the Private Message system for posts that are targeted at a specific person.


"PM Sent!" messages (or, how to use the Private Message system)

This forum has a private message feature that we want people to use for messages that are not of general interest to other members.

In short, if you are going to reply to a thread and that reply is targeted to a specific individual and not of interest to anybody else (either now or in the future) then send a private message instead.

Here are some obvious examples of when you should not reply to a thread and use the PM system instead:
  • "PM Sent!": Do not tell the rest of us that you sent a PM ... the forum software will tell the other person that they have a PM waiting.
  • "How much is shipping to ....": This is a very specific and directed question that is not of interest to anybody else.


Why do we have this policy? Sending a "PM Sent!" type message basically wastes everybody else's time by making them having to scroll past a post in a thread that looks to be updated, when the update is not meaningful. And the person you are sending the PM to will be notified by the forum software that they have a message waiting for them. Look up at the top near the right edge where it says 'Notifications' ... if you have a PM waiting, it will tell you there.

Copyright and other legal issues

We are here to discuss vintage computing, so discussing software, books, and other intellectual property that is on-topic is fine. We don't want people using these forums to discuss or enable copyright violations or other things that are against the law; whether you agree with the law or not is irrelevant. Do not use our resources for something that is legally or morally questionable.

Our discussions here generally fall under "fair use." Telling people how to pirate a software title is an example of something that is not allowable here.


Reporting problematic posts

If you see spam, a wildly off-topic post, or something abusive or illegal please report the thread by clicking on the "Report Post" icon. (It looks like an exclamation point in a triangle and it is available under every post.) This send a notification to all of the moderators, so somebody will see it and deal with it.

If you are unsure you may consider sending a private message to a moderator instead.


New user moderation

New users are directly moderated so that we can weed spammers out early. This means that for your first 10 posts you will have some delay before they are seen. We understand this can be disruptive to the flow of conversation and we try to keep up with our new user moderation duties to avoid undue inconvenience. Please do not make duplicate posts, extra posts to bump your post count, or ask the moderators to expedite this process; 10 moderated posts will go by quickly.

New users also have a smaller personal message inbox limit and are rate limited when sending PMs to other users.


Other suggestions
  • Use Google, books, or other definitive sources. There is a lot of information out there.
  • Don't make people guess at what you are trying to say; we are not mind readers. Be clear and concise.
  • Spelling and grammar are not rated, but they do make a post easier to read.
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Directory Topics Posts Last Post
Genres
Early Apple (I, ][, ///, etc.)
Discussions about 8 bit Apple computers and clones
Topics: 2,069 Posts: 17,040
2,069 17,040
Later Apple (68000+ based machines - Mac, Lisa, etc.)
Later Apple machines from the Lisa to the Mac and beyond, including clones.
Topics: 1,322 Posts: 11,813
1,322 11,813
Atari
Atari discussions
Topics: 346 Posts: 2,949
346 2,949
Unknown_K
Commodore
From the Pet to the Amiga
Topics: 2,833 Posts: 35,330
2,833 35,330
DEC
Digital Equipment Corporation items of interest
Topics: 2,462 Posts: 31,412
2,462 31,412
PCs and Clones
Older PC architectures from IBM and others - 8088 to 286 only!
Topics: 7,478 Posts: 94,017
7,478 94,017
Later PCs
386 and 486 class systems only please.
Topics: 2,637 Posts: 29,565
2,637 29,565
Pentium (First generation)
For discussion of collecting newer systems. Many of us wouldn't consider these "vintage", but some of us feel you should collect them before they're all recycled!
Topics: 710 Posts: 8,197
710 8,197
S-100
S-100 Systems discussions
Topics: 1,233 Posts: 12,081
1,233 12,081
CP/M and MP/M
Discuss these venerable old operating systems and the machines that run them
Topics: 1,479 Posts: 16,849
1,479 16,849
Unix/Xenix/Linux Workstations
Unix family discussions
Topics: 433 Posts: 4,271
433 4,271
rea5245
by rea5245
Tandy/Radio Shack
Discussions about the Tandy/TRS-80 line of computers from the Model I on up.
Topics: 3,753 Posts: 36,826
3,753 36,826
Handhelds/Portables
From luggables to palmtops, a place to discuss machines you can take with you.
Topics: 905 Posts: 6,208
905 6,208
thenzero
Pre-Altair Microcomputers
For machines such as the Kenbak, Macral N, MSI CPS-1, MCM/70, RCA COSMAC MicroKit, Mark-8, Scelbi and other microcomputers, production or homebrew, that pre-date the original Altair 8800.
Topics: 97 Posts: 981
97 981
Texas Instruments
For discussions of TI and related gear.
Topics: 268 Posts: 2,696
Last Post: Ti-990
268 2,696
Terry Kennedy
Minis and Mainframes
For larger machines not covered in other topic areas.
Topics: 407 Posts: 3,611
407 3,611
Grid Systems
Grid Systems Corp systems.
Topics: 33 Posts: 198
33 198
Other
For machines that don't have a section of their own. . . yet.
Topics: 2,073 Posts: 20,002
2,073 20,002
Vintage Gaming
Vintage Gaming
A place to discuss vintage gaming topics.
Topics: 633 Posts: 5,114
633 5,114
Collections/Community
General Vintage Computer Discussions
For discussions related to the hobby of collecting, restoring and generally having fun with Vintage Computers
Topics: 3,636 Posts: 40,063
3,636 40,063
Your Vintage Computer Collections
Discuss what you have, where you find old computers, etc.
Topics: 954 Posts: 9,016
954 9,016
Mad-Mike
Introductions
Introduce yourself and let us know what your interests are
Topics: 1,384 Posts: 8,357
Last Post: Hello from Missouri
1,384 8,357
ldkraemer
Vintage Computer Link Exchange
Links to other vintage computer resources on the net
Topics: 268 Posts: 1,513
268 1,513
kc8eyt
by kc8eyt
Events and Organizations
Advertise and discuss Vintage Computer, gaming or related events and organizations
Topics: 441 Posts: 1,826
441 1,826
ibmapc
by ibmapc
Retro Podcasts Discussion
Discussons relating to retro podcasts and other related sources
Topics: 95 Posts: 558
95 558
Marketplace
Vintage Computer Items For Sale or Trade
Sell or Trade your vintage computer items here
Topics: 8,500 Posts: 40,033
8,500 40,033
Vintage Computer Items Wanted
Let folks know what you're looking for
Topics: 6,679 Posts: 30,660
6,679 30,660
NeXT
by NeXT
Vintage Computer Services Offered/Needed
Market or barter services
Topics: 203 Posts: 1,422
Last Post: Wtb: Ibm 5170
203 1,422
lyonadmiral
Vintage Computer Auctions
Advertise or conduct auctions
Topics: 2,178 Posts: 9,765
2,178 9,765
Technical Support
Vintage Computer Software
Ask for or provide help with vintage software
Topics: 1,901 Posts: 18,386
1,901 18,386
Vintage Computer Hardware
Find or provide assistance with vintage hardware
Topics: 4,743 Posts: 49,088
4,743 49,088
Vintage Computer Programming
Look for or provide help with programming vintage equipment
Topics: 751 Posts: 11,018
751 11,018
Vintage Computer Tools
Discuss tools used in vintage computer repair and maintenance
Topics: 214 Posts: 2,505
214 2,505
Vintage Computer Forum Support
Support for the VC Forum (bugs, issues, questions, etc.)
Topics: 435 Posts: 3,923
435 3,923
Vintage Computer Reviews
For reviews of vintage hardware and software or anything related to vintage computers.
Topics: 29 Posts: 245
29 245
Vintage Documentation
Requests/Discussions
For requests and discussions relating to the Online Documentation Project
Topics: 158 Posts: 663
158 663
Online Manuals
For links to online manuals
Topics: 125 Posts: 494
125 494
kc8eyt
by kc8eyt
Available Printed Documentation
For posting available documents not in electronic form.
Topics: 29 Posts: 132
29 132
norwestrzh
Completely off Topic
General Off Topic
An off-topic free-for-all
Topics: 4,254 Posts: 50,908
Last Post: The New Forums
4,254 50,908
CP/M User
Off Topic Marketplace
To offer or request services or items that have nothing to do with Vintage Computers.
Topics: 1,255 Posts: 5,559
Last Post: Leoteo Store
1,255 5,559
Agent Orange
Humor
Make us laugh
Topics: 479 Posts: 3,712
Last Post: Dentist Appointment
479 3,712
kc8eyt
by kc8eyt
VCWiki
History
History
Topics: 2 Posts: 87
2 87
VCWiki
Vintage Computer Wiki
Topics: 145 Posts: 241
145 241
help40
by help40
How To
How To
Topics: 25 Posts: 108
25 108
jmetal88
Systems
Systems
Topics: 50 Posts: 134
50 134
Software
Software
Topics: 23 Posts: 252
23 252
Hardware
Hardware
Topics: 63 Posts: 219
63 219
NeXT
by NeXT
Publications
Publications
Topics: 5 Posts: 11
5 11
geoffm3
by geoffm3
Companies
Companies
Topics: 20 Posts: 35
20 35
epopy
by epopy
Luminaries
Luminaries
Topics: 4 Posts: 8
Last Post: Mario Baracus
4 8
KC9UDX
by KC9UDX
Collecting and Using
Collecting and Using
Topics: 6 Posts: 11
6 11
zapbuzz
by zapbuzz
Other
Other
Topics: 2 Posts: 13
Last Post: Telnet Protocol
2 13
alexwhite

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There are currently 320 users online. 24 members and 296 guests.

Most users ever online was 2,732 at 04:40 PM on August 24, 2019.

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