From Dusty Shelves

Jeff Vavasour wrote a Java based emulator for one of the first computers I ever owned. His is for the Timex/Sinclair 1000. Basically a ZX81 with an additional 1K of memory onboard for a whopping 2K of RAM! ;)

I had a brand spanking new Sinclair ZX81 fresh off the boat from the UK with the wobbly 16k memory pack and sinclair printer in the VERY early 80's. Up until the point I finally had one in my hands I had been trying to teach myself BASIC from books from Creative Computing and Radio Shack. I wanted a TRS80 Model 1, but would have to wait another year or so before I could finally afford a used one.

This was the very first real computer I owned...
and now, it's a JAVA based emulator..

enjoy!
http://www.vavasour.ca/jeff/ts1000/

check it out, he has some programs you can "load" into the emulator and play. :)

this would be cool

region 2 though.. :(

David Tennant and Patrick Stewart in Hamlet!!!!!!!

http://www.rsc.org.uk/buyonline/shoponline/browse/item.aspx?catcode=63110

(edit)
thanks to smallerdemon for the link.. there are fairly inexpensive all region players available now.. this is bad for me... very very bad.... http://www.regionfreedvd.net/

And because it's a theme today for me...

In the realm of strange but true, they actually DID build steam engine airplanes that flew!

http://www.airandspacemagazine.com/ASM/Mag/Supp/AM06/stem.html

Strange facts of old technology.

Must remember these facts and ideas for future possible story ideas.

I realized talking with a friend over the weekend that many don't know about the existance of a free driver that will allow many USB web cams to work on the mac under OS X.

http://webcam-osx.sourceforge.net/

Check it out, that old usb web cam that's sitting on the shelf may just be supported after all.

Good luck!