Altair 8800 Demonstration (Altair-duino Reproduction)

This video demonstrates some of the features and functionality of (arguably) the first personal computer, the machine that launched Microsoft, the MITS Altair 8800.
The original Altair 8800 was first launched on the front cover of the January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics. It featured an Intel 8080 CPU and was controlled entirely via the front panel switches. Later the machine could be interfaced with teletype machines, such as the ASR Type 33, or terminals, such as the ADM-3 or Digital Equipment Corporation's VT100, using optional serial interface I/O card.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altair_...
Teletype: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teletyp...
Demo: • Altair 8800 - Video #7...
ADM-3: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADM-3A#...
DEC VT100: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VT100
The video uses the impressive reproduction system by Chris Davis (of Adwater & Stir), based on the work of David Hansel (and others). The reproduction offers a cycle accurate simulation using the powerful Arduino Due which uses a 32-bit ARM Cortex M3 allowing essentially the entire library of original Altair 8800 software to be run. The simulation code also support the Arduino Mega 2560, though with some convince features, less simulated RAM, and at significantly below real-time speed.
Altair-duino: adwaterandstir.com/altair/
Code: github.com/dhansel/Altair8800
Arduino Due: store.arduino.cc/products/ard...
Arduino Mega 2560: store.arduino.cc/products/ard...
The video includes several demonstrations:
1. Kill the Bit game, by Dean McDaniel.
This is a simple game where the player attempts to remove the flashing led by flipping the associated switches. The game is interesting as it cleverly uses the address LEDs to provide the animation despite the Altair lacking any programmable output in its default configuration. Here we simply load the game from the SD card, rather than loading it using the switches by hand as might be done on an original Altair. However, the first few bytes of the code are stepped through.
More Kill the Bit: • Altair 8800 - Video #...
Code: altairclone.com/downloads/kil...
2. Using the optional output register card from Microsoft BASIC
This demo shows a simple BASIC program which randomly illuminates a number of LEDs using the optional output card. The I/O card adds compatible output with the contemporary clone of the Altair, the IMSAI 8080, which had additional front-panel LEDs for that purpose.
Output register card: adwaterandstir.com/product/le...
IMSAI 8080 with programmed output: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMSAI_8...
3. Loading CP/M from a real floppy disk
This video demonstrates loading CP/M by Garry Kildall of Digital Research from a 3.5" floppy disk, using the optional floppy disk drive controller card.
CP/M: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CP/M
Garry Kildall: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Ki...
Digital Research: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital...
Floppy disk controller card: adwaterandstir.com/product/di...
4. Playing Daisy Bell using an AM radio
The original Altair, in its default configuration, has no audio output. However, shortly after the release of the Altair, Steve Dompier noticed that certain instruction sequences caused radio frequency interference and that these deduces could be used to allow the computer to generate music. This finding was demonstrated at the Homebrew Computer Club in April 1975 and full details were provided in the People's Computer Company (PCC) newsletter in May 1975.
Another demo: • Altair 8800 - Video #2...
More detail: www.digibarn.com/collections/...

[@terryevans1976]

I'm old enough to have seen a real one. :)

[@BilalHeuser1]

The really nice thing about the Altair-duino is your much less likely to put your back out when moving it!!