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Video: Weird Processors (Patreon)

Published:
2023-10-21 19:45:17
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Content

Workshopping the name etc on this one. I've been having a really rough time the last few weeks with health issues and other stuff, hopefully things will get better soon, but I decided I couldn't put everything on hold indefinitely so I went ahead and wrote and shot this video entirely while dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety, so... if it has a weird energy, that's why.

This is one of those videos where I'm not super satisfied with the result, but not sure I could actually have done anything that would make me happier. My biggest concern is that, you know, I start out by saying "word processors suck and they're boring so I'm not gonna talk about them in detail", and then when I later go "so this thing is just like any other word processor" people are going to think "okay but you never really showed us what those are like, so I don't know what that means."

The problem is that in order to fix this I would have had to spend another 30 minutes demonstrating everything about word processors, and that in turn would have lost an even bigger chunk of potential audience, so... I decided to go with being snarky and glossing over it, and I hope that was the right call.

In general I also feel like it's kind of disjointed, like I pop from topic to topic, and then the splitting-up of the two PC software demos is odd... but again, I just don't know how else I could have done it, and sometimes it's more important that I get a  video done about something than hold out for the perfect video, so. The can is kicked, hope it's a good shot.

Files

Weird Processors RC2

Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cathoderaydude Tip me: https://ko-fi.com/cathoderaydude

Comments

Akshay Anand

Since this is kind of internal right now maybe you can add like a post production blurb about what features word processors had instead of a 30 min digression in the full release?

Giulio Zausa

So happy to see a new CRD video coming out! Really hope your health and everything is going better now.

DOSGamerMan

Stiffy disks stuck in South-Africa. 26 years after leaving south-africa, I still have to catch myself calling them "stiffies"

Stormcrash

Rather than just explaining word processors you could give a brief look at how business automation in general used to be. Which if you expand the series could give a name like "Office Automatons" or something For me its still wild to think how many dedicated business devices were replaced by computers, back when typesetting was difficult. IBM was called International Business Machines for a reason because of all these dedicated machines. These word processors are fascinating for what they represent rather than purely features, the bridge from desk sized automation systems to desktop appliance, a more powerful typewriter, before both would get wiped out by the PC/Mac Similar to how smartphones killed the gadget the PC/mircrocomputer killed "office/productivity machines"

Retro Rabbit Hole

I think you made the right call! Loved the video

Cyber

I just started watching, and I had a thougt, should you say a few words and show some old machanical typewriters for viewers who don't know what it is?

Malkovich Malkovich Minute Minute

On reflection, I think the video stands on its own merit amd doesn't need any additions. I see the issues you're concerned about but I feel that the meandering structure reflects your journey with these machines. Plus, once we get to the Olivetti 20 mins in, the video has 1 machine to focus on and eventhough there is still a bit of jumping around from topic to topic, we are now anchored by the Olivetti. I learned loads and was entertained. Don't over-think it! Also wishing you a speedy recovery. Take care.

Grey Panther

Sending best wishes! And thank you for the video!

Mark Elliott

A stunning video, easily kept me entertained for 70mins. The link between Rogue and Olivetti at the end was amazing.

Elsie Hupp

I know it’s kind of a different bird, but what about the AlphaSmart? My brother used an AlphaSmart 3000 and the weird PalmOS one in high school and middle school, and he eventually got me an AlphaSmart Neo that I have literally never used. AFAIK he still has both of his. Anyway one might think of the AlphaSmart as a word processor minus the built-in printer, though incidentally you can plug them into most printers using USB and print directly with them. The selling point with the AlphaSmart was that it was an actually decent distraction-free typing experience, most popularly in classroom environments, particularly test proctors. AlphaSmart eventually got out of the hardware-manufacturing business, but nowadays there are a handful of prominent iterations of the same concept that have generally made their way through Kickstarter, such as the Hemingwrite or Freewrite. I know there were versions of the AlphaSmart before the AlphaSmart 3000 that looked like and interfaced with beige-box Macs rather than the origin iMac, so there is probably some sort of lineage connecting them directly to word processors like the one in this video. If you were interested, I could probably get my brother to at least lend you his PalmOS AlphaSmart—since it’s by far the most interesting one they made—and we could probably lend you the other two models we have, for the full comparison. (We don’t have the earlier beige-box model, though.)

iamdarkyoshi

Hey CRD, sorry I didn't get around to mentioning this earlier, but the main issue you had trouble with the signal on a composite monitor is that it's a not a 15khz horizontal sync, it's likely 31khz or higher. This is why you sometimes saw two copies of the image per line, it was trying to sync to every other hsync pulse. As for something to use it on, try any of your trinitron VGA monitors. Every one I've owned secretly supports sync on green, and several non trinitron VGA monitors I have will too. What you've got coming from that machine is essentially "composite monochrome VGA" so if you had a sync stripper to seperate horizontal, vertical, and video, you'd have a completely standard monochrome VGA signal. They likely combined them to reduce wire count. Seperating sync from video isn't hard to do

Vinpupx

Woah, a neat word processor that basically a Printer/PC AiO. Also, wow, your WPM is fantastically fast. What made you learn how to type with such speed?

Tenshi's half-eaten corndog

This video coming out right after discovering one of these in my grandmas attic is wonderful. know i get to know how cool this thing is!

Erik Granlund

I know this isn’t helpful ‘critical’ feedback, but I honestly found the entire video fascinating and watched it to the end. That’s part of the reason I subscribed on Patreon :)

ashastral

not to dissuade your internal compass for quality, but I didn't find this any less engaging than your usual fare! you get right into the meat of demoing weird (by modern standards) little machines and I absolutely don't mind waiting a bit to see the star of the show.

Shane Baker

[homestar runner reference appreciation comment]

Sam Jordan

It’s funny how as a creator you worry about the things the your audience doesn’t even notice. This was exactly what I want from a CRD video, probably all the better for just getting it done and not sweating the small stuff to much. Cheers.