š„ļø Museum for Computing Technology History
from 100 B.C to Now | š Available for tours + field trips | Click š for hours + info | š Hunt Valley, MD
In Part 3 of our series, we uncover the high-stakes gamble that solidified Microsoftās dominance. When IBM needed an operating system, the industry standard was CP/M, retailing for a steep $400. But Bill Gates had a groundbreaking alternative in mind. ā ā
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By acquiring a startup and their "Quick and Dirty Operating System" (86-DOSā¢), Microsoft was able to offer a solution for just $40. This pioneering move wasn't just about priceāit was about a remarkable strategy of volume and ubiquity that would soon put Microsoft software on nearly every desk in the world. ā ā
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Listen to Bob Roswell, Museum Founder, as he tells the tale behind this innovation behind the deal of the century. ā ā
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šŗ Watch Part 3 now! Stay tuned for the final chapter of our 4-part journey through Microsoftās history.ā ā
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Experience it firsthand at the museum. Link in bio to plan your tour! šļøš» ā ā
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Visit our linkin.bio to schedule a visitā ā
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Computer Museum at System Sourceā
š„ļø Vintage Computers, Games & Moreā
š 338 Clubhouse Rd, Hunt Valley, MD 21031ā
ā¤ļø 501(c)3 non-profitā
š Tours & Field trips by appointment onlyā
āļø (410) 771-5544ā
š /ā ā
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#ComputerMuseumatSystemSource #MarylandTechnologyMuseum #ComputerHistory #MicrosoftHistory #86DOS #MSDOS #TechNarrative #Innovation #HuntValleyMD #VintageComputers
What was the first computer you ever used? For some of us, it was the click-clack of a Slide Rule or the first hum of an IBM PC. For others, it was the glowing green screen of an Apple IIe in the school library or the colorful "startup" sound of Windows 95. ā ā
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Whether you grew up in the era of pioneering mainframes or spent your weekends in the 90s waiting for a dial-up modem to connect, that history is alive at the System Source Computer Museum. ā ā
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Step back into the annals of innovation and reconnect with the remarkable machines that shaped your childhood. From the intricate logic of the 50s to the groundbreaking home computers of the 90s, weāve preserved the milestones of every generation. ā ā
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Experience it firsthand at our museum in Hunt Valley, MD. Relive the history you grew up with. šļøš» ā ā
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Visit our linkin.bio to schedule your visit.ā ā
ā
Computer Museum at System Sourceā
š„ļø Vintage Computers, Games & Moreā
š 338 Clubhouse Rd, Hunt Valley, MD 21031ā
ā¤ļø 501(c)3 non-profitā
š Tours & Field trips by appointment onlyā
āļø (410) 771-5544ā
š /ā ā
ā
#ComputerHistory #VintageComputers #HuntValleyMD #MarylandMuseums #Nostalgia #90sTech #80sTech #RetroGaming #Windows95 #AppleII #TechHistory #computermuseumatsystemsource
In Part 2 of our Microsoft series, we move from the hobbyist's garage to the corporate boardroom. While the Altair sparked the revolution, the real battle was for the software that would make these machines universal. ā ā
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As IBM prepared to enter the PC market, a legendary disconnect occurred. While competitors focused on selling high-priced hardware, Microsoft saw a pioneering path forward. They moved with remarkable speed, mastering a new business model: The License. By ensuring their software could run on IBM, Apple, and everyone else, they didn't just sell a productāthey built an empire.ā ā
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Witness history come alive as Bob Roswell explains the groundbreaking deal that changed the annals of innovation forever. ā ā
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šŗ Watch Part 2 now! Missed Part 1? Check out our previous post to see the 'Toy Computer' that started it all.ā
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The machine that started it all: the MITS Altair 8800.ā
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When this groundbreaking kit hit the scene in 1975, it was a revolution in a blue box. But while the hardware was a technological first, it was missing one vital component: a way to actually talk to it.ā
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Enter two high school friends, Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Armed with nothing but a dream and a paper tape, they set out to do the impossibleāfitting a complex programming language into a machine with almost no memory. The result was Microsoft BASIC, and the annals of innovation were changed forever.ā
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Our historic display features this very model, complete with the toggle switches and red LEDs that paved the way for the modern PC era.ā
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šŗ Want to hear the full story? Watch Part 1 of our Microsoft History series to see how these two young men turned a "toy" into a software empire.ā
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Experience it firsthand. Plan your visit to see the Altair and more milestones of computing history. Link in bio to schedule your tour! šļøš» ā ā
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Visit our linkin.bio to schedule a visitā ā
ā
Computer Museum at System Sourceā
š„ļø Vintage Computers, Games & Moreā
š 338 Clubhouse Rd, Hunt Valley, MD 21031ā
ā¤ļø 501(c)3 non-profitā
š Tours & Field trips by appointment onlyā
āļø (410) 771-5544ā
š /ā ā
ā
#ComputerMuseumatSystemSource #Altair8800 #MicrosoftHistory #BillGates #PaulAllen #VintageTech #Innovation #TechHistory #HuntValleyMD #MarylandMuseums #STEMeducation #RetroComputing
"They just didn't know they couldn't fit a real programming language in this basically toy computer." ā Bob Roswellā
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In Part 1 of our new series, we explore the pioneering days of two young men: Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Before the software giant existed, they were high school friends building traffic light systems and dreaming of the future.ā
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When the groundbreaking Altair 8800 hit the scene in 1975, the duo didn't let technical limitations stop them. Paul Allen wrote an emulator, Bill Gates sat down to code, and the rest is annals of innovation history.ā
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Witness history come alive as Bob Roswell shares this remarkable tale of the first PC software revolution. ā
ā šŗ Watch Part 1 now! Stay tuned for the rest of our 4-part journey through Microsoftās history.ā
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Experience it firsthand at the museum. Link in bio to plan your tour! šļøš» ā
ā
Visit our linkin.bio or our website (below) to schedule a visitā
ā
Computer Museum at System Sourceā
š„ļø Vintage Computers, Games & Moreā
š 338 Clubhouse Rd, Hunt Valley, MD 21031ā
ā¤ļø 501(c)3 non profitā
š Tours & Field trips by appointment onlyā
āļø (410) 771-5544ā
š /ā
ā
#ComputerMuseumatSystemSource #MarylandTechnologyMuseum #ComputerHistory #MicrosoftHistory #Altair8800 #BillGates #PaulAllen #VintageComputers #TechNarrative #Innovation #HuntValleyMD
Meet the Apple III! š This ambitious machine was supposed to be the next big thing after the Apple II, but it had some serious stability issues. Oops! ā
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Launched in 1980, it was built for business but plagued by stability issues. It was so prone to overheating that itās now a legendary example of what happens when design goals clash with engineering reality.ā
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š Come see this piece of Apple history and learn from its (expensive) mistakes. #apple #computerhistory #techfail #vintagecomputingā
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Visit our linkin.bio to schedule a visitā
ā
Computer Museum at System Sourceā
š„ļø Vintage Computers, Games & Moreā
š 338 Clubhouse Rd, Hunt Valley, MD 21031ā
š Tours by appointment onlyā
āļø (410) 771-5544ā
ā¤ļø 501(c)3 non profitā
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#computermuseumatsystemsource #systemsource #marylandtechnologymuseum #systemsourcecomputermuseum ā
#vintagecomputer #vintagecomputers #apple1 #vintagecomputergame #retrotech #retroelectronics #stevejobs #mac #macintosh #macintoshsetups #stevewozniak #vintageapple #baltimorecounty #marylandmuseum #thingstodomaryland #thingstododmv #baltimore #maryland #huntvalley #historyoftechnology #historyofcomputers #STEMā
A Byte of History: The Original Apple ][ā
Meet the original Apple ][, a true pioneer launched in 1977! Designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, this 8-bit home computer was one of the very first successful models made for everyone.ā
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It cost $1,298 for 4 KB of memory, or up to $2,638 for 48 KB. Early versions used a 1 MHz processor and loaded programs using audio cassettes. A unique feature was its Integer BASIC language: if you typed "5/2," the computer would simply give you "2" (no decimals!). Its famous rainbow-striped Apple logo showed off its color graphics and became a corporate symbol for decades.ā
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This particular Apple ][ is extra special. Steve Wozniak himself signed it during his trip to Baltimore in January 2014.ā
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#AppleII #VisiCalcā
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Visit our linkin.bio to schedule a visitā
ā
Computer Museum at System Sourceā
š„ļø Vintage Computers, Games & Moreā
š 338 Clubhouse Rd, Hunt Valley, MD 21031ā
š Tours by appointment onlyā
āļø (410) 771-5544ā
ā¤ļø 501(c)3 non profit
Meet the Apple eMate 300! š Released in 1997, this quirky device was Appleās attempt to bring the "mobile future" to classrooms.ā
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While it looks like a futuristic tablet or a giant phone in photos, itās actually a rugged mini-laptop measuring 12.0" x 11.4". At 4 pounds, it was designed to be tossed in a backpack and survive the "rigors of a playground." Running on the Newton OS, it featured a touchscreen with a stylus and a keyboard that was 85% full-size!ā
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Some say its translucent aquamarine case inspired the iconic look of the first iBooks.ā
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Come see this evolutionary "missing link" in person! š±ļøāØā
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Visit our linkin.bio to schedule a visitā
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Computer Museum at System Sourceā
š„ļø Vintage Computers, Games & Moreā
š 338 Clubhouse Rd, Hunt Valley, MD 21031ā
š Tours by appointment onlyā
āļø (410) 771-5544ā
ā¤ļø 501(c)3 non profitā
āā
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#computermuseumatsystemsource #systemsource #marylandtechnologymuseum #systemsourcecomputermuseum ā
#stevejobs #mac #macintosh #apple1 #macintoshsetups #stevewozniak ā
#vintagecomputer #vintagecomputers #vintagecomputergame #retrotech #retroelectronics #vintageapple #macintoshcolorclassic #macintoshse #appletwo #appleiiplus #appleiicomputer #applerestoration #retroapple #applecomputer #applemac
Step Back in Timeā š¾š§®š„ļøā
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Join our guided tours at System Source for an unforgettable deep dive into the history of technology. From the era of massive mainframes to the personal computers that transformed the world, youāll witness the fascinating evolution of computing.ā
ā Our expert guides will share insights that bring the story of computing to life.ā
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Uncover the wonder of vintage computing ā book your tour today. š«ā
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Visit our linkin.bio to schedule a visitā
ā
Computer Museum at System Sourceā
š„ļø Vintage Computers, Games & Moreā
š 338 Clubhouse Rd, Hunt Valley, MD 21031ā
š Tours by appointment onlyā
āļø (410) 771-5544ā
ā¤ļø 501(c)3 non profitā
ā
#ComputerMuseumAtSystemSource #RetroElectronics #STEM #ClassicComputers #STEMFieldTrip #DigitalHeritageā
Visit our linkin.bio to schedule a visit\ā
The First "Home Office" was in Baltimore: Mary Allen Wilkes š š¦ā
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In 1965, the idea of "working from home" with a computer was unheard of. Computers were massive, room-sized machines kept in top-secret labs. But Mary Allen Wilkes, a Baltimore native, changed that in her parents' living room.ā
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Mary was a brilliant programmer helping to build the LINC, one of the world's first "small" computers. When her lab moved from Massachusetts to St. Louis, Mary didn't want to leave the East Coast. Instead of quitting, she made a deal to finish her work from home.ā
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A moving truck pulled up to her parents' house in Baltimore and unloaded the LINCāa machine about the size of a refrigerator. Mary set it up right next to the living room furniture, plugged it into a standard wall outlet, and got to work.ā
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While her neighbors were watching TV, Mary was sitting in her living room writing LAP6, the sophisticated operating system that told the LINC how to run. She was essentially the first person in history to have a private, personal computer in a home setting.ā
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She later joked that with all the blinking lights and humming noises coming from her window at night, her Baltimore neighbors probably thought she was building a secret weapon!ā
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Mary eventually left tech to become a successful trial lawyer, but her year in a Baltimore living room proved that computers didn't belong in giant labsāthey belonged in our homes.ā
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#SystemSourceMuseum #BaltimoreHistory #MaryAllenWilkes #LINC #HomeOffice #WomenInTech #ComputerHistory #MarylandPrideā
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Visit our linkin.bio to schedule a visitā
ā
Computer Museum at System Sourceā
š„ļø Vintage Computers, Games & Moreā
š 338 Clubhouse Rd, Hunt Valley, MD 21031ā
š Tours by appointment onlyā
āļø (410) 771-5544ā
ā¤ļø 501(c)3 non profit
![A Byte of History: The Original Apple ][ā Meet the original Apple ][, a true pioneer launched in 1977! Designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, this 8-bit home computer was one of the very first successful models made for everyone.ā ā It cost $1,298 for 4 KB of memory, or up to $2,638 for 48 KB. Early versions used a 1 MHz processor and loaded programs using audio cassettes. A unique feature was its Integer BASIC language: if you typed "5/2," the computer would simply give you "2" (no decimals!). Its famous rainbow-striped Apple logo showed off its color graphics and became a corporate symbol for decades.ā ā This particular Apple ][ is extra special. Steve Wozniak himself signed it during his trip to Baltimore in January 2014.ā ā #AppleII #VisiCalcā ā ā āā ā Visit our linkin.bio to schedule a visitā ā Computer Museum at System Sourceā ļø Vintage Computers, Games & Moreā 338 Clubhouse Rd, Hunt Valley, MD 21031ā Tours by appointment onlyā ļø (410) 771-5544ā ļø 501(c)3 non profit](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6739732941286716124543_0_f7b5e50872255ee578370e69f474d785.jpg?o=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&h=1a6244a9f196360c5bf3608cb0e92ca1)
