building an altair 8800

There's something truly enchanting about vintage computers - the clunky hardware, the blinking lights, and the simplicity of the early computing era. The Altair 8800, first introduced in the 1970s, holds a special place in computer history as one of the first widely available microcomputers. It laid the groundwork for the personal computer revolution and inspired countless technology enthusiasts, including myself.

The Altair 8800 Kit I'll be working with is an Arduino-based replica that faithfully recreates the look and feel of the original Altair 8800. It comes with all the necessary components - the front panel, switches, LEDs, and even a replica of the classic paper tape reader. It's designed to be an educational and enjoyable project, offering a hands-on experience to learn about the inner workings of early microcomputers.

My main goal with this project is to delve deep into the world of vintage computing and share my experiences, challenges, successes, and insights with fellow enthusiasts. I hope to not only build an operational Altair 8800 but also explore the programming aspect and experiment with different software, ideally replicating some iconic programs from that era.

Throughout this project, I plan to document each step of the process, providing detailed explanations, photographs, and even videos to give you an immersive and helpful narrative as we progress through the assembly and exploration of the Altair 8800 Kit.

So, join me on this exciting journey as we step back in time and rediscover the magic of vintage computers through the Altair 8800 Kit!