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8Bitdo’s SNES30 Retro Game Controller – Better Than The Original

8Bitdo’s SNES30 Game Controller with box. Building on Project Arcade v2, I wanted to add a couple of wireless, authentic-feeling, controllers for use with classic game console emulation, like Atari 2600, NES, Genesis, SNES, etc.  After a bit of research, I decided to try out the SNES30 bluetooth game controller from 8Bitdo((Amazon Referral Link)), and I’m very glad that I did.  Connecting via…

Project: Home Arcade v2 – A Living Room RetroPie System for Classic MAME & Retro Gaming

MAME – Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator A few years ago, I wrote two articles about my experiences setting up a small, quiet, PC in my living room for retro gaming.  The goal was to buy and outfit a system to play classic MAME and console games, at a cost that was no more than a current-generation video game console.  The project was a major success, and my friends and I have had a blast playing…

#Amiga Guru Meditation Error animated GIF

The famous Amiga Guru Meditation Error screen, in animated GIF form. I finally got around to whipping up a full screen rendition of the Amiga Workbench “Guru Meditation Error” screen as an animated GIF. For those not familiar with ‘the Guru’, the original Amiga concept was for a video game console which could be turned into a computer.  Early in the development of the system, the engineering team…

Cloanto’s Amiga Forever 7 (2017 Edition) – Still The Best

Workbench 3.x running on Cloanto’s Amiga Forever 7. 2017 marks the twentieth anniversary of Cloanto’s Amiga Forever series. Over that time, Cloanto has continued to, release after release, create the finest Amiga emulation package for Windows. Amiga Forever 7 certainly continues that tradition. Amiga Forever 7 Install Screen Visually, little has changed with Amiga Forever, and most of this…

An Afternoon With The Terracotta Warriors

The Terracotta Warriors logo – Pacific Science Center, Seattle 2017. Yang Zhifa looked out across his fields and saw yet another dust storm in the distance. As he scanning along the horizon and bone-dry earth stretched on for miles. The location is China, and the year is 1974.  For more than a year the situation had only gotten worse, and the area faced a full-blown drought.  The previous…

Gamechangers – Mean 18 Ultimate Golf

The mini-LP box for Mean 18 Ultimate Golf by Microsmiths, published by Accolade, 1986. At the height of the early 1980’s U.S. video game market, everyone wanted to get a piece-of-the-action. Parker Brothers, famous for their board games, were alarmed as kids turned from their products, in favor of video games.  Rather than stand, Parker Brothers decided they were going to make a huge debut in the…

Chateau de Breze – The Castle And It’s Underground Empire

Approaching the Chateau de Breze. Throughout France’s Loire Valley you will find many of the countries most famous Chateaux.  The majestic Chateau de Cheverny, with it’s opulent interior and bevy of dog.  Chateau de Villandry and it’s gardens are world-renowned.  The beautiful, river Cher-crossing, Chateau de Chenonceau, and the tragic love story associated with it.  And the massive, and still…

Remington Rand’s Streamliner Typewriter (1941-42)

The Streamliner typewriter from Remington Rand, circa 1941. In the mid 1930’s, Remington Rand, one of the largest manufacturers of typewriters, introduced their Model 5 Typewriter.  The Model 5 was a portable typewriter, with a beautiful art deco inspired design, which was also reasonably inexpensive for the time – retailing for $54.95. In spite of the raging Great Depression, the Model 5 was a…

“Art Of Atari” Review

Hardcover copy of “Art Of Atari”, by Tim Lapetino. “Art Of Atari“((Amazon Referral Link)) by Tim Lapetino is wonderful, and should be considered the definitive visual-history of, not just the artwork used on game cartridge boxes, but of Atari and its video game products (home and coin-op) as well.  Lapetino has put together something special, which captures the spirt of the classic design and art…

“The Future Was Here: Commodore Amiga” Review

Hardcover copy of “The Future Was Here: Commodore Amiga”, by Jimmy Maher. Published in 2012 under the Platform Studies series by MIT Press, Jimmy Maher’s “The Future Was Here – Commodore Amiga“((Amazon Referral Link)) is, without a doubt, the single most comprehensive study of the Amiga yet published.  The book is throughly researched, evidenced by its copious footnotes and bibliography.  That…

The Computer Magazine Archive

The cover of the first edition of “Amiga World” magazine, circa fall 1985. The Internet Archive continues to prove that it is one of the most valuable information resources on the planet. As of the time of this post, just over 18,000 editions of classic computer magazines have been scanned and added to their library.  The cache includes some real gems for the retro-computer enthusiast, featuring:…

Bowers and Wilkins P5 Wireless Headphones – A Bluetooth meets Audiophile Harmonic Convergence

Bowers & Wilkins P5 On-Ear Headphones, with box. With my recent upgrade to the iPhone 7, I was faced with ‘the headphone-question’. My initial idea was to simply use my trusty AKG K545’s with the Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter provided by Apple. It only took several rounds of use at work, and a round-trip flight, to reconsider. The problem is the adapter. It’s short, thin, and pretty cheap for an…

Rowenta Turbo Silence Fan – Hearing Is Believing

Rowenta’s Turbo Silence Tabletop Fan. This summer was a hot one in the Pacific Northwest where I live.  To keep comfortable, I started to research various fans, looking for something quiet and powerful, which would last me a good long time.  Eventually, I decided on the Rowenta Turbo Silence Oscillating Tabletop Fan.  And, after spending the last couple of months using it, I’m very glad that I…

Quick Thoughts On The iPhone 7

The box for the new iPhone 7. I have been using my new iPhone 7 for around 24 hours now, and here are my quick initial reactions/thoughts. Pros: It’s heavier. Coming from an iPhone 6, the 7 is about 1/3 of an ounce heavier, and that extra weight is noticeable to me. Personally, I like the weight, it gives the phone a sense that it’s sturdy and substantial – and has more battery. The standard…

Sonos Play:5 (2015) – The Audiophile Streaming Speaker

The box for Sonos’ newest Play:5 speaker. I’ve been a fan of Apple’s AirPlay functionality since it debuted in 2010. In fact, AirPlay has been the central feature of audio-solutions throughout my home ever since. In my study/computer room, I’ve had my trusty Onkyo TX-NR414 running a pair of Polk Audio T15‘s, an outstanding set of bookshelf speakers. The living room is home to my Pioneer Elite…

Cloanto’s Amiga Forever 2016 Player UI and emulator windows. You know I love me some Amiga. So, it should be no surprised that, since 1999’s version 3, I’ve been a customer and fan of Cloanto’s Amiga Forever((Cloanto did provide me with copies of the 2016 editions of Amiga Forever and C64 Forever to test. However, Geekometry, nor I, are members of their affiliate program.)). It’s the simplest,…