Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

A podcast about home computers of the late 70's through the 80's. NEW SPONSORSHIPS! 8-Bit Classics is a great place to get video cables, power supplies and more for a wide variety of vintage computer platforms. Arcade Shopper has a wide variety of hard-to-find items for a large number of platforms.

  1. All Episodes
  2. Floppy Days 131 - Grundy NewBrain History with John Grant

Floppy Days 131 - Grundy NewBrain History with John Grant

Oct 26, 2023

The Grundy NewBrain History with John Grant

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/FloppyDays

Sponsors:

Hello, and welcome to episode 131 of the Floppy Days Podcast; where old computers get a new lease on life and have a purpose once again!  I’m Randy Kindig, your host on this journey to the late 70’s through the 80’s.

We are currently covering computers that were released in the year 1982; a banner year for personal computers.

Next up is a computer that few in the United States know much about.  It was released in the UK and even there didn’t get much traction.  It was a unique beast, with its own personality and quirks; before it went quietly into the annals of history.  The machine I’m talking about is the Grundy NewBrain.  Certainly a bold and pretentious name for a computer, but memorable nonetheless.

As it was so relatively unknown, I’m going to be spending a lot of air time talking about its history.  Here’s how I’m planning to cover this unique machine:

  1. in this episode I’ll be summarizing its history, including a short interview with John Grant of Nine Tiles, whose company did some work on the machine

  2. a later episode will have an interview with Steve O’Hara Smith, who was involved with development of the machine

  3. yet another episode will have an interview with Gerald McMullon, also having done some work on the early NewBrain, as well as support after its release

  4. Finally, there will be 1 or more episodes to cover the usual topics of tech specs, Web sites, emulators, etc.  I will have a special guest co-host for that.

So, as you can see, there’s a ton of upcoming information about the NewBrain.  Please join me in learning more about this unusual machine.

Before we get into the history of the machine, I’ll let you know what I’ve been up to and have been able to acquire lately, computer and modern upgrade-wise.

New Acquisitions

Vintage Computer Shows

References