Ben Z

Color of the day: Mauveine, aka Aniline Purple. The color of ditto machine ink of old, among other things. Developed in 1856 by someone trying to cure malaria. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauveine

Tell me this original 70s Polaroid and its caption (!) is not "giving Halloween!" These great photos and many more in Go Computer Now!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzo...

Happy Halloween! Here are some sample design spreads from my forthcoming book on the Sphere computer, company, and community. Archival, newly-commissioned, and never-before-seen images of the early micro era. Please check it out so we can get it printed! Thanks. www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzo...

Been waiting for years for this one. Instant order!

What an incredible photo to have of a parent

the "Reopen Last Closed Tab" function in the modern browser is an incredible invention. thank you to whoever did this

Copy of Six Centuries of Type & Printing giftwrapped and regular: on top, giftwrapped copy in red paper with typographic artifacts printed in black; it rests askew on an unwrapped copy with its green cloth cover and the title and author stamped in foil slightly obscured.

I offer inscribed/signed and giftwrapped copies of my book Six Centuries of Type & Printing if you have a discriminating and hard-to-shop-for typophile or designer in your life! sixcent.info

I think this is going to be two of my classes tomorrow. Carrying on the Halloween theme. Besides, I know the guy who made this game.

Halt and Catch Fire! Or: How a Sphere computer goes out to lunch

A tech & history post about the origins of "Halt and Catch Fire" and the way in which this real, strange mode is visible on Sphere computers:
news.sphere.computer/archive/halt...

YouTube video by Ben Z Sphere computer book discussion: Go Computer Now!

I did a video q&a with my book editor about Sphere and why books are still an important way of capturing important stories @glennf.com youtu.be/uuTp1paEjH4?...

The only Free Press I know about is the one that published the big book of random numbers !

Having edited this book, I can state that Sphere’s absence from most previous accounts of the period requires a revision of them. Sphere was a key innovator despite its short lifetime. If we remember Ed Roberts and MITS, we should remember Mike Wise and Sphere.

YouTube video by Ben Z Sphere computer book discussion: Go Computer Now!

If you’re interested in personal computer history and wonder why you never heard of Sphere Computers, @bzotto.bsky.social and I talk about what made it unique and the importance of finding it a place in the timeline: youtu.be/uuTp1paEjH4?... www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzo...

They sent me a link-- assume you got one too? Was not expecting all the b-roll and unedited interview-- neat stuff. This era was so rarely captured on video.

Why not?!

Kickstarter Campaign for Ben Zotto’s ‘Go Computer Now!’, a Book on Sphere, the Nearly Forgotten Personal Computer Company Link to: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzotto/go-computer-now-the-story-of-sphere

A very appreciated mention from @daringfireball.bsky.social. If you haven't checked out the campaign, please do! If you have a friend who has not checked out the campaign, I bet they'd really appreciate it if you told them about it. ;-)
daringfireball.net/linked/2025/...

Figured you might have but surely the nice folks at WGBH will be extra motivated since two different people have suddenly appeared to ask about the clip

Amazing. I just sent them a request. Will report back on what I hear.

(My parents live in Weston!! I grew up on the North Shore.) Here's a photo I have of the guys from Waltham Computer Mart showing a Sphere-- might be a trade show pic given the banner. Not sure this will make the cut for the book, but there you go! Small world.

Thank you for the enthusiasm and the support, Harry. Stumbled on your work more than once during research! Where did you grow up/what was the dealer?

?!?!

Go Computer Now! – The Story of Sphere Computers by Ben Zotto — Kickstarter A book telling the extraordinary story of Sphere, a 1970s Utah personal computer maker far ahead of its time—until its sudden collapse.

This book NEEDS to exist, so of course I just backed it.

(I went to high school near a Sphere dealer, though I’m pretty sure it didn’t still sold Spheres by then.) www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzo...

It’s not a hoax!!! You will love this story!

😂😂

Go Computer Now! – The Story of Sphere Computers A book telling the extraordinary story of Sphere, a 1970s Utah personal computer maker far ahead of its time—until its sudden collapse.

Hello! I'm very proud to announce that my yearslong research project into the lost Sphere computer, corporation, and community has launched a crowdfunding campaign today for a professionally-printed hardcover book, with a compelling narrative and images! www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzo...

Thanks guys!

Santo is not even *just* a rare Sphere owner, he is also a generous community-minded fellow who kindly contributed information and photography to the book. Thank you!

Cover mockup of Go Computer Now! showing founder of Sphere, Mike Wise, posed next to the Sphere 1, a computer resembling a termainal. Title of book and author Ben Zotto's name appears.

GO COMPUTER NOW! appearing in white text on a black background with lots of jitter and extraneous pixels on a Sphere 1 computer display. Orange background to one side and portion of keyboard visible at bottom.

The GO COMPUTER NOW! campaign has launched! Help @bzotto.bsky.social make his book about the early personal computer company you never heard of, Sphere, become a reality. I edited the book and it is a *fascinating* story of what might have been. www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzo...

Go Computer Now! – The Story of Sphere Computers A book telling the extraordinary story of Sphere, a 1970s Utah personal computer maker far ahead of its time—until its sudden collapse.

Hello! I'm very proud to announce that my yearslong research project into the lost Sphere computer, corporation, and community has launched a crowdfunding campaign today for a professionally-printed hardcover book, with a compelling narrative and images! www.kickstarter.com/projects/bzo...