MiniPET Kit Build and Test

We build and test the miniPET kit from Tynemouth Software and The Future Was 8 Bit that we picked up at ‪@VCFSW‬ !
#retrocomputers
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Tynemouth Software
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/
The Future Was 8 Bit
www.thefuturewas8bit.com/
1UpOnCancer
www.1uponcancer.org/

[@bobtherieau6086]

The best MiniPET assembly video ever!

[@fractalMD]

Ever ever ever!

[@GarthBeagle]

13:27 that should've been the video thumbnail! 😂 Love the joy once you see it working!!

[@fractalMD]

Totally agree

[@geekwithsocialskills]

Awesome! Welcome to the PET owners club! The Future Was 8-bit has some really cool stuff for sure!

[@fractalMD]

We love!!

[@thenormanfair]

I fully understand that excitement. I felt the same way when I finished my RC 2014 and got the BASIC start up sequence in a terminal window.

[@fractalMD]

It is SO SATISFYING.

[@VeronicaExplains]

Pins. And. Needles. That was a lot of fun. I felt so much anxiety waiting for it to start for you. I'm totally jealous you were able to snag one!

[@fractalMD]

We were SO STOKED to find one!

[@HLubenow]

I just realized, how much work that was! So cool, what you can make happen.

[@fractalMD]

There was a nontrivial amount of soldering, to be sure!

[@electronictreasure4191]

Ok I don't know how I got here, but I love your channel. Sense of humor is great! Super fun way of sharing retro computing!

[@fractalMD]

Glad you made it!

[@DaveCurran]

Nicely done, pleased you got a kit and got it built and working. But no slacking on getting those key caps assembled!

[@fractalMD]

Promise! We would not short our emotional support retro computer.

[@douglasleany6091]

What an amazing acquisition! I loved seeing some of the assembly process, and Taylor's reaction when the screen came to life was priceless. And how astute of you to realize it needed to be mini-petted. 😂

[@fractalMD]

Mini petting is the CLEAR choice! 😂

[@another3997]

​@@fractalMDIs it normal to feel jealous of a PCB and a few ICs after watching several seconds of gratuitous mini-petting? 😁

[@fractalMD]

@@another3997 ha!

[@RetroTechChris]

It was awesome seeing y'all at VCF Southwest! And that MiniPET is really cool.. nicely done!

[@fractalMD]

Chris, you are a delight as ever.

[@full_time_motorhome]

Great show girls. I live about 6 miles from Tynemouth Software in the UK. You did a great job. ❤️👍👍 love your retro videos. Imagine how I felt 40 yrs ago! I did a brand new qualification, school computing here in 1988. Totally useless nowadays (search master discs) 🤣 All was based on the Commodore Pet and the BBC micro. Glad the next, next generation are having fun (orgasm occasionally) 🤣🤣🤣 ❤

[@fractalMD]

Nice! And all that when the PET was so brand new! I'm jealous.

[@full_time_motorhome]

Retro baby 😂!

[@dc9662]

That was a relatable, and entertaining journey. Thanks for sharing it with us!

[@fractalMD]

It was like a speed run of a build!

[@timothyp8947]

Brilliant! When the wee beastie sprang into life and you were obviously so relieved and excited - priceless! My school was donated a 2nd hand chiclet keyboard PET so it was one of the early computers I did any programming on, alongside the RM 380Z it had (Golly, that must be over 40 years ago now!) … finally got to try out BASIC programming I’d worked out by following listings for PETs (and other machines) in PCW magazine. This must’ve been before I got my own 2nd hand VIC=20, and before the school got it’s 3 BBC micros. Loved the show, ladies!

[@fractalMD]

Some memories! But oh were we happy this worked.

[@TimsRetroCorner]

Awesome build. My MiniPET probably gets more use than any of my other Commodores - love it. (it perches on top of my 8050 disk drive like a tiny bonnet!!) Now don't forget to add the finishing touches...

[@fractalMD]

Key caps et al will occur after an appropriate emotional recovery period. 😄

[@LimaVideoProductions]

This is so funny; I love the real frustrations and achievements! Every time my wife calls me a nerd, I will send her to this channel. You guys are so entertaining; keep up the good work

[@fractalMD]

Nerd is a compliment!

[@bozimmerman]

Congrats on the Mini-Pet build! I remember when yall wandered up and started touching my SuperPET inappropriately. I now understand.

[@fractalMD]

Appropriately! 😂😂😂

[@TheREALJosephTurner]

Somehow I think an entire Taylor and Amy Show episode with laryngitis would totally be worth watching. 😛

[@fractalMD]

Oh lord. It would be so horrifying ppl would also unsubscribe from adjacent youtube channels.

[@Fredthefat]

You two always bring a smile to my face. Good job, glad it's not just me that has problems with chip legs.

[@fractalMD]

They are rascals!!!!

[@MacintoshLibrarian]

I love yalls synergy. ❤

[@fractalMD]

We love YOU!

[@aqualung2000]

Taylor your soldering skills must be pretty damn solid to solder that whole computer and not spend two weeks troubleshooting why it doesn't work. Nice job!

[@fractalMD]

She is damn good at it!

[@nickblackburn1903]

Wonderful work ladies 😸

[@fractalMD]

Thanks!

[@solarbirdyz]

Taylor you remind me so much of someone I went to school with named Ellie, it's hilarious Also this is excellent the pure squee of making it go is delightful thank you for posting it :D

[@fractalMD]

Genuine happiness caught on camera, right there.

[@JimmyBoogaloo]

lol quirking out on behalf of us all. legendary scenes.

[@fractalMD]

We certainly try.... 😅

[@CubicleNate]

That was such a fun video. I watched your IAMSI now this, you are really pushing the edges of my budget here... 😁

[@fractalMD]

All I can promise is that it is worth it!

[@3vi1J]

I saw you two live in the panel at VCFSW - hilarious stuff! Congrats on the MiniPET!

[@fractalMD]

Still can't believe we got to do that! Thx!!

[@WhatHoSnorkers]

Victory! Well done on the soldering and the chips. I was given a retro kit for Christmas and it's still not working!

[@fractalMD]

But when it does.... 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

[@derekchristenson5711]

Yay! What a neat kit!

[@fractalMD]

We LOVE it

[@PaulDriverPlus]

OMG, found you because of hack-a-day, and I'm never leaving.

[@fractalMD]

Hooray!!!

[@tbytecreator]

I just love yours kitbuilding videos. :-)

[@fractalMD]

Hooray! Thx!

[@CurtisBoyle]

Ah, this brings some memories (Oh god no... not about *soldering* or touching hardware or....). But the original calculator style PET with the built in cassette recorder & small black and white screen (and I think 8K of RAM? Can't remember) that I first used in 1979 at school, that start me on my journey to being a computer nerd. *Sigh*.

[@fractalMD]

It made you the LCB you are, today! 😄

[@DevilsHandyman]

The jump cuts are the closest thing I've seen to magic. Well this morning anyway. It was great to meet you two at VCF SW. You showed me the box with your coveted PET on Saturday glad to see it here.

[@fractalMD]

It is our baby! Oh to jump cut in real life. Was VCF SW fun or what??

[@DevilsHandyman]

@@fractalMD It was everyone was so friendly

[@fractalMD]

@@DevilsHandyman Love this community!

[@theappstore]

Shared your channel in my Twitter Community - hope it drives traffic

[@fractalMD]

That is awesome. Thanks!

[@KeritechElectronics]

What a cute little PET. Awwwwwww :)

[@fractalMD]

ISN'T IT??!! What should we name it?

[@KeritechElectronics]

@@fractalMD Dory! :)

[@fractalMD]

@@KeritechElectronics oh that is cute

[@olavl8827]

I only discovered the channel today (through Hackaday) and I have already watched 10 videos or so. Hilarious stuff!

[@fractalMD]

Welcome! I think we need to bake some cookies for hackaday or something!

[@olavl8827]

@@fractalMD Yes. Alternatively you could, and please hear me out, just make more lovely & interesting videos that they can't ignore! ;-)

[@fractalMD]

@@olavl8827 We shall do our best!

[@drjohnfisher]

Love love love love this!

[@fractalMD]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@drjohnfisher]

@@fractalMD ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@equinoxxee]

Hello, this is so awesome! And it worked the first time, excellent! I would love to have one too... Keep it up, it's great👍

[@fractalMD]

We are FANS

[@coffeecuparcade]

I've just found you both but I love you so much. Excellent video! Congrats on the build. I started with computers with the PET at a Military School int he late 70's. So much love!

[@fractalMD]

Thank you!!

[@coffeecuparcade]

@@fractalMD Most welcome Amy! Nice to meet you!

[@fractalMD]

@coffeecuparcade Indeed good sir!

[@wimwiddershins]

That is a flipping nice project. The ole Larry Jytis is doing the rounds over here as well. Q: What do you call a diode thats suffered thermal runaway? A: A Fryode! Ahem... ...tumbleweed. ...crickets.

[@fractalMD]

😂😂😂

[@JamiesHackShack]

Nice job! Looks like a fun kit!

[@fractalMD]

So much fun. Esp since worked first try!!!!

[@JamiesHackShack]

@@fractalMD That excitement when it first fired up was awesome. You all rock!

[@fractalMD]

@@JamiesHackShackAnd you KNOW that was real! Barely kept from jumping up and down.

[@HLubenow]

"You have to mini-pet it!"🤗💻

[@fractalMD]

I mean!

[@LockFarm]

You guys are hilarious - great video!

[@fractalMD]

Sometimes even intentionally. 😅

[@LockFarm]

@@fractalMD Happens to me too. ;)

[@another3997]

Great project, and congratulations on getting it working. Hope to see the finshed product at some point. I'd have still been trying to solder the first diode on after two weeks. And the computer would never work. EVER. ☠️

[@fractalMD]

It's all finished and sparkly!

[@DavidFunk4475]

Yup! You build something, then you're afraid to turn it on! But when you do... IT WORKS! 🎉🎉🎉

[@VK2FVAX]

*Laughing* You guys are nuts :) Well done.

[@fractalMD]

It made us so happy!

[@user-kr6xv8qv5j]

my two bundles of joy...

[@fractalMD]

😂

[@anjanettepetty-kountz3785]

Now you need to put a small tutu and a leash on it you’ll have a mini pet pet that you can pet! 😂

[@fractalMD]

Do you have any ideas that AREN'T AMAZING??!!?

[@AndyHewco]

Having built the previous version of the mini pet kit, I became very stressed and anxious when you started on the IC's. I'm glad you did a jump cut for the rest, don't think I could have taken the suspense. Too many flashbacks when I was doing the same. Are you going to do a follow up with all the nice keys in place and trying some software out?

[@fractalMD]

After some quality time with an exacto knife, will do a follow up in all its glory. You are not kidding about the stress!

[@geoffneil5073]

Great video, I have to admire your perseverance in getting the chips in those sockets. I hope you are going to make another video when it is all complete?

[@fractalMD]

They were... a bit tricky. Next video already on the to do list. 👌🏻

[@DaveCurran]

@@fractalMD Sorry you had problems with those, I've never had any issues with new chips in that type of socket?

[@fractalMD]

@DaveCurran The pins just were feeling their oats and doing as they pleased. And unfortunately they were not coordinating their efforts. 🤣

[@escgoogle3865]

I was wondering where the video of Action Retro singing "I like Tandy " in Texas was. I figured grabbing random festival presenters and forcing them into song was your thing. :-) Sean has quite the number of Taylor and Amy stickers one of his laptops.

[@fractalMD]

Oh man, next time. Tho the Teddy Ruxpin somewhat kept Sean safe.

[@EricsEdgeVideos]

Witness Taylor and Amy, charter members in the fraternity of dreamers. An excitable pair whose passions are pure in intent and who are conspired against by exhaustion, a world full of retro technology, and the unrelenting hands of a clock. But in just a moment Taylor and Amy will enter a world of blissful electronics petting.

[@fractalMD]

**steals for the about section**

[@EricsEdgeVideos]

@@fractalMD🎶Right into the Twilight Zone🎶

[@fractalMD]

@@EricsEdgeVideos You so crazy, Eric!

[@sacielo]

Hey! Awesome video and... I think you're gorgeus! ;) Wil you consider a different perspective, and maybe a splitscreen with video capture? Some shots are a bit out of focus from this angle, and the screen has artifacts and reflexes.

[@fractalMD]

Too kind of you to say. As to video quality, oh yeah, we hear ya. I see the exact things you mention. With us doing this for the pure love of it in between full time jobs, this is prolly the indefinite state of affairs. 😅 Interestingly, when this stuff comes up, we frequently get the counter points of it wouldn't have the same vibe if it were more polished.

[@ActionRetro]

Few things are as anxiety-inducing as putting chips in sockets

[@fractalMD]

I mean oh my gracious. And they bite!

[@ActionRetro]

@@fractalMD 😂

[@another3997]

I suppose it depends on what flavour "chips" and what type of socket. Squeezing salt and vinegar chips in a domestic wall socket probably rates qiite high on the anxiety scale. A hair raising experience? 😁

[@fractalMD]

@@another3997 but so delicious

[@Wythaneye]

Awesome job! While i understand why you skipped over the component soldering, I would have liked to watch a little bit, to see your setup and your soldering technique.

[@fractalMD]

We didn't show it on here, but we do in a few other videos! There was just sooooooo much for this.

[@IBM_Museum]

With a cameo from game designer @RebeccaHeineman @1:00 (on the right edge of the screen)!

[@fractalMD]

I know! Did catch that. How goes it? 😃

[@IBM_Museum]

@@fractalMD: I missed meeting her and her partner Jennell Jaquays at VCF Southwest - There was so much talent there!

[@fractalMD]

​@@IBM_MuseumI got to see her talking with Jeri. Was not mad about it.

[@evikone]

"...they'll capacitate!" lol

[@8bitsinthebasement]

That was just so much fun, and what's more... it works. But the thing that's best of all is now you have a pet that you can pet any time you want. Isn't life grand? :)

[@fractalMD]

Tis grande! We pet it in a cute mini fashion.

[@byteforever7829]

I wish these were still in production

[@fractalMD]

We were soooo happy to find one

[@byteforever7829]

@fractalMD and the minstrel 2 zx81 clone is out of production as well. But you can get alternatives just the pcb 😃

[@dirkcrossi6574]

CONGRATIOLATION !!! WWOOOOW

[@fractalMD]

😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃

[@tombarber8929]

0:45 "Friend of the channel Amy.." Can you be a friend of the channel if you're 1/2 of the channel? "..from Tilt Five" oh, more than 1 Amy exists apparently!

[@fractalMD]

But all Amy's are amazing.

[@tombarber8929]

@@fractalMD sounds like something an Amy would say!

[@fractalMD]

@tombarber8929 I think you got me, there. 5 out of 5 Amys agree....

[@tombarber8929]

@@fractalMD can’t argue with that logic!

[@floydjohnson7888]

The PET had a 9-pin "D" connector for auxiliary controls (joystick/paddles with Atari 2600-compatible pinout) too? I'm gonna guess that bit of wiring was part of every Commodore system predating the Amiga, even the largely-forgotten ones.

[@fractalMD]

The mini PET definitely doesn't since we didn't solder any in.

[@dcarlin3]

Is this kit available for purchase? I've been looking a while on thefuturewas8bit and haven't seen them.

[@fractalMD]

Sadly no longer available. We snagged this one at VCFSW.

[@bazodee2]

What kinda case are you gonna put it into?

[@fractalMD]

Decision ongoing!

[@DavidStahlOLDHAPPyMACs]

WoW Girls For you safety I think seat belts should be added to your chairs I don’t want you to hurt your selfes your excitement is off the scale LOL Cool Kit

[@fractalMD]

Maybe we should just sit on the ground! Lower that potential energy.

[@bretlinden8248]

No case?

[@fractalMD]

Not....yet

[@novydrassel3005]

you are technicaly so cute !

[@IsaacKuo]

Ah yes, PETSCII has an actual left arrow. I dunno it made sense at the time I guess

[@fractalMD]

I mean, sometimes I wanna point to the left.

[@howiem]

Centre-negative should be banned. I just don't get why they're ever considered a good idea in a world of 95% centre-positive connectors

[@fractalMD]

We are **definitely** glad it came with the kit, since didn't already have one laying about.