Vintage Computer Festival

Sat., Sept. 12, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; free for children under 17, $10-$15 for adults; InfoAge Science Center, 2201 Marconi Road, Wall, N.J., 646-546-9999, vintage.org.

by Kristen Humbert

Early computers that dominated whole rooms have been the butt of many jokes. But for Evan Koblentz, organizer of the Vintage Computer Festival, he'll take them over their newer, slicker counterparts any day. "Vintage computers have character. From the early '80s and back, no two were the same," he says. "Once Windows, DOS and Microsoft came on the scene, it got boring."

Koblentz specifically collects vintage portables, and will plug in his Apple Newton, the company's first PDA from 1993, for the fest. Most of the exhibitors, however, will show off computers from the '60s to the '80s — almost all of which you're allowed to play with. In the venue's permanent exhibit, which guests can tour, there is a PDP-8, one of the few untouchables — for good reason. "The PDP-8 is the first mainstream commercial mini-computer," says Koblentz. "There were only 1,500 ever made, and there are probably less than 20 in existence today."

Other than tapping at the machines, visitors can also participate in several hands-on events. One of Saturday's highlights is a chip concert with Philly's Animal Style and Cheap Dinosaurs providing the music and NO CARRIER and VBLANK offering the techno-visuals. There will also be a collaborative programming challenge, as well as a workshop where participants can create pocket-size replicas of old computer terminals, taking what once was a refrigerator-size keyboard and making it handheld. We're guessing Koblentz will keep his super-sized.

Sat., Sept. 12, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; free for children under 17, $10-$15 for adults; InfoAge Science Center, 2201 Marconi Road, Wall, N.J., 646-546-9999, vintage.org.