13th Zurich Hardware Meetup Recap
Retro hardware, contemporary fun
Thank you to all who came by to our 13th event, and celebrated with us the end of a very eventful year! This event was unlike any other we’ve organized so far. It brought together what we’ve been striving to build through this meetup: passionate people, sharing their genuine experiences, and giving life to tangible products - in this case, vintage computers!
🎙️ Presenter Recap
Nikolai Knopp brought us along his journey into the world of vintage computing, sharing his self-taught expertise in discovering, restoring, and showcasing these classic machines. We heard cautionary tales of explosive RIFA capacitors, high-stakes hard disk revival operations, and other very hands-on advice on old computer repairs.
For those inspired to dive into retro-tinkering, Nikolai shared valuable resources here and encouraged everyone to check out the upcoming Vintage Computer Festival on January 18+19 2025.
Nikolai complemented the talk with a live debugging session, where he opened up an Amiga 500 Plus on stage. While time didn't permit a complete repair, watching the process was fascinating!
🎤 Open Mic
Our Open Mic session was brief but memorable, featuring:
Luca from 4QT is calling out to students interested in a very hands-on internship in construction robotics
Keith Durand, who brought his self-made French Horn and played it live
🎮 Gaming Session
While the Amiga repair remained a work in progress, the Retro-gaming level 1-1 team set up several old computers and consoles. Attendees - and organizers - unleashed their competitive spirits on various classics, from Pong to Mario Kart and everything in between. It was the perfect way to demonstrate why preserving these machines matters: beyond technology, they bring people together around fun and nostalgia.
Shout Out to our Host and Sponsor
Thank you to the Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich (IPZ) for their support. IPZ is a dynamic hub for innovators, fostering connections between academia and industry with its unparalleled global network. It serves as a catalyst to enhance their innovation potential and market readiness. Located next to the Dübendorf airfield, its focus areas are primarily, but not exclusively, Robotics & Mobility, Space & Aviation, and Advanced Manufacturing. Reach out to Ralph to find out more.
Finally
If you're interested in hosting or speaking at the next event or have any feedback for us, get in touch :)