Dave F
@siliconundergro.bsky.social
He/him. INTJ. I blog 4-5 times a week about vintage and retro computers. Day job in information security, specifically vulnerability management. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. You can find my blog, The Silicon Underground, at https://dfarq.homeip.net
Sometimes when you find an old clone PC, a bunch of the parts are branded AOpen. That's because AOpen sold everything but CPUs and floppy drives. In this blog post we explore why that business model doesn't work that well anymore. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing dfarq.homeip.net/aopen-the-ki...
AOpen: The king of whitebox PCs
They were happy to sell you individual parts or a nearly complete PC
dfarq.homeip.net
November 13, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Sometimes when you find an old clone PC, a bunch of the parts are branded AOpen. That's because AOpen sold everything but CPUs and floppy drives. In this blog post we explore why that business model doesn't work that well anymore. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing dfarq.homeip.net/aopen-the-ki...
When I started my career, 3com was the biggest name in networking. But within a decade of the dotcom boom, they disappeared. Let's explore what happened to 3com. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing dfarq.homeip.net/what-happene...
What happened to 3Com?
A series of missteps left it vulnerable to Cisco and Intel
dfarq.homeip.net
November 12, 2025 at 2:42 PM
When I started my career, 3com was the biggest name in networking. But within a decade of the dotcom boom, they disappeared. Let's explore what happened to 3com. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing dfarq.homeip.net/what-happene...
It was 42 years ago this week that Microsoft first announced Windows. If that seems wrong, it's because Windows 1.0 arrived late, which is totally on-brand. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing dfarq.homeip.net/microsoft-wi...
Microsoft Windows first announced Nov 10, 1983
It arrived late and under delivered, in classic Microsoft fashion
dfarq.homeip.net
November 11, 2025 at 4:19 PM
It was 42 years ago this week that Microsoft first announced Windows. If that seems wrong, it's because Windows 1.0 arrived late, which is totally on-brand. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing dfarq.homeip.net/microsoft-wi...
25 years ago yesterday, Pets dot com, a pioneering Internet startup selling pet food, stopped taking orders. The idea was fine, but you have to have a plan to turn a profit. Without one, it came and went at dotcom speed. #dotcom #retrocomputing dfarq.homeip.net/why-pets-com...
Why Pets.com failed and became a dotcom joke
Its IPO was February 10, 2000, and it took its last order November 9, 2000.
dfarq.homeip.net
November 10, 2025 at 10:08 PM
25 years ago yesterday, Pets dot com, a pioneering Internet startup selling pet food, stopped taking orders. The idea was fine, but you have to have a plan to turn a profit. Without one, it came and went at dotcom speed. #dotcom #retrocomputing dfarq.homeip.net/why-pets-com...
When Hilary Clinton was putting together a health care plan, conservatives sponsored an alternative that looked very much like Obamacare. Obamacare is only too radical because conservatives managed to get the status quo and not compromise in 1993. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_...
Health Equity and Access Reform Today Act of 1993 - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 10, 2025 at 4:51 PM
When Hilary Clinton was putting together a health care plan, conservatives sponsored an alternative that looked very much like Obamacare. Obamacare is only too radical because conservatives managed to get the status quo and not compromise in 1993. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_...
Reposted by Dave F
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
Compaq announced its first computer 43 years ago this week. It was a portable, suitcase-sized clone of the IBM PC and the least expensive model cost $2,995. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing dfarq.homeip.net/first-compaq...
The first Compaq computer
It sold a modest 53,000 units in its first year but grew steadily over time
dfarq.homeip.net
November 5, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Compaq announced its first computer 43 years ago this week. It was a portable, suitcase-sized clone of the IBM PC and the least expensive model cost $2,995. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing dfarq.homeip.net/first-compaq...
29 years ago this week, the first sub-$1,000 PC with a built-in LCD display hit the market. And it was made in Missouri. The PC was called the Monorail. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing dfarq.homeip.net/monorail-the...
Monorail: Pioneering $999 PCs from 1996
There's only one winner in the race to the bottom
dfarq.homeip.net
November 4, 2025 at 11:18 PM
29 years ago this week, the first sub-$1,000 PC with a built-in LCD display hit the market. And it was made in Missouri. The PC was called the Monorail. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing dfarq.homeip.net/monorail-the...
If the warning signs from AI have got you down, why not take a trek down memory lane and check out one of the implosions of the dotcom era? It was 28 years ago today that etoys dot com was founded. #retrocomputing #dotcomera dfarq.homeip.net/etoys-com-an...
Etoys.com and its rapid rise and fall
The litigation around its demise took more than 13 years to settle
dfarq.homeip.net
November 4, 2025 at 12:26 AM
If the warning signs from AI have got you down, why not take a trek down memory lane and check out one of the implosions of the dotcom era? It was 28 years ago today that etoys dot com was founded. #retrocomputing #dotcomera dfarq.homeip.net/etoys-com-an...
Reposted by Dave F
This is from Autocracy, Inc, about how modern autocratic propaganda works.
I consider this every time I decide what to share and how to frame it.
I consider this every time I decide what to share and how to frame it.
November 2, 2025 at 12:04 PM
This is from Autocracy, Inc, about how modern autocratic propaganda works.
I consider this every time I decide what to share and how to frame it.
I consider this every time I decide what to share and how to frame it.
Found this on Reddit. No idea who took the photo of Bo Bichette's home run, but what a photo.
November 2, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Found this on Reddit. No idea who took the photo of Bo Bichette's home run, but what a photo.
Well that was poetic that after Wrobleski hit Gimenez and the benches cleared, Springer hit a line drive right off Wrobleski's leg. I know it's been stressful but this has been a really good World Series.
November 2, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Well that was poetic that after Wrobleski hit Gimenez and the benches cleared, Springer hit a line drive right off Wrobleski's leg. I know it's been stressful but this has been a really good World Series.
I'm looking for my old Bo Knows t-shirt. Bo Bichette's earned the right to use that phrase.
November 2, 2025 at 1:03 AM
I'm looking for my old Bo Knows t-shirt. Bo Bichette's earned the right to use that phrase.
Reposted by Dave F
Remember @bluejays.com
If you win he gets a new ball
If you lose, he gets NO ball
The stakes are HIGH.
If you win he gets a new ball
If you lose, he gets NO ball
The stakes are HIGH.
November 1, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Remember @bluejays.com
If you win he gets a new ball
If you lose, he gets NO ball
The stakes are HIGH.
If you win he gets a new ball
If you lose, he gets NO ball
The stakes are HIGH.
Dear Casey, I have a request and dedication. My Congresswoman's name is Ann Wagner and she doesn't do her job. There was a song in the 90s that had a line: "Today I took food from the hands of a starving child." Could you play that for her? Thank you. Signed, Dave. www.youtube.com/watch?v=csxB...
Inspiral Carpets - Two Worlds Collide
YouTube video by Inspiral Carpets
www.youtube.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Dear Casey, I have a request and dedication. My Congresswoman's name is Ann Wagner and she doesn't do her job. There was a song in the 90s that had a line: "Today I took food from the hands of a starving child." Could you play that for her? Thank you. Signed, Dave. www.youtube.com/watch?v=csxB...
Reposted by Dave F
Sad day for the folks who staked their reputations on lab leak conspiracy theories.
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...
October 31, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Sad day for the folks who staked their reputations on lab leak conspiracy theories.
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...
www.telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...
31 years ago today, Intel acknowledged the FDIV bug in its Pentium CPUs that caused them to divide incorrectly. It had known about the flaw for 6 months, and it ultimately cost the company $475 million. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing dfarq.homeip.net/the-pentium-...
Intel's Pentium FDIV bug and recall
Intel downplayed the flaw too much, which resulted in backlash from consumers
dfarq.homeip.net
October 30, 2025 at 11:02 PM
31 years ago today, Intel acknowledged the FDIV bug in its Pentium CPUs that caused them to divide incorrectly. It had known about the flaw for 6 months, and it ultimately cost the company $475 million. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing dfarq.homeip.net/the-pentium-...
Reposted by Dave F
42 years ago today, Texas Instruments gave up on the home computer market. The TI-99/4A sold 2.8 million units but a price war with Commodore rendered it unprofitable. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing dfarq.homeip.net/ti-99-4a-dis...
TI-99/4A discontinued October 28, 1983
It was a stunning defeat for a company with so many advantages
dfarq.homeip.net
October 28, 2025 at 9:08 PM
42 years ago today, Texas Instruments gave up on the home computer market. The TI-99/4A sold 2.8 million units but a price war with Commodore rendered it unprofitable. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing dfarq.homeip.net/ti-99-4a-dis...
October 27, 1982 is the date on the BIOS in the Revision B IBM PC model 5150. So that makes today a good day to look at the differences between revision A and revision B of the original IBM PC. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing dfarq.homeip.net/ibm-pc-5150-...
IBM PC 5150 Revision A vs Revision B
One of them is considerably more rare than the other
dfarq.homeip.net
October 27, 2025 at 10:40 PM
October 27, 1982 is the date on the BIOS in the Revision B IBM PC model 5150. So that makes today a good day to look at the differences between revision A and revision B of the original IBM PC. #retrocomputing #vintagecomputing dfarq.homeip.net/ibm-pc-5150-...
Reposted by Dave F
I think about this a lot.
October 25, 2025 at 11:12 AM
I think about this a lot.
Reposted by Dave F
This is not something I want to do, but as someone who was food insecure for a long time, here are some ways to get the most out of what you can get.
-if you have dietary restrictions or food aversions, spend some time thinking about what foods are safe. It sounds obvious, but—
-if you have dietary restrictions or food aversions, spend some time thinking about what foods are safe. It sounds obvious, but—
October 23, 2025 at 9:31 PM
This is not something I want to do, but as someone who was food insecure for a long time, here are some ways to get the most out of what you can get.
-if you have dietary restrictions or food aversions, spend some time thinking about what foods are safe. It sounds obvious, but—
-if you have dietary restrictions or food aversions, spend some time thinking about what foods are safe. It sounds obvious, but—
Wanna know something awesome? When I posted an easy way to block the White House and other US government accounts, several people re-posted my post, translating it into Spanish and Portuguese.
"The White House account has drawn only around 12,000 followers. More than 100,000 users have the account blocked."
NEW: Inside the Trump Administration's Bluesky Invasion
Spoke with some administration officials who said the move was about "reaching new audiences." It's amounted to trench warfare.
www.wired.com/story/inside...
Spoke with some administration officials who said the move was about "reaching new audiences." It's amounted to trench warfare.
www.wired.com/story/inside...
October 22, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Wanna know something awesome? When I posted an easy way to block the White House and other US government accounts, several people re-posted my post, translating it into Spanish and Portuguese.