Author: Jim Brain

Glenside Club Meeting: Thursday July 10, 2025 @ 7:30PM Central

Posted on | by Jim Brain | Leave a Comment on Glenside Club Meeting: Thursday July 10, 2025 @ 7:30PM Central

Is it Retro-Brite time for your CoCo?

In the Midwest, at least, Summer comes with sunny days and what seems like copious amounts of humidity, neither of which is good for any computer, much less a ~40 year old CoCo. But, folks have sometimes taken their computer or MPI enclosure out in the Sun for a tan, sometimes plastered with some chemicals, sometimes now. Results vary, but some swear it lightens yellowed cases and brings back that new case look. I’d love to hear if anyone has tried it and gotten good results. I bought the chemicals years ago, but have never pulled the trigger.

But, even if retro-briting your CoCo is not on your Summer to do list, I still hope you’re enjoying the season and maybe getting in a bit of the hobby as well. On behalf of the club, we’re taking it easy over the Summer, though I do want to call out Grant Leighty, who should have our CoCoFEST 2026 dates locked in this week, and he negotiated some savings for next year’s show. Donations are coming in early, which will help with the 2026 show, so consider now if you have anything we can add to our No Minimum Bid Auction!

Please join us this Thursday. As is standard, We will open the call a bit early at 7PM for some discussion and to help anyone with “technical difficulties”.

To join the Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82797367585?pwd=OUxibkJaR2N1SUtSOU9EUUlYeXBJQT09

Meeting ID: 827 9736 7585
Passcode: GCCC

One tap mobile

+13126266799,,82797367585#,,,,*686821# (Chicago)

Meeting ID: 827 9736 7585
Passcode: 686821
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdIAqFZbZR

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/tZYqfu6rqDwvEtGPAHF62Rhv1v5lakjdaO9W/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGqqTItGdKStRGCRpwQB4r4KOnwpmZYj7d6rD7NJXYBUAvgZ_QXPrN0GtzR

For those unable to join us on Zoom or have prior commitments, we will livestream and have a replay available on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFk2dMxcjJcX2qbSqFHQMbA). Recently, Facebook has made it harder to stream to their platform, but I’ll keep trying to stream to our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/290791956162).

Shares

Glenside Club Meeting: Thursday June 12, 2025 @ 7:30PM Central

Posted on | by Jim Brain | Leave a Comment on Glenside Club Meeting: Thursday June 12, 2025 @ 7:30PM Central

The 33rd Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST! is a wrap

It’s been a few days since the show, and I think we’re all finally recovered. The show is awesome, but it’s a lot of work, so forgive us being quiet for a few weeks. We appreciate all who attended (physically or virtually), exhibited, presented, or volunteered. It takes the entire community to make a great fest, and each of you helped. Thanks especially to Grant Leighty, who tirelessly worked behind the scenes to ensure we all enjoyed ourselves and things ran smoothly. If you missed a presentation or just want to rewatch, they have all been recorded and are available on our YouTube channel in a playlist. Enjoy!

It’s almost Summer, so I expect folks are leaving their CoCo caves and enjoying some of the impressive weather and travel. Remember to turn off your CoCo when you’re not using it, to preserve it for the Fall and Winter ahead. If you happen to be not outside and disconnected, Grant and I would love to hear about what went well and what we can improve as we gather ideas for the 2026 fest. I’m especially in more thoughts on the Friday-Saturday date switch. We’ll also go over the fest financials and answer any event-related questions.

Please join us this Thursday. As is standard, We will open the call a bit early at 7PM for some discussion and to help anyone with “technical difficulties”.

To join the Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82797367585?pwd=OUxibkJaR2N1SUtSOU9EUUlYeXBJQT09

Meeting ID: 827 9736 7585
Passcode: GCCC

One tap mobile

+13126266799,,82797367585#,,,,*686821# (Chicago)

Meeting ID: 827 9736 7585
Passcode: 686821
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdIAqFZbZR

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/tZYqfu6rqDwvEtGPAHF62Rhv1v5lakjdaO9W/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGqqTItGdKStRGCRpwQB4r4KOnwpmZYj7d6rD7NJXYBUAvgZ_QXPrN0GtzR

For those unable to join us on Zoom or have prior commitments, we will livestream and have a replay available on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFk2dMxcjJcX2qbSqFHQMbA). Recently, Facebook has made it harder to stream to their platform, but I’ll keep trying to stream to our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/290791956162).

Shares

CoCoFEST! Eve

Posted on | by Jim Brain

‘Twas the night before CoCoFEST, when all through the hall
The prez had just closed the room with “last call!”;
The computers were arranged on the tables with care,
In hopes that there would be some power to spare;

The faithful’d arrived via drive, ride, or flight,
Enjoying the chatting far into the night;
The emcee had long ago left for some sleep,
To get up early for a show time to keep.

We’ve projects aplenty, for attendees to view,
And relevant talks from voices both old and new.
There’s vendors in spades, with something to sell,
I may’ve snapped up bargains, I’ll never tell.

If you can’t come Friday, don’t you dare start to fret,
We’ve a complete second day, so time you have yet.
With double the fun, and double the talk,
I dare you to find a reason to balk.

The auction’s the highlight of our second day,
Jason’s back to drive up prices, in his special way.
The meal has been catered, if you paid for your share,
Then back to the hall and music jam if you dare.

Now, CoCo! now, MC-10! now, Dragon! and Alice!
Choose your favorite, but don’t harbor malice.
All are good friends with a passion to show,
We hope you’ll leave here much more in the know.

So, come to the fest, in person or on line,
Your presence alone will make the show shine,
But, take all your stuff, pack it out as you dash,
We’d hate to render precious items into the trash.

Have a great time, with friends new and old,
Try something new, go big and go bold.
Learn something new, go from not knowing to clear
Do this again, at about this time next year!

Shares

10 TODAY = CoCoFEST – 3

Posted on | by Jim Brain

I’m writing this as I pack up for the show, and I assume others are as well, especially if they have long drives. It’s 2025, the 45th anniversary of the birth of the CoCo (unless you count the proto CoCo units), and all the snow has melted, so it’s time for the fest.

With our expanded Friday/Saturday schedule this year, I’m excited about our schedule and having more time to exhibit, visit with friends, and hopefully catch a few more presentations (I’m always running around and so have trouble catching them live.) Where you are attending physically or virtually, I hope you enjoy the new format. As always, though, these things are experiments, so let us know how you get on with the 2025 show.

It’s not every year that a piece of history shows up at the fest, but 2024 saw Brian Wieseler and L. Curtis Boyle show off a working rare Color Computer Deluxe. Seeing a boot screen that gives TI 99/4A boot vibes is a bit unnerving, but it’s interesting to think of what might have been:

Shares

Glenside Club Meeting: Thursday April 10, 2025 @ 7:30PM Central

Posted on | by Jim Brain | Leave a Comment on Glenside Club Meeting: Thursday April 10, 2025 @ 7:30PM Central

CoCoFEST! Final Planning

We’re within the 30 day mark now, and the main hall is completely sold out (Don’t worry, there are still some tables left in our overflow area as well as the hallway :-). I’m making a plea for someone to sign up for a table in the hallway to keep poor AJ from Forgotten Machines and his rolling exhibit table company, as we like AJ and don’t want him to be lonely!

This is our last virtual get together before we converge on the Carol Stream Holiday Inn, so bring any last minute questions or plans to our meeting. If you’re planning to attend in person, get registered at tandylist.com, so I know how you want your badge printed! And, if you’re an exhibitor or presenter, I hope you’re putting the finishing touches on your work. (nothing this comes from an avid procrastinator)

The show will double as our May meeting, as is customary, so we’ll be taking a break until our June meeting after the show. As I’ve said in past months, I hope to see you all at the show!

Please join us this Thursday. As is standard, We will open the call a bit early at 7PM for some discussion and to help anyone with “technical difficulties”.

To join the Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82797367585?pwd=OUxibkJaR2N1SUtSOU9EUUlYeXBJQT09

Meeting ID: 827 9736 7585
Passcode: GCCC

One tap mobile

+13126266799,,82797367585#,,,,*686821# (Chicago)

Meeting ID: 827 9736 7585
Passcode: 686821
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdIAqFZbZR

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/tZYqfu6rqDwvEtGPAHF62Rhv1v5lakjdaO9W/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGqqTItGdKStRGCRpwQB4r4KOnwpmZYj7d6rD7NJXYBUAvgZ_QXPrN0GtzR

For those unable to join us on Zoom or have prior commitments, we will livestream and have a replay available on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFk2dMxcjJcX2qbSqFHQMbA). Recently, Facebook has made it harder to stream to their platform, but I’ll keep trying to stream to our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/290791956162).

Shares

Calling All CoCo Connoisseurs, Again!

Posted on | by Jim Brain

Like clockwork, another year brings another “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST! Just one month from today (May 2 and 3, 2025), we’ll all be congregating at the grand ballroom of the Carol Stream, IL Holiday Inn to kickoff the 33rd annual pilgrimage to the Chicago area. Just as in 2024, exhibits will occupy multiple spaces in the hotel, including the actual hallway. Though probably not as scary as his other hobby of stormchasing, CoCoFEST coordinator Grant Leighty is trying to cram all of the presentations into the 2 full day Friday/Saturday speaker schedule, which will soon be available at https://www.glensideccc.com/cocofest/.

Did you catch that? Yes, for the first time in 2025, the show is moving from a full Saturday and a partial Sunday show to a full day Friday and full day Saturday show. Sunday will now be reserved for teardown and cleanup. We know many folks travel from far off places every year, and this should provide more travel flexibility. We’re always looking for ways to make the show more enjoyable for you, so let us know your thoughts on this change and how else we could improve the show.

Contrary to rumors, the “Last” in quotes in the event name does not mean we’ve decided forgo holding a future one. But, it does take funds to put on a successful event. I want to thank in advance our vendors and exhibitors, who have purchased tables, as well as all of those folks who bid on the “No Minimum Bid Auction” items. All of those proceeds are earmarked to pay for the event space.

If you’re considering joining us in Carol Stream, there’s no better time than now to take advantage of the room rate. Like last year, attendee admission is free, though we really appreciate pre-registration via www.tandylist.com. Also as in previous years, we are offering a catered evening meal at the hotel, and you can order tickets at that web site. Finally, please consider joining GCCC or renewing your membership during your pre-registration.

You still have time, but a month goes by quickly. If you’ve not yet made plans, now is the time. And, if you’re presenting or exhibiting, time is running out! We hope to see you May 2 and 3 for the 33rd Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST!

Shares