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c/retrocomputing · by bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works · 345d

Is there some sort of "underground" net for old computing?

I've been wanting to get back into old computing again (back when it was exciting, for me).

I was wondering - is there any sort of network where us nerds can connect (all I can think of is gopher, and maybe the archive, that work on old pc's).

I'd imagine I'd have to set something up in my network to only allow certain sites through to that PC so I don't get hacked (if running win98 on actual hardware etc).

Yes I know, I can use a VM. But I enjoy original hardware too.

65 points · 17 comments · view on lemmy.world

17 Comments

wetdog@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 23 pts · 345d (3 replies)

Checkout sdf.org there’s some good aspects of that sorta community there, they even sort of support dial up (I couldn’t find a working number though and it wasn’t worth paying the crazy prices for a proper landline)

There’s also some kinda clunky projects like wrp and txtdot that can enable old browsers (plus FrogFind) but yeah, you’ll need to be careful about your network/firewall setup.

PhilipTheBucket@quokk.au · 7 pts · 345d

I was going to say SDF as well.

Want to log into a TOPS-20 system or a PDP-11? Well, you can. Poke around, make some C programs. I haven't mucked around with anything all that much but they have a 100% real deal old school nerd society going there.

martinb@lemmy.sdf.org · 4 pts · 344d

They also are part of/ have gopher network. Gopher is still a thing if you want to use it

CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org · 1 pts · 345d

Who's ever heard of that, though? /s

BCsven@lemmy.ca · 16 pts · 345d

You could check with Jill Bryant, she has 100s of old (still being used) hardware boxes, so she'd probably know good communities to join.

https://tuxdigital.com/people/jill-bryant/

Also if you like retro computing, give HaikuOS a try, its a modern version of BeOS from the 90s?

wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 11 pts · 345d (1 reply)

Beyond what has already been mentioned, there's the gopher protocol for entirely text based sites.

HorikBrun@kbin.earth · 13 pts · 345d

Or its newer, hipper cousin, gemini (no, not that gemini)

https://geminiprotocol.net/

Petter1@discuss.tchncs.de · 11 pts · 345d

Like this?:

https://theoldnet.com/

https://webring.theoldnet.com/

https://baccyflap.com/rsp/

ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net · 10 pts · 345d

There's still BBS's around, and I think the Amiga has a network that old amigas can connect to to share software and such.

Kolanaki@pawb.social · 9 pts · 345d

Usenet and IRC still exist. There's probably servers/groups for this kinda thing on the actual old tech. I know there's at least 1 group of popular youtubers that definitely do things using original hardware. LGR is one of 'em.

tapdattl@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 345d

http://textfiles.com/ for a lot of old BBS stuff

beejjorgensen@lemmy.sdf.org · 7 pts · 345d

Usenet is having a small revival now that Google got out. The spam is gone.

lessthanluigi@lemmy.sdf.org · 6 pts · 345d (2 replies)

I use protoweb.org on my Win98 machine all the time. It has access to the Internet Archive, as well as restored sites, and even an old YouTube clone that can play videos on 98 machines. It has a proxy that you can setup. It is fun playing RuneScape Classic on there as well. Also HomestarRunner

bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 344d (1 reply)

This sounds great!

lessthanluigi@lemmy.sdf.org · 1 pts · 344d

Glad you like it! Seems like the perfect solution to your problem. Really gives new life to an old 95/98 machine again, even if it has a bunch of programs on it already

randomcruft@lemmy.sdf.org · 5 pts · 345d
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SanguineBrah@lemmy.sdf.org · 4 pts · 345d

Plenty of BBSs around: https://www.telnetbbsguide.com/

Or for an old school web experience there is neocities: https://neocities.org/

pmjv@lemmy.sdf.org · 3 pts · 344d

http://bb.deadnet.se/