When the MOS 6502 and Zilog Z80 were launched in 1976, it started the personal computer revolution. But were these microprocessors really necessary for that? Last year we created a single-board microcomputer from fewer than 40 simple 1970s TTL logic chips, a bit of memory, and some diodes, resistors, etc. There is no microprocessor, no video chip, and no sound chip. Still this computer can run video games, play music, run BASIC. In this talk we go through the evolution from early electronics experiments, to breadboard prototype, to the electronics kit that hundreds of people have enjoyed building by now.
