Readit NewsAny link or details for the event?
I tried looking for SJSU events and found the earlier Vintage Computing Fair talks, but at least I can trade this time capsule link from that era even if it doesn't quote me toon the Byte Shop specifically: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1977/04/04/bytes-and-chip...
I know it's been days but since you asked he made a link:
robterrell commented on An Interview with Unity CEO Matthew Bromberg About Turnarounds stratechery.com/2025/an-i... · Posted by u/feross
Is it me or is this interview incredibly boring? Lots of words that say very little.
Also: Zynga (and its clones, like Vostu) used to be the cancer of gaming, rightly reviled by people like Jonathan Blow and Ian Bogost. From a predatory business angle maybe it was interesting to discuss, much like one would discuss the life of Jordan Belfort. Is Zynga still alive? That's one company that didn't deserve resuscitation.
Zynga was acquired by Take2 in 2022 and is very much alive today.
IMHO the "predatory business" period of Zynga (e.g. the Tiny Tower vs Dream Heights) was prior to the arrival of team who executed the turnaround discussed in the interview.
Pelican riding a bicycle: https://pasteboard.co/CjJ7Xxftljzp.png
At this point I'm surprised they haven't been training on thousands of professionally-created SVGs of pelicans on bicycles.
Are you related to Paul? I noticed the last name. :)
Yep! Paul is my uncle. My parents had a franchise Byte Shop in Greensboro, NC when I was a kid.
Lee will be speaking next month in San Jose at an event for the 50th anniversary of the Byte Shop computer store. Incredible opportunity to hear from the man himself. For computer designers of the 8-bit era, I’d say he ranks next to Woz in terms of importance: the Sol-80, Osborne, Homebrew Computer Club, member of the Berkeley free speech movement. Curious to hear his thoughts on the industry today.
Could we maybe change the title to something like "Lee Felsenstein is still alive"? I was worried when I saw the title.
Please, this was my first thought too.
robterrell commented on Hosting a website on a disposable vape bogdanthegeek.github.io/b... · Posted by u/BogdanTheGeek
Makes me think of these:
holy crap, what a rabbit hole you sent me down.
When founders put 996 in their job descriptions or Tweet about their 996 culture it’s a helpful signal to avoid that company.
The only time I’d actually consider crazy schedules was if I was the founder with a huge equity stake and a once in a lifetime opportunity that would benefit from a short period of 996.
For average employees? Absolutely not. If someone wants extraordinary hours they need to be providing extraordinary compensation. Pay me a couple million per year and I’ll do it for a while (though not appropriate for everyone). Pay me the same as the other job opportunities? Absolutely no way I’m going to 996.
In my experience, the 996 teams aren’t actually cranking out more work. They’re just working odd hours, doing a little work on the weekends to say they worked the weekend, and they spend a lot of time relaxing at the office because they’re always there.
If you're smart enough to get hired for one of these roles, and you're willing to work 996, be just a little bit smarter and found your own startup and take all the upside.
Paul Terrell's Byte Shop was a nondescript El Camino Real storefront filled with early 8-bit computers, racks of electronics components, soldering irons and supplies, and some of the strangest and most wonderful people. This was a hangout for members of the Homebrew Computer Club. I know Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Lee Felsenstein, Chris Espinosa, and Andy Hertfeld were regulars. In the photo linked at the URL above, that's infamous phone phreaker John Draper (Captain Crunch) sitting in the window. There’s probably many others from here on HN.
This Sunday we’re throwing a party to celebrate the occasion, at the DoubleTree Hotel at the San Jose Airport, from 12–6. The afternoon will include:
* Meet-and-Greet Reception featuring demonstrations and displays of early personal computers by their original designers, plus autographed copies of period advertising.
* Books, products, and memorabilia, including computer books and hardware available for purchase.
* Silent auction of collector memorabilia signed by the designers, running throughout the afternoon.
* Stage presentation and Q&A, narrated by Lee Felsenstein of Homebrew Computer Club fame, with participation from the "Apple-1 Garage Gang” and other dignitaries, both in person and virtually.
* Tribute honoring the pioneers who helped shape the birth of personal computing and are no longer with us.