Hacker News with Generative AI: Computers

The IBM Enhanced Keyboard turns 40 (sharktastica.co.uk)
On this day, in 1985, IBM announced the 7531 and 7532 Industrial Computers. Two AT-derived computers that were "designed for information-handling applications in industrial plant floor environments". The announcement letters only lightly touched on their keyboards, noting their bidirectional serial interface, mode indicators and separated typewriter and numeric keypad sections - all inherent to any AT-based keyboard. But this keyboard was actually so much more than what was led on. IBM worked to enhance them, aptly calling them... the Enhanced Keyboard.
Hardware, History, IBM, Computers
13 points by tart-lemonade 2 days ago | 1 comments
ITXPlus: A ITX Sized Macintosh Plus Logicboard Reproduction (68kmla.org)
ITXPlus is a Mini-ITX sized Macintosh Plus logicboard clone that can be be assembled to a working state with no original parts and is intended for new build systems in modern cases
Retro Computing, Hardware, DIY, Macintosh, Computers
123 points by zdw 2 days ago | 31 comments
Still booting after all these years: The people using ancient Windows computers (bbc.com)
CTRL+ALT+DEL, but make it forever. As technology marches on, some people get trapped using decades-old software and devices. Here's a look inside the strange, stubborn world of obsolete Windows machines.
Technology, Operating Systems, Nostalgia, Computers, Software
13 points by graeme 4 days ago | 2 comments
The Lost Japanese ROM of the Macintosh Plus (journaldulapin.com)
If you look for information about the Macintosh Plus and its ROM, you’ll usually find that the ROM has a capacity of 128 KB and that it exists in three revisions. But that’s incorrect: there’s a fourth ROM, 256 KB in size, which includes fonts for kanji (Japanese characters). And I found (and preserved) this ROM.
Macintosh, History, Computers, Japan
152 points by ecliptik 6 days ago | 45 comments
Choosing a Name for Your Computer (ietf.org)
Computers, Naming Conventions
26 points by davidjytang 9 days ago | 18 comments
Show HN: Roons – Mechanical Computer Kit (whomtech.com)
Welcome, weary traveller from the orange site! Let me tell you the tale of roons — a kit for building mechanical computers.
Hardware, Computers, DIY, Mechanical Engineering
203 points by uncial 22 days ago | 30 comments
The VTech Socratic Method (leadedsolder.com)
We’ve had a lot of fun with VTech’s computers in the past on this blog. Usually, they’re relatively spartan computers with limited functionality, but they did make something very interesting in the late 80s. The Socrates is their hybrid video game console/computer design from 1988, and today we’ll start tearing into it.
Retro Computing, Video Games, Computers, Hardware
84 points by zdw 30 days ago | 13 comments
Smartphones and computers are now exempt from Trump's latest tariffs (cnn.com)
Smartphones, Computers, Trade, Politics, Tariffs
9 points by xnhbx 41 days ago | 0 comments
The Curious Case of Jupiter Ace (nemanjatrifunovic.substack.com)
On September 22, 1982, another small home computer was launched in the UK. Named Jupiter Ace, it was created by Jupiter Cantab Limited, a tiny startup founded by two engineers who had previously designed Sinclair ZX Spectrum: Steven Vickers1 and Richard Altwasser.
History, Technology, Computers
43 points by ibobev 43 days ago | 17 comments
US auto tariffs apply to all computers and hard disks (heise.de)
The US car tariffs have hit an unexpected victim: the PC market.
Trade, Tariffs, Computers, Hardware
16 points by nwellnhof 46 days ago | 0 comments
2025 Tariff Impacts at Puget Systems (pugetsystems.com)
One of the things I enjoy at Puget Systems is that transparency is one of our core principles.
Tariffs, Business, Computers, Technology
178 points by zdw 56 days ago | 139 comments
Mac Studio M3 Ultra can run Deepseek R1 671B in memory using <200W (techradar.com)
Mac, Computers, Deep Learning, Hardware, Power Consumption
7 points by mizzao 62 days ago | 1 comments
Amiga Zorro II (wikipedia.org)
Zorro II is the general purpose expansion bus used by the Amiga 2000 computer.
Amiga, Hardware, Computers, Expansion Bus
7 points by doener 67 days ago | 0 comments
Apple unveils new Mac Studio (apple.com)
Apple today announced the new Mac Studio, the most powerful Mac ever made, featuring M4 Max and the new M3 Ultra chip.
Apple, Mac, Hardware, New Releases, Computers
348 points by ksec 79 days ago | 288 comments
Apple M3 Ultra (apple.com)
Apple today announced M3 Ultra, the highest-performing chip it has ever created, offering the most powerful CPU and GPU in a Mac, double the Neural Engine cores, and the most unified memory ever in a personal computer.
Apple, Processors, Hardware, Computers
1077 points by ksec 79 days ago | 1029 comments
Resurrecting a Windows Laptop (both.org)
Recently, a friend gave me a recent model of a Hewlett-Packard Pavilion laptop. He said, “It turns on but goes off almost immediately. Maybe you could use it?” I gladly accepted the gift and took it home, and it performed as he described. I got CMOS battery errors from the BIOS and decided to take the computer apart.
Hardware Repair, Laptops, Computers
13 points by devonnull 81 days ago | 1 comments
Pocket386 Retro DOS Computer 386SX-40Mhz (tindie.com)
Pocket386 Retro DOSComputer 386SX-40 CPU DOS Computer Hand386 upgrade
Retrocomputing, Hardware, DOS, Computers, DIY
32 points by AlexeyBrin 97 days ago | 7 comments
Sorry, you're not getting Microsoft Edge off of your PC (techradar.com)
Microsoft Edge, Software, Operating Systems, Technology, Computers
13 points by this_weekend 105 days ago | 0 comments
A brief history of counting machines (2023) (lcamtuf.substack.com)
I find it difficult to talk about the history of the computer. The actual record is dreadfully short: almost nothing of consequence happened before the year 1935. We keep looking for a better story, but we inevitably end up grasping at straws.
History, Technology, Computers
4 points by gus_leonel 112 days ago | 1 comments
Showkey: Examine Keyboard Codes (cubiclenate.com)
I was having a peculiar issue with my computer where the “]” key kept getting pressed over and over again. It was very aggravating and I wasn’t sure where the problem was coming from. Neither my external keyboard nor the laptop keyboard would respond when I would press the “]” key and I was confused.
Troubleshooting, Hardware, Software, Computers
6 points by LorenDB 117 days ago | 0 comments
Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer [pdf] (2000) (matthewjbrown.net)
Computers, Technology, Personal Opinion, Essays
15 points by privong 135 days ago | 9 comments
Raspberry Pi 500 Delivers Great Performance, Convenient Upgrade to the RPi 400 (phoronix.com)
Four years ago already the Raspberry Pi 400 was announced as a Raspberry Pi keyboard computer built around the Raspberry Pi 4, passively-cooled, and all packaged up nicely in a keyboard form factor. Announced earlier this month was the Raspberry Pi 500 as the successor and now built around the Raspberry Pi 5. For $90 USD this keyboard computer is a very versatile and convenient compact Linux PC.
Raspberry Pi, Hardware, Linux, Computers, Technology
36 points by rbanffy 150 days ago | 29 comments
A new video captures a 1968 demo of IBM’s Executive Terminal (ieee.org)
A new video captures a remarkable 1968 demo of IBM’s Executive Terminal
Technology, History, IBM, Computers, Video
332 points by sohkamyung 162 days ago | 90 comments
4100 / 4200 Series Graphic Terminals (a.k.a. Unicorn) (vintagetek.org)
As the 401X and 411X family of DVST graphic terminals was winding down, and color displays and dynamic RAM prices were dropping, Tektronix chose to enter the low cost color terminal market with raster scan terminal terminals.
Vintage Technology, Computers, Hardware, Graphic Terminals
25 points by rbanffy 162 days ago | 6 comments
Raspberry Pi's new keyboard computer can power an optional $100 display (theverge.com)
Raspberry Pi has announced an upgraded version of its compact computer-in-a-keyboard, adding the new features and performance improvements of the Raspberry Pi 5 microcomputer it introduced last September.
Raspberry Pi, Hardware, Technology, Computers
6 points by ksec 164 days ago | 0 comments
This G15 is the Oldest Running Digital Computer in America [video] (youtube.com)
Computers, History, Technology, Vintage Technology, Video
88 points by hggh 180 days ago | 16 comments
Which M4 Chip and Model? (eclecticlight.co)
In the light of recent news, you might now be wondering whether you can afford to wait until next year in the hope that Apple then releases the M4 Mac of your dreams. To help guide you in your decision-making, this article explains what chip options are available in this month’s new M4 models, and how to choose between them.
Apple, Hardware, Computers, Technology, Consumer Electronics
6 points by tosh 194 days ago | 0 comments
What Is a Workstation? (coker.com.au)
I recently had someone describe a Mac Mini as a “workstation”, which I strongly disagree with.
Workstations, Computers, Hardware, Technology
16 points by LorenDB 202 days ago | 14 comments
Throbac: THrifty Roman numeral BAckwards-looking Computer (mitmuseum.mit.edu)
THrifty ROman numeral BAckwards-looking Computer: this calculator uses Roman numerals both externally and internally.
History, Computers, Design, Roman Numerals
23 points by rfarley04 203 days ago | 9 comments
New Mac Mini with M4 (apple.com)
Apple today unveiled the all-new Mac mini powered by the M4 and new M4 Pro chips, and redesigned around Apple silicon to pack an incredible amount of performance into an even smaller form of just 5 by 5 inches.
Hardware, Apple, Mac, New Releases, Computers
470 points by victorbjorklund 206 days ago | 770 comments