The Madness of Vintage Computer Festival Midwest 2022

LGR2 minutes read

The narrator attended the Vintage Computer Festival Midwest 2022 with his brother, showcasing an LGR Things table and interacting with attendees, facing logistical challenges due to high attendance. Various vintage computers, answering machines, and rare workstations were highlighted at the festival, with a mention of new LGR Things content in progress and encouragement to engage in the comments and share pictures on social media.

Insights

  • The Vintage Computer Festival Midwest 2022 had a record attendance of over 2000 people, leading to logistical challenges and a crowded atmosphere at the narrator's exhibit, with constant requests for selfies, autographs, and merchandise.
  • The festival showcased a diverse range of vintage computers and systems, including the Ansafone answering machine from 1962, which utilized innovative technology like an induction coil to bypass telephone company restrictions, alongside other unique pieces like the Meridian PBX system and Forgotten Machines' terminals and hardware spanning several decades.

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Recent questions

  • What was showcased at the Vintage Computer Festival Midwest 2022?

    Vintage computers, answering machines, and rare workstations.

  • Where was the Vintage Computer Festival Midwest 2022 held?

    Clarion Inn Elmhurst hotel and conference center.

  • How many attendees were present at the Vintage Computer Festival Midwest 2022?

    Over 2000 people attended the festival.

  • What was a standout exhibit at the Vintage Computer Festival Midwest 2022?

    Computers running the Prevue Guide and Weather Channel from the late 80s and 90s.

  • What was the narrator's experience at the Vintage Computer Festival Midwest 2022?

    Crowded corner with constant requests for selfies and autographs.

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Summary

00:00

LGR at Vintage Computer Festival Midwest

  • The Vintage Computer Festival Midwest 2022 was attended by the narrator and his brother, who set up an LGR Things table/exhibit for attendees to interact with.
  • The journey from North Carolina to Illinois took 12 hours each way, with stops for fuel and food, and the use of a new GoPro camera.
  • The conference center hosting the festival was the Clarion Inn Elmhurst hotel and conference center, built in 1975.
  • The narrator's table setup included the LGR Woodgrain 486, IBM 7532 Industrial PC, and an eMachines eOne iMac knock-off.
  • The narrator and his brother visited Galloping Ghost, a large vintage arcade with over 900 games, including pinball tables.
  • They were invited to a VCF dinner but got distracted at the arcade and missed it, leading to a unique experience trying out the R360 arcade machine.
  • The narrator's table setup included a woodgrain LGR banner and tablecloth, and they enjoyed lunch at HB Jones.
  • The Vintage Computer Festival Midwest 2022 saw a record number of attendees, exceeding 2000 people, causing some logistical challenges.
  • The narrator's corner at the festival felt crowded, with constant requests for selfies, autographs, and merchandise.
  • The narrator highlighted a display featuring computers running the Prevue Guide and Weather Channel from the late 80s and 90s as a standout exhibit at the festival.

14:12

Vintage answering machines and forgotten computer systems.

  • The Ansafone answering machine set up from 1962 was one of the first consumer answering machine systems.
  • The Ansafone used an induction coil to bypass restrictions from the telephone company.
  • The Meridian PBX system connected phones and fax machines, allowing for dialing in, sending and receiving faxes, and managing different phones and answering setups.
  • Forgotten Machines showcased terminals and hardware from the 70s and 80s, including a paper tape punching machine from the 1950s.
  • A teletype setup was present, offering a mesmerizing experience, although not interacted with.
  • An IBM 8232 enclosure housed an IBM Industrial PC, similar to one set up in an exhibit, with connections to a mainframe.
  • The Power Station M20, a rare RS/6000 workstation from IBM, was on display.
  • An Apple Lisa, specifically a Twiggy Apple Lisa with double-sided floppy drives, was available for sale at $16,000.
  • The OS/2 table featured a vast selection of software, curated by Joshua, showcasing OS/2 on various devices.
  • Various British micros and Japanese computers, including Sinclair, Acorn, Sharp, and NEC, were on display, with an increase in diversity from the previous year.

26:21

"eMachines PC Video: LGR Updates and VCF"

  • Video made on the "never obsolete" eMachines PC
  • Encouragement to check out the video
  • Mention of more LGR Things in progress
  • Invitation to engage in the comments
  • Suggestion to share pictures and videos on Twitter by tagging LGR
  • Appreciation for watching
  • Anticipation for VCF Midwest 2023
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