The Art Of Vintage Computing (At VCF So. Cal. 2026)

My twin brother Jeff could not make it down the VCF So Cal 2026 this year, so I made the video above to show him what it was all about. This is an edited version of the video script with more detail and credits.

(Hotel Ferra)

I wish my brother Jeff could have been here.
I’ve never gone to one of these things without him.
But my friend Pete and my son went along, so it was still cool.

VCF So Cal was at the Hotel Ferra in Orange again, and Parking $12. It’s a fine venue that has gotten better over the past 3 years, but it’s quite possible VCF has outgrown it!

There was a “free” table right as you walked in. The free Table had a lot of interesting stuff, going into the 90s and beyond now. I think next year I might bring a box of old crap to give

Away.

The one thing I need to warn you about is that Atari was in short supply this year. The Commodores are really starting to show their dominance as the mainstream goes vintage and retro.

(Commodore 128)

There were a few Atari’s running games, including the only running Ms. Pac-Man at the Vintnerd’s Ms. Pac-Man table. But like I said, Lots of Commodore computers.
Likes lots.

Like a whole booth dedicated to the 128, plus many C64s, some Vic-20s running games, and the Amiga 4000 video Toaster, just to name a very few.
Even Jason Moore, Mr. Atari ST had an Amiga running at his 68000 booth.

(The Hector)

But the best thing about VCF is the weird and uncommon stuff.
Like a display of The Hector, a machine with USA origins, but ended up in France. Rémi Arnaud was especially interested in talking The Hector a machine from France with origins in the USA

(Jerri Esllworth & Amy Herndon)

Jeri Elllsworth was there again too with Amy Herndon.
Remember last year when we were on “streamers” panel with Jeri?
She’s a legend.
Anyway, she had a whole table of TI computers plus her own funny pamphlets on technology.
There was even one about quitting eBay.
35 steps to freedom..

The best thing was, EVERYONE was easy to talk to and willing to talk.
I think it is easier to strike up a conversation there alone than when my twin brother is there with me. Weird eh?

Maybe together we are too imposing to converse with?

Next I saw a table dedicated to learning Commodore 64 BASIC. Not for me, but It’s cool that people might learn BASIC in 2026.

(C64 Basic)

There was also this fascinating display of Tarot card programs for various computers and video game systems presented by Mia Brandenburg

Also some cool really cool 8bit Atari projects at a booth named Atari 8-bits and ANSI art presented by Ken Ames – “ART” being the key word here Jeff, because I have to tell you, VCF is starting to feel more like an electronic art museum than a technology show now. I mean it’s still tech, but the art and beauty are starting to sneak-in too.

(Kan Ames Atari 8-bits)

And there was also another guy, Bucketofpilxels on instagram. He was really into the 2000’s iMacs. He was right, they are beautiful machines. Furthermore, The “Retro window” really is moving forward, isn’t it, now into 2006!

(Video Toaster)

Next to BuckofPixels was also a display of the glorious Amiga Video Toaster by Marc Rifkin. What I would have done to have one of these when we were making crappy indie movies in the late 1980’s with Atari ST titles made with CyberPaint, editing with a VCR and Super-8 Video Camera.

Next I also talked Bill Buzbee who built his own computer using TTL logic named the Magic-1

It could even play a version of Zork. If you are asking
“Who needs to have their own computer designed just to play to play Zork“
You are asking the wrong question.
It not “need” to “have” its:
“Need build”,
“Need to do”,
“Need to touch”,
“Need to feel”

(Magic-1)

I stopped tight then to look around the room. It was an almost Zen-like experience coming on Sunday morning. It was low volume, but high energy with the exhibitors almost too excited about showing their devices (but not too excited at all). The crowd was light, but all the exhibitors were fresh and ready to talk. Everyone was so exuberant and excited about what they were showing. The biggest change this year was that the exhibitor showcase booths were separated from consignment and vendors. It changed the focus of each area, and oit ,ade the experience better than in previous years.

Next I talked to Thomas Cherryhomes, who was flying the flag for FujiNet. My brother Jeff You interviewed him for the podcast a few years ago. We are planning na new series where we focus on things we have not done before. It will be named “Fill In The Blanks. Maybe this year we should do a multiplayer game FujiNet for one of our “Fill In The Blanks” episodes?

Next I saw Steve the Vintnerd. He’s been on a health kick and was almost unrecognizable. He looked great and was running around the place like a king, but a good, honorable king because he’s also a top dude.

The Vendors had their own small room, and it was interesting, but no Atari stuff to buy that I could find. Here’s a short tour of the room. Again, there was something very special about the vendors being separated from the exhibitors.

It meant you could lower your defenses in the big exhibitor room, as you knew no one was selling you anything.

Well not for money.

They wanted to buy your attention, your thoughts, your ear.

That was money I was willing to spend.

It made it easier to talk, and easier to listen.

What a brilliant move by the VCF team, Steve and Mickie.

(Maker Faire Orange County)

Maker Faire Orange County was there too, and they are trying to bring Maker Faire back in full force. I’d love to see them embrace homebrew hardware and software more.

There was another table of Macs, one playing Time Pilot, a homebrew I think. Time Pilot is like one of top 5 golden age arcade games. It was hard for me to not just sit-down and play it.

There were lots of Macs there, many more than previous years. It just goes to show that the aesthetics of this hobby are starting to matter,

Jason Moore had a table of 68000 based computers including a 1040STf he converted to HDMI output. I talked to him about why he was there:
The Atari 1040STf.
Was there ever a more beautiful computer case?
The Atari XL line is close, but the ST is a complete thing of beauty.
I love it more than all the Macs combined.

There was also a guy with the very first Nintendo game console (a pong unit). Pretty cool, and yes video game systems ARE computers.

The GameTank was also there. It’s a new 8-bit system that is open sourced, but also currently crowd funding. It has its own cartridges too. But look at it. It’s pure 80’s design. It’s physical in every way. You can even burn your roms to carts. I talked at length to the guy who made it. He made me want to support it even more now.

(The GRID)

There was an incredible collection of portable computers, especially one built like a tank called the GRID, which was also quite possibly the first portable computer ever made. The military used it in battle in the 1980s. Even though it was built for warfare, that doesn’t mean someone didn’t make a Pac-Man clone for it. Taking a thing of war and making it into a thing of play?

To me, that’s art right there. That’s juxtaposition. That’s what this is all about.

And there was still more stuff.

A Vector computer were the ones Mr. Scott had in our high school computer lab, of how Yamaha sound chip were used over years, and even more Apple machines playing games

But what about Atari?

(Atari on consignment)

Well, consignment was where the Atari’s were.There were lots of 1050’s, XEGS, 1200xls, etc. all on offer. A could help but gape at the beauty of the devices on display.
It was not hard to imagine the world where they came from

Where we came from.

A digital yet physical world, where a feeling of comfort, and calm comes from seeing these machines in action. Machines that were once merely functional, now feel like works of art in 2026 because they were transformative in their own time.

My son mentioned a very interesting conclusion he arrived at: that software is important because it is way to “experience” vintage computers and physicality of them

He’s right

And as the world gets more digital, the rejection of it is coming at an even faster clip.

That was Art of The Vintage Computer Festival 2026

-Steve Fulton

Music: Chromatic Light Distortion by Tony Longworth

Links:

VCF So Cal: https://www.vcfsocal.com/

VintNerd Ms. Pac Man: https://www.youtube.com/TheVintNerd

Commodore128: https://8bithe.art

Hector: Rémi Arnaud: https://sasfepu.com

Jeri Ellsworth

Atari 8bits And Ansi Art: